Financial Therapy, Gourmet Therapy, Beastman Therapy (3)

Resting my chin on my hand, I gazed out the window at the passing Seoul scenery. Dense forests of buildings, people hurrying about, roads jammed with traffic. At first, everything felt fresh because it had been so long since I'd gone out, but that novelty lasted exactly twenty minutes.

'This is getting boring. Maybe I should just look at my phone?'

The view was so familiar that I was already yawning when the taxi slowed and came to a stop at the perfect moment.

"We've arrived, ma'am."

"Ah, yes."

I looked up and checked the meter. The number displayed was one I wouldn't have even considered paying in the past. 'Oh my, the fare came out higher than I expected?'

For an ordinary office worker, that amount would have drawn a shocked gasp, but my eyebrows didn't so much as twitch. If I were the type to tremble over money like this, I wouldn't have risked my life hunting monsters as a hunter in the first place. Who am I? A C-class Awakened healer in Korea—someone every team wants to recruit.

"I'll pay by card~"

I took out my card and handed it to the driver. She glanced between my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠outfit and the card, then gave me a friendly smile as she processed the payment with practiced ease.

"Thank you for your hard work~"

"Yes. Have a good day, ma'am. Enjoy your shopping."

Stepping out of the taxi under the driver's warm send-off, the grand Central Department Store filled my view. The building looked especially massive and sparkling today—probably because my mood was so good.

The main entrance was already packed with shoppers. Whether a sale was on or not, the line of people trying to squeeze through the revolving doors looked like a swarm of ants. 'No way I'm pushing through that crowd and smelling everyone's sweat.'

Without hesitation, I walked past the main doors toward the side of the building. Unlike the bustling entrance, a quiet, slightly more luxurious glass door awaited me.

I pulled out my phone and opened the department store's exclusive app. When I held the QR code on the screen up to the reader by the entrance, the door slid open with a mechanical but pleasant voice.

As if prepared just for me, a private elevator stood waiting on the first floor with its doors wide open.

Click, clack. I enjoyed the sound of my heels echoing across the empty marble floor as I stepped into the elevator. 'Hehe... "Just for me" is a bit of an exaggeration.'

To be honest, this was the treatment given to VIP customers who poured money into the department store... or rather, cash cows. 'I earned this money with my blood, sweat, and tears, so I deserve at least this much financial therapy~'

Ding-dong. With a pleasant chime, the elevator doors opened to either side. What greeted me first was a quiet, comfortable atmosphere that completely blocked out the noise from below. Plush carpet underfoot, soft classical music drifting through the air, and antique decorations placed throughout. It was a peaceful VIP lounge—so serene it was hard to believe we were still inside a bustling department store.

"Mmm~ As expected, this place is nice."

But even this seemingly perfect space had its flaws. Between the antique furniture and cleverly placed on the walls were advertisement boards.

The messages blatantly tempted wealthy Awakeneds to open their wallets. "This is exactly why people mock Awakeneds as modern-day nobles..."

I clicked my tongue and shook my head. Regular citizens might find it jarring, but what could I do? I walked toward the private café tucked inside the lounge, ordered a warm latte from the uniformed part-timer, and plopped down in a secluded corner seat by the window where no one could see me.

The moment I sat, another advertisement board on the table greeted me.

"Wow... they upgrade you to Diamond if you spend more? No thanks."

Maintaining my Emerald tier was already straining my back—Diamond? I casually pushed the board onto the neighboring table with a bored expression. To soothe my slightly unsettled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mood, I looked out the window. Beyond the clear glass, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seoul cityscape stretched out, while countless cars and people scurried like ants below.

I stared blankly at the view while waiting for my coffee, and the word "noble" from earlier floated back into my mind. 'Noble treatment, huh... It's not entirely unpleasant.'

Honestly, the public's sarcasm wasn't entirely wrong. But we modern Awakeneds are different from the nobles of the Joseon era. Those nobles who inherited land from their ancestors and exploited tenant farmers are long gone—devoured as tasty meals by monsters in the 21st century. To be called a noble in this world, you don't need ancestral connections. You have to twist a monster's neck with your own hands.

'What's wrong with getting treated like a lady after risking my life to save people?'

I had no intention of refusing this sweet privilege earned by rolling through ruins covered in blood. 'Yeah. I'm going to enjoy this treatment down to my very bones.'

A life of tiptoeing around others' opinions like in the old days? I'd rather die and come back to life than live like that again.

"Here's your coffee."

The part-timer carefully placed a steaming mug on the table. But the tray didn't just hold coffee—there was also a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plate with an appetizing brown cookie.

"Oh? I didn't order this."

When I asked with wide eyes, the part-timer adjusted the tray and answered shyly, "Ah, yes! This is a new handmade cookie from the lounge. It's a complimentary sample for you to try."

"Wow, really? I always welcome free things~"

They say loving free stuff makes you go bald, but a pretty girl loving free stuff is innocent. I gave my brightest, most innocent smile and clasped my hands together. "Hehe~ It looks delicious~ Thank you, I'll enjoy it."

Whether my harmless eye-smile worked or not, the part-timer blushed slightly, smiled shyly, and hurried back to the counter. As expected, no one spits on a smiling face.

