ocean-life Chapter 95.1
Chapter 95.1
Water poured into the laundromat.
Gurgle, gurgle.
I stepped back to avoid the water seeping through the gaps in the glass door.
But there was no place to hide in the unmanned laundromat. Only a few washing machines were running on all sides.
‘Damn it.’
“This way, sir!”
I immediately stepped up onto a washing machine. At the same time, Section Chief Lee Jaheon climbed onto the one next to it.
But that was it.
‘Where do we go now?’
I scanned the high, small window on the left wall. It had bars, but if Lee Jaheon tried, he could probably rip it o—
♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
“......”
A faint, resounding melody echoed in my ears as the sound of rushing water filled the room.
I recognized the tune.
It was the theme song for the Cheerful Theme Park.
♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
The water that filled the laundromat coalesced into a massive form.
A dragon in the park mascot costume.
Found you.
Suddenly, a voice emanated from the seemingly mindless water mass before me, sounding like it came from the other end of a phone line.
The vibrations traveled through the water...
Found you.
Cold sweat dripped down my back as I stared at the black streams and masses of water occupying the laundromat.
‘How did it recognize me?’
I had taken off my mask and was wearing a hat and a face mask...
Kidnapper.
‘...It recognized Section Chief Lee Jaheon!’
The black water mass raised a forelimb and pointed at the lizard standing on the washing machine beside me.
“I am not.”
Kidnapper.
“I am not.”
Are you guys just gonna do this forever or what...!
No, that might be a relief. Honestly, it wouldn’t have been surprising if this water mass suddenly unleashed some creepypasta ability!
I still hadn’t forgotten the torrent that had surged and swallowed the alley, sweeping away my phone in its madness.
‘...I’m not even sure if brute force exorcism would work on water.’
“......”
Huu.
If words could get through, at least.
B a d . . .
“I am not a kidnapper.”
I took off my face mask and put on my deer mask again.
Then, I rolled up my sleeve to reveal the tattoo.
: Socius :
I suppressed my trembling and extended my hand to the water mass.
“Yes. I promise.”
I hooked my pinky around the water’s.
The clammy sensation sent shivers down my spine, but nothing else happened...
......
After releasing our pinky-lock, the water mass pressed a claw to my tattoo.
It seemed to be checking its attachment, and soon, satisfied, it withdrew its forelimb.
At that moment—
Fwik.
The laundromat door burst open under water pressure, and something flew in, landing atop the water mass’s forelimb.
A small, black, rectangular object.
My broken phone.
I t ’ s y o u r s .
“......”
With trembling hands, I picked up my phone.
“...Thank you. I was worried I’d lost it.”
G o o d c h i l d
The water mass’s form crumbled.
P r o m i s e
The water receded.
And, as if the video were being rewound, it flowed back out through the gaps in the laundromat...
Srrrrrk.
The water receded from the alley in reverse.
In no time, the alley became eerily quiet, with no traces of water left behind.
Inside the laundromat, where black water had once filled the space, only a few chocolate bars, printed with my likeness, were left scattered like golden flakes.
“......”
I survived.
“Huuuuu...”
I collapsed onto the spot.
– Good heavens, Friend! Did you really promise to visit that second-rate theme park again?
‘Yes.’
Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine what might have happened if I’d refused to promise.
‘They might have ripped out my organs and hired me as the second version of the Blue Dragon mascot.’
At least I avoided that.
With a membership, I’d be treated as a guest there. That was better than being dragged there or dealing with unpredictable outcomes.
My mind raced.
‘Should I talk to the company and schedule a board game run?’
Judging by the interval... I’d probably have to go within six months.
‘In the meantime, I’ll prepare items and gear.’
Alright.
What mattered was that I got through this ordeal. I got up on shaky legs, stifling a sigh.
‘If I knew this was gonna happen, I wouldn’t have run earlier...!’