Chapter 6
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 6: Pink Pajamas
"Immediate mending is impossible." "It won't work?"
To get Sunshine Softener, I needed the blessing of a spirit first, and to get that, I had to either go to a dungeon or the black market.
Lee Chaerim's expression, which she had managed to keep calm with difficulty until now, slightly wavered.
"I need one S-Rank material." "What is it?" "The blessing of a pure spirit. A low-tier spirit's blessing won't do. I need at least a high-tier spirit's blessing." "...That's not a difficult task."
She shot up from her seat.
"I'll go get it right away."
If it was the S-Rank Hunter Lee Chaerim, it was an item she could get right away.
However.
"Just because you get it doesn't mean it's possible immediately." "Don't tell me processing is required?" "Yes. So even if we get the material today, it won't be completed until at least tomorrow." "It doesn't matter. It's fine."
Answering leisurely, Lee Chaerim stood up. However.
"Ugh!"
Lee Chaerim's body swayed. Staggering as if she was dizzy, Lee Chaerim squeezed her eyes shut.
"Guild Master!" "Sister!"
I urgently supported her. Elena was deeply anxious that Lee Chaerim might get hurt.
"Our money box, no, Sister, you absolutely must not get hurt. Someone blessed by God should not have wounds. Shall I heal you?" "You don't have to."
To her waving her hand at Elena, I asked.
"Are you really okay?" "Sorry. I lost my balance for a moment."
Lost her balance? An S-Rank Hunter of the world? Does that make sense?
"Will it be possible?" "I'm fine. I can do it. What's so hard about getting a blessing from a spirit."
I looked at her. Cold sweat was forming on her face as she sweated profusely.
Her expression was fine, but her body was appealing that she wasn't normal.
You're saying you continued the dungeon raid in this state? It was commendable that she hadn't collapsed until now.
"Guild Master, how much did you sleep during the 2 weeks the curse was active?" "...Why are you asking that?" "Because your condition right now doesn't seem to make sense." "..."
A brief moment of thought. Soon, she opened her mouth.
"I couldn't even sleep properly for 1 hour a day."
Just as I thought. Lee Chaerim's condition definitely did not look good. She was steeped in fatigue as if she had suffered continuously for 2 weeks, and because of that, it seemed she couldn't make astute judgments either.
It was absolutely not Lee Chaerim's usual self.
It's clear that the malevolent thoughts heard due to the curse are interfering with her sleep. Because she couldn't sleep properly, her condition deteriorated to the point of momentary dizziness.
No matter if one is an S-Rank Hunter, if they lack sleep, their body is bound to break down.
An S-Rank Hunter is a human too, a human.
No wonder. I thought she was different from usual.
"Sob sob, please blame this girl who couldn't notice Sister's anomaly in advance."
Elena looked ready to pour artificial tears into her eyes from the side.
"Is it perhaps clothes that have an additional binding curse attached? Like automatically equipping if you fall beyond a certain distance."
Lee Chaerim shook her head.
"I don't think there's anything like that. However, even if I'm far away, I keep hearing the screams spat out by these clothes." "You keep hearing the malevolent thoughts?" "Yeah."
I looked at Elena. Because she was more of an expert on things like curses or malevolent thoughts than I was.
"If it's equipment made from a Yuki-onna's hair, perhaps the resentment of the Yuki-onna, the owner of the hair, was deeply engraved into these clothes. It probably needed time to recognize the wearer, and because of that, she probably could use it perfectly fine for a few months." "Then does that mean it kept triggering from the moment it recognized the Guild Master as the owner?" "Probably. Because these types of curses mostly trigger in that way. They enter the cursed target's consciousness and torment them. It's a very vicious curse."
Ah. I understood why Lee Chaerim didn't throw away the cursed clothes. Because it was meaningless anyway.
Once it recognized her as the owner, it would torment her even if she abandoned ownership, after all.
"You should have told me that first." "Sorry, I'm out of my mind lately."
Originally, I intended to send her back home and gather the materials to proceed with the work. Because if I had the clothes, I would be the one hearing these malevolent thoughts, so I thought she could rest even for a moment. However, my mind changed.
"Guild Master." "Yeah?" "Sleep before you go." "...Huh?" "I'm telling you to sleep before you go. No matter how much I think about it, I can't send you off like this."
Blinking at my words, Lee Chaerim suddenly covered her chest.
"Jinsoo, you're b-bolder than I thought?" "What are you thinking about?" "Y-you just confessed, didn't you? Telling me to sleep before I go." "You know it doesn't mean that." "Tch-. It didn't work."
Elena, who was staring fixedly at that sight, blinked.
"Sister is a pervert... No, it's fine. Because lust is a sin that can be improved upon however much one wants. God will forgive you as well."
Look at her?
