Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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The inside of the store carried a faint dusty smell, but it was warm.
The cozy feeling unique to old spaces.
True to its name, Sweet Stationery even had a slightly comforting sugary scent.
The tension and strain in my shoulders eased...
No, hold it together!
'Stay alert.'
I bit the inside of my cheek and pressed forward.
Narrow walls twisted like a maze, lined with metal shelves packed full, each compartment stacked with all sorts of snacks.
At the front of the fairly large display case in the center, popular items were even labeled.
Oblivion Cotton Candy
Fluffy Cookies
Sun Flavor Chipchips
Carrot's Right Here
Upside-Down Bubble Gum Drops
Nostalgia Candy - Sold Out!
I walked quietly, scanning the snacks with my eyes.
No sign of the 'Good Child Chocolate Bar,' but a few familiar names and shapes caught my eye.
Some among them were relatively safe and useful.
'Good. Might as well spend my change here.'
It'd work fine as items, or I could flip them for side income.
Last time I'd parted with the bronze agent on decent terms, so maybe I could revive my 'ghost story origin food' sales route...
With even my gold bars stripped bare, I needed a way to make money.
I quickly picked out a few snacks.
And glanced back at the Lizard, who'd been trailing me at the minimal distance.
"...Deputy Manager, is there any snack you need or want to buy? I'd like to treat you as thanks."
"Sure."
Unexpectedly, Deputy Manager Lee Jaheon didn't refuse. He scanned the area and grabbed one snack.
Upside-Down Bubble Gum Drops
Blow up a bubble in your mouth like a balloon, and your body grows building-sized!
Certified Genuine Jolly Lab Product
(Beware fake knockoffs from street vendors!)
"...This okay?"
"Sure."
Did he want to become a giant lizard or something?
I tamped down the pointless imagination.
'Just pay already.'
With my selected snacks in both hands, I headed to the counter at the back of the store.
On the way, I swept my eyes over every corner, but still no 'Good Child Chocolate Bar'...
'Hmm.'
I reached the counter first.
"Hello."
The shadowy figure seated at the metal counter nodded slowly.
The store owner, presumably. It wore rumpled casual clothes and a cap pulled low.
At a glance, like any ordinary stationery shop uncle, but six arms drummed the counter...
'Whew.'
I deliberately avoided looking at its face, politely placing only the snacks to buy on the counter.
And quickly offered my coins.
"Here you go."
Didn't want any mix-up with bartering.
I recalled my first successful purchase here from the Darkness Exploration Records.
Right.
This stationery store priced things in memories.
From happy ones that made you smile just thinking of them, to horrific traumas you wanted to forget.
The type of snack determined the kind of memory lost.
'That's why the exploration records ranged from heartwarming to creepy.'
I had no desire to gamble on which one I'd get. Especially not in this ghost story world where the info in my head was crucial.
'Just find the Good Child Chocolate Bar.'
Part of me wanted to ask the owner where it was. But with what looked like me on the packaging, I didn't want to risk triggering associations...
"Tell me where the chocolate bars are displayed."
Squad Leader!
I nearly grabbed my direct superior by the collar.
But the store owner casually pointed to a shelf, still deeply reclined in its chair...
'Whew.'
Guess the packaging art wasn't similar enough to me at a glance.
'Wish I resembled even half the size of Lizard's liver...'
Should've bought that liver from the butcher. Muttering nonsense, I leaned over the counter to retrieve my paid snacks and remaining coins...
Then I saw it.
'Huh?'
Something behind the counter.
A life-sized standee and decorative paper, hastily shoved aside.
A signboard... and a blue box with chocolate bars.
Theme Park Collab New Release!
Good Child Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros Flavor)
Oh my god.
'Found it!'
I quickly examined the chocolate bar packaging.
The hairstyle, mask, and suit were rendered better than I'd thought.
Promo display over and cleared out? But it looked hastily done...
"......"
Wait a sec.
I peered closer at the chocolate bar packaging.
And realized.
This product hadn't used me as an ad model, nor decorated with a similar-looking character.
It was...
A missing child poster.
"......"
Cold sweat dripped as I stepped back.
Then...
Riiing ring ring.
......
I creakily turned to the counter.
The store owner held a phone.
Dial tone connecting somewhere...
Click.
The moment it connected.
He's here! He's here! He's here!
No time for cursing. Barely breathing, I grabbed Deputy Manager Lee Jaheon and bolted across the store, away from the counter.
Grabbed the entrance door and yanked...
Huh?
Why's it there?
Click.
The door was locked.
"......"
I turned to the store owner at the counter.
"We're leaving now. Open up."
Short silence.
The store owner's voice echoed in my ear...
From the phone it held, black liquid seeped out drop by drop to the floor.
Growing thicker.
Blub blub.
The thin stream lumped into chunks, twisting in midair like molded clay, forming a shape...
......Into the form of an animal in a mascot costume I'd seen somewhere before...
"...!!"
I desperately yanked the store door. No give, damn it...
