Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 189

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work Episode 189

Something feels strange.

I looked around the dining table. Various versions of myself sitting there in the forms of different ghost stories.

Right now, my contaminations are sitting there, visualized by the Space 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…

‘…Would I permanently destroy part of myself?’

That sounds like… it’s saying it would destroy my contaminated psyche itself.

Like amputating limbs to prevent infection.

Of course, there would be times when that’s unavoidable.

But normally, that would be an irreversible choice made only when recovery is absolutely impossible.

“…Is it impossible to just remove the contamination from there? I mean, restoring the contaminated psyche back to its original state. Permanently.”

“That is a service unavailable at the Space Shopping Mall.”

“…Is it possible elsewhere?”

“That is information I cannot provide.”

I turned my head.

The Yellow Mascot was shaking its head at me.

No

I looked down at my right arm.

In this ghost story world where bodies can regenerate, limbs are sometimes cut off.

Because here, that can be undone.

So cutting away and destroying one’s own ego would be an even more extreme choice than actually cutting off limbs here… wouldn’t it?

“….”

Did Lee Ja-heon really intend to introduce this method to me?

“I’ll change my question.”

I don’t think so.

‘In that case.’

I raised my head.

“Rather than destroying my contaminated self, I’d like to be able to consciously recognize and manage it.”

The problem with contamination is that it changes into something else without my knowledge.

But if I knew exactly what mutations exist within me, I could suppress them or, in the worst case, even utilize them.

“…I want to be able to control myself.”

The Gray Lizard that met my eyes nodded.

“I see.”

“I’d like to purchase something that could help with that. Is it possible?”

“Yes.”

The Lizard immediately moved its hands.

As if I had chosen the correct answer.

“…!”

Then, one item that had been shrouded in mist at the far end of the dining table was quickly moved in front of me by an excited tentacle.

“With the authority of a personal shopper, I will recommend a suitable item.”

It was… a small machine.

It looked like specialized surgical equipment, but at the end of the robot-hand-like device was a precisely crafted needle, and above it was a crescent moon-shaped lamp illuminating the machine.

I already knew something similar to this.

The tattoo machine from Moonlight Tattoo Shop.

An item that looked like a miniature version of the incomprehensibly strange device from that emotional ghost story was before my eyes.

Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattoo Machine

“This was produced for a short period before the Moonlight Tattoo Artists all went out of business due to some incident, except for a very few survivors. We acquired one of the three remaining pieces.”

Pretty

Unique

The tentacle that had rushed over proudly waved several strands like arms, then seemed to notice the Lizard’s expression and flinched before disappearing into the mist.

My heart was pounding.

“…What exactly does this help with?”

“The spirit of the Moonlight Tattoo Artist dwelling in the device will inscribe tattoos that assist the user’s needs.”

Similar to Moonlight Tattoo Shop.

“Tattoos inscribed with this device are fluid. They adapt to each environment the user faces and change into the most suitable form.”

This is somewhat different.

But for me, who has to enter ghost stories and face different contamination risks, this was actually better.

‘Did they recommend this with this in mind from the beginning?’

“Do you wish to purchase it?”

I nodded.

“Yes. I’d like to buy it.”

“Thank you. The price is 159,999,999 won.”

“….”

I almost choked.

“Can I pay with something else? Like giving you items you purchase…”

“What kind of items?”

Wait a minute.

‘No matter how I think about it, these guys aren’t a specialized purchasing company.’

I don’t know what these aliens do with the human money they collect, but the prices of items sold at alien shops were already brutal compared to their cost.

Given their business acumen… they’d probably lowball the purchase price tremendously.

‘Of course, even buying from me now is doing me a favor.’

Eventually, after pondering, I took out the jade pendant.

The payment I received from the Hyeonmu Team 3 Leader at Cheerful Theme Park.

Issued equipment from the Disaster Management Bureau made at Baridegi Workshop.

“How about this?”

“That is not an item the Space Shopping Mall purchases.”

“Hmm, is this the first time you’ve seen this item?”

“Yes.”

As expected.

‘The alien shop has no connection to the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.’

That was actually good.

“I’m not offering this for you to sell, but as currency.”

I held out the jade pendant to the Lizard.

“It’s currency accepted in various places. It would be useful for purchasing the various items you sell.”

“Please provide specific examples.”

I gladly told several stories.

