Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 92

The mannequin staff lined up in perfect formation and began clapping in unison, enthusiastically celebrating my decision to purchase the ring.

Meanwhile, my two companions stood dumbfounded, watching the bizarre scene unfold.

A silver ring I had chosen and two humans of adequate trade value standing behind me.

Clap, clap, clap...

The mannequins stopped applauding. As if to finalize the transaction, they began moving toward the two individuals behind me.

I raised my hand.

“I’d like to propose a different form of payment.”

The mannequins froze in place, then turned to look at me.

Of course, this boutique was known to accept humans for barter. That was an established fact, and the current exchange was entirely feasible.

But why did they take humans as payment in the first place?

If you think about it, the reason was simple.

Labor.

Whether they used them for menial tasks or promoted them into the ranks of the mannequins themselves, the Darkness Exploration Records described this practice clearly.

In essence, the humans provided were useful for running the boutique.

So, what else could be of “definitive” help to the boutique’s operations besides labor?

If you think of Daydream Inc., there’s one obvious answer.

Material supply.

Reaching into my tattooed inventory, I pulled out a specific item.

The most valuable substance I had prepared.

“This should cover the cost.”

A gold bar.

“...!”

Even among ghost stories, the sudden introduction of capitalism’s finest tool caused a visible stir. I could sense the unease among my companions behind me.

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Honestly, I had hesitated before deciding to bring it along. After barely managing my funds following a spree at the alien shop, this felt like a risky indulgence.

But it was worth it.

Gold and silver were staple motifs in ghost stories. Unlike silver, often associated with exorcism, gold had broader symbolism. It represented greed, magical costs, and other forms of desire, making it universally applicable.

“So, can this be used for payment?”

One of the mannequins, wearing a more formal uniform than the others, approached me. It bent low to examine the small gold bar before extending its hands with polite reverence.

Success!

It worked.

In the worst-case scenario, I had been prepared to run. But this was far better than I had anticipated.

I dropped the gold bar into the mannequin’s hands. It retreated slowly, then returned with the ring—now further packaged—nestled on a velvet cushion adorned with intricate snake patterns.

...Does the cushion come with it?

The mannequins made no objections when I stashed both the ring and cushion into my tattooed inventory.

Next, two other mannequins approached, each carrying a rectangular velvet box.

Both boxes looked identical, but their contents differed.

The first box contained a pouch with inverted coins visible through its slightly loosened opening.

Change!

It was a hefty refund. Compared to the coins I’d received at the butcher shop, these were noticeably larger, thicker, and heavier, indicating a higher denomination.

I’ll definitely take those.

Feeling satisfied, I glanced at the second box.

Inside were small trinkets—miscellaneous accessories that didn’t seem particularly useful or valuable. The items were so ambiguous that it wasn’t even clear if they could be worn. Likely, it was a last-minute upsell attempt.

The universal currency is clearly the better choice.

But as I was about to focus entirely on the coins, something caught my eye among the trinkets.

A small ribbon hair tie.

Its dark brown material shimmered with an inexplicable luxury.

“......”

Hmm.

“Can I take that as well?”

I pointed at the hair tie.

The mannequins applauded again and carefully removed half the coins from the pouch before offering both items to me.

“Thank you.”

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

“Wow, I’ve been meaning to say—your ability is amazing! What kind of gear are you using?”

“Indeed.”

I turned to Kang Ihak, who was grinning at me.

Was he unaware that I could’ve traded him and the other companion as barter just moments ago?

Let’s try this one more time.

One last attempt to solidify my image as an eccentric beyond reproach.

I stared intently at Kang Ihak and asked, “I’m curious.”

“Huh?”

“How much gold do you think you’d get for selling an intelligent being?”

A brief silence followed.

“Huh? Why would you think of something so inefficient~ Ha ha!”

Kang Ihak burst into laughter.

“Harvesting kidneys or corneas would net you several more gold bars.”

“.......”

Is this what normal thinking sounds like?

It didn’t seem so. I gave up arguing with him.

