The Trinity Lounge
“I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, sir.”
“Sorry my ass! Shut the hell up and pay up. Call the manager or take it out of your wages, you stupid bitch!”
The middle-aged man kept spewing thick, vulgar curses without pause, while the part-timer could only repeat apologies, trapped with nowhere to turn.
Damn, is today stress special or something? Of all times, I had to run into one of those legendary rude customers.
I'd finally made it to the department store after some effort, stopped by a cafe for a quick break, and ended up witnessing the kind of scene you only read about in internet horror stories. That was just how life worked—shitty things always piled up at once, like they'd made a promise.
My head started throbbing.
“Excuse me. Sorry to bother you, but is that drink hot?”
I wasn't the only one watching the scene unfold. Everyone in the cafe was staring. I approached a nearby female customer and spoke to her. Startled, she turned around, having been too absorbed in the spectacle to notice me.
“Huh? Why… why do you ask? It just came out, so it's pretty hot…”
“Perfect. Sell it to me. I'll give you a hundred thousand won.”
“…?”
The woman stared at me like she'd just encountered another lunatic. Without another word, I pulled two fifty-thousand-won bills from my wallet and placed them on the table. Her eyes widened into saucers.
“H-huh?”
“It's settled. This coffee is mine now.”
“O-oh. Okay. Take it. Thank you.”
She even thanked me hurriedly, as if afraid I might bite. Holding the coffee I'd just purchased, I strolled casually toward the table where the rude man was still berating the part-timer like a trapped mouse.
Walking straight into the center of everyone's attention felt like stepping into the Colosseum as a gladiator under the Romans' collective gaze.
Thud.
I set the coffee down firmly on the table after cutting into the scene. The man, who'd been eyeing me warily, snarled.
“Who the hell are you? The part-timer's boyfriend?!”
“Sir, you said that cardigan cost a million won, right?”
“Yeah!! I just bought this million-won cardigan from the luxury section!! So what!! You gonna pay for her instead?!”
“That's right. I'll pay for it. In exchange, you stop causing a scene and get the hell out of this cafe right now. Deal?”
“…What? A scene? Hah…”
He snorted in disbelief, but the promise of compensation made him settle down. I stared at him openly, then pulled a one-million-won check from my wallet. I'd tucked a few away when I visited the Sehan Bank main branch, just in case—never imagined they'd be used like this.
“…”
When real money appeared from my wallet, the man's suspicious expression softened instantly. More than softened—it brightened. The way he looked like he'd just won the lottery made me suspect the cardigan wasn't actually worth a million won. Or maybe it was listed at that price but heavily discounted.
Either way, I placed the check neatly on the table without comment, positioning it for easy pickup. A million or ten million meant nothing to me. If it resolved my stress, I'd gladly pay that much.
“Here. Take it. And get out quickly.”
“Ahem. 'Get out,' huh. Kids these days have such rough mouths. Heh. Still, since you're paying, I'll let it slide.”
“Fucking hell…”
“Ahem…”
The moment I produced the money, his tone turned even more repulsive. The curse slipped out before I could stop it. He clearly heard me but didn't lash out—instead, he quietly reached for the check on the table. He'd thrown a fit at the part-timer, but in front of the check, he was the picture of restraint.
Slither.
Thud.
His arm, draped in the so-called million-won cardigan, crept toward the table like a snake and snatched the check. Timing it perfectly, I nudged the coffee cup I'd bought from the woman. It tipped over, sending steaming hot coffee pouring directly onto the hand reaching for the check.
The million-won check and the man's hand were instantly drenched.
“Aaaagh!!!!”
“H-huh—. Ah, aaah…!”
I stayed still. The man howled, clutching his scalded hand, while the part-timer's eyes went round as she alternated glances between the check and my face, making an incomprehensible sound.
“Ghk!! You little bastard!!! What the hell are you doing!!! You did that on purpose, you son of a bitch!!”
“Not really? I was just trying to drink it… I have a bit of a tremor. You should've dodged better. Oof, look at that red hand. Must hurt. Heh.”
“You fucking bastard!!!”
Whoosh.
A sharp gust of wind cut through the air. I flinched and looked straight at him. Enraged by my brazen attitude, he'd swung a fist without hesitation.
So this is my first real fight?
My heart pounded. Normally I'd have been scared, but after the physical enhancements, I'd been itching for a chance to test myself. Why? Even though I'd never fought in my life, I was certain I wouldn't lose. My body felt light enough to dart like a bee and sting like a butterfly. I wanted to feel just how overwhelming the physique I'd poured hundreds of billions into really was.
Right now, for example.
Thud.
I caught his incoming fist with ease. His movements were so slow it wasn't difficult—like catching a ball in a game of catch.
Crunch.
“Aaaagh!! Aaaagh!!!!”
I squeezed like crushing a walnut, grinding his fist. Because he'd swung with the hand already red from the coffee, the pain was even worse.
Thud. Thud.
Unable to endure the agony, he dropped to his knees on the very spot where he'd broken the mug. Unfortunately, no sharp shards pierced his shin—the part-timer had mopped thoroughly despite her constant apologies, leaving little besides the spilled drink.
“Aaaagh!!!!”
Dissatisfied, I squeezed harder. I'd hoped for more than just wet pants, but it seemed that wasn't happening.
“Stop right there!!! Don't move another inch or I'll call the police immediately!!”
