Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The Arm Deal
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It's always been like this to some extent, but lately, doing business feels almost like an obligation.
Business does improve my physical abilities, but since there's no numerical display or anything, I can't tell in the short term. And since I rarely ask the shop to make anything for me, it only reinforces that feeling.
In other words, the only goal is to sate the shop's hunger.
In that sense, today's customer was probably the best kind for the shop.
She was the epitome of an everyday working-class woman.
This customer was a woman who looked to be in her mid-forties.
Her somewhat worn clothes paired with a luxury bag that didn't match gave away a lot about her life.
"Uh? Huh?"
At first, confusion.
"No! Please, let me leave!"
Then, despair.
"..."
And finally, she passed out in a utterly clichéd turn of events.
But what came after was unique.
It wasn't a huge volume compared to the time elapsed, but even I, who had seen nearly ten customers by then, couldn't help but be taken aback.
Right after waking from her faint, the woman composed herself and said,
"P-Please, save me!"
Nothing special up to there.
But the moment I finished explaining about the shop, her expression and demeanor did a complete 180.
The woman pulled out her wallet from her bag, checked how much was inside, and said,
"What's the most valuable item here?"
I never imagined hearing something like that while working as a merchant, so without much thought, I blurted out "time persistence camera."
When I explained the time persistence camera at her request, she gave a faint, satisfied smile.
"What do I need to pay? It's a tale item, so probably not money. As long as it's not money, this bag, these clothes, or even my old body—take it."
I reflexively shook my head at the stench worse than a sewer.
She looked puzzled and pressed me on what exactly it wanted.
So, without much deliberation this time either, I had no choice but to say,
"One arm."
It was an outrageous price I'd never quoted before—not even when dealing with the bureau.
Most customers would faint at the price and leave looking for something cheaper.
But I had an inexplicable certainty that this woman would gladly pay with her arm.
"...I won't die, right?"
Her face was full of greed as she said it, leaving me both pleased and perplexed.
"Yes, the bleeding stops immediately, so you won't die."
I answered, confirmed if she wanted to buy, and we completed the transaction.
Her scream erupted like a fountain.
The sight of her arm vanishing in an instant was quite striking.
Of course, Yoon Seo-yeon sleeping in my bottom drawer traded her heart, but that wasn't visible to the eye.
And the source of that striking impression didn't last long before passing out again.
Yet her other hand clutched the time persistence camera tightly, showing her resolve.
That's the gist of what happened until sending her off.
"Well, easier to deal with than that old man from before. But man, tiring in a whole different way."
I never dreamed I'd sell a used item—used twice, no less—for the fortune of half an arm.
Hahaha!
What a great day!
The shop, which had been sulking openly before the customer arrived, was buzzing with excitement now, tentacles waving wildly.
The taste is exquisite.
A deep flavor emerges that you couldn't imagine from that creepy woman's body.
"Could you skip the taste review?"
Hearing the shop's opinion on human flesh doesn't sit well with me.
The slight bitterness from the cosmetics balances the greasy fat oozing from the sagging flesh.
A true delicacy.
"You're really excited, huh."
I'm on the verge of a breakdown from the changed history, but the shop seems to have forgotten all its worries after a good meal.
It's amazing how an intelligence similar to or even surpassing humans can be this simple.
"Hey."
What?
No matter how much you want it, I can't give you anything.
I already ate it all, so don't blame me.
"No, that's not it! How many fingers does an arm count as?"
What does this thing think I am?
Oh, that kind of thing.
Adding up the five on the hand itself, it's roughly sixty-seven.
"Then, combining with what we had before, we could make one tale item, right?"
Depending on the item's level, but yeah, most things should be doable.
"Okay, then let's make one."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The dark dawn city gives a different impression from daytime.
The endless lines of thousands, tens of thousands of people shrink to small groups of drunks and homeless, while the bustling roads are littered only with sleeping cars.
And following that road leads to a port where a one-armed woman waits for someone.
"Never done this before... but money's tight these days."
The woman peered into her luxury bag and murmured softly.
Thirty minutes later, another person entered the port.
A man with a black mask covering his face.
He was small overall, but didn't seem like easy prey.
The woman hid her tension as best she could and said,
"You're the one who contacted me, right, mister?"
"Looking at your face, you don't seem old enough to call me mister."
"Hah, your voice and looks say you're way older than me. So what should I call you? Grandpa? As long as it's not that."
The man ignored her and got to the point.
"So, where's that camera you claim can turn back time?"
She pulled the camera from her pocket with her one hand, holding it like a treasure.
"Here. You're buying it, right?"
"How do I know it really works? How can I tell if you're scamming me?"
"O-Of course it's real! You don't trust people?"
The man stared at her without flinching.
Feeling a chill, she added hastily,
"I-If you don't believe me, try using it once. But! If it works, you buy it no matter what!"
As she yelled, the man snorted and took the camera.
Click—the camera instantly recreated the past port.
"Well, damn, it really works. Seven uses left now."
"You're not gonna haggle down the price just because it used one, right?"
"Heh heh. What do you take me for."
She snatched the camera back and glared at him.
"What, something wrong?"
"You're buying it, right? Then show me the money first so I can trust you."
"Oh right, I almost forgot the important part. It's in this carrier. Open it if you don't believe me."
Without a second's hesitation, she opened the carrier.
"Oh... oh!"
"Satisfied now?"
"W-Wait! Hold on, I need to count if it's really 300 million!"
She started counting the bills one by one.
"No time for that. It's exactly 300 million—maybe a bit more. You sure are suspicious."
A sudden sea breeze brushed her side.
The sensation was so eerie she stopped counting and stood up straight.
"Fine... just take it quick."
Just before parting, she blurted out a momentary doubt.
"So, what are you buying this for?"
"Heh, do you usually ask buyers that? No consideration these days?"
"N-No, if you don't wanna say... no need."
As she mumbled meekly, he chuckled at the sight.
"Why I need this camera? Something I need to rewind a bit. Ever heard of the Tale Management Bureau?"
"Wh-What? The bureau?"
She yelped in surprise.
"Ah... so you know it."
"Who in the world hasn't heard of the Tale Management Bureau!"
"Anyone who knows about it has to die."
"Huh? What did you just—"
She felt a sharp sensation in her abdomen.
"Ah, aaaagh!"
A mutation starting from her navel.
The pain ensured she wouldn't escape death.
"See, I was supposed to kill one guy, but looks like I couldn't. So forgive me, ma'am? I'll leave the money, so don't worry—spend it in the afterlife."
The old man left the port behind, ignoring the woman mutating in real time.
He removed his mask and walked along the road.
Deep wrinkles shadowed his face, giving a grim aura.
The man stopped his steps right in front of the Tale Management Bureau.