A familiar voice.

A familiar attitude.

[What a long wait it has been! Six months—why, that's more than enough time for an entire program to rise and fall!]
[Mr. Noru, I completely understand that you've missed me, Brown, terribly during that time…]
[And now, in this very moment, we finally meet again. Oh, just like the start of a new season!]

Speech as slick as that of a talk show host.

The being who used to always reside in my front pocket and converse with me is here again.

[Friend?]

I picked up the bunny plush.

The palm-sized doll, shrouded in black smoke, still retained its shape.

Soft fur, neatly sewn seams.

Its eyes, like black pebbles, glinted in the light.

Beneath its pink head, the black bowtie I always used to tie rested perfectly in place.

A fake.

[!]

What looked like the bowtie of my good friend was actually a hair ribbon I’d bought at the boutique on Death Parade Road.

But the one under this doll’s head was a real bowtie, tied with a proper knot.

Decisively, the “new Good Friend plush doll” I had custom-made at the U-Kwae Theme Park shouldn’t even have a bowtie.

The original Good Friend had personally burned it.

So this is no different than the mock laptop on the desk or the bookshelf full of dummy books.

Just another prop used to recreate Kim Soleum's residence.

A counterfeit.

[My goodness… correct! Still sharp as ever, friend.]

Then what are you?

[I’m your friend, Brown, whom you summoned.]

The unmoving eyes of the bunny doll glinted again under the light.

[I simply used this plush merchandise of my cotton-filled body so you could better concentrate.]

…….

I realized it.

The voice wasn’t coming from the plush doll.

It was coming from inside me.

I only assumed it came from the plush when I saw it.

And this…

It was mimicking Good Friend’s speech pattern.

[Hmm, yes. Merchandise. Doesn’t that sound more elegant than “counterfeit”? They really did their best to replicate the cotton-filled me who shares every moment with you. A bit shoddy, but not bad….]

…….

[Oh, or—surely you didn’t think this voice was fake too?]

No.

[I see. That’s a relief….]

But you knew everything, didn’t you?

[…Hmm?]

Six months.

That’s how long I worked alone on Basement Level 13 of the annex, a place filled with corpses and urban legends.

You could have spoken to me at any time.

But because that period was boring and painful, and devoid of amusement, it had no entertainment value, so you skipped it.

Now, at the most interesting moment, you appear to fully indulge in the thrill and joy—isn’t that your entire purpose?

As an entertainer.

[…Aha. I see.]
[So, the host who could’ve spoken at any time during the last six months chose instead to ignore the dull and painful times, and now appears mimicking Good Friend during the most thrilling moment….]
[Very well. False accusations and rumors are part of every star’s fate, I suppose.]

The sound of arms folding.

[My goodness, and to think I made a guest appearance in that tacky educational video from the second week on….]

…….

Educational video?

—"To our special entity employee, full of dreams and passion! Welcome to Baekilmong Corporation’s Security Management Team!"

The endlessly looping training video from the old black-and-white TV in the corner of Room 666 on Basement Level 13.

Special Division Security Management Team Employee Training.

[Yes. That miserable excuse of a propaganda piece they played on repeat in that prison of a cell!]
[I greeted you over and over, yet Mr. Noru, you never responded. How insulting.]

Somewhere in the middle… the bunny doll.

The host on the TV screen.

Did… he appear?

Did he greet me?

That—was that…?

…….

It didn’t matter.

Because it wasn’t relevant to the job.

[How heartbreaking! So you had no intention of acknowledging me at all.]
[Of course, it’s a host’s duty to win over even the most indifferent audience….]
[Luckily, this form seems to pique your interest. What an honor, Mr. Noru!]

It takes me a second too long to realize the last sentence was sarcasm.

And that it wasn’t entirely sarcasm either.

Gradually, I come to understand.

[Still, my dearest friend seems to have recovered some of his former vivacity! Quite proactive, ever since today’s brief outing….]

…….

Thanks to Nostalgia Kitty, I came to know—if only for a moment—what I originally felt like.

Which is why I can now think the way I used to.

[Ah, yes. Indeed.]

But….

Does that even matter?

[Hm?]

This mangled, unformed body… a melted brain and limbs whose attachments I can’t even locate.

