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

There’s a small space next to the underground parking lot, a space that seems to embody the building owner’s greed, as if they desperately wanted to build another shop to increase rental income. The small shop occupying that space… is where I’m visiting today. A special tattoo shop.

———————

Darkness Exploration Log / Urban Legend

[Moonlight Tattoo Shop]

: An urban legend appearing in <Darkness Exploration Log>, no identification code from Daydream Corporation.

Currently, Daydream Corporation’s official exploration log for this location is only a single entry via ‘Vacant(Qterw-C-818)’.

For more detailed information, document #818-15623 (Civilian Interview Log) can be accessed, but its reliability cannot be guaranteed.

———————

You might think it’s dangerous because it says the reliability can’t be guaranteed, right?

Not at all.

The basis of this urban legend, ‘Vacant’, is a satire of humanity’s tendency to look for negative reasons instead of accepting good intentions as good intentions.

Contextually, this must be a ‘good’ place, consistent with the civilian interview log.

– Are you going in?

Yes.

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

Swish.

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

At first glance, it seems like an ordinary, unassuming shop. Slightly worn but clean facilities, and a notice on the counter stating that only one person can be treated at a time.

However, light is shining down on the central treatment chair.

It was moonlight.

Oddly, they’ve installed a transparent LED panel, only in the center, to show the moon. Artificial moonlight pours down from there.

‘Exactly as described.’

“Hello?”

As I spoke, the owner, sitting at the counter, came out.

A woman in a sleeveless top with dense Korean tattoos on her neck. Her neatly tied curly hair instantly evoked keywords like technician and artist.

“I’d like to get a tattoo consultation, is that possible?”

Nod.

“What’s the price range?”

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

[Only bartering accepted.]

That’s right.

They don’t accept general cash here. Instead, payment is accepted in items that please the shop owner…

There are some items that are particularly favored.

[Preferred Items: Ocean-related items]

Thanks to this, civilians who happen to meet this condition sometimes have a very rare experience.

———————

Document #818-15623

Citizen: I actually got lost. I was trying to go to a tattoo shop near ■■ Station, but I must have taken a wrong turn and ended up in a neighborhood with many vacant buildings.

And that’s where I found that tattoo shop in the basement.

I thought it was very unique that they accepted ocean-related items. So I showed them a sand timer key ring I had, and they accepted it?

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

———————

So I’ve come prepared to meet this ‘preferred item’ condition… perfectly.

“Would something like this be alright?”

I took out what I’d prepared from my briefcase.

Opening a rectangular box lined with velvet…

Luminous granules scattered reflected light.

“These are pearl beads.”

“…!”

They were incredibly expensive ocean pearls.

Akoya white green, 10mm perfect spheres with a pink aurora sheen, almost holographic, top quality.

‘Actually, there were more expensive ocean-related items… but…’

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

And pearls are protein, so they are unconditionally affected by the passage of time.

‘I was able to quickly get them at a Jongno wholesaler after searching for a day, during my lunch break.’

Just in case, I excluded South Sea pearls, which are less affected by the passage of time, and chose Akoya pearls…

“What do you think?”

“…….”

Nod nod nod nod nod.

A fervent response came back.

The tattoo artist stared blankly at the gleaming pearl beads, then carefully accepted the box I offered. A flicker of delight crossed their kind eyes. ‘I wonder what it’s for.’ I couldn’t tell. In any case, the tattoo artist swiftly organized the box inside the counter, then very politely guided me to the center—to a chair bathed in moonlight.

“Thank you.”

Soon, the tattoo artist brought a large lemon drink and a large book. This part matched the description. They gave me a lemon drink and a book. It was a collection of tattoo designs, with ‘Basic No. 3’ written on it. I chose a tiny dolphin silhouette and got it tattooed. I was told to close my eyes during the procedure, and strangely, it was painless.

I turned my gaze to the book cover. If the person who gave the hourglass keychain received design ‘Basic No. 3’, what would happen to me, who gave pearls worth tens of millions of won? Of course, it might be too capitalistic a thought.

‘Maybe this is a small tattoo shop from an urban legend, and such materialistic methods won’t work on the mysterious owner…’

[Royal Special Premium No. 1 (Customizable)]

“…….”

It… worked.

‘Thank you.’

Money really is everything, anywhere.

Anyway, does this mean the designs here are the levels I can get with what I offered?

‘Hmm.’

Let’s examine them carefully.

I flipped through the book. Constellations drawn with splashing water droplets, a marvelously overlaid design of a polar bear’s paw and an Inuit pattern, and a landscape of an evening seaside in soft pastel tones. The designs were incredibly beautiful. If I had really come here with a strong desire for a tattoo, I would be admiring them and diligently choosing. …But that wasn’t important to me.

‘This tattoo will disappear the next day, anyway.’

