The inside of the store smelled faintly of dust, but it was warm.
It had the cozy atmosphere characteristic of an old space.
As if living up to its name, Sweet Stationery Shop carried a faintly sweet scent that felt almost comforting.
The tension that had stiffened my shoulders began to ease… No, that wouldn’t do!
‘Stay alert.’
I bit the inside of my mouth once and moved forward again.
Narrow shelves lined the walls like a maze, each one packed with various snacks.
At the very front of the large display in the center, the names of popular products were written.
Forget-Me Cotton Candy
Softie Cookie Taste of the Sun Chips-Chips
Carrot? Of Course!
Reverse Bubble-Chomp-Gum
Nostalgia Candy SOLD OUT!
I walked quietly, scanning the snacks with my eyes.
I didn’t see the ‘Good Child Chocolate Bar’, but I recognized a few familiar names and packages.
Some of them were relatively safe and useful.
‘Alright. Since I’m here, I might as well spend my change.’
They were decent as items, or I could resell them for some extra income.
The last time I parted ways with Agent Bronze, the atmosphere hadn’t been too bad. Maybe I could restore my sales route for creepypasta snacks through them…
Considering I’d been stripped of everything down to my last gold bar, I needed a way to make money.
– You’re picking quite a lot, Friend ! Be careful not to rot your teeth.
I quickly picked out a few snacks.
Then, I turned to glance at the lizard that had been following me in silence, taking slow, deliberate steps.
“…Section Chief, is there a snack you’d like to have? I’d like to offer one as a token of gratitude.”
“Yes.”
Surprisingly, Lee Jaheon didn’t refuse. After briefly scanning the surroundings, he grabbed a snack.
Reverse Bubble-Chomp-Gum
Blow it like a balloon in your mouth, and your body will grow as big as a building!
Certified original by Cheerful Research Institute
(Beware of cheap knock-offs sold at street stalls!)
“…Are you sure about this one?”
“Yes.”
Did he… want to turn into a giant lizard?
I pushed down my unnecessary imagination.
‘Let’s just pay.’
Holding the selected snacks in both hands, I headed toward the cash register in the back of the store.
On the way, I scanned the entire interior again, but the Good Child Chocolate Bar was still nowhere to be seen…
‘Hmm.’
I reached the counter first in the end.
“Hello.”
The employee sitting at the iron counter gave a slow nod.
Likely the store’s owner, they wore a sloppy casual outfit and had a hat pulled low over their face.
At first glance, they seemed like an ordinary stationery shop owner, but… six arms tapped against the counter.
‘Phew.’
I made sure never to look at their face and instead carefully placed my selected snacks on the counter.
Then, I quickly pulled out my coins.
“Here you go.”
I didn’t want any misunderstandings about this being a barter transaction.
I recalled the first recorded successful purchase at this store in the <Dark Exploration Records>.
Purchased Item: Carrot? Of Course! (1pc)
Cost : Memory of the second day of a family trip in 1997
Right.
This stationery shop traded in memories instead of money.
From happy recollections that made you smile just by thinking of them, to horrifying traumas you wanted to forget.
The type of memory lost depended on the snack purchased.
‘That’s why the exploration records ranged from heartwarming to downright eerie.’
I had no desire to gamble on what I might lose. Especially not in this creepypasta world, where every bit of knowledge in my head was crucial.
‘I just need to find that Good Child Chocolate Bar.’
I considered asking the owner directly.
However, since the packaging featured something that seemed suspiciously like me, I didn’t want to risk drawing unnecessary attention to it…
“Kindly tell me the location of the chocolate bar.”
Squad Leader!
I barely stopped myself from grabbing my direct superior by the collar.
But the store owner merely pointed to a shelf without a care, still lounging deeply in their chair.
‘Phew.’
So, the illustration on the wrapper wasn’t similar enough to me for immediate recognition.
‘I’d seriously settle for having half the liver of a lizard…’
(T/N: in this context, liver = guts = courage)
Maybe I should’ve bought some at the Fresh Meat Butcher Shop. Muttering nonsense under my breath, I leaned down toward the counter to collect my purchased snacks and remaining change…
And then, I saw it.
‘Huh?’
There was something behind the counter.
A life-size cutout and decorative papers, hastily stashed away.
A sign… and a blue box filled with chocolate bars.
Theme Park Collaboration – New Product Launch!
Good Child Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros Flavor)
Oh god.
‘Found it!’
I quickly examined the wrapper.
It depicted my hairstyle, mask, and suit far more accurately than I’d expected.
Had they removed the promotion display after the event ended?
No… It looked more like they had rushed to hide it.
“……”
Wait a moment.
I looked at the chocolate bar’s packaging again.
And then I realized.
That product didn’t use me as an advertisement model, nor did it decorate the packaging with a character that just happened to resemble me.
It was…
Please find this good child.
We are waiting for eyewitness reports.
It was a missing person advertisement.
“……”
Cold sweat dripped down my back as I took a step backward.
That means…
Ding-ling-ling—
……
I stiffly turned my head to look toward the counter.
The store owner was holding the telephone.
The ringing sound was connecting somewhere…
Click.
The moment the call connected—
Here you are!
I turned around—grabbed Section Chief Lee Jaheon—and bolted.
Here you are! Here you are! Here you are!
I didn’t even have time to cuss. I could barely breathe as I sprinted across the store, putting as much distance as possible between me and the counter.
I reached for the door I had entered through—
Huh?
Why are you over there?
Clack.
The door locked.
“……”
I turned my head to look back at the store owner standing behind the counter.
“I’m leaving now. Please unlock the door.”
A short silence.
It’s okay.
The store owner’s voice echoed in my ears…
From the telephone in his hand, black liquid had begun to drip, pattering onto the floor.
Thicker and thicker.
Drip. Drip.
The once-thin trickle of liquid began to pool together, twisting and distorting midair like clay being molded into shape.
I came to take you back.
…Taking the shape of some mascot costume animal I had definitely seen before, somewhere…
“……!!”
I desperately yanked on the door handle. But it didn’t budge.
Damn it, this son of a—
“Let go of the handle.”
Ah.
The moment I released the door, Lee Jaheon slammed his left fist into the handle.
Crack! Thud!
Like a lie, the handle snapped off and fell to the floor.
The door burst open with a kick, revealing the alley outside.
Without hesitation, we ran.
My door!!
A furious, gushing sound erupted behind us. Splash, splash, splash!
The sound of water mixing with the store owner’s enraged voice chased us down the alley. My spine went ice-cold.
“Braun!”
– You seem to be in need of my help, Friend !
Exactly!
“Lights Out! For Section Chief Lee Jaheon too!”
– Even him? Very well. Consider this my gift!
Snap!