I Became A Ghost In A Horror Game-Chapter 106: Red Riding Hood – Where the Merman Lives

We followed James, who had transformed into a Moon Wolf, and once again wandered through the forest.

He was moving so fast that it was hard to keep up, but partway through, I realized there was no need to stick close since I could locate James from afar using a remote mirror.

It was clearly better to use a mirror portal when the target stopped, rather than relying on some mount.

I observed James through the mirror and carefully examined the areas he passed through.

The deeper we went, the denser the forest became. When there were no buildings in sight despite being in a city—

That’s when I found it: a location where demonic energy pulsed strongly.

It was an energy I’d never felt before, meaning it came from a demon we hadn’t encountered yet.

It was highly likely to be Red Riding Hood’s demon.

After pushing through the bushes, following the energy, what came into view was a rather large barn.

Why is there a barn in the middle of the city?

I didn’t even think that.

The moment the city transformed into a forest, this space fell under Red Riding Hood’s influence.

Whether it was her intention or not, it wasn’t strange for something related to her to be established here.

More than that, the place we were in could very well be called a separate barrier created by Red Riding Hood, distinct from the real world.

Judging by how faint the energy was, it didn’t seem like Red Riding Hood herself was present.

Still, it seemed worth investigating.

“What do you think was raised here?”

Kyung-min asked with a rather serious look on his face.

Traces of livestock that may have been eaten or died from disease.

Bones were scattered all over, and Kyung-min tried to deduce the animal by examining them.

“Hmm, judging by the shape of this bone... Wait, this isn’t animal. It’s human.”

But the moment he spotted a human skull, he gently placed the bone he was holding back on the ground.

“Oh. I see.”

“Ugh.”

“...”

The kids quietly nodded.

Hmm, human bones instead of livestock... and judging by how scattered they were, there were a lot.

Seeing only bones remaining, they had either been dead for quite some time, or had been stripped of all flesh.

But I didn’t think they were eaten by wolves.

The feral wolves were just violent, not showing any signs of wanting to eat anything.

Wait. Something feels off.

I stopped my speculation and turned to look at the kids.

“Hey. Don’t you think there’s something you should be doing after seeing human bones?”

“May the deceased rest in peace.”

“Rest in peace.”

“I meant be shocked.”

“I was shocked...”

These kids...

They’re acting like human bones are just some generic object.

Eun-jung was a little surprised, but if this were before, she would’ve been much more shocked.

It’s like watching gamers who, upon seeing human bones in a game, don’t react emotionally—they just press the ‘Z’ key to investigate.

“I mean, yeah, it’s horrific, but we’ve seen worse... and it’s just a skeleton, so it’s less intense.”

If that’s the reasoning, I guess it makes sense...

“I know it’s because you’ve been with me, but still—it’s concerning for your future. At least pretend to be scared for the sake of appearances.”

“Okay!”

I stopped nagging and searched around the barn for the next clue.

The barn seemed to have housed a variety of animals.

There were all kinds of cages and pens.

But again, the only bones present were human.

Even in the cramped cases meant to hold chickens, human bones were awkwardly wedged in.

At this point, maybe it wasn’t livestock being raised here—but people?

...Ominous thoughts always turn out to be right.

“There’s a skeleton over here that’s a bit more intact. It’s even wearing a necklace?”

Soo-ho had found a relatively preserved skull.

We leaned in to examine the necklace it wore.

“It says ‘Mr. Pig’ on the pendant.”

“It’s hard to believe that’s a person’s actual name. Mr. Pig, seriously...”

“If it’s a nickname, maybe, but considering this is a barn filled with human bones, it’s not something to dismiss lightly.”

We felt a heaviness settle over us.

At the same time, we were puzzled why this skeleton was the only one with a name,

So we decided to look for the caretaker’s room to find the next clue.

When we opened the rickety door, what greeted us was a desk covered in dust, shattered glass, and dried bloodstains.

We approached and looked at a piece of paper placed on the desk.

“Hmm...”

The paper read:

{He’s a kind child. You must never confuse people with livestock.}

“...I don’t understand what this is trying to say at all.”

