Shopping Is Exhausting!
The department store lobby took my breath away the moment we stepped inside. Gleaming white marble walls and pillars swept upward in elegant, opulent curves, while along one partition, a massive indoor waterfall cascaded down with a cool, rushing roar.
The building was so gorgeous it made my head spin, but inwardly, I felt like I was walking on pins and needles. The two perked fox ears sitting atop my head kept me on edge, terrified of drawing unwanted aggro.
Unable to shake the gnawing anxiety, I casually slipped a hand around back and gave my rear a cautious pat.
…Thank goodness. My tail hadn't popped out; it was still tucked away, behaving itself.
"Welcome, honored guests. We hope you enjoy your shopping."
At the concierge desk, Seolhwa produced that black card from earlier. This time, two attendants arrived wheeling a luggage cart and fell into step behind us. They called it something like a 'Personal Shopping Service.'
…It felt like one of those luxury chaebol experiences you only hear about on TV. Was someone like me really allowed to be here…?
"Ms. Seolhwa, which boutique would you like to visit first?" one of the attendants inquired politely.
"Let us head up to the fifth floor. We came to pick out clothes for my child today."
"Right away. I will escort you to the children's apparel department."
Ah. Children's clothes after all.
My enthusiasm deflated a notch. It wasn't as if I had harbored grand expectations, but facing the cold reality of shopping in the kids' section stung. Well, even if it had been adult clothing, it would have been women's wear anyway, so…
Deep down in my soul, I could feel the dignity of a macho man crumbling to dust.
The lobby was bustling with shoppers, yet it never felt claustrophobic, thanks to the soaring ceilings and cavernous interior. Still, that didn't stop the whispers.
"Whoa, holy crap. Look at that kid. She's insanely cute."
"Are those cat ears? How can someone that cute be wearing something so adorable?!"
"The woman next to her must be her mom. She's gorgeous… Seriously, their genetics are a total cheat code…."
The sheer volume of attention focused squarely on us was excruciatingly, overwhelmingly, mind-numbingly embarrassing.
It's not like I'm some celebrity who can walk around wearing a mask. This is so humiliating…
Noticing my face flushing bright red, Seolhwa gently took my hand without a word. Holding hands in public was awkward in its own right, but the soothing warmth radiating from her palm brought an unexpected sense of comfort. I looked up into her eyes and gave a subtle nod.
Ding—
When the elevator doors parted on the fifth floor, an endless promenade of children's boutiques stretched out before us.
Every storefront was dainty, pastel, and sparkling—elements completely incompatible with my personal elemental affinity.
Seolhwa clearly held a different opinion. Clasping my hand firmly, she strode with regal confidence straight toward the displays.
With my left hand thoroughly sealed, I had no choice but to be dragged along in her wake.
"U-Um, Mom… where are we going first…?"
"Well, Seol-ah. Shall we start with the undergarment boutique?"
"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What did you say?!"
A shriek tore out of my throat before I could stop it, and for a brief moment, I'm pretty sure my consciousness simply blacked out. When my senses finally rebooted, we were already stepping out of the lingerie store with our purchases bagged.
"Thank you so much! Please visit us again!"
"Phew. I feel like I just woke up from a fever dream."
"Now, Seol-ah, this is where the real fun begins. Why don't you pick out every single outfit you like?"
"Eep."
Just when I thought I had scaled an insurmountable peak, a whole mountain range of torment loomed right in front of me.
"Which ones catch your eye?"
"J-Just… something comfortable…."
"Hmm. Then shall we start in here?"
The boutique she ushered me into was practically drowning in ribbons and lace, packed from wall to wall with frilly princess dresses.
I hadn't known Seolhwa for very long, but I knew enough. Given her personality, I was going to be treated like a living dress-up doll, forced to swap in and out of those flamboyant, fluttering frills until I died of mortification.
Yet I had no say in the matter. All I could do was surrender to cruel fate.
"S-Sure…."
"Welcome~! Take your time browsing, and let us know if you need any assistance~!"
True to my worst fears, Seolhwa casually picked out the most embarrassing dress in sight, checked the tag for the correct size, and carried it straight over to me.
"Seol-ah, let us try this one on first. You can change into the new undergarments we just purchased while you're at it."
She whispered it softly so the store clerks wouldn't overhear, but that did nothing to quell the burning heat in my cheeks.
"O-Okay…."
"Can you manage on your own? Would you like Mommy to help?"
"N-No, absolutely not! I can dress myself!"
In the background, the clerks giggled and cooed about how adorable I was, but I snatched the clothes, bolted into the fitting room, and threw the lock shut.
After swapping undergarments at lightning speed, I found myself face-to-face with the frilly dress. As I glared at the monstrosity, trying to figure out how to put it on, my eyes landed on the price tag near the collar.
"Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands… Just how many zeroes are on this thing?!"
The price defied all common sense. Absolutely deranged. Luxury department stores really lived in an entirely different universe. At this astronomical price point, shouldn't I just shut up and wear it, no matter how humiliating the design…?
Exercising the utmost caution, I eased the fabric over my head and smoothed the flared skirt downward.
Is that it?
There weren't any zippers or buttons in sight, so I assumed this was how it went. Then, I dared to glance into the full-length mirror.
"…!"
This is mortifying! I look like some spoiled brat playing royal princess!
Disaster. Price tag be damned, wearing this in real life was ten times more agonizing than I had imagined. And now I had to step out there and showcase this ridiculous spectacle to the world….
While I paced in frantic indecision, practically stomping my feet, a gentle knock sounded on the door.
"Sweetheart~ Are you finished? If it is too difficult to put on, should Mommy come in?"
"N-No! I'm done…!"
Fine. Aside from Seolhwa, the rest of these people were complete strangers I'd never see again! I just had to grit my teeth, get through this one ordeal, and then steer her toward something plain and normal.
Steeling my resolve, I unlocked the door.
"Oh, my goodness~! You look stunning! Mother, this outfit was practically made for your little lady!"
"Seriously! She's so precious! Is she a child model or an actress?"
"With that darling fox headband, she looks like a little angel come down to earth. Hoho."
"Ugh…."
The instant I crossed the threshold, an artillery barrage of seventy million compliments bombarded me from all directions.
My mental fortitude disintegrated on the spot.
Seolhwa was a liar. High resistance to mental attacks, my foot….
Worse still, the one making the biggest fuss of all was Seolhwa herself.
"Oh, my sweet daughter~ You are simply too precious! Goodness me, whose genes did you inherit to be this breathtaking?"
Seolhwa swooped in, pulled me into a tight embrace, and vigorously stroked my hair. Maybe she was trying to shield my face before it turned from a beet into an exploding tomato? But even so….
Did she get replaced by an impostor?
Until now, Seolhwa had always maintained a serious, poised, somewhat rigid demeanor like a hyper-competent chief of staff. This was the first time I had ever heard her voice climb to such an excited, high-pitched register.
"Now, now! Shall we try on the next one, young lady?"
Swept up in the momentum of the attendants who were already brandishing fresh hangers, I was reduced to a helpless mannequin, exactly as foretold.
Airy sundresses, miniature tailored suits, gothic lolita ensembles, magical girl costumes, and even a full-body Pachycephalosaurus onesie.
"…?"
Something deeply bizarre had snuck into the lineup, but my mind and body were far too battered to question it.
"Did the Gate really just up and vanish?"
"I'm telling you, it's gone. I completely lost my mind."
"What about the monsters? Wasn't that an S-plus rank Gate?"
"They must've totally botched the initial assessment. The things inside were low-tier trash mobs on par with Kim Yuri."
"Screw you."
"Then why the hell did they designate it S-plus? That's ridiculous."
"My point exactly. It leaves such a gross, unsettled feeling, seriously."
Yoon Harin was one of only four S-rank hunters in South Korea.
Having cleared what was supposed to be a top-tier Gate with anticlimactic ease, she was currently browsing the department store with her friends, trying to shake off the lingering sense of unease.
"Wait, are you sure nothing bad is gonna happen? Didn't you say there was some blinding flash of light at the very end?"
"Yeah. But… I don't know, it didn't really feel dangerous? Don't get me wrong, the magical energy in the air was astronomical, but still…."
"Could it be something like mana radiation? Did you get a full checkup?"
"The Association handles all of that~ You know how ridiculous the Hunter Association's benefits are."
"Well, that's a relief then. Huh? Hey, look over there."
"Hmm? What is it?"
One of Harin's friends, lounging on a bench in the indoor rest garden, pointed toward the children's apparel concourse.
"Whoa, what in the world? Look at that kid. She's crazy cute."
"Wow, that's legitimately legendary tier. Just looking at her cleanses my soul."
"That silver hair is gorgeous. Is she mixed? The mom next to her has silver hair too."
"Hey, let's go over! Harin, you've still got candy on you, right?"
"You bet."
Oblivious to the approaching figures, poor Seol-i trudged along like a zombie, her stamina completely spent after enduring twenty-one consecutive fittings across every boutique on the floor.
Slurrrp—
Completely drained of life, I took a long, greedy pull of the iced tea Seolhwa had bought me.
Shopping was a terrifying endeavor. Being dragged around children's boutiques for two solid hours while being endlessly redressed had hit me with the exhaustion of running a full marathon.
