Missing Person (2)

Translator's Note:

I am pleased to present this bonus chapter, which has been made possible thanks to the wonderful review written by zack pend.

Please enjoy this bonus chapter as a small token of my appreciation for zack pend’s contribution to my translation work.

Entering the hospital room, I saw Mom sleeping in the private room.
Her face looked a bit haggard.
It seemed like she had lost weight and gotten skinnier.

Well, she had been missing for three days after all.
Some change in her appearance was inevitable.
I’m just glad we can meet again while she’s alive.

The doctor with glasses kindly explained to me.

“You must be her son, Youngwon? Your mother needs to rest now. She seems to have mild symptoms of delirium and memory confusion. That’s probably why she was wandering the streets.”

“Delirium…?”

“It looks like she suffered quite a mental shock. But these things can be temporary, so it will likely improve over time. We’ll have to monitor her condition a bit more.”

Mom’s mind was disoriented due to a major mental shock…
Not coming straight home and wandering the streets was a result of the mental shock.

And that mental shock… was probably because of what happened when she was trapped in the elevator.
Looking at my sleeping mother again, I asked the doctor.

“She’s not injured anywhere, is she?”

“We’ll need to do more tests for details, but there were no noticeable external injuries. She seems a bit malnourished, but strictly speaking, she’s on the healthy side.”

*Whew…*

For the past three days, it felt like my lungs were stuffed, and I could barely breathe, but now it felt like my airways were finally opening up.
Only now did it feel real.
I was hungry, my head was dizzy, and my legs were shaking.

Honestly, I don’t know how I spent the last three days.

Did I eat or not eat?
Did I sleep?
Did I go to school…?
Everything I had been ignoring while focusing on “I need to find Mom” was now presenting me with a bill one by one.

“It would be good for her to stay hospitalized for a few more days. We need to run some more detailed tests. I need the guardian’s name… but since the student is a minor…”

“I’ll be the representative. I’m an English teacher at Yeongji High School.”

I was glad Ms. Hong Miri was there with me.
As a minor, Ms. Hong Miri became my representative for legal issues that were difficult for me to handle.
I was worried that a private room hospitalization might cost quite a bit…
But I have my miraculous Status Window, so I thought I could somehow come up with the money.

*Smack*

The English teacher slapped my shoulder with her palm.

“Hey. A man shouldn’t be so droopy like that! Let’s go eat something. I have my car.”

*Click, clack.*

Ms. Hong Miri walked out of the hospital with vigor.

A red sports car that would be difficult to buy on a high school teacher’s salary was parked at the hospital, and Ms. Hong Miri skillfully got in.

“What are you doing? Get in.”

*Swish*

Getting in the car, there was a scent of air freshener.
It seems most female teachers’ cars smell nice like this.

*Vroom*

The place the teacher drove to and stopped at was Motel Street in Jimun-dong.
It was literally full of motels.

Suddenly, I remembered the rumor going around that Ms. Hong Miri and the delinquent Kim Geonho from Class D had been walking around Motel Street in Jimun-dong.
If someone saw me walking around here with Ms. Hong Miri, would I be the subject of such rumors, too?

“What are you doing? There’s a dumpling soup place I know around here. It’s really delicious.”

“……”

I walked around the Jimun-dong streets with the English teacher.
Soon, the English teacher pointed to an alleyway.

“This is the alley where your mother was found. There was a person who collapsed here. When I reported it to the police, they searched her ID and things and said it was your mom.”

“Oh.”

“Hey! You guys! Yeongji High students! Why aren’t you going home?!”

Suddenly, Ms. Hong Miri yelled loudly, and I was startled.
Turning my head, I saw two female students in Yeongji High uniforms who were smoking cigarettes. They were surprised and ran away in a hurry.

“Look at that. Tsk tsk. The delinquents always cause trouble around here. There’s one in your class, too, right? Kim Geonho. That troublemaker. He’s always seen around here too. But I haven’t seen him lately.”

“Oh. Kim Geonho.”

“You’re thinking about the rumor of me and Kim Geonho going to a motel together, too, aren’t you?”

“What?”

I was very flustered.
Then, the English teacher pinched my side hard.

“Look at this sly guy. Those kinds of rumors circulating among you, students, aren’t just a day or two old. It’s annoying to explain every single one. For your information, I prefer older guys, so I have no interest in little kids like you.”

