"They say the dead don't speak. They lied. They scream, and they remember every face that let them die."

Adrian Ace Miller was a professional at doing nothing. A shut-in gamer and a self-proclaimed coward, his only goal was to survive another day of unemployment. But when the world tilts and he wakes up in the clinical, shadow-drenched halls of Nox Corporation, "survival" takes on a terrifying new meaning.

Recruited as Unit 091, Adrian is no longer a player—he is an "asset" in a high-stakes experiment where ghosts are the currency and fear is the fuel. Beside him stands David Halter, a man who claims to be his "shield," but who is slowly losing his own humanity to protect a ghost from his past.

How many pieces of yourself must you cut away to survive? When the "Coward" finally finds his courage, will there be anything left of the man he used to be?

"Warning: Entry into Nox Corporation may involve: Coarse language, experimental psychological distress, and the occasional loss of humanity. Proceed at your own risk."
                                                                                                                                            -Unit 091

David fed me apples every day, saying, 'I needed to be full in order to recover.'


'Recover. And then what? After I recover, what will I do?'


The thoughts stayed in my mind. The lingering feeling of turmoil echoed within me.


'No. Let's just be grateful someone is here for me.'


But I don't want to rely on David forever. I want to be strong enough to be independent… 


'Wait, what if I just depend on him forever? That way, I won't do anything from now on. Wha—what are these thoughts?!'


[Hmm, perhaps our landlord rejects my suggestions?]


[Do not be a fool, Sloth. You are too passive, our dear landlord would like to see some action.]


[It's just you. However, if our dear landlord seeks bloodshed, I will not hesitate.]


David was still feeding me apples when Madam Vivienne entered the room. She wore a well-tailored suit, and her hair was styled uniquely. 


She walked toward us with a purse in her hand. Standing beside the jolly David, she smacked his face with her purse.


"Come on! The apple would've fallen from my hands!"


"It is precisely why I smacked that expression off your face."


David frowned and turned to slice more apples. Vivienne looked at me and narrowed her gaze.


I knew that look was judging. She was judging whether it was really me or the two things inside me, and I don't blame her. 


I averted my gaze from hers and lowered my head. She sighed and announced to both me and David.


"Adrian Ace, you will be transported to Evercare Institute."


David flinched and turned to face Madam Vivienne with wide eyes. He shook his head forcefully, but Madam Vivienne nodded. David paused and buried his face in his hands, seemingly disappointed with himself. 


"You will get better there. What happened to you last week was just a case of psychological trauma. You'll get better in no time."


There were traces of uncertainty in her voice.


Both of them softened their expressions—their faces shouting pity.


Chapter 26 - Episode 23: Switch