Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Things You Shouldn't Invade
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There used to be all sorts of prizes in those old stationery store gacha boards.
Coupons worth 1,000 won, or tickets for one more draw.
Mostly stuff elementary kids needed, like colored pencils, notebooks, crayons, and so on.
But the top prize at our local shop was a hamster-raising kit.
'Still don't know why it was hamsters.'
Even now, I can't figure out why it was hamsters, but back then, I didn't care—I just desperately wanted a pet and kept pulling.
Still, with nearly 100 prizes per board, pulling once or twice a week wasn't gonna cut it.
Then Mom gave me 10,000 won upfront, saying she wouldn't have pocket money for a while and to spend it wisely.
Back when slushies cost 500 won and you got a huge paper cup full of tteokbokki for the same—this was big money.
It really felt like a fortune.
And in my childish excitement, I blew it all on the gacha.
Not quite all of it—about 8,000 won.
Pulls were 200 won each, so around 40 tries.
After 40 attempts, I finally got the hamster.
I strutted home triumphantly... only to get an earful from Mom.
'You spent the money I gave you for treats and sharing with friends on gacha?'
'I wanted a hamster so bad...'
'Do you know how much 10,000 won is? And if you want a pet, you talk to me first—not just bring one home like this!'
Looking back, I was such a brat.
I was too young to think straight, sure, but blowing that much cash on one hamster?
After that, whenever I got money, I was too scared to spend it freely.
Anyway, why am I reminiscing about this all of a sudden?
'Modern gacha has no romance.'
It's because the staff took the whole board away before I could pull each one myself.
I was looking forward to doing it by hand.
What a letdown.
"Here's your prize. Want it in a plastic bag?"
I shook my head—no way I could walk out with a plastic bag.
Instead, after taking the items, I carefully layered them under the clothes in the paper bag.
Ji-su would feel bad if she saw, so I had to hide them as best I could.
"And here's the A-prize. This one's the Last One..."
"Last... One?"
I'd only meant to snag one A-prize, but now there was an extra plushie.
A hamster doll in an enormous ice cream cone.
Would this even fit in my bag?
I pondered, then squished the plush flat and shoved it to the very bottom of the paper bag, stacking merch on top, then the outerwear last.
'Hmm... bag's about to burst.'
It was mostly hidden now, but anyone paying close attention would notice how stuffed it was.
I'd have to carry it myself and keep it concealed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Should I give them a call?"
"She'll be out soon."
Park Ji-su tapped her phone impatiently—it was taking longer than expected.
Kim Min-hyeok yawned lazily and shrugged it off.
"Sorry. I kept you waiting too long."
Finally, Choi Yeon-bi emerged from the shop after a short wait.
In her hands was the hamster plush Ji-su had wanted.
"Oh, that..."
"I tried a pull on my way back from the bathroom... and it came right up. Here."
A normal person might think she just got lucky.
Ji-su certainly did, taking the plush with sparkling eyes, glancing between it and Yeon-bi.
"Is it... okay to take it? You won it."
"Nah, I'm not into it. I thought of you, so just take it."
Ji-su's face lit up with a beaming smile as she accepted the hamster.
She thanked her and gave Yeon-bi a light hug.
A heartwarming scene.
But sharp-eyed folks might notice something off.
Especially Yeon-bi's bag, now noticeably puffier than before.
Like Kim Min-hyeok did.
'Pulled until she came out?'
Peeking at the slightly visible bag interior, character merch peeked out from under the clothes.
'Guess she just bought them all.'
Realizing this, Min-hyeok chuckled in disbelief and looked away.
No need to point it out.
Regardless,
Yeon-bi watched Ji-su's face with smug satisfaction.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ji-su walked along, cradling the hamster plush like a treasure.
Watching her warmed my heart.
'Good call buying it.'
The bag was heavier, but with just the plush and keychains, it was manageable.
"We're here. Lucky—it's not crowded today."
We'd followed Min-hyeok to a building.
But it didn't look like a regular clothing store or vintage shop.
More like... the old one-room I used to live in.
Parking on the first floor, people living from the second up—a multi-unit residential building.
"This is just... an apartment building, right?"
