I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World

Chapter 177: Even If You're Poor, Your Milk And Poop Can't Be Poor (1)

“Guess this is far enough.”

I took off my mask at a place quite far from Chloe’s room.

“Haah… That’s refreshing.”

Breathing with my face uncovered, I felt like I could finally live.

The mask was a high-quality one Helen had bought, so wearing it for a long time wasn’t much of a discomfort, but it was still stifling.

Swoosh─

After looking around to confirm no one was nearby, I pulled out an envelope from my pocket.

“….”

I knew I shouldn’t open it casually, but honestly, it was hard to resist.

Should I look? Or not?

After a brief moment of hesitation, I decided.

“Let’s see.”

It wasn’t just out of curiosity.

There was a slim chance Chloe had deceived me or given me the wrong document by mistake, so if that was the case, I had no choice but to get it back.

Rustle- Rustle-

“….Hmm.”

After checking the contents, I quietly put the contract back into the envelope.

“Evelyn…”

My face felt hot.

There was a reason Evelyn clenched her teeth and didn’t tell me the contents.

I never would have guessed it was something like this.

What should I say… It was funny, joyful, and embarrassing all at once.

Amidst the whirlwind of indescribable emotions, one thing was clear.

‘I must not let Evelyn know I saw this.’

If Evelyn found out I had seen it, there was a good chance I’d lose my memory from the physical shock.

‘Let’s return it secretly.’

With firm resolve, I tucked the envelope back into my pocket and headed towards the Marigold family mansion.

“Hya-ahm~!”

Evelyn woke up from her sleep due to the clattering of the window.

“Wow! Another strong and great morning!”

Looking at the warm sunlight outside, Evelyn smiled brightly.

Ever since Ian visited, Evelyn’s daily life had become more fulfilling than ever.

Understanding that her greatest fear stemmed from a simple misunderstanding made her feel that life was beautiful.

Stretch─

“Ugh-uh-uh…!!…Huh?”

While doing some stretching to loosen her muscles that had stiffened overnight, Evelyn noticed a familiar envelope.

“Ha… This is really absurd. Does that thief cat think this is her own bedroom? When did she return this?”

Picking up the envelope from the desk, Evelyn let out a dry laugh.

Even if Ninetail hadn’t stolen anything, the fact that the security of her home had been breached was undeniable.

Her father had significantly strengthened the home security because of this…

Seeing the envelope placed on the desk as if it were only natural, despite the enhanced security, definitely proved why she was called the ‘legendary thief’.

“Tsk, I was going to half-kill her if I caught her… But since she returned everything, I’ll let it slide this once.”

Plop─

Sitting on the sofa with the letter in hand, a small smile graced Evelyn’s lips.

[Marriage Promise Contract]

Date: Today!

Location: Evelyn's room.

Contractors: Ian (Husband), Evelyn (Wife)

-Contract Contents-

Ian and Evelyn promise to get married as soon as they grow up!

Ian and Evelyn will have more than 10 children!

Ian must not say "No" or "I hate you" to Evelyn!

Ian will never leave Evelyn, no matter what happens! (Most important!)

-Signatures-

Evelyn: Evelyn Marigold

Ian: Ian

Although the content was scrawled and ridiculous like a child had written it, it was one of the most precious items to Evelyn until recently.

“…How did I even think about getting this notarized?”

Remembering the bewildered look on the official’s face when she had it notarized made Evelyn’s face flush.

The fact that ‘Today’ was written in the date section made it clear this was more akin to a childhood game than a serious contract.

Before notarization, it was indeed just a play-pretend contract.

Ian probably didn’t even know such a contract existed.

‘Ian, sign here.’

‘Evelyn…? This is a marriage registration form.’

‘Evelyn doesn’t know about that, just sign it.’

Of course, even with notarization, if contested thoroughly, legally it would be meaningless, as Evelyn well knew.

It wouldn’t be an issue unless someone made it one, but if it became one, there were plenty of issues to be had.

“Well… if Ian were to argue with me legally, it would mean his heart is completely gone from me.”

If their relationship deteriorated to that extent, what would be the point of continuing?

A life without Ian meant nothing to Evelyn.

What was important was that young Evelyn wanted one more means to hold onto Ian, even if it was something this foolish.

“So, what should I do with this?”

Now that she was confident Ian wouldn’t leave, this contract was nothing more than a ‘childhood memory’.

Click- Click-

After some thought, Evelyn carefully folded the contract and put it back in the desk drawer.

Click—

She no longer needed to bind Ian with such a contract out of fear he might leave…

“Childhood friends will never lose~.”

It could come in handy as a weapon to fend off concubines vying for the position of the main wife someday.

“Bweeeeh~!!”

The dark-skinned Poporing wailed.

“Sniff…!..!Sniff!..I…I did it right!…I did!!…Sniff!..!!…But…why…did it…turn out like this!!..Sniff!!…Sniff!”

She thought she might not always win, but at least once she could make a big profit.

But it seemed this time it was really not to be.

“Sniff…!..G-Grandma…I’m sorry!..Sniff!..I…really thought I would make it!..No…I really thought I had a chance to make it!!…I really studied hard!!…Why…did it turn out like this!..Sniff!..Grandma!!…Sniff!..I really tried to live honestly without stocks!!…Sniff!…But this time…I messed it all up…Sniff!..I don’t know what to do…Sniff!”

Crumple-!

