Intergalactic Shopping Mall.
Also known as the Alien Shop.
A bizarre site of ghost stories that sells high-priced, supernatural, and mysterious items—one that had allowed me to acquire useful tools and equipment all this time.
But…
‘…Is Team Leader Lizard from there? An alien?’
I tried to swallow, but then I flinched, realizing that I no longer had a physical body.
Because right now, it seemed that Team Leader Lizard was inside my body instead.
So, instead, I asked.
A truly unbelievable question.
“…Are you the operator of the Intergalactic Shopping Mall?”
And the answer was…
“ – No.”
Ah.
‘Then what kind of connection does he have with them?’
I was curious, but that wasn’t the most important thing right now.
What mattered was that the crisis had been resolved.
‘Phew.’
I looked at my dressing room through a vision that felt like CCTV footage.
The dark blue water that had poured out was now pooling and dispersing on the floor, and aside from being slightly messy, the dressing room seemed intact.
I wasn’t sure what had happened, but it seemed that after I was ejected and Team Leader Lee Jaheon took over, the situation had stabilized.
At least I wasn’t spewing water anymore.
‘That’s really a relief….’
Thanks to Team Leader Lee Jaheon, my body hadn’t died. I sighed in relief and spoke.
“Anyway, thank you. Now that things have settled, I’d appreciate it if you could leave my body.”
“ – …….”
“…Team Leader Lee Jaheon?”
“ – I will now execute the emergency escape protocol through the distress call system.”
Suddenly, my vision shifted.
“…?!”
My body—rather, Team Leader Lee Jaheon—began sweeping all my items from the table and storing them in the tattoo.
Wait, what is he doing…?
“ – In three minutes, I will initiate bombardment….”
What?
“P-please stop.”
What kind of madness is this? Bombardment?
“I don’t know what that is, but why are you using it now?”
“ – As part of the distress call options, all available military force will be deployed until the user is transported to a safe location.”
“ – During Kim Sol-eum’s extraction process….”
“That’s exactly it!”
This damn lizard… No, this reptilian alien!
Grinding my teeth, I spoke.
“Why do I need to escape?”
The vision’s movement halted.
I just changed jobs, and I’ve been living meaningfully and happily at the talk show, so why is there suddenly talk of escape?
It’s already been over a month since I left Daydream Corporation.
“I’ve adjusted well to my new workplace and have been getting along just fine. This isn’t even a dangerous situation.”
“ – I see.”
Good. So now that things are settled, he should return my body….
“ – When was the last time you slept?”
“…….”
That was…….
Before I joined this talk show, which means….
A month ago.
“ – Animals must eat and sleep to survive.”
“…….”
“ – The fact that you don’t need those means you are closer to a supernatural entity than a natural animal.”
So that means I have,
Become a part of a ghost story.
"……No. I… have not been contaminated. I can still think rationally, and my ethical standards have not changed."
“ – Is that so?”
"Of course."
“ – Then why is there water pooled in the dressing room?”
"That’s because… I ate a churro……."
“ – Do you mean the snack you claimed to have received from Cheerful Theme Park?”
“…….”
“ – The normal you would have been unlikely to consume food originating from the darkness without hesitation.”
“ – Why did you press the emergency call button?”
"……Because I was choking, water was gushing out."
“ – Pressing a mysterious escape button of unknown origin and effect in a choking situation is unnatural.”
“ – In the past, you faced death countless times in the Dead End Alleys but hesitated to press a button, ultimately giving up due to your superior’s advice.”
"But…."
“ – Asking others for help is normal.”
“…….”
Had I… already started using items from horror tales as if they were ordinary everyday objects?
“ – You have been bound to this darkness.”
"…! No, that’s not true!"
That, at least, I could refute with certainty.
"Even now, if I want to, I can leave at any time. I just have to ask the host for a break."
“ – 'Host.'”
“ – Have you always referred to the talk show host by that title?”
“…!”
Ha, but.
Even though he’s a business partner, Braun is the one running this talk show.
