Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Grandma, This is What They Call a Cell Phone!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Next morning, early as usual.
"Good morning."
"G-good morning, boss."
We exchange our usual morning greetings upon arriving at work, then sip our coffee.
The sweet taste of instant coffee.
The moment we sit down, I stand right back up.
"Gonna step out for a smoke."
"B-boss. Let's buy some supplies. D-deodorizer."
"We have air freshener."
"Boss, for deodorizing."
"...Does it smell that bad?"
I do smoke a bit, but I sniff myself, wondering if it's really that strong.
Kim Yang dramatically pinches her nose and replies in a nasally voice.
"Boss, you reek of old man."
"That bad?"
"A little embellishment."
"Where's the time for primping? Gotta make money."
"Pay me my salary."
I pretend not to hear and slip outside. Salary day isn't even here yet, and she's already nagging.
Cigarette, coffee, and stocks.
Three things to check first thing in the morning.
Stock sites usually highlight the most volatile stock as the hot topic.
Splashed across the headlines: [Baekdu Pharmaceuticals -12%].
With the Hunter Association and police leading the charge on this incident—not to mention official protests from the 5th Floor—it was no surprise.
Unfortunately, -12% was just the start of a downward spiral. Baekdu Pharmaceuticals looked set to dominate the headlines for a while.
Stray beasts are still beastkin at heart.
They weren't thrilled about their spirit beasts being siphoned off unintentionally.
"Whew."
I scan the other stocks.
I've been playing the market pretty smart lately, so checking them gets me excited.
[Silla Tea: 315,500▲(0.15)]
[Hunter Korea: 147,000▲(2.52)]
[Murim Divine Pharmacy: 66,100▲(5.12)]
[Wolf Guard Tactical Solutions: 9,800▲(5.59)]
"Heh heh."
My lips curl up uncontrollably.
Silla Tea was a long-term hold on faith, so whatever.
Hunter Korea always spikes weirdly whenever Yoo Ye-na makes a move, so I jumped in right after the last incident.
Murim Divine Pharmacy came down from the 5th Floor.
While other pharma stocks tanked due to Baekdu, this one was soaring purely because of its 5th Floor origins.
Baekdu messing with 5th Floor strays had everyone's eyes on 5th Floor pharma.
Wolf Guard Tactical Solutions makes gear for beastkin. I figured it'd rise naturally from the stray beast backlash, so I got in early.
All red across the board. I swallow hard, then check my account.
[21,221,000 won]
Thanks to the new contracts from yesterday's clients, the balance swelled nicely.
I'd heard advice about separating personal and business accounts, but nah.
After paying Kim Yang, it's all mine anyway.
Anyway.
"Kuhahaha! They say money comes in waves—it's true!"
Forgot all about owing Kim Yang her back pay. You gotta ride the flow in life.
I dive back into the stock app and add some sells.
'Dragon Horn Divine Clinic, Brimlock Smeltery—.'
This is why you gotta use your brain.
Then, a faint maple scent wafts from beside me.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, you scared me..."
Reneah's suddenly right there.
She showed up early and tiptoes to peer at my phone.
"Oh, that thing? Stocks? The stuff that ruins lives?"
"What're you talking about? Do it smart, and nothing makes money like this."
I start pocketing my phone, but decide to bait her a bit.
"I just bought into Brimlock Smeltery and Dragon Horn Divine Clinic. You should too, client. Great prospects."
"Brimlock... dwarves? Dragon Horn Divine Clinic—those 5th Floor hicks?"
Dwarves checks out, but hicks?
"Why call 5th Floor folks hicks?"
"They don't listen to reason. Always 'tradition this, ancestors' teachings that'—ugh, so frustrating."
"Fair, at your age, you're older than their ancestors' ancestors—"
Thwack!
Reneah's headbutt lands.
Didn't hurt.
Market's up, I guess.
"Anyway, what brings you here today? Weren't you gonna contact Hyo-jae yesterday?"
"Oh, about that... no reply."
"Pardon?"
What now?
I went through hell convincing Hyo-jae.
"Why no reply? You didn't do something weird again? Like tie a letter to an arrow?"
"As if! I called too! But—"
"But?"
"I don't have a phone, so I used a payphone."
"Why no phone? What was that number you put on the form?"
"...Payphone number."
"Damn it."
Guess I didn't verify the number properly.
Payphone, though? Do those still exist?
