Mastore 63 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 63

Convenience Store Clerk Taking a Practical Exam (8)

Sorry to the proctor, but I half-tuned out from the middle of explanation. I was having fun solving the rubik. Still, since I solved the rubik as asked, shouldn't I be able to go to my night shift now?

Or so I thought, but there seemed to be an issue. The proctor's expression was dead serious as he turned over the rubik I had handed him. He stared at it with laser focus for a good few seconds without saying a word, so I asked first.

“Is there a problem?”

"...No. There's no problem at all."

He reaches out his hand. When I handed him the tablet, he took it, signed it, and put it under the desk. Then, in a flat tone, he said,

"You pass."

“Really?”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“Well… uh, yay?”

There are a few things I’m curious about. For example, why was the exam like this? What was the point of using an undergraduate teaching materials for the exam? Did he even notice that I messed with the tablet a little…

But honestly, none of that matters to me anymore. I’m not some top-ranked online instructor or anything, and what's the point of questioning a test I've already passed? As I kept my mouth firmly shut, the proctor laid out what he had to say.

“The license and related documents will be delivered within two days, but your qualification will take effect starting tomorrow at midnight. Therefore, from 3 hours and 10 minutes later, you must follow these precautions."

“Precautions?”

"First, if you cause damage to other species and receive a sentence, your license will be revoked. Second, if you lend your license to another species.”

I wasn’t too worried about that. What situations like that would come up while working night shifts at a convenience store?

But then the next part made me a little uneasy.

“And finally, if you fail to meet the minimum required work quota set by the state each quarter, your qualification will be revoked and suspended for one year. Further details on the final precautions will be provided later, so for now, just keep it in mind.”

What’s this “state-required work quota”? Am I going to be doing government work now?

"For other benefits of holding the qualification, please refer to the items in the license handbook. That’s all I have to say for now…”

"Are there benefits for this?"

I asked wondering if I could get discounts on bus or subway fares, but the proctor crossed his arms and answered in a dry tone.

“…For example, working alongside me could be considered one.”

“Huh?”

How is that a benefit? I asked again, but the proctor didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the rubik I had solved and fiddled with it while changing the subject.

"This teaching material was made by ordering it from my undergraduate student last year. My intention when ordering this was to create 'a puzzle structure that absolutely cannot be solved within 40 minutes,' and."

"Uh..."

"I graduated that undergraduate student last year. Because it met my passing standards. My intention in handing this teaching material to you was to see 'how quickly you could realize your limits and give up,' but..."

He threw the rubik he was rolling in his palm onto the desk and continued. This time, his tone wasn’t the usual monotone—it was filled with curiosity.

"The current situation is flowing completely differently from my intention. Honestly, I'm impressed."

Is this vampire a total psychopath?

"Sorry if this seems off-topic, but why would you make that part of the exam?”

"Because I believe there's nothing more foolish than clinging to something that can't be done."

I empathize with this. Because I couldn't make this judgment and foolishly persisted thinking my company wouldn't fail, I ended up becoming completely unemployed.

Still, the situation is a bit different now, since this is a national license practical exam. After passing the written exam and coming this far, I don't think there would be many other species who could say 'I can't do this' and give up....

"If one can acknowledge their limits even in this situation, they won't inefficiently cling to impossible tasks in practical work either."

Yeah, he’s definitely a psychopath.

"Of course, this doesn't apply to you. So, what do you think?"

“What is it?”

"I'm asking if you're interested in working with me. I can arrange an assistant professor appointment through my authority and connections."

Before I could say anything, the proctor launched into another speech.

"It takes minimum 5 years for promotion to associate professor, but early promotion is possible if you can maintain the ability you've shown now. If you continue to build achievements after that, promotion to full professor should happen without much trouble... it would take about 8 years."

No, what is he even talking about now...?

"If you have any desired terms, you can discuss them with me now, and after that... the world will decide."

“Um, thank you for the offer, but…”

“No need for thanks. I’m merely recognizing your potential.”

“No, that’s not it.”

I really did appreciate the offer. I meant that. But there’s one big, very real reason why this is completely impossible.

"I'm only a high school graduate, how could I be a professor?"

"...No. Why are you only a high school graduate with such ability?"

If I'm not a college graduate, I must be a high school graduate, do you really need to ask that?

Not just any high school graduate either—I’m the kind that’s clueless about the world, the type that would get spooked just from seeing skeletons at a columbarium. The proctor just stared at me with a dumbfounded expression, so I brought up my own situation.

"Sorry to interrupt, but could I leave now? I have an urgent matter..."

"...What matter?"

"I need to go to my part-time job."

* * *

The proctor's expression became even more incredulous. It's understandable to be dumbfounded when someone says they need to go to a part-time job right after being offered a professorship.

However, the proctor didn't try to stop me or speak to me further. This was because just then, a dwarf covered in soot walked into the exam room. His face was so smudged with coal dust it was hard to recognize him, but the massive hammer on his back was unmistakably the one I had seen earlier.

