Phew.
‘Atmosphere setup complete.’
With this, I’ve laid the groundwork to potentially guide the Daydream Inc. employees, if needed.
I ran through the alley, holding back a sigh.
‘As expected, Baek Saheon’s eye works well.’
The eye-shaped equipment I gave him is proving effective. Honestly, it almost feels like a loss compared to the brainwashing fountain pen I received in exchange.
‘I never even used it because I was afraid people would suspect me of being a spy…’
Now that the item has become valuable, I’m thinking all kinds of things.
In any case, I saw the situation firsthand with my own eyes. …A living hell, where children and adults slaughter each other in a place overrun with infected entities.
‘…I feel like I’m going to throw up.’
The bigger problem is… it’s not enough.
Time, information, strength.
All of it.
‘…How the hell am I supposed to save the kids in here?’
As the shock faded, reality set in.
There was no answer.
‘If I tell the agents, they might seriously suggest it’s more humane to just kill everyone…’
It already looked like I’d barely be able to protect myself.
Besides, once the sun would set today, I’d be leaving this supernatural disaster with the agents.
I already knew.
Just because I had learned the horrific truth doesn’t mean I was responsible for saving anyone. And honestly, it’s easier on my conscience to ignore it. My own situation was dire enough.
Laying low and waiting out the day until extraction seemed like the best plan.
But…
‘…I have a bad feeling.’
I had already seen both sides of this.
Still, could I really escape safely using the Disaster Management Bureau’s protocol, especially when I was being treated as a child…?
‘…There’s a good chance I won’t make it.’
It seemed smarter to dig a little deeper and come up with countermeasures.
And if I could save even one more child in the process… all the better.
Besides, this ghost story was packed with meaningful details. If I were to investigate further, I might stumble upon items or unexpected information that could help me survive in the future.
‘…Alright.’
Let’s do what we can.
At least until the promised afternoon rendezvous, Black Tortoise Team 1’s agents wouldn’t come looking for me even if I didn’t show up.
It wouldn’t feel awkward either, since the children were scattered across this wide area and we wouldn’t run into each other.
‘A method… something usable…’
I began combing through my hazy memories of the <Dark Exploration Records>, trying to recall any hints.
Even if it’s not directly about the Mermaid Grave, looking into similar stories might remind me of a viable countermeasure…
Wait, hold on.
“…!”
Ah.
‘That’s right.’
There was another exploration log that mentioned the Mermaid Grave…!
And that particular Darkness… was one that I had already experienced.
‘…Alright.’
I’ll give it a try.
Once more, I began to move forward on all fours.
I ran.
Though danger lurked throughout the city ruined by infection from monstrous creatures, it was somewhat easier thanks to the nimbleness of my quadruped body.
‘Being small makes it easier to dodge.’
My destination, as I avoided the mucus and ulcers, was clear.
‘The western outskirts.’
Far from the infected cluster.
And among them, especially… was a place with fewer ulcer masses, which felt relatively safe.
However, since it’s not in the residential area where items were located, no Daydream Inc. employees ever came here.
Even the mer-children… weren’t here.
That’s why exploration in this area was slow.
‘Somewhere around here… Right.’
Found it.
Amidst the half-collapsed and old buildings, I saw the door of a small brick house, now a semi-basement due to ground collapse…
And if one were to look closely at the corner of that door, it’s possible to make out its inscription.
Moonlight Tattoo Shop
“…!”
Written in a more ornate script than the one I’d seen before, delicately carved into the edge of the door.
“……”
I found it.
The back door of Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
A connected door was discovered within Qterw-C-1642 (Mermaid Grave), marked with a sign reading ‘By appointment only’.
The door appears to be a sealed rear entrance rather than a main entry point.
All attempts to open the door and gain entry have resulted in signal failure.
This was one of many sightings related to Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
However, in most of those sightings, the door remained closed, preventing entry.
Daydream Inc. had no confirmed visit records, aside from the one time I used the ‘It Is Empty’ method.
Even now, the door’s small glass window—meant to allow visibility from inside—was entirely covered with a note.
Currently accepting appointment-only clients.
That one.
‘…I don’t have an appointment, but still.’
Knock, knock.
I politely knocked on the door with my front paw, then slid a prepared note under it.
It had been difficult to write with a paw.
– Hello. I’m the person who received a tattoo cover-up last time. I’ve come by with some related questions.
“……”
And then, a few seconds later.
I heard it.
Click.
The sound of the back door’s lock disengaging.
“…!!”
It worked.
I leapt up with my hind legs, grabbed the door handle, opened it, and quickly slipped inside before the door could close.
Into the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.