A terrible stench spread through the studio.

Walking into the spotlight was something with the head of a pig, walking on two legs.

Its body was emaciated, and from its large, dead pig’s eyes, blood dripped down.

[Hold on a moment. He’s a silent artist… Ah! His equipment is coming in now!]

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

The large, round silver trays were intricately and boldly decorated.

Screaming faces. Countless of them hung like clusters of grapes.

[Shall we meet the passionate contestants who have volunteered to join the choir?]

The lights on each podium came on.

The six podiums revealed the pale, terrified faces of the humans standing on them.

[You recognize some faces from last week, don’t you? Haha, will our contestants who defended the 99th win record set a new record with this new segment?]

[Stay tuned! We’ll reveal the results soon!]

Waaaah!

The audience seats were empty. But a canned applause filled the space mechanically.

[But the first glory must go to the first contestant!]

The host stood in front of an employee I didn’t know.

The employee wearing the mole mask hunched her shoulders.

[Here’s the question.]

Flash.

 

[Question : Which of the following creatures has the longest lifespan?]

1- Pig

2- Human

3- Rabbit

4- Flea

 

“H-Human. Number 2, human…!”

[Correct!]

A sigh of relief crossed the mole mask’s eyes.

Yes. In the original Tuesday Talk Show, the segment would have moved on with cheers.

But the new segment had a new phase added.

[Congratulations on passing, Ms. Mole!]

The conductor with the bleeding pig’s head raised his skeletal arms and swung a silver baton.

The mole mask’s head was ripped off.

[Such a beautiful harmony!]

Thud.

The headless contestant’s body collapsed beneath the podium like a broken puppet.

“……!”

The employee’s remaining head floated into the air and was displayed on the silver tray.

It was still mouthing words.

[Each contestant’s unique talent will be awakened. Oh, it’s incredible. Truly incredible…!]

When the pig raised its arms, the gaping mouth of the head suddenly began emitting a clear, piercing scream in tune.

“H-Humans. It’s human, humannnnnn!”

It was as if someone had forcibly squeezed the vocal cords, producing a sound like a woodwind instrument.

[The first choir member has taken their place!]

The choir practice had begun.

They endlessly repeated the last words they spoke before losing their heads.

 

 

 

========================

 

 

The ‘Chorus of the Sacrificial Lambs’ consists of one conductor and 13 silver trays that are summoned.

The heads of talk show contestants are placed on the silver trays, and their selection process is determined by that day’s broadcast corner.

Each head fused to a tray produces different phrases and instrument-like sounds, forming an acapella.

The highest number of heads recorded is 7.

One (1) head : Causes mild headaches, anxiety, and sudden mood swings.

 

 

========================

 

 

 

If you were just comfortably reading this ghost story.

You might think, ‘Only one head? For such a terrifying situation, it’s manageable.’

But if you found yourself in this insane scenario, that thought wouldn’t come to you.

Not like the employee who was directly affected.

“Aaaaaagh!! S-Siyeon, Si…!”

Incineration.

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

The head that remained continued its eerie melody.

“H-Human. Number 2. Humaaaan!”

[Next up… Ah, we have another new face. Hello, Mr. Jellyfish! Let’s see if you can create a beautiful harmony with the successful contestant!]

[Now, the question is…]

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

The employee wearing the jellyfish mask screamed before the question was even asked.

His instincts seemed to tell him that getting the question wrong and facing punishment would be better.

[How surprising!]

It was a remarkable judgment.

…A meaningless one, though.

[Failure.]

His head exploded.

Like a firecracker, sparkles from the studio’s mirror ball and a shower of confetti filled the air.

The recorded audience’s reaction mixed with both disappointed sighs and cheers filled the studio.

[Oh no, disqualified! How unfortunate…]

[He didn’t make it into the great choir!]

“……”

Right.

‘There are no punishments anymore. If you get the quiz wrong, you’re simply disqualified.’

I blinked.

It didn’t feel real.

Half the people died in just five minutes after the recording began.

And there was no escape.

Three of us remained.

D-squad’s assistant manager and supervisor.

And me.

[Let’s meet our next contestant! Oh, familiar faces!]

“……”

I recalled one fact I had been avoiding.

…These superiors’ names were also not mentioned anywhere in the <Dark Exploration Records>.

It’s the same as with Go Yeongeun, my fellow new recruit.

I remembered what I thought when I first heard Go Yeongeun’s name.

 

– Either she left early after handling the ghost stories relatively easily…

– Or she died right away.

 

[Mr. Badger!]

Supervisor Park was called next.

Park Minseong.

While standing at the farthest podium from me, he had turned completely pale.

It was a death sentence, and it would soon be mine too…

[It’s your turn to answer!]

No.

‘Get a grip!’

I punched my stomach, hidden by the podium.

The pain cleared my head slightly.

‘Being scared doesn’t justify an excuse.’

This wasn’t a situation ruled by that kind of fear.

‘It’s a disaster.’

It was like witnessing a natural disaster up close—the overwhelming force of it.

I had been swept into an unexpected catastrophe. That’s right… If I panic here, it’s all over. I won’t even have a chance to survive.

I can’t forget. Of all the people here, you have the best chance of survival!

I have to think.

‘Right.’

I have information and items.

[Mr. Badger, are you ready?]

Could I use this moment when the host and staff’s attention wasn’t on me? Was there really nothing I could try?

I desperately recalled the items I had. I frantically reviewed the characteristics of this ghost story.

‘I don’t expect much, but.’

If I could just get out of here.