This situation was growing genuinely unnerving.

I need to hold out until we escape this ghost story.

Instead of pushing the issue, I decided to offer my companions a carrot.

“Here. Take this.”

“...Huh?!”

I split the change evenly into thirds and handed it to them.

“This is a loan. Use it if necessary and repay it in gold. If unused by the time we leave, I’ll collect it back.”

“Th-thank you....”

Chang Heowoon nodded in gratitude.

Kang Ihak, on the other hand, remained oblivious to his narrowly avoided fate. He seemed entirely at peace with the exchange.

What happened to the reliable, normal companions I started this journey with?

At this point, I almost missed Baek Saheon. For all his faults, at least his actions were predictable.

Here, I’m just drenched in cold sweat the entire time.

As Kang Ihak raised one of the coins to inspect its surface, I hastily intervened.

“Don’t look at it too closely.”

“Sure~”

Kang Ihak responded in a slightly dazed tone.

“Gold really never fails, huh.”

“.......”

“Uh, Pony... isn’t it dangerous to jump to conclusions?” Chang Heowoon murmured quietly.

“There are things more valuable than gold, after all.”

“Ha ha, Ox, let me give you a tip as a fellow colleague. What do you think is the best use for a wish ticket?”

“Uh? ...Saving lives and benefiting the world?”

“Come on~ There are so many people in the world. The more efficient choice is producing endless amounts of something scarce and valuable!”

Kang Ihak spread his arms wide, grinning.

“The ultimate answer is Midas’s touch!”

“......!”

What?

“...The hand that turns everything it touches to gold? From Greek mythology?”

“Exactly! See? Us Koreans really know our Greek and Roman myths!”

Kang Ihak laughed, proud of his knowledge.

“Of course, I wouldn’t ask to turn everything I touch into gold. I’ve already thought of body parts that wouldn’t interfere with daily life~”

“.......”

To my astonishment, Chang Heowoon’s expression grew icy, his gaze steady and sharp, much like during the training orientation when he’d raised his bloodied hand to ask about wish tickets.

“...Why not just ask for billions or trillions in your bank account?”

But Kang Ihak remained unfazed.

“Huh? Why waste a one-time wish like that? Besides, if this country collapses, that money would turn into worthless paper. But gold?”

The pony-masked man leaned closer to Chang Heowoon.

“Gold never loses its value.”

“......!”

“No matter if diamonds, dollars, or every world currency fails, gold has never once dipped from its upward trajectory on the macroeconomic scale. It’s the perfect capital.”

“.......”

"Let’s hear it. Our top rookie, shortest-term promotion to team leader, and currently breaking records for fastest point accumulation... Rookie Leader Deer, you agree with me, don’t you? Yes?"

Kang Ihak shouted enthusiastically.

"No need to hear it out~ So, you brought the gold, right? You just saw it yourself. Gold turns into an item!"

Only then did I fully grasp the situation.

"Gold is money, and money is power. At least in human society!"

Kang Ihak wasn’t hiding any ulterior motives.

‘This guy... he’s just completely obsessed with money...!’

Of course, most people want to make money, but acting like they’d weigh and sell their soul for it? That was rare—intimidating, even.

Though it seemed like the influence of the Silver Heart and the surrounding "merchant district" had amplified his behavior, this was probably his genuine, unfiltered personality.

Even before entering this ghost story, under that friendly demeanor, he must have been thinking like this all along.

‘...Dangerous.’

As soon as we get out of this ghost story, I need to avoid him at all costs...!

But for now, I kept my composure and crossed my arms.

"Got it. Good luck making lots of money."

"Hahaha, yes!!"

First things first—I needed to escape this shop.

I stopped the employees from seeing me off by saying, "I’ll look around a bit more before heading back on my own."

The moment the employees returned to their hovering, automated state, I slipped out through the back door.

"Phew."

A narrow, dimly lit alley lined with side doors stretched out in front of me.

Who would’ve thought this eerie place would give me even a moment of relief?

