The tattoos etched on me by the ghost stories were all in text.
One was in Latin.
: Socius :
This was engraved when the membership pass from the blue dragon mascot of the theme park burned away. According to Braun, it signified a "special qualification," granting certain passage rights.
The other was in Chinese characters.
: 恩主 :
This tattoo was inscribed when the contract document of the mountain lodge caretaker in the serial killer ghost story burned.
However, since I lack the "qualifications," they are merely meaningless symbols without any actual function.
If I were to choose which one to "enhance"...
‘It has to be this one.’
“I’ll be in your care."
The tattoo artist peered at the tattoo I pointed to.
: 恩主 :
The reason for this choice was simple.
‘It's better to increase the range of abilities.’
It’s practically guaranteed (to my tears) that I’ll continue to encounter a variety of ghost stories in the future.
This means there’s no such thing as a single supernatural power that can universally solve all situations.
‘Even that lizard manager, with all his power, almost died once—it’s clearly not enough.’
It was more practical to expand my arsenal of tricks for various scenarios rather than focus on moderately strengthening a single ability.
‘So, it’s better to make use of the dormant tattoo.’
In this Moonlight Tattoo Shop, there’s no risk of triggering a “trap.”
The shop is extremely friendly towards humans, so it won’t grant any harmful abilities—meaning there’s no chance of the lodge caretaker suddenly appearing to take my head off.
Besides…
I glanced at the Latin text.
– Good child.
...Recalling the mascot, who seemed to have formed an oddly emotional bond with me, made altering this tattoo feel almost sacrilegious.
‘I’m getting warning signals.’
As a devoted reader of the <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>, my instincts told me it was better to steer clear of such things.
“– Ah, it’s finally starting!”
With that, I made my choice, and the tattoo artist began to move.
When she tried to show me various designs, I stopped her.
"Oh, just do it in the way you think would be best."
To maximize the effect, it’s always best to trust the experts.
I grinned.
"I trust your abilities, Tattoo Artist."
"...!"
The shop owner’s eyes seemed to gleam momentarily, and she enthusiastically motioned for me to relax comfortably on the chair.
She even firmly placed Braun in my hands.
“– Does she think I’m some kind of stress-relief doll? What a rude but amusing misunderstanding!”
However, there was no pain.
The tattoo artist donned intricate steampunk-like goggles and began to operate an enormous tattoo machine.
‘...Are tattoo machines supposed to be this big?’
It was the size of a surgical medical device, and I was momentarily bewildered.
Moonlight imbued the machine.
Ziiiiing—
The LED light from the ceiling was drawn into the machine, converging at a single point.
At the tip of the tattoo machine’s needle, it gathered like a glowing gem, and as it approached my arm, I closed my eyes as instructed.
“...”
A strange sensation spread through my left arm.
It wasn’t pain or itchiness. Nor was it pressure.
It felt like old grime being scrubbed away, like my skin was being rearranged and fitted properly—a cool and soothing sensation.
Tap, tap.
It was over.
The light disappeared, and at the tattoo artist’s gesture, I opened my eyes.
“...!”
‘Oh my god.’
A background had been added to the tattoo.
A deep blue night sky with a full moon, painted as if in a single stroke, served as the backdrop. Above it, like moon shadows, the letters were inscribed.
Scattered around the letters, stars sparkled like pearls.
Tap, tap.
The tattoo artist, with hands on her hips, looked at me as if asking, ‘What do you think?’
"It’s absolutely stunning."
The tattoo artist, now wearing a proud expression, patted me on the shoulder before dashing off to the counter.
“…?”
She returned with a single pearl. It looked like she’d taken it from a necklace I brought in.
‘What’s this?’
The shop owner brought the pearl close to the tattoo.
And then, it was absorbed.
“…?!”
“– Oh, my. Hmm…”
“– Roe Deer, this is quite amusing. A ‘pathway’ has opened.”
A pathway?
“– Why don’t you try rubbing the tattoo gently? You might feel something.”
I raised my hand and gently touched the tattoo, which miraculously had no swelling or pain.
“…!”
I felt it.
A certain "gap" within the contact between my skin and the tattoo.
“...”
Carefully, I inserted my hand into that "gap."
When I pulled it out, I was holding the same pearl the tattoo artist had placed earlier…
‘…Some kind of space?’
“– Exactly. It seems the shabby lodge caretaker’s contract included "space provision"!”
“– After all, it’s the servant’s duty to provide lodging for guests. It seems the artist cleverly found a loophole in the contract, granting you a small personal space!”
Wait a second.
Does that mean I now have… my own private inventory?
‘Is this even possible?’
My heart raced at this webtoon-like gift, something I never expected from a ghost story.
“– Let’s see… imagine a cubic space about 2 feet on each side. That seems to be the extent of the space connected to you!”
Two feet would be roughly… 60 cm.
Of course, the use of imperial units from an American talk show ghost story was annoying, but the information was still genuinely appreciated.
But hold on.
‘Does that mean this is connected to the lodge?’
That deranged murder lodge should have disappeared.
“– Who knows? Where it connects to is… quite hard to be certain.”
“– Only the original contractor would know exactly what kind of space the lodge caretaker agreed to provide.”
“...”
“– This is fascinating. Would you like to place a bet on this? It could make for an interesting wager!”
