episode_0372

Ban Harin’s appearance, 1st take.

Kang Nari’s appearance, 1st take.

A strange being that succeeded in occupying Haneul’s place for two days as the price for using its ability twice.

The thing that Malangjumeok Haneul affectionately calls the “Pathetic Mirror.”

“Haa…”

October 5th.

Having stepped out of the mirror for the first time in a while and lived a day as “Haneul,” the being now known as Haneul reflected on its honest thoughts.

I should’ve just swapped for a single day…

……

Why are there so many people trying to talk to me…

Click. Click.

The morning commute.

A mirror-dwelling being, more introverted than anyone, who in life preferred bathing in silence.

The moment it stepped out the front door in high spirits, it spotted a stuffed doll lying in the 9th-floor hallway and made a face like it had bitten into something sour.

『……?』

A human-shaped doll placed in the hallway.

It turned its head.

Its eyes met those of the [Doll Girl], who was peeking out from the stairwell.

A snow-white polar bear pajama set.

A being staring at “Haneul” with the purest eyes in the world.

『…Friend?』

“Not today.”

『Then… friend’s friend.』

Ppyo-ppyopyopyop.

What was the rule with that girl again?

“Haneul” rubbed its already stiffening lips as the [Doll Girl] wobbled closer and the sound of ppok-ppok footsteps echoed from the stairs.

So she just wants to play, huh.

Haneul always made time to play whenever she visited, no matter what.

“So this is how it felt…”

The future looked bleak.

From the very morning… life was already exhausting.

『Friend’s friend. No play? Just run away?』

“……Fine.”

Since it was rush hour, let’s make this quick.

Whirr.

With that, “Haneul” lightly pushed open the hallway window,

hugged its suitcase, and perched on the windowsill.

“Try and catch me.”

It leaned its body out the window.

…….

Thud!

Only the stuffed doll remained in the 9th-floor hallway.

The [Doll Girl] didn’t mistake which doll to take home, smiling innocently as she left.

…….

“Ugh…… I’m gonna die.”

The impact from falling nine floors was, unsurprisingly, immense.

Haneul would’ve just laughed it off and gotten right back up—how does she do that?

Creeak!

Attempting to move sent broken bones stabbing into its muscles, bringing pain far worse than expected.

Misaligned vertebrae sent sharp nerve pains shooting through its body, and when it tried to exhale, only blood came out.

Spinal and occipital fractures. Severe hemorrhage. Apnea. Shock from pain.

It couldn’t even think of standing up.

Eventually, after lying still long enough for its body to fully recover, “Haneul” stumbled out into the apartment’s backyard.

There was a reason Haneul always kept spare clothes in her suitcase.

“…….”

Changing out of its bloodstained clothes, it passed through the parking lot.

Its eyes met those of the elderly security guard cleaning the apartment entrance.

“…….”

“…….”

Security cap, reflective vest.

The monster that patrolled “Morning Star Apartments” every night.

Unconsciously, “Haneul” stopped in its tracks.

It felt as if a massive fortress wall had blocked the apartment entrance.

Thanks to that monster and the [Oblivion Saint] who guarded Haneul’s bedroom every night,

the apartment became eerily quiet in the early hours when Haneul was asleep.

Life is just…

It didn’t want to approach.

How did Haneul even get close to them?

Forcing a smile, “Haneul” greeted the guard.

“……I’ll be going now.”

『I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Don’t treat the young lady’s body carelessly.』

Ignoring “Haneul’s” greeting, the monster retreated into the security office.

I survived.

…….

…….

Pathetic Mirror.

The situation at the café wasn’t much different.

I had no idea when I was just in the mirror… Why is this body so heavy…

Fwoosh—

Now dressed in the café uniform, “Haneul” hugged its massive chest and cleaned the break room.

Crash!

Every time it turned, objects bumped by its chest came tumbling down.

“Ah…”

“Ugh~ You knocked them over again! Could you wipe the top of that cabinet too? I can’t reach it.”

“Got it, Bangul.”

With few customers in the morning,

“Haneul” was currently being bossed around by Eunbangul, who had decided to clean the break room since she had time to spare.

At the girl’s words—her snow-white rabbit ears perked up—it reached for the top of the cabinet.

Its large chest got in the way, preventing it from pressing close to the cabinet.

