Mastore 148 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 148

It's raining now, so let's go together (3)

Charlie the Chihuahua is off in the bathroom, so I decided to finish taking the rest of the customers’ requests. Next up is the officer.

“I'm fine.”

"Are you sure?"

"This is my job, after all."

She explained that since she had already reported her use of magic and equipment this morning, anything added or removed now would just become a false report.

"Hmm..."

I’m not convinced. Even if he couldn’t get budget reimbursement, wouldn’t it be right to ask for at least some kind of reward leave? Her hard work was plainly visible.

I was down in the magic seawater so I couldn’t say for sure how things had gone up here, but I'm guessing it was a pretty tearful defense. The sandbags were piled quite high.

The officer’s appearance said it all. On top of being covered head to toe in sand, her fingertips were all swollen and shriveled from the water. Whether from carrying sandbags or something else, the tip of her index fingernail was broken about halfway...

“If you ever run into something that can’t be reimbursed officially, just message me.”

"Yes. Thank you."

Maybe she realized I was looking at her fingernail; she quickly hid her hand behind and answered flatly. Since she would probably just keep declining if I pressed further, I'll have to think about it later and personally ask the professor.

"Noona. Are you filing claims through your office too?"

At my question, Noona pretended to stroke her chin in thought before snapping her fingers and replying.

“Lee Chan. Can I ask you a favor?”

"What is it?"

“There are a few old pieces of equipment at the office. Let’s get those swapped out for new ones.”

“How old are we talking?”

"They break down all the time and don't even work properly. Would I be asking if it wasn’t that bad?”

This was hard to understand on its own.

My impression from this gate expedition was that it's not something you could even attempt with half-baked preparation. We barely finished because Manager, the gentleman Elder, and Noona patched things together with their superhuman-level physical and magical abilities.

Considering Noona works at a hunter agency that probably goes in and out of gates regularly, it just didn’t sit right with me that they would be using busted or barely working gear.

Frowning, I stared holes into her until she chuckled and added.

“If you buy equipment with your own money, the government doesn’t do maintenance on it.”

The government should cover the cost of saving people, why make individuals pay...

Doubts about this world's Magic Bureau and Hunter Association budget allocations started creeping up, but I didn't ask. I didn't even know what kind of equipment they use in the field yet.

“I’ll ask about that too, then. Anything else?”

“None. Thanks, man. Won't have to hear that damn detector beeping for a while."

At least I learned there was one detector. Though I have no idea what it detects. Anyway, now...

"Manager-nim, did you want to discuss yours separately later?"

“Yeah. It'll be nighttime by the time we organize the store and sort out the wet products anyway."

We could talk during that time. While reviewing some of the order items I had jotted down in my memo pad, I added two more lines at the bottom.

Curious about my notes, Elena came over and peered at my phone screen. She then muttered what I had written in a puzzled voice.

"Um... 'Whatever the most expensive snack is,' 'Whatever the most expensive hamburger is.' Chan, you must like snacks and hamburgers."

“They’re not for me, but I know some kids who’ll like them.”

Since Hana also had a rough time in the rain, I should at least do what I can to look out for her. As for Mongmong, it seemed wrong to distrub his sleep to ask, so I just wrote down what came to mind for now.

"Kids who will like them?"

"It's something Elena would enjoy hearing about too, so I'll tell you separately later. Now... who's left?"

"You, dummy, you. Don't you need anything?"

Noona, who had similarly approached, asked me that, but honestly nothing comes to mind.

It's not like I tore magic circle paper to cast spells or needed a makeshift workshop, right? I simply punched something that had the nerve to open its eyes, and it disappeared on its own saying it was in pain.

At most, store repairs or labor costs come to mind, but store repairs would overlap a lot with Manager's orders quite a bit. As for labor costs, well, they'll take care of that anyway...

"If nothing comes to mind, ask them to assign you good jobs later. They'll treat you real well."

"Jobs?"

"Think about it. When a rookie of less than a month completes a task that experienced anti-magic specialist couldn't finish even when mobilized en masse, won't everyone naturally want to have you?"

“...So I suddenly became a promising prospect?”

"What? Are you not up for it?"

I thought for a moment and then replied.

"Aah~ I never wanted to stand out in a place like this...!"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting suddenly?"

Isn't that right? If it becomes known that I did this job, won't others also ask me to enter and exit gates?

My stance is that one experience like this is enough. Just today's incident alone is enough to keep me up at night, so there's no need to deliberately increase the number of nightmares.

It's not like I don't have work either. I've already received several tasks just standing at the convenience store counter, and even this current job has been arduous to keep up with...

While I'm at it, I should ask the professor for this favor. If anyone talks to him about gate stuff, tell them to act like I don’t exist.

As I closed my phone after finishing my notes, the entrance bell jingled perfectly on cue and the Chihuahua entered. His face was filled with a sense of liberation, as if he had just been let off the leash.

He came in, glanced around, caught sight of the Elder’s head and then called out to me.

“Hey, you shithead.”

"What."

"Go dye that old man's hair or something. What the hell is that hair?"

Maybe because Charlie is in a good mood, the intensity of his yelling seemed higher than usual. Worried about the elder's reaction, I looked over to see the Elder just laughing heartily without saying anything particular.

“That’s the person’s original hair color... right, Elder?”

“Yes. I am a Silver Wolf werewolf.”

