Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Agony
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Everything in the world comes with a price.
Where there's a plus, there's a minus. What you gain, you lose. Where there's light, there's shadow.
So, to sum up my current situation in one sentence:
I succeeded. Therefore, I failed.
A paradox? No. This is harsh reality.
My head is filled with a sugar lady stuffed full of pastel-toned cream. Sugar Girl.
I can't let this continue.
Sugar Girl has no idea—no, not even a speck, not a speck of dust—of how horrific her actions are right now.
Her bread is delicious. Acknowledged.
Her shop is a success. Acknowledged.
Her success has boosted my approval ratings.
This, I refuse to acknowledge. Absolutely!
This trend is dangerous. I have to stop Sugar Girl's rampage.
I'll go confront her.
Why? What on earth is driving her to work this hard? Doesn't she know the word "moderation"?
With that, I dashed to Insimdang.
Ding-a-ling—
As I opened the door to Insimdang, a wave of steamy heat and an unreal sweetness enveloped me.
It was a battlefield. A sweet battlefield.
The staff were frenziedly baking, packaging, and ringing up sales.
The customers were receiving their bread with ecstatic expressions.
Just seeing the scene gave me a headache already.
"You came! Hehe, you came even though you're so busy!"
Sugar Girl burst out from the kitchen.
Sugar Girl, her face covered in flour, spotted me and came running like a puppy. Her twin pigtails bounced wildly.
Those sparkling eyes of hers. Eyes where innocence and madness mingled in a bizarre mix.
"Uh, uh. I was just passing by and stopped in for a bit. Yeah, just a bit."
"Nuh-uh, liar! I know you came to see me, Mr. Mayor!"
Mr.?
Mr. Mayor? Why the formality?
Was there ever room for "Mr." in our relationship?
We're accomplices.
I'm the corrupt mayor, and she's a C-rank villain.
I used her ability to ruin my reputation, and she opened her bakery with my support.
A thorough business relationship. A means to an end.
That was it. It had to end there.
"Aren't you curious about today's new menu? This is a special edition made just for you, Mr. Mayor! A soft tofu cream bun expressing your noble inner self! A century herb cream cheese tart praying for your long life and health! I'm working super super hard every day for you, Mr. Mayor! Praise me! Right? Right? Come on!"
The tart she held out... well, how to put it.
It was some purple-and-pink amalgam, too violent to call art and too abstract to call food.
"Uh, uh. Yeah. Looks delicious."
A soulless reaction. My specialty.
I plastered on my most amiable business smile and got to the point.
"No, Sugar Girl. The reason I came today is... I think you're pushing yourself too hard lately. It's okay to take it easy. Right? Health is the top priority. Work-life balance is great. Work-life balance."
The moment those words left my mouth.
The light vanished from her eyes.
Eyes that had sparkled like she owned the world turned into pitch-black abysses.
Her lips drooped as if discovering gravity's law, and her shoulders hunched like they might shatter any second.
Ah, damn it.
Mentally unstable switch: ON.
"I..."
Her voice trembled faintly.
"...the bread I made... it's useless now? The bread I made... it's no longer helpful to you, Mr. Mayor...?"
Plop. Plop.
Instead of thick teardrops, strawberry-flavored candy tears fell from her eyes and hit the floor.
"So... you're trying to throw me away...? I knew it... I knew I was a useless being... Of course no one would like a monster like me... Yeah... I shouldn't have expected anything from the start..."
What kind of bizarre logical leap is this?
From "take a break" to "you're dumping me?" in less than 0.1 seconds. Her brain must be twisted like a pretzel.
"No, no! Absolutely not! That's not what I meant!"
Damn. I stepped on a landmine. A massive anti-tank one, at that.
I felt the of the surrounding customers. Eyes saying, "That jerk is making the bread fairy cry."
I flailed my hands frantically to soothe her.
"Your bread is the best! The most delicious in the world! I was just worried you'd collapse from working too hard! It's true! You're this city's treasure! Insimdang would be done without you! You're such a huge help to me!"
Ah, Lee Garam. Why do you create another crisis to escape one?
At my desperate excuse, color slowly returned to Sugar Girl's face.
She tilted her head and looked up at me.
"...Really?"
"Of course! I mean it!"
"Really? For real? Hehe, I knew you couldn't do without me, Mr. Mayor!"
As if she hadn't just been crying, she beamed and hooked her arm through mine.
"Phew, that's a relief! And don't worry! I'm the happiest right now! Making delicious bread every day, seeing people happy, and... most of all, being helpful to you, Mr. Mayor!"
Ugh, annoying.
"But."
Sugar Girl, who had nodded in satisfaction at my desperate self-defense,
tilted her head again.
What's left?
"Today."
She stared up at me intently, her flour-dusted eyelashes fluttering.
"Why didn't you ask?"
"......Huh?"
Ask what.
What the hell am I supposed to ask?
My mental database spun wildly.
Did I have some regular question I asked her?
How are you? Insimdang sales? New dessert recipes?
