Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Between Familiarity and Awkwardness
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yoo Yeon-ah arrived at the VIP lounge, leisurely riding the elevator with a few familiar staff members she'd always seen around.
After authenticating with her membership card, she stepped inside and claimed her spot by the window as if it were second nature.
A place where the department store's outdoor plaza came into view at a glance.
This was her favorite seat.
"Would you like to order?"
A lounge staff member approached her slowly as she sat down and handed over the menu.
Yoo Yeon-ah replied lightly without even glancing at it.
"Just a hot green tea, please."
"Understood. Thank you for waiting just a moment."
The staff member folded the menu and vanished with quick steps at her words.
There was still a little time until their 1 p.m. appointment.
So she began happily mapping out a route of stores to hit with Yeon-bi.
Most limited-edition items could be bought right here in the lounge.
'But since we're out to have fun, we should wander around a bit for the thrill.'
She wanted to browse and buy things in person.
Just as she'd nearly finalized which shops to visit...
'Huh?'
She spotted the department head coming down to the lounge with several other staff members.
'Some VVIP must be here.'
Sipping the green tea that had arrived unnoticed, she watched the staff bustle by.
She'd occasionally seen those so-called Arcana-tier VVIPs lingering in the lounge, though not often.
Of course, those VVIPs had their own private lounges, not this one, so she'd only caught glimpses.
They were people she'd never cross paths with, so she didn't think much of it.
'Must be nice.'
Thinking how nice it must be, she stared blankly as the staff filed out of the lounge.
Yoo Yeon-ah.
In truth, she was a Platinum member, the kind ordinary customers envied.
Being able to spend time in a lounge like this was a symbol of wealth in itself.
She knew that well, but people always dreamed of climbing higher anyway.
As she drained nearly all her green tea, musing on the perks of Arcana-tier privileges...
"Huh?"
She noticed a familiar face amid the department head and other staff—a woman.
Jet-black, long hair.
A beauty that outshone any actress.
And stylish clothes that weren't overly flashy but exuded elegance.
Looking closer, she was even carrying a handbag she didn't usually tote.
'An Ersé bag...?'
It made her rethink Choi Yeon-bi's wealth once again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "We're so sorry, Ms. Choi Yeon-bi. We should have explained the vehicle registration service in more detail beforehand..."
Watching several people in suits apologize to me excessively made me uncomfortable.
And from what the staff were saying, it was my mistake.
'That's why they do the vehicle registration...'
Department store VIP vehicle registration.
Once registered, entering the parking lot lets them identify the VIP and prepare accordingly.
Staff can respond immediately, which is convenient for them.
VIPs don't even need to call ahead; everything's ready.
And I'd just shown up without using such a handy system.
'I should be the one apologizing...'
"Um... I didn't know about registering, so it's fine..."
"No, no. It's more our fault for not contacting you in advance. Please don't worry about it and head to the lounge. As a gesture of our apology for the inconvenience, we've prepared a cup of coffee—please enjoy it without any burden..."
The department head smoothly apologized while leading me to the lounge.
I hadn't caught his name properly, but seeing someone so high up fawning over me felt strange.
He looked way older than me, too.
'At least forty?'
Anyway.
I arrived at the lounge amid unwanted attention from other guests, feeling awkward.
It was familiar from the last time I'd dropped off items, but the elegant atmosphere still made me stand there awkwardly.
"Yeon-bi...?"
A familiar voice called from afar.
"Ah...! Yeon-ah... no, unnie..."
Practicing alone in bed last night calling her "unnie" had paid off.
It came out a bit off-key, but I'd said it right.
Yeon-ah lit up at my words and started toward me, but the department head uncle stopped her briefly.
"Pardon me, but could you tell us your relationship to the customer?"
"Ah... sorry. I'm Yoo Yeon-ah, and Yeon-bi and I are friends... yes."
Age didn't matter between friends.
Still, the department head gave her a puzzled look before turning to me.
"Ms. Choi Yeon-bi, is this true?"
"Yes. We're shopping together today."
Only then did he bow and step aside.
"My apologies."
Yeon-ah nodded lightly at his apology and approached me.
"Yeon-bi! You... you're a VVIP...? And what's with this bag...?"
She stared at me with eyes screaming, what the hell do you even do?
'Can't say I impulsively went Arcana just to try it.'
No one in their right mind registers for the top tier on the spot because they suddenly felt like it.
So I couldn't tell the truth and gave a vague answer.
"It just kinda happened..."
"Kinda happened? I haven't known you long, but seriously, who are you?"
I laughed awkwardly and turned my head.
