I Returned, and Now I See Strange Things-Chapter 15: Sizzle Sizzle
Since ancient times, fire had been the ultimate method of purifying evil things.
You’re asking if it’s just about burning everything to a crisp?
...Well, that could be the right answer too.
BANG! CRACK!
“Uwaaah!”
There was no other option anyway—and no time left.
She gripped Ignis tighter and called her name.
“Ignis.”
[Got it.]
A blue flame flared up from the stone.
Like fire trapped in a pot, the blue flame pressed against her palm touched the stuffed doll.
A foul stench rose—damp, with a distinct sense of malice.
The fire that began at the doll’s torso started to spread across its entire body.
Pushing away the faint light from the tiny window, the blue flame lit the entire bathroom.
The doll charred and burned black.
At the same time, a scream filled with agony echoed from beyond the door.
“─!!!”
It wasn’t even close to human—more like an animal’s wail.
Once the doll was completely engulfed, she lifted Ignis.
She no longer had the energy to keep feeding it fire—
But she trusted it would burn properly on its own with the remaining fuel.
“Burns like trash, too.”
The painful howling faded, and eventually the pounding on the door stopped.
Hyesung, who had been trembling against the door, stepped closer and looked down at the burning doll with a curious expression.
“...Is it over now?”
“Probably.”
“Haah...”
He collapsed to the bathroom floor with a long sigh.
Crackle. Pop.
By the time the doll’s shape was no longer recognizable—
She asked him a question.
“This’ll get you good views, right?”
Hyesung raised his head, face pale with disbelief.
“...Is that seriously what you care about right now?”
...Then what is important?
What does he think all this suffering was for?
While she stared silently at the burning doll—
She heard something break.
Part of the bathroom door—previously blocking the ghost—shattered, leaving a face-sized gap.
Beyond it stood something wrapped in glowing red chains... something not quite human.
It was forcing its way through the broken door like it was running from something.
Hyesung, stiff as a board, stumbled and hid behind her. As he did, the creature’s mouth—what looked like a mouth—opened.
“I... don’t... want to go... back—”
As the last shreds of the doll burned to ash, it let out a final scream and, just like that, vanished—literally like a ghost.
Hyesung’s voice trembled.
“Th-There’s... still something there, isn’t there?”
...So he hadn’t seen it.
Guess he hid behind her just because the door broke?
Hyesung.
Let’s get rid of that fear attachment now, shall we?
Why don’t you give it to me if you don’t need it?
...Yeah, right.
“Yeah, it’s really over.”
She felt the chill that had filled the house dissipate.
As she slipped Ignis into the front pocket of her hoodie, her hand brushed against something.
It was the EMF detector Hyeyeon had handed her earlier.
Come to think of it, was the stream still going...?
She grabbed Hyesung’s hand and pulled him up.
“Hey, how long are you going to sit on the bathroom floor?”
“Ah... yeah, right...”
He gave an awkward laugh as she led him back to the closet.
“Wh-Why are we going there...?”
“Why do you think?”
Holding up the EMF reader, she smiled.
“Gotta end the stream.”
“...”
Why that reaction?
It’s not even my stream—it’s his.
With a sigh that sounded utterly fed up, he muttered,
“...Then at least put on a mask.”
“Oh.”
A true professional, clearly.
She almost revealed her face just now.
They filmed the wrecked room and the EMF reader, which was going wild, then exited Hyesung’s place.
She wanted to respond to his desperate plea not to leave him alone, but... her body wasn’t in great shape. It couldn’t be helped.
As she opened the door to leave, Hyeyeon was waiting for her.
Despite biting her head off earlier like they were mortal enemies, she must’ve been worried about her brother.
But then... her vision swam.
“Ayun-unni?”
Ah, shit.
As she collapsed, Hyeyeon caught her. She was soft.
“...N-No hospital. ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) I don’t need a hospital.”
“W-What’s happening all of a sudden?”
“...Tired. That’s all.”
She had drained too much power from Ignis and Aslan. That kind of exhaustion had only hit her in the earliest days back in Entera.
Not that she missed those days, but... this was embarrassing.
Her eyes drooped more and more.
Before she blacked out, she managed to say one last thing.
“...Meat... I want to eat meat.”
“Huh? What?”
And with Hyeyeon’s panicked voice in her ears—
She drifted off in the warm softness of her arms.
When she came to, she was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
At first she thought it might be a hospital, but the objects around her were familiar.
It was probably Hyeyeon’s room.
...So she really had passed out.
Her hoodie—previously stained with blood—had been replaced with something like pajamas. Most likely, Hyeyeon had changed her clothes.
...A luxury, if anything.
