Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Part 16. This Is My Fun (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lair's largest baby toy store, 'AiToy'.
The female owner was bustling about greeting customers as usual today.
Ten years into running the toy store, she had developed a knack for distinguishing customers at a glance. Like reading faces. She could tell if a customer was a big spender or not.
"Welcome!"
The latest arrivals were a cadet and her guardian.
The green-haired female cadet was stunningly beautiful at first sight. Delicate eyes and nose. Red lips. Kind-looking eyes, yet an aura that made her hard to approach.
By her face-reading, this one probably wasn't a big spender.
Then the guardian?
Hard eyes and thick lines. A bit off-putting in his intimidating looks. Tall and burly, he seemed larger than life. His vibe suggested he'd just come from a warzone.
Some guardians were like that.
By face-reading, this one was...
...scary.
But she was a veteran.
A man like that interested in baby toys meant he'd returned from war to everyday life, and those types usually opened their wallets easily.
The cadet and guardian chatted briefly before splitting up.
The green-haired cadet left the store and vanished somewhere. The owner clenched her fist. Opportunity time.
The man looked around and reached for a blue bear plush. The store's least popular 20,000-won bear.
That's when the owner approached the guardian with a sweet smile.
"Hello, sir."
The man's hazy gaze turned to her.
His glance alone was menacing.
She felt her fingertips stiffen, but the owner mustered more courage.
"Looking for a gift for a child?"
"...Yes."
As expected, his voice was scary too.
But the first step was half the battle. He'd spoken, so half was done.
"How old is the child?"
"Four... or so."
"Ah, your daughter?"
"Not my daughter."
"I see. Then your niece?"
He hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"At four, they prefer toys that use their brains more than dolls. Instead of bear plushies, how about the kids' play sets over there? Want to check them out together?"
The man followed her obediently.
Now in her territory. The owner showcased a play house set.
"This is the kitchen play set. You can play with your niece too."
"......"
"Kids around four are just starting to build social skills. So you can bond with her while cooking together."
The owner sliced a fruit model with the toy knife as she spoke.
The man just stared blankly, silent.
He was probably imagining a four-year-old playing with the set.
As she'd predicted, after staring blankly for a while, the man smiled faintly.
"I'll take that one."
Emboldened, the owner beamed brighter.
It was working. This customer.
Men from dungeons and wars didn't nitpick over little baby toys.
"Haha... And if you buy the kitchen set now, other play house sets are 10% off. Want to see the hospital play set over there?"
Again, he followed her willingly.
Toy stethoscope, defibrillator, syringe, nurse cap, medicine box, thermometer, and more appeared.
"As you know, play is the start of indirect experiences. Everyday toys are fine, but ones they can't easily experience in real life are better. Builds creativity and focus. Great for development too."
The owner rattled off her pitch like a pro.
Again, the man smiled faintly, lost in imagination. Probably picturing the cute 'four-year-old'.
"That one too."
Jackpot!
"Ah, then also..."
Having hooked him, the owner recommended four play sets. He agreed to buy each one.
Perfect. Everything's set.
As the owner reached for his card to ring up the total...
The door opened. The green-haired cadet returned.
With a luxury shopping bag in hand.
"Huh?"
The name on her badge: Yoo Bom.
The cadet's eyes widened.
"Mister. What's all this?"
"Toys."
"You're buying all of them?"
"...They look good."
With olive eyes like her hair, the cadet alternated glances between the owner and the toys.
Hmm... Something uneasy in the cadet's voice made the owner anxious.
"We shouldn't buy these."
And sure enough, the cadet started returning everything.
"Uh, miss, buying together now gets 10% off..."
"Ah, 10%?"
"Yes."
"It's fine."
As expected. Not an ordinary customer, per her face-reading.
Rejected, the owner smacked her lips in regret.
"I know better."
The man said, and the cadet smiled.
"But that one should be okay. It looks similar, so no confusion."
Up to then, Yoo Ji-tae had held the original blue bear plush. The cadet handed it to the owner.
Sales dropped from 200,000 to 20,000 won in an instant!
As the owner smacked her lips again...
"Ah, discount?"
The cadet showed her watch hologram.
-AiToy Membership Discount.
"Yes, 8% off, 18,400 won."
As the owner forced a bitter smile and prepared to process...
The cadet showed another display.
"Yes. And these too."
"...?"
The owner doubted her eyes at the display.
-VIP Family Discount. 10%
-Lair Guardian Discount. 10%
-Brusson Membership Discount. 5%
-17th Street Coupon. 20%
...
Every stacking discount condition lined up.
In perfect order, like pre-planned.
The 20,000-won bear ended up at 9,130 won.
Cold sweat. At this rate, no profit.
Then it hit the owner.
'Coming prepared for this much discount... this cadet is...'
A pro.
Way better than most housewives.
As she fumbled awkwardly to take the cadet's card... 'Oh right.' The cadet flicked her wrist, card out. Then smiled and asked,
"Points too, right?"
The owner nodded, holding back tears.
"When did you buy all that?"
He eyed the shopping bags in Bom's hands.
"You lost track of time."
While he was getting upsold, Bom had hit the department store luxury section for Gaeul's wallet, then the military depot for adult handcuffs and a whip weapon.
Real ones, not toys. Lair was a military facility, cadets could carry weapons, no issue.
Anyway, shopping success. He thought so.
"Yoo Bom. Not bad."
Bom replied indifferently, as always.
"You're a sucker, mister."
Speechless, Yoo Ji-tae shut up.
Bom stifled a chuckle.
