Mastore 79 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 79

This is Not a Convenience Store, but a Mess (2)

Using a gift card is simple. You buy the card, peel off the sticker on the back, and then just type the serial number into the input field. Easy, right?

“Input field? Where’s that?”

“That’s....”

I started to explain where to enter it, but stopped.

It was obvious this wouldn't end with just one explanation, and my mental state was slowly cracking. Isn’t this the sort of thing that a customer service rep should be doing? Or maybe the gacha game’s GM?

But then again, I do know how it’s done, and honestly, it’s not like it would be impossible to help him. After sending off all these skeletons, it'll be quiet anyway. Might as well play along with the elder for a bit.

"I'll help you once these people leave, so please wait over there for a bit."

I said this while loading cartons into the backpack the skeleton had placed on the counter. Perhaps realizing he was asking a bit much, quietly went over to the table and sat down.

Getting back to my main job, I took the memo note from the next skeleton. It had four cartons of cigarettes and something strange written... um, Maxim?

"Customer-nim, are you referring to something besides coffee?”

(Apparently, Maxim is an adult magazine that originated from US.)

“....”

He nods silently. No idea how or where this bones-only fellow plans to use this....

"We don't have that here. You'll need to try somewhere else."

Can't sell what we don't have. Even if we had it and sold it, it would've made for an uneasy night's sleep.

These folks are heading back to base on the same bus as their company commander. What if there's an inspection of purchased items? Wouldn't the company commander be very disappointed?

"....."

The skeleton’s hollow eyes dropped slightly, like he was disappointed. Maybe it’s because he’s been treated to so many skeleton yangban, but now it seems like I can see some expression on the skulls...

Anyway, I just sold them cigarettes, and the next skeleton's memo listed two cartons.

By this point, the cigarette stock had dropped to less than half, and I changed my mindset. There's no saving any inventory now. We’re barely halfway through the line—how could I save any?

Once I let go of that burden, the cigarette carton barcodes started scanning more smoothly, and by the sixteenth skeleton, I showed them the empty stock box and said,

“Sorry, Customer-nim. We're out of cigarettes.”

The skeleton, staring into the empty stock box, glanced over at the cigarette display, but I shook my head this time. This really won't do. You can’t see the empty stock box from outside, but the display shelves are in full view.

If these get cleaned out too, we'll look like a convenience store about to close down. So I can't sell them.

After that, I watched the situation unfold. The skeleton at the counter made eye contact with the others in line, and, all at once, they exited.

A moment later, the Death Knight commander came in and asked me.

“Would it it be ok-ok-kay… if we-we parked… the bu-bus over in-in the s-shoulder?”

Seems like he wants to know if it’s alright to leave the bus there while he sends his boys to other convenience stores. It's amazing that a company commander who goes this far for his subordinates exists. The company commander where I served only knew how to be disappointed.

Come to think of it, I hadn't considered this. Are there even any other convenience stores around here...?

There wasn’t much to think over. Of course, there would be another one nearby. It’s downtown, after all.

Customers searching for out-of-stock items would usually head out easily enough when they can’t find what they were looking for. If this was the only convenience store in the area, they wouldn’t leave so easily.

"Should be fine. There is a parking enforcement CCTV, but I’ve never heard of anyone getting caught.”

Though a 45-seater bus parked right in front of the store wouldn't look great, I figured it was fine. These folks would be parked for, what, a few hours at most before heading back to base?

"I-I see-see..."

With my answer, the skeleton gave a slight nod, then went outside, gesturing a few times to the adjutant skeleton. The skeleton who received the order gathered the other skeletons together and led them away to the left of the display window.

Though the stock box was picked clean to the bone, at least it was over. Now...

"Is it over?"

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

Got to sell the card. I answered while coming out from behind the counter and checked the gift card display stock. I’d already set aside one 200,000 won card, leaving one more, plus three 150,000 won cards, and the rest of a smaller amount.

After gathering all the higher-denomination cards among the small ones, it did barely add up to 2 million won. When I showed the cards to the elder who had come to the counter, he looked bewildered.

"Why are there so maany ca~ards?"

"Yeah..."

Total of 34 cards. Dang, when am I gonna finish scanning all these…?