I see.
The story about Kim Geonho and the English teacher walking around Motel Street together seemed to be a misunderstanding-based rumor. Someone must have seen Ms. Hong Miri guiding the delinquent Kim Geonho. Well… most student rumors were like that.

Two bowls of dumpling soup came out.
It was very delicious.

“What kind of dumpling soup is this? What’s the meat?”

“Dunno. The teacher’s gonna have a shot of soju, okay? I don’t have to drive you all the way home, right? You can get home by yourself?”

The teacher ordered a soju, poured it into a beer glass, and drank it.
The teacher is drinking… It reminded me of the “Lady Ghost”. Ms. Hong Miri is 27 years old this year, so it’s a bit much to call her an old lady, but…

“Still, it’s a relief that your mother is safe. Why do people keep disappearing so often in this city? Is it because of the water veins?”

Water veins…
Come to think of it, didn’t the English teacher also talk about water veins last time at the library?
Is she the type to believe in superstitions and stuff like that?

*Drip, drip*

Right then, blood dripped from the teacher’s neck.

“Uh… Teacher. Your neck is bleeding.”

I thought some ghost or monster had appeared again, but the teacher opened her expensive-looking bag, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the blood flowing from her neck.

“Ah, this. I had major surgery a while ago. I thought it had all healed, but sometimes the wound reopens like this.”

Looking now… the teacher’s neck and face were different skin colors.
Maybe because she was drunk, but below her neck was extremely red, while her face above the choker’s boundary line was way too white.

A difference in makeup?
No, it was too much to be just a difference in makeup…
A creepy chill was crawling up the back of my neck.

“Anyway, how’s your class doing these days? Class D has been weird lately. The students’ atmosphere is chaotic, too. Nothing unusual? Or strange? Kim Geonho isn’t coming to school either.”

“I didn’t know Geonho hadn’t been coming to school. I’ve been out of it lately, too…”

“You were close with Kim Geonho, right? Do you know why he hasn’t been coming to school these days? That kid. He’s been a bit off since staying out overnight at the old school building. Did he not tell you anything? Like ghost stories.”

“Ghost… stories?”

“Yeah. Like the one about the red mask that appears on night streets. Do kids these days not know about the Red Mask? Wearing a red mask. High heels and a trench coat. With a wide slit mouth.”

“I think I’ve heard of it, but… I don’t think Geonho told me stories like that…”

For some reason, I felt it was best to play dumb in this situation.
Honestly, I didn’t even know where the dumpling soup was going.

*Ping*

Right then, my cell phone rang.

“Oh, Teacher. I should get going. They said my mother woke up. Since you had a drink, you don’t need to get up. I can go by myself.”

*Screech*

I pushed back my chair and left.
As I did, the English teacher said to me,

“Be careful on your way home at night.”

8:00 PM.
I arrived at the hospital again.
The message saying Mom had woken up was real.

Entering the hospital room, I saw Mom sitting up in bed.
Was she eating dinner?

“Mom.”

“……”

Mom saw me and frowned.
As if trying to remember me.

“Mom. It’s me, Ha Youngwon. Your son. Don’t you recognize me?”

“…Son? Strange. My son is Youngwon…”

Mom tilted her head.
Her mind and memory still seemed not fully intact.
I ran to Mom and hugged her tightly.

“Ah… I remember this…”

*Squeeze*

Mom hugged me back.
Mom’s warmth, scent, everything was vivid in my memory too.

But as Mom’s son, I could tell.
…Mom had changed a little.
Others might not notice, but her weight and everything had changed, even if only slightly.
I was quite sad about that fact, but for now, I was grateful that Mom had returned alive.

“Ah, Youngwon. What’s this? You’re suffocating Mom!”

“Mom! You remember me now?”

“Of course. Ha Chaeyeon’s son, Youngwon! What on earth happened? Did I drink too much? I think I blacked out. Where’s my phone? Have you seen it? What’s the date today?”

Mom’s attitude quickly returned to normal.
The doctor had said the memory confusion and delirium would be temporary, and it seemed that was true.

“Mom. From now on, charge your battery fully when you go out. Carry a portable charger too.”

