Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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Me, in the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau's rescue squad?
I'm barely managing to take care of myself, and now I have to go into a ghost story to save civilians?
'Is this a dream?'
But no, it was reality.
And I had to enter a ghost story right now to rescue someone.
7:30 PM.
It had been exactly one hour and thirty minutes since the aptitude test ended and I was hired.
Yet here I was, already receiving gear distribution for agents from headquarters at the urgent request of a bronze agent.
And now I was pedaling a bureau-issued public bicycle toward the site where the ghost story had appeared.
'...I'm totally screwed no matter what.'
Riding a bike in this cold while looking out at the dim surroundings sent chills down my spine and brought all sorts of thoughts to mind...
"Civilians caught in supernatural disasters can request rescue through the number listed on the guidance notices prepared in advance by the bureau."
Yes...
'And I know that number is this mysterious rescue line that sometimes rings even inside ghost stories.'
Listening to the Disaster Management Bureau's ghost story rescue briefing made my head spin.
I mechanically followed the agent, pedaling my bike.
"When entering a supernatural disaster, bicycles are safer than cars."
'Yes. Most vehicles don't work in ghost stories or can cause the worst incidents...'
It seemed fun in the settings, but doing it for real was cold and exhausting.
For the record, the gear was even more abundant than what I'd received as a temporary agent.
Glass Hand Cannon, iron badge, notebook, and... fishing line.
"Never lose the fishing line. It's essential for emergency escape if you're alone in this supernatural disaster."
"...Got it."
It stung a bit remembering the incident from my temporary agent days, but I won't deny it was a little thrilling.
Of course, the most important thing was this.
Which ghost story was I entering right now!
"The supernatural disaster we're entering now to rescue the civilian is..."
The disaster is?
The bronze agent glanced back at my expression and paused before continuing in a slightly kinder tone.
"...No need to be so tense. The reporting civilian won't die while waiting for the explanation."
"...Yes."
The kindness was aimed in the wrong direction...
"Listen to the explanation first."
"Yes."
I get it already.
The bronze agent turned forward again and spoke while riding the bike path through a desolate, empty neighborhood.
"Kim Sol-eum, do you remember the Lucky Mart chain?"
"......"
"It withdrew from Korea 11 years ago, but it's famous in English-speaking countries... Agent?"
"Yes. I've heard of it."
'Oh my god.'
More than heard of it.
I knew it too well—that was the problem.
Lucky Mart, a massive mart chain.
...The ghost story based on it.
Back in the very early days when Darkness Exploration Records was still the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau's records. It was the seventh fan-made ghost story written.
People heading out to a mart late at night stumble upon a Lucky Mart branch.
And enter.
Then disappear.
A massive shopping mall.
A familiar everyday space, but one that maximizes the terror of its mechanically repeating vast scale. An intriguing and chilling tale.
When reading it, that is.
'It's Disruption-class.'
In bureau classification, that's two full ranks above the cabin with the serial killer where I met the bronze agent.
In Daydream Corporation terms, close to B-rank!
Cold sweat dripped as my mind raced.
'...Did more bureau agents enter Lucky Mart to rescue civilians and come out safely...?'
Most... did rescue successfully.
Of course, special circumstances often complicated things in the records. But wikis detail those exceptional cases, so no need to overtense... damn it.
'I want to check it myself.'
I didn't know why the item repair wasn't done.
Memorial GripTok!
I groaned, thinking of my Darkness Exploration Records checker item, still with unset adhesive.
'They said it'd be done after a month.'
The agent imitating a goblin didn't seem to be lying.
'...One of two things.'
Either it didn't repair properly because it came from a merch box.
...Or the past month in ghost stories didn't count as proper 'time.'
'Need countermeasures either way.'
Lucky Mart was so famous I remembered nearly every detail. In that sense, a named ghost story might be fortunate...
'But luck like this won't last forever.'
Remembering the Silver Heart owner whose details I forgot from the Tamra express train still chilled me.
I needed the Memorial GripTok to avoid that again.
'Now that I'm an agent, getting a new one should be easier.'
Plan B: acquire a new one if this doesn't repair. Keep it in mind.
I mulled over the broken Memorial GripTok, carefully packed in cushioning in my pocket.
Meanwhile, the bronze agent's Lucky Mart briefing continued.
"It's a disaster you can only enter after sunset, but the reporter got lucky with timing."
"...May I ask about the reporter's description?"
The bronze agent said calmly.
"Two high school freshmen."
Wow.
'Minors, of all things...'
Couldn't bail midway with a conscience now.
Swallowing a groan, I memorized the description and initial report the bronze agent handed over.
The bronze agent looked at me with sympathy and said,
"...Don't worry too much. 'Can hold out half a day' applies to high schoolers too."
"......Yes."
My conscience was starting to ache for real.
"However, the two agents who entered earlier are in short-term missing status in that disaster."
"......"
"Don't worry. They weren't rescue agents. It was an accident during routine sealing method scouting."
How hopeful. Agent...
"Proceed with caution to avoid mishaps. No rash actions. Absolutely."
"Yes. I'll keep it in mind."
'Do we really have to bring a newbie into this?' nearly escaped, but I held it back.
No way they'd overlook it since they know I'm a career newbie.
Ding-a-lang.
I heard the bike bell's cheerful ring in a far-from-cheerful mood and kept pedaling.
The bronze agent naturally slowed, letting me take the lead.
"...Agent?"
"We'll 'wander' like this for over 20 minutes. Someone who doesn't know the building's location must lead, so go first."
I remember.
Lucky Mart entry condition: Search for the mart within 3km of a former Lucky Mart site, travel 20+ minutes.
In the cold, I silently pedaled through the unfamiliar neighborhood.
