This is it.

“……”

Under normal circumstances, I would have thought it through carefully and set up safety measures before attempting.

‘Inviting someone from the Otherworld’—it’s the perfect description for the start of a creepypasta.

But I don’t have the time or leisure for that now.

‘Let’s try it.’

Because I desperately need the advice of someone who understands the workings of creepypastas.

I took out my smartphone, equipped with the memorial grip, and opened the ‘Good Friend’ tab in the <Dark Exploration Records> app.

The required items are as follows.

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

· Materials for the Invitation

– Matches (or a lighter)

– 100mL of water

– One tablespoon of salt

– A coin (clean)

– An item related to a friend

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

And a quiet place.

‘This locker room is perfect.’

Outside is noisy with water sounds and music, so this is the best place.

I can somehow get a lighter, water, and salt inside this theme park—whether by stealing or requesting from a shop.

The problem is the next two items.

A coin (clean)

An item related to a friend

I have no coins left. I used them all.

And the item related to a friend… Actually, it’s included to enhance the fun of the creepypasta. If you put in a fairy tale book, a monster from that story motif would come.

‘What should I do to make it as safe as possible?’

No, I was reluctant to offer something from this theme park as an item related to a friend.

Isn’t this place itself already a creepypasta?

“……”

In the end, after much deliberation, I settled on two items.

Hoping that this substitution would work.

And after a while.

“Huu.”

I placed the torch and the salt I had obtained on the floor in the corner of the locker room.

‘So creepy.’

I got them all from a snack truck. I saw they were selling a menu item called ‘Roasted Marshmallows’, so I thought maybe, and they had both.

‘…They gave them to me for free when they saw my membership.’

Rather than making me happy, it felt even more ominous.

I wiped my mouth and reopened my smartphone.

I had to start quickly.

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

· Invitation Ritual

1- On a smooth floor, dip your finger in water and draw a hexagram using the enclosed design.

2- Place the ‘Good Friend’ in the exact center of the hexagram.

3- Place the coin on the belly of the ‘Good Friend’. At this time, your fingers should not have any remaining water.

4- Hold a tablespoon of salt in your mouth and burn the item related to a friend using fire.

5- When the ‘Good Friend’ starts to speak, swallow the salt and return the greeting kindly!

If the coin has disappeared, the ritual was successful! You have met a reliable friend. Always keep them close and cherish them!

※ If you cannot swallow the salt, tastes strange,

turns to ash, or if blood comes out,

run away.

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

“Huu.”

First, I drew a hexagram on the marble floor of the locker room, exactly like the image. It was a bit complex but not too difficult.

‘…It’s shining strangely.’

However, the completed hexagram was excessively smooth, its surface gleaming without any smudges.

After thoroughly wiping the moisture off my fingers on the hem of my clothes, I picked up the ‘Good Friend’ keychain with trembling hands and placed it in the exact center of the hexagram.

‘Of all things, it’s a rabbit doll.’

I felt uneasy, but remembering that I bought it thinking it was cute at the pop-up store made me feel a bit better.

And for the coin…

‘This one.’

I placed the item I had—the Silver Serpent Coin—on top of it.

‘This is technically a coin… right?’

I thought that rather than obtaining one from this ghost story, it might be safer to use an item from the Alien Shop from the plane of ‘reality’. Considering its price, it seemed to be a fairly valuable item, so I was convincing myself that it might even have a better effect.

Then, after putting the salt in my mouth, finally.

‘An item related to a friend.’

This also had to be something that didn’t belong to this ghost story.

That is… myself.

“……”

I loosened my necktie.

‘If it’s my own item, it certainly doesn’t belong here.’

A friend related to a necktie? I don’t know who it might be, but it’s better than something like a kitchen knife.

I lit the torch.

And brought it to the end of the necktie.

Whoosh.

Like magic, the flame flared up fiercely, casting a shadow over the plush doll on the hexagram.

The shadow wavered.

It wavered more.

And more.

Before I knew it, the surroundings had grown dark.

All I could see was the flame consuming my necktie, the hexagram reflecting that light, and the plush doll at its center.

Flicker.

Flicker…

My hazy mind didn’t melt away.

Instead, the salt in my mouth melted with its salty taste, numbing my tongue.

Amidst that.

Flicker.

Flicker…

The mouth of the ‘Good Friend’ hugging the coin opened.

– BEHOLD!

– I AM THE OWNER OF A MILLION MASKS, THE LORD OF CHAOS, THE PINNACLE OF MADNESS, THE DREAM OF PLEASURE AND PLAY, THE INSTIGATOR OF WAR, THE FATHER OF SCIENCE, THE LOW-LYING QUADRUPED BEAST—

……!!

It’s too… loud.

It feels like my head is being shaken violently.

I want to cover my ears, but I have no free hands. I’m holding the necktie and the torch!

What is this?

– THE DESIRE OF THE CRAWLING ONES, THE LORD OF STARS, THE ABYSS OF ILLUSION, THE MOUTH OF WISDOM, THE ROAR OF IMPULSE, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON…

The plush doll in the center of the hexagram is convulsing.

In the middle, a silvery round object is burning away.

‘The Silver Serpent Coin.’

Did I use the wrong coin?

– I AM…

My head hurts so much, so much…

– Friend.

– Are you in pain, friend?

I lifted my head.

– This won’t do…

A gentle and soft voice flowed through the ‘Good Friend’.

– You must not be in pain…

“……”

The flickering subsided.

As the necktie burned away, the fire extinguished.

The coin that had been on top of the convulsing rabbit doll had disappeared at some point.

So had the moisture used to draw the hexagram.

“……”

Silence.

I swallowed the salt, looking at the ‘Good Friend’ lying motionless.

But no sound could be heard.

‘Don’t tell me.’

“Did it fail…?”

– Mr. Roe Deer?

“……!!”

A cheerful and pleasant voice echoed.

But…

– Mr. Roe Deer?

It’s a familiar voice.

Before I knew it, I responded.

“Mr. Host?”

“Ah, so it is you, Mr. Roe Deer!”

Tuesday Quiz Show.

The voice of the TV-headed host who conducted the live broadcast in that ghost story was coming from the doll.

– Nice to meet you, my friend!