The Healer Goes Shopping
How much time had passed? I must have dozed off without realizing it. When I opened my eyes, it wasn't dark out, but enough time had slipped by to make it obvious.
On the bedside table sat some packaged food. Whoever left it was awfully thoughtful. I grabbed a few bites of meat and headed to the bathroom.
Warm water droplets cascaded over my face and shoulders. My body, grimy with sweat and dust, gradually cleaned up.
...Come to think of it, I don't have any spare clothes.
It felt gross, but I'd have to put the same ones back on and hit up a nearby mart. I hurried into the elevator and rode down to the lobby.
Oh, right—I needed to let them know at home I wouldn't be back. They might worry.
Trrring. The signal tone rang out, and they picked up almost immediately. I cleared my throat and spoke.
"Hello? Mom, it's me. I'm at the guild house right now…."
"Oh~ I heard. That pretty girl who came by the house, Chae-eun, right? She speaks so sweetly. She called a few hours ago, worried you might be tired. Anyway, don't worry about me—do whatever you want and have fun."
"What's that all of a sudden?"
"I've seen the news too, you know. All those monsters hunters take down, all the people they save. Like our Chae-eun said, staying close in a dorm beats some long commute."
Our Chae-eun already? The call ended with her usual plea to visit home sometime.
Was this independent living? Or more like dorm life?
Ding! The elevator doors slid open, revealing the spacious lobby. The high ceilings made it feel open and airy—nice.
In the central sofa area under the warm lighting sat the female guild members.
"Oh! Seojun-ssi, you're up?"
"…How's your body feeling?"
Yoo Chae-eun greeted me with a bright smile, apparently having forgotten the bedroom commotion. Both women had changed into casual clothes.
"Much better now. Thanks."
Yoo Chae-eun's eyes dipped slightly, her thick lashes fluttering. Lee Soo-jung scanned me head to toe before her stiff expression softened.
"What, were you worried?"
"Not really. Yeah, a little."
Lee Soo-jung's red hair cascaded between her nape, her skin flushing a soft pink.
"What were you talking about? Everyone else is gone."
"They all turned in to rest. We were, um… having some girl talk. You know, women's secrets."
Women's intimate secrets, huh. No way I'd pry after that.
"Any marts around? I need some decent clothes."
"…It's a bit far, but come with me. Soo-jung-ah, you?"
Lee Soo-jung gave a small nod at Yoo Chae-eun's words.
Stepping outside, we spotted the parked car.
"Seojun-ssi, hop in!"
Her voice carried a hint of excitement and playfulness. Lee Soo-jung claimed shotgun quick, so I slid into the back.
"Since we're going out, how about the department store? We can help you shop."
Sounds good. Not a bad idea at all.
"Sure, let's do that."
Yoo Chae-eun pressed the pedal, and the scenery shifting past the windows began to change.
After arriving at the department store and stepping out, a chill wind nipped at us. Not cold, exactly, but without my usual robe, it felt oddly exposed.
"Oh, and thanks for calling my mom for me."
"Huh? Oh! No big deal. I figured she'd worry."
Yoo Chae-eun grinned sheepishly. In her white short-sleeved tee and loose dress, she radiated a fresh vibe that suited her perfectly.
"…How about we check out clothes first?"
Lee Soo-jung, in short jeans and a shirt, shook out her red hair as she urged us on.
"Welcome! Looking for anything specific?"
"…Not really. We'll just browse."
Entering the men's section, a polite sales associate greeted us. Lee Soo-jung's vague reply shut down any further help.
"…Huh?"
Lee Soo-jung tugged my collar from the left, guiding me. Yoo Chae-eun lightly gripped my arm from the right.
"…Sorry, my shoes are uncomfortable."
"No worries."
Not super high heels, but no need to apologize. If anything, I was grateful. They were putting in real effort to pick stuff for me. How sweet and cute was that?
"…How's this? It'd suit you."
Lee Soo-jung pointed to a navy knit. Clean design, nice fabric.
She grabbed a pair of black slacks too.
"Looks good."
Should I buy it? A long-suppressed urge to shop bubbled up.
"Seojun-ssi, what about this?"
Yoo Chae-eun held a china-collar shirt. Plain white, but it'd make my neck look longer—solid pick.
"Nice."
"Then we'll get this."
They scanned with eagle eyes, grabbing this and that. Were they planning to buy it all? But seeing their shining enthusiasm made it hard to say no. With my hefty salary, it wasn't a burden anyway.
Sporty hoodies, light-wash jeans, neat chinos— the basket piled up.
"Can't you try them on now?"
"…You hate it?"
Expectant faces on both sides. Fine. My old clothes felt gross anyway, so I agreed to change.
They'd nailed the sizes—no tailoring needed.
"Not great?"
Stepping out in them felt awkward and embarrassing. Their stares without much reaction made it worse.
"Whoa, wow! It suits you so well."
