Purchased everything from the Alien Shop.

‘Wow.’

My hands were trembling slightly.

It was my first time spending 130 million won just to buy a few items.

Still, having spent a few million before, I felt somewhat more prepared.

‘Let’s use them wisely.’

These would surely serve as stepping stones for survival.

I confidently pressed the purchase button.

Purchase successful!

Your items are on their way via Rocket!

Soon, just like before, a rift in space-time opened midair, and a delivery box appeared. My heart pounded as I waited for the box to land on the floor.

But then—

“…??”

The package remained floating in midair.

Someone was holding it, quite courteously, with careful hands.

…Tentacles.

“……!?”

Tap tap.

The tentacles gently shook the delivery box, as if to ask, “Shall I place it here?”

“…! Please set it on the floor.”

The box was softly placed on the ground.

“Thank you.”

However, the tentacles didn’t vanish immediately.

Instead, they deftly pulled something out of the space-time rift and handed it to me.

A small, shimmering golden card.

I’m now an Alien Shop VIP!

~Special Benefits Included~

“…Thank you?”

When I accepted the card, the tentacles waved, as if saying goodbye, and disappeared into the rift.

“…”

Hmm.

It seems like the Alien Shop is starting to treat me as a VIP…

‘This is a good thing… right?’

I decided to keep the gratitude card for now. Its golden shimmer was dazzling.

“– How is it possible for even a tag card to look so ugly…”

As expected, one must not hope for good design from the Alien Shop.

Well…

‘What matters is the performance of the items.’

I turned my attention back to the delivery box.

It was time for the unboxing.

“Hoo.”

Opening the box, the largest item immediately caught my eye.

A product priced at 28 million won.

‘Happy Maker.’

It came in a bright pastel-colored box.

The rectangular box, reminiscent of a packaging for liquid antacids or vitamin drinks, contained twelve neon glow sticks about the size of highlighters.

But these glow sticks had needles sticking out of one end.

The same ‘Happy Maker’ sold in the ghost story “Delusion Home Shopping.”

A perfect painkiller.

-------------------------------

Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Delusion Home Shopping

/ Item

Happy Maker

Is life full of pain?

For you who struggle with unexplained aches, or fear accidents, here is the perfect savior.

Introducing the rapid pain reliever, “Happy Maker”!

- Item description from “Delusion Home Shopping,” September 9, 20XX.

-------------------------------

It was exactly as described.

I read the instructions printed on the box.

Fast and comfortable shots.

Say goodbye to pain!

This stick-type auto-injector delivers shots immediately upon being pressed against the skin, providing quick and comfortable pain relief for a certain duration.

‘It’s truly over-technology.’

Though its mechanism wasn’t science but rather the product of a supernatural phenomenon.

Pain can blur judgment in extreme situations.

From my experiences overcoming various injuries and dangers, I could confirm that. This would come in handy someday.

‘I hope I won’t have to use it… sigh.’

Abandoning futile hopes…

‘What a wretched world of ghost stories…’

I resolved to carry this item carefully for emergencies.

Though the fine print on the back did describe a highly horrifying “alternative usage”…

In irreversible situations, this can be used for euthanasia.

Yup. Definitely not using it for that.

‘I’ll only use it as a painkiller.’

“– Ah, painkillers. I used to take headache meds occasionally. The agony of creation! The fate of an entertainer and show creator.”

…How does a ghost story resident with a TV for a head even take headache meds…? No, forget it.

I quickly erased the imagery forming in my mind, praised Braun with a few kind words to boost his spirits, and turned back to the box.

Whew.

‘Next item is…’

Two things caught my eye simultaneously.

A very ominous-looking ancient tome, sealed completely with dark red wax and covered in dust.

And next to it, a neatly rolled, modern, and eco-friendly-looking protective packing material.

Yes, the packing material itself was the item.

Packing Material 12B357na

At first glance, it didn’t look like much.

Just a barcode and some engraved text on the surface, with no other explanatory labels.

Think it’s nothing special?

Wrong.

‘It’s here. The armor!’