“Haneul” strained to lift its trembling lips, fetched a chair, and cleaned the cabinet top.

“Good work! Next up, let’s organize the storage!”

“There’s more?”

“It’s a daily task.”

Thus, dragged around by the rabbit, it took orders at the register whenever customers arrived.

Once that was done, it returned to Eunbangul for storage organizing.

And if there was still time left, it handled the messes caused by Kim Sarang.

“Haneul” diligently wiped down Kim Sarang, who had spilled coffee beans in the storage.

Though its body was exhausted, its mind felt oddly at ease—perhaps because Eunhong wasn’t at the corner table today.

“Great! Since Sarang’s here today, I’ll take a quick nap in the break room! Wake me if you need anything!”

Thump!

Finally, after patting “Haneul’s” large chest a few times, Eunbangul entered the break room and closed the door.

I should’ve just swapped bodies for a day.

Returning to the register, “Haneul” suppressed a sigh as it rubbed its lips sore from forced smiles.

“Wow… Boss Bangul’s really working you hard today, Haneul. Did you two fight?”

“Not at all.”

“Someone~ The break room!”

Just as Kang Nari, busy making coffee in the kitchen, voiced her concern for “Haneul,”

Eunbangul’s voice called from inside the break room.

What now?

Letting out a sigh, “Haneul” headed to the break room.

Click.

“What is it…”

“Turn off the lights!”

Eunbangul, lying on the sofa, said cheerfully.

“Haneul,” lips twitching upward, quietly turned off the lights.

That rabbit…

Is she feeling unwell?

Still, looking at the girl’s bright smile… the irritation in “Haneul’s” heart melted away like snow.

Was this Haneul’s influence, making it fond of Eunbangul?

……That rabbit didn’t call me “Haneul” even once today.

Humans are strange.

“Haneul” hid its tired heart behind a smiling face.

The lukewarm coffee scent brushing its nose felt oddly comforting.

…….

Haneul’s day was busy.

Thanks to those watching her.

The “you” who was always loved by everyone.

The lacking “me” wanted to take “your” place.

“…….”

“Hey, could you tuck me in before you go?”

But still,

it seemed “I” could never fully become “you.”

“…….”

A brief hesitation.

In the end, “Haneul” smiled lazily.

Just as Haneul would have.

Swish…

Though it couldn’t become “you,” we resembled each other in the mirror,

and “I” had always watched only “you,”

so—

“……Sleep well, Bangul.”

Mimicking the words and actions “you” would’ve taken,

“Haneul” tucked the blanket around Eunbangul on the sofa.

…….

I hope that pathetic mirror is resting well…

Closing the break room door, it returned to the register.

Smiling all day is exhausting too.

Fluffy…

Its gaze fell on the pastel pink cotton candy slumped over a café table.

Its thoughts turned to the future.

“Haa…”

And so, “Haneul,”

letting out an un-Haneul-like sigh,

rested its head on the counter, lost in thought.

…….

“…Um… Haneul.”

Tap. Tap.

Kang Nari, twisting her blue hair in the kitchen, approached “Haneul” with a troubled expression.

Something seemed to be wrong.

“About the [Eun-Gang Potion] we sell to the Association…”

No time to rest, huh.

I should’ve just swapped for a day.

“Haneul” forced its brightest smile.

…….

…….

“Yaaawn…”

Time passed.

Around 5:40 PM, as the workday neared its end,

Yang Soa, limping on her aching knee, quietly glanced around a certain “church” in Euncheongu.

The church visited by the “Rare Hunter” Haneul, who had changed directions on her way home.

But according to records, Haneul had never once visited a religious building.

Something’s fishy.

Did Ban Harin’s sunbae… know about this…?

The “Team Leader” had said he’d send two backup agents, but told Yang Soa to enter first and assess the situation.

Was she supposed to meet someone here?

A secret rendezvous with the [Heaven-Sword Master]?

Or another faction?

No idea.

Fluffy…

Cocooning herself in pastel pink hair that reached her thighs, Yang Soa cautiously surveyed the church’s interior.

“…….”

At a glance, it seemed like an ordinary church.

Beyond the entrance lay a spacious chapel.

Two rows of long wooden pews, and at the front, an altar for sermons and offerings.

And on the wall behind the altar—

a large wooden cross, devoid of any decoration.

