I gasped for breath and looked down.
My body was hidden beneath an old hospital bed in the darkness, reeking of disinfectant.
My hand was clutching the camcorder.
Then another hand shot out and grabbed it.
"…!!"
I reflexively twisted my body, trying to shake the hand off. But the hand holding the camcorder was trying to violently snatch it and drag it out from under the bed.
'No!'
I twisted my body, trying to pull the camcorder free.
I twisted my body, trying to pull the camcorder free.
But something felt wrong.
As originally decided.My body was dragged out from beneath the bed.
Outside it, the camcorder's owner was already bracing himself for what was about to happen.
The first photographer is discovered on a hospital bed, his lower body brutally dissected.The first photographer is discovered on a hospital bed, his lower body brutally dissected.
The second recording begins with the horrified scream of the person who finds him
Thwack!
Something long stabbed into the strange hand that was pulling on my camcorder.
"…!"
A ballpoint pen.
When I lifted my head, I saw Baek Saheon—deathly pale—twisting the pen he had driven into the back of the hand.
"Ah."
Blood spurted from the patient's hand gripping the camcorder.
The moment the muscles in the back of that hand twitched—
Baek Saheon yanked the camcorder back hard.
"...!"
I kicked the bed leg with all my might.
The hospital bed above our heads lurched forward—screeeech!
Its portable wheels shrieked as they rolled, then rattled violently as the bed shoved the 'Patient' and slammed him into the wall.
Thud!
The hand that had grabbed the camcorder let go.
"Go!"
I grabbed Baek Saheon by the nape of his neck and bolted backward like a madman.
Somehow, the camcorder had ended up in Baek Saheon's hand.
On its screen, an image flashed by—a figure in a grotesque patient gown, pinned to a desk and trembling.
And the hallway we ran out into was….
"Hk."
The hallway of a dark, Locked Ward.
I grabbed Baek Saheon's hand holding the camcorder and aimed it forward again to see the hallway through the screen.
I could see a dark company hallway, not a hospital.
"The eleva—."
"Don't!"
I shouted urgently.
"Take the stairs. This is a disaster where you can't take the elevator!"
A corpse appeared in the elevator during every exploration, a horror description so censored that the contents weren't even shown!
"~!!"
It seemed like Baek Saheon swallowed a curse, but he ultimately ran toward the Emergency Exit.
As we sprinted down the hall, the sound of a bed being shoved aside rang out behind us—followed by footsteps in pursuit.
Hospital room doors flew open, and vaguely familiar figures emerged, one after another.
"Look through the camcorder…."
But there was no need to say it. Baek Saheon just sprinted, not caring if someone spoke to him or suddenly jumped out to grab him.
Not a shred of lingering attachment or will to help.
"Hoo-wook."
I opened the Emergency Exit first, threw myself and Baek Saheon through, and immediately slammed the door shut.
Thud!
I locked the door.
Thump, thump—knocking and voices came from beyond the door.
Strangely, a pentagram that looked as if it had been drawn with a bloody hand was smeared across the rusty surface, making my skin crawl.
But despite the chill, I let out a sigh filled with conviction.
A sigh of relief.
"...We should be fine for a while."
The part where problems arose in the emergency stairs was in the latter half of 'Nursing Hospital's Last Day Footage'.
'The Security Team will probably suppress it before then.'
No, maybe the 'Real Security Chief' who hadn't returned had been mobilized for that task and was working his way up from the first floor of the Annex right now.
Or maybe starting from the 10th floor of the Annex, where there would be more people.
"Hoo-wook."
Only then did I let go of Baek Saheon. The man, who had been gasping for breath with a pale face, glanced at the camcorder he was holding.
He had already noticed.
"This…"
"I'd like it back now."
I held out my hand.
A flash of greed passed through Baek Saheon's eyes.
"What does it do?"
Dammit.
"…You can distinguish between what's real and what's fake in this building by what's on the screen."
"Hmm."
"It's a necessary item for me to explore this disaster."
I spoke like an agent, looking at him seriously.
"But it's a useless item for someone who isn't trying to explore this disaster. I will guide you, a civilian, to a safe place, so please return the camcorder to me. I have a job to do."
"..."
Baek Saheon lowered the camcorder.
But without letting go, he asks in a small voice.
"Where is this safe place?"
"It's on the upper floors."
To be precise, there is a safe zone on the floors above the 5th floor.
[Hoo!]
Exploration Records #16
Activation phenomenon of Qterw-C-1004 occurred in a 10-story commercial building.
Two civilians testified to discovering the door to Room 501 on the 10th floor, with a page from a sketchbook attached that read 'Playtime'.
The inside of the door is plastered with the phrase 'The ghost is here, we must ward off the ghost', which is also written in crayon.
