Mastore 165 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 165

Contrary to expectations (3)

At around 9:50, Mongmong woke up. With drool pooling at its mouth and pupils dilated, I wondered if something might be wrong with its body after what happened at the park...

"...An unfamiliar ceiling, I see."

Doesn’t seem like something went wrong, but just too sleepy to come to his senses. I just bent down and responded.

"That's not a ceiling, Mongmong. It's the underside of the register."

“Aha. So that's why the ceiling is so close... No, Boss?”

“What.”

"Why are you here, Boss?"

"Why else? Because my shift isn't over yet."

"Shift? Then are you saying this dog in the store right now?"

Maybe because he couldn’t see anything from under the reigster, he sluggishly crawled out of the cushion and started sniffing around.

“The smell is a bit different from the usual store…”

He poked his head out past the counter and checked outside the shop window, then muttered in a confused tone.

"The street outside seems different from usual too."

"It is different from usual. We've moved."

“What?”

I explaned briefly. We were thinking of moving because the street was a mess and no customers were coming, but there was one customer I couldn't contact. You.

Knowing that you lived in the park, I went to find you while I was at it, but after something happened in the park, you collapsed. I couldn't wait for you to wake up, so I moved the store with you.

At this point, Mongmong intervened.

"Something happened? What are you referring to?"

“I mean obviously, but. Don’t you remember anything?”

“I do not. I only recall fleeing from those Black Wind Gang, or saying I had to fight alongside the fellow park dwellers in the restroom…”

Judging by the context, it seems even the ten minutes before it showed off its ability were wiped from its memory. Why doesn't this guy remember his accomplishments and only remembers the hardships?

“What exactly happened, Boss?”

“That’s....”

I had planned to deflect this conversation as much as possible if it came up. I thought that if I told him everything that had happened, he might do something at his stormy adolescence ages.

But if he really doesn’t remember anything to this extent, then I figured there’s no need to be elaborate. I summarized it in a single line.

"You asked those Black Wind Gang for something. They seemed to agree."

“A request? You’re saying those violent brutes granted this dog’s request? What exactly did I say?”

"I said they seem to have granted it. They all just bark like dogs, so how would I know what they said?”

“That... Indeed....”

“I’m just telling you what I saw. Judging by how they left, I doubt they’ll cause trouble again."

This is just speculation, of course. I merely chased them away with firecracker sounds when they were about to start causing havoc, so it won't last long.

But by then, the situation will already be over. After the park maintenance is finished, people will flock back, and there will be plenty of food. No reason to chase each other out anymore.

Since the result will be the same either way, is there even a need to explain every single detail? Mongmong stayed silent at my words, just staring out the shop window.

"Then... the fellow comrades at the park will no longer suffer."

"That would depend on how serious the district office employees are about cracking down on stray dogs. Why, do you want to keep staying there?"

“No. If it’s as you say, Boss, staying there would mean I won’t be able to see you. For a few weeks, that is."

In that case, he says it’d be better to just stay here. After saying this, he vigorously shakes the fur on his body and adds with wistful eyes looking outside.

"It's just... I only had a dinner appointment."

"What dinner appointment? Was there even anything to eat there?"

“There are ways, Boss. There’s a place a bit farther away that does delicious bones..."

"Stop digging through restaurant trash bins. If you made a promise, bring them something proper when you go back. Have they even seen the wrapper of a real hamburger before?”

Mongmong shakes his head proudly. If we ever do business in that area again, I’ll have to pack a few burgers in a bag and send it back, if only to ease my conscience.

"But wouldn't that make this dog a dine-and-dasher?"

"You’ve got your share of burgers set aside, don’t you? Just take those."

"Then... I’ll do that, Boss. But, speaking of which."

“Yeah.”

"Your expression doesn't look too good, Boss. Have you experienced something unpleasant?"

Something bad did happen. I still don’t understand what exactly, but it’s something I’ll have to figure out eventually.

At the same time, the only person I can consult in this world is Manager. I can clearly picture what I'll hear if I tell him this straight. ‘If you’re not from here, just say so. Why are you overcomplicating it? Or are you...?’

"It’s nothing, Mongmong. Just..."

Just what? As I struggled to find the right words, the entrance bell rang, and I reflexively straightened up to look. Manager was walking in first, and behind her was Yoonha Noona.

Apparently my expression didn’t look great even to Manager, because as soon as she came in, this is the first thing she said.

“Chan, your expression doesn’t look good.”

"I’ll rest after my shift, Manager-nim. But Noona, what brings you here?"

"I got a vacation, a full two days no less!"

As she said this, she stretched and added that after dealing with the gate incident this time, she made a bit of an appeal to the office. To give her a vacation at least.

Perhaps it was difficult for the office to overlook that a quite significant case had been handled, so they said, ‘There's no work today or tomorrow, so take a break if you want,’ and gave her a vacation right at the moment she punched her attendance card in the morning.

The second she heard that, she pulled her time card out, clocked out, and left. Now she came to hang out because she has nothing to do, she says. My impression after hearing this was that what kind of haphazard way is this to give a vacation...

I didn't mention it since seems satisfied, but instead I asked about something else.

"What are you going to do for fun at a convenience store? Want me to get you a water gun?"

"How old do you think I am to play with water guns, jackass. I came to tease you saying I'm on vacation while you're still working, but..."

"My shift’s over?”

“That just came to me. Lee Chan, can’t you just work a few more hours?”

I answered by silently taking off my uniform. After what happened earlier, I want to head home early today. I need time to think.

"Yoonha, then I’ve got nothing to do."

"Just kidding, Unnie. Do you think there will be many customers this afternoon?"

"Dunno. Since it’s the high schoolers’ aptitude test day, they might crowd in during the afternoon?"

"Then that won't work. Maybe I'll just sleep at home..."

