"To summarize, this is it."
Deputy Lee Seong-hae laid out our options with bright, clear eyes.
Option 1.
"Find a way, somehow, to clear the 'Forest of Demise' in the waiting room upstairs and check if returning is possible!"
And Option 2.
"Follow the tracks, find the train, and go to another station! Cause we saw people inside the train!"
…Well then.
"Both are no easy feat…"
I agree…
Watching the veterans let out their sighs, I felt the same sense of helplessness, but also a kind of gratitude.
'If we had someone experiencing a ghost story for the first time in this situation, someone would have already gone mad, trying to chase the train alone…'
Since there's no troll-like impulsive behavior or infighting, I feel at ease in that regard.
"Do you have cigarettes?"
"Aigoo, I recently quit. But even if I had some, given the current situation I don't think it would be a good idea."
Agent Bronze, who had been silently watching the two smokers, declared.
"It would be better to eat something instead."
"Ah."
And so we began a light meal.
"I did bring some stuff, just in case."
"Ohh. You're well-prepared?"
"Are we the only ones who are?"
Since it's a job that often requires emergency rations, most of the group had brought some preserved food.
I used to be like that too. I remembered myself, stuffing myself with instant food when I entered Lookie Mart…
"Oh, puffed rice."
"It's easy to store and doesn't smell. Hahaha! Though Bronze doesn't like it."
I didn't have anything of my own.
Naturally.
Until just before, I had a 'body that didn't need to eat.'
So, I was on the receiving end of a unilateral distribution.
'…In times like these, I kind of miss it.'
A body that didn't need to eat, could have…
"Mr. Noru!"
"…!"
When I turned my head, Deputy Lee Seong-hae, smiling brightly, held something out to me.
Small, individually wrapped yakgwa.
"Have this. It's my favorite snack!"
"Then you should have it, Dolphin-nim…"
"I want to see your reaction!"
"..."
I ended up accepting it with a wry smile.
"Yes, thank you."
And as I put it in my mouth, I realized it was the first food I'd eaten in six months.
"..."
Sweetness, a savory taste.
Texture.
'Ah.'
Right.
This was what it tasted like.
"Is it delicious?"
"It's very delicious. Thank you."
The biscuits and chocolate bars the others had were also distributed to me.
And cheerful banter.
"Grape-ie. When we get out, let's eat something spicy. We have to go back to that beef tripe hot pot place, yeah?"
But,
after I get out of here, I…
....
"Yes. Thank you."
My head shouldn't be focused on that right now.
'Let's just focus on escaping.'
I need to earn the meal I just ate.
Surprisingly, with the calories, my head started to work a bit better.
I realized I had been operating under extreme tension and emptiness.
I hadn't noticed because my head was completely clear for the first time in a long while, but my condition wasn't that good.
'Was I just pushing myself?'
And a head fueled by sugar quickly brought to mind more things to check.
The tattoos.
Are they properly there?
'I thought about them moments ago and then somehow didn't check'
Especially if the Caretaker's tattoo functions, I might be able to evacuate everyone to the resort in a pinch.
I subtly looked inside my sleeves and the collar of my shirt to check the tattoos.
'…They're there.'
At least they were all in their right places.
And if I check the function of the urgent Caretaker's tattoo…
....
'It doesn't seem to work.'
To be precise, the function that could be called an inventory is somewhat alive, but I don't know about its connection to the resort.
I can definitely feel that other beings present here cannot be sent to the resort through the tattoos…
'Hmm.'
Feeling a slight disappointment that perhaps the easiest escape method had vanished, I let go.
However.
[Oh, are there other methods left?]
Yes.
'I think this might not work either, honestly.'
But since I've confirmed it exists, it wouldn't hurt to try.
I licked under my tongue once more, looked around at the group still eating, and opened my mouth.
"About Option 1 that Dolphin-nim suggested earlier."
"Ah. Clearing the Forest of Demise?"
"Yes."
That.
"If we have the right preparation, wouldn't there be a few ways to try it, given the experienced people even without a manual?"
"…That's true, but…"
"Why, did Grape's head come up with something good?"
