Creation Talent
“Jihun hasn't been coming around lately.”
Seo Yerim muttered to herself. She gazed at the empty seat beside her with a somewhat lonely expression.
It feels like just yesterday he was sitting right here.
It had already been a month since Kim Jihun quit his part-time job at the bookstore. Yerim occasionally thought back to that day—the last time he'd worked there. The day he'd gone to her house, they'd eaten together, and ridden in the car together.
I miss him.
Feeling the emptiness of his absence, a hollow ache settled in her chest, as if she'd lost a part of herself that had been there for so long.
“Haa.”
She sighed, barely gathering her scattered thoughts.
Next year. If Jihun gets into Seoul National University, we could go to school together.
She sincerely hoped his retake year would go well. They could attend classes together, sit in lectures side by side, and she could show him around campus...
Hopeful thoughts slowly filled her mind. She smiled.
Jihun's in the science track, and I'm in humanities, so we wouldn't see each other every day. But we could take general electives together and meet up pretty often. Or since we live in the same neighborhood, I could drive him every day.
“Hee hee.”
She let out a soft chuckle. It was still a year away, but just imagining it brought a warm smile to her face.
Yerim lost herself in thoughts of the day she'd attend school with Kim Jihun.
*Tinkle.*
She was drifting in happy daydreams when the bookstore door opened, and someone entered. Yerim snapped out of it, turning her gaze toward the entrance.
“Oh.”
She let out a small gasp of admiration upon seeing the customer. And who could blame her? The woman's appearance was stunningly beautiful.
Red bobbed hair framing captivating features. Eyes gleaming with passionate crimson. Slightly flushed, healthy skin radiating vitality. A woman exuding fiery allure strode confidently toward her.
The identity of the bookstore visitor was none other than Kanna, the high-ranking Creation God formerly of the combat division.
She's always so cool no matter when I see her.
Yerim gazed at her with half-dazed eyes, admiring her beauty that never failed to impress. That passionate charm!
She greeted Kanna warmly.
“Hello. Looking for novels again today?”
“Mm. Yeah.”
Yerim spoke to her familiarly now. Ever since Kanna had come searching for Jihun and started reading fantasy novels, she'd been steadily buying every new fantasy title that came in. She visited every day or two, purchasing hefty stacks. Though they weren't long-time acquaintances, she'd already boosted sales considerably, making her a welcome regular.
Of course, Yerim treated her sweetly partly because of her appealing looks—even if she weren't a regular.
Kanna met Yerim's eyes briefly before heading to the corner genre fiction section with practiced steps. She pulled out an entire fantasy series and brought it to the counter.
“...That's 210,000 won. Shall I bag them for you?”
“Yeah.”
The stack was nearly 30 thick volumes—a long epic fantasy series. And she was buying the whole thing in one go, boldly.
Yerim rang it all up and deftly packed the books into shopping bags. Kanna lifted the two heavy bags effortlessly.
She's got some serious strength. Doesn't look it at all.
Despite her slender arms, Kanna hoisted the bags stuffed with 30 books without strain. Her passionate looks paired with an incredibly healthy vibe.
Gripping the bags in both hands, she gave Yerim a quick nod.
“Thanks. See you.”
As she turned to leave, Yerim called out.
“Ah, wait a sec, miss. Ever thought about getting a points card?”
“Points card? What's that?”
Kanna stared at her with genuine curiosity. The moment Yerim saw those intrigued eyes, memories of their first meeting flashed in her mind.
—A bookstore? What's that for?
Back then, she hadn't even known what a bookstore was.
Yerim eyed her cautiously. Kanna still looked innocently curious.
This woman feels like she lacks common sense in an almost abnormal way.
She didn't know bookstores or points cards—basic knowledge for anyone engaging in everyday commerce.
Yerim wondered what circumstances had shaped her life. In truth, she simply wasn't human.
Yerim began explaining points cards kindly.
“...So, the more you buy, the more points you rack up. You can use those points to get other books cheaper.”
“Ah, I see. So it's a limited voucher to encourage spending here. Quite the unique system—luring consumption of goods like that.”
“...Right.”
Yerim deflated at her response. Conversing with someone surprisingly lacking in common sense was frustrating and draining.
