Mastore 62 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 62

Convenience Store Clerk Taking a Practical Exam (7)

As we stepped outside, I noticed the goblin across the street, puffing away on a cigarette. When our eyes met, he tossed away the cigarette he was smoking and trudged across the road to ask us,

“Have you seen it?”

"Pardon?"

"Did you see it all? What’s the estimate? How long will it take?”

"Uh... We just finished."

“All done already?”

He looked doubtful, so we went into the bank and showed him the inside. The goblin's gaze, which was sweeping over the bank's interior, fixed on the ATM with its belly ripped open.

"Was it really necessary to smash it like that?"

I explained, exaggerating as much as possible, that it was necessary. It was an emergency situation right before sustaining injury, and the devil was hiding in the internal parts, so we had no choice but to break it.

However, even after hearing it all, his lips remained pursed in dissatisfaction.

"Anything else I should know?"

“What are you talking about?”

"That ATM might go berserk again later and cause havoc."

If you have any questions about after-sale, shouldn't you be asking the people who conduct the exam, not me?

That thought crossed my mind, but I figured I should better give him a decent answer if I wanted him to sign off on this. Since the ATM was possessed by a devil, and demons supposedly arise when different species’ emotions pile up over time…

"Was there any malfunction with that ATM? Like cards getting stuck, or lag?"

It seemed like the only reason for an ATM to attract such negative energy. Like tapping the screen because cards won't insert, or tapping the screen because it's lagging and won't move on.

As I said that, I realized if I were to live being beaten up for this reason, I think I might fall into devil possession too. The goblin answered right away.

"There was. It's gone now because you guys smashed it."

“How long has this malfunction been present?”

“Months ago. But, are you saying the ATM ended up like that because of that malfunction?"

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I should’ve thrown the paperwork in the branch manager’s face.”

After saying this, he muttered something about 'I definitely raised it as an agenda' or 'That branch manager bastard does his job sloppily', which summarized seemed to mean 'I felt signs that something like this might happen someday. But the branch manager didn't listen to me.'

But do I really need to know this?

I was about to cut him off, but thinking he might not sign if I did, I kept quiet. After complaining for about 3 minutes, the goblin looked at me and held out his hand slightly.

“Give it to me.”

When I handed over the tablet, he scrawled a signature, handed it back to me, and started rummaging through his pocket. After a moment, he took out a key and asked me,

"So, as long as it’s maintained and there are no malfunctions, this won’t happen again, right?"

“Yes.”

"Good. Now I can finally clock out. I'm leaving. Good job."

He turned off the bank lights, locked the door, and went far away. While talking with that guy, I nearly let my shy racism slip, but…

I'll endure it since I probably won't see him again. It's exactly 8:20 now, and from the way things were going, I could see how this night was shaping up.

“Noona, if I finish the exam by 9 and hop on the subway right after, I can just barely make it in time for the night shift, right?”

“What, weren’t you supposed to be on leave today?"

"I didn’t officially take leave, but I also didn’t plan anything."

I only thought about taking the exam I haven't thought about what to do afterwards. If I say I'm tired today and ask if I can rest a bit― I think Manager would allow it. She's the type who could understand that much.

But I don't want to do that.

“If I take another day off today, I’ll have taken two days off this week, and I would feel bad for Manager.”

It was clearly busy with customers at 6 o'clock earlier, and when I think about Manager who'll have to work until this time tomorrow after going through that, my guts can't take it. Manager would say, 'I can endure with my magic power, so don't worry and enjoy your time off', but...

"And besides, I don’t really have anything fun to do."

"...Ei, I was hoping we could at least grab a meal together."

“Let’s eat later, later.”

"Well, if you say so, then I guess there’s no choice. Anyway, what about the remaining commission?"

"Hmm..."

I’m not sure. What should I tackle for the last one?

Most of the commission on the screen have long since turned gray, and there are less than ten left. I asked the columbarium director earlier, but the goblin client here has already gone home...

"...Since we're on the topic, do you think Manager is still busy?"

"Why, are you going to ask Unnie?"

"Yeah."

I feel bad bothering Manager while she’s working, but a quick phone call shouldn’t hurt. Plus, if I explain that I need to hurry to make it to work on time, I think she’ll understand, right?

"She probably isn't busy? Unnie usually isn't busy around this time."

Strike while the iron’s hot, as they say. I took Noona's smartphone and called her right away. After three rings, Manager picked up.

“Oh, Yoonha. Did you see Chan off to the exam room well? I was just about to call because I was worried―"

“It’s me, Manager.”

“Huh?”

I explained right away. I didn't run away, I'm taking the exam properly, and I'm taking the exam outside the academy so I met Noona outside for a bit. I had more to say, but time was tight, so I kept it short.

"When does the exam end?"

"It goes until 10 p.m., but I was hoping to finish early and switch shifts with Manager if possible."

"I appreciate the thought, but I'd prefer if Chan didn't overdo it and took the exam well..."

"Actually, that's why I called you, Manager."

After switching to a video call, I pointed the tablet screen at the camera and explained further. I showed him the commission list, but Noona and I couldn’t make heads or tails of it since it’s written in a language we don’t understand. I asked if she could read it.

“That’s ancient language. It’s just the place names listed.”

“Do you think you could make it out?”

“Yeah. You want me to look through these and tell you which one seems doable?”

"I'd be grateful if you could, but aren't you busy right now...?"

“Don’t worry, Chan-ah, I'm not busy. Can you scroll down the screen for me?”

