Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Dodging the Stalker, Securing the Mask
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The moment I stepped out of the house, I headed straight to none other than...
The area around Seongsu Station.
You might say, "Again?!"
But honestly...
"Where else do I have to go besides here?"
In this day and age, with no one I could call a friend, it was only natural for me.
And in this world, wandering outside turns you into a target for ghost stories.
A world where "Beyond the blanket is dangerous" is the absolute truth.
I really didn't want to leave the house either, but after hearing I'd been targeted by other ghost stories lately...
Staying put would just get me killed outright.
No thanks to a boring death.
That's why I was currently heading to the Ghost Story Pawnshop.
Step by step—
By the time I arrived near Seongsu Station...
I froze.
I stopped in my tracks.
And without hesitation, I ducked into a dark alley.
The reason was simple.
"Avoid Kim Ha-eun."
To keep from being spotted by our psycho Kim Ha-eun.
Last time, I'd carelessly wandered around Seongsu Station and got caught by her, dragging me into countless incidents—those memories flashed through my mind.
Just thinking about it...
Made my hair stand on end.
Sent chills down my spine.
So to avoid getting tangled in something like that again...
Caution, and more caution.
All incidents and accidents are best prevented beforehand, not dealt with after.
I hid near Exit 1 of Seongsu Station, tracking any sign of Kim Ha-eun. Even if it was a weekday morning, I couldn't let my guard down.
That girl could be out and about at this hour without it being weird.
Chill—!
!
A sudden chill up my spine made me whip my head around.
And behind me...
...
Nothing.
No black shadow of Kim Ha-eun. Just a stray cat on all fours brushing past Park Yeon-jeong's back, caught in my sight.
...
What do you call this?
Oh, right.
"Paranoia."
Yeah, that fits perfectly.
Since coming to this world, I'd been experiencing all sorts of sensations firsthand.
Even the ones I never wanted...
Sigh...
I swallowed a heavy sigh and refocused on Exit 1 of Seongsu Station.
I checked every passerby's silhouette. I scrutinized every woman's features.
And among them...
"Oppa, that person... they've been staring at me this whole time."
"Who?! Which pervert bastard!!"
"......"
"It's a misunderstanding!"
I'm just a law-abiding citizen desperately trying to protect myself!
Even amid all the wary glances from the crowd, I sensed no presence of Kim Ha-eun.
Maybe she wasn't coming today?
If so, thank goodness, but no dropping my guard.
I checked the time again.
AM 10:42.
Two minutes until the Ghost Story Pawnshop opened.
But.
I stayed put, holding my position.
No rushing in.
No letting my guard down.
Kim Ha-eun was... one persistent bitch.
"She might be watching me from somewhere, just like I am."
That woman was more than capable of it.
Chill—!
!!
Another chill hit, and I turned.
Meow~
"You again!"
My heart felt like it would burst.
At this rate, I'd die from extreme stress before anything else.
Even after that.
Over an hour more hiding in the dark alley, and still no sign of Kim Ha-eun.
The time now was.
AM 11:42.
Two minutes left until the pawnshop opened again.
Still no Kim Ha-eun in sight.
Alright then.
"Time for a speed run."
My eyes bored into Exit 1 while I timed it perfectly.
And.
A few seconds later.
AM 11:43.
"Now!"
Dash—!
With one minute until opening, I bolted straight for Exit 1.
Still no sign of Kim Ha-eun.
So.
I had to run for real.
Couldn't be even a second late.
Miss this window, and I'd have to wait for the next. No guarantee she wouldn't show up then.
Thud thud—!
The moment my right foot hit the first step.
I started counting the stairs in my head.
"One two three four five..."
Exactly at 11:44.
"Forty-four!"
Boom—
My bold voice echoed through the space.
A deafening silence followed, thick enough to clog my ears.
Standing there in that hollow place.
"Yes!"
The man felt a rush of accomplishment. The thrill of shaking off psycho Kim Ha-eun.
And yet.
Beneath that accomplishment lurked an absurdity that began rapidly souring his mood.
"So next time... I have to do this all over again?"
From now on.
Every single visit...
The corners of my mouth, which had been upturned, dropped in an instant.
Step by step—
For some reason, my steps toward the Ghost Story Pawnshop felt heavier than before.
*****
Following the glowing braille blocks.
The moment I spotted the shabby shop.
Creak.
I pushed open the door without hesitation and stepped inside. And who else would welcome Park Yeon-jeong but, naturally...
The proprietor of the Ghost Story Pawnshop.
Jang Sa-heon.
"...Oh my! Look who it is! It's been ages!"
