Chapter 92

The mannequin employees lined up in formation and applauded in unison, enthusiastically welcoming my declaration that I would buy the ring.

The two fellow recruits who had followed me here watched blankly.

Two humans worth just enough to barter for the ring I had chosen.

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP...

The mannequins stopped clapping. Then they all advanced toward the pair behind me, as though to process the payment...

I raised a hand.

"However, I'd like to change my method of payment."

They stopped short and turned to look at me.

Yes. Of course this boutique accepted humans in barter. That was still an option now.

But why did they accept humans?

If you got down to the fundamental reason...

'Labor.'

Whether they were used as menial workers or performed well enough to be promoted into mannequins like those, the wiki already described it.

In other words, they accepted human trafficking as barter because it provided a definite benefit to running the shop.

Then what else, besides labor, would be a 'definite' help in running a shop?

Didn't Daydream Inc. alone bring something immediately to mind?

'A supply of raw materials.'

I reached into my tattoo and pulled out an item.

The most expensive material I had brought with me.

"I'd like to pay with this."

A gold bar.

"...!"

I could feel the recruits behind me stir at this star of capitalism that had suddenly emerged in a ghost story.

Honestly, after hitting Buy All at the Alien Shop, my bank balance had been precariously low, so I'd debated whether to splurge on this...

'I'm glad I went to Jongno to pick it up after all.'

Gold and silver were staples in ghost stories, too.

Especially compared to silver, which was mainly used in exorcisms, gold had a slightly more versatile image. It often symbolized desire or payment for sorcery, making it likely to work just about anywhere.

So...

"Will you accept this as payment?"

One mannequin in a slightly more formal uniform approached me. It bent its head low over the little gold bar, then...

Politely, respectfully, held out both hands.

'... Yes!'

It worked.

I'd even considered simply running away in the worst-case scenario, so this was an excellent outcome.

I dropped the gold bar into the mannequin's hands. It slowly backed away, then brought out the ring from behind the glass case with additional packaging.

It presented my newly purchased silver ring on a velvet cushion embroidered with an odd snake pattern.

'Is the cushion... included?'

There was no reaction when I took that too, so I immediately stored everything in my tattoo.

Next, two other mannequins stepped forward on either side, each carrying a rectangular velvet box.

The boxes looked identical, but their contents differed.

The one on the left held an elegant, traditional-style pouch. Through its slightly loosened opening, I could see coins stamped with reversed markings.

'Change!'

An extra windfall of local currency.

I could tell at a glance that it was a much heftier sum than what I'd received at the butcher shop. The coins were larger and thicker, too. Clearly, they were different denominations.

'Taking all of this is the right choice, surely.'

Already leaning that way, I looked at the other side.

Displayed in the other mannequin's box were... hmm. Small miscellaneous goods that barely qualified as accessories.

I couldn't even be sure they were meant to be worn, so they hardly seemed worth gambling on for mental protection.

It looked like they were trying to make one last sales pitch before handing over my change.

'The more versatile currency is definitely better.'

... That was what I was thinking when it happened.

Something among the goods caught my eye.

A small ribbon hair tie.

I couldn't identify the material, but the glossy, dark-brown cord looked luxurious.

"..."

Hmm.

"Could I take that as well?"

I pointed at the hair tie.

The mannequins applauded again, then removed half the change from the pouch and respectfully offered it to me.

"Thank you."

I accepted the neatly packaged goods and stored them in my tattoo.

"Wow. I've been thinking this for a while... That ability looks really handy! What equipment are you using?"

"Yes."

I turned toward the grinning Kang Ihak.

Had she not realized that I could have sold off both recruits, herself included?

'Whew... Let's try one more time.'

Just once more, I attempted the 'look like a lunatic so nobody messes with you' approach.

I stared straight at Kang Ihak and said,

"I'm curious."

"About what?"

"How much gold could I get back for selling one sapient being?"

After a brief silence...

"Huh? Why would you consider such a bad deal? Haha!"

Kang Ihak laughed heartily.

"You'd get a few more gold bars by taking out a kidney or a cornea."

