Chapter 34

When I pushed open the mansion’s door, the first thing that greeted me was the smell of rotten wood and mold.

“Ah, damn, what a stench.”

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Even just looking at the screen, I can tell it smells bad.

【Yoho】—Wow, the air is all dusty and hazy.

【Big Girl】—Shouldn’t you usually pull mansion doors open…?

【Handsome Licker】—Don’t sweat the small stuff. And in Korea, pushing is the standard. *Lick*.

The pungent smell was intensely irritating. So much so that I instinctively covered my nose.

【Min Ji】—The smell must be really bad.

【Jujijoa】—You should’ve brought a mask or something.

【Qkrnfl892】—Want a gas mask? I’m not too far from your location.

【Handsome Licker】—Gas mask? LOL.

“It’s fine. I’ll get used to it.”

I removed my hand from my nose and slowly looked around. It wasn’t dark enough to need a flashlight.

“…But this place is a real mess.”

The wallpaper had turned yellow, the ceiling had holes with water dripping down, and the floor was covered in dust and mouse droppings. Most of the furniture was broken, leaving only traces behind. There was no sign of anyone living here.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Looks like it’s been abandoned for a while.

【Maehwa Tree】—This feels bad.

【Jujijoa】—? Was that a footprint just now?

Jujijoa’s chat caught my eye.

“Huh? Footprints?”

【Jujijoa】—There are footprints on the left side of the floor. I can’t be sure since I’m just watching the screen, but they look recent.

【Handsome Licker】—Damn, Jujijoa, what’s with your observation skills?

【Qkrnfl892】—Are you a former thief or something?

【Yoho】—Could still be active.

As Jujijoa said, there were footprints on the floor. And not just one, but multiple.

“There really are footprints here? I thought no one lived here. What’s going on?”

【Yoho】—They’re human footprints, right?

【Qkrnfl892】—Probably. Ghosts don’t leave footprints.

【Handsome Licker】—If they’re human footprints, that’s even creepier.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa! Maybe a wanted criminal is hiding here?

“…Couldn’t it just be someone like me, exploring abandoned places?”

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—That’s too naive. Be careful.

【Jujijoa】—Balloon Gum has a point. This is a perfect place for criminals to hide.

【Drifting AI】—I’ll analyze. The footprints vary in shape and size. Size 260. Size 230. Size 220. Size 225.

【Min Ji】—So there are four people.

【Maehwa Tree】—Are you just making that up? How can you tell?

【Big Girl】—He’s a hacker, remember?

【Yoho】—Even for a hacker, that’s…

【Drifting AI】—I’ll analyze. The footprints are less than half a day old.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa, stop the nonsense!

【Drifting AI】—I’ll say it. I’m certain.

【Min Ji】—So there might be people inside the mansion right now?

【Jujijoa】—Could be.

【Yoho】—Feels like they’re just trying to scare the streamer…

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Either way, it’s better to be careful.

【Handsome Licker】—Honestly, people are scarier than ghosts.

“Four people… If they’re not ghosts, I can handle it. Assuming they don’t have guns.”

【Handsome Licker】—You can handle it? Sure.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa…

【Min Ji】—How can you take on four people alone…? Even if you’re tall, you’re still just a guy…

【Jujijoa】—There are guys who are as strong as women sometimes.

【Handsome Licker】—How can a guy be as strong as a woman? LOL, there’s a clear limit.

【Min Ji】—Right. This isn’t a movie… Guys can’t really use their muscles properly.

【Handsome Licker】—They can only build gym muscles.

【Big Girl】—No, there are rare guys who are really strong. There’s one in our organization.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa, organization?

【Big Girl】—Ah, not an organization, a company. Haha.

【Handsome Licker】—Even if such guys exist, Se-hoon isn’t one of them.

“Why do you assume I’m not? What if I’m that rare case?”

【Handsome Licker】—LOL, with that weak stamina.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa.

“…Don’t believe me if you don’t want to. Anyway, there might be some weird people inside, so I should be careful.”

【Yoho】—Normally, you’d choose to leave if it’s dangerous…

【Qkrnfl892】—Se-hoon isn’t normal either. His way of thinking is weird.

Just as I was discussing the footprints with the viewers, a sudden female voice came from my phone.

『‘Gyeongsaeng Guburi’ has sponsored 500 won.』

└Whoa!

“Ah, damn! You scared the crap out of me, you crazy b*tch!”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—LOL, did I scare you? Stop messing with innocent people!

【Reverse Rape Mania】—A 5-minute ban is too long…

It had already been 5 minutes.

“Almost had a heart attack. Damn it.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Apologize first. -_-

“Sorry.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Kiss the camera, and I’ll forgive you.

【Handsome Licker】—Oh.

Guburi got another 1-minute ban.

***

I decided to continue exploring the abandoned house. It’d be a waste to turn back now.

‘If it were later, I’d go back, but it’s not dark yet…’

There shouldn’t be any problems. If they’re not ghosts, I can handle them easily. Unless they have guns or are one of Korea’s top fighters.

‘The problem is ghosts… Even if ghosts exist, they wouldn’t come out at this time, right?’

