Bailonz Street 13-Chapter 247.1
Borrow money from Braun?
Then use that money… to buy an item from the Space Shopping Mall?
“……”
No.
‘I wouldn’t be borrowing.’
I’d be getting an ‘advance.’
And an advance means…
[Of course there will be no burdensome dunning. We’re friends, after all!]
[It would simply be deducted someday from the wages for the day we work together. That much shouldn’t be emotionally taxing for you, Mr. Roe Deer…]
He’s saying he’ll hire me again.
[Well, how about it?]
……
First things first.
“Braun, how are you even here?”
I need to buy time.
I looked at the host in a suit, seated on the platform.
“This is a personal-shopping space. Other customers aren’t allowed to come in.”
[Come now, mass media aren’t customers, they’re family! Oh, that warm sense of everyday life a TV brings to the living room.]
His gloved hands opened, courteous and benign.
[This Braun is family to my friend, part of your laughs and tears. It’s only natural that I accompany you during your shopping.]
[Do you doubt it? Then let’s ask the personal shopper here! Go on, explain… why am I present in this place?]
The lizard’s addendum came.
“That sapient entity is a portion within the customer’s mental system, instantiated on site to facilitate smooth shopping.”
[There you have it! Oh, of course Mr. Roe Deer, if you were heartlessly to say that you would not bring this pitiful friend along for shopping, I would have no choice but to vanish…]
[Will you utter something so cruel?]
My head cooled.
‘Braun is now speaking to me freely even without the Good Friend plush…’
Just like during that previous personal-shopping session, when my contaminations manifested.
It seems clear that after the Good Friend plush’s constraints were removed. Or, after it was re-summoned, some deep linkage formed.
Even here in Sekwang City, where external influence is blocked, he can still talk to me.
‘Has Braun’s ‘Good Friend’ persona become part of me outright?’
I couldn’t be sure. In any case, feeling a basic relief that I’d grasped the situation, I analyzed…
An advance?
‘Wouldn’t work.’
That’s a statement premised on my labor. I don’t want to work at that talk show again. The thought that he’d be pleased to have me working there made my stomach churn all the more…
‘…He doesn’t seem to read thoughts I wish not to be read.’
I swallowed as I watched the host, seated unruffled, fingers moving with elegant poise.
No other way? Another way…
Ah!
‘What if I ask for the wages I was supposed to be paid for my work as staff on the midnight talk show…’
No chance!
I blew that studio in half with the Sacred Fire bombardment and ran. Frankly, from the host’s perspective, the fact he didn’t shove a bill in my face the next time we met might already be ‘being generous’!
‘In that case…’
[Take your time thinking it over, Mr. Roe Deer. We have all the time in the world…]
Huu.
‘Maybe I should just sell an organ…’
If my organs were actually in a sellable state, that is. Clutching my throbbing head, a thought popped into my mind.
“There’s one more thing to check.”
I turned to the lizard.
“The Space Shopping Mall only accepts payment in currencies that actually exist in reality, correct?”
“Yes.”
The lizard agreed at once.
“Only currencies that exist in reality and are used on Earth can be used.”
“You mean not only won, but dollars, euros, rupees, and so on?”
“Yes. Real-time solar-calendar exchange rates apply.”
As I thought.
“Braun, you heard—”
[Oh.]
[You’re thinking the coins of the peculiar folk that I pay as wages have no real value here, so any money I hand you would be meaningless… is that it, Mr. Roe Deer?]
Ah.
[Ha ha, surprising fixed ideas is part of the fun of a show!]
[Now then, would you prefer crisp U.S. dollars or gold? I’ll pay in whichever you favor. That’s the virtue of a good patron, isn’t it?]
“……”
With a stiff neck I looked back at the lizard.
“Is that… possible?”
“Yes. However, for dollars paid by that sapient entity, a special exchange rate applies, making them far less efficient than ordinary dollars.”
[Remarks like that only goad the consumption of luxury goods. These knife-hands have a hidden talent for commerce.]
The lizard gave no reaction.
The host gladly rose from his seat.
[Now then, Mr. Roe Deer.]
[All obstacles have been removed.]
“……”
Before I knew it.
The suited host was leaning against the chair… right beside me.