Following Manager’s instructions, I scrolled down the page slowly. She squinted at the screen, studying it carefully. Once I reached the end, she finally spoke.

“Chan, would you rather your body be comfortable or your mind?”

“Isn’t there an option for both?”

“That’s.... well, from what I see, there's only one."

"If you tell me, I'll choose that one."

“Number 44.”

Somehow the number seems a bit ominous? Maybe other examinee thought the same and didn't choose it, or something.

Still, Manager, being a mage, surely had a better eye for these things than an outsider like me. I chose it, but the commission content that appeared on the screen had only five characters written. 'Decide after discussion.'

Noona squinted at the screen and muttered.

"Unnie. The address written here seems to be inside the academy district."

"To be precise, it's probably the exam room."

“Exam room?”

"If you translate the title, it said something like this. 'Starting point'."

If it's the starting point, I think it's correct that it's the exam room too. Because that's where we started from.

So far, whenever I reached the commission location, I could meet the client. If I return to the exam room, the species who submitted this request will be waiting.

But if it’s different species waiting at the exam room, only one person comes to mind.

“Manager, isn’t this client the proctor?”

“Maybe?”

Can an exam proctor mess around this much with a national exam? I won’t even bother asking anymore. They're playing around because they can, dammit.

What I'm worried about is a completely different part. Judging from what that proctor said and their antics so far, it doesn't seem like the commission content to be decided after discussion will be anything normal. Judging from Manager’s reaction, it seems like she expected it to some extent and chose it, so there must be a reason for that....

“Manager, do you really think this will be easy on both my body and mind?”

“At least your body will be. Why, that proctor is probably a magician too, right?"

“Yes.”

“Then they won’t make you do any physical labor. Even if they tried, they wouldn’t know how to.”

The idea that magicians can't do physical work matches exactly with the image in my head.

“And as for keeping your mind at ease… well, I don’t know what they’ll ask, but they’ll definitely pass you. No matter what."

"Are you telling me to think optimistically?"

“That’s because, when magicians see Chan’s constitution for themselves, they’ll probably be really curious and wonder, ‘How on earth does that work?’”

"Uh... let's say that's true, what's next?"

“If they fail Chan, they won’t be able to watch what Chan do ever again.”

Then, she concluded with a confident tone.

"You see, magicians are a profession that suffers from curiosity as an incurable disease."

“Hoo....”

"If I were that proctor, I would pass you just so I could see what you do in the future. I’m serious. You can trust me on this.”

* * *

I like thinking optimistically too. Even better if it's optimism with a basis.

Manager probably didn't say this without reason, but I needed my own grounds for optimism. So, as I headed back to the academy, I focused on just one thing: this is the last commission, and once it’s over, there’ll be no more stress to deal with.

As the academy entrance came into view, Noona, who was looking at her smartphone, suddenly asked.

“Lee Chan. Sorry to interrupt, but is it okay if I go?"

"I'm the one who asked for help, what are you sorry for? But why?"

"I got a message from the guild leader. It seems they're contacting me about the corporate card being messed up..."

She helped me out only to end up meeting her boss on a weekend evening. I looked at her with a mix of guilt and gratitude, and when she met my eyes, she gave a little smile.

“What? Still feeling sorry?”

"If I wasn't sorry, wouldn't that make me a bastard, not a human...?"

"If you're sorry, then make me feel that much more rewarded. Do well on the exam."

She put her smartphone in her pocket and added one more thing.

"Today was fun. Let’s hang out again sometime.”

Was there anything fun today? Not that I can remember, but… Anyway, it's good if it's good.

Watching Noona disappear towards the commercial district street, I also went on my way. Most of the buildings inside the academy were already dark, with only the exam building still lit up in the distance.

When I entered the building and reached the exam room, I saw the vampire proctor sitting with his legs crossed, reading a book. Sensing my presence, he slightly raised his head to look at me and raised an eyebrow.

“Number 44?”

"Yes."

“Please take a seat here.”

I sat down as instructed. Since the commission description had been ‘Decide after discussion’, I figured we would have some kind of discussion. But the proctor stayed silent for several seconds, just staring at me with his slit-like, crimson pupils.

Just as I was about to speak to break the awkward silence, he uncrossed his legs and snapped his fingers. What appeared on the podium was a 3x3 Rubik's cube.

"This is teaching material for undergraduate practice."

He picks up the cube with one hand and hands it to me. What, am I supposed to solve it?

"Each of the 26 cube pieces has a spell cast on it. The types of spells are stopping, reverse rotation, and changing colors when not in direct sight. There are 10 other types of spells as well.”

Yep, seems like I’m supposed to solve it. I examined it from different angles and noticed that one face was already partially completed in a cross shape. It strongly reminded me of when a friend handed me one of these back in middle school.

I turned it around a bit and, albeit clumsily, managed to complete one face. It’s been a while since I’ve done this, but it felt kind of refreshing.

“The details of the other 10 types of enchantments will not be disclosed. You can think of it as part of the exam. If you've gone through higher education, you should be able to understand sufficiently. Now, from this point..."

As the proctor snapped his fingers again, an hourglass about the size of a 1L plastic bottle appeared on the desk. He lifted it by the middle and continued.

“I will flip the hourglass. You have 40 minutes to complete all six sides of the cube. If you succeed before the sand runs out, you’ll pass. Before I flip it, do you have any questions?”

"Well, I do have one..."

“Go ahead.”

Before speaking, I examined the faces of the cube I had been fiddling with once more. All six faces match. After placing the cube on the desk, I asked.

"I've solved it already."

“....”

"Can I go home now?"







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