Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 43

 

ep9. Exposing the Fake (4)

 

-Entering 「National Theater That Exposes Fakes」.

 

-Discard all items except clothing, shoes, smartwatch, and in-ear device.

 

-Thoroughly hide your affiliation with the Management Bureau.

 

-This Special Zone has been taken over by a contaminator.

 

The stage curtain rose.

 

Before I could even grasp the situation, I heard a panicked voice from a seat not far away.

 

“What, what is this! Where are we?”

 

No, if you make noise here…!

 

Sure enough.

 

Pat- Pat- Pat-!

 

Intense pin lights focused on the person who had shouted.

 

“Ah! Turn off the lights!”

 

The person caught in the light screamed like a discovered escaped prisoner.

 

However.

 

Thwack-!

 

That confusion abruptly stopped with an arrow that flew from somewhere.

 

Thud-

 

I covered my mouth as I watched the person collapse helplessly.

 

The seats blocked my view, so I couldn’t see his final moments.

 

But he wasn’t sitting closer than I was.

 

“Huh…? Uh, uaaaah!”

 

The lights focused again, and the same thing repeated.

 

Thwack-!

 

Once more an arrow, or more precisely a crossbow bolt, pierced through a person.

 

With that, two people died in an instant.

 

After that, the inside of the theater became as quiet as a tomb.

 

In the suffocating silence, I discovered it.

 

A brochure tucked beside the seat.

 

It looked like an ordinary performance promotional material, but with meaningful warning text placed within.

 

—

 

※ Warning! Do not make noise or stand up!

 

You are currently in an unidentified Special Management Zone called 「National Theater That Exposes Fakes」.

 

This is a dangerous situation where you could lose your life, so please strictly follow the precautions below.

 

■ Precautions within 「National Theater That Exposes Fakes」

 

[Before Watching the Performance]

 

1. Strictly observe theater etiquette in the performance hall.

 

This performance hall absolutely does not tolerate acts that disturb the performance.

 

All acts that would commonly be inappropriate during a performance are prohibited, including making noise, leaving your seat, consuming food and drinks.

 

If you disturb the performance or act against theater etiquette, you will be attacked by the special dangerous entities 「Alpha」 or 「Delta」.

 

2. The duration of this performance ranges from a minimum of 7 minutes to a maximum of 777 minutes.

 

This performance continues without intermission.

 

The performance only ends when the curtain falls, and you cannot leave during the performance.

 

If the performance becomes too long, secretly dozing off is permitted.

 

However, be careful not to fall too deeply asleep and snore or leave your seat, as this will be considered a violation of theater etiquette.

 

3. Your inner self may be reflected in the performance.

 

Though rare, the performance content may depict your past or trauma.

 

If the acts on stage feel like your own story, close your eyes and endure it.

 

If you become emotionally swept away at this time, you will be drawn to the stage.

 

If you go on stage due to any such attraction, the performance hall will recognize you as an actor, not an audience member.

 

「Alpha」 and 「Delta」 will also not attack you once you become an actor.

 

However, the moment you step on stage, you can no longer maintain human form.

 

—

 

This brochure was a rule book provided by the Management Bureau.

 

Something too easy to miss in urgent situations.

 

I probably would have jumped up and panicked too if I didn’t know about Special Zones.

 

No, even knowing and falling in, I’m still confused.

 

And what does it mean that it’s been taken over by a contaminator?

 

The explanation is too insufficient, what should I do?

 

I briefly fingered the in-ear device in my pocket.

 

Would using earphones for calls during a performance violate theater etiquette?

 

Of course it would.

 

It might be okay if no sound leaked out, but that’s just my wishful thinking.

 

Damn, let’s forget about this.

 

If communication were possible, Cha Si-eon would have told me to put in the in-ear device first.

 

I gave up on the pointless gamble and looked around the stands.

 

Two people had already died, but there were still several more people in the stands.

 

Five people total, including me.

 

They weren’t moving at all.

 

I don’t know if it was because they were terrified, or because they found and read the rule book.

 

Maybe one of them is the contaminator.

 

My mouth was getting dry for various reasons.

 

Boom- Boom- Boom-!

 

With thunderous drum sounds, the performance began.

 

A large wheel descending from above the stage.

 

Strange creatures were hanging around the wheel.

 

A White Figure, Red Lion, Black Bull, and a Pale Bird.

 

For some reason, they all had wings.

 

When the four creatures lowered the wheel to the center of the stage, a majestic orchestra performance began.

 

Then something with sticky viscosity surged up from the floor.

 

It became the sun, became mountains, became trees, filling the stage.

 

Then it even formed human shapes and began walking on its own.

 

It was like the creation of heaven and earth rendered in clay animation.

 

The human figures on stage gradually increased.

 

Then the White Figure among the four creatures of the wheel watching from behind waved its arms.

 

Following that gesture, the humans who had been dancing individually split left and right.

 

Next, the Red Lion roared.

 

The humans split left and right charged at each other, and fire rain fell from the sky.

 

What is this? Are they fighting?

 

As if really depicting war, the orchestra music became even more tragic.

 

It was an opportunity for me.

 

I forced myself to watch that chaotic scene while unzipping my vest.

 

Then I lowered the vest to the floor in time with the increasingly intense orchestra performance.

 

Clink-

 

It made some noise, but it was drowned out by the loud music.

 

I timed it again.

 

Then, matching the increasingly loud drum sounds, I kicked the vest hard with my foot.

 

Swoosh- Thud-!

 

The Management Bureau vest slid about 3 meters to the side before dropping under the front seats.

