Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Beside the basement parking lot, there is a small space that looks as if it were the realization of a building owner’s greed to somehow squeeze in one more commercial shop and rake in rental income.
The small shop occupying that tiny space… was exactly the place I intended to visit today.
A special tattoo shop.
———————=
Records of the Dark Exploration / Ghost Story
[Moonlight Tattoo Shop]
: A ghost story appearing in the , Daydream Co.’s identification code is none.
Currently, Daydream Co.’s official exploration record of the corresponding location is merely a one-off record through ‘It is vacant (Qterw-C-818).’
If more detailed information is desired, Document-#818-15623 (Civilian Interview Record) can be viewed, but its credibility cannot be guaranteed.
———————=
You might ask if it is dangerous because there is a description that its credibility cannot be guaranteed?
That is not the case.
To begin with, ‘It is vacant,’ which serves as the basis of this ghost story, is a ghost story satirizing the human trait of being unable to accept goodwill as goodwill and trying to find a negative reason somehow.
In context, this place is bound to be a ‘good’ place that does not run contrary to the civilian interview records.
-Are you entering?
Yeah.
I politely pressed the open button next to the frosted glass door.
Slidsssh.
The door opened, revealing the interior of the tattoo shop.
At a glance, it looked like a normal and simple shop. Facilities that were slightly shabby but cleanly maintained; a notice was written on the counter that only single-person procedures were accepted.
Only, light was shining down on the operating chair in the center.
It was moonlight.
Strangely, they had installed a transparent LED panel exactly in the center to make the moon visible. Artificial moonlight was pouring down from there.
‘It is exactly as described.’
“Is anyone there?”
Upon making a sound, the owner who had been sitting at the counter walked out.
She was a woman in a sleeveless top with tight Hangul tattoos engraved on her neck. Her appearance with her curly hair tied tightly popped up keywords like technician or artist at a glance.
“I want to receive a tattoo consultation, is it possible?”
Nod.
“By any chance, what is the price range?”
The tattooist pointed to the counter wall with a somewhat naive expression.
[Only physical payment is accepted.]
That’s right.
Here, general cash is not accepted. Instead, payment was received through various items that suited this shop owner’s taste….
There was also a preferred condition.
[Preferred Condition: Sea-related items]
Thanks to that, a civilian who coincidentally matched this preferred condition would end up having a highly rare experience.
———————=
Document-#818-15623
Citizen: Actually, I just took a wrong turn. I was trying to go to a tattoo shop that was in the commercial area around ■■ Station, but perhaps because I took a wrong turn, I arrived at a neighborhood with many vacant offices.
And I discovered that tattoo shop in the basement.
I thought it was highly unique because they said they accepted sea-related items. So as a test, I showed them the hourglass key ring I possessed, and they accepted even that?
And I was guided to the operating chair in the center.
———————=
So I indeed brought a ‘preferred condition’ properly……, that is.
“Is this kind of thing also okay?”
I pulled out the prepared item from my briefcase.
Opening the rectangular box lined with velvet fabric….
Grains that flashed brilliantly poured out reflected light.
“They are pearl beads.”
“…!”
They were ocean pearls that were fucking expensive indeed.
Of Akoya white-green, 10 mm perfect spheres with a pink aurora light returning, making them look almost like holograms, the highest grade.
‘Actually, there were many more expensive items related to the sea but….’
According to the records of the civilian who visited this place, this owner strangely seemed to prefer items that were heavily influenced by the passage of time.
And pearls are proteins, so they are unconditionally influenced by the passage of time.
‘And it was also an item I could buy by quickly dropping by the Jongno wholesale market in one hour of lunchtime outing after a day of search.’
Just in case, I even went as far as excluding South Sea pearls, which are slightly less susceptible to the passage of time, and selected Akoya…,
“How is it?”
“…….”
Nod-nod-nod-nod-nod.
An intense reaction returned.
The tattooist stared blankly at the luster of the pearl beads, then carefully took the box I held out.
Joy flashed through her naive eyes.
‘What on earth does she use them for.’
It was unknown.
In any case, as soon as the tattooist organized the box in the counter with immense speed, she guided me to the center highly politely.
To the place where the chair bathed in moonlight was.
“Thank you.”
Soon, the tattooist brought a cup of large-capacity lemon drink and a large book.
Up to here was as described too.
She brought me a cup of lemon drink and a book. It was a collection of tattoo designs, and it was written ‘Basic No. 3.’
I received the procedure after choosing a dolphin silhouette the size of a fingernail. I was told to close my eyes during the procedure, but strangely, there was no pain.
I turned my eyes to the cover of the book.
If the design received by the person who gave the hourglass key ring was ‘Basic No. 3,’ indeed what would it be now that I gave pearls worth ten million won.
Of course, it might be a highly capitalistic idea.
‘After all, this is a small tattoo shop inside a ghost story, so such a material method might not work on the mysterious owner….’
[Royal Special Premium No. 1 (Customizable)]
“…….”
It worked… well.
‘Thank you.’
Indeed, money is king anywhere.
In any case, does it mean the designs in here are at a level I can receive with the physical goods I paid.
‘Hm.’
Let’s look prudently.
I flipped the pages of the book.
A constellation depicted as water droplets splashed, polar bear claws overlapping exquisitely with Inuit patterns, and even a evening beach landscape using faint pastel tones.
It was filled with highly wonderful designs.
If I had truly come to receive a tattoo out of a great passion for it, I would have been admiring and choosing diligently but….
Actually, that was not the important thing to me.
‘Because this tattoo disappears on the next day anyway.’
To be precise….
I thought I had a dream. I clearly received the tattoo, but it was cleanly gone.
But do you know what is stranger?
