How a Veteran of the Urban Legend Gallery Survives – Chapter 13

I stared at the product list on Family Net for a long time.

The screen was neatly lined with countless items. As expected from a company claiming to be the world’s fifth-largest pharmaceutical company, the UI was surprisingly intuitive.

I slowly scrolled down, carefully examining the descriptions of each item.

Most products had detailed effects, side effects, and recommended usage instructions. There were even reviews from previous buyers, just like on an e-commerce site.

“This might be better than Amazon.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. For a place selling horror-related items, it was way too systematic.

As I reviewed each product, I narrowed down my options.

What I needed was survival. Immediate survival. It had to be an item that could help me instantly when facing a horror story.

The Negative Absorption Tea Bag caught my eye first. It seemed portable, like a drink. But the problem was time. The time to steep the tea, drink it, and wait for the effect to kick in…

“Do I have time to drink tea in the Monkey’s Dream or the Back Room?”

I excluded the Shadow Sticker for a similar reason. In theory, it could be a powerful weapon. Sticking it on an enemy’s shadow would restrict their movement. But how would that work in practice?

“Do I have the luxury to aim for a shadow while being chased by monsters or ghosts?”

Moreover, it’s useless indoors or in the dark. Considering most of the Foundation’s horror stories happen at night or indoors, buying this would be more like gambling.

Eventually, my eyes landed on the Emotion Spray Set. Seven rainbow-colored sprays, each said to evoke a different emotion.

Red for anger, orange for vitality, yellow for joy, green for calmness, blue for sadness, indigo for boredom, and purple for fear.

“If I can just use the green one well…”

Especially the green “Calmness” caught my eye.

Calmness is the most important thing when facing a horror story. No matter how dangerous the situation, if you can think calmly, you can find a way out.

I recalled my experience in the Back Room. What saved me back then was my calm judgment. Avoiding the Howler, finding the Foundation’s research facility, and escaping safely—all of that was possible because I stayed calm.

The second item I chose was the Painkiller. A transparent bottle filled with white pills. It claimed to block all pain.

“This will be my last resort.”

Even if I lose a limb or suffer a serious injury, this pill will keep me going.

In this line of work, where losing consciousness from pain can lead to death, is there a more reliable survival tool?

I checked the prices.

『Emotion Spray Set』- ₩10,000,000

『Painkiller』- ₩10,000,000

= ₩20,000,000

Twenty million won. Coincidentally, exactly half of the bonus I just received.

“Is this fate?”

A bitter smile crept onto my face. I had never spent this much money at once. I wasn’t even this nervous when transferring the deposit for my studio apartment.

I opened the bank transfer screen. My fingers trembled. The sound of tapping on the smartphone keypad seemed unusually loud.

As soon as I pressed the send button, twenty million won disappeared from my account in an instant. A receipt message arrived. The recipient’s name was “Foundation Family Net.”

About 20 minutes later.

“Mr. Baek Jeongwoo, your package is here!”

A staff member in a delivery uniform placed a box next to the partition. My name was clearly written on the black package box. The Foundation’s logo glowed faintly.

I carefully opened the box. The spray set was the first thing I saw. Seven glass bottles arranged in rainbow order. Each bottle contained a liquid of the corresponding color, and the spray nozzles were silver-plated.

Next to it was the Painkiller. A transparent pill bottle filled with white pills. When I lifted the bottle, the pills clinked together, making a cheerful sound.

As soon as I opened the box, a strange scent wafted out. Sweet yet sharp, an indescribable smell. It was like mixing old candy with disinfectant.

“Package? Did you really order from Family Net? With your bonus?”

Moon Jinwook looked at me with a surprised expression. His voice was filled with awe.

“It’s good to be thorough.”

At my response, Kang Hana, who was working on a report next to me, gave me a thumbs-up as if she wasn’t surprised at all.

“The senior is different, as expected.”

***

After work, I returned home and took a shower. Washing my body with warm water seemed to ease some of the tension that had built up throughout the day.

I sat on my bed and accessed the Horror Story Gallery. I wanted to share what had happened today. Maybe it could help someone.

─Title) Went to Jack’s Hamburger Shop lol

─Author: [Baekyaⓖ]

─Content: Just like the title says. The Foundation threw us into work right after escaping the Back Room, no time to rest. Damn, it’s no joke being the blackest of the black. But I got 40 million won as a bonus and life allowance. Used it to buy some items from Family Net. What do you think?

As soon as I posted, comments started pouring in. The Horror Gallery users were quick to react.

[AnalogueLoverⓖ]: Damn lol, 40 million won for one horror story? That’s worth seriously considering.

└[Baekyaⓖ]: Right? For a moment, I even thought the Foundation might be a decent company lol. Financial therapy FTW lol.

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. The financial therapy was good, but the risks were just as high.

If you can still think it’s worth it after seeing people’s flesh torn apart and blood splattering everywhere, then sure.

[Cryptidⓖ]: What items did you buy? You didn’t get something like opened Welch’s or time-distorting potions, did you?

I shook my head at Cryptid’s comment. Those dangerous items were never even considered. No matter how good the effects, it’s best to avoid items with fatal side effects.

