Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 92

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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 092

The Mannequin Employees lined up in formation and applauded in unison. They were enthusiastically responding to my declaration that I would buy the ring.

And the two colleagues who followed me were staring blankly at this situation.

The ring I chose and two humans with appropriate value for bartering.

Clap clap clap…

The mannequins stopped applauding. Then, as if to proceed with payment, they all walked toward the two standing behind me…

I raised my hand.

“However, I’d like to change the payment method.”

Stop.

The mannequins that had stopped turned to look at me.

Right. Of course this boutique had accepted humans as barter before. Even now, such transactions were possible.

But why did they accept humans?

Fundamentally, the reason was…

‘Labor.’

Whether used as employees doing menial work or promoted after doing well to become mannequins like those, it was already a fact described in the wiki.

In other words, they accepted human trafficking as barter because it provided definite help in running the store.

Then what else besides labor would provide ‘definite’ help in running the store?

Just thinking of Baekillmong Corporation, something immediately came to mind.

‘Raw material supply.’

I reached into my tattoo and pulled out an item.

The most expensive material among the things I had brought.

“I’d like to pay with this.”

A gold bar.

“…!”

At this star of capitalism that suddenly appeared in the ghost story, I could feel the colleagues behind me becoming agitated.

Honestly, after hitting purchase all items at the Alien Shop, my balance was precarious, so I had debated whether to spend this or not…

‘I’m glad I went to Jongno to get it.’

Gold and silver were staple materials in ghost stories after all.

Especially compared to silver, which was mainly used for exorcism, gold had slightly more versatility in imagery. It was often symbolized as desire or mystical payment, making it useful anywhere.

So…

“Is payment possible?”

One of the mannequins with a more formal uniform approached me. Then it bowed deeply to the small gold bar…

And politely extended both hands.

‘…It worked!’

They took the bait.

In the worst case, I had even planned to just run away, but this was a very good situation.

I dropped the gold bar into the mannequin’s hands. The mannequin slowly stepped back, then came out from behind the glass case with the ring packaged more elaborately.

It presented the silver ring I purchased on a velvet cushion engraved with strange snake patterns.

‘Even the cushion… is part of the set?’

Since there was no reaction when I took it all together, I immediately stored everything in my tattoo.

Next, other mannequins came forward from both sides, each holding rectangular velvet boxes.

Both boxes looked identical but contained different things.

The left one was an elegant and traditional-style pouch, and through the slightly open entrance, I could see coins printed upside down.

‘Change!’

It was additional exchange income.

I could see at once that it was much heavier than what I had received at the butcher shop earlier. Moreover, the coins were large and thick. The denomination was definitely different.

‘I should definitely take this.’

Already leaning toward that choice, I looked at the other side.

What was displayed in the box the other mannequin was holding was… hmm. Small miscellaneous items that were ambiguous to even call accessories.

They were so ambiguous to judge as wearable that it wasn’t worth risking whether they had any effect on Mental Defense.

It seemed like they were trying to do some promotion before giving change?

‘The versatile currency is definitely better.’

…That’s what I was thinking when.

Among the miscellaneous items, something caught my eye.

A small ribbon hair tie.

I couldn’t tell what material it was, but the dark brown string had a luxurious shine.

“…”

Hmm.

“Can I take that as well?”

I pointed to the hair tie.

The mannequins applauded again, then took out half the change from the pouch and politely offered it to me.

“Thank you.”

I received the well-packaged items and stored them in my tattoo.

“Wow. I’ve been thinking since earlier… that ability looks really useful! What kind of equipment are you using?”

“Yes.”

I turned to look at Kang I-hak, who was grinning.

Didn’t he realize that I could have sold both colleagues, including himself, into human trafficking?

‘Sigh…, let me try just one more time.’

I tried just once more to ‘avoid being seen as crazy and getting into trouble.’

I stared intently at Kang I-hak and said this.

“I’m curious.”

“Yes?”

“How much gold could I get back if I sold one intelligent being.”

After a brief silence.

“Huh? Why would you think about such unprofitable things~ Haha!”

Kang I-hak laughed heartily.

“Harvesting kidneys or corneas would yield a few more gold bars.”

“…”

Is this a normal person’s way of thinking?

