Free Web Novel“So to summarize, here are our options.”
Deputy Lee Seonghae fixed us with his clear, bright eyes as he laid them out.
Option one:
“Find some way to clear the ‘Forest of Final Moments’ up in the concourse, and check whether that makes return possible!”
And option two:
“Follow the tracks to catch the train and ride it to another station! We saw people inside, after all!”
...Well.
“Neither one’s exactly easy....”
I agree......
Watching the veterans sigh, I felt the same heavy sense of hopelessness—but also gratitude.
‘If there’d been a complete rookie to ghost stories in this group, someone would’ve already thrown a fit, insisting on running after the train alone....’
At least there were no troll-like antics, no pointless infighting. In that sense, it was a relief.
“Got a cigarette?”
“Ha, I quit recently. And even if I hadn’t, probably not a good idea in this situation, don’t you think?”
Agent Cheongdong, who had been quietly watching the two smokers, spoke up.
“Eating would be the better choice.”
“Ah.”
And so, we began a light meal.
“Brought a few of these, just in case.”
“Ooh, nice preparation.”
“Not like only the government folks know how to prepare, eh?”
Given the nature of our jobs, emergency rations were practically standard issue. Most of the group had a little preserved food on them.
I had in the past too. I remembered when I raided a LukkyMart and stuffed instant meals into my tattoos....
“Oh, puffed rice cakes.”
“Easy to store, no smell. Haha! Though Cheongdong’s not a fan.”
I alone had nothing.
Of course.
Until just before, I’d had a body that didn’t need food.
So they simply shared theirs with me.
‘...At times like this, I kind of regret it.’
That body, the one that didn’t need to eat... maybe it would have been better....
“Roe Deer!”
“...!”
I turned. Deputy Lee Seonghae beamed at me, holding something out.
A small package of yakgwa.
“Have this. It’s my favorite snack!”
“Then perhaps you should keep it—”
“I want to see your reaction!”
“......”
I smiled bitterly and accepted.
“Yes.” freeweɓnovel.cѳm
I popped it in my mouth—and realized it was the first food I’d eaten in six months.
“......”
The sweetness. The nutty richness.
The texture.
‘Ah.’
Yes. This.
This is what it tasted like.
“Is it good?”
“Very good. Thank you.”
Biscuits and chocolate bars from the others followed.
And playful chatter.
“Podo, when we get out, let’s have a real feast. We’ve gotta go back to that gopchang hotpot place!”
But when we get out... I....
......
“Yes. Thank you.”
My head couldn’t go there.
‘Focus only on escape.’
Earn the food I’d been given.
Strangely, with calories in me, my mind sharpened.
I realized I’d been running on sheer nerves and emptiness. No wonder my condition wasn’t great, though I hadn’t noticed till now.
‘So I’ve been squeezing myself dry.’
The sugar kick brought another thought:
Tattoos. Were they intact?
‘I was just thinking about them earlier, and didn’t even check.’
If the Lodgekeeper’s tattoo was functioning, maybe I could evacuate everyone into the Resort in an emergency.
I discreetly checked under my cuff and collar.
‘...Still there.’
At least the tattoos remained.
And if I tested the Lodgekeeper’s function—
......
‘Doesn’t look like it’ll work.’
More precisely, the inventory-like function was partially alive, but the connection to the Resort felt severed.
Nothing alive here could be transferred into the Resort.
‘Hm.’
A faint disappointment at losing what might have been the easiest escape. I let go.
But then—
[Oh? Do we have another method?]
Yes.
‘Though honestly, this might not work either.’
Still, it existed. Worth trying.
I felt under my tongue, glanced around at the others still eating, and spoke.
“About option one, the one Dolphin suggested earlier.”
“Ah, clearing the Forest of Final Moments?”
“Yes.”
That one.
“If we had the right supplies, even without a manual, experienced people might find ways to attempt it.”
“...True, but.”
“What, Podo? Got some clever idea?”
After a moment of thought, I nodded.
“I have a method to try and obtain items we could use as supplies.”
“Oh?”
“For real?”
“Yes. But... this method needs some preparation.”
“What kind?”
I looked away.
“Does anyone have money? Anything of value?”
“......”
“Cash works too. Around... five thousand.”
“......”
“......”
“...Is this a scam...?”
“Ahem.”
I nearly cried from shame.
***
Thankfully, despite my record—spy, defector, identity-swaps—the group still trusted me enough.
So at last, I attempted it.
The Cosmic Mall.
Personal shopping through the VIP cell implanted under my tongue.
“......”
A sensation I’d felt once before.
I remembered pressing the cell... then haziness, like I’d nodded off.
“Customer.”
I looked up.
The platform was empty of my companions. Beside me stood a figure in a sharp suit.
He turned his reptilian head toward me.
“Shall we begin your personal shopping?”
It worked.
“Yes.”
‘So it does function, even here.’
Because it was implanted in my body, I’d suspected it might bypass the ban. I was glad I tried.
I clenched a small fist in triumph, meeting the reptile’s eyes.
Hm.
‘This time it’s dark brown.’
A blunt vertical pupil, mouth opening beneath.
“For smoother shopping, I recommend proceeding somewhere with a table.”
“...Yes.”
Circumstances, you see.
“By the way, how is this connected? External powers and equipment don’t work here.”
“You mean this space blocks outside, non-real influences?”
“Yes.”
“The Cosmic Mall is not an imaginary or fictional construct. It is a real store.”
Hm. So.
