I Returned, and Now I See Strange Things-Chapter 53: Return Visit

I can’t keep depending on Hyeyeon forever.

Even getting her debit card issued today had been thanks to Hyeyeon’s advice.

Ayun appreciated her younger “sister,” but still couldn’t fully understand her.

With Hyesung, it was at least mutually beneficial—he gained content, she got help. But with Hyeyeon... it felt like she was helping purely for the sake of one “occult” experience.

Is this just a hobby for her...

Ayun tried to recall if she’d ever had a hobby herself.

...No particular memory came to mind.

Though lately, eating had become kind of enjoyable...?

Thinking about it in food terms—maybe she could kind of understand Hyeyeon’s mindset after all.

Speaking of food, that tteokbokki from last time pops into my head.

Ayun licked her lips as she recalled the rosé tteokbokki they’d eaten at Hyeonseo’s house—and with it, Hyeonseo’s suggestion.

...It really wasn’t a bad offer.

According to Hyeonseo, there was a house her grandfather had left behind, supposedly containing something Ayun would like.

Technically speaking... it still belonged to her grandmother, who only stopped by now and then since she lived with Hyeonseo’s parents.

The key point was that her grandfather had said it held “something she’d like.”

Everyone in the family knew Hyeonseo was into the occult.

So if he left behind talismans like that... it was likely something was there.

It made sense.

Which is why Ayun felt it wouldn’t be right to go poking around while Hyeonseo couldn’t be there.

Whatever’s there, it’s something her grandfather left behind for her.

Using it for her own gain didn’t sit well with Ayun.

She’d told a disappointed Hyeonseo that they could visit after the semester ended.

Truth be told, part of her reluctance was also how burdensome traveling long distances still felt.

Hyesung’s absence had left a bigger hole than expected.

...Cowardly bastard.

It’s not like she could force him to come along if he didn’t want to.

Ayun sighed deeply and kept walking.

Even if she’d said no, she couldn’t help feeling a little regret.

Because this last stream had made her realize how difficult it was to film in a residential neighborhood.

Honestly, if she’d been able to use a little more of Aslan’s power, it would’ve ended quietly.

I’m just too weak...

Still, the idea of going off the grid in the mountains like some hermit was unthinkable.

Ayun had to find another way.

Like finding beings like the moving statues that could boost her power.

Or picking secluded areas within a manageable distance.

Now that I think about it—

Ayun reached into her pocket and pulled out the paper she’d found at the abandoned school, which she suspected might be a business card.

Still stiff. Still blank.

[It doesn’t seem like just a piece of paper though.]

Ignis, clearly still curious, started talking even though she knew she wouldn’t get an answer.

Ayun nodded inwardly and checked the paper again.

The only clue was that the texture matched typical business card material.

That’s when she remembered the “Mart” from last time.

Maybe she could figure something out there?

...I wasn’t planning to go back, but.

A place full of weird stuff might just have something that could crack the card’s mystery.

The Mart being a similar kind of entity... increased the odds.

And honestly, what happened at the abandoned school had been a little too convenient to write off as coincidence.

She should also consider the possibility of some person—or group—involved.

Judging by the demolition, they probably aren’t planning to target me yet.

...No need to overthink it.

If they made a move, she’d just respond in kind.

Ayun was used to that sort of thing.

So she shelved the mental gymnastics for now and decided to head for the Mart.

Retracing her memory, she walked the path she’d taken last time.

After a bit, a garish sign appeared in the distance.

The fact that no one else was around despite a sign like that... definitely creepy.

A large door that didn’t suit an empty alley.

Ayun cautiously opened it and stepped inside the Mart.

At the register, she saw the “clerk” standing with his back turned. For some reason, it felt slightly comforting to see him.

“Hello.”

Ayun spoke carefully.

She figured, based on her last visit, that he’d greet her warmly.

But strangely, the clerk said nothing.

Beep—!

Beep! Beep!

Only the sound of a barcode scanner rang loudly through the store.

That’s when Ayun finally realized something was off.

She stepped closer, and the clerk, sensing her presence, began to turn around.

