NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
The Ashen God collapsed, and the flames that covered the abandoned school disappeared. With the source of power gone, it makes sense that the flames would vanish too.
– It turned back into an abandoned school again.
– You’re a human, right?
– So, is that really the end?
“Did you enjoy today’s broadcast?”
– Well, it was entertaining.
– That was CGI, right?
– Technology has really advanced these days.
It seemed the viewers took the content of the broadcast to be CGI.
Sudden flames, monsters of ash, or broadcasters moving through fire.
The viewers had long since given up on accepting reality.
It’s just easier to think of it as CGI.
“CG…”
Of course, I felt wronged.
Not knowing how to use such cutting-edge technology(?).
“This is real, you know…”
– Anyone can see that’s CGI.
– So, when’s the next episode coming out?
– Anyway, today was epic.
In the end, I gave up on persuading them and wrapped up the broadcast hastily.
Anyway, there would be a chance to inform about the [Abnormality] someday.
“Thank you.”
As I ended the broadcast, a Dark Figure approached from behind, looking cautious.
“Eh? What’s up?”
“The revenge you said you’d take.”
Ah, I had mentioned something about revenge to this kid, hadn’t I?
I had completely forgotten about it.
“Well, there’s no need to thank me.”
“Still…”
“No, I really don’t need it.”
For starters, the revenge hasn’t even begun!
Thud
“Cough!”
Seeing my signal, an entity watching from behind took a swing at the back of the Dark Figure’s head.
Honestly, it wasn’t reassuring, but the entity was still an [Abnormality].
It naturally had greater physical abilities than an average human and even possessed combat skills.
That Dark Figure couldn’t even maintain their balance after taking a hit like that from the entity.
“Uh, ouch.”
“Well, isn’t that expected?”
After all, I was here to capture this [Abnormality].
“I can’t let the main body slip away after finishing everything.”
Though it did seem like they were overthrown by their own power rather than being the main body.
“Am I wrong? Arsonist Student?”
“When did this start?”
The Dark Figure’s demeanor shifted.
Unlike before when they mimicked a human, now they exuded something that felt [Abnormal] just by looking at them.
‘It feels like watching a horror movie.’
Is this what they call the uncanny valley?
Gulp
“Cough!”
“Don’t look at me! It creeps me out!”
Seriously.
They definitely looked like a human figure found in a horror movie, but anyone could tell they appeared to be a ghost.
I hadn’t realized this when they were imitating a human, but upon revealing their true self, it sent chills down my spine.
Anyway, I can’t understand why those kids who like horror movies enjoy this stuff.
Unlike the clearly monstrous [Ashen God], this one’s messy humanoid appearance makes it uncomfortable.
“Of course from the beginning; the ones around me are all [Abnormal] mimicking humans, so I’m used to seeing things that imitate humans.”
After all, if entities are surveilling all around, there’s no way a normal human could pop out without them noticing, right?
And more than anything…
“I told you, I would take revenge.”
The target of revenge wasn’t the [Ashen God].
I thought I’d take care of this one first since they’d be a hindrance in capturing them, and if I couldn’t catch them, I’d let this one go and escape.
The one who burned the delinquents in the gym wasn’t the [Ashen God].
How could someone tied up in a classroom achieve that?
Of course, if they used their powers like they did to engulf the entire school in flames, it would be possible, but then there wouldn’t be any bodies left.
So, who else could we suspect?
The obvious suspicious one!
“Don’t make me laugh!”
The enraged [Ghost] wailed.
“Those kinds of people are better off dead! I was simply cleaning up the trash for the world!”
Didn’t they mention they were bullied in life and accompanied their harassers and bystanders to a joint suicide?
Well, their circumstances are pitiful…
“What a speech from a murderer.”
Since they took not just the bullies but other students and teachers too, that’s a no from me.
Of course, bystanders share the blame, but does that warrant burning them alive?
The main body of this abandoned school’s [Ghost] was indeed this one, but they were not alone in this.
The origin of [Ghost] occurs from dark thoughts like resentment and hatred just before death.
Were the thirty students who unjustly died all deserving of death?
That can’t be true.
Well, I think it’s good that the bullies got what they deserved.
But among them, there were many children who likely knew little of the circumstances.
“You need to realize that what you did wasn’t revenge, but terror.”
Thirty students died unjustly, caught up in this person’s suicide bombing.
That, in essence, is the identity of the [Ashen God].
