-Alien Shopping Mall? That’s a name with a unique sense of style! Is that an on-line store as well?
Ah, I summoned Braun too.
He was moved that I had drawn the curtains to make it dark for him even during the day, and he was struck with emotion that I had finally sold those Mascot snacks.
‘He’s a Friend whose bar for being moved is quite low...’
In truth, I had received two bags of snacks from the Mascot; I hadn't sold one and was keeping it just in case.
Anyway, to answer the question….
“That’s right. You access it through the internet. You look at items through a screen that looks like a flyer.”
-Aha! Is that so?
Braun’s cheerful voice rang out.
-I’m looking forward to it. I wonder what the store my Friend frequents looks like….
<Cosmic shopping mall>
※Wonderful items from outer space※~!!
I look at the items
-…….
-…?!
-What on earth is this? This vulgar flyer doesn't show a single ounce of aesthetic sense.
Hmm….
“Isn’t utility more important than appearance?”
-Good heavens! Mr. Roe Deer, appearance is just as important a factor as the interior! It is primary visual effects that move a viewer's heart!
-Such an uninteresting, unshocking, and merely ugly flyer!
Right, right.
Using his words as background noise, I clicked on the site.
……Yes, Mr. Roe Deer, I still believe in my Friend. Since you said it was okay, surely if I look inside past the flyer, it will be fine…….
Items
Blood Bath - ₩29,999,999
Mysterious Candle Kit - ₩19,999,999
Snow White's Apple - ₩11,999,999
We Help! - ₩66,666,666
※Discount!※ Blood-Sucking Cutlery - ₩7,999,999
₩14,999,999
-…….
“Braun?”
No response. It seems he fainted.
It seems my ‘Good Friend’ is someone… no, a monster who can feel a designer’s pain.
“Are you okay?”
-I shall rest for a moment.
Suit yourself.
I looked over the items.
First, the entries that hadn't changed immediately caught my eye.
Following the still-unaffordable ‘We Help!’, there was an item actually designated as a discount item….
‘It’s still there.’
※Discount!※ Blood-Sucking Cutlery - ₩7,999,999
₩14,999,999
I thought it wouldn't be seen again, whether someone else bought it or the algorithm removed it from my recommended items, yet here it was.
‘Did it calculate that I would be the one to buy it?’
It felt a bit mysterious. Anyway, next.
The most expensive item I could afford was….
Blood Bath - ₩29,999,999
‘This is… I saw someone looking for pieces of this on the Salmon Market earlier.’
It was a fairly famous Item. I remembered what kind of Item it was too.
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Delusion Home Shopping
/ Item
Blood Bath
I stand before you today to introduce an amazing product! The incredible elixir of rejuvenation that We Help Home Shopping proudly presents!
It is the Fountain of Youth Bathtub….
-July 7, 20XX, ‘Delusion Home Shopping’ Product Description
==========
If you pour someone else's blood into the bathtub, it turns into a very fragrant bath salt, and bathing in it has effects such as wound healing, fatigue recovery, arthritis treatment, and skin beauty.
‘Should I call it a modern version of a typical vampire ghost story?’
And considering the status of this Named Character item, the price was strangely decent.
However, whether it turned into bath salts or not, the mere imagination of pouring someone else's blood into a tub and bathing in it made my head spin….
‘F-first, let's move on.’
Mysterious Candle Kit - ₩19,999,999
This was an Item I didn't know.
Still, the word "candle" brings to mind the image of lighting a fire.
Light has always been a symbol that provides comfort and help in a ghost story.
‘Still, I should think more carefully about whether it’s worth burning twenty million won.’
And the last one was….
Snow White's Apple - ₩11,999,999
Wow. Even if this is useless, wouldn't it be a huge profit if I sold it for forty million won?
‘No, of course, I don't know if they'd count that as a ghost story-derived food… but I can at least try.’
The post looking for ‘food derived from an Anomalous Phenomenon’ was still on the site.
Since they said it was for research purposes, there was a high possibility they would continue to look for it.
