episode_0229

[Red Lady].

The first monster that Eunha encountered.

Surprisingly, I don’t remember talking much with her.

Unlike [Bug Princess], who you often encounter in the hallways, she only appears when you are enforcing the ‘rules’.

‘If wandering around looking for fate is resentment, shouldn’t I be pacing the hallways every day?’

But I’ve never met him in the hallway.

A little discomfort.

“It’s late today, so can we not go on the date tomorrow?”

“No. Go right now.”

“Why?”

“There’s no time.”

How did it come to this?

Eunha scratched the back of her head at the gaze of [Red Woman] who was looking at her with longing eyes.

“Okay. There is a way. I will call Grandpa Park.”

The words and feelings that pass through the half-open front door,

They blend together like red threads in a pure white skein.

… … .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I realize this anew.

Aren’t there more weirdos we know than people we know now?

‘Mr. Do Jong-ha and his subordinates… have they really felt refreshed?’

It was the morning after Do Jong-ha took away his painful memories.

Eunha, who returned after refreshing the precious things of the two people she met for the first time yesterday, opened her eyes in a soft bed.

She tossed and turned her body in a daze on this refreshing morning that was starting today as well.

“Oh my… my back…… What is it? What’s going on?”

『… … .』

“I’m in the room today.”

And then I lock eyes with ‘something’ that pokes its head out from the edge of the bed and greets it as if nothing happened.

“I’m not surprised at all.”

『… … .』

The veranda monster that always sticks its head out from the veranda railing…

No, the [Forgetful Saintess] who had tried to embrace everyone’s painful memories was watching the galaxy from her bedroom, not outside the window.

Thump. Thump.

I wonder if my favorability rating has increased since we mixed up once, but the distance between us is definitely closer than before.

Galaxy, hiding under the blanket, musters up the courage to reach out to [The Saintess of Oblivion].

“……huh.”

The cold hand of ‘that thing’ grabs the outstretched hand.

A hand extended to the people of a kingdom that was tilted and collapsing.

Then, he lifted his upper body, which was hanging on the edge of the bed, and climbed into the soft blanket, hugging Eunha’s waist.

[The Oblivious Maiden], who had buried her face in the vast chest of the galaxy without a single thread on her, let out a refreshing breath.

“… … Hey, you freaks…”

“Shh. Just look at me.”

“Wow.”

Swish…

The sound of waves.

The sound of the pain that had remained in Eunha’s mind being washed away.

A sad, sorrowful sound, filled with someone’s resentment.

Get swept away.

“…good.”

How long was it like that?

‘That thing’ nodded with satisfaction and left the bed with only the upper body remaining.

[The Oblivious Maiden], who skillfully crawled down to the floor, showed an attitude of utmost satisfaction and crawled under the bed to avoid Eunha’s gaze.

“… … Why are you going under someone else’s bed?”

I’m already so scared that I don’t even check under the bed, but now I can’t even put my feet out of the blanket.

Eunha burst into laughter and massaged her sore back.

I wonder if he’d like it if I put something under his bed.

I picked up my smartphone from the nightstand and bought one of the most highly rated acupressure mats on a home shopping site.

“Ah… I should buy one for the old security guard, considering his age.”

It’s August 22nd and the heat is starting to subside.

… … .

‘Please don’t let me get sick today.’

A wish that never came true.

Eunha, who got out of bed while groaning, took one step at a time, moving her lower body, which was stiffer and had less sensation than usual.

Ugh…

My head hurts.

It was like a metal skewer had gone into my nostril and come out through the back of my head.

Maybe it’s because I brought back painful memories of Do Jong-ha last night, but my head hurts several times more than usual… No, it feels refreshing.

It’s not painful, it’s refreshing.

It’s okay.

“Colok…”

Eunha pushed up the corner of her mouth with one hand.

She wiped away the blood that had flowed down her nose without thinking and headed to the living room to pack the clothes she would wear today.

As I headed to the living room, I passed a mirror and saw the image of a woman without a single thread on. This time, perhaps because she had aged and regenerated several times at [Euncheon Park], she had become softer in many ways than before.

There were fewer changes than expected, as [Self-recovery] was closer to the desired ‘original state’.

I don’t know much about it, but I think babies would like it.

The galaxy, thinking positively, takes its halting steps.

“[Beast] left the meat behind again… I told you I can’t eat meat.”

As I come out into the living room, I see ‘raw meat’ on a wooden table.

Since some time ago, the [beast] next door has been leaving thick pieces of raw meat on the living room table once or twice every two days.

The only problem is that Eunha is a forced vegetarian who cannot eat meat.

Here’s a guy who was threatened with a knife and told not to eat meat.

I came from [Euncheon Restaurant] and stuffed chicken salad made with my own thigh meat into my mouth. I wonder if I will get traumatized.

Because of that, the ‘raw meat’ brought by [the beast] was always headed to the freezer, and I was starting to run out of empty space in the refrigerator, which was causing problems.

I guess I should deliver meat to [Euncheon Restaurant] like last time.

