Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 58

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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 058

Next to the underground parking garage, there’s a small space that seems like the embodiment of a building owner’s greed to somehow squeeze in one more shop for rental income.

The small shop occupying that small space… is exactly where I planned to visit today.

A special tattoo shop.

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Darkness Investigation Records / Ghost Story

[Moonlight Tattoo Shop]

: A ghost story appearing in , with no identification code from Baekillmong Corporation.

Currently, Baekillmong Corporation’s official investigation records for this location consist only of one-time records through ‘It’s Vacant (Qterw-C-818)’.

Document-#818-15623 (Civilian Interview Records)

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You’re asking if it’s dangerous since there’s a description that reliability cannot be guaranteed?

It’s not.

The ghost story ‘It’s Vacant’ that forms the basis of this tale is a satire of the human tendency to be unable to accept goodwill as goodwill and to somehow try to find bad reasons.

Contextually, this place can only be a ‘good’ location that doesn’t contradict the civilian interview records.

-Are you going in?

Yeah.

I politely pressed the open button next to the opaque glass door.

Swoosh.

The door opened, revealing the interior of the tattoo shop.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary, modest shop. The facilities were somewhat shabby but cleanly maintained, and there was a notice at the counter stating they only accept single-person treatments.

However, light was shining down onto the treatment chair in the center.

It was moonlight.

Strangely, they had installed a transparent LED panel only in the center, making the moon visible. Artificial moonlight was pouring down from there.

‘It’s exactly as described.’

“Is anyone here?”

When I called out, the shop owner who had been sitting at the counter walked out.

She was a woman in a sleeveless outfit with dense Korean tattoos carved on her neck. Her curly hair was tightly tied up, and her appearance immediately brought to mind keywords like technician or artist.

“I’d like to get a tattoo consultation. Is that possible?”

Nod.

“What’s the price range like?”

The tattooist pointed to the counter wall with a somewhat innocent expression.

[We only accept payment in kind.]

That’s right.

They don’t accept regular cash here. Instead, they accept payment with various items that catch the shop owner’s fancy…

There are also items they give special treatment to.

[Preferential Condition: Items related to the sea]

Thanks to this, civilians who accidentally meet this preferential condition sometimes have very precious experiences.

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Document-#818-15623

Citizen: I actually took the wrong path. I was trying to go to a tattoo shop in the shopping complex near XX Station, but I must have taken the wrong way and ended up in a neighborhood with many vacant spaces.

That’s when I discovered that tattoo shop in the underground area.

I thought it was really unique that they accepted items related to the sea. So I tried showing them an hourglass keychain I had, and they accepted that too.

Then I was guided to the treatment chair in the center.

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So I came here properly meeting this ‘preferential condition’…

“Would something like this be okay?”

I took out the item I had prepared from my document bag.

When I opened the rectangular box made of velvet fabric…

Brilliantly sparkling beads poured out reflected light.

“These are pearl beads.”

“…!”

They were insanely expensive marine pearls.

Akoya white-green pearls, 10mm in size, perfectly spherical with a pink aurora glow that made them look almost holographic – the finest quality.

‘Actually, there were many more expensive sea-related items…’

According to the records of civilians who visited this place, this shop owner seemed to strangely prefer items that are greatly affected by the passage of time.

And pearls are protein, so they’re inevitably affected by the passage of time.

‘It was also something I could quickly buy by stopping at Jongno Wholesale Market during my one-hour lunch break after a day of searching.’

Just in case, I even selected Akoya pearls, excluding South Sea pearls that are less affected by time…

“How are these?”

“…”

Nod nod nod nod nod.

An intense reaction came back.

The tattooist stared blankly at the luster of the pearl beads, then carefully took the box I offered.

Joy flickered through her innocent eyes.

‘What on earth does she use them for?’

I couldn’t tell.

Anyway, the tattooist organized the box at incredible speed from behind the counter, then very politely guided me to the center.

To the place with the chair where moonlight shines down.

“Thank you.”

Soon the tattooist brought me a large lemon drink and a big booklet.

This was also exactly as described.

She brought me a lemon drink and a booklet. It was like a collection of tattoo designs, and it said ‘Basic 3’ on it.

I chose a dolphin silhouette the size of a fingernail and got the treatment. During the procedure, she told me to close my eyes, and strangely, there was no pain.

I turned my eyes to the booklet cover.

If the person who gave the hourglass keychain received a ‘Basic 3’ design, what about now when I gave pearls worth tens of millions of won?

Of course, this might be too capitalistic a way of thinking.

‘After all, this is a small tattoo shop in a ghost story, so such materialistic methods might not work on the mysterious shop owner…’

[Royal Special Premium 1 (Customizable)]

“…”

It… worked well.

‘Thank you.’

Money really is the best everywhere.

Anyway, I guess the designs here are at the level I can receive with the payment I made.

‘Hmm.’

Let me look carefully.

I flipped through the booklet.

Constellations drawn by splashing water droplets, polar bear claws exquisitely overlapping with Inuit patterns, and even evening seaside scenery using soft pastel tones.

It was full of incredibly beautiful designs.

If I had really come here with a genuine interest in tattoos, I would have been admiring them while earnestly making my selection…

But honestly, that wasn’t what was important to me.

‘Anyway, this tattoo will disappear by the next day.’

To be precise…

I thought I had dreamed it. I definitely got a tattoo, but it had completely disappeared when I woke up.

But do you know what was even stranger?

The tattoos received here are ‘absorbed’ by the person who gets them.