“Beep! BEEP! Beep—!”

“...What the hell.”

Ayun rubbed her eyes.

She wasn’t sure what she was seeing was even a proper shape.

He was wearing the same uniform as before, but...

Where his hands should have been were °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° barcode scanners.

And not just attached—they were growing out of the flesh, fused seamlessly like part of his body.

His right hand was relatively better off.

His left, however, had multiple scanners stacked and fused together grotesquely.

But the worst part—where his face should’ve been, there was a hand instead.

Even Ayun, who’d faced countless horrors, recoiled slightly at the grotesque sight.

[Ugh, what even is that?]

[...Like some kind of chimera.]

If it attacked, she’d have to fight.

But despite the monstrosity before her, she didn’t feel any hostility.

On the contrary, it seemed to recognize her—and even appeared relieved, as if begging for help.

It waved its grotesque fused arms and repeatedly bowed its “hand” in Ayun’s direction.

...So gross.

Even Hyeyeon would freak out seeing something like this, but the thing hadn’t harmed her.

So Ayun cautiously spoke.

“Are you asking for help?”

The “hand” nodded again.

“...Alright, but stop nodding already. How can I help?”

At least communication was working.

The “clerk” brought his barcode scanner-hands to parts of his body and began beeping.

“You want me to scan you with a barcode reader?”

Now that she’d told him not to nod, the clerk awkwardly flailed.

That was enough of an answer.

Ayun replied quickly—before the hand could nod again.

“Got it.”

She looked around near the grotesquely mutated clerk.

There, connected to the checkout counter, she spotted a barcode scanner.

Guess this is the one he wants me to use?

Ayun slowly approached and spoke.

“Hold still.”

The clerk stood stiff like a soldier at attention.

Up close, the sight was even more grotesque.

Even the lemon with eyes seemed normal compared to this.

Ayun recalled the eyeball-studded lemon from her first visit and picked up the scanner.

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She swallowed nervously and first scanned the right arm—the one with only one scanner.

Beep!

A chime rang out—and another barcode scanner grew from his hand.

“...Am I really supposed to be doing this?”

The clerk couldn’t hold back and nodded again.

“I told you to stop moving... Fine.”

Ayun scanned the same hand again.

Beep!

Suddenly, the hand transformed into a fish head. A very fresh fish head—the eyes were still rolling.

The stench of raw fish hit her nose.

“....”

Without a word, Ayun cringed and scanned it again.

Beep—!

At last, a human hand appeared.

Now the clerk had two hands again.

...Well, aside from the minor issue of one being attached in the wrong place.

Still, the clerk seemed overjoyed to have hands again and clenched his fist in triumph.

“...Guess it actually works.”

Ayun scanned the remaining body parts.

Eventually, she managed to restore the “clerk” to his original form.

Now back to normal, the clerk beamed at Ayun.

“Customer! You came back! And thank you so much for helping me!”

“Ah... yeah. But, uh, how did you end up like that in the first place?”

“Well, you see... no one but you ever comes by, so I was just practicing scanning items and, um...”

Ayun thought to herself.

...Do they even want to sell anything in this store?

Her already-low desire to buy anything dipped even further.

...Not like I came here to shop anyway.

Offering a vague reply to the cheerful clerk, Ayun decided it was time to bring up why she came.

The longer she stayed here, the more likely something would go horribly wrong.

“Hey, Clerk?”

“Yes! Dear customer!”

The clerk’s radiant smile was blinding.

Ayun pulled the blank business card from her pocket and asked—

“Do you know what this is?”

“Oooh...?”

The clerk’s eyes widened. Then he clapped and exclaimed.

“I know what that is, customer!”

“Huh? Seriously?”

“Of course! Absolutely!”

With energetic affirmation, the clerk ran to the counter and retrieved something that looked like a spray can.

“If you spray this on it, the hidden contents will reveal themselves! And then...”

“And then?”

Wearing a professional sales smile, the clerk answered.

“...The rest, I’ll explain if you buy something!”

Ayun’s eyes turned cold.