SPGM Ch 0

Tap, tap, tap—

As he entered the forest, the rain lessened. The sound of the raindrops bursting against the car window had been rather pleasant. Feeling a sense of regret, the man rested his chin on the steering wheel and stared straight ahead into the thick darkness.

The densely intertwined trees created the shape of a cave. The lush, sky-blocking tunnel of trees didn’t allow even a sliver of rain to penetrate. In the darkness, where even light was blocked, the endless forest road seemed like an entrance to the unknown, simultaneously creating a strange atmosphere.

It wouldn’t be surprising if something suddenly jumped out and threatened the man. Anticipating some thrill, the man slowed down, but disappointingly, nothing leaped towards the slowly moving sedan.

“How boring.” 

Pushing aside his disappointment, the man turned on the radio. A melancholic string instrumental piece began to play.

How deep into the forest had he driven? Just as boredom started to creep in, he saw the hazy, fog-shrouded figure of a mansion in the distance. The building’s appearance, overtaken by ivy, was perfectly suited to the gloomy forest path. It was a harmonious scene, making it difficult to determine whether the mansion’s gloom had stained the forest, or if the forest’s energy had stained the mansion.

Only then did a flicker of interest dance across the man’s perpetually languid face. However, that interest quickly dissipated when he realized the car could go no further, faced with a cliff-like staircase.

“I’ll die if I’m unlucky.”

The fog-covered staircase seemed endless. One thing was certain: one wrong step and it would be an instant death drop.

Should I go up, or not? He stared intently at the steep staircase, the mere sight of which was dizzying.

Ring, ring—

A loud ringing pierced the air. Glancing at the mobile device strewn across the passenger seat, the man scoffed at the name displayed on the screen. As he accepted the call, a thunderous roar erupted.

—Louis, you damn bastard! Where are you?!

“Hello, Mikhail. Your phone etiquette is exquisite.”

—Are you kidding me? Don’t try to change the subject, just tell me where you are!

“Well, where could I be?”

Where is this place? His teasing tone was met with a shriek from the other end of the device. He could vividly picture Mikhail tearing at his hair and pacing frantically.

“Calm down. Take a breath.”

—Calm down? Caaalm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now? Do you know how much I talked to set up today’s meeting? You were the one who wanted to do this in the first place! How much I… to seduce that guy…!

“If he was the type to fall for seduction, my interest is completely gone.”

It’s the chase that’s appealing. His following words elicited a wail from the man on the other end.

—Why are you doing this again after being quiet for a while!

“Why, Mikhail? Because I was quiet for a while. You never seem to learn, even after all this time with me.”

—You, you crazy… !

“You know, you should have paid attention to me instead of wasting time on that guy. This is all your fault, actually. You neglected me. I need love and care.”

Mikhail, suddenly cast in the role of a neglectful parent, gritted his teeth.

—Come back on your own two feet while I’m still being nice. You know I didn’t call because I don’t know where you are, right? There’s a limit to how much I can pamper you!

“Why are you getting angry? It’s scary.”

As the man mumbled, nibbling on a hangnail on his thumb, a string of curses came from the receiver.

—You son of a… .

Even without seeing it directly, he could perfectly picture Mikhail rubbing the back of his neck, trying to suppress his rage. The assistant waiting by his side would quickly offer him a glass of cold water. Sure enough, he heard the sound of someone gulping water from the other end. After hastily downing the water like a lifeline, Mikhail spoke in a low, strained voice.

—Just you wait.

“Are you coming?”

—Of course I’m coming, you damn bastard!

“Well, alright. I’ll wait. Actually, I’m a little tired from driving after so long. The road here is rough, so be careful.”

Though his tone was sweet enough to melt ears, Mikhail knew him well. Knowing him too well was the problem.

—You’re mocking me… .

“Oh, by the way, could you come in a car with a better ride? The one I’m driving now is really not good. I wonder who would pay money for such trash. What a sucker. Haha.”

—That’s my car… , Louis, you damn… !

“Then don’t be too late. Bye.”

Click. The man hung up and tossed the device out the window. Mikhail’s roaring ringtone echoed from the waterlogged bushes, but the increasingly heavy rain gradually swallowed the sound.

The man stretched leisurely. While Mikhail would have already figured out his location, he knew that despite acting like he’d chase him down immediately, Mikhail wasn’t the type to drop everything and come running. Moreover, this forest wasn’t easy to find. It would be a blessing if he didn’t get lost trying to enter.

Ten days at the earliest, probably. Due to his dislike of entrusting himself to others, Mikhail would come looking himself, but crossing territories was quite a hassle, and once inside the forest, he would definitely get lost.

Ten days would be enough time to satisfy his curiosity and rest. Feeling much better, the man got out of the car. His footsteps were light as he ascended the steep staircase.

One, two, three, four.

