Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Tuesday Quiz Show
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Click, click.
The clicks came to an end.
The alien shop neatly displayed the items in my cart.
What I was going to buy...
Alice Picnic Set - ₩11,999,999 ※Discount!※ Silver Coin Serpent - ₩4,999,999
Total: ₩16,999,998
That's right.
I bought the effect multiplier potion and the discounted item.
The reason was simple.
'I can't use the rest...'
Vampiric weapon? Sounds cool. But there's a prerequisite.
I'd have to charge at ghosts with a knife in hand...
'If a coward like me does something that stupid, I'll die...'
Then I'd end up shaking and dropping dead as Extra No. 1. That's not just a horror movie cliché for nothing.
Plus, it only works on opponents with blood, so it's not versatile.
'Armor might be different, but weapons are off the table in this state?'
Overestimating yourself is a shortcut to shortening your lifespan. End of story.
Next, the bigger walkie-talkie.
This one...
'...Who could convince the boss to let me carry around a toy walkie-talkie?'
Someone like that... probably wouldn't work under anyone, right?
Even if I revealed it was an amazing item instead of a mere toy, it'd be a problem. Once they start asking where I got it, I'm done for.
This is an item you can only use with truly trustworthy teammates.
'So, rejected.'
In the end, the remaining items were the 'Alice Picnic Set' and 'Silver Coin Serpent'. I could afford both within budget, so I bought them.
They both seemed useful.
For starters, the Alice Picnic Set's double effect and half effect could be used in all sorts of ways.
'Could even use it for defense if needed.'
It was also good for using without drawing attention from the others. So, purchase confirmed.
Finally, the discounted item called Silver Coin Serpent.
'Regular price twenty million won?'
That hit me right away.
This was for investment.
'The fact they specifically called it a silver coin suggests it's currency.'
In the [Darkness Exploration Records] world, there were various currencies from ghost stories, and some could even be exchanged for cash through certain groups.
'Buying something worth twenty million for five is definitely a steal.'
The alien shop's deep discounts usually had a reason, but it was worth the risk.
...Not at all like investing in coins! Really! Purely rational decision!
So, I now had to pay seventeen million won.
"Phew."
Payment method: bank transfer only.
The account number for a simple electronic account was listed on the homepage under the name 'Space Alien'.
'No tax deductions, I guess...'
Transferring such a huge lump sum was the first time since renting my place.
I raised my bank app limit and, hands trembling, transferred '₩16,999,998'.
The moment I did...
Items loaded onto rocket! Arrival in: 00:00:0800:00:0700:00:0600:00:0300:00:0200:00:01
Ding!
ARRIVED!
Pop!
"Gasp!"
The air 'split open' in mid-air, and items poured out amid smoke.
It was a postal service box.
"Whoa."
Rocket delivery, literally.
'This insane worldline, you can be wondrous and not scary too!'
I even felt moved.
After a moment of awe, I snapped out of it and opened the package.
First, the [Alice Picnic Set] was in a rusty tin case with fairy-tale illustrations.
Opening the case revealed flat cans of drinks and paper-wrapped cookies labeled 'Drink me' and 'Eat me' respectively.
"Nice."
Like the Smile Sticker, I could just carry one or two. I nodded.
Pulling the tin case out of the box revealed a round silver item underneath.
I picked it up.
A glossy silver coin.
'Currency confirmed.'
A thrill ran through me.
It was a silver coin the size of a 500-won piece, engraved with a snake eating its own tail. I flicked it lightly, and it felt heavy like real metal.
Several candidates for where to use this currency flashed through my mind.
'Gonna make good use of it wherever.'
Even though seventeen million won vanished like snow.
Money that'd disappear when I return to the real world anyway. Suppress the materialism... suppress.
Mm. Calmed down.
'Alright... guess I'm pretty prepared now.'
I took stock of my current items.
I needed to use these to clear higher-grade Darknesses as quickly as possible.
'Gotta use them actively.'
Avoiding out of fear might lead to something scarier. Don't forget, coward.
Resolved to make full use of everything available, I went to sleep.
Instead of sheep, convenience store ghosts frolicked in my head, shattering my quality of life.
Haha.
And the very next day.
"We have a few regularly managed ghost stories. Today, we're going into one of them."
"...Yes."
Slept exactly three hours. I might actually die like this.
But interpreting my expression as worry, the deputy manager patted my shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. It's Dusk Grade."
"Yeah! Deer, it's about the level of what you went through in new hire orientation. That level!"
Saying that to a rookie with death survival PTSD...?
But the Field Exploration Team employees, whose normal sensibilities were shattered, just chuckled and offered me encouraging words.
"You cleared it once by charging in bare-handed. With the manual now, no way we can't."
"Just no sudden outbursts, and it'll be fine. Got it?"
"...Yes."
Well... understood.
Anything's better than playing hide-and-seek alone with convenience store ghosts.
'Please let me sleep at night this time.'
Hopefully an artistic ghost story that's eerie due to dissonance and lack of info, but not actually that horrific!
I prayed fervently.
"Here are the docs."
The foreman handed me a tablet PC.
The ghost story I'd enter today was...
[Tuesday Quiz Show / Dusk (D) Grade]
"......"
Huh?
"See, Deer? You enter as a contestant in a quiz game."
"Yes."
"Wrong answers get punishments, and the punishments are gruesome... that type of ghost story."
"But we already have the answer key, so we're good? Don't tense up too much!"
The foreman grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
Yeah, good.
'Feels way less scary than directly facing ghosts...'
But there's a problem.
