27

Beyond the Veil: Kiran's Supernatural Hun

Chapter 27: The Investigation Begins

As planned, Kiran went straight to the suburban park to investigate and interview the staff working there, as well as the tourists. Carrying a handheld recorder, Kiran started recording all the interviews conducted throughout the day.

"[Are you referring to that lake? I haven't heard of anyone dying there since I was young.]" Kiran switched to the next recording as soon as he finished analyzing that.

"[This lake is not very deep, and as you can see, there are always people around. If someone accidentally jumped and didn't know how to swim, some of the people nearby would immediately rush to their rescue as soon as possible. I've been taking care of the ducks in this lake for years, and I've never heard of anyone dying. A girl once fell into the lake, but she was immediately rescued, so it didn't end in tragedy.]"

"[No one has committed suicide, if that's what you're trying to ask. Our park has been here for decades. There used to be a well, but it dried up, and after a long time, it was decided to create a lake in the same spot. This lake was excavated after the change to the forest park. Older people live nearby; if someone had committed suicide here, we would know because those elders always play chess under those trees. Hahaha, are you really a detective?]"

"So, what about accidents? Have they never happened?"

"[No, no. What newspaper did you say you worked for? I'll tell you now; this report is going to be a failure.]"

"[Young man, are you here to ask about the deaths in this lake?]"

"That's right, ma'am. Have you heard of any deaths in the lake or any urban legends?"

"[They're not dead people. There are ghosts here! I'm telling you quietly, this place is very evil! Don't be too curious and go back home, where you'll be much safer than here! "

"Ma'am, I'm here to work. I can't afford to go back with nothing, you understand? If I don't get any results today, it will be more detrimental to people than to me. Listen carefully; if you tell me something useful, I won't have to come here all the time. Of course, if you don't know anything, there won't be any problem."

"[It was agreed never to say this...]"

"How about I invite you to lunch while you tell me?"

"[Well...]"

"Now, what do you know that others don't?"

"I don't know where to start...]"

"Be brief with your words."

"[I know much more than anyone else; for better or for worse, this is my hometown, and I grew up in this very place. Much earlier, it used to be a land where people cultivated, but later it turned into a factory. The grounds of this park were much larger than you can imagine, and at that time, a factory was built where they produced a strange drink. I remember working in that factory when I was young; at that time, the factory was thriving; schools and hospitals were built, and even a smaller park similar to this one was constructed...]"

"So, what happened?"

"[Then things got worse. Hospitals and schools were suddenly very lively. At that point, those working in that successful factory had fun together every day.]"

"All right, how did everything start to change?"

"[Well, this place started to become very chaotic due to the increase in people working here. You could see a lot of life every night. Even if it was dark, just a few meters of walking, and you would bump into another person.]"

"What happens after that?"

"[After that, the factory closed because it went bankrupt. The government took over the land. There must have been some activity that we were all unaware of at that time. Anyway, the government wanted to build a park, so they demolished the factory and transformed it into what you're seeing now; even though it wasn't called the same, we had a park back then.]"

"So, what ghost are you talking about?"

"Ma'am, nothing will happen because I'll take responsibility for the consequences on my own... Can you tell me about that ghost?"

"[That ghost... Actually, I don't know much about it. I was working in the factory at that time, and I heard... I heard that someone saw a ghost in the forest of the newly built park! It was so dark, but it was said that they saw it between the leaves. It was said to have a completely white face, and its hair was very disheveled.]"

"White face, black hair? Appeared between the leaves?"

"[That's what was said about it...]"

"Did someone die from seeing that ghost?"

"Oh, oh, that's not the case. There were just legends and stories created with very different versions from others.]"

"[I see. Hasn't anyone investigated this matter? Maybe someone is playing a prank and deliberately did something to scare people?]"

"[How is it something to investigate? [There's nothing to investigate for seeing a simple ghost; no one would have much time except for you, who is interested in those kinds of things from the past.] "

"Were there more rumors?"

"Yes, many believed that it was really a ghost from an urban legend, and monks were brought in to bless the place. I moved because of the same reason; after clearly seeing something non-human, one feels fear.]"

"Now, aren't you afraid?"

"[What should I be afraid of? All those things shouldn't exist, and if they do, I'm too old to fear something. I, a woman who worked all her life, despite seeing that female ghost, am in the last stage of my life.] "

"Thank you very much for your time."

Kiran furrowed his brows upon hearing that interrogation and thought of a refined way to resolve this issue. Now, he would have to investigate the lake and its surroundings for a corpse, some cursed object, or signs of a ritual. Despite the priests finding nothing, that demon must have fully formed.

According to archival records, before 1973, the forest park was located on farmland and was owned by the county's rural commune. After the 1973 reform, the city government and the community jointly funded the establishment of the Three Kings Brewery. In mid-1979, Three Kings Brewery expanded its area, and as a thank-you gesture, the park was created.

No deaths were recorded during the time the factory was open, there were no serial murder incidents in the town, and no strange cases were ever reported. Kiran gathered all the information, both new and old, and had to focus on questioning the elderly because they were the ones who really knew the things he came to seek.

The next day, Kiran was able to contact an elderly man named Billy, so he listened to his words.

"It's been a long time since then, but I remember it as if it were yesterday... I haven't told anyone else. If it weren't for you investigating, I would probably take these things to the grave."

Kiran checked the documents and notes in his files and said, "According to what I've been told, your brother was able to see the ghost in the park."

"That's right, my brother told me he saw that ghost." Billy nodded in response to that question, recalling past events.

"How did it happen?"

Kiran was running out of evidence; if he didn't find anything concrete, the investigation would drag on.

"This... It's a bit difficult to say. He was talking with friends about a girl in the factory at that time. The young people from the factory like to gather in the park and look for a girlfriend. My brother wasn't different from any other young person his age. That night, I remember he went out and didn't tell us what he was going to do, but we all knew he was heading to the park to talk with friends and maybe find a girl he liked."

Pausing, Billy said, "Normally, my brother wouldn't come back until after ten at night. But that day he came back very late and was covered in sweat—a cold sweat caused by terror. We thought he was sick and asked, but he didn't respond. He was studying to be a detective, and at that time, I knew that my brother's look was as if he had experienced something terrifying."