"Every vintage shop's different, but this one's the whole building. Owner's the landlord."
"Ah..."
If you're the landlord, the shop's probably a hobby.
Someday, I wanna buy a building too... use it for all sorts of things. It's on my bucket list anyway.
"Let's head up."
He was already climbing the stairs, lost in thought.
I hurried after him.
At the top,
Instead of separate rooms like a normal building, the space opened into one vast area.
'Whoa. It's huge.'
Well, huge like a regular storefront.
'Merging all the one-rooms makes this much space.'
I was surprised because it felt so out of place in this ordinary setup.
This should've been multiple people's homes.
What do you call this?
Familiar building, unfamiliar design.
'There was a word for it.'
I was racking my brain when Min-hyeok finished greeting the owner and came over.
"Brands by country over here. Luxury by brand over there. Browse around, and we'll help pick what you like."
"Take your time."
Picking clothes mattered more, so I shelved the word hunt.
I headed to the country-brands section first.
The two models trailed behind.
"Japanese stuff here. Oh, this bag's discontinued."
Min-hyeok snatched it up and slung it over his shoulder.
A small briefcase for a thin laptop or tablet.
Suits him perfectly.
"Yeon-bi, what about this? Not discontinued, but this color's custom-order only."
Ji-su pulled a shirt from the rack for me.
Ivory shirt, super soft fabric.
Safe color, nice material, fits my size.
"Hmm... looks good. This one and..."
With their help, clothes and bags piled up in my hands.
Japanese, American, German, French.
After checking brands from each country,
We moved to luxury corner.
Luxury doesn't faze me anymore—I just glanced boredly, noting "oh, designer stuff."
But Min-hyeok and Ji-su's eyes lit up only here.
'...Makes sense, really.'
I chuckled wryly, observing them.
Min-hyeok stopped at pants and watches.
Pants I'd seen in stores before; watches were familiar department store designs too.
Heard there that same design varies wildly in price based on strap, crystals, case, dial jewels, materials.
So in a vintage shop like this...
'Definitely good deals.'
Online resale takes hefty fees and hard to inspect closely.
I turned to Ji-su.
She eyed bags and shoes.
Bags looked familiar; shoes, not so much.
'Shoes get discontinued fast?'
Aren't luxury items timeless, trend-proof?
Feels like "luxury" has lost some meaning lately.
'They're inspecting so carefully.'
Still, neither grabbed anything right away.
Vintage or not, luxury holds value unless major flaws.
So they checked meticulously, then came to me.
I wanted to buy them each something...
'But it's about pride.'
Gifting a plush is one thing; dropping luxury out of nowhere is another.
Hard to explain, but in relationships—especially close ones—throwing money at things feels wrong.
If we're equals economically, maybe.
But the gap between us is insane.
Instead, I smiled lightly.
"You worked hard helping me today... Dinner's on me."
I promised a meal.
'This much is fine.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ All day wasted, nothing to show for it.
Her wrist from earlier still throbbed faintly.
"Tch..."
Ryu Da-bi's plans in ruins.
All she could do was curse and smoke to vent.
She ducked into an alley, popping a real cigarette instead of her usual vape.
She lit up, puffed hard, and checked her phone.
Gallery with no pics of her target.
Maybe she should've held out, claimed she never snapped any.
But...
'...Fucking psycho.'
Recalling the guy's terrifying face grabbing her wrist, she'd delete them again even now.
So her only outlet: log into her burner for hate comments on Choi Yeon-bi's account.
💬 Comments — BurnerHater123 Photoshopped her body like crazy lol ㅋㅋ — FanDefender Nah, does that even look photoshopped? — LoyalStan ↳ Reply No no, auntie~ mind your own business "For real... fuck..."
Every hate comment she posted drew a swarm of fan replies.
Paradoxically, the more she trolled, the worse she hurt herself.
Finally, Ryu Da-bi tossed her half-smoked cig to the ground and stomped it out.
As she turned to leave,
"Hey, miss! Hold it right there!"
The cops nabbed her.
"What're you doing tossing butts here? This is a no-smoking zone. Write your name and number on this paper."
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes.
The worst day of Ryu Da-bi's life.