It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 092

The mannequin employees stood in a line and clapped in unison. They were enthusiastically responding to my intention to buy a ring.

The two colleagues who had followed me were dumbfounded, witnessing this situation.

I had chosen a ring and was ready to exchange it for two humans of suitable value.

Clap clap clap…

The mannequins stopped applauding. Then, as if ready to process the payment, they walked towards the two behind me…

I raised my hand.

“However, I would like to change the payment method a bit.”

Staying upright.

The halted mannequins turned to look at me.

Right. Of course, it was possible to take humans in exchange for items at this boutique. It could still be done that way now.

But why were they accepting humans?

If we trace the reason fundamentally…

‘Labor force.’

Whether as a menial worker or advancing to become a mannequin through hard work, it was already stated in the wiki.

In other words, it’s accepted because it’s a definite help in business operation, making human trafficking for exchange feasible.

So what else could definitely help in operating the store besides labor?

Surely, something like Daydream Corporation comes to mind.

‘Raw materials acquisition.’

I reached into my tattoo and pulled out something.

The most expensive item I had brought along.

“I’d like to pay with this.”

It was a gold bar.

“…!”

I could feel my colleagues, who were standing behind me, becoming uneasy at this sudden emergence of capitalism from a horror story.

Honestly, after clicking to purchase all items at the alien shop, my balance was getting precarious, and I debated whether to spend this…

‘It was a good idea to go to Jongno and bring this.’

Gold and silver were common materials in horror stories.

Especially gold had more general usability compared to silver, which was mainly used for exorcism. It served often as a symbol of desire or magical payment and worked well everywhere.

So…

“Is payment possible?”

One of the mannequins, dressed in a more formal uniform, approached me. Bowing low to the small gold bar, it…

Politely and respectfully extended both hands.

‘…Got it!’

It worked.

In the worst case, I had thought of just running away, but this was a very favorable situation.

I dropped the gold bar into the mannequin’s hands. The mannequin slowly retreated and came back with the ring, more carefully wrapped behind a glass display.

On a velvet cushion engraved with a bizarre snake pattern, it presented the silver ring I purchased.

‘Is the cushion… included as a set?’

There was no reaction to taking it together, so I immediately stored everything in my tattoo.

Next, another mannequin stepped forward holding rectangular velvet boxes on each side.

The boxes looked identical but contained different items.

The one on the left was an elegant and traditional purse, inside of which upside-down printed coins were faintly visible through the slightly opened entrance.

‘Change!’

An additional profit from currency exchange.

The much heavier quantity compared to what I received at the butcher shop was immediately apparent. Moreover, the coins were large and thick. The units were certainly different.

‘I guess I should accept all of this.’

With my spirits lifted, I glanced at the other side.

Inside the box that the other mannequin was holding were… hmm. Items that were vaguely classified as accessories.

They were so ambiguous in capacity to be worn on the body that I wouldn’t even risk my safety to find out if they had any mental defense efficacy.

It seemed they wanted to promote something before giving change, right?

‘Universal currency would still be the better choice.’

Just as that thought struck me,

An object caught my eye among the small goods.

It was a small ribbon hair tie.

I couldn’t tell what material it was made of, but the dark brown strap shimmered luxuriously.

“…….”

Hmm.

“Can I take that too?”

I pointed at the hair tie.

The mannequins clapped again, took half of the change they had kept in their pockets, and presented it to me politely.

“Thank you.”

I accepted the neatly wrapped items and stored them in my tattoo.

“Wow, I’ve been thinking since a while ago… that ability of yours seems really great! What kind of equipment are you using?”

“Yes.”

I turned to Kang Lee-hak, who was grinning.

Had he not realized I could have trafficked him and the other two colleagues?

‘Sigh… Let’s try just once more.’

I attempted one last time to avoid looking like a madman.

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

“I’m curious.”

“Excuse me?”

“How much gold can you get back if you sell a sentient being?”

After a brief silence.

“Huh? Why are you thinking about such a loss-making idea? Haha!”

Kang Lee-hak laughed heartily.

“If you take a kidney or cornea, you could get a few gold bars more.”

“…….”

