I Returned, and Now I See Strange Things-Chapter 59: Click

“What do we do now...?”

“What do you mean, what do we do? We find a way.”

Hyesung stared at Ayun with fearful eyes, but Ayun just shrugged with an unfazed expression.

...How could she not even blink in a situation like this?

Of course... Hyesung’s younger sister Hyeyeon, sitting in the back seat, was just as excited, but unlike Ayun, she wasn’t trembling—

Actually, now that he looked again, she seemed... happy.

‘...I really might be the only normal person here.’

Guess that meant he had to keep it together.

While he thought that, Ayun said something toward the camera, then turned to Hyeyeon.

“Did you bring those tools, by any chance?”

“Tools...?”

“You know, the ones you used when you filmed with Hyesung a while back.”

“Oh.”

Hyeyeon finally realized what Ayun was referring to.

The kinds of things commonly referred to as ghost-hunting equipment.

Though honestly, they were mostly only mentioned among hardcore enthusiasts.

They were tools Hyeyeon used to carry around before she met Ayun.

...The problem was, she’d never gotten anything interesting out of them.

After Ayun stopped using them, they’d naturally faded from memory.

“Hang on.”

Just in case, Hyeyeon began rummaging ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) through her bag.

She hadn’t brought them on purpose, but whenever she came to places like this, she usually had them on hand.

Soon enough, she pulled out a couple of familiar gadgets.

One was an EMF detector, the same kind they’d used during the One-Man Hide-and-Seek ritual.

The other was the so-called ghost box.

Ayun didn’t need any of this gear herself—she could already see ghosts with the naked eye.

But as they’d just confirmed, the camera couldn’t capture them.

Ayun figured she needed something to fill out the stream.

After all, she couldn’t just start throwing salt around claiming there was a ghost with no context, right?

Maybe once or twice, but sometimes it was good to mix things up.

If she wanted a future in this like Hyesung had said, trying out various approaches would be necessary.

‘...Not sure if any of this even works, though.’

Still, it was well-known among enthusiasts, so it had a kind of credibility.

“Thanks.”

Accepting the gear from Hyeyeon, Ayun took a moment to examine it again.

The EMF detector she’d used before.

She didn’t know exactly how it worked, but supposedly, if a ghost was nearby, the indicator lights in each section would flash.

Next was the ghost box... something she’d only ever heard about.

A rectangular device with perforated speaker holes that emitted static or voices.

It had a bunch of buttons on it—looked enough like a radio that you could mistake it for one.

‘...Supposedly it lets ghosts communicate.’

She didn’t know how it worked in detail, but supposedly it relayed ghost messages, like that yellow car robot from a certain movie.

‘Let’s test it out this time.’

Ayun figured the headless rider they’d encountered was a perfect test subject.

He didn’t charge at them wildly—he trapped them in a loop, but he hadn’t caused any harm.

...Though if they got stuck here forever, that’d be a problem—but Ayun wouldn’t let it get that far, so she decided not to count that.

Recalling the explanation Hyeyeon had given her, Ayun brought the devices up to the camera.

Whoa! She knows what an EMF detector is! That’s a ghost box next to it! You see—

Like hell anyone here doesn’t know what those are, ffs

Bro you monopolizing the chat again lmao

Just holding the gear up sent the chat into a frenzy, which pleased Ayun.

Didn’t she use that once and then never again?

Yeah ^^ thought she traded it for some candy ^^

...Ayun coughed, flinching slightly, and opened her mouth.

“You can probably tell what’s happening without me saying it... but did I ever mention there’s a headless rider here?”

“Gasp...”

No, you did not

She’s doing that thing again where she keeps info to herself

What the hell is a ‘headless rider,’ you weeb fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

“...Sorry about that.”

So they had been holding a grudge.

Ayun sighed and spent a moment calming the chat.

But realizing it would never end, she shook her head.

“...Let’s save the complaints for later.”

She turned on the EMF detector.

The device had colored zones: blue, green, yellow, orange, red.

Right now, the blue zone was blinking.

“Let’s try it out.”

Why now all of a sudden?

Is she possessed?

“Should I not, then?”

Oh god no, we love it! Yes ma’am~

fr tho lol

While Ayun monitored the device, Hyesung leaned over and whispered,

“Uh... noona, what exactly are you trying to do?”

“I’m gonna try using this.”

“...Is that safe?”

Hearing his trembling voice, Ayun looked him in the face.

He clearly wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

“If we wanna leave, shouldn’t we try talking to that thing first?”

Hyesung glanced nervously at the camera and let out a long sigh.

He was the one who suggested she get into streaming—so in a way, this was his own fault.

‘...I’m seriously never doing this again.’

Slapping both cheeks, Hyesung gripped the steering wheel and asked with grim resolve,

“...So what do I do now?”

“For now, just drive up ahead. The rider usually shows up around the middle of the stretch.”

It really was convenient having Hyesung around.

...Technically, just because she needed someone to drive.

