It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 012

A horrendous stench spread throughout the studio.

What emerged into the center of the lights was something that walked on two legs with a pig’s head.

A gaunt, skeletal body.

Blood was oozing from the huge, dead pig’s eyes that were instead of a normal head.

[Just a moment. A taciturn artist… Oh! Right now, the equipment is coming in!]

Thirteen silver trays descended from the air, suspended by wires.

The round, massive silver trays were intricately decorated with thick, delicate designs.

Faces screaming. Countless grape-like clusters hanging.

[Then, let’s meet our passionate participants who applied to be part of the choir!]

The lights on each podium lit up.

Pale-faced humans stood at six different podiums.

[Do you see familiar faces from last week? Haha, our participants, who have maintained a record of 99 consecutive wins, will surely set their 100th record in this new segment!]

[Stay tuned! It will be revealed soon!]

Wow!

The audience seats were empty. Yet, the recorded sounds mechanically filled the venue.

[But the first glory should go to our first participant, right?]

The host stood before an unknown employee.

The employee in a mole mask hunched down.

[Question.]

Flash.

[Which of the following has the longest lifespan?]

1. Pig

2. Human

3. Rabbit

4. Flea

“Th-the answer is… 2. Human!”

[Correct!]

Relief flickered in the mole-masked eyes.

Right. In a regular talk show, there would have been cheers and the order would have moved along.

However, in this new segment, a new level had been added.

[Congratulations on passing, Mr. Mole!]

The bleeding pig-headed conductor raised its bony arms and waved a silver baton.

The mole mask was torn away from the head,

[It will create a beautiful harmony!]

Thud.

The headless participant’s body dropped to the floor like a severed puppet.

“…!”

The remaining neck floated into the air and was exhibited upon a silver tray.

It still flapped its mouth.

[I will awaken each participant’s suitable talent. Oh, amazing. So amazing….]

As the pig raised both arms, a clear, transparent scream suddenly resonated from the flapping mouth of the employee.

“I-I am a human! Human, human!”

It sounded like someone was wringing the vocal cords to produce the melody of a wind instrument.

[Finally, the first member has taken the stage!]

The choir practice began.

Repeating endlessly the last words they spoke before being beheaded.

———————=

‘The Choir of Sacrificial Offerings’ consists of one conductor and the 13 silver trays he summoned.

On the silver trays, the heads of talk show participants are placed, and the selection method is determined through that day’s broadcast segment.

The bodies combined with the silver trays produce different phrases and instrument sounds, composing a vocal ensemble.

The maximum recorded number of heads is 7.

One head : Mild headaches, anxiety, triggering sudden emotional fluctuations.

———————=

If you’re merely reading a horror story, it may seem like a somewhat tolerable effect considering you only have one head.

However, if you find yourself immersed in this insane situation, that sound wouldn’t come out.

Like the employee directly affected over there.

“Ahhh! Si- Siyeon, Sii…!”

Burn.

Another podium’s light went out. The charred corpse stuck to the floor below.

The flapping neck still sang its bizarre melody.

“I-I am a human! 2. Human!”

[Next up… Oh, another new face! Mr. Jellyfish! Let’s see if you can create a wonderful choral harmony with the successful participant!]

[Now for the question….]

“I don’t know! I don’t know the answer!”

The unnamed employee in the jellyfish mask shouted before the question was even read.

His instincts seemed to judge that it was better to fail the quiz and be penalized.

[This is unbelievable!]

What amazing judgment.

…Meaningless, but clever.

[Eliminated]

His head exploded.

Like a firework, sparkling lights and flower confetti rained down in the studio.

A mix of regretful gasps and cheers from the recorded audience filled the studio.

[Oh no, he was unsuccessful! What a pity….]

[He will not be joining the great choir!]

“…….”

Right.

‘The penalty system has been abolished, and if you can’t answer the quiz, you’re automatically eliminated.’

I blinked.

It was hard to grasp the reality.

That half the people had died just five minutes into the recording.

And that there was no escape.

Only three remain.

Assistant Manager of Group D, Chief, and me.

[Then, shall we meet the next participant? Oh, familiar faces indeed!]

“…….”

I recalled one fact I had been ignoring.

…That I had never seen the names of these superiors in [Dark Exploration Records].

They were just like my colleague Ko Yeong-eun.

I recalled the thought I had when I heard Ko Yeong-eun’s name.

– Either they had smoothly dealt with the horror stories and left early or
– they died quickly.

[Mr. Oso-ri!]

Our Chief was the first to be called.

Park Min-seong.

His chin was ashen while standing at the podium furthest from me.

The sentence of death… and soon it would be me…

[It’s your turn to answer!]

No.

‘Get a grip!’

I punched my stomach hidden behind the podium.

The pain cleared my head a bit.

‘Being scared or making excuses doesn’t help.’

This is not a situation dominated by that kind of fear.

‘It’s a disaster.’

