episode_0281

The night in which the fake hid ends.

It’s just a passing, ordinary evening,

The ‘fake’ comes out of the mirror, and the rabbit finds happiness…

and,

This is the day when the A-class hunter ‘Mouse’ came face to face with a monster.

“… … .”

『… … .』

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[Rare Hunter Protection-Killing] Affiliation.

Team 1 member ‘Mouse’.

She was sitting on a bed of thorns again.

​

​

That’s a really big thorn.

It’s bigger than before.

​

I can’t sit still because the thorns are pushing their way up my throat, so I just quietly lean against the side of the sofa.

Was I the type of person who was so observant?

‘Mouse’, who had been living a nocturnal life for several years, realized that she was more shy than she thought.

Beep!

Galaxy, sitting in the middle of the living room sofa, leans back on the soft backrest and exhales.

Next to her, a mirror monster in the shape of a silver bell is groping the galaxy’s pocket of grudge as if it were its own, while on the other side, a ‘rabbit stuffed animal’ sits awkwardly, its wounds healed by a potion.

“… … .”

Eunha said nothing.

Just looking at the body of the sewn ‘rabbit doll’ with complicated eyes, and carefully holding the soft doll’s hand.

How far and what kind of story did you hear from the mirror monster?

I don’t know what he’s thinking, but the smile on his lips looks tired.

“… How long will Mr. Heojeop stay like that?”

“This rabbit. I like it because it’s light. And it’s not vulgar either.”

“Yeah, go back to the mirror. This is your body.”

“It’s a boast.”

As always, the ticking galaxy tries to slap the hand of ‘Silver Drop’ that is coming into the thin gown, but fails due to lack of strength.

Is it just my mood that makes the words and actions of the ‘Crash Mirror’ seem different?

Beep!

Meanwhile, the ‘rabbit doll’ and the [doll girl] lying on Eunha’s thighs stretched out.

Galaxy bursts into laughter and pats the girl’s soft belly.

The polar bear girl, who had been awake late into the evening due to the warm patting, became sleepy, and she closed her eyes slowly, using the shade of Eunha’s chest as her shelter.

[Doll Girl] who uses the Milky Way’s thigh as a pillow.

Galaxy patting the soft belly of a polar bear.

The usual smiling face. But a little different.

‘Mouse’ was reminded of a festering abscess in that galactic smile.

“… … .”

I don’t see any room to fit into that space.

The ‘mouse’, who had been quietly checking his watch, quietly leaves and goes into the bedroom.

The bedroom of the galaxy I came to on my own feet was quiet.

It’s a cozy bedroom, except that the air is a little colder and heavier than before, like a liquid.

“Whew… Can we rest now?”

A lot has happened.

How many months has Eunha survived in an apartment like this?

I sat down on the bed, feeling anew how amazing Malrang’s fist was.

‘… … From now on, am I going to keep associating with guys like this?’

A life where I somehow became aware of the strangeness.

What I encountered today was a monster that approached me pretending to be someone I knew.

What would have happened if the ‘Rabbit Doll’ hadn’t come running in time?

Eunha said that since she didn’t break the ‘Guidebook’, it wouldn’t be a big deal… but she couldn’t forget the creepy face of ‘Silver Bangul’ that she encountered in the darkness.

I realize this anew. So that’s what a monster is.

If you let your guard down even for a moment, your life will be gone in an instant.

‘You’ve been doing well quietly for three years, and then all of a sudden, you’re in trouble?’

I don’t know. But I guess I’ll feel better if I work while looking at Eunha’s face.

Until [Rare Hunter Protection-Killing] stops ‘protecting’ the galaxy, I’ll have to spend the time like today, with my heart pounding.

“Yeah, whether you die in the [Crack Field] or die next to Wangjiji, wouldn’t your salary be the same?”

I thought at ease.

The ‘mouse’ burst into laughter and looked around the bedroom, wagging its thin tail.

… … squeak…

The bedroom wall.

A slightly open iron gate is visible.

This is the entrance door connected to the house next door.

