Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Merchant's Exposure
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“Take that article down right now!”
The Tale Management Bureau, normally quiet and solemn by default, was unusually chaotic.
“Headquarters Chief, it’s spreading uncontrollably!”
“Don’t you know this is illegal? Why the hell did you publish it?”
The bureau was doing everything it could to respond, but there was no way they could keep up with the speed of tens of millions of internet users.
“Ha… Why the hell did Heo Min-jae do something like this?”
“Uh… well.”
His usual arrogance had vanished completely, leaving only the timidness typical of kids his age when they first entered the bureau.
He had realized no one could protect him anymore.
“Do you really not know what kind of mess you’ve caused by pulling this stunt?”
Originally, illegal possession of tale items could have been easily swept under the rug through his parents.
The Headquarters Chief had only sent people to arrest him as a warning to not make things annoying.
But from the moment the situation escalated this far, prison was an inevitable part of Heo Min-jae’s future.
“N-no… That reporter did it on their own… okay?”
Using polite speech, which he wasn’t used to, made his tongue twist uncomfortably, but he couldn’t drop it even if it felt awkward.
Not with the Headquarters Chief and dozens of burly agents glaring at him murderously.
“Ha…”
Nothing came from the Headquarters Chief’s mouth but a heavy sigh laced with disgust.
“We’ve already caught that reporter too. They said they had no choice because you threatened them. Of course, that’s separate—the reporter will be punished just the same.”
This meant Heo Min-jae couldn’t escape punishment no matter what he tried.
“I-it was just insurance in case the bureau couldn’t catch that tale… And those damn pills have been on sale at the shop lately… The bureau can’t hide stuff like that, right…?”
The sharp glares from everyone around him made Heo Min-jae’s eyes drop involuntarily to the floor.
Of course, most employees didn’t know the true nature of the Tale Shop, so they didn’t grasp the significance of it selling pills—they just dismissed it as nonsense from a fool, so no real issue there.
Heo Min-jae’s expression darkened in real time.
But the most troubled person in this situation was the Headquarters Chief.
Even a simple tale spreading like this would be a problem, but with the unidentified power and potential of the Tale Shop now exposed this way, he had no idea what would happen next.
And there was always the chance the rumors could get exaggerated, twisting the Merchant’s story.
In truth, the biggest issue encompassed all that—the fact that the bureau had secretly dealt with the Tale Shop. It wouldn’t be long before someone pieced it together.
Of course, most items the bureau used came from tales, but whether they were refined through research or used straight from the source made a world of difference.
“Headquarters Chief, we’re here.”
Pushing through his endless worries came the New Tale Investigation Squad.
“Ah, you’re here.”
“We heard the gist…”
The Headquarters Chief noticed a man he didn’t recognize standing awkwardly.
“You must be the new guy. It must be confusing having something like this happen so soon after joining. Sorry about that.”
“No, not at all. It’s fine.”
“Headquarters Chief, could you give us a detailed explanation?”
“Of course. It involves you all anyway.”
As the Headquarters Chief’s explanation continued, veins bulged in Kim Do-hyun’s fists, and Park Se-jin started tapping his cigarette pack in his pocket.
Tae-jun was the only one not showing much reaction, but as the identity of the tale they were discussing became clear, his face paled.
“The shop’s items are overwhelming! If someone with malicious intent starts trading with the shop…”
Kim Do-hyun grimaced.
“Hm? Tae-jun, something wrong? You look pale.”
“No, nothing at all.”
Tae-jun hid his cleanly regrown fingers behind his back, courtesy of the bureau’s aid.
“Anyway. I have a request for you—”
“Headquarters Chief! Research results are in!”
At that moment, the chief researcher came sprinting in like a madman.
“I was wondering why he bought five Eyeball Candies, but their effects have changed!”
“The effects changed?”
“Lately, rumors about these candies have shifted, and it seems their effects followed suit. We estimate the new effect is loss of fear.”
No one noticed the beads of sweat forming on Tae-jun’s hairline.
