I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner

The two words of her name were written on a green name tag.

[Lee Seryeong]

The paranormal Professors had no eyelids and possessed deformed body structures, while the paranormal students had no facial features and were incapable of speaking.

Everything we had encountered in this place was inhuman.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Ah, right. atlas Sorry.”

“Come on, Boss. apron You’re going to scare her like that.”

But Lee Seryeong was different.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Still dazed, I let Myeong Haebin take me by the hand and pull me a few steps back.

Myeong Haebin tried to reassure Lee Seryeong in a kind, gentle voice.

“Did we scare you? arcade I’m sorry. beacon We didn’t mean to. galaxy We were looking for the owner of this notebook.”

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It was a piece of paper I recognized.

When she saw the notebook, Lee Seryeong flinched. portal She looked back and forth between us, then held out a crumpled sheet of paper she had in her hand.

— Are you… looking for this…?

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

A page torn from the notebook.

(How to Play Hide-and-Seek Alone)

And, just as we had expected, what was written on it was a game.

“Ugh, what a headache. matrix Did you even know what this was before you did it?”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

— I’m sorry…

Team Leader Yong brought a hand to his head as soon as he read the title.

(How to Play Hide-and-Seek Alone)

Even I let out an incredulous laugh first.

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A stuffed doll, rice, red thread, your own fingernails, a sharp tool, and salt water.

Materials Needed

How to Play

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

— Leave the sharp tool beside the doll and hide.

— Remove all the stuffing from the doll and fill it with rice and your own fingernails. aluminum Then sew it shut with red thread.

— Stab the doll with a sharp tool and shout, “I found you! amber Now you’re it!”

— Fill a basin or bathtub with water and submerge half of the doll.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Also known simply as Honsum.

— Sprinkle the doll with salt water and shout, “The game is over.”

Hide-and-Seek Alone.

How to End the Game

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

But the methods described there were far too familiar.

Uncooked food.

I more or less knew what it was. silence At one point, it had been one of those ghost-summoning games that caused a stir on the internet, and it also had a reputation for being extremely dangerous.

Unauthorized objects.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Activities unrelated to studying.

The bear-shaped stuffed doll?

And a doll.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

“You played this game in the Home Economics Practice Room, didn’t you?”

The app had been telling me from the very beginning that they had played Hide-and-Seek Alone in that room.

Of course.

— …How did you know?

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Hadn’t I thought it was strange that its stomach was sewn shut?

There had also been a bear-shaped stuffed doll in one corner.

When we first entered the practice room, the sink had been full of water.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Tell us what happened.”

In a place where the comics were completely covered in scribbles and objects flew at your head just for mentioning the word “class,” a bear with its stomach sewn shut hardly seemed like the strangest thing there.

— Well… I… I should’ve listened when Jinseo told me not to do it…

Team Leader Yong, who had read the instructions with me, frowned and crossed his arms.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Jinseo?

‘There’s a reason people tell you not to do certain things.’

Ah, was that the friend she had been communicating with through those scribbles?

The words rose to my throat, but I wasn’t mean enough to scold her while her eyes were full of tears, so I kept them to myself.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

— Since nighttime self-study lasts so long, I thought no one would notice if we slipped out for a little while.

As if she knew perfectly well that she had made a mistake, Lee Seryeong lowered her head deeply and murmured.

“It was obviously dangerous.”

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Myeong Haebin, who had been listening to her story, sighed and crossed her arms, imitating Team Leader Yong.

“Boss, I’m only saying this to you, but this is pretty typical. alien Tons of horror stories start because someone does something dangerous thinking it’s just a joke.”

Lee Seryeong’s hands trembled violently.

— But how could real ghosts exist? acid We only did it as a joke, but then the school suddenly became strange, the students and teachers turned into things that looked like ghosts, and the doll really came to life and started chasing us…

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— Horror… story?

I grabbed Myeong Haebin and pulled her a few steps back before speaking to her in a low voice.