“Why is that open again?”

Is it okay for a monster to visit this often?

I’m starting to get really worried about Eunha.

… … .

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

※Guide to living safely at home※

10. The door leading to the next door needs maintenance.

– It has a similar purpose to an escape ladder.

– Please evacuate to the house next door and the house below in the direction you prefer in case of an emergency.

– It’s okay to go out and play when you feel lonely.

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10-1. This door opens only from your house.

– But, get into the habit of checking the door every evening before the sun sets.

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– If you notice that the door is slightly open or damaged, you may leave the house with peace of mind and come to the security office at the entrance to your apartment.

– If you go back with the guard, things will go back to the way they were.

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#. If you neglect to manage the entrance/exit due to circumstances,

– On that day, the door in question will only open from the opposite side.

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

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Squeak…

It’s a dull iron door that doesn’t match the cozy atmosphere of the bedroom.

When he entered the bedroom with the ‘rabbit doll’ earlier, the door that was closed opened slightly in front of the eyes of the ‘mouse’ who returned to avoid the awkwardness of the living room, capturing his attention.

Tick tock.

If the door is open, it must be closed.

Even if you say that your neighbor lives next door, he or she is probably not a good person.

The ‘mouse’ that lightly generated mana used the [Speed Manipulation] skill.

Tick. Tick-tock… Tick-tock.

The second hand of the clock began to slow down rapidly.

Galaxy’s voice coming from the living room is stretched out and unintelligible.

The ‘mouse’, which had accelerated its own speed, tapped its stuffy ear hole with the palm of its hand.

First, let’s close the door and talk to Eunha.

The ‘mouse’ thinking like that approaches the slightly open iron door.

Sighㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

The world has almost stopped.

Examine the iron gate connecting the house next door.

The gap in the door was so wide that it was difficult to stick one’s body through it, but it was enough to stick one’s head through it, and that stimulated the subtle curiosity of the ‘mouse’.

On the other side… What could be in the monster’s house?

The moment the iron gate opened, it was already closed.

Since we’re already late, can I take a quick look around the house next door?

“… … .”

Curiosity killed the cat.

It’s a good adage for mice.

You can do this because you have the [Speed Control] skill.

In the slowed time, the ‘mouse’, lost in thought, steels his resolve and summons mana.

‘It’s a bit much, but… I guess there’s nothing I can do.’

Sigh…

Jeeㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ…

The sound of the second hand slowing down to its limit.

The ‘mouse’, wiping away the dripping coffee, looked through the crack in the iron door.

The other side was pitch black.

If you slightly lower your head, you can see a field of snow covered with snow.

‘It’s cold… What is it? Is this the same house?’

Did they turn on the air conditioner and sprinkle snow on the floor?

If you look away, you can see countless animal claw marks carved into the iron gate.

The iron door in Eunha’s bedroom looked fine.

But the other side is a mess of sharp nail marks.

Snow on the floor. Cold blowing in through the cracks in the door.

Fingernail marks carved into the iron gate……

“… … Tsk.”

The ‘mouse’, which accelerated itself to its limit, wiped its nosebleed.

Then, he sticks his head through the gap in the door and takes in the dark scenery of the house next door.

Swish…

The world beyond the iron gate was dark and wide.

There was a huge space there that was hard to believe was inside an apartment.

Pouring sleet.

A pure white snow field covered with fluffy snow.

“Wow…”

And, the night sky that brightens my eyes,

A pure white halo of light was embroidered in a circle, like a photograph capturing star trails.

It was beautiful.

The trajectory of a star moving in a circle.

A sight like seeing countless comets.

And, the center of the night sky.

In the sky where all the stars move forward, drawing trajectories,

The only thing that does not move is the brilliantly shining North Star.

Thump. Thump.

This was one world.

A sort of altar, looking up at the dazzling night sky above the snow that covers the world.

The ‘mouse’ looked up at the North Star in the night sky and suppressed the urge to boil over.

For a moment, I thought about entering the world beyond the iron gate.

‘This is… dangerous.’

