Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 101
I've summarized it bluntly. She met someone who used the same
martial technique as the elderly gentleman, and that person is suspected to be
from the same unit as her, and one of that unit's duties was guarding the
President.
“So, you’re saying that he might have shared a cigarette
with the President of this world—is that what you’re getting at?”
"Well.
Wouldn't that depend on whether the President of that era smoked or not?"
This
is the kind of story that makes sleep vanish instantly. The highest-ranking
military officer I’ve ever met was just a disappointing company commander, and
now I’ve met a former five-star bodyguard who served in the Presidential guard…
Oh.
"Manager-nin, I just remembered something I wanted to ask."
“Un.”
“Yesterday, that orc said something like, ‘You
cowardly called a chauffeur?’ But I think the ‘Chauffeur’ he was referring to
might be different from what I was thinking.”
I couldn't ask the
gentleman elder about this yesterday. Couldn't remember to. The orc’s tone made
it sound like it wasn’t about driving but something else…
“He was
talking about a knight who fights on your behalf.”
"Yes. Is that
really a thing?"
“It really is.”
Though it's rarely used
for this purpose now, it apparently does exist. The term originated right after
the Great War in this world, when public safety was at rock bottom.
In
those times, with no law enforcement to stop orcs from causing trouble due to
their aggressive nature, people arranged alternative means of dialogue when
dealing with orcs. That's what 'Chaffeur' meant.
(Designated driver,
but in this context, it’s more like proxy knight.)
"Since it felt
awkward to say 'hired someone to fight,' they carefully chose the word 'knight.'
Still confused?"
“I’m not confused, just can't grasp the situation.
If what you're saying is true, I, um..."
"You received protection.
From someone who served in the special protection unit."
This really
is a situation where I should be at a loss for words. But, no. What did he see
in some convenience store clerk to go this far? Someone who used to guard
presidential-level figures...
"Well of course, it's because they took
a liking to you, Chan-ah."
"I didn't even say anything."
"Sometimes Chan-ah asks questions with your expressions. And in this
case, my answer is correct."
"Ah, yes..."
“So, just know
that.”
Just accept it, she says. With a face full of pride, she
concluded, then suddenly looked up at me and asked,
"Does that person
ever come during the day?"
“I haven’t asked, so I wouldn’t know.
Should I ask next time he comes by?”
“Yeah. If it’s the person I’m
thinking of, I’d be really happy to see him.”
This would be exciting
for me too. If things line up well, maybe I could hear about how Manager used to
be some big-shot archmage. I could even ask exactly how old she is...
“You
just thought something you should feel sorry about, didn’t you?”
"No
idea. I'm heading home."
* * *
Right before heading home,
Manager hit me on the forehead three times.
She kept pestering me to
confess what I was thinking, promising mercy if I did, but after logical
consideration, I figured death would be preferable. So I just took the hits.
But
when I woke up, maybe thanks to getting smacked by an archmage, my head felt
clearer, and all the questions I wanted to ask the boss started coming to mind.
I came to work 15 minutes early to ask, but couldn't.
“Manager-nim,
you said you collaborated with someone from the guard unit yesterday.
Specifically, what kind of…”
"Don't know. Working."
“Then
I’ll help. There are quite a few customers.”
There were too many
customers to have a peaceful Q&A session. Eight customers in line. I quietly
stood beside Manager, bagging items as they came and guiding customers…
After
seeing off about six customers, I realized: this was a battle I couldn't win.
"Manager-nim were right. About having thoughts I should be sorry
for."
“Chan-ah, do you suddenly value your life more now?”
"Especially
today. Now that I've confessed, will you spare me?"
“Un. But from
now on, don’t do that again. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Only then did
Manager finally change her demeanor. Switching from fox mode to rabbit mode,
after sending off the customer in front, she answered.
“He came to me
first. He said he wanted to learn a few magic for his escort duties."
"Are
there specific protective magics? Physically?"
