Convenience Store Expansion (1)
After the storm of customers finally passed, Yoo Hwa-yeon and I sat at the plastic table, catching our breath as we watched the twilight settle over the bamboo forest.
"Whoa, that was brutal. Felt like I was running a convenience store on the Han River!"
"Han River?"
"Yeah, it's a thing."
"Everyone kept saying how delicious it was. Master Chef's cooking really suits everyone's tastes perfectly."
Well, I hadn't cooked it myself, but whatever. Yoo Hwa-yeon gulped down the water from her bowl, then slammed it down with a hearty "Ahh!" It was almost like watching a construction worker chugging makgeolli, martial artist or not.
Considering the crowd today, though? The ramen shelves were nearly wiped out, and the smoked chicken drumsticks were completely gone. If I hadn't restocked midway, I might not have had enough for everyone.
Just today's earnings? Already ten silver ingots. That was 1,000 silver coins, or a million copper coins. Earning a million coppers in a single day? In all my time in the Murim world, this was the first.
"Why'd so many people suddenly show up?"
I was genuinely curious. Was it the Jang siblings' enthusiastic promotion? But that didn't quite add up. Or maybe Gwak Sang-hyeon spread the word? Or Baek Jin-yong?
"Does Master Chef dislike having so many customers?"
"Huh?"
"Innkeepers usually welcome crowds, but you don't seem thrilled."
Not thrilled, huh. Honestly, dealing with people was still a bit tough for me. The fact that they were Murim folk who didn't know me made it bearable—if this many strangers had swarmed me back in the modern world, I'd have woken up in the ER and never returned to my convenience store shift.
So, no, I didn't hate the Murim crowds. It was just... a hassle. The convenience store debt was paid off, so there was no real reason to keep running the place for a living anymore. At first, it was for survival. But after that?
I was mulling that over when a loud beep erupted from the counter.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
It sounded like an alarm. Yoo Hwa-yeon snatched her sword from the table.
"Intruder?"
"Nah, hold on."
I rushed to the counter, figuring the POS might be glitching. But no.
As I approached, the message receipt button was flashing. The beeps were just notifications for an incoming message.
"What's going on, Master Chef?"
"A message."
"What's that?"
"Like a telegram?"
"From who?"
"Let's check."
In this world, only I knew about convenience stores. Who would send me a message? Maybe it wasn't even a person. The POS working without electricity and the fluorescent lights never flickering were dead giveaways.
I swallowed hard and hit the receive button.
[1369-07-20 21:06:22]
Hello! FamilyMart Murim Branch Manager Kim Jung-hyun!
Congratulations on successfully acquiring your convenience store! Here's an exclusive benefit for Murim branches!
Invest your earnings to expand the store's space, increase inventory volume, and add new product types!
A 'Convenience Store Development' button has been added to the POS!
Work hard and build the top convenience store in the Murim world!
Oh ho. The timing was impeccable.
Basically, I could use my earnings to expand the space, upgrade it, or add new items? Unrealistic? That's what made it believable. The POS running at all was equally absurd.
Helping the Jang siblings, hearing Yoo Hwa-yeon's praise, stopping the Black Eagle Gang's deputy leader Gwak Sang-hyeon, witnessing Baek Jin-yong's jackpot, and handling the flood of customers—it all confirmed the potential of running a convenience store in the Murim world.
It was fun, too. No way back home, and even if there was, I'd just be slinging shifts at another store. Better to thrive as a store manager here.
I exited the message and hit the 'Convenience Store Development' button.
The sight that unfolded left me awestruck.
"Whoa."
No contacts in, but there it was—a translucent grid overlay blanketing the entire store interior. Places out of sight were normal until I turned, then they'd fill with the grid too. Curved surfaces warped with it; flat ones stayed flat. Incredible.
I waved my hand in front; it was still visible. Yoo Hwa-yeon eyed me curiously but didn't freak out, so it was just for my eyes.
[Would you like to expand the convenience store?]
Standing at the counter, I looked left—to the front yard where I'd always swept leaves. The grid covered three expandable zones starting from the store.
Let's try one.
"Expand."
[Construction beginning. Cost: 1 gold ingot per pyeong.]
Ten gold ingots vanished from the lacquered chest. Then, in the front yard, foundations rapidly formed, and another convenience store space materialized.
I was stunned. Yoo Hwa-yeon watching beside me jumped in shock.
"M-Master Chef! What the hell...?"
"Whoa. Jackpot."
"You can do void grasping?"
"No way. Wasn't me."
"Then?"
"This."
I pointed to the POS. The screen read:
Purchase shelves and items to utilize the new space!
In the Green Forest Seven Villages nestled in Hubei Province's Ghost Soul Great Forest, a narrow gorge at the forest's edge led to the vast bandit stronghold.
