Something is strange.
I looked around the dining table. My other selves, sitting there in the forms of various ghost stories.
The contaminations within me are currently sitting there, visualized by the Cosmic shopping mall's VIP shopping service so that I can perceive them.
And when I asked to have all of that removed, what the lizard said was….
‘…Are you asking if I’m going to permanently destroy a part of myself?’
It sounds like… he’s saying he will destroy my contaminated mind itself.
Like amputating a limb to prevent the spread of infection.
Of course, there are times when that might be unavoidable.
But usually, it’s an irreversible choice made only when recovery is absolutely impossible.
“…Is it impossible to remove only the contamination from there? I mean, restoring the contaminated mind to its original state. Permanently.”
“That is a service not available at the Cosmic shopping mall.”
“…Is it possible elsewhere?”
“That is an item for which information cannot be provided.”
I turned my head.
The yellow Mascot—me—is shaking its head.
No
I looked down at my right arm.
In this Ghost Story Worldview, where the body can be regenerated, limbs are sometimes cut off.
Because here, that can be undone.
So, cutting off and destroying one’s own ego… isn't that an even more extreme choice than actually cutting off a limb in this place?
“…….”
Did Section Chief Lee Jaheon really intend to introduce me to this method?
“I will change my question.”
I don't think so.
‘In that case.’
I raised my head.
“Instead of destroying my contaminated ego, I want to be able to perceive and manage it myself.”
The problem with contamination is that it turns into something else without me knowing.
But if I clearly know what kind of mutations are inside me, I should be able to suppress them or, in the worst-case scenario, utilize them.
“…So that I can control myself.”
The gray lizard, making eye contact with me, nodded.
“I see.”
“I would like to purchase something that can help with that. Is it possible?”
“Yes.”
The lizard moved his hands immediately.
As if I had chosen the right answer.
“…!”
Then, an object that had been shrouded in mist at the far end of the table was quickly moved in front of me by a transition of excited tentacles.
“With the authority of a Personal Shopper, I will recommend a suitable item.”
It was… a small machine.
It looked like a specialized surgical device, but at the end of the robotic hand-like apparatus was a delicately crafted needle, and above it, a crescent-shaped lamp shone down on the machine.
I already knew of something similar to this.
The tattooing machine from the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
An item that seemed to be a miniature version of the incomprehensibly bizarre device from that atmospheric ghost story was before my eyes.
Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattooing Machine
“This item was produced for a short period before the Moonlight Tattooists went out of business, leaving only a very few survivors due to a certain incident. I have acquired one of the three remaining units.”
Pre tty
Un ique
The tentacles that had rushed over proudly shook a few strands like arms, then flinched as if conscious of the lizard's gaze and disappeared into the mist.
My heart pounded.
“…How exactly does this help?”
“The spirit of a Moonlight Tattooist dwelling within the device will engrave a tattoo that assists with the user’s needs.”
It was similar to the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
“Tattoos engraved with this device are fluid. They adapt to every environment the user encounters and change into the most suitable form.”
This part was a bit different.
However, for me, who would have to enter ghost stories and face various contamination risks in the future, it was actually better.
‘Did he recommend this with that in mind from the start?’
“Do you wish to purchase it?”
I nodded.
“Yes. I want to buy it.”
“Thank you. The price is 159,999,999 won.”
“…….”
I almost choked.
“Can I pay with something else? For instance, by giving you an item you might purchase….”
“What kind of item is it?”
Wait a minute.
‘No matter how I think about it, these guys aren't a company that specializes in buying things.’
I don't know what these aliens do with the money they collect from people, but the prices of the items sold at the Alien Shop were already more cutthroat than the original costs.
Given their business acumen… they would likely lowball the purchase price tremendously.
‘Of course, the fact that they're buying it now is also a favor.’
After some deliberation, I pulled out the Jade Pendant.
The reward I received from the Team Leader of Hyunmoo Team 3 at the Cheerful Theme Park.
An item issued by the Disaster Management Bureau, made at the Baridegi Workshop.
“How about this?”
“This is not an item purchased by the Cosmic shopping mall.”
“Um, is this the first time you’ve seen this item?”
“Yes.”
As expected.
‘The Alien Shop doesn't have much of a connection with the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.’
That was actually for the better.
“I’m not giving this to you to sell; it’s currency.”
I held out the Jade Pendant to the lizard.
“It’s a currency accepted in various places. It will be useful for you to use when purchasing the various items you sell.”
“Please provide specific examples.”
I willingly told him a few stories.
