/
“Since when?” I rubbed my goosebump-ridden arm in that dark box–without a single source of light–as I recalled what had happened.
I had thought that the operation was progressing smoothly, but suddenly, as if history was repeating itself, I was trapped.
“Did Bang Eunji do this?”
However, I felt that that conclusion wasn’t quite right. This had nothing to do with the conditions she offered, and Seo Dawon’s change was out of the scope of her [Vengeful Ghost Memory].
I pondered on the conversation I had with the Mage just before he had suddenly changed… and a small hunch bubbled to the surface of my mind.
“…No way, is it because I took off that ring?”
Just in case, I placed the ring back on my finger.
However, unlike before, the ring didn’t shine as it fit to my finger’s size–there wasn’t much of a reaction at all. It was simply a normal ring.
I removed and wore the ring again several times, rubbed it and twisted it from side to side. Still, there was no response.
“What kind of guide is this… Damn.”
Eventually, patience running out, I kicked the cramped walls a couple of times before flopping to the ground.
In light of this dreary situation, even the Seo Dawon who had placed the ring on me seemed so merciless. Couldn’t he have explained everything better? Perhaps I could have escaped if I had received some guidance. However, all the ring seemed to do was to provoke that unidentifiable being wearing Seo Dawon’s face…
“He’s not going to lock me up forever, right…?”
No matter how hard I wracked my brains, I couldn’t reach a solid answer; my fear continued to grow. The only people that didn’t see me as a hamster were Bang Eunji and that fake Seo Dawon.
My fear was heightened even more by the fact that I couldn’t feel any movement from the box. If the walls and floor shook–even a little–then, I could guess that the Mage was taking me somewhere. However, I couldn’t discern any outside noise, let alone a hint of movement. It felt like I was thrown into a disconnected location.
“It’s too dark…”
I wanted to keep holding out, but my voice, ringing and echoing through this dark space, was already trembling.
“What would happen if I died here…?” I mumbled, fiddling with the ring on my left finger.
[…–y! Can you hear me?]
“Arrgh!!”
Just then, a familiar voice could be heard from the ring.
I sprang to my feet, amazed and startled; to my surprise, the voice kept flowing from the ring…though her voice sounded a bit like it was filtered through a water-soaked radio.
“B-Bang Eunji?”
[…You… Where on earth are you?]
That was definitely Bang Eunji’s voice.
I felt as if my savior had finally arrived; I ripped the ring off my finger and placed it close to my ear. As soon as I did so, her near-inaudible voice became clearer.
[I said, ‘Where on earth are you!’]
“C-Can you hear me?”
[I can hear you! Where are you?]
Before I answered her words, my mind wandered for a bit, wondering if the ring had this function before. But, I quickly returned to my senses and answered her–I had no free time to be so absent-minded. “I… S-Seo Dawon just now… caught me and locked me up.”
[What did you say?]
“Well, to be exact, it’s not Seo Dawon, but… Anyway, I’m in a small box.”
[A box…]
Eunji muttered, as if she were dumbfounded by my response, but she didn’t argue any further. She spat out a familiar skill invocation–
[Chaser.]
“……”
However, as if something went wrong, Bang Eunji’s voice rose to a sharp pitch–
[Unbelievable. You’re in some place I can’t navigate to?]
Ray of hope disappearing once more, I desperately asked, “You can’t navigate to me? Then, you can’t find me?”
Instead of answering, Bang Eunji murmured incomprehensibly–
[This doesn’t make sense… This is Eunji’s ‘consciousness’–a world of her own making. Why is there some location here that Eunji can’t access?]
“……”
Even if she asked me directly, I, of course, would have no answer.
However, I had a small hunch that formed from my experiences with various [Vengeful Ghost Memories] as well as Koo Hui-seo’s nightmare. I just hadn’t fully solved this mental block yet.
What if something that polluted my mind during Koo Hui-seo’s fiasco had once again contaminated this [Vengeful Ghost Memory] through the medium of my body?
