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Join the ServerThe spirit hesitated and turned around.
A white-haired old man faced the Demon God with a somewhat pale complexion.
– Please do not misunderstand. It is just that you are too terrifying for me to look at you straight….
The Demon God was of a lofty status in himself and was gradually recovering his power too.
He was a burdensome existence for a regular spirit to face alone.
The Demon God himself knew that well.
“Do not worry. I only dissipate when I feel like it.”
– Does that not mean you will just dissipate me? Did I misunderstand?
“Hmph. You understood well.”
– …….
The white-haired spirit tensed up.
When the Demon God came in, he was just scary, but now he was even scarier because he was unpredictable.
On the other hand, the Demon God was relaxed.
Because it was a vlog and an inquiry, there was no need to rush.
“You are not a spirit bound to a specific antique.”
– Yes, I am—
“Wait a moment. Let me guess. Are you not the previous owner of the shop?”
– Yes, you guessed well.
Was it not too easy a question, was what the spirit knew to swallow inwardly.
“You are not an evil spirit.”
– Yes, yes! I am merely a powerless and insignificant spirit!
“Did you hear the question I asked your son? I am looking for a certain bracelet, and its shape is—”
– Yes! I know.
The spirit answered without even listening to the full explanation.
His judgment was to quickly tell him what he needed to know and send him out.
Because just standing and facing him was enough to reach the point of dissipation.
Looking down at his hand, the slightly blurring state was already precarious.
– You must go to the nearby metal fabrication shop. I will tell you the address.
“A metal fabrication shop?”
A small factory that makes pipes, screws, or metal products as ordered. That means—
– Yes, because that is not an antique. It’s like that anywhere, but it’s a fake item, namely a counterfeit.
That it was produced plausibly like an antique at a factory.
“Hmph. Is that so. I did not notice because it was covered by the curse.”
– Yes, it is difficult for an ordinary person to recognize.
“I am not an ordinary person.”
– Oops, a slip of the tongue from me.
“Anyway, it is true that it was obtained at Dongmyo.”
The Demon God continued, whether it was a conversation or a soliloquy.
The spirit’s mind was already hazy from the prolonged confrontation.
At this rate, he will dissipate. Or he must ascend on his own.
He has a reason for not ascending, yet inevitably—
– Ah.
That moment, the spirit snapped out of it with a start.
He had forgotten, pressed down by the status of the existence that entered the shop.
Isn’t this an opportunity to resolve the reason he is remaining right now.
– Lofty existence.
The spirit opened his mouth with a trembling voice.
– I, I, I have a favor to ask….
Once he actually started speaking, he regretted it.
Is it really okay to bring up a favor to such a lofty existence? Especially to an existence this scary?
Wouldn’t he dissipate me in a single breath?
However, the Demon God, enveloped in ominous darkness, spoke sternly.
“Speak. For I do not just pass by one who has established even a small merit for me.”
Ah, indeed.
The spirit admired deeply.
The existence before his eyes is not only high in status but also one who shows actions befitting it.
“However, it must not be bothersome. If it is too bothersome, I will not do it.”
– …….
Just as he was about to get out of the confusion, he gets confused again.
The spirit could hardly gather his wits, but barely composed himself and brought up the story.
– Ahem. Then I shall tell you.
“If it is trivial after hearing it, you are dissipated immediately.”
– Yes, yes!
The story the spirit brought up was as follows.
40 years of staying in Dongmyo as the owner of an antique shop.
He had collected antiques himself and had pride in his collection.
The front display case the Demon God saw as soon as he entered is precisely the collection gathering his most cherished items.
“They were excellent antiques. I too admired them.”
– Thank you. However, I realized one fake item is mixed in there. I only came to know it after I drew my last breath.
“Really?”
– My son takes after me and is sincere about collecting antiques too, but that boy also does not know. This will not do. I want to take it out of the display case.
“Hmm.”
However, the Demon God tilted his head.
“Are you remaining for merely such a reason?”
He said it would be dissipation if it was trivial.
The spirit felt a sense of crisis even at the Demon God’s light words and hurriedly answered.
– It was my life’s pride. I cannot leave with a fake item mixed in. If someone were to ever recognize it, it is a disgrace spanning two generations, father and son.
