Chapter 157. Sub-Trial (5)
The bride felt miserable again. “Haaah...”
“What’s wrong? Still no man?”
“Yeah...”
“Are your standards too high or what? Just grab someone and get the honeymoon over with already.”
A part of her wished she could, but she couldn’t simply throw herself at someone who stirred neither her desire nor her heart.
“It’s not that my standards are high, I just want someone decent.”
“Define decent.”
“Hmm... Someone stronger than me. Charismatic, aloof, but gentle only to his woman.”
“Huh?”
The chances were about as good as finding a glass bead on a beach. It surely was rare, but not impossible. The real problem was that every last one of them already had someone.
“A guy like that wouldn’t be single after centuries, you know?”
That made sense, because men like that attracted many women.
“Then look among the newcomers.”
The bride shook her head. “They can’t even see me.”
“... Oh. Right.”
Humans couldn’t perceive her form, and even if one happened to sense her ghostly energy, they usually ran in terror. A fear born between reality and illusion, a dreadful presence that made anyone recoil in horror—such was the one called the Prepared Bride.
“I heard someone extraordinary came in this batch. Want to go take a look?”
“Extraordinary?”
“Just memorize his face. The moment he’s promoted, seduce him.”
“Hmmm...”
Newcomer or not, she had no expectations. A rookie was still a rookie, but she still went to check thoughtlessly and met Eun-Ho.
“Ma’am?”
The Prepared Bride flinched.
“Yes, you in the white dress.”
“M-me?!”
“You’ve been looking over here for a while. Please come closer.”
This human could see her.
[Caution!]
[You are facing the Ghost Butcher.]
[Due to his intense presence, the power of Ghost Aura Release(Lv. 99) is slightly reduced.]
He had such an overwhelming presence that even her ghost aura, which was enough to make men drop to their knees, receded.
“Please tell me what you need. If you’re unsure, I can recommend products as well.”
“Recommend?”
“We have romance, suspense, and activities... We have a variety of selections ready. What genre do you usually enjoy?”
“I-I like romance...”
“Romance is great. We actually have a new release. May I explain it briefly?” He was that rare, polished and gentle one she was looking for. Even his voice inspired trust she didn’t expect. “Based on what you told me, I believe you’ll prefer this product over It Was Summer. Customer satisfaction among women is quite high.”
“T-then I’ll take that one!”
She knew it was him, the man she could entrust a lifetime to. For the first time in a century, she gathered her courage.
Besides, other Unnies have encouraged her too. “Go get him, girl!”
“Okay...”
Her date request had been rejected, but that was fine. There was still hope.
The Prepared Bride racked her cold, ancient mind and guided him forward. “This way!”
Then, they eventually arrived at a place.
“So this is the village hall?” Eun-Ho asked.
“Yes! And residents of the twenty-fifth floor gather here.”
It was a place full of noise and life, a community center full of chatting and mingling villagers.
Beeeep!
[Unauthorized personnel may not enter.]
[Please issue a Resident Identification Card first.]
No one could step inside without being a registered resident of the floor.
“Ah! I can’t believe this! It seems like humans really can’t enter! What do we do now?” The bride covered her lips with a porcelain-white hand, voice ringing with dismay. Then she delivered news even sadder than her tone. “There are a lot of residents inside, but because of an event, no one will come out until it ends.”
“When does it end?” he asked.
Nervous yet hopeful, she sneaked a sideways glance at him, checking whether or not he was upset. “Probably not until evening. Oh no, I’m so sorry. What should we do...?”
After all, men who were easily irritated or quick to anger were so unappealing. She held her breath, watching carefully.
“It seems today just isn’t our day,” he said mildly.
Like someone remarking that the sky was blue, he was calm and unbothered.
He turned out to be even more charming than she thought! Her chest thrummed for the first time in a hundred years as she wet her lips unconsciously.
“R-right? It would be a shame to turn back with nothing to show for it, so...” She pointed toward the steep mountain behind the hall. “O-over that mountain is another village. Maybe we could go there instead?”
“Another village?”
“Yes! The residents there are very nice people!”
That much, at least, was true. She simply omitted the important part: once he entered the mountain, everything would be over.
Invisible ghosts drifted through the forest, their death-veil woven into the very air. The moment he crossed its boundary, illusions would swallow him whole. When he awoke the next time, he’d be lying beside her, sealed forever in her bridal chamber.
“Hmm... I don’t think I have enough time to go all the way to another village,” he said.
He could act calm for now, but his future was already decided. The bride stepped closer until their sleeves almost brushed. Just like her Unnies taught her, she swept her long dark hair behind one ear. “Then, how about a short walk instead? Just a short one. It’s only the two of us here...”
