Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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The Moonlight Tattoo Parlor I revisited was darker than last time.
Unlike before, when it had felt somehow warm, it now carried a chilling air.
Was it because I entered through the back door? Or...
'Maybe because the moonlight is weak.'
The circular moonlight descending from the massive central procedure machine took the shape of a new moon today.
'...Probably not open for business.'
......I'd never seen a record like this.
I cautiously stepped further inside, one paw at a time... and met the eyes at the dark counter.
"...!"
The tattoo artist with curly hair and dense Korean tattoo script inked across his neck.
The owner of this place.
The tattoo artist looked at me with darker eyes than before, then lifted a notice...
Oh.
I hurriedly spat the stamp out of my mouth.
My body expanded, reverting to its original human form. Of course, it was still a child's size, half-grown. The moment my oral structure returned, I urgently opened my mouth.
"S-sorry for coming through the back door..."
My face was seized.
"...!!"
The tattoo artist gripped my face tightly with one gloved black hand, scrutinizing me from every angle—left, right, front, back...
Black eyes peered into me.
Expanded pupils. Pitch black. Pitch black. Something's off. Don't humans usually have visible whites? Why no whites?
The tattoo artist loomed gigantic. Growing larger. His dark green curly hair lengthened, filling the air like seaweed.
The tattoo parlor's interior—which I'd thought small but cozy and professional—now felt alien, a space of incomprehensible technology and aesthetics we couldn't grasp.
'What? What is this?'
My head filled with confusion, danger signals flooding my mind, and in this ghost story...
No.
"Um."
I moved my mouth.
"Should I stay in cat form?"
......
Thud.
The tattoo artist released his grip.
I quickly shoved the stamp back in my mouth. No time to feel disgust at reinserting what I'd chewed and spat out—my body shrank, turning cat again.
"......Meow."
Everything returned to normal.
I was back in the cozy, professional little tattoo shop, facing the kind, eccentric tattoo artist.
"Is this okay now?"
And I spoke in human words.
"...!"
No. I really spoke human words?
"Uh... uh."
The tattoo artist hurriedly rummaged behind the counter and pointed to another notice.
"......"
Come to think of it.
'The owner of Moonlight Tattoo never says a word.'
And the signboard writing I'd seen before entering.
'...It wasn't Korean.'
Yet I could read it. No, without this unease, I'd have kept thinking it was Korean.
The tattoos on the tattoo artist's neck that I'd assumed were Korean script... maybe not.
"......"
Indeed. A ghost-story-worthy oddity.
'Can't let my guard down.'
The owner not harming us only meant no malice during tattoos. Remember that.
But I'd confirmed something from that reaction just now.
"...You examined me because I came through the 'back door' as a child, right? ...Children are more dangerous if infected."
!
The tattoo artist looked up.
Yes.
'This shop takes payment in sea-related items.'
Plus sightings from the mermaid graveyard mentioning a back door.
Considering back doors are usually for 'staff only,' I'd suspected...
"...Owner."
I cautiously extended a front paw.
"...I found this shop's back door in the ruins of a deep-sea city."
The tattoo artist's eyes swirled.
"Is this shop... originally from there?"
Silence.
"Are you from that city?"
Silence.
"Why did it become like that? Children are dying, deceived..."
Sadness flickered in the tattoo artist's eyes.
Water filled them instead of swirls.
I wet my parched muzzle and opened my mouth.
"Children are still there right now. Could they escape through the front door via this shop..."
Thud.
The wall rumbled.
The sound of the tattoo artist slamming his pen against it.
A thick pen line trembled, forming massive, forceful letters...
"I see. Understood."
My heart felt like it would burst, but my mouth smoothly replied.
"...Is it because they're infected? If so, then..."
Please.
"Can you tell me about the infection source? Those strange clusters of flesh lumps...?"
......
The tattoo artist picked up his pen again.
And with trembling hand, scribbled on a small post-it note behind the counter.
Tiny letters pressed hard.
Just two characters. I could see the motion of the strokes.
Finally, the tattoo artist turned the paper, showing me the completed word.
"......"
Huh?