"Sigh, people ignore calls thinking they're spam or ads these days."
"I need to buy a phone. Come with me."
"What? It's work hours."
"No customers!"
"It's morning. Who visits a matchmaker this early?"
We're only here early for paperwork, matching meetings, and brainstorming.
"Please? Pretty please? I'm scared to go alone!"
"Why's that scary?!"
"They'll say weird stuff, and I'll get ripped off!"
Eh, fair point.
Phone shops are notorious for margins. Especially with someone older like Reneah—they'd fleece her blind.
'Can't let our bad inventory pile up more.'
We had a backlog of tough cases already.
Taking anyone who walked in was biting us now.
A chance to offload a 1,901-year-old dud? Can't pass that up.
"Hold on, let me check for a phone shop nearby."
Phone Pro Shop, PhoneZalSa.
The entrance sign blares in garish rainbow letters.
[Latest Models Half Off!]
[Free Device!]
[Free Gifts! Monthly 1st Draw]
[The Holy Site from TV!]
[Pub! Lick!]
Pure sales bait.
Working part-time here, Oh Han-gyu realized how narrow his world had been.
There's no such thing as free.
Cliché, sure—but he'd felt the truth in his bones, like some philosopher.
Why run a business if you're giving stuff away?
Young as he was, he'd learned the real snakes were the ones promising freebies.
Ding-a-ling!
And today—another sucker lured by "free."
Three of them, odd combo too.
Sheep beastkin girl, human guy, elf girl.
Like a circus troupe.
'Whoa, she's pretty.'
Part-timer Oh Han-gyu admires the chic sheep girl, flashing a friendly smile.
Pretty is pretty, but business is business.
4th and 5th Floor customers were pure goldmines.
Baffle 'em with jargon, watch their eyes glaze over—easy marks.
"Welcome! Here for a phone? What model?"
Kim Yang glances at Reneah instead of answering.
"Uh, what model?"
"Huh? Model? I don't know... same as the boss?"
"Mine? Milotic 5."
"That's a grandma phone. B-boss, live a little younger."
"What does 'young' mean for a phone? Cheap and solid. I've had it five years."
"Five years? That's gone with the wind."
"What? Phones don't usually last that long."
"Hmm, then I'll take that one too! It's tough!"
"Sigh."
Kim Yang sighs in resignation and tells Oh Han-gyu.
"Mi-Milotic 5."
"Ah, sure. But the Milotic line has newer models now—way tougher and—"
Reneah butts in at the pitch.
"Ooh! Better than the boss's! I'll take that! I'm younger than the boss now!"
"Mi-Milotic's already not young."
As Reneah excitedly peers into the display, Kim Yang eyes Oh Han-gyu again.
"A-alright, this model then—"
Oh Han-gyu's pulling the box when Kim Yang's gaze turns icy.
"P-price."
"Pardon?"
"H-how much."
"Ah, listed price is 380,000 won with subsidy, plan is—"
"N-no need."
Kim Yang holds out her palm.
"Subsidy sheet."
"..."
"Sh-show me. Full subsidy, by model."
Oh Han-gyu blanks out briefly.
Her stutter made her seem ditzy despite the looks, but this was too spot-on—brain freeze.
"Ah, right here."
Kim Yang glances and taps the bottom of the booklet.
"Ch-choice plan 95+?"
"..."
"Actual device price?"
Sweat beads on Oh Han-gyu's back. As said, 4th/5th Floor folks were usually easy.
Even 3rd Floor locals were clueless about phones—what about higher floors?
But this horned sheep girl...
Stutter aside, she knew her stuff too well.
"Actual price... 620,000 won."
"F-fees?"
"Fees?"
"N-new member. Pl-plus, extra perks for other-floor customers lately."
"..."
"Pl-plus age. Gr-grandma discount too."
"..."
"Sh-sheet."
Now her stutter felt like mockery to Oh Han-gyu.
No ripping her off—he'd get chewed out by the boss.
And meanwhile.
"Hmm, kid, how old are you? Girlfriend? Fix up that look, and I'd take you."
The guy beside her starts some weird proposition.
"So, like we promised—come after work? I'll wait."
After they left.
A phone contract with zero upsell and a white business card.
[Meracle: Finding Your Miracle Amid Countless Worlds.]
Hunter specialized marriage agency, Meracle.
Oh Han-gyu felt compelled—promised to visit after shift.