Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Buying All Items from the Alien Shop
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Wow.’
My hands were shaking a little.
It was my first time burning through 130 million just to buy a few items.
Still, having spent a few thousand before made it a bit better.
‘Let’s spend it wisely.’
They’d all serve as stepping stones for survival.
I boldly hit the purchase button.
Soon, space-time ripped open in the air just like before, and the delivery box appeared. I waited with a pounding heart for the box to drop to the floor…
But,
“...??”
The delivery box stayed floating in the air.
Because someone was holding it with extremely polite movements.
…Tentacles.
“……!?”
Tap tap.
The tentacle gently shook the delivery box. As if asking, ‘Shall I leave it here?’
“...! Yes, please put it on the floor.”
Then the box smoothly settled onto the floor.
“Thank you.”
But the tentacle didn’t disappear right away.
Instead, it deftly pulled something out from the rift in space-time and held it out to me.
It was a small, shiny golden card letter.
“...Thank you?”
As I took the card, the tentacle waved as if saying goodbye, then vanished into the rift.
“…….”
Hmm.
It seemed the Alien Shop had started treating me like a VIP…
‘That’s… good, right?’
I decided to keep the thank-you card for now. It was dazzling in gold…
As expected, you couldn’t expect design from the Alien Shop. Whatever…
‘What matters is the item performance.’
I turned my gaze to the delivery box.
Unboxing time.
“Whew.”
As I opened the box, the bulkiest item caught my eye first.
The one priced at 28 million won.
‘Happy Maker.’
It was a bright pastel box.
A rectangular case that could hold liquid digestive aid or vitamin drinks had twelve glow sticks about the size of highlighters plugged in.
But needles protruded from the tips of these glow sticks.
The same name as the one sold in the urban legend ‘Delusional Home Shopping’…
The perfect painkiller.
It was exactly as described.
I looked at the explanation on the box.
Fast and comfortable shot
Say goodbye to your pain!
This stick-shaped auto-injector presses against the skin to automatically administer a shot, completely eliminating pain for a certain time in a fast and comfortable way.
‘It’s real overtechnology.’
Even if the mechanism is supernatural rather than scientific.
It was true that extreme pain clouded judgment.
I could assert that from experience pushing through all sorts of injuries and wounds so far. This would come in handy someday.
‘I hope I never have to use it… ha.’
I abandoned the vain hope…
‘Filthy urban legend world…’
I decided to carry this item carefully.
Even though the back had fine print with a very horrific ‘additional usage’.
Yeah. I’ll never use it for that.
‘Only as a painkiller.’
…How does a urban legend resident with a TV for a head even take headache meds… No, never mind.
I quickly shook off the image and praised Brown a few words to make him feel proud, then looked back into the box.
Whew.
‘Next item…’
Two items came into view at once.
A dusty, ominous-looking ancient tome completely sealed in dark red wax.
And in the corner next to it, modern, neat eco-friendly cushioning wrap rolled up.
Yes, the packaging itself was the item, with nothing inside.
Nothing but a barcode and engraved text on the surface.
Think it’s nothing special?
No.
‘It’s here. Armor!’
Because it was ‘cushioning packaging’ with unique defensive properties.
It would become my lifeline.
I carefully stored the packaging with delicate hands. For use at the right time.
And turning my head…
I stared coldly at the ancient tome.
Necronomicon.
Aka the Book of the Dead.
The archetypal grimoire filled with forbidden knowledge.
It had appeared consistently in stories for decades, becoming synonymous with evil grimoires.
And naturally, it occupied a spot in [Darkness Exploration Records], which I had read.
So, what are the clichéd features of the Necronomicon?
1. Reading it drives you mad.
2. Made from human skin.
“…….”
Yes.
Human skin… correct.
So the cover image is typically a face screaming in agony.
The dark red wax sealing this tome I received faintly showed traces of that.
‘Ha.’
I really didn’t want to touch it.
The urban legend host themed after an American talk show knows the Necronomicon? Not surprising at all…
But unfortunately.
‘It’s not the Necronomicon you know.’
There’s that, punk.
I silently grabbed the firmly wax-sealed ‘Necronomicon’ and stored it in my forearm.
‘Whew.’
Thus, the ‘intimidation item’ was safely stored.
Next, I carefully stowed the familiar Nostalgia Candy.
‘This is an emergency recovery item.’
Even if severely contaminated, this could provide first aid until escape.
‘…Good.’
And finally.
I focused on the small red button casually placed in the corner of the box.
By process of elimination, this had to be the item.
Ever heard that internet urban legend?
Someone gives you a button and asks, ‘Press this, someone dies, and you get 100 million deposited. Will you press it?’
It looked exactly like the red button from that.
Looking closely, there was small text on the side. But…
‘I don’t know the language.’
I got help from Brown here.
As expected. Pressing it allows ‘emergency escape with alien help.’