"You always ask what flavor I am."
Chilling.
Her single remark froze the steamy air in the bakery.
Ah.
Aah.
Aaaah.
I subtly, ever so subtly, rolled only my eyes to scan the surroundings.
A young couple, mid-bite into their bread, gawking at us.
A kitchen staffer, dough in hand, ears perked up like a rabbit.
Even the part-timer dozing at the counter had snapped wide awake, staring this way.
In this public place?
In the middle of this stage surrounded by eyes and ears?
Right now. At this timing. That?
"Maybe..."
Sugar Girl's lip began its slow journey downward again.
"You're not curious what flavor I am anymore? You've lost interest in me? You're sick of me? That stuff earlier was prep to dump me? I'm just expired candy now... huh."
Mentally unstable mode about to trigger again.
If Sugar Girl goes full meltdown here?
"Mr. Mayor hates me! Then I'll kidnap him, lock him in the basement, and make him taste only me every day!"
She might awaken as a full yandere!
Trap me in a sugar prison with her powers and force me to lick her body daily...
Shivers just thinking about it.
No other way. It's do or die. Checkmate.
Only one choice here.
"Ahem! Haha. What are you talking about? Of course I'm curious! I've been wondering all morning what flavor our Sugar Girl is today! I just got too busy and forgot for a moment—a very brief moment!"
Alright, let's go. Lee Garam. Awaken the pervert within.
I rubbed my hands creepily and smirked with one corner of my mouth.
"Ooh? What flavor is Sugar Girl today~?"
Silence.
Every sound in the shop stopped.
The BGM, the murmurs, even the oven beeps.
All sounds sucked into a black hole.
"Kyaa! For real! Mr. Mayor's such a perv! Lowest of the low! Human scum! Rice pest!"
She covered her face with her hands and backed away a couple steps.
But peeking through her fingers, her eyes brimmed with satisfaction.
"You have to ask what flavor I am from now on, okay? Or I'll cry again! Promise?"
She grinned and stuck out her pinky.
I had no choice—really, no choice—and hooked my pinky with hers.
The taste of Sugar Girl on my finger.
Crunch.
Strawberry flavor.
The taste of a girl in love.
Damn.
Too sweet.
That afternoon.
Back in my mayoral office, I was completely drained.
Riding bareback on a mentally unstable emotional rollercoaster is as exhausting as facing a super villain barehanded.
Sprawled corpse-like on the plush sofa, a real super villain appeared.
Seria approached and held out her tablet screen.
"Mr. Mayor, good news."
When she calls it good news, it's 99.9% bad news for me.
"Insimdang's success is triggering an unexpected butterfly effect. Quite a ripple from the pebble you tossed."
"What do you mean."
I replied with my eyes closed.
"Neo Incheon's three major bakery franchises have all announced price cuts. Analysts see it as a desperate counter to Insimdang's aggressive pricing."
I bolted upright on the sofa.
"How is that good news?"
"Because the citizens' reaction is explosive. Take a look."
Seria shoved the tablet in my face. The screen scrolled with real-time SNS and community reactions.
[Lee Garam at it again?]
[Bread price normalization courtesy of Lee Garam. Finally, the mayor's taking on the cartel.]
[How much have those big franchise pigs gouged us? Wouldn't have known without Mayor Lee Garam.]
[Never try to beat the mayor. The harder you try, the bigger the price you pay.]
"Cartel? Me, taking on a flour cartel?"
I doubted my own eyes.
"Yes. The citizens believe you stood against the big franchises' monopoly abuses to stabilize bread prices for the common folk. Even reforming a villain and putting her at the forefront. They're praising it as bold resolve for the people."
Seria sidled up close beside me and whispered. Her cool turquoise eyes peered into mine.
"Did you calculate all these chain reactions too? Influencing giant corporations' pricing with a single bakery and securing public support in one fell swoop. To think you planned this from the start—truly astonishing."
I feigned nonchalance with a cough and crossed my arms.
"O-Of course! Looks like you're finally seeing the depths of Lee Garam's strategy. Haha."
No. No way.
When did I ever think that grand?
I just wanted to ruin my appetite and get impeached.
Common folk? Monopoly? Abuses?
I have no such lofty ideals. I'm just a little guy! A petty, selfish everyman!
"Even the Minister of Economy issued a statement. He lavishly praised, 'Mayor Lee Garam's innovative policy is a model for local economic revitalization and presents a new paradigm of coexistence between conglomerates and small businesses.'"
"Urk...!"
I collapsed back onto the sofa.
Seria gazed down at me impassively and delivered the final blow.
"Hmm, a cry of joy? Anyway, congratulations. At this rate, why not consider running for president next?"
Wait.
This isn't right?
Why is my life veering this way?
"Oh, and one more thing to report."
The disaster didn't end there.
"Sugar Girl's positive influence is spreading. She's sharing her success secrets with neighboring merchants."
"What...?"