When I saw the bit about “Mr. Pig,” I assumed it was something Red Riding Hood had written to that skeleton while it was still alive.

But it was hard to determine what kind of relationship they had.

“Any other clues... Broken fences, arrows stuck everywhere, bloodstains... Looks like there was a fight...”

The information was just too limited.

There was no guarantee we’d find another place like this, so I wanted to extract everything I could...

Then, a good idea came to me.

“Alright. If it’s too hard to get clues this way, let’s try a different method.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean this.”

Clap. With a sharp snap of my hands, the surroundings shifted into something eerie.

What had been just an old door now appeared soaked and moldy, and the bloodstains shimmered as if freshly spilled.

In this now-haunted barn, a new guidebook dropped to the ground.

“You all know about Manual Ghosts, right?

Let’s try gathering information by following the rules and steps.

Though this kind of ghost won’t give us concrete details, we might still get some hints.”

I opened the manual.

[Rules to assist beginner barn caretakers.]

If followed properly, the livestock can be delivered without issue,

So first-timers must follow the rules strictly.

[Rule 1]

Feed the hungry livestock.

However, only give them the designated feed.

Do not feed them the meat intended for the caretakers.

The moment we read the first rule, a sticky hay pile mixed with gooey jelly appeared.

We pulled a cart over and started delivering the feed.

The bones that had been scattered outside disappeared,

And in their place were quadrupedal, shambling skeletons that moved like living livestock.

When we handed over the hay, they mimed eating it.

Though the feed just slipped between their bones, they truly devoured it like beasts.

[Rule 2]

Check the fences.

Wolves will invade through broken fences.

They will grab livestock and drag them into the forest.

No one knows what happens to the livestock once they leave the forest.

We inspected the fences as per the rule.

It looked like it had been cut with a saw by a human, which gave us an eerie feeling.

There were broken sections, so we patched them up roughly with tape.

It didn’t really matter—after all, we weren’t here to defend the barn from wolves, just to gather information.

Beyond the fence, a vicious wolf created by the Manual Ghost was watching us—then it disappeared.

[Rule 3]

If a wolf has crossed over, call the hunter.

The hunter is your ally.

Never doubt the hunter.

In the distance, a figure in the form of a hunter began to approach.

Waving its hand as if glad to see us, it even seemed friendly.

But compared to the wolf that had just been watching us, the hunter gave off an even more ominous aura.

“What happens if we do doubt him?”

“Idiot. That’s the whole point of a Manual Ghost. It’s designed to stimulate your imagination.”

“Is that so? Then let’s test it out. Oooh~ I’m doubting you now.”

Eun-jung narrowed her eyes and struck a pose like she was sending telepathic waves.

At that moment, the hunter’s shoulder twitched, and Soo-ho instantly raised his shield and stepped in front of her.

Ting—!

A sharp arrow deflected off the shield, spun through the air, and struck the ground.

“...”

“Did I almost die just now?”

“You wouldn’t have died. But if it hit, it probably would’ve hurt bad enough to knock you out for an hour.”

“...I will be more careful from now on.”

[Rule 4]

Do not smuggle livestock.

“...They’re not explaining this one either.”

“This ghost isn’t here to give answers—just to provide hints.”

I gave a polite wave to the hunter, who was still waving.

The hunter, without moving its legs, slowly receded into the distance.

But its silhouette remained faintly visible, as if still watching us.

[Rule 5]

You must deliver the livestock to the Great Mother.

Because she is hungry... unbearably so.

“...I guess we have to choose which livestock to deliver.”

“Then let’s head to the pens.”

At the pens, we saw skeletons already inside transport cases.

It looked like we were supposed to pick one of them.

I didn’t care which, so I picked whichever case my hand reached for first.

It was probably a pig.

The moment I touched the case—

[Nicole]

...Huh? Is that a name?

[Rule 6]

Do not look at the name.

“...”

The manual shook.

The font size grew larger, the handwriting turned messy and wild.

The atmosphere grew more sinister, and a piercing presence was felt behind us.

“...Huh, that’s unexpected.”

[Squeal.]

A grotesque pig glared at us.

