Mastore 43 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch 43 

Monolingual Convenience Store Worker (2)





In this other world, the definition of a giant can be summarized as follows: minimum height of 4 meters, maximum around 30 meters. On average, that's about the height of a five-story building.

"What do they do when they need to use the bathroom? Wouldn’t that clog up a dam or something?"

[That’s not an issue. They live in completely different areas.]

When I thought about it, it made sense. If they went for even a short walk, they would probably smash through traffic lights and power lines. And while at it, they would probably stomp a few cars too...

For these reasons, a special residential zone for giants has been built somewhere in the world, and it's considered a serious crime to leave that place unless for business reasons or unavoidable legal circumstances.

Manager assured me there was no need to worry, as we wouldn’t see any giants in this area. But that’s not what I’m curious about.

"Then what about these… Jungin Tribe?"

[The Jungin are just Jungin. Why?]

"I’m just having a hard time understanding the classification criteria between giants and Jungin..."

[Well, they’re smaller than giants but bigger than smallfolk (Lit. read as little/small being). The size—]

The classification is based on height. If they’re between 3 meters and less than 4 meters tall, they’re classified as midlings. Isn’t that about the size of a Velociraptor?

These guys are too tall to live in typical neighborhoods with other species, but it was also questionable to let them live in a neighborhood where giants lived. Wouldn’t they be treated like living soccer balls?

So, there’s also a special zone just for the Jungin. However, not many of them actually live there. Apparently, it’s too boring because there’s a lot of space but not much to do.

Tired of this, they started protesting a few decades ago, demanding, "Let us come and play to the places where you guys live!" As a result, a law was passed allowing them to get tourist or work visas to live among other species…

But then, a problem arose. Over time, the Jungin’s personalities started to become more and more difficult.

"Why’s that?"

[Well... first off, they're tall. And as tall as they are, they're strong too.]

"Their appearance, yeah. They do look like it.”

"Since these big and strong folks live alongside smaller species, they’ve developed a kind of superiority complex, or so they say… at least that’s what some academic journal said.”

I don’t know about academic journals, but if you stretch out the process of how a big, strong kid becomes a school bully, it would probably look just like this. I thought about it for a moment and then asked,

“What’s your opinion, Manager? Not what the journals say, but your own opinion."

[Um... I've served them as customers a few times, and I had an impression of them back then. That’s, um... self-centered, maybe?]

“I thought the same… Ah, Manager, I’m going to hang up for a second."

I said, putting down my smartphone for a bit. Because one of the Jungin—not giants—had come back. He placed three 500ml bottles of cola on the counter, followed by 4,400 won.

The amount didn’t add up. A bottle of cola costs 2,200 won.

Judging by the amount he placed on the counter, he must’ve thought there was still a 2+1 deal going on, but that ended on April 30th. It's May now. Looking up at him, I said:

"This isn't a 2+1 deal. The promotion has ended."

“??????”

"It’s 6,600 won. You need to pay 2,200 won more."

“??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?”

At this point, I’ve given up trying to understand whatever he’s saying.

I walked out from behind the counter and pointed at the price displayed on the screen behind the register. The Jungin guy stared at it for a moment, nodded, and then just shoved the extra 2,200 won back into his pocket.

After that, he snatched one bottle of cola and left before I could finish the transaction.

And so, I was left with two bottles of cola and 2,200 won sitting on the counter. This kind of situation is seriously annoying. If you're not buying it, couldn't you just put it back where it was displayed? Is that so difficult?

But that wasn’t the end of how these guys were getting on my nerves. After putting the cola back on the shelf and returning to the counter, one of the three started bursting out laughing.

“??? ?? ????????, ??????, ??? ?????????? ?!”

“???? ??????? ???, ???? ?????!”

I waited for 1-2 minutes, thinking they'd calm down a bit, but as time passed, instead of quieting down, their voices got even louder. Perhaps it could heard from beyond the store window, because I saw people walking down the street looking inside and shaking their heads.

I called Manager again to ask.

"Manager, those guys are making a ton of noise…."

[Well, if all they’re doing is making noise, it shouldn’t be a big deal…]

“?????? ???, ?????!!”

[...Or maybe it is.]

"Manager can hear them too, right? I think I'm going deaf, and they didn't write their contact info or address in the logbook either. Isn't it a big problem if they don't fill that out?"

[It's not that serious, but when the elf police officer comes later, she might have something to say about it...]

"Then maybe I should—wait, what are you doing, customers?!"

Why on earth are these lunatics suddenly taking off their shirts?

I hung up immediately and ran over. The three Jungin had stripped off their T-shirts and button-downs and were waving them around like fans, flapping them at each other. This was even more surreal than watching orcs beat each other up with doors.

"Customers, I don't mind you talking, but please keep your clothes on while you chat. Do you the place is a sauna!"

“???? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?”

“For crying out loud, put your shirts back on! Clothes! Where are your clothes!”

“??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ? ????? ?”

"Dammit, I can’t understand a word you’re saying."

“??????”

"PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!!"

Even though I knew they wouldn't understand anyway, I tried to convey urgency and frustration in my tone. I even tugged at the hem of my uniform and pointed at their discarded clothes, but they didn’t show the slightest bit of interest.

“?????, ????? ? ??????!”

Instead of responding, one of them started pointing at something and yelling at me. When I looked at what they were pointing at, it was the window—specifically, the section covered by the semi-transparent sticker.

I guess they were trying to say, "What's the problem if no one can see us anyway?" But I can see them, me. What did I do to deserve working while staring at your chest hair?

