Regardless of the ethical issues surrounding Daydream Corporation, the effectiveness of their potions is undeniable.
Like magic.
“…!”
As Agent Bronze drank the C-grade Regeneration Potion, flesh rapidly sprouted from his severed thighs, instantly restoring his legs to their full form.
Go Yeongeun swallowed hard. Although she had used it herself before, witnessing it firsthand seemed to fill her with awe.
I felt the same.
To think such a large wound could regenerate all at once with just a C-grade potion.
‘…Wasn’t it worth about 10,000 points?’
Its effect was shocking and mesmerizing to anyone who saw it.
I unconsciously tried to avoid touching my regenerated right arm—restored by the Nostalgia Candy—as I observed the scene.
"Phew."
Soon, Agent Bronze mechanically checked the movement of his legs.
Then, he stood up barefoot, gripping the restraint rope that bound the staff… and lowered his head, avoiding my gaze.
"…Thank you."
"Yes."
Go Yeongeun muttered softly, as if she couldn’t hold back any longer.
"……You could be a little more grateful."
Ah.
"What do you mean…."
"Let's talk after we get out of here."
I hurriedly defused the conversation and tried to lead everyone back to the base camp that Agent Bronze had set up.
But then, the restraint rope that Agent Bronze had tied began to tremble.
“…!”
Inside, the two subdued staff members, deflated like punctured balloons, began to twitch.
And over there.
The door to the employee area we came from…
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
It sounded like countless heavy objects slamming against each other… then, with a creak, the iron door burst open, and a flood of staff members poured out.
“……!”
"T-This way!"
Dodging the staff members rushing toward us like mad, we quickly hid Agent Bronze behind the candle’s shadow.
The three-person limit was reached again.
The three agents pressed against the wall, hastily retreating to avoid the eerie wave of staff members.
“…!!”
"We'll be fine. As long as we stay inside the candlelight…"
Agent Bronze glanced at the candle Yeongeun was holding.
"…Is that originally yours too?"
"…Yes."
I deliberately muttered while sneaking a glance at Agent Bronze.
"Um, I told them it was something I got from you, Agent Bronze… I’d appreciate it if you went along with it."
“…….”
Agent Bronze gave a slight nod.
‘…He’s being cooperative.’
Even though he knows it's an item from my Daydream Corporation days, his cooperation must be thanks to the regeneration potion.
Creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak, creak.
‘No, this is making it impossible to think…!’
Even amid all this, the number of staff members was increasing. Yeongeun, stepping back, grew paler and paler.
The effects of the restraint rope wore off, and the two staff members shot by the pistol grotesquely squeezed out of their bindings.
The other staff members that poured out surrounded them and began spinning wildly around.
Because there were so many staff members, arms were getting crushed, and heads were flattened only to pop back up.
It looked like some kind of bizarre ritual.
"That… looks like they're searching for whoever harmed the staff…."
"If you damage a staff member in this mart and get seen doing it… they will chase you until they catch you."
“…!”
But he shot both of them without hesitation and sat on top of them?
Agent Bronze’s gaze hardened.
"…This time, since it's already over, I was prepared to take responsibility."
“~!!”
Yeongeun seemed to hold back words once again.
"Let's move quickly."
"Yes."
Anyway, we hurriedly stepped away from that grotesque collective act.
Still, the unpleasant creaking sound continued to ring in our ears….
‘Phew.’
I looked down at the floor and saw Agent Bronze’s bare feet standing on the mart’s surface.
"Agent, do you have spare shoes…."
"…At the camping store."
Okay. I checked my wristwatch.
Fortunately, since we found Agent Bronze relatively quickly, at most, only two or three hours should have passed.
‘Even if I estimate conservatively, it should still be evening….’
It should be around 7 PM. Thinking that, I checked my watch.
But….
[ 09 : 04 ]
Nine o'clock.
“……!”
I looked at the numbers again.
But the numbers remained the same, with a ten-hour difference from my expectations.
Of course, I haven't gone back to the past, so this must mean….
‘…Is it the next morning?’
"The time right now is strange…."
The moment I said it, I realized.
"Agent Grape, time does not flow consistently in this mart’s employee zone."
“…….”
Somehow, the employee zone was messily patched together without context, and adding an eerie, uncanny setting like this seemed fitting.
