episode_0143

Sparks flew in my head. But I didn’t die. Just standing over my dead body.

Me lying on the floor, and me standing on top of it. There is a transparent barrier beneath my feet that separates the two. It’s a piece of the upper narrative layer that came with me. Standing against the solid wall, he spoke to the professor.

“This piece will give me hope to start again.”

Even when everything ends, the world does not end. The story never stops if there is interaction with the upper narrative layer.

“The story will never stop.”

My body, lying on the floor, slowly disappears. With a slight sense of floating, I feel my feet, which had been floating for a moment, getting closer to the ground. The narrative layer appears briefly and then disappears again.

“No one will forget you.”

Now I know. Let’s put the narrative layer at our feet, because all the hidden memories came back to us.

It was the very first thing. Before I even moved into this apartment. It was when I was continuously trying to become a webtoon writer. Since I decided to quit being a webtoon writer, I haven’t found any purpose. I sat still for a while, lost in my thoughts. Days where I just let time pass by.

Then, a certain emotion came to me. At first, it was a strong desire to create. I want to write a story featuring certain characters.

I had a hard time moving the discarded tablet back into the house. But when I actually picked up the pen, I couldn’t draw anything.

It seemed like there was a limit to what I could draw, I struggled to come up with a topic for a while.

Many themes came to mind, but I couldn’t draw even a single one. One morning, at dawn, all that finally came to mind was just one sentence.

A story about fighting futility.

I swung my pen wherever my heart took me. A line was drawn on the tablet screen, and another line was drawn over it. A surface is created by combining numerous lines.

Am I really going crazy?

What was completed was one giant hole. A passage that feels like you’re being sucked in at any moment. Then someone came to me.

It was my brother.

I didn’t have any brothers. As if it had been there from the beginning. My brother helped me move and guided me to this apartment. So that this whole story begins. And then I stepped into it.

To give up your peaceful daily life and come into this hellish apartment of your own accord. Even thinking about it now, it was crazy. That was possible because my current emotions probably came full circle and affected my past self.

The professor was silent for a long time. Then I finally managed to say one word.

“I thought this kind of movement was impossible.” “Me too.”

Simply having a creative desire does not mean that you can cross over into the narrative hierarchy.

“It was thanks to the contract. The contract that Dr. Chen made. ”

Dr. Chen. The first Foundation researcher to observe the Seven. He made a pact with some demonic being. To save this world from ‘Seven’. And then, that being brought me from one dimension above. By borrowing the figure of my brother who never existed in the first place.

“Dr. Chen… … .” “I guess you know that. You too.” “No. We didn’t really have much contact. As a senior researcher at the foundation, he made overly radical claims, and was eventually disposed of by the decision of the higher-ups.”

The professor sighed deeply.

“If I had met you before, the ending I had imagined would have been very different.”

Dr. Chen’s sacrifice. A story of me fighting against the futility I wrote. The existence of the two created a completely different ending than the professor had expected.

“Then, Mr. Im Da-bin. What is the conclusion you are claiming?” “I will drive out all the emptiness.” “Can you be more specific?” “You and the foundation you lead will be the final enemy.” “… … .”

The final enemy is no longer nothingness. Instead, it has become a slightly more manageable entity.

“So, are you saying that I will be taking on the role of ‘Seven’?” “Yes. To be exact, it would be the foundation that follows you. And the series of events that you created.”

The ‘professor’ rarely frowned.

“I feel like my mind is getting complicated.”

And he hummed painfully.

“I don’t even have a chance to regret it.”

I gave him a moment to gather his thoughts. It was the least we could do for him, who ended up taking on the role of the ‘enemy’ in this story.

“So, all I have to do is survive. Outside this apartment, until the foundation you lead self-destructs.”

“This is the ending I propose.”

I bent down and picked up what had fallen on the floor. The feel of cold metal is felt at my fingertips again. And he hands the gun to the ‘Professor’. It didn’t take long before he disposed of himself.

The corpse of the ‘professor’, who was lying face down on the desk, slowly disperses and disappears. The ‘Professor’ is both in this apartment and in the foundation facility outside. The only dead ones are those in the apartment. The fact remains that we still have to fight him.

Now it’s time to leave the apartment. We must escape from this hell and go to the even worse hell outside. You have to survive till the end and create a story. That way, it won’t be forgotten.

Rattle, rattle, rattle!

“Im Da-bin!”

I turned my attention towards the voice calling me from outside. The door still won’t open, but don’t worry. It’s going to open soon anyway.

Are you thinking about the old days?

Not long after I entered this apartment. So, it was when I went out on an expedition with people from the survivor group. What I was looking for then was the Foundation’s server left behind in the apartment.

Thanks to that, Choi Jun-gi and Park Sung-jin, two people died. It was the price of hastily approaching overly dangerous information. Choi Jun-gi took his own life by cutting his wrists. Park Sung-jin completely lost his sense of reason and became a being with an endless thirst for blood, wandering around the apartment.

The information obtained at that time cost two people their lives, Now it has become the key that will unlock all the secrets.

[Unknown] :■■■■■■■■■ ‘■■’■■■■■■■■■■■■ An unknown group. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ It appears that the research on ■■ … ■■■ has a theory about ■■■, but there is no sign of any movement to infringe ■■■■■■■. No further observations since first contact. It is assumed that the other side noticed the observation of ‘■■’ and blocked it.

[Ghost Apartment Survival Diary EP.34, Among the Groups of Interest]

Now you can see even the hidden parts without leaving anything out.