"Anyway, as a VVIP, you'll shop in the private lounge, right? Hmm... I was planning to wander around..."
"If it wouldn't be an imposition, may I offer some guidance?"
The department head uncle, who'd been hovering by my side, suddenly addressed Yeon-ah.
I was startled, but she calmly nodded and looked at him.
'Rich people really are different.'
VIP tiers weren't the whole story.
Like jumping ranks in a game via boosting—you couldn't adjust right away. Real-life status seemed the same.
'Should've climbed the ranks gradually.'
I quietly observed their conversation with that thought.
"If you're planning store visits rather than lounge shopping, we can guide you along your intended route."
The department head said this while gesturing to the cluster of staff nearby.
'This is too much...'
My idea of shopping was strolling the department store with a cool noona.
But being VVIP was turning it into something else.
Chaebol shopping scenes from dramas weren't that exaggerated after all.
'Private lounge is new to me, though. Gotta ask about it later.'
Coming alone and picking what I want from there sounded perfect.
No unwanted attention, just relaxed browsing.
"That would be great, thank you. Here's... the rough route I sketched earlier. Would that help?"
Yeon-ah upped the ante on the department head's excessive courtesy.
Having a route prepped showed she was a planner through and through.
"Of course. We'll review it gratefully. Please wait just a moment..."
He checked the route on her phone and instructed a nearby staff member to note it down.
A female staffer hurried over, pulled a notepad from her coat pocket, and jotted furiously.
"Noted, sir."
"Got it. Please relax in the lounge while we finalize preparations and guide you shortly."
The department head sent the staff away with a friendly smile.
At his command, they dispersed from the lounge with brisk steps.
'They must all be exhausted.'
I felt bad for no reason.
Still, given my VVIP status, their behavior made sense.
'I'm dealing with it constantly, but I still can't get fully used to it.'
There was that story of a boy raised by wolves in the wild.
He'd lived his whole life there and died from stress failing to adapt to modern society.
Not saying I'd die from stress.
Just that experiencing things I'd never known before made adaptation tough.
Anyway, not important.
That's just how I felt now.
A little reflection showed it was my fault for impulsively slapping on Arcana without prep.
Impulsive types like me just weren't cut out for this.
But with a grateful person beside me, no need to worry too much.
'What could I get that wouldn't make a rich person feel burdened...?'
I was pondering while glancing at Yeon-ah's face when she pointed to the green tea in front of her.
"Yeon-bi, this green tea is really good. Want some?"
"No thanks. Not big on green tea..."
'Wait, green tea?'
The tea set from last time suddenly came to mind.
'Gotta sneak one into her bag.'
I hatched a little plan in my head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "The youngest Arcana ever? Oh, that person who dropped over 100 million in a day last time?"
"Chaebols really are on another level."
Three people lounging in the staff break room, chatting idly.
Unlike regular part-timers and clerks, the VIP service team knew all about department store and chaebol gossip.
Of course, they weren't dumb enough to blab externally.
Anyone like that got weeded out at interviews.
Still, mouths don't seal perfectly.
That's why anonymous forums and tales like "the king's ears are donkey ears" exist.
The VIP service team's break room served exactly that purpose.
"But they say that youngest Arcana customer is super pretty."
"Yeah? Celebrity-level? Anyone she resembles?"
"Haven't heard comparisons... just prettier than actresses."
"Hmm... I'd love to at least see her face."
One staffer sighed shortly at the two's frivolous banter.
Her neat bob haircut brushing her shoulders was striking as she shot them a glare and muttered.
"Rich, so of course she's pretty. Slap money on any face, and boom—beauty."
"No, it's not that kind of pretty!"
"Enough. Cut the looks appraisal and get to work. Pranda limited bag buyer incoming—prep to control the area."
The bob-cut staffer cut them off sharply and got everyone on their feet.
"Huh... pretty down-to-earth for an Arcana."
"Down-to-earth? You know what that means?"
"Quiet, both of you. Word from the deputy. Yes, got your message, sir."
She fielded an incoming radio call right away.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Control the Pranda store now. Also, there's a VIP Red customer filing a claim over the limited bag—avoid any encounters. Red tier.
Annual spend over 3 million won.
Mostly entitled types spouting, "Do you know who I am?" or "Without me, you'd all starve!"
The trio steeled themselves at Deputy Lee Chang-jin's call, figuring it was one of those.
"Roger."
Once the call ended...
"Let's go."
"Troublemaker... to a VVIP..."
"VVIP won't rein in troublemakers?"
The staff chuckled briefly at that, sighed, and headed out of the break room.