Standing around feeling overwhelmed wasn’t going to get me anywhere. Before scanning barcodes, I figured I should teach the elder how to use the cards first. I took his smartphone, opened the app store, and handed it back.

"You know up to here, right? Since you came after download the game after all."

“Ouwh. I know.”

"Next, if you press the three lines in the top right corner of the screen..."

"Where? This?"

The elder’s eyes weren’t the best; he squinted at the search bar and asked if that was what I meant by “three lines.” This gonna be a long one.

“No, not that one.”

After three attempts of trial and error, he pressed the three-line button, and looking at the list that appeared, the 'Redeem Code' option was right there. The elder squinted hard, counting menus from the top, found the Redeem Code button and pressed it.

“Just enter the code here. The one from the sticker on the back of the card.”

“Aigoo, I’ve been wracking my brain just ‘cause I didn’t know how to do this simple thing…”

So that's why he had been staring at his smartphone since sitting at the table.

I figured now that he knew how, he would be fine from here on, but the elder, who was staring hard at the back of the card, asked me.

"Um. Sorry but. What does this say on the back?"

“Oh, it’s just random characters; you can just enter them as you see them…”

"Ain't that, the letters are so tiny I can't see them well."

So... he want me to read them? All the 16-digit serial numbers on 35 cards?

“I have a bit of a tremor in my hands, too, so… I’m sorry.”

It sounds like you'd really appreciate it if I could input it myself. Isn’t this something he should be asking his son or grandson to do for him? Or maybe the company headquarters???

“...Please give me your smartphone.”

I said, half resigned. It's not like he’s trying to dump work on me because he doesn't want to do it. He really can’t see it. And it’s not like his family would be too thrilled about him blowing 2 million won on a gacha game….

The elder shyly handed over his phone and card, and I entered the code. 200,000 won was processed, and now 34 cards remained.

"This'll take a while. I'll have to help other customers if they come in. Are you okay with that?”

“No problem. I’m the one askin’ the favor.”

Alright then.

After scanning the next card's barcode, confirming the payment, peeling off the back sticker, and entering it again. After doing this once, I checked the POS terminal time. A minute and a half had gone by.

When I finally finished, 50 minutes had passed. We got interrupted by a few customers along the way, and I had my own moments of self-reflection to work through, too.

Man, it takes me two weeks to earn this much, and the elder's burning my two weeks' worth on gacha game jewels....

“All done with the codes, Elder.”

"Oh, that so? What do I do now?"

“Just open the game, and you’re good to buy what you want.”

“Thank ya kindly. I can’t tell you how many days I’ve been struggling with this. Other places all said they couldn't help."

"Ah, is that so..." '

I answered, wincing from eye strain. The used cards were nothing but plastic trash now. I’ll toss them out later….

While I was rubbing my eyelids, the elder said something.

“But since ya went and helped me with all that….”

Then I heard the sound of him taking something out, and nervously opened my eyes slightly. He was holding something out to me.

Looking at it, it was ten 50,000 won bills. What, is he trying to buy more?

(Around 360 USD.)

"Can't process any more today, Elder. I checked earlier, and 2 million is the limit.”

“Not that. It's for you to take, young man.”

"Pardon?"

I went blank for a moment. What's this about now?

"Take the money. I'm mighty grateful to ya."

“...That’s....”

Even after hearing it, I couldn’t process the situation or think of how to react, so I just stared at the money in front of me. The old man, noticing my hesitation, asked with a bit of curiosity.

“What’s that? Too little?”

“No, that’s not it….”

After thinking for a long while, I finally managed to say.

“The money, this… Why are you giving me money?”

"Already told ya. Givin' it 'cause I'm grateful."

So, has this world become a place where tipping 500,000 won just for gratitude is normal? What a cultural gem. This custom should really be spread to where I live too….

Like hell. This elder must have developed a tumor in their nervous system, especially in the sense of money part, while aging.

"Elder. I appreciate your gratitude, but perhaps you should think about this more—"

“I’ve thought a lot about it, that’s why I’m givin’ it to ya.”

"No..."

“Y’see, I’m real good at playin’ baduk. I’m talkin’ so good that I’ve never lost a game to any of the folks who play down at Tapgol Park.”

