Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Horror Movies Aren't Scary After Watching Them Three Times
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By now, this was my third visit to the black market. The twisted pipes lining the familiar alleys and the deafening roar of unknown machines churning away had gone from familiar to almost comforting.
'A stinky, noisy hellscape has somehow turned into a place that feels oddly nostalgic.'
They say even horror movies stop being scary after you've watched them three times. Maybe that's what's happening here.
What can I say... Now that I knew where the ghosts would pop up, I was almost anticipating them. It wasn't fear or dread anymore—just a gruesome, creepy neighborhood.
"Jun!! You took so long!! Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you?!"
"Cheshire...!"
The moment I stepped into the black market, I called out to her in that familiar way. She usually showed up about five minutes after I buzzed, but today she arrived in under a minute and threw herself into my arms.
We both had our faces covered, but somehow I could picture her expression perfectly. She was definitely beaming right now.
"Sorry. I've just been so busy..."
I apologized for not coming last week. I'd been stuck in the Missing Persons' Forest and couldn't make it to see her. Sending someone else didn't feel right either—anyone but me might not come back from the black market in one piece.
Even with the favor of the myriad demons, threats like Box Man kept popping up. A regular human without that protection? Who knows what kind of trouble they'd run into.
Anyway, when I apologized for being late, Cheshire shook her head with a gentle smile.
"It's okay. It's okay. I'm just glad you're alive. Come here."
I buried my face in her chest and savored our reunion for a good long while.
"Oh man... it's already been ten minutes. We don't have much time—let's get moving."
After stroking my hair for ages, Cheshire checked her watch, startled, and grabbed my hand, pulling me along. We only had four hours together, so we had to make them count. She'd probably wrap up her business quick and drag me back to her place.
If I had the luxury of free time, I could've crashed at her spot until next Friday. But with the Thrill Mansion and a pile of other backlog waiting for me, that wasn't happening.
Better to get her out of the black market altogether. We weren't some star-crossed lovers who could only meet once a year—this separation was frustrating enough.
"Where to first?"
"Uh... the poacher?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
Unlike last time when I'd come specifically for contraceptives, today wasn't about the black market itself. I was mostly here to see Cheshire, who'd be waiting for me. Of course, I wasn't about to waste time—we'd hustle through the stalls together.
First stop: the poacher. That mystery egg, the Alcid larva, the parasitic spores, and the screaming grass from last time? Top-tier stuff.
The egg hatched a hathling, no less. The Alcid larva opened new paths for the disabled we'd written off. The spores were on the verge of spawning mushroom humans—our slave race. And Hee-sun Noona became a forest keeper after taking the screaming grass.
Not a single dud. The poacher had hooked me up with pure gold. I almost wanted to bring him a thank-you gift.
'Hoping for more gems this time... something to boost the outpost growth...'
Lost in pleasant fantasies, I linked arms with Cheshire and arrived at the Street of Delicacies—aka Grub Alley—where the poacher set up shop.
"Eugh... Chinese and Western today?"
Wasn't it Korean BBQ and desserts last time? My memory was fuzzy, but this alley seemed to switch up cuisines every visit.
'Why does the food culture mimic humans so much, though?'
The question popped into my head, so I asked Cheshire. She knew the black market inside out—she'd have the scoop on why there were 'Chinese' and 'Western' spots here.
"Hey, Cheshire. Got a question."
"Yeah? Spill it. I'll tell you everything I know. Even the baby farms in Block 3 or the secret shops in Central Square!"
"B-Baby farms...?"
"Yep. They take in endangered species' infants and raise 'em. Once they grow, they sell 'em off and clone replacements to keep 'em babies forever. Curious? I can take you. Players aren't supposed to go in, but who cares? If you wanna, we go."
What happened to the sold ones...? And how did Cheshire know all these insane secrets? Terrifying, but reassuring since she was on my side.
A black market guide, broker, and badass fighter as my girlfriend? Felt like having the local thug as your best buddy—rock solid.
"Uh, Cheshire. Not that forbidden knowledge... just about Grub Alley."
"Oh? Right, yeah?"
"Nothing big. Just wondering if Earth's food culture works here too."
"Ah, gotcha. Heh heh... Most of what's sold here apes human culture. High-race folk never had cuisine—just raw eating. They copied humans, and that's how it evolved(?)."
"Whoa..."