‘It’s a cliché.’
Maybe it was mentioned in the Chronicles of Darkness Exploration , but it was so common that I didn’t remember it… No, that’s not the important part.
‘…Then, how long have the kids been by themselves?’
To make matters worse, Agent Bronze muttered with a stiff expression
"Nine o'clock."
"…Yes."
"Let's move as quickly as possible… The protective barrier I set up in the store doesn’t have much time left."
“…!!”
We arrived at the camping store almost at a full sprint. It was a miracle that we didn’t drop the candle.
"Huff, huff…."
And it was true.
The high school students in the camping store were on the verge of escaping.
"They’re not coming! And something’s wrong right now!"
"T-That’s…."
‘My God.’
The agents hadn’t returned for an entire day, and somewhere, the sound of staff members moving was growing wild.
Because of that, they had been so terrified that they were about to flee to another floor.
They were desperately discussing how to move their missing, dazed friend, whether to leave them behind, and so on. But the moment they saw us, they collapsed onto the floor.
"Ack!"
"A-Agent!"
This is driving me crazy.
We led the high school students back to the center of the camping store as they poured out words and tears, stuck between ‘Why are you so late?’ and ‘You’re here!’
And Agent Bronze quickly checked the protective item he had set up, which looked like marbles.
"How much time is left?"
"About an hour."
Damn it.
"At least we have an hour to rest. Let’s quickly reorganize in the meantime."
Go Yeongeun immediately extinguished the candle and began checking the condition of the high school students, trying to understand what had happened.
…It was reassuring.
‘Phew.’
"I’ll keep watch, so you should get dressed, Agent."
"…Yes."
Agent Bronze took the opportunity while Go Young-eun was inside the tent to change into a spare agent uniform he had brought along.
I listened from beside him, thinking about where we should go next after this camping store…
‘The stair landing is too narrow.’
…I hope the store is open today. No, expecting such a lucky break isn’t good for my mental health.
I swallowed the sugary taste of the Nostalgia Candy.
And I diverted my attention elsewhere.
"Are you okay?"
"…Yes."
Agent Bronze quickly re-equipped himself, pulling a few items from the pockets of his bloodstained uniform pants.
But among them, something looked unusual.
Agent Bronze had been quickly and indifferently organizing his belongings, but when he picked this one up, he flinched.
…A white grip tok.
Must be given
A handwritten label was attached to it.
…It somehow reminded me of a memorial grip tok. It looked like a Disaster Management Bureau item.
"Agent, that is…."
“…….”
Agent Bronze silently stared at the grip holder before finally tucking it into his new uniform while muttering.
"It belongs to another agent. I found it in the spare supplies storage…."
From his tone, I realized.
‘…Was there another agent in the storage?’
It was probably taken from the body of an agent who had long been ‘stored’ in the spare supplies storage, already dead.
Agent Bronze finished adjusting his uniform and met my gaze.
And then, he quietly asked.
"Did you happen to enter the spare supplies storage?"
“…….”
I shook my head. A hint of relief passed through the agent’s eyes.
"You did well. From now on, avoid places that ‘feel off’ as much as possible. Human intuition is quite useful in supernatural situations."
“…….”
What on earth does the inside of that storage look like?
But even if I didn’t know the exact details, I could guess its state from the descriptions in the Chronicles of Darkness Exploration.
‘…Dozens of dying people must be processed into spare items, rapidly contaminated, and trapped inside.’
I tried not to imagine it and shifted my attention elsewhere.
"So, what kind of item is it?"
But if it were useful, Agent Bronze would have already mentioned it.
As expected, a slightly troubled expression passed over the agent’s face.
"It’s an item that helps send a confirmed rescue request to the Disaster Management Bureau."
“…….”
Ah.
"It’s a smartphone attachment item, so I wondered if we could at least send a short message outside… But it seems to only work if the user is a designated rescue target."
Since it’s an item designed with limitations to function specifically for that purpose.
‘…Did the deceased agent carry it around intending to give it to someone?’
Of course, in this damned horror story, an item that could definitely send a rescue request would be invaluable, but it simply didn’t meet the conditions.
I couldn’t begin to imagine what Agent Bronze had endured while holding out in the spare supplies storage.
"Um, have you finished changing?"
"…! Yes."
Go Yeongeun opened the tent flap and stepped out.
