episode_0190

I hope everything goes smoothly.

I hope your efforts bear satisfactory results.

However, things in this world do not go as planned, so

Eunha took a positive step today with a languid smile.

“Okay. What’s in this shopping bag?”

“friend.”

“It’s a waste. The correct answer was my sister’s lifeline.”

“snood?”

“If someone takes that, it could be a big problem.”

‘Saetbyeol Apartment’ in the darkness.

8th floor hallway.

Eunha consoled the [doll girl] clinging to her thigh and lifted the shopping bag containing the ‘clay doll’ above her head.

… … .

A night patrol that started out of curiosity by helping an elderly security guard.

From the 6th to the 10th floor, I was on my way back from leaving a ‘clay doll’ in the apartment hallway.

Is the phrase “finding your own place to die” used in situations like this?

The patrol started with a gloomy atmosphere that made my eardrums choke and the anxiety of not knowing when I might get sick, but surprisingly, no monsters came to harass me, so I was gradually gaining confidence.

6th floor apartment,

Passed without problem.

There are 8 remaining ‘clay dolls’.

『Cawrrrr~.』

The next 7th floor I visited passed without any problems.

The sound of transparent footsteps running excitedly through the hallway followed Eunha, and at the end of the hallway, a pile of broken clay was removed and a new doll was set up.

I passed the 7th floor like that.

There are only 6 remaining ‘clay dolls’… for some reason.

‘There is only one item on each floor, but why does it feel like there are fewer items by two?’

And maybe it’s my mood… but as the number of ‘clay dolls’ in the shopping bag decreases,

I felt like the popularity I felt around me was getting closer little by little.

The rattling of the front door gradually gets worse, and someone’s handprint is left on the hallway window.

Eunha hurried her steps, massaging the corners of her mouth that were becoming hard as time passed.

『Friends, bring friends.』

Just like that, I climbed the stairs with stiff legs and reached the 8th floor.

[Doll Girl], who was guarding the front of ‘Room 801’, waddled over like a penguin and grabbed Eunha’s thighs.

“… Won’t you let go for a moment? I’m patrolling the apartment complex right now. I’ll play with you next time, so please look after me today.”

Ok…

A girl clinging to me like a koala.

He is wearing fluffy hamster pajamas and holding a long stuffed cow in one hand.

[Doll Girl]’s innocent eyes are directed at the shopping bag that Eunha is holding.

Do you want to have a ‘clay doll’?

I don’t know how I realized there was a doll in the shopping bag.

“doll. Installment doll.』

“Instalments?… Ah, do older people also walk around with ‘clay dolls’ in their shopping bags? So you ran as soon as you saw the shopping bag.”

Eunha praised [Doll Girl]’s memory.

Then, the girl’s shoulders rose up like a cotton blanket dried in the sun.

[Doll girl], her body swollen with joy, nods.

“… … .”

Eunha raised the corners of her mouth as she slowly put down the shopping bag she had lifted above her head.

The fingers that were wriggling shyly were as fragile as a fern, and the arms of the [doll girl] hugging her thighs would easily fall off with the slightest effort…

Don’t force the girl away.

If you ask why,

It was because I wanted to be closer to the cute [doll girl] a little longer.

It was because of the innocent eyes that just looked up at the shopping bag without struggling to take it away.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Before she knew it, an adult-sized plush toy came up behind her and tapped Eunha on the shoulder.

『Eup … Eup ……

“Hello. I guess you caught a cold.”

It is a large plush toy.

Bright red blood is flowing out between the tattered pieces of cloth.

​

Replacing the doll’s eyes were large buttons, and the four holes on the buttons had long needles instead of thread.

‘Wow, look at the sewing done well. ‘I can sell it.’

Eunha, who discovered an iron needle sticking out of the back of the ‘stuffed toy”s head, swallowed nausea at the trauma being revived.

It’s a visual that makes you feel anxious even when you just encounter it, but when you shine it with a flashlight on a dark night, it’s several times more terrifying.