 

Will this work?

 

Whether it works or not, this is the best I can do for now.

 

I left the outcome to fate and looked back toward the stage.

 

The stage that had been green with mountains and fields was now burning bright red.

 

Then the black bull swung its horned head.

 

The humans who had been fighting each other in the hellish flames suddenly stopped.

 

Then they began to wither away.

 

Like bare tree branches.

 

The humans seemed to have lost their strength and could no longer fight.

 

A blue-white bird soared above them.

 

With those pale wingbeats, all the humans crumbled away.

 

This performance surprisingly has a beginning, middle, and end.

 

The rulebook I read at the Management Bureau didn’t contain this kind of content.

 

I don’t know why, but there weren’t any particularly horrific scenes, so it was okay.

 

If they only show scenes like that, I think I can endure it sufficiently.

 

The problem is how many hours this performance lasts…

 

The maximum duration of this performance is 777 minutes.

 

So I have to endure sitting for up to 13 hours and 57 minutes.

 

It’s daunting just thinking about it, but if I think of it as a matter of life and death, it’s not impossible.

 

I continued watching the performance with this mindset.

 

When the humans completely collapsed, white flowers bloomed above them.

 

They were white roses.

 

The profusely blooming roses filled the stage, then petals fell and floated upward.

 

The white petals that gathered toward the center of the stage formed a human shape once again.

 

This time it was one person, and the figure floating in the air looked reverent and sacred.

 

Coming to this point, I think I roughly understand the theme of this play.

 

The creation of heaven and earth, the destruction of humanity, and the advent of the messiah.

 

It was a very classical subject.

 

Then is that white human Jesus on the cross?

 

I found myself analyzing as I watched the performance.

 

But is it just my imagination?

 

The face of the figure I assumed to be Jesus looked strangely familiar.

 

Why? Where have I seen that face…

 

“…!”

 

The moment I recognized that face, my heart sank.

 

Then I realized.

 

That wasn’t something like a savior on a cross.

 

What had him suspended in the air wasn’t a cross to begin with.

 

It was a rope around his neck.

 

At that familiar sight, the world seemed to stop.

 

No way.

 

No way.

 

No way no way no way.

 

My vision blurred and I couldn’t breathe.

 

I stared endlessly at that hanging human without knowing what I was doing.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

A small flicker caught my eye.

 

I unconsciously turned my head and discovered a message that had arrived on my smartwatch.

 

-Sit down!!

 

Sit down?

 

I was startled while reading that message.

 

I had somehow half-risen from my seat.

 

When did I move?

 

My blood ran cold and I hurriedly sat back down.

 

I unconsciously rubbed my face and realized it was drenched in cold sweat.

 

Damn, what the hell is this?

 

-Though it’s a rare case, the performance content may depict your past or trauma.

 

-If you get emotionally swept away at this time, you’ll be drawn to the stage.

 

The content from the brochure I saw earlier came to mind.

 

Could this be it?

 

Then the figure currently on stage is…

 

-Don’t look at the stage and close your eyes.

 

As if noticing my confusion, a new message arrived.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut as instructed.

 

When I closed my eyes, the music became clearer.

 

The absurdly sacred music seemed to be calling me.

 

I gripped the armrests of my seat tightly to avoid being drawn there.

 

How long did I endure like that?

 

30 minutes? 1 hour?

 

In the terrible darkness, I felt the music gradually subside.

 

Is it over now?

 

When the music completely stopped, I slowly opened my eyes.

 

And our eyes met.

 

With that familiar face that had come right up to my nose.

 

“Hup…!”

 

That figure was stretching its neck long from the stage, face to face with me.

 

At a close distance of less than a span.

 

I recoiled in horror.

 

Clunk-!

 

But there was nowhere to retreat, blocked by the backrest.

 

Just as the scream trapped in my mouth was about to spill out.

 

Crumble-

 

That figure scattered like ash and darkness fell.

 

…It’s really over now, right?

 

I was gasping for breath in the blackout when.

 

Bang-!

 

The side door of the theater suddenly opened.

 

What came in was… Teddy Bear?

 

I doubted my eyes.

 

It was a light brown, very cute-looking bear costume head you’d see at an amusement park.

 

But only the head was a bear costume, the body was just human.

 

What’s with that half-heartedness?

 

It was even dressed carelessly in jeans and a black jumper.

 

What is that thing? Human? Monster?

 

At least as far as I know, there’s no such entity in this “National Theater.”

 

Then is that a person wearing a costume?

 

There are too many abnormal things for me to be certain.

 

The suddenly appearing Teddy Bear asked toward the audience.

 

“Any living people?”

 

No one answered Teddy Bear’s question.

 

Then Teddy Bear spoke up energetically again.

 

“I’m going to count to ten now! Everyone get out during that time!”

 

Even though he said that….

 

The people sitting in the spectator stands only glanced at each other nervously but didn’t budge an inch.

 

I also stayed seated for now, observing the majority’s reaction.

 

“One, two…. Ah, why isn’t anyone coming out?”

 

Teddy Bear, who had been counting arbitrarily, put his hands on his hips.

 

Then he let out a deep sigh and gestured toward the door.

 

At that, five or six more men entered.

 

They too had their faces covered like Teddy Bear.

 

However, their masks were so menacing they couldn’t even get near an amusement park.

 

Skull-shaped half-face masks that looked almost like gas masks.

 

Their clothes were just as shabby as Teddy Bear’s, and they held sleek collapsible batons in their hands.

 

At their truly riotous appearance, I instinctively realized anew.

 

That this damned nightmare was just beginning.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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