Chapter 34: Ch 34: Escaping Hell
Sangun-nim.
One of the most eerie and unsettling stories from <Darkness Exploration
Records>.
========================
It appears similar to the Korean internet urban legend about the
Jangsanbeom, but this tale carries an even stronger shamanistic and
eerie undertone.
A ghost, presumably having perished from the tiger known as Sangun-
nim, resides in a haunted painting that constantly changes its
appearance, pursuing victims and attempting to lure them away.
As one of the stories of the <Darkness Exploration Records> that went
viral in the first half of 20XX, there were countless reports of readers
feeling sick or unnerved just from reading it.
========================
It was exactly as described.
Even as someone who’s generally fine reading about horror tales, this story
left an oddly disturbing, lingering feeling in me as well, making me pause
multiple times while reading.
The familiarity of this tale, similar to a known urban legend, added to its
unnerving closeness.
I’m sure everyone has heard of it at least once.
’A person devoured by a tiger becomes a ghost and returns to visit their
loved ones...’
Also known as the changgwi.
This ghost must find another victim to pass on its role before its soul can
move on to the afterlife—a chilling tale, indeed.
’It’s disturbing to even think about it.’
However, if one thinks logically, there is a way to survive.
’At C-Class, it’s still a grade with standard escape records.’
While it’s certainly challenging, it’s not impossible to escape this Darkness.
The issue is... the method is bizarre and forces the victim to make unfair
choices, causing mental suffering and overwhelming pressure, as though
their breath were being squeezed out.
It’s the kind of tale that horror lovers immerse themselves in, enjoying the
shivers it evokes.
========================
Exploration Record #03
A man in his fifties downloaded a landscape painting from the internet,
said to bring good fortune in one’s career.
He described it as an ink wash painting from the late Joseon Dynasty,
depicting mountains and fog with an eerie vividness, even in low
resolution.
After downloading it, he began having occasional dreams of wandering
near the mountain in the painting, and each time, he felt oddly at
peace, his focus sharpening.
However, after a sudden promotion at work, the dreams changed.
He began to hear a voice calling to him from within the fog enveloping
the mountain.
The voice whispered, "It is only right to repay the help you’ve received,
as any true scholar should." Along with this, he heard sorrowful cries,
the trudging of footsteps along the mountain path, and the distant calls
of animals.
Feeling strangely unnerved, he turned and tried to run.
Then came the chilling words, "You’ve been found, you’ve been found,"
repeated over and over, followed by a mocking laugh as it chased him.
Each night, he was plagued with dreams of desperately trying to run
away.
And each night, the voice calling his name drew closer as he tried to
distance himself from the mountain in the painting.
One night, he realized, in horror, that he hadn’t been running through
the mountains anymore. He was now at the front door of his own house.
Terrified, he woke up and immediately left home, moving to a hotel. He
said it was to avoid the voice pursuing him and to keep his family from
being drawn into it.
That night, however, the voice did not follow him in his dream.
Instead, he saw someone—a figure with a pale, ashen face, slipping in
like a snake through his open front door, snickering as it entered.
That’s when he understood.
The voices hadn’t been following him at all. They had been finding
their way into his home.
Result : The man’s entire family, except him, went missing. (Six months
later, the bodies of three unidentified bodies were found in a nearby
dam.)
Afterward, he was hospitalized for PTSD and eventually took his own
life.
========================
...And so it goes.
The worst part of this story is how it forces you to imagine the mental
anguish of those caught in it.
There’s also something more unsettling.
’...It’s already too late.’
Already lured in and dragged here by the changgwi.
Several times that its calls were responded to.
Talismans, nearly depleted.
This was the kind of description you’d find in the final, desperate moments
at the end of a lengthy Exploration Record where everyone was already on
the verge of death.
Meaning, we’re cornered at the very edge.
’This is driving me insane.’
I raked my hand through my hair.
– Are you in a tough spot, Friend?
It’s more than just tough. I feel like I’m drowning in cold sweat.
– Oh dear. Could it be because of that unwelcome guest who visited earlier?
