Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: What's So Hard About This?
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Half on impulse, I'd started working part-time at the convenience store, and before I knew it, two weeks had slipped by.
"Cash, please."
"Sure. Do you need a bag?"
"Nah, just hand it over."
"Got it. That's 8,700 won."
Aside from that first week, where the manager—under the pretense of training—nitpicked everything under the sun, my take from the past week was... this job's actually pretty manageable?
"Hmph. Hmph."
At first, it was scanning barcodes, stocking shelves, that sort of thing. The manager explained things so poorly—thanks to Bell—and it was a bit rough, but once I got the hang of it, there wasn't an easier gig.
"...No, at this rate, customers are gonna be too intimidated to even grab stuff off the shelves. Ha-yul."
"Here to nitpick again, Manager?"
First up was shelf stocking. Since I was arranging them anyway... I made sure every item faced the exact same angle and direction. But nope, the manager's griping about that. Isn't looking neat the whole point?
"By the way, isn't it about time for the delivery? The truck should've been here already."
"That? It came early, so I already sorted everything."
Next was scanning the barcodes on incoming stock at set times... The delivery guys were nice enough to drop it right at the counter, so it was a breeze.
"Ha-yul? You sure you're human?"
"Scanning and shelving on time—what's hard about that?"
The night shift guy who relieves me sometimes forgets because he's up all night, but hey, flipping day and night is tough. So I've been covering for him.
"Huh? You handle the night guy's leftovers too? No, why would... Never mind. I'll talk to him about it."
"Forget it. Kid looked beat—it's no big deal."
I said it thinking of the college kid who, dark circles under his eyes, would bow stiffly with a blank stare before dragging himself home.
"Um... he's older than you, Ha-yul."
"Is he?"
"Ugh... What on earth keeps that tiny body of yours so busy?"
"Busy? I've even got spare time—kinda bored, actually."
"Ha-yul. Ever heard of workaholic? That's you right now."
With the manager—who clearly had nothing better to do—grumbling nonstop today too, I brushed him off.
"Workaholic my ass. No work? Check this ledger then, Manager."
"Huh? This... No, why are you doing the ledger?"
"Your version was a mess, so I grabbed a notebook and started fresh."
"You're driving me nuts."
I handed over the new ledger alongside the original, which was riddled with missing entries and wrong amounts even from a quick skim.
"Oh, right. Since we're on the topic—got a question."
"...What?"
"Lately, without Bell around, we've had guys wandering the aisles, peeking everywhere, then leaving empty-handed. Normal?"
Bell went dead silent, staring at me like I'd said the dumbest thing ever.
"Kinda worried they might be scoping for theft, but untransformed, I'm limited."
If a real robbery hit, no transformation meant no real defense. Maybe beef up security? That's why I asked.
"Sigh. Drop it."
"But still..."
"They're here to gawk at you. Gotta be pretty to pull that off."
His response left me speechless, staring at Bell's grumbling face.
"...Okay, I'm pretty, sure."
"Ha, owning up to it."
"Just facts."
My face is pretty now. Identical to Seriel's back in the day. Short stature, but the chest makes up for it. Still... coming to a convenience store just to peek and leave without buying? For me?
"Man... So many idle losers out there..."
I scratched my head, embarrassed.
"Ha-yul."
"Yeah? What?"
"Take tomorrow off."
"No way. You closing shop?"
Bell suddenly telling me to skip a shift tomorrow—when I had nothing else to do—made me push back.
"Got a sub. Need to craft some perception-disrupting accessories."
That made me pause and think seriously.
"Hm... Yeah, been thinking we need 'em soon."
"Right?"
Transformation auto-applies makeup and outfit changes for cover, but mine only tweaks hair and eye color... Fine now, but after more action, someone might notice.
"But those things cost a fortune."
Truth is, they're for chaebol heirs or celebs dodging paparazzi—pricey as hell, so I'd just mulled it over.
"Who buys those shoddy things for top dollar?"
"Alternative?"
"Make our own, obviously."
Bell dismissed multi-million-won items as "shoddy" without batting an eye.
"Expect greatness. I'll craft one custom for you, Ha-yul."
Claiming expertise, he thumped his chest with bold promises.
"Got that skill, why manage a store?"
"Guhk."
I'd asked out of genuine curiosity, but he clutched his chest—mid-thump—and averted his eyes... Yeah, probably not banking on quality.
"...Sigh. Fine. Boss says rest, I rest."
Decide after seeing the final product, I figured... with a sigh.
Ding-a-ling...!
Time to greet the customer in our quiet store.
"Welcome."
For now, maybe boot this useless manager for disrupting business.
Creeeak...
In pitch-black depths where no light pierced, a long-neglected rusty hinge screamed as heavy footsteps—adult male—echoed around.
Thud... Thud...
Pat-pat. Dust piled like sand from the stairs rained down with each step.
Huff... Huff...!
Terror? Rough breaths leaked from her cloth-gagged mouth.
"Oh, sorry. Been away from the classroom too long."
A gentle man's voice rang out—low, soft, the kind teachers used to soothe crowds.
"Mmph—! Mmph—!"
The girl thrashed at the kind-faced man approaching her.
"Now, let's begin class."
His hand reached slowly... She dropped her head in resignation, praying inwardly.
'If there's a god... No, even a devil... Please, get me out of this hell...'
No hope lingered in her eyes. If anything pulled her from this nightmare... even a devil would do.
Tap.
Had someone heard? An unknown texture brushed her bound fingertips from thin air. She recoiled instinctively, groping the floor.
"......"
Beyond the dim lamp illuminating the gloom—she glanced at the madman gleefully scribbling math on the blackboard, "teaching" as he pleased.
Click.
A small button in her hand—oozing ominous vibes—she pressed it.
Shunk...!
Next instant, a pale hand burst from a sudden rift in the air, jabbing a thick needle into her neck. She screamed silently.
"Well then... Han-byeol. Let's try this problem now..."
Moments later.
"...Han-byeol?"
The teacher—Lee Hyun-seok—who'd been chalking problems on the board moments ago, scanned for his silently vanished student.
"......"
But a mere teacher had no way to track a girl who'd melted into thin air without trace.
"Oh dear... Class too boring again? I'll punish her when I find her."
Hyun-seok resolved to fetch a new student instead.
"Speaking of... That girl from before... Hm."
Recalling the runaway he'd met while hunting.
"...Yeah. No way she's an adult."
The kind convenience store owner must've given her a job to protect a runaway. Nodding to himself.
"Kids these days just don't get how vital school is."
With shadows darkening his kindly face, he gathered drugs, a handkerchief, rope... and headed out again.