ALL NOVEL Chapter 31
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It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 031
– An alien shopping mall? What a unique name! Is it an online store too?
Ah, Brown has also been summoned.
He’s touched that I pulled the curtains closed to keep it dark for him during the day, and he was truly moved when I sold that mascot snack.
‘What a friend with such low excitement levels…’
Actually, I received two packages of snacks from the mascot, and I kept one just in case.
Anyway, to answer the question…
“That’s right. You access it through the internet. You browse for items through a screen like a flyer.”
– Aha! Is that so?
I could hear Brown’s cheerful voice.
– I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of store friends frequently use…
-……
-…?!
– What on earth is this? This shabby flyer that lacks any aesthetic appeal.
Hmm….
“The important thing isn’t appearance, but usefulness, right?”
– Goodness! Doe
– Such an uninteresting, unshocking, just plain ugly flyer!
Sure sure.
I took that statement as a backdrop and clicked on the site.
…… Yeah, Doe
Items
Bloodlust Bath – ₩29,999,999
Mysterious Candle Kit – ₩19,999,999
Snow White’s Apple – ₩12,999,999
We Help! – ₩66,666,666
※Discount!※ Vampire Cutlery – ₩7,999,999
₩14,999,999
-……
“Brown?”
No response. He seems to have fainted.
It seems my ‘Good Friend
“Are you okay?”
– I’ll take a break.
Feel free to do so.
I examined the items.
The unchanged items immediately caught my eye.
Still the unsellable “We Help!” and then designated as a discounted item….
‘It’s still here.’
※Discount!※ Vampire Cutlery – ₩7,999,999
₩14,999,999
I thought I’d never see it again, whether someone else bought it or the algorithm removed it from my recommendation list, but here we are again.
‘Did they calculate I would buy it?’
It felt a bit mysterious. Anyway, next.
The most expensive item I could purchase is….
Bloodlust Bath – ₩29,999,999
‘This one… I also saw someone looking for a piece at the Salmon Market earlier.’
It was quite a well-known item. I even remembered what kind of item it was.
———————=
Dark Exploration Records / Delusional Home Shopping
/ Item
Bloodlust Bath
Today, I stand before you to introduce an amazing product! This is the miraculous bath of rejuvenation that we proudly showcase in our home shopping!
It’s a tub of youth….
-July 7, 20XX ‘Delusional Home Shopping’ product description
———————=
Pour someone else’s blood into the tub, and it transforms into a fragrant bath product. Bathing in it heals wounds, restores fatigue, treats arthritis, and beautifies the skin.
‘A modern version of the traditional vampire tale perhaps.’
And considering the price relative to the renown of this item, it was astonishingly reasonable.
But even if it turns into a bath product, just imagining pouring someone else’s blood into this tub for a bath makes my head spin…
‘Well, onto the next one.’
Mysterious Candle Kit – ₩19,999,999
This was an item I didn’t know about.
Still, when it comes to candles, the image of lighting them comes to mind.
Light is always a symbol of comfort and assistance in horror stories.
‘Though, I should deliberate more on whether this is worth burning twenty million won.’
And the last one is….
Snow White’s Apple – ₩11,999,999
Wow. Wouldn’t it be a huge gain even if it’s useless to sell it for thirty million won?
‘Of course, I don’t know if it’ll even count as a culinary derivative from a horror story… but I could give it a shot.’
There were still posts on the site looking for ‘food originating from strange phenomena.’
They mentioned it was for research purposes, so the chances of them continuing to seek it seemed high.
So, considering all of this, my choices are….
“Of course, this one.”
Mysterious Candle Kit – ₩19,999,999
Snow White’s Apple – ₩11,999,999
※Discount!※ Vampire Cutlery – ₩7,999,999
= ₩39,999,997
As I mentioned earlier, light is the opposite of horror stories.
But an item that produces candles?
I have a feeling the candles made from this kit will somehow relate to defense or protection.
‘Even if it’s a bit expensive, it’s worth the investment.’
The same reasoning applied to Snow White’s Apple.
‘It feels like it’s associated with sleep in some way.’
I’ve been really desperate for sleep lately.
If that apple could guarantee me a good night’s sleep, I’d truly need it. My efficiency would skyrocket, and my survival rate would go through the roof…
‘Please!’
With a desperate longing, I pressed the purchase button.
‘Well, if not, I could always flip it for sale….’
It covers the worst-case scenario.
And last.
Vampire Cutlery.
‘Isn’t it a courtesy to buy it with such a huge discount?’
The ‘Silver Snake’ I bought previously as a discounted item was quite useful, from custom equipment to summoning Brown.
By the way, if you slightly press the belly of the plush keychain, it seems to hold a round metallic shape that still contains the ‘Silver Snake.’
Honestly, I’m not sure if I can really draw so much value from ironically “Vampire Cutlery”…
‘But I think it might at least serve for sale or exchange with the staff.’
Now that we have Salmon Market to excuse where I got it from.
So these are the three items.
“Alright.”
It fits perfectly within my budget.
Alright, I’ll proceed to purchase…
– Doe
Huh?
Suddenly, Brown called out to me.
– About that item called Bloodlust Bath.
What’s that?
– I want it.
“…!?”
What did you say.
– Friend, could you give this Brown a present?
Brown’s voice took on a cunning urgency.
– Haven’t I been doing my utmost as a ‘Good Friend’ to help you in every possible way? But I didn’t ask for anything in return! So now a small favor wouldn’t be unreasonable, right? Ah.
Silence.
– I’m so sorry. I made a terribly selfish remark…. I tried to measure the value of our friendship in gold.