"…Hmph. Think that'll win me over?"
Only after prodding did they snap out of it with compliments. Had I been too eager? Their reluctant replies felt off. Reactions, man.
Still, if it didn't suit, they'd say so. It was their picks, after all.
"Not bad like this, right?"
The mirror showed a clean, put-together look. Approaching the cashier to pay, I got a surprise.
"The ladies already settled it while you changed. Please come again."
Glancing back, they averted their eyes guiltily. Holding the bags in both hands, I said,
"I'll wear them well. Dinner's on me, then."
Yoo Chae-eun's face lit up. Lee Soo-jung nodded slightly. Both seemed pleased.
As we walked the department store halls, a familiar female voice called out.
"Whoa! Oppa!!!"
Her hat and mask threw me off at first, but the voice and long black hair gave it away—Jeong Ye-na.
The tight black leggings clinging to her made it oddly embarrassing to look at. She never wore stuff like that in my past life.
Why the change?
"Ye-na?!"
"Oh, oppa's shopping too? I texted, did you miss it? Ah! Hi."
Jeong Ye-na shot a playful glare before bowing. Yoo Chae-eun's brow twitched. Lee Soo-jung tensed, her expression hardening.
"Whoa, the mask almost fooled me. Left my phone at the dorm, so yeah. Chae-eun-ssi probably knows her. Jeong Ye-na—the ice mage from the raid dungeon."
"Haha, not sure if I stood out. And you're Lee Soo-jung Hunter-nim, right?"
Come to think of it, Yoo Chae-eun and Jeong Ye-na had both visited my place once. Their vibe had seemed friendly then. Good.
"…Hi."
Lee Soo-jung's reply was curt, reluctant. Fire mage and ice mage—natural rivals, maybe.
"Oppa, shopping?"
Not long back from the raid, and she brimmed with energy. Youth?
"Yeah. They're helping, so dinner together."
"Really? Lucky. I'm still hungry too…."
Tough call. We had plans already. Adding someone last-minute felt rude.
"It's fine, right? She's Seojun-ssi's acquaintance. I know her a bit. Soo-jung-ah?"
"Whatever, I don't mind."
Couldn't say no after that. Guess the women hunters got along great. Jeong Ye-na beamed.
Heading to the food court level, a tempting Italian spot caught our eye. Pizza and pasta ordered, we sat at a round table—Yoo Chae-eun and Lee Soo-jung on either side, Jeong Ye-na across.
While waiting, Jeong Ye-na showered Yoo Chae-eun with compliments. What did she eat to be so pretty? She could be an idol, not a hunter. Insane charisma.
"Whoa, unnie—your eyes are especially gorgeous. Mind sharing where you got them done?"
"…What?"
Yoo Chae-eun's brow furrowed. Lee Soo-jung jumped in quick. Jeong Ye-na's youth meant zero tact, huh.
"Heh, Chae-eun's all natural."
"Oh, really? Jealous. Oppa, isn't Chae-eun unnie super pretty?"
I nodded, gazing at Yoo Chae-eun. Her stiff face relaxed into a smile. Pretty, yeah. Fair skin, delicate features, subtle makeup that suited her better now, and a nice scent up close.
"Lee Soo-jung Hunter-nim—no, can I call you unnie?"
"…No. I'm not your unnie."
The mood chilled fast. Lee Soo-jung could be prickly, but she had a warm heart.
"Ye-na-ya, Soo-jung's a tsundere, that's all. Don't take it to heart."
Our youngest—would she really get hurt over this? But Jeong Ye-na laughed it off easily.
"Pfft, no hurt feelings! I wanna get along with Soo-jung unnie."
Right on cue, the server brought the food. Mouthwatering pizza and pasta hit the table.
"Oppa, arms out."
I stretched my arms forward like her. Across from me, Jeong Ye-na's fingers tugged at my sleeve, slowly rolling it up.
"Can't get sauce on the new clothes."
She grinned cheekily. A bit embarrassing. Not unwelcome, though. Made my heart feel all fuzzy.
Lee Soo-jung eyed her twirly pasta with clear discomfort. Yoo Chae-eun, catching it, said,
"Ah, Soo-jung-ah, you need a tie, right?"
Lee Soo-jung snatched the hair tie and bit it in her teeth, lifting both arms. Her exposed white nape let a few red strands drift down softly.
Practical to keep sauce off her hair, but eyes couldn't help drifting there.
"…Tch."
Jeong Ye-na's soft tongue-click. Looking up, she smiled innocently. Imagination?
Yoo Chae-eun suddenly kneaded my forearm.
Why this all of a sudden?
"Seojun-ssi, your body's in great shape. You didn't sneak workouts with Pildu-oppa, did you?"
"No. Khm. Why keep touching?"
"Then you touch me."
"…No, I'm good."
Sudden acceleration. No clue what got into her. Draining my energy. Suddenly wanted to head home.