*Swish*

I held out Mom’s cell phone that was placed in the hospital drawer.
Mom took the phone, connected it to the charger, and tried operating it but shrugged as if something wasn’t working well.

“It won’t turn on. Is it broken? It’ll be big trouble if it’s broken. It has important contacts and photos… Oh, shit…! It’s screwed…!”

“Give it here. I’ll go to the service center tomorrow and see if they can fix it.”

“But did you come alone? That kid didn’t come with you?”

“What are you talking about? Who’s that kid?”

“You know, that pretty girl. What was her name…? I can’t remember. What am I saying?”

It seemed Mom’s hospitalization would need to continue a bit longer.
She should probably get various detailed tests done, too.
The hospital’s visiting hours were until 9 PM, so I had to return home alone.

“……”

How much time was left on the “Subtle Perfume” I had sprayed?
I don’t know.
When Mom didn’t return, I even thought that maybe Mom had died and become a ghost.
If Mom had died and become a ghost… and I sprayed perfume… could she not find me…?
I was really out of my mind then.

But now that I could breathe a bit, I was a little scared to go into that house alone.
I picked up my cell phone… and spoke in the group chat with Jeong Seok and Yang Juhui called “Ha Youngwon Crew.”

Found Mom
Yang Juhui: Wow, thank god

Yang Juhui checked right away and replied.
Jeong Seok also sent a message about a minute later.

Jeong Seok: Really glad to hear that. Is she doing okay?

Yeah, she seems fine for now. More importantly, can anyone come to my house today? I have to sleep alone, and I'm really scared.

Yang Juhui: I don't think I can today. My mom is sick. My whole body aches too after running around these days lol
Jeong Seok: I can't today either.

I see.
Everyone has their own life, after all.
Come to think of it… everyone seemed busy after getting out of the elevator. However, it’s also because I couldn’t pay attention to my friends due to Mom’s situation.
And it seems like Jeong Seok is kind of avoiding me.

“Scared, huh…”

The experience of the death floor in the elevator was especially terrifying.
It can’t be helped if everyone gets scared.

*Ping*

A message came then.
It was a private message from Jeong Seok.

Jeong Seok: I couldn't say this the past few days because of your mood and situation, but I found something. The place we got off the elevator looks a lot like something from this game.

Jeong Seok sent me a link.
It was a game called “Corridor of the Abyss,” priced in the 20,000 won range, and seemed to be a foreign horror game made by a Japanese company.

Jeong Seok: It's a game about hiding from ghosts, escaping, stuff like that.
Jeong Seok: The company is in Japan, but the president is Korean. I thought there might be a connection. If you have time tomorrow, since it's the weekend, let's play it together at your house or in a PC room.

I thought he was avoiding me because he was scared it might be related to another ghost incident, but it seems that wasn’t the case. He really just can’t come because of circumstances.

Jeong Seok: I even talked to my dad to try to find your mom. Yang Juhui said she was handing out flyers and walking around, too. Keep it a secret that I told you.

I just didn’t notice, but everyone was helping me.
I’m really touched. I feel reassured.

“Ah, damn… But I’m still scared to go into the house alone. Should I take this chance to ask Mom if we can raise a pet or something?”

If we raised a puppy or something, would the house be a bit less scary?
With those thoughts, I just wandered around the neighborhood.
And after walking for about 20 minutes, I felt something.

*Tap. Tap. Tap.*

Someone was following me.
They were about 20 meters away.
When I stopped, they stopped, and when I looked back, they were out of sight again.

“Shit. What the…”

It was scary.
…The Red Mask isn’t really chasing me, right?
How can you defeat or drive away the Red Mask?
I was thinking that as I stepped into a bright, bustling street.

“Youngwon. What are you doing here? I heard you haven’t been to school lately!”

Someone greeted me as if they knew me.
Turning my head, I saw Yoo Dahee the Literature Girl, who I used to have a crush on, standing in front of a convenience store with a bag.

“Great timing! If you have time, eat this with me! I bought way too much.”

Literature Girl Dahee laughed, *hehe*.
Dahee was holding a bunch of snacks and cup noodles.
Maybe because I saw a familiar face or because of the convenience store lights, my heart felt a bit more at ease.

“……”

But just in case, I looked back.
I no longer felt the presence that had been following me.

For now, I should stick with her!