Mastore 115 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 115

The Gate’s effect on convenience store clerk (3)

I hadn’t paid much attention to this winged horse until now.

Or rather, I couldn’t. Every time this creature flew in with a container, something bizarre would pop out. Dragon scales that looked like half-finished clay statues, a taxidermied horse with its neck set on fire...

Come to think of it, I’ve only seen it twice. First, I greeted Noona.

“It feels like it’s been half a year since I last saw you, Noona. Hi.”

"Took you long enough to say that."

"By the way, Noona, can that fellow possibly talk?"

When I asked, she furrowed one eyebrow and replied.

"What are you saying? How could a horse talk?"

"Does it bite or kick?"

"Well, it kicks everyone except me, but… seriously, why are you asking?"

There’s a reason for that. As I glanced inside the store, I saw Mongmong poking his head out from under the counter and watching us.

When I slid the door open, he looked up at me with an expression asking if the current situation was really okay. I gave my opinion.

"It's fine, this Noona is nice."

"Who are you talking to... oh my. A puppy?"

Noona’s puzzled expression immediately softened when she saw Mongmong. She hopped off her horse in an instant, crouching on the sidewalk as she turned to me.

“Lee Chan. What's this? Did you bring a pet you're raising?"

"Not exactly, um... why don't you talk to him directly?"

"I was just about to. Puppy, a paw— tsk, tsk, tsk."

The way she clicked her tongue didn’t seem like it was once or twice. At Noona's gesture, Mongmong trotted over and placed his front paw firmly on her hand.

Then he removed it, but Noona’s expression remained blank as she couldn't come to her senses. She even pointed at Mongmong excitedly.

“Lee Chan. Did you see that just now? You saw it, right?"

"See what?"

"I said 'paw—' and he gave me his paw just now. Wow, this little one is super smart..."

I had no idea Noona loved dogs this much. Seeing Noona, who can rip out ATMs with her bare hands, act like this is quite something….

"Look, he's watching me! Doesn’t it feel like he wants to talk to me?"

"...In truth, that is correct..."

“?”

"I was deliberating whether it would truly be permissible to speak, which is why my response was delayed. My apologies."

That line sounded strangely familiar. At Mongmong's sudden statement, Noona froze in place and just maintained eye contact with him for a long while.

Then she looked at me.

“?”

"He's a mystical creature, I'll explain, so listen, Noona."

I omitted the details of our first meeting. I figured bringing up whether or not he had his peanuts intact would only bring back trauma.

Instead, I told her how he rummaged through garbage cans, tried to find work here, got into trouble with some stray mutts called the Black Wind Gang at the park, played with a dragon kid named Hana—

The situation is a bit difficult now. I was half worried about how Noona would react after I finished speaking, but I was worried for nothing. Noona’s expression turned serious.

“Lee Chan. Are you telling me you just watched while this tiny one went through all that hardship?"

"That's, well, we've already settled everything between us..."

"Please don't be angry! This path is one that this one chose to walk, no one forced it upon this one!"

Mongmong wagged his tail vigorously as he protested in a dignified voice. Noona, still not quite used to this, looked half-amused and half-endeared.

"So, um... my lady? Might this one ask for your name?"

"Seo Yoonha. You can call me Noona."

"That wouldn't be proper. This one is barely two years old, you see. Perhaps... might this one call you Miss Yoonha?"

"It feels a bit awkward, but… if you’re fine with it, sure.”

"Thank you. Regardless, this one, though it is shameless of me, has one favor to ask."

After this opening, Mongmong looked up at the horse behind Noona's back. He seems to know that a winged horse is not a common existence. Or perhaps he sensed it intuitively.

"This one wishes to converse with that one and seek guidance.”

"Converse? You can talk with that too?"

"I believe it would be possible. This one does have some talent for speaking and listening, after all."

He wants to become stronger but doesn't know how. Through Manager, he heard the answer ‘ask a mystical creature’, but hasn't been able to implement it.

Mongmong continued, explaining the part I hadn’t mentioned. As soon as he finished, Noona responded immediately.

“I don’t mind. But can you do two things for me in return?”

"Whatever you wish."

"One is, could we do it a bit later? Today I came to talk business with Lee Chan over there. Transporting cargo."

“Of course.”

"And the other one is... let me know later what you talked about with that one. I'm really curious too."

She smiled brightly and patted Mongmong’s head.

“I’ve been a hunter for a long time, but I’ve never seen anyone like you. You’re so cute.”

“Miss Yoonha. This one..."

"What? Afraid I might sell you off?"

Mongmong gulped. Noona, who had been watching him, briefly stopped stroking his head and continued.

“Well. If I put you up on the market, people looking for exotic pets would drool over you….”

“Eek….”

“But I don’t need money that badly. More than that, I just don’t have the time. The time."

"Oh, Noona. Are you done with all that overtime work?"

"Finished last evening. Now I've accumulated some compensatory leave..."

