Chapter 127

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[What strange questions you keep asking! Was it enjoyable? Of course. I am an entertainer who can enjoy every role….]

“So, you’re saying that being a Good Friend wasn’t particularly more fun than other roles? Not at all?”

[…….]

Kim Sol-eum’s body, controlled by Lee Ja-heon, remained eerily still.

The giant TV screen lit up.

[I see what you want to say.]

[Do you want me to move the warm stuffed doll filled with cotton and become your Good Friend again? Hahaha!]

[Please continue playing the enjoyable Good Friend role!]

A rabbit doll appeared inside the giant TV and waved its hand. Just like a certain moment a month ago.

But Kim Sol-eum was not shaken.

“Well, that would be nice. I miss it.”

[Oh. Mr. Kim Sol-eum.]

The TV spoke cheerfully, as if mocking.

The rabbit doll in the screen looked around fearfully, then sat in the corner.

[Unfortunately, this Good Friend has already been completely torn and turned to ash! You will never meet him again!]

“No. That was you.”

[……!]

“The stuffed doll is just an appearance.”

That was true.

In the end, the one who willingly accepted the constraint of the Good Friend and moved using the stuffed doll as a body… was the host in front of me.

Showing that rabbit doll on the screen right now was also

‘you.’

He had said it directly himself.

“I’ve heard stories like that.”

Kim Sol-eum’s calm voice was heard.

“They say that when actors take on an impressive role, they sometimes can’t get out of the role easily even after it ends.”

Because.

“Since they find the role very fun or become deeply immersed in it. It seems a trace remains even after it ends.”

[…….]

He recalled the sight he saw earlier.

The host freezing upon seeing the stuffed doll he was dwelling in burst.

‘Honestly, he must have known that my stuffed doll bursting didn’t mean I would die.’

Hadn’t he put me in there himself in the first place.

Going further, it was also strange for a talk show host to leave a silence flowing in the show just because one performer died.

He was an entity that would display a crying emoticon on his TV head, pretend to mourn, and then use that as material for the next segment.

But if he was flustered even for a moment and tried to block the cotton from spilling.

That was certainly strange.

“I wondered if it was the same for you.”

[Oh. That a shabby entity pretending to be the great host has such a clumsy professionalism as to be influenced by a mask he wore for just a few months…. Is that what you wish to say?]

“I don’t know why that would be clumsy. Originally, it’s the great actors who struggle because they assimilate with their roles. Because they were that vividly immersed.”

[That….]

“Am I right?”

Lee Ja-heon continued to transmit Kim Sol-eum’s words dryly.

“And though it’s a slightly different case… I was also comforted a lot by your ‘Good Friend’.”

[…….]

“Thank you. In difficult situations, you being a friend gave me a lot of help and comfort. And… there were many fun moments too.”

Kim Sol-eum’s voice echoed.

“Are you not the same?”

[…….]

[Oh dear.]

The host’s voice lowered.

[Embarrassing though it is, I must admit it. Yes. It was a very fresh and enjoyable experience!]

[Since outstanding talent as a show creator and performer is rare, watching your moves and meddling in them was a very different kind of fun….]

“I see.”

But.

“That’s why I want to work at the talk show even less.”

A calm voice came out.

“First of all, I’m a bit scared of this talk show. I’m not saying it’s not fun, but honestly, it’s hard for me to work here. You know it too. My personality.”

Just thinking about people dying sent shivers down my spine. Contributing to that work here was truly chilling….

Furthermore, Kim Sol-eum knew.

‘Would that host suddenly make ethical judgments just because I tried to persuade him?’

Absolutely not.

Just as if Kim Sol-eum remained Kim Sol-eum, he would feel aversion to working as a staff member of this talk show.

And in truth, failing to feel aversion would also be a big problem.

Because it meant the self would vanish, whether by brainwashing or pollution.

“Honestly, even if you called me a partner, I unilaterally became a member of your crew. The atmosphere makes me have to call you ‘host’.”

Weight was added to the joke-like words.

