Buying all items from the Alien Shop.
‘Whoa.’
My hands trembled slightly.
It was the first time I’d ever burned 130 million won to buy a few items.
Still, having spent tens of millions before, I felt a little better.
‘Let’s use them well.’
They would all serve as stepping stones for my survival.
I boldly pressed the purchase button.
Successful Purchase!
The item has boarded the rocket!
Soon, as before, space-time opened in midair and a delivery box appeared. I waited for the box to drop to the floor with a fluttering heart….
However,
“…??”
The package remained suspended in the air.
This was because someone was holding it with a very polite gesture.
…A tentacle.
“……!?”
Tap, tap.
The tentacle gently shook the delivery box. As if asking, ‘Should I put it here?’
“…! You can leave it on the floor.”
Then, the package was smoothly placed on the ground.
“Thank you.”
But the tentacle didn’t disappear immediately.
Instead, it nimbly pulled something out from the Rift of Space-Time and held it out to me.
It was a small card letter shimmering in gold.
I am a Cosmic shopping mall VIP!
~Appreciation cells enclosed~
“…Thank you?”
When I took the card, the tentacle seemed to wave its hand before vanishing into the Rift of Space-Time.
“…….”
Well.
It seems the Alien Shop has started treating me like a VIP….
‘Is that… a good thing?’
I decided to keep the appreciation card for now. The gold was dazzling with five-colored brilliance….
-Good heavens, how can even a tag card be that ugly….
As expected, one shouldn’t expect much in the way of design from the Alien Shop. Well….
‘What matters is the item’s performance.’
I turned my gaze to the delivery box.
It was unboxing time.
“Phew.”
Opening the box, the largest item caught my eye first.
An item with a list price of 28 million won.
‘Happy Maker.’
It was in a bright pastel-toned box.
In the square box, which looked like it might contain liquid antacids or vitamin drinks, twelve glow sticks about the size of highlighters were inserted.
However, needles pop out from the ends of these glow sticks.
The perfect painkiller… that was sold under the same name in the ghost story ‘Delusion Home Shopping’.
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Delusion Home Shopping
/ Item
Happy Maker
Is life painful?
For those of you who lose sleep due to unknown pain, and those who fear the moment of an accident, this is the perfect savior for you.
We proudly introduce the rapid pain remover, ‘Happy Maker’!
-Item description from ‘Delusion Home Shopping’ on September 9, 20XX
==========
It was exactly as described.
I looked at the instructions written on the box.
A fast and comfortable shot
Say goodbye to your pain!
This stick-type auto-injector automatically delivers the shot when pressed against the skin, quickly and comfortably ‘eliminating’ all pain for a certain period of time.
‘It really is over-technology.’
Even if the mechanism behind it is an Anomalous Phenomenon rather than science.
It’s true that pain clouds one's judgment in extreme situations.
Based on my experience of navigating through all sorts of injuries and risks of harm, I could say for certain: I would use this usefully someday.
‘I hope I don’t have to use it… sigh.’
Let’s give up on vain hopes…….
‘This dirty world of ghost stories….’
I resolved to carry this item with me.
Even though there was a very horrific ‘additional usage’ written in tiny print on the back.
In irreversible situations, it can be used for euthanasia purposes.
Yeah. I’m never using it for that.
‘I’ll use it only as a painkiller.’
-Ah, painkillers. I also used to take headache medicine occasionally. The pain of creation! It is the fate of an Entertainer and show creator.
…How on earth does a ghost story inhabitant with a TV for a head take headache medicine…… No, never mind.
I quickly erased the image that popped into my head, gave Braun a few compliments to make him feel proud, and looked into the box again.
Phew.
‘The next item is….’
Two items were visible at the same time.
One was a very ominous-looking ancient tome, completely sealed with dark red wax and covered in dust.
And next to it, rolled up in a corner, was a modern and clean eco-friendly buffer wrapping paper.
Yes, quite literally, that wrapping paper itself was the item, without any product inside.
Wrapping Paper 12B357Na
In fact, besides the barcode and the phrase engraved on the outside, there wasn’t even a common instruction manual.
Does it seem like nothing special?
No.
‘It’s here. Armor!’