So isn’t it natural to show respect and call him 'Host' while working?
I started to feel strange.
Team Leader Lee Jaheon was definitely my former superior, but now that I’ve left, he’s just an acquaintance.
But is it right for him to interfere with my personal life like this?
Shouldn’t I feel uncomfortable?
“ – Supervisor Kim Sol-eum.”
But right now, Team Leader Lee Jaheon is the one using my body.
No way!
"P-please don’t bombard it. So many staff members have worked hard to create this talk show."
I spoke desperately.
"The audience isn’t even dying, right? So…."
“ – They do die.”
“…….”
What did he just say….?
“ – The people invited as the audience for this talk show receive a thank-you card the day after their attendance. This card is sent via the medium through which they applied for the show.”
“ – And on that card, detailed instructions are provided on how to meet the ‘most impressive’ guest of that day’s talk show.”
“…….”
“ – Some audience members tend to become completely captivated by the talk show. Because of that….”
“ – They willingly step into the darkness to meet the guest.”
I feel my nonexistent heart pounding, reverberating throughout my entire being.
I recalled the audience member I had interviewed yesterday.
‘The way ‘Happy Ending Teddy Bear’ stared intently at the audience member who said they wanted to adopt it….’
What I felt at that moment was definitely….
Revulsion.
“ – We have confirmed more than three cases of audience members either definitely dying or going missing.”
“…….”
My head was spinning.
My stomach churned.
Since I don’t currently have a body, it’s strange that I even feel nauseous.
This must be a psychological reaction.
Which means….
It’s the shock of realizing something utterly absurd.
“…….”
What have I been doing all this time?
What exactly is this talk show about?
But Braun… No,
No.
Braun never promised that he wouldn’t harm the audience.
He only assured me that I wouldn’t feel scared.
I shouldn’t interpret the situation based on my own common sense.
‘Ghost stories….’
Were always like this.
Were always like this.
“ – Kim Sol-eum, you need to escape from this talk show immediately.”
My head turned cold.
"Team Leader."
I know.
I have not been contaminated.
At least, not back in that train’s restroom, when I decided to come to this talk show.
But, but….
"I… think I’ve been mistaken about something."
I had overlooked it.
Even without being contaminated, humans are always capable of making poor judgments.
They get scammed, commit crimes, misinterpret things, misunderstand… and even believe in things they shouldn’t.
Maybe….
That might be the case right now.
"For now… if possible, leaving this talk show and thinking things over a bit more… might not be a bad idea."
I think I need some time to reflect on my own….
“ – Yes.”
"But no bombardment!"
If I had a body, I would have wiped my face dry in frustration.
"That alone will never be enough to defeat the host in this studio…."
I’m sure of it.
'The moment we get caught, we’ll be incinerated.'
If we’re lucky and only get fined, we might have to work for this talk show unpaid until we die… or even beyond that.
…What scared me more was that I didn’t think that sounded too bad.
“ – Do you know the exit of the studio?”
"…No, I don’t."
I don’t even know how big this studio is.
I know that it has an unbelievable number of sets and storage rooms.
But I have no idea how many floors there are or how far each section extends.
At some point, I naturally started finding my way around the staff areas, but everything else was still unclear.
I’ve only ever been in the dressing room area or briefly visited other sections while accompanying staff members….
'I haven’t left this place in a month.'
Which makes sense, since my dressing room was comfortable, I never felt the need to eat or sleep, and I was busy adjusting.
"But walking out through the exit without requesting leave would be stupid, so sneaking out instead……."
……
Ah.
“ – Were you about to suggest sneaking out?”
"No. That’s impossible."
Damn it.
The very idea of sneaking out was impossible. Because….
"The host knows where I am, no matter where I go."
Because he had checked my tag.
Through the 'Good Friend' contract, he can track me down forever—until I die.
So no matter where I go, he will always be able to follow me….
……
“ – Do you want to persuade him to give you a vacation?”
"No."
If the host asks why I’m requesting leave, there’s no way Team Leader Lee Jaheon possessing my body won’t get exposed.
