I looked around the remnants of the wedding venue, which resembled a crime scene.
My mind is hazy.
'How many died?'
Unfortunately, the 'Experience Trainees' caught up in this insane Groom Training Ghost Story are still seated in the guest section.
Everyone looks vacant, as if their minds are gone.
…I counted the empty seats.
Eleven out of fifteen, deceased.
Less than a third remain.
'A 30% survival rate….'
Of course, it's better than the alien reptiles' Holy Fire Barrage.
I judged it impossible to save anyone else anyway. And I thought there would definitely be casualties no matter what... dying for the sake of atmosphere in a TV show.
....
[You're slow to respond, friend. It seems you're still basking in the afterglow of the live broadcast!]
But at the same time, I clearly recognize.
'It's useless to tell Brown things like 'Was that really necessary?'...'
Handing over control to the Host of the Ghost Story, who can do worse for the sake of a successful broadcast, means I should have predicted this situation.
Especially if I had received a warning just before.
'…It's fortunate, in the end, that not everyone was wiped out and at least a few survived.'
Do you know what makes it even more bitter?
I no longer feel great shock even when seeing dead people.
It wasn't simply that I got used to it.
Currently, my mind is trapped in a Formless Body, barely maintaining its sanity with a bubble. Therefore, it's actually fortunate that I can still feel a semblance of emotion, like bitterness, towards the dead.
....
'Let's focus on whether the survivors are doing alright.'
And.
-Brown.
[Hmm.]
The correct answer to Brown's question, 'What do you think?' is this.
-You truly lived up to your reputation as a legendary host.
[…!]
-I expected you to ruin the wedding, but I never thought you'd completely revamp it to be even more successful.
-Thanks to you, the bride seems satisfied too.
I realized this from what happened just before.
'If I had just called off the wedding and fled, I don't know what would have happened.'
The fact that the situation was resolved more peacefully and safely than expected because the 'bride' was satisfied.
However.
-Are you planning to… make it a series?
Brown's satisfaction with the live broadcast ratings.
That continues to weigh on my mind.
What if this gets incorporated as a new series for the Late-Night Talk Show? And what if this Groom Training Ghost Story mutates into an even higher-grade ghost story….
[Mr. Roe Deer.]
Brown's cheerful voice speaks kindly.
[You're being too cautious about the obvious!]
…!!
[Of course, I'm open to producing it for the next season if the conditions are right. A producer must not miss the timing when the audience reaction is good. It's impressive that you noticed this, friend; you certainly have a sense for broadcasting.]
-Brown.
[What is it, friend?]
-But you know the Late-Night Talk Show is much more fun, right?
A moment of silence.
[Oh, of course. You're stating the obvious. Mr. Roe Deer!]
[You don't need to worry that I'll neglect the Late-Night Talk Show. I only meant that the possibility of production is open, provided the conditions are met.]
[For now, we'll wrap up by airing the epilogue.]
Phew.
[Alright, the crew will also withdraw now.]
Clap, clap.
At the sound that echoed in the air, the cameras, lights, and band set up in the wedding venue were dismantled and tidied away by the Faceless Staff with perfect coordination.
Even though they lacked facial features, some of them looked strangely familiar… No, let's not think about it.
'If I delve too deep, I'll get dragged in again.'
Especially since I mentioned it, it feels a bit precarious.
As I stopped trying to focus on the staff, my gaze naturally drifted to something at the edge of the shared vision.
The destination at the end of the long white velvet carpet. The place where wedding vows are exchanged.
The Altar.
'....'
It was shattered to a terrifying degree, leaving only stone fragments that had exploded outwards. Scars remained on the floor, the carpet torn.
And beneath where the altar stood….
A black hole.
Deep.
Darkness where the bottom was invisible.
'....'
Just before.
The 'bride' emerged from there.
The shock, the sensation of being mangled that occurred even though Manager Lee Jaheon's censored vision couldn't properly perceive it. Something that had been dormant down there, something that was interpreted only by the framework of the wedding….
"Mr. Roe Deer."
....
"Mr. Roe Deer. Do not attempt to shift your gaze."