No matter how I thought about it, it wasn’t. So I gave up on arguing back.

This was getting genuinely scary…!

‘I have to endure until I get out of this ghost story.’

Instead, I decided to offer carrots to my colleagues.

“Please take this.”

“Huh…?!”

I divided the change in the pouch into three parts and shared it with my colleagues.

“I’m lending this to you. If you use it, pay me back in gold, and if you don’t use it until we get out, I’ll take it back.”

“Th, thank you…”

Jang Heo-un bowed his head first.

No, I can accept that Kang I-hak is some kind of crazy person beyond my reach, but I have no idea why Jang Heo-un is so calm about this.

‘What happened to you in the cleanup team…’

I was sure that at the start I thought ‘This will be a reliable exploration with normal colleagues!’ but I’d come too far and was starting to miss Baek Sa-heon.

‘At least that bastard only did predictable things, which was comfortable…’

Here, I’m just bathing in cold sweat.

In the meantime, I hastily stopped Kang I-hak who was trying to lift the coin to look at its surface.

“Don’t look at it closely.”

“Yes~”

Kang I-hak muttered in a slightly dazed voice.

“As expected, gold… never fails.”

“….”

“Um, Mr. Pony. Isn’t it dangerous to jump to conclusions?”

Jang Heo-un said quietly.

“There are many things in the world more precious than gold.”

“Haha, well, Mr. Buffalo. Let me give you a tip as a colleague. What do you think is the most valuable use of a Wish Potion?”

“Huh? …Saving people and benefiting the world… isn’t it?”

“Oh come on~ There are so many people in the world, how can you say that! It’s more efficient to endlessly produce something scarce and valuable!”

Kang I-hak said, spreading his hands wide.

“That’s right, the hand of Midas!”

“…!”

What?

“…A hand that turns everything it touches into gold? From Greek mythology?”

“Yes! As expected of us Koreans~ We’re well-versed in Greek and Roman mythology!”

Kang I-hak grinned.

“Of course, I’m not thinking of asking for a hand that literally turns everything it touches into gold. I’ve thought of a body part that won’t interfere with daily life~”

“….”

Surprisingly, Jang Heo-un’s eyes turned coldly serious.

Just like during the new employee orientation, when he raised his hand covered in blood with his suit and hair bloodied, asking questions about Wish Potions.

“…Then just ask for ten billion or a hundred billion won in your bank account.”

However, Kang I-hak was relentless.

“Huh? Why waste a one-time wish on that? Even the Korean won becomes toilet paper if this country collapses. But gold!”

The Mockingbird Mask Wearer leaned his head toward Jang Heo-un.

“Gold never falls.”

“…!”

“Diamonds, dollars, even if all the world’s currencies collapse, gold has never once deviated from its upward macroeconomic graph – it’s perfect capital!”

“….”

“Let’s hear it. Our class valedictorian, fastest Team Leader promotion, and currently breaking the record for fastest point accumulation… Deer Supervisor agrees with me, right?”

Kang I-hak shouted.

“No, there’s no need to even ask~ That’s why you brought gold! We just saw it. Gold becoming an item!”

I finally realized.

“Gold is money, and money is power. In human society!”

Kang I-hak had no hidden agenda.

‘This person… is just crazy about money…!’

Of course, people usually want to make money, but cases where they act like they’d weigh and sell their soul are extremely rare, so I was overwhelmed.

The silver heart and the surrounding environment of the ‘commercial district’ probably influenced him to seem even crazier, but this seemed like his more truthful and honest inner thoughts.

Before entering the ghost story, he was thinking like this even under that nice attitude.

‘…Dangerous.’

As soon as we get out of this ghost story, let’s not get involved with him…!

But for now, I casually crossed my arms.

“I heard you well. I hope you make lots of money.”

“Hahaha, yes!!”

Let’s escape from this store first.

I declined the employees’ farewell, saying I’d ‘look around a bit more and leave on my own.’

And as soon as the employees returned to their working form with only hands floating, I hurriedly came out through the back door.

‘Phew.’

A dark back alley with side doors clustered together.

Who would have thought this bizarre place would give me a moment of relief.

‘Once I achieve my purpose, let me quickly find a relatively safe and walkable alley and fill the remaining steps on that path.’

