The Convenience Store Pursuit and Archwitch's Nap

Jeon Jin and Experience—Kim Min-seok, a 22-year-old guy. He was your average college student working the evening shift at an SU convenience store. It was almost time to hand off to the night shift worker, so he was itching to get home.

The night shift guy, who had become like a friend, was approaching the door. Same age, same gender, both single—they had tons in common and hit it off quickly. They'd chat a bit during shift changes, offering each other words of encouragement. Today was no different; as the guy pushed through the door, they exchanged their usual light greeting and dove into shop talk.

"Hey."

"Yo. Lots of assholes today?"

"Ugh, don't even ask. Some dude chugging booze inside, kids ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scarfing down ramen and ditching the mess without cleaning up. Same crap every time."

"Heh. This place does attract more than its share."

Kim Min-seok grumbled about the pains in the ass he'd dealt with that afternoon.

"Haa... Almost got enough saved up. Gonna quit after this month anyway."

"Kuk. Yeah. Night shift's not bad—drunks aside, barely anyone shows up."

"Sounds good. Anyway, I'm out."

Min-seok grabbed his stuff and stepped away from the register. Glancing toward the door to leave, he spotted a woman heading their way.

Her silver hair stood out especially under the night sky, her amethyst eyes gleaming like jewels in the moonlight, radiating an inexplicable mystique. Even buried in an oversized hoodie, her curvaceous figure was impossible to hide—it drew the eye instantly.

"...Dude, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠maybe I should save up more cash, just in case?"

"What're you—hup."

Ding-a-ling—

She stepped inside, but they just stood there, frozen, eyes glued to her. Min-seok ended up blocking her path.

"...Excuse me. Move?"

Her voice was calm and soft, flowing like melody into their ears. Just hearing it soothed the mind, melting tension away.

"Hello? What're you doing?"

She looked a bit annoyed now as she addressed Min-seok. Snapping out of it, he finally stepped aside and headed back to the register.

"...S-Sorry! You're just so pretty..."

She let out a small sigh and brushed past him into the store. Min-seok, still dazed, chatted with the night shift guy who'd already taken over.

"...Dude, I've never seen anyone that gorgeous."

"Gorgeous, yeah, but isn't she a magician? Mask and all."

"Nah. With those eyes and nose, her lower face has gotta be perfect too... Should I ask for her number?"

"Kuk. Number? You think a girl like that is single? Even if she is, not with you."

Right then, she approached with three packs of five instant noodle bundles each. They cut their convo short, faces stiffening as they rang her up.

"12,000 won. Need a bag?"

"Yes. Here, card. Ring me up."

She handed over her card. As the transaction cleared and she turned to leave, Min-seok stopped her.

"Um... excuse me, do you have a boyfriend?"

She tilted her head slightly, gazing at him. Her stunning purple eyes met his, and Min-seok's face flushed hot.

.

.

"Um... excuse me, do you have a boyfriend?"

Boyfriend? Oh, right—I'm a girl now. A super pretty one, at that. I held the bag of instant noodles and stared him down quietly. His ears turning red was kinda funny.

But no way could I, a guy at heart, date another dude.

"No, I don't."

His face lit up at my answer, and he started leaning in to chat more. I'd have made a move on a girl like this too, back in the day.

But mentally, I'm still a guy.

"Sorry."

With that, I left the store. Thinking I'd turned him down pretty smoothly, I headed home—only for him to chase after.

"W-Wait! At least hear me out...!"

He grabbed my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arm from behind. Irritation flared instantly; I whipped around and glared daggers at him. My purple eyes blazed, an inexplicable pressure crashing over him.

His face drained white in seconds, hand trembling on my arm as his gaze dropped to the floor.

'...Ah.'

One of my skills... Threat, right? Seems it activates automatically when I infuse my will.

He looked a bit pitiful, shaking and rigid like that. But he blocked my path right off the bat, so whatever.

"...Sorry. But I said no. Why chase me?"

"H-Hic... S-Sorry..."

I sighed deeply and slowly pulled away, heading home.

...His pants looked a little wet when I last glanced back. Nah, probably not. If it was, I gotta hold back on Threat. Not sure if I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can control it since it's not fully willful...

.

.

Back home, I stripped off the baggy hoodie and changed into pajamas. Oddly, the instant noodles I'd planned to eat right away didn't appeal anymore. Shaking my head, I ditched the PJs too and headed to the bathroom.

A flawless, pale naked woman stared back from the mirror. This body was starting to feel familiar now. The first time, I'd blushed on sight, but people adapt.

I had no clue why this happened, but I'd mostly adjusted. Washing up took over 20 minutes as usual; then I threw on clothes and opened Messenger.

They were chattering away as noisily as ever. Plenty already in the low 20s. No falling behind—I fired up Lost World.

That night, I hit level 26 and logged off at 2 a.m.

.

.

Before bed, curiosity about streaming got the better of me, so I opened Twitty. Top of the feed: a familiar name. Sareah was live.

Since I'd be on stream soon, might as well check the vibe. I watched till I dozed off.

After a 15-second ad, Sareah's Lost World stream appeared. Cranking the volume, her voice hit immediately—my name.

.

.

"Ah, I'll be collabing soon with those raid members you guys have been dying for."

Chat exploded from 8,000 viewers.

Similar reactions flooded in, my name popping up more.

"Haha, Noel-nim's joining too. Said she'd turn on her mic..."

Chat went wild after that.

"Noel-nim's a guy. Okay, calm down, folks."

"...I'm a girl, though."

The deepening misunderstanding made my head spin. I shut off the stream and crashed. The weight on my chest bugged me a bit while trying to sleep, but side-lying fixed it.

.

.

The next day, I was grinding Lost World as usual.

Class: Witch

'...'

EXP to my 2nd job change was now just one quest clear away.

"Still... gotta do it."

I finished another quest and hit level 30, unlocking my 2nd job change.

'...Yeah. First one was special, maybe? Things could be different from 2nd change on.'

Clinging to optimism, I arrived at the purple tavern I'd visited before. Screen warped—and I was teleported to the great witch's room.

Asella hadn't noticed me yet; she was sprawled on the sofa, sighing and rolling around.

"Uwaaa... Wanna quit being a great witch..."

'...?'

I stifled a laugh at Asella, stretched out cat-like, one with the sofa. Hearing me, she jolted up, shrouding my view in mysterious purple mist.

Blind debuff hit; I laughed silently. Five seconds later, she stood before me, composed as ever.

"...Oh, you're here? Didn't expect you so soon..."

Acting casual now, I burst out laughing.

"Eeeek... Don't laugh! D-Don't laugh!!!"

Her tantrum shattered any remaining dignity. Just between us, anyway. Puffing cheeks, face beet-red, steam practically rising from her witch hat—it was pretty cute.