...!
I snapped back to reality.
…It seemed I had, without realizing it, taken over Manager Lee Jaheon's body and was trying to shift his vision.
-…Thank you.
"Yes."
Manager Lee Jaheon, who had remained silent throughout the broadcast, had regained control of his body as soon as the live broadcast ended.
And he had been calmly observing the wedding venue's scenery until now.
I'm grateful that he silently watched my crazy antics of winking and broadcasting live using his body, but he truly is a veteran Field Investigator with excellent judgment.
Even now, he didn't interrupt Brown and waited until he finished speaking quietly….
"Mr. Roe Deer. Do you require advice?"
....
-…If I did, what advice would you give me?
"Yes. Remove the Host of the Talk Show Ghost Story, known by the name Brown, from your mental system."
Aaaargh!
[Oh, if it weren't for the live broadcast, this pathetic swordsman who would have decorated the Wedding Cake instead of walking out on his own two feet is shamelessly speaking.]
Wait, just a moment.
-Manager. It is a definite fact that we can now escape without the Holy Fire Barrage, isn't it?
"Yes."
Phew.
[And who created this 'situation'! It was the host of the Late-Night Talk Show, an Entertainer who put together a live broadcast program in just one day. My goodness, anyone with even a shred of thought should be offering their gratitude in this situation.]
"Indeed. Thank you."
[....]
"Now, remove him."
I witnessed the Talk Show Host Ghost Story being speechless for the first time in a while….
-But… it was rewarding, wasn't it…?
[I can hear the sound of him disappearing.]
....
Right....
Well, at least the tension seems to have eased, roughly speaking.
'…Let's get out of here quickly.'
I need to separate the two immediately.
It was exhausting in many ways….
-First, I think we can just leave through the main entrance. Manager.
The main gate of the boarding school was, as if declaring surrender to the live broadcast, wide open again to allow the film crew to enter and exit.
I let out a sigh of relief as I watched Manager Lee Jaheon send the survivors out the door first.
'He's making an ethical choice, indeed.'
Thank goodness.
Then, Manager Lee Jaheon also exits through the door.
Wide open.
Through the shared vision, I saw light pouring in from beyond the open door.
Something I hadn't seen in the boarding school ghost story, where the weather was always gloomy.
Sunlight.
I stepped into it....
....
"Customer."
I opened my eyes.
A white space. I found myself sitting in a strange place made of light and form.
And before me was….
"We have confirmed the rescue attempt and success of the 'Lee Jaheon' individual at the Cosmic shopping mall."
The Lizard from the Cosmic shopping mall.
This time, it was a greenish-brown color.
It seemed I had encountered these alien reptiles again through a mechanism similar to the VIP Personal Shopping.
"Did Manager Lee Jaheon return safely?"
"Yes."
"I want to speak with him directly."
"Yes. That is why 'we' are here."
I didn't understand the sentence for a moment, then realized it belatedly.
These alien reptiles consider conversing with 'us' to be the same act as conversing directly with Lee Jaheon.
Because Lee Jaheon is us.
Because we possess a single, vast mental system that shares all experiences and judgments.
This made it even more real.
'It's not like they'd feel like they've cut ties with a component named Lee Jaheon.'
It's no different than giving up a part of myself.
Like removing a broken fingernail, scratching off a burn wound, or amputating festering flesh.
Even if I felt pity, I wouldn't feel guilt.
We are us.
It was a truly bizarre feeling.
"I'm sorry, but I wish to speak with the specific individual, 'Manager Lee Jaheon'."
"We have no differences in experience or judgment."
"Still, I ask that you please grant my request."
A moment of silence.
"Confirmed. The Lee Jaheon individual will contact you in reality shortly."
"Yes. Thank you."
It seems he has definitely returned safely.
"Then, am I also free to return to my own body?"
When I went to rescue Manager Lee Jaheon, they explained it at the Cosmic shopping mall as the final operational step of the 'We Help!' item.
-Upon successful rescue of the caller, the consciousness of the individual who responded to the call will return to their original coordinates.
