Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Fainting Familiar Face
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I activated the frost and, shortly after opening the door, a customer showed up.
As always, I greeted him with my best business smile, but his expression was far from great.
Sure, recent customers had been unusual, and early ones all had that vibe, but this felt off in a different way.
How to put it? It was the kind of look you'd give someone you shouldn't meet and your sworn enemy all at once.
The sort of complex, subtle expression that might've won an acting award in a movie.
Or maybe his face was twisted in extreme terror.
But that didn't seem likely.
No matter how much of a Tale I was, I wasn't the type that instilled fear.
What could it be, really?
"Customer?"
He recoiled as if taking tiny steps backward.
He didn't even respond—could barely keep his eyes open.
Looking closer, he seemed vaguely familiar.
As he trembled all over, staring at me, and I stared back in silence for about a minute, a window popped up in the air from the Shop.
Ah, it's that cop from before.
His once neat face was completely hidden by beard and hair, his managed physique now sported a slight gut, and he gave off an unapproachable vibe overall, but it was definitely the same cop.
What had turned him into such a wreck?
Seemed like he'd taken a big hit from the recent economic slump after Seoul's collapse.
Come to think of it, his station was in Seoul, and all his assets were probably there too, so it must've crushed him.
Thud.
"Huh? He passed out?"
I turned my head toward the cat statue.
Seeing how it had drawn in someone in such distress, it was clearly working well.
"Hmm... now what?"
I considered waking him right away, but touching a stranger felt off, so I waited. About ten minutes later, he opened his eyes.
His first words were, "Was it a dream?" Followed by...
"Gaaah!"
A scream that filled the entire shop.
Then he passed out again.
Five minutes later, the man stirred, shuddering as he rose.
His state was so broken, it was impossible to imagine this was the guy who'd sacrificed himself for that kid.
This is why money matters.
I had no confidence I wouldn't end up the same if I lost my home and all my cash.
Still, as a merchant by trade, just letting him go wasn't easy.
So I wouldn't make that call.
"Then let me recommend some products."
We had plenty of appealing items like the Unmelting Ice Cream and Momentary Dream.
But this ex-cop didn't need those.
Eyeball Candy it was.
Perfect for mental protection, and there were real cases of it curing mental illness or anxiety.
Was that in the game?
Well, if I remembered it, it must've been.
"Eyeball Candy it is. It'll be a huge help to you, sir."
Out of self-preservation, he reflexively answered, "Yes."
It looked like I was threatening him, which felt a bit off, but what could I do?
I was just trying to help him get better.
Leaving the man who seemed too weak to stand, I grabbed a candy from the display.
"Shop. Just take one finger."
Now it was ripping off not just the Bureau, but regular customers too?
I hoped it understood this was a merchant's pride—not wanting to give that "Back in the day, kimbap here was 2,000 won, now it's 3,000?" kind of regret.
"Kimbap 2,000 won, 3,000 won. Got it?"
?
"Just do it."
Fine.
What could the Shop do when the Merchant said so?
The Shop's sharp glare at my brow shifted to the man's finger.
One finger vanished at the same time.
Judging by the scar, it had taken this one before too.
Despite the pain it should've caused, there was no reaction.
Looking closer, his eyes were rolled back—he'd passed out again.
What now?
It was right in front of a convenience store; all sorts of troublemakers would come and go.
If I just stuffed the Eyeball Candy in his pocket and shoved him out, he'd get robbed for sure.
Waiting for him to wake up again felt wrong too.
"No choice."
I gently peeled off the candy wrapper and brought it to his lips.
As his faint breath brushed my finger, trying to make that creepy droplet...
"Ugh, gross."
I shook my hand and shoved the candy into his mouth.
It melted away fast, without time to savor the taste.
Now, out he goes.
A tentacle responded to my call, politely tossing the customer out the door.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I opened my eyes.
The sky was still dark, and I was sprawled flat on my back right in front of the convenience store, like some drunk bum.
Sorry, convenience store clerk.
I checked the cup ramen still safe in the plastic bag and headed home.
I tucked my newly emptied stump—still faintly warm—into my pocket.
Vague memories surfaced: the Merchant taking my finger and stuffing something in my mouth.
A faintly sweet taste lingered on my tongue.
What the hell did I eat?
Old memories bubbled up again.
Something about mental whatever.
Nothing wrong with my body, right?
I stared at my hand.
At least it was just one this time—should I call that lucky?
Pathetic that a former cop who'd sworn to protect citizens felt relieved over losing just a finger.
Still, surviving was worth celebrating, ridiculous as it was.
I might be the only one worldwide who'd passed out twice in front of a Tale and lived.
Report to the Bureau...? Nah.
They weren't in great shape lately, and they couldn't even shut down this shop after my first report, so they probably couldn't anyway.
One finger? Just call it a donation and move on.
I had no strength left for deeper thoughts.
Just too damn tired.
I opened the front door and flung myself onto the blanket spread out right there.
As the blanket's coziness and warmth killed my mental turmoil—and my mind itself, lulling me to sleep—a cool breeze from the window grazed my ear.
Should close the window.
Too lazy.
Window... window... door.
Door?
Didn't I just leave the front door wide open?
Normally that'd be fine—overthinking it would be weirder.
But not for me.
Suddenly, the pillow felt damp.
No, it was my eyes that were wet.
I propped myself up, using the falling tears as steps.
Before I knew it, my feet were heading to the front door, and by the time I realized, my hand was already pushing the handle.
The door swung open without resistance.
A massive bitterness poured in through that giant window, mingling with the moonlight to brightly illuminate the house.
Ah.
Doors don't scare me anymore.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It had been two days since I fell into that Tale.
My phobia vanished completely starting that day, but the feeling was oddly bittersweet.
The Merchant caused it in the first place, then cured it.
What, give you the disease and sell the cure?
No.
Thinking about it, I'd lost three fingers and gained nothing.
If I go back, even if it kills me, I gotta land one punch.
"Hoo..."
I swallowed an indescribable anger and turned toward the department store.
Hadn't been to one—or any proper shop—lately, so I figured I'd check it out.
Might as well buy a few clothes while I'm at it.
Ironic that Seoul was half-destroyed, yet the department store ran fine.
Well, nations prep for capital destruction levels in advance, so the ripple wasn't as bad as you'd think.
Despite the automatic doors nearby, I headed for the manual side door.
I pushed open the worry-free door with satisfaction and stepped inside, arms full of contentment.
Browsing around and buying a few outfits that fit my budget ate up time.
Peeking out the window, it was pitch black—must be late.
"Hm?"
My phone said 4 a.m.
Was my phone busted?
But the store clocks showed the same time.
The surroundings grew noisy bit by bit.
Not screams yet, but puzzled exclamations bounced off the walls straight to my ears.
Then a distant scream.
"Here! The door—the door won't open!"
A few people were yanking futilely at the door I'd entered through.
That door was painted black now, refusing to budge.
Some clueless folks rushed to smash it.
But most of us, me included, knew exactly what was happening.
A Tale.
Goddamn Tale.
Getting trapped in Tales twice in a few days felt unfair.
"Uwaaa!"
"Call it in—quick!"
"Phones aren't working!"
"Mooom!"
Nothing known about dangers beyond being stuck, yet people wailed.
Fear spread, warped, shoving everyone into terror.
And amid it all, I thought:
This... isn't scary at all?