This was the unique “protective packing material” item.

A literal lifeline for me.

I carefully stored it, determined to use it when the time was right.

Then, turning my head…

I stared coldly at the ancient tome.

Necronomicon

The Necronomicon.

The so-called Book of the Dead.

The archetypal magical tome of forbidden knowledge.

It’s appeared in countless stories for decades, becoming synonymous with sinister grimoires.

Naturally, it was also featured in the <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>, which I had read.

So, what are the usual tropes of the Necronomicon?

1. Reading it drives you insane.

2. It’s bound in human skin.

“…”

Yup.

Literally… human skin.

Hence, the iconic cover image of a screaming face in agony, stretched across its binding.

Even through the dark red wax seal, faint traces of such imagery were visible on the surface.

‘Sigh.’

Truly… something I didn’t want to touch.

“– Did you say Necronomicon, Roe Deer? Oh, that translation—haven’t heard of it in a while.”

A ghost story host from an American talk show knows the Necronomicon? Not surprising in the slightest…

But unfortunately—

‘It’s probably not the Necronomicon you’re thinking of.’

“– Hmm?”

Trust me, it isn’t.

Without a word, I grabbed the heavily wax-sealed Necronomicon and stored it in my arm inventory.

‘Phew.’

With that, the “intimidation tool” was secured.

Next, I carefully packed the familiar Nostalgia Candy as well.

‘This can be considered an emergency recovery item.’

Even if I were to face severe contamination, I could use this as first aid until I escaped.

‘…Perfect.’

And finally.

I focused on a small red button that had been casually placed in the corner of the package.

Considering the process of elimination, there was no other explanation for this item.

We Help! – ₩66,666,666

Have you ever heard of that creepy legend?

Someone gives you a button and asks, "If you press this, someone will die, but you'll receive a billion won in your account. Would you press it?"

It looked exactly like something out of that kind of story—a red button designed to provoke hesitation.

Looking closely, there was a small phrase written on the side. But...

‘I have no idea what language this is.’

“– Do you need a translation, friend?”

This part required Braun’s help.

– "Hmm. Okay. You can interpret it as ‘emergency escape,’ Roe Deer!"

So, pressing it would trigger some "emergency escape" with the help of aliens, huh?

"It better be worth 66 million won."

Honestly, this was more of a gamble than anything else, but I had no regrets.

‘At least the Alien Shop doesn’t run scams.’

If it were part of another ghost story, I'd have made horrifying guesses like, "The moment I press this, my brain will escape from my skull and be used as an ingredient." But... I'll put my faith in the credibility of the Alien Shop.

‘All done.’

“– My friend, you have such an organized nature. I like that!"

I stored all the shopping loot in the tattoo on my wrist.

If someone who had been completely contaminated by ghost stories could enter and leave unscathed, then these items should be fine.

…Though I’d rather not prove that point in such a way.

‘Phew.’

Enough thinking about it.

Thankfully, the entire day hadn’t vanished while shopping and organizing my things. So, I took advantage of the bright daylight to catch up on some sleep.

When I woke up again—

A piece of news I had momentarily forgotten about came crashing down on me.

[Go Young-eun: Did you check the intranet?]

[Go Young-eun: The regular personnel evaluation notice just dropped!]

"...!"

Regular personnel evaluation notice.

That meant Team D’s vacancy… would be filled soon.

"..."

Who will it be?

* * *

A few days later.

"Hello."

"Ah, yes, hello."

I met the new employee assigned to Team D, at the office.

The position was the same as mine—Supervisor.

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be around the same age I was before I got caught up in the ghost story.

The bespectacled employee glanced at me, sizing me up.

"Oh, so you're the Supervisor who got promoted in just 60 days?"

"Yes."

"So, you're basically still a rookie?"

"…"

I stared silently at him.

"Oh~ look at that glare. What? You expect to be treated the same as someone who’s been here three years?"

Then he smiled faintly.

"Of course not. Looking forward to working with you, senior."

"Sure. Hey, you’re quick on the uptake, huh?"