"It's okay. It was for Winter. Good kind of sucker."
"Yeah?"
"Of course? So now buy Yeoreum a police play set."
"...?"
"Buy now, extra 10% off."
Blatant teasing.
As Yoo Ji-tae struggled for a reply...
She giggled again, watching his face.
"Kidding."
He nodded.
"Still, be grateful. Without me, you'd have bought Yeoreum whips, cuffs, ropes, candles, chains... all that."
"Not that bad."
He got serious, and Bom widened her eyes, holding up two fingers.
"Even with 20% off?"
"......"
Yoo Ji-tae was speechless; she burst out laughing again.
The whole way back, he got teased nonstop, Bom laughing till she gasped.
"Ah... my stomach hurts..."
They'd reached the residential district when a savory smell stopped Bom.
A delimanju street vendor. Bom eyed the sweet aroma.
"One big bag."
Drawn by the smell. First time he'd seen her buy street food.
"Here you go."
Walking on, Bom ate a few.
"Mm..."
But after just a couple, she seemed sick of it.
She started feeding them to Yoo Ji-tae one by one, like he should eat. He took them by hand instead. Bom didn't mind, kept handing them over.
Thus, he munched soft pastries till his mouth reeked of sweet cream.
Bom watched quietly, then spoke.
"How was today?"
"How what."
"Fun?"
All he remembered was her teasing. So he countered.
"You?"
"I was worried it'd be awkward, our first time hanging out alone. But I had fun. You?"
Her voice flowed softly.
The day he'd first brought Bom, they'd shopped for groceries together.
After a moment's thought, Yoo Ji-tae replied smoothly.
"Good, like last time."
Bom's steps halted abruptly. He kept walking, then turned when she didn't catch up.
"What? Standing there."
Her usual subtle blank expression, she shook her head.
Then followed him.
Looking back, he'd been terrifying then.
Showing up out of nowhere in Florence to find her.
That stranger was stronger than her, a dragon; he seemed to know her well; he reeked of danger.
He lived like normal people. Sleeping, eating. But Yoo Bom knew it was all fake. He pretended to sleep without truly resting, ate without need.
Watching gave her chills.
So Yoo Bom thought: I'll act natural too.
To erase his suspicions about her.
Or all dragons, including her, might die.
From day one, she'd acted casual. Suggested grocery shopping. Cooked for him. She'd read that shared meals eased tension.
When he said he'd fetch the others, she cooperated fully. Couldn't stop him anyway. Better peacefully.
Even fleeting comforts, she stayed vigilant. Still unknown. Keep acting daily life. Watch him.
But now, Yoo Bom wasn't acting.
At some point, she was her honest self.
'Good, like last time.'
His words made it hit her; she froze in place.
She stared blankly at his back. Like that first grocery trip.
But now, he didn't scare her.
"What? Standing there."
He turned from ahead. She shook her head and walked to him.
For Bom, today was better than last time.
"Wow! Is this for me!?"
The chick pounced on Bom's shopping bag.
"What?"
"Open it."
"Okay! Thanks, unni...!"
Tiny hands carefully opened the bag, pulling out a box.
Black crocodile leather wallet. Bumpy texture like chocolate. 'Wow.' The chick's eyes sparkled as she examined it gingerly.
Meanwhile, Winter got a new bear plush from Yoo Ji-tae.
"......"
The old one she'd clutched was faded. She'd washed it repeatedly with her water magic when dirty.
Buttons frayed, arms ragged blue bear.
Winter alternated looks between Yoo Ji-tae and the new bear, then accepted it carefully. Stared at it long.
"Like it?"
Her tiny head nodded. Eyes looking up at him shone brightly.
"Give me the old one."
Winter's smile faded.
Tense face, she shook her head.
Sensing oddness, Yoo Ji-tae grabbed 'Blue Bear'. But Winter gripped tight, resisting.
"Won't give? Why."
"......"
"It's worn."
Shake shake.
"Won't throw away?"
Nod.
She was stubborn now.
First time Winter opposed him. He let go of the bear.
No big deal. Leave it.
Thus, Winter hugged bears in both arms.
"Huh? Unni."
"Yeah?"
Gaeul asked, surprised.
She pointed: handcuffs and whip set.
"Whose is that?"
"Yeoreum's. She hasn't come back yet?"
Gaeul paled.
The chick ran a 'brain simulation'.
Yoo Yeoreum. The violent Red Dragon gets cuffs and whip. If used in dorm on someone?
"N-No, can't give that to Yeoreum unni...!"
"Huh? Why?"
"I'll die...!"
As Gaeul lunged for Yeoreum's gifts...
BAM!
Someone burst in like kicking the door.
Yeoreum.
Sweaty from hard workout, breathing ragged.
"Huh? What's this. Nice stuff?"
She strode to the living room, snatched the wallet from Gaeul's hand.
The chick tensed. Gaeul held Yeoreum's gift in the other.
"Pretty. Can I drool on it?"
"Uh, yeah... drool."
Quick reply made Yeoreum tilt her head.
Yeoreum eyed Gaeul's posture. Awkward expression, movements. That hand behind her back...
"Yoo Gaeul. Hiding something?"
"H-Hid, what hide?"
"Gimme."
"......"
The chick's simulation foresaw disaster in a minute. She looked grim.
Crisis moment. Gaeul spoke.
"Mister..."
"Yeah?"
"If I die... put one chrysanthemum at the funeral..."
You die?
"Can't do that."
"So mean...!"
Right after, Yeoreum grabbed Gaeul, bound her limbs, and whipped her butt.
"Waaah―!"