In other words, it’s the overwhelming feeling of witnessing a natural disaster up close.

I was swept into an unimaginable natural calamity. Yes, indeed… If I panic here, that’s it. I won’t even get to live.

I must not forget. The one who has the highest chance of surviving here is you!

I need to think.

‘Alright.’

I have information and items.

[Mr. Oso-ri, are you ready?]

With the host and staff’s gaze momentarily away from me, was there something I could attempt? Really?

Desperately, I recalled the items I had with me. I frantically replayed the characteristics of this horror story.

‘All I want is to get out of here.’

I didn’t want anything like this insane talk show to be canceled. Wait, just wait a moment…

Ah.

I lifted my head.

I saw the host’s back right next to me.

He was about to pose a quiz to the Chief.

[Looks like you’re ready! That’s good…!]

Close.

‘…Then!’

I hid my trembling hands beneath the podium. Then I slightly lowered my body and pulled out two items that I had tucked in the inside pocket of my suit jacket.

A cheap sticker with a smiling emoticon and a can bottle labeled ‘Drink me.’

‘Quickly.’

I popped the can.

Then I shoved the unwrapped smile sticker right onto the top of the can.

Quickly, quickly.

“…Ah. Before answering, can I say something to the viewers?”

[Oh, of course!]

The Chief pretended to look at the camera while actually glancing this way.

At the podiums where the Assistant Manager and I stood.

“…I have a family in the hospital, and if someone could check in on them after this filming wraps up, I’d really appreciate it! If possible…”

[Wow, how touching!]

[So, what’s the answer?]

Cold sweat trickled down the Chief’s forehead as he smiled awkwardly.

“I… I don’t know….”

“Just a second.”

I raised my left hand.

“Excuse me, host.”

As I drew attention,

I reached out my right hand and plastered a handful of the damp smile stickers against the host’s bulbous TV head.

“…….”

Splash, a drop of water fell to the ground.

Was it caught by the camera? Did he notice?

No, if he had, my head would have exploded by now.

[Oh, Miss Doe! Do you have something to say?]

He hadn’t realized.

I swallowed hard.

As I turned my head, I saw the Chief looking at me with a startled expression.

He seemed surprised that I had interrupted the host and dared to speak without being incinerated.

It certainly was a gamble.

‘But I have my reasons.’

Didn’t the host clearly say earlier?

– Even during a recorded broadcast, it would be smoother than before! Haha!

In other words, this current recording isn’t live.

‘So, if I’m not excessively disruptive or uncooperative, I might not be obstructing the broadcast.’

Simply raising my hand to make a personal statement wouldn’t count!

[Miss Doe?]

He let it slide.

“Yes.”

I glanced at the host’s TV, where the water was dripping.

Then I lowered my voice just enough for only the host to hear.

“Excuse me, my head is spinning. Could I take a short break?”

[…….]

What I just did…

The smile sticker

An item that induces a weak sense of intimacy when attached to a sentient being,

Drenched the Alice Picnic Set / can drink item to double the effect and stuck it onto my target.

…Of course, there’s room for debate here.

– Can the host be considered a sentient being?

The host is certainly not human.

Still, it must be right to consider him sentient.

No, it must be. I bet my life on that.

And now, there’s no turning back.

What if they incinerate me for disrupting the broadcast? At this point, dying comfortably instead of awkwardly seems better.

The shirt encasing my back was damp with cold sweat.

The host made a sound….

[Oh no!]

“…….”

[Was the passion for broadcasting too overwhelming? Yes, that can happen, I understand…. Um. Miss Doe, you did try hard.]

[In that case.]

The host’s monitor turned dark.

He raised his right hand…

[Cut! Let’s take a short break!]

The band sound stopped.

The staff murmured.

[Haha, I’m sorry. My screen became opaque. Makeup!]

The camera light hurriedly went out.

[Please wipe it carefully. Ah, lovely!]

A faceless staff member armed with makeup tools rushed up to clean the old TV screen vigorously.

And the host, finishing up, grabbed the makeup person as they were leaving and pointed at me.

[Oh, could you guide that participant to the waiting room on your way out? I asked for my water to be brought to me.]

Then he winked at me with a smiley emoji expression in the TV and briefly jotted something down before erasing it.

[Get a drink of water and take a break!]

“……Thank you.”

I succeeded.

‘For now, it’s done.’

I stumbled off the podium to follow the makeup person.

Even with the filming interrupted, the ominous and dreadful pig’s head still stood unflinchingly at the center of the stage, wielding its baton.

Extracting bizarre songs from human heads on grotesque silver trays.

‘Endure it.’

Don’t look.

With stiff legs, I crossed through the middle of the stage….

[The recording will restart in 30 minutes!]

As I passed the opposite podium, Assistant Manager slipped something into my hand.

“……!”

I quickly looked at him.

His lips moved.

– Check, alone.

What was it?