The hospital was no longer safe.
That much was clear.
> Existence Stability: 8%
I stayed hidden inside the storage room, watching the number flicker.
Every second here felt like a risk.
The hunter might return.
Or worse—bring others.
---
> [Warning: Prolonged exposure to detection zones increases capture probability.]
"So I can't stay," I muttered.
This place was where I died.
It should have been the safest.
But now, it had become a trap.
---
Leaving wasn't easy.
The moment I drifted farther away from the ward, my form trembled.
A sharp emptiness gnawed at me.
> [Distance from Death Location Increasing.]
[Existence Stability Decreasing.]
"…Of course there's a penalty."
> [Clarification: Newly formed ghosts are bound to their place of death.]
"So I'm homeless and leashed."
The system did not comment.
---
I passed through the hospital wall and into the night.
Cold air washed over me.
The city felt different outside.
No longer enclosed.
No longer heavy with suffering.
Lights flickered.
Cars passed by.
Life continued—unaware of me.
---
My stability dipped again.
> Existence Stability: 7%
I stopped drifting.
If I continued like this, I would vanish before dawn.
---
> [Option Available.]
A new window opened.
> [Temporary Anchor: Available]
Anchor Options:
— Object with emotional imprint
— Living host (Risk: High)
— Location with lingering resentment
Living host?
That sounded dangerous.
Possession wasn't something I wanted to touch—not yet.
---
I scanned the street.
Then I felt it.
A faint pull.
Across the road stood a small convenience store.
Dim lights.
Old shelves.
And behind the counter—
A tired-looking night clerk, eyes dull, emotions heavy.
Loneliness.
Regret.
---
"An object," I whispered.
I drifted inside.
Past the clerk.
Past the humming refrigerator.
My gaze locked onto something small near the register.
A cracked wristwatch.
Old.
Worn.
Still ticking.
---
> [Anchor Candidate Detected.]
[Emotional Imprint: Strong Attachment.]
Without hesitating, I reached out.
The moment my presence touched the watch—
My world snapped into place.
---
> [Temporary Anchor Established.]
[Existence Stability Stabilized.]
> Current Stability: 10%
I exhaled.
Out of habit.
"…That's better."
---
I could feel it now.
The watch.
Its memories.
Someone waiting.
Someone promising to return.
A promise that was never kept.
---
I didn't like this feeling.
But it was better than disappearing.
---
> [New Status Effect.]
— Anchored Spirit (Temporary)
Limitation: Movement Restricted to Anchor Radius
I glanced at the clerk.
He shivered suddenly.
"…Sorry."
He didn't hear me.
---
Outside, the night went on.
And somewhere in the city—
Hunters were still searching.
---
> [Beginner Task: Ongoing.]
Days Remaining: 4
---