And inside this horned grotesque form where everything’s been forcibly crammed in, does it even mean anything that I possess a similar consciousness?

Wouldn’t it have been better not to realize?

This dissonance.

[Ah, yes. The mask has consumed you, Mr. Noru.]

…?

[Don’t worry. It's a common side effect among talented entertainers!]
[Now, look at this merchandise body of mine….]

I meet its gaze.

The fake Good Friend is in my hand.

[This modest body is fake, of course! Yes, the splendid cotton-filled form you prepared for me is now more than 15 miles away, deep underground….]
[Yet we can still talk like this.]
[And we can still share warm exchanges, just like before! …Friend, would you place me on the towel?]

…….

I did.

[Ah… much better.]

Through the black smoke streaming from my gas mask, a gloved hand moved.

I folded the towel twice, then gently patted the center before setting the plush atop it.

A habit I used to have.

Like when I returned from suffocating darkness explorations and tended to Good Friend’s bedding after work.

Still like that.

And this plush calls itself Good Friend. As if it’s still bound by Good Friend’s restrictions.

Still like that.

…….

A deceitful impersonation.

[Oh, but every show begins with imitation.]

…….

[That whole process of reflecting reality in a more symbolic way! Mime, sketch comedy, stand-up, puns, critique….]
[From countless branches of choice, selecting the most meaningful mimicry to elicit laughter and provoke thought! To build rapport with the audience and move them—]
[A show is, at its core, a lie that reflects the truth… but does that make it meaningless?]

It whispers.

[Just because it’s a lie?]

I don’t respond, but the other already knows.

Knows my answer.

[Exactly. It has meaning. Oh, absolutely. In every moment of tears and laughter!]

The courteous host taps his fingers on the table.

As if he’s come up with a great idea.

[And so it is, Mr. Noru. Shall we look at the mask you’re wearing now?]

I averted my gaze.

[Oh, the smoke makes for a great stage effect, and those eyes like spotlights—I quite like them! You’d make a fine crew.]
[Savage and impressive as it is… it seems you preferred the mask you used to wear.]
[Perhaps out of familiarity and connection? That, too, is a fine trait in an entertainer.]

…….

 

[Then how about making that a mid-term goal?]

[Let’s try interacting through mimicry with the audience. Just like this Brown is doing right now!]

If you can’t become human again—then imitate one.

[Let’s try learning a new skill. Isn’t that your specialty, Noru? Collecting cool abilities and items!]

Like shopping for items at a space mall.
Like getting a tattoo at Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
Like trading clues at the Faceless Market.
Like I used to prepare desperately to survive in the middle of ghost stories.

…I remember.

Then, like fireworks bursting above the rabbit doll, a small golden glow appeared, drew a character in the air, and vanished.

Current Goal: Let’s learn great disguise techniques!

‘……’

[Well?]

‘……Alright.’

I nodded.

Let’s find an appearance that can interact with people.
Even if it’s not real.

[Excellent, my friend!]
[Now don’t forget me—let’s keep going together.]

I put that fake “good friend” into the pocket of my security team uniform.

Just like before.

And I began planning.

Just like before.

I flipped through the darkness exploration logs in my memory, listing what options I had….

And that morning, as the shift began—

As always, a staff member arrived at the isolation chamber for work.

But he wasn’t from the Security Control Team.

“Haha… Meeting again so soon!”

Kwak Jaegang.

The assigned researcher showed up in a disastrous state. One of his pinky fingers seemed to have been treated, but it was blunt.

A segment was missing.

“The security cameras were broken, I had no choice but to visit, I figured out a countermeasure… This kind of excuse works at this company, which is one of its strengths…. But that doll!”

Excitement shimmered in his eyes as he noticed something out of place.

“The doll’s missing from the desk. Did you take it? Ah, perhaps it helps with psychological stability? Or maybe emotional bonding…”

I released a cloud of smoke.

Question: Whereabouts of team members

▶ The one in the badger mask
▶ The Guard Captain

“Ah, those two won’t be coming today! They’re going through a brief, very brief interview process…. So I came instead! Hahaha!”

I didn’t react.

“Do you like those two? For any particular reason? I’m sure you’ve formed rapport with quite a few… Ah, what about the other field investigators? If you met privately—”

No, thanks.

