Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Wish-Granting Ticket
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There was no way to help Hyeong Si-yeol with ordinary methods. Since I lacked the power to selectively erase parts of people's memories, I'd need an entity to assist him.
"Pleasure to see you again. Looks like the constellation business wrapped up nicely."
The only place to get such an item right now was the Suspicious Trader. Golden Almighty Inc. only revealed entity locations, and you could visit just once a month—plus, I'd gone recently, so that was off-limits.
"Yeah, it was a close call."
The Suspicious Trader, on the other hand, could handle useless scam contracts too, and might even stock the entity I wanted. For now, it was the perfect choice.
"But you've changed your look?"
She was in her pure monstrous form again, indistinguishable by gender except for her voice, just like my first visit.
"Heh heh, any guesses why?"
"I have a hunch."
The only difference from last time was whether I'd entered with a plain invitation or a fancy one.
"Just so you know, it's not just my appearance that changes. The traded goods shift too."
"How do you level up the invitation's grade?"
"Satisfy me through trades."
"Not hard."
"Not at all."
What entities would a higher-grade trader offer? How would her form evolve? Any other changes?
"Future trades are going to be fun."
"Your excitement's putting me in a good mood too. So, what brings you here today?"
"Came for a few necessities. One will do, so first, appraise this for me."
I placed the ultimate contract on the table—supremely convenient, simple, letting you wield a god's power freely, fantastically, truly fair. Six hands unfolded it, and her slender eyes magnified instantly like a loupe, scanning it.
"Oh! Lucifer Company! The most vicious, conscienceless, illegal merchants across all dimensions! One of their bait products! And it's reusable even after use—astonishing!"
"Really?"
"Yes! Rare, though it happens sometimes. This has scarcity value, so we can trade for a fine entity. What do you want? If you don't know the name, describe the abilities. I'll fetch a match."
Perfect. Might score something good.
"Got any more Monkey's Paws left?"
"Sadly, no. Even if I did, this wouldn't cover it."
"Then how about a Wish-Granting Ticket?"
"Oh! Got one! Value matches perfectly! One moment."
The trader slipped through the wooden door behind her. Some commotion, then she returned holding something like a checkbook.
"Here you go."
Difference: these were tickets you could write on, not checks.
"How many?"
"Two golden tickets, six standard ones."
"Nice."
"Isn't it?"
After securing the Wish-Granting Ticket, we shared some tea time.
"Be careful going forward."
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't fully use the Lucifer Company contract. They're immoral merchants, but artisans proud of their craft—they might visit Lee Seung-hoon with other goods."
"Care to elaborate on them?"
"I'd love to, but I fear complaints. Sorry."
I got her caution—after all, they craft entities that control even constellation avatars.
"Hope for good trades next time. Farewell."
"I'll bring fine goods."
She seemed highly satisfied; I got a fancy invitation.
'Just pass this naturally to Hyeong Si-yeol.'
One golden ticket should break his current mess.
'How to hand it over naturally?'
No need to overthink.
"Uh, is this Fixer Lee Seung-hoon's office?"
"No need to be nervous. Just sit and relax."
"Ah, okay."
"Tea? Or coffee?"
"Coffee, please..."
Hyeong Si-yeol perched awkwardly on the chair. His eyes twitched nonstop.
'Will he really fix this?'
His face was haggard. Since the incident, closing his eyes brought floods of community posts mocking him, twisted tales making him out as a perp he wasn't. He was on the verge of rage-induced illness.
'Ugh, shoulda slept more. What a mess my face is.'
From that day to now, total sleep: barely eight hours. Over a week, and he looked ready to collapse.
'Constellation...'
If only the constellation were still around, he wouldn't be this exhausted. He still couldn't fathom why he'd said what he did.
[Uwaaa! The malice of people! Th-this isn't a hero! Waaah! I quit!]
Not even a proper curse—just self-doxxing as an Ilbe bug. He wanted to blame his Gyeongsang roots, but past streams revealed he was a Seoul native, so no dice.
'Surely even a fixer can't solve this?'
What he wanted: no more Ilbe labels or online abuse. But the scandal was too big; eternal ridicule seemed inevitable.
'Still, he's a fixer—gotta do something, right?'
Bored and curious about the office, he glanced around.
"Whoa, a seven-headed snake?"
Fitting for a fixer—wild interior too.
-Squawk!
"Whoa!"
He jolted, scanning. On the shelf behind, something stared.
'Duck toy?'
Rubber duck, bath-tub perfect, smirking or smug-faced somehow.
'Auto-quacking duck? Mechanism inside?'
No visible gears.
"Hm?"
Setting it back, he turned—desk now had an open book that wasn't there before.
"A book?"
Some mystical pull drew him to the open page.
Escape your miserable life with our massive isekai giveaway! Boss gone mad! Head to another world NOW for UP! UP! UP! odds! 20% chance at squishy happy isekai win!
[Two decent skills granted!]
Depart immediately! Sign and GO!
[[Human] <- Press any finger firmly for 3+ seconds.]
Medieval fantasy? Isekai reincarnation? What? While staring holes through it, Lee Seung-hoon returned.
"Enjoying the tour?"
"Huh? Oh, haha, uh..."
He'd meant to say he hadn't touched it on purpose, but the book had vanished.
"Let's talk business."
"...Yeah, okay."
Sipping coffee, he spilled his woes honestly.
"By the way, where'd we meet?"
"Probably your first fan meet."
Lee Seung-hoon slid paper over—Hyeong Si-yeol's signature.
"Ah! You from back then!"
"Yes, that's me."
Whoa, no way! Fixer Lee Seung-hoon was my fan!
"I heard your troubles. Easy fix."
"R-really!? Cost?"