"Let go."
Ah.
The instant I released the door, Lee Jaheon's left fist smashed the handle.
Crack, thud!
The handle hit the floor like magic.
He kicked the door open wide, revealing the alley outside.
We didn't hesitate, sprinting out.
Fierce splashing from behind. Splash, splash, splash!
The furious store owner's voice mixed with water sounds chasing us down the alley. Chills raced up my spine.
'Brown!'
Yes!
'Kill the lights! You too, Deputy Manager Lee Jaheon!'
Snap!
A crisp finger snap from the stuffed doll, then heavy shadow enveloped me once more.
That fading sensation.
"!"
Lee Jaheon's vertical pupils flicked to me.
"Deer."
"Explanations after. Run first!"
Splash, splash, splash...
Behind us, water crashed violently into alley wall cracks, drawing closer.
'Damn, damn!'
...What happens if it catches us?
No clue no matter how I thought. The unknown outcome drove me mad.
I gritted my teeth.
'Dodging was the right call.'
Coming to investigate was the mistake!
This was a ghost story. Verifying truth wasn't always the answer—it could be a straight path to death.
'Should've just said I don't know and moved on...!'
No, save the self-recrimination!
Don't give up your body!
Remaining steps: 3441
Endure 400 steps.
'Whatever the next alley, flee there...!'
Now, right behind, rapids swept alley residents' ankles, their chatter rising.
"Whoa, fun~ What's this?"
"Mascots parading on the water! Fun! Fun!"
"Waterland has flume rides! Win chocolate and go to Waterland! Find the good child!"
"Wow, the good child......"
"......"
"......"
"That one?"
Fuck.
"Who?"
"Where?"
"Not seeing him..."
Cold sweat poured as I shoved through the ghostly crowd, advancing down the alley.
Appearance feature.
I recalled the packaging illustration.
'...The mask!'
I ripped off my mask and shoved it into my tattoo.
Pulled out a face mask and hat, jamming them on.
My steps naturally slowed as the water surged closer. Glancing down, the wave reached right behind...
No good. Speed gap too wide.
'Then...'
I checked another direction.
Up top!
"...Squad Leader, utility pole!"
"Sure."
I grabbed the nearby pole and scrambled up desperately. Fastest I'd ever climbed anything in my life. Palms shredding? Whatever, just climb...
'...Made it!'
Water surged into my spot.
But I'd reached just below the wires.
"Ha..."
Steadying hands threatening to slip from relief.
'Okay for now.'
Twisting to brace my legs against the alley wall for stability—
Plop.
From my suit pocket,
my smartphone slipped out, screen lit.
Splash.
Swept into the incoming water.
Cracked screen from hitting stone let water in, app glitching.
Don't give up your body!
Remaining steps: 3210
And...
The screen went dark.
"......"
"Deer."
Only a black surface remained on the shattered phone.
Eerie mascot-shaped black water blobs filled the dark narrow alley, peering into store windows.
My smartphone swept away in the torrent.
Moving to alley corners, following the mascot blob amid the crowd...
And vanished.
The rapids rushed past the pole I clung to, toward the alley's end...
Taking my escape route with it.
"......"
Frozen...
"Deer."
I stiffly turned.
Just below on the pole, Lizard hung by one hand, reaching out.
Showing something.
His intact smartphone screen.
Deputy Manager Lee Jaheon had safely hit 10,000 steps this instant.
I blankly stared at his app's activated guide page...
But.
"Take it."
"...Pardon?"
Lizard offered me his smartphone.
"Follow the app's path to escape."
"...!"
Lifeline lowered.
"The phone doesn't recognize changes in owner. As long as you don't stray from the path or look away over 3 seconds."
"......"
I reached for Lee Jaheon's phone. Then...
Gritted my teeth and refused.
"Can't do that."
"?"
"Deputy Manager. That weird black water... was definitely hunting me. Still searching this alley."
I'd barely escaped by ditching the mask and suppressing presence.
But.
"If I follow the app guide, I can't dodge the black water. ...Can't deviate from the path."
This rule applied to the return path too.
"So... odds of me escaping unscathed are extremely low."
For me to survive, the guide needed activating after fleeing to another alley.
'Ha...'
"...I'd rather search for another way. Higher escape chance."
Lee Jaheon eyed me with vertical pupils.
"I see."
"Yes. So you escape with it..."
He shut off his smartphone.
"...!!"
Is this lizard insane?
"What are you doing?"
"Following two-man team protocol."
That doesn't track.
"Then why offer me the escape earlier?? You'd be solo, not two-man!"
"Prioritized manual. Request details post-escape."
Lee Jaheon said flatly.
"From now, all talk and questions prioritize survival and return from this Darkness."
"......"
"Deer. Devise a new escape method you can infer, though not in the manual."
Oh my god.
"...Yes."
I barely replied.
A moment later.
We descended the pole.
And resumed walking the alley floor swept by the rapids.
Without guide or escape plan.