Is this a normal person’s way of thinking?

No matter how I think about it, it didn’t seem right. So I gave up on rebutting.

It’s getting quite scary…!

‘I need to endure until I get out of this horror story.’

Instead, I decided to offer my colleagues a carrot.

“Take this.”

“Huh…?!”

I divided the change I had into thirds and shared it with my colleagues.

“This is a loan. If you use it, pay me back in gold, and if you don’t use it until we leave, I’ll reclaim it.”

“Th-thank you….”

Jang Heo-woon bowed first.

No, I can understand why Kang Lee-hak seemed like an insane person I couldn’t approach, but why in the world was Jang Heo-woon so calm?

‘What on earth happened to the wrap-up team…?’

At the beginning, I thought, ‘This will be a reliable expedition with normal colleagues!’ but now I missed Baek Sa-heon to a ridiculous extent.

‘That guy only did predictable things, so it was easier….’

Here I was, just sweating profusely.

In the meantime, Kang Lee-hak hastily raised a coin to scrutinize its surface.

“Don’t look too closely.”

“Yes~”

Kang Lee-hak mumbled in a slightly dazed voice.

“Gold really… never fails, right?”

“…….”

“Hey, Pony. Isn’t it dangerous to conclude that?”

Jang Heo-woon said quietly.

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

“Haha, hmm, Mr. Bison. As your colleague, let me give you a tip. What do you think is the most valuable application for a wish ticket?”

“Um? …Isn’t it to save a person and benefit the world?”

“Come on~ there are so many people in the world, saying that! It’s much more efficient to endlessly produce what’s lacking and valuable!”

Kang Lee-hak spread his hands wide and exclaimed.

“Exactly, it’s the Midas touch!”

“……!”

What?

“…You mean the hand that turns everything it touches to gold, from Greek mythology?”

“Yes! Just as I thought~ our Koreans know their Greek and Roman mythology so well!”

Kang Lee-hak grinned.

“Of course, I’m not thinking of turning everything I touch to gold; I have parts of my everyday life in mind~”

“…….”

Surprisingly, Jang Heo-woon’s eyes froze coldly.

Just like when he raised his hand to ask a question about the wish ticket during the new recruit orientation, covered in blood with a suit and everything.

“…Then just receive 10 billion or 100 billion in your bank account.”

But Kang Lee-hak was unfazed.

“Huh? Why would you waste a one-time wish? Besides, if the currency collapses in this country, it turns into a piece of toilet paper. But gold!”

The pony-masked individual leaned in on Jang Heo-woon.

“Gold will never fall!”

“……!”

“Diamonds, dollars, and all the world’s currencies could collapse, but gold has never deviated from its upward macro graph, making it perfect capital!”

“…….”

“Let’s hear it. Our first-rate, fastest promotions, and record-breaking point accumulation… Chief Doe, you agree with me, right? Yes?”

Kang Lee-hak shouted.

“No, there’s no need to hear it~ I bet you brought gold with you! You saw just now when gold became an item!”

That’s when I realized.

“Gold is money, and money is power in human society!”

Kang Lee-hak had no ulterior motives.

‘This person… is just madly obsessed with money…!’

Of course, people usually want to earn money, but it’s extremely rare for someone to act as if they would weigh their soul and sell it.

It was undoubtedly influenced by the silver heart and the surrounding environment of ‘business’, making him appear even crazier, but it felt more like his true and honest self.

Before entering this horror story, he had such thoughts even under his nice demeanor.

‘…It’s dangerous.’

As soon as I get out of this horror story, I want to stay away from him…!

But for now, I casually crossed my arms.

“I’ve heard well. I hope you earn a lot of money.”

“Hahaha, yes!!”

First, let’s escape this store.

I told them I would “explore a bit more and come back,” and waved them off.

As the employees returned to their floating, oscillating working form, I quickly exited through the back door.

‘Phew.’

A dark back alley lined with narrow side doors.

I hadn’t expected this bizarre place to offer a momentary sense of relief.

‘Once I achieve my goal, I need to quickly find a safe and walkable alley to fill the remaining step count.’

Before the path got narrower.