Still, she explained thoroughly, and Kanna took interest. She decided to get one.
“Fine. Let's make this points card thing. I'll be coming here often anyway.”
“Great. Could you give me your address?”
“Er'ah High God Realm.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, slip-up.”
Asked for her address, Kanna had absentmindedly named her home planet. She shook her head and thought.
Address, huh. I need to give an Earth one.
Of course, she didn't live on Earth. Her domain was in another galaxy.
A bit flustered, she quickly found a solution.
Right. Just give the kid's house address.
The only Earth contact she knew—Kim Jihun's home. Fortunately, she'd noted the address by the door during her last visit. A god's memory far surpassed a human's, so she remembered it perfectly.
“XX-ro, XX-gil 21-2.”
She answered confidently. It was the only place she had ties to.
Yerim jotted it down.
XX-ro? That's the same neighborhood as where Jihun lives.
She'd driven him home once before and knew the area roughly.
Finishing the address, Yerim asked for a phone number.
“And your contact number?”
“Contact...”
Kanna pondered, chin in hand. Naturally, she had none. Why would a god carry a phone?
She hesitated, then decided.
Eh, the kid's cell number will do.
“000-0000-0000.”
“Got it. 000...”
As Yerim entered the number, a strange feeling hit her.
Wait, isn't this Jihun's number?
She froze, double-checking. It was definitely Kim Jihun's cell number.
Cautiously, she asked Kanna.
“Um, is this really your number?”
“Yes.”
Kanna nodded solemnly, leaving Yerim unable to press further. In a bewildered state, she issued the card.
“Come again.”
Kanna grabbed her points card and bags, heading out. Yerim watched her go, then looked at the paper in her hand.
There, written down, were Kim Jihun's address and phone number—from Kanna's mouth.
“...No way—are they living together?!”
Same neighborhood, same number. Yerim seriously pondered if Jihun was shacking up with that woman.
...
“Lately, it feels like someone's watching me.”
Kim Jihun muttered, brushing off the goosebumps on his arms. Sometimes, he sensed eyes on him.
A gaze so subtle, pre-Creator God Manual Jihun never would've noticed. But with his sharpened senses, he occasionally caught these unidentified stares, startling him mildly.
At first, he thought it was just attention from his looks. But the pursuing gaze grew more intense.
—At least, that's how Jihun felt.
Lately, he'd developed a habit of scanning his surroundings.
“Am I being too paranoid? What's going on?”
Yet he hadn't pinpointed anyone for sure. Jihun was still naive in many ways.
As he warily checked around—
*Bzzz.*
His phone buzzed insistently. He glanced at it, surprised.
“It's Yerim noona?”
It had been weeks since he'd seen her, and now Seo Yerim was calling him. Aside from work shifts, they'd never contacted each other. Their encounters were limited to bookstore visits.
Curious why she'd call now, Jihun answered.
“Yeah, Yerim noona?”
—Ah, Jihun. Just curious about something.
Jihun listened closely to her hesitant voice.
—Do you know someone named Kanna?
“Ah! Kanna noona?”
Jihun startled at the name. Kanna was a Creation God. Not human. How did ordinary Yerim know her?
Tensing, he worried if god-related info had reached her. But her response was unexpectedly offbeat, deflating his nerves.
—Kanna got a points card at our store, but her address and number match yours? Thought it might be a mix-up.
“Ahh... the points card.”
Jihun sighed in relief. Kanna shopping was one thing, but getting a points card?
She came looking for Creation Talent, and now she's diving into human culture.
Thinking quickly, he offered a plausible excuse.
“That noona's actually foreign. Distant relative visiting Korea. No local address or number, so she used mine. No big deal.”
—Oh? So she's family? Not living together, right?
Yerim's voice brightened eagerly at his lame cover. Jihun blinked at her reaction.
“Huh? Oh, no. Kanna noona doesn't live with us.”
—Ahh, good. Got it! See you at the store next time!
Yerim hung up. Jihun stared at his phone, baffled.
“Why's she so happy?”
Oblivious to Yerim's misunderstanding and worry about his tie to Kanna, he simply couldn't make sense of it.