Paranormal Link-8: First Impressions – "They Handle Banking in This Dump?"
My first impression was, "They handle banking business in a shithole like this?"
I pushed open the door, and the first thing that caught my eye was a blue neon sign reading The Guild. It flickered like it was on fire, looking like some sign that should've been mounted outside but was stuck inside instead.
"……?"
I poked my head back out and checked the building's exterior. Sure enough, no sign out there. What kind of lunatic design hangs the sign inside the entrance? It screamed "gathering spot for societal misfits."
And sure enough, peering inside, even though the sun hadn't set outside, mercenaries were passed out here and there, reeking of booze. My hunch was spot on.
'More like a gambling den run by the black market than an escort agency or your standard tavern.'
Looking around curiously in a place like this would just make me look like a mark, so I headed straight for the door under the neon sign.
It looked like it was supposed to be an automatic door, but for some reason, it was wide open, welcoming me in. On closer inspection, a sprawled-out drunk was blocking it from closing with his body. He was grinning like an idiot—must be having a good dream. Live happily ever after in there, buddy….
Stepping through into the main room, I was greeted by a space bathed in blue light. At the center, a massive neon sign atop the bar table—bigger and brighter than the entrance one—was the source, dyeing everything that eerie blue.
I crossed the room, parked my ass at an open spot at the bar, and sat down. It wasn't packed, but there were enough customers that the staff inside the counter were hustling. They seemed to deal mostly in booze and cocktails made from it, but with a door leading to a kitchen in the back, food was probably on the menu too.
…They really handle banking here?
As I sat there wondering if the beggar and the old geezer had scammed me, one of the staff with empty hands locked eyes with me. Her hair was dyed—or implanted?—lavender ash, and atop her head, something pointy glinted purple. On closer look, it was cat ears.
"First time?"
Cyberpunk cat ears! Cyberpunk cat ears were approaching. Cyberware nekomimi right in front of me.
"…Yeah?"
"Ah… what'd you say?"
Surreal? Cyber-real? Whatever you call it, the sheer novelty delayed my reaction. It was unmistakably mechanical cyberware, but cat ears on a human? Indescribable impact.
"This place is members-only. Newbies show your invite; members, your token."
As I soaked in the indescribable wonder, the server spoke up.
…Invite, huh.
I fished out the chip Rom the old man had given me from my jacket's inner pocket and handed it over.
"…What's this?"
"Invite. …I think?"
He'd said to show it when opening an account at the Guild, so it had to be. I just wasn't fully convinced because I still half-suspected the beggar and geezer were bullshitting me.
"An invite? Then how'd you get past the entrance?"
"…Entrance? It was wide open?"
"…Jon, you dumbass…."
She scowled at the wide-open auto-door, then vaulted over the bar with a sharp whoosh.
Thwack! Bwak!
Savage sounds echoed soon after, followed by a furious bellow: "Go wash your damn face, you idiot! Your hourly wage's getting halved today!"
"Oh, nya-punch."
Or was it a kick? Sounded like a solid hit either way. If he's still breathing, the booze is gone now.
As I admired the show, the cat ears returned to me properly via the counter's back entrance.
"…Phew, hang on. Looks like an old-style chip—gotta check with the granny."
"Sure."
"Bail, take this guy's order."
"……."
"Answer me."
"…Sure."
At her words, a quiet guy from the corner stood and approached me.
"…Oh, shit…."
I couldn't help but gape at the sight.
Buddha, Primordial Heavenly Venerable, gods of heaven and earth… somebody, anybody….
I've never been swayed by Taoism, Buddhism, or any teachings, but this time, I had no choice but to pray to transcendent beings.
Did I unconsciously avert my eyes from the horror, or was I just facing the blind spot? Either way, I didn't want to know.
A muscular dude with cat ear cyberware? That shouldn't exist…!!
"Menu."
Trapped in indescribable cosmic terror different from before, the man rumbled like an echo from a cave.
"…Cough."
Devil's bewitchment… gotta watch for devil's bewitchment….
It felt like my qi and blood were boiling from within. I hacked a dry cough and started deep breaths.
Calm down. No matter how horrific, keep your mind sharp and you won't fall to bewitchment.
'Yeah, buddy. Calm down and count primes.'
…Huh? Who's that?
I snapped to at the voice amid the chaos and looked around.
'It's me. Calm down and listen, buddy.'
I traced the voice. At its end sat a three-legged mutt staring right at me.
This your voice…?
'Yeah, buddy. When it's like this, count primes. Primes are numbers divisible only by 1 and themsel—'
"Who the hell's your buddy?! Don't you dare buddy up to your master, you mangy mutt!"
That retarded three-legger calling me buddy? Unforgivable.
"Hoo… haa…!"
"……."
"……."
As my boiling qi settled and I panted, scanning the room, I realized everyone was staring at me.
Especially the abomination I shouldn't acknowledge, who was gripping something under the counter, eyeing me warily.
"…You ain't Psychotic, right…?"
"Nah, just… startled a bit."
Straining not to look at him, I slowly raised both hands to show I was fine.
"I'm chill, totally fine."
"……."
Still looked at me like I was nuts, but he slowly pulled his hand from under the counter.
Everyone here treats me like a psycho at the drop of a hat—bad habit in this neighborhood—but territorial bullshit is universal, so I magnanimously forgave and reached for the menu.
Something buzzed behind me, but I ignored it and peered at the menu….
…Here….
I've never once in my life felt the will of heaven. Nothing ever went right; everything I did tanked, so I cursed the skies plenty but never felt blessed.
But today, here, I felt it for the first time.
They say gilheung hwabok—auspicious and inauspicious, calamity and fortune. From that comes gojin gamrae: after hardship comes sweetness, a simple yet profound truth.
Today, I witnessed horror enough to induce devil's bewitchment, reaping ill fortune and disaster. But now, right here, it felt like recompense in good fortune and blessings.
"They got cola here?"
Keeping my eyes off his neck, I raised a hand.
"…Cola? Yeah."
The reply came like he was eyeing a pathetic kid, but who cares right now.
"Heard Earth's cola and chicken are killer…."
"…Chicken? Nah. Nuggets from synth-meat, maybe. Tastes like chewing plastic—not recommending."
He answered my mumble.
…For a split second, it felt like cosmic communion, but that transcendent sight earlier must've stirred my inner demons.
"Cola for now, one."
"……."
But screw that—right now, I needed that cola.
Saeongjima. Like the old border geezer said, life's a wild ride like a cursed horse. Humans never know what shit they'll eat or treatment they'll get.
Clink.
A glass of black liquid appeared before me. Bubbles of fizz, droplets dancing—essence of modern civilization.
Never dreamed I'd find it here. Fitting for the place, small serving and probably jacked-up price.
But this moment, even half a glass fulfills the Thunderclap Sword Sovereign's dying wish.
All the pain and misery till now? For this one glass.
I lifted it solemnly to my lips.
Best way to down ice-cold cola after a decade? Chug it in one go.
I tilt the glass. Carbonation beads hit my tongue, sweetness at the tip….
"Pffft!!"
I sprayed it right on the unspeakable thing in front of me.
"Gah! What the fuck!! What the hell…!!"
The freak, now drenched in trashy black sludge, yelled at me—but this time, I couldn't hold back.
Cat ears? Psycho stares? I can take it. But this? No.
I lunged over the counter, grabbed his collar, and roared.
"What the hell did you serve me, you bastard!!"
Cat-eared psycho! This ain't Pepsi or Coke, you fucker!!