"..."

Was that how a normal person thought?

No matter how I looked at it, no. So I gave up on arguing.

This was starting to get genuinely scary...!

'I have to put up with it until we're out of this ghost story.'

Instead, I decided to offer my fellow recruits a carrot.

"Take these."

"Huh...?!"

I split the change in the pouch three ways and shared it with them.

"It's a loan. If you use it, repay me in gold. If you haven't used it by the time we leave, I'll collect it back."

"Th-thank you..."

Jang Heoun was the first to bow.

I mean, Kang Ihak seemed like a lunatic beyond my comprehension, so I could accept that, but I had no idea why Jang Heoun was so unruffled.

'What happened to you on the Cleanup Team...?'

I'd definitely started out thinking, 'This will be a dependable exploration with normal fellow recruits!' But we'd strayed so far from that, I was almost starting to miss Baek Saheon.

'At least that bastard was predictable, which made things easier...'

Here, I was practically bathing in cold sweat.

Meanwhile, I hurriedly stopped Kang Ihak from lifting a coin to inspect its surface.

"Don't look too closely."

"Okaaay."

Kang Ihak murmured in a slightly dreamy voice.

"Gold really does... never fail you."

"..."

"Um, Ms. Pony. Isn't it dangerous to be so certain?"

Jang Heoun spoke softly.

"There are plenty of things in the world more precious than gold."

"Haha, well, Mr. Bison. Let me give you a tip as a fellow recruit. What do you think is the most valuable use for a Wish Coupon?"

"Pardon? ... Saving lives and making the world a better place... isn't it?"

"Oh, come on! How can you say that when there are so many people in the world? The efficient choice is to endlessly produce something scarcer and more valuable!"

Kang Ihak spread her hands wide.

"The Midas touch!"

"...!"

What?

"... You mean a hand that turns everything it touches to gold? From Greek mythology?"

"Yes! That's us Koreans for you. We really know our Greek and Roman myths!"

Kang Ihak grinned.

"Of course, I'm not actually planning to ask for everything my hands touch to turn to gold. I've picked a body part that won't interfere with daily life."

"..."

To my surprise, Jang Heoun's eyes turned cold.

Just like when he'd raised his hand to ask about the Wish Coupon during new recruit orientation, his suit and hair drenched in blood.

"... Then just ask for ten billion or a hundred billion won in your bank account."

But Kang Ihak was undeterred.

"What? Why would I waste it on a one-off wish? Besides, won becomes wastepaper if this country collapses. But gold!"

The pony-masked figure leaned in toward Jang Heoun.

"Gold never falls."

"...!"

"Diamonds, dollars, every currency in the world could fail, but gold has never once deviated from its upward macroeconomic trend. It's the perfect capital asset!"

"..."

"Let's hear it. Our class's top recruit, the fastest promotion to Supervisor, and currently breaking records for the fastest accumulation of points... Supervisor Roe Deer, you agree with me, don't you? Well?"

Kang Ihak exclaimed,

"Actually, we don't even need to ask! That's why you brought gold! We just saw it, didn't we? Gold turning into an item!"

Only then did I realize.

"Gold is money, and money is power. In human society!"

Kang Ihak had no ulterior motive.

'This person... is just completely obsessed with money...!'

Sure, most people wanted to make money, but someone who acted ready to weigh out and sell their own soul was rare enough to be overwhelming.

The Silver Heart Badge and our surroundings in this 'shopping district' seemed to be making her look even crazier, but this felt like a truer, more honest expression of her innermost thoughts.

Even before we entered the ghost story, this was what she'd been thinking beneath that friendly demeanor.

'... Dangerous.'

Once we were out of this ghost story, I was not getting involved with her...!

For now, though, I calmly folded my arms.

"Thank you for sharing. I hope you make lots of money."

"Hahaha, yes!!"

First, let's escape this shop.

I declined the employees' offer to see us out, saying that we'd browse a little longer and find our own way back.

Then, as soon as they returned to their working forms of floating hands, I hurried out through the back door.

'Whew.'

A dark back alley lined with tightly packed little doors.