The upper part of the cross was unnaturally dark,

making it impossible to see the church’s ceiling even when looking up.

“…….”

A quiet, somber atmosphere.

The interior was cleaner than expected.

Hiding behind a pillar, Yang Soa located the “Rare Hunter” Haneul.

“…….”

“Haneul” sat in the frontmost pew,

staring blankly at the large cross.

Yang Soa blinked her half-lidded, sleep-heavy eyes.

“A-Ah, hello…!”

Then,

a woman’s voice from behind.

Startled, Yang Soa, who had been hiding near the entrance pillar, flopped onto the floor.

Plop! Fluffy…!

Curling up like a pill bug, she hid within her voluminous hair.

Now a pastel pink fluffball, she peeked up at the woman who had spoken to her.

“Wow… Amazing… I-I’m not suspicious…!”

If clumsiness took human form, it’d look like this.

A woman in a gray Hunter Association suit, her arms wrapped in bloodstained bandages, waved her hands in a flustered manner.

The bandages fluttered like a fairy’s wing-dress.

Some kind of skill? Or an artifact?

“……Who…”

“Ah, um… Hello! I’m kinda… the person in charge here! Churches are sort of public institutions, you know…!”

“…….”

“Yang Soa, are you here to pray too…?”

I never gave my name.

Suspicious.

Still curled up, Yang Soa eyed the clumsy woman warily.

An utterly ordinary church.

Was there a church like this in Euncheongu?

Where exactly is this place?

Can’t remember.

Nothing’s off.

“Service will start soon. Um, please take a seat…”

I should get Haneul out of here as soon as possible.

No telling what might happen.

Fluffy…

After a brief hesitation, Yang Soa uncurled and followed the “clumsy woman” into the chapel.

Her limping knee throbbed.

…….

Many were already seated in the pews.

People draped in blue robes, hoods pulled over their heads.

The robes were embroidered with unfamiliar “constellations.”

The inside of the robes was unnaturally dark, obscuring their faces,

and at their feet lay “rectangular wooden boxes,” as if waiting to hold something.

Guided to a seat, Yang Soa also placed a “rectangular wooden box” between her legs.

“……Weird… Cult…?”

Strange church.

She absentmindedly scratched the back of the person in front with her black sheep horns.

No reaction. Mannequins?

Yang Soa glanced at “Haneul” in the front row.

“…….”

“…….”

“Haneul” was now talking to the clumsy woman from earlier.

They must know each other.

Creak!

Suddenly, “Haneul,” who had been facing forward,

turned its head 180 degrees to look at Yang Soa—just like it had on the way to work—

“Hey, that’s not your body.”

Snap!

The clumsy woman grabbed “Haneul’s” head and twisted it back.

Haneul’s… really flexible, huh…

Fighting drowsiness, Yang Soa pondered.

I can’t keep up.

When will backup arrive?

Fluffy…

Digging through her pastel pink hair, she pulled out a clean bandage.

She passed the time by replacing the bandage on her aching knee.

Haneul came to this church… to meet that woman? She’s not from the Association… Is she from [Rare Hunter Protection-Execution Division] Team 1? No wonder I haven’t seen anyone except “Mouse” and Ban Harin’s sunbae… Hiding in a place like this…

“H-Here, Yang Soa, take this too…!”

Flutter—

The clumsy woman, done talking with “Haneul,” handed Yang Soa a piece of paper.

“……This is…”

“Ah, um… A church pamphlet…! Hehe…”

The woman smiled awkwardly.

……For some reason, Yang Soa felt she could get along with her.

“……Thanks…”

Accepting the “pamphlet,” Yang Soa blinked her sleepy eyes.

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

– This guide was created to assist in your comfortable journey.

– Pray to the cross to lessen our lingering attachments.

– Read this guide carefully. If you find any omissions or interference, keep it with you without delay.

0. Do not run.

– You’ve likely heard this before. Maybe at school.

– We’ve always sought to move forward quickly, yet the first step of etiquette is usually composure.

– Do not run in hallways or on stairs.

– You may fall.

– See you again. I came here.

– The communal living guide has disappeared.

■ . The Pathfinder Church is a place for those departing.

> A place for a comfortable life .

> You have not entered by mistake. Follow the rules ■■■ ■■ below.

