Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel (End Part 1) - Chapter 189

Something feels off.

I looked around the dining table. It was filled with various versions of myself, each embodying a different ghost story.

These were my corruptions, visualized by the Space Shopping Mall’s VIP shopping service so I could perceive them, sitting there.

And when I asked for them all to be removed, the Lizard said…

‘…Are you going to permanently destroy a part of me?’

It sounded like… they were going to destroy my corrupted self, my very mind.

Like amputating limbs to stop an infection.

Of course, there might be unavoidable situations where that’s necessary.

But usually, it’s an irreversible choice, made only when there’s absolutely no hope of recovery.

“…Is it impossible to just remove the corruption from there? I mean, to restore the corrupted mind to its original state. Permanently.”

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

“…Is it possible elsewhere?”

“Information on that item cannot be provided.”

I turned my head.

The yellow mascot was shaking its head.

No.

I looked down at my right arm.

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

Because here, it can be reversed.

So, cutting off and destroying one’s own ego… isn’t that even more extreme here than literally cutting off a limb?

“……”

Did Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon really intend to introduce me to this method?

“I’ll rephrase my question.”

I don’t think so.

‘Then.’

I lifted my head.

“Rather than destroying my corrupted self, I want to be able to perceive and manage it myself.”

The problem with corruption is that it transforms into something else without my knowledge.

But if I knew exactly what mutations were inside me, I could suppress them, or even utilize them in the worst-case scenario.

“…So that I can control myself.”

The gray lizard, whose eyes met mine, nodded.

“I see.”

“I’d like to purchase an item that can help me with that. Is that possible?”

“Yes.”

The lizard immediately moved its hand.

As if I had chosen the correct answer.

“…!”

Then, an object shrouded in mist far across the table was swiftly brought before me by an excited tentacle.

“By the authority of your personal shopper, I recommend a suitable item.”

It was… a small machine.

It looked like a specialized surgical instrument, but at the end of its robot-like arm was a meticulously crafted needle, and above it, a crescent-shaped lamp illuminated the machine.

I already knew something similar to this.

The tattooing machine from Moonlight Tattoo Shop.

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

Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattoo Machine

“This item was produced for a short period before all moonlight tattoo artists, except for a very few survivors, closed their businesses due to unforeseen circumstances. We have acquired one of the three remaining pieces.”

Pretty.

Unique.

The rushing tentacle waved a few strands proudly like an arm, then flinched as if noticing the lizard’s gaze, and vanished back into the mist.

My heart pounded.

“…What exactly does this help with?”

“The spirit of the moonlight tattoo artist residing in the device will engrave a tattoo that assists the user’s needs.”

Similar to Moonlight Tattoo Shop.

“The tattoo engraved by this device is fluid. It adapts to the user’s environment, changing into the most suitable form.”

This is a bit different.

However, for me, who still had to enter ghost stories and face different corruption risks, this was even better.

‘Was this what they had in mind when they recommended it from the start?’

“Would you like to purchase it?”

I nodded.

“Yes. I want to buy it.”

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

“……”

I almost choked.

“Can I pay with something else? Like, offering an item you might buy….”

“What item?”

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 money they collect from people, but the prices of items sold at alien shops were already ridiculously higher than their original cost.

Given their business acumen… it seemed likely they’d drastically undervalue any item they bought.

‘Of course, it’s a convenience that they’re even buying it now.’

In the end, after some thought, I took out the jade pendant.

The compensation I received from Team Leader Hyunmoo 3 at Pleasant Theme Park.

A supply item from the Disaster Management Bureau, made at Baridegi Craftworks.

“How about this?”

“This is not an item purchased by the Space Shopping Mall.”

“Hmm, have you never seen this before?”

“Yes.”

As expected.

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

That was actually better.

“I’m not offering this for sale; it’s currency.”

I offered the jade pendant to the lizard.

“It’s a currency that’s used in various places. It’ll be useful for purchasing many of the items you sell.”

“Please provide concrete examples.”