"Well then, shall we properly enjoy some gourmet therapy?"

I elegantly grasped the mug handle and lifted it slowly. The rich coffee aroma that brushed my nose was already extraordinary. Slurp. "Mmm..."

A bitter yet nutty flavor filled my mouth. It was on a completely different level from the instant coffee my teammates and I mixed in paper cups at the association or cheap beans—this was a taste that elegantly awakened the tongue.

Riding that momentum, I picked up the complimentary cookie. One bite brought a crisp sound followed by a moist texture inside, and then the rich sweetness of chocolate spread gently throughout my mouth. "Mmm~ This is why everyone goes on about VIP, VIP~"

The perfect harmony of bitter coffee and sweet cookie lifted my mood without me realizing it. I kicked my legs under the table in rhythm. Right now, I wasn't a hunter putting bullets in monsters' faces—I felt like a girl happy over a sweet snack.

Using the Seoul scenery outside as my side dish, I savored this short but precious gourmet time.

After gently soothing my stomach with the sweet cookie and fragrant coffee and finishing every last drop, I gathered the empty plate and cup onto the tray and stood up. "That was delicious."

I approached the counter, handed the tray to the part-timer, and didn't forget to flash a smile as sweet as the cookie I'd just eaten. After the friendly greeting, I got back into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. "Hmm-hmm~"

A hum escaped me. Most people, after receiving princess treatment in the VIP lounge like this, get so excited they impulsively buy luxury bags or clothes. It's the department store's high-level psychological warfare and sales tactic.

"But I won't fall for such shallow tactics~"

I shook my head while looking at my reflection in the mirror. Honestly, wearing luxury bags or clothes to the association wouldn't do me any good. Higher-ranked B-class or A-class hunters would sneer, "A C-class who doesn't improve her skills but only cares about appearances," and my teammates would stare at me like I'd gone crazy, muttering "Mama's lost it."

To me, luxury goods weren't just extravagance—they were more trouble than they were worth.

Ding-dong. The arrival chime sounded, the elevator doors opened smoothly, and finally the sight I loved most appeared before me. Lipsticks sparkling like jewels under the lights, radiant eyeshadow palettes, and expensive foundations in glass bottles. The high-end cosmetics stores I loved most in the world welcomed me with open arms.

"Yes, this is it. My real luxury is right here."

Expensive bags or clothes would just get torn up in the field, but cosmetics were different. They were tools that seeped into my skin and made my face shine. With an excited heart, I headed toward the first brand store that caught my eye.

A store employee spotted me, looked me up and down, then approached with sparkling eyes. "Welcome, customer! Is there something you're looking for?"

"Hmm... Could I see some new lipsticks? The moisturizing type, please."

"Oh my, with your naturally fair and beautiful skin, this season's colors would be perfect for you! Please have a seat over here."

Following the employee's guidance, I sat at the vanity and tried on the recommended lipsticks, smiling with satisfaction at my reflection in the mirror. "Oh my, the color came out so well. I'll take this one, please."

The shopping that started this way showed no signs of stopping. It wasn't going to end with just one lipstick. My hands moved as if possessed toward other displays. "Customer, this line is limited edition for this season."

"Oh my, the case is so pretty. I'll take this too, and give me all the colors of that one."

Being escorted by department store staff while browsing the store was thrilling. Like a noble lady entering a social ball, I pointed with a single finger and swept products from the displays into my bags.

While stacking up shopping bags, I spotted a beastkin care line displayed on one side of the store, and fluffy ears and tails immediately came to mind. That's right! My cute kids! 'If I only take care of myself, I'll stand out too much compared to them.'

I turned to the employee who was packaging the lipstick. "Excuse me, could you tell me if you have cosmetics for beastkin here?"

"Pardon? For... beastkin?"

The employee widened her eyes in surprise. Apparently, customers who came to the luxury section looking for products for other races instead of their own grooming were rare. But I explained with the most lovable expression, mixing in hand gestures. "Yes~ It's for friends with very fluffy ears and tails."

"Ah..."

"Fur care is more important than skin, and they love intense exercise that makes them sweat buckets. Could you recommend something gentle but good at controlling odor?"

At my detailed explanation, the employee's expression shifted completely into sales mode. "Ah! We have an all-in-one body care line made exclusively for beastkin, perfect as a gift. The scent is very luxurious too. I'll guide you over there."

"Great. Please show me."

As I followed the employee, I mentally calculated. Our newbie Mirae was human with similar skin type, so she could share my expensive cosmetics. But my cute fox, cat, and dog were a different story. To maintain their signature glossy, flowing fur, they needed dedicated premium products—not human ones. That way the kids would be happy, and I'd get to smell something nice too. This was a true mama's duty, wasn't it?

"This one, that one, and the shampoo in large sizes—give me all the varieties."

"Th-thank you, customer! Just a moment, I'll call another employee to help with packaging right away!"

Seeing my dedicated staff increase from one to two, I felt like I'd slightly... no, quite a bit over budget today. '...Well, so what?'

It wasn't for me to wear—it was to give my babies' fur some shine. What did it matter how much it cost? This was exactly why I risked my life to earn money. "Better to have too much than too little. Put everything in."

I took out my card and smiled elegantly.