The dwarf spoke,

“Hey.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“I've been busting my ass.”

It seemed like the dwarf had a lot of complaints about the exam too. The proctor, quietly observing the dwarf, muttered something under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.

“You may leave. For now.”

The way he said it felt a little unsettling, but since he was letting me go, I stepped outside. I didn't encounter any other examinee while walking out of the academy entrance....

Nothing particular happened during the subway ride back either. Though the route map was disgustingly complicated, I don't easily forget paths I've been through once. It’s a habit I picked up during my time at the company.

When I arrived at the convenience store entrance and checked the time, it was 9:50. I went right in and greeted Manager.

“I’m back, Manager.”

“Oh, Chan’s here? How was it? Did the exam go well?"

"They said I passed?”

"The results are out already?"

I explained that the proctor had told me. Manager didn’t seem all that surprised about me passing.

“See, I said Chan would pass.”

“I’m more of a ‘wait until you see the result’ kind of guy.”

“Well, at least now you can breathe a little easier, huh?”

“I hope so.”

It wasn’t like I got this license for fun. It was because not having it would’ve caused real problems with this part-time job. I’m not sure if it’ll prevent things from getting worse if I have this license, but...

At least Manager didn’t seem worried anymore, so I figured I shouldn’t stress about it either. While I was coming out after changing into my uniform in the back storage room, Manager was still inside the counter.

“You’re not heading home? You must be tired.”

“I’m not tired. I have something I want to say to Chan."

"Please go ahead."

"You said the proctor directly said that Chan passed. Did they say anything else?"

“He did. He asked me if I had any plans to become a professor.”

I answered honestly since I wanted to talk about it anyway. Actually, for most things I experience in this world, Manager is the only person I can consult with. Manager’s expression lit up with curiosity.

"Yes, yes. And then?"

"When I asked if a high school graduate could become a professor, he went quiet. So I figured it meant I couldn't?"

"...Rather than that, I think he might have been purely shocked into silence..."

"I’m pretty sure it was his way of saying 'no' politely. Manager know that as well as I do.”

The proctor had tried to make it sound like they would pull strings for me, like I was some big deal, but I don't trust either verbal promises or over-the-top praise. Those are classic con-artist moves, right?

Even if it wasn’t a scam, I’m not interested. I know full well it’s not something I could handle. If someone asked me, ‘How are you even doing this?’ all I could say is, ‘I don’t know either.’ I have no idea why my body works this way, so how could I teach anyone else?

"Chan, just to clarify, you know that being a professor isn’t mainly about teaching, right?"

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. The main job is research in their field or administrative work for their affiliated academy, and lectures are like a secondary task where the academy says 'we'll support your research, so teach the kids a bit.'"

"I didn't know that. But I don't think I could do well at research or administration either. Unless they're asking me to tear up the lab's linoleum and lay new flooring."

“True. You would also need to be able to write papers in ancient languages.”

I am a monolingual. I guess I wasn't qualified from the start.

“Well, leaving the professor idea aside, are there other jobs you're thinking of?"

“What kind of work?”

"Chan, you're not going to do part-time work here forever, right?"

That’s true, but hearing it directly from Manager was unexpected. Manager brought it up with a slightly more serious expression, the usual smile fading a bit.

"I like having Chan here… but if Chan decide to leave, I won’t stop you."

Leaving here, huh. I've been living thinking that if I leave here, it would be because I’d saved up enough money to open a shop back in my world. This is isekai, after all.

A place where people who look human can fly through the sky or run on four legs on their own roads. Just getting used to that has been a struggle, and after today’s experience, I feel like I’m still far from adapting. When I saw the lined-up coffins in the columbarium, I really thought my heart would stop.

But if I fully adapt, and can live without being particularly moved by seeing such things... then I don't know.

As Manager said, I can't live forever as a convenience store clerk, and my body seems to be worth something in this world. Like a basketball player with a 2.2m wingspan.

But for now, no. I still think I need time to adjust, and I need someone who can help me understand this world better. That person is here now, and I have no reason to leave.

“When it’s time for me to go, I’ll give you a month’s notice, Manager.”

“Un.”

Manager nodded and looked strangely pleased. Well, I guess even I would feel good if my only part-timer said they wouldn't suddenly leave. It's already hard to find part-timers.

"And for now, I don’t plan on going anywhere, so don’t worry and head home. You really aren’t tired?"

"I'm not tired, but since Chan told me to go home, I will."

"Oh, then you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to."

“Nope. I’m going to go home, put on my pajamas, and be a total couch potato.”

Manager finally took off her uniform and grabbed her handbag. As she was about to leave the counter, she suddenly asked me as if something had occurred to her.

"Ah, right, Chan. Do you have time after work tomorrow?"

"I do, but why?"

"It’s nothing big. I just thought maybe you could come down to the basement with me for a bit."









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