'It's an unfamiliar name.'
Tuesday Quiz Show?
No such D-Grade page in [Darkness Exploration Records].
I couldn't use the Memorial GripTok to check my memories with the bosses around, but... I was certain without looking.
At least not among the ones I read.
Even if I'd read every ghost story in [Darkness Exploration Records], others could exist in this worldline.
It was an internet playground with real-time additions, after all.
Still, I thought I'd know most relatively, but already diving into an unknown one.
'...Does the company have a way bigger list of 'Darknesses' than I thought?'
Cold sweat trickled down my neck.
But the bosses were nonchalant.
"Our jurisdiction has a lot of broadcast-type Darknesses."
"Yeah, each squad has their specialties."
And the deputy manager sent me a PDF of the Tuesday Quiz Show answer key, then said,
"For now, memorize that answer key... and review the Field Exploration manual. We'll go when squad leader returns this afternoon."
"Yes."
I nodded obediently for now.
The foreman kindly added,
"Oh, just in case, want a paper manual too? Gotta take notes."
"No, it's fine. I memorized it all."
For me with the Memorial GripTok, it'd just be extra baggage.
"All... memorized?"
"Yes."
"...So note-taking!"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, never mind."
The foreman realized something, then nodded.
"Squad leader's gonna love how convenient you are."
"...??"
Anyway, seems positive, so let it slide.
For reference, D Squad's leader was still out on fieldwork but expected back this afternoon.
'Meeting soon.'
But an hour later...
"Hold on. Our squad leader, I mean the manager, is still out on... Yes? No, that's not possible."
The deputy manager scowled and hung up.
"Are they insane? Talking nonsense like 'newbie makes it 3-person minimum'..."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Looks like..."
The deputy manager glanced at me.
Ah.
'Because of the convenience store ghost.'
Me clearing an F-Grade solo too fast oddly gave the higher-ups reason to say 'Oh? Then he can pull his own weight.'
The side effect of devouring twenty million won solo blew up here.
Not that I ate the money or anything.
"It's end of month."
"Aah."
I roughly grasped from their whispers.
'Department performance issue?'
Apparently, had to meet quota before lunch.
And with the newbie seeming able to handle his share.
The deputy manager pondered briefly, then decided.
"Deer, you memorized it all?"
The quiz answer key... wait.
'If I say yes, we go in?'
Then maybe play dumb strategically...
"Psh, he probably has. He memorized the whole thick Field Exploration manual!"
"Oh."
The deputy manager nodded.
"Good. Then we go in just us today."
"......"
My petty, desperate wish of 'Even one more headcount would make it less scary!' vanished just like that...
'3-person minimum rule, but sometimes two go if someone's on leave. Support's available but scheduling's a hassle'—that kind of explanation followed.
Yes, heard this company lives up to being a company.
'...Anyway, mentally prepared.'
Items equipped, and confirmed not a super scary type.
Actually, going now might be better than afternoon!
Better to take the blow early, they say.
The longer I wait, the more my imagination brews terror. This courage is my peak.
Better enter before it drops...!
"Let's enter."
Mid endless mental gymnastics, the deputy manager returned after handing something to another department's employee.
'Entry medium for the ghost story...?'
It was a postcard.
But the 'recipient' field on the worn postal postcard was already scribbled with bizarre letters.
And tiny text at the top repeated 'Application' like a curse.
-One day, I found a strange postcard in an old magazine.
It had a flyer recruiting contestants for some quiz show tucked in, but searching showed no such broadcast. Probably just vintage postcard theme.
Out of curiosity, I wrote my name in the 'sender' field for fun...
And got dragged into a really weird quiz show.
That kind of ghost story, huh.
Glancing casually, it seems innocuous, but closer look reveals the grotesqueness that properly chills...
"Just sign here."
"......"
"If it feels off, use your mask name instead of real one."
"...Yes."
Gotta rack up points.
Seeing the two write 'Badger' and 'Rosefinch' respectively, I wrote in the 'sender' field too.
-Deer
The moment the pen left the paper.
My mind was sucked into the postcard like it was yanked out.
"...!"
The lights blinded me.
A bright, cheerful voice assaulted my ears through the hazy vision.
A suited hand offered a handshake.
I reflexively shook hands and looked up.
Where a human head should be was a CRT TV instead.
......An emoticon floated there.
[°□°]
The TV human released my hand, then spun cheerfully, spreading both arms.
Waaaaah!
Cheers erupted, but blurred by the lights, the audience shadows weren't clear.
Soon, I realized I stood on a garish podium.
'Contestant spot in the quiz show.'
Not scary enough to faint.
No, honestly, thinking of it as a quiz show hosted by a guy in a TV helmet actually calmed me.
'After subway eye-pluckers and convenience store ghosts, this feels fairy-like.'
Mm. Good. Can think calmly.
I adjusted my mask and checked the situation.
The TV human was hyping the audience.
Probably the talk show's host.
'So, this Tuesday Quiz Show is a segment in some talk show.'
The set, the band making background music, audience setup, host carrying the vibe solo... felt like a classic American talk show.
'Kinda retro too.'
......
What?
'Again.'
Old American talk show.
Quiz segment.
Contestants already know answers.
This is...
......
......
I know this keyword.
This wasn't D-Grade.
This ghost story was...
[Chant of the Mountain Sacrifice]
• Ghost story from [Darkness Exploration Records] • Daydream Corporation ID: Qterw-A-104
• Abyss (A) Grade Darkness
• Trigger for the grade readjustment incident with massive casualties
• No official survivor records
"......"
No.