‘Company employees?’
They were clearly from a different squad in the Field Exploration Team.
I recognized one mask—likely a new hire, someone from my training group.
That much I understood. But…
‘Why did they overlap?’
Is it even possible to overlap and enter the ghost story like this? I mean, whether it’s possible or not…
‘…This is a broadcast accident.’
A tense silence filled the studio.
1 second.
2 seconds.3 seconds.
“……”
Something’s wrong.
The employee wearing the zebra mask standing next to me seemed to sense it as well.
“Wh-why are the people who arrived first…”
[Oh no.]
The flames ignited.
“……!”
The employee in the zebra mask was consumed in a silent blaze, their mouth still open in shock, unable to comprehend the situation, before collapsing like a lie.
All that remained were ashes, shaped like their shoes.
The camera hurriedly panned away.
[…Surprise!]
[This was a special preview of next Tuesday’s contestants!]
The noisy band sound blared, as if trying to cover up the incident.
The camera now focused on me.
“……!”
Damn it.
Damn it, damn it!
I desperately waved the gift box I was holding in the air, pretending to be excited!
Pop.
Confetti rained down again, and the drums roared loudly. The host encouraged the audience’s cheers.
[We’ll see you tomorrow with an even more exciting show!]
[So… have a good night!]
Bam!
With the sound of a cheerful guitar riff, the camera lights turned off.
“……”
It’s over.
It… is over, isn’t it?
Why are we still here?
[Phew, that was a close one. Almost ruined the live broadcast. Glad everything was handled smoothly!]
The cameras were definitely off.
Faceless staff rushed onto the stage, and the lights in the audience seats went out.
The band disappeared.
Backstage, filled with noise and murmurs, was revealed like cold steel beams.
But we didn’t disappear.
…A chilling feeling crept up my spine.
[Mr. Roe Deer! That was great thinking. Are you perhaps interested in becoming a regular panelist?]
“…I already have a job.”
[Oh no! Well, our talk show applications are always open, so feel free anytime!]
Why is this ghost story continuing?
The reason was simple.
The thoughtful host was about to kindly explain to the contestants why this situation had occurred.
[Ah, and to the new participants!]
[You must’ve been shocked, thinking you almost ruined the broadcast. I trust it wasn’t intentional. Don’t be too hard on yourselves!]
[And don’t worry. We’ll give you another chance as well!]
With a friendly and affable demeanor, the host addressed the employees who had suddenly entered—our ‘new contestants’, as if they had always been part of the show.
In the meantime, the staff swept up the ashes left behind by the incinerated person with a broom.
I felt like I was losing my mind.
[I’d love to give you all a chance to participate right now, but unfortunately, our show is live. So, see you next week!]
But we could leave now.
Please, please let it end like this! End it here!
[For now, you can all go home… hm?]
It was then.
Someone holding a megaphone suddenly ran onto the stage.
That person’s face was indistinct in the lighting, but unlike the other staff, they were wearing sunglasses.
The figure with the megaphone whispered urgently to the host.
[……! Ah, I see.]
The host turned to look at us.
[You see, it’s hard for me to say this, but… uh.]
The emoticon on the TV monitor showed a sad face.
[Our show… was just canceled.]
“……!”
[To be precise, it’s the Tuesday Quiz Show that’s ended. Technically, my show isn’t over, yes.]
[The quiz segment has been replaced.]
What?
[We won’t be able to have you as the 100th winning contestants. I sincerely want to apologize from the bottom of my heart.]
The host bent forward, even lowering the antenna on the TV head as if truly apologetic.
“So… is it… cleared?”
“Hu. Huu…”
I could faintly hear the voices of the other members of my squad, filled with confusion, fear, panic, and yet, hope.
But a cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
‘No.’
This development…
========================
Exploration Record #100
The show began in the same studio as previous sessions.
However, the program name had changed.
The host explained to the confused employees that the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ had been canceled.
Since the contestants had answered correctly 99 times in a row, the penalty had become meaningless, and the segment was no longer appealing to the viewers, leading to its discontinuation.
The new segment was chosen to be more engaging was…
========================
[Ah! Hold on a moment!]
The host’s TV antenna suddenly sprang up after receiving a signal from the staff.
[Good news! You’ve all been selected as contestants for the new segment!]
“……!!”
[And since it’s pre-recorded this time, it’ll be even easier than before! Haha!]
[Let’s start filming right away! Although I’ll only be playing a supporting role, I’ll do my best to ensure it’s a great show…]
“Wait.”
The assistant manager from our squad raised her hand with a grim expression.
“We’ve already participated in the show, so we’d like to go back…”
[You want to leave before the filming is finished?]
“……!”
The TV screen buzzed as it got close to Assistant Manager Eun’s face.
[Oh dear… it was all written on the application postcard. But if you truly can’t participate… well, there’s no helping it.]
“……”
[So, tell me. Can’t you do it?]
Assistant Manager Eun slowly moved her eyes, meeting mine from across the way.
I shook my head ever so slightly.
She must have realized it too.
‘No helping it’ didn’t mean they would let us leave. It meant they would incinerate us.
[You can do it, right! Good.]
An ominous silence.
The studio was filled with the sound of the shallow breaths of pale, terrified employees.
I was surely one of them.
Was I even breathing?
[Oh! The tension is palpable. That’s how it always is with new programs.]
[Let’s stay strong! Mr. Roe Deer, you performed wonderfully in the live broadcast! I’m sure you’ll do great again this time…]
Was there no excuse I could give?
No plausible way out?
“Yes. But I didn’t expect to appear on the show consecutively.”
[Hoh.]
“I could make a mistake, couldn’t I?”
I gripped the podium so tightly my knuckles turned white.
“I should prepare a bit more and come back next Tuesday…”
[Aah! Look at that, the lights are coming on! 3, 2, 1…]
The host mumbled in an excited voice.
It was no use.
Completely absorbed in the broadcast, the host dashed toward the camera.
[Good evening, viewers! The joy of Tuesday, the heat of Tuesday.]
[You’re now watching the new segment of our talk show!]
I’m going crazy.
[Are you sad that the quiz show is gone? No need to be! Because this is an even more advanced form of quiz show!]
[Something has been added to the quiz! What could it be?]
The host waved both hands as he read the teleprompter.
[What pulls at the heartstrings more than anything is melody.]
[Especially voices! Choirs, ah, such a beautiful sound!]
……
[Haha, no need for our band to feel left out. We’ve invited a true master of an entirely different genre!]
[A new guest is about to appear!]
The set opened up to reveal a new figure.
The stench of rusted iron and filth filled the air, accompanied by a massive, dark pig’s head.
[The conductor of the Choir of Purgatory, the filthy, the vile, the master of great melodies, the Butcher!]
[That’s right. The new segment is… the Tuesday Choir!]
Hell has arrived.
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