Jang Sa-heon beamed with delight at the sight of me, though a bitter smile tugged at his lips.
"But customer, isn't it a bit too long between visits? I nearly forgot your face."
It was true—too many incidents in the past few weeks had kept me away.
But...
"...I didn't expect it to be this long either."
No, I really didn't.
And Mr. Jang Sa-heon.
I tried my absolute best to survive.
"More than anyone... to stay alive."
In that instant, weeks of memories flashed by like a montage, and I desperately wanted to unload every story on Jang Sa-heon.
I wanted to vent my struggles, my feelings, to someone.
But...
"Who'd believe it?"
Honestly, if I were listening, I wouldn't believe a word.
I'd probably call 119 instead of sympathizing.
So instead of lame consolation, I focused on why I'd come.
I'd dodged Kim Ha-eun's radar to get here.
Turning back empty-handed would be the real tragedy.
I scanned the shelves lined with countless items.
One caught my eye today.
"Huh? That item... no way?"
It stood out glaringly.
Impossible not to notice.
A blank-faced white mask entered my vision.
At a glance, it looked like the kind the clowns from [Wonderriot Circus] would wear.
I pointed right at the white mask.
Just to confirm it was really for sale.
"Is this... for sale? Really for sale?"
"Yes? Well, it's on display to sell... You buying?"
But hearing him so casually confirm it was for sale...
"Is this guy insane?"
I thought Jang Sa-heon had lost it.
Selling such a dangerous item outright?
On an open shelf where anyone could see?!
Crazy.
I hoped it was just ignorance, a mistake from not knowing better.
Glance.
His eyes, staring blankly back at me...
That innocent sparkle.
"He doesn't know."
Definitely clueless.
He had no idea how to use it properly.
So without another glance, I snatched the white mask and slapped it on the counter.
"How much?"
I'd decided to buy it today.
Not because I needed it.
Because it was dangerous.
Especially if it fell into the wrong hands.
It'd become a massive variable down the line.
As dangerous as any ghost story out there.
Top-tier chaos item, leagues above the Pain-Sharing Knife Kim Ha-eun bought.
This one absolutely could not go to anyone else. No matter what.
"......"
But Jang Sa-heon's silence dragged on. No price after I set it down.
Like he was gauging me.
At first, I couldn't read his intent.
Not until I saw...
His lips...
Slowly curling upward.
Not until he smelled the money.
!
No way!
"This guy really!!"
By the time I caught on, his eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
He licked his lips, flashing a sly grin.
"Customer, you always have such a sharp eye for the good stuff."
"......"
"But here's the thing—this one's a bit pricey..."
My mistake.
I'd shown too much on my face in front of this merchant.
"Let's see... the price on this is..."
He rattled it off like scripted lines, and I clenched my fist.
And then.
When he finally named the price.
"50 million won."
"......"
"You might think it's steep, but since it's you, customer, I'm eating the loss to let it go at this."
Loss my ass!
Don't mess with me!
If I hadn't freaked out, he might've let it go for a few million.
Jang Sa-heon, that guy has a nose for money like a bloodhound.
"...What a hassle."
But honestly.
It was cheaper than I'd feared.
If he'd known its true power, it'd be way over 50 million.
No, definitely.
Still, I wanted to buy it here before someone else did.
But.
I was short on cash.
If memory served, I had about...
30 million.
20 million short.
Hopelessly short.
With what I had, my only option was...
"Tab?"
"Oh no, can't do that! Even for a valued regular like you, putting 50 million on credit... business ethics, you know."
"......"
"Guess you'll have to pass then."
Jang Sa-heon pulled the white mask back toward him.
"Damn!"
I had to buy it now, before someone else did.
Or I'd regret it.
I'd definitely get tangled up with it soon enough.
Any way around this?
Park Yeon-jeong pulled out his smartphone, checking for any hidden funds.
...!!
I stared blankly at the screen for a bit. Then I murmured to Jang Sa-heon.
No.
I put force into my voice.
"...I'll take it."
"Pardon?"
"I'm buying it. That item."
"You said you didn't have the money..."
"Must've miscounted."
"......Pardon? How do you miscount that?"
Jang Sa-heon looked utterly confused.
Even I, confirming my balance with my own eyes, took a moment to process.
Because.
Park Yeon-jeong's account balance was roughly.
-130,000,000 won.
I'd forgotten about capturing that A-Rank [Smiling Mask] recently.
Well, Noise took it down, but...
"Mr. Noise, you don't mess around."
"Cash or card?"
"Cash, please."
"...Thank you! Customer!!"
Jang Sa-heon accepted without a hint of doubt.
Thank God this guy lives by "Money talks."