ocean-life Chapter 94.2
Chapter 94.2
Then, maintaining a completely natural tone, I said,
“We were just walking slowly to check something. Have you both reached your step count?”
“Oh, we’re almost there. We did a lot of pacing back and forth while browsing in the shop.”
“......”
“A bit of a shame, really~ We could have checked out two more alley options!”
Kang Yihak clicked her tongue regretfully.
On her phone screen, the remaining step count was clearly displayed.
Don’t give up on your body!
Remaining steps : 1,052
“Well, since we’ve already spent all the money you lent us, we might as well check what the next alley looks like before heading back. Haha!”
“...Yes.”
Did you know?
There was exactly one way for someone who had lost their phone to successfully escape this place.
A method recorded multiple times, thoroughly verified, and confirmed as fact.
I had almost been presented with a similar opportunity just now.
And that was...
To steal someone else’s phone.
Supervisor Park Dojeong got into a scuffle with a merchant during a transaction. In the process, he sustained three hairline fractures to his left rib and had his phone destroyed.
Successfully returned after seizing a civilian’s phone.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
“......”
I stared at Kang Yihak’s phone, dangling in the air without protection...
Then said,
“Yes. Please return first. Squad Leader, would it be alright for them to go back on their own?”
“Yes.”
I sent my two batchmates away.
“Well then, we’ll head back. Thank you...!”
“Haha, see you at work tomorrow. We can talk more about our spoils then~!”
The two of them walked down the alley and suddenly vanished.
...They must have entered the next alley.
Don’t do anything you can’t handle.
‘That’s an undeniable act of evil.’
If I went that far, I might not be able to use my Silver Heart anymore.
Even if that weren’t the case, if I later realized I could have survived without stealing a phone, my mind wouldn’t be able to bear it...
‘Unless it’s the absolute worst-case scenario, don’t go that far.’
The moment I crossed that line, my corruption might accelerate.
I traced the silver ring I was already wearing, grounding myself.
– Oh, Mr. Roe Deer, you chose dignity. What admirable restraint!
– Some guests will resort to the most disgraceful acts just to gain attention. That too is a kind of noble professionalism, but isn’t it contestants like you who truly win over the audience?
R-Right.
‘Thanks.’
Though, honestly, I’d rather not be compared to that.
I took a deep breath, trying not to recall the chaos of the Tuesday Quiz Show.
I was already trapped in a ghost story—I didn’t need to relive the time I nearly died in another one.
Instead, I focused on combing through my mental records, searching for any clue in this alley that might help—
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
Fwik—
Lee Jaheon grabbed me by the nape and yanked me through a shop door.
Then, after pulling me inside, he immediately dropped to the floor.
“There’s water.”
“......!”
I lifted my head.
We were inside an unmanned laundromat.
“...Yes.”
“Do not use it.”
“......”
A chill ran down my spine.
“You know about this button, Squad Leader?”
“Yes.”
“...Does something bad happen if I press it?”
“That depends on your perspective.”
“...Could you be more specific?”
“That is not possible.”
“......”
“However, in our current situation, I do not recommend using it.”
“......”
‘Huu.’
In the end, I put the button away again.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon might not say everything he knows, but he doesn’t lie.
And the fact that he’s someone who can also purchase items from the alien shop made me even more uneasy.
‘He’s the reason I got the link to the alien shop in the first place, with his account.’
All in all, forcing the use of this item right now felt like setting up my own grim final entry in the exploration records.
– Oh dear, you’re not pressing it? I was curious to see what would happen, how disappointing.
Really?
A wave of profound exhaustion washed over me.
It felt like realizing that a rope ladder I’d thought appeared out of nowhere was just a drawing.
“......”
Leaning my back against the laundromat wall, I stifled a sigh.
“In that case, all our remaining options are shots in the dark.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon looked at me. I drummed my fingers nervously on my arm.
“Like... maybe if we destroy an entire house, we can create a gap in the concept of the alley and escape— Wait, don’t do it!”
“Yes.”
I’m going crazy.
I quickly stopped the lizard from punching a hole in the wall with his bare hands, then sank down to the floor.
‘Is there really no other way?’
Either we die, or we escape.
Is there truly no more reliable option than betting on some extreme long shot?
Certainly, the methods for leaving a ghost story...
......
Ah.
“......!”
I jumped to my feet.
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
“Squad Leader!”
This—this might work!
“There’s a way we can try. First, we get out of here and move—”
Lee Jaheon grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
“Step away.”
“......”
I turned my head.
Through the laundromat’s glass door, I saw a dark shape.
It was watching us.
A mass of black water.
Found you.