26. The Fourth Customer... Nim? (1)
Now the convenience store had finally entered a stable phase. The bandits seemed to be gradually adapting to store work, thanks to Yoo Hwa-yeon's divinely inspired lectures.
"Welcome!"
"What's with the vibe here?"
"Hand over all your money! Then the most delicious food will be waiting for you~!!"
To Murim folk, bandits were like gangsters to modern people—terrifying just to look at. But what if a gangster dressed like a restaurant server grinned ear-to-ear, bowed like you were the boss, and served your food? Sure, it'd still be scary, but the unique concept would spread by word of mouth.
Trusting these utterly ruthless bandits? That was Hwa Hyo-seon's job. Those guys would pretend to cower at a word from their chief.
And you couldn't ignore the power of money, either.
"Whoa, th-this is... a salary...."
Bandits who'd never had steady income their whole lives? Getting paid monthly just for working hard felt like a miracle.
You could tell from how every single one of them left with flushed faces, clutching their pay.
That was how customers started trickling into the Ghost Soul Great Forest, the demonic wasteland of the unorthodox world. A total business boom!
"Great meal. Thanks, innkeeper."
"Come again!"
I sent off today's customers and closed the wide-open convenience store door. Humming to myself, thinking we'd coast like this worry-free—
-Nyaaao.
Suddenly, a weird sound rang out.
"Hm?"
Turning around, there was a brown cat sitting on the store floor. Had it snuck in while the door was open?
"Hey there. Who might you be?"
It had bright, sparkling eyes and was adorable. The well-groomed fur suggested it wasn't a stray.
The cat met my gaze, stood, and started rubbing its face against my leg.
Ears... so cute...!!
"Total catbug."
I crouched and stroked its little nose. It purred contentedly, eyes half-closed, so I smiled benevolently.
"What's that, Head Chef?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon, who'd finished cleaning, approached and spotted the cat. Her eyes sparkled—she thought it was cute too.
"First cat you've seen?"
"Not my first, but it's so cute!!"
The cat was a total affection machine. It even rubbed against Yoo Hwa-yeon's leg when she awkwardly extended a hand.
Her face flushed red as she felt the soft fur.
"Where'd it come from?"
"Dunno. Probably slipped in when the door was open."
-Nyaaong!
Tail straight up, it started rubbing against Yoo Hwa-yeon's leg. Hungry? I jumped up and grabbed a cat food can from the daily necessities shelf corner.
Complete cat food—not the tuna for humans. I popped it open to feed it, then paused.
I'm not keeping it.
Stray or owned, I had no plans to raise a cat at the store. No vet around here, and I couldn't commit anyway.
So I put the can back.
"Why? Not feeding it?"
"Might belong to someone. Even if it's a stray, we're not keeping it. Feed it once, it'll keep coming back—trouble. Just pet it and shoo it out."
Yoo Hwa-yeon pouted but nodded.
"Yeah... can't be helped."
I petted the purring cat a few more times, then opened the door. It kept looking back but eventually bounded out.
The next day. Business as usual, then—nyong!
Peeking from the counter, there was the cat again, sitting on the floor.
"Huh? You again from yesterday?"
-Nyaa!
I'd held back yesterday to avoid encouraging return visits. But here it was anyway.
"No can do. Go hunt in the valley."
-Nyaaa...
Its pitiful mew and leg-rubs tugged at my heart. If it kept coming back, maybe no owner? Still, I shooed it out. Not my cat.
And the next day. And the day after.
Now it was hopping on tables, eyeing the baking bread.
"What is this thing?"
"Ahh, so cute. Head Chef! Can't we keep it?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon begged with sparkling eyes.
"No. It's cute now, but what if it gets sick later?"
"Well..."
"It'll die in a few years anyway. Better not to start."
Don't start what you can't finish. Harsh, but it wouldn't be happier with us.
Then Hwa Hyo-seon crossed her arms.
"Can't keep it. Belongs to someone."
She pointed at its neck.
"Buried in fur, but look close—collar."
What? When'd she spot that?
"Probably lost. Not a stray."
