The mannequin staff lined up neatly and began clapping in unison. It was an enthusiastic response to my decision to purchase the ring.
Meanwhile, the two colleagues who had followed me stood there, dumbfounded by the situation.
The ring I had chosen, paired with the two humans deemed suitable for barter.
Clap, clap, clap…
The mannequins stopped clapping and, as if preparing to finalize the payment, began walking toward the two standing behind me…
I raised my hand.
“However, I’d like to propose a change in the payment method.”
The mannequins halted abruptly and turned to look at me.
Yes, it was true that this boutique accepted humans for barter. It had been done before, and the transaction was still viable.
If you think about it fundamentally…
Labor.
Whether as grunt workers or as individuals promoted to become mannequins like these, the wiki had already detailed this fact.
In other words, humans were accepted because they provided definite operational support for the boutique.
So, aside from labor, what else could offer definite support to the store?
Even in Daydream Inc., the answer was obvious.
Resource procurement.
I reached into my tattoo and pulled out an item. The most valuable substance I had prepared.
“I’d like to pay with this.”
A gold bar.
“……!”
Even in a ghost story, the sudden appearance of capitalism’s shining star caused my colleagues behind me to stir.
Honestly, after nearly emptying my balance on that alien shop, I’d debated whether or not to use this…
Good thing I grabbed it on my way through Jongno.
Gold and silver are classic staples in ghost stories.
Unlike silver, which is primarily used for exorcisms, gold carries a more universal symbolic weight, often associated with greed or ritualistic offerings. It’s a versatile currency. ℞АＮỘ𝖇ÈṢ
So…
“Will this suffice as payment?”
A mannequin wearing a more formal uniform approached me. It bent its head low over the small gold bar and…
Politely extended both hands.
Success!
It worked.
I’d been prepared to flee if this failed, but the situation couldn’t have turned out better.
I placed the gold bar in the mannequin’s hands. The mannequin stepped back, then returned from behind the glass case, holding the ring in even more elaborate packaging.
The silver ring I had purchased now rested on a velvet cushion embossed with an intricate snake design.
Even the cushion is included?
Since taking the cushion didn’t prompt any reaction, I stored everything in my tattoo inventory.
Next, two other mannequins stepped forward, each holding a rectangular velvet box.
Though the boxes were identical in shape, their contents were different.
The one on the left contained an elegant, traditional pouch with an opening that revealed coins printed backward.
Change!
It was an additional profit.
The pouch’s weight was noticeably heavier than the coins I’d received at the butcher shop earlier, and the coins themselves were larger and thicker. Clearly, they were of a different denomination.
This must all be mine.
Already leaning toward the more practical option, I glanced at the other box.
Inside were various small trinkets—accessories, though calling them that felt like a stretch. They didn’t seem wearable or worth gambling on for potential mental defense properties.
Clearly, they were trying to pitch some additional sales before handing over the change.
The universal currency seems like the better option.
But just as I reached that conclusion, one particular item caught my eye among the trinkets.
A small ribbon hair tie.
Its material was unclear, but its sleek, dark brown sheen looked expensive.
“……”
Interesting.
“Can I take that as well?”
I pointed at the hair tie.
The mannequins clapped again and removed half of the coins from the pouch before presenting the remaining change to me with a bow.
“Thank you.”
I accepted the neatly packaged items and stored them in my tattoo.
“Wow, I’ve been thinking about this for a while… That ability of yours looks incredible! What kind of equipment are you using?”
“Indeed.”
I turned to Kang Yihak, who was grinning slyly.
Did she not realize I could’ve bartered her and the other colleague away?
Haah… Let’s try this one more time.
I decided to attempt one final gambit: ‘Act like a lunatic to avoid being messed with’.
Fixing my gaze on Kang Yihak, I spoke.
“I’m curious.”
“Excuse me?”
“If I were to sell one sentient being, how much gold could I get in return?”
After a brief silence,
“Huh? Why would you even think of something so illogical? Haha!”
Kang Yihak laughed heartily.
“You’d probably get a few more gold bars by selling kidneys or corneas instead.”
“……”
Is this a normal way of thinking?
It clearly wasn’t. So, I gave up arguing.
This was getting seriously unsettling.
‘I just have to endure this until we escape from this ghost story.’
Instead, I decided to offer my colleagues a carrot.
“Here, take this.”
“W-What…?!”
I divided the change from my pouch into three parts and handed some to each of them.
“I’m lending this to you. If you use it, repay me in gold. If you don’t use it by the time we leave, I’ll take it back.”
“T-Thank you…”
Jang Heo-un was the first to bow his head in gratitude.
I could brush off Kang Yihak as someone utterly beyond my comprehension, but I couldn’t understand why Jang Heo-un was so calm.
‘What on earth did you go through on the Round-Off Team…?’
At the start of this mission, I’d thought, This is going to be a reliable exploration with my sane colleagues! But now, I’d reached a point where I actually missed Baek Saheon.
At least that guy was predictably awful…
Here, I was practically bathing in cold sweat.
When I noticed Kang Yihak raising the coins to inspect their surface, I quickly intervened.
“Don’t look too closely.”
“Got it~”
Kang Yihak murmured in a slightly dazed voice.
“Gold never fails, does it?”
“……”
“Excuse me, Ms. Pony.”
Jang Heo-un quietly interjected.
“Isn’t it dangerous to make such conclusions? There are many things more valuable than gold in this world.”
“Haha, well, Mr. Buffalo, let me give you a tip as a fellow colleague. What do you think is the most valuable use of a wish?”
“A wish…? To save people and benefit the world, I’d imagine.”
“Eyy~ There are so many people in the world! No, no, it’s more efficient to endlessly produce what’s scarce and valuable!”
Kang Yihak declared, spreading her hands wide.
“And that is none other than the Midas Touch!”