Seemed irrelevant so I let it slide. But this money. Should I take it or not...

Honestly, there’s no real reason why I couldn’t take it. Earning 500,000 won would take me about five full days standing here at the counter. Taking this would save me five days of my life, right?

The problem is what comes after. This elder is wearing sweats. His shoes are worn-out slippers, and his phone looks like an old model too.

He doesn’t exactly seem like the type to throw cash around. For instance, say something happens and he suddenly needs 500,000 won urgently.

When that happens, wouldn't they first think of this money they gave me? Saying something like, sorry to take it back, but I urgently need the money...

Even if not that, their family might get involved in money matters. Like ‘Father, why did you give the convenience store clerk the kids' tutoring money!’. Their daughter-in-law might come asking for it back. No, that’s a bit of a stretch...

It’s confusing. It’s not like I’ve had experience dealing with this kind of situation. After mulling it over, I just followed what my heart told me.

"I'll just accept your kind intentions."

“Really?”

"Yes. I don't think I did enough to deserve that money."

It just didn't sit right with me. If I took it readily, I would probably think about today every time an elder of similar age came in. It's not an amount I could forget in a day or two.

People get ruined easily when they earn money easily, and I’m just as human as anyone else. With this thought in mind, I declined, and the elder muttered disappointedly.

“I don’t mean strange business, just truly grateful enough to give ya 500,000 won... Is it burdensome?"

"Yes, it is burdensome. I know Elder don't mean anything strange by it, so maybe use that money to treat your baduk friends to meals or something..."

"If money's too much... how 'bout I read your face instead?"

"Read what?"

"I been learnin' face readin' as a hobby for some years now, and I’m absolutely spot-on. I even predicted the day my baduk buddy’s grandson was born.”

Why does this elder know how to do so many things?

I know face reading usually costs around 50,000 won. Thinking about that, I wasn't too keen on this either, but if I refused, he would probably ask what else he could give instead...

"If you insist... I'll take you up on that offer."

Since he said he learned it as a hobby, I should just take it as entertaining their pastime.

When I asked as if reluctantly giving in, the elder narrowed his eyes and started staring at my face. Then, in a sort of offhand way, he said,

"From what I see, life ain't been smooth for ya up till this year... that right?"

I didn’t answer, but I agreed to myself. I’ve been drifting between part-time gigs and factory shifts for almost seven years, and the one company I finally landed at went bankrupt less than two years in because of COVID.

"This year’s a bit better, though… might still face a few big hurdles."

“By big things, do you mean I’ll be getting hit by a car or a truck?”

"That so? Anyhow, big hurdles. Things ya can't handle alone."

Why is someone who learned this as a hobby only saying such ominous things? Isn't it enough that my previous company went bankrupt and I found a job in isekai? How much more twisted does my life have to get…?

"Still, for all that, I think they’ll turn out well."

“How well exactly?”

“See, young man, you’ve got a whole lotta luck with people. ‘Specially in the eyes.”

Now that’s a surprise. So there was some secret power in these ‘weak and lifeless’ eyes everyone’s always commenting on?

Perhaps noticing that I was grumbling inwardly, the elder added,

"There's two kinds of people fortune, ya see. There's the face that draws different folk but loses 'em quick, and there's the face that keeps the fortune once it comes."

“So which type am I?”

"Both. Ya draw 'em good and keep 'em good. That's mighty fine, so ya should be happy."

Even if told to be happy, how many people would genuinely be happy just because a passing elder says ‘you'll do well’?

“And, cherish the little things, young man. They'll all help ya later."

"What little things?"

"Now how should I know? I’m just tellin’ ya what your face says."

I was going to ask if they were reading faces or fortunes but gave up out of weariness. With his reading apparently complete, the elder seemed satisfied, put his phone back in his pocket, and said,

"Thanks a bunch, and sorry for the bother, young man. I’ll be on my way now."

"Yes. Take care."

And with that, he left, and things quieted down. Now if I just clean up these gift cards and throw away the peeled stickers, I can take a break...

Thinking this, I looked down at the counter and almost cursed.

The elder had left without taking his money with him. What does he expect me to do with this?




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