Besides, even if I did it myself… I’m not confident.
‘I feel like I’d end up being persuaded instead….’
Whether the audience dies or not, I feel like I’d blindly and happily accept working at the talk show again.
A legendary horror talk show host isn’t just someone with great speech skills—it’s something so terrifying it feels like a supernatural phenomenon in itself….
The only reason I was able to intimidate ‘Good Friend’ before was thanks to the restrictions placed on it.
My heart turned cold.
“ – I see.”
“ – Even if we destroy half the studio and escape, the source of danger can immediately track you down, making it pointless—is this statement correct?”
"…Yes."
There is no way out.
No, even if I escape, it’s meaningless.
It seemed like a perfect seal.
……
‘……No.’
There’s always a gap somewhere.
‘The host still doesn’t know that I summoned Team Leader Lee Jaheon using an item.’
If that’s the case.
"…Team Leader, how long can you stay in that body?"
“ – As Team Leader Lee Jaheon, I can stay for 60 hours.”
“ – Also, the summoner cannot arbitrarily terminate the use. The emergency summon can only be deactivated once the summoner has escaped the danger.”
That’s an interesting choice of words.
But that amount of time was more than enough.
Enough to find a crack in the system.
"Let’s prepare and wait."
I calmed my anxiety and started thinking hard.
"…Until right before the talk show starts."
***
Time passed.
The preparations for the live broadcast of the talk show began.
Then, most of the staff busily moved between the backstage and the stage, setting up the equipment.
Usually, I would slip into the midst of them to check the equipment or chat with the host. Otherwise, I could attend meetings or occasionally peek into other departments.
‘Since I’m part of the production team, not a performer, that’s possible.’
Especially since I wasn’t a field staff member but a talk show creator, there was nothing specifically assigned to me during the live broadcast.
So, whatever I did, it wouldn’t seem too out of place….
For example, I could wander around as if I were running an errand or looking for something.
"Over there."
I was frantically searching the studio, which was now mostly empty of faceless staff.
I was looking for one thing.
"There must be a place where the guest dressing rooms are gathered."
I had definitely heard about it.
‘They said there’s a separate entrance for guests.’
I had heard that every guest comes from their original place and that there was some kind of… ‘arrangement’ to invite them into the studio comfortably.
‘I need to find that.’
Of course, just finding the dressing rooms was a challenge for me.
As soon as I left the waiting area or the staff zones, it felt like I was lost in a maze, completely disoriented.
But Team Leader Lee Jaheon….
‘…He’s incredibly fast.’
Is he relying purely on numbers…?
With unbelievable strength and speed, despite using my body, his vision rapidly shifted as he checked countless paths and moved according to signs.
‘It’s exactly the same as when he was in his own body.’
Tap tap.
“…!”
My vision shifted.
A faceless staff member gestured at me, as if asking why I was here and offering to guide me if I was lost.
"……Say that I have an errand to run and will return shortly."
“ – I have an errand to run and will return shortly.”
The faceless staff member didn’t insist twice and seemed to disappear… but then reappeared from around the corner with another staff member!
“…….”
Gulp.
If I had a body, I would have swallowed hard….
‘No way.’
If I look suspicious here, the host will hear about it immediately. And if that happens….
I’ll be back to happily hosting the talk show again.
With all my doubts neatly erased thanks to his ‘gentle persuasion.’
‘…….’
The newly arrived staff member gestured.
"That staff member… seems to be offering to do the errand instead."
“ – That won’t be necessary.”
Team Leader!!
"S-say that it's more meaningful if I do it myself. It's nothing big, so as a new staff member, I’d like to handle it quietly and quickly."
“ – I-it seems more meaningful if I do it myself.”
“…….”
No, that’s not what I meant….
“ – It’s nothing big, so as a new staff member, I’d like to handle it quietly and quickly.”
Fortunately, the staff members nodded at those words and left. Since the live broadcast was imminent, they probably didn’t have time to waste here…….