However, Eun-Ho refuted her without blinking, “For a short walk, the terrain looks far too dangerous, don’t you think?”
“... Excuse me?” She didn’t expect that. Such a difficult prey! She bit her lower lip, scrambling for a new angle. “W-well, it’s a little steep, sure, but the air is fresh! And there are lots of things to look at—”
“What sightseeing could there possibly be in a mountain like this? A cemetery, maybe?”
“Well yes! And my grave is righ—” She froze and realized the mistake she made. She slapped both hands over her own mouth. “... What did I just say?”
***
The woman in the white dress had come two days in a row. It was unusual, but not enough to raise any real alarm. Still, that did not mean Eun-Ho trusted her. She simply remained unclassified.
Therefore, the moment they slipped away from the crowd, he checked her identity.
[The Third Eye has been activated!]
At first, he wondered if she might be an assassin sent to steal his artifacts, but he was clearly wrong.
What the hell?
[Prepared Bride]
- Ghost Aura Release(Lv.99)
- Specter Howl(Lv.99)
- Levitation (Lv.99)
- Curse (Lv.99)
- Frostfall (Lv.99)
...
Ghost Aura Release, Specter Howl, Levitation, Curse, Frostfall...
There was no way to not know what she was after that.
“Now then,” he said. The Prepared Bride flinched. Realistically, she should’ve been the one scaring him, but he let it slide. “What do you want from me?”
“I...” she mumbled, fingers twisting together. Finally, she gulped and forced out the truth. “I wanted to try going on a date. You’re the first ideal man I’ve met in so long...”
He exhaled. A ghost capable of freezing mid-summer appearing in front of him was one thing, but being told he was her type? How absurd.
He almost asked what kind of lunatic had her as their ideal, but then she said something that changed the entire story, “Sorry. I got impatient and was planning to consummate first—hic!”
“That strategy is terrible,” he said flatly.
“W-what?”
“Who follows a stranger into a suspicious mountain? If you’d offered me alcohol, maybe.”
“Ah... I fall asleep after one drink though...”
What kind of ghost is this? Naive to the brainstem?
“So it’s just a date that you want?”
“Huh?” Her eyes went wide, bright, clear and remarkably human for something not alive. “Yes! Of course!”
“But, I will choose what we do on our date.”
There was something only she could help him with.
***
[Special orders have been activated.]
[Please check the current status board!]
Just like that, the unexpected date began with a floating translucent interface.
[1. Talk: 0/10]
[2. Compliment: 0/5]
[3. Give a gift: 0/1]
[4. Move her heart: 0/1]
[5. Make a physical contact: 0/1]
The detailed checklist almost felt like a romance manual.
Moving her heart will be the hardest, Eun-Ho thought.
He had no idea what moved ghosts emotionally. There had been no case studies he could look at. Moreover, the twins were the only ghosts he had interacted with so far, and they responded better to threats than tenderness. However, this one liked romance novels, meaning threats weren’t exactly compatible.
Unless...
An idea sparked.
He began constructing a plan in his head. “... Good. Perfect.”
Then, the ghost looked up at him nervously. “Huh? What is?”
“Nothing. Let’s begin.”
“A-are you sure you’re alright with this?”
“Of course. As long as you don’t drop me midair.”
“I-I won’t but...”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
She stared at him, conflicted and resigned. Then she got closer to him. “... Sorry. I’ll have to hold onto you.”
Then, she grabbed his arm.
Ding! Ding!
[1. Talk: 1/10]
[5. Make a physical contact: 1/1]
Fwaaash—
Then, a blue light flickered through the woman’s eyes, and cold crept up his arm where she held him. It seeped through cloth and into bone, akin to winter fingers threading beneath skin.
He blinked once and suddenly, his feet left the ground. It felt like his weight vanished, as if reduced to one percent of itself. With another blink, he was no longer earthbound. The ground shrank away beneath him as he rose.
Swoosh!
Then, they landed gently atop the roof of the building directly opposite the village hall. It was the same one that had rejected his entry moments before.
“Wow... Levitation... That was incredible. It was a completely new experience.”
“Really? Most people run screaming.”
“I didn’t find it scary. The landing was clean, too. You’re talented at flying.”
“T-talented?”
Ding! Ding!
[1. Talk: 2/10]
[2. Compliment: 1/5]
Glancing at the floating status board, he proceeded into phase one of the plan. “Then, could you help me a bit?”
“Of course!”
Flutter—
With her Levitation skill, they unfurled an enormous white cloth across the rooftop.