Thud, thud, thud.
A loud voice rang out, followed by a suited man and what looked like the department store's security team rushing in. Someone must have reported the rude customer, but the timing was terrible. They eyed me warily, as if I were the problem.
“Sir, let go of him. Release him and stay still. Otherwise, this will only escalate.”
I did as instructed. I had no desire to make things worse. It wasn't fear—just annoyance.
“Ghk!! Why the hell are you only showing up now!! I'm a VIP here!!! A VIP customer's being assaulted and you only arrive now!!!”
“We're sorry, sir. We'll hear the full details after moving to another location.”
“What is there to hear!! This bastard assaulted me!!!”
The man thrashed like an unleashed Chihuahua.
“N-no!! That man started causing trouble first!! This customer didn't do anything wrong!”
“What…?”
“I'm the part-timer here. He cursed at me nonstop, and he threw the first punch at this customer! The CCTV will show everything!”
Things took an interesting turn. Thanks to the part-timer covering for me at the crucial moment, the tense atmosphere in the cafe eased. Other customers' testimonies followed one after another. Being a cafe inside a department store, there were plenty of middle-aged women, and once they got going, their support was formidable.
“No need to check the CCTV. I recorded the whole thing on video!”
“Sir!! You were the one causing trouble earlier, and now you're playing victim!!!”
“That handsome young man did nothing wrong! I recorded it too, so take a look!!”
Everyone was defending me. Naturally, the wariness in the department store staff's eyes faded, and that suspicion shifted entirely onto the rude man.
“Y-you bastards! What are you all staring at!! I'm the victim!! I'm a VIP here!!”
“Sir, let's discuss this elsewhere. If you're truly the victim, we'd appreciate your cooperation. And…”
The suited man, who had been addressing the rude customer, turned to me.
“Would you mind accompanying us as well? It won't take long.”
“Sure, why not.”
It was a hassle, but I couldn't refuse. If I didn't cooperate, they'd call the police, which would be even more annoying. Besides, I'd expected this level of inconvenience the moment I stepped in.
I've already crushed his fist and soaked him from cardigan to pants. At the very least, I should cooperate with the department store.
****
As promised, the investigation didn't take long. There was simply too much clear evidence—from CCTV footage to phone videos. The man, who kept causing trouble to the end, was dragged away by security.
After wrapping things up, the suited man led me to what looked like a customer waiting room and offered a formal apology. He introduced himself as the floor manager overseeing everything on the level where the cafe was located. His efficient handling suggested he held a fairly high position.
“Thank you for your cooperation. And I'm truly sorry you had to experience something so unpleasant.”
“It's fine. What will happen to that rude customer?”
“We'll hand the case over to our legal team to ensure he receives appropriate punishment.”
“Good.”
“Sir, if it's not too much trouble, could you provide your personal information? We'd like to register you as a VIP and offer a small gift certificate.”
The floor manager asked politely. I gave him my details without resistance. The gift certificate and VIP treatment didn't particularly interest me, but refusing such courteous treatment felt awkward.
“Huh?! Sir, excuse me, but do you happen to own a Sehan Premier The Black Edition card?”
The floor manager, who had been carefully noting down the information I'd provided, looked up in surprise.
“Yes, I do.”
“Oh my… Is this your first time visiting our department store since receiving the card?”
“Yes, it is. Why?”
“I'm terribly sorry, but please wait just a moment. I'll call the VVIP manager right away.”
The floor manager hurriedly made a call. His previously calm demeanor had become quite flustered the moment the card was mentioned.
Is it really that big a deal?
Sehan Premier The Black Edition card. The ridiculously long name belonged to the card I'd received during my visit to the Sehan Bank main branch. I hadn't asked for it—my dedicated private banker had simply handed it over, saying it was for VVIPs. He'd rattled off all the benefits at the time, but I hadn't really listened. Spending time chasing card perks was far less profitable than having another round of sex instead.
So I had no idea what would happen if I brought this card to a department store.
Creak.
The door opened, and another middle-aged man in a neat suit appeared. He casually acknowledged the floor manager's ninety-degree bow, then walked straight toward me.
“We're sorry you had to go through something so unpleasant. Customer, we'll escort you to the Trinity Lounge immediately.”
“Trinity?”
“Ah, that's the term we use for our VVIP customers. At our department store, we strive to provide the highest level of service to the top 500 customers by annual sales and those specially selected as Trinity members. As a Sehan Black cardholder, you are a Trinity-grade VVIP at our store. Allow me to escort you.”
I nodded and stood up, following the middle-aged man. As we walked, he explained the benefits of Trinity status: a private lounge, a personal shopper for one-on-one assistance, staff delivering purchases directly to your car, anniversary gifts, and more. The explanation was simple, but there was so much that remembering it all was difficult.
Well, the conclusion was that being a VVIP—especially Trinity grade—was incredibly good.
Even so, isn't the internet better?
I understood there were many perks. But ultimately, you had to visit the department store in person to enjoy them. No matter how impressive the store was, shopping from home via the internet still seemed more comfortable.
But that was my misconception.
Beep.
After riding the private elevator to the top floor, the Trinity Lounge—exclusive to Trinity members—came into view. Following instructions, I took out my black card and held it to the security system. The massive automatic doors slid open smoothly on either side.
Heh… It really is ridiculously luxurious.