"Haha…"

"This field exploration team is just like a group project. Awareness! That’s the key."

Is that so?

"If you get promoted early and start whining to be treated like a senior, you’ll get marked, only to die without any support. Happens all the time."

He began casually looking around the empty office.

"Heard the Deputy and the Supervisor who used to be here had their hands chopped off, got contaminated, and everything went to hell. Could been you next."

"…"

I turned my head slightly.

There was a spot in the office now completely empty.

It used to be Supervisor Park Minseong’s desk.

The day after the regular personnel evaluation notice was posted, I came to work and found all their belongings—cups, photos, everything—gone.

"True. It could have been you too, Supervisor."

"...What?"

"There’s a lot of dangerous work. I’ll do my best to assist you so that doesn’t happen. Looking forward to working with you."

I offered a polite handshake.

"Uh…"

The new employee, who had been eyeing me with a slightly uneasy expression, eventually chalked it up to their imagination and shook my hand.

A short while later—

"Manager! Supervisor Yoon Johun reporting. I’ll be in your care!"

The office door opened, and Manager Lee Jaheon nodded at the new team member’s enthusiastic greeting.

"Yes."

"Haha, did you know our initials are the same? It must be fate for me to work under you!"

[Note: Their Korean names have the same initial letters.]

"Yes."

"…I mean, don’t you think? Isn’t it destiny?"

"No."

"…"

The new team member, completely failing at small talk, came over to me as soon as the manager left for a meeting and started whispering.

"Hey. Is the Manager seriously mentally unstable? I heard rumors, but wow."

"Is that how you feel too?"

"You were just in the same conversation! Didn’t you feel like you were talking to some free AI chatbot or something?"

He let out a deep sigh.

"Ugh, what the hell? This company already feels like the perfect place to develop a mental illness… sigh. Is that really our manager?"

"Manager Lee Jaheon is actually very attentive to the team."

"Yeah? But what’s the point? You die, and that’s it. Doesn’t matter how much he cares. I heard he pissed off Team A’s Manager because he insisted on doing things his way even in the darkness. Is that true?"

"…"

"So it is true. Damn it, you better watch yourself too. Ugh, of all the teams, why this one…"

Supervisor Yoon Johun grumbled as he left for the restroom—and didn’t return for several tens of minutes.

"…"

I have to work with someone like this, huh….

“– Oh dear… you don’t seem too happy about this, Roe Deer."

“– Is there anything this Braun can help with? You know I’m your good friend, after all."

"Yeah. Let’s watch a variety show together after work."

“– Ah, that sounds delightful!"

That exchange helped calm my mind a little.

Right.

Strictly speaking, I’d just been incredibly lucky with people before.

"This is the default state of office life…"

At least that supervisor wasn’t my superior. I should be thankful for that.

I quickly composed myself.

And later that afternoon—

"I’ll brief you on tomorrow’s darkness."

Manager Lee Jaheon, back from the meeting, handed out PDFs and began the briefing.

The new Supervisor was visibly shocked.

"Ungraded? Wait, there’s no manual for this darkness?"

"No."

The lizard’s slit pupils locked onto Supervisor Yoon.

"It’s just that the rating varies every time it’s cleared, depending on grade of the liquid in the dream essence collector."

"…!"

Is it an anomaly?

"But why assign this to a general team like Team D instead of an elite unit?"

"It’s not just Team D. All general Field Exploration Teams are attempting this."

The lizard manager glanced at me.

"This darkness is entered through dreams, and there’s a high chance you may even fail to enter."

"…!"

"Essentially, you read a specific book under a full moon and fall asleep. If you wake up in a school at night, you’ve succeeded in entering the darkness."

HOLD ON.

"The name is ‘Sekwang Technical High School.’ If you find yourself there, you’ve successfully entered."

Sekwang Technical High School.

"…"

I know this ghost story.

But it’s not just something I know…

‘…It’s directly related to me.’

Exploration Record #13.

The 13th entry in the exploration records of this ghost story.

It was I who wrote it.