episode_0084

“Vice-Chairman Joy. I know you were a remarkable person before you were demoted to this position.”

The Chairman-nim of the Development Headquarters assessed the crowd of customers in the market today as a stroke of luck.

“People briefly flocked to the market just to see you, who was demoted. Don’t expect days of such fortunate turns of events to continue every time. After all, people easily get bored.”

He was saying that the procession of people coming to see me, a demoted person, wouldn’t last forever. I also hoped it would turn out as the Chairman-nim said.

Whatever the reason, if people flocked to this dilapidated market and it became vibrant, it would undoubtedly only bring bitter things for me.

My objectives were clear as follows:

First: To fail miserably and collapse like a sandcastle in this Pandora Market, a graveyard for those demoted.

Second: To get fired and go to the surface world.

Although today, customers had flocked in a stroke of luck due to the ‘Joy was demoted’ event. As time passed, visitors coming to see me would gradually decrease, and everything would return to normal.

“Joy, I’m making it clear so you don’t harbor false hope. Frankly, it’s impossible to revive this dilapidated traditional market, even if the God of Commerce himself came.”

The Chairman-nim of Development extinguished the light in his eyes within his shining skull.

He must have closed his eyes.

“Just a short walk away, Elysium New City spreads dazzling lights. Better products are sold more kindly in soaring department stores. Who would want to come to this outdated place?”

“I agree.”

No one can revive this place, no matter who comes.

“In that sense, I should go around this market tomorrow. I need to know where everything is in the market, and who is selling what.”

But there might be unexpected variables.

Perhaps a gold vein I didn’t know about might suddenly burst somewhere in the market.

It would be beneficial for my mental health to thoroughly investigate and seal it off.

The Chairman-nim nodded and lit a cigarette.

“Market research, you say. Do as you please. I won’t object to anything you do. I know better than anyone that whatever you do for its revival here will be meaningless. I’ll just watch.”

And so, work ended.

I dragged my tired body home after a day filled with too many events.

As always, Melinoye-nim was squatting in front of my house.

“……?”

But Melinoye-nim was engrossed in something, unaware of my arrival.

“Insignificant ants. Kneel before the majesty of a goddess.”

So I looked to see what it was, and Melinoye-nim was poking an ant the size of her thumb with her finger. She looked like a child playing in the dirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Gasp…!”

Melinoye-nim startled so much her hair stood on end.

But that was only for a moment; Melinoye-nim quickly regained her calm demeanor.

“I wasn’t startled just now. Hydra Venom Extract. They say it’s abbreviated as ‘Hieek’. It’s said to be good for fatigue recovery. Though it’s extremely hard to obtain.”

She claimed ‘Hieek’ wasn’t a surprised exclamation but the name of ‘Hydra Venom Extract’.

No matter how much it’s me, it’s a bit hard to fall for that.

Nevertheless, I feigned ignorance and asked.

“What were you doing with the ant?”

“I was merely observing an insignificant creature for a moment. You shouldn’t misunderstand; I never found this honey ant, which I discovered after a long time, particularly fascinating. Your goddess is perfect and doesn’t play pranks with ants.”

“…I see.”

So, I ate dinner with Melinoye-nim.

I didn’t have time to cook it myself, so it was takeout food.

Seasoned boneless pheasant.

It was delicious.

Melinoye-nim paid for it.

“Joy. Your demotion is clearly my father’s mistake. Many people are working to reinstate you to headquarters. The ‘Department Store Closure Bill’ that was recently proposed is one example.”

─Department Store Closure Bill─?

As I broke out in a cold sweat at that terrifying name, Melinoye-nim added an explanation.

“It’s a bill to reduce the number of department stores that have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, just as its name suggests. And a bill to make department stores close for about six days a week is also being promoted.”

If department stores were made to close for six days a week, people would inevitably flock to Pandora Market to purchase goods.

Then I, as the Development Vice-Chairman of the market, would accumulate great achievements, and being recognized for my contributions, I might be reinstated to headquarters.

‘I must stop that!’

Dropping my head low.

So I stopped eating and bowed my head.

“Melinoye-nim. Could you repeal and oppose the bills currently in progress related to Pandora Market?”

“Why would that be necessary? Joy, we’re just trying to help you. We’re trying to correct the mistake of your demotion.”

“Precisely why you must oppose them. My dignity would suffer if I were to receive help from executives just to revive one old and outdated market.”

“Oh, dignity, you say─.”

“I am Melinoye-nim’s lover, and I also seriously dream of becoming an executive myself. Therefore, I must be able to accomplish this much on my own.”

“Indeed, Joy, your thoughts are very correct.”

Melinoye-nim said that, and tears streamed down her face.

…Did she trust me enough to shed tears?

Just as I was about to be slightly moved, Melinoye-nim added a remark.

“The onion is too spicy. It must be a Hell Onion.”

It was because of the onion I bought at the market.

They said this Hell Onion contains such a spicy aura that nymphs detest it. And it was true, as Melinoye-nim streamed tears and suffered.

“Achoo─!”

She even sneezed with a strange sound.

The effect of the onion was beyond imagination, to the point where I was rather flustered.

“Melinoye-nim, it would be best if you went home early today. You’re suffering with that onion around.”

“It’s fine. Unlike foolish nymphs, a perfect goddess─ Achoo─! isn’t bothered by spicy onions or anything like that. More importantly, Joy, I heard you performed well in the market again today. I saw it in the newspaper.”

Stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke─.

Even while shedding tears, Melinoye-nim didn’t stop her ‘air head-patting’.

‘So, the onion alone couldn’t drive Melinoye-nim away. And her favorability towards me doesn’t seem to have decreased either.’