– ‘Good Friends’ don’t do this….
“……”
The plush keychain dropped its head in embarrassment, as if ashamed.
– Please edit out my comment and ignore it, please…
Hmm.
“Fine.”
– Yes…?!
“Bloodlust Bath, it’s fine.”
-!!
Honestly, it’s thanks to this fellow that I escaped the theme park.
He saved my life, so I can do this much for him.
After all, the money here feels like game money, and there’s a good chance of additional funds coming in the future.
And maintaining a good relationship with a ‘Good Friend’ is an undeniably wise decision.
Especially when I recall the bizarre powers this plush keychain exhibited at the theme park.
‘And if I’m buying it, I should go big instead of holding back…!’
“The shortage of money will soon be deposited anyway, so I’ll buy it right away then.”
– Oh! Thank you! I really appreciate it, Doe
“Yeah. But this isn’t a favor or anything; it’s just because you’re my friend, Brown.”
– Yes, I know. Friend!
“I’ll buy the Bloodlust Bath as soon as the extra allowance comes in. It should be just a few days.”
– Yes!!
Whether it was truly overwhelming, his voice trembled with joy and excitement before it steadied again.
– I’m really looking forward to it! Truly… haha!
Haha! Seeing him so happy is great.
…Just please don’t ask me to procure fresh blood from somewhere.
– Oh! The items have arrived. Quite fast, aren’t they?
Anyway, the ordered items were quickly packed and delivered in a mailbox, and I had an enjoyable unboxing time.
The first item sitting on top was the vampire cutlery I bought at a special rate.
– Oh, what fine cutlery! It seems suitable for formal occasions!
A beautifully crafted small dessert fork and knife were wrapped in leather.
The silver gleamed as it reflected the flashlight’s light, sparkling elegantly and delicately.
But to use it, I’d need to make it all messy with blood… ugh.
‘But for now, let’s carry it along.’
Since it isn’t too bulky, storage isn’t an issue, and having specialized gear with a decent collection of items means I might get to use it in a crisis.
And right below this cutlery is….
[Easy and Fast Candle Making Kit]
It was the box for the ‘Mysterious Candle Kit.’
It looked colorful and cute, almost like something for kids.
‘That’s actually good.’
If it’s for kids, it should be easier to make!
I was eager to tear it open and check the instruction manual and contents, but the caution stickers covering the front caught my eye first.
[No refunds upon opening. The raw materials will deteriorate after 12 hours of contact with air, so use them quickly.]
[Recommended number of users: 3 people]
Hmm. So I’ll pass for now.
‘It would be right to finish preparing the night before being drawn into the horror story.’
I’m still curious what effects the candles made will have. Since it costs twenty million won, it shouldn’t be mundane.
– Now only the last item remains!
“Right.”
Finally, I examined the item at the very bottom of the box.
Small but heavy… a box of agricultural apples.
“…?”
No way, seriously.
Snow White’s Apples
Truly delicious! For beauty and nutrition!
“…….”
I hope I didn’t mistakenly order these from the wrong orchard.
Hmm. There’s a letter attached on top of the box indicating its origin.
Let’s read it….
——————–
Thank you for purchasing Snow White’s Apples.
These produce was cultivated and harvested with great effort in ■■, using ■■ as fertilizer. It offers a distinct difference in efficacy and flavor compared to other orchards.^^
Dosage: Chew and swallow one whole.
Effect: You will immediately fall into a sleep as deep as death, and all life activities will cease.
This effect lasts until the sun rises the next day, and upon waking, you will be filled with vitality and energy, restoring your condition!
※The orchard is not responsible for any bodily changes that occur during the state of death-like sleep.
——————–
“……”
‘This is definitely from a horror story.’
So, it’s like the potion from Romeo and Juliet that makes you appear dead.
‘Got it.’
I opened the apple box. Inside were seven perfectly round, shiny mini-apples.
The apples were small but very ideal in shape and bright red.
– Indeed, they appear to be good for the health!
Are you serious?
Still, they surely seem useful.
An item that induces a death-like state and restores the body when you wake up a day later? I could find a use for that anywhere.
Thus, my current item possession status stands as follows.
– Good Friend
– Vampire Cutlery
– Mysterious Candle Kit
– Snow White’s Apple
– Memorial Grip Talk
– Smile Sticker 🙂
– Alice Picnic Set
And specialized equipment, along with some blue soda churros.
‘In a few days, the Bloodlust Bath will be added….’
Let’s use all of them well and try to survive.
– Then may you have sweet dreams, Doe
I fell asleep a bit earlier that day, and despite having occasional nightmares, I slept reasonably well.
The confidence—close to certainty—that the next few days would be at least peaceful eased my mind.
‘Let’s take some time to relax while we await the funds to arrive.’
But a few days later.
I faced a shocking reality.
‘The additional allowance hasn’t been deposited…!’
Not to mention that the manual revision mentioned by Team Leader A of Team A hadn’t even taken place. That was supposed to be for the reward.
‘W-what the heck.’
Could it be that it was all lies? Did I get shortchanged by fifty million won?
I immediately investigated the situation.
Then I received shocking news.
“…The person in charge is missing?”
“Yeah. They’ve been absent for days.”
It seems an employee from the administrative support team in charge of the manual revision has gone missing.
And it’s been a whole week.
“……”
Wait a second.
“So, the manual review…”
“Is indefinitely postponed. It’s not urgent… It’ll take at least two months for the company to reassign such paperwork duties.”
Ah, no way!
I made a promise with the monsters from the horror story!
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