I wasn’t hoping for something as grand as this insane talk show getting canceled. Just stop for a second… just for a moment…

Ah.

I raised my head.

The host’s back was right in front of me.

He was about to ask Supervisor Park a quiz question.

[You’re ready! Great…]

He’s close.

‘…In that case!’

I hid my trembling hand beneath the podium. Then, I slightly lowered my body and pulled out two items from the inside pocket of my suit jacket.

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

‘Hurryyy.’

I opened the can-bottle.

Then, I stuck the Smiley Sticker onto the can-bottle.

Hurry up, hurry the fuck up.

“…Ah. May I say something to the viewers before I answer?”

[Oh, of course!]

Supervisor Park glanced toward the camera, pretending to address it but actually looking toward me and Assistant Manager Eun.

He was looking at the podiums where we stood.

“…I have a family member in the hospital. I hope someone could check in on her after this filming. If possible.”

[Wow, how touching!]

[So, what’s your answer?]

Supervisor Park gave a nervous smile, sweating profusely.

“I don’t know…”

“Wait a moment.”

I raised my left hand.

“Mr. Host.”

At the same time as I drew his attention…

I stretched out my right hand and quickly slapped several wet smiley stickers under the spherical TV that was the host’s head.

“……”

Splat.

A drop of water hit the ground.

Did the cameras catch it? Did anyone notice?

No, if they had, my head would have already exploded.

[Oh, Mr. Roe Deer! Do you have something to say?]

They didn’t notice.

I swallowed hard.

When I looked over, Supervisor Park was staring at me in shock.

He seemed surprised that I hadn’t been incinerated after interrupting the flow and speaking out of turn.

It was definitely a gamble.

‘But I have a reason.’

Didn’t the host say it earlier?

 

– It’s pre-recorded this time, so it’ll be even easier than before! Haha!

 

In other words, this was not a live broadcast.

‘So as long as I don’t outright ruin the flow or act uncooperative, it might not count as disrupting the broadcast.’

Simply raising my hand and making a personal comment wouldn’t be a problem!

[Mr. Roe Deer?]

They let it pass.

“Yes.”

I glanced at the area beneath the host’s TV where the water had dripped.

Then, lowering my voice just enough for only the host to hear, I said,

“My head feels very dizzy. Could I… rest for a moment?”

[……]

What I had just done was…

The ‘Smiley Sticker’—an item that induces mild feelings of friendliness when attached to a sentient being.

And, the ‘Alice Picnic Set / canned drink’—an item that doubles the effect.

I soaked the sticker into the can and stuck it to the host.

…Of course, this was still debatable.

– Can we consider the host a sentient being?

The host was clearly not human.

But it must have some kind of intelligence, right?

No, it has to. I’m betting my life on this.

And now, there’s no turning back.

What if I’m incinerated for disrupting the broadcast? Well, if I’m going to die anyway, I might as well go out a little more peacefully.

The shirt clinging to my back was soaked with cold sweat.

The host made a noise…

[Goodness!]

“……”

[Was the passion for the broadcast a bit too much? Yes, I understand that… Hmm. Mr. Roe Deer, you did work hard.]

[In that case…]

The monitor of the host’s head turned black.

He raised his right hand…

[Cut! Let’s take a short break!]

The band’s sound stopped.

The staff began murmuring.

[Haha, I’m sorry. My screen went blurry. Makeup!]

The camera lights were quickly turned off.

[Carefully clean it, please. Oh, excellent!]

A faceless staff member carrying makeup tools rushed up and vigorously cleaned the old TV screen.

And as the host finished his task, he grabbed the makeup artist by the arm and pointed at me.

[Ah, on your way, could you guide this contestant to the waiting room? They were supposed to bring me water.]

Then, the host winked the TV-screen emoticon eye at me, briefly displaying and then erasing text.

[Take a break and have some water!]

“…Thank you.”

I had succeeded.

‘At least for now.’

I staggered off the podium, following the makeup artist as I walked.

Even though the filming had been paused, the ominous, grotesque pig-headed conductor was still standing at the center of the stage, swinging its baton without moving.

The horrifying silver trays continued to emit eerie songs from the human heads.

‘Hold it together.’

Don’t look.

With stiff legs, I crossed the center of the stage…

[Filming will resume in 30 minutes!]

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

“……!”

I quickly looked at her.

I could read her lips.

– Check it. Alone.

What is it?

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

I was guided to the door behind the stage.

Inside was a typical old Hollywood-style waiting room.

Aside from the unsettling number of black-and-white broadcast posters plastered all over like talismans.

“Thank you.”

The makeup artist gave a silent nod and disappeared in a flash.

Click.

“Huu.”

…I’m alive.

Only for 30 minutes, but I had at least delayed my scheduled death.

‘I need to do something during this time.’

And I had a new clue.

I immediately opened my hand to check what Assistant Manager Eun had slipped me.

The item they had somehow managed to give me in this dire situation was…

“…A button?”

It was a button, the kind you’d attach to a suit.

But it was also a button in the sense of something you could press.

It seemed like it had a mechanism inside that would trigger something when pressed.

“……”

There was only one way to find out, and I didn’t have much time.

‘They gave this to me thinking it would help.’

I pressed the button immediately.

Beep beep beep…

……

Click.

[This is Lee Jaheon.]

“……!”

[Who’s this? This is Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s call button though.]

Section Chief Lee Jaheon.

The squad leader of the Field Exploration Team’s D-squad, who was supposed to be on a field assignment, had answered through the button.