Chapter 73

As I arrived at room 402, where the light of the system was leaking out, I knew it right away.

“This can’t be….”

It was much brighter and more intense than what I had experienced in the desert before.

“Somehow….”

The light was so bright that it could be felt even from outside the closed door.

To think that it was as bright as daylight in a room without any windows or lighting fixtures.

“Why, of all places, a horror movie….”

The moment I perceived that light, it was etched into my mind.

Immediately, the system installed additional lighting equipment in the room where it emitted light.

Since it would become dark the moment it was touched, I needed to prepare in advance.

A moment later,

“Phew….”

After taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and let my body be enveloped by the light.

“Huff.”

The light penetrated my mind and disappeared.

At the same time, the system zoomed in on the zombie form and imprinted it in my mind.

My suspicion about the zombie I encountered in the hallway turned into certainty.

“Those bastards are real.”

Ji Sung-ho, who was being attacked by a horde of zombies.

His frantic escape matched my current state.

Since there was plenty of time, I decided to think about the script later.

“Damn it. What do I do with the real zombies?”

I shouldn’t have brought Jung Saerom here.

I don’t want to be the reason she becomes a zombie.

“I need to find her before it’s too late.”

Just as I was about to grab the doorknob, a sharp sensation hit the back of my head.

“Huh…?”

It felt like someone was pushing from the other side of the door.

In the suffocating tension, I slowly leaned my body against the door.

‘There’s a zombie outside the door…!’

I cursed the system in my mind and tensed my entire body.

I covered my mouth, hoping the other side would disappear.

Thud, thud—

The other side started knocking on the door and then began pushing it forcefully.

Is it because this room is too bright?

A zombie movie where zombies react to light came to mind.

‘Damn it.’

Since there were four of them, blocking them blindly wasn’t a solution.

I picked up a visible stick and hid behind the door.

Creak—

‘I need to attack as soon as they come in.’

Otherwise, I’ll be the one getting attacked.

How did I end up being chased by zombies?

I should have thought that this day might come when I gained the system’s ability.

‘Ugh, they’re coming.’

While lamenting my fate, the other side opened the door and came in.

Reacting to this, I immediately raised my arm to swing the stick.

Whoosh—!

But the other side moved faster than me, kicking the wooden stick to pieces with a roundhouse kick.

Following that, a spinning kick aimed at my head.

“Aah!”

I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them slightly to see a woman’s ankle in front of me.

“What is it, writer?”

“Oh… I thought you were a zombie.”

Not a zombie, but Jung Saerom.

‘My head almost flew off.’

Are you a taekwondo instructor by any chance?

I shouldn’t do this again.

“What did you just swing at me?”

“No, I thought you were a zombie….”

“Huh…?”

“Have you been bitten already?”

“What are you talking about?”

“There are zombies here, four of them!”

It’s hard to believe if you didn’t see it with your own eyes.

“Saerom, I’ll protect you.”

“Wow… thank you.”

“You can trust me.”

“… Is this a joke?”

The pitiful Jung Saerom, looking around.

She doesn’t seem to fully understand the situation yet.

‘It’s possible.’

From now on, my mission is to escape the mental hospital.

The image of being chased by a horde of zombies was etched in my mind.

Grip—

I firmly grabbed Jung Saerom’s wrist and looked for an opportunity to escape.

“Writer.”

“Yes?”

“… Never mind.”

* * *

About 20 minutes earlier.

So Chae-dam supported the streamer by donating to the internet broadcast.

‘Self-luminous’ has donated 100,000 won!

‘Hurry up and enter ㄱㄱ’

Four streamers dressed as zombies arrived at the entrance of the mental hospital.

Among them, the leader, BJ Noppaku, expressed his gratitude.

- Self-luminous! Thank you!

Looking at the streamers, one might think that internet broadcasts are only watched by men.

I didn’t feel the need to correct this misconception.

“Always calling me ‘bro’.”

Thud, thud—

The chat window burst into flames as the scene near the mental hospital was broadcast.

- A Mercedes at a mental hospital? Hahaha

- What is this, really?

- It’s a ghost-driven car, Ghost Rider

- No, it’s clearly a new car ;;

- A red car? So scary

Soon, the four streamers entered, making a fuss.

The viewers continued to donate, encouraging them to act like real zombies.

- Roar

- Hahaha

A horde of zombies appeared in the eerie abandoned hospital.

Especially inside, it was filled with all kinds of graffiti.

- Wow… the graffiti is insane

- Did patients write this before it was closed?

- No, probably other streamers

- Is this scary? I need to sleep with my mom tonight

The streamers checked the inside, entering the shower room and treatment room.

However, one of them started making strange noises.

- Hey, the wheelchair’s position has changed.

- What? What are you talking about?

- Really! It was lying on the right just now!

- Stop making noise.

- No, the drawer was closed too!

- So, are you saying someone else is here besides us?

The viewers mocked the streamers, thinking it was a common prank.