I wrap the raw meat on the table in a black plastic bag and put it in the freezer, then open the window to ventilate the room with the fresh smell of blood before going into the bathroom.

“Errellicolelli.”

“Good morning.”

“Really crappy.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What happened while I was sleeping?”

I hope it passes without any pain.

Today was another morning of sending off useless wishes and arguing with the ‘Milky Way’ reflected in the mirror.

… … .

The rest of the day was uneventful.

Similar customers, similar conversations with cafe people.

Daughter~♪

​

“Welcome~… Oh, Mr. Do Jong-ha?”

“… … hiccup.”

If there was one thing that surprised me, it would be that Detective Do Jong-ha visited the cafe.

Even though it clearly relieved the painful memories, I still managed to come here.

“Hiccup… Hey, he told me to follow you! I’m a detective!”

“I heard it last time.”

“Oh, really? Here’s my business card!”

“I received it last time… I’m glad it looks okay.”

It looks like he’s completely forgotten yesterday’s memories, but… it looks like Eunha has become interested in humans.

But I don’t know why.

I don’t know how much Do Jong-ha was concerned as he sat at the table and looked around at the other customers and people in the cafe.

‘If you keep doing that, you’ll get into trouble again, right? If something happens later and you tell me again, I think you’ll forget that you’re a real detective…’

I don’t know. I guess he’ll figure it out.

But he seems like a good person at heart, so I hope we can get along well in the future.

Because the relationship that will eventually continue will continue like a red thread woven through fingers.

Eun-ha welcomed the new relationship and carefully placed Do-jong-ha’s business card in her wallet.

… … .

The day passed without any incident,

On the way back from the cafe, I got my blood drawn on the [blood donation bus].

It took longer than I thought to collect blood donation stickers, so I promised myself to donate blood every time an event was finished.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking off my shoes. Anyway, after I finish donating blood, I’ll go to my bedroom.”

Put the shoes you took off in a black plastic bag and put them in your carrier, then sit down on the designated blood donation chair and wipe the area around your carotid artery with the provided alcohol swab.

“Does it sting? Stinging?”

“Oh, wait a minute. Last time I had my blood drawn, I didn’t meet [a black person]…”

Phew!

And the excruciating pain.

It feels like my carotid artery is on fire.

However, perhaps because the recovery power of the [Self-Recovery] skill had increased, this time too I only felt pain and did not lose consciousness.

What could be the problem?

Eunha, without even losing consciousness, drew blood until all the blood in her body dried up.

“Good boy… Come on? Just a little more?”

The kind words of the blood donor sister touched my heart for no reason.

I have to come again.

… … Hold on!

And so the blood donation was completed.

Eunha’s body, drained of all her blood while still sober, is thrown onto the bed in room 904.

“Keuheuk….! Huh…! Huh….!”

I look down at my skin, which has turned pure white.

My eyes, which had lost focus, could not see anything, but my bloodless limbs were as cold as ice,

I endured the chills by pulling the fluffy blanket over my head.

It’s okay. I’m used to this now.

It’s a familiar pain.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

Come to think of it, I wished I didn’t get sick today.

I guess I was a little shameless.

Eunha happily touched the blood donation card that contained 16 stickers.

… … .

… … .

It was that kind of day.

A daily routine where something changes slightly, but in the end, nothing changes.

If you are different from others and deviate even slightly, terrible pain awaits you…

A singing apartment where people live like everyone else.

That’s how the day was going to end.

Knock knock.

A familiar knocking sound.

The sound of blood.

Eunha grabbed her aching joints at the touch of ‘someone’s’ hand knocking on the front door.

… … .

When did you hear the knock?

Was it when I took off my bloody boxy shirt and carried the carrier that had collapsed on the bed into the hallway?

Or maybe it was because I was tired of cooking and was just eating a cup of ramen.

Thump. Thump.

Like a traveler facing the source of fear, or like a lover reunited after a long time, the sound of a pounding heart beats against the eardrums of the galaxy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. If someone knocks on your front door.

First, check outside through the intercom.

​

If you see a woman in a red dress standing in front of the door,

Please take a sip of salt and go to the bathroom immediately.

​

The front door will open by itself, and ‘it’ will look all over ■■■■ ■■■ for about ten minutes before quietly walking away.

​

The above must be completed within 3 minutes.

1-1. Please do not close the bathroom door.

Open the door so I can see you.

Show us our proof engraved on your little finger.

​

But, don’t come out of the bathroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knock knock.

A constant knocking sound.

There’s no need to panic. Just do as you normally would.

“Yes, I’m going.”

Eunha, who had been scattering the trauma that was rising in her hair with her hand, headed towards the entrance.

The moment you enter the front door, the temperature drops as if winter has arrived.

Rustle…

She stopped by the bathroom for a moment and took out a bag of salt for emergency use.

Eunha took a few deep breaths and trudged to the front door.

Knock knock. Knock knock.

“Oh, you’re so impatient. I’ll turn on the intercom soon, so at least hold a pose.”