Why can't I comprehend it?
But though I can't understand, I can pronounce it.
So... so.
"■■!"
A shock struck my head.
Images swirled. Strange lifeforms descending from the glowing water surface silently clinging to the outskirts like ticks tearing them off but they reattach infiltrating the great wave city researchers suicide death pollution bursting from underground screams escape attempts final warning sinking conch shell on top no! Polluted children children infection sever the umbilical screams beware children it's hell remove the conch shell don't trust infection rampant...
"Cough."
Blood erupted.
Not from the mouth, but nose, eyes—everywhere. Every mucous membrane orifice burst from the shock.
The tattoo artist startled and immediately poured lemon drink into a bowl, offering it. Not sure if cats can drink it, but I lapped it up.
Focusing on the sensation of my tongue drawing in the drink, I tried my best to shake off the mental image...
It was lemony with a bloody tang.
And amid the chaotic mind, insights flashed.
'Just now.'
The immense meaning packed into those two characters had bombarded me.
Is this the original language of the mermaid graveyard? I don't think I grasped it fully. No, no human could.
But one thing I was sure of.
'This tattoo artist is originally from the mermaid graveyard ghost story.'
And for some reason...
'Conch shell.'
That item called the angel's sigh was deeply tied to this incident...
The bizarre part was two diametrically opposed images fused to the conch shell.
'Healing and death.'
Chilling.
......From a child's perspective, what would the conch shell look like?
"Tattoo artist."
I swallowed the sour and bloody taste.
"What do you think of that conch shell-shaped item you recalled?"
The tattoo artist moved his lips... showing only the pronunciation.
I read it.
Translating to words I could understand...
Uncleanness. A creepy feeling. The powerful afterimage of a horrific event that rationally poses no threat but instinctively repulses. Revulsion.
And the space around the tattoo artist began to waver again...
"I see. Understood. ...Thank you."
This is as far as it goes.
Having calmed the tattoo artist, I slowly pieced together the clues I'd gathered in my mind.
"......"
Detailed puzzle pieces began fitting into my vague grand plan.
Though it was a hypothesis I'd created.
'If it's right.'
Precariously, right to the very end, using it all... there was something worth trying.
'Good.'
My mind cleared.
Now I needed conditions to back the plan.
And abilities to fulfill those conditions.
Conveniently, I was in a shop where I might buy such abilities.
"Um, now I'd like to talk tattoos..."
The tattoo artist nodded as if understanding, promptly showing another notice.
"...Yes. I'm not getting a tattoo right now."
Considering the insane power of the tomato tree tattoo sticker, I needed extreme caution with any tattoo here...
Even with good intentions, subjective standards could lead to irreversible results.
So instead of permanent ink, I requested a temporary effect like last time.
"...Something like that type. Do you have sticker versions?"
The tattoo artist tilted his head, reaching for the tattoo-illustrated book. Like the 'Royal Special Premium No. 1 (Customizable)' from before...
No!
"It's fine. Basic version, please."
Finally, a normal booklet appeared. Phew.
'Because I can't pay for premium...'
Me, a penniless beggar...
No pearl money either. I'd considered scavenging from the mermaid graveyard, but seeing the tattoo artist's reaction now, good thing I didn't.
I nodded at the very simple tattoo design he pointed to.
"Perfect. That one, please."
Now the real issue.
I forced my mouth open.
"Um, the cost..."
Tap tap.
The tattoo artist tapped a notice.
......!
......
"Wh-where do I write it?"
Thus, I had the peculiar experience of writing a review with my front paw: 'The owner is kind and professional.'
Where my review ends up... uh, best not think about it now...
The important thing is this.
'Safely escape the insane ghost story with maximum people.'
And I'd just acquired the ability to form its foundation.
In quadruped form, I politely bid farewell and ended my second visit to the Moonlight Tattoo Parlor.
The promised time with the agents approached.
"Agent Bronze."
Ryu Jae-gwan turned.
His senior, who'd just waved goodbye to the kids after playing, approached.
"Agent Choi."
The moment the children vanished from sight, the smile faded from Agent Choi's face.
