9. Watch Your Own Death! (2)
“How much budget were you thinking?”
Answering that was easy.
I’d prepared a lump sum just in case something like this came up.
“I cashed in my housing deposit. So, roughly……”
“Housing deposit? That should be around two million, right?”
Ham Section Chief cut me off.
Contrary to her expectations, it was about a quarter of that.
“That’s all?”
She made a strange face upon hearing the amount.
Her expression screamed, What, with field team salaries?
“Yes. Being a newbie and all……”
“Ah, you’re strapped for cash, huh? Yeah, everyone’s like that these days. Can’t be helped.”
Still, she said five hundred thousand should just about cover the essentials.
“Anyway… mind giving me the seat for a sec?”
I stood up casually, and she plopped down, scrolling through with the mouse wheel.
The list was long, but she found what she wanted quick.
Click, click, click. Done. No hesitation—like these were true necessities.
“No matter what, you gotta get this one, this, and this.”
She muttered while highlighting the cart items with the pointer.
Shopping Cart
[Ordinary Suit]
[Magic Ink Usable Anytime, Anywhere]
[Thousand-Mile Eye Cartographer]
I’d seen the Ordinary Suit before.
The one I’d waffled on buying.
But the warnings were pretty brutal.That’s why I’d passed.
No way I’d waste money on something sketchy.
As I thought that, Ham Section Chief murmured in a tone that reminded me of Section Chief Jo.
“This thing’s legit. Sometimes it fails hard, but when it works, it works.”
What the hell was with everyone rating it the same?
Perfect timing, though.
“You mean the ‘total failure’ in the warnings?”
I voiced my doubt, and she grinned.
“Oh, you read the fine print? Most people just buy blind.”
“……I’m cautious with purchases. Better safe than sorry.”
“I like that. Smart way to shop. Thorough’s the best.”
She nodded approvingly, smiling wider.
“But it’s fine. If it doesn’t activate, whatever—but once it does, nothing beats it for protection.”
“……Nothing beats it?”
“Not clicking? Let me game it for you… Oh Junior, you like games?”
I’d quit lately, but I used to love them.
“Yeah? Easy then. In game terms, this suit blocks instant-death patterns. It’s a gamble, sure, and best to avoid those spots altogether, but……”
She flashed a creepy smile.
“Better to roll the dice than give up when you’re about to die, right?”
…Obviously.
She kept explaining the cart.
The Magic Ink Usable Anytime, Anywhere was exactly that—ink you could use literally anytime, anywhere.
“I’ve got one right here.”
She pulled a fountain pen from her suit pocket.
Gold nib. The elite employee mark gleamed dully in the morning light.
“Watch close.”
She started writing in midair. Strokes flowed seamlessly.
The words hung there:
"Like this."
Yeah. Letters floating in the air. Truly anytime, anywhere.
“Handy, right? Tons of uses—like marking paths in spatial anomalies or fake-outs in fights.”
“I see……”
I nodded. Already three more ideas popped up.
“Next up… the Thousand-Mile Eye Cartographer.”
She grinned at me.
“Time to test our newbie’s English. Question: What’s a cartographer?”
Luckily, I knew it.
“Mapper. Nuance differs a bit, but mapmaker.”
“Ding ding ding! Not a common word, but you nailed it.”
She patted my shoulder proudly.
“It’s a navigation app that works even in anomalies. That’s the selling point.”
My eyes widened. If true, killer item.
“But the path it shows? Not the right one. More like a busted compass—points opposite.”
Wait, what?
What good was that……
…No.
Wait.
It was useful!
She dropped the hint as realization hit.
“Think: What’s it mean to give a ‘reliable’ wrong answer?”
She was right.
Avoiding wrong paths meant……
You could roughly pinpoint the right one.In anomalies, few features beat that. No wrong turns, no death by detour.
Of course, limits applied.
No shortcuts. The ‘right’ path might loop back.Even so, essential.
All three items were.
Definitely necessities. Makes you wonder why they’re not standard issue.Demand had to be high……
Hold up. Demand?They’re not issuing ‘em to sell ‘em instead?Section Chief Jo raved, Ham too. Field team buys anyway.
Are you serious……!Felt like I’d uncovered a truth I shouldn’t.
Company’s business hustle—whether forbidden truth or my paranoid fantasy—didn’t matter.
> Thank you for your purchase!
I pulled the trigger. Clean, nearly five hundred thousand gone.
Gold-nib promo shaved off three hundred grand, but……Still, for a small-time guy like me—big corp life started distancing me, but—hands were shaking.
But I did it……Toughest mouse click ever. Good job, Oh Sung-jin.
As I patted myself on the back.
“Hmm, gotcha. Oh Junior, you’re such a ditz there.”