To be exact…

I think I was dreaming. I clearly got a tattoo, but it was gone clean when I woke up. But do you know what’s even weirder? The tattoos from here are ‘absorbed’ by the recipient. I suddenly became very good at swimming in the ocean, like the dolphin I got tattooed. In short, tattoos grant the person special abilities depending on the design!

‘I absolutely can’t miss this opportunity.’

There must be dozens, hundreds of legends in <Dark Exploration Records> that grant people talents or abilities. But there are almost none that can be obtained so peacefully, without losing anything, in such a proactive way. In this world brimming with crazy legends where you have to sell your body, your soul, or at least your conscience to get anything…

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

‘I’m getting something worthwhile, no matter what.’

I furiously deduced the abilities of the designs as I turned the pages of the book.

– Mr. Roe Deer, I’d like to take a closer look too!

 

Ah, that’s right. With Braun, I might be able to read more.

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

– Oh, the artist’s aesthetic sense is quite good. In my opinion… Hmm?

The tattoo artist stared intently at Braun with sparkling eyes. Then they lifted Braun.

“…! W-wait…”

[Service]

“…….”

– Just a moment. Please handle me gently, my body is stuffed with cotton and doesn’t move easily… Hmm, ahem, hmm…

The tattoo artist put Braun in a basin they brought, skillfully applied aroma oil to their hands, and kneaded the doll, shaping it.

…Acupressure?

– Hooooooooo…. The fatigue from the shoot is completely gone…….

The doll is making sounds like a celebrity exhausted from their schedule…

It was indeed a shocking sight I’d never seen in any urban legend.

Heartwarming…?

‘…Let’s choose a design.’

After thanking the tattoo artist for handing me back the now-shiny Braun, I frantically flipped through the book again. But there were no designs with obviously inferable abilities. Only the abundance of sea-related designs gave me a strange feeling.

Hmm, then.

“Do you have any recommendations?”

What if I just ask directly?

“Is there a symbol related to courage, or boldness without fear, in here?”

Okay. I think this is what I need most.

‘Escape from being a scaredy-cat…!’

I was tempted by the various abilities I could get here, but ultimately, the most fundamental and powerful special ability I possess is the <Darkness Exploration Record>.

Information, you see.

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

‘I can’t live any longer with this heart that feels like it’ll give out at any moment…!’

Just think how many times I’ve been on the verge of death because of this scaredy-cat heart!

‘The opportunity to enter the Moonlight Tattoo Shop through this urban legend is only once.’

Then it’s best to use it on the most urgent matter!

It was a little nerve-wracking to ask directly, since it wasn’t in the record, but thankfully, the tattooist readily flipped through the book and pointed to a design.

The design was….

“……a tomato?”

That’s right.

It was a tomato plant.

Bold lines, with a somewhat rough pen-stroke feel, dynamically depicted the branches, leaves, and fruit.

Lonely, rough, and lyrical.

The color was only applied to the red fruit. The tomatoes.

‘Why is this related to courage?’

Honestly, I don’t quite understand, but this tattooist only communicates through the pre-written book, so I couldn’t get a detailed explanation.

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

“Yes. I’ll get this one.”

The tattooist nodded happily and took back the book.

“Ah, the location is here…”

I rolled up my left sleeve.

If I was getting one anyway, I was planning to get it near my existing tattoo…

“…!”

The tattooist’s expression suddenly changed, and they stood up.

‘What is it?’

And quickly pointed to a notice on the wall.

[Treatment may be refused for certain reasons.]

They then pointed at my arm.

“…!”

No way.

: Socius :

: 恩主 :

“…Do you see these characters?”

Nod nod.

They look like I’m asking the obvious. Is this person a resident of the urban legend too?

No, that’s not the important thing right now.

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

Nod.

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

Nod.

“……So, is there absolutely no way for me to get a new tattoo right now?”

Nod.

Damn it!

“These characters weren’t something I got intentionally; is there really no other way? I really wanted to get one…”

I slumped my shoulders, looking utterly dejected.

The tattooist looked flustered, seemed to think for a moment, and finally pulled something out from under the counter.

‘An advertising pamphlet?’

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

[Cover-up possible]

[We will help your existing tattoo transform into something new.]

“…!!”

[※Moonlight Tattoo Shop’s cover-up service does not simply hide existing tattoos but enhances their appeal.

The meaning remains intact; experience a new kind of beauty.]

Wait a minute.

So, this is actually… offering a strengthening treatment?

– That’s good! The theme park mascot and the mountain lodge worker’s tattoos were a bit too much. How about a more aesthetic choice for you?

– There are so many beautiful patterns: the swallow, the constellations, the Bagua! It would be nice to cover them up nicely!

I lowered my head.

: Socius :

: 恩主 :

“Can I get both?”

The tattooist nodded.

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

But instinctively, I sensed.

‘They’ll do a better job if I only choose one.’

This is a shop, so naturally, they do a better tattoo for the price paid.

It was better to choose only one rather than splitting the value in two.

“…….”

I pondered.

And….

“I would like to have only this one covered.”

I pointed to one of the tattoos with my finger.