Chapter 92: Ch 92: The Stationery Store
The mannequin staff lined up neatly and began clapping in unison. It was an
enthusiastic response to my decision to purchase the ring.
Meanwhile, the two colleagues who had followed me stood there,
dumbfounded by the situation.
The ring I had chosen, paired with the two humans deemed suitable for
barter.
Clap, clap, clap...
The mannequins stopped clapping and, as if preparing to finalize the
payment, began walking toward the two standing behind me...
I raised my hand.
"However, I’d like to propose a change in the payment method."
The mannequins halted abruptly and turned to look at me.
Yes, it was true that this boutique accepted humans for barter. It had been
done before, and the transaction was still viable.
But why did they accept humans in the first place?
If you think about it fundamentally...
Labor.
Whether as grunt workers or as individuals promoted to become
mannequins like these, the wiki had already detailed this fact.
In other words, humans were accepted because they provided definite
operational support for the boutique.
So, aside from labor, what else could offer definite support to the store?
Even in Daydream Inc., the answer was obvious.
Resource procurement.
I reached into my tattoo and pulled out an item. The most valuable
substance I had prepared.
"I’d like to pay with this."
A gold bar.
"...!"
Even in a ghost story, the sudden appearance of capitalism’s shining star
caused my colleagues behind me to stir.
Honestly, after nearly emptying my balance on that alien shop, I’d debated
whether or not to use this...
Good thing I grabbed it on my way through Jongno.
Gold and silver are classic staples in ghost stories.
Unlike silver, which is primarily used for exorcisms, gold carries a more
universal symbolic weight, often associated with greed or ritualistic
offerings. It’s a versatile currency.
So...
"Will this suffice as payment?"
A mannequin wearing a more formal uniform approached me. It bent its
head low over the small gold bar and...
Politely extended both hands.
Success!
It worked.
I’d been prepared to flee if this failed, but the situation couldn’t have turned
out better.
I placed the gold bar in the mannequin’s hands. The mannequin stepped
back, then returned from behind the glass case, holding the ring in even
more elaborate packaging.
The silver ring I had purchased now rested on a velvet cushion embossed
with an intricate snake design.
Even the cushion is included?
Since taking the cushion didn’t prompt any reaction, I stored everything in
my tattoo inventory.
Next, two other mannequins stepped forward, each holding a rectangular
velvet box.
Though the boxes were identical in shape, their contents were different.
The one on the left contained an elegant, traditional pouch with an opening
that revealed coins printed backward.
Change!
It was an additional profit.
The pouch’s weight was noticeably heavier than the coins I’d received at
the butcher shop earlier, and the coins themselves were larger and thicker.
Clearly, they were of a different denomination.
This must all be mine.
Already leaning toward the more practical option, I glanced at the other
box.
Inside were various small trinkets—accessories, though calling them that
felt like a stretch. They didn’t seem wearable or worth gambling on for
potential mental defense properties.
Clearly, they were trying to pitch some additional sales before handing over
the change.
The universal currency seems like the better option.
But just as I reached that conclusion, one particular item caught my eye
among the trinkets.
A small ribbon hair tie.
Its material was unclear, but its sleek, dark brown sheen looked expensive.
"..."
Interesting.
"Can I take that as well?"
I pointed at the hair tie.
The mannequins clapped again and removed half of the coins from the
pouch before presenting the remaining change to me with a bow.
"Thank you."
I accepted the neatly packaged items and stored them in my tattoo.
"Wow, I’ve been thinking about this for a while... That ability of yours
looks incredible! What kind of equipment are you using?"
"Indeed."
I turned to Kang Yihak, who was grinning slyly.
Did she not realize I could’ve bartered her and the other colleague away?
Haah... Let’s try this one more time.
I decided to attempt one final gambit: ’Act like a lunatic to avoid being
messed with’.
Fixing my gaze on Kang Yihak, I spoke.
"I’m curious."
"Excuse me?"
"If I were to sell one sentient being, how much gold could I get in return?"
After a brief silence,
"Huh? Why would you even think of something so illogical? Haha!"
Kang Yihak laughed heartily.
"You’d probably get a few more gold bars by selling kidneys or corneas
instead."
