Clothing Warehouse - "Gazes That Love You" (2)
“...What the hell is this?”
The dank, stinking cave from moments ago was gone without a trace. In its place stretched an enormous space, vast enough that its boundaries vanished into the distance. Rusty metal clothes hangers stood in endless domino-like rows, densely packed with dust-caked garments.
“Keeek? Where the hell are we! Where's my cave!”
“Magic! The human used magic! Kek!”
Hob Goblin and his minions freaked out, scrambling in panic. I was screaming internally too.
Insane. This power is straight-up broken.
I'd figured a D-rank ghost story would be something minor at best—a few traps, maybe some wandering ghosts. But this? It had outright erased reality and overlaid an entirely new dimension.
A chill raced up my spine. Only now did it hit me what kind of monstrous power I'd gotten my hands on.
But I swallowed hard and schooled my expression. No freaking out in front of a customer. I was a salesman here to peddle goods.
“No need to be alarmed.”
I waved a hand casually, feigning nonchalance.
“This is the interior of the anomaly. A unique domain created by the ghost story I sold you.”
“A-an anomaly...?”
“Exactly. As you can see, it's just a change in space. And the most important part? Nothing in here can harm you or your minions. I promised you that, didn't I?”
Hob Goblin's ragged breathing eased at my confident tone. He still scanned the surroundings warily with anxious eyes.
“W-well, that's a relief, then... But, merchant.”
“Yes?”
“It's just the environment that's changed? Where's that 'ghost story' supposed to kill the hunters? All I see are a bunch of ragged clothes.”
“...Ah.”
I was at a loss for words. Right. The ghost story was called the Watcher, but there was no sign of any watcher. Were these clothes supposed to fly around and strangle people or something?
I shouted internally in a panic.
Voice! Where's the Watcher! We need something to show so I can explain!
A lazy reply echoed in my head.
…Are your eyes just for show? Look around properly.
What?
The mannequins are the Watchers.
Mannequins? I snapped my head up, scanning between the hangers. And swallowed hard.
“...!”
There, amid the clothes, stood stiff figures. Wooden dolls shaped like humans. Crude screws jutted from their joints, their surfaces roughly hewn. But their appearance was grotesque. No eyes, no nose. Instead, their entire faces were covered in bizarre 'flower patterns' scrawled in red and black ink, like something drawn with a pen.
Holy shit!
Goosebumps exploded across my skin. Up close, they weren't pretty flower drawings. They looked like a kid's frantic scribbles—or blood splatters. Just looking at them gnawed at my sanity, an endless wave of disgust with no beginning or end. I wanted to scream “Mommy!” right then, but I bit my tongue and held it in. What kind of salesman screams at his own product in front of a customer?
I pointed at the mannequins with feigned calm.
“Those mannequins you see there? They're the ghost story.”
“Mannequins? Those wooden stumps that don't even move?”
“They're still now, but if intruders come in... very gruesome things will happen.”
Hob Goblin eyed them skeptically, then tilted his head.
“But... there sure are a lot of them, huh?”
“Pardon?”
“Look over there. And there too.”
I followed his pointing finger. At first, I'd thought there were just a few, but no.
...There are really a ton.
Dozens? No, over a hundred visible ones. And in the dim warehouse depths, shadows suggested countless more silhouettes standing in the dark. Like an army, densely packed in perfect rows.
Voice... is this really a D-rank ghost story? With this many, it's B-rank dungeon level, isn't it?
Way too grand for a D-rank.
Annoying. Don't compare 'ghost stories' to some monster ranking system.
They grade by raw power or mana, right? Ghost stories are ranked by the absoluteness of their 'rules'.
But still, the sheer numbers...
It's only D-rank, so it stops at this scale.
Voice clicked his tongue and continued.
What's the big deal about manifesting one cramped clothing warehouse? If it were A-rank or higher, it'd swallow a whole city.
“...”
I stared blankly at the forest of mannequins. This endless maze was just 'cramped'?
Heh...
Speechless, I let out a hollow chuckle and met the eyes of a wooden mannequin with its flower-patterned face. It felt like it was smiling at me.
“Um... merchant. So how do we get out of here?”
Hob Goblin glanced around uneasily. The maze of endless hangers offered no exit, not even a window. Come to think of it, we hadn't entered through a door either.
Right. I never learned how to leave.
I hurriedly called out internally.
Boss? Where's the exit?
…What a pain.
Voice sighed wearily.
Visualize a 'door' in your mind. One will generate.
Of course, this power only works inside the domain of a ghost story you've summoned. Can't make doors in someone else's turf.
Someone else's turf...
Intriguing words, but no time to dwell. I closed my eyes and pictured a battered, crude iron door.
Door, door, door...
Whummm—.
Space warped, and a rusty iron door popped into existence in midair. Just the door itself, no frame—a bizarre sight.
“Keeek! A door appeared!”
“Let's go, then. Customer.”
I turned the knob like it was nothing. Creeeak.
Stepping through, a familiar, nauseating stench hit us.
“Urk...”
Back in the goblin lair. The fabric softener scent from moments ago felt like a dream compared to this brutal reality. The door dissolved into smoke as we emerged.