“Is that so? Then that will not do.”
Fortunately, the talk about disgrace seemed to have gotten through, and the Demon God agreed.
– Phew.
“Will it suffice if I relay the message of which one is fake?”
– Yes!
The spirit finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The tension being released at once and his mind becoming comfortable, this is like—
“You are ascending right now, though?”
– U-Uwah! Not yet!
The spirit hurriedly composed himself.
He put strength into his body that was about to float up and planted his feet in this world.
And, the Demon God sighed looking at such a spirit.
‘He is just like a graduate student. He has made a foolish choice.’
He wouldn’t know what point is foolish just by explaining it.
There is no choice but to show him directly.
“Then let us go out.”
– Yes, yes.
Only then did the Demon God come out from the secluded corner and head toward the sales counter.
In front of it, Zion was filming the vlog.
“Yes, Sun-woo has finally come. Shall we ask what he was doing?”
Even though it wasn’t a live broadcast, he necessarily added an explanation.
“Sun-woo, what were you doing to come just now?”
He threw the exact same question to the Demon God.
“I was having a conversation with the previous owner, who is the father of the current owner.”
“?”
Zion paused for a moment.
And the owner standing at the sales counter also looked toward the Demon God.
– No, if you speak so openly?
The collector spirit who followed the Demon God was also troubled.
“It is a joke.”
The Demon God passed it off nonchalantly.
“What? Young friend, what are you saying?”
– Lofty existence, your character?
The current owner reacted with anger, and the previous owner with his popped-out inner thoughts, respectively.
“However, I have brought words the father would have wanted to convey.”
The Demon God said what he wanted to say and pointed at the display case.
“Take out the fake item from the display case.”
The collector spirit opened his mouth even amidst the distraction.
– As to what the fake item is, you see.
However, the Demon God did not even listen and pointed it out.
“That brass cup over there is a fake item.”
– ?!
The collector spirit stared blankly at the Demon God.
“The antiques here. Even though they are not at the level to be called relics, history can be felt from them.”
It is said that the person who used the item rubs off on it.
Because thoughts and feelings harbored while using the item are contained in it, starting from simple habits like how the item is held in the hand.
Therefore, an item of an owner with outstanding spiritual energy, like a high monk’s prayer beads, sometimes possesses power in itself.
The spirit’s collection items were not such spiritual tools, but they were items that each gained dignity by containing their former owners.
– You recognize it. The items here are ones that cannot be measured with money.
The collector spirit interjected even while blank when his collection was acknowledged.
“But only this one is different.”
Only the brass cup did not give off such a feeling.
It was definitely a fake item like the bracelet.
Only the traces of relatively recent owners can be felt.
“No history or the like can be seen in that cup. Your father will want to take that cup out of the display case. Saying he will suffer disgrace if someone recognizes it.”
A strange tone of speech.
It sounded like he was really relaying words, and also like he was just stating his own thoughts.
At the confusion the Demon God gave, the current owner kept silent for a moment.
– Mmm, well. The process is a bit strange, but you conveyed it well….
The collector spirit sighed and looked up at the sky.
– Thank you. Now if my son takes out the brass cup, I should leave too.
“Will that truly be so?”
– Pardon?
The Demon God’s very softly leaked words were heard only by the collector spirit.
Finally, the current owner brought up words.
“To say something my father would likely say. It really seems he sent you.”
Then he slowly shook his head.
“But you know, young friend. I knew this was a fake item.”
– ?!
The collector spirit looked at his son in bewilderment.
– You found out? When? And if you knew, why did you leave it as it is?
Of course, the spirit’s question could not be heard by the human.
“When is not important. The reason you left it as it is?”
The Demon God was truly generous.
To not mind such trouble for the small spirit who informed him of information.
Of course, the Demon God was not particularly recalling the trouble of Tae-young’s transcendental translation at this moment.
“The reason I left it as it is? That’s obvious. Because it’s my father’s item.”
– !!!!
“Hmph, I suppose so.”
Leaving the shocked collector spirit be, the Demon God thrust his face toward the brass cup in the display case.
“This cup was loved beyond its station.”
“Right. Our father cherished it without even knowing it was a fake. Still, the happiness father felt while looking at it was real.”
