Let’s think about it.
In a cold, heartless Cyberpunk world, an average person should be able to run a quick simulation in their head.
The weather is cloudy, the time is noon, the situation is a phone call.
Using that ability to the fullest, I succeeded in imagining the following scenario.
– “Hello, Mr. Gable? Is it a good time to talk?”
– “Ah, it’s Siwoon. Nice to meet you. Of course, it’s fine to talk. It’s true that the City Security Department has a lot of inefficient regulations, but it’s not like I can’t talk to anyone at all. There were incidents like this in the past─ (cut-off) ─So, what’s the matter?”
Wasted about 10 minutes there.
– “…Well, I think I’ve found some clues regarding the mission I received last time.”
– “Hmm, I see. I told you I didn’t need to do anything for you, but I must admit I’m curious. Because─ (cut-off) ─Anyway, what’s the clue?”
Wasted around 30 minutes here.
– “Uh, um… it might actually be a ghost—”
– “……”
– “Hello?”
– “I heard you’d been off the front lines for quite some time, but I didn’t expect you to be so mentally shaken.”
– “Huh?”
– “…… Anyway, I understand. I’ll consider it positively. By the way, do you have any data to support that?”
– “Um, no, I don’t.”
– “……Oh, I have a sudden urgent matter. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to hang up now. Have a nice day.”
– “What? What’s that…. Mr. Gable?”
– “Beep beep beep—”
Hmm…
Seems like I’m about to be treated like a lunatic.
So, I decided to look for other options.
Every reason I came to find the most famous “Cyber-Shaman House” in the city was wrapped around this situation.
…
“…But is this really the place?”
“Of course. 97% of users who visited here left positive reviews.”
…Doesn’t feel that way.
【New-Age, Future-Shamanism, and Voodoo Culture Combined, Psychic Spiritual Clinic (※Paid※)】
I thought while looking at the dirty sign.
The irregular sprawl of the city’s outskirts was quite evident.
Right in front of me stood a tall wall marking the border between the city and its outskirts. Because of that, the surroundings were filled with shadows.
In short, I felt like I was in a “real lower-class area.”
If it weren’t for Eve, finding this place would have been quite a hassle.
In the lower-class area, indiscriminate extensions and renovations are common.
Just because the city declares, “This is the lower-class area from here to there,” it doesn’t mean the rules are actually followed.
Naturally, the security there is not so great.
“…Ugh, really. They know how to look pretty.”
Just then, Andrea walked over, shaking off her fists from an alleyway.
She had just dealt with a vagabond who pointed a gun at us, saying “Hehe, should I give you a tour? Just say the word once—”.
Today.
We, me, Eve, and Andrea, came down to the lower-class area to find the cyber-shaman house.
Having actually witnessed the existence of a ghost was unique to Andrea. It was only natural for her to come along, and Eve was here to reduce any possible variables.
“So.”
Andrea lowered her large round sunglasses down her nose and spoke.
“This is the strange place that supposedly offers spiritual healing using that ghost?”
I guess her small face suits those sunglasses well.
I nodded lightly.
“Yep.”
“…I don’t think so.”
“I feel the same way, but Eve says it’s legit.”
If Eve says it’s legit, then it is.
Shrugging in response.
Andrea squinted up at the sign on the building.
I could easily guess what thoughts were running through her head as she looked at that sign containing terms like ‘New-Age, Future-Shamanism, Voodoo Culture’.
In response to our reactions, Eve tilted her head slightly and added an explanation.
“Data-wise, it’s definite.”
“Well, it’s not that I don’t believe it…. It just looks too shabby.”
It’s true that we won’t know unless we go in, but it’s also true that I wouldn’t dare to enter if I just passed by.
‘Spiritual Clinic’…
Even the names of shaman houses in Cyberpunk are strange.
“Let’s go. After all, there’s a chance it could just be a scam, and if this isn’t the case, we’ll check elsewhere.”
In response to my words, Eve nodded with a gentle posture.
“I’ve noted that opinion.”
Feeling the tension, I walked toward the entrance of the building.
There were no signs of surveillance cameras or doorbells. The entrance was open. As we pushed the door, a classic bell jingled above us.
– Jingle, jingle.
What confidence…
I paused briefly and asked Eve.
“When did they start business here?”