"That sticker isn’t there to cover up customer’s chest hair. and what do you think other customers will think if they come in and see you like this?"

“.......”

“No, really, don’t just stay quiet, put some clothes on....”

When I looked at their faces, they had their mouths clamped shut and were staring toward the door.

I turned to look and saw a police officer in a motorcycle helmet quietly watching us. Oh, thank God.

The Jungin glanced at each other and, grumbling quietly, reluctantly began putting their clothes back on. Once I confirmed that their voices had also quieted down, I returned to the counter. From inside the helmet came a low and muffled voice.

"Officer Iruel here."

"…Would you like a drink, Officer?"

“I’ll decline. But, what's going on over there?"

“Which part are you referring to?”

“Is it a case?”

She glanced at the Jungins and asked, so I seized the opportunity to spill the beans. I told her I nearly witnessed a strip show. After finishing my explanation, I waited for her response, but instead, she asked me a question.

"Did they take off their pants too?"

“Sorry?”

“I’m asking if these Jungins engaged in any behavior that might have aroused your sexual desire, caused you embarrassment, or violated any moral or sexual standards.”

“Uh....”

Is she being serious right now? Judging by her tone and the fact that she had taken out her notepad, she isn’t joking.

“That’s not it, but....”

"Other than that, did they commit any acts that could be considered disorderly conduct, obstruction of business, or property damage?"

“They were laughing and chatting loudly. For about two minutes.”

"That’s a bit ambiguous."

What does she mean by "ambiguous"? Is she really trying to feed them kongbap? (Rice and bean dish. A saying mean sending a person to jail. It’s a prison dish.)

I’ve only met this elf officer three times, but I think I’m starting to get a sense of her personality. She’s the type who strictly separates work from personal feelings—maybe a bit too much.

I wasn't asking because I wanted to feed them rice bean, but because I was hoping she could take them with her when she leaves. Seeing her intently staring the Jungin, I figured things could escalate, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Officer, what happened with that wildcat thief?”

“...Ah.”

She turned toward me and answered in the same flat tone as before.

"He turned himself in."

That wasn’t the answer I expected.

“Oh, really?”

"Yes. He came in voluntarily at around 6 PM today. There were no changes to the charges we discussed yesterday, and the case has been transferred to the prosecutor. So you no longer need to worry…."

As she spoke, she glanced at my face and abruptly changed the subject.

"...is what I was going to say. But you don't look too relieved."

I’m grateful she noticed. How could I not be worried?

I don’t know how the law works around here, but I highly doubt a thief caught robbing a convenience store would serve time after just the first trial. You know, there are many articles like that on the Internet. A vengeful criminal come back to the scene and do this and that, blah, blah...

"That won’t happen. Based on what he said when he turned himself in… it seems this kobold hasn’t just committed crimes at this convenience store."

"So, he didn’t just rob this place?"

"At least 8 cases, or so. He won't get off with just probation, so he won't be able to come back..."

She added that the kobold, who clearly didn’t expect to get caught, looked nervous during the interrogation. He even asked how many years he would spend in jail right from the start of the interrogation. Such a timid guy would never even dream of seeking revenge.

“It seems like the wallet was something he obtained from the black market, but the magic on it was already dispelled, so we couldn’t find more information. You also said you didn't have any guesses..."

“Right.”

"...In that case, it means there was probably some self-destructive magic cast on it..."

It seems I've created more work by not explaining properly. Honestly, it’s not that I don’t want to tell the truth, but at this point, it feels awkward to bring it up now. What if I end up in trouble for withholding information?

"Anyway, you won't have to worry about any more harm coming to this place. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

"Well… it might sound strange asking this now, but are you really allowed to tell me all of this?"

Hearing her explanation did put me at ease, but aren’t there laws about protecting the perpetrator or maintaining confidentiality? When I asked as it came to mind, the elf stared at me intently and replied,

“If I didn’t tell you, you wouldn't be able to sleep, would you?"

It might have been her attempt at a joke, as there was a slight hint of amusement in her voice.

“...Thank you.”

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

Honestly, I didn’t want to talk about this any further. Since I'm hiding something, I didn't want to create problems by discussing this topic further.

But if I said no, she’ll probably leave, and then those Jungins would start making noise again once they saw the police had left. Are there any small talk....

"Ah. Officer, what happens if they don't fill this logbook?"

I realized I’ve left the conversation about the guest logbook with Manager unfinished. I took it out and handed it over. The elf, seemingly unable to see well, took off her helmet and started staring intently at the logbook.

Then her ears twitched, and she suddenly went silent.

“Is something wrong, Officer?”

“….”

She kept twitching her ears a few more times, then, out of nowhere, pulled her baton from her belt and started tapping her head with it. Is this some kind of habit?

Then, she quickly turned toward the Junginn and replied in a flat tone voice.

“They’re talking about me over there.”





|Note

중인 = Read as Jong-in. Currently used the term Jungin. Literally, it’s middleling or middlefolk.

소인 = Read as So-in. Literally, it’s read as smallfolk.

And giant is just giantfolk.

I used Jungin because the classification is a bit vague, with only the height as the classification point. It’s not a race, but a term that label a certain group. I thought used them as is would be more suitable.

I used Giant because they’re completely a race.

I used smallfolk because they can also be read as dwarf. But looking at the context, I think the term refer to the regular-sized person. Rather than a label, this refer to the majority, the ‘normal’, if I might say. As there’s no need to make a special term, I just leave it as is.