Mastore 124 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 124

It may be easy to enter as you please, but when leaving... (2)

Damn it, why is this professor telling me to call him? Should I just turn off my phone?

After seriously considering it, I called him via messenger. Now that I'd read the message, not calling him would mean deliberately ignoring him. After two rings, he picked up immediately.

The first thing this yangban said after picking up:

[Please report your recent status]

He doesn't even ask why I used messenger instead of a regular call. I answered casually.

“…Not great. Didn't get any sleep.”

[I didn’t call to inquire about your health. I'm busy, so quickly get to the point]

He tells me to call him and then asks me to get to the point? What's that about?

This vampire’s mannerisms always rubbed me the wrong way. He doesn't get jokes. He's so utilitarian it makes me question what his usual personal relationships are like, while simultaneously having his nose so high it could pierce the sky.

Still, I knew he wasn't deliberately unpleasant. I could feel that he cared about me. He had recommended me for a professorship and had given me various tasks in his role as my mentor in anti-magic work.

It’s something I didn’t think about when we first met, but I suspect this might be a trait of vampires. Being pragmatic and having a strong sense of self. Since he told me to stick to the key points, I obliged.

"Of the two quota items for this month, I've already secured one and it's in progress. The other one is a bit ambiguous."

The small anti-magic license in my pocke. To keep this license valid, I had to undertake a commission proving that I was actively working as an anti-magic. Two commissions per month.

For one of the two, I'm helping a pharmaceutical company that deals with mysterious potions, and for the other, I'm planning to fulfill it by assisting with police work. After explaining, the professor responded after a moment.

[Maintain that pace for the time being. D. Don't be greedy.]

"Even if you told me to be greedy, I wouldn't. I don't have the capability. But is this what you wanted me to call right now for? You said you were busy."

[I am busy, and I'm currently on the move for work.]

“What kind of work?”

[I cannot disclose that. It’s an embargoed issue.]

I flinched the moment I heard that. Embargo. Could it be…?

[As your mentor, let me advise you. You will soon find yourself hearing things that should not be spoken outside. At that time—]

“Wait a second. Are you busy right now because of that core gate thing?”

When I asked directly, he abruptly stopped speaking. It was hard to hear clearly, but I thought I heard a tiny sound of him swallowing. He seemed genuinely surprised by my question.

[How do you not know that?]

"It's also an embargoed matter for me, so I can't say."

[...Where are you right now?]

“Can't even make a joke with you. I was told not to talk about it when I heard, but you’re handling this gate situation, right?”

[Gate Occurrence Emergency Committee, advisory role for damage prevention and response. That's the position I hold. Satisfied?]

I figured that was enough, so I continued. I explained that I'd heard about it from a hunter acquaintance, and the reason I heard was because some harmful creatures had come through the gate and wrecked havoc at the store where I worked.

As I finished explaining the circumstances and process of the crimes committed by those harmful pests, I heard what sounded like paper rustling over the phone. A few seconds later, the professor asked me.

[Are you sleepy right now?]

“Hearing this conversation woke me up a bit. Go on, please.”

[Currently, there are 60 state-licensed anti-mages mobilized by the committee. These 60 people are covering approximately... 30 square kilometers on the map]

Yeouido's area is about 4-5 km². This meant an area roughly six or seven times larger.

“Can just 60 people really cover that?”

[Impossible. That’s why we’re continuously mobilizing more personnel. The criteria for selection are a minimum of 3 years of experience and maintaining the qualification without any disqualifications during that period]

That blunt reply of ‘Impossible’ was exactly the kind of thing you'd expect from this professor. He’s pragmatic, and his motto seems to be that there’s nothing dumber than clinging to something that can’t be done.

But why is he telling me all this? I tried to think about it, but the professor continued without giving me time to ponder.

[I'll get straight to the point. Do you have any thoughts?]

“No…”

[I'm asking for your opinion. Not telling you to do it.]

I know why he's saying this.

This man had mistakenly convinced himself that I was some sort of secluded expert who'd spent half his life practicing anti-magic deep in the mountains. Not a high school graduate convenience store clerk from another world.

That’s why he offered me a professorship. It's his freedom to overestimate me, and since there’s no way to correct him, I’ve just let it slide.

But now, things are different. Minimum 3 years experience with no disqualifying factors during the maintenance period. This means they're only recruiting veterans, doesn't it?

And there's usually just one reason why companies or organizations seek out veterans: because they need someone flexible enough to handle whatever might come up.

I don’t have that. I have nothing in my head, and I’m as stiff as a board. So I opened my mouth to answer that I'm not interested, and they should draft other anti-magic specialist instead.

"...Um."

[Speak]

“What happens if I say I have thoughts?”

Completely different words jumped out of my mouth. I was about to take them back, but the vampire responded before I could.

[You’ll be mobilized a specific area based on your career and abilities, and you will be given a certain amount of authority within that area. So you can respond without upper management's consent in emergency situations]

“…And if I don’t?”

[Nothing will happen. You can just continue living your daily life as you normally would.]

After hearing that, I briefly moved the phone away from my ear. After readjusting my grip on the phone, I pressed my forehead against its edge and tapped it a few times.

My temples were throbbing. This wasn't the conversation I'd intended to have. This task wasn't something I could handle. I knew it clearly.