Ghost stories derived from East Asian legends and folklore, and sometimes even traditional fairy tales from Europe or the Americas, had accepted the Jade Pendant as currency.
‘Hmm. Organizing it like this, it seems to work mainly on ghost stories that are passed down as stories in various cultures.’
The lizard looked at the Jade Pendant in silence.
And after a brief pause….
“Confirmed. I will recognize it as currency and accept the payment.”
That’s it.
‘Nice.’
However, the lizard scraped away all five of the Jade Pendants I had held out.
‘This wasn't so nice….’
But considering the price, it seemed he had appraised it reasonably.
Anyway, the machine came into my hands.
Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattooing Machine.
“Do you wish for assistance with usage?”
“It’s fine.”
I brought the device to my arm.
I intended to have it engraved over the spot where my previous tattoos had been.
‘I think it’s used by holding it like this and pressing the switch.’
However.
Whirrrrr—
Emitting a soft light and noise, the mini tattooing machine slipped from my arm and floated on its own.
“…!”
And then it began to engrave something below my left collarbone.
As if gathering moonlight to burn the tip.
Whirrrrr—
Within that.
I felt the agony and artistic sense of someone dwelling within the tattooing machine.
What the customer wanted was clear.
To govern himself!
It is the most primal and important task. However, when there are numerous identities and agonies in the mind, it is difficult to gather and govern them as one.
Let us give each an index tag and provide a joint.
So that he can organize and assemble them whenever he wishes.
If so… is not the most impressive part above the heart!
I felt something hot on my heart,
And the moment the light in the tattooing machine faded, I hurriedly unbuttoned my shirt to see my bare skin.
“……!”
A star made of characters was revealed.
The tattoo, shaped like a circular puzzle repeating like elaborate tree rings, seemed to represent that Halo.
Words from various unknown languages were included in various sizes, elaborately fitted together to form several layers of circles.
There were still sufficient empty spaces in between, and I knew….
Now, the agonies that formed the pattern would keep each other in check and balance.
Through the tattoo, the customer can perceive himself and govern himself to become the self he desires.
The light and noise completely disappeared from the disposable tattooing machine.
Then, with a click, the crescent moon lighting turned off completely.
“Usage completion confirmed.”
“…….”
I turned my head and looked at those sitting at the table.
No one was there.
No, they were all me from the beginning.
Now that I had confirmed through the tattoo that they were a part of me, I simply no longer needed to see them with my naked eye to have no problems with decision-making.
“……Phew.”
I looked down at the tattoo again.
And among them, I brought my hand to a word that looked like a font broken by a computer Error.
I heard the school bell of Sekwang High School.
“…!”
I realized that if I wanted to, I could immediately put on a high school uniform and become a being from a horror game living in a different time and light from the intruders.
Whatever the side effects might be.
‘……No, wait.’
So… this tattoo didn't just organize and show me what was in my head?
Did it organize my contamination so that I could ‘take it out and use it’ whenever I wanted?
This is insane.
‘It’s definitely worth 150 million.’
Of course, whether I would use this is another matter, but for now, the important thing was that I was organized and no longer immediately swayed by contamination.
‘Alright.’
I straightened my clothes, being careful not to touch the worn, Gothic-style letters that clearly looked like they belonged to the Imitator of the Church of the Luminous
Unknown.
Fortunately or unfortunately, words that looked like they were scribbled with golden, classical cursive and small claws were engraved more centrally and largely than that.
‘The Mascot and… the cat?’
I felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Are these two friendly toward me?
…In any case, for now, this situation seems to have been settled.
Phew.
“Would you like to proceed with the next shopping?”
The lizard asked as if he had been waiting.
I looked at the Fragment of Divine Law from the Church of the Luminous Unknown that was still placed on the table.
‘I need to deal with that, too.’
Like buying something that can store it safely.
The problem is that I no longer have a large sum of money to pay.
The best thing would be to rush to the Daydream right now and sell it, but since I’m a spy, the timing isn't right….
“Do you think I might forget about that item again once I finish shopping?”
“It is a probabilistic possibility.”
Hmm.
A beggar like me asked after some thought.
“Do you happen to provide a storage service as well?”
“Mr. Kim Soleum.”
“…….”
“Mr. Kim Soleum.”
Gasp.
I opened my eyes.
The lizard was looking at me from across the dining table.
But this time, it wasn't gray.
“Manager.”
“Yes.”
A white lizard head with red pupils—Section Chief Lee Jaheon was standing before me. Phew.
“Were there any inconveniences with the VIP shopping?”
“Yes. It was very helpful….”
Then I saw it.
In front of Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s dining table, a pink plush doll was now sitting.