Checking, yeah—a twisted string with a wooden tag. No stray would have that. Definitely someone's pet.
"How's a sweet thing like this get lost?"
"No kidding. Anyway, Strategist."
"Yeah?"
"Lost pet, so feeding it till owner comes is fine, right?"
...Huh?
Hwa Hyo-seon's cheeks were pink. You wanna feed it too?
"N-not a stray. We protect it till owner shows. R-right?"
I nodded. Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon gleefully fetched churu and cans.
-Nyaa!
"Eat up."
"Try this too!"
They spoiled it rotten, total opposite of their bickering selves. I couldn't help chuckling.
"Hey."
"Uwuzzu~"
"What's your name, cutie? What? Chungwon’s Strongest Cutest Cat—Chungchoegwi?"
"Yoo Hwa-yeon! What kinda name is Chungchoegwi?!"
"What's wrong with it!"
"Butterfly or something!"
"Butterfly... Oh, Butterfly's good?"
"Hello? You ignoring me?"
"We wanna keep it."
"Owner's probably waiting."
"Maybe they dumped it?"
"Would you dump a cutie like this?"
"Never! I'd cuddle it every night!"
These women.
"I'm talking to you!!"
"Huh? Head Chef, what's up?"
"Busy now. Talk to Strategist later."
Yoo Hwa-yeon didn't even look, Hwa Hyo-seon straight-up ignored me. Lower than a cat.
"To find the owner, we gotta do something. Can't keep it here forever. Any ideas?"
Hwa Hyo-seon chuckled lowly.
"Heh, got a great one."
"What?"
"Posters. Lost cat posters."
"Posters?"
Like flyers?
"How? No photos, need description. And one ain't enough."
No cameras or printers in Murim. I suck at drawing.
But Hwa Hyo-seon smirked confidently.
"One of my guys is artistic."
"Chief. Draw this cat exactly?"
A burly, muscled bandit eyed it skeptically.
"Yeah."
"But you said bandits don't draw, break fingers if they try..."
"Tch! Draw. Scared?"
"No way! Exactly like this?"
His face lit up. He'd loved drawing but suppressed it as a bandit.
He grabbed the paper and sign pen I gave him, sketching furiously.
"Ooh! So smooth! What is this, Strategist? Slips like oil!"
Of course—clean paper and pens were culture shock for Murim folk.
"Can you do multiples?"
"Duh, Chief! Hundreds with this."
One, two... Half an hour later, posters piled up on the table. Over a hundred, easy. I stopped counting midway.
The drawings improved—later ones were identical to the cat. Real talent. How'd he end up a bandit?
"Time to post 'em. Strategist."
We headed to the market with the stack.
Cheon Hyang, face half-hidden by a beautiful hat embroidered with red plums, strolled the market with guard Hyuk. Thinking of visiting Jeonghyeon, she'd come to buy a pretty hairpin.
"Hyuk. Does this suit me?"
"Anything suits you, Madam."
"I mean, would Jeonghyeon like it."
"...If not, he ain't a man."
"Good."
Her hand paused mid-selection. Far off—familiar faces. One young female warrior. One tanned skin standout. And... 'Jeonghyeon?'
Cheon Hyang quickly fixed her clothes and hair. Should've worn something cuter. Hadn't even picked a hairpin yet.
Jeonghyeon never left the forest—what brought him here? Curious, she approached slowly.
They were posting something on walls. Posters?
"Jeonghyeon. What brings you all the way here?"
The three jumped, turning.
"Oh? Cheon Hyang?"
"Hehe, calling me that makes a girl blush."
Jeonghyeon showed a well-drawn poster.
"Cat showed up at the store few days ago. Seems owned, so finding the owner."
"Oh, you're barking up the wrong tree."
He looked puzzled.
"Post where more likely."
Cheon Hyang wanted to help—score points.
"Manokru front has spots. All sects gather there—best effect."
Hyuk startled behind her.
"M-Madam! That's—"
"Hyuk. Hush. One's fine."
"But..."
Hyuk bit his lip, displeased, but she ignored him.
"I'll help. Sure to find the owner there."