Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Severing Ties with the Bureau
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"Is that really true?"
"Yes. It was definitely the merchant from the Tale Shop."
Se-jin looked ten years older overnight.
The squad leader and some squad members who had entered through the ventilation shaft yesterday never emerged from the Backrooms. Meanwhile, a massacre had unfolded outside. The mental strain was beyond imagination.
"We thought it was a spatial-type until now. Looks like there's something we don't know."
"I'll investigate the merchant right away. He's surely connected to this incident."
The Headquarters Chief looked up at the capital, which seemed beyond even reconstruction.
"Sorry, but we don't have the luxury to focus on the merchant right now. Not even most tales, for that matter."
It was an unprecedented crisis.
Deaths weren't as numerous as expected for some reason, but a city needed more than just people.
Seoul, which had been steadily recovering its old glory through ongoing reconstruction, had been hurled back to the prehistoric era by the overflowing "help" from the gods who wanted to assist.
"The merchant knows a lot and acts human-like, but he's just a fabricated tale. You know he merely mimics human thinking. The investigation won't yield anything."
A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed Se-jin's face, but she didn't voice it.
The situation was that dire.
"We might really have to relocate the capital now."
If the gods hadn't suddenly vanished, this incident would have turned the nation of South Korea into a mere religious cult, beyond just the capital.
The Headquarters Chief pondered deeply until the sun dipped slightly.
"We'll cut ties with the merchant. Every incident involving the Tale Shop has caused massive damage. Dealing with a tale in the first place might have been a mistake by the Bureau. Once things settle, I'll send a response team to handle it."
At least this crisis would have happened eventually without the Tale Merchant, but the Headquarters Chief had no way of knowing that.
In his mind, the information and goods from the Tale Merchant had long turned into a poisonous fruit.
Hearing this, Se-jin felt an indescribable, subtle emotion.
It had felt wrong and distasteful from the start, but something nagged at her that they couldn't just eliminate it and be done.
Simply put, she had a premonition that dealing with the merchant would lead to regret someday.
Her contemplation was brief. A pebble struck from behind.
"Hello, Headquarters Chief."
It was Do-hyun.
He looked as haggard as Se-jin, but aside from minor scratches, he bore no serious injuries.
His remarkable physical abilities had made that possible.
"Looking for Squad Leader Park Se-jin?"
"Yes, that's part of it, but more importantly... the Tale Shop has opened for business."
Se-jin's pupils shifted toward the Headquarters Chief.
"Before handling the merchant... let me check it one last time."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, things worked out well this time.
As a newcomer, 'Horrifica' hadn't killed many people it could trust.
Seoul had gone mad, but that wasn't my concern.
Anyway, I'd cleanly taken down the first chapter's boss, so there shouldn't be issues for a while.
I gripped the key in my pocket.
"This turned out more useful than expected."
Thinking about the most valuable gain from this incident, it was probably this key.
It was originally just for entering the Backrooms, but for me, it was like a teleportation device to return to the shop anytime.
Still, not everything had gone perfectly.
Exhibit A: Park Se-jin.
"Hmm... how do I get past this."
The moment Park Se-jin saw me outside, a massive inconsistency arose.
"What to do with the shop? Deny it and say she saw wrong? Or tell the truth?"
...
"Got a good idea?"
Why are you so obsessed with the Bureau?
"What... do you mean?"
From your actions so far, you show a blind attachment to the Bureau.
You become endlessly lenient if it's the Bureau, even if it costs you.
"Well, because the Bureau might come to eliminate us. We have to give them some leeway."
Sure, that might have held early on.
But after several trades, your power is no longer far behind the Bureau's.
Didn't you feel it?
Just yesterday, when the Bureau was powerless, you handled it.
My power matches the Bureau's?
Even so, that doesn't make sense.
Yesterday was just easy because I used prior knowledge. The shop's words are misleading.
In truth, I don't even understand how the Bureau has handled tales until now.
Scale-wise, no group in this country has that power and authority, but still, against disasters?
"No, that's..."
Until now, there were no tales this strong, so the Bureau managed?
If you hadn't been there, what could the Bureau have done?
"Umm..."
Anyway, not important right now. Back to the point.
Why are you so fixated on the Bureau?
"..."
Me, fixated on the Bureau?
I'm fine with the steady supply of big meals, but your abnormal state as my partner isn't ideal.
The Shop's red window enveloped me completely.
Last time you took a huge loss with Paradoxical Time, you raised all prices by two fingers.
Was that compensation enough for your loss?
Not enough to normalize my losses immediately, but long-term profit, right?
And yesterday too.
Didn't you originally say you'd just resolve the monopoly?
Why eliminate 'Horrifica' as well?
What did you gain from this?
The Shop's words made me dizzy for no reason.
I get what you're saying, but you're overinterpreting.
"Don't say weird stuff."
The Shop's words left me unsettled, but I should resolve this quickly first.
We had a trade scheduled with the Bureau this week anyway, and I could explain being outside.
"Shop. Let's do business."
The door was in an obvious spot: the warehouse right next to the Bureau.
I worried if they'd come given the crisis, but soon the door opened, proving my fears unfounded.
"Hello."
Park Se-jin glared at my usual smiling face.
"Merchant. What the hell are you? What did you do with that damned god?"
No more honorifics born of fear toward me.
After all the recent ordeals, I apparently no longer seemed threatening.
Come to think of it, this was the second time I'd heard informal speech since arriving here.
"The capital is completely collapsed. It won't return to its original Seoul for at least a decade."
Do-hyun approached behind her.
His tone sought sympathy, as if I were human.
I blurted out what came to mind without thinking.
"I didn't do anything in particular. If the damage is severe, I could offer a discount again..."
Suddenly, a sense of wrongness hit me, one I wouldn't have felt before.
What was I about to say?
I should be the one compensated, so why suggest a discount?
"...Merchant?"
Breathing grew hard.
The Shop's words replayed like a panorama.
A conceptual string holding me snapped, sending chills.
The joy of slaying 'Horrifica' evaporated instantly.
I recalled 'Horrifica's weakness.
Tales are bound by their stories.
'Horrifica' was tied to countless myths, and the 'Shop' could only harm through trades.
I was a tale too.
Though called the Merchant, I had no real constraints as one.
I could function without selling, do anything I wanted.
So, what story had bound me?
"Tale Merchant, are you just going to stay silent?"
Kim Do-hyun's veins bulged on his arms.
Normally I'd brush it off, but now rage surged.
I no longer wanted to continue business.
"Sorry, but business is closed for today."
At my signal, the Shop created a door.
"What?"
Before Park Se-jin could continue, tentacles burst from the shadows, shoving them out the door.
"Shop. Sorry, but gluttony ends here. No more trades with the Bureau."
Ha.
Reminds me of our first sale.
All your efforts will vanish. You okay with that?
"Yeah."
Continuing trades with the Bureau felt like becoming a fool again.
"Now... let's leave Seoul."