CH 304

Chapter 304

“Well, if it’s [Chaser]… Unless Bae Jaemin has died, we’ll be able to find him.” Choi Kyung-sik said while nodding. Woo Ragi frowned wordlessly, but his gaze was on the Mage. He probably intended to follow Seo Dawon’s decision.

“…Then, let’s summon Eunji. And, Lee-kyung-ah.” Seo Dawon called to me in a calm voice.

I looked at him; the Mage grabbed my hand and placed the ring he had worn on his thumb onto my index finger. Though the ring was a little loose, after it shone brightly, the ring shrunk into a size that fit my finger.

[This equipment cannot be used at your current level.]

[At your current level, you cannot determine what this equipment can do.]

Furthermore, the system message couldn’t tell me what this ring did.

However, concerningly, all the other servants except Kim Olim looked shocked and kept sneaking glances between me and the Mage. Realizing that this couldn’t be an ordinary item, I asked Seo Dawon straight away, “What is this?”

“It’s like a guide.”

“What?”

“Even if you get lost… If you wear this ring, I can come and find you.”

Oftentimes in these [Vengeful Ghost Memories], I felt as if another ego was overlaid on mine. Furthermore, I only noticed that something was strange after I had awoken from these memories. If I hadn’t come to my senses within these memories, I would have wandered around the memories of the dead until I ceased to breathe… That was a frightening possibility.

Seo Dawon seemed to have guessed, to some extent, that such a phenomenon existed even if I had never opened up about these difficulties. He grabbed my ring-adorned hand once more, “So, no matter what happens… Don’t give up and wait. Alright?”

“……”

“Because, I’ll be there.”

Eventually, I closed my gaping mouth without answering.

‘I shouldn’t keep leaning on you like this…’

Seo Dawon only smiled faintly at my silent self and then let go of my hand. I felt a dull ache in my slowly numbing heart, but still, I couldn’t answer until the end.

* * *

After a while, I sat on the sofa, dagger in hand, and looked at the servants surrounding me. Lackey leaned against my knee; its skeletal fingers holding my knee were shaking. I patted the skeleton on the head to soothe it.

“…I’ll begin now.”

“……”

Today’s summon felt worse–the atmosphere was more grave–than any summon before. Though everyone’s expression seemed the same as usual, it felt like they were all worried for me.

At that moment, Woo Ragi, who had been silent, suddenly rose from his seat. “I’m going up.”

“…If that’s more comfortable for you, go right ahead.”

“……”

He probably didn’t want to become agitated by the smell of my blood. Understandable–I nodded softly. Woo Ragi glanced at me before climbing up to the second floor without looking back.

“I guess you haven’t used it yet…” Choi Kyung-sik muttered as soon as Woo Ragi vanished from sight. But, I didn’t respond.

Jung Garam seemed to be lost in thought as he played around with a dagger, throwing it up and catching it again. But when he saw Woo Ragi going up to the second floor, he soon placed the dagger on the table. He looked at me and, with a very serious expression, cautioned, “Choi Lee-kyung.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t try to understand Bang Eunji. She’s just a nutcase.”

“Ah… Well.” Inwardly, I wondered why Jung Garam would feel the need to say that.

However, when I thought that he must have given me this advice because he was worried about me, I laughed for no reason. The sound didn’t fit this solemn atmosphere, so I bit my lips hard to smother it.

Kim Olim then grabbed my shoulders from behind and said, “Above all, the most important thing is for you to not forget that you are you.”

“……”

Knowing how much Kim Olim was attached to the [Red Lotus] members, this was quite a touching remark. Her words informed me that I should put myself first and give up the contract if need be.

However, the more she said things like that the more determined I became. I wanted to do my best and revive everyone. Seo Dawon stared at my determined eyes before lowering his gaze; at least he said nothing.

“Don’t worry too much… I’m pretty strong, too!” I said with a wry smile. However, I felt a little embarrassed since all the servants except Lackey sighed simultaneously.

[Clack Clack!]

[That’s right!]

“Haah…”

“Hooo…”

“Hmm…Of course. I think, by now, you’ve gone from a hamster to a rabbit…”

I held the dagger up, pretending that I hadn’t heard what Kim Olim just said. I could feel the surrounding gazes focusing on the blade. Anxiety, expectation… All that pressure was concentrated on one point.

“…I’ll be back,” I said, swinging the dagger mercilessly.

At the same time, a bright light burst out from the magic circle underneath my feet. The sharp pain on my palm gradually dulled; nausea and dizziness welled within me. I closed my eyes without much resistance.

[You’ve fulfilled the conditions for summoning a Vengeful Ghost.]

[Replaying the Memories of the deceased, ‘Bang Eunji.’]

* * *

Before I opened my eyes, I experienced a brain-splitting headache. I could barely endure the crushing pain and only just managed to stagger back and touch a smooth wall to stabilize myself.

‘This is… Where am I?’

I was impatient to learn what kind of environment I was in, but my body didn’t follow my will. I took a deep breath, barely swallowing the stomach acid that threatened to surge up my throat.

It was then.

[…. it looks like it.]

[No. He’s very healthy.]

[How long will he live?]

[If you take good care of him…]

Not too far away, I could hear voices ringing around the room–as if I had heard them through a broadcast system.

Reflexively, I tried to open my eyes, but, as soon as I sensed an intense light piercing through my eyelids, I closed my eyes again. The huge amount of light that poured in would probably make me go blind.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just the voice–the thumping and ringing vibrations I could feel from the space around me… I felt threatened and flattened my body. I wanted to see if there was anything nearby I could use to cover up my body, but I couldn’t open my eyes to search.

After turning my back towards where the light felt the most prickly, I blinked slowly. Tears leaked from my tear ducts but, firstly and most importantly, comprehending my environment was an urgent matter.

My efforts were not in vain, and I could gradually begin to see ahead of me. And, what I first saw through my blurred vision was…

“What is it… No way, a hamster wheel?”

I stared blankly up at the wheel, which looked large enough to be an amusement park ride.

I looked around again–perhaps I was just unfamiliar with this structure…but no. No matter how hard I looked, it was a gigantic hamster wheel.

However, something even more surprising appeared afterwards.

Suddenly, a long, eerie shadow loomed over me; I looked back reflexively and almost screamed. “……!”

A ginormous person… was staring at me.

Pierced with terror, I could only stare blankly at the person opening what seemed to be a lid above my head and putting their hand inside. There was no place to run; the person was so big that I felt like I would be crushed to death if I were hit by that palm.

As I stood there, frozen, the owner of that hand carefully wrapped their fingers around me and grabbed me gently; but, fortunately, it didn’t seem like the person intended to kill me. Warmth flooded into my body.

I sat in the huge hand’s grip, sweating as if I were a sieve, and was lifted out of the room containing that gigantic hamster wheel. The owner of the hand unfurled their fingers carefully and lifted me up, as if they were showing me off to someone.

“…Ba… Bang Eunji?”

To my surprise, Bang Eunji, who had become a giant, observed me quite blatantly. However, she didn’t respond to my voice at all; she merely investigated my body, as if she were searching for something.

[…He looks a little…vapid… Don’t you have a cuter one?]

[Isn’t the pattern cute? It’s quite a rare coloration.]

[Well….]

[And, since he’s young, he hasn’t lost the baby fat on his face. If you raise him for a bit, his face is sure to become pretty.]