‘Once I achieve my goal, I need to find a relatively safe and walkable alley to finish the remaining steps.’

Before the paths narrowed any further.

Fortunately, after surpassing a thousand steps in the boutique, a new alley appeared smoothly.

Don’t abandon your body!

Remaining steps: 3999

The path that emerged between the side doors was about the same width as the previous one, but it was much better.

"This feels strangely comforting."

Dim lights flickered softly from streetlamps, and yellow light spilled out from the signs and windows of the shops.

‘Oddly nostalgic....’

It felt like walking through a small alley between old houses in a downtown neighborhood, a calming and peaceful scene.

But I couldn’t let my guard down—any shop here could suddenly drag me in, leading to my disappearance or worse.

"I know this place!"

Confirmed Death’s End Alley paths so far:

12. Old Shopping District

Frequently mentioned in the manual and exploration logs, it was a relatively safe alley, appearing consistently in the records.

And...

It was my destination.

"Let’s move to the next alley."

"Got it!"

We entered the cozy-looking little alleyway.

There were almost no people around.

Because of that, it felt a bit like Christmas or New Year’s Eve—mysterious and serene.

Walking past the small, humble shops lining both sides, I strolled alongside my team.

Until we stopped in front of one shop.

"......."

It was a stationery store.

Not the kind packed with a variety of supplies, but the type that sold just a few school essentials and toys kids would like, with far more snacks on display.

It reminded me of those corner shops in the 2000s that sold tteokbokki and cheap snacks near schools.

I looked at the stall. Where fish cakes and tteokbokki should’ve been, there were neatly stacked blocks of buckwheat jelly engraved with lotus patterns...

And above them, the signboard.

Sweet Stationery

‘Found it.’

The shop rumored to sell chocolate bars wrapped in packaging with a drawing of my face.

‘Whew.’

Standing in front of it made me nervous.

I turned to look at my teammates....

"Rookie Leader Deer."

Ahhh!

I nearly jumped out of my skin!

Barely managing to keep my composure, I turned my head to see the pale lizard-faced Captain standing in the shadows near a utility pole beside the shop.

"How many steps do you have left?"

I alternated my gaze between the stationery store and the lizard before snapping back to reality.

"Did you... wait for us here?"

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

"...We have about 3900 steps remaining. Have you nearly completed your 10,000 steps, Captain?"

"Yes. This alley was assessed as having the highest probability of encountering other explorers. I waited here with 500 steps remaining."

He must have predicted I’d show up at this stationery store.

After all, the very reason we entered this ghost story was because of reports about a mysterious snack seen here.

‘I almost had a heart attack!’

But at least his longer-than-usual explanation was a welcome change. My appraisal of him as a superior wavered up and down again.

That’s when Kang Ihak jumped in.

"Wow, Captain, you’re amazing! So, can we check out another shop for a bit to fill our steps?"

He pointed to the adjacent store, which sold knitted items like scarves and gloves—a place already noted in the manual with previous purchase records.

Kang Ihak even jingled the coins he had received earlier for added emphasis.

The lizard Captain stared at him with his red pupils.

"Do you have the local currency?"

"Yes, yes! Rookie Leader Deer here got it for us~ Truly impressive. The D-Team members are all so talented; there’s so much to learn from you. Haha!"

"I see."

The Captain replied quickly.

"Enter in pairs. Do not engage in any actions contrary to the manual. Do not stay longer than 10 minutes. Return to the alley afterward."

"Understood!"

"Ah... yes, sir."

Kang Ihak eagerly dragged Chang Heowoon into the store selling gloves and scarves.

Well, it seemed the Captain allowed it because this alley and shop were considered relatively low-risk in the exploration records.

It worked out perfectly for me.

‘This way, I can check out the shop without revealing any “secrets.”’

"......."

I stood before the glass door of the stationery store.

The Captain followed closely behind me.

"I’m going in."

"Proceed."

Ding.

I stepped into the stationery store.

To see the Good Kid Chocolate Bar.