Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Scary Place
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My first weekend.
The comfort of not having to go to school. The thrill of not having to attend classes. I wanted to surrender to those feelings and just lie in bed─
doing nothing.
"Aren't you coming down to eat the snacks?"
"As long as I don't spill any."
I could hear her saying, It's not even your bed anyway─ There was no ignoring that.
This bed is mine, you know. You just stole it from me temporarily, you illegal intruder.
And Lachesis was lying right next to me, yawning lazily while sneaking bites of Raphael's snacks.
What the hell is this? Am I some uninvited guest here? Am I just supposed to serve you two? I'm the homeowner!
"Seong-hoon. Should we buy some tongs for picking at the snacks? My fingers are getting way too greasy eating them by hand."
Raphael said this while sucking on her fingers. I couldn't take it anymore.
On this golden weekend, when I needed to recover from all my built-up fatigue, I couldn't live without a bed.
"Alright. Here's what we'll do."
"Huh?"
[Nya?]
Of course. I couldn't beat Raphael through sheer force, so I came up with a simple solution.
"Let's go buy a bed."
"Whoa. Amazing. Insane. Incredible."
"It's tacky. Please just stay still. Please."
"What do you know? Do you get how I've never been overseas even once? Do you know how many times I've flown─which equals how many times I've been to Jeju Island? Jeju Island is cool and all, but I want to go abroad. Jeju's domestic. You know? Places with stunning scenery. Beautiful night views. Beaches full of gorgeous women. That's what I've always wanted to─"
"Ah. Yeah, yeah. Got it. I totally get it~"
This girl had no intention of listening. She plugged her ears and made a weird face, so I pulled her hands away and kept reciting.
"When are you going to realize you can't win against me with brute strength, Seong-hoon?"
Good question. Damn. She was so infuriating I had no choice. I should've exercised more back in the day. Past me.
[How weak are you, anyway?]
I don't know. Maybe on par with a newborn baby born with mana in this world... I might barely beat that.
But this is partly Raphael's fault too. You're not even from this world originally. You're just a combat gorilla.
The moment I thought that, Raphael glared at me hard. She pouted and stared─sorry.
Anyway, back to the point. Right now, we're at the warp gate.
The warp gate. A super convenient means of transport connected to the entire world, the pinnacle of magic engineering, something only Justitia can produce in limited supply.
Thanks to it, planes and ships have lost all value.
Of course, supply is exclusive to Justitia, and gates can only be installed in approved locations, so destinations are limited. But we're heading to Seoul, so no worries there.
Money's no issue either. The fee would make a normal person's hands shake, but Justitia students ride for free.
Some go on dungeon experiences abroad or commute, so it's completely free for enrolled students.
Which means I can ride too. Hooray. Justitia. Hooray for magic engineering.
Hooray for me!
"Sorry, F-Rank students have to pay."
"What?"
The news hit like thunder, freezing me solid. The attendant looked at me pitifully, but I didn't need sympathy. Just let me ride.
What do you mean? There's no way─
There is.
Thinking about it, yeah. It was some bullshit system to heighten competition among students. I'd forgotten because Kim Tae-hyun was S-Rank.
Why did past me cause so much trouble? Can't I just die?
"What will you do? I'll give you a discount anyway. 30% off the─"
Not worth hearing. Even emptying my wallet would only cover a round trip. Then who buys the bed? My ancestors? No way. I can't keep living without a bed.
As despair turned my face pale, a weird noise came from beside me.
"What?! You're an A-Rank student?? A-Ranks ride free! You can even bring two companions for free. Do you have any?"
Why's she making such a fuss? You heard me, right? Look me in the eye. Attendant, look at my eyes.
"Oh my. You're making such a big deal out of my awesomeness~ Hey, you with the pitiful face? Looking like you can't ride the warp gate because you're F-Rank?"
"........."
Raphael looked over smugly. I turned away pretending not to hear, but she approached.
"Haha. This is awkward~ Never seen you before? If you beg nicely, I might let you ride? Try it. 'Lady Raphael, I beg you. Please let me ride just once.' Go on."
Clap clap─
Raphael's applause filled the gate. I'd rather steal a bed than say that to you─
The moment I tried ignoring her, I saw it.
Like, even in this harsh world, there are good Samaritans! The world is still worth living in!! The attendant was looking at us with that expression.
Her eyes screamed she'd post this on SNS on her way home and go viral.
"...."
People need hope, right? No need to shatter someone else's illusion. Not like I'm ruining a whole city's dreams.
[Hurry up. I'm sleepy.]
"I beg you... Lady Raphael..."
"Yes!! Let's ride!!!!"
I can confidently say today was the most humiliating day of my 25-year life.
A massive department store. Even craning my neck until it nearly snapped, I couldn't see the top of the pristine white building. My eyes sparkled.
This is bigger than Lotte World Tower from my old world. No doubt. At least 150 floors?
I waited for her usual It's tacky─ but when it didn't come, I looked at Raphael. Her mouth was agape, staring up at it.