Until yesterday was her fifth consecutive night shift, and she's finally getting some rest after working until this hour. I don’t think I can handle this hunter job no matter what.

“I came here to see your face, Lee Chan, and carry the logistics, and since I was here, I brought some work too. Thanks to you, I’m getting a great experience. Thanks, kid.”

"...What kind of work did you bring?"

"It's nothing much to me, but for you it could be somewhat dangerous—"

"Just show me first. I'll decide whether to chicken out or not after seeing it."

Noona agreed to Mongmong’s request without any conditions. It would be right for me to close my eyes and grant one of her requests too.

When I asked, Noona shrugged and pulled out a small bottle from her pocket. What's inside it...

What is this now? Burning water? Water-burning fire? Or both?

“This is it. Did you have a lot of customers today? It’s a bit awkward to bring this out when there are customers.”

“Haven’t even started yet.”

I switched shifts at 10, and since starting the conversation with Mongmong, not a single customer has come in. Even now, looking around the street, there’s not a single customer or even a shadow of another species.

This is the first time this has happened since I started working here. While I was finding it strange, Noona let out a small sigh as if she already expected it.

“Guess everyone’s just glued to the news.”

"Did they tell other species not to go out on TV?"

“See for yourself. I’m gonna step out for a quick smoke break, so you two head inside first.”

So I carried Mongmong inside. While I was taking my phone out at the counter and settling at the table, the dog kept looking up at me from my arms. He seemed anxious.

"Boss, it appears something unpleasant has occurred."

“Yeah. I need to check it out too.”

I set Mongmong down on the table and turned on my phone. The biggest article on the news screen was [52 Hours Since Gate Occurrence... Magic Bureau 'Refrain from Going Out If Possible']

Scrolling down, I saw instructions on what to do when a gate emerges nearby, how to recognize the signs, and how to report it.

While reading, I felt that this damn thing called a gate is truly incomprehensible even when you think you understand it.

The other species watching the news this morning didn’t seem panicked or shouting about the end of the world. But if it’s not dangerous, why are they telling people to stay inside? And why is no one outside? Is it because of fine dust?

“Boss, what does it say?”

"It says since a gate opened, don't go outside unless it's urgent, Mongmong."

“Please explain, Boss.”

"I think I need to talk business with Noona for a bit, do you want to listen in? If not, I can throw you something to play with.”

"I would be grateful if you let me listen. This one wishes to broaden his horizons."

Well. I doubt listening to this kind of talk will broaden his knowledge...

As I was thinking, Noona came inside. She immediately walked over to our table and placed the bottle she’d shown earlier on the table.

"Noona. Is it okay if he sits next to us?"

“No problem, Lee Chan. What does this look like to you?”

Since she asked, I looked at it again.

Inside a vial about the size of a thumb, blue liquid and red gas fill the space, but the ratio, well... it keeps changing from moment to moment.

Almost every 1 or 2 seconds, the gas seems about to engulf and swallow the liquid, but then like a wave, the liquid tries to swallow the gas. Is this some kind of storm in a teacup or something?

“Um… can I be honest?”

"What, you want to lie instead?"

"It's just ambiguous. This thing, uh, looks like burning water, but also like water-burning fire..."

I was trying not to share this impression to avoid showing my lack of education, but Noona actually nodded in agreement.

"Right, Lee chan. Your job is to figure out whether this is water-fire or fire-water.”

If... it's this kind of question, shouldn't she be asking the National Institute of Korean Language rather than me?

Thinking this, I asked Noona for explanation. First of all, Noona found this water-fire-or-fire-water-thing inside the Gate.

“The inside of the Gate was a sandy beach, and this was pooled in a depression in the sand. I got permission to bottle it.”

"What kind of..."

"Keep listening. To borrow your words... if this is burning water, then it's not a big deal."

The things inside the gates are always weird, so as long as it’s just a little weird, people will shrug it off. The problem is when they are strange for real.

If this happens to be water-burning fire, it apparently takes on a special meaning, but Noona didn't explain exactly what that meaning would be.

"Why won't you explain while making the request?"

“Because I don’t want you freaking out. I was going to leave it to a professional investigator, but they said it would take a few days. Said it might explode if handled wrong.”

"Well..."

"So, I came to the most reliable unofficial expert I know—that's you."

I always think about this, but Noona overestimates me too much. I’d rather tell her to go to the veterans instead of a newbie like me, but...

There must be a reason she came to me for something that could be resolved in a few days otherwise. First, I focused on the vial for a moment.

It's distorted. It's clear that this fire and water are imbued with mana. Definitely imbued, but...

"...One of them has..."

Has more mana. The degree of distortion appears different. I can’t tell which one has more because they’re all mixed up. One part looks particularly distorted, then suddenly becomes clear.

I blinked at this point. This should be enough. I asked Noona.

"Noona. How much is this worth?"

"Well, it's a rare medium, so probably over 100,000 won per milliliter..."

“Can I ruin this?”



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