As the sun sank below the horizon, casting a dusky gloom over the sky, Kim Do-hyun headed toward the burger joint.
Cleaving through the eerie air, it had been about ten minutes since he set off for the shop when a flickering LED sign caught his eye.
The map app had marked it as a thirty-minute walk, but comparing Do-hyun's physical abilities to those of an ordinary person was pointless.
Four years of real-world combat and relentless training had honed his body in every way imaginable.
The moment Do-hyun pushed open the shop door, he sensed a faint distortion—one no normal person would detect.
It was eerily similar to the sensation he'd felt stepping into that ashen park while pursuing a spatial anomaly.
And there before his eyes stood what could almost pass for a peaceful little store—and beneath the counter, the Merchant staring up at him.
"Hello, customer."
With the Merchant's greeting, Do-hyun realized he'd been ensnared by the very tale he'd been investigating.
A glance back revealed the door he'd entered through had vanished like a mirage.
Following standard protocol, Do-hyun first pressed the emergency beacon in his pocket firmly.
It would mark his location and alert headquarters to the situation.
But when the device vibrated twice in quick succession, Do-hyun's expression twisted.
Two vibrations meant signal transmission failed.
'Tch.'
Do-hyun scanned the wares.
Most of them, including the wriggling chunk of flesh, matched what he knew.
'Except for one.'
His gaze landed on a red rice cake that had never been mentioned in any reports—not once.
"Customer, is something wrong?"
Do-hyun subtly activated the recorder on his belt before replying.
"Wh-where... is this place?"
He played the part of a terrified civilian. No sense revealing himself to what seemed like an intelligent tale.
The Merchant answered Do-hyun's question with an excited grin.
"This is The Shop. Once you purchase one or more items you desire, you can leave."
"Ah... Can I pay with cash...?"
As Do-hyun put on a frightened face, the Merchant replied kindly.
"No, of course not! Here, every item except the rice cake costs one finger. The rice cake is two—keep that in mind."
"F-fingers?!"
Do-hyun contorted his expression while thinking.
'Excluding the rice cake, it's still matching what I know so far.'
At the same time, he felt the need to record more detailed intel.
"Um... Could you explain the items?"
"Of course! That's the Merchant's job. Starting with this pill—"
'Momentary Dream, Infinite Pig's Flesh, Eyeball Candy...'
Do-hyun captured every detail in his recorder, including names not widely known.
"And this rice cake is a new product from our shop: Someone's Dream."
"Someone's Dream...?"
"Yes. Eat it while thinking of someone, then fall asleep, and you'll enter that person's dream."
Do-hyun was stunned for multiple reasons.
'New product? Does that mean they keep adding more? And entering dreams? If that's true, interrogating criminals would be a breeze...'
"Sadly, due to limited stock and its outstanding effects, it's priced at two fingers."
The Merchant paused briefly before continuing.
"So, which item will you buy?"
Do-hyun hesitated.
He wanted to snag the candy, pill, and rice cake—items the Bureau didn't have yet—but chopping off four fingers as a "civilian" might tip off the Merchant.
'Can I take him out?'
Do-hyun weighed eliminating the Merchant but quickly dismissed it as futile.
'He's got those insanely strong tentacles that can turn bullets to dust. Rose's Cutter Knife might sever one, but who knows how many he has?'
To Do-hyun, gambling on unknowns was less appealing than escaping with the intel intact.
'That avoids suspicion, and the pill's still our best gap in knowledge.'
"I'll take... Momentary Dream."
"Thank you for your purchase."
With the Merchant's words, Do-hyun's left pinky vanished.
"Arghhh!"
The pain was tolerable for him, but he screamed to maintain cover.
'No blood, just like the reports said.'
The Merchant pointed toward the door with a thrilled expression, and it materialized on cue.
As Do-hyun walked toward it, he asked one last thing.
"Do I... have to eat it here?"
"Not in most cases."
"Thank you..."
The Merchant maintained his relaxed smile.
Do-hyun had all the critical info he needed, so he stepped out without delay.
And as he did, the Merchant's hands and back were slick with cold sweat.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The first thought in my head when that man showed up was simple.
'I'm screwed.'
Of all people, him.
How could I not recognize him?
Forgetting Kim Do-hyun—the player's superior and landlord in the game—was damn near impossible.
He'd been one of the top fan-favorite characters, with that subtle kindness shining through his stoic demeanor.
But to me now, he was just another Tale Management Bureau agent threatening my security.
Late-game, Kim Do-hyun could solo most tales single-handedly.
Killing him here might've been smarter...
But ethically, it felt wrong, and as a major story figure, the fallout could be catastrophic—who knows how big?
Anyway, my slightly over-the-top acting seemed to work; he didn't catch on that I knew who he was.
"Haa... Should've just killed him."
Judging by his reactions, he already knew about The Shop.
Given his squad's job hunting new tales, it'd be weirder if he didn't.
From his questions, he was verifying details rather than knowing everything cold.
I'd considered lying to him...
But switching up after consistent answers to everyone else? Way too suspicious.
Not that a tale isn't suspicious already.
Still, his curveball about eating items on-site threw up some smoke—I answered vaguely to keep him guessing.
It was unrelated to prior questions, making it seem loaded.
His expression shifted oddly, too.
"Hoo... Hey, Shop."
Why call?
"Move the door to that club near Hongdae."
No complaints, but why?
"Grab one more quick and close up. I'm beat."
Sleeping all day and already tired? Total newborn vibes.
"Hey, I'm up against the Tale Management Bureau right now—ugh, whatever. Just move it fast."
Someday, I'll buy The Shop a book on proper communication.
Got it.
In a spot teeming with crowds, the next customer arrived in minutes.
A woman, first time at a club—excitement laced with tension.
Or maybe the tension's from me.
Either way, she taught me how wildly human expressions can shift.
She'd entered buzzing with energy, but as I explained the wares, her face turned tragic—ending with just Infinite Pig's Flesh and streaming tears.
Oh, and minus one right ring finger.
"Alright, two fingers down—time to close up."
Time to make that business card.
🖋️ BUSINESS CARD 🖋️The Shop Business Hours: ■■
"Ooh, looks legit enough? But... no business hours, no map on the back?"
It's closed now, so they're hidden.
Pondering who to give the card to, I suddenly realized something I'd overlooked.
"What if this ends up in the Bureau's hands?"
Oh.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The instant Do-hyun emerged from The Shop, he called Se-jin.
An hour had passed since he'd left the car.
"Hey! Where the hell have you been?!"
"Sorry, sir. Got caught in The Shop."
"Wait, what? That— Ma'am, not the neighborhood kids agai— You okay?— handing out snacks? Mom, stop that— It's noisy— He's not coming back, ma'am!"
Chaotic chatter drowned out Se-jin's voice behind him.
"Damn it, just come here and explain. Hanging up!"