“They exist, yes, but
I didn’t teach him those. They're someone who can destroy iron golems barehanded
after all."
“Hmm....”
The scale is bigger than I
thought.
“What he asked me was whether there was a way to detect a
sniper shooting at them with magic from 10 kilometers away. He wasn’t confident
he could block every shot.”
“Isn’t that… something you just pray over
a bowl of water to avoid?”
(In traditional Korean culture, setting
out a bowl of clean water and praying over it was believed to help ward off
misfortune or danger)
"Usually yes, but if prayers don't work, he’d
be unemployed. After talking to him for a bit, he seemed like a good guy, so I
put some effort into customizing something for him.”
"By customized
magic, you mean..."
"Ultra-high-power detection magic."
Manager went on to explain that sniping the President’s head from 10
kilometers away even with magic is a pretty difficult feat.
Two major
factors to consider: power sufficient to penetrate the multiple layers of
protective barrier magic cast around the President 24/7, and the precision
required to focus that power on a single point.
Casting magic while
considering these two factors would take a considerable amount of time.
“I
told you that it would take about 30 minutes, so it would be best to run 10km
and subdue them before they are all cast.”
“Is that even possible?
It’s not like running on an open track.”
"Honestly, even as I
suggested it, I wondered if it was really possible... but he came back later
saying it worked well. It was rewarding."
Manager looked satisfied
as she finished speaking.
I wasn’t quite as satisfied. If they could
use ultra-high-power detection magic to pinpoint the sniper’s location, wouldn’t
it make more sense to call in a magic bomber and obliterate that spot?
When
I asked this, Manager thought the situation was a bit ambiguous. She figured
people trying to burst others' heads would naturally worry about their own heads
too.
Whether it’s a bomber or magic, they’d obviously move as soon as
they realized their own head was at risk. And after relocating, well... they'd
probably try casting that skull-crushing magic again.
"Then wouldn't
that be unsettling? Not knowing when and where they might try the same thing
again."
“I’d probably lose sleep in that situation too.”
You
absolutely need to catch the snipers, but can't use magic. Because they'd notice
and flee.
And it just so happened that the escort unit members
weren’t just skilled in using magic but in refining and processing mana. They
strengthened their bodies and ran the distance themselves to take care of the
problem.
“It sounds like no one else could’ve solved it.”
"Yes.
Even thinking about it now. But Chan-ah, why are you curious about this?"
“No particular reason. I just thought it’d be good to have something
to talk about with the gentleman elder…”
Now after hearing all this,
my concerns only deepen about how to even bring this up. Should I ask if he
served in a unit that required mana control capable of detecting snipers from
10km away and covering that distance within 30 minutes?
Wouldn’t it
be more realistic to ask if he can shoot laser beams from his right eye? Even if
he asked how I knew about such things, I wouldn’t have an answer.
"It
might be funny to ask this after hearing everything, but this isn't like, this
world's military secret or something?"
“Is it confidential?”
"Ah,
yes..."
"So don't talk about it to anyone except that gentleman
elder. Okay?"
Of course, why would I do something that could get my
employer court-martialed? I’ve got to make a living too…
After
responding that I had no one to tell anyway, I immediately received the shift
handover. There was one notable matter. About me.
“Chan’s phone rang
three times earlier. Same number.”
I currently have two phones. One I
use in my world, and one magic-flavored phone Manager gave me to use in this
world. I used it for casting magic, texting the boss, and messaging
customers.
I usually leave both behind when I go to my world because
I doubt they’d work there, and I always turn them off when I leave. I figured it
would be easier to explain a dead battery than being out of service range.
“I
forgot to turn it off. Did Manager-nim happen to see who called?"
"I
didn't, it's Chan’s phone. But since they called three times in a row, it seemed
urgent… Sorry if I’m overstepping.”
"No, it's fine. I rarely check my
phone until noon anyway. I'll check right away, Manager-nim. Thank you."
“Okay. Let me know if something’s up.”
