Chapter 175: Ch 175: The real thing starts
The morning of the third day since the opening of Flower Golden Resort
dawned.
One hour before the lobby doors opened at 9AM, the employees who had
come to work gathered in the lobby to hear the mascot’s briefing.
And today, once again, something extraordinary happened.
O v e r T h e r e
The mascot pointed to the resort’s left window.
Beyond it, you could still see part of the resort area that was in ruins.
B u s i n e s s
S t a r t
And the moment the mascot declared it—
"...!!"
The ruins beyond the window began to reconstruct themselves.
Broken glass swirled together to form a dome, with gold accents glittering
in the seams.
Inside, it’s filled with dazzling golden flowers.
Steam rose from above, and a glass hallway extended from the resort
building, breaking through the window and forming a door that connected
them.
Standard mascots rushed out and put up an elegant sign overhead.
[Healing Golden Spa]
All the staff widened their eyes at the golden glass greenhouse.
From this view, it looked like a marvelous place straight out of a fairy
tale... but it was not meant for humans.
If a human entered with no information and tried to enjoy the spa, ’■■ goes
missing’, ’bones removed from all limbs, later found in the recycling
area’—such horrific endings would fit perfectly here.
Even the oils used were like that.
The spa’s featured oils were carefully selected from the finest ingredients:
Sun Orange, Grape, Fig, Everfarm’s Apple Juice, Blood of 18-year-old ■■
from Mt. ■■, vascular juice of bipedal primates, and so on...
...Recalling the sample spa introduction with such phrases, Kim Soleum
felt light-headed.
’It’s the perfect place to die.’
So after much thought, he introduced an emergency measure.
That was... automation!
At Healing Golden Spa, all massages are performed by highly
professional, self-aware plants, customized for each guest.
Every massage at this spa was now done automatically by these bizarre
greenhouse installations.
Kim Soleum had poured coins into the place to sever any possible
connection between this perilous facility and the staff...
In the process, the spa only became more grotesque, but there were no
regrets!
’No more new Neapolitan-style ghost story rules, please...’
The theme of ’guaranteed private rest for our valued guests’ proved useful
once again.
For the record, the leftover coins were all scraped together and spent to
replace the beds with top-quality furniture to match the upgraded bedding in
the resort rooms.
An investment with no regard for profitability!
’Be satisfied with your rooms, so you never leave for the lobby or hallway.’
It was all about minimizing foot traffic and eliminating variables.
In truth, the goal was no different from an exorcistic seal.
The mascot’s struggle to keep the work rules from ballooning to Rule #20
was tear-inducing...
The yellow mascot stifled a sigh and finally assigned the new employees
their new duties.
First, Supervisor Lee Seonghae in the dolphin mask was put at the spa’s
reservation desk.
"Okay. Understood!"
Next, Weasel was assigned as the spa lounge cleaner.
"Y-Yes..."
Still not fully back to his senses, Weasel nodded repeatedly and quickly
bowed his head as he hurried off in that direction.
And there was one employee watching all this closely.
Ladybug mask.
He was just realizing something on his own.
’...Useless staff are being assigned to posts where there’s no direct
interaction...!’
In a sense, he had hit the mark.
By Kim Soleum’s standards, the more reliable staff were assigned to
directly face the ghost stories.
It was a utilitarian arrangement to maximize the survival rate of the whole
team, but people naturally judge others according to their own values and
ways of thinking.
’It’s sorting us!’
Ladybug clenched his fist.
Would useless staff end up fired, or converted into standard mascots?
Either way, it would be a spine-tingling ending.
’Damn it, seriously.’
And he looked around at his competitors with a darkened gaze.
Now that he had already become a staff member, the safest official method
of ’fading into the background and clearing the stage unnoticed’ could no
longer be applied.
If so, he would have to use a different method.
Make it into the passing group.
Make the ghost story itself judge that it’s fine for him to survive...!
T h i s W a y
The yellow mascot called over the staff who had been on his team and
stamped their ride tickets with the stamp at the spa entrance.
Next to him, Employee Harvest Mouse, now finally seeming a bit more
relaxed, even started to grin.
"At this rate, we’ll escape in four days, won’t we?"
"..."
You idiot.
The ladybug, anxious, thought.
As the person in charge of room service, what ranking am I...?
’I can’t afford to get pushed out before getting all three stamps.’
However, regardless of what any one employee thought, the resort kept
running.
B u s i n e s s S t a r t
A new day began with the new facility.
