A fantastical and bizarre moment.
The Segwang Special City Subway tracks mutated as if being devoured.
"Ah…!"
As if the stalled years were all collapsing at once, the rapidly aging subway tracks flipped over, glittered gold in the air, and settled back on the ground.
They looked like an exquisite toy.
Elegant lines sparkled on the black and white floor, and the stained, shabby arched walls of the track took on a rapturous, smooth ivory hue.
That fantastical wave of change, pushing in from the far end of the visible rails in an instant….
Finally, it swept over the exploration team members.
"…!"
It brushed past all sides of the people who had reflexively stepped back or raised their equipment.
"Oh."
Lee Seonghae sniffed the air.
Even the smell had changed.
Instead of the damp, stuffy underground air, there was a sweet and pleasant fragrance.
The scent of Pleasant Theme Park's golden zone.
The two figures in Flower Golden Resort uniforms, who had watched the entire scene without moving a muscle, spoke with a smile on their lips.
"Construction is complete."
"Confirmed."
The employees from the ghost story turned around after confirming that even the tracks had been neatly transformed.
And they walked back along the exquisite golden tracks.
"Wait…!"
Go Youngeun dashed out as if urgently pursuing the two.
'Hmm.'
Lee Seonghae followed her.
The two twin-like employees, striding along the tracks at an unnaturally fast pace, eventually headed for the nearest station.
…Segwang Station.
"…!!"
Go Youngeun stopped in her tracks, dumbfounded.
What stood there was not a modern platform.
Monorail City
Flower Golden
An antique and elegant sign glittered in the train station.
The station was elegant and melt-in-your-mouth sweet, as if one had walked into a theme park painting, with rapturous golden lights, ivory pillars, and a purple velvet carpet on the floor.
All of it….
"Oh! It's really the Flower Golden Resort."
"…Are you talking about that pop-up store that was at Twilight Station?"
"Yep!"
Lee Seonghae approached the two bizarre resort employees without hesitation and asked amiably.
"What are you doing?"
"We are performing business maintenance, Dolphin!"
"We're about to check the train's operation. Would you like to watch with us?"
And at that moment.
♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
A melody like a clear bell rang out.
It was an intuitively recognizable sound.
The signal for a train's arrival.
From the other end of the tracks, a train riding the golden rails began to come into view, entering the station.
"…!"
Go Youngeun held her breath.
Chiiiiik-!
The subway had become an exquisite monorail.
Golden ornaments and crystal lights sparkled warmly on its glossy white body, and the head of the very first car was adorned with the face of a deformed feline character with a flowering tree for horns.
It was the Golden Flower Mascot.
The fantastical train stopped at Segwang Station, no… the 'Monorail City' station.
And, as the platform screen doors, which had at some point turned into antique glass doors, opened, someone was disembarking from the first car of the monorail….
A yellow, round body with soft fur.
It was the Conductor Mascot.
The mascot, which looked identical to the head of the monorail, diligently stepped down and stood in Segwang Station.
"Mascot!"
"This is a truly wonderful space. I'm delighted to be working here!"
The two employees ran over joyfully.
"Oh!"
And when even Lee Seonghae also ran up to greet it, Go Youngeun felt even more peculiar.
"..."
When she lifted her head, the 'Mascot' in the conductor's uniform looked at her, then took something out from its chest and held it out.
As if calling to her.
"…!"
Go Youngeun hesitated for a moment but eventually moved her stiff legs and walked forward….
What the Conductor Mascot held out was a flyer.
Pleasant Theme Park
Flower Golden Resort No.2
Monorail City Branch
Enjoy the attractions at each station by riding the cute monorail.
Stay in a special room with the theme of your favorite attraction.
With this coupon,
you can stay at the resort with no additional charge.
Applicable Rooms:
Suite (Attraction Garden View)
"Ah, you've received a coupon. Congratulations, Sanyang."
"A lodging guide for our Monorail City branch guests is currently in production."
The two employees' voices sounded faint, as if echoing in her head.
Go Youngeun, who had been blankly holding the flyer-like coupon, raised her head.
With a strange premonition.