A hand extended.
[Will you accept an advance from this host, from the Late-Night Talk Show?]
…Wait.
Hold on, that’s…
No, but if there’s truly no catch, survival comes first. By priority, I should accept it, right? Stay calm. Make the wisest call here…
[My, my.]
[I’m kidding!]
……
Huh?
[I was only teasing for a moment. An advance, really!]
[That would hurt a friend’s feelings.]
As when hosting the talk show, the host’s hand neatly patted my arm, as if encouraging a contestant.
[My friend dipped into his pocket money to provide a bathtub for my cotton-stuffed body. And if this once-in-an-era entertainer were to give that friend nothing more than an advance, why, that alone would be headline material. Therefore…]
[For this shopping, the payment will be my favor. A gift. How about it?]
“……”
[You will accept my gift, Friend.]
[Oh, the moving power of friendship!]
A powerful hunch struck me.
This.
‘If I make one wrong move here, I’m fucked.’
This feels riskier than a salary advance.
The being in front of me dangled the word ‘advance’ just to lead me to this conclusion, so that when he then said it would be ‘a gift’, it would tug me toward thinking, “Well then it’s fine, isn’t it.”
……
But.
“Alright. I’ll ask you a favor just this once.”
Ditching something necessary for survival out of fear would be stupid.
‘Time to walk the tightrope properly.’
“I appreciate it. Really.”
[Think nothing of it!]
[Now then, send the bill to me and—]
“But.”
I cut in.
“I’d feel too guilty taking it as a gift… I’d rather treat it as a loan. Is that possible?”
[Hm?]
Not an advance. A debt.
‘I have to settle this as a money matter.’
A gut feeling says I mustn’t leave it as an emotional IOU, or a vague obligation payable ‘someday’.
“I’ll pay it back within six months.”
I smiled as best I could. Damn it.
“Money’s not something you make into a gift. If I want a present, I’ll ask you when something specific comes to mind.”
……
After a cold sweat-inducing silence.
[Very well, Mr. Roe Deer!]
…!
[But six months? There’s no need to rush. Oh yes, indeed… We have time, and we’ll still be friends.]
“…Right. Thanks.”
Huu.
‘Done.’
I forced a laugh and tacked on, jokingly,
“Interest at the statutory rate, yeah?”
[Haha! I can’t possibly charge a friend interest. I’ll take principal only.]
“Haha… I appreciate that too.”
Huu.
Looking again at the host patting my shoulder, I found myself replaying the dizzying memories of the Tuesday Talk Show…
Still, I was grateful. Because thanks to him, I could buy this.
[Hooh. Now I’m truly eager to see what splendid escape episode you’ll spin with such a small item, Mr. Roe Deer.]
That…
‘I can deliver on.’
After Braun got the unintelligiblepaymentaddress from the lizard personal shopper and took care of something.
“Billing has been completed.”
The lizard declared as much and handed me the item.
“…Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”
“Yes, dear customer.”
And that wrapped the shopping.
Presently, I opened my eyes.
As if waking from a brief doze.
“…!”
Where the platform had been empty during personal shopping, my companions were now watching me with a calm but anxious look. I must’ve looked catatonic while I was ‘shopping’.
“Agent Grapes.”
“I bought it.”
I held up the hard-won purchase.
A glint passed through the two agents’ eyes.
It was…
Something hanging from a cord.
It looked like those who’d hanged themselves from the trees in the fog-shrouded concourse, yet with the opposite aura.
A tiny carved pollack made of persimmon wood.
A rustic, slightly rough fish figurine, tied to a bundle of white silk thread, swaying gently.
“It’s an evil-warding pollack talisman.” [1]
Note/s:
[1] Evil-warding pollack talisman (액막이 명태) – In Korean folk belief, pollack fish were traditionally used as ritual offerings, symbolizing the fish deity known for its power to protect against evil spirits and misfortune. Even today, many Koreans continue this custom by hanging dried pollack at the entrances of new shops or buildings for good fortune and protection from bad spirits and omens. Nowadays, these talismans are often recreated in the form of wooden carvings, cloth ornaments or plush figures, etc. (Source: Gochujar.com) (Pic example: NY Design Awards) ↵
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