Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 93
The air inside the store carried a faint scent of dust, but it was warm.
The cozy feeling typical of an old space enveloped me.
True to its name, Sweet Stationery also exuded a slightly sugary scent that felt oddly comforting.
The tension and rigidity in my shoulders started to melt away—no, I couldn’t let that happen!
‘Don’t let your guard down.’
I bit down on the inside of my cheek and pushed forward.
The walls, lined with metal shelves, made the narrow space feel like a maze. On those shelves, neatly stacked snacks filled every compartment.
At the center of the store, a sizable display highlighted the most popular items with their names prominently labeled:
Forget-Me Cotton CandySoft ‘n’ Cuddly CookiesSunburst Chips & DipsCarrot Fizz ColaBackwards BubblegumNostalgia Candy—Sold Out!As I walked silently, I scanned the snacks quickly.
I didn’t see the Good Kid Chocolate Bar, but I did recognize a few familiar names and appearances.
Some of them seemed relatively safe and even useful.
‘Alright. Might as well spend the change while I’m here.’
These items could work as usable tools or even fetch a decent price as resellable goods. Considering I wasn’t on bad terms with the Bronze Agent I had parted with last time, I might even be able to reestablish a trade route for "ghost story-derived food."
With my gold bar stash completely depleted, I needed a new way to earn money.
—"You’re picking quite a bit, friend! Don’t forget to brush your teeth."
I quickly selected a few snacks.
Then, I glanced at the lizard Captain, who had been quietly following me at a minimal step count.
“...Captain, is there any snack you’d like? As a token of appreciation, I’d like to get it for you.”
“Yes.”
Unexpectedly, Lee Jaheon didn’t refuse. He glanced around briefly before picking up a snack.
Backwards Bubblegum
Blow a bubble in your mouth, and your body will grow as tall as a building!
Certified by the Fun Research Lab.
(Beware of knock-offs sold by street vendors!)
“...Is this alright?”
“Yes.”
What, does he want to turn into a giant lizard?
I suppressed my pointless imagination.
‘Let’s just check out.’
Holding the chosen snacks in both hands, I made my way to the register at the back of the store.
I scanned every corner of the interior along the way, but the Good Kid Chocolate Bar was still nowhere to be seen....
‘Hmm.’
Eventually, I arrived at the counter.
“Good evening.”
The figure seated at the steel counter slowly nodded its head.
The store’s owner, wearing worn casual clothes and a cap pulled low over their face, seemed ordinary at first glance.
Except for the six arms drumming idly on the counter....
‘Phew.’
I avoided looking directly at their face, instead placing the snacks I wanted to purchase on the counter with care.
Quickly, I handed over coins.
"Here you go."
I wanted to avoid any misunderstandings about a barter system.
I recalled the first successful purchase recorded in the exploration logs.
Purchased item: Carrot Fizz Cola
Cost: A memory of the second day of a 1997 family trip
Yes.
This stationery store dealt in memories as currency.
Happy moments that made you smile just by recalling them, or even traumatic experiences you wished to forget—depending on the snack, the type of memory you’d lose varied.
‘That’s why the exploration logs range from oddly heartwarming to downright chilling.’
I wasn’t willing to take that gamble. Not here, where the information in my head was crucial for surviving this ghost story.
‘Just find the Good Kid Chocolate Bar.’
Part of me wanted to ask the owner where it was, but considering the packaging allegedly featured something resembling me, I didn’t want to raise any suspicions....
“Please tell me the location of the chocolate bars.”
Captain!
I nearly grabbed my superior by the collar on reflex.
The shopkeeper, however, seemed unfazed and lazily pointed to a shelf while leaning back in their chair.
‘Phew.’
Apparently, the design on the packaging wasn’t similar enough to instantly identify me.
‘I wish I looked even half as sharp as that lizard’s liver....’
Suppressing my pointless muttering, I leaned over the counter to collect my purchased snacks and remaining coins.
Then I saw it.
‘Huh?’
Behind the counter, something was hidden.
