Mastore 157 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 157

Heavy front feet, light hind feet (2)

Mongmong talked this much before looked up at me and added in a low tone.

"I seem to have finally found it. Something called firm resolve..."

So he says, but to be honest, it wasn’t a resolve I particularly wanted to agree with. If I said I was moving shops, he would undoubtedly follow given his personality, so there would be no reason for me to stay here, right?

The same applies if he says he won't follow. The outcome was clearly predictable.

Because there was precedent. This was the same dog who had previously gone to propose a "final debate" to the Black Wind Gang members who had turned violent due to gate influence, only to nearly get finished without any debate. Still...

“Do you really have to go that far?”

I should at least listen to what he has to say. I also have a history of interrupting his story to pour out my emotions, which made him feel more discouraged than necessary.

When I asked, Mongmong nodded without hesitation and looked behind him.

The Jindo, Poodle, Sapsaree, and Malamute. These four had somehow come outside the restroom and were watching us. Their fur was uniformly matted, faces pale from hunger.

“...Sir Jindo, he were a great help to me when I first settled in this park. He pointed out several spots where sunlight shines well."

"Hmm...."

"Sir Poodle always shared half of his food with me when this humble dog couldn't find anything to eat. Sir Sapsaree and I bonded over our shared problem of fur covering our eyes..."

Sir Malamute showed him how to make fluffy cushion by layering several sheets of newspaper on top of each other, and he said he had learned a lot. So much so that without their help, he would have given up stray dog life long ago.

"I must repay the kindness I received from them."

"Must repay?"

"That's right. It's not that I want to repay it. I'm saying I must repay it. Only then can this dog finally hold his head high beneath the night sky and before Boss.”

As he spoke, he stared intently behind me. When I turned around, there were more than a dozen Dobermans standing in a row on a distant lawn, looking in our direction.

“So please watch over me, Boss. This humble dog will finally settle things with those bastards.”

With that, Mongmong passed between my legs to face the Black Wind Gang. Honestly, I don’t think there’s any chance of a settlement. He would be lucky if he didn't end up as a chew toy under their front paws, but...

“...Hey, Mongmong.”

“Please speak, Boss.”

“I’m not gonna stop you this time, but just do me one favor before you go.”

An idea had come to me. I didn’t know if it would work, but things had worked out alright in the sewer, so maybe this would too.

“What might that be?”

"Don't just start fighting recklessly, try talking first. If words really fail, then you can kick or bite ears all you want."

"That's... those guys are already as angry as they can be..."

“Oh well, pretend you’re being fooled and give it a try. We'll wait there for a bit."

There was a bench not far away where we could watch what was happening. Taking Hana's hand, I led her there and sat her down. Only then did she speak.

"Mister. Is Doggie going to fight with othew doggies?"

Her tone suggested she couldn't understand the situation itself, and honestly, neither could I. I came here to tell that guy that the store was moving, but how did things end up like this?

"Seems so."

“Noo. Doggie will get hurt weally bad..."

"He probably won't get too hurt. Maybe."

That’s if things go the way I hope. The Black Wind Gang members who were looking down at Mongmong from the top of the grassy hill began to slowly approach him.

Jumping over a sign that read 'Pedestrian Entry Prohibited,' the Black Wind Gang guys naturally surrounded Doggy. Then, presumably the Black Gale himself stepped forward...

After standing in front of Mongmong, he made a barking sound as if reciting something.

“Woof. Woof.”

What's it saying?

At the Black Wind Gang's barking, Mongmong lowered his head for a moment, then raised it again and responded.

"...Of course I remember. You said if I appeared before you again, you wouldn't let me off easily."

So that bark just now must have meant something like ‘Didn’t I warn you already?’

After that, dog barking sounds and Mongmong's voice continued to alternate as if in conversation, but since I'm not fluent in both languages, I could only indirectly infer the flow of their dialogue. So...

“Grrr....”

"I remember that too. But don't you know! In this wretched and harsh world, we must all join forces to survive—"

“Woof! Woof!”

“You’re mistaken! There is not a single useless thing in this world! Just as you possess sharp fangs and long legs, this humble dog has thick and fluffy fur that's pleasant to stroke!"

“Woof?”

“Don’t pretend not to know. I know what you went through at the campsite. Drawn by the smell of grilling meat, you approached with pleading eyes, looking up at the tourists!”

Right after Mongmong said this, the Black Wind Gang underlings surrounding him all began to stir without exception. 'Hey, our leader was begging for meat without telling us?' It must mean something like that.

"Woof! Grrr... Wharf! Wharf!"

The Black Black Wind bastard seemed got hit on the head and then approached Mongmong before bared his teeth while making a threatening growl. However, Mongmong did not give in at all.

“However! Your efforts bore no fruit! The girl grilling the meat cried because your teeth looked too sharp! And her father came and drove you off with a kick!”

“Woof, grrr....”

“That’s something you could’ve figured out with just a little thought. I also followed the scent of that meat. Do you know what that girl said to me then?”

“.......”