“Bullshit. That’s the same routine my grandma on my mom’s side always uses.”

With his characteristically consistent tone, he grumbled, then pulled a wallet from his sweatpants and slid 20,000 won onto the counter. Maybe because his wallet is soaked, the money is completely wet too.

"Buy that old man some hair dye later. I'm out."

“Huh....”

"Good work."

With that, he grabbed his laptop and left without even looking back. Hair dye at a convenience store goes for around 12,000 won. It’s nice of him to give it, but that guy's change...

Whatever. I'll just buy ramen with it.

Right after the Chihuahua left, this time we heard radio communication from the officer's radio at her waist. Glancing at it, the officer turned sharply toward me and spoke.

"My superiors seem to be looking for me, so I'll take my leave now."

"You can tell without even answering it?"

"Superiors' transmissions have a distinct sound."

She probably meant it as a joke based on intuition, but since she’s an elf with a naturally blank expression, I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not. The officer continued.

"And there must still be many flood victims outside..."

As she spoke, she dragged her waterlogged motorcycle from near the beverage display and was halfway out the open door when she turned back to look at me.

“Thank you for your hard work, Lee Chan-nim.”

I waved back, and she gave a polite bow before disappearing past the left side of the store window. Her movements pulling the motorcycle were light, so I probably don't need to worry too much.

"I should get going too, Lee Chan. Need to stretch out on the office couch or something."

“Not going home?”

“Gotta report today’s work and then answer any questions they might have. The office has staff, so I'll have them handle the report. Miss Elena, what about you?"

"...Pardon? M- Me?"

“If we’re headed in the same direction, it’ll save money, right? I’m taking a taxi.”

When Noona tapped her on the shoulder, Elena flinched visibly. I could see her losing her composure as my outgoing Noona approached her shy personality.

"...I, I'm going to the academy district. My home is nearby."

"Then I can drop you right at the station entrance. Sound good?"

Maybe because they had gotten a little more familiar, she didn’t say no. She nodded shyly and looked at me with a seemingly regretful expression, and I could guess what she wanted to hear.

“I’ll see you tomorrow or the day after. I’m not going anywhere.”

“…Okay!”

"These two are set then. Elder Wolf, are you leaving soon too?"

"No, I was about to head out as well. It's about time my companion starts worrying."

“I see. Taking a taxi?”

"I'll run. A taxi would make me late."

It felt like the order of the sentences was reversed, but I decided to let it be. As the three of them walked out together, like the officer, they turned to look at me and said.

“You worked hard today, Lee Chan. I don’t know how many times I’ve said this today.”

“The more the better. It’s true that Boss has worked hard.”

"Y- Yes! You worked incredibly hard, Chan!"

Since everyone was saying it like a round song, I didn’t know who to answer. So I just replied vaguely and left it at that.

“Okay, everyone, please go home."

That's how I saw them off. After that, only Manager and I remained in the store, along with completely empty display shelves and a few scattered products here and there.

While mindlessly staring at the front door through which the customers had left, Manager tossed out words with a bright voice from beside me.

“Chan is really popular. Isn’t he?”

“If you ask me that, what am I even supposed to say?”

"Just honestly say it's nice. It’s okay to be jealous of me—go ahead.”

Just thinking about how those people gathered in the first place, I can't bring myself to say that. This whole situation happened because they all showed up after being told not to, since something was going to go down.

Thankfully things turned out well, but the store nearly became an eight-person hospital ward. Or the regular customers might have held hands in a row and crossed the River Styx together.

"That's why Chan worked three times harder. It turned out well, so that's fine."

"You're being awfully nonchalant about it."

“I’m of the mindset that once a fire is completely out, you don’t need to check it again, Chan.”

That's true. I flailed like hell at the end just to make sure nothing would come back to bite us. I should be more careful next time when sending messages, geez...

"...What will you do now, Manager-nim? Organize the store as you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes. What about Chan? Want to clock out?"

"What kind of clocking out is there when the store looks like this? I should help too."

"Ah. About that, there's something Chan must do."

"What would that be?"

“First, relax your body a bit....”

What is this about now? I tried to look at Manager to ask, but suddenly Manager's face started to appear unusually hazy. The surroundings too.

"...Manager-nim. This.”

"Next, sit on the chair."

She placed both hands on my back and gently started to push me toward the table by the front window. Despite our size difference being almost double, I couldn't resist Manager's pushing hands.

As I plopped down on the chair, she grabbed my head and very lightly pressed it toward the table. As my cheek touched the table surface, she lowered her voice and said,

"Then make an arm pillow, and close your eyes."

"...Is this magic? Manager-nim?"

"What magic? It wouldn't work on you anyway."

For all that, though, my body was pretty much following her words on its own. But I resisted the last instruction. If I close my eyes, it feels like I'll pass out right away.

"Then you can sleep. Deeply."

“…Then who’s going to clean the store? And when Mongmong wakes up, someone’s gotta feed him too…”

“Ahem. Your superior is giving you an order. Chan won't listen?"

That's true too. It's an order from my superiors, what can I do?

"Chan has done enough today. More than anyone else in this world."

When I closed my eyes, Manager’s voice began to sound distant, like it was coming from beyond the clouds. The last thing I remembered was this one phrase,

“You worked hard, Chan.”

And me giving some kind of answer.

“Manager-nim too.”



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