Before the path gets narrower.

Fortunately, thanks to easily completing a thousand steps at the boutique, a new alley appeared smoothly.

Don’t give up on your body!

Remaining steps: 3999

The path that appeared between the side doors was similar in width to this back alley, but much better.

“It feels somehow nostalgic.”

First of all, the utility pole’s light was glimmering dimly.

A night with visible stars. Yellow light shines out from the signs and interiors of each store.

‘It strangely evokes nostalgia…’

With an atmosphere like a small alley between houses in the old downtown, it was a scenery that made one’s heart feel comfortably relaxed.

Though if I let my guard down, I might get caught by some store’s customer solicitation and completely disappear or go crazy.

“It’s a place I know!”

Death Road alleys confirmed so far:

12. Old Shopping District

It was frequently mentioned in the manual and appeared quite often in employees’ exploration records while being a relatively safe alley.

And…

It was also my destination.

“Let’s move to the next alley.”

“Yes!”

We entered the nostalgic-feeling small alley.

There were hardly any crowds.

Perhaps because of that, it felt somewhat mysterious, like Christmas or New Year’s night…

I walked with my colleagues, passing by the small and modest shops on both sides.

Then I stopped in front of one store.

“….”

It was a stationery store.

Even though it’s called stationery, it’s the kind of neighborhood stationery store that sells a few school supplies and toys that students would like, but sells much more snack food.

It looked like a store that used to be in front of schools in the 2000s, selling tteokbokki and junk food.

I looked at the street stall. In the place where fish cake and tteokbokki should be, there were stacks of buckwheat jelly carved with strange lotus patterns…

And the sign above it.

Sweet Stationery Store

‘Found it.’

That store that supposedly sells chocolate bars with my appearance drawn on the wrapper.

‘Whew.’

Now that I’m actually here, I’m getting nervous.

I looked back at my colleagues…

“Noru.”

Aaaahhh!

I almost jumped into the air…!

I barely held back and turned my head to see a white lizard head standing in the utility pole shadow next to the store, staring blankly at me.

…Team Leader!

“How many steps do you have left.”

I looked back and forth between the stationery store and the Lizard, then suddenly snapped back to my senses.

“By any chance… were you waiting for us here?”

“Yes. How many steps do you have left.”

“…We have about 3,900 steps left. Have you almost completed your 10,000 steps, Team Leader?”

“Yes. I determined this alley had the highest probability of encountering fellow Explorers who entered together. So I was waiting with 500 steps remaining.”

It seems he deduced there was a high possibility I would appear at this stationery store.

After all, the reason we entered this ghost story in the first place was because of the new snacks spotted at this stationery store.

‘I thought my heart was going to drop!’

Still, giving detailed answers was quite nice. My rating of the Lizard as a superior went through another cycle of decline and rise.

Just then, Kang I-hak stepped forward.

“Wow, that’s really reassuring, Team Leader! Ah, then would it be okay if we went into the shop next door for a bit to fill up our step count too?”

The shop next door that my colleague pointed to was a place selling knitted goods made of yarn, and it was already recorded in the manual as a place with purchase records.

Moreover, Kang I-hak shook the coins he had received earlier to make his appeal.

The Lizard looked at my colleague with red pupils.

“Do you have currency from this place?”

“Yes! Sol-eum got them for us~ She’s really amazing. All the Team D members are so capable, there’s so much to learn from you all. Haha!”

“I see.”

The Lizard spoke quickly.

“Enter in pairs of two. Actions that go against the manual are prohibited. Don’t stay longer than 10 minutes and come out to the alley.”

“Yes!”

“Ah, um…. Yes.”

Kang I-hak hurriedly dragged Jang Heo-un to the shop selling gloves and mufflers.

Hmm. It seemed like Lee Ja-heon let them go like that because this was a relatively less dangerous alley and shop according to the investigation records.

It worked out well anyway.

‘I can enter my destination without having to share the “secret.”‘

“….”

I stood in front of the glass door of the stationery store.

Manager Lee Ja-heon followed behind me.

“I’m going in.”

“Yes.”

Ding-a-ling.

I stepped inside the stationery store.

To see the ‘Good Child Chocolate Bar.’

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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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