Uninvited guests are always unpleasant, especially in places where they’re
not wanted.
– That’s why I’d like to offer you some advice. Would that be alright?
What?
I looked down at my pocket.
– Allow me to dim the light for you, Mr. Roe Deer!
– That way, you can quietly leave this place without drawing anyone’s
attention.
"...!"
I remembered the incredible ability that this plushie showed at the theme
park—the strange power that erased my presence, allowing me to move
without getting caught by the blue mascot.
– If you quietly exit through that door and head home, you’ll avoid this
tiring situation... it doesn’t get any better than that, does it?
"..."
I had a high probability of deducing the correct escape route based on the
<Darkness Exploration Records>. So, if I could avoid being detected by the
changgwi, I might actually get out of this creepypasta easily!
’But...’
Isn’t that a one-person-only solution?
’Would it be possible for you to do the same for someone else?’
– For someone who isn’t a friend?
Braun’s voice twisted momentarily, as if I’d made an unpleasant suggestion,
but he responded in his usual cheerful tone, like a true entertainer.
– Well, maybe I could, but I wouldn’t take that risk!
– Mr. Roe Deer, everything has its limits, and the more you share, the less
you keep for yourself, don’t you agree?
It seemed that if Braun were to extend his power to someone else, its
duration or strength would diminish.
’So, to stay safe, it’s really just a one-person solution.’
Still, leaving the kids behind gnawed at my conscience as a modern person
who’d received public education.
Plus...
’Braun, if we can’t bring Section Chief Lee Byeongjin out with us, our
budget will face serious issues.’
– ...Hm?
’We won’t be able to buy the Bloodbathtub...’
Capitalism was holding me back.
– Ahh... that can’t be!
– But if we dim two lights, any sensitive observer will notice easily! It’ll
ruin the scene’s quality!
Yeah.
’I’ll look for another solution, then.’
Of course, if things got urgent, I’d hit Braun with an SOS and bolt out with
at least one other person.
’I’ll do what I can.’
– Regrettable! But, understood.
I rummaged through my pocket. Thankfully, a few essentials I always
brought to work were still there, even after changing into the security
uniform.
The Smiley Sticker, Alice’s buff-debuff food items, and even some of Snow
White’s apples. I’d lost the fork from my Bloodsucking Cutlery set, but...
’It’s originally a pair.’
Right, I still had the knife.
I pulled out the remaining piece of the Bloodsucking Cutlery from the
opposite thigh pocket.
And I was surprised.
’...It grew!’
The knife was no longer the size of a dessert utensil. It now featured
intricate craftsmanship on the handle, with a small, elegant red gemstone
embedded as an accent.
It had clearly leveled up.
’Maybe the blood that the fork absorbed have somehow transferred here?’
After all, they were a pair.
"...!! I-Is that the Security Team’s suppression weapon?"
I didn’t respond, letting Section Chief Lee’s misunderstanding stand.
I carefully wiped the now-cutter-sized knife on my clothes and slipped it
into the front pocket of my jacket, where I could reach it easily.
Please, let me not need it.
"Well then, I’ll begin searching the house."
"A...Alright!"
When I moved, Section Chief Lee quickly stepped aside.
I stared directly at him as he stood frozen.
"...?"
"I’d like you to accompany me."
"W-What?! A-Ah, no. I, um, already looked everywhere..."
"You’ve already looked, so I’m asking you to guide me."
"U-Uh... Yes, sir."
Section Chief Lee hesitated, but he obeyed, glancing nervously at me as he
started walking.
Good. I avoided the chance of having a panic attack or fainting alone out of
fear.
"This place, um... is probably the kitchen, sir. There wasn’t any food,
though."
The old house, rusty and dust-covered with mold creeping in, was filled
with nothing but talismans on every wall.
It reminded me of those abandoned houses along mountain roads, halfway
up a hill, neglected and no longer inhabited.
"You stayed here for a week. Did you not feel uncomfortable?"
"Well... I never felt thirsty or hungry..."
His face turned pale.
"Whenever the g-ghost came every night, it was strange—I felt like my
energy was drained each time..."