"It would be good if Agent Bronze could address them. The students already know you're the highest-ranking person here."
“…….”
Agent Bronze gave a slight nod and entered the tent.
Go Yeongeun let out a deep sigh and sat down beside me.
"…How are the students?"
"They're okay. Now that all the agents have returned and even managed a rescue, their morale has shot up."
…Because they don’t yet realize they’ll have to escape this tent store soon.
Phew.
Go Yeongeun and I sighed at the same time.
"It would be nice if the store reopened today…"
"…Yeah."
I really hope so.
I nodded in deep agreement and slumped down.
"I mean, the store was open just fine when we entered, but now it’s been closed for days…."
That’s exactly my thought.
Every word he said reflects how I feel.
‘The store was open when we came in….’
…….
…….
Wait a minute.
“ G-Grape?”
I jumped up and sprinted towards the tent.
Then, I yanked the flap open.
"Agent!"
Agent Bronze and the high school students turned to look at me with wide eyes.
"That rescue request item—can we use it right now?"
"Huh?"
Agent Bronze looked at me, momentarily puzzled, but then answered as politely as possible, despite his stern appearance.
"The item itself is usable, but agents aren’t allowed to use it."
"What if a student uses it?"
"Duplicate requests… will be deprioritized compared to the first report."
The high school students flinched.
Yeah. These kids were the ones who made the report, which is why we entered this damned Lucky Mart for the rescue mission.
But still.
"There’s still one more student, isn’t there?"
“……!”
I thought of the student still lying dazed in that tent.
The friend of these high schoolers—the one Agent Bronze had found, who had gone missing even earlier.
A citizen who had never once sent a rescue request to the Disaster Management Bureau.
"Calm down, agent."
Agent Bronze spoke calmly, as if trying to pacify me.
"This device can only send a 33-character message. Detailed explanations aren’t possible."
"That’s fine."
We weren’t planning to use it to explain our situation anyway.
"That student just needs to send a rescue request however they want. …As long as they do that."
If my guess is correct.
I swallowed hard.
"…Today, the store will open."
“…!!”
***
I ran to the adjacent tent.
Then, I took one of the three remaining Nostalgia Candies and gave it to the high school student who lay there, completely dazed.
A student named ‘Lee Subin.’
A missing person who had entered this mart several days before the high school students who reported to us.
Go Yeongeun had judged that it would be better for the student to see familiar faces for stability, so the other high school students who came along watched anxiously.
As I unwrapped the Nostalgia Candy and placed it into Lee Subin’s mouth…
“…….”
"Subin… Are you okay?"
Tears began to stream down the student's face.
Then, they started sobbing.
"Hic… Huuuuhh…"
"It’s okay, it’s okay……."
The other high school students rushed over and embraced Subin, not knowing what else to do.
…Nostalgia Candy restores the body and mind to their prime state, but it doesn’t erase painful memories or experiences.
I patiently waited as the friends helped Subin calm down.
While checking the time.
[ 09 : 22 ]
And when there was no more time left to wait.
[ 09 : 43 ]
That was when I finally spoke.
"Lee Subin."
"Hic… Yes…."
"Actually, we need your help if we want to get out of here faster."
I handed the student the smartphone with the grip attached.
"Can you write your name and identity, then write 'Lucky Mart' and send a rescue request?"
“…….”
"Please."
The student took the phone with trembling hands.
Then, they began typing frantically.
[Please help me, I’m trapped in Lucky Mart, I’m Lee Subin from ■■ district, please.]
The message felt like a desperate cry. Tears streamed down the student’s face as their fingers moved.
And then… it was sent.
“…….”
"You did well. Get some rest now."
I couldn’t bring myself to tell them to spit out the Nostalgia Candy.
…If my guess was wrong, then maybe I really should have told them to spit it out and save it.
‘For now, I just have to wait.’
I left the tent, leaving the high school students together.
Ziiiik.
Go Yeongeun, who was sitting in front, looked at me.
I sat next to her, checking my watch repeatedly as the time approached.
Until the store’s opening time at 10 o’clock.
[ 09 : 51 ]
Agent Bronze prepares to retrieve the protective item.
[ 09 : 54 ]
I calculated how long we could hold out on the second-floor food court if we failed.
[ 09 : 58 ]
In the worst case, I considered who should receive the two escape items.
