Why Is It Delayed?
The Deity’s clear voice rang out, carrying the weight of an ancient sage.
“You will make the accepted candidate list, but right before your appointment, the physical examination will reveal tuberculosis.”
“Tuberculosis?”
“Tuberculosis? In this day and age?”
“You yourself had no idea. The appointment will be delayed while you receive treatment and a re-examination. So head to the hospital immediately. Before it becomes something serious.”
“Actually, I’ve been bothered by this cough that won’t go away lately—”
“I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow. Thank you.”
“Ahem. Then let us move on to the next person. Let’s see… is WantToWinTheLottery present?”
“That is something I wish to know as well. Besides, this broadcast is a counseling program. I do not know such things.”
“I can kick you, would you like that?”
“Moving on to the next person.”
I turned my eyes to the memo pad. The queue was still quite long.
“Let’s see… RamenGenius?”
Oh, this one was relatively normal and serious. Starting a business. Since it could involve their entire fortune, I carefully opened my mouth. Or rather, I tried to.
“It will fail.”
…Deity, could you at least signal before you jump in?
“The location is doomed. The spot you have your eye on will have a large franchise move in right next door within six months. You cannot win against them.”
Anonymous has gifted 10 Moon Balloons!
[How do you even know that?]
Anonymous has gifted 10 Moon Balloons!
[Boss still doesn’t know]
“That construction is for the franchise. It is fortunate you have not yet stamped the contract. If you had, you would have lost the premium as well.”
The chat window began to stir.
I waved my hand in front of the microphone.
“No, I just listen to people’s worries.”
“You even analyzed the location yourself and now you say that?”
“That was the Deity!”
“Ahem. Then let us continue with the next person.”
The moment I checked the Moon Balloon list and was rewriting the order—
Anonymous has gifted 500 Moon Balloons!
[I’m so frustrated I’m going crazy, please help me]
Anonymous has gifted 500 Moon Balloons!
[I beg you]
Anonymous has gifted 500 Moon Balloons!
[Just once]
“Thank you for the 1,500 Moon Balloons. However, you must wait in line. There are currently seven people ahead of you, so please wait just a little longer.”
People kept trying to cut in line. If I let it slide, the money would multiply. That was why I deliberately didn’t block it. But the Deity would not stay silent.
“You there. You have quite an interesting story. Speak it.”
“Suddenly?!”
“Let us hear it.”
When the Deity showed interest, lines and order lost all meaning. I sighed and opened the person’s message.
“To the person who sent 1,500, the Deity… or rather, another me has shown interest, so I will read yours first. What is your concern?”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
Thanks to his story the chat window flared up again.
“Heh heh. Yes, it is not a sin that your team is weak. However.”
“This year as well, you will not reach the fall baseball.”
Amid the buzzing crowd, the original poster typed again.
At his words the Deity paused for a moment.
“Three years.”
“In the fall three years from now, your team will reach the Korean Series. A foreign pitcher will accomplish something. Therefore, until then, cheer with all your heart. Purchase the tickets in advance.”
Anonymous has gifted 10 Moon Balloons!
[Baseball fans who were hiding keep popping out]
Anonymous has gifted 10 Moon Balloons!
[Are these people bipolar? They were laughing a second ago and now they’re mad?]
Anonymous has gifted 10 Moon Balloons!
[Baseball is originally bad for your health]
“Can you not see the end?”
Well, to someone who couldn’t see the end, “just endure for three years” was still a form of hope.
“Everyone, calm down. Let’s stop talking about baseball. If we continue, a bench-clearing brawl is going to break out in the chat.”
At this rate it really felt like a bench-clearing brawl would happen in the chat window. …So it was true that baseball fans are always angry.
“I’ll take a quick sip of water.”
I drank from the water bottle on the desk and looked back at the chat.
“All right, then the next person is MissMyMom?”
“Please write your story in the chat window.”
“This is a counseling broadcast?”
How was I supposed to know that?
“No, it’s all right. Such things can happen. You have no other concerns?”
“I understand, then…”
I was about to move on to the next person, but the Deity spoke in a low, quiet voice that lacked her usual playfulness.
“Your mother is not here right now.”
“She has already gone to a good place. Without any lingering attachments or regrets. Therefore, there is no such thing as your mother being unable to leave and hovering around you. Do not worry.”
“There was just one thing that weighed on her mind before she left.”
“The seaweed soup you made. She said it was too salty.”
“On her last birthday you cooked seaweed soup for her. Even though it was salty, she ate it all saying it was delicious. That remained on her mind the entire time.”
She thought that she should have honestly told you it was salty back then. If she had, you would have made it better next time.
“So do not be only sad. The next time you make seaweed soup, put in a little less salt. Your mother will smile when she sees that.”
The chat window buzzed. The original poster typed again.
With those final words the original poster left. The people who had been laughing and chatting just moments ago fell silent.
“Ahem, I am not the one helping. Anyway! Let’s move on to the next person.”
Since the mood had grown heavy, it would be nice if a lighter story came in.
“MyFriendWontRepayMe, please write your story.”
Oh, this one was light. A common story of money not being returned. I opened my mouth without much thought.
“If you have a promissory note or bank transfer records, you can send a content-certified letter…”
At that moment—
“Child, who exactly are you trying to test right now?”
The Deity cut in.
“Is it not that you are the one who borrowed the money, rather than the one who lent it?”