A black holographic book descended over Supervisor Park Minseong's head.
The hologram clung to him like tar, seeping over his body as he clawed at the ground, struggling in vain. Behind his writhing figure, the TV's cheerful voice resumed.
[Now, let's reveal the new teachers who failed to actively participate in the Hangman game.]
Similar scenes began to unfold across the room.
The issue, the real issue, was…
[New Teacher Park Minseong, you didn't guess a single letter correctly!]
One penalty had already been accumulated.
Stepping onto the stage added another.
And now…
Not guessing a letter resulted in a third.
Thus.
[Three penalties accumulated.]
The TV declared its verdict.
[New Teacher Park Minseong is designated as a permanent trainee.] [You will remain here forever, receiving training and preparing to become a perfect ■■ Kindergarten teacher.]
The black holographic books covering the faces of those who failed to guess letters remained, but only Park Minseong's turned a fiery red and spread across his entire body.
"■!!"
His scream warped into something unnatural.
"N, ■— ■ ple— ■■■■…!"
His body twisted and thrashed on the floor in grotesque contortions. Incomprehensible excerpts from the handbook were read aloud, overlapping with his sobs and screams.
Yet no one around paid attention.
A few glanced over, only to quickly step away as if avoiding any connection, waiting for the next stage outlined in the manual. Finally…
[Thank you for your efforts in today's dry run! Goodbye, new teachers!]
Clearance confirmed.
"..."
"Finally, it's over!"
"Move it!"
As soon as the game ended, everyone realized they were free to curse and run, and a flood of participants surged out of the playroom. Even those who had just finished their 10-minute penalty, coughing up the tar-like hologram and clutching their heads in pain, staggered upright and limped or ran out, bumping into me along the way.
"Huh?"
"..."
"Wh, what the—"
"..."
"The door only stays open for 30 minutes! If you don't get out now, you'll be treated as a permanent trainee too! Damn it!"
They brushed past me and kept running.
"..."
And so I was left alone.
Alone, except for the 'contaminated' Park Minseong writhing on the floor.
– Oh dear, my friend is being mistaken as a volunteer in such an outdated place! Let's leave immediately, Mr. Roe Deer!
"…No."
– Mr. Roe Deer?
The game was over.
That meant…
The rules of this ghost story had also ended.
In the worst case, I can run out on my own in ten minutes and make it through the door.
But.
"I… I have to at least try to take the supervisor with me."
I could endure this.
I had to try as much as I could.
After all, I'd succeeded before.
I don't want to give up so easily.
I didn't want this story to end with saving the Hangman by exploiting a sliver of a loophole, only to have the one who tried to save them disappear into the legend.
I don't want some casual note on a wiki saying, 'An incident where the rescuer of the Hangman was lost.'
I can do this.
I raised my head and reached for the tattoo on my wrist.
: 恩主 :
From the heated tattoo, the items I had stored began to appear. The candlemaking kit, apple juice, the blood-sucking knife, stickers, and dozens of 500-won coins bundled together.
– Oh, what fascinating tools will you use this time, friend?
"I'm not using anything."
– Hmm? Then what is this…
I stuffed all the items into my briefcase. Given that I hadn't brought the bloodbathtub with me, I was left with just enough room to fit everything snugly.
The blood-sucking knife, which looked like it could burst out of the bag due to its size, was carefully set aside into my back pocket.
Done.
The fully packed briefcase was heavy, but not so much that I couldn't carry it while running.
And now, there was one thing left to do.
The now-empty subspace in my wrist.
– Ah, you were clearing it for a purpose?
Exactly.
I briefly reached into the tattoo's connected subspace and pulled my hand back out.
"This subspace, it's a cube with a volume equivalent from 60 cm per side, right?"
– Precisely.
"It's irregular, isn't it?"
– ...! That's also…
Braun's voice carried a mix of amusement and interest.
– Correct.
Good.
'It's all or nothing.'
I'd heard it before—the idea that being contaminated and trapped in this ghost story forever, unable to die, was far worse than death.
'Let's do this.'
