Shopping Mall (2): Goblin Debut and Brotherly Doubts
“What the hell... No, why are you shirtless...! Huh?”
Jeong-hwa whipped around, her eyes widening at the sight of me without a top at first, but then she spotted Brina beside me and stumbled back in shock.
“A g-goblin...? How, outside a dungeon? But it doesn't even look like a goblin... its face...? Huh?”
Thankfully, she didn't scream, but she was clearly freaked out. I quickly explained Brina and my ability to her.
“Surprised, right? She's not a dungeon monster—she's a high goblin named Brina, summoned with my unique ability, Monster Summoner. Brina, say hi. This is An Jeong-hwa, my party member.”
“I am Brina... your master's—no, your summoner's loyal servant.”
Brina introduced herself smoothly. Jeong-hwa froze for a moment, as if she couldn't process it, then snapped out of it with a deep sigh.
“Haa, so this is your unique ability? That S-rank one you didn't mention when we were drinking last time?”
“Yeah. I recently got a summon through it, but as you can see, she didn't come with clothes, so I lent her mine for now. But it doesn't fit right, so I figured we need proper ones...”
“Then why didn't you just say that from the start instead of making things so complicated?!”
“Uh, yeah... good point?”
Jeong-hwa pinched the bridge of her nose like her head hurt, sighed again, and shot me a glare.
“Haa, you know you have this habit of phrasing things weirdly that makes people misunderstand, right, Yeoul oppa?”
“Sorry...”
I'd tried to muddle through with a half-assed lie, so I apologized honestly.
“I seriously thought at first you were some pervert using me to buy women's clothes for your hobby.”
“No, that's a bit...”
“No. It was totally understandable.”
Jeong-hwa wasn't really mad; she calmed down quick and asked,
“Anyway, you're here to buy clothes for your summon, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Hold on a sec.”
She came back with a few items: one shirt for me and a long coat that'd cover Brina's small frame completely.
“I grabbed some basics in a rush. Yeoul oppa, put this on. Brina, right? Have her wear this for now.”
“Got it.”
I slipped on the shirt she handed me and reached for the coat to dress Brina, but Jeong-hwa stared at me like I was an idiot.
“No coat?”
“...? What're you talking about? Why would you take the coat when Brina's the one getting dressed?”
“...To dress Brina?”
“No way! She's obviously a girl—summon or not, why would you change her clothes?! Step back, hurry!”
“Ah, no. It's just a summon...”
“Go! Or at least turn around!”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Her tone was sharp as a knife, so I spun around fast. Meanwhile, Brina called out uncertainly.
“Master?”
“Just listen to Jeong-hwa for now.”
“...Understood.”
There wasn't much I could do here anyway. Better to play nice and avoid more misunderstandings.
“Okay, you can turn around now.”
When I did, Brina stood there awkwardly, decked out in a mask, a cap pulled low, and sunglasses on top of the coat.
“My vision's all dark, Master.”
“Bear with it just a bit longer.”
She whined a little—it all looked uncomfortable—but I soothed her and asked Jeong-hwa,
“Why the full disguise?”
“Why do you think? You came to buy Brina clothes, right? She should try them on and pick herself. Sure, she looks suspicious, but no one's gonna peg her for a goblin like this.”
“Makes sense. What do you think, Brina?”
I asked since it was her clothes we were choosing.
“If I can pick them myself, I would love to.”
Goblin onahole or not, she was still a girl at heart? Even through the sunglasses, I could feel her eyes sparkle at the idea of shopping for what she wanted.
“Just in case, take this too.”
“What's this? A summon tag?”
“Yeah, got it when I registered Brina as a summon. If anyone suspects she's a goblin, flash this. Proof she's a summon should smooth things over.”
I handed over the summon tag and a card.
“Pay for whatever Brina picks with this. And grab a few things for yourself as thanks for helping.”
“For real?”
“...Nothing too pricey, okay?”
“Duh, of course. We'll be back.”
“We'll return shortly, Master.”
Jeong-hwa took the card, grinning ear to ear, grabbed Brina's hand, and headed into the store. Then she paused, remembering something.
“Oh, right—Yeoul oppa, can you watch Jeong-hu while I help Brina shop?”
“Sure.”
While they shopped, I'd hang with Jeong-hwa's little brother at a nearby café.
Awkward...
Squeeeak—
I explained the situation to Jeong-hu, who'd been waiting alone. He nodded and we ended up at a café on the first floor of the mall, but with the age gap and being strangers, I had no clue what to say to break the ice. Jeong-hu seemed just as uncomfortable, silently sipping his iced Americano while glued to his smartphone.
Couldn't just sit in silence the whole time, so I was about to speak up when he beat me to it.
“Why're you so nice to my sister?”
It wasn't exactly friendly chit-chat—there was an edge to it.
“What do you mean?”
“You just met her, right? So why treat her so well? What's your angle with her?”
Jeong-hu dropped the shy vibe he had around Jeong-hwa and went full aggressive, grilling me. He'd heard about me from her, but as her little brother, he clearly saw me as shady.
“Angle? Didn't she tell you? She's got talent, so I'm just supporting her.”
At first, yeah, I only dragged her along to fill my 10th-grade dungeon quota with someone obedient. But after seeing her skills, I genuinely thought she'd be useful even in the Tower.
Jeong-hu wasn't buying it, shaking his head firmly.
“Liar. 'Just' is code for hiding your real motive. Being a hunter's a lie too, right?”
Why was this middle-school kid so full of distrust? A memory flashed—Jeong-hwa drunk, rambling.
Does he think I'm some cultist targeting her?
I didn't know their family details, but both parents were deep into some shady cult, donating every penny they could scrape together.
First things first: clear up his misunderstanding.
“You're getting the wrong idea. I'm no cultist—real hunter here. Check it.”
“6th-grade?!”
I showed him my hunter license, freshly updated to 6th-grade yesterday. The suspicion in his eyes faded a bit.
Still not fully convinced, I pressed on, frustrated.
“Look, if I were a real cultist, why hang with a broke family? I'd target rich folks, not grind dungeons teaching your sister.”
“You never know. Maybe wait till she makes bank, then squeeze her dry...”
“How? We're just party members—nothing else. And as a 6th-grader, why invest in a newbie 10th-grader for cash? I'd make way more solo in that time.”
That seemed to click. He dropped the suspicion and asked cautiously,
“So... you're really not with a cult?”
“Absolutely not.”
Finally convinced I wasn't some scammer, he relaxed and apologized.
“Sorry, hyung. Cults have been everywhere lately. Sis started bringing home money and gushing about you, so I got worried. Really sorry.”
“No worries—I was curious anyway. She mentioned it vaguely, but how bad were they?”
“She told you that much?”
Hearing she'd shared even that made him trust me fully.
“Guess she really trusts you, hyung. She's never told anyone about our family before.”
“If you're cool with it, mind filling me in? I might be able to help.”
He hesitated, then spoke slowly.
“You swear not to tell?”
“Not even Jeong-hwa?”
“She finds out I told you, I'm dead.”
“Lips sealed.”
“Haa, it started when our parents brought home this woman we'd never seen...”