Mastore 82 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 82

The Potion Carries Love (2)

The post's content was like this:

[We would like to request verification of the efficacy of a new drug under development by our company. Contact information is provided.]

That was all there was to it, and there’s one PDF file attached. As I stared blankly at the screen, Manager explained further beside me.

“This looks like it’s right up Chan’s alley. Doesn’t seem like it would need much theory.”

Verification of efficacy. Put simply, that’s like saying, ‘We’ve pretty much finished the drug; now we just need it tested’. There's no reason to verify a drug that's not even half-finished.

Manager's opinion was that since the theoretical stage had already passed, there was no need for me to look through new magic book, but as I listened, I had completely different thoughts.

"Hmm..."

“What’s wrong? Seems difficult?"

“No, it’s just something else….”

Potion, pharmaceutical company. These should be words unrelated to me, but I definitely remember hearing them somewhere. Where did I hear this again…?

It’s not just something I heard; I actually met someone. A succubus who worked at a pharmaceutical company. Said she was working on potions, too, so her product would line up with this.

"Manager-nim, do you remember when I told you about the succubus customer?"

Manager recalled faster than me.

"The one who cooked pancake at the counter?"

“Yes. She told me she worked for a pharmaceutical company.”

"I remember that too... Ah, could this be where she works?"

"I don't know either."

That succubus never told me where her company was. We were too busy getting distracted with her talking about love or whatever.

There’s no way there’s only one pharmaceutical company around, but a company that could submit a collaboration request to a lab probably isn’t a tiny one. If they’ve got a headquarters, it’s probably in the downtown, and that succubus does commute from here….

That's what I thought, but Manager seems to think differently.

“Wouldn’t it be lucky if she did?”

“Well, we’ve met a few times.”

“....”

There was a look of concern on her face, but I couldn't tell what it was. While thinking this, I glanced outside and saw a bus at the stop. The traffic light in front was red.

"Manager-nim, don't you need to catch that bus?"

“Huh? Uh... Ah, right.”

She hurriedly gathered her things and was about to dash out the front door when she stopped, looked back, and shouted to me.

"Anyway, I think that job would be good for Chan, so give it a try. And!"

"Yes?"

“If you really do end up meeting that succubus, make sure you stick to work talk if possible! Alright!”

Before I could even ask what that was about, she was already running out the door, and as soon as she got on the bus, the light changed and the bus left. If possible, stick to work talk. Hmm....

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

If we meet, of course, we should only talk about work. Isn’t that the whole point of meeting?

I thought about why Manager mentioned the obvious, but nothing came to mind. I thought I should just finish my job first, counting the cigarettes and cash...

While receiving the customers who came here and there, I thought about it and then gave up. Why worry about something that might not even happen?

After about 20 minutes, things quieted down, with fewer customers, and nothing left to do, so I decided to worry about something more certain. I turned on my smartphone and looked at the screen from earlier.

Then, I clicked back to the main list and scrolled through the posts one by one, but all I could find were things I couldn't understand. Things starting with proper nouns, ones beginning with the word 'theory'....

“....”

As I watch them, many thoughts come to mind. In this world, everything magic-related had always been someone else's business.

And it really has been like that. Selling cigarettes doesn’t exactly require magical knowledge, and besides, I don’t even have mana in my body to begin with.

I can't use magic, nor do I need to. With this thought in mind, I goes on with my life without any interest in them. I started working here because I needed to make a living, not because I needed excitement in my life.

But… from today on, it looks like I can’t live that way anymore. However it happened, this has become my business too...

At this point, the ‘I’m just a country bumpkin’ excuse won’t fly either.

Thinking I should build up my own judgment, I scanned the list, but the more I looked, the more it was just my sense of inadequacy that grew. By the time I reached page six, I ended up just going back to the first page.

Now I understand why that proctor devised the exam that way. How quickly can you recognize your limits and let go?

I'll give up trying to squeeze out knowledge I don't have. For now.

Instead, I’ll just do what I know I need to do. To not procastinate. I copied the contact information from the pharmaceutical company's post and sent an immediate message.

‘I’ve received the lab’s collaboration request. Leaving you a message here, please contact me at your convenience.’

Sending a text past 10 p.m. felt a little weird, but…

The post was uploaded at 9:20 p.m. yesterday. Even if not right away, they might contact me tomorrow morning—

'Are you available to talk now?'

It hadn't even been seconds since I sent the reply. Why are they so quick?

After a short pause, I sent back a reply ‘Yes, I’m available’. Thinking it would be the same whether 10 hours or 10 seconds later. As soon as I sent the reply, the phone rang.

[This is Olivier, chief researcher at Aimer Pharmaceuticals. Thank you for your quick response.]

A female voice, species unknown, but she gave off strong ‘career woman’ vibes. She had a very businesslike tone, so I answered in kind.

“Yes, I am Lee Chan, anti-magic specialist.”

I never dreamed that I would be referring my name with a title like this. But I couldn't exactly use convenience store manager as my title, right? This isn't a prank call.