“The size is perfect.”
“I noticed! I didn’t even know the shop sold something this big.”
“They did. I bought the largest one they had. Good thing it fits.”
[1. Talk: 3/10]
Then Eun-Ho muttered, “Summon.”
[Soeju Fountain Pen]
- A high-end pen crafted by the meticulous artisans of Soeju.
- Its nib, forged from a mix of iron and gold, makes it exceptionally durable and resistant to breaking.
- It has almost no attack power, though a strong stab in the right spot might still prove fatal.
[Soeju Infinite Ink (Black)]
- Ink made specifically for Soeju fountain pens. It never dries out or runs out.
- However, the color may fade over time, so always cap it after use.
“Wow, but the nib is so tiny. Will this really work?”
“I’m not using the fountain pen yet.”
“Huh? But you said you were going to write—”
He answered with action, stepping onto the white cloth and upending the ink. Black liquid streamed from the coin-sized lid. He moved fast, feet sweeping lines and curves across the fabric like strokes of a brush.
“Y-you write so well!”
“Do I?”
“Yes! Your lines are perfectly straight and you barely spill outside the shapes. It’s amazing!”
“I think you would write well too. You’re calm and steady.”
“A-ah, no. No I’m not!”
[1. Talk: 4/10]
[2. Compliment: 2/5]
[1. Talk: 5/10]
...
Then, he walked, watching the special order counter steadily climb, painting with his steps. Rightward, then down, then left again. Huge strokes cut across the canvas like mural calligraphy. Finally, the message took shape:
Closing Soon!
Are you a first-time customer? There’s free coffee with consultation and refer-a-friend point cashback!
Have you already made a purchase? Show proof and get free physical therapy with free cane maintenance!
Visit the Village Entrance!
Below them fluttered the finished product, which was an event banner. A quiet breath of awe escaped her. “Whew...”
[The Prepared Bride is impressed by her partner’s excellent marketing strategy.]
“So, we’re going to hang this over the edge of the roof, right?”
“Yes. I’ll secure it here so could you check if it’s straight?”
“Of course!”
The banner seemed better than expected. Once hung, every resident inside the village hall across the street would be able to read it. Even if they didn’t want to, their eyes would catch it all the same.
“A little to the right!”
With her help, they fixed it perfectly into place.
Moments later, curious voices drifted from across the street.
“Huh?!”
“What’s that over there?”
“It even includes cane maintenance?”
“Should we check it out?”
It was a date and marketing at the same time, efficiency at its highest. As customers began filing out of the hall one by one, the special order checklist was nearly complete.
[1. Talk: 10/10]
[2. Compliment: 5/5]
[3. Give a gift: 0/1]
[4. Move her heart: 0/1]
[5. Make a physical contact: 1/1]
Just as he had expected, there were only two conditions remaining.
“Thank you. We finished it perfectly because of you,” he said.
“No no! I didn’t do anything.”
He smiled faintly and offered something. “It’s a gift.”
“A gift?”
While she was adjusting the banner, he had drawn something quickly and quietly.
“This... This is me, right?”
“Of course.”
Her eyes widened to the point of nearly falling out. “W-wait. But when did you draw this?!”
She stared at the portrait as if she were about to swallow it whole. As her pale cheeks warmed to a rosy tint, her feet even lifted slightly from the ground, ghost instinct showing through.
Ding!
[3: Give a gift(1/1)]
Good.
He’d been worried because he wasn’t particularly skilled at drawing.
[The Human Copier title has been activated.]
Luck was on his side, and thanks to the ability he earned from duplicating documents, the portrait came out identical.
[Copying the subject’s face...]
[The copy speed has been increased.]
[The margin of error has been reduced.]
[Lack of artistic skill has been compensated.]
It was almost like a printed duplicate, perhaps with slightly larger eyes and a slimmer jaw. However, art had its liberties.
“I’ve never received anything like this before...”
Then, all that was left was one finishing line.
“... I’m sorry.”
“Huh?! Sorry for what?!”
“I drew it in a rush. So it doesn’t fully capture the real beauty.”
A soft smile bloomed across her face, seemingly unable to be contained.
Ding!
The alert he had been waiting for finally rang.
[4. Move her heart: 1/1]
[Trial has been completed!]
[All OJT special orders have been completed.]
[Please check your trial rewards.]
Ding!
Besides, a notification that he hadn’t been expecting rang.
[The Prepared Bride falls deeply for the partner’s charm!]
[Your relationship status has been updated to Trust.]
[The Prepared Bride offers a token of affection to one she trusts.]
[A special reward has been granted!]
Huh?