‘I think I can manage for now.’
Unless I’d deliberately think about strange inner whispers or a sudden urge to read the employee handbook, such feelings didn’t surface.
Nights could be rough until I fell asleep, but having someone to talk to made it manageable.
That someone being Braun.
– Goodness! What an honor, Friend.
Yup.
Never would I have imagined a monster from a ghost story could feel like such a lifeline…
‘Humans are truly creatures of adaptation, aren’t we?’
Anyway, since I had the day off today and could sleep during the day, I figured I could compensate for my lack of sleep this way.
Of course, outwardly, I nodded politely.
“Yes. I’ll schedule it when I have the time.”
Though that ‘time’ might not come for a while—maybe even months.
But hey, I wasn’t lying.
“…Yes.”
Chief Lizard stared at me for a moment before nodding and leaving.
And with that, I returned home safely…
“Huu.”
Click.
I entered my room.
The officetel building was quiet, probably because everyone else was at work. Baek Saheon wasn’t around either.
‘Time to sleep.’
After washing up, I lay on my bed, intending to check the latest information and websites one last time…
“……!”
And immediately lost all thoughts of sleep.
‘It’s open!’
The alien shop had finished its renewal and launched a new homepage.
The colorful screen stabbed at my eyes as I clicked on it.
<Space Shopping Mall>
>>I’ll take a look at the items
★ Grand Reopening Sale! ★
Shocking prices!
Wow, really… shocking.
The design, I mean.
‘How could it look even worse?’
As pixelated fireworks burst across the screen, the increasing colors and effects made it even more hideous.
If these aliens were outsourcing their design work, someone needed to intervene.
– Mr. Roe Deer, please have mercy on this host and move me far away from that awful advert.
I gladly propped Braun on a towel on the desk.
I’d endure this design terror alone.
‘Anyway, a grand reopening sale sounds like a good opportunity.’
It might even mean more products were available now.
Excited, I clicked the entry button.
Items
Happy Maker – ₩27,999,999 ★
Nostalgia Candy – ₩12,999,999 ★
Wrapper 12B357나 – ₩9,999,999
Necronomicon – ₩49,999,999
We Can Help! – ₩66,666,666
Buy over ₩100,000,000 and get a 20% discount!
Become a Space Shopping Mall VIP!
“……”
Wait a minute.
“It’s here!”
– Mr. Roe Deer?
I nearly jumped out of bed in excitement but managed to calm myself.
“The armor finally showed up!”
– Oh, you’ve found the item you were looking for? Congratulations!
Absolutely.
Wrapper 12B357나 – ₩9,999,999
‘I have to buy this no matter what.’
It was even the cheapest item. What kind of jackpot was this?
I added it to my cart and only then realized it was 10 million won, momentarily struck by reality.
But canceling the purchase? Not a chance.
As I tried to calm down and scrolled through the rest of the items:
“……”
– Friend? Did something happen?
“No.”
It was the opposite, actually.
I checked the list again, a bit startled, but it was real.
‘I recognize all of these items.’
That was a first.
Even when an item wasn’t listed in the <Dark Exploration Records>, there was at least a brief mention that allowed me to make a reasonable guess.
Granted, some items seemed so ominous they bordered on ghost story material, but since they were just descriptions for now, I could still focus on their usefulness and applications.
‘This is amazing.’
And then, I noticed a peculiar mark next to some items.
Happy Maker – ₩27,999,999 ★
What does this star mean?
When I hovered my finger over it, a description popped up:
★ Similar to something you’ve purchased before!
‘Oh.’
These aliens… So this is why they revamped the site.
They’d implemented an algorithm. Items related to past purchases were marked with stars and listed at the top!
‘But shouldn’t it work the other way around?’
For clothing, I could understand, but why would I buy a similar item?
It might work for consumables that could run out, though.
Like this one.
Nostalgia Candy – ₩12,999,999 ★
‘The Nostalgia series.’
It was from the same place as the red yarn control gear that had been wrapped around my wrist during my time in the Security Team’s isolation room.
A series themed around returning to ‘a better time in the past’.
Since this was candy, it probably had a similar effect when consumed.
Looks like it showed up because I’d bought several edible products before—similar to the Snow White Mountain Apples.
‘This is a must-buy.’
Especially since I was almost out of those mini-apples, whether in juice or pill form.
I immediately added it to my cart and continued browsing the rest of the list.
Painkillers, healing items, armor, intimidation tools, escape items…
And then it hit me:
‘These are all good.’
Every single one was practical. Knowing their uses made it easy to discern their value.
And then, of course:
Buy over ₩100,000,000 and get a 20% discount!
“……”
A discount, huh?
‘Opportunities like this don’t come often.’
When I combined my salary, extra earnings, performance bonuses, and subtracted living expenses, my available funds came to…
‘Up to 140 million? No… maybe even 150 million?’
“……”
– Friend, are you managing to enjoy shopping despite that visual torment?
“No.”
– Hmm?
“It’s over.”
I looked at my cart.
Happy Maker – ₩27,999,999
Nostalgia Candy – ₩12,999,999
Wrapper 12B357나 – ₩9,999,999
Necronomicon – ₩49,999,999
We Can Help! – ₩66,666,666
= ₩167,666,662
※ Discount Applied! ※ : ₩134,133,329
Let’s go. Buy every single thing!