“Phew... we survived.”
“That was scary! Kek!”
The goblins sighed in relief, patting their chests. That's when—
Crackle—pop!
A blue flash burst before my eyes, and multiple rectangular screens materialized.
“Huh?”
I rubbed my eyes. The screens showed the clothing warehouse interior we'd just left, from various angles. Like CCTV monitors in a security room.
What the...?
Allows real-time monitoring of the summoned ghost story's interior.
You'll want to watch what happens next up close, right? It's part of a merchant's mindset—recommended viewing.
Crazy... you're telling me to watch live horror movies?
I'm terrified of horror flicks. Jump scares make me cover my eyes and yell; gore scenes I skip entirely. And now this—uncut, real-time documentary feed?
Can't I just close my eyes? Do I have to watch?
My stomach churned at the thought. Dim warehouse, mystery mannequins, screams... My hands and feet were already shaking.
“Wh-what is this?”
Hob Goblin's voice came from beside me. He was staring wide-eyed at thin air, pointing.
“The picture's moving! Aren't those the mannequins from before?”
“...Pardon?”
I whipped around in surprise.
“You can... see this?”
“Clear as day! Is it a magic mirror?”
He reached out curiously toward the screens. Flustered, I asked internally.
I thought only I could see it?
Oh, right. Dungeon bosses—the owners—get shared 'admin privileges' too.
Beats watching alone, doesn't it?
Relief washed over me.
...Good.
Not alone. Big ol' Hob Goblin right here with me. Horror movies are less scary with a buddy—even if he's a stinky monster. Way better than trembling solo.
***
“Alright, everyone, listen up.”
Ju Se-yoon clapped lightly. The five Hyeonhak Guild trainees snapped to attention, staring at him.
“This is a D-rank dungeon. Piece of cake for your specs. But no slacking—got it? A hunter's real worst enemy isn't monsters. It's 'arrogance.'”
Ju Se-yoon wore the face of the world's most responsible leader. Internally: Just wanna wrap this up and grab a drink. Outwardly: perfect senior.
“Understood, Team Leader!”
“We'll crush those goblins today!”
The trainees' eyes blazed with zeal. Fresh academy grads, itching for blood.
“Good. Love the spirit. Formation up—entering.”
At his signal, the raid stepped through the gate. The dungeon interior was predictably damp and dark. Soon, they spotted goblins huddled around a campfire, cackling as they roasted rat-like skewers.
“Front: six goblins.”
Ju Se-yoon nodded toward them.
“Handle it yourselves.”
“Yes, sir!”
The trainees charged. Mana chants and sword auras echoed through the cave.
“Keeek?”
The goblins startled mid-bite, but too late.
Boom—slash!
“Keeek! Kek!”
One goblin charred to coal from a fireball, another's head rolled from a sword strike. One-sided slaughter.
“Haha! Easy!”
“Hey, I got two!”
The trainees swung wildly, pumped. Then a surviving goblin bolted in terror deeper into the cave.
“Hey, it's running! Get it!”
As one chased, Ju Se-yoon raised a hand.
“Let it go.”
“But sir, it'll call reinforcements?”
“That's the point. Follow it, and it'll lead us right to the nest. Way more efficient than searching blindly.”
“Ahh, genius, Team Leader!”
Thumbs up all around. Ju Se-yoon shrugged. Lazy reason, really.
They tailed the fleeing goblin leisurely. Stragglers en route? No need for him. Desperate lunges ended with a yawned sword swing—slice. Clean goblin cross-sections drew cheers.
Boring.
Ju Se-yoon flicked blood from his blade. Could leave it to the kids and spectate.
Too trivial for a B-rank like him.
“Uh, Team Leader, check that out.”
The lead trainee halted, pointing ahead.
“What's up? Boss?”
“No... something's off about that.”
Ju Se-yoon turned slowly. The trainee pointed at a cave wall—or rather, a warped patch of space itself.
Whummm—.
Air shimmered like heat haze. Beyond the blurry veil: an alien landscape.
“...Clothes?”
Ju Se-yoon narrowed his eyes. If not mistaken, a massive clothing warehouse.
“Mirage?”
“No way there's a clothing store in a dungeon...”
Trainees murmured. Ju Se-yoon frowned. Weird. Ten years hunting, first time seeing this. Caution stirred.
Trap?
Then another thought hit.
Wait—hidden dungeon?
A secret dungeon within. Off the main path, packed with treasure. A rare hidden piece right here?
Greed lit his eyes. Caution shoved aside.
Just a D-rank. What's the worst that could happen?
B-rank him could crush the Hob Goblin boss with one hand. Brute force any issues.
“Team Leader... feels creepy. Shouldn't we skip it?”
One trainee whimpered. Ju Se-yoon smirked, regripping his sword.
“Don't chicken out. Probably just illusion magic.”
He strode to the shimmering space.
“Opportunity, actually. Treasures hide in places like this. Stick close.”
He stepped in without hesitation. Trainees followed the confident leader timidly. As the last crossed the threshold—
Clang.
An iron door slammed shut behind. Ju Se-yoon spun—nothing. Just endless clothes hangers gazing down.