She’d been worried she’d wake up in a hospital bed with bills to pay, but it seemed Hyeyeon had taken her request seriously.
Even if she had gone to the hospital, what could they do? Hook her up to an IV, maybe.
Not very useful.
It wasn’t a disease—it was just the difference between Earth’s environment and her weakened body.
More than anything, it was likely due to poor nutrition since her return.
Especially protein...
She’d told Aslan not to worry, yet here she was in this state.
...But then again, she would’ve been fine if she hadn’t pushed herself so hard—so maybe she could still hold her head high.
Just as she was about to spiral into deep contemplation—
A familiar voice rang out.
[You’re awake.]
[Are you alright?]
“Hey.”
At that moment, the door opened.
“Were you on the phone...?”
It was Hyeyeon.
“Uh, yeah. Just hung up.”
She tilted her head at the sight of her empty hands, but didn’t press the issue.
“Really? Anyway, how are you feeling?”
“Thanks to you, I’m okay now.”
Hyeyeon let out a deep sigh, like the floor had dropped out from under her.
“That’s a relief. You scared me when you suddenly collapsed...”
“Ahaha... sorry.”
“Hold on a sec. I’ll go get that idiot brother of mine.”
Hyeyeon pulled out her phone and made a call.
Most likely to Hyesung.
Chatting with Hyeyeon afterward, she learned she hadn’t been unconscious for days—just slept through to about lunchtime the next day.
If it had been longer, she probably would’ve woken up in a hospital bed, not Hyeyeon’s room.
Not long after, Hyesung burst into the room, out of breath.
“Oh no! Are you okay, noona?!”
“Stop making a fuss...”
“I heard you collapsed...”
She hated how dramatic he was being—but it wasn’t the worst feeling in the world.
“So? Did everything wrap up alright yesterday?”
Hyesung scratched his head.
“I think it worked out... somehow.”
“Well, good.”
As she sat up, Hyesung asked,
“Do you think you can move?”
“To some extent.”
“Then shall we go?”
“Go where?”
He gave a wide grin.
“For meat.”
She felt like her body was already recovering.
While Hyesung went to get the car, she changed into the clean clothes Hyeyeon had prepared.
The bloodstained hoodie was in the wash, so she wore a different one this time.
“But really—are you okay to be moving after all that blood loss?”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you collapse?”
After a moment of thought, she picked the closest term she could find.
“Something like... fever shock.”
“Oh... like possession sickness?”
“Uh... maybe similar?”
Honestly, she wasn’t sure.
It was more like she’d fainted from poor eating—so probably closer to exhaustion or malnutrition than possession.
Regardless, Hyeyeon was now staring at her with wide, sparkling eyes.
Set against her dark under-eyes, they practically glowed.
“Tell me everything!”
“...Let’s go downstairs first.”
Her heart tickled at the excitement in Hyeyeon’s voice.
Apparently, she still had a shred of conscience left in her.
“You have to tell me later, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Calming the fired-up occult enthusiast, she got into the car Hyesung had brought around, and they headed for the restaurant.
The smell of grilled meat wafting from the entrance made her nostrils flare.
Savory meat, sweet sauces caramelizing in flame—
She swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth and suddenly found herself seated at the table.
“...You like it that much?”
Hyesung gave her a strange look.
“...Ahem.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, she straightened up—
But when the server brought over the meat, she lost control again.
Her eyes locked onto the red meat on the white plate, beautifully dusted like fresh snow.
With a cheerful sizzle, the meat hit the silver grill.
As it flipped, a golden-brown crust was revealed.
White salt sprinkled over it.
Flipped again—it was perfect.
Slicc, slicc.
As they cut into it, the pink, juicy interior peeked out.
You had to distinguish this fine line—
That’s how you told perfectly cooked meat from undercooked.
Or so she’d heard in YouTube videos.
In other words, the kind of meat she’d only seen in videos—
Was now right in front of her.
At the gesture to dig in, her hand moved faster than her mouth.
She picked up the meat with slightly heavy chopsticks.
First, she brought it close and sniffed.
That savory meat aroma.
She opened her mouth and laid it on her tongue. Chewed.
Warm juices burst forth. The meat melted like snow.
By the time she came to her senses—
It was already sliding down her throat.
Next to her, Hyeyeon’s voice said,
“...Unni, you’re not crying, are you?”
No... Hyeyeon, listen.
This is just... uh... yeah?
“...Let’s just eat for now.”
“Yeah!”
The happy time ended quickly.
Once happiness passed—
It was time to talk about other things.
As he spooned ice cream into his mouth, Hyesung said,
“About the video we shot yesterday...”
He let out a sigh.
“I’ll buy you more food later, so please focus....”
“Alright.”
She could feel her smile reaching the sky.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.
