Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Hayang Got New Shoes!
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Before I could even exercise my right to refuse...
I was basically dragged by Choi Geonwoo to a shoe store not far from the guild headquarters.
"Welcome!"
"Whoa..."
The moment we stepped inside, a gasp of admiration escaped my lips.
To me, shoes had always been those rough-looking ones my grandma occasionally bought from the market.
Stuff with no brand name I recognized and barely any cushioning.
But this place was different.
It was packed with all sorts of brands I'd never even heard of.
People were sitting in plush chairs, trying on shoes one by one.
'Did we come here to buy shoes?'
I tilted my head, watching Choi Geonwoo scan the surroundings with his usual blank expression.
Of course, the only reason to come to a shoe store would be to buy shoes.
But something about the calm way he examined the displayed shoes felt off.
Normally, someone shopping for new clothes or shoes would have a more excited glint in their eyes.
"Um... Guild Master...?"
I stepped away from Jeong Yujin for a moment and cautiously approached Choi Geonwoo.
To ask why he'd brought me here.
His emotionless gaze snapped toward me.
He muttered with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Guild Master is what guild members call me."
"Eek?! S-Sorry...!"
"...I wasn't telling you to apologize."
Wait, that wasn't it?
I was sure he'd snap something like, 'You think you can just tag along on a gate raid like you're part of Titan Guild?'
"Should I call you Mr. Geonwoo, then?"
"Call me like a kid would. What's with the 'mister'?"
"Wh-What's a 'kid-like' way...?"
As I mumbled in a cowering voice,
Choi Geonwoo sighed deeply and covered his face with his hand.
"Call me Uncle. You're twelve, right? That's a solid thirty-year gap—perfect."
"Uncle? Even so, that feels too rude..."
"Kids don't worry about that stuff. Just say it."
It was so pushy.
But for some reason, it didn't feel uncomfortable.
If anything, there was a strange sense of consideration, so I hesitantly tried the title.
"U-Uncle...?"
"Yeah, sounds good. You can call Jeong Yujin 'Aunt Yujin' from now on too."
Choi Geonwoo nodded toward Jeong Yujin, who was standing off at a distance.
Jeong Yujin, who'd been quietly listening, suddenly started flailing wildly.
"Hold on, Master! I'm not even in my thirties yet—what's with 'aunt'? I want her to call me sis!"
"Sure, whatever. But she doesn't seem keen on calling you that."
"No way! It's just 'cause we're not close yet. Once we are, she'll call me sis for sure! Right, Hayang?"
"Ack...?!"
Call her sis?!
Even if..., that's a bit much!
Uncle or aunt works fine regardless of gender.
But sis feels... off-putting.
"N-No way!"
"What...?!"
"Heh, she says no."
"No way..."
I squeezed my eyes shut and invoked my veto power.
Jeong Yujin collapsed dramatically on the spot, while Choi Geonwoo let out his first chuckle.
Ugh, sorry, but I can't help it.
Sis just doesn't fit, you know?
That said, calling her aunt might not go over well either.
She seems to hate that one.
Best to stick with Miss Yujin for now.
"So, why?"
"Huh?"
"You called me just now. Got something to ask?"
"Oh...!"
Right. I forgot about that.
This isn't the time to be sorting out nicknames!
"Well, I was wondering why you brought me here. If you're shopping for shoes, Guild Mas—U-Uncle, I could've stayed behind..."
"Why would I buy shoes? I've got tons at home."
"Huh? Then why...?"
No way, is this just a stroll?
Do rich people call popping into a shoe store to glance at new arrivals and leave a 'walk'?
"We're here to buy your shoes. Pick whatever."
"Huh? My shoes...?!"
"Yeah. Those look pretty worn out. You planning to raid a gate in them?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Well, they're my only pair.
Of course I'd wear them.
Guess they bugged Choi Geonwoo, though.
Makes sense. Titan Guild is the country's second-best.
If some kid shows up to a raid party in ratty old shoes, it might tarnish the guild's rep.
That's the reason, huh?
Got it.
"Price doesn't matter. Pick what you like best. Call a staff member and try them on comfortably."
"These I'm wearing now are comfy enough..."
"They're making me uncomfortable."
"Ugh, okay..."
Looks like he's not backing down.
With no choice, I waddled over to the displays like a penguin.
Even looking again, there are so many kinds.
Different colors, subtle design variations.
"Hayang, let sis help—Guh?!"
"You stay put. Don't overwhelm the kid."
"Wh-When did I overwhelm her...!"
Things got noisy behind me.
I ignored it and focused on the shoes in front of me.