"Gone."
"......"
"Looks like there's really no way this time. Bronze."
"I."
Ryu Jae-gwan gritted his teeth.
"That's why I said we should leave today...!"
"......"
"Breaking rules. Giving false hope..."
"I know."
Agent Choi habitually moved to bite a cigarette, realized his child form, and lowered his hand with a hollow laugh.
"But you gotta try to the end or regrets linger."
"......"
"That's how I see it."
Ryu Jae-gwan quietly clenched his fist.
"And we didn't break the real important rule. ...Not revealing what this place truly is."
"......"
Yes.
The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau already knew.
Many agents had confirmed this during missions.
And all had tried rescuing children as adults, only to fail miserably.
The children transformed into general infected, bodies exploding in death.
After the agent suffered severe mental trauma and nightmares, never returning, the Bureau stopped informing new agents of the truth.
"Grape doesn't know yet."
"......"
"Let's keep it that way. Got it?"
Ryu Jae-gwan nodded.
That instant.
Swish.
A small shadow moved near the alley.
The two agents whirled, instantly alert.
Ryu Jae-gwan squinted.
"Just now, a cat shadow..."
"Cat?"
Agent Choi let out a hollow laugh.
"Pfft, probably one of those... cat-lookalikes or whatever."
"......"
Yes.
Here, you can't trust appearances.
They couldn't succumb to this ecstatic scene seen through children's eyes, having glimpsed the truth beneath.
Ryu Jae-gwan slowly crouched, checking beyond the alley.
And saw the unexpected.
Human-sized wind-up doll ornaments walking the alley.
"...Daydream."
"...!"
Daydream Corporation's Field Exploration Team.
Perhaps due to those eerie animal masks, they always appeared as 'cute animal-adorned water fountains'—distinct even in children's eyes.
Same this time.
A beautiful butterfly perched, a cute pony form, and a friendly goat.
Cute ornaments to a child's eyes.
But.
"Hm."
Agent Choi approached silently, pulling out something sparkling wing-shaped.
A glass sun catcher.
Sun catcher.
Crude like child-made, yet emitting strange light without sunlight. Holding it to his eye...
"Yep. Wow, those guys are skilled. Look fine?"
Ryu Jae-gwan likewise raised his sun catcher—aka sun grabber—to check them.
Three in suits. Animal masks. Butterfly, pony, and...
Goat.
"......"
That one.
Ryu Jae-gwan gripped the glass, blood chilling.
He recognized it.
'Kim Sol-eum's coworker...!'
The man in the black goat mask from Se-gwang Industrial High.
Recalling his conversation with the buffalo-masked man, he clearly had deep ties to Kim Sol-eum.
'Then.'
...If he discerned Kim Sol-eum's features from a child's face.
And investigated separately.
'No.'
Couldn't let that damned company contact and drag back the person who'd barely steeled himself to quit and job-hunt into their cult den...!
Ryu Jae-gwan's mouth opened on its own.
"Agent."
"Hm?"
"Now... wouldn't it be better to subdue and eject them?"
"Oh."
Agent Choi shrugged.
"Bronze. One day left—why stir up trouble?"
Of course, he knew the Bureau was aware that damned company sneaked in via their secret passage.
Still, they watched because clashing would only increase civilian casualties.
Manpower belonged where it could save more people, definitively end the supernatural disaster.
"Just keep eyes on the kids, in case."
"......"
"...Is what I'd say!"
A twisted smile spread on Agent Choi's face.
He eyed one staffer.
Butterfly mask. Gold mark stamped.
"...Elite team's here."
Malice flickered in Agent Choi's eyes.
"Stick 'em in a glass prison for obstructing official duties, and we'll squeeze out prime intel."
"...!"
"Let's go."
The agents moved.
"D-Deputy!"
Jin Na-sol clutched her head at close range, eyeing the idiot sprinting over.
"Ov-there, ov-there...!"
And the baby mermaids chasing him.
But no tails.
"Special specimens."
Jin Na-sol's index and thumb nails extended long, revealing sharp, eerie silver thread lines within.
"Annoying."