I gritted my teeth and waited.
Waited for Supervisor Park Minseong's third penalty to finish. 'Trying to do anything now would be foolish.'
Trying to communicate with someone in the middle of their penalty would result in the holographic handbook 'graciously' attaching itself to me as well.
And then, I'd spend ten minutes reading the handbook, effectively out of commission.
'That would be the end.'
I forced myself to suppress my anxiety and waited calmly. 'Time remaining for the penalty… 7 minutes.'
6 minutes.
5 minutes.
4 minutes.
3 minutes.
2 minutes.
1 minute…
The tar-like red substance surrounding Supervisor Park Minseong disappeared.
Slowly, he stood up.
His appearance had transformed completely into that of a kindergarten teacher.
The black suit he had worn was replaced with soft beige pants, a white shirt, and a light green apron.
In one hand, he held a brown folder with a red title.
<■■ Kindergarten Handbook>
His mask had completely melted away, revealing his face. And on his forehead, clear and vivid, was the brand of his assigned class.
Sprout Class
A gentle smile spread across Supervisor Park Minseong's fully exposed face.
"Teacher Soleum!"
Shit.
"Did you wait for me to finish reading the handbook? Thank you so much."
"…Of course, I had to wait."
Don't let it show. Don't panic. Showing anything now would be disastrous.
"How are you feeling?"
"Great! Never better!"
Supervisor Park smiled softly, nodding.
"…That's good to hear. Shall we head out now?"
"Head out? Oh… You mean leaving?"
"Yes, let's go together."
"Oh, I don't have a quitting time! I'm not just a new teacher anymore. I finished reading the handbook!"
"But you can still leave…"
"That's not possible though?"
"..."
"Hmm, it's time for me to head to the Sprout Class and help prepare for opening…"
Then, with a bright expression, Supervisor Park exclaimed:
"Oh, right! Teacher Soleum, want to come with me?"
A chill ran down my spine.
"Teacher Soleum, you don't know which class you'll be assigned to yet, do you? You haven't read the handbook yet. If you read it, you'll find out—your assigned class!"
Supervisor Park extended his hand to me.
"What do you think? It'd be great if we were in the Sprout Class together. We used to be on the same squad, after all."
Shit.
Shit!
I naturally stepped back, making sure that I looked like I was considering his suggestion.
His outstretched hand swiped through empty air.
"Oh…"
"Thank you for the offer, but I need to drop this outside the exit first." I lifted the briefcase.
"I borrowed some things, and I think I need to return them within the time limit."
"Teacher Soleum, all those interesting items you carry around were borrowed?"
"Yes."
Please don't notice.
'Please.'
trigger warning: self harm
The thing that had once been Supervisor Park, still speaking kindly and gently as if it were second nature, replied, "Then should I ask the other teachers to help move it?"
"It's just one briefcase. If you wouldn't mind, could you accompany me to the entrance for a moment? …Supervisor Badger specifically requested it."
Supervisor Park froze.
"..."
Perhaps.
"…Supervisor Badger?"
...
His mouth opened.
"That…"
...!
But then, in the next moment.
"Sure! Let's go to the entrance together."
The kind, cheerful teacher's voice returned.
"..."
"Teacher Soleum?"
"Yes, I'd appreciate it if you could accompany me to the entrance. Quietly, so we don't disturb anyone."
"Sounds good!"
I turned and began walking out of the playroom.
Right behind me followed the fully 'contaminated' Supervisor Park, now a teacher.
'Hah.'
Slowly, I moved forward.
Step. Step.
Right behind me, I could hear the sound of soft slippers—not the hard click of dress shoes—quietly trailing me.
Step. Step.
"Oh, let me help you carry the briefcase."
"It's alr—"
Before I could finish saying it was fine— The teacher's hand grabbed half of the briefcase I was holding.
The Perfect Teacher's Handbook in his hand brushed against mine.
Step. Step.
"..."
I'm fine.
The sharp, piercing sound that messes with my mind isn't there. Neither is the overwhelming terror or fear that makes me want to lose my mind. I can do this.