…A mascot with horns.
A certain person who knew an uncanny amount about the new pop-up store at Twilight Station.
A person who showed a bizarre sense of guilt about Jang Heoun's Contamination.
....
"…Mr. Roe Deer?"
The mascot did not answer.
The large eyes of the character costume head, with its unchanging expression, stared at Go Youngeun for a moment, then tapped the back of its hand a few times.
As if to pat her comfortingly.
And then it boarded the train again.
The mascot, sitting in the driver's seat, tipped its hat in greeting, and the train began to depart.
"There are people on the tracks…!"
"It's alright! The Flower Golden Monorail runs while avoiding obstacles on its own."
'Jang Heo-un's' gentle voice was heard.
Go Youngeun reflexively turned her head.
She saw the corner of the gently smiling employee's mouth.
"Do you have any other questions, guest?"
"..."
It was a familiar face she had seen just a few days ago.
Over the past few months, Go Youngeun had occasionally stopped by the pop-up store and chatted with the two of them. She had even brought books for Jang Heo-un, in case he might be bored….
But.
"…Mr. Bison?"
"Yes, guest Sanyang! I am a reception desk employee named Bison!"
It was different.
Something was different.
It felt like looking at something deeply contaminated.
He was clearly the same person, with the same body and memories, yet he seemed like a different being. As if the things that make a person human had vanished….
Was this what Jang Heoun was like when he was quarantined at the Disaster Management Bureau for Contamination?
Why did he suddenly return to this?
'Because the Special City has been unsealed…?'
Or, because this resort, which had been a pop-up store, grew larger…?
Just as she had an eerie premonition.
"Oh! You're here too!"
"…!"
"Isn't this place quite unique?"
A few new people appeared on the platform.
It was Kwak Jegang and Researcher Lee Yeonhwa.
"This is very interesting. Isn't one Darkness consuming another? To be able to directly observe such a phenomenon without it being artificially grafted! Haha! Very interest—."
Go Youngeun quickly looked away from Kwak Jegang and made eye contact with Lee Yeonhwa in greeting.
Now that she looked, it seemed they had gotten off from the back of the monorail, and a mascot holding a Flower Golden Resort flag was leading the way as if to guide them.
Behind them, the drooping figure of the Security Chief trudged along with unmotivated eyes.
In his hand was a flyer coupon similar to her own, and within it, a handful of strange coin-like things could be seen.
Coins?
"Um, Security Chief. What is that…."
"Hmm…."
Although the two had hardly ever spoken, the Security Chief answered obediently.
"Mr. Roe Deer… gave it to me..."
"…When?"
"Before he left… when I asked if there was anything I could do to help… he told me to hand them out… later…. Hmm."
The Security Chief held out what was in his hand. Go Youngeun, who took it in a daze, read the word written on the golden coin.
No, it wasn't a coin, but a small badge.
EARLY
ACCESS
Early Admission.
"What is, this…."
The two employees answered cheerfully, as if they had been waiting for the question.
"It's an early access pass. The holder can enjoy this wonderful Flower Golden Resort Monorail City branch for today only, before the official opening!"
…!
"It is an honor to host you! If you are satisfied with your stay, may we ask for a short review upon check-out…."
"W-Wait a moment."
Unable to bear it any longer, Go Youngeun opened her mouth.
"It's okay. I'll be leaving now."
If the lockdown was being lifted, she couldn't wait.
Whether she left through the maintenance track Mr. Roe Deer had used, or went out to the real world and re-approached from there, she was determined to get to the surface.
…Because she felt she couldn't bear it if she didn't find her parents.
'My house….'
Before Auntie lost her memory, she had already told her the address. She was still repeating it to herself now.
She wanted to go there right away and find her mom and dad.
And, and if possible, she wanted to confirm Mr. Roe Deer's safety as well….
'What on earth is he doing?'
Was the termination attempt proceeding safely?
Was this resort his doing?
If so, what on earth was he preparing for?
Guilt, anxiety, resentment, and worry all mixed together as Go Youngeun looked urgently at the two employees.
However….
"..."
"..."
"Excuse me?"
