Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: 25-Hour Convenience Store Horror — Rules (10)
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Light rewound.
The fragments left inside the convenience store floated up into the air, returning to their places one by one as if in reverse playback.
Broken pieces gathered to form shapes, and the scattered light flowed back upward.
Amid it all, the light converged into a single point, slowly regaining form.
First, fingertips appeared, then arms and legs bloomed along the threads of light.
As if the particles scattered in the air remembered 'her.'
Light flowed down following her hair.
Like severed threads reconnecting, the vanished strands revived one by one.
Her blurred facial lines sharpened, color seeping beneath her eyelids.
As her face revealed itself, the black afterglow faded, brilliant white light surging in.
Shoulders.
Arms.
Torso.
Knees.
Legs.
One by one, they connected in the order they had disappeared.
She was being restored.
As if the world itself was creating a single person.
When the light finally subsided, everything had returned to its place.
Her eyes were still closed.
Just like back then.
Like the moment just before returning to reality from the world beyond the receiver.
But everything about the situation was different now.
Now, she was no longer just a voice.
I slowly raised my hand and placed it over her head.
This time, I felt it clearly.
Warmth spread through my fingertips.
Even the texture of her hair brushing against my skin was vivid.
I spoke to her, still with eyes closed.
"Now we should head home."
A faint ripple crossed her serene face.
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, yet there was no sign of her opening her eyes.
"You said you have to go because it's your mom's birthday."
"Right, and Dad's waiting. You said you'd soothe him together?"
At those words, the crease between her brows slowly smoothed out as my voice paused.
I steadied my breath.
Then, very quietly, I opened my mouth toward her.
"And this time, you'll come with me."
Somehow, it felt like time stopped for a moment at those words.
Her eyebrows trembled.
As if she had been waiting for them.
Her closed eyes slowly opened.
Round pupils emerged.
Golden morning sunlight reflected within them.
Blink—
Once, twice.
Our eyes met.
"…Huh."
As if she couldn't grasp the situation.
Her mouth opened again after blinking several times.
"Agent… did you die too, by any chance?"
A smile tugged at my lips at her words.
And then a sound rang in my ear.
The one I had been waiting for.
Ding!
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[25-Hour Convenience Store Horror]
[Progress]: 100%
[Rulebook – 25-Hour Convenience Store Horror]
Rule 1. Shift Start Time
1-1. You must arrive by exactly 09:00.
1-2. Entering after 09:01 will prevent entry to the store.
ㄴThe convenience store interview will automatically fail.
1-3. Entering before 09:00 will sever you from the outside world.
ㄴThe outside at that time is not reality, and leaving will prevent return.
Rule 2. Lighting
2-1. The store's fluorescent lights are most directly tied to survival.
ㄴIf all fluorescent lights go out, all entities inside the store are processed as 'waste.'
2-2. Each extinguished light increases the store's difficulty.
2-3. If all fluorescent lights in the store go out, everything inside is automatically 'disposed of.'
Rule 3. Receiver
3-1. If the phone on the counter rings, you must answer it.
ㄴThe caller may be a past 'horror victim' or someone 'contracted with the horror.'
3-2. Most rules are conveyed through the person on the receiver.
ㄴIt is necessary to form a proper relationship. Hostility or resistance will exponentially increase difficulty.
3-3. Do not ignore warnings from the receiver such as "Don't look outside."
3-4. If the call cuts off, all lights are already out.
Rule 4. Customers
4-1. Do not stare at customers entering for too long.
4-2. Failing to respond correctly as part-time staff will distort the customer's face, causing 'anomalization.'
ㄴAnomalized customers charge at whoever meets their eyes.
4-3. Avoid eye contact as much as possible and endure for a set time, and the changed customer will return to normal.
ㄴStaring too long renders this ineffective.
ㄴIn such cases, quickly disposing of the customer is effective.
ㄴIf the customer is already in attack mode, ignore the above rules and focus on self-survival.
Rule 5. Shift Hours
5-1. From 09:00 to 06:00 is considered 'shift hours.'
5-2. Leaving the store during this time results in immediate 'assimilation.'
5-3. The assimilated become dolls and appear as customers in the next round.
5-4. The store's lights must remain on until shift end.
Rule 6. Behavior During Shift.
6-1. Uniform Attire.
