Chapter 50: The Event (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50: The Event (3)
I moved with frantic energy, stuffing merchandise into bags one after another.
It had been two hours since the booth opened. In that time, I hadn't had a single second to breathe. I just had to keep moving.
Take the order, pack the items, confirm the payment, and hand it over. It was a constant, grueling repetition.
“Thank you!”
As I handed over the goods and saw the customer off, the next one immediately stepped up.
This is brutal.
I wondered if it was always like this. I glanced around to see if the other booths were struggling, but that wasn't necessarily the case. This spot just happened to be particularly swamped.
Lee Seung-ah was a much bigger celebrity here than I had imagined.
“...Phew.”
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I had long since draped my suit jacket over the back of my chair. I wiped the sweat away with my sleeve.
I used to wonder where Lee Seung-ah got all her money.
She was always ordering delivery and buying whatever clothes she wanted. I guess this was how she earned it. Looking at the growing pile of cash, it all made sense.
I made a mental note to demand a performance bonus later.
“I’m back.”
At the sound of her voice, I turned to see Lee Seung-ah trudging into the booth, sipping a sweet chocolate latte. She had slipped out to eat as soon as lunchtime hit and was only just returning.
“I’ll take over. Go get some lunch.”
“Phew—”
At those words, I stood up instantly.
“...Finally, a break.”
I cracked my neck, and a satisfying pop echoed through the booth. Lee Seung-ah leaned her blue umbrella against the desk and swapped places with me.
“Ah.”
She caught me just as I was about to leave, remembering something.
“The cafeteria is going to be packed. If you go out and cross the street, there’s a convenience store. It probably won't be as crowded there.”
That was a solid tip.
“Got it.”
I left the booth with a light heart. I planned on taking my sweet time coming back.
“......”
Ji Nuri blinked, clutching her guitar case to her chest.
She was facing a camera lens pointed directly at her. To stay in character, she forced a timid, shy smile.
Click— Click—
The shutter snapped several times.
“Thank you!”
The photographer gave a polite bow.
“...”
Ji Nuri smiled silently and bowed back. With that, her turn was finally over.
“Phew...”
Ji Nuri let out a weary breath. The event was fun, but there was no avoiding the physical toll. She had been walking around and posing for photos since morning, and her stamina was completely drained.
She set her guitar case down for a moment and checked the time on her phone.
Wow... it’s already lunchtime. No wonder I’m starving.
It was nearly 12:00 PM. Time was flying.
I should eat first.
She had already snagged the merch she wanted that morning. She figured she could finish the rest of her shopping after lunch.
“Whoa...”
The cafeteria was swarming. Since it was peak lunchtime, everyone had converged on a single spot. Thinking about how much time would be wasted just standing in line...
This isn't going to work.
Ji Nuri turned around, quickly giving up on the cafeteria. The restaurants and convenience stores inside the event hall were predictable; they were bound to be overflowing.
Fortunately, she had a backup plan. Ji Nuri headed toward the convenience store across the street. It wasn't empty, but it was much more relaxed than the alternatives.
Ding-dong~
“Welcome!”
As she stepped inside, she heard the greeting of the part-time worker.
“Hmm...”
She walked toward the back with practiced steps. Ji Nuri crossed her arms, falling into deep thought in front of the display shelves. A convenience store lunch box would be fine, and a cup of ramen wasn't a bad way to settle a meal once in a while. Or maybe she should just grab some kimbap?
Ji Nuri picked out a few items. The moment she turned to head to the counter...
“...?!”
Ji Nuri froze in her tracks. She had spotted someone.
A man was standing about three or four steps away. Those familiar features... it was definitely Lee Seung-ho.
Trot, trot, trot, trot—
Ji Nuri moved instinctively. Searching for a place to hide, she walked away as naturally as possible. She ended up behind a display shelf, right in front of the refrigerators.
...Hic.
She was so startled that a hiccup escaped her.
“Mmph...”
Ji Nuri clamped her hands over her mouth. Hic. Hic. The hiccups wouldn't stop. The only saving grace was that he probably couldn't hear her from this distance.
“......”
Her eyes darted toward where he was standing.
...Why is he here?
Now that she looked closer, Lee Seung-ho was dressed quite unusually. He wore a perfectly fitted suit with a crisp white shirt. His hair was neatly parted, and a blue entry pass hung around his neck.
...Wait, is he cosplaying the Archive Teacher?
Ji Nuri narrowed her eyes, peeking through the gaps in the shelf. Upon closer inspection, it definitely was. There was no doubt about it. Her suspicion quickly turned into certainty.
It was a cosplay.
I knew it... my hunch was right!
Lee Seung-ho. He was 'one of her own'! Cosplaying at a place like this was undeniable proof.