“According to the archived records, it has been over 1315 days.”
Hoo…
In a neighborhood shop, the presence of security turrets is common. But the fact that they managed to survive for that long without any other security measures in this unsafe lower-class area felt significant.
Maybe there’s something real here.
The inside of the building felt entirely different from the shabby exterior.
There were bizarre decorations from unknown eras or nationalities all over. Strange patterns were painted on the ceiling, and the floor was covered with eye-dizzying patterns and carpets.
Andrea, who has a more sensitive sense of smell than others, winced and sniffed around.
“…It smells a bit like grass.”
“…Gah!”
I checked to see if my mask was functioning properly.
“No, it’s not a mental care drug or anything.”
“……Phew.”
That was startling.
No matter what, being sensitive to drugs happens even to someone wearing a mask.
I didn’t know if it was just a regular humidifier, but as Andrea said, the inside was filled with a strange, subtle scent of smoke.
Just then.
【Stop gawking and come over here.】
It was a voice with a unique tone, as if scraping a metal plate.
I couldn’t tell if it was male or female. It was literally an androgenous voice. It even sounded elderly.
That voice caught Eve’s attention.
“That’s a voice modulated voice.”
“Hmm, yeah, I thought so.”
It didn’t make sense that a regular vocal cord could produce that kind of growling. If that were the case, they’d be picked up by many metal bands.
After our brief conversation, the person inside muttered with a tone tinged with dissatisfaction.
【…It’s not a scam den, so don’t worry.】
I felt something strange about that statement.
The term ‘scam den’ was something I mentioned earlier at the entrance.
I turned back to Eve.
“…There weren’t any other surveillance measures at the entrance, right?”
“That’s correct. I definitely sense something strange.”
Is this a true cybernetic shaman?
I might have something to look forward to.
Not showing my excitement, I moved inside.
The inner scenery was fascinating in a similar way.
In the middle of the room, with a strange character written on a folding screen that wasn’t Chinese or Korean, sat someone draped in a robe.
They looked very petite. There seemed to be some peculiar device inside the hood that made it impossible to see what lay within.
I maintained my composure and questioned that person, the cyber-shaman.
“Is this the Psychic Spiritual Clinic that combines New-Age, Future-Shamanism, and Voodoo culture that’s gone crazy… no, I mean, is this the one?”
【…Hmm, you don’t seem to believe it.】
“What a weird thing to say—”
【Like this.】
That was the moment.
As the shaman murmured, strange dolls began to float in the air behind them.
I couldn’t feel the flow of mana.
It didn’t even seem to be visible by science. The movements were so natural, they seemed real.
【Spiritual energy does exist. …Hehe, don’t they look like a scam den?】
Wait, are those for real ghosts?
I frowned as I watched the spectacle.
“Wait a second.”
I heard Andrea’s voice from behind.
“Is there really something there? Though it’s smaller, it looks similar to what I saw at the engagement ceremony.”
Andrea was staring at the floating dolls behind the cyber-shaman.
I glanced over at Eve.
Eve gave a slight shake of her head.
It seemed she felt nothing like I did.
Changing from a singer to a shaman seems like a loss in any case.
Before I could say anything,
The shaman sitting in the center looked more surprised than we were.
【…You can see it? This?】
The gaze from beneath the hood turned towards Andrea.
【Oh……, I see. I see now.】
Muttering like that, the shaman shed their robe.
What was revealed beneath the hood was….
Pointy ears.
“Cough, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one of my kind.”
Once the voice modulator was turned off, it was a very cute voice that followed.
Clearing her throat, the shaman—an elven female—nodded to herself.
“So, what brings you here? I don’t think you’re trying to disturb my business.”
Pulling out a hidden electronic cigarette from behind, she placed it between her lips. She looked as youthful as Bill, who lived on the same floor as I used to.
I thought she was an elderly person, but she was just as short.
After a brief moment of surprise, I scratched my head and replied to her.
“Well, we just came to find out about the existence of ghosts.”
“…Ghosts? Oh, you mean spirits?”
“……Yes?”
Behind the elf, the dolls we previously saw waved their hands, as if greeting us.
Is this Cyberpunk or Fantasy?
…
But wait, if they’re not ghosts, then they are scammers.
I looked at the elf (not the shaman but the spirit master) with a chilling gaze.
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