"..."
Is this a normal way of thinking?
It clearly wasn’t. So, I gave up arguing.
This was getting seriously unsettling.
’I just have to endure this until we escape from this ghost story.’
Instead, I decided to offer my colleagues a carrot.
"Here, take this."
"W-What...?!"
I divided the change from my pouch into three parts and handed some to
each of them.
"I’m lending this to you. If you use it, repay me in gold. If you don’t use it
by the time we leave, I’ll take it back."
"T-Thank you..."
Jang Heo-un was the first to bow his head in gratitude.
I could brush off Kang Yihak as someone utterly beyond my
comprehension, but I couldn’t understand why Jang Heo-un was so calm.
’What on earth did you go through on the Round-Off Team...?’
At the start of this mission, I’d thought, This is going to be a reliable
exploration with my sane colleagues! But now, I’d reached a point where I
actually missed Baek Saheon.
At least that guy was predictably awful...
Here, I was practically bathing in cold sweat.
When I noticed Kang Yihak raising the coins to inspect their surface, I
quickly intervened.
"Don’t look too closely."
"Got it~"
Kang Yihak murmured in a slightly dazed voice.
"Gold never fails, does it?"
"..."
"Excuse me, Ms. Pony."
Jang Heo-un quietly interjected.
"Isn’t it dangerous to make such conclusions? There are many things more
valuable than gold in this world."
"Haha, well, Mr. Bison, let me give you a tip as a fellow colleague. What do
you think is the most valuable use of a wish?"
"A wish...? To save people and benefit the world, I’d imagine."
"Eyy~ There are so many people in the world! No, no, it’s more efficient to
endlessly produce what’s scarce and valuable!"
Kang Yihak declared, spreading her hands wide.
"And that is none other than the Midas Touch!"
"...!"
What?
"...You mean the hand that turns everything it touches into gold, from
Greek mythology?"
"Exactly! Koreans really know their Greek and Roman myths!"
Kang Yihak grinned.
"Of course, I wouldn’t ask for everything I touch to turn to gold. I’ve
already thought about a specific part of the body where it wouldn’t interfere
with daily life."
"..."
To my surprise, Jang Heo-un’s gaze turned cold, reminiscent of the time
during the new hire orientation when he raised his hand to ask about wish
tokens, his suit and hair drenched in blood.
"...Then why not just ask for a hundred billion or a trillion won in your
bank account?"
But Kang Yihak didn’t falter.
"What? Why waste a one-time wish on that? Besides, paper money turns
into worthless scraps if this country collapses. But gold?"
Kang Yihak leaned her pony mask closer to Jang Heo-un.
"Gold never loses its value."
"...!"
"Even when diamonds, dollars, and every other currency in the world
collapse, gold has never once deviated from its upward macro trend. It’s the
perfect capital."
"..."
"Let’s hear it, shall we? Our batch leader, the fastest to become a
supervisor, and the record-holder for the quickest point accumulation—
Supervisor Roe Deer, you agree with me, don’t you?"
Before I could respond, Kang Yihak continued without pause.
"No need to answer, really~ After all, you brought gold bars, didn’t you?
You’ve just seen how useful gold can be as an item!"
That’s when it hit me.
"Gold is money, and money is power. That’s the rule in human society!"
Kang Yihak wasn’t hiding any ulterior motives. At all.
’This person... is just absolutely obsessed with money...!
Sure, most people want to make money, but someone willing to weigh their
soul on a scale to sell it off like this was overwhelming.
Perhaps the Silver Heart and the commercialized atmosphere were
amplifying her behavior, but I had a feeling this was her true, unfiltered
self.
She’d probably harbored these thoughts beneath her friendly demeanor
even before we entered this ghost story.
’...She’s dangerous.’
Once we leave this place, I’ll make sure to avoid her.
For now, I crossed my arms and maintained a neutral expression.
"Well, I’ve heard your point. I wish you success in making lots of money."
"Haha, yes!!"
First, let’s get out of this store.
I declined the staff’s offer to escort me out, claiming I’d look around a bit
more before leaving. As soon as the employees reverted to their floating,
disembodied hands form, I rushed out through the back door.
’Huu.’
