Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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Something felt off.
I scanned the dining table. There sat versions of myself, each taking the form of various horrors.
These were my contaminations, now visualized for my awareness through the cosmic mall's VIP shopping service.
And when I asked to remove them all, the lizard had said...
"...You're going to permanently destroy parts of me?"
It sounded like... destroying my contaminated mind itself.
Like amputating limbs to halt an infection.
Of course, there might be unavoidable cases.
But usually, it would be an irreversible choice for when recovery was utterly impossible.
"...Is it impossible to just remove the contamination there? I mean, restoring the contaminated mind to its original state. Permanently."
"That's a service not available from the cosmic mall."
"...Is it possible elsewhere?"
"That's an item where information provision is unavailable."
I turned my head.
The yellow mascot was shaking its head.
No
I looked down at my right arm.
In this horror world where bodies could regenerate, limbs sometimes got severed.
You could recover from it here.
So cutting away and destroying one's own self... wasn't that even more extreme than actually amputating limbs?
"......"
Did Section Chief Lee Jaheon really intend to suggest this method to me?
"Let me rephrase the question."
I doubted it.
'In that case.'
I looked up.
"Rather than destroying my contaminated selves, I want to be able to recognize and manage them myself."
The problem with contamination was that it morphed into something else without my knowledge.
But if I knew exactly what mutations lurked within me, I could suppress them—or in the worst case, even utilize them.
"...So I can control myself."
The gray lizard, meeting my eyes, nodded.
"I see."
"I'd like to purchase an item that can help with that. Is it possible?"
"Yes."
The lizard moved its hand immediately.
As if I'd chosen the correct answer.
"...!"
Then, from the far end of the table shrouded in mist, one item was swiftly pulled toward me by excited tentacles.
"With the personal shopper's authority, I recommend a suitable item."
It was... a small machine.
It resembled a surgical tool, but the robotic hand-like end bore a finely crafted needle, and above it, a crescent-shaped lamp illuminated the device.
I already knew something similar.
The tattoo machine from the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
This was like a miniature version of that sentimental horror's inexplicably bizarre tool, right before my eyes.
Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattoo Machine
Produced briefly before Moonlight Tattoo artists shut down en masse due to some incident, sparing only a handful of survivors. We've acquired one of the remaining three units.
Pretty
Unique
The tentacles that rushed over proudly waved several strands like arms, then flinched as if checking the lizard's mood before vanishing into the mist.
My heart pounded.
"...What exactly does this provide?"
"The Moonlight Tattoo artist's spirit embedded in the device tattoos what the user needs."
Similar to the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
"Tattoos made with this device are fluid. They adapt to the user's environment, shifting into the most suitable form."
This was different.
But for me, who would keep diving into horrors facing different contamination risks, it was even better.
'Did they have this in mind from the start?'
"Would you like to purchase it?"
I nodded.
"Yes. I'd like to buy it."
"Thank you. The price is 159,999,999 won."
"......"
I nearly choked.
"Is there any other form of payment possible? Like trading in an item you're acquiring..."
"What item?"
Hold on.
'These guys don't seem like acquisition specialists no matter how I look at it.'
I had no idea what these aliens did with the human money they collected, but items from alien shops were already brutally overpriced beyond cost.
Given their business savvy... they'd probably lowball any trade-in hard.
'Of course, them buying now is a convenience too.'
After some deliberation, I pulled out the jade plaque.
The reward from the Pleasant Park's Black Tortoise Team 3 leader.
A Disaster Management Bureau-issued item crafted at the Barricade Workshop.
"How about this?"
"Not an item the cosmic mall acquires."
"Hm, is it something you've never seen before?"
"Yes."
As expected.
'Alien shops have no ties to the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.'
That actually worked in my favor.
"I'm not selling this—I'm offering it as currency."
I held the jade plaque out to the lizard.
"It's accepted in various places. Useful for acquiring many of the items you sell."
"Please provide specific examples."
I happily shared a few stories.
Mostly horrors derived from East Asian legends and folktales; occasionally European or American fairy tales accepted jade plaques as currency too.
'Hm. So basically, it passes in horrors from various cultural folktales.'
The lizard silently examined the jade plaque.
Then, after a pause...
"Verified. Accepted as currency payment."
That's right.
'Nice.'
However, the lizard took all five jade plaques I offered.
'...Not nice.'
But considering the price, it seemed reasonably valued.
Anyway, the machine was now in my hands.
Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattoo Machine.
"Would you like assistance with use?"
"No, thanks."
I pressed the device to my arm.
Over where my existing tattoos were.
'Press the switch like this to activate, I guess.'
However.
Whirr—
The mini tattoo machine, emitting soft light and noise, detached from my arm and floated independently.
"...!"
It began engraving something below my left collarbone.
As if gathering moonlight to burn the tip.
Whirr—
Within it.
I felt the anguish and artistic sensibility of whoever was embedded in the tattoo machine.
"The customer's desire was clear." "To master oneself!" "The most primal and vital task. Yet with countless identities and obsessions in the heart, unifying them is hard." "Label each with an index, assign docking points." "So they can be sorted and assembled at will."
⟨ Heart-Master Tattoo ⟩
A burning sensation reached my heart,
and as the tattoo machine's light faded, I hurriedly unbuttoned to check my bare skin.
"...!"
A star of letters revealed itself.
The intricate tattoo formed repeating circular puzzles like a wooden frame, as if depicting its halo.
Words in unknown languages filled the machine's size, meticulously interlocking into multiple rings.
Ample blank spaces remained between them, and I understood...
Now, the obsessions forming the pattern would check and balance each other.
Through the tattoo, the customer could recognize himself and shape his desired self.
The disposable machine's light and noise fully ceased.
Then, with a click, the crescent lamp turned off completely.