‘Aliens... are categorized as real, then?’
Now that I thought of it, Chief Lee Jahaeon extracted Dreamscapes without issue. Judged as a “person.”
‘...Hmm.’
Indistinguishable from magic, indeed.
Fascinating, but not the time. I nodded.
“Thank you for explaining.”
“Yes, customer.”
And then.
This next part was harder to say.
The moment I remembered the Mall, another memory hit me like lightning.
Debt!!
“I have an item I left with the Mall.”
A fragment of the Mumyeongchanran scripture.
Because of the negative effects it had on me, I’d stored it with the Mall—for a fee.
...Almost 900,000 won a month.
“There must have been monthly storage fees, yes?”
“Yes.”
“And if overdue, interest too?”
“Yes.”
Ha.
Ha......
‘The principal alone easily exceeds fifty million won....’
A miracle the reptilians hadn’t stormed Baekilmong’s isolation ward.
Did they even have laws about maximum interest?
‘Please don’t let it be over a hundred million.’
Sweating, I looked up at the reptile and begged silently.
I’d even get on my knees if I had to!
“Couldn’t you allow me just a little more grace? I need the item first to get out of here, before I can earn money....”
“You have no overdue records.”
“...?!”
Wait.
“How—? Did someone else pay for me?”
“Yes.”
What?!
“Who?”
The reply blindsided me.
“One of us.”
No way.
“...Please be more specific.”
“Yes. The entity named Lee Jahaeon, working as a section chief in Baekilmong Corporation.”
“......”
“That entity is covering your storage fees.”
I stared at the reptile, stunned.
‘...Why?’
Why would he do that? There was no need.
‘Wait.’
...Had he assessed the value of the gear and items I’d left, and paid accordingly?
Really?
‘...Chief!’
A surge of respect welled for that dependable reptile.
Thank you. Truly, thank you...!
“How is Chief Lee Jahaeon doing now?”
“That entity is currently in a boarding school.”
“.......”
What?
‘A boarding school?’
The Chief had to be at least in his thirties. Even if he looked like a lizard to me, as a section chief he couldn’t be in his twenties. Why....
......
...!!
—Ah! Didn’t Chief Lee Jahaeon go into a long-term Darkness expedition the other day? Something like... a boarding school ghost story?
The answer surfaced in my mind.
News of his whereabouts.
When had I heard that?
‘Back when I was on annex duty.’
He should’ve come out long ago. Why was he still inside?
“Is he in danger?”
“I cannot say.”
“...Was it voluntary?”
“It is not our will.”
“......”
A bad feeling.
“...Thank you for telling me.”
The aliens shared a collective identity. If Chief Lee was in peril, would they really respect and protect one fragment of their greater self?
‘I’ll have to track him down once I get out.’
Anxiety prickled.
We had to find a way to return from Segwang City quickly.
At least, since there’d been a “well”-like passage, the idea of clearing the ghost story to return through the entrance seemed worth testing.
‘As for my condition... I’ll figure something out.’
The Bell had worked, after all.
For now, I’d trust that.
‘Let’s get the supplies for clearing this.’
“Then, here’s what I’d like to purchase.”
“Yes.”
First priority. Something useful regardless of circumstance.
“Is the ‘We Help You!’ item available?”
The option where the aliens themselves intervene.
It had once pulled me out of Brown’s Midnight Talkshow.
But—
“Is your intent to escape to a safe location from your current coordinates?”
“Yes.”
“I do not recommend it.”
“...!”
“There is a record of failure.”
A surprisingly honest answer.
Truly a company that sold only tested products—at exorbitant prices, yes, but real.
Still.
‘A record of failure means someone already tried using ‘We Help You!’ to escape Segwang City... and failed.’
An ominous chill.
Something unprecedented really was happening outside.
‘Damn.’
I swallowed and nodded.
“Understood.”
Then the next.
“...I need an item imbued with spiritual power. Not drawn from outside—innately sacred, containing auspicious energy. Usable here.”
The dark-brown reptile regarded me.
“And small enough to carry, portable by one person.”
Well?
“Does such a thing exist?”
“Yes.”
...!
“As your personal shopper, I can recommend a suitable item.”
And from several candidates, I finally selected one that best fit what we were attempting.
‘Got it.’
Hope stirred.
But there was a problem.
The price!
“Ninety-four million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine won.”
“......”
‘Just say ninety-five million....’
Basically a hundred million.
—I’ve got a wad of fifty-thousand notes. Project funds, not my money anyway.
—Do you take cards?
—Ah, this is pure gold with gems, right? A Baridegi workshop piece....
—Agent, isn’t that borrowed equipment?!
Pooling it all together, the resale value barely reached sixty million.
Not a sum ordinary people could scrape up.
‘Hoo.’
“Couldn’t you just withdraw from an account, if I gave the number?”
“Is it your account?”
“......”
No. Deputy Lee Seonghae’s account....
‘God, what do I do.’
No choice. I was about to shamelessly propose installments when—
[Oh dear. My friend seems to be in a bind.]
‘...!’
In the shadows beyond the platform’s lights—
A gloved hand appeared.
It dragged out a classic, dark-crimson chair, and its owner sat down with effortless poise.
A sharp suit, a graceful silhouette.
The head was veiled in shadow, but I knew what sat there....
The ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) voice that had followed me all this time.
“...Brown?”
[Short on funds for shopping, friend?]
[Then allow me to make a radical proposal.... How about borrowing from me, Brown, in advance?]
“...!!”