That day was a success as well.
However, starting the next day, the yellow mascot began to notice strange
phenomena.
The fourth day of operations—
Kim Soleum inadvertently exchanged confused glances with Jang
Heowoon.
"..."
"Um, it feels like the guests have changed a bit..."
Yes, that’s right.
Since the spa opened, something strange had been happening.
Up to yesterday, most of the guests coming to the resort looked like they
were here for the theme park, or had already enjoyed it.
That was only natural. After all, this was a resort attached to a theme park.
But... today, there was a noticeable increase in strange appearances.
"Iheardthisisaplaceforquietrestthankyouforthegiftpleasedon’tmindmeaslong
astheresbathwatertheresnoproblemthankyouverymuch"
Just now, something weird—something like a blob of slime with only arms
and legs—had passed by.
It looked like something out of a horror story set in a remote forest.
There was no entry ticket on its wrist, and no souvenirs or headbands either.
By all appearances, it wasn’t here to enjoy the theme park.
And today, all sorts of such strange guests rushed the front desk to get
rooms, like a sudden rush hour.
A crowd so big, it wouldn’t even matter if they came flooding in!
’...??’
Is it really supposed to be this successful?
A bad feeling crept up. Sales were good, but...
N e x t
Anyway, Kim Soleum welcomed the next guest.
But that guest...
He even recognized them.
"One room, please. Including the spa. Huu..."
A pale man wearing a service uniform and a peaked cap, like a driver.
’It’s the Hellfare Taxi driver...!’
Kim Soleum broke into a cold sweat, remembering the favor owed from
escaping Death Lane!
Why would someone like him come to a theme park? Was there even a
member among the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse who would care
about a theme park?
’This isn’t good.’
I need to get a handle on what’s happening.
In the end, the yellow mascot opened his mouth.
P a r d o n M e
"Hmm?"
I f Y o u D o T h i s
O n e M o r e G i f t
Kim Soleum hurriedly put together a survey—How did you find us?—and
handed it over.
The taxi driver scanned it with tired eyes, but just replied verbally.
"These days, there’s a lot of promotion in reviews... My job requires rest,
you see. I can’t quit until it’s all over. Hahaha..."
...??
Watching the taxi driver go up to the fourth floor with his deluxe room key,
the yellow mascot blinked.
’Promotion by reviews...?’
And then, he remembered.
The coupons the blue mascot had been handing out.
Flower Golden Resort
Deluxe Room – One (1) Night Accommodation Voucher
(Experience review required)
’...!!’
No way.
The yellow mascot immediately called for Lee Jaheon.
D i d Y o u W r i t e A R e v i e w ?
"Yes."
My god!
W h e r e
"One of the mascots assigned as a guide gave me a postcard."
Kim Soleum called over the standard mascots in charge of the task and
confirmed the origin of the postcards.
’Holy shit.’
...There were already dozens of postcards written by coupon-using guests
stacked up.
And among them was Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s one-line postcard.
– The bed mattress is soft.
’...’
Well, it’s a nice review, at least...
’It seems these review postcards are being circulated as advertisements
through some kind of strange ghost story network.’
...And this, combined with the newly launched social distancing theme,
was creating an incredible synergy that attracted even the kinds of ghost
stories that would never normally come to a theme park...
A boom in business that was completely unexpected!
’Ughhhh.’
It wouldn’t have been surprising if Kim Soleum, in a fit of frustration
shouting, "Why the heck is the business doing so well!" would suddenly
slashed the number of rooms dramatically.
But as a mascot, his identity simply couldn’t permit him to chase away
guests like that...
In the end, the yellow mascot drooped his horns and resigned himself.
’...Let’s just think of it as being able to fill the satisfied guest count
quickly.’
He recalled the requirements he’d written yesterday for adding the third
facility.
Requirements to expand resort facilities
Staff : 3
Satisfied Guests : 300
Mascot Ceremony Rites
The required number of guests had increased exactly tenfold.
And now there was even a suspicious ceremony that needed to be held...
’Still, I guess I should be relieved that the number of extra staff needed is
still only three.’
Anyway, with guests flooding in, there was no need to worry about filling
the guest count.
"Is there a problem?"
Section Chief Lee Jaheon asked, seeing the yellow mascot with his horns
drooping.
Of course, the mascot had no reason or guts to get mad at the alien lizard
who’d simply written a good review as asked...
N o
The yellow mascot patted the lizard’s back.