I pondered for a moment and nodded.
"There's something I can try to obtain the necessary items."
"Oh."
"Really?"
"Yes. However… this attempt also requires preparation."
"What is it?"
I avoided his gaze.
"Does anyone have anything that could be considered money?"
"..."
"We also accept cash. About… five thousand."
"..."
"..."
"Is this perhaps some kind of scam…?"
"Hmph."
I almost cried from embarrassment.
****
Fortunately, despite my past record (spy, disappearance, identity theft), the group trusted me quite a bit.
So, I was finally able to attempt this. That is…
'The Cosmic shopping mall.'
To do personal shopping with the VIP cell attached under my tongue.
"..."
A sensation I'd experienced once before.
I remember recognizing the cell and pressing it, but the events after that are hazy. As if I had dozed off…
"Customer."
I raised my head.
Someone dressed in a suit was standing next to me, by the subway platform where the group had disappeared.
And he was turning his lizard head towards me.
"Would you like to begin personal shopping?"
Done.
"Yes."
'I thought it was highly likely to fail because it was 'outside'.'
Since it's something implanted in the body, I thought it might work, so it was good that I tried.
I clenched and unclenched my fist slightly in accomplishment and met the lizard's eyes.
Hmm.
'This time it's dark brown.'
Benetch the vacant vertically slitted pupils, the lizards mouth opened.
"For a smooth shopping experience, we recommend proceeding in a setting with a table."
"...Right."
The environment dictated it.
"Um, but how is this connected? Items and equipment brought in from the outside don't work here."
"Does that mean that external unrealistic influences are blocked from this space?"
"That's correct."
"Because the Cosmic shopping mall is a real store, not an unrealistic, imaginary space."
Hmm, so.
'Aliens… are classified as real beings…?'
Come to think of it, Manager Lee Ja-heon is also extracting Dream Weave without any problems. That means he's judged as human.
'…Hmm.'
Is it like how extremely advanced science is indistinguishable from magic…?
Interest sparked, but this is not the situation to explore it. I nodded.
"Thank you for the explanation."
"Yes. Customer."
And then.
It becomes a bit difficult to speak from here. I opened my mouth very carefully.
…Because as soon as I realized the existence of the Cosmic shopping mall, a memory struck me like lightning.
Debt!!
"I had items I entrusted to the Cosmic shopping mall."
A fragment of the Sacred Law Scripture from the Nameless Brilliant Cult.
Because of the malevolent influence the Imitator's scripture had on me, I had previously entrusted its safekeeping to the Cosmic shopping mall, paying a storage fee.
…Almost nine million won a month.
"The storage fee… would have accrued monthly, right?"
"Yes."
"If I'm late, do I have to pay interest too?"
"Yes."
Ha.
Ha....
'The principal alone exceeded fifty million won…'
It's astonishing that the alien lizards haven't stormed the Daydream Isolation Room.
I wonder if alien lizards have a system of legal interest rates.
'Please don't let it exceed 100 million.'
I looked up at the lizard with a cold sweat feeling and said earnestly.
A heart so desperate I could kneel if necessary!
"Is it possible, if I'm a little more overdue, it's okay? Because I need the items to get out of here and find money…"
"There is no record of your overdue payments."
"…?!"
Wait, just a moment.
"How… No, did someone pay it for me?"
"Yes."
What?!
"Who is it?"
And the completely unexpected answer came back.
"It's one of us."
No way.
"...Could you specify a little more precisely?"
"Yes. It refers to an individual named Lee Ja-heon, who works as a Chief at Daydream Inc."
"..."
"That individual is paying your storage fees on your behalf."
I looked at the lizard, feeling like I'd been hit in the back of the head.
'…Why?'
Is it okay to do that? No, there was no need for him to do that.
'Wait a minute.'
...Did he measure the price of the equipment and items I handed over… and pay it on my behalf?
Really?
'…Section Chief!'
Respect for that reliable reptile surged from the depths of my heart.
Thank you. Thank you so much…!
"Um, how is Section Chief Lee Ja-heon doing?"
"That individual is currently at a boarding school."
"..."
Suddenly?