Should I talk to him, or not...
Ji Nuri fell into deep contemplation. Finding someone to talk to about the same hobby was a joyful thing, but this would be her first time "coming out" to someone she knew. She couldn't help but hesitate.
Besides, considering who it was... didn't Lee Seung-ho like her?
He doesn't seem to have noticed me yet...
Ji Nuri was certain Lee Seung-ho hadn't seen her. He was still holding two cups of ramen, looking conflicted over which one to buy. He looked perfectly casual.
Meanwhile, Ji Nuri’s dilemma only deepened.
“...”
Slide—
A few strands of pink hair slid over her shoulder.
“...Ah.”
Ji Nuri was suddenly confronted with her own appearance. She looked straight ahead, catching her reflection in the glass of the refrigerator.
Pink hair and sky-blue eyes. An appearance completely different from her usual self. Her cosplayed form.
...Yeah, let's do this next time!
Her face flushed with embarrassment. Ji Nuri’s heart swung sharply toward escape. Meeting an acquaintance was one thing, but meeting them like this... it was a bit much. She needed more time to prepare herself mentally.
“...”
The decision was made; now came the action. Ji Nuri watched for an opening and moved quickly.
“That will be 9,500 won.”
The part-timer scanned the barcodes leisurely.
Hurry, hurry.
Ji Nuri grew frantic internally and thrust her card forward. She had to get out of here before she was caught.
“Thank you. Come again.”
“...Yeeep.”
As soon as the transaction was done, Ji Nuri grabbed her things and bolted out of the store as if she were escaping a crime scene. Only after she had power-walked a good distance away did she finally stop.
“Phew......”
Ji Nuri let out a sigh of relief. She had somehow escaped the crisis.
...Good. Ji Nuri praised herself for her quick judgment.
...Hic!
— “Hic!”
Watching the girl let out a hiccup at the same time as her Mini-Me, I fell into a brief silence.
...Ji Nuri?
Even though she was in cosplay, she wasn't unrecognizable. It wasn't like there were many girls who looked like that.
Why is she here...
Actually, since it was Ji Nuri, it made perfect sense. I could accept it.
— “He hasn't noticed yet!”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me nodded with a face full of conviction.
“...Uhh.”
I felt like I should at least pretend to be contemplating something. I picked up the two cups of ramen in front of me. Besides, I felt the same way. I wasn't exactly thrilled about meeting an acquaintance while dressed like this, either.
“...”
After waiting a moment, I saw Ji Nuri move in a blur, pay for her food, and disappear out of the convenience store.
“......”
She really was a busy one.
*
When I returned to the booth after eating, the line that had been stretching out earlier had thinned out a bit. It seemed the customers had scattered to find lunch as well. Even so, there was still a queue.
“...Oh, you’re back?”
Lee Seung-ah greeted me with a tired expression. Maybe I should have taken a bit more time.
“What are the orders?”
I crouched down in front of the boxes at the back of the booth.
“Three tapestry sets. One Doki keychain and one of every photo card.”
Muttering Lee Seung-ah’s words to myself, I packed the items into a bag. I was getting used to this now; my efficiency had improved significantly since we started.
“Here.”
I handed the bag to Lee Seung-ah, and she immediately passed it to the customer.
“Thank you!”
Seeing her send off the customer with a bright smile despite her fatigue, I really felt her professional spirit.
“Let’s swap.”
“Ughhh...!”
Lee Seung-ah let out a long stretch as she stood up.
*
The work continued. I was performing the repetitive tasks like a machine when...
“Could I get one of everything you have?”
A bold order came in for the first time in a while. I wondered how much that would all cost. I moved my hands, calculating the price in my head.
Pause—
“...?”
I stopped packing and looked up, feeling a sense of déjà vu. It was a voice I had heard many times before.
...Oh.
I realized who it was. It was Ji Nuri.
She was looking intently at the samples on the booth with an excited face. Fortunately, she didn't seem to have recognized me.
“......”
Pack, pack, pack, pack.
I lowered my head, pretending not to know her, and quickly packed the items. Let’s just get her on her way first and think later.
“Huh?”
Right then, Lee Seung-ah’s eyes went wide. She had been gathering people in front of the booth and now stepped closer.
— “Isn't this Nuri-unni?”
Before I could even try to stop her, Lee Seung-ah called out to her in a confident tone.
“It is! You’re Nuri-unni, right?!”
“?!”
Ji Nuri jumped in surprise and looked at her. Her eyes slowly pivoted. Her gaze locked right with mine across the counter.
“......!”
Her face turned as bright red as a ripe tomato. She immediately covered her face with both hands.
“N-no, I’m not...!”