"Did you ever try to go outside during the day?"
"...I mean, I did, but... no matter how far I walked, I just saw forest after
forest... I was terrified that the sun would set while I was out there, so I
kept coming back here."
His account aligned with other exploration records.
In that case...
"W-Where are you going?"
I headed to the end of the corridor, which had no doors, until I reached a
dead end.
"There should be an upper floor."
"Huh?? No, there’s no staircase or anything leading up! I’ve searched every
inch of this place over the past week, and there’s not even a trace of
stairs..."
I summoned the remote hand, then placed the remaining Bloodsucking
Knife in its grip and flung it into the air.
More precisely, toward the ceiling.
Gaaasp!
There was a snap as something gave way, the knife lodged in a fine crack in
the ceiling. With a loud noise, the ceiling opened up, and an old ladder
clattered down noisily.
’Found the attic.’
"G-Gracious! Truly the Security Team... y-your eye for space is, is beyond
that of an ordinary person!"
"..."
Not at all.
I just read a lot of exploration records...
Abandoned houses always have attics.
’It’s only natural that someone who knows what to look for sees differently
from someone who doesn’t know anything...’
Anyway, it definitely seemed like this led to the attic.
’Wow.’
I seriously don’t want to go.
’It feels like entering an ominous room that opened on its own in a haunted
house.’
But I was already acting like I was with the Security Team, so I had
essentially committed myself to being the tank. I grabbed the ladder and
climbed up, pretending to stay calm.
Screeeech.
’Please follow me!’
Unsurprisingly, no one followed.
’I’ll sear this Security Team act into my brain...’
I forced my legs to stay steady, barely managed to reach the attic, and
quickly finished my search before coming back down in a hurry.
It was as if I’d wrapped up my investigation swiftly and efficiently.
’Phew.’
That probably looked natural enough.
"H-How was it?"
"It’s just an old attic. There wasn’t anything unusual..."
I held up my only discovery.
"This was lying on an old tray."
It was a worn-out book bound in an ancient style.
[活路]
"P-Path to survival! Could it actually contain a way out?"
Oh, he can read classical Chinese.
I carefully opened the brittle, ancient book.
The entire book was in classical Chinese.
’Classical Chinese... the best I did was pass the Level 2 exam in high
school...’
– Hoho. This is interesting content.
"...!"
Could he actually understand classical Chinese?
– Goodness, Mr. Roe Deer. A capable host like myself must be able to
communicate with all the people in the universe... well, almost all.
That sounded pretty unrealistic, but what mattered was this:
’...Can you read it aloud for me?’
– Of course!
After a brief sound as if Braun were clearing his throat like a classic
announcer, his voice took on a more formal, deep tone.
– ’This is your sole means of escape.’
Thump.
– ’You, foolish one, ensnared by the changgwi and led into Sangun-nim’s
tomb! Darkness looms before you, and a ghost clings upon your back.’
I swallowed hard.
– ’Do not answer. Do not unbar the door. Purify your body and endure until
the full moon rises, and go to the shrine to perform the ritual.’
– ’Then you shall live to see the sun rise. However...’
I turned the page.
– ’The changgwi shall relentlessly pursue anyone it deems worthy prey.
You, who has already been ensnared by the tiger, can never escape.’
– ’The ghost shall linger at your doorstep, at your bedside as you sleep.’
– ’So, you too must become a changgwi. To escape, you must find another
to take your place and offer them to the tiger.’
...!
– ’The sacrifice must have reasoning, warm blood, and a voice. Only then
can the changgwi be deceived.’
– ’Offer the sacrifice, and follow the moonlit path to a small pit of
serpents.’
– ’This is your sole means of escape. There is no other way.’
"..."
– That’s the end. Fascinating, isn’t it?
I closed the book, my hands frozen.
’...So that’s what it was.’
In the exploration record, it was only described in a line or two: A sacrifice
was chosen by drawing lots, and when the chosen one refused, they were
tied to a post and dragged away.
But looking at it directly... the eerie, unsettling weight of the words pressed
down on me.
Flip.