"Wow, little one, did you come because you smelled the meat? That's what she said. This humble dog shared that meat deliciously with others. It tasted exquisite."

I wondered what on earth I was listening to, but having exchanged words with Mongmong a few times before, I could somewhat infer the flow of conversation. First of all...

Dobermans look quite frightening. Even the leashed ones on the street are intimidating, let alone ones roaming around in packs without collars.

On the other hand, Pomeranians and Poodles are top class in terms of preference for pets. Malamutes are also quite popular despite their fur issues, and Sapsarees and Jindo are eternal companions to elderly folks in the countryside.

I think this is what Mongmong is arguing about now. To summarize in one sentence, 'You guys have no choice but to rummage through the trash, but we can go and ask for it ourselves and receive it. Because we’re cute. Aren't you jealous?'

"I'm saying that you lost your huggability and fur in exchange for that grip strength and jumping power. Look at those teeth, those claws. What tourist would find you cute and hand over meat without hesitation?"

“Grrr....”

"Now I understand why you hate us so much, Black Black Wind."

“.......”

The hostile atmosphere faded, and Black Black Wind seemed to be actually listening to Mongmong now.

I didn't expect this outcome when I suggested a conversation, but things seem to be going well. Now if Mongmong could just speak a little better...

“You... you were jealous of our fur, weren’t you? As a short-haired large breed, the only way for you to live in this city was to push others down. But you can’t just grow a fur like ours—”

Isn't that completely missing the point?

I figured the conversation would derail at this point, but it seems that Black Black Wind took Mongmong's words completely differently. As if his tail had been stepped on, Black Black Wind barked with unmatched ferocity.

"Woof! Woof, woof! Woof!!"

He struck Mongmong across the face with a raised paw, then bit into his torso and flung him aside. Mongmong, who tumbled a couple of times on the ground and lay flat, cried out with a voice full of indignation.

"Kaeng! No, why on earth!!"

I think I understand the reason too. It reminds me of when I teased a guy with thin hair by calling him bald in high school. I can't say it's exactly the same, but...

"Woof! Wharf, wharf!"

"Grrrr!! Wharf!"

"Woof! Woof!"

Judging by how the Black Wind Gang members' eyes bulged as they barked at once, it seems that mentioning their lack of fur, even if not exactly calling them bald, is an insult comparable to a severe curse. baldness.

"Awoooo—!!"

"Awooo—!"

The Black Black Wind looked up at the sky and howled then joined by the other dogs. About four of them rushed to Mongmong and crushed his body with their front paws.

The remaining ten or so dashed into the men’s bathroom, and shortly afterward, they dragged out the other four dogs by their necks and tails.

"Kiing... kiing, keuung...!"

"Kuung! Kuung!"

"Stop... stop, cease this! This matter has nothing to do with them!"

The pinned Mongmong pleaded pitifully, but the enraged gang members weren't listening. At this point, Hana tugged firmly at my collar and asked.

"Mister, mister. Did Doggie's talk not go well?"

"Seems so..."

"He might get huwt like that!"

“…Wait a bit, Hana.”

I never expected things to resolve easily, but I never dreamed that it would turn into such a mess. But jumping in recklessly without any prep would be too dangerous....

After thinking very briefly, I searched for and downloaded an app on my phone. While waiting for the installation to complete, the situation was becoming an even bigger mess.

“Woof! Woof!”

"N- No, don't! Sir Sapsaree is at an age where even shedding fur is difficult! Take my fur instead...!"

“Woof, woof, woof! Woof!”

"Cease this. I’m begging you! I said stop! Please…!”

The four Black Wind Wind lackeys were relentlessly pinning down Mongmong’s torso, tail, and legs as he struggled, while two others had Sapsaree by the scruff of the neck and dragged him right in front of Mongmong’s eyes.

Then they pressed down on it in the same way. It felt like they were saying: 'Others are suffering because of your presumptuous behavior, it's all your fault—'

"What a truly dog shit situation."

It's my fault for telling him to talk. Well, it wouldn't be an easy thing to do anyway...

As I looked at my phone, a message appeared saying that the downloaded application had been installed. Just as I launched it and was about to select options.

"I... said stop...!"

A sudden wave of dizziness hit me. I looked up at Mongmong and saw something shimmering near Mongmong. To be exact, near the dog's mouth.

“I told you to STOP!!”

With this shout, the Black Wind strays simultaneously 'froze.'

In this situation, if told to stop, they would normally take their pressing front paws off or release the nape they were biting, right?

But no. They froze while still in the position where they were pressing down on their front paw and biting the nape. Mongmong, who actually caused this, seemed completely unaware of the situation and just kept shouting whatever came to mind.

"Get these paws off us and let go of our nape too!!”

At this shout, the Black Wind Gang guys removed their front paws with military precision and relaxed the grip of their mouths that had been biting necks. Finally free, Mongmong stood up on all fours, shook the dust off his fur, and continued shouting.

"This humble dog can't stand this anymore. All of you listen carefully!!"




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