Records of the Patient appearing in said hospital room are below.
This is the important part.
The fact that they found 'Room 501' door on the 10th floor.
As more Exploration Records accumulate, this clue builds up like this….
"This disaster occurs based on an incident that happened in a 5-story hospital building, so on floors above the 5th, the phenomena of the 1st floor repeat."
I looked at him.
"And that's when distortions occur."
"…!"
"Those points of distortion are not recognized by this disaster."
In other words, it's a true safe zone.
"I'll show you."
I started walking up.
Thankfully, Baek Saheon followed. Good.
"How can you be so sure?"
"…I know from experience."
Not from my experience as an agent, but from my experience poring over the
"That's also why I'm telling you this."
I glanced at the camcorder.
"While you're hiding, that camcorder could suddenly turn on or emit light, putting your life in danger."
"..."
It was both the truth and an attempt to persuade him.
'Baek Saheon is the type who won't fall for pleas based on justification and sincerity.'
But trying to take it by force was worrying because of this bastard's trolling, and above all….
'Honestly, I don't want to walk around alone in a hospital ghost story…'
It's scary….
Let's stick together as far as we can. In a situation like a real-life version of a horror game, having a companion, even a troll, seems better than being alone….
[Oh, my friend….]
Sniffle….
"You saw it, didn't you? We almost got into big trouble earlier because we were discovered due to the camcorder."
"..."
"It's a double-edged sword."
Baek Saheon fell silent.
"I don't know why this disaster occurred, but for now, go to the highest floor possible, hide, and wait. The Security Team will come."
"..."
If it comes down to it, I'll just knock him out and take it, but for now, let's stick together.
The dead-silent emergency stairs, which smelled of stagnant water, were quite creepy. I started walking again and, to change the subject, asked in a placating tone.
"Come to think of it, why were you in the Annex?"
I thought he said he'd be on standby at the company.
After a flinch, Baek Saheon says, as if tossing the words out.
"…Obviously, I came because there was a Darkness to find. One managed by my team."
"Then did you come from the 1st floor?"
"Of course. How else do you think I saved you on the 2nd floor?"
The Field Investigation Team rarely gets permission to enter above the 1st floor in the Annex, so I was wondering how he was on the 2nd floor.
'It seems this hospital ghost story phenomenon started from the 1st floor.'
According to Baek Saheon's explanation, after the power outage, the moment the twisted image of the Locked Ward was overlaid, the Emergency Exit to the ground floors opened, and he ran up.
'Then the 1st floor must be utter chaos right now…'
Hoo.
"I see. Thank you for saving me. You were a great help."
"..."
Baek Saheon, still holding the camcorder, turned to look at me and said bluntly.
"You know, but you still won't hand over the Item."
Ha.
"Sir."
I said in a slightly weary voice.
"Do you… wish for me to die?"
"...!"
"Without that camcorder, my mission will be extremely difficult, and there's a high probability I'll meet a bad end somewhere along the way."
"Then…!"
Baek Saheon's face turned red and blue.
"You could just hide too. Why are you trying to move around in a situation like this, trying to find something…!"
And he shakes the camcorder.
"What are you going to do with this camcorder? Where are you planning to explore?"
"…There is something I must find on the ground floors of this company's Annex."
I took a deep breath.
"It's absolutely necessary. There are civilians who can only be rescued if I have that item."
"..."
Baek Saheon lowered his head, so I couldn't see his expression.
"What, you're going to infiltrate and even steal just to save people you don't know? That's ridiculous."
"Wouldn't anyone be willing to steal if it meant someone could live?"
"..."
"I won't cause any damage to this company."
"How can you not cause damage when you're stealing something?"
And Baek Saheon said, as if tossing the words out.
"The thing you're trying to steal, it's some kind of potion-making machine."
...!
"Right? They locked down the Annex and were making a fuss because it went missing. …I knew it."
Baek Saheon's voice seemed somewhat excited.
"Did you steal it?"
"No."
I shook my head.
And with a slight smile, I stopped walking.
"What I'm looking for isn't on that floor."
I lifted my head and checked the floor we had arrived at.
[5F]
"It's on this floor."
Baek Saheon's lips part.
"…The potion machines should be on the 10th floor."
"Usually, yes, but I have something to find here."
Coming here was the plan from the beginning.
The important thing was having a justification to wander around the ground floors of the Annex without attracting attention.
'In that sense, the situation has actually become more advantageous for me.'
With the hospital ghost story swallowing the building, whatever I do now won't be as conspicuous.
'Act before this ghost story is suppressed.'
That was the right move.
Yeah, I know all that, but….
The problem is.
'Ha.'
I looked at the 5th-floor Emergency Exit, feeling like I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut.
A door so rusty it looked black.