The two employees with brown, long hair and bow ties smiled faintly in unison, like a painting.
"There is currently no way to exit the Flower Golden Resort Monorail City branch."
"…Excuse me?"
"The guest entrance and exit gates have not yet been constructed, guest."
"What does that…!"
A rough voice cut in.
"That's probably literal."
"…!"
"The maintenance track is completely gone. And the entrance at the end of it is blocked. Oof."
Agent Choi's mouth was chattering away as if making a fuss, but his actions were swift.
He opened the glass door to the track and strode out as if he were about to grab the person opposite him by the collar, yet in contrast, he spoke smoothly.
"Employees, what's going on here? Why did the track that was here suddenly disappear?"[1]
"We do not think! This is a matter decided by the Mascot."
Agent Choi's eyes narrowed.
"…Is that so? Then there's a new door where the original maintenance track entrance was. Why won't that door open?"
…!
"Was that also the Mascot's decision?"
"That is correct, guest."
"..."
Agent Choi paused before speaking.
"…What if I'm not a guest?"
"Pardon?"
"What if I have no intention of staying at this resort at all?"
"..."
The employees looked at each other.
"In that case, we regret to inform you that for security reasons, you must remain in the restricted access area until the grand opening."
It meant they were going to lock them in.
"Do you perhaps have no intention of staying?"
Go Youngeun noticed it.
She felt a gaze.
…The yellow mascot that had guided the researchers was looking this way.
No, now that she looked… throughout the platform, or rather, what had now become a rapturous theme park resort station.
Mascots of the same appearance had appeared here and there.
A mascot holding a balloon, a mascot wearing a monocle, a mascot waving from the stairs.
All of them were looking this way.
"..."
Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae's bright voice was heard.
"Nope! We'd all like to book a stay for now. Um, once the entrance is built, we'll be free to come and go, right?"
"Of course, guest Dolphin!"
A chill ran down her spine, and Go Youngeun swallowed.
She felt a sense of dread and a strange premonition.
"Do you think… Mr. Roe Deer did this?"
"Yep. Seems like it."
"Of course he did. That fellow is the owner of this place, after all!"
Following that, Agent Haegum also climbed onto the tracks.
"…Nunim[2]."
"I've checked the other stations. It seems this entire subway has been transformed. And…."
Agent Haegum's eyes sank as she looked at Agent Choi.
"You, you tried to open the door to the surface, didn't you?"
"Yeeep. That's right."
Agent Choi, admitting it readily, was calm.
"It's not like it's a big deal with the seal being lifted and all. This subway would have disappeared anyway, and the May 4th subway side would have remained…."
"..."
"Agent Choi?"
"So, he deliberately is keeping us, who would have bounced out to wherever once the city is unsealed, inside here, and..."[3]
His voice hardened.
"He took over the entire supernatural phenomenon that was supposed to disappear when the seal was lifted."
"..."
Agent Choi approached one of the mascots.
"What is all this?"[4]
....
"Why are you trying to trap people here?"
But the mascot had no answer.
The mass-produced mascot just drooped its ears and tried to give him a flyer, as if telling him to have fun.
"You…."
"Just a moment."
Go Youngeun cut in urgently.
She was sorry to interrupt the interrogation, but her personal objective was urgent. And the question that would be most effective for her was….
To become an insider.
"I'm interested in working at the resort, so I have something I'd like to ask!"
"Ah!"
The employees showed immediate interest.
"You've come at a good time. We are currently recruiting new personnel!"
"Yes."
Go Youngeun said calmly.
"By what means did you manage to turn this place into a resort so quickly? And also… are you planning to do this to the surface as well, not just the underground?"
"…!"
She could feel people's gazes on her.
The researchers' gazes, filled with interest.
"Yes! I will answer."
Go Youngeun swallowed.
"To the extent that I am permitted to tell you, the Mascot has already completed the surveying of this place. Thanks to that, such rapid progress was possible."
"...!"
"By visiting all the important areas, inspecting all the tracks, and also evicting any groups or entities that were leasing or illegally occupying this property."
Ah.
Go Youngeun realized.