Beauty that draws the soul.

However, unlike the night sky where the North Star is visible, the snowfield covered with sleet is very lonely.

No matter how many hands you have, your outstretched fingertips cannot reach the North Star.

I feel sad.

Ouch!

‘What? You just… said you were sad?’

Someone’s feelings.

A bone-chilling loneliness and resentment.

I was hungry.

The ‘beast’, feeling increasingly in danger, quickly pulled its head out through the crack in the door.

Jjeㅡㅡㅡㅡkkeukㅡㅡㅡ.

The tour of the house next door was over in an instant.

There was another world next door to the galaxy.

‘Mouse’ adjusted the [Speed Control] skill while assessing the remaining mana.

Jjeㅡㅡㅡㅡkakㅡㅡ…

Unlike the monstrous Banharin, she received an A-class tag with just this one skill.

There is no doubt that it is an excellent skill in the eyes of others, but the efficiency of the ‘mana’ consumed is so poor that it already makes me feel dizzy.

“Colok…”

I looked at my watch.

Only one second had passed since I put my head through the crack in the door.

I felt the mana in my body slowly disappearing and closed the open iron door.

It was a sight that felt life-threatening, but was equally mysterious.

‘I have to tell Galaxy to never go into the house next door. It’s dangerous there.’

I don’t know what kind of monster next door is.

The space itself is just dangerous.

Unless you receive the love of the ‘Ghost Next Door’, are resurrected after death, or are no different from the ghost, you will not be able to come out of that space in good health the moment you enter.

Squeak…

I closed the iron door with complicated feelings.

Rattling.

The door wouldn’t close because of the ‘hands’ that were sticking out through the cracks in the door.

“What…”

Cold hands.

A hand of some sort emerges through the gap and grabs the iron door.

The startled ‘mouse’ looked at his watch.

The world is still infinitely slow because the [Speed Manipulation] skill is still activated.

I turn my head and look at the iron gate.

The ‘hands’ that had escaped through the iron gate have disappeared, as if in an illusion.

… … Did I see something?

“It’s you. The kid who played with the clock at the restaurant.”

“… … ?”

“Take good care of our baby. If I come near him, he will only get hurt.”

Then, a voice like an auditory hallucination was heard from behind me,

Rattling…

The ‘mouse’ closed the open iron door.

“… … huh?”

What just happened?

Suddenly.

It’s an evening where I feel lost in thought, stroking the cold, frozen tail of a rat.

… … .

… … .

“… … Hey, what’s that iron door in the bedroom? It’s slightly open. Can I take a look?”

“That’s really killing me. Put the handle down… It’s open? ”

Nothing much happened after that.

Just in case, I told Eunha that the iron door to the bedroom was open, and Eunha, startled, ran into the bedroom, saw the iron door was firmly closed, and let out a sigh of relief.

When I came out to the living room, [Doll Girl] and ‘Rabbit Doll’ were nowhere to be seen, as if they had gone back home.

Only Eunbangul, with a disgruntled expression, was sitting on the sofa with her pure white rabbit ears perked up.

But soon, ‘that thing’ also checks its watch and heads to the bathroom without saying a word.

While Eunha is fidgeting and knocking on the iron door of her bedroom to say hello to ‘someone’, ‘Mouse’ is talking to ‘Silver Bangul’ who is going into the bathroom mirror.

“Go, you rascals. Drink lots of milk and bathe often.”

“Why do you insist on being specific about your virtues and being polite and nosy?”

Is it because I don’t feel any hostility from the monster in front of me?

Although I was nervous that I might be attacked again at any moment, I wasn’t overly fearful.

Hit and run.

A sound of falling water is heard, and the ‘silver bell’ enters the mirror.

For a moment, the mirror’s surface seemed to ripple, then returned to its original appearance.

“… … Are you really going?”

“Because I got caught.”

The monsters leave more blandly than expected.

As if it shouldn’t stay in the galaxy’s house for too long, it hurriedly returns to its original place.