Who would've thought this bizarre place would provide even a moment's relief?

'Once I've achieved my goal, let's quickly find a relatively safe alley that's decent for walking and finish our remaining steps there.'

Before the streets grew any narrower.

Fortunately, we'd easily completed a thousand steps in the boutique, so a new alley appeared without trouble.

Don't Give Up on Your Body!

Remaining Steps: 3999

The path that appeared between the little doors was about as wide as this back alley, but much nicer.

"This feels oddly homey."

For a start, a light on a utility pole glimmered softly.

A starry night. Yellow light shone from the signs and interiors of every shop.

'It's strangely nostalgic...'

It had the atmosphere of a little alley between houses in an old city neighborhood, a scene that invited you to relax.

Though if you let your guard down, you could get caught by a shop's solicitation and vanish without a trace, or go mad.

"I know this place!"

Death Row alleys identified so far:

12. Old Shopping Street

It was frequently mentioned in the manual and appeared quite often in employees' Exploration Records, yet was relatively safe.

And...

It was also my destination.

"Let's move on to the next alley."

"Yes!"

We entered the cozy little alleyway.

There was hardly anyone around.

Perhaps that was why it felt somehow magical, like Christmas or New Year's night...

I walked with my fellow recruits past the small, modest shops on either side.

Then I stopped in front of one.

"..."

A stationery store.

The sort of neighborhood stationery store that only sold a few school supplies and toys children liked, with far more snacks than anything else.

It looked like one of those shops outside schools in the 2000s that sold tteokbokki and cheap junk food.

I looked at the stall. Where fish cakes and tteokbokki should have been, buckwheat jelly carved with strange lotus patterns was piled up...

And on the sign above it:

Sweet Stationery

'Found it.'

The shop said to sell chocolate bars with my likeness drawn on the wrapper.

'Whew.'

Now that I was actually here, I was nervous.

I turned toward my fellow recruits—

"Mr. Roe Deer."

Aaaaaah!

I nearly jumped straight into the air...!

Barely containing myself, I turned my head and saw a white lizard head staring blankly at me from the shadow of the utility pole beside the shop.

... Team Leader!

"How many steps do you have left?"

I looked back and forth between the stationery store and the lizard, then abruptly came to my senses.

"Were you... waiting for us here?"

"Yes. How many steps do you have left?"

"... We have about 3,900 steps left. Have you nearly completed all ten thousand, Team Leader?"

"Yes. I determined this alley offered the highest probability of encountering the explorers who entered with me. I was therefore waiting with 500 steps remaining."

He seemed to have guessed that I was likely to show up at this stationery store.

After all, the entire reason we'd entered this ghost story was the new snack spotted here.

'I thought my heart was going to stop!'

Still, I very much appreciated the longer answers. Lizard's rating as a boss had once again plummeted and risen.

Then Kang Ihak stepped in.

"Wow, we really can count on you, Team Leader! Oh, then would you mind if we popped into the shop next door to get some more steps in?"

The neighboring shop she pointed to sold knitted goods, and the manual already contained records of purchases there.

Kang Ihak even shook the coins she'd received earlier to make her case.

Lizard looked at her with his red pupils.

"You have this place's currency?"

"Y-yes! Supervisor Soleum got it for us. He's really incredible. Everyone on Team D is so capable, there's so much to learn from you. Haha!"

"I see."

Lizard spoke quickly.

"Enter in a pair. Do not act contrary to the manual. Stay no longer than ten minutes, then return to the alley."

"Yes!"

"Oh, uh... Yes."

Kang Ihak hurriedly dragged Jang Heoun off to the shop selling gloves and scarves.

Hmm. Lee Jaheon had probably let them go because both the alley and the shop were relatively less dangerous according to the Exploration Records.

It worked out well, actually.

'Now I can go into my destination without having to share my "secret."'

"..."

I stood in front of the stationery store's glass door.

Section Chief Lee Jaheon followed behind me.

"I'm going in."

"Yes."

DING.

I stepped inside the stationery store.

To see the 'Good Child Chocolate Bar.'