Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Death End Alley
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Death End Alley.
A bizarre alley with the vibe of those once-trendy hotspot backstreets.
If a civilian gets dragged in just for fun after downloading the flyer app, they might get confused at first.
The initial "big alley of Death End Alley" you encounter is packed with street vendors, making it look like a lively night market.
But if you look a little closer...
By this point, anyone would know.
"To get out of here unscathed, you just shouldn't look around at all!"
The items for sale are all things no normal person could use, and the vendors are aggressively hawking them.
The best strategy is to walk by quickly with the disinterested face of someone who has a destination in mind.
However, as you flee from the dazzling signs and lights into narrower alleys, you'll start feeling something off...
Because it doesn't end.
The alleys just keep getting narrower and narrower... until they shrink to a width no person can pass through.
"...Once you get there, you're done for."
Yeah. You can't just walk your way out blindly.
So what do you do?
Simple.
You got guided in, so get guided out too.
I looked at the new event page that popped up on the smartphone app.
This is it.
The culprit that lures people into the ghost story, and the most standard, safest lifeline to escape.
Successfully complete the smartphone app's "10,000 Steps" event, and you can exit this alley.
Stick to this and get out.
...But no matter what the coward thinks, the ghost story resident in my pocket is just drunk on the night market vibe.
-Ah, it's been a while since I've been to a place like this. Hard for a show host to visit privately, right?
-Sometimes there's charm in browsing a lively night market like this! How about we pick out something that suits each other, friend?
-The quality isn't great, but a souvenir or two wouldn't hurt!
Ughhh.
"...No. Let's buy from somewhere else. Gotta get something better for my friend."
-...! How touching. Alright! I'll think of something brown that suits my friend too...
It was at that moment.
"...!!"
One of the street vendors that popped out grabbed my arm.
There's better stuff over there. I'll show you. Come inside.
Behind the vendor was nothing.
No open door, no shop, no space.
Yet the vendor repeated.
Come inside.
Don't look.
Reject it quietly and naturally without staring at their face. I barely opened my mouth...
But before I could, the Lizard manager grabbed the vendor's arm.
"??"
Tight grip.
His red vertical pupils fixed on the vendor.
"......"
"......"
The vendor slowly averted their gaze.
Then quietly released my arm and started hawking to another passerby as if nothing happened.
"......"
This... works?
I just realized something new. The Lizard can make even ghosts back off...
"Thank you."
"Sure."
Physical exorcism, couldn't be easier.
"Come to think of it, I was supposed to get him custom equipment to boost his strength as parental gear."
I'll mention it after this job.
For now, maybe because it's a real threat, the Lizard manager didn't issue any reckless orders that would only make sense for someone with their guts hanging out.
He just said this.
"Groups of four or more entering should move in pairs, and ideally check new alleys per standard manual."
Hm?
"Deer, pick your accompanying employee."
Ah, got it.
Since I'm the highest rank among the three here, he's planning to pair me with someone from another team for fairness.
"Too bad... Lizard's power."
That just now was pure honey.
But I was prepared for this. At least we entered together, so if things go south like at the exhibition, I can get help.
"So pick which colleague to pair with?"
Hmm.
I said politely.
"Then, since we know each other, is it okay if I pair with Buffalo?"
"Sure."
New people make it hard to move freely.
"...Especially since I need to check that chocolate wrapper."
Plus, that Kang I-hak probably prefers pairing with the squad leader too...
"Whoa! Hold on. If it's okay, could Buffalo and I go together?"
Kang I-hak cut in.
Huh?
"You two were originally on the same team, right? It feels wrong splitting teams just because supports arrived! Plus, I have stuff to tell Buffalo..."
Kang I-hak convincingly conveyed to the Lizard manager that "it's not a high-grade ghost story anyway, so two new hires following the manual is fine" without offending anyone.
"If you two are okay with it, us new hires can pair up too!"
"Sure."
The Lizard nodded.
"Move in a group of three."
"......Pardon?"
"Deer, Pony, Buffalo. Group of three."
Kang I-hak barely kept his sociable smile as he replied.
"Th-thank you, but... isn't it risky for you to go alone, sir?"
"Sure."
"......"
Oh dear.
But no convincing him now.
"Group of three, huh."
Before leaving, Lee Jaheon approached me.
"Deer."
And suddenly handed me something.
"Press if there's trouble."
"......"
A small brown circle dropped onto my hand.
A little button.
The one I'd used once at the Tuesday Quiz Show.
...Deputy Manager Eun's communication device.
"......Did you get in touch with Rosefinch Deputy Manager?"
"Yes. She asked me to pass it to you yesterday."
"......"
I nodded slowly.
"Thank you."
"Sure."
And the Lizard vanished into the far end of the alley...
"...Then let's walk and head to another area from this vendor street."
"Yes...!"
"Y-yeah."