"Didn't you say earlier that lust is an unforgivable sin." "Those who have received God's blessing are already no different from possessing an indulgence in their arms. He will turn a blind eye just this once. Because God is merciful."
Just say you like money.
Lee Chaerim, having lowered the hand covering her chest, asked me.
"I can't sleep here even if I wanted to anyway. If that curse isn't resolved, I'll keep hearing the sound." "It's not that there's no way." "What does that mean?" "There are clothes that allow you to fall asleep in any situation." "There's such a thing?"
There is. Clothes I made to somehow sleep on days when sleep wouldn't come occasionally.
On the softest fabric. Spraying the most fragrant softener. Even hand-washing it myself. A masterpiece made fluffy over a whole day.
[Hibernation Pajamas]
They were pajamas made so one could hibernate right away. Except for the fact that it has one flaw, there really are no pajamas like this.
"I'll give you one. Instead." "Instead?" "You have to sleep here."
At my words, Lee Chaerim shook her head as if troubled.
"I don't want to disturb you working hard at your workplace." "I'm not telling you to sleep on the 1st floor. I'm telling you to go upstairs and sleep." "Upstairs?" "Yes. Because I earned quite a bit of money from porter work. I did some expansion work too."
I earned more money than I thought while doing porter work for 5 years. The money I earned as a porter was a lot, but the many pieces of equipment I mended while raiding dungeons fattened my wallet.
While newly setting up Sanctuary Laundry, I did a little expansion work with the remaining money.
It might be shabby, but to think a whole 3-story building is all my property?
Of course, this was all built with debt, though.
"Jinsoo, don't tell me you saying you have no money was all..." "Ahem, please pretend you don't know."
In a way, it was thanks to Lee Chaerim that I was able to do expansion work to this extent. Lending her a space like this was not difficult.
"Please sleep for a moment and then go."
However, Lee Chaerim soon let out a sigh.
"Can you resolve the curse?" "Of course. Even if there's a construction site all around, as long as you wear these pajamas, you can get a good night's sleep."
Rustle, rustle.
I took a set of clothes out of the closet and triumphantly threw the clothes to her. The expression of Lee Chaerim, who caught the clothes, gradually stiffened.
"...Jinsoo?" "Yes." "What is this?"
She unfolded the clothes with trembling hands.
What I took out was.
A bright hot pink color that hurt the eyes. Thick and soft microfiber fur that fingers could sink deeply into. And a stupid-looking bear's eyes, nose, and mouth attached to the hood.
It was an all-in-one that wrapped the whole body, a so-called 'animal pajama'. It was an animal pajama that anyone would think a middle schooler, no, an elementary schooler would wear.
Except for the mere fact that the size was for adults, that is.
"They're pajamas. Can't you tell by looking?" "No, I mean, why is this kind of thing in your store. Don't tell me this is your taste? If not..."
Her eyes, which had drooped slightly until just now, glared wide open. It feels like her spirit has returned slightly. Is this what shock therapy is.
Lee Chaerim glaring back and forth between Elena and me.
"Sister, this girl does not wear such vulgar clothes. How can a human wear the hide of a beast! I will consider it if you give me money, though..."
No, what's wrong with these clothes? They're just cute.
"No way. It's not like that. It just turned out that way while mending." "Turned out that way. What does that..." "Look closely at the item effects." "Huh? Effects?"
Lee Chaerim carefully examined the pajamas.
"Huh?"
Her expression changed. Her eyes, which had been gradually relaxing, grew round and large. Eyes that anyone could tell were surprised.
"H-how is this...?"
Surprised, she looked back and forth between me and the bear pajamas.
Surprised, aren't you? I'm telling you I was super surprised at first too.
[Hibernation Pajamas] Rank: A+ (Improved) Main Fabric: Cloud Fleece Microfiber 100% (Improved through multiple mending and washing)
[Buff Effects] [Absolute Coziness] You feel a warm and soft coziness as if a mother is hugging you. [Oversized] No matter what body type you have, the hibernation bear will cozily hug you. [Hibernation] You can enjoy unconditional sleep like a bear falling asleep in any situation. (8 hours)
[Usage Condition] Upon use, it must be washed using 'Cloud-Touch Softener' within 2 hours. (If condition is not fulfilled, ability deleted)
Originally, it was tent cloth made so that customers using the 2nd-floor lounge could cover themselves when changing clothes. But the moment I applied softener and hand-washed it to try and use it somewhat cleanly, inspiration struck.
Thinking it would be nice to use it like this, I continued sewing, and this was created.
"No matter how many annoying screams you hear, at least the time you fall asleep wearing these pajamas won't be disturbed." "..."
Lee Chaerim became speechless.
"Have you become a little more trustworthy now?" "As expected, you had a method for everything, Jinsoo."
Lee Chaerim looked at me with eyes full of trust.