With the intent to find a mart in my head, glancing around without navigation, wandering...
"...Bronze Agent."
I stopped the bike.
"I think I found it."
And there, between dim streetlights, stood a fairly large three-story building...
Green-glowing mart sign.
Saengsaeng Mart
A local-brand mart, not a chain—one per neighborhood.
"......"
No.
As I blinked again...
LUCKYMART
The familiar chain logo appeared before the mart.
As if untouched for years, dust covered the sign, some letters dark.
"......"
Looking closer at the dark spots...
Flicker.
Light came on.
LOOKY MART
Different words from what I'd read absentmindedly...
"Don't overthink it."
"...!"
He's right.
LUCKYMART
I'd found the Lucky Mart.
'Good thing I was looking.'
I parked the bike nearby and approached the lit, seemingly open mart.
Enter naturally into 'Lucky Mart.'
After all, Lucky Mart was a ubiquitous chain here—without deliberate focus, no tension...
Sighting it after sunset leads to the delusion it hasn't withdrawn, and you enter.
The automatic doors slid open smoothly, welcoming into bright interior.
A typical mart.
Somewhat rustic, cheap prices—easy to overlook as an old neighborhood store.
1F. Daily necessities.
Children's toys stacked on seasonal discount shelves.
Outdated pop songs playing.
"Is that the idol song you like?"
"No, Mom! They're rookies from MS Enter this time..."
Shoppers passed by.
...A family with an old smartphone, dressed in decade-old fashions.
Shoppers from the past.
Upon entry, everyday shopping scenes appear—revealed as real past customers from Lucky Mart's operating days.
"......"
"Hahaha!"
Shoppers passed by.
Not just outdated, but thin clothes jarring against the winter cold outside.
As if time flowed differently just inside this mart, one door away.
"They're not disaster victims. Ignore them."
"......"
I nodded slowly.
'Reporters are... estimated on B1F.'
Reporter 1: H-Help... We entered a mart, but it's weird...! N-No one sees us, it feels like an old mart.
Reporter 1: Surroundings? Uh, w-well... Around the snack aisle now. Yes, m-my throat's dry...
"Heading to the basement."
I nodded and slowly followed the agent.
This place recreating a past Lucky Mart seemed fine so far.
No, almost nostalgic, wondrous—like stepping into the past.
If I didn't know it was a ghost story.
"......"
Tension squeezed my throat.
This is insane.
All the horrific cases from Darkness Exploration Records flooded my mind.
And Lucky Mart had unusually many sudden incident records...
'C-Calm down.'
The bronze agent wouldn't assign a newbie hardcore rescue difficulty.
Swallowing as I rode the escalator down.
Then... between the up and down escalators, a receipt-like slip fluttered down.
Wait.
'Is that...'
I quickly snatched the receipt-mimicking paper.
"...! You found it already. That's a bureau-placed guidance notice."
Right.
For innocent civilians caught here, hidden from staff eyes—escape aids.
'The reporters probably saw this too.'
I checked the receipt's content.
...Yeah, just reading it spikes anxiety—classic manual ghost story notice.
'Fix the red color and font before calming the reader...'
But the content matched what I knew.
Flipping revealed the same guidance.
'...Not sure which version.'
Some methods no longer worked after exploration rounds accumulated.
Items, targets, structures changed over time.
'Though some don't change.'
Like this.
"......"
Right.
A creepy 'ghost' would be at the entrance I used by now...
Escape easiest by sneaking past when it doesn't see.
But not everyone's lucky.
Reporter 1: S-Sob, yes. Saw the escape method on the notice, but we can't... Nothing to cover the ghost with... Didn't steal anything. C-Can't reach...
'That's where agents come in.'
Specifically, those with usable items and knowledge.
So, secure the reporters and exit before closing.
'Closing turns it into pure horror escape game.'
Very fortunately, near B1F escalator, snack aisle—we spotted two in school uniforms.
"Waaah..."
Two high schoolers huddled in a corner, bawling.
The reporters.
"Want to talk to them yourself?"
"......Yes?"
"Calmly. Practice."
"O-Okay..."
The bronze agent watched warmly.
Cold sweat for different reasons.
I cautiously approached the teens, squatting to meet their eyes.
"Hi. You're the ones who reported, right?"
"......!!"
"Wh-Wha?!"
Thud.
They fell on their butts.
"Y-You're human?! You see us?"
"Yes. Clear as day."
I smiled as much as possible.
"We got the report and came. You've been through a lot."
"Waaaaaa..."
Tears flowing like faucets.
Even if sunset early in winter, only ~3 hours trapped—totally broken.
"Wh-What about the exit ghost? Can we really leave?"
"Of course. No worries."
I pointed back, tossing responsibility to the bronze agent!
"The one behind me is a really competent agent... Yeah, we can get out."
"Wow......"
They compared my scruffy look to the agent's neat one, inching toward him.
'Survival instincts kicking in.'
"Um, are we leaving now?"
"Yes."
One clung like a lifeline.
Good. That's it!
Sighing in relief, I checked my wristwatch.
'From exit now...'
[ 20 : 24 ]
8:24 PM.
In Lucky Mart ghost story, time synced precisely with reality.
'Closing at 11.'
Plenty of time. Can gimmick with items.
The bronze agent seemed about to explain the same.
"Closing at 11, so ample time. Stay calm..."
Na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na na-na~
"......"
...I looked up instinctively.
Lucky Mart jingle played cheerily...
Like an alert tone.
"......!"
Thud thud thud...
Lights began extinguishing from afar.
Minimal lighting for closing prep remained.
...Escalator stopped.
"Why...!"
I clamped a high schooler's mouth and ducked.
Na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na na-na~
"......"
We're screwed.