“So you’re saying this entire school horror story started because of Hide-and-Seek Alone?”

There really was nothing this woman wouldn’t say in front of a young girl.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

But when I remembered the ritual I had experienced in that house at the top of the mountain, it didn’t seem completely impossible either.

“That’s what it looks like for now. meadow I think the entire space where they played Hide-and-Seek Alone ended up turning into a horror story.”

The idea that a simple game could create a horror story sounded absurd.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

I felt like I was on the verge of remembering something but couldn’t quite grasp it, and a suffocating sensation pressed down on the pit of my stomach.

A sense of incongruity, as if a gear were spinning uselessly somewhere in the back of my mind, began creeping up from the tips of my toes.

However, something was strange.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

The app.

[Completion Condition: Horror Story, ■■ Hwaae High School’s Hide-and-Seek Alone.]

After turning it over in my mind again and again, something suddenly came to me with an impact like someone had struck me in the head with a chisel.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Except for one part.

All students must leave the school once the school day has ended.
Do not store unauthorized objects inside the school. august (Uncooked food, sharp objects such as knives or scissors, etc.)
Activities unrelated to studying will be subject to disciplinary action.
Hide-and-Seek Alone will not end until everyone hiding has been eliminated or until the game comes to an end.

As I read the words that now appeared clearly, a burning chill ran down the back of my neck.

The app screen, which until then had remained distorted as though someone had deliberately hidden it, had finally been revealed.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Lee Seryeong had secretly slipped out during nighttime self-study to begin Hide-and-Seek Alone.

And my phone had vibrated right after we left.

We had also left the study hall without permission during nighttime self-study.

The scattered fragments of information in my head converged into a single conclusion.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Slide!

What all of that meant was.

Had Hide-and-Seek Alone already begun?

The back door of the classroom violently slid open without warning.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

It was the familiar bear-shaped stuffed doll.

But now it held a huge box cutter in one hand, its belly was sewn shut with red thread, and its black button eyes gleamed.

“New friends!”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

— What? airport Yes…

Its voice sounded like mechanical audio recorded on a cheap recorder, but my instincts warned me of danger.

“Is that the damn bastard?”

“Do you want to play hide-and-seek with me?”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Team Leader Yong violently ruffled his hair, then quickly folded the game instructions he was holding and stuffed them into his pocket.

“I think the game had already started from the moment we left the study hall.”

“I wasn’t asking you. airport Damn it. antique How did it find us?”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Follow me!”

Without caring what we did, the doll pointed the huge box cutter at us, its blade gleaming coldly.

Team Leader Yong roughly shoved aside the desks blocking the path to the entrance, clearing a way for us.

“I’ll give you 30 seconds. orbit Ready to hide? advance Sta~rt!”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

At my age, and now I had to play hide-and-seek?

Damn it.

“Boss, are you good at hide-and-seek?”

“I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know.”

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“What are you talking about?”

— Can I… go with you too?

As I followed them, I grabbed Lee Seryeong’s hand. armor She was pale and trembling with fear.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

I pulled the hesitant Lee Seryeong up to help her stand and looked at Myeong Haebin.

I had never asked for permission.

“If that’s what you want, Boss, let’s do it. arch Looks like she was found too.”

She shrugged as if she didn’t care.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

“I don’t see any Professors. airport How was it again? adjust There was salt in the practice room, right?”

Team Leader Yong looked at me and frowned for a moment, but he didn’t seem willing to waste the few seconds we had left.

Whether we were three adults or four people in total, hiding was already going to be extremely difficult either way.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

The way to end this game was to sprinkle the doll with salt water.

“Yes. palette I also checked that water comes out of the sink.”

And we already knew exactly where to find the necessary ingredients.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Go up to the rest area on the fourth floor, then go down one floor to return to the practice room on the third.

Ever since the countdown began, I had continued mentally counting the seconds.

‘15, 14…’

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘11, 10.’

Normally, it was a route that wouldn’t even take a minute, but now that short hallway seemed like an endless track.