Too many options—hard to choose.
My current size probably rules out men's shoes.
Women's section it is.
Good, not all women's shoes are super frilly.
"Oh..."
My eyes sparkled as I browsed.
A soft exclamation slipped out.
Like I was mesmerized, I reached out and picked up a shoe.
A pale pink one mixed with white—design hit my taste perfectly.
Real men wear pink! Yup!
People who say pink is for girls don't get it!
Even Grandma said, 'Pink suits Hayang so well.'
'Should I try it on?'
Nothing else caught my eye.
Just as I was about to call a staff member like Choi Geonwoo suggested...
[209,000]
"...?!"
I tore my eyes from the shoe, and that's when I spotted the price tag under the pedestal.
I gulped.
Wh-What?!
Ten thousand..., twenty?!
Two hundred thousand won?!
For one pair of shoes?!
Did they plate them in gold or something?
With that, I could buy so many chocolate lattes!
'No can do.'
Yeah, conscience says put it back.
Sure, Choi Geonwoo must be loaded beyond my imagination.
And he's buying them out of goodwill.
But it's just to keep me from embarrassing the raid team.
Any new pair will do fine.
No one's gonna see new shoes and go, 'Wow, cheap ones. Raid team's standards are that low?'
'Ah, these are cheap.'
Pretending to browse others, I wandered the displays.
Then I spotted a rack swarming with shoes under a 'Bomb Sale!' sign.
Compared to the pricey ones from before,
the designs and finishes looked a tad lacking.
But to me, even these were a luxury.
'Cheapest one, cheapest...'
Ah, here.
Twenty-five thousand won.
Still pricey by my standards, but nothing cheaper.
"Um..."
I was looking around for a staff member to check the size when...
"I'll help you try them on."
"Yes? Oh, thank you."
A staff member popped up out of nowhere holding a large box.
I was startled for a sec, but figured it was an extra pair of the one I was holding.
Wow, super efficient.
Admiring that, I sat in the plush chair and dangled my legs as instructed...
"I brought size 205 first. Try them on, and let me know if they're uncomfortable?"
"Sure, huh?"
The box opened, and my eyes went wide.
Wait.
Isn't that the one I just put back?
Why's it in there?
"Um, I think you brought the wrong shoes. The ones I wanted to try are these..."
I frantically pointed at the sale shoe in my hand.
But the staff smiled serenely and slipped off my current shoe by hand.
"Oh, really? Still, since I brought them, why not try them on to check the size?"
"Ah, size check..."
If it's for sizing, no choice.
Try these, and if they fit, get the sale ones in the same size.
She even tied the laces for me,
so I hopped up from the seat.
"How do they feel? Size and comfort okay?"
"Yes! They feel amazing!"
It was so light, like I wasn't wearing any, with super cushy padding.
Experiencing comfy shoes for the first time, I sparkled back at her.
Wow, not just pretty—insanely comfortable too.
Wanna buy ones like this next time.
But today, gotta take them off...
"Thank you for your purchase. Would you like to wear them out?"
"...Huh?"
I was fumbling awkwardly with the laces to untie them.
When she dropped that baffling line.
Purchase? What?
I haven't bought any shoes?
Was this a hard sell?!
Try 'em on and you're forced to buy?!
"Hayang, time for food now. Master booked a yummy lunch spot?"
Jeong Yujin approached with an innocent smile amid my panic.
"W-Wait a sec. I wanted different shoes..."
"Oh, really? Sorry. But it's already paid for. Don't like them? Want to exchange?"
"No, I like them. But..."
They're expensive...
I kept fidgeting my feet, unsure if I could really wear them.
Even in this mess, my feet cluelessly seemed to shout,
'Ahh, pricey shoes rock!'
"If you like them, great. They suit you perfectly. Totally Hayang's style?"
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, super cute. Your feet are small, so the pink makes you look even more dainty and adorable?"
Ugh, 'cute' is kinda...,
but Jeong Yujin just wants to compliment me.
I nodded with effort.
"What're you doing? Let's go."
"Master, how's it look? Doesn't our Hayang rock these shoes?"
"Pretty."
Choi Geonwoo, who'd been staring down at me, tossed out the word.
I bowed deeply in thanks.
"Thank you. I'll take good care of them."
"Babying them defeats the purpose. Wear 'em hard. And..."
Suddenly, he placed a hand on my head.
A hand so huge it could've been a pot lid.
It completely blocked my view for a moment.
"...Kids should act like kids. Hunter or whatever."
"...? Okay."
I had no clue what he meant.
But his gaze on me felt a tad softer than before.