I started walking with my two new colleagues too.
Walking through this long alley flickering with eerie vendor lights while keeping the app open is surprisingly draining.
Especially when you can't relax your guard on the surroundings for even a second.
"Whew."
Jang Heo-un slightly lifted his mask to wipe the sweat beading under it.
Wait.
"Be careful."
"...!"
I stopped him.
"This place calls for strict anonymity manual compliance more than anywhere. ...Buffalo."
"......Yes."
Jang Heo-un slowly wiped his sweat and lowered his hand.
......
One vendor staring intently at him resumed hawking.
Whisper whisper.
‘Sigh.’
The company manual was spot on.
"The moment you slip, you get passively dragged into their hawking."
Like those people peeking around at the far end right now.
"Whoa, didn't know a place like this was around here."
"Huh? What's that? It looks so realistic... rea, rea, rea, rea, rea... realistic!! Real people! Gonna buy one!"
"That's the guy! Yes! It's a person!"
The problem was they had no masks to hide identities or info...
"Huh? Wha... Huh? Why does that person have three eyes? Huh? Oh, people always have three eyes! Sorry, I must've miscounted. I'll buy an extra eye, honey."
"Yeah! Trade for an ear!"
They followed the vendor into the far alley and vanished.
"...Too late for them."
That's how they go missing.
A chill horror swept down my back.
But can't show it. Colleagues are watching.
Instead, I gritted my teeth and resumed walking casually.
"First, let's get off this street..."
"Deer, over there...!"
Jang Heo-un pointed with a trembling hand.
It was...
A "person" passing right next to us.
A high schooler with an anxious face looking around.
"Damn."
"This...!"
Jang Heo-un rummaged in his bag and pulled out a black cloth mask, thrusting it at the student.
"Wear this."
"Y-yes...?"
"That could backfire bad...!"
I jumped in.
"Stay calm. Put on the mask quick, ignore anyone talking, and walk quietly."
"Wha... Oh."
"Don't look around. Act like you're just here casually visiting."
Whether my "Silver Heart" had some effect, the student sensed something off and took the mask Jang Heo-un offered.
"Never close the Death End Alley app. Fill 10,000 steps. That's how you escape."
"......"
The student glanced at us suspiciously, anxiously, alertly, then turned and ran the opposite way.
"Ah...!"
Jang Heo-un seemed about to call out but gave up, noticing the student was gone and Kang I-hak just smilingly watching.
"......"
And I could guess another reason.
"B-but."
Jang Heo-un muttered in disbelief.
"That student's uniform... wasn't it from Segwang Industrial High School?"
"......"
Yeah.
In this space, you can witness all sorts.
Dead friends, long-missing childhood family, accident victims, 1980s-dressed pedestrians, even students from non-existent schools.
All the customers, onlookers, and... merchandise that flowed into this alley.
But.
"Best to ignore whatever you see here. Not drawing attention is basic manual."
"Ah. Yes...!"
Jang Heo-un took a deep breath again.
"Got it."
"Nah, no need to tense up that much. Like the manual says, let's act like we're just here for fun!"
Kang I-hak was right.
"Still, stay alert while we move."
"Yep!"
We kept weaving through the crowd, avoiding bumps or attention.
Thud thud.
With each step on the alley floor, the app counter ticked down.
And when the thousands digit changed.
A gap between vendors caught my eye.
"A passage."
A path to a narrower alley.
Over there, vendors vanished, replaced by proper shops selling daily goods...
"We'll turn this way."
That moment.
"Ah, since we're entering a new alley... shall we act more naturally now?"
Kang I-hak cut in.
Hmm.
"Could you explain that a bit more?"
Kang I-hak grinned.
"Let's hunt for good loot!"
"...!"
"Exploration records show plenty bought decent 'items' here. Let's scout the market. Most natural too!"
Openly shopping.
"...! But the manual says avoid it if possible..."
Jang Heo-un was right.
The bottom line sounded thuggish, but the reason was clear.
High impulse buy risk.
The longer you walk, the more tempting shops and items draw your eye.
Employees gradually lose reason, snatching up dangerous junk regardless.
Even when payment isn't normal money.
Yet Kang I-hak suggested it because...
"What're you aiming for?"
He definitely has an angle.
-Ah, politics! Everyday variety show.
-But backing off turns it into a documentary. Can't have that. Let's go, Deer!
"Sigh."
Thought I'd bond with the new guy, but same old...
"No choice."
I grinned at Kang I-hak.
"Let's do it."
"...!"
"Shopping sounds fun."
"Oh! You thought the same, supervisor! Knew it!"
"Yes."
And casually pointed.
At a nearby shop I knew well.
"How about that one?"
"......"
"......"
"Items look good. Let's head in."
I stepped toward the butchery.
"...?!"
When dealing with "the crazy one, conversation doesn't work..."!