I suddenly became good at ocean swimming.

Just like the dolphin that was tattooed on me.

In other words, it gives people special abilities according to the tattoo design!

‘I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity.’

The must contain dozens, even hundreds of ghost stories that grant talents or abilities to people.

But there are almost none that can be received in such a gentle way, without losing anything, in such an active manner.

In this crazy world full of insane ghost stories where you have to sell your body, soul, or at least your conscience to gain anything.

‘Moonlight Tattoo Shop’ was truly like a ray of light in the darkness.

‘I’m definitely going to grab something good.’

I fiercely deduced the abilities of the designs while flipping through the pages of the booklet.

-Noru, I’d like to take a closer look too!

Ah, right. Brown might be able to read something more from them.

I carefully took the doll out of my pocket and placed it in front of the booklet.

-Oh, the artist has good aesthetic sense. In my opinion… hmm?

The Tattooist looked at Brown with sparkling, curious eyes.

And then picked Brown up.

“…! W-wait…”

[Service]

“…”

-Wait a moment. Please handle me carefully, my body is stuffed with cotton so I don’t move well… hmm, ahem, hmm…

The Tattooist put Brown in a basin she had brought, then skillfully applied aroma oil to her hands and kneaded the doll while adjusting its shape.

…Pressure points?

-Ahhhhh… The fatigue from filming is completely gone…

The doll was making sounds like a celebrity tired from schedules…

It was certainly a shocking sight I’d never seen in any ghost story.

Was it… heartwarming?

‘…Let me just pick a design.’

After thanking the Tattooist who carefully handed back the now glossy Brown, I fiercely resumed flipping through the pages.

But there were no designs whose abilities I could particularly deduce. The only thing that gave me a strange feeling was that there were unusually many related to the sea.

Hmm, then.

“Do you have anything you’d recommend?”

What if I asked this directly?

“Is there a symbol related to courage, or bold fearlessness in here?”

Right. This is ultimately what I need most.

‘Escape from being a coward…!’

While I was tempted by the various abilities I could gain here, ultimately the most fundamental and powerful special ability I have is the .

Information, that is.

And to properly use that information, having a mentality capable of rational judgment was the top priority.

‘I can’t live any longer with a heart that feels like it might faint at any moment…!’

How many times have I nearly died because of this cowardly heart!

‘The opportunity to enter Moonlight Tattoo Shop through this ghost story only comes once.’

Then it’s right to use it for the most urgent need!

Though I was a bit nervous about asking directly since this wasn’t an action recorded in the files, fortunately the Tattooist readily flipped through the booklet and pointed to one design.

That design was…

“…A tomato?”

That’s right.

It was a tree with tomatoes on it.

With the feel of a somewhat rough pen tip, vigorously drawn lines dynamically depicted tree branches, leaves, and fruit.

It was lonely, rough, and lyrical.

Color was expressed only in those red fruits. Tomatoes, that is.

‘Why on earth is this related to courage.’

Honestly, I wasn’t sure, but since this Tattooist only communicated through the pre-written booklet, I couldn’t get a detailed explanation.

Still, it’s the practitioner’s recommendation, so it must be reliable.

“Yes. I’ll take this one.”

The Tattooist nodded happily and took back the booklet.

“Ah, for the location, here…”

I rolled up my left sleeve.

If I was going to get one anyway, I had planned to get it near where I already had a tattoo…

“…!”

The Tattooist’s expression suddenly changed and she stood up from her seat.

‘What?’

And she quickly pointed to a notice posted on the wall.

[Treatment may be refused for specific reasons.]

Then she pointed to my arm.

“…!”

No way.

: Socius :

: :

“…Can you see these characters?”

Nod nod.

Her expression says ‘what kind of obvious question is that?’ As expected, she’s also a ghost story resident.

No, that’s not what’s important right now.

“Is it because of these characters that I can’t get a new tattoo?”

Nod.

“I can’t get one on my other arm or back either?”

Nod.

“…Then, there’s absolutely no way for me to get a new tattoo right now?”

No…d.

Damn it!

“I didn’t even want these characters carved in the first place, isn’t there really another way? I really wanted to get one…”

I let my shoulders droop as if greatly dejected.

The Tattooist looked flustered and seemed to be pondering something, then finally pulled something out from the counter.

‘An advertisement pamphlet?’

The Tattooist flipped through the pamphlet and quickly pointed to one phrase on a page.

[Cover-up Available]

[We help transform your existing tattoos.]

“…!!”

[※Moonlight Tattoo Shop’s cover-up doesn’t hide existing tattoos, but proceeds in a direction that maximizes their appeal.

The meaning remains completely intact, discover new beauty.]

Wait a minute.

So this is actually… offering an enhancement procedure?

-That’s good! The tattoos carved by the Theme Park Mascot and mountain lodge worker were a bit too much. How about making a more aesthetic choice for yourself?

-Nightjar, constellations, eight trigrams… there are many beautiful patterns! It would be good to cover them up nicely!

I looked down.

: Socius :

: :

“Can I get both covered up?”

The Tattooist nodded.

‘I can only get one new tattoo, but cover-ups are an exception so she’ll do both.’

But I instinctively sensed it.

‘Choosing just one would get me better work.’

This is a shop, so naturally it’s a place that gives better tattoos in proportion to the payment received.

Rather than splitting the value in two, it would be better to choose just one if possible.

“…”

I pondered.

And…

“I’d like you to cover up just this one.”

I pointed to one of the tattoos with my finger.

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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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