It’s natural that the [Ashen God] would want this one.
Of course, they would feel anger at the one who killed them.
“You lured people to their deaths for your own gain.”
The [Ashen God] was powerful, but could only act in the confined space of the classroom.
That’s because resentment and curses were concentrated in that single classroom, making it impossible to operate outside.
If they killed this one and released their revenge, they might have become a true [God] with the power they built up.
“[Ashen God] likely used their activity area being limited to lure prey to other places and devour them.”
Even that would be tricky to catch, as they attempts to devour powerful [Ghost Stories] would likely lead them to set fire to the school again.
They’d only choose prey that a [God] wouldn’t covet.
“This isn’t just an accident; if someone gets tortured and burned alive, those thoughts can’t help but remain.”
Such lingering thoughts would definitely give rise to the [Ghost].
That’s a law of this world, and there are no exceptions.
Yet, the [Ghost] of the victims was nowhere to be seen.
“Were you planning to eat a same [Ghost] to gain power?”
The main location of this abandoned school has already disappeared.
So, maintaining this abandoned school relies on the strength of the [Ghost].
And the one who wields that power, the one who first devoured a ghost story to gain strength, is not the [Ashen God].
That’s likely just an accessory-like being of this one.
“Honestly, you look scarier than the [Ashen God].”
I don’t plan on letting this [Abnormality] go, since you never know where they might pop up and generate victims.
“Damn it! It’s unfair! So unfair!”
Flames ignited off the [Ghost].
After all, this Dark Figure was the root cause of the classroom fire incident at this abandoned school.
Even if the [Ashen God] was just a simple victim, there’s no reason for this one to not use what they had.
Though, compared to their firepower, they can’t really compare.
“Why do I have to be the only one to suffer? Why am I the only one in pain? I want you to feel pain too!”
With flames of curses erupting all around the [Ghost],
Their human body was now half-melted, resembling a charred corpse.
This is probably their true form.
“Well, you are also a pity.”
They suffered from isolation in life, enduring the pain of burning to death until their last moments, and after becoming a [Ghost], they fell victim to their own power.
“Yeah! I did nothing wrong! It’s all their fault!”
No matter how much they spewed flames in refusal, it’s futile.
With flames that can’t even scorch me or the entity, they certainly can’t escape this situation.
So at least…
“Go in peace at the end.”
“I don’t want to! Don’t come near me… I want to live…!”
Crunch
The body of the one crushed by burns was feebler than that of the [Ashen God].
At least they wouldn’t feel any pain…
“I hope you can live a normal life in your next life.”
As I stood in silent tribute, familiar sounds began to fill the air.
Psssh…
“Is the main body disappearing because it’s dead?”
Just like the [Abnormality] I killed turning into black dust.
The abandoned school began to disassemble and fade away from its edges.
“Anyway, this is really the end.”
Ultimately, I didn’t achieve my original purpose, but…
At least I figured out that the state of the dead [Abnormality] and the usual ones is different, so that’s partly an accomplishment, right?
“Today’s viewers were quite satisfying.”
Regardless of whether they accepted it as truth, the [Ashen God] caused such a colorful upheaval that the number of viewers increased.
Though I was liberated from money, I still have greed for viewers.
It might not be a bad idea to hold another [Abnormality] hunting broadcast…
Ding!
“Oh, the payment has been deposited…”
Wait, one ten hundred thousand million….
– 1,000,000,000 won deposited.
“Ten, ten, ten billion!”
In one trip, I received an amount of money I had never touched before.
“With this amount…”
It’s feasible to work…
Is there another jackpot out there?
Ding-
At that moment, another message arrived.
“Eh?”
This was a message in a form I had never received before.
“What’s this?”
A new tag was added to my genre.
*
Backroom.
Behind the world.
A space outside the stage.
This place exists on the outskirts of reality, being a fixed space that doesn’t constantly change due to reality’s interference.
Among such backrooms.
In a place resembling an apartment, a [God] dressed in security guard attire looks out the window of the corridor.
“Something is coming in.”
From the window, which was merely a background reflecting reality, black snow began to fall from the sky.
It was not pure white but a pitch-black color,
Not a cold chill but a hot heat…
Like ash falling as snow.
“A new space has appeared.”
The security guard stood up and began to walk slowly.
Though a proprietor may have emerged, managing this space was his duty.
As he opened the door, ash began to flow out from inside.