I gladly told them a few stories.

Mainly ghost stories derived from East Asian legends and folk tales, and sometimes even European or American fairy tales where the jade pendant was treated as currency and accepted.

‘Hmm. So, if I summarize it like this, it works mainly in ghost stories stemming from various cultural traditions.’

The lizard silently looked at the jade pendant.

And then, after a moment of silence…

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

That’s right.

‘Good.’

However, the lizard snatched all five jade pendants I offered.

‘That’s not good…’

But considering the price, it seemed reasonably priced.

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

The Disposable Automatic Moonlight Tattoo Machine.

“Do you require assistance with its use?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I brought the device to my arm.

I intended to engrave it over where the existing tattoos were.

‘It seems like it’s used by doing this and pressing the switch.’

However.

Whirrrrr-

The mini tattoo machine, emitting a soft light and sound, floated away from my arm on its own.

“…!”

And it began to engrave something below my left collarbone.

As if gathering moonlight and burning its tip.

Whirrrrr-

Within that.

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

The customer’s desire was clear.

To govern oneself!

It is the most primitive and important task. However, when the mind is filled with countless identities and worries, it is difficult to gather them and govern them as one.

Let’s attach an index to each and give them connecting points.

So that they can be organized and assembled whenever desired.

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

Something hot was felt in my heart, and

The moment the light from the tattoo machine faded, I hastily unbuttoned my shirt to reveal my bare skin.

“……!”

A star made of characters was revealed.

The tattoo, shaped like a circular puzzle resembling an intricate wooden frame, seemed to mark its halo.

Words of unknown languages were inscribed in manufacturing size, intricately woven to form several layers of circles.

There were still ample spaces between them, and I knew…

Now, the worries forming the pattern would check and balance each other.

Through the tattoo, the customer could perceive themselves and govern themselves to become the person they desired.

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

And with a click, the crescent-shaped light turned off completely.

“Usage completion confirmed.”

“……”

I turned my head and looked at those sitting at the dining table.

There was no one there.

No, from the beginning, it had all just been me.

Now that I could confirm it was a part of me through the tattoo, there was no problem with making decisions even without seeing it with my own eyes.

“…Phew.”

I looked down at the tattoo again.

And among them, I touched a word that looked like a broken font due to a computer error.

The school bell of Segwang High School rang.

“…!”

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

Regardless of the side effects.

‘…No, wait a minute.’

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

It organized my corruption and made it ‘available to be used’ whenever I wanted?

This is insane.

‘It’s worth 150 million Won.’

Of course, whether I’ll use it is another matter, but for now, what was important was that I was organized and not immediately swayed by corruption.

‘Alright.’

I carefully adjusted my clothes, making sure my hand didn’t touch the worn Gothic-style lettering that undeniably seemed to belong to the Nameless Brilliant Cult Impersonator.

Fortunately or unfortunately, a more golden, antique-style script and words seemingly scrawled with small claws were tattooed larger and more centrally than that.

‘The mascot and… a cat?’

A strange familiarity was felt.

Are these two friendly towards me?

…Anyway, for now, this situation seems to have concluded.

Phew.

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

The lizard asked, as if it had been waiting.

I still looked at the fragment of the Nameless Brilliant Cult’s divine law, which lay on the table.

‘I need to deal with that too.’

Like buying something that can safely store it.

The problem is that I no longer had a large sum of money to pay.

The best thing would be to run to the Daydream right now and sell it, but as a spy, the timing wasn’t right…

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

“It is probabilistically possible.”

Hmm.

As a pauper, I pondered, then asked,

“Do you offer storage services as well?”

“Kim Soleum.”

“……”

“Kim Soleum.”

Gasp.

I opened my eyes.

The lizard was looking at me from across the table.

But this time, it wasn’t gray.

“Assistant Manager.”

“Yes.”

With a white lizard head and red pupils, Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon stood before me. Phew.

“Were there any inconveniences with the VIP shopping service?”

“No. It was very helpful….”