‘But I like how quick he is on the uptake.’

As the car began moving again, the chat flared up in chaotic rage.

‘What is wrong with these people?’

Ayun shook her head and held the EMF detector up to the camera.

“Watch this closely. I’ll tell you if it shows up nearby.”

We can’t see anything lol

Bro your focus is wrecked

“...Noona, if you hold it that close, it doesn’t show on screen.”

“Oh, really?”

While Ayun chatted with Hyeyeon about the device—

The same motorcycle engine from earlier began to roar.

Vroom!

Straightening up, Ayun looked around.

The chat, along with Hyeyeon and Hyesung, didn’t seem to notice.

Ayun, her face tense, said,

“It’s coming.”

“...”

“...Gulp.”

She raised the EMF detector.

The blue light that had been blinking slowly began to creep toward the red as the motorcycle approached.

What the hell? Why’s it doing that all of a sudden;

Watching the device with a strange expression, Ayun spoke quietly.

“Hyesung, can you start slowing down?”

“...Okay.”

“And if I tell you to stop, stop immediately.”

“...Y-Yes, ma’am.”

The bike approached from the opposite lane, matching their reduced speed.

Ayun intended to stop the car at just the right moment for a clear verification.

‘...Not that stopping guarantees it’ll stop too.’

But she figured the odds were good.

Otherwise, why slow down at all?

As Ayun’s plan unfolded—

The silhouette, shimmering in the dim moonlight, became clearer under the headlights.

Once again, the hulking black motorcycle appeared.

And sure enough, it wasn’t a mistake—the caked, dark-red bloodstains were still there.

The reversed helmet from earlier too—unchanged.

The motorcycle’s side mirror wobbled as it drew closer.

The EMF detector, which had reached orange, now blinked solid red.

“...So this thing does work.”

“Where is it right now?”

Excited, Hyeyeon asked—since she still couldn’t see anything.

Ayun, completely composed, replied,

“Let’s see... it’ll pass by our side soon.”

“...Oh.”

“...Please, no.”

That level of activity is rare lol

Ohhh

Should’ve done this from the start smh

Listening to the roar of the motorcycle right next to her—

“Stop.”

Ayun ordered the car to a halt.

Hyesung, eyes shut tight, slowly pressed the brake.

“It’s not like you can see it anyway. Open your eyes.”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right.”

The car came to a stop.

Seeing the red zone on the EMF detector still blinking, Ayun turned her head.

Just beyond Hyesung’s shoulder, a faint figure appeared.

The black motorcycle had stopped beside the driver’s side door.

Its helmet remained turned backward, completely still.

Now that she was close, Ayun could clearly see the wrecked state of the bike.

It was so damaged it was a wonder it still moved at all.

‘...Well, it is a ghost, after all.’

Hyesung’s voice came out trembling with fear.

“N-Noona, where... where is it now?”

“Right next to you.”

“Gah!?”

With a crash, Hyesung panicked and flung himself at Ayun.

Clinging to her waist and squeaking like a cicada stuck to a tree trunk...

...Though in this case, the cicada was much bigger than the tree.

Get that bastard off her!!!

Imagine being so scared you do that

uwu ya chuttera!

Seeing the chat, Hyesung’s face finally regained some color.

“...I got a little carried away.”

“It’s fine. That’s understandable.”

Heuuuung... me too...

Can we ban this dude

She's not noona, she's MAMA

Comforting him, Ayun reclined his seat and aimed the phone at the driver’s side.

“So? Anyone seeing anything? The bike’s right there next to us.”

...

Nothing

Hold the detector up again

Ayun did as instructed and brought the EMF detector back into frame.

The lights, which had been flickering between blue and red, now held steady at red.

It was like the device was shouting that something was there.

Never seen that happen before;

Damn

Wait, it can stay solid like that?

A satisfying reaction.

Ayun decided to go all-in and test the ghost box too.

“Well then... shall we try talking to it?”

From his reclined seat, eyes shut tight, Hyesung’s voice trembled.

“A-Are you really going to do that?”

“If you want to go home, we should try, right?”

As Ayun reached for the button to lower the window, Hyesung grabbed her hand.

When she tilted her head, he asked her to wait, then looked over at Hyeyeon.

“...Can we switch seats?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.”

Hyeyeon casually made space in the back seat.

Hyesung shook his head, looking pale as death.

Thank you, Hyesung... thank you...

Seeing it laid out like this really hits different lol

It’s a stat screen, bro

Ayun looked toward the bizarre chat, then confirmed that Hyeyeon had moved to the driver’s seat.

Just in case, she asked,

“Is it okay if I open the window?”

“Of course.”

Brave, unlike someone else.

While Hyesung stared from the back seat with trembling eyes.

Ayun pressed the window button with a click.

With a familiar whirr, the driver’s side window lowered.

Chilly air swept in.

And as it did, overlaying Hyeyeon’s unaware silhouette looking out the window.

The headless rider’s form appeared clearly.

His helmet still twisted backward.