"Th-this is mortal technology?! Even Heaven Realm couldn't build something like this!"
Heaven Realm clouds would collapse under that weight.
[You country bumpkins? Enough, let's go in.]
Lachesis, now in human form, strode ahead. Wait, aren't you the biggest bumpkin of us three?
"Ack! Lachesis, wait!!"
"Hey. Don't go ahead!! You'll get lost!!"
I had no intention of hunting for two grown women at a lost child center. I followed Lachesis and Raphael into the department store.
Inside was even more jaw-dropping. Dazzling lights stealing your gaze, sparkling products, clerks in suits smiling brightly.
I didn't know where to look. Is this it? The feeling parents get buying gifts for their kids?
[Nya, nyang.]
And the confident Lachesis was trembling, clinging to my arm the moment we entered. Raphael too.
"What happened to you? Weren't you confident?"
[I-I've only seen it from outside before─]
"I-I'm seeing it for the first time too! I'm less of an idiot than Lachesis?!"
Good that you know you're idiots. I made them grab my clothes so we wouldn't get separated in the crowd.
In the end, experienced-me was the only reliable one!!
Or so I thought.
"Yes. Where are you headed? I'll guide you."
Couldn't even find the way, ended up at the info desk. The clerk with a fresh smile clasped her hands politely, welcoming us.
Furniture, including beds, was on the 30th floor. We boarded the elevator with her guidance.
Thought she'd just tell us and leave, but the clerk sister shoved us in and rode with us. This a luxury department store? Service is no joke.
"S-Seong-hoon?! What's this? It's going up? It won't fall, right? Right? Tell me it won't─!!!"
[N-No way it'll fall. B-But just in case, you two survive on your own! I'm a cat, so I'm fine!]
"........."
I avoided the clerk's amused gaze and covered their mouths. Please be quiet, it's embarrassing.
"Haha. It won't fall. Relax. Even if there's a malfunction, it's enchanted for safe landing."
"Hear that?"
Raphael and Lachesis nodded. This is why country bumpkins don't work.
Ding─
The doors opened with a cheerful chime.
Expensive-looking furniture everywhere, clerks waiting with hands clasped.
The clerk bowed and said,
"Welcome."
"Happy shopping."
I stepped out amid greetings front and back. The clerk approached with a beaming smile.
That's when I felt it. Did I come here for nothing? Should've gone somewhere else─
Too late for regrets. I followed the clerk's lead and started browsing beds on autopilot.
"Department stores are scary places."
Food court on the 10th floor after buying the bed. Raphael mumbled while eating the snack I bought her. I agree.
The clerk was terrifying. Listening to her made every bed feel like a must-buy. And the bedding set that "comes with it," electric blankets, curtains─I nearly bought everything sleep-related.
Luckily snapped out of it and got the cheapest bed. Still 500,000 won.
Department stores are scary. Terrifying.
"Why'd you come here anyway? They don't even sell snack tongs. Wrong place? You were all hyped about fast online delivery, why insist on─ Mmph! D-Delicious."
I stuffed a snack in noisy Raphael's mouth and sighed. Reason for coming? Obviously.
Why come here for a bed that's cheaper and faster online?
Because of Kim Tae-hyun. This place is about to blow up. No exaggeration, it really explodes.
Monsters attack. Normal ones stay in dungeons, but this place gets hit despite no nearby dungeon. Kim Tae-hyun gets involved, evacuates everyone, and the building blows.
Reasons for sneaking in during the chaos? Plenty.
I'll interfere subtly from behind, sure. But no evacuating crowds or hurting Kim Tae-hyun on purpose.
One of those subtle moves is this.
"Why'd you call me here?"
The girl sat across from me with a sullen face. Long black hair, wearing a pure white dress like clothes have wings.
I chuckled at Isia, all dressed up. While I'm in uniform.
Reason for calling her? Simple. The silent war brewing at the Magic Association. I don't want to get in the middle.
In short, she meets Kim Tae-hyun fighting monsters here. He'll save her from kidnappings or attacks.
Perfect way to blow my nose without using my hands. My brain's too sharp for my own good.
As if mocking me, clink─a plate dropped.
[One more bowl.]
"Where'd you sell your conscience? Know how many bowls you and Raphael have had?"
[No idea.]
"Beats me."
Before I could think our food bill would empty [God's Account] by month's end, I looked ahead.
Who's that? Never seen her, but she's eyeing Lachesis the same way─long black hair, walking wallet.... No. Girl.
Plenty of time till the incident, nothing else to do. Perfect.
"Pay for what these two are eating."
"Huh?!"
Isia yelped in surprise, but I ignored it and continued.
"You see our uniforms, right? I'll buy my own clothes, so pick some out for her."
No casual clothes is inconvenient. Isia pondered, then nodded.
Normally she'd grumble before reluctantly agreeing, but post-instance dungeon, she's been too compliant.
Not bad.