“……”

Kwak Jaegang was still smiling, but his complexion had paled.

There were lingering psychological wounds. That much was clear.

And I needed to make sure this researcher understood—

That the one asking questions had changed.

Question: Director Cheong’s orders regarding 130666

“…You want to know what Director Cheong said when assigning you to me?”

…….

“Yes, considering it’s Director Cheong, there’s a high chance he knows something about your identity! Maybe he was the one who personally arranged your summoning!”

Kwak Jaegang wiped the cold sweat pooling on his chin and laughed with forced enthusiasm.

“However, Director Cheong isn’t exactly the talkative type among higher-ups, so unfortunately, it was just two lines…”

“…And, ‘Stand by until further orders arrive.’ That’s about it!”

…….

“You’ve figured it out, haven’t you. In short, it’s no different from training a dog! Figure out what food it likes, what punishment makes it obey… Yeah. That’s what they want. Hahaha!”

[Noru, how about turning this man in front of you into a dog? It might be an interesting disguise rehearsal!]

…No.

“Anyway… I think we’ve reached the same conclusion. Once your usage method is adequately refined, Director Cheong will likely assign you some darkness-harvest tasks personally!”

The guy who almost started crawling on all fours lands on an intriguing conclusion.

It matches mine.

“And that might hold the clue. If Director Cheong summoned you, it would be for that sort of work!”

A hint to my existence.

“Especially if a researcher like me clings on and examines you—yes, if you give me the right excuse, we could learn a great deal.”

……Hmph.

Request: Shorten timeline

“Hmm? You want to shorten the time it’ll take to get there? Then…”

I formed letters in black smoke.

How to elicit a response from Director Cheong.

Use:
Containment failure incident of 130666

“…Hm? …Ah-ha.”

I continued the explanation in smoke.

Various examples.

Kwak Jaegang copied the letters furiously onto paper, and when he ran out of space, he scribbled on the back of his hand. He was jotting down his own ideas as well.

When I selected one of them, his smile stretched unnaturally wide.

“Well, now. Isn’t this a good one? Let’s try tricking them with this, ha ha ha!”

Add fake rule to usage manual for 130666

Rule: Cannot tolerate boredom

Baekilmong Corporation Internal Database Update

Security Control Team Incident Report
130666 Containment Breach Incident
October 28th, ████, approximately 1:26 AM

Report on the emergency breach where Subject 130666 escaped from its isolation room located in Corridor L-13-6.

Progress Summary

130666 utilized black smoke emitted from its gas mask to disable the lock on the steel door, exited into the containment corridor, proceeded directly to the rental storage unit, then accessed the 17th floor research wing via the main elevator.

Elapsed time: 3 minutes 13 seconds. No security protocol activated.

Disabled: 4 security personnel in containment and storage zones.
Evacuated: 15 researchers on 17th floor.
Disabled: 6 researchers (those who failed to evacuate).

(Those six exhibited strange psychological trauma after inhaling smoke—possible contamination under investigation.)

130666 entered Office of Research Team 1, engaged in direct one-on-one interaction with assigned researcher (Team 1 Lead Kwak Jaegang).

Subject was recovered in its containment cell 6 minutes and 12 seconds later.

Notable Details

Assistant claimed no control gear was equipped, as incident occurred after business hours.
(Disciplinary action discussed but dismissed due to no rule violation. Work schedules for control staff will be expanded to prevent recurrence.)

Outcome

Several Days Later…
A new page is added.

Follow-up Experiment Results

130666 assigned new tasks. Based on experiments, the researcher concluded that the cause of the containment breach was boredom.

Researcher claimed they promised the subject “a more interesting job” during the breach.

Hypothesis added: 6 months of repetitive security tasks on Basement Level 13 may have irritated the subject.

Researcher strongly advocated assigning “a more interesting job” to pacify the subject.

Approval granted by Director Cheong■■ of Development Division.

New Mission Assigned: Collect ghost phenomenon data at a major public broadcast network.
Commonly known as the “Man in the Screen” urban legend.

(See confidential record #C16548 for details.)

Additional Measures

Considering the nature of this mission, a temporary support team, “Transport Assistants,” is authorized under the researcher’s discretion:

Thus arrive the moral absolutist in the dolphin mask and the golden-capitalist in the pony mask.