Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Long-Awaited Reopening
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Ding—Basement Level 21.
The lab was as drab and unchanging as ever.
"Working in a place like this day in and day out would drive anyone insane."
It had been a week since the shop last opened its doors. There was a high chance it would open today.
I'd come up here to let Yoon Seo-yeon know and catch up on the research progress so far.
"No one's here."
Of course, the other researchers were bustling about, but the one who mattered most—Yoon Seo-yeon—was nowhere to be seen.
"Over there."
"Yes?"
I just had to grab someone and ask.
"I'm from the New Tale Investigation Squad. Has Chief Researcher Yoon Seo-yeon stepped out?"
"Ah, the chief researcher? She's not here?"
"That's right."
"Huh... That's weird. I haven't heard anything about her going out..."
The researcher pondered for a moment before saying she'd be back soon and to wait inside.
Hey, I'd already waited a week for the shop. What's a few more minutes?
I was used to waiting, anyway.
Yoon Seo-yeon's lab looked like a wild disaster zone, probably from how busy she'd been lately. It wasn't even properly organized.
On top of that, the overlapping stench of all sorts of pungent chemicals made it downright nauseating.
I seemed to recall her saying she lived here in the lab most of the time.
"Can anyone actually live in a place like this?"
I should suggest she get a health checkup.
I shoved the stuff piled on the chair aside and sat down. Ten minutes passed.
"Why isn't she back yet?"
She'd come looking for me plenty of times when I wasn't around, but the reverse almost never happened.
"Maybe something urgent came up..."
Just sitting here waiting felt awkward. I might as well tidy up a bit.
There were no windows in the Tale Management Bureau building, so I cranked the ventilation fan to max for some air.
"Hmm, that's better."
I gathered the trash rolling around on the floor and tossed it in the bin. I stacked up the papers that looked like some garish abstract painting. After repeating that a few times, the cleaning was mostly done.
"Just gotta move that last stack over there."
It was a pile of documents buried under various bits of trash.
Judging by the color of the folder, it looked pretty old.
There was nothing written on the cover, so I thought it might just be a bundle of scrap paper at first. But when I saw black ink peeking through the thin sheets, it was clearly documents.
"Not a format I've seen around the Tale Management Bureau before."
I slid the papers up a bit from the folder, revealing the top part.
[Set for July 23rd at 12:30.]
"July 23rd... that's today."
I pushed it up a little more.
[Thanks to your hard work, we can carry out the grand undertaking far more efficiently.]
"Grand undertaking? Is the research team running some secret project?"
If that was the case, I definitely shouldn't read any further.
"It might be nothing weird. A little peek couldn't hurt, right?"
[Especially that clock—]
"Squad Leader! The shop's open!"
"Shit, you scared me!"
Kim Do-hyun burst in so suddenly I couldn't read any more.
Did this guy never learn to knock—
Wait a second.
"The shop's open?"
"Yes!"
Then who cares about some mysterious documents!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "No, something's off."
Why was that?
"Where'd my vacation go?"
Sure, I'd been busy with a few tales over the past three days, but the remaining four? I really just lounged around.
What was I supposed to do in this empty shop? Sleep, wake up, tidy a bit, then ask the shop for a few books to read. That's how the four days slipped by.
A life like that was plenty for me!
"This is ridiculous!"
One day of business, six days off—what's the problem?
"Sigh. You have no idea."
How could a tale that had never worked a day in its life understand the terror of losing vacation days?
"Haa..."
Still, I couldn't just close up shop, so I had to open.
"Shop, what time is it now?"
11:53 a.m.
"Then let's open right at noon."
Even so, it had been a whole week—opening day had me pretty tense.
They wouldn't show up like, 'After thinking it over for a week, I don't think I want to deal with you anymore,' while wielding murder weapons in both hands, right?
Ten minutes after opening time, familiar figures started filing in.
Do-hyun and Se-jin.
Seemed they'd decided to come together whenever they dealt with me.