"The rundown shops around Insimdang are turning into dessert specialists one by one. She's personally teaching recipes and even supplying ingredients for free. The whole Insimdang street is being called 'Sweet Road' and emerging as Neo Incheon's new tourist hotspot."
I checked the report from the Urban Development Bureau.
Sugar Girl's good influence didn't stop at Insimdang. She began generously sharing her 'magic powder' and 'miracle recipes' with struggling shops nearby.
As a result, the street where Insimdang stood transformed into a dessert-specialized zone called Sweet Road.
Coffee shops, ice cream parlors, even rice cake stores—all became Insimdang partners, walking the path of mutual prosperity.
The street buzzed with energy, drawing tourists from across the country to pilgrimage to Sweet Road.
The local economy boomed, and the city gained a new attraction.
I was speechless.
My small mistake, the little seed I planted, had grown into an uncontrollable forest strangling me.
"Sugar Girl's acting so proactively purely to gain more recognition and praise from you, Mr. Mayor. Same pattern as with Polaris last time. Like picking up and taming an abandoned puppy, or worming into a wounded girl's heart and bending her to your will. You're unmatched in that arena. Truly demonic talent."
I flinched.
My facial muscles spasmed on their own. A grotesque expression in the mirror, unreadable as smile or sob.
The demon's you! Who's toying with hearts like playthings right in front of me—why pin it on me!
"Haha. Of course. Everything's danced in the palm of my hand. He who wins hearts wins the world. What do you think of this big picture, Seria?"
My mouth felt gritty, like I'd swallowed a handful of sand.
Seria bowed lightly without reply and left the office.
Slam.
The door's close echoed loudly.
Only then did I exhale deeply.
"Hoo..."
Tension released, strength drained from my body.
Lying is exhausting.
Especially lies told while fretting about getting caught.
Big picture? Profound strategy?
Where would I have something so grandiose?
I was just an ordinary salaryman. Tormented by overtime, surviving on convenience store meals.
Pathetic that such a guy is bluffing about conquering the world and winning hearts.
I wanted to escape this situation. Forget reality, even for a moment.
I grabbed the TV remote on my desk.
Click.
The office TV flickered on, familiar variety show opening music flowing out.
[Kim Youngtae, Choi Jinah's Straight Charge!]
Damn. Of all programs.
On screen sat cool-headed Professor Choi Jinah and ever-enraged critic Kim Youngtae, blasting the world.
Professor Choi Jinah spoke first.
"Yes, today's topic is the 'Lee Garam Phenomenon.' Mayor Lee Garam's bold moves in Neo Incheon have been daily headlines. Especially reforming a C-rank villain into Insimdang bakery, which is a massive hit—his leadership is being reevaluated. This goes beyond mere commercial revival; it's a fascinating case opening new possibilities for villain rehabilitation and social enterprise models."
Yeah, that much I expected. She loves analyzing and interpreting like that.
The problem came next.
The host passed the mic to critic Kim Youngtae.
"Critic Kim Youngtae, you've always been highly critical of Mayor Lee Garam's policies. What do you make of this 'Insimdang Project'?"
Come on, Kim Youngtae! You're my guy! You're my only ally, right?
My faithful anti-fan, blindly criticizing and tearing into me no matter the situation or achievements.
My last sympathizer!
Expose that hypocritical bread crumb's facade! Shout to the world how it's all populist deception!
Kim Youngtae paused dramatically.
Then, adjusting his glasses, he spoke in an unprecedentedly calm, serious tone.
"I... must praise Mayor Lee Garam this time."
What?
"Truly a masterful stroke. Look: he successfully reintegrated a city-threatening villain into society. Villain rehab success."
"Turned a dying old-town district into Neo Incheon's top hotspot. Local commerce revival success."
"Cracked the big franchises' monopoly and induced healthy price competition. Market normalization success. All from one policy. What else to call this but a divine triple-win stroke!"
Kraaaagh!!
Kim Youngtae, even you...!
Even you betray me!
I rolled off the sofa, lying on the cold office floor for a long while.
Is this how Frankenstein felt?
Watching the creature he breathed life into escape his will and rampage as a monster.
Far off, the brilliant lights of 'Sweet Road' illuminated the night sky.
At its center, Insimdang towered like a grand castle.
That thing.
That is the monster I created.
The sweet monster born of my foolish calculations and rash plans.
I wanted just a little commotion. Some criticism, a modest dip in approval. Stepping stones to honorable impeachment. That's all.
But that monster escaped my control, grew wildly, and now it's turning on its creator—me.
Sacrificing me on the altar of 'success,' chaining my ankles with heavy 'approval rating' shackles so I can't flee.
Insimdang.
My creation. My failure. My perfect success.
How dare you.
How dare you attack the parent who birthed you, your creator? Make me succeed like this?
No choice now.
Left alone, my reputation and ratings will skyrocket endlessly.
Until the city shatters, I'll be chained to this damn mayor's chair.
No.
Not that. Never.
"Insimdang... My blunder, committed by my own hand. So it's only right I end it with my own hands."