2. The Chapel

– Bow your head in prayer.

– Clasp your hands before you.

– Close your eyes.

3. The Confessional

– Confess your sins.

– Do not speak falsehoods.

–

4. The Central Mirror

– Face your pain.

– The mirror reflects your heart.

– Wipe away the stains upon it.

5………

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

The pamphlet’s contents are bizarre.

Typical of a cult, even their rules are weird.

I need to get Haneul out of here fast.

“For now……”

I’ll leave as soon as the prayer ends.

Staring at the “rectangular wooden box” between her legs, Yang Soa quietly clasped her hands.

“Let us pray.”

A voice rang out from the front.

The clumsy woman’s voice.

Rustle… Rustle…

One by one, the blue-robed figures in the pews bowed their heads.

Hands clasped, heads lowered, eyes closed.

Fluffy…

Yang Soa followed suit.

……Ban Harin’s sunbae…

The church’s dark ceiling.

A silent prayer.

She’d heard that religion had always offered solace to people.

Even if prayers couldn’t bring back the dead,

even if she’d only entered this church reluctantly for Haneul’s sake,

still, please.

Sunbae… May you be happy in your next life…… I’m sorry…

She knew prayers alone couldn’t absolve her sins.

Yet Yang Soa prayed with all her heart.

Her unspeakable pain was clutched tightly in her clasped hands.

…….

…….

……Creak.

Creaaak…

At that moment.

A noise struck Yang Soa’s eardrums as she bowed her head.

“Y-Yah…?”

Creaaak…

Is someone grinding their teeth?

Frowning, Yang Soa instinctively raised her head.

“……Huh.”

And saw.

Creaaak…

The spacious chapel.

The enormous cross on the wall behind the altar.

Creaaak…

The “cross” was

turning.

Creaaak…

Counterclockwise.

With an eerie creak, the gradually tilting “cross”

soon

flipped upside down.

Ssshh…

The church’s inverted cross.

The blue-robed figures praying toward the inverted crucifix.

A cold wind seeped through Yang Soa’s hair.

Goosebumps erupted.

“Eek…!”

Danger.

Having lived under constant threat, Yang Soa reacted instantly.

Fluffy!

Wrapping herself in her wool-like hair,

she hurriedly lifted her head

and yanked her clasped hands apart—

Snap!

Just as the slowly rotating cross

fully inverted,

THUD!

From the dark ceiling,

a massive blade fell.

CRASH!!!!

A church for a comfortable journey.

People bowing their heads in prayer.

Thud-thud!

The heads of those who had bowed

like criminals before a guillotine

were severed by the falling blade,

Plop… plop…

and dropped into the “rectangular wooden boxes” at their feet.

Blood flooded the church.

“Y-Yahh….! Y-Yahhhhh….!”

Eyes wide open, Yang Soa screamed.

Gritting her teeth, she stared at the guillotine that had landed before her.

Reflected in the blade was her own terrified face.

The guillotine, having struck the pew’s armrest, had spared her legs.

“Yahhh…! Yahhh…!”

Death had fallen right before her eyes.

Her heart pounded as if about to burst.

Had she not raised her head,

had she not pulled back her hands in time—

Fluffy… Shiver…

An A-rank Hunter of the [Rare Hunter Protection-Execution Division].

Though she had lived prepared to die at any moment,

only now did she understand.

Death is this heavy.

Mere resolve isn’t enough.

That guillotine, fallen before her eyes, carried unbearable weight.

“Yahhh…!”

The metallic stench of blood made her nauseous.

Vision blurring, Yang Soa choked back sobs, desperately suppressing her emotions.

“…….”

“May you find comfort in your journey. Pray to the cross.”

The clumsy woman’s voice came from beyond the guillotine.

…….

The Pathfinder Church.

A euthanasia church

for “incomplete” beings to dissolve into the Milky Way.

“Y-Yahhhhh…! Y-Yahhhhhhh….!”

“…….”

The “clumsy woman” at the altar,

the only ones who hadn’t bowed their heads—”Haneul” and Yang Soa,

and

the two backup agents from [Rare Hunter Protection-Execution Division] Team 4, arriving at the church.

“Y-Yahhhhh…! Sunbae…!”

The prayer did not end.

The sorrowful cries of the pastel pink cotton candy echoed through the silent church.