The Demon God pulled his face away from the display case.
“Then it is a real one. There is no reason to take it out of the display case.”
The brass cup only holds traces of recent owners, and a long history cannot be felt like other antiques.
However, the Demon God read happiness and memories from those traces.
The reason he considered it would be meaningless even if he conveyed the collector spirit’s words was such.
“I heard the items here are ones that cannot be measured with money. If so, the brass cup is not a fake either.”
“That’s right. Are we done now? I need to clean up some items.”
The current owner tapped the glass of the section containing the brass cup and disappeared into the inside of the shop.
“How is it?”
The Demon God asked the collector for the last time.
“What?”
“Zion, not you.”
“Not me here?”
– I must leave.
Actually, there was no need to hear the answer.
The spirit was already fading while emitting light.
His feet left the floor and slowly rose toward the air.
– I remained because I didn’t want to bring shame to my son, but my son actually didn’t mind at all.
“That is how it is.”
“Sun-woo, who do you keep talking to?”
“Shh.”
“Yeah, shh.”
Zion listened well, at least.
The collector had now almost reached the ceiling.
It was the moment he would soon disappear.
“When you ascend to the sky, tell them the Demon God sent you. That I am doing well in my idol life so I will see them soon.”
The spirit looked blankly.
When told to relay such a threat to the gods, everyone had that reaction.
“Make sure to tell the gods. Do not think of leaving it out.”
The Demon God gave a strict warning.
– Not that, you are an idol?
“Hm?”
He ended up saying he was an idol.
– I am old and do not know well, but is an idol not a group singer?
“A group singer…, that is so.”
– U-Um, if so…
The collector stopped while ascending.
And told something to the Demon God.
“Really? Zion, call the owner back.”
“Huh? Got it!”
Zion immediately brought the current owner back.
“What is it again?”
“I intend to purchase an item.”
“Purchase? I’ll say this in advance, I don’t sell what’s in this display case.”
However, the Demon God pointed at a pile of books.
“I hear there is a box behind there.”
“No. There are only books there. I know because I restacked them several times.”
“He says he put it in recently.”
“?”
The Demon God pushed the books aside as the collector informed him.
Inside there was indeed a box.
There was even a price tag attached to the outside. It wasn’t a very expensive item.
“What is this? Why is it here?”
The current owner was extremely flustered.
The Demon God opened the box without hesitation.
Inside, there were five microphones.
A neat design with an ink-black color.
The Demon God could recognize their value.
“These are….”
– They are microphones of a 40s chorus band. As for technology, modern ones would be better, but these items are unrelated to technology.
The essence of a microphone is a tool that conveys the singer’s sincerity.
These items were masterpieces capable of demonstrating an excellent effect in that aspect. Even if only the exterior casing was used, that effect would appear.
“To transcend technology and convey directly to the heart. The original owners must have been amazing.”
– That’s right. Because they were a band that dominated an era. If it weren’t for the war, their name would definitely have remained until now.
The Demon God held the box in his hands.
“Owner. I shall purchase this. The price is as per the price tag here, correct? Zion, pay for it.”
“Huh? I’m paying?”
“Of course.”
“Gifting it isn’t hard, but to even say of course…?”
The current owner was still looking in surprise.
“How did you know an item like this was here? Don’t tell me then the story about my father was also real…?”
“No, that was definitely a joke.”
The owner’s surprised expression subsided.
“However, it seems your father would also approve of your choice.”
“!”
The current owner felt a bizarre feeling and looked at the Demon God, then slowly nodded.
“Customer, just take that.”
“Hm? Would that be okay?”
“Because I think my father would do the same.”
When the Demon God looked at the collector spirit, he also nodded.
– Thank you. Thank you. I will definitely convey your words when I go up.
“If you insist.”
The Demon God did not decline and tucked the box under his arm.
If he came to Dongmyo, he must score an item.
Because if he only breaks things and doesn’t purchase, there’s no reward for coming.
***
‘He said it was a metal fabrication shop.’
The origin of the bracelet the collector spirit informed him of.
Now it was time to check that place.
The Demon God directed his steps.
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, I Just Wanted An Ordinary Life This Time is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : I Just Wanted An Ordinary Life This Time
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