“Under those conditions, we can’t remain friends. I just become subordinate. I cannot act proactively.”

Kim Sol-eum looked beyond his field of vision.

“Then you will find it boring soon too.”

[…….]

“So I must return. …That way, it will be much more fun for you too.”

A strange light flashed across the TV surface.

Kim Sol-eum guessed that maybe that was why the host also wanted to make him work at the talk show as gently as possible, without his way of thinking changing significantly.

Just like clothes getting soaked in a drizzle.

‘Though that worked to some extent… not like this.’

I cannot continue to remain in this chilling place.

Even so.

“But even so, I don’t think we can’t be friends.”

[…!]

“By any chance, do you remember what I said?”

-Isn’t a friend someone who tries to understand each other’s differences, and cares for each other even if that doesn’t go well.

-…While conversing.

“We can sufficiently get along as friends while sharing our daily lives, even if we don’t work at the same workplace.”

Since it was already spilt milk anyway, he had to redefine his power dynamic with that entity he summoned, starting from now.

If it couldn’t be avoided, he had to face it.

“It doesn’t have to be a Good Friend. Just being a friend is enough.”

The stuffed doll inside the TV leaned its body toward the screen as if intrigued by these words, listening closely.

Kim Sol-eum wanted to smile.

“If you are okay with it, how about getting along this way.”

[Hooh.]

[But what if I am not okay with it?]

The stuffed doll inside the TV was flustered, but the voice of the giant host grew softer and more subtle.

[Look at this, Sol-eum. Look at how your savage swordsman destroyed the set. For this space containing the sweat and tears of the staff, the cost of the ruffian who interfered with the broadcast is….]

It was at that moment.

Thump, thump, thump!

The rabbit stuffed doll inside the giant TV suddenly jumped up, raised its cotton-filled hand, and began to hit the screen.

As if protesting against those words!

[…! Good heavens, this is…….]

The TV turned off hurriedly.

The giant host’s hand adjusted the antenna as if controlling something. But the TV flickered, showing moments of the Good Friend stuffed doll rampaging inside.

Eventually, the host gave up and withdrew his hand.

And….

[Can’t be helped.]

Flicker.

It was the next moment after all the stage lights flickered briefly.

[Very well.]

The host was standing in front of Kim Sol-eum in his original form before I knew it.

-…!

[Yes… it is true that watching what kind of moves you make and meddling in them was quite enjoyable.]

[To think my mask would be bothersome….]

The host spoke politely, in a slightly resigned tone.

[This Brown admits it.]

[That accompanying your unique, creative, and suspenseful development was very interesting and fun….]

[That the Good Friend role was particularly enjoyable, that is.]

“…….”

Kim Sol-eum realized.

The one moving the stuffed doll inside the TV screen was naturally the host himself.

Therefore, the rabbit doll rampaging earlier was because… some part of that host’s existence felt that way.

The traces of the Good Friend.

“…….”

The Holy Fire Bombardment that was hitting the talk show also ended before long.

With the lights returning, in the set where even the half-destroyed state looked like part of the set design, Brown stared at Kim Sol-eum.

At the friend beyond his field of vision.

[But now you don’t have a cotton-filled body.]

Ah.

[Of course… a great host always has a Plan B.]

As the host moved his gloved hand like magic, a silver-glistening coin appeared between his fingers.

Silver Coin Snake.

-…!

It was the coin item Kim Sol-eum had put in when summoning the Good Friend.

When it appeared, though he thought it was burned and gone along with the doll, Kim Sol-eum’s personality wavered from beyond.

“I clearly burned it….”

[Haha, a great entertainer has a knack for magic too. It is just a modest, simple trick.]

Clink.

The coin fell from Brown’s hand into Kim Sol-eum’s suit breast pocket.

To the place where the Good Friend originally always stayed.

Fingers tapped the pocket.

[Take it! And if you call me once more through an appropriate medium like before… I will go. Mr. Roe Deer.]

-……!

Unlike the surprised Kim Sol-eum, Lee Ja-heon calmly pronounced his words with his mouth.