She said it out of nowhere. I glanced at her cautiously.
“What do you mean?”
“No weird vibe when you checked out?”
“Weird vibe?”
She giggled. Her face overlapped with Section Chief Jo’s somehow.
But she didn’t end the laugh sour like him.
“The address. No address field.”
Come to think……
“Huh?”
“Took you long enough. Kinda slow for a gold-nib.”
She smirked, tapping her temple.
Wait, more importantly—my stuff?
Then, thump under the desk. Something dropped. Bent down: fancy packaging.
Ham Section Chief tsked, disappointed.
“Was gonna spook you. Aw, ruined. Ruined.”
I was already spooked—no need to say.
No, how the hell?
“How’s this possible?”
“How? Forgot what company? Monster Tech.”
“Monster Tech?”
“Mirae Co., Ltd. field team welfare mall deliveries are ‘instant.’”
Pretty hand-wavy explanation.
But then……I eyed the delivered suit dubiously.
Not custom-fit?
No, that’s not the point.……Monster Tech? What even?
……Screw it.Not like it didn’t make sense. Our company’s no normal joint.
Maybe I’m染ing into this madhouse too.A twinge of nostalgia hit, and I just had to say it.
“What a mess. Kinda off in weird ways.”
“Hm? Yeah, usual. Even big corps can’t perfect everything.”
She shrugged.
“Sell what works. Our stuff’s got great value anyway.”
…Our stuff.
Promo code thoughts resurfaced.
I hesitated, then:
“Yeah, finding helpful gear’s tough. Like that ‘Screaming Cursed Doll’……”
“Oh, right. Creepy one.”
“So, about that……”
Her face turned back to me. I played hesitant.
“Any places outside to buy this stuff?”
“……Mirae Co., Ltd. doesn’t recommend sourcing anomaly gear externally.”
Instant reply. Mistake?
“But I get it. Scary out there. Never know when you die. More cards, better odds.”
Nope.
“Don’t answer. This is me mumbling. Got it?”
I’m quick on the uptake.
No nod. No reply.
Just scrolled the mall casually.
“Heard there’s a flea market for ‘way too skilled’ freelancers. Weird, huh? Skilled wouldn’t freelance.”
Those folks aren’t freelancers.
“Super sus. Secret site: specific code in address bar, 9 PM sharp, every night.”
Code goes in the address bar.
“Those skilled freelancers sniff out rookies like pros……”
Only proven talent gets in.
“And it’s up just one hour before shutdown. Barely time for a post.”
One-hour access.
“……”
“……”
“Alright, all bought? I’m out.”
“Yes. Thank you so much.”
“Thanks? Booze later.”
She slapped my back, stood. Couldn’t bluntly say no drinks.
…And.
Proved tone-deaf right away.
Here’s the sitch.
Killing time till work, browsed welfare mall, found more useful stuff later.
Ham’s shopping helped big.
Spotted gems like Thousand-Mile Eye amid the junk.
Cart for now……No cash, so buy later.
Solid gains. Knew the mall’s real use now.
Pondered Section Chief Kang a bit, poked intranet aimlessly.
Thirty minutes to start.
Ding—!
Company mail alert. Subject garbled. Attachment title too.
Only readable: one line in body.
Flashback: entering Post-Special Duty Division 1.
Specifically, the anomaly-turned-ghost Deputy Han Hee-jung’s custom training UCC for us.
Meaning.
An anomaly had come for me.
So now.
I’d called Ham Section Chief again.
“Yup, that one. The ‘watch three times and die’ video. Rare these days—wonder where he got it.”
She eyed the screen like a doc, diagnosed. Casual tone despite the grim name.
Still, anomaly. Better confirm.
“Dangerous?”
“Nah. Not really. Up to twice. Lucky you—reporting it gets performance bonus.”
Relief, then question.
“Performance bonus?”
She nodded.
“One of the few that lets you peek the future, even fragments. Rare gem.”
Naturally thought of unbought gear.
No risk, no burden.
“……Just download?”
She nodded again.
Hit download. PC groaned heavy. Big file.
Awkward silence fell. She didn’t mind, but I’d bugged her.
No small talk from me. Not my thing.
Then.
As download neared end, she spoke.
“Have a good trip. Don’t forget the report after. Bonus means you treat.”
“Yes. I’ll do th……”
Nodded absently. Then the off vibe.
“……Yes? Good trip? What……”
Before I finished, download done.
Darkness everywhere.
Next instant.
Trees, trees, shadows, leaves.
And a silent moon sliver.
I stood in a misty forest night.
Then it hit.
Yeah.
I’d been thrown into an anomaly.
With one shopping bag.
No prep. Straight in.