The dark alley lined with tightly packed side doors. Who would’ve thought
this bizarre place could feel comforting?
’Let’s complete the objective, then quickly find a relatively safe and
manageable alley to finish the remaining steps before the path narrows
further.’
Fortunately, having easily covered 1,000 steps at the boutique, a new alley
appeared without much trouble.
Do not give up on your body!
Remaining steps : 3,999
The path between the narrow side doors was about the same width as the
previous alley but felt much more manageable.
"This place feels oddly familiar, doesn’t it?"
Dim lamplight flickered softly from utility poles.
Under the starlit sky, the glow of yellow light spilled gently from the signs
and windows of small shops.
It feels strangely nostalgic...
The atmosphere resembled a quaint alley in an old residential
neighborhood, exuding a cozy and comforting vibe.
Of course, letting my guard down here could lead to being lured into one of
the shops, where I might end up missing—or worse, losing my sanity.
"I recognize this place!"
Confirmed Sections of Death Lane:
12- Old Shopping District
This alley was frequently mentioned in the manual and appeared often in
exploration logs. It was also considered one of the safer paths.
And it happened to be my destination.
"Let’s move to the next alley."
"Got it!"
We stepped into the quaint, nostalgic alley.
It was almost deserted.
The air carried a subtle, mysterious vibe, like Christmas Eve or New Year’s
night.
I walked past the small, modest shops with my colleagues until I stopped in
front of one.
"..."
It was a stationery store.
Not the kind with just a few school supplies and toys for students, but one
that sold snacks, much like the shops near schools in the 2000s that offered
tteokbokki and cheap junk food.
I glanced at the display stand. Where odeng and tteokbokki should have
been, stacks of buckwheat jelly with intricate lotus patterns were piled.
And above it, the store sign.
Sweet Stationery
Found it.
This was the store said to sell chocolate bars wrapped in packaging that
matched my description.
’Huuu.’
Now that I was here, the tension was mounting.
I turned to look at my colleagues...
"Mr. Roe Deer."
GAAAH!
I nearly jumped into the air!
Barely suppressing my startle, I turned my head to see a white lizard head
staring blankly at me from the shadows beside a utility pole near the shop.
...Squad Leader!
"How many steps do you have left?"
I alternated between glancing at the stationery store and the lizard before
finally regaining composure.
"Were you waiting for us here?"
"Yes. How many steps remain?"
"...We have about 3,900 steps left. Have you nearly completed your 10,000
steps, Squad Leader?"
"Yes. I determined this alley had the highest likelihood of encountering
fellow explorers, so I waited with 500 steps remaining."
It seemed he had anticipated my likely arrival at this stationery store, given
that our reason for entering this ghost story in the first place was tied to the
snacks reportedly sighted here.
He almost gave me a heart attack!
Still, having him give detailed answers was a relief. My opinion of the
lizard as a superior fluctuated between plummeting and rising again.
At that moment, Kang Yihak chimed in.
"Wow, Squad Leader, you’re really reassuring! While we’re here, could we
check out that shop next door to rack up some steps?"
The shop she pointed to sold knit goods like gloves and scarves, and it had
already appeared in exploration records.
She even rattled the coins I’d handed her earlier as if to emphasize her
point.
The lizard fixed his red, vertical pupils on her.
"You have the currency for this place?"
"Yes-yes! Supervisor Soleum secured it for us~ Truly amazing! D-squad
members are all so capable. I’ve learned so much from you. Haha!"
"I see."
The lizard quickly gave instructions.
"Enter in pairs. Do not engage in activities contrary to the manual. Return
to the alley within ten minutes."
"Got it!"
"Ah, um... Yes, sir."
Kang Yihak swiftly dragged Jang Heo-un toward the shop selling gloves
and scarves.
Well, since this alley and shop were relatively low-risk according to the
records, it made sense for Lee Jaheon to let them go.
It worked out perfectly for me.
Now I can check out the destination without sharing any ’secrets’.
"..."
I stood in front of the glass door of the stationery store.
Lee Jaheon followed closely behind.
"I’m going in."
"Yes."
Ding.
I stepped inside the stationery store.
Time to find the ’Good Child Chocolate Bar’.