‘Phew….’
“ – Moving now.”
‘This feels like controlling a robot.’
A robot that’s ten times stronger and more durable than me.
I let out multiple sighs of relief internally while continuing to share Team Leader Lee Jaheon's vision as he searched.
There were a few more nail-bitingly close calls, but we managed to get through safely.
And before long.
“ – Found it.”
“…!”
Click.
The door in my vision opened.
Guest Area
My vision, as if seen through CCTV footage, now displayed a dimly lit corridor with a vintage atmosphere.
Numerous doors lined the corridor, with the nameplates of past guests from the past month still attached, unchanged….
As if a new one was used for each guest appearance.
“…….”
...A strange and ominous feeling, one I hadn’t sensed in the past month, seeped through from beyond the door…….
I swallowed hard.
"Now, please find the door labeled ‘Happy Ending Teddy Bear.’"
My vision swiftly moved, and in an instant, a door was found.
The light above today's guest waiting room was brightly lit, but I ignored it and moved to the door next to it.
The waiting room of yesterday’s guest, where the light was almost out.
Happy Ending Teddy Bear
Click.
...The dark waiting room remained uncleared, and everything inside was scaled to fit a ragdoll’s body.
And traces of the teddy bear's presence remained.
…As well as the remnants of what was left after making a teddy bear.
“…….”
I tried my best not to look at the severed body parts and scraps of skin.
Luckily, since Team Leader Lee Jaheon was the one controlling my body, it wasn’t difficult.
Team Leader Lee Jaheon swiftly scanned the waiting room and soon discovered something.
“ – It’s a dollhouse door.”
The small, colorful door on the wall barely reached my waist, looking as if it had been made for a child's toy….
"Let’s go through there."
Creak.
…In my vision, my hands pushed open the tiny door, and I crawled forward into the dark space beyond…….
A light was visible ahead.
And a moment later.
“…!”
My vision suddenly brightened again.
A modern hallway appeared.
It was a stark contrast to Braun’s elegant, vintage studio—this place was finished with concrete and paint in a modern style.
And from the distance, a voice could be heard….
“ – Now! The item we’re introducing today will turn your hair into living snakes….”
The voice of a home shopping host selling utterly absurd items.
Delusion Home Shopping!
‘As expected.’
Since ‘Happy Ending Teddy Bear’ had been sponsored by this place during the last broadcast, I suspected the door might lead here.
‘It worked.’
I let out a sigh of relief.
I had done this before in the Dead End Alley. Moving from one ghost story to another.
‘Since this is also a broadcasting studio, the host might take longer to notice.’
Besides, with the live broadcast starting soon, he won’t have the luxury of chasing me here.
No, perhaps I could find something useful here to prevent the host from tracking me.
‘With Team Leader Lee Jaheon’s physical strength, we shouldn’t be in danger here.’
Let’s bet on that.
My vision shifted as we stepped into a brightly lit hallway.
I calmed my excitement and spoke.
"Team Leader, for now, we need something that won’t draw attention and will help…."
[Oh dear.]
Grab.
I am dangling in midair.
Someone's hand is holding me.
[Looks like you took the wrong path, my friend! Leaving the studio? The corridors are quite complicated, aren’t they?]
A massive… truly massive TV screen in front of me displays a friendly, smiling emoticon.
[Since the live broadcast is about to start, there’s no time, so I called you in like this. Relax. You’ll find it even more comfortable this way.]
Below, a long, giant gloved hand grabbed the back of my neck, supported my back and hips, then carefully placed me onto a dark Braun desk.
[Oh, having experienced a similar body before, I can assure you…. Seeing this again makes me feel a bit nostalgic.]
[‘A good friend.’]
Now, I have a body.
But I cannot move.
The glittering lights of Braun’s late-night talk show, the audience seats in front of me, and then….
Everything in this space is enormous.
My reflection appears on the black TV screen….
[Now, now… Sit back comfortably and enjoy the talk show. It’s about to begin!]
I am.
A stuffed doll.