ㄴBeverage display rack, far right end, first bottom handle—turn it to open the door with the uniform on the hanger.
6-2. Shift Start Button
ㄴAfter donning the uniform, press the shift start button under the counter.
ㄴComplete before all fluorescent lights go out.
6-3. Restocking Shelves.
ㄴImmediately restock when display items are low.
ㄴMove near-expiration items to less visible spots.
ㄴAt hour mark, dispose of expired items.
ㄴCannot perform "restocking" if customers are near shelves.
ㄴFailing to handle properly will extinguish one light.
6-4. Warehouse Organization.
nBefore restocking shortages, organize goods by date.
ㄴFailure increases difficulty as near-expiration items mix in.
ㄴOrganize boxes, compress empties, separate waste.
nRegularly check refrigeration/freezer temperatures.
6-5. Sales Settlement.
ㄴAt 50 minutes past the hour (10 minutes before next hour), begin calculating sold items and finish settlement by 00:00.
ㄴFailing before hour mark extinguishes one light.
6-6. Ejecting Troublesome Customers.
ㄴIf a customer at the counter uses abusive language, damages goods, or acts threateningly, immediately begin 'ejection procedure.'
ㄴAfter a set time, the troublesome customer's anger subsides, and they leave.
ㄴHowever, this inevitably consumes time.
Rule 7. Closing Conditions
7-1. Once all customer service is complete, the horror slowly enters closing procedures.
ㄴ[00:00:00]-[06:00:00].
7-2. At this time, all store items vanish with the dawn light.
7-3. When the electronic clock behind the counter beeps, it's the "off-duty" signal.
[Rulebook Update Complete]
[Current Rule Count: 7]
[Level Adjustment: Caution Level]
[Next Stage Progression Conditions Met]
[You have successfully neutralized the 25-Hour Convenience Store Horror.]
[First Clear Bonus: 50 Horror Coins awarded]
[Initial Clear Bonus: 50 Horror Coins awarded]
[100% Progress Bonus: 100 Horror Coins awarded]
[You have successfully completely destroyed the 25-Hour Convenience Store Horror.]
[Hidden Bonus: Complete annihilation of the horror.]
[Reward: 200 Horror Coins awarded.]
*Horror Coins can be used at the Horror Shop.
*Coins sponsored via broadcast will be comprehensively settled after the broadcast ends.
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***
Soon, the space inside the convenience store shook as if it would collapse.
As if all the energy in this space had been sucked away in an instant somewhere.
From the cracks and crumbling gaps, light seeped out.
As if it had been waiting.
Quietly, yet at an unstoppable speed.
The world began to brighten gradually.
The formless space melted into the light, and rising radiance pushed out the remaining darkness one by one.
And, very slowly—
I opened my closed eyes amid the settling light.
Before me, she still stood.
Seeing her face subtly flushed.
She seemed to have realized she was fortunately alive.
No more explanation seemed needed.
"Uh… th-that. Earlier was like… a joke."
Her glancing gaze somewhere seemed to ask why.
Why I went that far to save her.
"I promised, didn't I? That we'd leave the store together."
Her lips trembled ever so slightly.
"…That's… all it took?"
At her words, a laugh escaped me unwittingly.
Some other reason.
To that face that seemed to need a more plausible excuse, I continued.
"And… um, food?"
"Food?"
"Yeah. Thinking about it… I realized I need to mooch off you quick. Truth is, I'm broke… That's why I came here for the part-time gig."
As my words ended.
She stared at me blankly for a moment.
As if about to say something.
Her hesitating lips trembled several times—
Finally, very cautiously, her mouth opened.
"…Ten times…"
That single phrase mixed into the air, spreading softly.
Soon, she lifted her head and murmured softly.
"A hundred times…"
"No, a thousand times…"
Dissatisfied with that too, her mouth paused.
After hesitating a moment, as if resolving something, she nodded.
"Until my hair turns… wh-white at the roots…!"
Her low voice grew louder.
"I'll buy Agent's meals… for life!! Even if I have to part-time at a convenience store again!"
With those words, her face flushed red.
Her voice echoed along the main road by the convenience store.
A sudden shout.
At that, people around glanced at us briefly.
A face somehow expecting a response.
Guess I should reply.
Scratching my cheek, I murmured softly.
"…No, I don't need that many. Just once is fine."