The service cart trailing behind us held a mountain of shopping bags and designer boxes stacked nearly to the ceiling. Every single one contained clothes and shoes bought for me today. It felt like I had burned through an entire lifetime's quota of luxury in a single afternoon.
I was wearing an entirely different outfit from the one I had left the house in—one of the many purchased today. Seolhwa had kept trying to squeeze me into sickeningly sweet frilly frocks, so I had seized the initiative and quickly picked out this 'streetwear look.'
A slightly oversized white tee featuring an abstract graphic logo, black cargo jogger pants, crisp white sneakers, and a lightweight black windbreaker draped casually over my shoulders. And most importantly, a black ball cap securely concealing the fox ears atop my head.
Black and white. The timeless, ultimate pairing for men of refined taste. It was an aesthetic I had dreamed of pulling off prior to my awakening, and it suited this body surprisingly well. In my humble opinion, I looked sharp enough to stroll into a high-society European banquet and blend right in.
Though right now, all I wanted was to go home.
"Seol-ah, shall we head over to eat lunch soon?"
Right. We hadn't even eaten yet. Supposedly, there was a renowned restaurant on the upper floors, which gave me something to look forward to.
"Okaay~"
Just as I was locked in deep, philosophical contemplation over whether a steak knife was meant to be held in the left or right hand, a group of women strode toward us from across the concourse.
Huh? Wait, are they heading for me? They're staring right at me as they walk… But that woman… haven't I seen her somewhere before…?
A bright blonde ponytail… where had I seen that face…? After racking my brain for a second, lightning struck.
Ah! One of the four S-rank hunters in South Korea—'Storm' Yoon Harin!
Whoa. Seeing her in person for the first time… she's stunning….
Catching my gaze, Yoon Harin's smile broadened, and she marched straight up to us without hesitation.
"Hi there, little cutie! Aren't you just the most adorable thing~?"
"Huh? Th-Thank you…?"
"Hello, ma'am! Your little girl was so breathtakingly cute that I just couldn't resist coming over~"
"My, how kind of you. You are Hunter Yoon Harin, aren't you? Thank you for always keeping South Korea safe."
"Oh, please~ It's nothing, really! Just doing my job~ Hehe."
Yoon Harin was an off-the-charts extrovert. Who just walks up and strikes up a conversation with complete strangers in the middle of a shopping mall?
Her friends were just as exuberant. Even now, they were hovering over me, squealing and cooing until my head felt like it was spinning on its axis.
"You are seriously way too precious! What's your name, sweetie?"
"S-Seol-i…."
Ah, right. I had decided to go by 'Han Seol.' Taking 'Han' as the family name and the single syllable 'Seol' as the given name. Apparently, that had been my 'True Name' when I ruled as the Great Yokai Fox in my previous life—a name known only to the sovereign's closest confidants. The fact that my human name in this life had also been Kim Han-seol felt like some strange twist of fate.
"Aww, your name is gorgeous too! How old are you?"
"U-Um… twelve……."
Cue another round of collective giggles and coos. Just listening to them was sapping my life force. This was why dealing with extroverts was so exhausting….
"Seol-ah, would you like a candy? Here, a little present for you."
"Th-Thank you…."
When I accepted the melon-flavored hard candy Yoon Harin offered and bowed politely, the group erupted into another round of squeals over how well-mannered I was. Please, make it stop….
"I'm big sister Harin. I'm pretty famous, do you know who I am? I'm a hunter!"
"Y-Yes, I know… Storm…."
"Kyaa! Thank you for recognizing me! Look at our precious little baby, you are just too sweet~"
Yoon Harin reached out and rubbed my head. Your face is way too close…! And you're going to knock my cap off…! Wait, no, more importantly, leaning down like that means your neckline is…!
Flustered beyond belief, I jerked my gaze away, scampered backward, and took cover behind Seolhwa's legs. Watching me scurry like a frightened animal, Harin's group burst into hearty laughter.
"Kyaaa~! So cute~!!"
"Aww, look at her being shy~"
"Her outfit looks amazing, too! Our little Seol-i is so trendy~!"
After fussing over me for what felt like an eternity, one of Harin's friends finally decided to call it.
"Hey, let's get going. We're making the poor kid uncomfortable."
"It was so nice meeting you, Seol-ah! See you around!"
"G-Goodbye…."
True to her moniker, Yoon Harin and her entourage swept in like a tempest and blew right back out. It felt like an actual hurricane had just passed over me.
As expected of an S-rank hunter and her crew, they had dealt massive psychological damage to me—even though Seolhwa had assured me I possessed formidable mental attack resistance.
Today was turning out to be utterly draining on every conceivable level. And it was barely past noon.
Leaving Yoon Harin's group behind, Seolhwa and I made our way toward the restaurant.