And then….
[ 09 : 59 ]
The time is approaching.
The three of us lifted our heads and stared at the ceiling and empty space.
Waiting for the signal.
Like that….
[ 10:00 ]
The time has come.
“…….”
“…….”
"Agent Grape, is everything alri—"
Nananaa nananananana nananan~
“…!!”
A bell-like chime began to fill the store.
“ – The doors of Lucky Mart have now opened. We welcome our dear customers with bright smiles today as well!~”
A lively announcement voice.
The familiar logo song played cheerfully throughout the mart, unchanged.
Tee-dee-dee-dee-dik.
Bright lights illuminated the mart, and sunlight began streaming in from outside the glass windows.
And the eerie employees vanished as if rewinding.
With creaking, eerie noises, they were sucked back through the gap in the open staff area’s iron door….
Thud.
As the door closed, they were all gone.
Without a trace.
“…….”
The store had finally reopened.
"Huff."
‘…We’re alive.’
I collapsed into my seat.
"It worked, it worked!!"
That’s what I’m saying.
Go Yeongeun, looking more excited than he had in days, patted my shoulder and glanced around the store with a face flushed as if he were about to cry.
"How the hell did… No! That’s not important! Let’s just get out of this crazy place and talk outside!"
But Agent Bronze, who had been staring blankly at the store, suddenly turned to me with a look of realization.
"The rescue request! Could this be…?"
"Yes."
Did he figure it out?
Only then did I smile and reply.
"Because for a rescue agent to enter, the store must be in operation."
“…!”
That’s right.
‘It’s a kind of reverse thinking.’
I created a situation where the store had to be open for everything to make sense.
It’s all about… the prerequisite.
"They said there’s no way to prevent people from entering Lucky Mart, right?"
Not only in the rescue agent’s manual I received, but it was also precisely recorded in the Chronicles of Darkness Exploration.
There are no known methods of termination or sealing. Preventing disappearances in advance is also impossible.
The entry conditions are also clearly written.
Lucky Mart Entry Conditions: Within 3 km of the former Lucky Mart building, search for a mart and move around for at least 20 minutes.
What does this mean?
‘As long as those conditions are met, one can immediately enter the terrifying urban legend of Lucky Mart.’
If we think about it in reverse…
"That means that if someone is about to enter, Lucky Mart must be in operation."
“ – For a victim to enter, Lucky Mart must be open on that day.”
"And…."
"Today, a new rescue agent will enter."
Go Yeongeun suddenly spoke up.
His face was flushed with shock and realization.
"Because earlier, the high school student sent a rescue request, so someone will enter!"
That’s correct.
So today, if the Disaster Management Bureau is going to send an agent in response to the request…
"Yes. Today is a day when the store must open."
I smiled.
Go Yeongeun laughed along for a moment, but soon, confusion filled her face.
"...? Wait a minute. Then the causality is reversed…."
That’s also true.
"It’s not that opening the door causes disappearances, but rather that the store must open for disappearances to happen, meaning the business starts in the morning. The time sequence is completely messed up."
"That’s why it’s a ghost story."
It follows strange laws that we cannot comprehend, ones that are reversed and distorted…
Like the third floor, where endless seasonal event stores continue endlessly.
"That’s true."
Instead of confusion, a sense of calm and active unease settled on Go Yeongeun’s face.
It was the face of someone who wanted to bolt out of this store immediately.
…I can relate.
So let’s get out of here quickly.
We immediately got up and started preparing to leave.
'We have vouchers and escape items.'
With this, all three students and the three of us should be able to escape safely.
"Excellent."
Agent Bronze whispered softly while preparing.
Then, he glanced at the three students who were stepping out of the tent, delighted at the words "We can leave now."
"These civilians are being rescued thanks to Agent Grape."
To be honest, that wasn’t entirely true. If either Agent Bronze or Go Yeongeun hadn’t been here, we all probably would have died….
I was just about to say thank you, but…
“…….”
Suddenly, I realized.
Speaking suddenly felt too easy.
The thing that had been interfering with my speech was gone.
‘Ah.’
And then, I realized that I could no longer taste the sweet sugar in my mouth.
“…….”
The Nostalgia Candy had completely dissolved.
That means….
“……!”
"Agent!"
A searing pain struck my right side like a mad fury.
