Mastore 87 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 87

It's okay to be friends with a 5 year age gap (2)

Though I asked again, the doggy just whimpered while looking up at me, saying nothing.

Moreover, his body is covered in dust, looking just like he had been rolling around a construction site for days. Unless this fellow had developed mutism from exhaustion after rough street life...

Still crouched, I ask one more time.

"Is it because of the kid inside?"

“Indeed. I did not expect there to be a guest.”

This voice too was almost inaudible, making it hard to understand. What, did this doggy say the wrong thing to someone once and get hurt for it?

"I shall wait outside until that person leaves."

“I get that you’re worried, but the kid―”

“Mister, what’s wrong?”

Before I could finish speaking, the little girl poked her head out from behind me. She looked up at my face, then glanced at where I had been looking, before bursting into an exclamation.

"Wow, a doggy!"

“...Keunngg.”

"Mister, were you talking with the doggy?"

It didn't seem like she was trying to tease me for being so childish at my age but appeared genuinely curious. After thinking for a moment, I replied.

“Yeah. This guy’s got quite the way with words.”

"Words?"

“Woof! Woof!!”

A sharp cry full of urgency. If I were to translate it into human speech, it would probably mean something like, ‘Why the heck are you saying that??’ I continued.

“Hey, doggy. Remember what I told you when you came by at night? About how, if you don’t want to live as a loner your whole life, you need to start building some connections you can trust?”

"..."

"That's why I told you to talk with Manager-nim too. This kid's trustworthy, so don't worry."

I’m just stating the facts here. I've known this kid for over three weeks now, and her mother has never come to the convenience store to scold me for being her secret friend.

That means this little girl hasn’t told her mom about me. Because I asked her not to. Since she’s a good girl, she probably won't tell anyone about this doggy being able to talk if I ask her not to…

Of course, I don't think a seven year old will be a meaningful connection for stray life. I just think these two would play well together. That’s all.

Not only yhese two are the most harmless creatures I've ever seen in my life, but wouldn't it be better for both fluffy guys to play together instead of bearded old men?

They have something in common too. The fact that I'm their only friend.

The puppy, who had been whimpering non-stop, finally seemed to make up his mind and spoke in a tense voice.

"...Ach, well. I suppose if I can't trust Boss’ word, whose word can I trust?"

"Eh?"

"Pleased to meet you, young miss. Call me Doggy. That concludes introductions."

The little girl, completely clueless about what was going on, just stared blankly at Doggy. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she shouted.

"Wow! Doggy can talk!"

"Please don't speak so loudly, I'll be in big trouble!"

"Trouble? Doggy, you’re not allowed to talk?”

"It's never allowed, but today especially not. It was something that happened at the park earlier....”

He began recounting his day. Apparently, there was some sort of event happening in the park. They set up something like a private stage, and there were countless different types of species about.

And unfortunately, the spot he had chosen to sleep on was about to be used as part of a seating area. While he was curled up and asleep, one of the event staff kicked him, muttering something like ‘What’s this dirty dog doing here?’

“What’s with that sick bastard, why doesn’t use his words...?”

“Tick bastart?”

"Ahem, Boss."

"What a bad adult. Yeah."

I held my tongue and kept listening. Even if he looked harmless on the outside, this doggy was actually a mystical creature.

Thanks to his regenerative abilities, it wouldn't bruise from something like this, but it still feels pain. And since he was dreaming when it happened, he let out ‘Aigo!’ before he could stop himself.

"Then that staff member went 'What? Aigo?' and stared at me!"

“Then, what did you do?”

"I was so startled, I ran away at full speed. But alas, it was a mistake.”

If it had played it cool and made dog sounds right there, that staff member might have convinced himself he had heard wrong.

But because it ran away immediately instead, the staff member started chasing after it saying ‘Did that dog just talk?’ What made things worse was that this staff member was a mid-level manager.

He gave orders to all his subordinates to catch Doggy, and before five minutes had passed, every single event staff member was after him.

“You still managed to get away.”

"I hid under a coffee vending machine. Thankfully, they didn't think to look there."

This all happened around 7 o’clock on the park clock tower, and after waiting for things to calm down, he escaped the park to arrive here.

“For that reason, I don’t think I can stay at the park for the time being. Who knows how long the event will last…”

"I wonder?"

I could look that up online for him. Of course, even after the event ends, the staff might keep searching for it like a winning lottery ticket...

"It's not like you're the only Pomeranian in the world, And I doubt they’ll go rounding up every Pomeranian out there. Won't it be fine?"

This Doggy doesn’t have any standout physical traits, like one white paw or something. He was just a ball of light brown fluff. As long as he kept his mouth shut, wouldn't it be harder to expose it as a mystical creature if he just kept his mouth shut?

“Do you think so, Boss?”

"Yeah. Anyway, you've had it rough."

After patting his head, I glanced at the little girl crouching down next to me. The little girl didn't seem to understand even half of what we were saying, but she seemed quite impressed by the other half.

