Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Sweet Stationery
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The mannequin employees lined up in perfect formation and clapped in unison. They were giving an enthusiastic response to my declaration that I would buy the ring.
And the two colleagues who had followed me were staring blankly at the scene.
My chosen ring and two humans of appropriate value for bartering.
Clap clap clap...
The mannequins stopped clapping. Then, as if to proceed with the payment, they all advanced toward the two behind me...
I raised my hand.
"However, I'd like to change the payment method."
They halted abruptly.
The mannequins turned to look at me.
Yes, of course, they accepted humans as barter in this boutique. And that kind of transaction was still possible now.
But why accept humans?
If you got to the root of it...
'Labor.'
Whether used as lowly workers for odd jobs or promoted after proving useful until they became mannequins like these, it was already described in the wiki.
In other words, they accepted human trafficking for barter because it was definitively helpful for store operations.
So, beyond labor, what else was definitively helpful for store operations?
Just thinking of Daydream Corporation brought it to mind immediately.
'Raw material procurement.'
I reached into my tattoo and pulled out an item.
The most expensive substance I'd brought with me.
"I'd like to pay with this."
A gold bar.
"...!"
The colleagues behind me stirred at the sudden emergence of capitalist starlight in this ghost story.
Honestly, after hitting "buy all items" at the alien shop, my balance had been razor-thin, and I'd debated whether to snag this...
'Good thing I grabbed it in Jongno after all.'
Gold and silver were staple materials even in ghost stories.
Unlike silver, which was mainly used for exorcisms, gold had slightly broader utility in imagery. It often symbolized desire or magical payment, making it effective almost anywhere.
So...
"Is this payment acceptable?"
One mannequin in a more formal uniform approached me. It bowed deeply to the small gold bar, then extended both hands politely.
'...Jackpot!'
It worked.
In the worst case, I'd planned to just run, but this was an excellent outcome.
I dropped the gold bar into the mannequin's hands. It slowly backed away, then emerged from behind the display case with the ring even more elaborately packaged.
It presented the silver ring I'd purchased atop a velvet cushion engraved with strange serpent patterns.
'Cushion... included?'
There was no reaction when I took it all, so I immediately stored everything in my tattoo.
Next, other mannequins stepped forward from both sides, each holding rectangular velvet boxes.
The boxes looked identical, but contained different items.
The left one held an elegant, traditional pouch, with upside-down printed coins visible through its slightly open mouth.
'Change!'
Bonus exchange income.
It was visibly much heavier than what I'd gotten from the butcher shop earlier. Plus, the coins were large and thick—definitely higher denomination.
'I should take it all.'
With my mind already leaning that way, I glanced at the other side.
Inside the box held by the other mannequin were... hm. Small sundries that were ambiguous to call accessories.
They seemed unclear for body wear, so not worth the gamble on whether they had mental defense effects.
Seemed like a sales pitch before handing over the change.
'Currency with universal value is still better.'
...That was my thought when something among the sundries caught my eye.
A small ribbon hair tie.
Unknown material, but the dark brown ribbon gleamed luxuriously.
"......"
Hm.
"Can I take that one too?"
I pointed at the hair tie.
The mannequins clapped again, then removed half the change from the pouch and politely offered it to me.
"Thank you."
I accepted the well-packaged items and stored them in my tattoo.
"Wow, I've been thinking this since earlier... that ability looks really handy! What kind of gear are you using?"
"Yes."
I turned to Kang I-hak, who was grinning.
Hadn't he realized I could have sold him and the other colleague into trafficking?
'Sigh... one more try.'
I decided to try once more, to ensure acting like a "madman" kept them from picking fights.
I stared straight through Kang I-hak and said,
"I'm curious."
"Pardon?"
"How much gold would I get for one sentient being?"
A brief silence followed.
"Huh? Why think about such a bad deal~ haha!"
Kang I-hak laughed heartily.
"Harvesting organs or corneas would net a few more gold bars."
"......"
Is this normal human thinking?
No matter how I thought about it, no. So I gave up rebutting.
It was getting really scary...
'Gotta endure until we escape this ghost story.'
Instead, I decided to offer the colleagues some carrots.
"Here you go."
"Wha...?!"
I divided the pouch's change into three equal parts and shared it with them.
"I'm lending it to you. Pay back in gold if you use it; I'll reclaim it if you don't use it before we leave."
"Th-thank you..."
Jang Heo-un bowed first.
No, I could understand Kang I-hak seeming unfazed—he was an untouchable lunatic—but why was Jang Heo-un so calm?
'What the hell did he go through in the cleanup team...'
At the start, I'd thought, "Reliable exploration with normal colleagues!" But we'd come too far; I was even missing Baek Saheon.
'That bastard was at least predictable...'
Here, I was just bathing in cold sweat.
In the midst of it, I hurriedly stopped Kang I-hak from lifting a coin to inspect its surface.
"Don't look closely."
"Okay~"
Kang I-hak murmured in a slightly dazed voice.
"Gold really... never fails."
"......"
"Um, Pony? Isn't it dangerous to assume?"
Jang Heo-un said quietly.
"There are things more precious than gold in the world."
"Haha, well, Buffalo. Let me give you a tip as a fellow rookie. What's the most valuable use for a Wish Grant?"
"Pardon? ...Saving lives and benefiting the world... isn't it?"
"Nah~ With so many people in the world, why say that! Mass-producing endlessly scarce, valuable things is the efficient choice!"
Kang I-hak spread his arms wide.
