Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Super Rookie
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A thick iron door rattled and shook.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Dammit..."
The voice, muttered low, was a mix of irritation and anxiety.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He instinctively knew he couldn't hold out much longer like this. The sounds from outside the door were only getting louder.
Every time the electric door shook, the power dropped by 1%. The sight of the number dropping one by one right in front of him, like a game's health gauge, instilled a greater sense of dread than reality. His heart pounded every time the red numbers flashed: 69%, 68%, 67%... The numbers fell mercilessly.
In the blue light of the CCTV monitor, the power display plummeted to 50% in an instant. As the fluorescent light grew dimmer, the security room became gloomy.
The desk clock was still running at high speed.
The dolls outside the door were becoming more violent. At first, they had only been knocking on the door, but now they were becoming rough, as if trying to smash it down. The rabbit's laughter grew sharper, and the sound of the wolf's claws scraping was like tearing at his ears. Particularly chilling was the sound of the lion mask clicking its teeth; it sent shivers down his spine just hearing it. Like a prelude to death, the sounds filled the security room.
'I can't go on like this.'
Wiping away the cold sweat, he tried to think calmly. The back of his shirt was damp with sweat.
His mind was a mess, but based on his experience so far, one thing was certain: ghost stories always have a 'rule'. And the moment you understand that rule, an escape route appears.
In 'Monkey Dream', lucid dreaming was the answer. In 'The Backrooms', the Foundation's research facility was the answer. There must be something this time, too. Thanks to the Ruminative Thought Enhancement Serum, his memories came back vividly.
'Wait, Jack's Hamburger... Destroyer Entertainment...'
In that moment, the puzzle pieces in his memory began to fit together. Like fast-forwarding an old cassette tape, the documents he had read in the past flashed by quickly.
Once midnight passes, the dolls enter autonomous mode. And from then on, the dolls try to capture humans.
The reason was simple.
'No wearing costumes inside the store!'
That's right.
To the dolls' eyes, humans not wearing costumes look like just 'skeletons'. They try to capture the naked, skeleton-like human security guard and force them to put on a costume.
Like a system trying to fix a bug in a game, the dolls were trying to correct 'rule violators'.
'I need a disguise.'
His fingers tapped the phone screen quickly. When he opened the Talent Shop app, colorful icons flashed. He typed 'disguise' into the search bar, and countless items poured out like a waterfall. He scrolled through the screen quickly, looking at the items. Most were too expensive. Most items were over 1 million Talents, and some even cost up to 10 million.
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His finger paused. While scrolling, he spotted an item by chance. An item with a reasonable price caught his eye.
『Ridiculous Bread Bag』
-Grade: D
-Price: 15,000D
-Description: A suspicious paper bag used for packaging at the Goblin Market. The Goblin 'Bihyeong' said it was an item that flowed in from somewhere when the boundaries of dimensions blurred. If you put it over your head, it allows you to be recognized as an object or person of your choice for one hour. If you want to be an old bookshelf, you become a bookshelf; if you want to become an old gentleman holding an umbrella, you look like an old gentleman. Before using the bag, you must visualize the desired appearance in your head. The moment you take off the bag, you return to your original appearance immediately, and it is released automatically after one hour. You cannot use it twice in the same day, and you can only use it again after midnight.
After reading the description in detail, there was no reason to hesitate. His finger moved unwaveringly over the purchase button.
When he touched the screen, a soft light flashed in the void. And in the spot where the light faded, an old paper bag appeared. Strange patterns were drawn on the surface of the bag. Goblin characters filled the entire bag densely, resembling ancient characters but giving off a grotesque feeling.
He touched the bag carefully with his finger. The texture was unique. It felt like touching the skin of a living creature, completely different from ordinary paper. Every time his fingertips touched it, it felt like a faint electric current was flowing, and he even felt the bag trembling slightly.
The power was now only 20% left. In the CCTV screen, the dolls were becoming more violent. There was no more time to hesitate.
'Fox Doll... One of the mascots of Destroyer Entertainment.'
He drew the image of the Fox Doll in his mind. Red fur, white belly fur, black eyes, and a mischievous smile. The ominousness hidden behind its cute appearance. He imagined the unique, ambiguous atmosphere of Destroyer as accurately as possible.
He took a deep breath. Cold air pierced deep into his lungs. There was no turning back now. He visualized the Fox Doll one last time, then lifted the bag over his head.
In an instant, all the power went out. The last remaining fluorescent light went out, and the security room was plunged into complete darkness. The blue light of the CCTV monitor also disappeared.
-Screeeech.
The iron door rose with a mechanical sound, and the dolls poured in through the faint emergency light seeping in from the hallway.
The rabbit was first. Its torn ears shook ominously. The wolf followed behind. Rusted claws scraped the floor, making a horrific sound. The lion mask was last. Black liquid was dripping between its broken teeth.