Because it was a ‘buffer wrapping paper’ with unique properties.
It would become my precious lifeline.
With very careful movements, I stored the wrapping paper away. I’ll use it when the time is right.
And when I turned my head….
I looked at the ancient tome with cold, sunken eyes.
Necronomicon
The Necronomicon.
Also known as the Book of the Dead.
It was a quintessential representative creation of grimoires containing forbidden knowledge.
It was said to have appeared consistently in various stories for decades, becoming synonymous with an incredibly evil grimoire.
And naturally, I had read about it holding a place in the <Dark Exploration Record>.
So, what are the typical cliché characteristics of the Necronomicon?
“…….”
Yeah.
It means… human skin… right.
That’s why the representative image on the cover is a flayed face screaming in pain.
Even through the dark red wax covering the surface of this ancient tome I received, that was faintly visible.
‘Haa.’
Truly… it was a sight I didn’t even want to touch.
-Mr. Roe Deer, did you just say Necronomicon? Ah, that translated version, it’s been a while since I’ve heard of it.
A ghost story Host of a US talk show theme knows the Necronomicon? It was so obvious it wasn’t even surprising….
But unfortunately.
‘It’s probably not the Necronomicon you know.’
-Hmm?
There’s something like that, kid.
Without a word, I grabbed the ‘Necronomicon’ firmly sealed with wax and stored it in my forearm.
‘Whew.’
Thus, the ‘item for intimidation’ was also well-stored.
Next, I also packed the Nostalgia Candy I already knew.
‘Should I call this an emergency recovery item?’
Even if I were to be severely Contaminated, I would be able to perform emergency treatment with this until I could escape.
‘…Good.’
And finally.
I noticed a small red button sitting casually in the corner of the package.
Using the process of elimination, this item’s identity had to be this.
We Help! - ₩66,666,666
Have you ever heard of such internet ghost stories?
Where someone gives you a button and asks, ‘If you press this, someone will die, but 100 million won will be deposited into your account. Will you press it?’
It was a red button that looked exactly like something out of such a story.
Looking closely, I could see small writing on the side. However….
‘I don’t know what language this is.’
-Do you need a translation, Friend?
I received Braun’s help for this part.
-Hmm. I see. You can understand it as meaning ‘Emergency Escape’, Mr. Roe Deer!
I see. So it’s a small button that allows for an ‘Emergency Escape with the help of aliens’ when pressed.
‘I hope it’s worth sixty million won.’
In truth, this was a bet closer to a gamble, but I had no regrets.
‘The Alien Shop doesn't scam people.’
If it were another ghost story, I might have made horrible predictions like ‘The moment I press this, will my brain escape from my head to be used as a food ingredient?’, but… let’s trust the reliability of the Alien Shop.
“All done.”
-My friend has quite a clean personality. I like it!
With that, I stored all the shopping spoils into the tattoo on my wrist.
Since a human completely Contaminated by ghost stories was fine going in and out, there should be no problem with these items.
…Not that I wanted to be proven right in that way.
‘Whew.’
Let’s stop thinking about it.
Fortunately, shopping and organizing the items didn’t consume the entire day, so I was able to catch up on some sleep during the bright daylight.
And when I woke up again.
News I had briefly forgotten rushed toward me.
[Go Yeongeun: Have you checked the intranet?]
[Go Yeongeun: The regular personnel appointment document just went up!]
“…!”
Regular personnel appointments.
It meant that the vacancy in Team D would soon… be filled.
“…….”
Who could it be?
A few days later.
“Hello.”
“Ah, yes, hello.”
I was able to see the new employee assigned to Team D at the office.
His rank was Supervisor, the same as mine.
He appeared to be around the same age as I was before I fell into this ghost story.
The employee wearing glasses glanced at me, looking me up and down.
“Ah, so you’re that Supervisor? The one who got promoted in 60 days?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re actually a rookie?”
“…….”
I stared at the man quietly.
“Oh~ look at the way you’re staring. Why? You want me to treat you the same as a Supervisor with three years of service?”
I then grinned.
“Of course not. I look forward to working with you, Seonbae.”
“Right. Hey, you hear people say you’re quick to grasp the situation, don’t you?”
“Haha….”