"If you’ve got nothing to do, help me with my housewarming, Noona."

I slipped in. Noona looked at me like, what are you saying to someone on vacation, but then quickly relaxed her expression.

"Ah, right. That's there. But is that very urgent for you?"

"Yeah. I'm going to sleep there tonight. I slept there yesterday too."

"No, why are you sleeping in a demon-possessed house when you have your original place?"

Because I can’t really go back there right now. There aren't any customers coming into the store, but there are quite a few pedestrians outside. I can't just fly off to my world in broad daylight for all those pedestrians to see, can I?

I also want to resolve the housing issue as quickly as possible. Judging by what's happened yesterday and today, if I drag this out, it seems like things to worry about will accumulate steadily at a rate of one per day.

“I just don’t want to go back, so help me out a bit, Noona. I’ll buy you jjajangmyeon after we’re done.”

Of course jjajangmyeon is a must for a housewarming. I said it without thinking, but Noona smirked when she heard it.

"Wow. I'll finally get to have a meal with you."

"No, why make a big deal..."

"You always backed out, jackass. Since I don’t like jjajangmyeon, you’re the one buying, and I’ll just eat whatever. Deal?”

“No....”

“Deal??”

“Alright, alright. Deal.”

This time I have no excuse. Damn, the day has finally come when I'll have to fight the king crab of this neighborhood with a fork for front legs...

“But Lee Chan, who were you talking to?”

“Mongmong. He’s hiding under my feet right now.”

"Really? Mongmong, there are no customers besides us now, so you can come out."

Her tone and manner of speaking to him is completely different from how she speaks to me. Mongmong poked just his eyes above the register at her voice, then immediately ducked back down.

It was because customers came. They were two kobold men close to human in casual clothes, one with a tiger tail and the other with a lion tail. Quite the ethnic harmony.

Their name tags said they were middle school staff, probably on duty and stepped out briefly. The two didn’t come in right away, and instead glared at Manager and Noona standing by the front door.

The store manager glanced behind me, looked at my uniform, and concluded the conversation.

"Let's switch shifts now, Chan. Any handover matters?"

"Nothing except for that incident earlier, it's fine. I'll tell you separately later."

"Um... Un."

Manager probably had things to say too, but talking like usual helped me relax a bit. I’ll set aside thoughts about that person for now. I need to get some sleep too.

Since I didn’t ask anything to avoid suspicion, I know nothing about her except that she’s a college student. Since I can neither find her nor call her, I have no choice but to wait for now.

Since I didn't give a clear answer either, if she wants to hear an answer, she'll come looking for me on her own. As I thought about that and looked into the mirror, I finally noticed my expression had softened a bit.

Manager also relaxed her expression and patted me on the back as she took my uniform.

"Call me even at night if something comes to mind. Good work, Chan."

“Yes. See you in the evening.”

* * *

The three of us went out and headed straight home. Due to the sunshine that was causing heat haze to rise, I couldn't even open my eyes properly, while Noona seemed to be basking in that sunshine, perhaps thanks to her vacation buff...

"Huff, huff, huff."

Mongmong looked pleased for a different reason, but maybe because there were people on the street, he didn’t say anything. This is his first time coming to our house, what kind of place is it, that sort of content it would be.

After crossing the crosswalk and turning into an alley, when the surroundings became quiet, I answered the question I had self-interpreted. I was correct.

“It’s not a good place, Mongmong.”

"No, Boss. How did you understand what this dog was thinking?"

“You think I actually understood? I just guessed. It’s a two-room, and it’s got a demon.”

"Ah. If it has two rooms, that's quite excel— What? Did you say demon?"

"Speaking of that, Chan, have you actually seen the demon with your eyes?"

"Haven't seen it. Haven't touched it either."

If I could at least touch it with my hand, I might’ve been able to deal with it using my constitution somehow, but since I couldn’t even see anything even when focusing my vision, of course I couldn’t touch it.

Hoping for advice, I spilled everything to Noona: my experiences, even the owner’s theories, but Noona didn't react at all and instead, Mongmong's tail just tucked low to the ground.

"Uh... Boss, may this dog go take care of some business for a moment?"

"Just do your business at this utility pole here. I'll keep watch for you."

"Territory-marking is important, but that’s not the issue here. It’s just..."

"Wow, look at this guy trembling."

Noona picked up Mongmong with his tail tucked in and all, and stroked his head while saying to me. As if for Mongmong to hear.

"Unnie said that? That the demon was born not long ago?"

"She didn't say it was born not long ago. Just that its behavior was childish, so it’s probably young. I'm just repeating exactly what I heard."

"That's what she says, Mongmong."

I was thinking, a demon is a demon, what’s age got to do with anything, but after hearing Noona’s words, Mongmong seemed to loosen up a bit, and his tail slowly started to lift. I really don’t know what his standards are.

"That... is fortunate. But, are Miss Yoonha or Boss not afraid of ghosts?"

“What, my job is to catch demon thing and such.”

“I’m scared shitless, man. It’s just that I’m more scared of my bank account getting emptied.”

It's clear that in this neighborhood, there's no way to get a two-room place for the same price other than living in two cardboard boxes glued together. The same goes for the washing machine or the well-functioning hot water boiler.

Since I've already seen that room, I don't think I'll be interested in looking at other studio apartments. Just as we exchanged about that much conversation, we arrived in front of the building where the place I’d looked into was located.

But in the 12 hours since my shift, the situation had gotten noticeably worse. Noona and Mongmong, who had been sniffing the air and staring up at the building, spoke at the same time.

“Boss, there's a strange smell..."

“Lee Chan, did you leave the water running?”

I wish they to ask me one at a time, because I'm also confused. Why does it smell like gas coming from the building, and why is water trickling down the stairs?





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