It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 098

Checking the crack on the grip talk, I have no idea what state of mind I spent that night in.

The next day, I was sick and in pain, but I immediately went out to buy a new phone.

After transferring the SIM card, I nervously attached the cracked grip talk and turned it on.

‘…It’s working!’

Fortunately, the wiki was functional, but… something was off.

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story

[Hell Surge Taxi]

Glitches appeared.

It felt like an old computer, with the typical stuttering of a machine barely clinging to life…

It soon recovered normally, but my stomach tightened.

‘Yeah. Goods can break too….’

Since I bought it at a pop-up store, I overlooked how this bizarre item could actually be used in the horror world while carrying my smartphone almost like a part of my body.

Couldn’t I just write down the wiki content somewhere else for backup?

‘That would take over a month.’

To begin with, the page generated by the memorial grip talk prohibits copying and capturing. I have to write it all out by hand while looking at the smartphone screen.

‘By the time I do that, this grip talk might not hold up.’

But there’s no need to panic.

After all, the goods_received from the goods box belong to this horror world.

Since I’ve established a base here for half a year, other options are now available.

I could either get a new grip talk or pave a route for repairs.

Interestingly, both required the same kind of connection.

‘It’s the Disaster Management Bureau.’

That’s the origin of this grip talk.

And I know where these grip talks and silver badges are made…

Of course, I know how to get in there, the passwords, and the preparations needed.

But lo and behold, I’ve even got a temporary agent badge for the Disaster Management Bureau.

“…….”

I pressed my temple while pondering.

‘I’m currently on sick leave for three days.’

That means, in this state, I can’t go to work or handle any follow-up tasks related to Dead End Street.

But as long as I don’t go to work, it’s okay to push myself with other tasks if I can endure. Recovery in three days is a certainty.

‘However, I can’t artificially avoid the pain incurred as taxi fare.’

This is a curse, so no amount of painkillers will ease it, and trying to evade the pain by supernatural means only extends the duration of the curse.

You must endure the actual pain to settle the fare.

So, my ultra-powerful painkiller, ‘Happy Maker,’ should be kept aside unless I’m in a situation that urgently needs to extend the curse duration.

To begin with….

“…….”

Thinking back to that nightmare and what I did after injecting it makes me a bit creeped out.

‘It was really completely painless and comfortable….’

If it wasn’t a dream, and if I hadn’t been treated for contamination at the Fox Consultation Room, it would have popped into my mind during tough times or become somewhat of an addiction.

I needed to be cautious.

‘…Alright.’

Let’s not procrastinate and prepare while I can.

After carefully removing the cracked grip talk from the phone, I wrapped it up and stashed it in my tattoo.

“Brown. I have to go out again.”

– Ah, the spirit of resilience! What a captivating interview material. Doesn’t it, at times, serve as a testament to your passion for the industry?

– But if it becomes too tough, do let me know anytime. Your perfect partner, friend, Brown will assist you…

That was both eerie and reassuring.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

After taking another shower to wash off the sweat, I put on a light hoodie.

Then I grabbed the shiny bowtie-clad bunny plush and tucked it into the front pocket of my hoodie.

– You look neat now, Doe! So, where are we headed?

Hmm.

“To the place where young people gather the most in Seoul.”

I got off at Hongdae Station.

It was an amazing neighborhood that could have this many people even on a weekday afternoon.

‘And there are a lot of people even away from the station.’

From Mangwon to Yeonnam, the streets must be filled with people out to have fun.

Compared to the bustling areas I visited yesterday that led to the worn-out alley and Dead End Street, this was a crowd I couldn’t even compare it to.

– There are indeed many people here! Bright, full of reactions… Ah, I want to invite everyone to the show and give them an unforgettable joy and shock in life!

Eek!

Thankfully, Brown immediately got distracted by something else, sparing me the need to calm that exuberant voice.

– Oh, the coffee aroma is nice too! Would you like a cup, friend? …Oh dear! You seem to be swaying. Do you need support?

‘…I’m fine.’

Given the curse of the sickness and stepping into the horror citizens of Seoul, it was inevitable… Hehe.

Still, the feeling of vitality flowing within me was not bad.

The lively streets lined with cafes and bathed in sunlight, where not a hint of eeriness could be found.

At high noon, the idea that something mysterious or horror-related could happen here is simply unimaginable.

‘Instead, that’s what makes it safe.’

I began to contemplate how to access the place where I could fix the grip talk.

The document of the Disaster Management Bureau registered on the wiki had a note with an image of a memo.

! Read carefully and be sure to destroy it

Destination: A blue-roofed, unmarked café. A commercial facility converted from a residence, with a buckwheat flower wreath hanging on the door.

There it is.

With Brown’s help, I entered the building with a blue roof while keeping my presence entirely concealed.

It was a large café bustling with customers.

In broad daylight, amidst all the sparkling lights and decorations, café staff members were busy taking orders and serving drinks and coffee.

Instead of queuing to order, I sidled away and ducked into the kitchen space.

And if I went a bit deeper there…

Around the corner, I spotted two doors.

[Staff Only]

The same yellow doors, but one led straight outside while the other…

‘That’s the door I have to open.’

Enter through the right door of the two.

Never touch the left door. Once you touch the left door, you will no longer be able to enter the ‘location’ through the right door again.

I cautiously approached the right door, knocking lightly to a rhythm.

Knock-knock, knock-knock-, knock-knock, knock-knock-

A playful beat. If one received public education in this country, it would be a rhythm one couldn’t help but be familiar with.

Then, I discreetly opened the door just a crack and stepped inside.

Creeeak, thud.

“… .”

Inside looked like an ordinary space for staff members.

A space tangled with hallways, a storage room, and a break area for employees.

Old couches, desks, laptops, and boxes of supplies. And on one side, a pile of seasonal interior decor items left over from last season.

Find sculptural items that can be interpreted as houses, such as hanoks, apartments, ger, etc.

I cautiously rummaged through the items and found what I was looking for.

A hanok model.

It looked like it had been used as a decoration for Chuseok.

‘This must be it.’

I squatted by the hanok model, reaching out to grab the tiny gate.

And just as I opened the gate…