Work Text:
<A Contamination Story>
What happened on the 4th floor? Why did Agent Choi have to go up there and return as the employee? Is he stupid?
Kim Soleum read the exploration records while biting his nail. He loved reading the story and currently on the Looky Mart episode. It was late at night and he had work tomorrow, yet the last thing he read was the story of Agent Choi who met his end in such… comical way. Some people commented to express their enjoyment but personally Kim Soleum craved for a happy ending. How Agen Choi could survive Looky Mart as an employee? How would he escape in a severely contaminated state?
The answer is none. Like any creepypasta that included an employment contract, explorers would be trapped forever. Even death would not be an option or salvation and that was the rules agreed by many writers, and became a strong foundation to the DER-world.
Kim Soleum pouted. “I can’t sleep well like this. I have to know his fate!”
Because named characters such as Agent Choi left a bigger impression in people’s minds. He was made way before the SDMA became a structured faction, so to think he had met a ridiculous end… Kim Soleum couldn’t accept that.
<WELCOME TO THE LOOKY MART!>
Kim Soleum blinked. Here in his pajamas, he stood in the middle of the supermarket. His body was semi-transparent so it must be a dream. Yeah, this is a dream, right, let’s wake up then or at least pick another, less creepy dream? He looked around, his gaze meeting the digital wall clock and it was 11.40 in the morning. The announcement was about today’s special sale, yet as Kim Soleum listened to it, the broadcast promoted products such as ‘fresh batch of __ eyes’ or ‘ __ meat! Only for today!’ so he stopped before it got more distorted and tried to find the exit.
‘I should not read DER before bed!’ He scolded himself. Since he was semi-transparent, his body felt lighter and his steps bounced, but he still can bump into shelves or touch the product, so one of the employees noticed him and said.
“Welcome to Looky Mart, may I help you, dear customer?”
He almost fainted - why didn't he just faint and wake up?!- when a man with a huge scar around the neck and a wide grin approached him. Kim Soleum stepped back, but he remembered the rules of this place, he just read it last night. Customers should not cause commotion in the supermarket area, or a security guard will be dispatched to kick them out. It wasn’t a bad idea but from the description of how these ‘security guards’ looked, Kim Soleum preferred not meeting them.
“Uum… yeah. You can see me?” He asked.
“Yes, Customer-nim. What can I help you with?” The man said merrily.
“Can you show me the cashier?”
“Ah yes. You can go left then…” The employee paused for a moment. It seemed, he was especially assigned in this area that he had no idea what was beyond. Kim Soleum found a trapped explorer!
“What is your name?” He asked.
“My name? My name is…” The employee's eyes flickered with blue light, before it was back to emptiness, “Welcome to Looky Mart! Dear customer-nim, may I-”
Is this fate? Kim Soleum bit his bottom lip, was this because he wanted to save that agent, so he was sent to this cursed place? He had no idea, but he knew this was a dream and he would not die even though he failed. Kim Soleum opened his mouth and called, “Agent Choi.”
The employee frowned. The whole supermarket turned silent and eerie, before a moment later, the noises in the background were back. Kim Soleum stared intently at the employee, “Agent Choi, you are Agent Choi from Supernatural Disaster Management Agency. You are here on a rescue mission.”
Steps approaching. One, two, many heavy steps closing into their section. Oh, no, the guards! No, I don’t want to see their ugly faces! AAAAAAAAAH!
“Come here, customer-nim.” Employee Choi grabbed his wrist and took him to hide behind a shelf. Then he stood right in front of it and smiled brightly, “Welcome to the Looky Mart! Welcome to the Looky Mart! May I help you, dear guards? Welcome to the Looky Mart!” He acted like a parrot, until the mess of whatever it was -Kim Soleum closed his eyes because he didn’t want to see it- passed the section and left just the two of them.
“It’s clear now.” Employee Choi gave him a hand, now gently helping him to stand and smiling warmly at him, “Aigoo, almost lose myself right there.” He sighed in relief, his face was still deathly pale but the light was returned to his gaze. “Thank you, dear customer. For snapping me out of it.”
Kim Soleum wanted to weep in the mix of joy and sadness. “Can you get out of here, Agent Choi?”
He looked at both his hands, wearing the mart’s uniform, he was stripped of his uniform and lost his weapon. “I can try, but if the mart closes, I will return to my contaminated state.” He sighed, now his mind was cleared, he could see all sections of the first floor, including the exit. He took Kim Soleum's wrist again and led the semi-transparent man, “come, let’s get you out of here first.”
“I’m alright. This is just a dream to me.”
“You’re dreaming of me, what an honor!” Employee Choi laughed.
“Not particularly.” Kim Soleum pouted, “we don’t even know each other.”
“Aigoo, don’t be so cold. You know my name.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just make sure you can escape.” Kim Soleum tried to let go of his wrists but the man by his side held it firmly. After a moment, Employee Choi muttered ruefully, “Let me hold it for a little while longer…”
Of course, why didn't he notice that? Even to the strongest agent,to be trapped here day and night, severely contaminated, that must be a nightmare. In sympathy, Kim Soleum patted Employee Choi’s shoulder. It was a bit awkward, since the man was taller than him, but Choi noticed his gesture and gave him another gentle smile. Even in contamination, the man looked charming. Must be popular among women- wait, it wasn't the time to get distracted. Focus!
“There’s the exit without payment.” Employee Choi pointed. In between narrow snack shelves, Kim Soleum did something by impulse. Nostalgia Candy! He found one on the shelf and immediately put it inside his mouth. Before the alarm blaring, he grabbed Choi’s shirt and kissed the Employee, pushing the candy inside the dazed man’s mouth.
“If you escape, I’ll tell you my name.”
Alarm blared and Kim Soleum disappeared into thin air, yet the pretty face and the cheeky smile haunted Choi, along with the sweet scented candy melted on his tongue.
******