What will happen if I fall out with the girl now?

I don’t have the courage to separate the [doll girl] in my arms.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Stuffed toys walking out one by one from the wide open room ‘801’.

Soon, ‘those’ lined up in the 8th floor hallway, as if escorting [Doll Girl] and Eunha, and blocked other front doors and windows with their bodies.

Is he trying to protect me from other monsters?

The [doll girl] clinging to my thigh points to the end of the apartment with a small finger.

『Leftover doll. just one.”

“… … Yeah, I don’t know. It will work out somehow.”

Eunha was looking closely at the ‘stuffed toys’ lined up in the dark hallway.

In the end, she went down the hallway with [Doll Girl].

Trap… plod.

[Doll girl] clinging to my thigh.

Eunha used ‘body enhancement’ and walked awkwardly as is.

The girl cleverly stood on Eunha’s feet and hugged her legs as they moved back and forth.

An innocent smile spreads across your face like a child riding a fun ride.

As I walked down the hallway lined with plush toys,

I found clay crumbs scattered around the edge.

Eunha took out a new doll from her shopping bag.

『… … !』

“… Do you want to give it a try?”

Nod!

The [Doll Girl] who came down from the Eunha Bridge raised her arms.

When Eunha, bursting into laughter, handed her a ‘clay doll’, the girl quickly took the doll and walked to the end of the hallway, shaking her body gently.

『Eup… Eup…』

The stuffed toy came whimpering and cleaned up the broken pieces of clay in the hallway.

Soon, [Doll Girl] sat down in the clean hallway and carefully put down her new clay doll.

A small hand patting the head of a ‘clay doll’ standing in the hallway.

Eunha approached the girl and patted the top of her head.

“Good job.”

『No big deal. I will do it again if you ask me.』

The [Doll Girl] suddenly stood up and clung to Eunha’s thigh.

Why do babies like to be hugged like this?

After patting the girl on the back, Eunha turns her back and goes back up the stairs.

“town. Ugh.』

Stuffed toys lined up in the hallway.

As if protecting the galaxy from other monsters.

Friends of [Doll Girl] blocking the front door and windows with their bodies.

‘… So, did the old man tell me from the 6th to the 10th floor?’

Even on the 6th floor and the 7th floor.

And here, on the 8th floor too.

I feel like I received some help.

perhaps,

The more you build relationships with monsters…

Wouldn’t the ‘territory’ where one can safely roam even after the sun sets increase?

That’s what I thought.

‘It’s a relationship with monsters… Tsk. A person without recovery skills wouldn’t be able to even try… Do you think I can’t do it?’

I thought positively.

The pain so far was not in vain.

There was at least a little bit gained.

So, that fact alone is enough for now.

Feeling a little motivated, Eunha returned to the stairs with [Doll Girl].

Rustling…

Instead of receiving help, there is only one doll left.

As promised at first, Eunha took out a ‘clay doll’ from the shopping bag and handed it to [Doll Girl].

The girl who hurriedly picked up the doll gently let it fall from her thighs.

『Instalment payment doll. thanks.”

“You’re a friend. If I’m bored, I’ll come over to play.”

『I promised.』

The girl’s fingers, as cold as a corpse, gently grabbed Eunha’s little finger.

Eyes full of innocence turn towards Eunha, and the plush toys lined up in the hallway surround Eunha one by one.

… … .

Just like that, the patrol up to the 8th floor ended.

What remains are the 9th and 10th floors.

‘Clay dolls’ remaining in the shopping bag… 3 more.

“Hmm? for a moment. Why are there only 3?”

Feeling puzzled, Eunha shined a flashlight on the shopping bag.

10 original dolls.

There were 6 dolls left when I came up to the 8th floor.

There, I set one up in the hallway and gave one to the [doll girl].

So shouldn’t there be four?

“… Meanwhile, another one broke.”

Before she knew it, Eunha found a ‘clay doll’ that had been shattered and took a deep breath.

In the end, there are three dolls left.

What remains are the 9th and 10th floors.