But using a title like that brought me back to my old days at the company, when I used to take calls from clients. I figured if I just did things like back then, there wouldn't be any problems.

“I apologize for messaging at this hour.”

[It’s no problem. I’m still at the office, actually. It’s for the prototype request I submitted.]

“Oh my, working hard until late at night."

If we have a small talk like this and bring up business when the mood starts to lighten, things will usually work out well...

[I'm really sorry, but I don't have time to talk at length. May I get straight to the matter?]

"Yes."

It didn’t work since she didn’t have time.

As soon as I answered, the chief researcher began to explain the agenda, and the outline was roughly as follows. This is a magic potion that’s been in development for five years, and they’re about to start Phase 1 of the clinical trials in the three-phase process.

[Did you happen to look at the attached PDF?]

"Not yet. I was planning to view it after leaving a message."

[Then maybe it would be less of a hassle for you if I just set up a meeting with one of our researchers instead? What do you think?]

If she’s saying she’ll let a researcher walk me through it, I’m all for it. I honestly doubt I would get much out of that PDF anyway.

“I think that would be better too.”

[Great, let's do that. When would you be available for contact?]

“Hmm…”

It’s tough between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. since I have to man the counter, but if it's just a meeting to talk...

"Could I possibly choose the location?"

[Where do you have in mind? If it's far...]

"No, it's not far. There's a subway station nearby..."

It would be a whole different story if we could meet right here at the convenience store.

While drawing out my words, I quickly printed a receipt and recited the convenience store's address exactly as written. Just omitting that it was a convenience store.

[It’s not far from the headquarters. Hmm...]

“If it’s this location, I can adjust to whatever schedule works best for you.”

I’m suggesting we trade one thing for another. I’ll match their timing if they match my location.

[...Let me hang up for a moment.]

She must be checking with the researchers’ schedules. I said okay, and she hung up. About two minutes later, she called back.

“Yes, go ahead.”

[You said you could match our schedule. Would right now work for you?]

Right now? When the moon’s at its peak?

[One of our researchers just finished work and says they can go. They say they need to catch a bus there anyway.]

Rather than the researchers saying ‘I can go’, I could only imagine their face going sour like they had eaten something bad, saying ‘Uh... me, Team Leader? I'm on my way home?’ Still.

“I’m available right now.”

[Oh, really?]

I welcome it. It won't be long since they'll need to catch the last bus anyway, so we won't talk for long, and it's perfect timing with few customers. As for the researchers, it’s practically overtime for them now, but well…

If I give them a box of energy drinks when we part, they probably won't curse me. I said I’m good with it, and a moment later, I got a contact number in a message.

[I sent you the researcher's contact information, so try reaching out. Do you have any other questions?]

"No, nothing in particular.”

[Alright then, I'll leave it to you.]

And with that, the call ended.

Looking at my smartphone screen, I thought about what else I needed to do. First off, it would be a little awkward to be in uniform when the researcher shows up at the convenience store...

I should get permission first. I sent a message to Manager right away.

'Manager-nim. Just finished talking with the pharmaceutical company person, do you have a moment?'

'Yeah'

‘But let’s chat over text. I’m on the bus, so a call’s a bit iffy.’

I quickly texted everything I needed to say. Told him I’m taking the job, but this researcher’s supposed to come by the store for a chat.

'Then you'll need to take off your uniform, right'

'Yes, I guess'

Now, it shouldn’t be a big deal just to take it off for a bit, right? But here’s the thing.

Franchise convenience stores have store operation inspections every two months or few months where they score things. Is the new stock out on time, is the place clean, is the staff friendly, are they wearing uniforms, that sort of thing.

Among these, the biggest point deduction is for clerks not wearing uniforms. I figure it’s because it’s the bare minimum standard, so if you’re not wearing one, they just deduct tons of points.

Even if I don't necessarily have to interpret it, soccer players don't play in padded jackets and mittens when it's cold. I don’t know why they don’t—they would probably catch a cold otherwise—but still.

I had actually seen someone get fired for not wearing their uniform because it was bothersome, so I couldn't help but be cautious.

On the other hand, Manager's answer was refreshing.

'Don't worry about it, take it off'

'Is it really okay?'

'Chan have never taken off your uniform before, right?'

That's true. This is why you should always do well normally.

'Our convenience store isn't even a franchise. It's an independent store.'

'I didn't know that'

'I'm the boss, and Chan is the second-in-command. Anything else?’

'Nothing to ask but...'

There is one thing I'm curious about. Just as I was about to type, a call came in. It was from the contact number the chief researcher had sent.

'Getting a call now, I'll ask later'

'Un'

After seeing the reply, I picked up right away.

[Ah, hello! I'm calling after getting the team leader's contact! Um....]

It was a cheerful, familiar voice. I waited for her to say something more, and then she did.

[That’s. Are you perhaps the owner-nim? I mean, uh....]

"How could I forget someone who cooked pancakes at the counter?"

[Ah.]

Yep, it’s that succubus alright.





|Note

Cooked pancakes? Last time I remember it was a rainbow downpour… Borrowing Gintama’s word, it would be cooking Monja. If you know, you know.

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