"Sorry. At first, I doubted whether you might be a pervert." "I ABSOLUTELY did not prepare this because I thought your appearance wearing these bear pajamas would be cute." "...It's really not, right?" "Of course. Originally, pajamas need to be baggy for good blood circulation. The breathability is good, and an air layer forms inside, so the insulation effect is amazing." "..."
Those are eyes where her trust in me suddenly plummets.
Lee Chaerim sighed, but her mind seemed shaken by the crazy softness of the microfiber touching her fingertips.
"...Where should I change?" "I'll guide you. Follow me."
I guided her to the 2nd floor. On the 2nd floor, there was a fitting room and a lounge lobby where customers who left their laundry here could change clothes.
"Absolutely do not look. No photos either."
Holding the pink fur ball with determination, Lee Chaerim glared at me. Having given a firm warning, she entered the fitting room.
"Boss." "Yeah?" "If there was such an item, you should have told me in advance too."
Elena said with a slightly sad face. Indeed, the Hibernation Pajamas were an item I hadn't shown her.
Honestly, there was no use for it. A customer had to come first, you know.
It was when I was about to soothe the employee who was sad I hadn't told her in advance.
"If you had told me in advance, I could have somehow added a service fee and emptied Sister's wallet."
Realizing why she was excommunicated, I shut the mouth I was about to use to comfort her.
"It's a shame we couldn't add an extra service. I should have at least cast a blessing on her." "That's enough."
It was Elena, who was sincerely disappointed.
It was then.
Rustle, rustle.
Along with a strange and peculiar sound of taking off and putting on clothes inside.
"Ugh! This is uncomfortable..."
The fitting room door opened, and a pink bear waddled out.
I had to bite my lip hard to hold back my laughter.
Cute. It's trivially cute.
The slender figure Lee Chaerim had trained hard until now was nowhere to be found.
Drooping shoulder lines, a baggy bottom coming down to her knees, long sleeves covering her hands and feet. She looked just like a kindergartener who stole her dad's clothes and put them on. She was a walking pink blanket itself.
"Hey, this is too big."
Lee Chaerim flapped her sleeves with a crying face. Her hands couldn't be seen.
"I can't see the front well either..."
Furthermore, the hood was too big, so it kept covering her eyes. Her appearance trying to push the hood up while tilting her head back was unmistakably a bear with its head stuck in a honey jar.
"It's just right. You're originally supposed to sleep buried like that."
I approached and pulled her hood deep over her again.
"Ah, I said I can't see?"
As I pulled the hood deep over her, Lee Chaerim flailed about. Ah, I want to take a picture of her.
"Now, the preparations for sleeping are all done." "It really is warm, though."
She grumbled, but she didn't seem to have any intention of taking off the clothes. Rather, as if she liked the cozy air layer created by that baggy fit, she fiddled with the hem of the clothes and wriggled.
The bear hood, half-covering her face, looked here and there at her body.
"Let's go to the sofa, Mr. Bear Customer. Should you just roll over there?" "Don't push! I'll go on my own!"
Waddle, waddle.
The giant pink bear crawled towards the sofa. The dignity of an S-Rank Hunter had gone missing, but I felt certain that at least she wouldn't have trouble sleeping.
"Sister, shall I help you? You know room service has an extra fee, right?" "I-it's okay. I can go alone!" "You seem to be struggling. With one of my blessings, you can go in an instant." "Ugh, I, I said it's fine."
Having a brief scuffle with Elena, Lee Chaerim laid her body down on the sofa with difficulty.
"Please sleep a little. I will also be slowly preparing the materials." "Will it really be okay?" "Aren't there a few people I formed connections with when I worked at Hunters Inc.? If all else fails, I'll just drop the Guild Master's name, whatever." "...I'll leave it to you."
Her expression looked more comfortable than when she first entered the laundry.
It seemed the hibernation, the effect of the clothes, was slowly triggering.
"Sleep well."
As I patted the head of her lying on the sofa.
"Don't treat me like a kid."
Lee Chaerim whined.
To think the iron-blooded Hunter Lee Chaerim, who was rigid and only forced FM (Field Manual/by the book), would whine and act cute. It's a sight that would have appalled others if they saw it.
Is this the effect of the pajamas?
Scary. Hibernation Pajamas.
Lee Chaerim closed her eyes. Having confirmed that, I said to Elena.
"Elena, it's fine for you to clock out now today." "...Boss, lust is an unforgivable sin. Don't tell me you're going to... the body of a sleeping maiden..." "It's not like that."
Elena looking at me as if looking at trash. There's nothing this girl won't say.
"Since it doesn't seem like there's anything else for you to do, clock out first today. Because it'll be evening when all this work is done." "...Understood. If anything happens, please call me. I received my salary today, so I will also accept night shifts. Boss." "That's enough. Clock out early today."
Having sent Elena home, I stepped out of the laundry.
For a big spender, a business trip is basic, right.