Mainly ghost stories derived from East Asian legends and folk tales, and sometimes even European or American fairy tales that accepted jade pendants as currency.

‘Hmm. Organizing it this way, it seems to work mainly with story-type ghost stories passed down through various cultures.’

The Lizard silently looked at the jade pendant.

And after a moment of silence…

“Confirmed. I will accept it as currency for payment.”

That’s right.

‘That was good.’

However, the Lizard scraped away all five jade talismans I had offered.

‘That wasn’t so good…’

But considering the price, it seemed like a reasonable assessment.

Anyway, that’s how the machine came into my hands.

Disposable automatic moonlight tattoo machine.

“Do you require usage assistance?”

“I’m fine.”

I brought the device to my arm.

I planned to engrave it over where my existing tattoos were.

‘It seems like I use it by doing this and pressing the switch.’

However.

Whirrrrr-

The mini tattoo machine, emitting gentle light and sound, slipped away from my arm and floated alone.

“…!”

And it began engraving something below my left collarbone.

As if gathering moonlight to burn the tip.

Whirrrrr-

Within that.

I felt someone’s anguish and artistic sensibility dwelling in the tattoo machine.

What the customer wanted was clear.

To govern oneself!

The most fundamental and important task. However, when the mind has countless identities and troubles, it’s difficult to gather and govern them as one.

Let’s attach index tabs to each and provide connection points.

So they can be organized and fitted together whenever desired.

Then… wouldn’t the most impressive location be above the heart!

Something hot was felt in my heart,

The moment the light in the tattoo machine dimmed, I hastily undid my buttons to look at my bare skin.

“…!”

A star made of letters was revealed.

The tattoo in the form of a circular puzzle that repeated like an elaborate wooden texture seemed to represent that halo.

Various unknown language words were contained in machine-sized portions, precisely fitted together to form several layers of circles.

There were still sufficient gaps in between, and I knew…

Now the troubles that formed the pattern will check each other and maintain balance.

The customer can recognize themselves through the tattoo and govern themselves to become who they want to be.

The light and sound completely disappeared from the disposable tattoo machine.

And with a click, the crescent moon lighting completely went out.

“Usage completion confirmed.”

“….”

I turned my head to look at those sitting at the dining table.

There was no one there.

No, it had all been me from the beginning.

Now that I confirmed through the tattoo that they were part of me, there was no longer any problem with decision-making even without seeing them with my eyes.

“…Phew.”

I looked down at the tattoo again.

And among them, I brought my hand to a word that looked like a computer font error.

The bell of Segwang High School rang.

“…!”

I realized that if I wanted, I could immediately put on a high school uniform and become a being from a horror game living in different time and light from the intruders.

Whatever the side effects might be.

‘…No, wait a minute.’

So… this tattoo, it didn’t just organize and show what was in my head?

It organized my contamination so I could ‘take it out and use it’ when I wanted?

This is insane.

‘Worth 150 million won.’

Of course, whether I’d use this was another matter, but for now what was important was that I was organized without being immediately swayed by contamination.

‘Good enough.’

I carefully arranged my clothes, making sure not to touch the old Gothic letters that clearly seemed to belong to the Mumyeong Chanran Temple’s Mimic.

Fortunately or unfortunately, golden antique cursive writing and words scrawled as if by small claws were engraved even larger in the center.

‘Mascot and… Cat?’

I felt a strange familiarity.

Were these two friendly toward me?

…Anyway, this situation seemed to be settled for now.

Phew.

“Would you like to proceed with the next shopping?”

The Lizard asked as if it had been waiting.

I looked at the fragment of Sacred Law from Mumyeong Chanran Temple still placed on the dining table.

‘I need to deal with that too.’

By buying something that could store it safely, for instance.

The problem was that I no longer had any big money to pay with.

The best thing would be to rush to Daydream Company right now and sell that thing, but the timing wasn’t right since I was a spy…

“Do you think I might forget about that item again once I finish shopping?”

“It’s probabilistically possible.”

Hmm.

Being broke, I pondered and asked.

“Do you perhaps offer storage services?”

“Kim Sol-eum.”

“….”

“Kim Sol-eum.”

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.”

White lizard head with red pupils, Manager Lee Ja-heon was standing in front of me. Phew.

“Were there any inconveniences during your VIP shopping?”

“Yes. It was very helpful…”

And then I saw it.

A pink stuffed doll was now sitting in front of Manager Lee Ja-heon’s dining table.