He counted inwardly with each step. As the number grew, the fog obscuring his vision thickened, and the rain intensified. The soaked fabric felt like it was weighing him down. Just as his light footsteps started to feel heavy…

Caw, caw—!

Suddenly, the cawing of crows erupted from somewhere in the forest. The sound was so loud, it felt as if they were screaming right next to his ears. The numbers he was counting inwardly lost their way. Momentarily stunned, the man stopped and responded to the bizarre welcoming ceremony with a smile.

Regardless, the man successfully reached the last step. The mansion, now directly before him, was even more eerie up close. The vines covering the red bricks resembled human blood vessels, adding to the strangeness. Moreover, the overgrown weeds made it difficult to traverse the garden.

Brushing off his clothes, now stained with plant residue, the man reached the front door. Instead of an old-fashioned keyhole, a touch-screen security pad was installed.

“Ah, what was it?”

Perhaps it was the medication he’d taken earlier, but his memory was hazy. Running a hand through his rain-soaked bangs, he started pressing random numbers. Each incorrect attempt was met with a sharp warning sound. Subconsciously, he reached for his mobile device, but then he remembered he had thrown it into the bushes.

This isn’t easy. Leaning against the door and sighing, the man slid down to the ground. As he stretched out, his mind became strangely at peace. The sound of the rain pouring down on the rainforest-like garden was quite pleasant, and he stared blankly at the surrounding scenery.

When you shed your impatience and observe the world, you often discover opportunities you hadn’t noticed before. Like this very moment, when he spotted the discarded shovel.

Crack, thud—

The man smashed the security pad with the shovel, cleared away the debris, and stepped inside. Unlike its ghostly exterior, the interior was well-maintained. Filled with old appliances that were practically antiques in Sector A where he lived, the inside was unchanged from his first and only visit when he was very young.

In this place where technological advancement was slow, it was to be expected, but for those in Sector A, it was a scene that only those who enjoyed the nostalgia of bygone eras would find interesting. In the world the man inhabited, their reality was often consumed as entertainment.

The owner of this house, who lived in the same world as him yet chose to settle here of his own volition, was an arrogant imitator. Unlike those who lived in realities handed to them without choice, the very fact that he could choose where to plant his roots spoke of his arrogance.

The owner of this place was well aware of this fact, and the man didn’t dislike him for it. Rather, he was more inclined to like him. That’s why he came here, intrigued by a single word from him.

Buzz, buzz—

Staring at the faintly flickering lightbulb, the man slowly turned his head. He had heard a faint noise. Though the returning effects of the medication dulled his senses, a strange sensation crept up from his feet. He followed the sensation with his gaze and discovered a room with its door half-open. The faint light and noise emanated from within.

That’s strange. There shouldn’t be anyone here.

His curious eyes sparkled like those of a child filled with anticipation at the discovery of a new toy. The strange sensation enveloped his entire body again. Even though he knew it was his body’s instinctive warning, he didn’t hesitate to move. Reaching the door in a single stride, he peered through the opening at the flickering remnants of light.

—…….

Whoosh—

The faulty lock had left the front door wide open, and the intensified sound of wind and rain assaulted his ears, but the music that seeped through was somehow familiar. The following voice and words were, too. Suddenly, the sound of a car engine reached him from outside, but the man paid it no mind and simply entered the room.

—…what… is this?

—…Yes, my name is… .

“I thought so.”

It sounded familiar.

As he heard his own voice, the reflection of light on the screen caught his eye.

—…you said?

The man on the screen asked, his face contorted in a frown. The handsome man in the ludicrous suit opened his mouth with an indifferent expression. Watching him, the man spoke as well.

“Jester.”

—Jester.

Jester, you idiot. The man echoed the following line and surveyed the strange scene within the room. Just then…

“…Louis?”

A familiar name called out from behind him. Simultaneously, he heard the sound of someone running, then abruptly stopping, and then he registered a somehow dangerous-sounding breath. Just then…

“It will be a gift.”

The man recalled the words of the one who had led him here. And then it became ambiguous. Was the gift he spoke of the scene unfolding before his eyes? Or was it the presence behind him?

To resolve his question, the man turned around. And as soon as he faced the large figure backlit by the light, crack, boom— lightning flashed, and thunder roared. The man felt a shock the moment he met those gleaming eyes. A physical shock from the blow to his head, and a mental shock as well.

“…Ah.”

A will-o’-the-wisp.

A vivid flame, the color of the forest, existed before his eyes. He was looking at a will-o’-the-wisp right now.

“It will be a gift.”

Only after turning around did he finally understand. The gift he spoke of wasn’t the scene within the room.

His body crumpled from the blow to his head. The process of his vision fading felt slow. Sprawled on the floor, the man couldn’t tear his eyes away from the towering figure looking down at him. Those vivid, shining green eyes looked like will-o’-the-wisps. Focusing his fading vision, the man thought:

Just a little longer. I want to see just a little longer.

And then he lost consciousness.