* * *

So he wasn’t a fellow member of the Cowards’ Club.

…And there was a rookie group chat that I wasn’t a part of?!

“Hah.”

I returned home to the company dorm in a troubled state, showered, and came back out.

Two shocking truths left a lingering sting at the back of my mind.

‘What a long day…’

I’d received the new recruit chat link from that traitor… no, I mean Jang Heo-eun-ssi, so I’d need to check that out later.

But there was something of higher priority to look into first.

“I should check the tattoo on my wrist.”

Several possibilities crossed my mind, but fortunately, there was someone I could casually ask about it.

‘Good Friend.’

I sat on the bed and pulled the plush doll keychain from the front pocket of my suit.

Then I called out.

“Braun?”

But there was no answer.

‘Just as expected.’

It was said that once back in reality, the doll would appear as a regular plush toy.

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

The Good Friend will accompany you in daily life, but it will be like a shy doll.

Treat it properly.

It remembers everything.

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

So, it wasn’t just keeping quiet and blending in at the company—it actually couldn’t speak in this state.

But there was still a way to talk to the ‘Good Friend’ outside of ghost stories.

‘…I just need to turn reality into a ghost story.’

I recalled a method from the <Dark Exploration Records>.

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

Talking with the ‘Good Friend’

#1 Use darkness, a lighter, and shadows.

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

Honestly, it was a bit creepy, but here goes.

I leaned down beneath the bed.

Then, I propped the ‘Good Friend’ against the inside of the right bed leg.

‘Next, the light.’

I’d quit smoking ages ago, so I didn’t have a lighter, but I substituted with my phone flashlight.

Placing it on the floor to cast a narrow beam on the bed leg, I turned off the room light.

Click.

I sat on the bed in the pitch dark.

‘…This is kind of creepy.’

A chill ran down my spine, so I pulled the blanket over myself.

There’s no need to feel embarrassed. I’m alone, after all.

‘…Though I might not be alone much longer.’

I looked up, and the flashlight under the bed cast a massive shadow of the plush doll on the wall.

“……”

Soon, the shadow of the plush doll leaning against the bed leg began to sway along with the light.

As if it were stirring awake.

If I watched carefully, holding my breath, a voice would soon follow.

A voice that sounded almost like an illusion.

– Friend.

“…Braun.”

The host had awoken.

– Ah, I see you made it out safely from that strange theme park! Congratulations.

“Thank you.”

Braun seemed to be recalling, almost like replaying a tape, the rough outline of what had happened to me since I left the ghost story.

‘So this is what it means to remember everything.’

– Right, you’ve clocked out, friend. Are you home to rest now? Oh, it’s quite a cozy place!

“Thank you, sir.”

Though, technically, this wasn’t my home but a company dorm.

– Hmm, now that I think about it, Mr. Roe Deer, you’re speaking to me very formally! Friends don’t need to speak like that, you know.

“…Braun, you’re speaking quite formally yourself.”

– Haha, I can’t help it. It’s an occupational hazard!

I swallowed back the words, ‘I, too, am a rookie at this crazy ghost story company with an occupational hazard’.

The friendlier this plush doll became, the safer and more powerful it would be.

“…Alright. Then I’ll speak more casually from now on. Since we’re friends.”

– Oh, that’s great! [1]

The shadow of the doll shook, as if nodding cheerfully.

Good… now, to the main point.

“I actually have something to ask my friend.”

– Oh! Then how about we take turns asking each other questions? But we must answer each question.

– It’ll be like a game. Ah, that sounds so fun…

Stop making it sound like a ghost story!

“Sure. That sounds fun.”

But I forced myself to respond agreeably.

Feels like I’m working overtime… Gotta stay strong.

“What I wanted to ask is this.”

I immediately raised my left hand and lowered it under the bed, making sure the black letters, like a tattoo on my wrist, were clearly visible to the plush doll in front of me.

“When the membership wristband burned up, this mark was left behind.”

A moment of silence.

And then…

– This… is Latin. Hmm.

An odd mix of fascination and absorption was evident in his tone. The voice dropped lower.

– Socius.

– It means companion, member, or kin. The versatility of Latin!

“I know that much.”

I’d looked it up on a dictionary app on the way back.

The fact that the ‘membership’ wristband had burned up, leaving behind a word meaning ‘member’, seemed fairly connected, but what mattered more was this.

“But other people don’t seem to be able to see it. What do you think the reason is?”

– Oh dear, it seems they all have poor eyesight! I can see it quite well.

So creatures within ghost stories can see this?

“Glad you can see it.”

I rephrased my question.

“Then, what role do you think this mark serves?”

– It’s a mark granting you certain qualifications.

Without hesitation, Braun responded in a cheerful tone.

– You know how VIPs sometimes attend talk shows as special guests? They’re often given distinctive marks that set them apart from the other audience members, like a name tag or badge!

– Such a ‘distinguished mark’ grants privileges like special seating, rehearsal viewing, or backstage access!

I instinctively raised my arm to look at the mark.

“…So, this is like a ‘special qualification’?”

– Well, at least to the theme park mascots, yes.

Braun’s voice turned dismissive.

– Those overly emotional mascots seem to be a bit too friendly with you, Mr. Roe Deer. Next time you visit, perhaps you’ll get a welcome drink with it!”

I’d rather never visit again.

But I nodded in agreement to appear cooperative.

– Good, good!

‘Being social is so exhausting…’

Anyway, though the ‘qualification’ it grants is vague, it doesn’t seem to be entirely negative.

‘If I enter another ghost story, I’ll have to see if there’s any use for it.’

The plush doll’s shadow swayed a few times, as if in excitement, then whispered softly.

– Did you know?

Know what?

– Mr. Roe Deer, you’ve just asked two questions.

– That’s a rule violation.

A chill ran down my spine.

– Haha, don’t worry. It’s often the charm of being close to someone to bend the rules occasionally, isn’t it?”

Phew.

“…Thank you.”

– No need to thank me!

– Now, it’s my turn to ask a question.

I swallowed nervously, looking at the large shadow of the doll cast on the wall.

“What do you want to know?”

Braun whispered.

– Who lives in the room next to yours?

It was an unexpected question.

And, of course, in the next room here in the dorm…

“…A colleague.”

Baek Saheon.

– Are you close?

Not at all.

“Just a work colleague.”

– Ah, I see. Very well…

Braun’s voice became cheerful again.

– Friend, it’s probably best if you don’t pay attention to that ‘work colleague’ living next door!

“Why?”

– Because he’ll drop dead soon!