I don’t know if I can return safely.

I looked down at [Doll Girl] in frustration.

The simple smile of a girl wearing fluffy hamster pajamas as she carefully hugged a long cow doll and a clay doll.

A complicated smile is carved on Eunha’s face.

『Since I promised, just one thing.』

“What is it this time?”

“this. It smells.』

The innocence of a child.

At that moment, the girl holding her little finger held out the cow doll she was holding to Eunha.

A plush toy with a strangely elongated body… about the length of Eunha’s arm.

Because it contains something other than cotton, it is quite heavy.

Eunha frowned at the rotten corpse oozing out of the cow doll.

Is it because the weather is hot?

What on earth is inside the doll?

『Dairy cow doll. A new one.』

Pure resentment grabbed Eunha’s little finger.

Isn’t it enough to make a clay doll?

The attitude of wanting oneself as a ‘friend’ rather than a lump of clay is needlessly touching.

“… … Yes, I said I would play with him, but he didn’t play with me for over a month.”

『There is an installment doll. It doesn’t die.』

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Such a greedy guy.

Eunha smiled languidly as usual as she was held by the plush toys that came next to her.

… … .

… … .

Nothing much happened after that.

I parted ways with [Doll Girl] on the 8th floor and headed straight to the 10th floor, where I placed the clay doll in the hallway.

The 8th floor and then the 10th floor.

Anyway, I’m going to go straight home after work.

In many ways, it would be convenient to finish the 9th floor, where her house is located, last.

『What’s wrong with one arm?』

“A/S was provided. They say it rots quickly because it’s summer.”

『I thought I was wandering around late at night, but I was just out of my mind.』

After a brief chat with [Bug Princess] whom she met on the 10th floor, Eunha bitterly clutched her left arm, which had recovered from being torn by stuffed toys.

She reached the final ninth floor hallway and quickly found a broken piece of clay.

Now I want to stop working as a security guard today.

A little tired.

What is the old security guard doing right now?

Unlike Eunha, he is probably patrolling the apartment peacefully.

‘But I did half of it myself. Excellent for a first time.’

Walking down a dark hallway and placing a ‘clay doll’.

This is already the 5th time, so I’m getting used to it.

Eunha found broken clay in the 9th floor hallway and rummaged through her shopping bags.

10 clay dolls wearing armor, spears, and shields, given to me by an elderly person.

But now they have all disappeared and only one remains.

‘This doll… it’s an amulet, right? [Doll Girl] takes an arm, but I guess it only prevents her from dying.’

​

Even if the monsters know it, they don’t know.

A frustrating feeling that the conversation seems to be working but isn’t.

Eunha placed a new doll down in the 9th floor hallway.

“It’s done!”

I shouted without thinking.

On the strangely quiet 9th floor, a strange air surrounds her.

Now the quota requested by the elderly is over.

Now all that remains is to calmly return home.

‘It wasn’t a big deal, right? ‘I’ll have to tell him that I’ll be on night watch next time.’

There are no ‘clay dolls’ left.

Sick body. Throbbing left arm.

Tired spirit.

Still, I feel good.

Eunha folded her lighter shopping bag and walked to ‘room 904’, stretching.

Trudging. Trudging.

Unlike the other floors where there was even a slight hint of popularity, the hallway was as quiet as ever.

The front door doesn’t rattle, and there are no hand prints on the windows.

It seems that everyone has gone to bed because it is late.

The story of one night nearing its end moves towards its end.

… … .

… … .

“… … Huh?”

And then.

Suddenly,

Eunha was heading home… and looked out the window without thinking.

I don’t know why.

My tired mind malfunctions,

I feel relaxed at the thought that the work is over,

Or… I was curious about what the old security guard was doing.

Eunha looked down at the backyard of her apartment through the hallway window.

… … .

… … A strange ‘something’,

I was standing tall in the backyard of my apartment building, looking up at the galaxy.

“Uh……?”

It was a lump.

Cold, dark, human-like.