“Sure.”

[Oh, however, that friend might not be good, unlike before.]

“Then it means he could be good too.”

[…Acting like a magician of language, friend!]

Brown’s TV remained black, displaying nothing, but the clean screen reflected Kim Sol-eum’s face.

Kim Sol-eum spoke, wanting to smile.

“See you again.”

[A preview for a sequel programming!]

[Not bad.]

The host raised both hands.

[Now, then, let us give a round of applause to my temporary crew member who escapes this ecstatic and wonderful studio and returns to challenge the terrible reality!]

Wow!!

Kim Sol-eum turned his head in surprise.

The audience seats were still filled, and the camera light was on.

On the stage, ‘Special Program Bonus Time! Host’s Behind-the-Scenes (Sensitive personal information is censored)’ was displayed.

‘Come to think of it, we were still on commercial break….’

It seemed even this was being broadcasted….

‘He really loves a show.’

I hoped he did a good job of censoring my personal information.

Kim Sol-eum wanted to express both a sigh and a hollow laugh.

[Well, it is exit time.]

The host requested a handshake from Kim Sol-eum.

Kim Sol-eum requested the mercenary moving his body and accepted the handshake.

And he heard.

A low whisper.

[Mr. Roe Deer.]

[It must be as fun as you guaranteed. Let’s watch if that will be possible….]

-…….

If Kim Sol-eum had a body, he might have frozen while breaking into a cold sweat for a moment.

But controlled by Manager Lee Ja-heon, he calmly bowed toward the audience, and then could run out through the broken guest door with vigorous steps.

[Then exit pleasantly!]

Exiting the talk show set.

In the briefly glimpsed faces of the audience, he noticed that unlike before, they were not ordinary people but grotesque ‘viewers’….

Although it was chilling, his mood eerily lightened up.

Waaaah!

From behind, the voice of the pleasant and chilling talk show host, his friend, was heard….

[So far… this was Brown’s Late Night Talk Show!]

* * *

“……!”

I opened my eyes.

I saw the dim sky where dawn was breaking.

It was the dawn of daily life… that I knew.

‘…I came out!’

“Ha.”

I took a deep breath and stretched out on the ground.

For some reason, I was lying down, leaning against a bench in an nameless park.

‘Did he leave me here.’

I felt like going crazy from the sense of liberation.

It was good to be able to move my body myself, and it was good to have safely come outside….

Anyway, everything felt fine.

“Phew.”

Did Group Leader Lee Ja-heon return properly?

And is my pollution state okay? I didn’t know how such a refreshing and normal thinking was possible.

‘…Wait a minute. By any chance, did vomiting after eating that churros…….’

Well. Since this was still just a guess, I passed over it.

The important thing was this.

‘…Escape after a month!’

“Haaaa…….”

I stretched out spread-eagled again.

What should I do now?

Since I lost all my company items, I was in a situation where I had no dreamscape collector, employee ID card, or mask.

‘It seems I should talk to the company first…….’

…….

……Wait a minute.

Did I just absent myself from work without leave for a month?

If so, could it be.

‘Fired…?!’

Then what about my points?

I rose up as if splashed with cold water.

‘My phone.’

I had to check right away.

Putting aside fatigue or liberation, at the moment I was about to look for a means of contact with a feeling of my blood freezing.

Something flashed and shone above my head.

A strange phenomenon, which felt like I was seeing it after a very long time.

[Records of the Dark Exploration Real Goods Box]

-Usage authority for new goods unlocked! (!)

“…!”

And falling from thin air was….

Thud.

I looked at the goods resting in my hand, with a checkout barcode still attached.

Goods made compact to reduce price burden, yet boasting a formidable price due to its sophistication.

A cylinder with metal decorations.

Namely….

Dreamscape Collector (Elite Team Dedicated)

And the inside of the cylinder was already filled with flashing golden liquid….

I lifted it with trembling hands.

A solution emitting a hologram-like glow, never seen before.

‘This is….’

Grade A or higher.