The ‘mouse’ in the mirror opened its mouth in complaint, wagging its thin tail.

“If you want a fake to become real, do you know what’s most important?”

“Can I just answer with persistence and effort?”

“You can’t get caught.”

What suddenly comes to mind is the image of the ‘rabbit doll’ held in Eunha’s arms.

What happens to fakes that get caught?

I don’t know.

“Beware of the rabbit. The fake will do anything to become real.”

Something I once said to Eunha.

“See you again. Check from time to time to see if I’m among the people around you.”

“… … .”

“Take good care of even the sloppy cows.”

With those words, the ‘mouse’ in the mirror stopped moving.

He just swung his long rat tail with the ‘inverted cross ring’ on it and glared at himself in the mirror with a headache on his face.

‘Mouse’ is,

The woman, who had no name and was simply called ‘Mouse’,

I frown at the monster’s attitude, which has changed like turning the palm of one’s hand.

The ‘someone’ next door, and the mirror monster too…

Why am I asking you to take good care of the galaxy?

What does the galaxy mean to monsters?

“Mr. Mouse. What are you doing in the bathroom? Did the sloppy guy go?”

“… … Is the bedroom area okay?”

“Yes. I know the neighbor’s mom, so we talked things through nicely.”

Galaxy approaches with a languid smile.

The ‘mouse’ wrapped its thin tail around her waist, approaching her without any sense of danger.

When you get here, the galaxy is scarier than the monster.

What is the identity?

I want to quickly bury my head in the corner of the bed and pass out until morning.

“Are you tired? I left the veranda window open, so go to bed early today.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t want to let you sleep on the sofa… Do you want to sleep in the bed with me? I don’t really want to sleep alone today.”

“Huh?”

Yes, it’s late at night,

I fell asleep lying on a soft bed with the galaxy,

A day in the life of ‘Mouse’ who started to hate Saetbyeol Apartment in one day.

“… … .”

And the ‘mouse’,

She lay in bed with Eunha,

Eunha, who had taken off her pure white gown while sleeping, was held in her arms like a pillow, and she had no choice but to stare up at the ceiling without moving an inch.

“… … .”

Buried in the warmth of the galaxy,

‘The mouse’ thought.

A day plagued by a monster…

… … Surprisingly, is it okay?

( “Please take good care of our baby.” )

( “Even a sloppy cow is well taken care of.” )

‘Mouse’ left the association’s work and vowed to take care of the galaxy as much as he could.

I have no particular ulterior motives. Not at all. Not one.

Knock knock…

Then suddenly, the veranda window opened and ‘something’ came into the house.

Something crawls on the floor with both arms into the bedroom and climbs onto the soft bed.

『… … .』

“… … .”

The ‘mouse’, who couldn’t sleep at all, locks eyes with ‘that thing’.

“… … .”

“what.”

ah.

I closed my eyes.

The night was deep.

… … .

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

Bbong-bbang~ Bbong-bbang~.

The next day came.

The weather alarm goes off.

Eunha woke up again today with a refreshed mind.

She saw off the ‘mouse’ who said he would go back as soon as the sun rose in the morning.

The ‘mouse’ with a red face stares at the galaxy for a long time, then, when she tells him to meet her at the cafe, he looks regretful and runs away from the ‘Satbyeol Apartment’.

It must have been hard because of those monsters… I shouldn’t let anyone into my house from now on.

Eunha returned home shivering in the cool dawn air.

Thump, thump.

Footsteps heavier than usual.

Thump thump…

I made a phone call on the way back to the elevator.

– … … Hehe… Yes… Hello…?

“Bangul-ah. Are you awake now?”

– … … … Ah! Sister Eunha!

Eun Bang-ul, who received the call, jumps up to greet her.

Eunha sat down helplessly in the corner of the elevator.

– What’s going on so early in the morning? Here I am, I’m so happy to hear your voice as soon as I wake up!

“… … Yeah.”

– Did you sleep well? There you are! Sister!

“Yeah… I’m listening.”

Obscured by her hair, Eunha’s face was not visible.