“……??”
Why was Braun there?
“Um, that… I thought I had put it in my pocket.”
“I removed it so that it would not interfere with your shopping.”
“…….”
I asked with difficulty.
“Does the Manager… still hear Braun, I mean… the plush doll, speaking?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t hear him, though.”
“I see.”
“W-what is he saying?”
“Sighs, excessive excitement, accusations, and threats.”
Aaargh!
“I have judged that there is no value in it as information.”
“Yes. Yes….”
I hurriedly and carefully picked up the plush doll from the table and put it back into the front pocket of my clothes.
But at that moment.
-My goodness. Finally.
“…Braun?!”
-Mr. Roe Deer! Oh, we are able to converse again….
I quickly pulled the plush doll out of my pocket and inspected it.
But at that moment, the voice cut off.
‘Huh?’
I tucked Braun back into my pocket.
-Mr. Roe Deer? Can you hear me?
Only one thing had changed.
‘The tattoo above my left chest.’
Could it be that if it’s near my tattoo, it’s judged as being within a ghost story?
‘My god.’
“Yeah. …It seems I can keep talking to you if I leave you here.”
-Near the heart. How fateful! Very well. I shall generously forgive you for leaving me alone with that insane, boring fellow for 23 minutes. Because I am a Good Friend.
-Now, kick him out immediately. Hurry.
“W-wait.”
I quickly soothed Braun and then spoke to Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
“Um, Manager… I saw someone similar to you while I was shopping.”
“He is not Section Chief Lee Jaheon. However….”
“But it’s true that you are ‘We Help’?”
“Yes.”
“Then does the Manager already know everything I did?”
“Yes.”
I asked, feeling a bit sheepish.
“Then you must also know the last thing I did.”
“Are you referring to the request for the item storage service?”
That’s right.
-I would like you to store this item safely.
-Yes.
I had left the Fragment of Divine Law from the Church of the Luminous Unknown—the root of all evil—with the lizards… no, with the Cosmic shopping mall.
‘Because I thought it would be cheaper than removing it altogether or buying an item to control it.’
And that prediction was correct.
…Even though it was correct, it was still expensive.
-It is 8,999,990 won for 100 days based on the planet you currently reside on.
-…Do you offer installment services?
Installments.
I never thought I would use a financial service I’d never even used in reality within a Ghost Story Worldview….
‘Since I think Daydream will pay more for it than that when they buy it, this is probably the right move.’
Let’s find it and sell it as soon as the timing is right.
Fortunately, according to Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s explanation, I should be able to retrieve it at any time.
The SIM card I had placed under my tongue had disappeared without a trace, but from now on, I can reactivate it by accessing the Cosmic shopping mall.
“Mr. Kim Soleum has been connected with We Help.”
…I felt like asking if that too was a type of contamination, but since it wasn't visible in the tattoo, I decided not to be needlessly rude. My counterpart is the possessor of superhuman strength who can crush iron with one hand.
In the first place, he is also a grateful presence who notices my contamination every time and deals with it on my behalf.
“Thank you. I’ve come to my senses a bit thanks to you.”
“Yes. However, the choice is at Mr. Kim Soleum’s discretion.”
“…Do you think I made a good choice?”
The lizard’s snout curved slightly.
“Yes.”
“……!”
“You have chosen well.”
Just as he had a few times before.
“…….”
As I thought.
When I was shopping earlier, I didn't realize because he had the same lizard head and a similar way of speaking, but seeing him like this in person, I can feel it.
‘He’s strangely different.’
How should I put it, I feel intelligence and emotion from this lizard, or perhaps he has more individuality…… I don't know.
Of course, if those alien reptiles share a single mind and emotion, it’s possible that I, having built a friendship with Section Chief Lee Jaheon, am arbitrarily distorting things.
‘In fact, I’m no longer in Group D, so I’m not even under his jurisdiction, yet he keeps looking after me.’
He’s probably doing the same for the other Seonbaes in Group D.
In many ways, he was a grateful boss whose thoughts I was curious about.
“Thank you, Manager.”
I thanked him once more and saw Section Chief Lee Jaheon, whose business was finished, out of the motel.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon quietly disappeared through the window instead of using the door.
-Contact We Help if a problem occurs.
Leaving those words behind.
“…….”
-Is it over?
Yeah.
-Phew. He’s finally gone.
-By any chance, do you have no plans for us to leave this terrible place as well?
Haha.
“I do.”
-Oh?
“I have to go to work tomorrow.”
And one more thing.
“I’m a spy who has infiltrated a state agency now.”
-Show business, my god.
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