...The Nameless Radiant Church.

If the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau tries to eliminate urban legends, and Daydream Inc. tries to exploit them.

'The Nameless Radiant Church is the urban legend itself.'

They worship urban legends and believe that urban legends are the origin of this world.

So they're fanatics who believe that if they discover and nurture urban legends well, becoming meaningful existences in the world, they can be chosen by 'Name-nim' and achieve immortality.

'Completely an apocalyptic cult.'

To be honest, among the three forces appearing in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>, this is the one I feel most distant from.

'It's just... not my style.'

Of course, I've read the wiki entries about that cult too.

So while the wiki page loads fine with the 'Memorial Griptok', the problem is that I haven't been able to read the wiki for days.

'That's why I couldn't notice right away.'

But now that I've identified it, I can properly grasp the current situation.

The bizarre repeating phenomenon that occurred during night cleaning of the isolation room. Just what aspect of the Nameless Radiant Church caused this nightmare-like situation.

I took a deep breath.

This is...

'A doppelganger type urban legend.'

A supernatural being that usurps someone's life.

One of the cult-style urban legends that gained explosive response and fame when the Nameless Radiant Church was first registered on the wiki.

To be precise, it was one of the ranks in the Nameless Radiant Church.

Because that crazy cult matches supernatural phenomena to affiliations and ranks!

And its name is...

---------------------=

Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Urban Legend

[Story Usurper]

: An ability of the Nameless Radiant Church appearing in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>. Ranked as the 4th grade Mimic Sect affiliate in the cult hierarchy.

A representative supernatural phenomenon of the Mimic Sect that seeks to imitate others and steal their stories as narrative nourishment for themselves.

Those caught up in this phenomenon have their story possibilities stolen, and if the period is prolonged, they lose their very selves.

---------------------=

In wiki terms, this was an urban legend derived from the fear of an unknown being replacing oneself or those around them.

'The most distinct symptom is... doing bizarre things in the form of close relatives.'

It appears imitating various acquaintances like the target's lover, friend, or someone who owes them a debt, inducing carelessness before creating supernatural horror.

Its purpose is this:

To induce a strong psychological state of 'wishing this situation would pass' in the target. Stealing the target's narrative by obtaining their tacit agreement and consent.

And I, who fell for this... had my narratives of the 29th and 30th 'stolen'.

The Story Usurper steals possibilities of other actions or choices the target could have made and makes them its own.

As a result, the target feels like 'when I came to my senses, time had passed meaninglessly' for as much as was stolen.

Thanks to that, I ended up spending two days 'without any particular memorable points' in a bland way, and then came to my senses at a similar time the next day.

'I guess I only lost a day at a time thanks to the silver ring.'

I could have easily lost track and just gone with the flow.

Because once you start losing your bearings and doubting what's real, you get swept up in the situation.

'That's how your whole life gets sucked away.'

It was fortunate that I didn't reach that point because my mind was sound...

-Ah, interesting. Whew, you caught up faster this time.

'Brown!'

A cheerful voice is heard as the host makes an exaggerated sound of catching his breath and straightening his suit collar from the small stuffed animal.

-You gave up another day's story, friend! Hmm, but it seems the other side used subtle tricks to induce that choice.

-Was imitating people around Roe part of that?

'That's right.'

First it imitated Deputy Eun Hajae, then Supervisor Park Minseong, thoroughly shocking me.

It doesn't use an identity that's been exposed before, and keeps changing to try and steal my narrative...

-Oho. Then I wonder what 'acquaintance' Roe will meet on the 31st.

-At this moment, on the third day, who exactly did it imitate... We'll find out soon!

"..."

I looked around.

There was no sign of Supervisor Park Minseong. Naturally, there was no sign of Deputy Eun Hajae either...

I'm alone in the rental storage.

'...At the end of the second day, the lockdown was lifted.'

Then hasn't it already left?

But usually, 'Story Usurpers' tend to obsess and put in effort to completely steal the life of the person they've marked, if they have the chance.

'It probably didn't guess that I'd notice its identity.'

Then.

Someone who can naturally appear in this place to ease my tension, and who I'm already acquainted with is...

Beep beep beep.

[In about... 10 minutes... I'll be there.]

"..."

I stiffened my shoulders as I heard the voice over the walkie-talkie.

Shortly after.

[Beeeeeep!]

[Lockdown is being lifted. Shutters are opening...]

I stood up and looked ahead.

The door was opening.

The protective shutter on the door leading from the security team's rental storage front to the outside opens, and the red light switches back to green.

And beyond the rising shutter...

"You're safe. Thank goodness..."

Security Captain J3 was looking at me with his usual tired eyes, but with a hint of relief.

"The other employee... Ah, are they inside that door... Hey, are you okay?"

"..."

"Hello...?"

I stood up... and turned my back on the security captain.

"Huh...?"

And stood facing the wall.

The truth is.

'Usually when religious elements enter urban legends, exorcism methods follow.'

There are procedures for dealing with transcendent beings. Like a kind of two-way mirror.

Even the crazy Nameless Radiant Church is no exception in this regard.

'There's an exorcism method for Story Usurpers too.'

I recalled the work guidelines I received on the first day.

Name-nim? Anyway, it's some weirdo who shouts weird stuff and says they'll tell you how to be happy, but just cursing at them should make them quiet down.

TL/PR: I don’t know if it’s deliberately changed or it’s by mistake but the texts aren’t add up.

If you don't want to curse, just telling them to get lost is fine too.

It's a strange thing.

Even though that second page was contaminated, the hint was correct.