The Poporing, who had been flailing on the shop floor, tightly gripped the now worthless stock certificates.

But no matter how hard she gripped, the lost money didn’t come back.

“Sniff!..Hic…Sniff!..It’s over!…My life!…Completely ruined!…Sniff!”

Why did she do that?

Why did she believe in the stocks recommended in the gallery?

Originally, Poporing didn’t buy stocks just because they were recommended in the gallery.

She even thought people who did that were fools.

But…

[No black cow left when the pick is hot~? Burp, ate well and left lol][6]

[Wow~ This bull market is damn delicious lol.jpg][3]

...

..

Seeing the profit posts appearing in the gallery, her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably, unable to even stir the stew.

“Why!! Only I can’t make money!! Only I become a pauper overnight!!”

Actually, after receiving investment from Ian, her sales had been recovering little by little…

But watching the gallery where people made her monthly profit in a single day, it felt like earning money honestly was pointless.

And then…

[Did any black cow get caught by the ad spam and really buy stocks? lol][13]

[Only those who really lost money and are struggling, come in...][5]

Checking the gallery again, Poporing shed tears like chicken poop.

When she entered because it said to come in if you’re struggling, they were like, ‘As long as it’s not me~~!!’

“Sniff!..You think it’s fun to trick desperate people!…Ah!…Sniff!..G-Grandma!!..Sniff!!..I’m really ruined!!…Sniff!”

Her only asset was this shop inherited from her grandmother, and now she had lost even that.

“…Poporing?”

“Sniff?…Sniff?…I…Ian…Brother…Hic!..Sniff!..Sniff!!..Ian…Brother!!”

The moment she saw Ian’s face, Poporing burst into tears again.

“Sniff!..Sniff!..!!”

“….”

What on earth was going on here?

I came to restock the ‘Orc Heat Potion’ for Estelle’s exorcism, and Poporing started crying her eyes out while clinging to my legs.

“I…Ian…B-Brother…!…Sniff!!…What…What should I do…!….Sniff!..!!”

“Alright, calm down first and tell me what happened.”

“Sniff!..Sniff!..I’m…ruined!…My…life!…I’m ruined!!…Sniff!..!”

Pat- Pat-

Since she wasn’t in a state to communicate, I patted her back until she calmed down.

“…Sniff!..Sniff…”

“How are you feeling now?”

“Sniff!…Y-Yes…I’m sorry…Ian…Brother…”

“So why were you crying?”

“…That…That’s because…Sniff!…Sniff!…St-Stocks…!Sniff….!!”

“Stocks?”

Nod Nod─

Looking at the paper Poporing handed over while sobbing, it was written that she had bought stocks worth 78 million Eris.

“Crazy…”

“Sniff!!”

Hearing my curse, tears welled up in Poporing’s eyes again.

“Sorry, it’s just that the amount was bigger than I expected… Poporing, you did well. Don’t cry, let’s calm down.”

“Sniff!…Yes…Yes…Sniff!”

“First, tell me where this money came from?”

“Sniff!…I…I mortgaged…the shop!…Took out a…loan…Sniff!”

“….”

The moment I heard she took out a loan, I felt my breath catch.

I thought she was already out of her mind due to her actions as Mojito Deliveryman■, but I didn’t think she was this insane.

“…I see. But you took out a loan for 78 million Eris?”

“Sniff!…N-No!…!…This shop…isn’t that…expensive!…Sniff!..I…I just got an initial…loan of 25 million Eris for the mortgage…”

“And then?”

“I…I got lucky…once…and made…78 million Eris…Sniff!..!”

“You only made it once?”

“Yes!..But with 78 million Eris, I couldn’t do much outside, so just…one more time! Not more, not less! I planned to stop after just one more win…Sniff!…But…But!…I lost it all!!…Sniff!..!!”

“….”

I took a moment to process Poporing’s words before speaking.

“Wait… Poporing, so you took out a 25 million Eris loan, made 78 million, but instead of paying back the debt, you gambled more on stocks and lost everything?”

“Yes…Yes…!…Sniff!..Ian…Brother…It’s so unfair!…Sniff!…It went up to 240 million Eris…! I…I really wanted to sell at 250 million…Sniff!..But it suddenly crashed…Sniff!..!”

Bang-!

“What’s unfair about it!!”

“Tei!..Sniff!!…You hit me!…Ian…Brother!..O-Ow!…Sniff!..My head…You hit it!…Sniff!”

I was not someone who used violence lightly…

But when I came to my senses, I had already smacked Poporing on the head.

“Sniff!..Now…I’m really finished…!!…Sniff!..!! Even Ian…Brother…abandoned me…!..Sniff!..!!”

Seeing Poporing cry even more pitifully, seemingly feeling betrayed, gave me a slight pang of guilt, but now was the time to be firm.

‘This won’t do. If I don’t do something quickly…’

Even if I could overlook her causing trouble as ‘Mojito Deliveryman■’ in the gallery a hundred times, in reality, Poporing couldn’t live like this for the sake of world peace.

Turning someone into someone who couldn’t live without her adult products and then hitting them now was unacceptable!

“Poporing.”

“Sniff!..Sniff!..Sniff!”

“Poporing.”

“Sniff!..!!Sniff!..!!”

“….”

Dig-!

“Sniff! Kyaaaah!!?♥”

First, without any personal interest, I used shock therapy by poking her inverted nipple to bring her back to her senses.