[Unknown]

An unidentified group observed by the Foundation’s Council member, Professor, through his future vision abilities. Actively using anomalous objects to lead the extermination of humanity Research appears to have been successful in removing anomalous properties or infusing them into other non-anomalous entities. Although they have a theory about timelines, they show no signs of attempting to invade the past worldline. No further observations since first contact. It is assumed that the other side noticed the ‘Professor’s’ observations and blocked them.

That is, a future foundation led by a professor.

The hints were left a long time ago. What ending should I go towards? Who should I fight against? It was probably information left behind by Dr. Chen.

Boom, bang, bang!

“Dabin! Answer me right away when you hear me!”

It’s Se-rim’s older sister’s voice. When a normally quiet person shouts, his voice suddenly cracks and all. Now we can’t afford to lose any time. I stood right in front of the door and screamed.

“Yes! I’m here!” “Dabin is inside!”

Sister Se-rim suddenly starts screaming.

“How is it? Isn’t it dangerous?” “Yes, it’s safe now.” “It’s safe!”

I feel like crying. I’m about to have to go through countless near-death experiences. Everyone is too bright. No matter how set the story is, it hurts my heart to think of other people dying. There was no time to be emotional. Because soon Dazhu’s voice was heard.

“Brother.” “Huh?” “Get out of the way of the door.”

I quickly retreated from the door.

“You’re not in front of the door right now, are you? You shouldn’t be at the door at all!” “Yeah!”

After a while.

Boom!

The door came crashing down with a tremendous crash. No. It just turned into dust. Behind the dust stands Yun Da-ju. Holding the shotgun he had just used to smash down the door in his hand.

“Wow… Isn’t this just ridiculous?”

It looks like you’re quite pleased with your new weapon. The eyes are very bright.

“Dajuya.” “What were you doing there, oppa?” “Just. It was.” “I can’t tell you because it’s dangerous information. What are you going to do? Just say something like this.” “No. I’ll tell you everything. First, let’s get out of here.”

This time, Se-rim peeks her head out from behind.

“Dabin… … .”

Tododok ran up to me and hugged me tightly. A warm feeling. I feel like my anxious mind is easing a little.

“Thank goodness.”

Sister Se-rim speaks with a tearful voice. The breath on my face is warm.

“But what about other people?” “I just went to clear the way to the elevator.” “Huh?”

I tried to check the scenery outside, but all I could see was Se-rim’s body. I can’t see my surroundings properly because my sister is hugging me. What we can see, though, is that things aren’t that good right now.

I can’t see it clearly, but I get the feeling. Although Dazhu pretends that everything is okay, he keeps glancing around to check the situation behind him. Above all, a loud noise keeps coming from the other side of the hallway. I carefully tried to get out of Sister Se-rim’s arms.

“Sister… ?” “Just a minute. Dabin.”

But the hand that holds me doesn’t let go easily. I didn’t really know since I never had to fight with Serim, but I’m definitely the weakest when it comes to strength. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake it off.

“Sister. It’s okay to let go now.” “Just wait.”

Warm breath touches my face again. It smells good.

“Dabin, have you met that guy called ‘Professor’ by any chance?” “Yes.” “What about the story? Did you talk to that person?” “Yes. But… … .” “Are you tired or mentally unstable right now?” “Yes, it’s okay.”

Sister Se-rim’s voice continues to tremble. He looks very anxious.

“I’m a little anxious… … . That’s… … . I was able to see a little bit. What happens to you in the other world line. So… … .”

I cut off my sister’s words.

“Don’t worry.”

I won’t let everyone die. It is impossible for me to kill everyone with my own hands. Because the ending the professor drew has collapsed, and only mine will remain. Since it seemed like Sister Se-rim was still hesitating, I added a word.

“Sister.” “Yeah. Dabin. Good job… … .”

Sister Se-rim lets go of me and takes a step back. Only then does the scenery outside come into view. The surrounding area was not the clean laboratory it had once been. The exact same scenery that appeared on the recorded tape is right before my eyes.

The floor is covered in blood, torn clothes, and torn flesh. Crazed researchers are running around tearing out their own throats and screaming in silence.

Above all, the road is getting narrower and narrower. It was as if the entire space was contracting.

There is no need to ask about the situation. Instead, there are things you need to take care of.

“Just a moment. I’ll grab my weapon.”

I went into the room and picked up the weapon that had been in the professor’s hand for a moment. Silent pistol. Even though it’s low power, it’s helpful in a situation like now. You never know what might happen in the future, so you have to take it with you no matter what.

He quickly left the room where the professor was, holding the gun in his hand. The office was also slowly disappearing.

“Let’s go now.”

Let’s go outside, the area is full of crazy researchers. Their once white gowns have long since turned red with blood. There must be some kind of anomaly at work, as their numbers are unusually large, and they look like zombies rather than people.

“Pee… … .” “I need to collect blood… … .”

Researchers muttering like a herd of bloodthirsty ghosts. Then, they all turn their gaze this way.

“There’s someone over there.” “There are people.” “I have to squeeze out all the blood.” “But that won’t be enough.” “You have to keep squeezing it.”

Researchers scream and throw themselves at us. I pulled Sister Se-rim close with all my might.

“Sister! This way!” “Brother, please step aside!”

The one who stood in front until the end was always Da-ju. Even though he may be a bit weird and perverted, our Da-ju is a really good fighter.

Taang!

Several researchers fall out as the shotgun blasts open. As he prepares for his next shot, Dazhu nods backwards.

“Run over there. There will be other people there.” “Sing. Sister.” “Yeah.”

As expected, it was another full-out sprint. Yeah. It was comfortable for a while because I only had to use my head. I can’t even see the elevator yet, but I’m already starting to feel out of breath.