"The Hand of Midas!"
"...!"
What?
"The hand that turns everything it touches to gold, from Greek myth?"
"Yes! As expected of fellow Koreans~ Masters of Greco-Roman mythology!"
Kang I-hak grinned.
"Of course, not literally turning body parts to gold and disrupting daily life~ I've thought of a non-intrusive spot."
"......"
Surprisingly, Jang Heo-un's eyes cooled sharply.
Like during newbie orientation, when the suit-and-hair bloodied guy raised his hand to ask about Wish Grants.
"...Then just take billions in the bank."
But Kang I-hak was undeterred.
"Pardon? Why waste a one-use wish on that? Won becomes trash if the country collapses. But gold!"
The one wearing the mocking horse mask leaned toward Jang Heo-un.
"Gold never falls."
"...!"
"Diamonds, dollars, all world currencies may crash, but gold has never once deviated from its upward macro graph—perfect capital, I tell you?"
"......"
"Hear that? Our class topper, record-breaking shortest-to-supervisor and point-hoarder... Junior Deer, you agree, right? Huh?"
Kang I-hak shouted.
"No need to ask~ That's why you brought gold! We just saw it turn into an item!"
Then it hit me.
"Gold is money, money is power. In human society!"
Kang I-hak had no ulterior motives.
'This guy's just money-obsessed...!'
Of course, people usually want to earn money, but acting like he'd sell his soul by weight was rare enough to overwhelm.
The silver heart and "commerce" environment amplified the madness, but this seemed his truer, franker self.
Even before entering the ghost story, beneath that nice-guy facade, this was what he thought.
'...Dangerous.'
Once out of this ghost story, avoid entanglement...!
For now, I casually crossed my arms.
"Heard you loud and clear. Make lots of money."
"Hahaha, yes!!"
First, escape this shop.
I said I'd browse more and find my own way back, refusing the employees' escort.
As soon as they reverted to aimlessly waving-hand work mode, I bolted out the back door.
'Phew.'
A dark back alley lined with side doors.
Who knew this bizarre place would bring momentary relief.
'Once I achieve my goal, quickly find a relatively safe, walkable alley and fill the remaining steps there.'
Before the paths narrowed further.
Fortunately, the boutique had easily filled a thousand steps, so a new alley appeared smoothly.
The path appearing between side doors was similar in width to this back alley but much better.
"Feels kinda nostalgic."
For starters, streetlight glow flickered faintly from utility poles.
A starry night. Shop signs and warm yellow light spilled from within.
'Oddly nostalgic...'
Like a narrow alley between old-town homes, a relaxing scene.
Not that I could let my guard down—lest I get lured by shop touts and vanish or go mad.
"I know this place!"
Often mentioned in the manual with high appearance frequency in employee exploration logs, yet relatively safe.
And...
My destination.
"Let's move to the next alley."
"Yep!"
We entered the nostalgic-feeling narrow alley.
Hardly any crowds.
Perhaps why it felt mysteriously festive, like Christmas or New Year's Eve...
I walked past small, humble shops on both sides with my colleagues.
Then stopped in front of one.
"......"
It was a stationery store.
Not just stationery—school supplies, toys kids liked, but mostly snacks. Your typical neighborhood shop.
Like those from the 2000s near schools selling tteokbokki and junk food.
I checked the stall. Where oden and tteokbokki should be, piles of strangely lotus-patterned buckwheat jelly.
And the sign above.
Sweet Stationery
'Found it.'
The shop selling chocolate bars with my likeness on the wrapper.
'Phew.'
Now that I was here, tension hit.
I turned to my colleagues...
"Deer."
Aaaack!
I nearly jumped into the air...!
Regaining composure, I turned to see a white lizard head staring blankly from the utility pole shadow beside the shop.
...Squad Leader!
"How many steps remain?"
I alternated glances between the stationery store and lizard, then snapped to.
"Were you... waiting for us here by any chance?"
"Yes. How many steps remain?"
"...We have about 3900 left. Have you nearly completed your ten thousand, Squad Leader?"
"Yes. I judged this alley had the highest chance of encountering co-entering explorers. So I waited with 500 steps remaining."
He'd predicted I'd show up here.
Since entering this ghost story was for the personalized snacks spotted here.
'Heart skipped a beat!'
Still, his detailed reply was nice. Lizard's boss rating yo-yoed up and down.
Then Kang I-hak piped up.
"Wow, so reassuring, Squad Leader! Uh, to fill our steps, mind if we pop into the shop next door real quick?"
The shop he pointed to sold knit goods, already logged in the manual.
He even jangled the coins I'd given him.
The lizard eyed him with red pupils.
"Do you have this place's currency?"
"Yessir! Junior Deer saved us~ He's amazing. Everyone in D Squad's so capable—tons to learn. Haha!"
"I see."
The lizard said briskly.
"Enter in pairs of two. No manual violations. Exit the alley within 10 minutes."
"Yep!"
"Uh, y-yes."
Kang I-hak hurriedly dragged Jang Heo-un into the glove-and-scarf shop.
Hm. Probably because this alley and shops were relatively low-risk per logs, so Lee Jaheon allowed it.
Worked out perfectly.
'No need to share the "secret" to enter my target.'
"......"
I stood before the stationery store's glass door.
Deputy Manager Lee Jaheon followed behind.
"I'm going in."
"Yes."
Ding-a-ling.
I stepped inside the stationery store.
To see the "Good Child Chocolate Bar."