Classic fixer. Probably manipulate online opinion or plant fakes to save me? Sounds manpower-heavy, pricey—but he shook his head.
"Free. For a fan."
"Ah, aaah! Thank you!"
To the thanking Hyeong Si-yeol, he offered the checkbook.
"This is a 'Wish-Granting Ticket'. Whatever you write comes true."
"Huh? For real?"
Absurd, but Hyeong Si-yeol pondered.
Constellations exist—why not wish tickets? And from 'Fixer' Lee Seung-hoon? Plausible.
"But it won't grant godlike wishes outright."
"Meaning...?"
"Know the Monkey's Paw?"
Hyeong Si-yeol nodded. Fifteen years in communities, he knew the tale.
"Monkey's Paw grants wishes, but twists them to doom the user, right?"
"Yes. This is similar."
"Then shouldn't I avoid it?"
"But kinder, gentler than the Paw. Watch a demo."
Lee Seung-hoon tore a standard ticket, penned one line.
[I want a sheep.]
Then, a visitor.
"Hello? Heh heh, new lamb BBQ joint in the building. Brought housewarming mutton—try some!"
"Delicious, I'm sure. Prosperity to your shop."
"Ooh, Fixer Lee Seung-hoon? Sharing a building with you—wild!"
Recognizing him, the guy added extra "please-like-me" mutton before leaving—a whole young lamb's worth.
"See? Like that."
"...It does anything?"
"Not everything. Scale matters; fulfillment varies. Write 'become a god,' you dream it—reality unchanged."
"Ah."
"Ticket grade sets the limit for proper grants."
"Those golden ones?"
"Quick study."
He tore a golden ticket.
"Grades: standard, gold, platinum. I have two golds. One's yours, Hyeong Si-yeol."
"Gold'll grant my wish?"
"Of course. Higher grades even twist helpfully toward the wisher. Guaranteed."
"This rare thing—to me?"
"Naturally."
Lee Seung-hoon handed the golden ticket.
"I'm one who wants you to succeed."
"Golden ticket, huh."
Heading home ticket in hand, Hyeong Si-yeol pondered what to write.
'Wish back the constellation?'
Old him would've scoffed and tossed it. But post-constellation, glimpsing the world's underbelly—and from Fixer Lee Seung-hoon—he considered seriously.
'Nah, limits on wishes. Gold's mid-tier, not platinum. Can't summon a constellation.'
Passing the park, he pulled a pen from his pocket—one kept for fan autographs post-fame via constellation.
"No greed."
He wrote on the golden ticket.
[Make people like me. Online and in real life!]
After writing, worry: too broad?
'It grants helpfully, so fine...'
Then the world spun. Regaining senses, crushing pain silenced even screams.
"Dr. Janus! I'm done for! Hit a person!"
"Jeez, what a hassle."
"Doc, you're speaking Japanese?"
"Oops, crash disabled auto-translate. Better?"
"I told you no more hands-on tests!"
"But nothing's easier, faster, or funner than direct trials, right?"
What? Wished for likeability—why a park hit-and-run?
"Ugh, should've stopped it somehow..."
"'Ultimate Racer Pill' failed. Can't beat Jongno 3-ga's phantom racer!"
"Who's that? Anyway, now what? Hit someone—gonna ditch?"
"Assistant, I'm a doctor. Invent, yes—but heal too. Can't leave like this."
Blurred vision: short and tall silhouettes, sun backlighting. Their ride—a racing car—crystal clear.
"Head back?"
"Investigate him, wipe his identity."
"Sigh, more mad mods planned?"
"Mods? Gifts. My fault nearly killed him—fitting courtesy?"
"Yes, yes. Erasing ID now, new one's post-surgery."
Even the [Dr. Janus] on the hood.
"Alright, surgery time."
Memory blanked after. Brief wakes: drill, saw whirs like an OR.
"What's his job?"
"Internet streamer. Some controversy."
"Everyone's got dirt—even me!"
"Yours is excessive, Doc."
"For a streamer, streamer body. Gamers need skills—tweak the brain."
Murmurs, but sleep waves erased them.
"Bonus: amp his art skills? Lots of drawing streams."
"Assistant, great idea! Adopted!"
"But wasn't he male?"
"Haha, streams pop more with girls! I don't watch much, but basics!"
"Hmm, okay?"
Painful at first, then comfy.
"Whoops! Botched the brain tweak?"
"Bad?"
"Not really—maybe single-word speech? IQ down twenty."
"Can write fine? Chat via text, 80's livable."
"83. Fix?"
"Takes time. Wanna clock out. End here."
"Our assistant's peak MZ."
"I'm older than you, Doc."
Then, a dream.
''Listen, Hyeong Si-yeol—this isn't a dream. Message for you. You'll be loved now. Online, real life! This body—Dr. Janus made it so!''
Dream... or not?
''P.S., old ID scrapped. No thanks needed. You were hated anyway—fresh start's better! Assistant made new ID, home. New life awaits!''
Last message woke him.
''Minor language/IQ hit, but you'll manage. Bye!''
"Th...thew!"
Sweating buckets, Hyeong Si-yeol muttered.
"Thew..."
Nightmare. Crash too?
"Thew?"
Sticky sweat—bed to shower.
"Thew...!"
Where? Not home. Big room, living room, balcony Han River view. Kidnapped?
'Weird sounds since waking?'
Girl saying "thew" something—hallucination?
'Huh?'
ID on living room table.
«Lee So-hee»
Note below.
[Your new identity. -Dr. Janus]
Memories crashed back; he bolted to the bathroom. Mirror: silver hair, red eyes, little girl.
"Th..."
He—no, she—screamed.
"Theeeeeewwwwww!"