I pretended everything was fine and turned on the intercom to start a fight.

Then, the scene in front of house 904 came into view, and there was a bloody woman holding an old saw.

『… … .』

A bright red dress whose original color is unrecognizable.

A beautiful woman covered in blood stares straight at the galaxy from the other side of the intercom.

Eunha makes a V sign with both hands and lets out a mischievous laugh at [Red Woman]’s gaze.

Now when ‘that thing’ starts counting down to 3 minutes, it’s time to bite down on salt and hide in the bathroom.

Eunha, who remembered the ‘rules’ that she had mastered to the point of memorizing them even in her dreams, waited for [the Red Woman] while tying the red thread she had stored in the shoe rack around her little finger.

“I’m tired, so let’s finish quickly and do what we have to do.”

『… … No. Just open it.』

Knock knock.

But why is that?

[The Red Woman] knocked on the door without any particular hesitation.

“Huh? Just open it?”

Was this a door that could be opened just like that?

The galaxy was in chaos.

Chook-.

Even if you sprinkle salt on the front door just in case, there’s no response.

Rather, perhaps it was because he was annoyed that the knocking sound had changed into the sound of someone grabbing and turning the doorknob.

『Open. Open. Open. Quickly. Open. Open.』

As if we didn’t have to worry about ‘rules’ anymore.

Or like [Bug Princess] who walks around the apartment whenever she’s bored.

[The Red Woman] urged Eunha to open the door in a more urgent tone than before.

‘You came all of a sudden?… Oh, come to think of it, I’ve encountered monsters in the hallway before, but I’ve never seen a monster ring the doorbell at my house.’

Anyway, [Red Woman] is important right now.

Eunha looked at ‘that thing’ waving shyly from the other side of the intercom, lost in thought.

‘Um… well, let’s just open it. It won’t hurt me since it’s not a proper ‘rule’.’

The worries were short.

With a light breath, Eunha boldly opened the front door where the terrifying monster was waiting.

Rattling!

A wide open front door.

A bloody woman appears in front of him.

Their eyes meet each other.

… … Squeak.

Then, perhaps thinking that he opened the front door too wide, he closed it slightly while laughing heartily.

It’s comfortable now.

… … .

… … .

“You. Date.”

“What’s the price?”

“I will save you.”

“Established.”

So, [the red woman], who was staring at the galaxy through the half-open front door, stated her purpose.

date.

Perhaps the most inappropriate word for a monster.

Eunha blurted out the word ‘date’ and then quietly looked at [Red Woman], who seemed embarrassed and hid behind the front door.

The truly human gestures and expressions are creepy.

“… … Then, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.”

I’ve never done it.

Words that are on my mind.

Eunha licked her lips at the sight of ‘that thing’ constantly covering his back with one hand.

… … .

It doesn’t matter if you’re dating.

As long as it doesn’t hurt, I don’t care what happens.

What would it be like to date a monster?

Moreover, [Red Woman] is the one I’ve been with the longest among the monsters… Even Eunha is starting to get interested.

‘But… it’ll be night soon.’

Eunha turned her gaze away from [Red Woman] and looked out the window of the apartment hallway.

The time when the sun caught in the clouds scatters the sunset color.

The sun will set in about 30 minutes.

A dangerous time in many ways.

Wouldn’t it be better to leave work early tomorrow and go on a tour of Euncheon-gu instead of today?

Eunha, who had been observing ‘that thing’ for a moment, gathered her courage and spoke.

“It’s late today, so can we not go on the date tomorrow?”

“No. Go right now.”

“Why?”

“There’s no time.”

Squeak…

The half-closed front door opens.

The appearance of ‘that thing’ that was hidden along with embarrassment is completely revealed.

“There’s no time.”

Right hand holding the saw.

And, he showed his left hand, which had become transparent enough to show the opposite scenery, to the galaxy.

[The Red Lady] said.

There is no time.

“Huh? No, huh?”

“… … .』

“How did it happen? What did the old security guard say?”

“I don’t know.”

Tick, tick.

Time goes by.

Without waiting for us.

『So. I wanted to try what I wanted to do… with you.』

like that,

A monster with a grudge and a grudge reached out its hand.

Thin fingers that have torn and tormented the galaxy time and time again.

The left hand, which had become transparent like fog, approached the galaxy with dark resentment,

It passes fleetingly through her chest.

“… … .”

Why is that?

The monster before my eyes is nothing but a being that holds only resentment.

Even now, when I see the real nails of [Red Woman], trauma surges up and I want to collapse in my seat.

( 『Still… I won’t ignore the song you sing.』)

Hot.

The galaxy.

He firmly grabbed the right hand of [the Red Woman], who was holding the saw.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. We recommend that you refrain from going out at night.

– It is not recommended to leave your home or walk around your apartment after sunset.

​~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Let’s go. Date. I’ll make it so fun that no one will know if someone dies.”

like that.

Even before the setting sun, the warmth of the galaxy that smiles the same as usual,

[The Red Woman] looked up at the dazzling starlight and closed her eyes tightly.