‘I hope it’s worth the 60 million.’
It was almost a gamble, but no regrets.
‘The Alien Shop doesn’t scam.’
If it were another urban legend, I’d imagine horrors like ‘pressing this makes my brain emergency-escape my skull to become ingredients,’ but… let’s trust the Alien Shop’s reliability.
“All done.”
I stored all the shopping spoils in the tattoo on my forearm.
Even a human fully contaminated by urban legends could enter and exit, so these items should be fine.
…Though I don’t want proof of that.
‘Whew.’
Enough thinking.
Fortunately, shopping and organizing hadn’t consumed the whole day, so I could catch up on sleep in the bright daylight.
And when I woke again.
The news I’d briefly forgotten came crashing in.
[Go Yeongeun: Did you check the intranet?]
[Go Yeongeun: Regular personnel transfer document just dropped!]
“...!”
Regular personnel transfer.
Meaning D Squad’s vacancy… would be filled soon.
“…….”
Who could it be?
A few days later.
“Hello.”
“Ah, yes yes.”
I saw the newly transferred D Squad employee in the office.
Same rank as me: assistant manager.
Seemed around my age before entering urban legends.
The glasses-wearing employee glanced me up and down.
“Ah, you’re that assistant manager? Promoted in 60 days?”
“Yes.”
“So basically a newbie?”
“…….”
I stared at him silently.
“Ooh, look at that glare. What, expect to be treated like a three-year veteran assistant manager?”
And he grinned.
“No way. Please take care of me, senior.”
“Yeah. Heard you’re quick on the uptake?”
“Haha…”
“This Field Exploration Team is all group projects. Quick wits! That’s the answer.”
Is that so?
“Whining to be treated like a senior after early promotion, getting blacklisted, no help, and dying? Happens all the time?”
He casually scanned the empty office.
“The original deputy and assistant here got their hands cut, contaminated, all messed up, right? Could’ve been you next.”
“…….”
I slightly turned my head.
A cleanly emptied desk spot came into view.
Originally Park Minseong’s seat.
The day after the regular transfer notice, when I came to work, all his items, cups, and frames were gone.
“Right. Could be you next, assistant manager.”
“...What?”
“So many dangerous tasks. I’ll do my best to support you from now on. Please take care of me.”
I politely offered a handshake.
“Uh…”
The employee, who looked a bit uncomfortable, soon dismissed it as his imagination and shook my hand.
And shortly after.
“Manager! Yoon Johun, assistant manager. Please take care of me!”
Lee Jaheon, entering the office, nodded to the new squad member’s greeting.
“Yes.”
“Haha, know our name initials are the same? Feels like fate working under you, squad leader?”
“Yes.”
“...No, I mean… uh, fateful, right?”
“No.”
“…….”
The new squad member, Yoon Johun, who utterly failed at small talk, approached me whispering as soon as the squad leader left for a meeting.
“Hey. D Squad leader really got some mental issues? Heard the rumors.”
“You think so?”
“You heard the talk, how don’t you get it? Felt like talking to free AI just now.”
He sighed deeply.
“Ah, fuck, company’s perfect for catching mental illness already… Sigh. Is the leader really like that?”
“Squad Leader Lee Jaheon takes good care of squad members…”
“So? Death’s the end anyway? Doesn’t get hints, does his own thing in Darkness, pissed off A Squad leader too. Rumors true?”
“…….”
“Yep. Fuck, watch out too. Ah, this squad of all…”
Assistant Manager Yoon Johun grumbled, said he was going to the bathroom, and didn’t return for dozens of minutes.
“…….”
I have to work with that guy…
‘Yeah. Let’s watch variety shows after work.’
This conversation calmed my mind a bit.
Right.
Strictly speaking, the previous ones were insanely lucky breaks.
‘This is the default for company life…’
Be grateful he wasn’t my mentor.
I quickly settled my heart.
And that afternoon.
“Briefing on tomorrow’s Darkness entry.”
Squad Leader Lee Jaheon, back from the meeting, distributed the PDF and began the briefing.
The new assistant manager was shocked.
“Grade undetermined? No, a Darkness without a manual?”
“No.”
The lizard looked at Assistant Manager Yoon Johun with vertical pupils.
“The solution in the Dream Essence Collector measures different grades each clear.”
“...!”
Variable?
“B-but why give it to regular team D Squad, not elite?”
“Not just D Squad. All regular Field Exploration staff attempt entry.”
The lizard squad leader turned to me.
“It’s a Darkness entered via dreams, with high entry failure rate.”
“……!”
“Basically: On a full moon night, read a specific book and sleep, you may wake in a nighttime school.”
Wait.
“If the school is ‘Segwang Industrial High School,’ you’ve successfully entered the Darkness.”
Segwang Industrial High School.
“…….”
I know this urban legend.
But it’s not just knowing…
‘…It’s the one I participated in.’