Was her voice different than usual?

Eunbangul, who was very excited, asks again with worry.

– … What’s going on? Do you want to take a vacation today? Should I go to the apartment now? Are you anxious about going to [Crack Field] on a holiday?

“No. It’s okay.”

– But…

“Bangul-ah.”

Tiingㅡ.

The elevator arrived at the 9th floor.

Galaxy, who had raised her body, looks at the elevator mirror.

It’s his usual smiling face.

“I just remembered, do you remember what we promised last time? I told you not to come near my apartment because I had something to do.”

– Yes?…… Ah, um…

A voice on the other end of the phone.

The sound of someone flipping through a notepad or something like that, as if checking something.

– … … Yes! Of course I remember! It was the promise we made in May.

“Right?… Bangul-ah. I’m saying this again just in case, but no matter what happens, don’t come to the apartment.”

– … … .

“If you come to my apartment thinking it’s okay because I don’t know, I’ll pluck out your hopping rabbit ears. Got it?”

There is no reason.

There was no process of persuasion.

Just said.

– … … Sister, you’re okay, right?

“That’s because I’m okay.”

– Yes! I promise~!

Because that was enough.

The voice of the rabbit girl, full of longing, taps Eunha’s shoulder.

Click-.

So, back home,

He hangs up the phone, telling her to meet him at a cafe.

‘Room 904’ left alone.

I look around the quiet living room.

The face of the galaxy is hidden in shadow,

I couldn’t see the expression.

“… … .”

just.

Lean back on the sofa for a moment,

I exhaled,

Knock knock.

One day, I just took out a cutter knife that I got from [Happy Convenience Store].

Knock knock. Knock knock.

The face of the galaxy was not visible.

A few thoughts.

It’s like looking at an abscess filled with pus.

… knock. Knock.

The galaxy is slowly,

He moved the cutter knife and squeezed out the abscess.

Her expression was hidden in shadow.

… … .

… … .

“Hoo…”

After a while.

Eunha exhaled as she returned the cutter knife under the table.

The pungent smell of blood.

Her shadow-free face always bears a languid smile.

“It’s okay. It’s okay now.”

A voice muttering with difficulty.

I leaned back on the sofa and turned my head.

At some point, the ‘entrance door’ located on the wall of the living room catches the eye.

A pitch-black wooden door with an antique design.

The opposite of ‘903’, which has [the beast] seeds,

The door connected to ‘Room 905’.

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

※Guide to living safely at home※

10. The door leading to the next door needs maintenance.

– It has a similar purpose to an escape ladder.

– Please evacuate to the house next door and the house below in the direction you prefer in case of an emergency.

– It’s okay to go out and play when you feel lonely.

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

“When your heart is lonely…”

Early morning.

Although, what is the galaxy thinking,

I don’t know yet,

Because you always have a smile on your face,

I will have a positive mind today too.

“… … .”

A moment of thought.

Eunha opened the pitch-black ‘door’ and entered ‘Room 905’.

The moment my careless footsteps reached the house next door,

The scent of affectionate disinfectant tickles the bridge of my nose.

Blink. Blink.

All you can see is a dark hallway.

It looks like the ward hallway of [Neulpureum Emergency Center] that I saw some time ago.

“… … .”

I hate going to the hospital no matter when.

My mind is in disarray.

Eunha, who was looking down the dark hallway, looked back at the door she had come through.

‘Mortuary’.

That’s what it says on the pitch-black door.

“Our daughter?”

Crunch. Crunch.

The sound of neat shoes.

From beyond the darkness of the hallway, a woman in a doctor’s gown approaches with quick steps and embraces Eun-ha.

“Why did you come? Do you want to get stung?”

“… … .”

Eunha closes her eyes as she is quietly hugged by the ‘blood donor doctor’.

… … .

September 10th.

Until the third [Crack Field] exploration holiday,

The next two days.

“Can I get some headache medicine?”

Eunha went to the hospital to get some medicine for the first time in years.

Since the hospital land is owned by this side, the hospital fees were free.