Fortunately, having easily filled a thousand steps at the boutique, a new alley appeared smoothly.

Don’t give up your body!

Remaining steps: 3999

The path appearing between the gaps of the side doors was similar in width to this back alley but much better.

“Feels oddly nostalgic, doesn’t it?”

The light from a streetlamp was faintly twinkling.

A night where starlight was visible. The storefronts illuminated with yellow light shone from within.

‘It’s oddly reminiscent of the past….’

It had a cozy ambiance, reminiscent of a small alley nestled among old city homes, providing a pleasing and calm view.

However, if I let my guard down, I might get caught up in some shop’s solicitation and get entirely lost or go mad.

“I know this place!”

Confirmed alleys of Dead End Street so far:

12. Old Shopping Complex

It had frequently been mentioned in the manual, appearing quite often in the exploration records of the staff while being a relatively safe alley.

And… it was also my destination.

“Let’s move to the next alley.”

“Yes!”

We stepped into the small alley with a warm feeling.

There was hardly any crowd.

Perhaps that’s why it felt somewhat enchanting, like Christmas or New Year’s Eve…

I walked beside the small, modest shops with my colleagues.

Then I stopped in front of a store.

“…….”

It was a stationery shop.

Even though it was a stationery shop, it only sold a few school supplies and toys that students would like, and it was the kind of neighborhood shop that sold far more snacks.

It looked like a store from the 2000s that sold tteokbokki and junk food near a school.

I looked at the stall. Instead of oden and tteokbokki, a strange buckwheat jelly piled up with an intricate lotus pattern was stacked there…

And the sign overhead.

Sweet Stationery Shop

‘Found it.’

The shop that sells chocolate bars with my likeness printed on the packaging.

‘Phew.’

Now that I was here, I felt tense.

I turned to my colleagues….

“Chief Doe.”

Aaaaaah!

I almost jumped into thin air…!

Barely keeping my composure, I turned my head, and I saw the white lizard head staring blankly at me from the shadow of a streetlight next to the store.

…It was the Team Leader!

“How many steps do we have left?”

I alternated my gaze between the stationery store and the lizard.

“Um… we have about 3900 steps left. By any chance, were you waiting for us here?”

“Yes. How many steps are left?”

“…We have about 3900 steps remaining. Are you near your goal of ten thousand, Chief?”

“Yes. I judged that this alley has the highest possibility of encountering the explorers who entered together. Therefore, I was waiting with 500 steps remaining.”

It seemed he had speculated that I would likely appear at this stationery shop.

After all, the reason I entered this horror story was because of the new snacks seen at this stationery shop.

‘My heart nearly dropped!’

Still, it was very pleasant that he gave a lengthy answer. As a superior, the lizard’s rating fluctuated between rising and falling.

At that moment, Kang Lee-hak jumped in.

“Wow, it’s really reassuring, Chief! Ah, can we quickly pop into the next shop for the sake of fulfilling our steps?”

The shop my colleague pointed to was one that sold various goods made of yarn, and had already appeared in the manual’s purchase records.

Moreover, Kang Lee-hak shook the coins he had received earlier to appeal.

The lizard looked at the colleague with its red pupils.

“Do you possess the currency of this place?”

“Yes! Team Leader Sol’s money helped me out~ He’s truly amazing. Everyone from Group D is talented, there are so many aspects to learn from. Haha!”

“I see.”

The lizard spoke quickly.

“Enter in pairs of two. Do not engage in any conduct that violates the manual. Do not stay longer than 10 minutes and come back to the alley.”

“Yes!”

“Ah, um… Yes.”

Kang Lee-hak hastily dragged Jang Heo-woon into a store selling gloves and scarves.

Hmm. It seemed this place was considered relatively less dangerous according to exploration records, which was why Lee Ja-heon may have sent them in like that.

This was quite fortunate.

‘Without having to share the “secret,” we can still enter the destination.’

“…….”

I stood before the glass door of the stationery shop.

Lee Ja-heon followed behind me.

“I’m going in.”

“Yes.”

Ding dong.

I stepped into the stationery shop.

To see the Good Kid Chocolate Bar.