Chapter 75
The place I headed as soon as I left home was none other than.
Near Seongsu Station.
You might say ‘Again?!’ but,
To be honest….
‘Where else would I have to go?’
In these times when I don’t even have anyone to call a friend, this was only natural for me.
And this is a world where wandering outside makes you a target for Ghost Stories.
A world where outside the blanket is dangerous’ is the norm.
Truly, I didn’t want to come out of the house either, but having heard that I’m being targeted by another ghost.
Staying still would mean certain death.
Even I reject living a boring death.
That’s why I was currently heading to the Ghost marketplace.
Step-
When I had almost arrived near Seongsu Station.
Pause.
I stopped walking.
And without hesitation, I quickly hid my body in a dark alley.
The reason was simple.
‘Avoiding Kim Ha-eun.’
It was to avoid being caught by our crazy Kim Ha-eun.
Last time, I carelessly wandered around Seongsu Station and was caught by Kim Ha-eun. The memories of being involved in numerous incidents quickly flash through my mind.
Really, just thinking about that time….
Makes the hair on my body stand up.
Sends chills down my spine.
So to avoid being involved in such incidents again.
I must be careful, extremely careful.
After all, for all accidents and incidents, prevention before they happen is more important than
dealing with them afterward.
I hid near Exit 1 of Seongsu Station and traced any signs of Kim Ha-eun. Even though it was a weekday, I couldn’t let my guard down.
If it’s that person, it wouldn’t be strange for them to be outside at this time.
Shiver-!
!
I immediately turned my head at the chill I felt down my spine.
And behind me.
…….
There was no one.
Not Kim Ha-eun’s dark shadow, but a four-legged stray cat quickly passing behind Park Yeon-jeong was caught in my sight.
…….
What do you call this?
Ah, that’s it.
‘Paranoia.’
Yes, that’s exactly the right word.
It seems I’ve experienced many sensations first hand since coming to this world.
Even though I never wanted to….
Sigh….
Swallowing the sigh that escaped my lips as much as possible, I once again focused on observing Exit 1 of Seongsu Station.
I checked the silhouette of every person passing by. I examined the features of every woman passing by.
And among them.
“Oppa. That person… has been staring at me continuously.”
“Who! What kind of pervert is it!!”
“……”
‘It’s a misunderstanding!’
I’m just a good citizen trying my best to protect myself!
Despite causing misunderstandings with many people, there was no sign of Kim Ha-eun.
Perhaps she wasn’t coming today?
If so, that’s a relief for me, but I must remain vigilant.
I checked the current time again.
10:42 AM.
In just 1 hour, it would be opening time for the Ghost Story marketplace.
But,
I steadfastly remained at my current location.
I shouldn’t move hastily.
I can’t let my guard down.
Kim Ha-eun is… a tough one.
‘Like me, she might be watching me from somewhere.’
That woman is more than capable of doing so.
Shiver-!
!!
Turning my head again at the chill I felt.
Meow~
‘You again!’
My heart felt like it would burst.
It seemed like I would collapse from extreme stress before living out my natural lifespan.
After that,
Even after hiding in the dark alley for another hour, there was no sign of Kim Ha-eun.
And checking the current time again.
AM.11:42
Again, about 2 minutes remaining until the opening time of the Ghost Story marketplace.
Even now, there was no sign of Kim Ha-eun.
Then.
‘From now on, it’s a time attack.’
My gaze was fixed intently on Exit 1 of Seongsu Station in front of me, while simultaneously calculating the exact timing.
And,
Just a few seconds later.
AM.11:43
‘Now!’
Tap-!
With 1 minute left until the opening of the Ghost Story marketplace, I immediately started running toward Exit 1.
There was still no sign of Kim Ha-eun.
Then.
I really need to run.
I can’t be even a little late.
If I miss this timing, I’ll have to enter at the next scheduled time. And there’s no guarantee that Kim Ha-eun won’t come then.
Tap-tap-tap-!
As soon as my right foot stepped on the first stair.
I quickly began counting the steps in my mind.
‘One, two, three, four, five……’
Just as the time pointed to 44 minutes.
“Forty-four!”
Woong-
Along with my resolute voice echoing throughout the space.
I was visited by the sensation of deafening silence spreading throughout the entire space.
When I stood with both feet on that place permeated with emptiness.
‘Great!’
The man felt a sense of achievement. The achievement and exhilaration of evading crazy Kim Ha-eun.
And,
The absurdity hidden behind that sense of achievement began to rapidly consume the man’s emotions.
‘So next time… I have to visit like this again?’
From now on.
Every time I visit….
My mouth corners, which had been pointing upward until just now, instantly dropped downward.
Step-
For some reason, my footsteps toward the Ghost Story marketplace were not so light.
*****
Following the braille blocks emitting bright light.
As soon as I saw the shabby store.
Slide.
I unhesitatingly opened the store door and went inside. And the one welcoming Park Yeon-jeong was, of course.
The owner of the ghost story marketplace.
“Oh my! Who do we have here! It feels like it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you!”
It was ‘Jang Sa-hyeon.’
Upon seeing me, Jang Sa-hyeon expressed great joy, but with a bitter smile on his lips.
“But customer, isn’t it too long since your last visit? I almost forgot your face that I had just memorized.”
It’s true that I hadn’t visited this place much lately because I got entangled in too many incidents in just a few weeks.
But….
“…I didn’t expect to come back after such a long time either.”
Yes, I didn’t know either.
And Mr. Jang Sa-hyeon.
I’ve really tried my best to survive.
‘More than anyone else… to survive.’