Covered in painful-looking growths and stitched-together patches.

“...Should we run?”

“Let’s!”

We turned and ran from the giant pig that had suddenly appeared.

It charged wildly, crashing into everything as if it couldn’t see. It was surprisingly powerful.

“Wouldn’t Alice be able to take it down in one punch?”

“Yeah. She could suppress it immediately, but there’s one catch.”

“What is it?”

I answered Soo-ho’s question.

“That pig appeared due to the Manual Ghost’s influence, but strictly speaking, it’s not one of my ghosts.

It’s like a vengeful spirit that slipped into the ghost story.”

“In that case...”

Soo-ho and Kyung-min both seemed convinced it was a critical clue.

I thought so too, so I asked Kyung-min for help.

“Kyung-min, can you stop it for a moment?”

Kyung-min immediately hooked a chain around the pig’s legs and tripped it.

The massive body toppled forward, and with the momentum, it flew straight toward us.

Soo-ho braced his shield diagonally into the ground and blocked it.

The pig was stopped by the friction of the shield sliding across the dirt.

“Well done.”

I approached the pig, which seemed unable to support its own weight, likely because it was already in poor condition.

[Rule 7]

Do not injure the animals too much.

They are precious food supplies.

“I get that you're excited about being summoned, but I’m done following the manual.”

I shoved the manual into the mirror and spoke to the pig.

“Alright, let me ask you something. Can you tell me everything that happened in this barn?”

[Squeal... squeal...]

“Hmm... I see.”

The kids looked at me strangely as I spoke with the pig.

Then they started whispering among themselves.

“How is Alice able to understand that thing?”

“Maybe it’s because the pig is considered a ghost too, and she can understand ghosts’ language?”

That’s correct. Kyung-min catches on fast.

“Nope. It’s because Alice eats so many sweets, she’s turned into a pig herself and can now speak pig.”

...You little—

I opened the mirror and gave Eun-jung a flick on the back of the head.

Thwack!

“Eugh.”

“Gasp.”

...

......

My conversation with the pig ended.

There were lots of interesting things, and plenty of mysteries still left—but this information would be vital to the current case.

“My head hurts from all the new information.

Thanks for telling us your story.

The skeleton with the necklace labeled ‘Mr. Pig’... that was you, right?”

[Squeal...]

It nodded gloomily.

“I see. So that’s how it is.”

Though it had acted vicious due to the Manual Ghost’s influence,

In truth, it was just a gentle soul.

Since this one possessed a human soul, should I consider it human?

Or should I still see it as a ghost—something inhuman?

I wasn’t sure.

It probably depends on what value a human soul holds in this world.

But... compared to those abnormal beings, this one felt more human—

So I wanted to treat it as one.

That’s why I asked:

“Nicole... no, Mr. Pig. Would you come with me? As a ghost.

Your story... it’s not over yet, right?”

[Squeal?]

“...That’s up to him to decide.”

The pig hesitated, then nodded.

Despite its monstrous appearance, it transformed into something small and cute, like it might even smell like peaches.

I held him in my hands and placed him into the mirror.

“Don’t bully him. He’s a guest.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

[Chomp...]

The Beast of Gévaudan smacked its lips, but I pretended not to see it.

“It’s over now.”

“But wow, the Manual Ghost is pretty scary. It really sparks your imagination.”

“No wonder it’s such a popular ghost story.”

The kids gave their impressions of a ghost they had only briefly experienced.

Maybe because it was a trendy ghost story, it seemed to resonate well with children.

Hmm, I should look up some of the currently popular ghost stories too.

“We got some good info thanks to Mr. Pig.”

We didn’t learn everything, and things might change if we meet him directly,

But one thing was certain: just as the other demons of the stories had experienced something horrific inside the game,

Red Riding Hood had gone through a similar process.

And it was clear—even from just a glimpse—that her journey was far from peaceful.

“Alright, let’s start tracking James again. I attached a surveillance mirror, so I can open a portal right away.”

“You managed to attach that in such a short time? Impressive.”

Now then... before we move, let’s take a quick peek.

I looked into the mirror.

“...Huh.”

The sigh escaped my lips the moment I saw it.