“Anyway, where was I? Right—as with those candies’ story changing, the Merchant’s story could shift anytime, unpredictably. And as you know, that means generating an unforeseeable new tale.”
All eyes turned to the Headquarters Chief.
“I’ll provide you with a ‘Spatial Rift.’ The moment the business card activates, eliminate the Tale Shop.”
Spatial Rift.
It meant teleportation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Did you enjoy that precious vacation you somehow wrangled amid all the bullshit?
“…”
Judging by your face, doesn’t look like it was much fun.
Ate some bad sashimi?
Or did you just miss running the shop that much?
“No, definitely not that.”
Maybe it’s what they call a stomachache from raw fish.
Your gut’s churning like you got parasites from sashimi you didn’t even touch.
Of course, since it was that tale blabbing, all its talk of ‘creation’ and whatever might just be meaningless nonsense. Even so, it’s hard not to let it get under your skin.
It acted like it had me all figured out.
Should’ve gotten more words out of it before killing it.
Skipping your boring vacation, what’s that in your hand?
I shifted my gaze to the kitchen knife gleaming threateningly in my right hand.
The knife the shopkeeper tried to stab me with—and the reward from this tale.
“Reward from severing a tale’s neck.”
Tale’s neck?
I explained the recent events to my business partner.
So that’s why your face looks like that.
I don’t get the appeal of raw fish myself, but you wanted it that bad?
“No, the point isn’t that I couldn’t eat sashimi.”
Then did that ‘creation’ crap really get to you?
Unbelievable.
Worrying over such drivel.
“Drivel? You have no idea how rattled I am right now.”
All tales originate from creation, after all.
The only difference is whether it was intentional or accidental.
So naturally, you’re a created being too.
“I know that much. But it felt different somehow.”
It’s pointless worrying in my opinion.
And it’s not the kind of worry that’ll yield an answer anyway.
“No, you act like you know everything. What exactly do you know to say that?”
What do you mean?
“You didn’t spawn with me. How did you exist before I showed up? Did you just keep hopping to new Merchants?”
It was something I’d vaguely wondered before, but now was the time to ask properly.
…
I see.
It took an awfully long time for a new window to appear after that.
“Hey. You dead?”
I don’t remember.
“What?”
I hadn’t noticed until now, but trying to think about it… I can’t recall anything before the day I met you.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
It’s disconcerting.
Acting like I knew everything one minute, then drawing a blank the next.
And you’re the dividing line?
No point dwelling on this.
Forgotten memories always have reasons.
The story got edited, or maybe it was always like this.
Either way, it’s beyond our control.
“Feels unresolved.”
I told you.
If worrying made it come back, it would’ve by now.
Same goes for what that shopkeeper said to you.
It’s important info, but just as the Shop says, there’s nothing we can do about it.
“Sigh.”
Frustrating, with all these clues handed right to me, but no way to act on them.
Just a tiny bit more, and I feel like I could figure it out.
Instead, explain that new kitchen knife you got.
“Oh? This.”
Paburarum.
A knife with a fancy-sounding name unlike its plain appearance.
Its meaning: ‘story.’
“This cuts stories.”
If I weren’t so strong, the Fine Dying Restaurant would be a mid-game tale.
This was its bonus event, something for late-game.
What does ‘cutting stories’ mean?
“Exactly what it says. Stab a tale with this, and its story tears.”
Problem is, you can’t control which part tears, making it a real mixed bag.
For example, stab a tale that only acts at night, and the ‘only at night’ part might vanish, letting it pop up during the day too.
Or ‘power to destroy the world’ could lose ‘destroy the world.’
So much RNG despite its insane power—that’s why I’ve barely used it.
Quite the ambiguous item.
Sell it?
“Nah. Better I keep it.”p> Too risky to sell anyway.
I flopped onto the fluffy bed to soothe my fatigue.
As I drifted off to sleep, I had another nightmare.
I thought it stemmed from the lingering unease of those events, but it seems it was a precognitive dream.
“Ooh… You’re that Tale Merchant, right? Mind a quick interview…?”
The problem was forgetting that a lunatic showed up the day after my nightmare.