At that moment, memories of the past few weeks flashed through my mind like a panorama, and I desperately wanted to spill all the stories to Jang Sa-hyeon.
I wanted to pour out my hardship, these feelings to someone.
But….
‘Would you believe it?’
Honestly, if I were in the position of hearing this story, I would have never believed it.
Rather than listening to the story and empathizing.
I might have thought it would be a better choice to report to 119 (emergency services).
So now, rather than offering inadequate comfort, I decided to recall the original purpose of visiting this place.
Since I came here while avoiding Kim Ha-eun’s vigilance.
If I return without buying a proper item, that would be the more regrettable thing.
I immediately began looking around at the numerous items displayed on the store shelves.
Today, there was one item that caught my eye.
‘Huh? That item… could it be?’
An item that was particularly eye-catching.
No, it was an item that couldn’t help but catch my eye.
A white mask with a rather blank expression carved on it caught my attention.
At a glance, it looked like a mask that the clowns from the [Wonderlot Circus] I recently entered would wear.
I pointed directly at that white mask and asked.
Whether that mask was really an item for sale.
I confirmed it again.
“This… could it be… is this item for sale? Really, is this item actually for sale?”
“What? Yes, well, it is displayed for sale… would you like to buy it?”
But the moment I heard the confident confirmation that this item was for sale.
‘Is this person crazy?’
I thought the shopkeeper was insane.
Selling such a dangerous item openly?
Moreover, placing it on such an open display shelf where everyone could see it?!
Crazy.
I hoped that the shopkeeper’s mistake came from ignorance, not knowing what this item really was.
Glancing.
Looking at the shopkeeper’s eyes once more… They were staring at me blankly.
Those eyes twinkling innocently.
‘This person doesn’t know.’
It was certain that they didn’t know.
The shopkeeper appeared to be unaware of the exact usage method of this item.
That being the case, without further consideration, I immediately picked up the white mask and placed it on the counter.
“How much is this?”
Today I decided to buy this item.
Not because I needed it.
But because it was dangerous.
Especially if it fell into the hands of a strange person.
It would become a major variable in the future.
It would become a ‘dangerous thing’ as much as any other ghost story.
Unlike the ‘Pain Sharing Knife’ that Kim Ha-eun bought before, this belonged to a different category of items, one of the top-tier chaos-inducing items.
This item absolutely must not! Under any circumstances, fall into the hands of others.
“……”
But the shopkeeper’s silence was somehow long. After I put the item down, he didn’t immediately tell me the price.
Those eyes that seemed to be watching my reaction.
At first, I couldn’t understand the shopkeeper’s intention.
Until I saw the corners of his mouth…
Slowly turning upward.
Until he caught the scent of money.
!
No way!
‘This person really!!’
By the time I realized the shopkeeper’s intention, his eyes were already sparkling more than at any moment I’d seen before.
Slowly licking his lips, he had a playful smile on his face.
“Indeed, our customer always has an eye for selecting good items.”
“……”
“But what should we do? The price of this item is rather expensive…”
I was hasty.
I had shown too many expressions on my face in front of this merchant.
“Let’s see. The price of this item is…”
As if he had rehearsed his lines beforehand, he smoothly delivered his words, and I clenched my fist.
And,
Again, when the shopkeeper announced the current price of the item.
“50 million won.”
“……”
“You might think it’s too expensive, but since it’s you, not someone else, buying it, we’re selling it at a loss on our part.”
What a loss!
Don’t joke around!
If I hadn’t made such a fuss, he might have sold it for just a few million won.
This shopkeeper, he really has a supernatural sense for the smell of money.
‘…This has become troublesome.’
But to be honest.
It was cheaper than I had expected.
If the shopkeeper had known the true nature of that item, a price higher than 50 million won might have come out of his mouth.
No, it would have been 100 percent certain.
Still, I desperately wanted to buy it right here before it was sold to someone else.
But,
I don’t have the money.
If my memory serves me right, the amount of money I currently have is probably.
30 million won.
The amount I’m short: 20 million won.
Far from enough.
With insufficient funds, the only choice I could make right now was.
“What about credit…”
“Oh no, that won’t do! Even if you’re our VIP customer, putting such a large sum of 50 million won on credit is a bit… there’s business ethics, you know.”
“……”
“If you don’t have the money, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do.”
The shopkeeper pulled the white mask back into his possession.
‘Damn it!’
I had to buy it right here, right now before it was sold to someone else.
Otherwise, I would surely regret it.
I would certainly become entangled with that item in the not-too-distant future.
Isn’t there a way?
While Park Yeon-jeong was looking at his smartphone to see if there was any source of money he could tap into.
……!!
For a moment, I stared blankly at my smartphone for a while. Then I murmured to the shopkeeper.
No.
I put strength into my voice.
“…I’ll buy it.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I’ll buy it. That item.”
“But you just said you don’t have the money…”
“I think I was mistaken for a moment.”
“…What? No, is that something you can be mistaken about?”
While the shopkeeper couldn’t figure out what I was talking about.
Even Park Yeon-jeong himself took some time to register what he saw with his own eyes on his bank account balance.
Because.
Park Yeon-jeong’s current bank account balance was approximately.
-130,000,000 won.
He had forgotten the fact that he had recently captured an A-grade [Smiling Mask].
To be precise, it was Noise who had eliminated it, but…
‘Mr. Noise, you certainly know how to get things done.’
“Then, how would you like to pay?”
“In full, please.”
“…Thank you! Customer!!”
The shopkeeper accepted without a doubt when I said I would purchase the item.
It was truly fortunate that the shopkeeper was the type of person with the mindset that ‘money can do anything!’
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