No thanks, I’ll pass…
Still, considering that this Moonlight Tattoo Shop doesn’t grant abilities harmful to the recipient, I decided to cautiously embrace this new ability without hesitation.
‘I won’t have to worry about smuggling items anymore.’
That alone was already an incredible benefit.
"Thank you. This is truly amazing and fascinating."
I returned the pearl to the tattoo artist, whose eyes sparkled with joy and satisfaction as they took it.
"Is this all, then?"
She nodded.
"Then, I'll head out."
Just as I was about to step out the door, the tattooist seemed to have realized something and gestured for me to stop briefly.
‘What’s this?’
She started rummaging furiously beneath the counter, eventually pulling out some paper. Carefully wrapping it in transparent packaging, she handed it to me.
‘…A tattoo design?’
The moment I took what they were offering, I realized—it was a temporary tattoo sticker.
And it featured the exact design I had chosen earlier, the tomato tree.
Not just one, but three of them!
“…!”
Wait a second.
“Does this mean… if I wear this, I’ll feel ‘brave,’ just like with the real tattoo?”
The tattooist smiled and nodded.
‘Unbelievable.’
This was an unexpected bonus.
“Thank you.”
The owner waved at me with a smile, signaling that it was finally time for my departure.
I pocketed the stickers—or rather, placed them securely into my newly acquired "space"—and reached for the door to head out.
“Have a great day.”
The polite farewell was followed by the sound of the door shutting behind me.
Ding.
When I turned back again…
“...”
The shop was empty.
Through the glass window, marked with twisted real estate contact information as part of its legend, I saw only an empty, hollow space.
‘…This is just how it works.’
The Moonlight Tattoo Shop was a one-time entry through the "It is vacant" ghost story.
‘I’ll probably get another chance to use a different ghost story next time.’
“– Ah, what a unique and delightful experience.”
I couldn’t agree more.
“Roe, how was the exploration?”
“It went well.”
That day, I successfully completed the "It is Vacant" exploration without further issues and earned a good amount of points.
The pleasant aroma from Braun’s massage lingered for days.
However, by the next day, the cover-up tattoo had vanished, leaving behind only the original characters on my wrist.
The ability I’d gained, though, remained intact.
‘I’ll make good use of it.’
Imagining the possibilities of my inventory, I began conducting small experiments.
* * *
Three Weeks Later
No extraordinary situations called for the special ability.
“…”
Well… this was normal, wasn’t it?
When entering ghost stories with a manual, the company usually provided all the necessary items for clearing the task, so there wasn’t much need to smuggle anything in.
As for entering uncharted ghost stories, the frequency of those assignments had significantly decreased.
‘Even in the alien shop, there wasn’t anything so amazing that I felt a desperate need to buy it…’
In the end, its utility was reduced to conveniently carrying existing items.
‘At least I figured out that the space seems to be vacuum-sealed, so food doesn’t spoil.’
Analog watches stayed frozen, while electronic ones drained their batteries.
The lack of a clear pattern was frustrating.
But since I wasn’t in a situation where I urgently needed to use it, I let time pass without dwelling on it.
‘It’s a good thing, though.’
“Three weeks until the regular personnel evaluation.”
“Huu-haa, Huu-haa.”
“You’re staying in this team, right, Roe?”
“Yes. I really hope so.”
The hottest topic in Team D was whether I could survive the personnel reshuffle and remain in the team.
Of course, working in a ghost story company meant injuries and scares came up now and then, but I was getting used to it.
The temporary tattoos had become like talismans, giving me something to cling to when things got tough.
‘I should save these for emergencies.’
As I adjusted to the company and began feeling comfortable working with my team, something inevitable happened.
The comfort didn’t last long.
* * *
Three Weeks and Two Days Later
Monday Morning
“Roe, you’re here?”
“…”
The atmosphere had shifted.
‘…What’s going on?’
There was an eerie calm.
The air in the office felt like the kind of stillness that comes before someone records their final message to their family during a disaster.
The kind of peace people have when they’ve accepted an impending tragedy.
This was not a good sign.
“…Well, I guess this is just one of those things.”
“It’ll be fine! Our team’s luck is stronger than most!”
Supervisor Park Minseong tried to reassure me, but Deputy Manager Eun Hajae didn’t bother responding.
Something was seriously off.
“Take a seat, Roe.”
Instead of my desk, I was directed to the couch. Across from me, Eun Hajae calmly placed a tablet PC on the table.
“This is the darkness you’ll be entering in three days.”
“…”
Three days?
‘Why are they giving so much advance notice?’
When it’s three days out, the usual message is, “You might be going in, so be ready.” It’s rare to hear something so definitive.
“Twelve people will be entering this darkness… it’s a B-Grade.”
“…”
“Don’t be too surprised. The survival rate is absurdly high. Plus, the bonus points are generous… 2,000 points per person.”
“…And?”
A faintly bitter smile crossed Eun Hajae’s face, as if to say, ‘This kid catches on fast.’
“And, well, there’s a catch. There always is. This darkness is unique.”
“…How?”
“The simplest way to explain it is…”
Eun Hajae crossed her arms.
“Luck-based death game.”
“…!?”
“The moment you enter, one person is chosen to die. Completely random. Pure luck.”
Holy shit?!
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