Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Moonlight Tattoo Shop
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Next to the underground parking lot was a cramped little space that felt like the embodiment of a building owner's greed to cram in one more storefront for extra rental income, no matter what.
The small shop occupying that space... was exactly where I planned to visit today.
A special tattoo parlor.
Does the note about unverified reliability mean it's dangerous?
No.
The root of this urban legend, 'Vacant Space,' is a satire on humanity's tendency to reject good intentions and hunt for sinister motives behind them.
Contextually, this has to be one of the 'good' places that doesn't contradict the civilian interview records.
-Are we going in?
Yes.
I politely pressed the open button next to the frosted glass door.
Shrrk.
The door slid open, revealing the tattoo shop's interior.
At a glance, it looked like an ordinary, modest shop. Slightly worn but cleanly maintained facilities, with a notice on the counter stating they only handled one customer at a time.
Except for the light shining down on the central treatment chair.
Moonlight.
They'd bizarrely installed a transparent LED panel right in the center to let the moon shine through, pouring artificial moonlight onto it.
'Just like the description.'
"Hello?"
As I spoke, the owner emerged from behind the counter.
A sleeveless woman with her neck covered in dense Korean script tattoos. Her curly hair tied back tightly screamed technician, artist at first sight.
"I'd like a tattoo consultation. Is that possible?"
She nodded.
"What's the price range like?"
The tattoo artist pointed at the wall behind the counter with a somewhat innocent expression.
That's right.
They don't take regular cash here. Instead, they accept payment in various items that catch the owner's fancy...
And they give special preference to certain things.
Thanks to that, civilians who accidentally hit the preference have had some truly rare experiences.
So, I've come properly prepared to hit this 'preferred condition'...
"Would something like this work?"
I pulled an item from my briefcase.
Opening the rectangular velvet box revealed...
Shimmering beads sparkling with reflected light.
"Pearl beads."
"...!"
Insanely expensive ocean pearls.
Akoya white-green, 10mm perfect spheres with a pink aurora sheen that looked almost holographic—top quality.
'There are pricier sea-related items, sure, but...'
According to the civilian record, the owner oddly preferred items heavily affected by the passage of time.
And pearls, being protein, are inevitably influenced by time.
'Plus, I could grab these quickly from a Jongno wholesaler during lunch break on a search day.'
To be safe, I'd skipped South Sea pearls, which age slower, and selected Akoya...
"What do you think?"
"......"
Nod nod nod nod nod.
The intense reaction came back.
The tattoo artist stared blankly at the pearls' luster, then carefully took the box I offered.
Joy flickered in her innocent eyes.
'What does she even use them for?'
No idea.
Anyway, she swiftly stowed the box behind the counter and politely escorted me to the center, under the moonlight.
"Thank you."
Soon, she brought a large glass of lemon drink and a thick booklet.
Just like the description so far.
I glanced at the booklet's cover.
If the sandglass keychain got 'Basic #3,' what would million-won pearls get me?
Maybe too capitalist a thought.
'This is a ghost story tattoo shop, after all. Material tricks might not work on the enigmatic owner...'
"......"
It... worked.
'Thank you.'
Money rules everywhere.
So these designs are what my payment qualifies for.
'Hmm.'
I examined them carefully.
I flipped through the booklet.
Water droplets splashing into constellations, polar bear claws artfully overlapping Inuit patterns, an ethereal pastel seascape at dusk.
Incredibly cool designs filled it.
If I were really here for a tattoo I'd love, I'd be gushing and deliberating...
But that wasn't important to me.
'These tattoos vanish the next day anyway.'
More precisely...
The tattoos from here get 'absorbed' by the recipient.
They grant special abilities based on the design!
'I absolutely can't miss this chance.'
The [Darkness Exploration Records] must have dozens, hundreds of legends granting talents or abilities.
But ones you can get actively, mildly, without losing anything? Almost none.
In this world full of mad legends demanding you sell your body, soul, or at least your conscience.
'Moonlight Tattoo Shop' was a true ray of light in the darkness.
'Gotta snag something good.'
I furiously flipped pages, deducing abilities from designs.
-Deer, I'd like a closer look too!
Oh, right. Brown might read more into them.
I carefully pulled the doll from my pocket and set it before the booklet.
-Oh, the artist's aesthetic sense is decent. In my opinion... hmm?
The tattoo artist eyed Brown with sparkling eyes.
Then picked him up.
"...! W-Wait a sec..."
"......"
-Hold on. Handle me gently; my stuffing doesn't move well... Ahem, uh-huh...
She put Brown in a basin, slicked her hands with aroma oil expertly, and kneaded the doll into shape.
...Massage?
-Fuuu... All the fatigue from shoots just melted away...
The doll sounded like a celebrity exhausted from his schedule...
It was shocking, something I'd never seen in any legend.
Heartwarming...?
'...Time to pick a design.'
I thanked the tattoo artist as she handed back the glossy Brown, then resumed flipping furiously.
But no designs screamed obvious powers. Just an oddly high number sea-themed ones.
Hmm. Then.
"Do you have any recommendations?"
What if I asked outright?
"Any symbols in here related to courage, or bold daring without fear?"
Yeah. What I needed most was this, ultimately.
'Coward escape...!'
The various abilities tempted, but my core, strongest special ability was the [Darkness Exploration Records].
Information.
To use it right, rational judgment via solid mentality was priority one.
'Can't keep living with this faint-at-any-moment heart...!'
How many near-death scares from this coward's ticker already?!
'Chance to enter Moonlight Tattoo Shop via this legend is once only.'
So use it where most urgent!
Asking directly wasn't in records, so nerve-wracking, but luckily she flipped the booklet and pointed to one.
The design was...
"......A tomato?"
Yes.
A tree bearing tomatoes.
Bold strokes from a rough nib dynamically traced branches, leaves, and fruit.
Lonely, rugged, poetic.
Color only on the red fruit. The tomatoes.
'How's this related to courage?'
No clue, honestly. The artist only communicated via pre-written booklet, no explanations.
But her recommendation, so reliable.
"Yes. I'll take this one."
She nodded happily and took the booklet back.
"Ah, location here..."
I rolled up my left sleeve.
If getting one, near my existing tattoo spot anyway...
"...!"
Her expression changed suddenly; she stood.
'What?'
She quickly pointed to a wall notice.
Pointed at my arm repeatedly.
"...!"
No way.
"You can see these letters?"
Nod nod.
Obvious question face. She's a legend denizen too, huh.
No, not the point now.
"These letters mean I can't get a new tattoo?"
Nod.
"What about the other arm or back?"
Nod.
"......So right now, there's no way for me to get a new tattoo at all?"
Nod... slightly.
Damn!
"I didn't choose these letters myself, is there really no other way? I really wanted one..."
I slumped my shoulders like I was utterly dejected.
She looked flustered, pondering, then pulled something from the counter.
'Ad pamphlet?'
She flipped it open and jabbed at text.
"...!!"
Wait.
So this is actually... an enhancement procedure?
-Not bad! Theme park mascot and mountain lodge laborer tattoos are a bit much. Wouldn't a more aesthetic choice suit you better?
-Cuckoo, constellations, bagua... So many beautiful patterns! Best to cover them stylishly!
I looked down at my arm.
"Can I do both?"
She nodded.
'New tattoo limited to one, but cover-up as exception, allowing both.'
But instinct told me.
'Picking one will get better results.'
It's a shop; they give better tattoos proportional to payment.
Better one over splitting value.
"......"
I pondered.
And...
"Please just cover this one."
I pointed to one tattoo.