Countless fish-people filled the scene, almost comically so.

They weren’t hiding their faces—they walked openly and confidently. This must be their base of operations.

The scale was bigger than expected, and it looked like it would take considerable force to fight them head-on.

And the buildings scattered throughout, though similar to human architecture, had a distinctly different style.

Even the dull golden fish statues stood out—

Rather than stealing a human city, it felt like they had built a city entirely of their own.

Since Ha-rim hadn’t returned yet, it seemed best to head toward the city entrance.

“Everyone, over here.”

Using the mirror attached to James, I opened a mirror portal at a farther location and guided the kids through.

Between the black buildings, lights flickered softly, like lanterns glowing in the dark.

From afar, the city looked like this.

“It’s big, just like I thought. There aren’t any trees either. It’s like there’s a whole city inside another city.

Think of this place as a completely separate space from reality.”

Exactly. The energy here was different too,

And if we included this city in the area Red Riding Hood turned into a forest, it didn’t even make sense physically.

It may look connected, but this was clearly a separate domain.

We observed the city from a distance—

Right beside a helpfully erected signpost.

I didn’t like ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) how these fish had the nerve to mimic humans.

Sure, they were once human, so it wasn’t incomprehensible...

But disgust is a feeling that doesn’t care for logic.

Kyung-min glanced at me while I was lost in thought, then walked over to the sign as if curious about the city’s name.

“Let’s see what this city’s called.”

Let’s see... the language’s different. One I’ve never seen before.

Still, it seemed to follow human linguistic patterns, so if I ran it through auto-translation...

“Innsmo—”

“Stop!”

“What’s wrong, Alice?”

The moment I heard that name, I shouted as if having a seizure.

“These bastards have no respect for the genre!

Do they think slapping on some weird mythological name or place from a novel automatically makes it cool?

Enough with the Outer Gods and so-called Great Old Ones! Even parodies have their limits!”

The kids all tilted their heads with question marks above them, reacting to my outburst.

“Alice...? Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction?”

“Yeah. You’re acting weird.”

“...”

I gave them a sheepish smile in response to their rebukes.

“Ahem. Yeah, I got a little worked up. Let’s compromise by changing the name.”

I took out a magic pen from the mirror and rewrote the city’s name.

Now, the name of this city is—

“This city’s called Bikini City.”

“Alice, do you wear bikinis?”

“Eun-jung, stop forcing it.”

“Hmph.”

This conversation’s really getting off-track.

I gathered the kids and asked for their input on what we should do next.

“Alright, time to make a decision.

If we’re up for it, we can launch a full-scale invasion of the city.

What do you think? Should we infiltrate to find James, or go in guns blazing?”

Soo-ho raised his hand high.

“Infiltration. Otherwise, we’ll just be standing around.”

“Yeah, Alice and Ha-rim always take care of everything.

At least if we’re scouting, we’ll have something to do.”

“...Huh?”

What are they talking about?

Just by being with me, you kids make me way more effective.

It stings that they were thinking this way.

It must be the result of venturing too far beyond the original stage and into much bigger adventures.

Still, I want them to understand—

That an adventure isn’t only about conquering mountains just because they exist.

Listening, watching, reflecting—those are also experiences, memories, and yes, adventures.

Just as I was about to share the thoughts in my heart, Eun-jung’s whiny complaint pierced my ear.

“Alice only ever favors Ha-rim! I’ve seen it!”

What the heck is she talking about now?

I instinctively raised my index finger to counter her claim—

“I mean, when did I ever...”

I hesitated.

“...”

Placing my hand on my chest, I tried to objectively ask myself—

Do I play favorites with Ha-rim?

...

I do!

“Sorry.”

My honest apology left Soo-ho slightly stunned.

“You’re really admitting it?”

“I’m upset! So upset!”

Stop whining already.

I’ve said it before—there’s no such thing as a finger that doesn’t hurt.

But Eun-jung’s duck-like pout showed no signs of going away.

You little rascal... Should I just yank those lips right off?

“Ugh...”

Oh. Speak of the devil and she appears—Ha-rim, who had been wandering alone, returned.