'What boarding school all of a sudden.'
Manager Lee Ja-heon is at least in his 30s, right? Even though he appears as a lizard to me, if he's a Section Chief, he wouldn't be in his 20s. What…
....
…!!
-Ah! Manager Lee Ja-heon, I think he went on a long-term darkness exploration the other day. Something like… a boarding school ghost story?
An answer flashed through my mind.
A story about Manager Lee Ja-heon's recent whereabouts.
When was that again?
'It was when I was working in the annex.'
Why is someone who should have come out long ago still in the darkness?
"Is he in a danger?"
"I cannot tell you."
…If so.
"Is it voluntary?"
"It is not our will."
"..."
This doesn't feel good.
"…Thank you for letting me know."
Those aliens are bound by a single identity of 'us.' If so, even if Section Chief Lee Ja-heon were in danger, would they respect and try to save just one individual who is merely a part of their consciousness?
'As soon as I get out, I need to find out Manager Lee Ja-heon's whereabouts.'
My heart became a little anxious.
I needed to find a way to return from Segwang Metropolitan City fast.
In any case, since there was a passage like a 'Well,' the idea that I could return to where I entered if I cleared the ghost story was worth testing.
'As for my condition… I'll find a way to somehow fix it.'
The bell worked, after all.
For now, I chose to believe that.
'Let's get the preparation items needed for clearing.'
"Then I will tell you what I want to purchase."
"Yes."
First, top priority.
Something that can be used regardless of the situation.
"Can I purchase the 'We Help!' item?"
The option where an alien lizard directly helps.
It's the item that escaped me from Brown's Late-Night Talk Show.
However.
"Is the reason for purchase to escape to a safe location from your current coordinates?"
"That's correct."
"We do not recommend it."
"…!"
"There is a record of unsuccessful escapes."
It was a surprisingly conscientious answer.
It was indeed a company that sold verified goods. Although the price was outrageously high.
But then.
'The fact that there's a record… means there's someone who tried to escape Segwang Metropolitan City using 'We Help!' and failed.'
A chilling premonition.
It seems a truly unprecedented situation is unfolding outside Segwang Metropolitan City.
'Damn.'
I swallowed and nodded.
"Understood."
Next.
"…I need an item imbued with a sacred aura."
The dark brown lizard looked at me.
"It should not be brought in from the outside, but should possess divine and good energy in itself. It should also be usable from my current location."
The explanation continued.
"And it should be portable, and of a size that one person can carry and move."
Indeed.
"Is there such a thing?"
"Yes."
…!
"With the authority of a personal shopper, I will recommend a suitable item."
…And from several candidate items, I finally selected the one most suitable for what our group is trying to attempt now.
'Got it.'
Hope flashed through my mind.
But there's one problem.
The price!
"It is ninety-four million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine won."
"..."
'Just say 95 million won…'
It was practically 100 million.
-I do have a bundle of 50,000 won bills. But it's project activity funds anyway, so it's not my money.
-Can I use a card?
-Ah, this is pure gold and jewels, right? It's an accessory from Baridegi Workshop…
-Agent, isn't that a rental item!
After going through all that, the total amount was a little over sixty million.
This was also a price that an ordinary office worker couldn't have scraped together.
'Hoo.'
"Can you just deduct it from my account if you give me the account number?"
"Is it your account, customer?"
"..."
No.
It was Deputy Lee Seong-hae's account.
'Wow, what do I do now.'
There was no choice. Just as I was about to try to ask for installments again, shamelessly but plausibly.
[Oh dear, my friend seems to be in trouble.]
'…!'
From the darkness where the platform lights didn't reach, a gloved hand suddenly appeared.
That hand gently pulled out a classic-looking, dark-colored chair from somewhere in the platform's darkness, and its owner sat down on it gracefully.
A silhouette dressed in a fine suit.
His head was hidden in shadow, but I knew what was attached there…
A voice that continued to follow me, a part of me.
"…Brown?"
[Are you lacking funds for shopping, friend?]
[If so, I'll make you an extraordinary offer… How about borrowing from me, this Brown?]
"…!!"