"Usage complete confirmed."
"......"
I turned to look at those seated at the table.
No one was there.
No, they were me from the start.
Now confirmed as part of me via the tattoo, visual confirmation was no longer needed for decisions.
"...Hoo."
I gazed at the tattoo again.
And touched one word that looked like a corrupted computer font.
The bell from Sekwang High School rang.
"...!"
I realized I could instantly don a high school uniform and become a horror game entity living in different times and lights from intruders, if I wished.
No matter the side effects.
'...No, wait.'
So... this tattoo didn't just organize and display my mind?
It sorted my contaminations so I could 'pull them out' when needed?
This is insane.
'Worth 150 million.'
Of course, whether I'd use it was another matter, but for now, being free from immediate sway by contamination was key.
'Good.'
I carefully buttoned up, avoiding the worn Gothic font mimicking the Nameless Radiant Church.
Fortunately or not, a golden ornate script and small claw-scratched word loomed larger in the center.
'Mascot and... cat?'
A strange familiarity emanated.
Were these two friendly toward me?
...Anyway, this incident seemed resolved for now.
Hoo.
"Shall we proceed with the next shopping?"
The lizard asked as if waiting.
I glanced at the Nameless Radiant Church holy law fragment still on the table.
'Need to deal with that too.'
Buy something to store it safely, or similar.
The issue was I had no more big payments left.
Best would be rushing to Daydream Corporation to sell it, but as a spy, timing wasn't right...
"Do you think I might forget that item again after shopping?"
"Probability indicates it's possible."
Hm.
Penniless me pondered, then asked.
"Do you offer storage services by any chance?"
"Kim Sol-eum."
"......"
"Kim Sol-eum."
Gasp.
I opened my eyes.
The lizard stared at me from across the table.
But not gray this time.
"Section Chief."
"Yes."
White lizard head with red pupils—Section Chief Lee Jaheon stood before me. Hoo.
"Any inconveniences with the VIP shopping?"
"No. It helped a lot..."
Then I noticed.
A pink plush doll now sat before Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
"...??"
Why was Brown there?
"Th-that's mine... I think I had it in my pocket."
"Removed it so it wouldn't interfere with shopping."
"......"
I asked with effort.
"Are you... still hearing Brown, I mean the plush doll, speak right now?"
"Yes."
"I can't hear it."
"I see."
"What does it say?"
"Sighs, excessive excitement, blame, and threats."
Ugh!
"Judged to have no value as information."
"Yes. Yes..."
I hurriedly and carefully lifted the plush from the table and tucked it into my front pocket.
At that moment.
-Oh my god. Finally.
"...Brown?!"
-Deer! Oh, we can talk again...
I yanked the plush from my pocket to check it.
But the voice cut off.
'Huh?'
I slipped Brown back into the pocket.
-Deer? Can you hear me?
Only one change.
'The tattoo above my left chest.'
Did being near my tattoo count as being in a horror?
'Oh my god.'
"Yeah. ...Looks like keeping you here lets us keep talking."
-Near the heart. Fateful! Good. I'll generously forgive leaving me alone with that deranged bore for 23 minutes. I'm a good friend, after all.
-Now chase him out. Quick.
"W-wait."
I quickly soothed Brown, then said to Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
"Section Chief... during shopping, I saw someone similar to you."
"That's not Section Chief Lee Jaheon. But..."
"'We' are, right?"
"Yes."
"So you already know everything I did?"
"Yes."
I asked awkwardly.
"Including what I did at the end."
"The item storage service request?"
Right.
-Please store this item safely.
-Yes.
I'd entrusted the root of all evil—the Nameless Radiant Church holy law fragment—to the lizards... no, the cosmic mall.
'Seemed cheaper than outright removal or buying a control item.'
And that prediction held.
...Still expensive, though.
-800,999,999 won for 100 days, planetary residence standard.
-...Do you do installments?
Installments, of all things.
Never imagined using a financial service I'd never tried in reality... in a horror world.
'Daydream would pay more when they buy it, so this works.'
Sell it the moment timing allows.
Fortunately, per Section Chief Lee Jaheon's explanation, I could access anytime.
The SIM chip I'd placed under my tongue vanished without trace; now, accessing the cosmic mall would reactivate it.
"You're connected to us now, Kim Sol-eum."
...Wanted to ask if that was contamination too, but it didn't show in the tattoo, so no need to be rude. The guy's strong enough to crush iron barehanded.
Besides, he'd spotted my contaminations every time and handled them gratefully.
"Thank you. I feel more clear-headed thanks to you."
"Yes. But the choices are at your discretion, Kim Sol-eum."
"...Do you think I chose well?"
The lizard's snout curved slightly.
"Yes."
"...!"
"You chose well."
As before, a few times.
"......"
Indeed.
I hadn't noticed during shopping since the lizard head and speech were similar, but face-to-face, it hit.
'Subtly different.'
What was it? This lizard felt like it had intellect and emotion, personality... hard to pin.
Of course, if these alien reptiles shared one mind and feelings, maybe my bond with Section Chief Lee Jaheon was biasing me.
'I'm not even D Squad anymore, yet he keeps looking out.'
Probably did for other D Squad seniors too.
A grateful boss whose thoughts I was curious about in many ways.
"Thank you, Section Chief."
I thanked him again and escorted the done-with-business Section Chief Lee Jaheon out of the motel.
Instead of the door, he slipped quietly out the window.
-Contact us if problems arise.
Leaving those words.
"......"
-Done?
Yeah.
-Hoo. Finally gone.
-No plans to leave this horrific place ourselves?
Heh heh heh.
"There are."
-Oh?
"Work tomorrow."
And.
"I'm a spy infiltrating a government agency now."
-Show business, oh my god.