Chapter Text
Baek Saheon has been gone for nearly a month.
He's so close to the moment Daydream would give up on him and mark him dead and throw away all his points.
But that isn't my problem.
Hi! I'm Kim Soleum, also known as Roe Deer, your friendly protagonist of Got Dropped in a Ghost Story, Still Gotta–
Ding
...?
Okay. Well. Cut off my pointless monologue, I suppose.
I pull out my phone to check the notification.
Baek Saheon: Sir
What. The. F*ck.
What the hell is going on right now? Baek Saheon texted me??? Huh? Isn't he trapped in a Darkness? Is a Darkness impersonating him using his phone?
Baek Saheon: I can't really move right now
Baek Saheon: Could you come here and help?
Baek Saheon: I'm near the bus stop, closest to the station
Hold on.
How are you out of the Darkness?
You should call someone else instead.
I'm busy.
Baek Saheon: Come
Baek Saheon: I'm not calling anyone else
Baek Saheon: Just come now
...This guy...
Fine. If he really wants me to come, I'll go then!
It's nighttime, so it's extra scary. He better compensate me for this later. I'll bring Braun for emotional support, even if he can't talk to me out of a Darkness.
I put Braun into my front pocket as usual, and then leave the dorm and ride the elevator down to the ground floor.
It's a quiet night, and when I reach the bus stop...
Baek Saheon is there.
"Saheon," I call out. He turns to me. He has some sort of black goop stuck to his legs. That's probably the reason he had to call me earlier.
But his expression.
"...Baek Saheon?" I repeat again, more hesitantly now.
"Yes, sir? ♡" he smiles, eyes widening slightly as he sees me.
...!? 'What the hell is wrong with him!?'
"Have you come to save me?" he asks with a tone that sounds like he's gushing over me.
"...I suppose so." I say, willing my body to not tremble. "What's that black goop?" I ask, distracting myself from his expression and voice. Is he contaminated?
"Mmmnnn... I don't knooow..."
His voice sounds woozy.
I sigh as I pull him. The black goop thankfully retreats into the ground.
"Is something wrong with you?" I ask. "Are you contaminated?"
"Mmm? Nooo... of cooourse not..."
Baek Saheon is definitely contaminated.
I should bring him to the Fox Counseling Room tomorrow.
"Can you walk then?"
"...No. Yooou have to hold my hand."
"What?" I blurt out. "Why?"
"Because," Baek Saheon started importantly. "I have to."
He's...
...
...cute?
I sigh and take his hand, practically dragging him along.
"Don't make a fuss."
"Mmm...yeees. ♡"
He is certainly making a fuss.
When we reach the dormitory, I set him down against the sofa.
"Can you tell me what kind of Darkness you were in?" I ask him. No—I was interrogating him.
"...A hug first."
This guy cannot be serious right now.
I stare at him. He stares back. I relent and give him a short and quick hug. "There, now will you tell me?"
"I thiiink... there were a buncha.. mirrors?" he tilts his head as if he's unsure. "Um..."
His head falls onto my side. His head doesn't actually fall off his neck, thankfully, as his forehead presses against my body.
"What? Why'd you trail off?" I put him upright again. "Keep going."
"Haaa... I'm sleepy." he murmurs. "Okaay... umm... there were lots of me's in the mirrors... oh waaait..?? That's only a refleeection... oh! But some offfff them moved wheeen I didn't... some of theeem said stuff?"
He is totally out of it.
And his body slumps and he passes out right there on the couch. His arm is thrown over the armrest, but his fingers are looking for something. Until they find my hand, then they curl and have a surprisingly tight grip on me despite being asleep.
I sigh once again before sitting down on the sofa next to him, pulling out my phone with my free hand and checking the DER.
Mirrors. There were quite a few Darknesses like that.
But.
< The Looking Glass>
Grade: B
An enormous, maze-like mansion made entirely out of mirrors. There are almost no windows or opaque surfaces. The mirrors reflect the visitor, but some reflections' reactions may be delayed. Some reflections show one that is false. It is very easy to be contaminated in this Darkness. areyou a reflection?? turn around and lookinto the mirror
oh. it isn't there??? hahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahhahahaha run
"..."
What a classic.