Because.

"Get lost."

The method to drive this away is 'to notice its identity in advance and completely reject it'.

You need tacit agreement and consent to steal my time?

Just don't give it.

So...

"Hey, what's wrong...?"

"Get lost."

I declared again, ignoring the other party.

...

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Really? Really?

After giving it twice?

"Get lost."

"Roe. Why has your speech become so rude? No matter what, that's not how you talk to your superior..."

"Get lost."

"Huh? Hey, Roe. That's too harsh! We need to finish cleaning. I just want to help you."

"Get lost."

"I don't want to... Hey, I'll just stay... Honestly... I haven't even said anything bad to you..."

"Get lost."

"..."

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

What a wasteee

The voice distorts behind my back.

You reject the grace bestowed upon us who live insignificant lives without influencing a single letter of this world's origin. What a waste.

If you'd hand over your petty story, we would fill it with Name-nim's radiant grace. Name-nim would see me, what a waste.

"Get lost."

What a waste...

I gritted my teeth.

"Get lost."

The strange whispering behind me subsides.

And...

It became quiet.

"..."

It seems to have given up on targeting me.

'Phew...'

I almost collapsed from the tension being released, but I held back. Instead, I persistently wracked my brain.

Since I still can't hear footsteps, let's run away from here and report to the security team as soon as that thing moves elsewhere. That should work...

Beep beep beep.

"...!"

The walkie-talkie in my pocket rings.

I hear a familiar voice...

[I've arrived... um.]

"I've arrived... um."

But I also hear the voice in person nearby.

"..."

I very slowly turned my head to look at the entrance of the rental storage.

Security Captain J3 was standing outside the door, looking this way with an expressionless face.

'Is it really him?'

No, this is definitely the real person!

I hurriedly opened my mouth to explain the situation...

"...! Mr. J."

...A voice came from behind me.

A voice that sounded perplexed.

I turned my head further to look behind me.

The urban legend of the Nameless Radiant Church that had been there was now wearing a scarlet cleaning uniform.

"I don't know what's going on."

Black-haired, mid to late 20s. A pale-looking man with a shocked face looking back and forth between the security captain and me.

Kim Sol-eum.

The one who had perfectly copied my current appearance speaks in a flustered tone while looking at me.

"What is this... Can we get caught up in such a supernatural phenomenon even during cleaning?"

It's imitating me.

'Damn...!'

A chill runs down my spine.

I hurriedly looked at the security captain and spoke calmly.

"Mr. J, that's a Nameless Radiant Church follower."

"Wh-What are you talking about. Mr. J, do you know what kind of situation this is? It seems to be some kind of darkness..."

"Mr. J! Don't answer. Just listen and judge. The moment you answer, you'll get caught up in the situation."

"..."

"If you want to verify something, say it to yourself against the wall... No, it's safest to just shout at everyone to get lost."

The security captain is staring at us with an unreadable expression.

And next to me, I hear the trembling voice of 'Kim Sol-eum'.

"I-I don't understand what that means."

What?

"Think about it, Mr. J. I just... came in to clean for three days. I only realized this phenomenon is darkness because that... thing next to me said so."

"...!"

"It's more natural that I don't know what's in the security team's isolation room. Mr. J, please think logically. Isn't this... side right?"

-Oh, quite plausible.

That's right. Damn...!

"And... I'm really relieved you came. I'm sorry for putting you in this situation..."

"..."

'It speaks annoyingly well.'

As expected of a cult. I gritted my teeth.

Well, I almost fell for it too when it first appeared as Deputy Eun Hajae on the first day.

'How... did Supervisor Park notice it wasn't Deputy Eun?'

I desperately tried to recall that moment.

Where did he notice?

'There didn't seem to be any logical flaws then either...'

What could it be?

A sense of discomfort that only someone who's known the person for a long time could notice?

The nuance felt in conversation?

'Or...'

Just as I was desperately reviewing and pondering, a soft and calm voice came from beside me again.

"Um, Mr. J. Please don't feel guilty, and just act according to your judgment. I'll accept it."

...

Ah.

'I got it.'

So that was it.

I pressed my temples and opened my mouth.

"Mr. J, please look at the purpose behind the words. See which side is trying to maintain a friendly conversation with you and immerse you in the situation."

Back then, Deputy Eun...

Was excessively friendly for the situation.

You can't be like that when you've just escaped from being trapped in prison.

'No, if it were the real Deputy, she would have hidden and escaped rather than taking the risk of revealing herself and trying to persuade us.'

There's an item to help, and the lockdown will be lifted if we just wait.

She wouldn't decide to talk to us right away while taking that risk.

A strange reaction that doesn't fit the situation.

So...

"In this strange and dangerous situation, who is making unnecessarily sociable remarks... Who has another purpose?"

I spoke calmly.

"You don't have to believe me either. Just shout 'get lost' and ignore it, and this urban legend will disappear. Or you could call other security team members..."

"Hmm."

The security captain stood up.

And.

"It's this one."

The black front claws of a giant wolf-like monster fall like a guillotine blade above my head.

'Damn...!'

In the instant before I could close my eyes.

Thwack.

A head flew off.

The mimic's head next to me.

"...!!"

Splat.

The twisted, giant shadow-like front paw makes a squelching sound as it rises again from the crushed corpse, leaves an immense pressure as it brushes past me...

And returns to the security captain's arm.

"Hey."

"..."

"Are you okay...?"

I collapsed on the spot, looking down at my scarlet cleaning uniform covered in the mimic's blood.

"...!"

"Yes. Thank you."

I survived.