The entrance isn't far now.
All I have to do is walk.
But at the same time, a thought crosses my mind.
Is sneaking out to the entrance like this the right thing to do?
Motherfucker.
Look at me cursing. Maybe it's because I've never read the handbook, but somehow it feels… a little embarrassing.
Maybe reading the handbook isn't a punishment at all. Perhaps it's an opportunity disguised as a penalty, a chance to learn?
Crazy…
Wait. Let's not just dismiss this as contamination. Let's consider it seriously.
This is a great workplace. Preparing for a perfect opening with polite and compliant colleagues is the ultimate joy.
I have the potential to become a perfect teacher.
■■ Kindergarten has shown me that!
No.
Absolutely not.
I scoffed at myself. Don't I know that even getting caught in a lie results in punishment? I should just give up on the entrance efficiently. That's the logical thing to do.
I should voluntarily start reading the handbook here. I could even ask Teacher Park Minseong to join me.
No.
If I just borrow the handb
No.
Stop entertaining other thoughts.
But if I think about it a little more, I'll start to believe this isn't such a bad idea
It is not!
Focus on moving forward.
One step at a time, the entrance grows closer.
Step, step.
"..."
I've made it.
The entrance!
Instead of the dirty, cluttered entrance I first walked through, it now looks pristine, clean enough to make me hesitate about leaving.
"So, we just have to throw this bag, right?"
I grabbed the briefcase, and in the motion, the handbook that had been brushing against my hand slipped and fell.
"Shall we throw it together?"
Please.
"Yes, that sounds good."
It has to work.
"Hold onto this part for me…"
Finally, I turned my head.
Standing in my view was Supervisor Park Minseong, smiling with the face of a 'teacher'.
He reached out his upper body and hands, just as I had instructed, ready to grab the briefcase.
Now.
I grabbed Supervisor Park's head without hesitation.
"...!!"
And I shoved it roughly into my forearm.
It's working.
The subspace connected to my tattoo on my wrist has the volume of a 60 cm cube per side.
But it isn't a literal cube. It's a malleable, irregular subspace. So, when converted into other measurements…
It can easily fit the body of an adult man.
I fixed my gaze upward.
Crack, crack.
The humanoid body resisted as I pushed it into the tattoo, its joints feeling like they were breaking apart.
I made sure to start with the head on purpose.
Talking to him would've definitely affected me, making the contamination worse.
I kept pressing down with one hand. The subspace within the tattoo swallowed it without resistance—ah! The handbook touched it! No, I'll keep that separate, there's no way I'll let it go in.
Finally, I crammed in the last of his legs…
Snap!
"...!"
Something suddenly grabbed my left forearm.
Fingers gripping tightly with unnatural strength, pale as death. It was Supervisor Park's right hand.
"Ugh!"
Damn it!
I tried to pry off his fingers one by one, but it wasn't working. I can't injure a teacher.
I had no idea how this Darkness would react if I did.
Stay calm…!
I took out the blood-sucking knife and drove it into my own arm.
"...!"
The fingers tore away, taking chunks of flesh from my forearm. It was pain that should've made me scream like crazy, but adrenaline and sheer tension kept me silent.
As I shoved the last of his fingers into the tattoo, I hurried toward the entrance.
Step.
The final step.
"..."
I lifted my head.
The bright blue sky of daylight greeted me.
Behind me, only the decrepit, abandoned building of a private kindergarten remained.
The sunlight glimmered over the wild grass in the outskirts of Seoul.
"..."
Clear.
I lowered my head.
There lay Assistant Manager Eun Haje's body, missing a hand, collapsed on the ground.
None of the other company staff were around—they must've already left… I reached into my pocket and pulled out my smartphone.
Following protocol, I pressed a button.
As if to confirm I was back in reality, the signal connected, and someone answered the call.
"This, is the Security Team's storage… correct?"
With my dry mouth, I barely managed to speak the rehearsed line.
"I need equipment to contain contamination…"
Because.
"I've rescued a contaminated employee."
...
...
Done.
And then, I passed out.