Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: New Recruit's First Day
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"This way, please... Yes, right here."
The elevator came to a stop, revealing a massive warehouse.
It was far grander than one would expect from something labeled Basement Level 3.
"We make our own suits in-house. Think of them as fully bulletproof material, more or less."
The staff member pushed through piles of items as they walked.
"Ah! Don't touch that! Everything here's super sensitive—if you mess with it wrong, it'll be a disaster."
They soon stopped in front of a container.
The iron locks clicked open, and the door slowly swung wide.
Inside hung ordinary-looking suits, the kind people wore every day.
"What's your size, by the way? Ah, this one should fit you, then..."
The suits were rummaged through.
Soon, one was pulled out into the staff member's hands.
"I'll wait outside, so just let me know when you're all dressed."
With that, the container door shut, and rustling sounds came from within.
"First time in a suit, huh..."
His name was Hyeok Tae-jun.
A former cop, now an employee of the Tale Management Bureau.
"Suck in... Is this how you put the damn thing on?"
He'd figured it was just an interview, but they'd scouted him on the spot.
He needed a job anyway, and tales didn't scare him anymore, so he'd said yes without a second thought.
"Back then, I didn't have the power... but the Bureau can take on tales, right..."
The boy he'd almost failed to protect lingered in Tae-jun's mind.
Of course, the mind-blowing salary—something unimaginable as a cop—played a bigger role in his decision.
"Hmm... This gotta be it, yeah?"
A mirror in the corner of the container reflected Tae-jun's full figure.
"Not bad."
The container opened again, and Tae-jun stepped out.
"Whoa... It suits you perfectly!"
Sure, he'd slacked on workouts lately and had a bit of a gut, but a body honed as a cop didn't lose its shape that easily.
"Normally, you'd start next week, but as you know, we're short-staffed these days. Bear with us a little."
"Sure, no problem."
Everything was fine, except that it was Saturday.
He already knew the Bureau ran on shifts, just like the force, so it wasn't much stress.
"Shall we go, then?"
They headed back to the elevator.
Tae-jun broke the long silence.
"So, uh, what'll I be doing?"
"Oh, with your cop background, you've got great reflexes and observation skills, so..."
"Why the hesitation...?"
"You'll be joining the New Tale Investigation Squad."
"New tales?"
"Yeah. We investigate freshly emerged tales first—it's dangerous, and we're swamped lately... Oh, it's the squad led by Se-jin, the guy who picked you up."
"..."
No more words were exchanged after that.
The staffer felt guilty dumping bad news on a newbie and clammed up, while Tae-jun silently reviewed the contract for penalties if he bailed today.
"Haa..."
It was a breach of employment terms.
Rationalizing it as "not my first dangerous gig," Tae-jun pressed himself against the elevator wall.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hello...?"
The staffer said to head to the 11th floor and sent Tae-jun up with some encouragement.
"Do-hyun! Business card—it's activated!"
"Got it! Prepping right now."
Tae-jun couldn't help but be flustered.
The stern Bureau image from TV and the net was gone, replaced by two people—a man and a woman—freaking out excitedly over a business card.
"Um... excuse me?"
"Hey, grab the car keys!"
"Already got 'em!"
Just as he started suspecting outright newbie hazing, Se-jin's eyes met Tae-jun's.
"Ah, Hyeok Tae-jun, right? Sorry, we've been slammed and missed you. Heard about you joining the team—nice to have you. As you probably know, I'm Park Se-jin, squad leader for the New Tale Investigation Squad."
"Yep. No need for formal speech."
"Cool? Then I'll drop it. This is Kim Do-hyun—think of him as your senior."
Se-jin seemed desperate for permission, switching to casual speech immediately.
"Pleased to meet you."
"The cop from before, huh? The one who resolved that tale."
"Ah, yeah, that's me..."
"Impressive stuff. No need to teach you the ropes at this rate."
"Nah, I'm not that good."
"And protecting someone, no less!"
"Well..."
"Plus—"
The praise barrage looped about ten times before finally stopping.
"Do-hyun! Time to roll! Tae-jun, come with. This is important."
"Huh? Okay."
"Ah."
Do-hyun's ominous "ah" echoed.
"What?"
"Business card's deactivated."
"Ah."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Everything's a hassle.
Even flopping into my plush bed feels like too much effort.
With laziness this bad hitting me, how am I supposed to run a shop?
How long you gonna laze around?
You've known since you cut ties with the Bureau—you need to deal every day.
"Nah, it's the weekend. Right? Weekends are for resting."
Self-employed folks don't rest on weekends.
"I work every weekday instead."
Your sloth won't vanish no matter how much time passes.
"That psycho yesterday drained me completely."
I buried my face in the pillow.
For the record, it was just a regular downy one.
"You won't die from skipping a day. You ate five yesterday anyway. Call it a reward vacation, cool?"
Tsk.
Do what you want.
"You were gonna say yes anyway, so why the—"
Don't test my patience.
"Mm."
So, what now?
Lounging in bed is pure bliss, but I wanna do something meaningful.
Not scouting new stock, though—that'd make me the psycho hustling on a company holiday.
"Maybe eat out."
I don't need food as a tale, but stuff like non-melty ice cream goes down fine, so it's not impossible.
Craving something tasty.
Yeah, time for some real relaxation after ages.
Just from settling that Fine Dying Restaurant and factory spat, I got ten million won.
No use for it till now, but perfect for this.
I stuffed about 300,000 won into my pocket.
"Mask..."
Normals won't clock me as a tale anyway, and the Bureau's long known I can go outside, so cams are pointless.
Just head out.
"Link a door to downtown Busan."
Using my power for your little outing rubs me wrong.
"Ah... Makes me wanna take tomorrow off too."
Linked.
Quit bitching and go.
The door opened to Busan's waterfront.
A fresh breeze carried the salty sea air across my face, and sunlight scattered beautifully off the beach sand.
"Mm! Great weather!"
This is the life.
Others take three-hour trains to Busan—this is Merchant privilege!
I gazed at the vast ocean and the horizon marking its end.
For a moment, longing for the freedom I'd never have as a tale and merchant overwhelmed me—then I remembered why I was here.
"What to eat."
Money's no object, so anything goes.
I came to Busan originally 'cause it's farthest from Seoul—the Bureau building—but seafood makes sense by the sea.
Squid sashimi? Tasty, but I overdid it pre-possession.
"Yeah, sashimi today."
Tourist spot means tons of sashimi joints.
Can't pick randomly, though.
Check online reviews...
"Right, no phone."
Went into the nearest one.
Four tables occupied—so decent choice.
The sashimi hit my table.
"Wha—huh?"
Space warped.
My sashimi and table vanished too.
Familiar spot.
Headless waiters scurried about, grotesque dishes everywhere.
Fine Dying Restaurant.
Once their factory supply line snapped, the owner'd hunt new sources.
That "lucky event" I mentioned if things went well...
Looks like I hit the jackpot.
"Dear... this is a tale, right?"
With the civilian diners mid-meal.
"Order, sir? Especially you there, gentleman?"
The waiter pointed at me.
Shit, wrong place to stumble into.