episode_0366

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※Guide to Using Eunsung Park for a Vibrant Life※

– This guide has been prepared to encourage your safe and lively leisure activities.

– If this guide is lost or damaged, please visit the security office of “Morning Star Apartments” for a replacement.

―――

The park is a public facility for everyone.

– Do not vandalize.

– Do not litter.

– Do not bring and consume outside food.

– These rules apply to all of us.

―――

2. A path is made by the footprints of those who walked before you.

– Please refrain from leaving the park’s walking trails whenever possible.

– As mentioned earlier, the park is a shared space.

– What is planted here, what lives here—

– Truthfully, even we don’t know.

– Only the wise would understand.

―――

3. Always be mindful of footsteps.

– Humans have two legs.

– Animals likely have four. Or maybe five.

– I believe no human is unaware of their own footsteps.

―――

3-1. Sometimes, turning back is also a solution.

– However, do not turn your head to look behind you.

– Some beings prefer to avoid the gaze of others.

―――

4. If troubled, sit on a park bench and lose yourself in thought.

– Mere contemplation solves nothing.

– Thinking is the process of seeking a solution.

―――

4-1. Twilight is the time of the wise.

– When the time comes, the wise will approach you.

– If you maintain proper courtesy and conduct, you may borrow their wisdom.

– However, your conversation with them must end before sunset.

– Once twilight passes, the bell of dawn will take everything away.

―――

4-2. Dawn is the time for all of us.

– The wise ring the morning not for the past, but for you.

– I won’t forget the hand you extended to me.

– When dawn approaches, the bell of dusk will rewrite everything.

―――

5. Restrooms are located only at the park entrance.

– Before your park walk, be sure to check the last restroom.

– Urinating in public is prohibited.

―――

6. Things that exist sometimes disappear.

– It happens occasionally. Ignore it and move on.

– Did you realize something disappeared?

– Make sure “they” don’t notice that fact.

―――

6-1. If delayed in reacting and “they” notice you:

– It is recommended to rush into the nearest restroom, not the one at the entrance.

– The lesser evil is preferable to the worst.

―――

7. Our park is a non-smoking area.

– This is for fire prevention.

– Let’s work together to keep the park safe for everyone.

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A disgustingly convoluted and lengthy guide.

[Eunsung Park] was especially like that.

Maybe because grotesques frequented public places too.

In a way, Eunsol herself was just public property to them.

She wished they’d at least use her as cleanly as this park.

If they didn’t, well—

Nothing she could do.

“Huu! Huu!”

The golden twilight settled over the evening.

Eunsol sprinted through the unnervingly quiet park trails, recalling the “Eunsung Park Guide” written in the [Black Book] she’d left behind at the café.

Her days of reading the [Black Book] every morning to avoid pain.

Thanks to that, the necessary rules came to mind immediately.

For someone not particularly bright, she sure memorized these things well.

Praising her own memory, Eunsol dragged her heavy body as she ran through [Eunsung Park].

…….

Thud! Thud!

Click. Clack.

The trivial sound of Eunsol’s footsteps.

The screech of a blade dragging along the ground.

An untimely chase was underway in the silent [Eunsung Park].

Eunsol, as always, was the one running away.

Chasing her was a snow-white “Spider Egg” with eight sickle-like legs.

A grotesque she’d never seen before.

Not the type like [Tattered Bus] or the [Red Moon] in the night sky, which spelled doom just by looking—instead, the kind where something happens if caught.

The appearance of grotesques was always sudden, but this time was especially so.

“Here for a jog too?”

『…….』

“Great. You won’t talk… If I call ‘Tattered Mom’ to escape now, you’d get mad, right?”

Without the [Black Book], she had to check every step like testing a rotten bridge.

If she messed up… Too bad.

She thought positively.

At least it reaffirmed the [Black Book]’s importance.

Hiding the presence chasing her, Eunsol spoke to “that thing” as if she were just out for a stroll.

‘What is it? No communication.’

Do not leave the walking trails.

She ran, evading the pursuing “Spider Egg.”

No matter how far she ran, the endless “trail” resembled a giant spiderweb.

Lush undergrowth on either side, trees towering enough to blot the sky.

A park where beautiful twilight filters through the verdant leaves.

If she followed this “trail” ascending the mountain, she’d reach a clearing on the mountainside where the wise old man lived.

‘The scenery’s lovely… Must’ve been like the village where the old man lived.’

Twilight.

The time when the day nears its end.

She remembered the story of the old man who wished to become wise.

Eunsol walked in the footsteps of that lonely old man.

Click. Clack.

The “Spider Egg” chased Eunsol lost in reminiscence.

As if it had eyes somewhere, its eight sickle-like legs moved in a straight line toward her.

Slightly faster than walking speed.

A speed she could outrun if she tried.

But for Eunsol to sprint, she had to cradle her chest—larger than her head—as she ran.

Even without that handicap, her physical abilities were subpar, forcing her to use “Body Reinforcement” to slowly widen the distance.

“Cough!”

Three minutes of “Body Reinforcement” drained her mana.