‘What is that ‘Seo Dawon?’ An intervention from the system? A side-effect from using Koo Hui-seo’s blood? I don’t know…but…’
For some reason, I felt that the person who stabbed me to death was similar to the ‘Seo Dawon’ in this memory.
“Eunji-yah! Are you perhaps unable to locate Seo Dawon?”
[…Yes. Eunji can’t sense Guildleader-nim, either.]
“Are you saying that you can’t target Seo Dawon with [Chaser]?”
[Eunji has already tried. Both of you disappeared suddenly, so Eunji hurriedly targeted your ring with skills instead.]
With that said, she fell silent for a short while before continuing–
[The only time Eunji’s skill hasn’t worked is against those that have died.]
“……” I also fell silent as I listened to her explanation.
Someone who could enter a world created by a [Vengeful Ghost] and break all the Ghost’s laws; someone who could interfere with my [Vengeful Ghost Contract] and tear my soul into pieces.
I didn’t know anything about him. In fact, even if I knew his identity I couldn’t do anything to him in this state.
However, if I thought hard, I could guess his next actions. If, as I suspected, he was the ‘Seo Dawon’ who appeared in Koo Hui-seo’s soul, he’ll try to make sure my [Vengeful Ghost Contract] will fail.
What could I do against such a being after he had already locked me up? As I contemplated, a sudden thought shocked me into action. I quickly called to Bang Eunji, “… Bang Eunji. Where are you right now?”
[Eunji is still inside the building.]
“I-I think it could be dangerous for you, too. What should we do?”
Bang Eunji still remained calm despite hearing my anxious voice–
[So suddenly? Hmm… Well, a hamster-sized Necromancer would say something like that, Eunji supposes.]
“No. Seriously… Run away if you see Seo Dawon. Immediately. Don’t try to force yourself to fight him.”
[What? Please worry about yourself. Eunji has resolved to sign your [Contract], after all.]
She didn’t sympathize with my fear–not even a little bit. Rather, she answered me cheerfully–
[Anyways, he’s a fake wearing Guildmaster-nim’s body as a mask, right? Eunji isn’t so incompetent she’d lose to a fake.]
“Sure, I know about your skill, but…”
[Even if he were the real Guildmaster-nim, he’ll find it hard to go 1v1 against Eunji!]
As soon as I heard that, I remembered her overflowing pride. My suggestion to run away from a threat seemed to have offended her.
Now that she had become fired up, I had no choice but to change the subject. “S-so, I’m saying…  Don’t let your guard down. I don’t know exactly what he is, but he’s quite proficient at imitating Seo Dawon. I’m sure other people will fall for it…”
[Eunji can hold onto him and force him to reveal his identity.]
Contrary to my opinion, Bang Eunji seemed energized by the thought of finding ‘Seo Dawon’ and dealing with him herself. I, who could only listen through the ring, buried my face in my palms.
‘What should I do…’
At that moment, I suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind Eunji–
[What are you doing?]
[Jung Garam-kun?]
I frowned at the sudden appearance of that strange voice–something…somehow… felt weird. But, before I could pinpoint the ominous feeling, Bang Eunji answered quickly–
[Wh-What is-? What’s with that unpleasant smile…]
[Unpleasant?]
[Well, usually Garam-kun is frowning and taking out his anger due to his height on others… Ah! Necromancer-ssi told Eunji to keep quiet about that… Cancel that–pretend you heard nothing…]
Bang Eunji talked faster than usual; perhaps she was happy that Jung Garam seemed to be taking an interest in her.
Then, a beat later, I realized what was wrong and quickly shouted, “Eunji-yah! That’s not Jung Garam! Run!”
[What?]
Bang Eunji said the newcomer was Jung Garam, but that wasn’t his voice. I shouted desperately, listening to Seo Dawon’s faint yet threatening chuckles, “Bang Eunji!!”