A Terrifying City Stroll (2)
As we stepped into the mart, a dazzling array of goods greeted us—nowhere near as flashy as a department store, yet far more varied than anything the village shops could offer. From fresh ingredients Nureongi loved to cosmetics and clothes that Bbi had once sung about, the selection was impressive. Though not overwhelmingly diverse, there was clearly enough stock to buy whatever we needed.
Even at the township supermarket, limits were strict—one pack of ramen or canned goods per person, and the same went for clothing. But here in the city, those restrictions seemed to vanish, at least for anything besides food.
Just then, Bbi grabbed my hand and started dragging me somewhere with surprising strength.
"Unni, come on, hurry!"
Powerless against her grip, I was pulled along until we reached the women's clothing section, where racks of colorful outfits stood waiting. Thanks to the Dimension Deviation warnings, most people were crowded around the food aisles, so the store was nearly empty except for a single clerk.
The clerk greeted us with a bright smile. "Welcome! Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"We're here to find some clothes for my unni!" Bbi answered cheerfully, as if it were her own mission.
The clerk gave me a quick once-over, then smiled with obvious satisfaction. "Oh my, your figure is lovely. You'd look good in anything. Are you a model, perhaps?"
"Not a model… I just do some rough work."
"Ah, so you're a Hunter! No wonder I sensed such a strong presence."
Clearly used to dealing with Hunters, the clerk chatted easily while expertly pulling outfits from the racks. In no time, both Nureongi and Bbi had their arms piled high with clothes—fluttery dresses, practical activewear, and skirts so short they made me dizzy just looking at them.
Wearing pretty clothes wasn't the problem. The real issue was the price tags. I peeked at one and felt my stomach drop. They weren't luxury brands, but buying everything would still put a serious dent in my wallet.
I smiled and tried to stop them. "Alright, that's enough. If we spend all our time on clothes, we won't have any left for groceries. Let's move on."
"Hmm, you're right. Then just one outfit! Just try on one, Unni! Don't say you won't wear it later because it doesn't fit!"
"Exactly. It'd be a waste of money if it doesn't suit you after all that effort."
Even Nureongi joined in, leaving me no choice but to accept the clothes they thrust at me and head into the fitting room.
Once the curtain closed, I finally got a proper look at what they'd picked. Of course—it was a sky-blue dress, the exact style I hated most. I barely tolerated sleeveless tops, and the thought of wearing something this flimsy made me sigh. Still, if I walked out without trying it on, I'd never hear the end of it from those two outside. Truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
Resigned, I reached for the awkward garment.
Changing into the dress felt strange—cool air brushing against my arms and legs in a way I wasn't used to. I couldn't help wondering how women managed to live with this odd sensation every day. After straightening the straps and draping my old T-shirt over my shoulders like a cardigan, I cautiously stepped out.
Nureongi and Bbi clapped the moment they saw me.
"Wow! I knew this style would suit Unni best!"
"It really does look great on you, Unni."
Their genuine praise made my shoulders lift a little. Still, I had no desire to wander around in such a pretty outfit. What if I got called out to the mudflats dressed like this? How would I face the police or the village elders? The thought alone was mortifying.
I spun once for show, then looked them both in the eye. "See? It suits me. Satisfied now?"
"Yep!"
"Yes, perfect!"
"Then I'll go change back?"
Their animal ears perked up at once—they'd caught my real intention. But by the time they cried out, "Wait—!" and "Unni!", I had already slipped behind the curtain and started changing back into my original clothes. Lingering would only risk them yanking the curtain open in their excitement. It wasn't embarrassment that worried me; sometimes their animal instincts overrode reason, and things could get very awkward very fast.
I finished quickly and stepped out again. Sure enough, Nureongi and Bbi were stomping their feet, complaining that there were still mountains of clothes left to try and that I'd tricked them. I just smiled and walked straight to the clerk to pay for the sky-blue dress. It was a bit pricey, but I needed a spare outfit anyway.
Once the clerk had neatly folded it into a shopping bag, I turned to the two of them. "Ready to go grocery shopping now?"
"Ugh, fine! Let's just go!"
"You're too much, Unni."
Bbi's drooping rabbit ears looked pitiful, but I couldn't let them drag me around forever. Besides, lingering too long in the city risked a Dimension Deviation—and that would be no small disaster.
Leaving the clothing section, we followed Nureongi's plan and began proper grocery shopping. Plenty of elders in Dohoang-ri grew vegetables in their gardens, so we didn't need to worry about produce. Seasonings and fresh meat, however, required a trip to town or the city.
Unlike others whose carts overflowed, we only took what we needed. A few people shot us curious glances—not at the beast ears, but at our nearly empty basket. Their looks seemed to say, Don't these youngsters know what's going on?
With two beastmen and one Quasi-Awakened in our group, our situation was far better than theirs. Our basket looked pitiful next to their loaded carts, yet our hearts felt far richer than those anxious hoarders.
We joined the long line at the checkout. A security guard spotted us and pointed toward the self-checkout lanes. "Ma'am, with that amount, please use the self-checkout over there."
The self-checkout area was empty, while the regular lanes were packed. Grateful, I nodded to the guard and led Nureongi and Bbi over.
We worked in perfect sync. I scanned items while Bbi bagged them and Nureongi packed everything neatly into a cardboard box. By the time we finished, the person ahead in the regular line still hadn't completed their transaction, and the impatient customers behind them—including the ones who had looked down on us—were shifting restlessly.
We strolled out of the mart long before their line moved.
This is what real life skills look like, you fools. In times like these, time matters more than money.
I allowed myself a small victorious smile and headed toward our next destination with light steps.
The moment we exited, I instinctively looked up at the sky. The ripple in space I'd noticed earlier had grown slightly larger. Sometimes it approached like a plane; other times it vanished without a trace. That unpredictability made it all the more unsettling.
Nureongi and Bbi followed my gaze, their expressions uneasy.
"Don't worry. At least until we get home, nothing should happen."
"I hope so, Unni."
"Yeah! Just looking at it puts me in a weird mood."
"Then let's cheer ourselves up with a late lunch. Something delicious."
Their faces brightened instantly.
"Yes!"
"Sounds good!"
Nureongi's tail wagged happily beneath her clothes, while Bbi's rabbit ears twitched nonstop. They looked so adorable I almost reached out to pet them—then remembered the powerful kicks that would follow if I startled them. I held back. Even with a Quasi-Awakened's sturdy body, those kicks still hurt.