Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Sold-Out and Desperate Measures
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I stared at the bizarre body that was somehow still alive despite all vital functions having ceased, and a single thought crossed my mind.
'This is fucked.'
I'd had no intention of luring Yoon Seo-yeon into the shop in the first place.
How the hell did things end up like this?
Let me think back.
While handling nearby tales, I'd spotted Park Se-jin and started tailing him.
Just in case something went wrong, I'd even dealt with any approaching tales for him.
That's how I ended up secretly following him, nearly getting caught by Kim Do-hyun at the cathedral.
Thinking back on that moment still makes my heart race.
I was just watching from a safe distance when I heard voices from the Tale Management Bureau, so I slipped back to the shop through a nearby door.
"What was the rush to barge in before I could even close the door?"
Yeah, why had I asked to connect a door there, anyway?
"I figured they'd end up at the cathedral anyway, so I requested it ahead of time."
I needed to confirm if things were unfolding as I remembered from the game.
I glanced at Yoon Seo-yeon.
She was the perfect picture of a vegetable—trapped in a vegetative state.
The Condensed Dream, unable to form a heart, had left her in a superposition of life and death, like Schrödinger's Yoon Seo-yeon.
Of course, I didn't like her or anything, but I hadn't intended to preserve her in this limbo where she neither lived nor died.
I could've just waited for her to die naturally.
But the moment I actually faced her, a strange rage bubbled up inside me.
It felt almost like confronting my parents' killer.
All I'd seen was her betraying me a few times in the game, yet the hatred was inexplicable—even to me.
Anyone would think I'd been personally stabbed in the back.
In the end, though, I'd sold an item, so it wasn't all bad.
Who knew a heart could taste this good?
The rich initial flavor was perfectly balanced by the blood packed inside.
I could eat a few more of these, easy.
I need more hearts!
Meanwhile, the shop looked more excited than I'd ever seen it since I arrived.
Is a heart that delicious?
I wouldn't go out of my way to eat some other animal's heart.
Oh, wait.
"You just ate the heart right away? Didn't we agree to store them all from now on?"
Does it bother you that much that your business partner scarfed down one heart?
Think about it—I've never tasted anything but fingers with your abysmal sales skills.
If the shop had physical eyes, they'd probably be glaring at me with the same greedy stare as Yoon Seo-yeon's.
"Tch."
I'd been planning to save the heart for a future deal.
Was that a tongue-click just now?
"Yeah."
To think my business partner treats me this poorly.
How disappointing.
"Quit your bitching. Want me to kick you instead?"
Got a way for me to do that?
I won't stop you if you want to punch a wall or something.
But as an intellectual, I can't stoop to such barbaric acts.
"I'll let it slide."
Anyway.
What now?
This incident must have dealt a massive blow to the Tale Management Bureau and everyone involved.
Given the bureau's current state, they'll probably start seriously using my products to resolve this quickly.
In other words, supply is low, demand is high.
"From now on, we're raising prices across the board."
A classic case of inflation.
"Of course, we need to restock the empty shelves first."
The shop had achieved a total sell-out—the kind that would bring tears of joy to any normal merchant.
Meaning, every single item in stock was gone from today's deals.
The factory truck won't arrive for another two weeks, so until then, I'll have to procure goods myself.
"I can whip up some basics with Dream Solvent for now."
What else should I sell?
I turned my gaze back to Yoon Seo-yeon.
Should I deal with her first?
If Park Se-jin or anyone else visits the shop later, leaving her like this could lead to misunderstandings.
I can't just keep her in that state.
"Want to eat her?"
I can't consume her since she wasn't payment for a deal.
"Yeah, figured as much."
Judging by the shop's gluttony, if it were possible, it'd devour every customer who walks in.
Should I just dump her at the bureau?
That feels like the worst option.
"Ah, whatever."
?
What are you doing now?
"Shoving her in the drawer?"
Do you realize you're stuffing Yoon Seo-yeon into a drawer?
"There's enough space for one person."
Someday, when the time comes, I'll explain it nicely to the bureau and return her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "This is exactly why I opposed installing the elevator!"
The elevator—installed thanks to those senile old fools droning on about safety and efficiency—had finally caused disaster.
If not for it, the damage could've been minimized.
Why had I bent to their opinions back then?
The title of Headquarters Chief felt like a stain now.
"Haa..."
On one hand, it was despairing; on the other, oddly encouraging.
The bureau had failed to respond in time, and the number of tales that appeared was beyond imagination.
Countless people were injured or killed, their homes destroyed.
Of course, actual deaths were far fewer than projected, but still too many.
Yoon Seo-yeon's whereabouts were unknown, though she might still be alive.
So far, it was a nightmare.
"Rebuilding the city is the real issue."
Paradoxical Time...
How could I even think of using that again?
No.
What was I thinking?
Am I trying to summon more tales?
We solve this with human effort.
Still, there were silver linings even in this mess.
I looked at the documents on my desk.
The ones Yoon Seo-yeon had received from Horrifica.
That such solid evidence only emerged after this catastrophe made me question my staff's competence, but the key was that we now had a way to prevent further damage.
The contents were fragmented, but they yielded valuable intel.
And intel was our strongest weapon against them.
From the documents, I learned they weren't few in number, had been active for at least seven years, and pursued a clear goal.
I didn't know the exact nature, but Horrifica aimed to create a specific tale.
Just as humans turned into tales through the process, artificially crafting one wasn't impossible if the story was fleshed out enough.
That creepy elevator felt like a fragment of such an experiment.
Why had they secretly turned people into tales for so long without the Tale Management Bureau noticing?
There had to be something in it for them.
Simplest guess: fear itself?
"Headquarters Chief!"
The door burst open as a staffer rushed in.
"Didn't they teach you to knock? From your uniform, you're research team. Who's your supervisor?"
"S-Sorry, sir. Given the situation..."
He glossed over the supervisor question, but as chief, I'd let it slide.
"Fine. Speak."
"Too many injured. Nearby hospitals are overwhelmed, supplies running out..."
"Tch."
As many deaths as there were, injuries were even more numerous.
"Have we distributed our stock? You know, those things."
"No, sir. We discussed it, but... the side effects are so severe, civilians might not survive them."
Side effects: excruciating pain like skin being flayed while healing.
It pierced through painkillers, which was why field teams now avoided injuries at all costs.
Before becoming chief, I'd seriously considered quitting over it during fieldwork.
Civilians would go into shock.
"Plus, many critical patients can't hold on with standard meds. This'll lead to more deaths."
"The bureau will shoulder that responsibility."
A medicine with no side effects and top efficacy...
One came to mind, but was it okay to release it?
We had plenty stockpiled for research—enough for critical cases.
Releasing it would cause a bureau-wide uproar, but surviving the crisis came first.
Conveniently, a researcher was right here—no need to assign one.
Future me could handle any fallout.
"We have green pills in storage. Use those."
"Green pills... you mean?"
"The new drug your research team developed recently. Called Momentary Dream. Excellent effects, no side effects."
"A drug like that exists? But I've never heard..."
"No, you've heard of it. You led the project, remember?"
"What? No, I didn't—"
"Yes, you did. You were just keeping the breakthrough quiet."
"I—"
"Right? You led it."
"Yes..."
I'm truly grateful the bureau has researchers capable of creating such wonders.