And with that, she
left. After confirming Manager had taken the bus and left, I immediately turned
on the phone screen. The calls had come in around 7 p.m., and from… Elena.
The
succubus. Seems she got an answer from the company about the elixir we discussed
a few days ago. When I called, she picked up before even one ring tone could
sound.
[Boss-nim! You finally answered!]
"Yes. But,
'Boss-nim'?"
[Hm? Why?]
“No, you called my name when we
parted last time.”
I remember because it seemed like she'd gathered
quite a bit of courage to say it despite her shy nature, and it felt like
something I shouldn't forget. Plus, I was more comfortable with us calling each
other by name.
[Um... did I? Your name, Boss-nim?]
"You
even added honorifics like '-ssi'... no, never mind. I might be remembering
wrong."
I deliberately changed my words mid-sentence. Maybe she had
felt bold back then but was embarrassed about it now. Wouldn't I be forcing my
own comfort if I insisted?
Since this is the first time we’ve had
this kind of conversation, I’m not sure what to say or not say. Fortunately,
Elena hadn't forgotten about that time. Even if she was embarrassed.
[I
did that... ah, that’s, um.]
“So, am I remembering correctly?”
[...
Yes. Chan.]
(So Elena called our Chan, Chan-ssi. It’s more polite
than just using name yet not too formal like mister in english. So I’ll just
leave the name as it is unless needed for context.)
“That’s a relief.
When you call me, you can be more casual. We’re going to be seeing each other
often, after all.”
[More casual... like Oppa Chan?]
(Oppa
is very casual and intimate way of calling older brother. I don’t know nowadays,
though. Also, unnie has a similar nuance but for female.)
"Not that.
I meant your tone, your tone."
[Tone. Ah, aah.]
I try to
avoid using terms like ‘oppa’ or ‘unnie’ in relationships tied to money. It
doesn't work out. You become too comfortable and can't say what needs to be
said.
That's why I was reluctant, and Elena seemed overwhelmed with
embarrassment after calling a 29-year-old forever-single convenience store
worker 'oppa'. She hurriedly changed the subject.
(D: Our Chan only
a year away from being a magician, or ascetic if things don’t work out.)
[Boss-nim,
no. Chan! The reason I called is…!]
The reason was that the company
had positively reviewed my suggestion about the potion. Elena herself had been
assigned as the person in charge, and she wanted to set up a meeting.
"It's
good that you'll be handling it directly. When works best for you, Elena?"
(From
before actually, Chan used yang honorific for Elena. It’s used to address a
young, unmarried women. The opposite word for this is gun for male. There’s a
lot of note, sorry about that. You can just ignore it or if it’s too bothering
then tell me.)
[Anytime works! Whenever it's convenient for you,
Chan.]
"Hmm..."
This was heading toward us asking about
each other's schedules until dawn. Staring blankly out the store window, I spoke
without thinking.
“Are you off work now?”
[Not yet. Just
clocked out and waited for the elevator.]
"Then how about dropping
by here for a bit? Just casually."
I knew she usually transferred
buses at the stop in front of the store. If she stopped by before transferring,
it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Our previous meeting went like this too.
Of
course, that's just my convenient thinking. I asked right away,
“If
it’s too much, we can do it another day. If you’re just getting off work, you
must be tired…”
[No, I'm full of energy! No plans, nothing to do at
home! Also!]
It takes less than 3 minutes to go from the company
lobby back to the lab, and I’ve already gotten approval so there’s no extra
procedure, and as she called this afternoon, she meant to say that it was okay
anytime―
She rambled on in a tone that made it sound like it had to
be now or never. I cut her off.
“Then see you soon.”
[Yes!
From here it's about... 40 minutes? See you then!]
And click. The
moment the call ended, someone spoke up at the counter. A familiar voice.
“Oi, you little shit.”
"Ah, sorry custom… what?"
“Done with your damn call?”
No, when did this Chihuahua
come again....
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