“This Field Exploration team is all about group projects. Intuition! Intuition is the answer.”
Is that so?
“It’s common to see people whining to be treated like a senior just because they got promoted early, only to get blacklisted, get no help, and die. You know?”
He said this while slowly looking around the empty office.
“I heard the Assistant manager and Supervisor who were here before had their hands cut off, got Contaminated, and it was a total mess. That could have been you next.”
“…….”
I turned my head slightly.
I saw a cleanly vacated desk.
It was originally Supervisor Park Minseong’s seat.
A few days ago, when I came to work the day after the regular personnel announcement was posted, all his personal belongings, cups, and picture frames had already disappeared.
“True. It could have been you, Supervisor.”
“…What?”
“Since there are so many dangerous tasks. I’ll do my best to support you so that doesn’t happen. I look forward to working with you.”
I politely requested a handshake.
“Uh….”
The employee, who looked at me with a slightly uncomfortable expression, soon decided it was just his imagination and accepted the handshake.
And a short while later.
“Manager! I am Supervisor Yoon Johoon. I look forward to working with you!”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who entered the office, nodded at the new team member’s greeting.
“Yes.”
“Haha, did you know our names have the same initials? Doesn’t it feel like it's my destiny to work under you, Team Leader?”
“Yes.”
“……No, I mean… uh, it feels like destiny, right?”
“No.”
“…….”
Yoon Johoon, the new team member who had completely failed at small talk, approached me and whispered as soon as the Team Leader left the office for a meeting.
“Hey. Does the Team D Leader really have some kind of mental disorder? I’ve heard rumors.”
“Do you feel that way?”
“You heard the conversation and you still don’t know? I thought I was talking to some free AI just now.”
Then he let out a deep sigh.
“Ah, f*ck, this company is already perfect for getting mental illness… whew. Is it right for a Team Leader to be like that?”
“Section Chief Lee Jaheon tends to take good care of his team members….”
“So? What does it matter once you’re dead? I heard he doesn’t understand what people are saying, does whatever he wants in the Darkness, and even got on the bad side of the Team A Leader. Is that rumor true?”
“…….”
“I guess it is. Ugh f*ck, you watch out too. Ah, of all teams, it had to be this one….”
Supervisor Yoon Johoon grumbled, said he was ‘going to the restroom,’ and didn’t return for tens of minutes.
“…….”
So I have to work with a bastard like that….
-Oh dear… you don’t seem to be in a very good mood, Mr. Roe Deer.
-Is there anything this Braun can do to help? As you know, am I not your Good Friend?
-If it’s a request from a friend, I would gladly….
‘Yeah. Let’s watch a variety show together when I get off work.’
-Ah, that sounds wonderful too!
Thanks to this conversation, my mind calmed down a bit.
Right.
Strictly speaking. I had been incredibly lucky with people until now.
‘This is the default value of office life….’
I should be thankful that Supervisor wasn’t my direct superior.
I quickly composed myself.
And that afternoon.
“I will brief you on the Darkness we will enter tomorrow.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon, back from his meeting, began the briefing by distributing PDFs.
And the new Supervisor was appalled.
“Unassigned rank? No, is this a Darkness without a Manual?”
“No.”
The Lizard looked at Supervisor Yoon Johoon with vertical pupils.
“They say the rank of the solution in the Dream Collector is measured differently every time it’s cleared.”
“…!”
An Anomaly?
“B-but why was this given to Team D, a regular team, and not an Elite Squad?”
“It was not given only to Team D. All Field Exploration Position employees in regular teams will attempt entry.”
The Lizard Team Leader looked back at me.
“This is because it is a Darkness entered through dreams, and there is a high probability that the entry itself will fail.”
“……!”
“Basically, it is like this. If you read a Specific Tome and fall asleep on a night with a full moon, you may wake up in a school at night.”
Wait a minute.
“If the name of that school is ‘Sekwang Technical High School,’ then you have successfully entered the Darkness.”
Sekwang Technical High School.
“…….”
I know this ghost story.
But it doesn't end with simply knowing it….
‘…It’s the ghost story I participated in.’
Exploration Records #13
The 13th entry of those ghost story Exploration Records was written by me.
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