Tattooed Uncles and Pizza Dreams
Two men who had looked so vicious amid the food waste were now arm-in-arm like old pals. They'd seemed ready to lunge at each other any second, so it was utterly bewildering. Had I misjudged them based on their appearances? Cautiously, I looked up at them and asked, "Are you... friends...?"
"Yeah. Our buddy here."
"Practically shared life and death together."
Heh heh heh. Their laughter sounded utterly harmless. Glancing around, I saw the two groups I'd mistaken for brawlers now mingling and laughing together. Looks like I'd judged them by their looks after all.
"Sorry... I thought you were fighting... I figured it was super dangerous..."
"Ha, hahaha, no way. We never fight."
"Exactly, we're tight like that."
The two men grinned amiably. Knowing they were safe folks made my tail swish back and forth happily.
"So, what are you kids doing in an alley like this?"
"Adventuring with Levi Nas and King!"
Levi Nas peeked her face out from my embrace, clinging to me like a cicada. She didn't seem to hate being held, at least.
"Adventuring?"
"Yeah! Levi Nas is super brave!"
"Whoa, that's impressive!"
Clap clap clap— The guy with his arm around the other's shoulder approached us. The carp tattoo on his thick forearm kept drawing my eye.
"Kids, this alley's too dangerous."
"D-dangerous...?"
"Yeah. Sure, the uncles around here are all nice guys, but the others? Not so much. This alley's full of shady types."
"Ah..."
No wonder the alley felt so dark and creepy. It really was dangerous. I hurriedly glanced back the way we'd come—a maze of twists and turns, and I couldn't remember the exit.
"Um... I don't know the way out... what do we do...?"
"Lost?"
"Yeah. Levi Nas and I were adventuring to the department store, but we got lost."
"That so? Want the uncles to take you there?"
Escort us? Han Yeoreum had drilled into me a hundred times not to follow strangers. This would be terrible for Levi Nas's education. But I had no idea how to get out, and these guys weren't dangerous. No choice but to accept the help.
"I'd be so grateful if you did... but wouldn't it be too much trouble...?"
Squirming my fingers guiltily, I looked up at the carp-tattoo guy.
"Heh heh, trouble? Nah. Us uncles love a good adventure too."
"Really...?"
"Of course."
The dragon-tattoo guy scooped Levi Nas up with a grin. She flailed her limbs in midair.
"Eek!"
"Huh...?"
Why Levi Nas all of a sudden? Staring up at him in surprise, he just gave her a piggyback ride.
"Whoa! Levi Nas got taller!"
Happy with her elevated view, she rocked back and forth, peering around. Relieved she wasn't scared, that's when someone hoisted me up from behind. The guy gave me a piggyback too, just like Levi Nas.
"Ready to go?"
"Y-yeah."
Piggyback at my age? My face burned with embarrassment as dozens of rough-looking men fell in behind us. They might look intimidating, but I knew they were good people now. All I could feel was gratitude for their help.
**
We arrived at the department store like that. Passersby gawked in shock and cleared a path.
"Why are those kids...?"
"...Gotta report to the guild."
"Nah, they'll be fine. Those guys never touch civilians."
"R-really? Come to think of it, the kids look happy..."
Misunderstood because of their fierce looks? Such kind, good people. Looking down sadly at my piggyback uncle, he set me gently on the ground.
"Here ya go, arrived."
"Th-thank you."
I bowed deeply to our helpers. We never could've made it from that dangerous alley to safety without them.
"Play hard, but get home before sunset, got it? And never go into that alley again."
"Yes. I'll head home before sunset."
Even giving us well-wishes—they really were wonderful. Waving goodbye, Levi Nas hopped down beside me.
"Carp Uncle, no fighting with your friends—stay on good terms!"
"Y-yeah... no fights today..."
The carp-tattoo guy scratched his head and glanced at the guy next to him. They shrugged, sighed deeply, and headed back the way they'd come.
"King, Carp Uncle's a really good guy."
"Yeah."
"And Dragon Uncle too."
"Y-yeah..."
There was a dragon tattoo guy too? Feeling how accepting this world was of tattoos, I headed inside the department store.
"King, can we go to the basement?!"
"Basement? That's the parking lot."
"Yeah! It's dark and scary, but tons of cars—super fun!"
"Ah..."
To Levi Nas, the parking lot must feel like an exciting adventure spot. Made sense for a kid. Today was for playing with her, so I'd go along.
"But dodge cars if they come, okay?"
"Yeah! Levi Nas is great at dodging!"
True, as a beastkin, she'd sense slow-approaching cars fine. A bit worried, but I'd trust her. We headed to the parking lot.
"Hyah!"
Levi Nas swung a stick as she darted between parked cars. Her beastkin reflexes kept it from touching anything.
"King, smell something weird?"
"Yeah. Weird smell."
In the farthest corner of the lot. A familiar, unpleasant odor wafted out. Levi Nas and I bolted toward it in sync.
"Ah..."
Food waste. A storage spot for the department store's scraps. The stench should've wrinkled my nose, but it wasn't so bad.
This is...
Sniffing curiously, I realized my enhanced sense of smell made the stink less overwhelming. As a human, smells blended into one nasty hit, but now I could separate them out. The specific food waste reek stood apart.
That's amazing.
Enhancing smell more might be useful. No manager around—maybe practice a bit?
I checked my surroundings, confirmed no one, and approached the bin.
**
Buffets produced mountains of food waste to match their mountains of food. And dealing with it fell to the part-timers.
Min Chae-won, part-timer at the department store buffet, wheeled a handcart loaded with bins toward the basement.
Ugh, the smell.
Always horrific down here. Better swap 'em quick and head up. Rushing into the waste area, Min Chae-won froze at the shocking sight.
Two young beastkin kids peering into a food waste bin.
"King, pizza in there!"
"Yeah, someone must've tossed half-eaten pizza."
"Whoa...! Throwing away pizza is insane..."
"Yeah. Pizza's a once-in-a-lifetime thing..."
Once-in-a-lifetime? Their tone and stares made it seem like they'd dig right in. The shock was so great, she even forgot the bin's stench.
Definitely those Yeomyeong Guild kids...
She'd heard rumors, but they really got no financial support. Min Chae-won could only stand there, staring.
"King, Levi Nas hungry! Can't eat this, right?!"
"Yeah. You'd get sick."
"Then what do we buy?!"
"Yeah, since we're out, let's get something."
Winter and Levi Nas both pulled out their coin purses. Dumping them into their palms, they looked like twins.
"Levi Nas has two thousand won!"
"I've got six thousand."
"Whoa! Rich! What can we buy with this?!"
"Dunno...? Pooled, maybe one thing..."
What to get? Winter pondered, and Levi Nas tugged her clothes.
"One? Only one?"
"Yeah, just one. I'll chip in more—you eat it. I'm not that hungry anyway."
Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. The quiet space carried it right to Min Chae-won.
"Hng... Levi Nas doesn't wanna eat yummy stuff alone..."
"I-it's okay... sorry I don't have more money..."
"No, Levi Nas's fault for not collecting enough bottles. If Levi Nas hadn't played and gathered more, we could've eaten something good..."
"N-no, you're still little—you should play more."
Winter waved her hands frantically. Min Chae-won forgot her dirty hands and clapped one over her gaping mouth.
Levi Nas is still little? She talked like she was the adult. To Min Chae-won, they both looked like innocent kids who should be running around carefree.
"Oh my god."
Kids talking hunger while eyeing trash. No money for food, just staring endlessly at scraps. The horrifying conversation left Min Chae-won dizzy.