└[Baekyaⓖ]: Bought an Emotion Spray Set and a Painkiller. Both were crazy expensive. 20 million won in total. But I think these two will help with horror story strategies.

└[Cryptidⓖ]: That’s a good choice. Nice.

I felt a sense of pride at Cryptid’s approval. If someone like him, a key figure in the Catastrophe Foundation’s documents, acknowledged my choice, it meant I wasn’t wrong.

[Jjolmyeon500wonⓖ]: You didn’t quit the Foundation even after escaping the Back Room? You’re really brave lol.

This comment made me laugh.

I’m more of a coward than a brave person. It’s just that it doesn’t show on the outside.

The reason I bought these items is precisely because I’m a coward, so I prepare more thoroughly.

└[Baekyaⓖ]: You should join the field investigation team lol. They pay you for horror story strategies lol.

└[Jjolmyeon500wonⓖ]: Are you crazy? Why would I join that place?

A firm rejection, as expected.

The survival rate of the Foundation’s field investigation team is less than 15% within a year. It’s no wonder Jjolmyeon500won reacted like that.

[Hikikoⓖ]: So, which horror story are you entering next?

└[Baekyaⓖ]: Still a newbie, so I don’t know… But I doubt they’ll send me to something as intense as the Back Room.

└[Hikikoⓖ]: I see… Good luck then. Fighting.

“Luck, huh…”

I put down my phone and looked up at the ceiling. Does wishing for luck really help in horror story strategies? Still, in a way, it was encouraging.

I lay down on the bed, but sleep didn’t come easily. What kind of horror story would be waiting for me tomorrow?

Lost in thought, I eventually drifted off to sleep.

Fortunately, I didn’t have any nightmares tonight.

***

The next morning.

As soon as I arrived at the office, Kang Hana approached me with a tablet.

“Today’s task is simple.”

Her voice had a brighter tone than usual. Maybe because of yesterday’s success. Her gaze towards me seemed softer.

“Just watch a play at the K Cultural Arts Center near Hyehwa Station. It’s called <Boy A>.”

“A play?”

“Yes. It’s E-grade, and there’s a manual. It induces some stress and nightmares in the audience.”

E-grade, that’s a relief. Unlike high-risk horror stories like the Monkey’s Dream or the Back Room, there’s no threat to life.

Kang Hana handed me the tablet and continued explaining.

“From the audience reviews, it’s about the level of a typical horror movie. But we still need to monitor it regularly…”

Moon Jinwook chimed in from the side.

“To check for any unexpected anomalies.”

I tried to recall with the help of the Retrospective Cognition Serum. There were many horror stories related to plays, but I was sure there wasn’t one titled <Boy A>.

‘Maybe it’s a new horror story that emerged after the Horror Gallery became reality.’

As the Horror Gallery synchronized with reality, new horror stories that didn’t exist in the original might have appeared.

In a way, this could be more dangerous. With unknown horror stories, there’s no way to prepare.

My palms grew sweaty. The Emotion Spray in my pocket felt heavy.

I got into Moon Jinwook’s car. The passenger seat was worn out, making a creaking sound every time I sat down. Moon Jinwook, holding the steering wheel, looked relaxed.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s really just watching a play.”

On the way to Hyehwa Station, I thought to myself.

‘Well, it should be fine.’

Compared to witnessing flesh being torn apart on the subway, being chased by monsters, and spending the night with dolls, watching a play seemed like a piece of cake.

When we arrived at the K Cultural Arts Center, a few audience members were already lined up. Mostly young people in their teens and twenties.

It seemed <Boy A> was a play that had gained popularity among enthusiasts.

‘They probably don’t know.’

They were buying tickets, unaware that this play was more than just a performance—it was a horror story.

Maybe that’s for the best. According to Kang Hana, the side effects of this horror story were just some stress and nightmares.

I received my ticket at the entrance and entered the auditorium. It was a small theater with 300 seats. Red velvet seats lined up, and a chandelier hung from the ceiling. It looked like a typical small theater.

“Let’s sit here.”

Moon Jinwook pointed to seats in the middle row. About half of the seats were already filled.

‘I hope nothing happens.’

I fiddled with the Emotion Spray and Painkiller in my bag.

I placed the green spray at the front, just in case. Calmness would be the most important thing in a horror story.

As I sat down, the bell signaling 1 PM rang, and the curtain rose.

But from the very first scene, something felt off. I had heard it was a modern play, but suddenly, a massive sailing ship appeared on stage.

The audience murmured, and Moon Jinwook frowned.

“Was there supposed to be a sailing ship in this play?”

At his words, I instinctively knew something was wrong with the props on stage.

Soon, a mysterious figure wearing a red crown and draped in cloth appeared on stage.

‘Wait, what?’

Red crown.

A mysterious figure draped in cloth.

A completely different play, not in the script.

In an instant, my entire body froze.

I knew this keyword.

Foundation Code CTP-3201.

Commonly known as ‘The Tragedy of the Red Prince.’

A B-grade horror story that once had people arguing it should be raised to S-grade due to the number of victims, and to this day, there are no official survivors.

Information flooded in through the Retrospective Cognition Serum.

I need to get out of this theater now…!

[Long, long ago, in a kingdom far from the center of the Earth…]

As I tried to get up, the narration on stage began.

“……”

The play had truly begun.