G o o d J o b
"? Yes."
It was like something out of a sitcom.
But someone watched this scene without smiling at all, anxiety written all
over his face.
Ladybug, sitting at the room service call desk.
He swept his bloodshot eyes over the scene.
’Is that guy being acknowledged?’
What if Section Chief Lizard gets promoted?
He’d fall behind.
His survival odds would drop...!
’No.’
He’d have to do something.
Ladybug recalled his ’trump card’, but quickly clenched his teeth.
Section Chief Lizard was simply too difficult an opponent for tricks.
That guy’s special method of clearing ghost stories was already famous in
the company. If he tried anything stupid, his head could literally explode.
For the same reason, Supervisor Dolphin was also out of the question. She
was from the elite team.
In the end...
There was only one employee who was rated higher than himself, but still
manageable.
"..."
He glanced over at the front desk.
The bison-mask-wearing Jang Heowoon, who was now promoted to
manager.
That night—
Knock, knock, knock.
A guest came to Jang Heowoon’s room.
"Uh, who is it...?"
"Oh, it’s me. Ladybug."
"Ah!"
Recalling several work rules, Jang Heowoon’s tension eased a little as he
stepped back.
Luckily, the ghost-guest who could mimic voices had checked out
yesterday. He’d handled the check-out himself.
’G-Good.’
Jang Heowoon opened the door, and Ladybug stepped inside, looking a bit
sheepish.
"Uh, hello, Mr. Bison. Sorry, but could I just borrow a..."
"Um, excuse me."
"Yes?"
Jang Heowoon blocked the way.
"Please don’t come in."
"...!"
"It’s in the work regulations."
16- Please refrain from inviting other guests into your room.
It is better not to make exceptions, even for fellow staff. By the time you
realize it’s not actually them, it will already be too late.
"..."
"Um, I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just... I think it’s safest to follow the
rules as much as possible,"
"Yeah, of course."
Ladybug stepped back with an awkward laugh.
"I’m just out of bottled water in my room. If you could just lend me a
bottle, I’ll leave right away..."
"Ah...! Of course. I should have a spare. Just a moment..."
The color returned to Jang Heowoon’s face beneath the mask, and he
quickly went to the mini-fridge inside the room.
"..."
Taking advantage of the moment,
the ladybug made a tiny, subtle
movement.
Just a little.
Flutter.
"..."
"Ah, here you go."
"Thank you!"
Ladybug received the water bottle from Jang Heowoon, who had come
back from the fridge to the doorway, and left with a smile.
Jang Heowoon bowed his head to him and closed the door.
"Huu."
He was alone.
Somehow, it felt even scarier to be resting at night like this. Remembering
the blood and entrails seen during the day made him feel like throwing up.
’Still, it’s worth it.’
This resort is truly a wonderful place, and the mascot is really amazing,
wonderful, and great.
It felt like his daily life was coming alive again for the first time in ages.
Thinking so, Jang Heowoon went to check the front door one last time
before bed...
But.
’Huh?’
Something had fallen on the floor at the entrance.
A flat yellow square.
’A post-it?’
It was an ordinary post-it like the kind you use on documents.
It seemed like the cleaning mascot or Ladybug must have dropped it while
cleaning.
And since it was yellow, Jang Heowoon smiled unconsciously.
’So fitting for this place.’
It was closer to yellow than gold, but at any rate, he picked up the note.
The front side of the post-it, which had landed face-down, was revealed...
what to do
so young
what a pity
boohoohoohoohoo
"..."
Jang Heowoon froze.
With trembling hands, he peeled the post-it off.
’I...tem?’
For someone who’d spent a year professionally entering ghost stories,
instincts naturally kicked in.
A sense that something was very wrong.
He realized it.
"...!"
He dropped the post-it on the floor and dashed to the emergency phone in
the room, snatching up the receiver.
"P-Please help, Mr. Mascot! Thi—!"
That moment.
Jang Heowoon slipped.
As he grabbed the receiver, his foot caught in the coiled phone cord
stretched across the floor.
’Ah.’
And then.
Thud.
Unluckily, his head struck the nightstand by the bed.
Unluckily, the yellow mascot had recently replaced all the beds and
nightstands with sturdy oak to match the luxury bedding.
Unluckily, as his head struck, Jang Heowoon was concussed and crashed
hard against the nightstand.
Unluckily, as his hand swept the nightstand, he knocked down the crystal
lamp, shattering it to pieces.