She came through the mirror, using it as a portal.

Since the backup mirror was too small and she was struggling, I expanded the mirror for her.

After she came through, I checked and saw that she didn’t seem to be hurt anywhere.

“It’s been a while, everyone... well, even though it’s only been a few hours.”

“Welcome back, Shin Ha-rim. What happened on your side?”

When Kyung-min asked, Ha-rim straightened her shoulders and spoke with a rare, proud expression.

“I went on an amazing adventure. Learned all kinds of things.”

I didn’t know what kind of info she’d brought back to be so smug about, but... she was adorable.

Before I even realized it, my hand had already gone out to pat her shoulder.

“Hehe... good job.”

“There it is again! Favoritism again!”

“...Can’t even say anything around here...”

Ha-rim began telling us about what she’d gone through.

It was amazing how much she’d learned in such a short time.

Even though it must’ve been mentally exhausting, she looked full of energy.

Anyway, based on the story she told us...

“Wolf statues and the ‘Smog Birds’ (Ha-rim came up with the name) that smashed them.

And you defeated a particularly strong one and then heard their objective from a suspicious pumpkin-headed man who had been imprisoned?”

“Yup!”

She really went through a lot...

“So besides the fish-people, there are winged monsters? Then does that mean the current situation is a three-way battle between wolves, fish, and birds?”

Ha-rim added her own opinion to my thoughts.

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

“From what I saw, it looked like the birds and fish were already fighting when the wolves got involved.

It’s hard to call the wolves a third faction... they’re not organized and their goals aren’t clear.”

The savage wolves were just growling. They didn’t seem to be trying to feed themselves, nor did they look like they were obeying Red Riding Hood’s orders.

They were all wandering around separately, and some even got captured by the fish-creatures.

Ha-rim continued.

“The birds and fish apparently both want to control... the highest place, and the lowest place.

Jack O’Lantern said that place is...”

“That place is...?”

Ha-rim looked like she was about to say something, then hesitated.

She had the feeling that it was that place, but she didn’t understand why it would be both the highest and lowest.

Eventually, she spoke the most vile, filthy word known to mankind.

“...Hell.”

The kids’ eyes widened.

As if wondering if such a place really existed.

There were demons and monsters, sure, but to think a place like that actually existed.

Their whole perspective on the world was bound to change after this.

“Wow—”

With Eun-jung’s gasp, the kids all chimed in:

“I’m gonna start being a good person.”

“Wait, I’m not going to hell, right?”

“Alice... I’m sorry for all the times I teased you.”

...So those are your thoughts after hearing about hell?

Well, I suppose it’s hard to react seriously to something that doesn’t feel real.

“Alice, do you know anything about hell?”

“Me? You’re asking me?”

“You’re a demon. Technically.”

Well, that’s true, but still...

“Even if you ask me, I’ve never been there. To be honest, I only just learned it actually exists.

Hmm, I’ll ask the demons from other stories about it sometime.”

Hell.

It’s something that can’t be left out of human fear,

But ghosts related to hell usually just take you to a “place that looks like hell,”

Or have the form of a creature you’d expect to live in hell.

Any real connection to hell is shaky at best.

In the end, ghosts are just derivatives of human thought and don’t have much to do with the truth.

Even if you can get information on the myths of hell, no one knows if they match the real thing.

“Oh, right. Jack O’Lantern told me to say hi to someone named Carol.”

“Huh? Carol?”

Jack O’Lantern—the pumpkin-headed ghost.

To me, he was a totally random entity who popped out of nowhere.

I didn’t know why he was in hell, but if he knew Carol, that could be a useful connection.

“Do you know her?”

“She’s the research director in the Organization.

The place I’ve been staying is also her lab.”

“Is she like... a parental figure to you?”

I thought about Carol.

She’s spoiled. Careless. Does weird stuff sometimes.

But I can clearly tell she cares about me.

And I answered firmly:

“Absolutely not.”

That Jack O’Lantern guy... I’ll have to ask Carol about him.

Anyway, for now, I should try infiltrating the fish-people’s city.

I told Ha-rim that we’d now be sneaking into the fish-people’s city.