Since it’s a common prank that horror experience streamers often do.

However, there really was someone else.

A pale-faced man.

- Grrr?

- Ahhhh!

The man started running away like a madman as soon as he saw the zombie.

He frantically ran, swinging his flashlight.

- Damn, are you crazy?

- There really was a person?

- Fainting at the sight of a zombie

- I would have fainted if I were him

- Is he the owner of the Mercedes?

The streamers stared at each other’s costumes.

They felt a bit sorry, but the sudden increase in viewers made them even happier.

- Go and apologize ㅠㅠ

- So pitiful?

- But, would anyone really fall for that? ;;

- Maybe, let’s see ㅋㅋㄹㅋㅋ

- How did they not fall for it?

- Let’s meet and have a joint broadcast

The streamers, overwhelmed by the donations, couldn’t regain their composure.

Most viewers suggested finding and apologizing to the person.

- Okay! We’ll go and find them.

- Sorry for scaring you!

The tense game of tag between the four zombies and Kim Jin-woo, who was trying to escape.

“What is this?”

Chae-dam, finding the situation ridiculous, sat up straight.

In the meantime, the man’s face, briefly captured before he ran away.

Did I see him somewhere before? Is it just an illusion?

A moment later,

In the end, the game of tag ended with Kim Jin-woo’s victory.

Kim Jin-woo survived by breaking through the encirclement of four zombies.

He lured them to room 402 with various lighting equipment and used a high-level strategy to escape.

The viewers, impressed by the strategy, which even Zhuge Liang would have admired, gave a thumbs up.

Among them, one person.

“Ugh, but why does this person look familiar?”

Chae-dam, clutching her head, tried to recall.

The more she tried to remember, the more frustrated she became.

* * *

The next day, morning.

In the studio of Tempest Entertainment.

Hyo-ju burst in, opening the door and said,

“Bro, finally, Kim Na-yeon’s first broadcast next week…!”

“Hmm.”

“… Are you okay? Your complexion looks a bit….”

“What’s wrong with my complexion?”

“You look like a zombie.”

“… I just want to be alone today.”

“Okay, got it!”

She backed out in the same posture she entered and closed the door.

“Wow, I’m having a rough day.”

After thinking about it, she realized how ridiculous the situation was.

Just in case, she searched for Boaram Mental Hospital on Nertube.

A video with a black background and calligraphy, saying “Sorry.”

《Apologies to the person who was startled at Boaram Mental Hospital last night (BJ Noppaku)》

- 7 hours ago

- Views: 21,756

- Likes: 200, Dislikes: 100

- Comments: 107

In the video, a streamer did a headstand and made an apology broadcast.

It was partly a joke to draw attention.

But then, he sat up straight, bowed deeply, and said,

- I’m sorry for causing you distress. I won’t do such pranks in the future.

“Wow… I can’t believe it.”

No, I thought the zombies were created by the system.

Who would have thought some crazy people would dress up as zombies in an abandoned mental hospital?

“Hmm….”

Judging by the number of subscribers, it seems to be a fairly popular Nertube channel.

Pretending to be unaffected, as if she had enjoyed it.

Click—

She clicked the like button with her mouse and left a comment.

- The person who ran away knew it was a zombie costume, right? You’re a broadcasting genius ㅎㅎ

Good, it was very natural.

“Let’s write the script for now.”

The image of Boaram Mental Hospital, the setting for a zombie story, wouldn’t leave her mind.

Even if she wanted to forget, she couldn’t, so she decided to be immune to zombie stories for life.

“I’m not scared anymore.”

She opened her laptop and started writing the third part of the script.

Tap, tap, tap—

“Korean Horror Streamer Part 3”

The protagonist, Ji Sung-ho, narrowly escapes and runs away from the zombies.

The viewers watched his actions with interest.

Most viewers thought the streamer had hired the zombies.

But the female protagonist, So Chae-dam, knew the truth.

The zombies were possessed by a ghost.

Chae-dam decided to step in and help Ji Sung-ho, knowing he was genuinely terrified.

This became the first encounter between the male and female leads.

“If only I hadn’t described the zombies, I would have said it was interesting.”

This damn drama, I’ll watch until it ends.

Zzz—

While typing, she received a call from Jung Saerom.

It’s a bit awkward to see her after the zombie incident.

“Ahem, hello?”

She cleared her throat and answered the call, pretending to be unaffected.

- Writer, I’ve set up a meeting with Bamboo Entertainment.

“Oh! Then…."

- Actor So Chae-dam, I’ve set up a meeting. They said the script is good.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

It seems this drama production will proceed quickly.

Once the lead actor is cast, we can start right away.

“When is the meeting?”

- I’ll let you know the date after coordinating with Director Joseph Lee.

“Okay, Manager.”

- And….

Jung Saerom paused before continuing.

- Writer, about yesterday….

“Haha, yesterday was fun, right?”

- Yes?

“I called some friends to play a prank.”

- Really…?

“Of course.”

Let’s just leave it at that.