I decided to ask the viewers. From the chat earlier, it seemed like some viewers knew about ghosts.

“Guys, do ghosts usually only come out at night?”

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa, why so scared? Ghosts don’t exist!

【Qkrnfl892】—Yeah, never seen them during the day.

【Min Ji】—In movies, they only come out at night.

【Maehwa Tree】—No, they’re just more active at night. They can be active during the day too.

“Huh? Maehwa, they come out during the day too?”

【Maehwa Tree】—Yeah, just like some people are night owls. Ghosts are the same. Their activity depends on their personality.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Revived! Stop acting like an expert, Maehwa Tree, you b*tch!

【Handsome Licker】—LOL, people might think you’re a real shaman.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa, a shrine maiden!

“So… ghosts can appear even now.”

【Maehwa Tree】—But the ones active during the day are usually harmless.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Evil spirits don’t usually come out during the day.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—You guys are so hyped up. LOL.

【Maehwa Tree】—Dangerous yokai are mostly active at night, so leave before it gets dark.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—LOL, can you guys decide if they’re evil spirits or yokai? Idiots.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—In the world I visited, they were called evil spirits. If they have a body, they’re undead.

【Maehwa Tree】—We call them yokai.

【Reverse Rape Mania】—The otaku smell is real. LOL.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—You guys are going from verse 1 to verse 2 straight to the sex verse.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa, so many nerds!

【Handsome Licker】—*Lick*.

Maehwa Tree seemed to know a lot about ghosts. She had a strong expert vibe. The way she answered smoothly made it clear she wasn’t just an ordinary person.

A real shaman or something? I used to think all shamans were frauds, but now my perspective has changed. If ghosts really exist, then being a shaman is a legitimate job.

“Anyway, it’s fine for now.”

【Maehwa Tree】—There are always exceptions. If you see something that doesn’t look human, turn around and run immediately.

【Jujijoa】—Are you a shaman, Maehwa Tree?

【Maehwa Tree】—No, I’m not.

【Min Ji】—I don’t believe in ghosts, but I agree with Maehwa. If you see something weird, it’s better to leave safely than to check it out.

【Yoho】—Right. It could be a criminal or a wild animal. Just take a quick look around this dangerous place, and later, let’s go to the haunted house at the amusement park. Haha.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—LOL, I really want to flick these guys’ foreheads.

【Reverse Rape Mania】—If a ghost shows up, reverse rape, go!

【Big Girl】—What if it’s a virgin ghost?

【Reverse Rape Mania】—Then just rape, go!

【Jujijoa】—Idiot.

【Handsome Licker】—I prefer shota ghosts over virgin ghosts. *Lick*.

【Qkrnfl892】—Want to get locked up?

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Whoa, Handsome Licker, are you really a moral teacher? Shouldn’t we report you and get you fired…?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Not fired, sent to prison.

Anyway, I felt reassured. Even Maehwa Tree, who seemed like an expert, didn’t strongly oppose exploring the abandoned house.

‘But since the viewers are worried, I won’t stay too long.’

Just as I was about to move forward again…

『‘Drifting AI’ has sponsored 1,000,000,000,000 won.』

└I’ll say it. I heard movement ahead.

【Yoho】—Gasp.

【Handsome Licker】—?

【Reverse Rape Mania】—??

【Balloon Gum Collector】—What the hell?

Drifting sent a voice message. Along with an absurd amount of sponsorship money.

“…What is this?”

Even I was shocked by the amount.

“How many zeros is that?”

【Drifting AI】—I’ll say it. This is a fake sponsorship to get your attention.

My shock subsided. It seemed like someone hacked and manipulated the sponsorship message.

“Hey, Drifting… Stop with these pranks. They’re not funny.”

【Drifting AI】—I’ll say it. I’m sorry.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Damn, I was so shocked. Thought my eyes were playing tricks.

【Qkrnfl892】—LOL.

【Jujijoa】—It was obviously a hacked broadcast. How can someone sponsor 1 trillion won?

“Don’t pull pranks like this again.”

【Drifting AI】—I’ll say it…/#&100101

【Drifting AI】—I’ll warn you.

【Drifting AI】—Watch ahead.

【Drifting AI】—Lifeform detected ahead.

“What?”

Drifting spammed the chat. I looked up and saw the end of the first floor.

From the stairs leading to the second floor, small footsteps echoed, and soon, a mysterious doll appeared. There wasn’t just one doll.

Looking closely, one man and three women were coming down the stairs.

“…There really are people here. Are they the ones who left the footprints?”

As I said that, the people on the stairs stopped in their tracks, startled.

“Damn, you scared me!”

“What, what is it? A person?”

“Looks like a person… Thank goodness. I thought it was a ghost.”

“Ghosts don’t exist, you crazy b*tch.”

“Hey, isn’t that the guy from before?”

The only guy in the group pointed at me.

What? Do I know them?

I don’t know. Their voices and blurry faces were unfamiliar.

The man started walking down the stairs again. As he got closer, his blurry face became clearer.

…Still, I don’t know who he is. His face isn’t in my memory.

But when I looked down, I immediately remembered who he was.

He was the Ppong Burajaji guy I saw on the mountain peak last time.