085 – The Onion's Too Spicy #3
It was a mistake to post that warning about the terrifying spider living at the West Gate of Pandora Market, telling everyone to stay away no matter what.
"A spider so scary that that Jo Iseo had to warn about it?"
"Hmph, a mere spider's nothing to a full-mana user like me!"
It started with hell tubers filming videos and posting them on SNS, spreading the word about the spider. Those info-hungry types bit the bait right away.
━Yaong…!
"Gah! It's a real lion spider!"
"Run!"
"One bite means at least seven weeks bedridden!"
The broadcasting world, always hunting hot topics, jumped in too.
"I know that spider well. Must've been about a hundred years ago. A restaurant owner raised a dog-sized spider. It had that same yellowish-golden color."
"What happened to the owner? No idea. They just vanished one day. That place was a real hidden gem. Once the owner stopped opening up, people stopped coming…."
"That spider's probably still waiting for its owner. The guy really doted on Nureongi. Sigh, wouldn't have loved his own kids that much."
The broadcast revealed the spider's name: Nureongi. A spider endlessly waiting for its owner who'd vanished a century ago—it tugged at everyone's heartstrings.
'Waiting in the same spot for someone, for a hundred years?'
Honestly, even I teared up a bit hearing the story.
The problem? The tale spread so far that lines of gawkers now snaked endlessly to the West Gate to see Nureongi.
"Lion spider snacks for sale!"
"Get your lion spider plushies here!"
And out of nowhere, merchants popped up hawking their wares everywhere—.
Prices were ridiculously jacked up, but stock sold out in a frenzy anyway.
Damn it—.
I stared at the endless queue, stomping the ground in frustration. But as I kicked away the dirt, something golden glinted beneath.
Was it another gold vein? I hurriedly swept the soil back over it.
That's when someone approached, eyes gleaming with admiration.
"Storytelling's the foundation of business. People go wild for a good tale. Everyone's waited for someone they longed to see again at least once, right? That's why they empathize with Nureongi."
He was the chairman of Pandora Market's development division.
The chairman's long red hair fluttered in the wind as he asked me,
"Vice Chairman Jo Iseo, you zeroed in on a 'spider' most would ignore and spun a story that captured everyone's attention. Did they teach marketing in school?"
"Not at all."
"A natural, then. But it's still luck. I've tried stunts like this myself. As I've said many times, people get bored fast—trends like this don't last."
I hoped he was right. But the crowds coming to see Nureongi only grew, never shrank.
"You can pet a bull-sized golden spider whenever you want. How do you resist?"
"I was terrified of the ferocious lion spider, but it's ridiculously tame!"
━Yaong…!
"Why does a lion spider meow like a cat, though?"
"Idiot, the reason is—."
"Whatever, I want to take it home and raise it. Bet it'd chase hell cockroaches like a champ."
It did chase hell cockroaches well. Thanks to Nureongi, none dared approach the West Gate.
That let hygiene-sensitive food spots thrive on this street.
'Maybe its owner raised it to hunt hell cockroaches too.'
Plenty coveted the lion spider Nureongi. Wasn't this a good thing?
If someone took it away, the crowds would follow—and clear out of the market.
"Spider! Come with me! Hedone will take good care of you forever! I'll post pics on SNS every day! Churros daily too!"
━Grrr…!
Nureongi never grumbled at the constant petting, but it wouldn't budge from the West Gate for anyone.
'Is it really waiting for its owner?'
At this rate, Nureongi might become the market's mascot and landmark! I couldn't just sit still.
Time to call an expert. A spider release specialist—.
"Jo Iseo, heard you got demoted to Pandora Market."
Arachne was a famous entertainment producer and info broker for execs. A woman so alluring she could be married any day.
She widened her slender eyes at me.
"Even nymphs drown sometimes, they say. Even a guy charging ahead like you trips eventually. But there's a rumor—you intended this demotion."
"Intended?"
Did someone catch on to my 'get demoted on purpose, fired, escape to the surface' plan?