"Doggy. Did the bad mister kick you?"

“Correct. But this Doggy is sturdy, so you don't need to worry—"

"That must have hurt..."

Her voice was so soft and full of pity that it bordered on tenderness. Doggy fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words, while the little girl reached out and gently placed her hand on his side.

"Does it hurt here? Should I 'Huu~ Huu~' it?"

"Ah... I don't mind you doing that, but this Doggy covered in dust..."

“It’s okay.”

After that, as if her hand had healing powers, she started patting and blowing 'huu-huu' at the dust and body. Not that such gestures would actually heal the pain from being kicked, but still….

"...Thank you. You're quite a kind, young miss."

Since the one being petted seemed satisfied, I decided not to bother worrying about it. It was likely the best she could do anyway.

I quietly observed as the two continued their conversation.

“Doggy. How could Doggy talk?"

“It’s one of this Doggy humble talents. Hardly worth mentioning.”

“But, I learned that in kindergarten, all doggy go 'woof-woof' and bark..."

"Ah, that's the barking of amateurs. The masters of the street don't make such sounds. They tend to go 'grrrr-' to intimidate."

“How?”

"Like this."

He demonstrated his so-called growl, presumably to show off his master in intimidation skills, but to my ears it sounded more like someone choking on water. The little one muttered worriedly.

"Doggy, does your throat sore? You look struggling."

“I am not struggling! I am merely not in peak condition! Likely from inhaling too much dust under that vending machine…”

“Aww…”

“But no need to worry. It wasn't completely without gain."

"What, did you find some coins?"

I asked curiously while listening. Doggy perked up, looking all smug, then ran to a utility pole nearby and came back with a piece of paper in his mouth, whining.

"Heresh pleash take thish."

It sounded like he wanted me to take it, so I did. Looking at it, it was a 5,000 won bill.

“It’s a whopping 50,000 won, Boss. 50,000 won! Wouldn't this buy dozens of hamburgers?"

"50,000 won?"

"Indeed! As they say, misfortune may be a blessing in disguise. Consider this a reward for this Doggy endurance, spending an hour and a half under that vending machine!”

I suppose I would feel good all day too if I found 5,000 won under a vending machine. Once I thought about it that way, I understood why this guy was making such a fuss.

But this dog seemed thoroughly convinced that he had found a 50,000 won bill. Well, they're similar in color, and above all, this guy couldn’t read numbers.

He could’ve just counted the zeros, but judging by his demeanor, it was clear his thinking hadn’t gone that far. If I tell him, he's going to look like he lost his country....

“Today, this Doggy shall treat you! Bring all the hamburgers in the store, immediately! I shall pay in full!”

“I already ate, this guy.”

“Then take one for the road, and you, young miss, shall enjoy one as well. I hear the hamburgers here are exquisite.”

"Uh... Doggy."

As far as I knew, the kindergarten curriculum included number games. The little girl, counting the numbers on the bill in my hand, turned to the mutt and said.

“This, it’s 5,000 won. Same zeros as 1,000 won, see?”

“What?”

“With 5,000 won, you can buy two hamburgers. Right, Mister?”

“That’s right. You learned well.”

I wasn't going to say anything. Doggy, who had been looking back and forth between us, immediately took on the expression of someone who had lost their country.

"After all the trouble this Doggy went through... only two hamburgers? What kind of world is this?"

“Hey, look on the bright side. You’ll have enough change left over for a drink.”

“This Doggy requires nothing but water for sustenance….”

I was about to explain to him the synergistic effect of consuming cola and hamburger together but stopped. Because from across the crosswalk came this shout:.

“Dad!! Can I get a cola?!”

That kid's father will probably come in soon to buy cola. First, let me grab Doggy.

"Let's continue talking inside."

"Yes."

"Ugh...."

Once inside, I set the dejected Doggy down beneath the counter and the little girl in a chair. After that, placing my hand on my horn, I said,

"Hana. A kid will come in soon. Sounds like they’re about your age.”

The flow of the situation had been briefly interrupted by Doggy’s entrance, but I had one more thing to do while serving customers: helping this little girl improve her social skills.

Since this little girl was born a dragon, kids her age are scared of her. While this was just my theory, it seemed accurate. and in this situation, showing interest from our side would obviously backfire.

“Do you think they’ll play with me?”

“I doubt it. They’ll probably be busy, you know?”

They'll probably talk briefly before the kid's father takes them away with cola in hand, but that brief moment should be enough for experience. Ideally, though, the other kid would show interest first, but….

A way to make them interested in this little girl. I can't quite figure it out.

When I was her age, I used to envy kids with bubbleguns. Should I just grab a bubble gun off the display, open the packaging, and hand it to her?

“...Boss, Boss.”

“What?”

"If the young miss needs a playmate, couldn't this Doggy accompany her?"

“I know, but that’s not quite the issue here….”

...No?

Looking at Doggy, a plausible idea came to mind.





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