We had covered approximately half of the fourth-floor hallway.

However, Team Leader Yong spotted something and immediately opened the door to one of the first-year classrooms beside us, shoving us inside almost as if he had thrown us.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

The door silently closed, and before even a second had passed, the silhouette of a ‘Professor’ carrying a flashlight appeared reflected in the window.

“……!”

Pain like my fractured ribs were piercing my lungs made my vision flash, and my still-affected sense of balance made the floor seem to move like waves.

“Ugh, cough, cough…….”

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“Are you okay?”

Team Leader Yong helped me up with a worried expression.

Only after the light had completely passed could I let out a painful breath.

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“I’m fine. arctic Open the door.”

“There are less than ten seconds left. adjust Boss, why don’t you stay hidden here? advance We can go by ourselves.”

“No… It’s nothing. august I just got dizzy for a moment…… Thanks.”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

I crouched as low as possible, ignoring my body’s screams of pain, and stepped back out into the hallway.

I had lost track of the countdown.

Myeong Haebin had said there were ten seconds left, but considering how long it took the Professor to pass, the doll might already have started looking for us.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Then something round poked its head out from the stairwell landing by the rest area.

But if we could reach the rest area at the end of the hallway and go down just one flight of stairs, we could end the game.

I didn’t know where the doll would start searching.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

The muffled voice coming from that twisting fabric was etched into my mind with unsettling clarity.

“Found you.”

Its black button eyes reflected the moonlight and gleamed.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

The game still wasn’t over.

Had it already found us?

“Damn it. echo Let’s take the central stairs.”

Team Leader Yong immediately changed course and turned around.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

It was Lee Seryeong.

— I… I’m sorry. arctic My legs gave out.

Just as I took a step to follow him, the weight I was holding by the hand suddenly dropped downward.

Because we were still alive.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

I pulled on her, using my weight to help her stand.

“It’s okay. avalanche Get up.”

But as though something was preventing her, she couldn’t get up.

She had followed us without saying a word until now, but perhaps all that pressure was too much for an ordinary high school student.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

— I’m really sorry. amateur I don’t have any strength in my legs……

Or had fear made her muscles stop responding?

Had she twisted her leg?

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

The bear doll was approaching with staggering steps, dragging that huge box cutter along the floor.

“Boss, leave her!”

Myeong Haebin’s almost-whispered shout reached me.

I didn’t even need to look back to know.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

But I couldn’t.

Lee Seryeong’s hand was intertwined with mine.

All I had to do was relax my fingers and let go.

Maybe because I remembered my former coworkers, who had died only yesterday.

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I tried to somehow lift Lee Seryeong as tears fell from her eyes one after another, but she was absurdly heavy.

The only thing she had done wrong was play out of curiosity.

‘How terrified must she have been, trapped completely alone in this hellish school?’

“I’m telling you to come!”

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It wasn’t particularly difficult.

She grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away by force.

Myeong Haebin was no longer keeping her voice down.

But I shook off her hand.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

That reprimand, colder than ice, pierced straight through me.

“What?”

“I know you don’t care what happens to anyone else as long as it isn’t me. beacon But she’s a child.”

“Boss. abandon Open your eyes and look at her properly. antique She’s a paranormal creature.”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

— I’m sorry for doing something I was told not to do. altitude Please save me. antenna Just this once. amateur I’ll never do it again. sphere Please……

Her face completely pale, she shed tears as she begged me.

My gaze shifted toward Lee Seryeong, who was practically hanging from my arm.

“You heard me. adjust I’m telling you that she’s a paranormal creature.”

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

My head felt like it was burning.

Could it be that Myeong Haebin wanted Lee Seryeong to be a paranormal creature?

I couldn’t think rationally.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

So that I would abandon her.

“Damn idiot.”

For my sake.

Content of I Became a Professional Horror Story Cleaner - Chapter 16: Hwaae High School (12) published by TrungTu Reads.

Was that directed at me?