Life-sized cutouts and decorative paper hastily shoved aside.
A sign and a blue box containing chocolate bars.
New Theme Park Collaboration Release!
Good Kid Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros Flavor)
Oh my god.
‘Found it!’
I inspected the chocolate bar’s packaging as quickly as I could.
It was far better detailed than I had expected, with my supposed hairstyle, a mask, and a suit meticulously rendered.
Had the promotion display been taken down? The hurried manner suggested otherwise....
“.......”
Wait.
I looked closer at the chocolate bar’s packaging.
Then I realized.
This product wasn’t featuring me as an advertising model, nor was it just inspired by a character that resembled me.
It was....
"Find this good kid."
"We’re awaiting reports of sightings."
A missing child poster.
"......."
Sweat dripped down my forehead as I stepped back.
Which meant....
Riiiiing.
......
Turning my creaking head toward the counter, I saw the shopkeeper picking up a phone.
A ringing tone echoed as the call connected....
Click.
The moment the line connected—
"They’re here!"
I spun around, grabbed Captain Lee Jaheon, and bolted for the door.
"They’re here! They’re here! They’re here!"
No time to curse or even catch my breath, I sprinted across the store, away from the counter.
Reaching for the door, I yanked at the handle....
Huh?
Why is it over there?
Click.
The door locked.
"......."
I turned my head back to look at the shopkeeper standing at the counter.
"I’m leaving now. Please open the door."
A brief silence.
"It’s alright."
The shopkeeper’s voice echoed in my ears.
From the phone they held, black liquid began to drip, falling to the floor in heavy drops.
The liquid thickened, pooling on the ground and rising like sculpted clay, its form twisting and expanding in the air.
"I’ve come to get you."
It shaped itself into the form of a costumed animal mascot I vaguely recognized....
"...!!"
Desperately, I turned and pulled at the door again. It didn’t budge.
Damn it—this stupid, cursed—
"Let go."
Ah.
The moment I released the door, Lee Jaheon brought his left fist down hard on the handle.
Crack! Thud!
The handle shattered and fell to the floor.
Without hesitation, he kicked the door open, revealing the alley outside.
We didn’t hesitate. Both of us bolted out.
"My door!!"
Behind us, the sound of water surged, loud and violent.
Splatter, splatter, splatter!
The furious voice of the shopkeeper, mingled with the sound of water, followed us into the alley, sending chills down my spine.
"Braun!"
"Looks like you could use my help, friend!"
Yes!
"Let’s kill the lights—both yours and the Captain’s!"
"Including his? Very well. Consider it my gift!"
Snap!
A crisp snap of fingers echoed from the plush toy. A heavy shadow fell over me once again.
I felt myself begin to blur.
"!"
Lee Jaheon’s vertical pupils darted toward me.
“Rookie Leader Deer.”
“I’ll explain later. For now, let’s run!”
Splash, splash, splash.
The sound of water violently crashing against the alley walls behind us was getting closer.
‘Damn it, damn it!’
What happens if it catches us?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out. The unknown outcome was maddening.
I gritted my teeth.
‘Running was the right choice.’
Coming here to investigate had been the mistake!
This was a ghost story. In this world, chasing the truth wasn’t a path to answers—it was a shortcut to death.
‘I should’ve left it alone...!’
No time for regrets now!
Don’t abandon your body!
Remaining steps: 3441
I had to survive another 400 steps.
‘Whatever alley comes next, we have to escape there...!’
Behind us, I could hear the voices of the alley’s residents mingling with the roar of the rushing water.
“Wow, this is fun~ What is it?”
“The mascot is parading down the water! So exciting! So exciting!”
“They say you can ride the flume at Waterland! Eat chocolate and win a trip to Waterland! Find the good kid!”
“Wow, the good kid....”
“.......”
“.......”
“Is it them?”
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Shit.
“Who?”
“Where are they?”
“I don’t see them....”
Sweat poured down my back as I pushed through the ghostly crowd, making my way out of the alley.
"Ah, yes. Even when the spotlight disappears, a star remains a star. And the pursuit of a rabid fan is inevitable!"