Coughing up blood, Eunsol returned to her sluggish pace, and the gap between them narrowed again.

Click. Clack…!

The sickle sound closed in right behind her.

The chilling pain of blades piercing flesh surfaced like trauma.

( The mana necessary for a Hunter’s vital functions is called [Essential Mana], comprising 70% of total mana. If [Essential Mana] is depleted, Hunters experience symptoms similar to hypoxia and, in severe cases, death. )

( The remaining mana—unnecessary for survival—is called [Surplus Mana], roughly 30% of the total. )

( Hunters use [Surplus Mana] for skills and body reinforcement. )

She suddenly recalled words Ban Harin once told her.

People truly must keep learning.

“Ugh… Whatever!”

Grit—!

Regardless of mana depletion, Eunsol staked her recovery and diverted even her [Essential Mana] into “Body Reinforcement.”

Her speed increased again.

Wiping the blood dripping from her nose, she continued sprinting, cradling her oversized chest.

『…….』

Meanwhile, the “Spider Egg” chasing her—

Observed her desperate flight,

Examined the bloodstains left behind,

Click…

And hesitantly slowed its pace.

The distance between them widened further.

‘What’s…?’

Unease.

Eunsol glanced back.

The “Spider Egg” had slowed significantly.

Enough that she no longer needed “Body Reinforcement.”

“…….”

Wiping away the blood, Eunsol stopped reinforcing herself.

Even as she slowed, the “Spider Egg” continued its languid pursuit.

No—

It was following, not chasing.

Click… Click. Clack…

Had it not been trying to catch her?

A strange grotesque.

What grudge could it possibly hold?

‘…Should I let it catch me?’

Hesitation rooted Eunsol’s feet.

Golden twilight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the space between her and the approaching “Spider Egg.”

Click…

Like any grotesque, it surely harbored resentment within.

Yet there was something oddly warm about it.

Truly bizarre.

The more she looked at it, the heavier her steps grew.

An inexplicable feeling told her she shouldn’t run.

“…Tch.”

Her chest clenched tight.

A moment later, Eunsol had a thought.

She’d been preparing to die once today anyway.

But Yang Soa had snapped her neck and left, leaving one life to spare.

Maybe she should close her eyes and let it catch her.

Swish.

Turning around, Eunsol took a step toward “that thing.”

『Somebody once said hesitation is contagious.』

And then—

Beside the hesitating Eunsol,

An old man spoke.

“Huh?… Gramps?”

『At crossroads, hesitation distracts. It makes you look around, wondering if another path exists.』

An old man resembling a gnarled tree.

Dragging his time-worn legs with a limp, he walked past Eunsol.

Sssk…

Twilight is the time of the wise.

The grotesque who always sat on a bench watching the sunset wandered the park today.

( Haven’t seen you making clay figures lately, Security Gramps. )

( I do. Sometimes. )

( …Sometimes? )

( Thanks to someone, I don’t need to be tied down anymore. )

Was he out for a stroll too?

The old man’s steps along the trail seemed oddly light.

Eunsol blankly watched him walk the twilight-lit path.

『Now that we’ve met, my job’s done. Go do what you must.』

“…Gramps. Where are you going?”

『To ring the bell… Hurry, child. Don’t be late.』

Hurry?

What did he mean?

Staring at the old man’s retreating back—Eunsol moved her halted legs again.

Her hesitation ended.

She resumed running from “that thing.”

The distance between them rapidly widened.

‘Why is Gramps here…? Am I not supposed to get caught by that “Spider Egg”? Did he come to stop me?’

Tap!

She fled again. Until it was out of sight.

No matter how far she ran, the web-like park offered no exit.

‘I’m running, but what now? Keep running till Gramps rings the bell?… If only I had the [Black Book]…’

Hesitation.

Distracted thoughts—

She looked around.

The park bathed in twilight glowed gold.

“…Huh?”

And then—

While scanning her surroundings—

Through the dense trees, she spotted a “park restroom.”

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

5. Restrooms are located only at the park entrance.

– Before your park walk, be sure to check the last restroom.

– Urinating in public is prohibited.

6-1. If delayed in reacting and “they” notice you:

– It is recommended to rush into the nearest restroom, not the one at the entrance.

– The lesser evil is preferable to the worst.

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

[Eunsung Park], where no amount of running from the “Spider Egg” granted escape.

Could this be it?

To leave the park—enter the restroom?

The lesser evil.

A literal interpretation.

‘Last time I visited, I ignored the restrooms even if I saw them… Is it really okay to go in now? Is this rule even right?’

No idea.

Her head just hurt.

Becoming Ban Harin,

Meeting Yang Soa,

Now a grotesque she’d never seen before…

The day dragged on pointlessly.

What had the wise old man meant by hurry?

“Too much happened today… This sucks.”

Her deliberation was brief.

Just go in.

First, leave the park, check the rules in the [Black Book],

Then, if the “Spider Egg” still pursued—she could decide then whether to let it catch her or not.

Tap!

Thinking of the distant, vanished “Spider Egg,”

Eunsol dashed into the lit “park restroom.”

