STM 3

After I entered the resort, the being that had followed me quietly descended from the air and met my gaze. Because of the filter, its limbs looked like sticks, but unlike the gobies, I could tell it had the shape of a human.

And it was small. About the size of a hand, like a fairy. But fairy or whatever, I had no plan to remove the filter.

It had a human shape, and that made it scarier, like a ghost.

Yet this being didn’t behave like the gobies. It stayed calm and quiet. But its eyes were fixed on me, as if it had a purpose.

I’d try talking once, and if it sounded wrong, I’d ignore it and sleep.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

I asked and lifted the mute block. A screech like nails scraping a chalkboard resounded.

[To see a spirit I didn’t expect that~~ Ahhh~ I’m so excited~~ Lalala~ Someone can finally hear my words~~]

What the hell is this sound?!

Forget the noise, the ghost was singing. Damn it, was this thing communicating through song? And why was it so off-key?

‘Mute. Mute right now. Mute fast.’

Mo followed my urgent command and blocked the sound. The ghost, or self-proclaimed spirit, flapped its arms. It looked thrilled and kept moving its mouth, probably still singing. I acted like I didn’t hear a thing and raised my hand toward it.

“Not yet. I’ll listen to you now. But I’m warning you first. If you act rude or nasty, I’ll block every sound you make. Understand?”

The spirit nodded obediently and folded its hands politely in front of itself. I paused when I saw that.

If it talked nonsense, I’d just curse once and go to sleep, but maybe I shouldn’t have spoken to it. I felt nervous and ordered Mo.

‘Replace the sound with text.’

A moment later, letters floated before my eyes.

[Hello~ My child is dying~ Please help me~ I’m begging you~]

…Fuck. It’s too polite. Now I couldn’t refuse.

***

‘Direction seven! Drive the monsters between the buildings!’

‘Damn it, Team Three broke through! Leave only the vanguard and block the retreat!’

‘The monsters are heading for the shelter!! Stop them!’

The sound of the ground shaking, dust filling my sight, people shouting. It was nothing special. It was just another normal day. So when I was suddenly pulled out of the dream, I was confused instead.

Ah, I didn’t even finish killing the monsters yet.

But I had no choice except to open my eyes. A light breeze brushed my face over and over.

[Half of the dew is already gone under the sunlight~]

A long-haired spirit tilted its head and looked down at me, that startled me.

[The trees turn to the sun~ They spread their branches wide~ And shake their leaves~]

What the hell is it talking about?

“…What?”

[Ahhh~ Humans forget promises easily~~ But it’s okay~~ I’ll remind you again and again~~ The sun has risen~~ Don’t you feel the sunlight~~]

It spread its arms wide like it was performing. The high, cracking metallic voice rang in my head again like an illusion. I looked at the letters in front of me and gave Mo a command.

‘Remove those random wavy marks from the words.’

[Are humans who forget promises stuuupid? It’s okayyy Even if they’re stuuupid I’ll sayyyy it a thousand times till they understand OoOr maybe ten thousand times]

No waves, but somehow even more irritating. Was Mo doing this on purpose to mess with me? I doubted it and stood up.

Last night the spirit’s story went on forever, and I got so tired that I promised I’d help it in the morning. That must be why it woke me up the moment the sun rose.

“Fine. Wait.”

I stepped out of bed and looked around the room. It was lit only by dim lamps, so I hadn’t noticed before, but the place was large and luxurious.

Lu really was a rich man’s son. He must’ve gotten the best room in the resort.

I looked around slowly and stopped in front of the mirror. A stranger stared back at me from beyond it. Brown hair, pale gray eyes.

Aside from those two features, the face looked similar to a Korean’s. When I realized this was my new face, it felt strange.

[Human, it’s fine even if you don’t rememberrrr. I’ll keep teaching youuu. You don’t have to feel sorryyyy.]

The spirit’s nonsense immediately ruined my brief calm.

“Don’t get it twisted. I’m not sorry at all.”

[Aaaaah. Humans really, really, really lie welllll. It’s okaaaay, I’m used to human liessss.]

Damn it, I could hear the singing again through the text. I ordered Mo again.

‘Stop writing so many “ah”s.’

[Shall I replace them with wavy marks?]

‘…’

[Aaaaaaaaa.]

‘…Replace them.’

I sighed and looked at the spirit still screaming its vowels. I had to get rid of it soon.

“So, the child you protect is trapped, tied up, and dying?”

[There are too many bad humans~ They fed my Petal something strange so she can’t wake up~ Petal loves sunlight~ But even though the owl woke four times, Petal still hasn’t woken up~]

Petal was the human the spirit was trying to protect.

Judging from its way of speaking, if the owl had woken four times, that meant four mornings had passed while she still slept.

To be honest, it hadn’t even been a full day since I fell into this unfamiliar world, so I had no energy to care about someone else’s problem. But I couldn’t leave this hospital right away anyway, so whatever.

If I stayed here lying around like a patient, my personality would make me actually sick, so it was better to do something.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I hit the locked door. I kept pounding until someone came, and soon I heard a click, and the door opened. It was Marvin, the one who’d demanded money from me yesterday.

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you pull the bell cord?”

Ah, so there was one of those.

“I want to take a walk.”

“It’s not walking time yet. The scheduled time is after lunch…”

“Then let me at least walk inside the building.”

When I spoke like a stubborn kid, Marvin frowned.

“Mr. Lu. Being stubborn won’t help. If the director, who’ll be arriving soon, finds out, you won’t be allowed outside your room anymore. Do you want to get locked up again?”

Marvin lifted his chin like he was threatening me. I stayed quiet for a moment because of the command I gave to Mo.

While I slept, Mo had analyzed most of Lu’s memories. So now it showed me, in letters before my eyes, how Lu would’ve answered in this situation.

[1. No! I don’t want to be locked up again! (He shouts excitedly and hugs Marvin’s neck.)

2. I’ll stay calm. Then come in and soothe me, Marvin. (He runs his hand along Marvin’s crotch.)]

…Every option was trash. I knew my silence was dragging too long, but I had to ask Mo first.

‘Did those two sleep together?’

[No.]

‘Ah, thank…’

[But there was physical contact close to sexual activity.]

Ah, fuck. The curse slipped out by itself.

[In this world, people believe sexual relations keep the soul healthy, so such interactions are encouraged. Because of that, relationships that would’ve been condemned as immoral in Confucian societies are ordinary here. However, once someone marries and gains a partner, intercourse with others becomes restricted.]

Right, if you’re human, you should live properly once you marry.

[In most cases, people agree beforehand on the number of sexual partners they’ll have.]

…Total chaos.

“Mr. Lu?”

I must’ve stayed silent too long. Marvin looked at me strangely. I couldn’t act any weirder here, but there was no way I could pick either of Mo’s options. Luckily, I had another idea.

“Marvin.”

I called him and placed my hand on his arm, then pulled it away in an instant.

“Soon I’ll receive a large sum of money.”

As expected, Marvin’s eyes sparkled at the mention of money, though his voice stayed formal.

“I heard Matriarch Lantuya Adeye warned that no support will be given until you complete treatment and are discharged.”

Quick as always, Mo displayed a short summary of the person he mentioned.

[Current head of the Adeye family

Name: Adeye Lantuya

Age: 22

Background and current status: Lost both parents at age twelve in an accident and became family head at a young age. Has weak health and rarely leaves home, but unlike her brother Lu, who wastes money, she used her smart mind to expand the family’s business. The Adeye trading company is now the strongest on the continent.

Nicknames: Business Genius, Investment Prodigy, Queen of Bizarre Cuisine.]