The rabbit's footsteps tapped the security room floor. Tap. Tap. Tap. It was a regular sound, like a clock's second hand. The wolf's low growl filled the space. A sound like 'Uuuung-' echoed in his ears. The lion mask's laughter was the most horrific. A 'Kikikik-' sound, like rusty gears turning.
But they didn't find him. No, strictly speaking, they didn't find the 'security guard'. Their gaze passed right over him. It was as if he were transparent, or rather, as if he were one of them.
To their eyes, he must have looked like a new member. Thanks to the bread bag's effect, he had become a perfect character of Destroyer Entertainment.
The rabbit staggered back and forth in the hallway. Its steps were unstable, like a drunk person. The wolf started rummaging through the kitchen. The sound of opening and closing drawers with rusty claws could be heard. The lion mask examined every corner. It was looking for something, clicking its broken teeth.
But in the end, they found nothing. The 'rule violator' they were looking for had already become one of them. As time passed and it hit 6:00, the dolls returned to their places one by one. Silently, mechanically, as if returning to the display shelves of a toy store.
The third night passed the same way. The bag's duration was one hour, but since it seemed to apply based on real-time standards rather than the accelerated time, it was enough to endure. Even while the clock's second hand was spinning like crazy, the bag's magic remained stable.
It was the moment he was about to step out of the store with the completed hamburgers.
The dolls were blocking the exit.
'No way...'
Are they trying to block the entrance and kill me as the price for accelerating time?
Cold sweat flowed down his spine. The tension rising up to his neck made it feel like his breath was being cut off.
But the dolls showed actions completely different from what he expected. The rabbit stepped forward and held out a sparkling box. It was a polite motion, as if handing over a gift. And the lion mask nodded and made a gesture to choose one from the set.
Destroyer Toy Set.
It seemed to be a reward for clearing the E-grade ghost story 'Jack's Hamburger' in a state of rank up.
It was an unexpected stroke of luck.
In a way, accelerating time had brought a good result.
'I didn't expect to get this here...'
In the Catastrophe Foundation's worldview, 'Destroyer Entertainment' was notorious for being a company with many problems, but among the items they created, the toy sets were very useful.
Like Solip's Picnic Set, Rabbit's Pocket Watch, Teddy's Honey Pot, and so on.
But the item he chose was none of those.
『Leon's Keychain』
-Grade: D
-Description: A small lion mask plush toy made into a keychain. While carrying it, it gives you courage once a day in a dangerous situation.
It gives you courage in a dangerous situation.
At first glance, the description was abstract and vague.
However, according to the documents researched by the Foundation, it was a special toy that applied a mosaic filter to cruel landscapes and caused adrenaline to be secreted more than twice the normal amount.
Considering the ghost stories he would have to deal with in the future, there was no better special ability.
He chose the Lion Mask keychain without hesitation and immediately exited the hamburger store.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[You have safely escaped the 'Jack's Hamburger' ghost story.] [You escaped the ghost story faster than anyone else.] [50,000 Talents provided as basic reward.] +50,000D [25,000 Talents provided as additional reward.] +25,000D
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"For a new recruit, you adapt way too fast."
Moon Jin-wook took a sip of coffee and said. Under the warm lighting of the cafe next to the construction site, his expression looked complicated.
"Are you worried?"
Kang Ha-na picked up a macaron and asked.
"Your attitude toward the ghost story... It feels like someone who has been researching ghost stories for a long time."
"That's not a bad thing, is it?"
Kang Ha-na's voice was still calm.
"That's true but... You know this business, sir. If you adapt too quickly..."
As Moon Jin-wook's voice trailed off, the automatic door of the cafe opened. Cold wind blew in, and Baek Jeong-woo was standing at the door.
"What, already?"
Moon Jin-wook jumped up from his seat. Checking the clock, only two hours had passed. Usually, a ghost story of this difficulty level would take at least two days.
Moreover, in Baek Jeong-woo's hand were ten specially made hamburgers. The moment he saw the wrapping paper, he knew. It was Jack's Special Hamburger.
Moon Jin-wook was shocked.
His lips trembled.
When he first entered the 'Jack's Hamburger' ghost story, he was too busy trying to escape the ghost story to even think about making a hamburger.
And yet, this new recruit had not only escaped the ghost story, but had also made the hamburger that no one expected.
Just the fact that he brought the hamburger was surprising, but to top it off, he had shortened a ghost story that usually took at least two days and finished it in just two hours.
"This is unbelievable..."
A sigh escaped Moon Jin-wook's mouth. His usual composure was nowhere to be found.
In contrast, Kang Ha-na smiled leisurely. As if she had expected this result. A small smile remained on her lips.
The new recruit, who had set a miraculous record, looked at the two of them as if asking what was wrong and said calmly.
"Mission complete. Let's go."