'He's talking about Kim Soleum's exploration…!'
Kim Soleum had visited almost every single station in Segwang Special City, and had either cleared or temporarily concluded a majority of them.
That act… had come back to help bring about this result….
"However, in the case of the library entrance, since it is a public facility, he did not acquire it through agreement!"
"And as for plans to expand to the surface, there are none yet."
....
"I– I see. Thank you."
Go Youngeun staggered back.
Her head was spinning.
The result of the exploration.
Or what could be seen as a reward… a terrifying and rapturous resort expansion area.
Her jaw trembled.
Because no matter how she thought about it, this was not a reward a human could receive and carry out.
"…Is it really okay to do something like this?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, that person, the Mascot, isn't he overexerting himself?"
"Absolutely not!"
The two employees chorused.
"The Flower Golden Mascot will become more powerful and great. His domain is gradually expanding!"
"So many guests will come from so many places. We've already received reservations. A celebrity, a talk show Host, is also on their way now!"
"IhopeMascotcomesquicklycomesquicklysoallofuscanbetogetherinthebeautifulGoldenFlowerResort…."[5]
Ah.
"I understand."
Agent Choi yanked Go Youngeun back, pulling her away from the employees.
"So if you expand the resort… the one called the Mascot becomes more powerful, is that it? I understand!"
Following that, as if to ward off evil, a light, ritualistic act was performed with his fingertips.
"Heup!"
In that instant, Go Youngeun could breathe freely again.
And.
"Nunim."
A low voice was heard from beside her.
"I… just had a thought."
"..."
"The more powerful the Goblin Fire's are,the more likely it is that even if only a few body parts are replaced... The person will become an Elder. "
"..."
"This situation right now, wait a minute, don't tell me this damn bastard…."
"Right."
Agent Haegum's anxious voice rang out through her clenched teeth.
"He's deliberately increasing his own Contamination, that bastard…!"[6]
* * *
I knew.
'Humans go mad when they hear the Music Box.'
So, if a moment came when I felt I would go mad because of the Music Box… I just had to escape the premise.
-Become a non-human existence.
Wouldn't I then be free from the malevolent influence of the Music Box's melody?
However, I couldn't bring myself to abandon this identity I had barely reclaimed.
I had endured until now by thinking of myself as human.
'I want to remain human.'
Therefore….
-Instead of giving up on my own, what if I were naturally swallowed by Contamination?
To a precarious level.
A level from which I could recover, given time.
But on the surface of this Segwang Special City, which rejects ghost stories other than its own, it's not easy to increase one's Contamination.
'Besides, if I become too contaminated, I might just disappear as a ghost story.'
Just like the Counselor did.
So, I needed just one moment.
-A single moment where I am overwhelmed by a more powerful Contamination.
So that even if I were already mad or contaminated by a Segwang Special City Ghost Story, that state could be momentarily pushed back.
How is that possible?
It's simple.
One of the ghost story identities I already possess just has to become extremely powerful, shatter the balance, and overwhelm me.
And so I did it.
By expanding the Flower Golden Resort.
'Ah.'
My mind and body twisted.
A domain twice as large.
A much grander role.
Down below, somewhere close, I become aware of the distorted subway of Segwang Metropolitan City, the Flower Golden Resort built within it, and my role.
A golden-lit Resort.
The Golden Flower Mascot.
The moment all those sensations overwhelm me as a person.
My body distorts and twists into the shape of the Mascot.
At the same time, it melts.
I
must aim for this moment.
I am actually
I threw my body into the torn Cocoon.
And….
Inside the Cocoon, I tore the Music Box from Kim Soleum's arms with both hands.
[1] Choi is speaking politely with honorifics to the Heouns
[2] “……누님.” – "...Sister." (Specifically Nuna, a term used by a younger male for an older female). idk why the tool I use chose nunim and not nuna
[3] ty kirikirinki
[4] When Choi speaks with the mascots he doesn’t use honorifics, he is speaking like he is talking to Grapes.
[5] I hope Mascot comes quickly comes quickly so all of us can be together in the beautiful Golden Flower Resort
[6] or punk, but bastard is funnier