But something other than human.

Unlike the parking lot, which was brightly lit thanks to the light coming from the window,

The backyard is unusually dark, making it difficult to see what ‘that’ looks like.

Still, it was just one lump, and something strangely writhing was attached to the window on the 9th floor, looking straight at the galaxy.

‘… … What time is it now.’

hour.

The elderly security guard said.

I have to return home before midnight.

What time is it?

『ㅡㅡㅡ.』

That’s not it.

He’s different from the ‘weirdos’ I’ve encountered so far.

Deeper, colder, sickening,

Something that should never be interacted with.

“… … .”

Excited. Excited.

The feeling that your heart starts beating wildly when you encounter something strange.

A very quiet 9th floor hallway.

The exhaled breath becomes pure white breath and disappears into the darkness.

Eunha gritted her teeth as goosebumps ran down her back, and quickly opened the front door of ‘Room 904’.

Rattling. Rattling.

It doesn’t open.

It’s the same as when the monster appeared.

It’s as if this space is cut off from the world, and no matter how hard you try, the front door won’t open.

Passu…

The ‘clay doll’ that was placed just now falls to pieces.

Eunha threw the empty shopping bag on the floor.

The frantic blinking of the flashlight represented her thoughts.

Isn’t it a bit strange that it really pops out like this?

“… … Look how it immediately says that there are no clay dolls left. I really can’t live.”

​

It’s midnight now.

A time without rules.

Therefore, no matter what monster comes, you cannot escape safely.

You have to choose.

Eunha rattled the front door of her house several times.

She looked out the window again.

『ㅡㅡㅡ.』

A lump writhing in the backyard,

He is pointing his finger at the galaxy.

Numerous arms flailing like tentacles from the bizarre mass,

He points to the galaxy on the window, bobbing up and down.

Tick. Tick.

As if telling you to stay still there.

“… … … ah. No.”

no.

I’m not saying don’t move.

It’s counting.

What level is the galaxy now?

Tick. Tick.

『ㅡㅡ. ㅡㅡㅡ. ㅡ』

Paralock!

After counting the floors, ‘that thing’ started running.

‘Something’ made up of many arms.

The sound of someone running on two feet as if imitating a human could be heard from the 9th floor.

The thumping sound of the footsteps of a huge animal running towards me makes my heart explode.

“Wow. What is that.”

Flash. Flash.

The staircase light turns on when it detects movement.

First floor. Second floor. 3rd floor… The pounding noise gets closer quickly.

The worry was short-lived.

Eunha pulled out a loaded pistol from her waist.

A derringer pistol that fits in one hand.

One loaded bullet.

The remaining two bullets are in my pants pocket.

The opponent is a monster whose identity is unknown.

“… … .”

like that,

Eunha held the pistol with trembling hands and aimed it at the stairs where the lights were turned on, one by one.

Feeling the fear of death slowly approaching.

He pulled his outstretched arm forward and placed the muzzle of the gun under his chin.

[In case of emergency, use it to find happiness faster.]

Taang!

A dizzying pain hit Eunha’s head.

… … .

… … .

… … .

“Keu… Ugh…”

rattle.

Trembling hands.

The sound of approaching footsteps.

The sound of the beast.

“Kkeup… Ugh…”

I put my hand in my pocket.

2 extra bullets.

Open the chamber of the pistol and remove the shell.

Insert a new bullet and close the chamber.

『ㅡ. ㅡㅡ. ㅡㅡ』

The sound of the beast.

cold.

Light snow falls,

Heavy snow falls, covering everything,

Trying to cover it with something other than death.

Not mixing, but covering.

“Huh! Breathe! Ugh…!”

A pistol covered in blood,

Again,

No, this time,

Put it in your mouth, towards the roof of your mouth.

Taang ㅡㅡㅡ!!

… … .

… … .

… … .

“Woweeekㅡㅡ!…… Wow. Escape succeeded.”

『… … .』

like that,

After a while.

Eunha faced the [black person] and smiled with satisfaction.