Wasn't this cultural regression? Better to swallow prey clean than torture them to death first, right? Or not?
"They call it gourmet among themselves... Eh, to me it's exotic junk food. Some tasty spots pop up, but weird logic says if the food's good, the owner's tasty too. Owners vanish without a trace, and some other race sneaks in to take over."
"Jeez..."
Mind-boggling. Human common sense didn't apply here. Did Cheshire eat here? Nah, she stuck to Central Square—less brutal, less freaky, and canned goods everywhere.
To me, it was all horrific either way, just different prep styles. But Cheshire was cute, pretty, lovable—what she ate didn't matter. As long as she didn't chow down in front of me...
And I wasn't the type to dump a girl for liking weird eats. Plus, she'd chase me to the ends of the earth... Her arm-link was getting tighter, that obsessive vibe. Not bad, though.
If even evil gods beyond life adored me, what love couldn't I handle? No fear. I liked it...
"So, right or left?"
"Uh... Chinese side..."
Both sounded gross, but my pleb tastes preferred 5,000-won jjajangmyeon over 9,000-won pasta. Right for Chinese it was.
If I hadn't heard the noises from the Chinese alley, I'd have gone in.
—Sizzlepopcrackle!!!
—Aaaahhh!!! Hot!! Hot!! Hot!!! Get me out!!!
The splatter of something frying in oil, and an intelligent being's screams of agony from the heat.
—Whirrrr, pfffttt!!
—Kieee!! Stop!!! No more!!!
—Kieee!! It hurts too much!!!
—Daddyyy!! Save me!!!
Blender motor whirring with kids' screams.
—Thud. Crunchcrack. Squish.
—Now!! It won't regenerate, you fucking bastard!!!
Cleaver slamming a cutting board, a woman thrashing and yelling about no regen.
'Fuck...'
Inhuman wails poured from the Chinese alley. My sharp ears caught every sound I shouldn't have.
Worst: those screams faded into some haunting Chinese folk tune. Chilling and shocking.
Step in there, and it'd be a disassembly show or humanoids boiled alive. My mental fortitude beat normal humans', but watching that up close? Nauseating, traumatic. Might sour my mood bad.
"Western side looks tamer. That way?"
"Yeah! Truth is, Chinese reeks of gamey meat. Wasn't feeling it."
Cheshire wasn't into Chinese either. We ducked into the Western alley. Calmer than Chinese—no dying screams, no blood puddles.
Fewer races milling about too. Per Cheshire, pricier joints here.
"Here we are."
Cheshire zipped to the poacher's shack, flung open the door, and bounded in.
"Well, well, back again. Still alive after three visits. Impressive."
I brushed off his backhanded greeting.
"Guess my luck holds."
"Means I see Cheshire more. Hey, Cheshire! No hello?"
"Hi, old man! FYI, zero interest in taking over your shop—give it up!"
"You little... Fine. You'll end up here eventually."
"Bullshit! I'm busting out of this shithole with my boyfriend!"
Cheshire declared boldly, hugging my side. I grinned awkwardly, arm around her waist. The poacher sagged like a dad losing his daughter, sighing deeply.
Then he beamed a mental message at me—telepathy or whatever.
⚙ TELEPATHIC MESSAGE ⚙
[Listen, Cultist... If you ever hurt Cheshire. I'll hunt you to the ends of hell. Remember that. I never let prey escape. Not even your dragon hunter friend could stop me.]
—Gulp...
He knew I was tight with dragon hunter Zeke—and even he couldn't block this guy...
My legs went weak at the poacher's threat. This guy ran a shop in the unpredictable black market. Felt like snared prey.
And 'hunt to hell's end'? No lie there...
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing..."
"Hey? You look off... Old man!! What'd you do?!"
"Beats me? Nothing happened. Relax, Cultist. Rules say I can't touch you now."
I nodded quick. He looked away, stood, and went to the sliding door at the back.
"Anyway, remember our deal? If you came back with Cheshire, I'd show you behind this door."
"Uh..."
Honestly, blank on that. Two weeks ago, plus rolling in the Missing Persons' Forest—memory lapse.
"R-Right, yeah."
"Good. Behold my collection. Just four items, so don't get hopes up."
He slid the door open.
A chill draft wafted out.
"Come in. Time for today's specials."
Two iron cages, one birdcage. And a massive heart in a jar—some unknown creature.
I worried if I had enough coins.
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