Unluckily, one of the jagged shards bounced off the wall and stabbed him
straight in the spine.
"...!"
He tried to reach behind him, but it was already over.
Thunk.
He collapsed to the floor.
And did not rise again.
That was how Jang Heowoon died.
Without even a single scream.
Unluckily.
* * *
Room 303 was awash in blood.
’...’
I stared blankly at Jang Heowoon, collapsed on the floor.
With a pale face, his neck and below shredded by crystal shards.
...Dead.
"Looks like he broke a work rule."
"Tsk."
A few employees, summoned suddenly at dawn, murmured in the
background.
These people were accustomed to death.
After that first time witnessing a scream, they’d gotten used to it. Now it
was like nothing to them.
Like a true alumni of the round-off team, he was dismissed with a simple
’Guess he just messed up, huh.’
’...’
But I had already found something at the entrance.
In my hand was a crumpled item that had lost all effect.
A post-it note.
...I know this item.
It’s a horrible, classic curse item listed in the Delusion Home Shopping
Network.
Unlucky Post-it
: Got someone you really resent? Here is a cursed talisman, an old
superstition that comes to life! Now, with a simple trap, you can mourn
their tragic accident yourself!
Tip) The more your target believes in superstitions, the faster and stronger
the effect!
(Note : The target must be someone the user knows personally. The target must discover and read the
talisman directly. The target must be flustered. The effect of hemothorax is only guaranteed if ALL
precautions are followed.)
If you didn’t know, you might have missed it. But I know.
And the one who knocked on Jang Heowoon’s door a few hours ago.
The mascot knows.
Y o u
"...!"
Ladybug froze.
I looked at him.
You thought you wouldn’t get caught?
"U-Uuuuh ..."
He doesn’t understand. Why?
This isn’t a ghost story where you kill someone and only you can escape.
Why your teammate?
W h y ?
I stared at him.
"No, I just... I thought only people who did their jobs well would be
allowed to survive! Hic!"
N o
"Strange... Oh, right! The better you do, the more you might just be told to
keep working at the resort and never go home, so I don’t know why I
believed it had to be that way. Ah!"
Ladybug suddenly grinned and started clapping.
"Maybe it’s because I came to love the resort! Mr. Mascot! I’ll be a really
outstanding employee here! The best employee—"
Thunk.
"..."
Supervisor Lee Seonghae withdrew the hand that had struck the ladybug
mask’s neck.
"What a lunatic. Right?"
But I couldn’t answer.
I just kept staring at Jang Heowoon’s corpse.
It wasn’t even my first time seeing someone die anymore, but it felt too
strange...
My stomach churned.
’...’
Just then.
"Um, can’t you revive him?"
What kind of crazy talk is that?
’It’s not like I have a Wish Ticket...’
But Supervisor Lee Seonghae pointed to her arms and legs.
The parts were now adorned with resort staff accessories and knick-knacks
instead of wounds.
"You fixed me too, didn’t you?"
...!
"A mascot can do anything in their own zone, right? And staff are part of
that zone...?"
It flashed through my mind, reflexively.
The thought I’d had a few days ago, when I’d seen the corpses Lee
Seonghae had dragged in.
– It feels like even the corpses naturally became my subordinates.
"Can’t you fix the staff too? Like resort facilities."
Could it be.
’...’
The yellow mascot opened its mouth.
G e t U p
The dead Jang Heowoon’s body began to rise from the head up.
"...!"
His pale face, dripping blood and entrails, remained unchanged.
"Hiiek!"
Ignoring the scream, I stared at Jang Heowoon’s corpse.
L e t ’ s W o r k
For that, I had to make him presentable for work.
"...!"
The sharp shard embedded in Jang Heowoon’s punctured spine was pulled
out, and the blood pooled on the floor was drawn back into the gaping
wound. The wound closed, covered over by a stylish uniform vest.
The sharp crystal fragment became a mascot-printed handkerchief tucked
into his pocket.
With that, Jang Heowoon’s corpse twisted and shook in midair...
Thunk.
...and stood on its own strength on the floor.
Then, he opened his eyes.
"..."
The room was filled with nothing but breathing and silence.
And finally...
The bison mask transformed grotesquely.
Jang Heowoon was now wearing a strange, feline golden mask with horns.
A yellow mascot mask.
And he smiled as he spoke.
"Mr. Mascot! Then should I go back to my post now?"
"AAAAGH!"
From that day on, the real ghost story began.