And I saw.

A pink plush toy was now sitting in front of Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon’s table.

“……??”

Why was Brown there?

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

“We removed it so as not to interfere with your shopping.”

“……”

I asked with difficulty.

“Assistant Manager, are you perhaps still listening to Brown, I mean… the plush toy, speak?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t hear it, though.”

“Indeed.”

“What… what is it saying?”

“Sighs, excessive excitement, accusations, and threats.”

Aargh!

“We judged it to have no value as information.”

“Yes. Yes….”

I hastily and carefully picked up the plush toy from the table and put it back into my front pocket.

But at that moment.

My goodness. Finally.

“…Brown?!”

Mr. Deer! Oh, we can talk again….

I hastily took the plush toy out of my pocket and checked it.

But at that moment, the voice cut off.

‘Huh?’

I put Brown back in my pocket.

Mr. Deer? Can you hear me?

Only one thing had changed.

‘The tattoo above my left chest.’

Could it be that if I’m near my tattoo, I’m judged to be in a ghost story?

‘My goodness.’

“Yeah. …It seems like if I keep you here, we can continue talking.”

Near your heart. How fated! Good. I will generously forgive you for leaving me alone with that insane, boring fellow for 23 minutes. I’m a good friend, after all.

Now kick him out immediately. Hurry.

“W-Wait a moment.”

I quickly appeased Brown, then spoke to Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon.

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

“He is not Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon. But….”

“‘We’re correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then you already know everything I did?”

“Yes.”

I asked a little awkwardly.

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

“You mean the item storage service request?”

That’s right.

I’d like you to safely store this item.

Yes.

I entrusted the fragment of the Nameless Brilliant Cult’s divine law, the root of all evil, to the lizards… no, to the Space Shopping Mall.

‘I thought it would be cheaper than outright eliminating it or buying an item to control it.’

And my prediction was correct.

…Even though it was still expensive.

8,999,990 Won for 100 days based on the current planet’s standard.

…Do you also offer installment plans?

Installments, really.

I never imagined I’d be using a financial service I’d never even used in reality, in a ghost story world…

‘Since Daydream would probably pay more than that for it, this must be the right choice.’

When the timing is right, I’ll find it immediately and sell it.

Fortunately, according to Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon’s explanation, I can retrieve it anytime.

The SIM card I had put under my tongue had vanished without a trace, but now I could reactivate it by connecting to the Space Shopping Mall.

“Kim Soleum is now connected with us.”

…I wanted to ask if that was also a type of corruption, but it wasn’t visible on the tattoo, so I decided not to be rude. My opponent possesses superhuman strength that can crush steel with one hand.

And anyway, they are a grateful presence who notices my corruption every time and deals with it on my behalf.

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

“Yes. However, the choice is at Kim Soleum’s discretion.”

“…Do you think I made a good choice?”

The lizard’s snout curved slightly.

“Yes.”

“……!”

“You chose well.”

As it had several times before.

“……”

Indeed.

During shopping, I hadn’t noticed because it was the same lizard head and the tone was similar, but seeing it directly like this, I can feel it.

‘Subtly different.’

How to put it, I feel intelligence and emotion from this lizard, or rather, personality… I don’t know.

Of course, if those alien reptiles share a single mind and emotion, it’s possible I’m arbitrarily distorting it because I’ve built a rapport with Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon.

‘In fact, I’m no longer in Team D, and yet they keep looking out for me even though it’s not their responsibility.’

They’re probably doing the same for other Team D seniors.

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

“Thank you, Assistant Manager.”

I thanked him once more and saw Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon, whose business was concluded, out of the motel.

Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon quietly disappeared through the window instead of using the door.

If a problem occurs, contact us.

Leaving those words behind.

“……”

Is it over?

Yes.

Phew. They finally left.

Are we not planning to leave this horrible place too?

Haha.

“We are.”

Oh?

“I have work tomorrow.”

And besides.

“I’m a spy infiltrating a national agency now.”

Show business, my goodness.