Then, taking all this into account, my choice would be….
“It has to be these, I guess.”
Mysterious Candle Kit - ₩19,999,999
Snow White's Apple - ₩11,999,999
※Discount!※ Blood-Sucking Cutlery - ₩7,999,999
= ₩39,999,997
As I said before, light was the antithesis of a ghost story.
But an item that creates candles?
I had a feeling that the candles made from this kit would be related to defense or protection.
‘It’s worth the investment even if it’s a bit expensive.’
Snow White's Apple followed a similar logic.
‘Since it’s called Snow White's Apple, I feel like it would be related to sleep.’
I've been truly desperate for sleep lately.
If that apple could really make me sleep soundly, I truly needed it. Really. My efficiency would skyrocket and my survival rate would surge….
‘Please!’
I pressed the buy button with desperate hope.
‘Of course, even if it's not, I can just flip it for sale….’
It covers the worst-case scenario.
And finally.
Blood-Sucking Cutlery.
‘With such a big discount, isn't it only polite to buy it?’
The ‘Silver Coin Snake’ I bought as a discount item previously has been used quite thoroughly, from Custom Equipment to summoning Braun.
As a note, if I lightly pressed the belly of the plush doll keychain, I could feel a round metal shape as if the ‘Silver Coin Snake’ was still inside.
To be honest, I still didn't know if I could get as much use out of the Blood-Sucking Cutlery, but….
‘I figured I could use it to sell to employees or for trading.’
Now there's the Salmon Market to use as an excuse if anyone asks where I got it.
So, these are the three items.
“Good.”
It fit perfectly within my available budget.
Alright, let's proceed with the purchase….
-Mr. Roe Deer.
Hm?
Braun suddenly called out to me.
-That item called the Blood Bath.
What about it?
-I want it.
“…!?”
Wh-what?
-Friend, won't you give this Braun a gift?
Braun’s voice became cunningly desperate.
-Haven't I tried to help you as a ‘Good Friend’ with all my heart and soul in every way possible? Yet I have asked for nothing! If so, surely one small reward from you
now…… Ah.
Silence.
-My apologies. I have made such a materialistic comment…. I tried to convert the value of friendship into gold.
-A ‘Good Friend’ does not act like this…….
“…….”
The shadow of the plush doll hung its head depressingly as if ashamed.
-Please edit out and ignore my comment…….
Hmm.
“Let's buy it.”
-Pardon…?!
“The Blood Bath, let's buy it.”
-!!
Honestly, didn't I escape the theme park thanks to this guy?
He saved my life, I can do at least this much.
Anyway, the money here feels like game currency, and for now, it seems like there are several ways to get more money in the future.
And it was a wise decision by anyone's standards to maintain as good a relationship as possible with a ‘Good Friend’.
Especially considering the strange abilities this plush doll keychain used in the theme park.
‘And if I’m going to buy it, I should go all in instead of acting reluctant…!’
“The extra pay will be deposited soon. I can buy it for you then.”
-Good heavens.
-Thank you! Thank you so much Mr. Roe Deer, my Friend…!
“Yeah. But this isn't a reward or anything, I'm just giving it to you as a gift because Braun is my Friend.”
-Yes, I know. Friend!
“As soon as the additional pay is deposited, I'll buy the Blood Bath immediately. It should be in a few days.”
-Yes!!
Whether he was truly moved, his voice trembled with joy and excitement before he composed himself.
-I am truly looking forward to it, truly… Haha!
Haha. It’s nice to see him so happy.
…Please just don't ask me to go find fresh blood from somewhere.
-Oh! The items have arrived. Quite fast.
In any case, the ordered items arrived immediately in a post office box this time as well, and I had a pleasant unboxing time.
The item on the very top was the Blood-Sucking Cutlery bought at a special price.
-Ho. Isn't this quite a dignified set of cutlery? It looks suitable for a formal occasion!
The beautifully crafted small dessert fork and knife were wrapped in leather.
The silver color reflected the flashlight’s beam, shining elegantly and delicately.