I bought it for a hefty 10 gold.

It was useless.

Then how about this?

“Melinoye-nim, have you ever heard of honey ant candy?”

“Are you referring to the product that was discontinued five years ago? A high-class dessert boasting a rich sweetness, as if a beautiful golden rye field unfolds in one’s mouth with just one bite.”

“…I see.”

“Of course, a perfect goddess like me prefers bitter espresso; I don’t even touch sweet candies. I just, happen to know such candy existed.”

It seemed Melinoye-nim had never tried honey ant candy either.

Was it really that rare an item?

“But Joy, that candy in the glass jar looks exactly like honey ant candy. You must surely want to offer me one. Am I wrong?”

“I wasn’t really thinking that.”

“Don’t lie to your heart.”

“Then would you like one?”

“…I don’t eat candy!”

Then what does she want?

Seeing Melinoye-nim snorting with a huff as if sulking was both funny and a little cute.

For a goddess to seem cute, how disrespectful and dangerous a thought!

Therefore, I needed to be harsh with Melinoye-nim.

“If Melinoye-nim doesn’t like it, I suppose I’ll have to give this candy to other nymphs.”

“Hm, coincidentally, there’s a nymph regular meeting tomorrow, so I’ll go and share them.”

Swoosh─.

Melinoye-nim took the glass jar of candy from me.

# # #

“Alright, alright! Those who have come to meet the demoted Joy, please submit your number tickets to Krauser! For those who brought cars, there’s a paid parking lot behind this building, so you can park your cars there!”

Bustle, bustle─.

Today, too, a line of people continued, coming to see me.

If this continued, the market might become lively again today.

So I hung the “Hell Onion” I brought from home at the entrance of the Development Headquarters office.

“Aargh! My eyes are stinging!”

“Tsk, is it a barrier?!”

“Run! Run awayyy!”

The Hell Onion couldn’t drive Melinoye-nim away.

But it was excellent at driving away the customers who came to see me.

A brief respite, gained in that way.

I took advantage of the newfound leisure to slip out of the office and walk around the market.

I was looking for any variables that might lead to market revitalization.

And as if to prove that my expectations and plans were not in vain, I immediately found a variable.

“Sit here! The photos come out perfectly!”

“Hedone, take one of me too!”

“Giggle!”

Hedone and other employees from the work innovation generation were sitting at a table placed between some ruined buildings, taking photos and squealing and laughing.

Whatever it was, it was not a good sign.

“Oh! Joy oppa! How did you know I was here!”

Hedone spotted me.

I wanted to run away, but sometimes, a person had to face problems head-on.

“What are you doing here?”

“This cafe here is perfect for taking vintage-style photos! Look at this. The photos we took! There are already so many hearts on Hellstagram─.”

It meant that a cafe amidst crumbling buildings had started gaining popularity on social media.

Why on earth?

Even I, at 20, sometimes couldn’t understand the tastes of the Millennial and Gen Z generation.

‘No. This is not a good atmosphere!’

If Pandora Market became an SNS hot spot for the Millennial and Gen Z generation like this, my plans would be utterly ruined in many ways.

Was there no way?

So, as I was racking my brain for a long time, Hedone suddenly latched onto my left arm.

“I actually think it’s good that Joy oppa was demoted! When you were at headquarters, I couldn’t meet you often. But now, I can come see you whenever I miss you!”

“Hedone. But why am I your oppa?”

“I can’t call you Section Chief, so you’re oppa!”

“No, it’s that you’re older than me─.”

“Oh, oppa! Don’t you know that if someone is handsome and capable, they’re all oppa?”

Thump, thump, thump─!

Hedone was pounding my chest with her fist.

Thinking I might die like this, I slipped out of her arm lock.

“Cough…. Ahem, alright. And are there any inconveniences in coming all the way to this market for lunch every day?”

“There are! That spider! You guys are annoyed by that spider too, right?”

“That’s right! The spider!”

“A really big lion-spider!”

Lion-spider?

What’s that now?

As I felt puzzled, Hedone chattered like a hungry chick.

“It’s a creature at the market’s west entrance, and it’s convenient to pass through the west gate to get to this Pandora Market from the Happy World Headquarters building! But the lion-spider is blocking the path, so it’s very troublesome!”

A lion-spider.

She said it was a spider as big as a lion.

And that its personality was very ferocious, growling wildly at approaching people.

‘Isn’t that a monster?’

I didn’t know why it was guarding the west gate.

But for me, it was a stroke of good fortune; an opportunity sent by the heavens.

‘If I use that lion-spider well, I can make the customers stop coming to this market entirely!’

I immediately posted on social media.

「The Pandora Market Development Headquarters announces. There is a ferocious lion-spider in Pandora Market, so please be cautious when approaching for the time being.」

「It is a very brutal and terrifying monster. Do not approach under any circumstances.」

A market where a ferocious beast runs wild?

Who would want to come to a place like this!

A few days passed, and one morning.

I headed to the west gate.

At the west gate, a golden spider, truly as big as a lion, was crouching and crying sadly.

━Hiooong….

“Listen to that cry! It’s so sad!”

“Have some Churu and cheer up!”

Flutter─.

A newspaper fell at my feet.

I picked it up and saw these articles written:

「The sad story of the ‘lion-spider’ guarding the west gate spreads among netizens─.」

「The story of a spider waiting for its owner who hasn’t returned for 100 years.」

「Pandora Market’s west gate is bustling with people coming to feed the lion-spider!」

「Is the rumor about the ‘owner’s treasure’ guarded by the spider true?!」

Damn it!