I don't think this judgment is wrong. Even obtaining the license was beyond my abilities, and it would have been impossible without the help of Manager or Noona.

This is definitely a rational judgment. Saying I can’t do it is the right call. It’s correct. It’s definitely correct…

"...Which area would I be assigned to?"

My mouth isn’t listening to me again. Fine. Since it’s come to this, let’s hear it out to the end.

[In your case, we're thinking of assigning a circular area with a radius of 1km around that store. After all, a familiar place would be easier to monitor and operate in.]

“What if a core gate pops up near my store? I was clearly told that’s a possibility.”

[I'm asking with that in consideration. Whether you have any thought about it.]

“It’s not about whether I want to or not, it’s about whether I can—”

[I'm asking with that in consideration. Whether you have any thought about it.]

He leaves me speechless. After a brief pause, the vampire continued speaking.

[ I live by the belief that there’s nothing more foolish than clinging to something that can’t be done. Even more foolish than that is instructing others to cling to something while knowing it can't be done.]

"....."

[Don't make me talk at length, Number 44. Any thought?]

The ability is there. That's what I'm talking about.

Asking for my opinion means that ability alone isn’t enough for this kind of work. Will is also important. Whether someone like me, who's never done this kind of work before, can do it or not.

After thinking it over, I asked one by one. In my own way.

“How long do I have to think about this?”

[By midnight two days from now. Things get a bit complicated beyond that.]

“The pay?”

[It's not much. If you're asking what you'll gain, it would be recognized as experience.]

“Then why are you doing this, Professor?”

There's no way this vampire is the only anti-magic professor in the world. The vampire probably isn't short on money, and of course, he'd have more than enough experience.

I expected to hear an answer like 'The government told me to, what could I do?' That's the level of response I was expecting when I asked. But the professor gave an unexpected answer.

[I did it because I wanted to.]

“Huh? Why?”

[Does that matter now?]

A strangely sharp response. The kind that comes out when you touch a sensitive spot.

Feeling awkward, I kept my mouth shut, and the professor let out a small sigh before continuing.

[Let me know your decision by the deadline. You need to sleep too.]

“Uh… Wait a second. Speaking of which.”

[What now?]

“The road to my house got destroyed because of the gate. Doesn’t the country do anything about that?”

I recalled that when I was talking with this vampire after the practical exam, he mentioned that there are various benefits to having a national license.

Transportation costs are covered since I have money from the store, but maybe I can save on accommodation. It’s not entirely wrong to say the gate destroyed the path to my house.

I was hoping to save even 40,000 or 50,000 won if possible, but the vampire let out an audible sigh in response. Then, a notification sound.

[Check the photo]

When I turned the screen to check, there was a photo of not a motel or an inn, but a 5-star hotel prominently displayed. The accommodation fee written under the picture was 280,000 won.

“No, damn it, they’re charging 280,000 won just to sleep once?"

[It's one of the benefits that national licensed anti-magic specialist can enjoy. I will contact the manager separately, so please stay there.]

“Hoo....”

[Decide on the matters we discussed today and send your answer by midnight two days from now. I'm hanging up now.]

With that, click. I set down my phone and looked at the photo again.

No matter how you look at it, the hotel’s exterior seems like somewhere diplomats would stay. Do they even provide floor mats if I ask? I actually can’t sleep well on soft beds…

“…Ah, screw it. I don’t know.”

Surely a five-star hotel has at least one extra blanket to lay on the floor. After checking the route to the hotel, I glanced at the bus schedule display. The fastest bus, regardless of the route, was in 40 minutes.

This must be because of that damned gate too. I immediately downloaded a taxi app and sent a message inquiring about the bus stop name. A reply came shortly after.

[ We’re open year-round regardless of the gate. By the way, what species are you? ]

Is the owner of this taxi company a racist? I thought as I replied that I was human. A moment later, the response came.

[We'll send you a compact taxi. It will take about 3 minutes]

I confirmed right away. Orcs or bear kobolds probably can’t fit in compact cars, right? After sending an acknowledgement, I leaned against the bus stop and went back to checking my phone.

One more message I hadn't seen earlier. This one was from… Elena. The timestamp was 10.10 a.m., and the content was…

[They say gates are opening and closing all around the area!]

[Mr. Chan, are you okay?]

[Chan?]

[Chan?]

[T_T]

[T_T T_T T_T T_T]

I felt like I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t reply. When I messaged to ask if she was off work today, a reply came in less than 3 seconds.

[So you're okay]

[That's a relief]

[Ah]

[Yes I'm off today because of the gate]

[Aren't you sleepy, Chan?]

She must be asking this because she knows I work night shifts. I answered honestly.

[I'm fine now. Strangely enough]

A single phrase was circling in my head, pushing away any trace of drowsiness. It's the vampire's answer when I asked why he was doing something he had no reason to do: I did it because I wanted to.

That answer really stuck with me. hy would someone who’s always obsessed with practical gain choose to do something that won’t earn money or recognition? Is it some kind of deviation from his role as a professor…?

[Hmm...]

[Hey, Chan]

Another message line in the midst of my thoughts. A moment later came the rest.

[Could Chan spare some time this morning?]

[Just a little while is fine]

[There's something about the potion matter I'd like to discuss briefly]

[I'll come to where Chan is]

She types pretty fast. After thinking for a moment, I replied.

[Sure, why not]

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