Made sense—even I wouldn't come alone.
Do-hyun was dragging the same carry-on case from last time, and in his other hand, he gripped something that looked vicious enough to call the Tale Slayer Mk-2.
Why did it look so real?
And the first thing he said upon entering?
"Merchant. Why didn't you mention the side effects?"
"?"
"If you keep your mouth shut like that, we have no choice but to change how we treat you."
Were they cutting ties with the bureau after today?
This was so unfair from my perspective.
Side effects? What side effects?
None of the items I'd sold so far had any.
"Hmm..."
Let me think again. The dream series had no side effects. Infinite Pig's Flesh just made you full. Eyeball Candy—could mild addiction count?
"If this is about the Eyeball Candy—"
"Merchant, I think you understand what we're talking about. Tell us the truth."
From their reaction, it wasn't the candy either.
Then it had to be Paradoxical Time. But that deserved praise, not complaints. I'd even slashed the price big time, and it had no real side effects.
"Are you talking about Paradoxical Time?"
"Yes. You knew. It wasn't huge, but it was still a side effect. Why didn't you explain it that day?"
Again—what side effect?
Did the game turning real create some weird issue?
"Merchant. As a merchant selling goods, you had a duty to warn that being near Paradoxical Time accelerates aging."
"Pardon?"
If they'd said the range was small or recovery incomplete, I'd get it.
What? Aging?
Paradoxical Time reversed time by nature—it didn't accelerate anything.
If that was true, it'd cause another huge stir.
In other words, it didn't make sense.
But no matter how much I explained, they weren't buying it.
"Just wait a moment. Do you have any Paradoxical Time with you by chance?"
"No. It's stored separately at the bureau."
They come complaining about side effects without even bringing the item?
Acting all high and mighty.
"Ha..."
Was this the right call?
I could verify it, pin the blame on them, and sell it back at a premium.
I whispered to the shop in a tiny voice.
"Shop. Make me one Paradoxical Time."
Most of what you've saved up so far will disappear.
You okay with that?
"I can just charge them enough to cover it."
Got it. Hold on.
...
Made it.
I opened the drawer and pulled out a steaming fresh clock.
It looked identical to the original.
Hell, I could've asked the shop to make Label Library and it'd be fine.
"Could you catch a few bugs for me?"
Se-jin scowled at my request and beckoned Do-hyun over.
"Just so you know, the moment my innocence is proven, you'll pay a hefty price."
I could see the wrinkles deepen between Se-jin's brows.
At least three thousand fingers' worth.
Soon, Do-hyun returned through the shop's open door with a bag containing a few ants.
"Thank you. Now, take a look at this."
I placed the bag right next to the Paradoxical Time.
"See? Perfectly fine."
"No, what is this."
"As I've been saying, Paradoxical Time doesn't cause weird side effects like accelerated aging."
"Impossible... There must be a trick."
"Why would there be? I'm an honest merchant."
Se-jin and Do-hyun both fell silent, deep in thought.
Probably wondering about their intel source.
If they trusted it that much, they'd seen the side effect themselves.
Someone with the ability and motive to—
"Wait. Yoon Seo-yeon... no way..."
Se-jin gaped, realizing the harsh truth.
"Those documents earlier!"
"Squad Leader?"
"Merchant! What time is it exactly right now?"
12:33.
"12:33."
Se-jin's face twisted in horror.
"N-no!"
"Squad Leader! What's wrong?"
Already?
The overall story had shifted a bit because of me, but yeah, it was about time.
Of all days, today though.
I still had plenty to collect.
"Do-hyun, hurry! We gotta go! The door—"
Do-hyun didn't question Se-jin's words and sprang into action.
"Merchant, everything in this carry-on for all the goods you have!"
"Pleasure doing business."
I handed over the items as the door swung open.
"Gaaah!"
"What the hell is that tower?"
"The trees are moving—"
"Help!"
"Kyahaha! Wanna play with me?"
Clunk—
The door shut, silencing the citizens' screams outside.