"Yes."
The Hospitality Lizard nodded in agreement.
Then, I should hurry back and….
"Will you be receiving your reward later?"
"If you mean reward…."
"It is our reward for the rescue of the Lee Jaheon individual."
…!
"Are you giving me a reward from the Cosmic shopping mall?"
"No."
The Lizard looked at me with a seemingly friendly gaze.
More meaningful.
"'We' will reward you."
....
A more encompassing term than 'Cosmic shopping mall'.
"What do you desire?"
My mind suddenly cleared.
'This.'
It's not an ordinary opportunity.
"…Can I receive help with rescuing someone in Segwang Metropolitan City?"
"We do not recommend it."
I expected this.
'They didn't recommend the 'We Help!' button back then either….'
Excluding what's urgently needed right now.
'…I need to think more carefully.'
Let's not answer rashly.
I pondered meticulously and finally chose one.
....
....
Among the goals I set in the Daydream underground isolation chamber, the most clear one.
"I… want to regain a human body."
I want to become human.
I want to regain my physical form.
"Does the 'human body' you refer to mean the body of a 21st-century present-day Earth human?"
"Yes. …Is it possible?"
An immediate reply came back.
"It is possible."
…!
"In what way??"
"Utilize the body of a human whose self has been lost."
Wait, does that mean….
'Possess a body?'
It was truly an alien way of thinking. Especially because it was difficult to execute.
…Let's change the nuance.
"Is it possible to use my current body like a human? Like when I was a supervisor at Daydream Inc.?"
I swallowed and watched the Lizard's mouth.
Slowly, its mouth opened and articulated….
"Yes."
…!
"Then I would like to receive help with that."
"Yes. We will deliver the reward once preparations are complete."
Done.
I was about to say I was leaving, feeling like I wanted to clench my fists, when….
An additional thought occurred to me.
Perhaps?
"Um, is it true that my rescue also contributed to saving 'our' Holy Fire Barrage costs?"
"Yes."
"In that case, could you perhaps put a price on my help, like the Holy Fire Barrage… and count it towards my Cosmic shopping mall purchase record?"
The Lizard made eye contact with me and nodded.
"We have judged your statement as a rational inference."
And.
"Congratulations on your membership upgrade."
It offered me something.
'A VIP Thank You Card?'
It looked like that. Does that mean I've been upgraded to a level above VIP?
'There were even higher levels than that.'
As expected of a shopping mall. I opened the rather dazzling golden card….
I am a Cosmic Shopping Mall VVIP!
Amazing Ascension!
~Gratitude Cells Enclosed~
"...."
"...."
"Um, the shopping mall's design, is it…?"
"Yes."
"Do you do it yourselves?"
"Yes."
Hmm.
I felt like I understood a lot….
"Thank you. I'll be going now."
"Yes."
I carefully pocketed the thank you card.
"We'll meet again."
And I was pushed out from the shopping space, far away.
·
A soft sensation.
"Grapes-ie."
I opened my eyes. I was now….
"Are you awake?"
Lying on the wooden floor.
My residence provided by the Disaster Management Bureau.
And I could see the faces of agents looking in at me, having opened the paper screen.
Team Hyumoo 1.
'Ah.'
I'm back.
I raised my hand. The thermometer and heart rate monitor clattered to the floor. It seemed they had been inserted after slightly unzipping my clothes.
They must have had trouble finding a pulse point.
'They prepared so much for me.'
Feeling a slight warmth, I got up.
And quickly reported.
Gratitude and Report:
▶ Safe Return
▶ Manager Lizard Rescued Successfully
It was a very satisfying outcome.
"Oh~ That's amazing?"
Agent Choi smiled and patted my shoulder.
"Then, can I ask just one more thing?"
Positive.
"Okay! Want to see this?"
Agent Choi held something up.
It was a small rabbit doll I had kept in my pocket.
"About your friend Brown."
Right.
'Come to think of it, the agents delivered it.'
I had intended to thank them at some point. It must have slipped out of my pocket again, and they took care of it….
"Is he a Talk Show Host?"
....
...!!