Just then, something tucked into the final page of the book slipped out.
"..."
It was a small paper card.
When I picked it up, I saw hurried handwriting scrawled on the back.
⧻⧻ Leaving tomorrow.
I flipped the card over.
───
Go Seonha
Department of History, Joo Kang University
───
Could this be someone who had read the book before me?
In the meantime, Section Chief Lee, who could read classical Chinese,
seemed to be stumbling through the text on his own.
And then he froze in terror.
"犧牲物... T-This! Doesn’t this mean one person has to be sacrificed?"
"..."
"Right! If just one of us dies, the rest can survive!"
I didn’t respond.
Section Chief Lee began rubbing his palms anxiously, his eyes darting
around.
"Buuut, uh, if we d-don’t do it, we’ll all die anyway, so..."
"So?"
"...Wouldn’t it be enough if the right person died? Someone who likely
wouldn’t make it out anyway, right?"
Is that a self-introduction?
But as I glanced down, I noticed the look on Section Chief Lee’s face.
’That.’
He meant the kids.
"To be honest! One of those kids... if you hadn’t arrived, they’d probably
all be dead anyway! We should focus on getting ourselves out of here!"
"..."
"If just one of them dies and the rest of us get out alive, well, isn’t that still
a good thing?"
I never thought I’d hear this kind of talk in real life.
Given that he’s been trapped here for a week, consumed by the fear of death
and panic, I could understand his desperation, but...
’Still, I can’t agree to that kind of talk.’
I glanced at the text in classical Chinese.
"Sentient being."
"Huh?"
"This book specifies a sentient being with intellect as the sacrifice."
I tilted my head slightly.
"Can a child who hasn’t even reached adulthood be considered a fully
sentient being?"
"U-Uh..."
"I don’t think so."
I stared steadily at Section Chief Lee.
"It’s adults who would qualify as sacrifices, don’t you think? Which
means... there’s only one option."
"...!"
Section Chief Lee, sweating profusely, his pupils quivering, opened his
mouth to speak.
"W-Wait, uh, um..."
I spoke calmly.
"I mean myself."
"...Pardon?"
"I’m the only eligible person here. Excluding the kids and you, Section
Chief Lee, who’ve been trapped here for a week and are mentally unstable."
"..."
"But I don’t want to die. I’ll look for another way."
I resumed examining the book.
After a long silence.
"That, um... I’m sorry."
"..."
"Talking about sacrificing the kids... what kind of person am I to even say
such a thing... ha, hahaha..."
Section Chief Lee sat down, looking utterly defeated.
"On the first night, it was my father..."
He had passed away in his hospital bed from cancer, but I hadn’t been able
to be there when he died because of work.
"Then my father, crying, called out, ’Byeongjin-ah, let me see your face,’
asking me to open the door."
"..."
"I held my head and resisted, and then the ghost started hurling all sorts of
insults and jeers at me... all in my father’s voice."
Section Chief Lee buried his face in his hands.
"Every single night, it’s someone else—a dead family member, friend,
neighbor—coming to visit, calling out in their voices!"
His beloved uncle, his aunt, his cousin who died in an accident, his college
friends, and even the neighbor’s child who was kidnapped and went
missing...
"All of them, everyone I’ve known, anyone who’s died... it’s as if they’re
all pulled out from the depths. I can barely hold on to my sanity... If hell
exists, it’s right here."
"..."
Hmm.
Come to think of it, the middle schoolers hadn’t even known there was a
ghost knocking on the door.
And they’d been here for two days.
’Has he practically been standing guard by the door?’
Whether it was intentional, accidental, or due to some ghostly influence, his
actions had, in a way, shielded the kids’ mental state. It felt strangely
poignant.
I looked at Section Chief Lee for a moment before nodding.
"If this place is hell, then all the more reason to escape it."
"..."
"I’ll study this book more closely and..."
Knock, knock, knock.
"...!"
Both Section Chief Lee and I turned to face the door simultaneously.
"Was that just..."
Knock, knock, knock.
"..."
"..."
Excuse me.
The voice had returned.