And written on it in dripping, dark red letters.
HAPPY
D-DAY
This is the very heart of the hospital ghost story….
You could say it's the place where the main event unfolds, a place where you can see all sorts of horrific sights.
'Wow, this is insane.'
I looked at the pile of broken syringes under the 5th-floor emergency exit door, and the words 'HAPPY D-DAY' written in viscous blood.
Something clumped together is dripping from the syringes. Looking closely, it's a bundle of nerves and blood vessels….
I kind of… no, I really want to run away, but-
I forced myself to act like I wasn't a coward and grabbed the handle of the Emergency Exit.
The handle was slimy. Ugh…
"The thing I'm going to find and steal here is something that truly won't cause any damage to this company even if it disappears."
I finished my words to Baek Saheon.
"So give me the camcorder and go to the 10th floor. I'll designate a place for you to hide."
"..."
"I'll quickly take care of my business before this disaster is handled by the Security Team."
Hoo.
'I don't think I have enough time.'
Though anxious, I continued. Hey, this is the last offer.
"If you're that worried, I can guide you up to the 10th floor…."
"Ah, seriously!!"
"…?!"
"Ha, shit, hooo..."
Baek Saheon scowled deeply, then looked at me and said.
"Let's do the opposite."
"Pardon?"
"I'll take you to the 5th floor. That should work."
With an expression that said he was doing it against his better judgment, Baek Saheon stood next to me, holding the camcorder.
"How can I trust you and hand over the camcorder completely? What if a problem you don't know about comes up while I'm alone!"
I'm the one who told you about the camcorder in the first place, though?
"It's not like you can take responsibility if I die."
"..."
But I sort of understood what he meant.
'He can't just trade a useful Item for information that's only words.'
Hoo.
Still, it was unexpected.
'He's coming with me?'
Besides, for me, having an extra person was a merit that couldn't be ignored in a hospital ghost story.
'Well… if it comes to it, I can just take it by force.'
Strangely enough, this agent's persuasion seemed to be working on Baek Saheon within the bounds of common sense.
"Instead, I get a say in whatever you find. Give me half. Got it?"
"Understood."
Yup. Ho Yuwon will give it to you.
And I deliberately smiled and added.
"Thank you, sir. …I feel a little less scared thanks to you."
"..."
It doesn't seem to have had much effect. Dammit.
Anyway, with the mindset of passing all the bills to the Project manager, I opened the 5th-floor emergency exit door with Baek Saheon.
Creeak.
"..."
"..."
The Locked Ward was still there. However….
I can see its outline.
'Ha.'
…Light was leaking from the cracks of a few tightly shut hospital room doors, illuminating the dark hallway.
Revealing the graffiti scrawled haphazardly on the walls.
The day we'll be happy
Accept that our illness cannot be cured
Everyone, fighting~^^
giveupandfollowgiveupandfollowgiveupandfollowgiveupandfollowgiveupandfollowgiveupandfollowdiegiveupandfollow
There is something evil here
Truth Love Recovery Only the doctor's accurate diagnosis has meaning [1]
Bizarre writings.
As they were faintly revealed, a chill ran up my spine every time I tried to guess what they were.
The smell of disinfectant.
A strange, acrid chemical smell, a sweet smell, the smell of iron, and a terrible rotten stench mixed together and stung my nose.
'Ha…'
After discerning the 'real' space within using the camcorder… I whispered quietly.
"There it is. Our destination."
[1184]
Baek Saheon frowns as he looks at the place, which strangely has numbers written on an electronic panel.
"What does that mean?"
"It's not a dangerous place."
But to get there in this situation….
The distance was that of a dark Locked Ward hallway in a ghost story.
"..."
"Go straight, and follow my instructions."
We quietly moved our feet and advanced into the dark hallway….
But I hadn't expected this.
THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP!!
"Help me!"
"…!"
"Tied me up, rescue, rescue… help..."
Thud.
The door of the room right next to us opened.
A person holding a Security Team call button rushes out of Room 503 and falls. It looks like both his arms had been tied with tape, and he had forcibly ripped it off to get out. All the skin was peeled off.
"Please!"
He desperately held up his hands to point at his still-bound legs.
In one hand, he tightly gripped the Security Team call button.
And in his other hand was….
Another camcorder.
"Wai—"
In that moment.
Baek Saheon quickly approached and grabbed the man's hand.
…the one with the camcorder.
"Ah."
Then he kicked the figure back into Room 503 and slammed the door shut.
"Aaaargh!"
Then he locked the hospital room door and quickly ran over to me.
"What are you doing, run!"
He said, holding the newly snatched camcorder.
His eyes were shining.
"I got another one, so hurry up and take it!"
"..."
"Hello?"
[1] supposed to be crossed out