“……Tell them I’m running an errand and will return shortly.”
– I am running an errand and will return shortly.
The faceless staff didn’t insist twice.
Instead…
They disappeared around the corner—
And came back with another staff member.
“……”
Gulp.
If I had a body right now, I would have swallowed hard.
‘This is bad.’
If I looked suspicious here, word would immediately reach the host. And if that happened…
I’d find myself happily hosting the talk show again.
All of my doubts would be neatly erased, thanks to his kind and ‘persuasive reasoning’.
‘……’
The new staff member gestured.
“They… they’re offering to complete the errand on my behalf.”
– That won’t be necessary.
Squad Leader!!
“P-Please say that I prefer to do it myself. It’s not a big task, so I’d rather complete it quietly as a new employee.”
– P-Please say that I prefer to do it myself.
“……”
No, that’s—
– It’s not a big task, so I’d rather complete it quietly as a new employee.
Fortunately, the staff member accepted that reasoning and left.
It seemed they had no time to waste with the live broadcast approaching.
‘Phew…’
– Continuing the search.
‘This feels like I’m piloting a robot.’
A robot ten times stronger and faster than me.
Suppressing my nerves, I continued monitoring Lee Jaheon’s vision as he searched.
There were a few close calls, but we managed to avoid trouble.
And before long.
– I’ve found it.
“…!”
Ka-chak.
The door in my vision swung open.
Guest Area
The CCTV-like view in front of me now displayed a dimly lit, antique-style corridor.
Rows of doors lined the corridor, each still bearing the nameplates of the guests who had appeared over the past month—none of them had been replaced…
As if a new one was used for every guest who appeared.
“……”
…A strange, uneasy feeling—one I hadn’t noticed all month—began creeping over me, even beyond my skin…
I swallowed hard.
“Please find the door labeled ‘Happy Ending Teddy’.”
The view shifted rapidly, and soon enough, we found the door.
The light above today’s guest waiting room was glowing brightly, but I ignored it and instead approached the door next to it.
A door with a dimly flickering light—yesterday’s guest waiting room.
Happy Ending Teddy
Ka-chak.
…The dark waiting room had yet to be cleaned, and everything inside was scaled to fit the size of a fabric doll.
Traces of the teddy bear remained.
…As well as remnants from the process of making one.
“……”
I tried my best not to look at the scattered body parts and bits of skin.
Luckily, since Section Chief Lee Jaheon was the one controlling my body right now, it wasn’t too difficult to avoid focusing on them.
He quickly scanned the room, then finally, he found something.
– It’s a dollhouse door.
One side of the wall had a small, brightly colored door, barely reaching my waist—almost like a child’s toy.
“Let’s go through there.”
Creeeak.
…From my point of view, my hand reached out and opened the tiny door, then crawled forward, inching through the darkness.
A faint light appeared ahead.
And moments later—
“…!”
The view suddenly brightened.
A modern hallway came into sight.
In stark contrast to the classic elegance of Braun’s studio, this place had a contemporary design—concrete walls, painted surfaces.
And from a distance, voices echoed…
– Now! Introducing today’s featured item! A miraculous product that transforms your hair into living snakes…!
The absurd voice of a home shopping host promoting a ridiculous product.
Delusion Home Shopping!
‘As expected.’
Since the show had received sponsorship from here when the Happy Ending Teddy’s made its guest appearance, I figured this passage might lead to this place. Ｒ𝙖ℕò฿ĚS
‘Good.’
I let out a sigh of relief.
I’d done something similar before in Death Lane—escaping from one ghost story by slipping into another.
‘Since this is still a broadcasting studio, Braun might take a little longer to notice my absence.’
Besides, the live broadcast was about to start soon, meaning he wouldn’t have time to come after me.
Or, maybe I could even find something useful here to prevent Braun from tracking me.
‘With Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s strength, there shouldn’t be any danger here.’
I was willing to bet on that.
The view moved as he stepped forward into the bright hallway.
I suppressed my excitement and said,
“Chief, first, let’s find something discreet but useful—”
[Goodness.]
G
R
A
B
I was dangling in midair.
Someone was holding me.
[It looks like you took a wrong turn, Friend! I don’t think you were trying to leave the studio. The hallways can be quite confusing, can’t they?]
A massive—truly massive—TV screen loomed before me, displaying a friendly, smiling emoticon.
[The live broadcast is just around the corner, so I had to call you back this way. Now, take a nice break. You’ll find it much more comfortable this way!]
Below, an enormous gloved hand had me by the scruff of my neck, then gently supported my back and legs before carefully placing me onto a dark brown desk.
[Oh, I’ve experienced a body like this before, so I can assure you… Seeing it again is rather nostalgic.]
[My dear, ‘Good Friend.’]
I had a body again.
But I couldn’t move.
The shimmering lights of Braun’s Late-Night Talk Show flashed before me—the stage, the audience seats, and…
Everything was gigantic.
On the black TV screen, my reflection stared back at me.
[Now, now… Just sit back comfortably and enjoy the talk show. It’ll be starting soon!]
I…
I became a plush doll.