Hwa Hyo-seon, the female leader who unified the rowdy bandits into the Seven Villages, had sun-tanned dark skin and a body packed with battle-hardened muscles that screamed human weapon. Her beast-hide outfit clung tight, barely concealing her voluptuous chest and curves. Her long hair was roughly tied with plain cloth, and her formidable martial arts had played a key role in rallying the bandits.
She slammed down her liquor cup after a hearty swig, focusing on the man before her.
"What? An unauthorized inn at the Ghost Soul Great Forest entrance?"
"Yes, sis. Business is booming."
Hwa Hyo-seon hurled her cup at Gu Ja-jin, the sly, weasel-mustached strategist.
"You idiot! Why do you think it's called Ghost Soul Great Forest?"
"Eek! B-Because it's so eerie, ghosts might appear...?"
"Exactly! And you're saying business is booming? Even stray dogs would laugh!"
Gu Ja-jin felt wronged.
"B-But I saw it myself! Swarming with people!"
"Nonsense!"
Hwa Hyo-seon nearly threw her bottle too but held back.
"For real?"
"Y-Yes! Why would I lie and risk death?"
"Hmm."
Merchant traffic through the forest had dried up lately, slashing village income. They needed cash for tribute to the King of Green Forest, but no one braved the haunted woods. She'd been considering relocating when Gu Ja-jin dropped this.
A crowded inn. A sly smile crept across Hwa Hyo-seon's lips.
"Kyahaha! If it's real, we can't let it slide."
"Looked full of pricey stuff. Snag that, and we'll restore the villages' glory. Hehe."
"Good job, Gu Ja-jin! You're a gem!"
"Thank you!"
"Plan?"
"...Pardon?"
Her face soured.
"No plan, you punk? Just barge in and rob?"
"That was the idea."
This time, the bottle flew.
"Hey, moron! Inns draw all kinds of martial artists! Charge in blind and hit a master?"
"Ah."
"'Ah' my ass. You're the strategist! Think, don't just spy!"
"S-Sorry!!"
She nearly flipped the table too when inspiration struck.
"Disguise as customers."
"Disguise?"
"Yeah. Sneak in, grab the valuables, slip out."
"I-Isn't that petty theft...?"
Her glare pierced him.
"Petty theft?"
"Eek! S-Sorry!"
Was it? Great Green Forest leader turned pickpocket?
"Can't have the Seven Villages' chief stooping to thievery."
"R-Right."
"Come up with a plan."
"How about this?"
"Spill."
Gu Ja-jin knelt and whispered in her ear. Her eyes sparkled.
"Kyahahaha!! Perfect for a strategist. Let's do it!"
"Hehe, thanks."
"Go."
Gu Ja-jin flashed a greasy smile that twitched at the edges.
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
"B-But I'm the strategist?"
"So? Want me to go?"
*Send underlings, not me!* He couldn't grasp it. Did she even know what a strategist did?
"Underlings could handle it."
She frowned.
"Those drunks? All they do is booze and brawl."
He peeked behind her.
"Kahaha! Pour more! Eat and drink!"
"Kuah! Booze hits just right!"
"Ugh, gotta piss."
"Kekeke! Don't shit yourself mid-pee!"
The rowdy vibe was all her doing. Blushing from drink, she hiccuped. Gu Ja-jin sighed inwardly.
"I'll handle the underlings."
"Fine. Bring back the goods."
"Yes."
He grumbled but obeyed. Too scrawny for a bandit; without strategist duties, he'd be beaten dead by underlings.
"Hey! You!"
Where the tiger's absent, the fox reigns. Backed by Hwa Hyo-seon's fearsome rep, he bossed the bandits freely.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you."
A bandit approached, annoyed.
"What?"
"Know any guys as ugly as you?"
Several came to mind.
"Yeah."
"Grab two."
"Why?"
"You punk! Just do it—why so chatty?"
He exploded, but the bandit didn't flinch.
"Okay, okay."
Moments later—
"All here?"
Three rough-faced thugs gathered before the wooden barricade. One pockmarked, one tall with tiny eyes and jutting cheekbones, one with thick brows perpetually glaring.
Gu Ja-jin nodded approval.
"Got a job for you."
They glanced at each other.
"Inn at Ghost Soul Great Forest entrance. Shake 'em down."
"Us?"
"Why?"
"Just an inn?"
Idiots. Not just any inn—glowy lanterns, packed daily, shiny as hell!
"No backtalk. Go."
"Chief's orders?"
"Yes!"
"Then we're in."
Slingshot staffs over shoulders, they sauntered off. Gu Ja-jin ground his teeth at their backs but let it go.
*Nail this, my position solidifies. Heh heh.*
Just an inn. What could go wrong?
His sleazy grin lingered.
Meanwhile, at Jeonghyeon—
"Welcome!"
Blissfully unaware of the looming threat, I greeted the day's endless customers.