If word got out, I'd face trial for insubordination and end up a hell cockroach for real.
Cold sweat beaded as Arachne added,
"This market—before the business renewal, everyone fought for a post here. Overflowing with opportunities. Even Prince Zagreus…."
She trailed off, clamping her mouth shut. Couldn't spill premium intel carelessly.
Fine by me.
"Arachne, you know spiders inside out, right?"
"Spider expert here."
"Then you know how to get Nureongi out of the West Gate. It's a huge hassle with it stuck there."
"Heard of Nureongi. The poor spider barely eats, waiting for an owner who never returns."
Arachne's eyes misted over. She grabbed my hand.
"You want to give that spider its freedom. Such a warm heart—it's moving me to tears. Alright, I'll help for free this once!"
...It wasn't really for the spider.
But admitting that might kill the cooperation. Besides, leaving the West Gate was probably best for Nureongi too.
In Soul Society, a century was no short time. If the owner hadn't returned in a hundred years, for whatever reason….
"So you're Nureongi."
━Yaong.
The former spider Arachne met the current lion spider Nureongi.
Arachne raised and lowered her left arm, then right.
Nureongi mirrored perfectly: left front leg up, down; right front leg up, down.
"What was that?"
"Spider greeting. Means no hostility. But now I see—Nureongi's vision is terrible. Can't focus on me properly."
Blind?
With its tragic tale already drawing crowds, blindness rumors would amp the pity and attention….
"Still, it eats the snacks people share, so it's in great shape. That golden fur shines with luster."
"So, can you get it to leave this spot?"
"Gotta talk first. Ahem. Woof woof—hiiing—grrr…."
Arachne's weird noises startled me. Thought my heart would drop out.
Nureongi soon replied in kind.
━Yaong.
"Hmm, tricky."
"Why?"
"Owner asked it to guard the shop till they return. Says it must stay no matter what."
The rumor was true. Nureongi was nailed here by a promise to guard the shop.
Even when the market boomed. Even after it turned ghost town.
It'd stay forever.
'Owner must've been a Happy World resident.'
I headed to Happy World HQ.
I slammed Crowzer's desk—he was facedown asleep. He jolted awake.
"Kyaak! Ahem, I wasn't sleeping—just meditating briefly. Who… oh, my friend Jo Iseo! What brings you today?"
"Need to see Happy World resident lists. Pandora Market-related docs. Century-old ones ideal. Just authorize access— I know where they are."
"Perfect. I have no clue where those files are anyway!"
This slacker Crowzer—how was he never fired? Lifetime employment was toxic.
With the access badge, I dug through Pandora Market files in storage.
And spotted something odd in the dust-caked stacks.
────
──.
─────
All Pandora Market docs had slashes blacking out text like that. First time I'd seen it.
Every past file on the market was like this.
"Manager Bones, any idea what this is?"
I asked at Hades Chairman's fishing spot.
Bones had worked Happy World forever—he'd know.
"Censorship. The Fates—goddesses of fate—erased those records. Jo Iseo, best steer clear of censored docs."
Censored by the Fates? Why Pandora Market?
Crucially, all info on Nureongi's owner was wiped too.
As I pondered, Bones boomed a laugh.
"Thought you'd be moping after demotion. Seeing your fire in the new post—I've much to learn."
"Looks can deceive—I'm devastated."
"Tough guy! In Soul Society, two successes in a row is easier than two failures. Know why? Fall once, and most don't get up."
"……."
"Big failure scars deep—fear and doubt kill the next try. Second chances often die unborn."
Two failures meant rising after the first to risk again.
"Two-time failures can fail thrice. Thrice? Four times. Keep failing—that's true strength."
I'm gutted from constant flops, I thought.
But Bones spilling was a win.
"Seek Pandora Market's living witness. She's stayed longest—remembers more than any file."
"Who?"
"Know why it's Pandora Market? Because of Pandora."
Pandora! I'd met her once before.