The tattoo received here is ‘absorbed’ into the recipient.
I suddenly became good at ocean swimming.
Just like the dolphin I had engraved as a tattoo.
In other words, it gave the person a special ability according to the tattoo design!
‘I must absolutely not miss this opportunity.’
In the , there would surely be dozens or hundreds of ghost stories that give talent or ability to humans.
But there was almost none that could be received in an active manner without losing anything in such a gentle way.
This world littered with crazy ghost stories where you must sell your body, sell your soul, or at least sell your conscience to obtain anything.
The ‘Moonlight Tattoo Shop’ was truly no different from a single ray of light in the Dark.
‘I am taking away a decent one without fail.’
I flipped the pages of the book while fiercely deducing the abilities of the designs.
-Roe Deer, I want to look closely too!
Ah, right. If it was Brown, he might be able to read more.
I carefully pulled the doll out of my pocket and placed it in front of the book.
-Oh, the artist’s aesthetic sense is decent. In my opinion… mm?
The tattooist stared closely at Brown with glittering eyes.
And she lifted Brown.
“…! H-Hold on….”
[Service]
“…….”
-Wait a minute. Please handle me carefully, my body is filled with cotton so it doesn’t move well…… hm, ehehem, hm….
The tattooist put Brown in the basin she brought, then skillfully applied aroma oil to her hands, kneading the doll to shape it.
…A massage?
-Whew…. The fatigue of shooting is completely vanishing…….
The doll is making sounds like a celebrity exhausted from a schedule….
It was indeed a shocking sight that wouldn’t be seen in any ghost story.
Heartwarming… is it?
‘…Let’s just choose a design.’
I thanked the tattooist who handed over the shiny Brown preciously, then fiercely flipped the pages again.
But there was no design where a special ability was deduced. Only the point that there were uniquely many related to the sea gave a strange feeling.
Well, if so.
“By any chance, is there anything you would recommend?”
What if I asked openly like this.
“Is there a symbol in here related to courage, or the boldness to step forward without fear?”
Yes. In the end, this seemed to be what was most needed for me.
‘Escaping cowardice…!’
Although the various abilities that could be obtained here were tempting, in the end, the most fundamental and powerful special capability I possessed was the .
Information, that is.
And to use that information properly, equipping a mentality capable of rational judgment was the top priority.
‘I cannot live any longer with a heart that seems about to faint with a single slip…!’
How many times did I think I was on the verge of death because of this coward’s heart!
‘The opportunity to enter the Moonlight Tattoo Shop through this ghost story is exactly once.’
If so, it is correct to use it on the most urgent thing!
Only, asking directly like this was an act not in the records, so I was a bit nervous, but fortunately, the tattooist readily flipped the pages and pointed to a design.
That design was….
“……A tomato?”
That’s right.
It was a tree with tomatoes.
Lines extending vigorously with a somewhat rugged pen tip feel were dynamically drawing branches, leaves, and fruits.
It was lonely, rough, and lyrical.
Color was expressed only in those red fruits. The tomatoes, that is.
‘Why on earth is this related to courage.’
Honestly, I didn’t know well, but since this tattooist communicated only through the pre-written book, I couldn’t hear a detailed explanation.
Still, it was the practitioner’s recommendation, so it must be correct.
“Yes. I will receive this.”
The tattooist nodded pleasantly and retrieved the book.
“Ah, the location is here….”
I rolled up my left sleeve.
If I received it anyway, I had intended to receive it near where the tattoos originally were but….
“…!”
The tattooist’s expression suddenly changed, and she stood up from her seat.
‘What is it?’
And she quickly pointed to a notice stuck on the wall.
[Procedure may be refused due to specific reasons.]
She pointed to my arm in succession.
“…!”
Could it be.
: Socius :
: 恩주 :
“……Are these letters visible to you?”
Nod-nod.
Her expression asked why I was asking such an obvious thing. So she was indeed a resident of the ghost story as well.
No, that was not what was important right now.
“Is it because of these letters that I cannot receive a new tattoo?”
Nod.
“Is even receiving it on other arms or back not allowed?”
Nod.
“……Then, does it mean there is absolutely no way for me to receive a new tattoo as of now?”
No…d.
Dammit!
“I didn’t engrave these letters because I wanted to, is there truly no other way? I really wanted to receive it….”
I drooped my shoulders as if highly dejected.
The tattooist seemed to contemplate something with a flustered expression, then eventually pulled out something from the counter.
‘An advertising pamphlet?’
The tattooist flipped the pamphlet and quickly pointed to a phrase on the page.
[Cover-up possible]
[We help make a new transformation of your existing tattoo.]
“…!!”
[※The cover-up of Moonlight Tattoo Shop does not cover the existing tattoo, but proceeds in a direction that maximizes its charm.
The meaning remains entirely the same, meet a new beauty.]
Hold on.
So, actually, does this mean… she will give me an enhancement procedure?
-Excellent! The tattoos engraved by the theme park mascot and the lodge laborer were indeed a bit too much. How about making a more aesthetic choice for yourself?
-Nightjar, constellations, eight trigrams… there were many beautiful patterns! It would be good to cover it up splendidly!
I looked down at my arm.
: Socius :
: 恩주 :
“Can I receive both?”
The tattooist nodded.
‘I can receive only one new tattoo, but are they performing both as exceptions for cover-up.’
But I intuitively felt it.
‘Choosing only one will let her do it more properly.’
Because this was a shop, naturally, it was a place that did a much better tattoo in proportion to the value paid.
Rather than splitting the value in two, it was better to choose only one for the most part.
“…….”
I contemplated.
And….
“I want you to cover up only this side.”
I pointed to one tattoo with my finger.