"If they’re particularly familiar with the star’s physical traits, wouldn’t they focus even more obsessively on finding those?"
Physical traits.
I remembered the illustration on the packaging.
‘...The mask!’
I tore off the mask I was wearing and stuffed it into the pouch containing the tattooed charm.
Then, I pulled out a different mask and a cap, shoving them down over my face.
My steps slowed naturally as the water drew closer. I could see the wave creeping just behind me, reflected in my downward gaze....
No. The speed difference was too great.
‘In that case....’
I looked in a different direction.
Above!
“...Captain, the utility pole!”
“Yes.”
I grabbed onto the utility pole beside me and scrambled upward. I had never climbed so desperately fast in my life. Whether my palms were scraped raw or not didn’t matter—what mattered was getting up.
‘...Made it!’
The spot I had been standing was now completely submerged.
But I had managed to climb just beneath the utility pole’s wires.
“Hah....”
I almost let go in relief but steadied myself.
‘Safe for now.’
As I adjusted my position, bracing my legs against the alley wall for stability—
Thud.
From my suit pocket, a lit smartphone slipped out and fell.
Splash.
It hit the water pooling below, cracking its screen on the cobblestones as liquid seeped inside. The app’s display flickered and distorted.
Don’t abandon your body!
Remaining steps: 3210
And then...
The screen went dark.
"......."
“Rookie Leader Deer.”
All that remained of my smartphone was a shattered black surface.
The eerie mascot-like black water creatures filled the narrow alley, peeking through the shop windows as they moved.
My phone was swept up by the current.
It floated to the corner of the alley, then disappeared into the crowd following the mascot-shaped mass.
The torrent brushed past the utility pole I was clinging to, carrying away my means of escape along with it.
"......."
Screwed....
“Rookie Leader Deer.”
Frozen, I turned my head.
Directly beneath me, hanging from the utility pole with one hand, was Lee Jaheon. He extended his other hand toward me, showing something.
His intact smartphone screen.
Exit route for Death’s End Alley →
Follow the arrow to escape!
At that moment, Lee Jaheon had completed his 10,000 steps without issue.
I stared blankly at his smartphone’s navigation app, which had activated the route to safety....
Then.
“Take this.”
“...What?”
He offered his smartphone to me.
“Follow the app’s route and escape.”
"...!"
A lifeline.
“Smartphones do not recognize changes in ownership. As long as you stay on the guided path, you can escape.”
"......."
I reached for his smartphone, but then clenched my teeth and refused.
“I can’t do that.”
“?”
“Captain, that black water... It was clearly targeting me. Even now, it’s still searching this alley.”
I had avoided it by taking off my mask and suppressing my presence.
But.
“If I follow the app’s guided route, I won’t be able to evade it. ...The route doesn’t allow deviations.”
Do not take your eyes off the screen for more than 3 seconds or stray from the guided route.
Failure to comply will result in disappearance.
That rule applied even on the way back.
“So... my chances of escaping safely are extremely low.”
For me to escape unharmed, the guidance would need to activate only after I had fled to another alley.
‘Hah....’
“...I think it’s better to find another way out.”
Lee Jaheon stared at me with his vertical pupils.
“Understood.”
“Yes. So please, Captain, use that to escape....”
And then, he turned off his smartphone.
“...!!”
Was this lizard insane?
“What are you doing?”
“Adhering to the manual’s recommendation for teams of two.”
His logic made no sense.
“Then why did you try to give me the escape route earlier? You would’ve been left behind!”
“I followed the manual’s priorities. If you want a detailed explanation, request it after escaping.”
Lee Jaheon spoke calmly.
“From now on, all dialogue and questions prioritize survival and return from this darkness.”
"......."
“Rookie Leader Deer, devise a new escape plan based on your understanding of the current situation.”
Unbelievable.
“...Yes.”
I managed to respond.
A moment later, we climbed down from the utility pole.
And without any guidance or escape route, we began walking through the alley that the torrent had swept clean.