The women’s, obviously.

…….

…….

Drip…

Drip… Drip…

A chaotic day.

Driven like prey, she’d entered the park restroom.

“…Huh?”

Spotlessly clean,

Inside the restroom—

Lay a dying “Mouse.”

…….

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

…….

She should’ve thought of it.

Yang Soa, the cotton candy who came to kill Ban Harin.

No idea what her deal was.

But even so—

She should’ve considered that “Mouse,” Harin’s coworker, might also be in danger.

Was this why she’d been missing for days?

Drip… Drip…

The restroom was bright.

White walls, sky-blue floors.

Not a speck of mold in the tile gaps.

“…….”

A brightly colored restroom.

That’s why it hurt more.

The pool of blood from “Mouse” seared vividly into her mind.

Slap!

Rushing in, Eunsol checked on “Mouse.”

Drip… Drip…

A woman slumped against the wall.

Not much left of her.

Her remaining left arm clutched her stomach.

Just…

Not much left.

“Mouse!”

She shook her shoulder.

Hoping for a response.

Groan…

But as Eunsol reached out, her outstretched hand gradually slowed.

‘This is…’

[Speed Manipulation]. “Mouse”’s skill.

If the skill activated, she was still alive.

Staring at her endlessly slowing hand, Eunsol pondered.

Perhaps “Mouse” had been attacked,

Somehow fled into the grotesques’ world to survive.

But with her injuries, she couldn’t escape them,

So she hid here, slowing her own time as much as possible.

“…….”

The wise old man’s words echoed—

Look around.

Hurry.

If she’d hesitated, let curiosity trap her with the “Spider Egg,”

She’d never have found “Mouse.”

A stroke of luck.

Crunch…

Eunsol tightly gripped “Mouse”’s hand—the one clutching the inverted crucifix ring she’d given her.

“…How dare you…”

She had a task now.

But first, save “Mouse.”

Save her and escape this restroom.

Desperately, she scanned the room.

A white restroom.

Pooled blood.

A dying “Mouse” before her.

The carrier she always carried—

Left behind at the café.

『Tch…!』

She clicked her tongue.

What to do?

Any way out?

No time for help, no way to carry “Mouse” out.

She racked her brains frantically.

Wearing her usual smile.

‘It’s fine… There’s a way… It’s fine…’

But she only had good recovery.

[Self-Healing] only worked on herself.

No way to help.

‘If only I hadn’t left the carrier…’

She squeezed “Mouse”’s hand tight.

In the slowed time, gradually but surely,

The clasped hand grew colder.

If there’s no way—make one.

Eunsol thought.

‘At least… If Kang Nari were here…’

Not her useless self, but Kang Nari.

If she were Kang Nari.

That’s what she wished.

Swish…

Brushing aside her obstructing “blue hair,” she bit her lip.

Had her hair grown longer?

Her body felt lighter.

『…Ah.』

And then—

In that moment—

Realization struck.

She turned her head.

『…….』

A pristine restroom.

What she saw—the restroom mirror.

If I could become you.

『…….』

The reflection—Eunsol…

No, “Kang Nari,” sweeping back blue hair,

Widened her eyes, staring at her mirrored self.

Swish—

The reflected Kang Nari smirked and stepped aside.

『Hope you can save them.』

『…….』

A grotesque she always mocked as pathetic.

Even if changing appearances didn’t make her that person—

Wanting to resemble someone wasn’t wrong.

『…Thank you.』

Gratitude to the mirror.

No reply came.

Feeling something lodged in her chest, “Kang Nari” turned back,

Wearing her usual lazy smile as she reached toward “Mouse.”

Her right hand over “Mouse”’s wounds,

Her left on her own body.

[Composition Manipulation]—the skill to swap components of things touched.

Could she swap the wounds themselves?

Worth a try.

She had plenty of “mana” to spare.

Only good for recovery.

That was her only…

No, not only.

One more merit.

Being close with grotesques.

The only things she excelled at.

“So don’t think about dying.”

Groan—!

“Kang Nari” activated her skill.

…….

…….

To become someone.

To take their place.

A trivial, pitiful wish—

Too frail to even call resentment.

『Late, aren’t you?』

Twilight faded.

Thud…

Near the park restroom.

Dragging a black carrier, the [Red Lady] muttered blankly.

『Ugh…! Good, heart’s pounding. What next?』

Sounds from inside the restroom.

Blood spilling, agonized thrashing.

But not dark.

That was enough.

『Didn’t even need my help…』

Yang Soa. Kang Nari. The grotesque in the park.

They led Eunsol to save someone precious.

『……』

The [Red Lady] released the carrier.

Left it propped at the entrance for Eunsol to find later.

She’d manage.

The one “I” love is loved by all.

……Click. Clack…

A distant screech of blades.

Time to leave.

『…….』

With that, the [Red Lady]—

Stealing a glance at Eunsol, bloodied from swapping wounds with “Mouse”—

Swish…

Glanced down at her own bloodstained dress.

And quietly flushed.

『Couple shirts.』

How nice.