TLWRO 11

Chapter 11

“Oh, I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time with the consultation. After talking, I think I shouldn’t sell this watch.”

“That’s okay, ma’am. It wasn’t a consultation, but an enjoyable conversation.”

“Thank you for understanding. It reminded me of how I felt when I first bought it. I’ll bring something else next time.”

“Please come again!”

I kept smiling and waved goodbye.

Saying it was an enjoyable conversation was partly a line to maintain potential customers—but also genuinely true.

Even ordinary-looking items each have their own story.

When I listen to those stories, I see not only the items but the customers themselves.

Seeing the excitement in an elderly lady’s eyes, the passion in a tired office worker’s gaze, or the glimpse of childhood innocence in a weary adult’s eyes—that’s something special.

“That’s one reason why I enjoy working at the pawnshop. I wonder if grandpa feels the same way.”

Checking the clock, it was already closing time. I was just about to start cleaning when the small bell tinkled very quietly.

Someone must have opened the door very cautiously.

“Welcome…”

I was about to greet the customer but froze.

“…Hello.”

‘Whoa, you startled me.’

Someone cloaked in a pitch-black robe stood there all alone.

Not only that, but they were trembling on the spot.

Tremble, tremble. Like the Grim Reaper.

I swallowed hard.

‘Could it be that I’m being hunted because my time loop breaks the natural order?’

Well, since there are people who reincarnate, maybe there are reapers too.

Should I pray? Would that save me? Or should I run? Can only I see them?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind.

“Is this… a pawnshop?”

I instantly relaxed.

The voice slipping from beneath the robe was a timid woman’s.

‘Thank goodness she didn’t say nonsense like, “Could you come back in a few decades?”’

I skillfully put on a sales smile and slipped on my gloves.

“Yes, it is.”

“If I give you something, will you take a look at it for me?”

“Of course. What do you have? Please place it on the velvet here.”

I was smiling, but when I saw what she took out, I was surprised a second time.

‘Wow.’

It was a locket-style pendant designed to hold something inside.

Of course, the pendant itself wasn’t what amazed me—it was what it was made of.

The pendant she took out was a single emerald.

A carefully cut and polished emerald made into a locket that could open and close.

‘Wow, how much could this be worth…?’

Moreover, it was a holy relic imbued with sacred power.

I couldn’t even begin to guess how much effort went into making it.

I instinctively became reverent and noticed her hand trembling slightly from under the robe.

‘Ah, so that’s why she was trembling so frighteningly earlier. Was she really shaking?’

My first suspicion was that it might be stolen goods. Was she trembling from fear of being caught?

I needed to check the procedure, so I asked carefully.

“Ma’am, do you have a certificate or warranty? It’s needed for appraisal.”

“…I don’t have anything like that.”

“How about a purchase receipt or auction record?”

“…I’m not sure. This is the only jewel I have. …Is that not enough?”

Suddenly, something crazy that someone once said popped into my mind.

“They say you have a sharp eye. You can tell immediately whether something is stolen or not just by looking at it, huh?”

Without certificates or receipts, I should have rejected it logically.

But somehow, I wanted to hear her story.

‘Of course, you can’t tell from the item alone. But you get a feeling about the person—whether they have some ulterior motive or not.’

Besides, she asked if I could “take a look” at the precious item—not sell it right away.

I placed a warm cup of tea in front of the woman who kept her head bowed.

“So, what’s your connection to this jewel?”

“Uh…?”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but you seem to know its value. It looks very special.”

“It does look that way, huh. Yes. It’s special. Really special.”

The woman murmured quietly while holding the teacup.

On her right ring finger was a faintly glowing blue ring.

“It’s a pendant my mother passed down to me. I was very happy to receive it—not because it’s beautiful, but because it was a gift from my mother. That’s what made me happy.”

Why would she come to a pawnshop with something so precious?

Judging by the jewel’s craftsmanship, she seemed from a pretty influential family. Did something happen at home? Bankruptcy and needing money?

While I was thinking this, her voice mixed with tears.

“But… he’s trying to take it away from me.”

“What?! Who?”

“My uncle… he says someone like me doesn’t deserve this, and he doesn’t understand why my dead sister gave it to me… So he said he’ll take it back. It’ll be taken away soon.”

This was crazy.

I barely stopped myself from swearing.

The woman sniffled.

“That’s why I came here. They said I could leave valuables at the pawnshop?”

Strictly speaking, leaving something at a pawnshop is not safekeeping but collateral.

Her story was sad, but she seemed mistaken about how it works, so I was about to explain.

“If you can’t repay the money by the deadline I promise, this jewel can be sold. But I’m not going to repay.”

“Wha—? But if you know that, why would you bring such a precious, valuable item…?”

“As long as it’s not my uncle.”

She suddenly grabbed my hand.

“As long as it doesn’t end up in my uncle’s hands. If I keep it, I have no power, so it will definitely be taken.”

I could feel her trembling through our joined hands. That was fear.

“So, if you meet someone who deserves this jewel, someone who would cherish it more than I do… please sell it.”

From beneath the hood of her robe, I glimpsed green eyes wet with tears.

“It’s an expensive jewel. Someone who can buy this must surely have money and power… That person could protect this jewel from my uncle. They wouldn’t foolishly let it be taken away like I did. Please…”

As I listened, I sighed deeply.

Because of that, the woman, whose words were cut off, looked at me expectantly, or maybe nervously.

Finally, I spoke.

“Excuse me, ma’am. What exactly are you saying?”

I let go of her hand.

“I’m not going to trade this.”

Her hand dropped with a soft thud.

Even though her entire body was covered by the black robe, I could tell.

She was despairing.

“Then, what am I supposed to do now…?”

Tears dripped from beneath her robe.

I shook my head, wiped my face dry, and said,

“Ma’am, how could I ever sell something so precious?”

I pushed a tissue toward her.

Still dazed, she slowly understood what I meant.

“Then…”

“I don’t know what your mother felt when she left you this jewel. I don’t know why your uncle—damn him—wants your things. But one thing is certain.”

I carefully shone light on the pendant’s hinge.

It was the most delicate and weakest part.

Handing her a loupe so she could see well, I said,

“Emeralds are fragile. Even a slight impact leaves marks. Especially on hinges like this. But look.”

The pendant was pristine.

Not a single flaw.

“You say to sell it if someone who cherishes it more than you appears? There is no one who will cherish this jewel more than you. So I can’t sell it to anyone.”

“Ah…”

“I may look like an easy target, but I’m not a sucker. I won’t just buy something from someone who has no intention of selling it.”

I joked lightly.

Lowering the loupe, I smiled faintly at the woman staring blankly at me.

“So, please protect it. Like you have until now, please keep cherishing it.”