But to use it, I’d have to get this covered in blood… whew.
‘Still, let's try carrying it around for now.’
It wasn't bulky so it was easy to store, and since I now have Exclusive Equipment and a decent set of items, it might be worth using in a crisis.
And placed right under this cutlery was….
[Easy and Fast Candle Making Kit]
It was the box for the ‘Mysterious Candle Kit’.
It was colorful and cute, looking almost like it was for children.
‘Actually, that's better.’
If it’s for children, it should be easy to make!
I wanted to rip it open and check the manual and contents right away, but the warning sticker covering the entire front caught my eye first.
[Non-refundable once opened. Ingredients will spoil 12 hours after contact with air, so please use quickly.]
[Recommended number of users: 3]
Hmm. Because of that, I’ll pass for now.
‘It’s best to wait and open it the night before being deployed to a ghost story once all preparations are done.’
Still, I was looking forward to what kind of effect the candles I’d make would have. Since it cost twenty million won, it wouldn't be an ordinary effect.
-Now only the last item remains!
“Right.”
I finally looked at what was at the very bottom of the box.
It was a small, heavy… agricultural apple box.
“…?”
No, seriously.
Baekseol Mountain Apple
Truly delicious! For beauty and nutrition!
“…….”
I didn't accidentally order from a real orchard, did I?
Hmm. There's a letter from the place of origin attached to the top of the box.
Let's read it….
We would like to express our gratitude to the customers who have purchased Snow White Apples.
This agricultural product is grown and harvested with the utmost care by sweating in ■■ using ■■ as fertilizer. There is a clear differentiation in its efficacy and taste compared to other orchards.^^
How to use: Chew one whole apple thoroughly and swallow.
Effect: Immediately upon consumption, you will fall into a Death-like Sleep, and all life activities will cease.
This effect lasts until the sun rises the next day, and when you wake up, great vitality and energy will surge, and your condition will be restored!
※This orchard does not take responsibility for any changes that occur to the Body during Death-like Sleep.
“…….”
‘It’s definitely a ghost story.’
So… is it like that potion in Romeo and Juliet that makes you look like you're dead?
‘Understood for now.’
I opened the apple box. Seven mini-apples, round and shiny like in the pictures, were contained inside.
The apples were small but had an extremely ideal shape, and they were bright red.
-As expected, they look healthy!
Are you serious?
Still, they certainly seemed useful.
An item that induces a state of suspended animation and recovers the body when waking up a day later? There must be a use for it somewhere.
Thus, my current item inventory is as follows:
-Good Friend
-Blood-Sucking Cutlery
-Mysterious Candle Kit
-Snow White's Apple
-Memorial Pop Socket
-Smile Sticker :)
-Alice Picnic Set
And Exclusive Equipment, and Blue Soda Churros, I suppose.
‘The Blood Bath will be added in a few days….’
Let's try to survive while using them all well.
-Then I hope you have sweet dreams, Mr. Roe Deer!
I fell asleep a bit early that day, and although I had occasional nightmares, I slept reasonably well.
It was probably thanks to the near-certain assumption that at least the next few days would be peaceful, which put my mind at ease.
‘Let's recover my mind and body while reorganizing until I get the money.’
However, a few days later.
I faced a shocking reality.
‘The extra pay, it hasn't been deposited…!’
No, even the Manual revision Team A Leader mentioned hadn't taken place yet. I was supposed to receive the prize money for that.
‘Wh-what?’
Was it all a bluff? Did they rip me off fifty million won?
I immediately looked into the situation.
And I received shocking news.
“…The person in charge is missing?”
“Yeah. He’s been absent for several days.”
A certain employee in the Administrative Support Team, who is in charge of the Manual Review, was missing.
And for a week at that.
“…….”
Wait a minute.
“Then, the Manual Review is….”
“It’s postponed indefinitely for now. It’s not urgent… It’ll take at least 2 months for this company to appoint a new person for those kinds of documents.”
Oh, no!
I made a promise to a monster in a ghost story!
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