“…??”

Why is Brown there?

“Um, that… I think I had it in my pocket.”

“I removed it so it wouldn’t interfere with your shopping.”

“…”

I asked with difficulty.

“Don’t tell me you can still hear Brown, that is… the stuffed doll talking right now?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t hear it though.”

“I see.”

“What, what is it saying?”

“Sighs, excessive excitement, criticism and threats.”

Aaaah!

“I judged it had no value as information.”

“Yes. Yes…”

I hurriedly and carefully lifted the stuffed doll from the dining table and put it back in the front pocket of my clothes.

But at that moment.

-Good heavens. Finally.

“…Brown?!”

-Noru! Oh, we can talk again…

I hastily took the stuffed doll out of my pocket to check it.

But at that moment the voice cut off.

‘Huh?’

I put Brown back in my pocket.

-Noru? Can you hear me?

Only one thing had changed.

‘The tattoo on my left chest.’

Don’t tell me being near my tattoo makes it register as being inside a ghost story.

‘Good heavens.’

“Yeah. …Apparently, if I keep you here, we can keep talking.”

-Near the heart. How fateful! Good. I’ll generously forgive you for leaving me alone with that insane boring bastard for 23 whole minutes. I am Good Friend after all.

-Now kick him out immediately. Hurry.

“W-wait.”

I quickly calmed Brown down and then spoke to Manager Lee Ja-heon.

“Um, Manager… I saw someone similar to you while shopping.”

“He is not Manager Lee Ja-heon. But…”

“‘We’ are correct, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then do you already know everything I did?”

“Yes.”

I asked somewhat awkwardly.

“Then you must know what I did at the end too.”

“You mean the item storage service request?”

That’s right.

-I would like you to safely store this item.

-Yes.

I had entrusted the fragment of Mumyeong Chanran Temple’s Divine Law, the root of all evil, to the lizards… no, the Space Shopping Mall.

‘It seemed like it would be cheaper than completely removing it or buying an item to control it.’

And that prediction was correct.

…It was correct but still expensive.

-Based on your currently inhabited planet, it’s 8,999,990 won for 100 days.

-…Do you also offer installment services?

Installments.

I never thought I’d use a financial service I’d never even used in reality in the ghost story world…

‘Baekillmong will probably pay more than that when they buy it, so this is right.’

When the timing comes, I’ll retrieve it immediately and sell it.

Fortunately, according to Manager Lee Ja-heon’s explanation, I can retrieve it anytime.

The SIM chip I had put under my tongue disappeared without a trace, but from now on I can reactivate it by accessing the Space Shopping Mall.

“Kim Sol-eum is now connected to us.”

…I wanted to ask if that was also a type of contamination, but it didn’t show on my tattoo, so let’s not be unnecessarily rude. The other party possesses superhuman strength that can crush iron with one hand.

Besides, they’re a grateful existence who notices my contamination every time and deals with it for me.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve come to my senses a bit.”

“Yes. However, the choice is at Kim Sol-eum’s discretion.”

“…Do you think I made a good choice?”

The lizard’s snout curved slightly.

“Yes.”

“…!”

“You chose well.”

As several times before.

“…”

As expected.

When I was shopping earlier, I didn’t notice because it was the same lizard head and similar way of speaking, but seeing directly like this, I can feel it.

‘Subtly different.’

How should I put it, I can feel intelligence and emotion from this lizard, or should I say it has personality… I don’t know.

Of course, if those alien reptiles share one mind and emotion, then maybe I’m arbitrarily distorting things because I’ve built a friendship with Manager Lee Ja-heon.

‘Actually, I’m no longer in Team D and it’s not even his jurisdiction, but he keeps looking after me.’

He’s probably doing the same for other Team D seniors too.

In many ways, he was a grateful superior whose thoughts I was curious about.

“Thank you, Manager.”

I gave my thanks once more while seeing Manager Lee Ja-heon out of the motel after his business was finished.

Manager Lee Ja-heon quietly disappeared through the window instead of using the door.

-Contact us if any problems arise.

Leaving those words behind.

“….”

-Is it over?

Yeah.

-Phew. They’re finally gone.

-By any chance, don’t you have plans for us to leave this terrible place too?

Hehehe.

“I do.”

-Oh?

“I’m going to work tomorrow.”

And also.

“I’m now a spy who has infiltrated a government agency.”

-Show business, good lord.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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