The Value of Gold Coins
The next day, Siwoo left the warehouse door open again during the quiet afternoon hours.
He was checking inventory behind the counter when the door rattled.
After locking the glass entrance and stepping into the warehouse, he opened the door to find Liria and Seraphin standing there together.
Liria wore a faintly apologetic expression, while Seraphin stood with her arms crossed, eyes bright with interest.
Liria spoke first.
"Siwoo-ssi… I meant to come alone, but I ran into Seraphin-ssi out front. She insisted we come together…"
Seraphin shrugged.
"We just happened to cross paths on the road. I simply felt like opening the door again."
Siwoo let them both inside.
Liria drew a gold coin from her clothes and set it on the crate. Seraphin added a few more of her own.
Siwoo picked one up and asked,
"These gold coins… how much are they worth in your world?"
Liria answered carefully.
"In our world, a single silver coin covers an ordinary meal. A gold coin is worth dozens of silver coins or more. When I first came to this shop, everything felt so luxurious and strange that I ended up offering a gold coin without thinking."
Seraphin added,
"She's right. Cold drinks, food wrapped in strange paper, sweet things… by our standards, that's the sort of fare nobles eat. That's why we paid in gold."
Only then did Siwoo understand.
Handing them drinks, triangle kimbap, and snacks in exchange for gold coins had been an enormous transaction from their perspective.
He brought a few more items from the shelves—this time not only food.
A small bottle of salt, a pepper shaker, and two bars of soap.
Liria and Seraphin's eyes widened at the same moment.
Liria took the salt bottle and curiously twisted off the lid.
"This is… salt? It's so fine and white…"
Seraphin shook the pepper shaker and said,
"The scent is strong. Completely different from the pepper in our world."
When Siwoo handed over the soap, Liria brought it close to her nose and sniffed. Her expression brightened.
"It smells wonderful. Our soap is made from animal fat, so the odor is harsh. This is… truly amazing."
Seraphin turned a bar over in her hands and muttered,
"People in this world use things like this every day?"
Siwoo also brought out wet wipes and a small tube of hand cream. The two women touched each item, smelled them, and repeated their soft exclamations of wonder.
Liria set down more gold coins.
"I'll take some of the salt, soap, and pepper with this… and drinks and food like last time as well."
Siwoo accepted the coins with a nod.
In their world the gold was significant money, yet both women seemed better off than most of their people. And the goods from this shop clearly struck them as shocking and valuable.
Seraphin glanced at Siwoo and curved her lips.
"Shopkeeper. Got anything more interesting next time? Something the women of our world would like."
Siwoo answered briefly.
"I'll show you gradually."
The two women tucked their purchases into their clothes and pockets and headed for the door. Liria gave Siwoo a small final wave.
"I'll come again."
Seraphin looked him over once without a word, then vanished through the doorway first.
Siwoo locked the warehouse door and unlocked the glass entrance. Sitting at the counter, he gazed at the newly received gold coins.
One silver coin for a meal…
That meant the gold coins he had received were a considerable fortune in the other world.
Siwoo gave a low laugh.
"We're both profiting by completely different standards."
Evening was beginning again in Gangnam's nightlife district.
The next day, Siwoo left the warehouse door open once more during the quiet afternoon.
He was checking stock behind the counter when the door rattled. After locking the glass front and entering the warehouse, he opened the door to find Liria standing alone.
In her hand was a small pouch mixed with silver and gold coins.
She smiled a little shyly.
"Siwoo-ssi, is it all right if I come again today? I brought both silver and gold."
Siwoo ushered her inside and asked,
"Isn't gold a heavy burden in your world?"
Liria shook her head.
"Silver and gold are relatively more plentiful there than in this reality. Ordinary people still live tightly, but those who handle magic or possess skills tend to have more leeway. I'm on the better-off side among them, so buying things from this shop isn't a great strain."
Siwoo brought salt, pepper, soap, chocolate, and a sports drink from the shelves and set them on the crate. Liria touched each item with wonder and soft admiration.
Yet her hands moved more slowly than usual as she gathered the goods. She looked up at him carefully.
"Siwoo-ssi… may I stay a little longer today? Coming alone… I missed your face so much."
Siwoo confirmed the glass door was locked, then wrapped an arm around her waist. Liria buried her face against his chest. Silver hair spilled over his arm.
She whispered in a small voice,
"I'm truly glad this door appeared. Meeting you… makes me happy."
Siwoo gently lifted her chin and kissed her—softly at first, then deeper. Liria clutched his collar and answered the kiss. Their breaths mixed; their bodies pressed together naturally.
She brought her lips to his ear and whispered,
"I want to touch your body, Siwoo-ssi… Today I'll be more forward."
She guided him to sit on a stock crate and sank to her knees. When she slipped the straps of her dress from her shoulders, her pale breasts were bare. Liria drew him out and caressed him slowly with hand and mouth—coating him with saliva, taking him deep, wrapping her tongue around the head.
When Siwoo stroked her silver hair back, she looked up. Desire and affection filled her eyes together.
A moment later she rose and hiked her dress to her waist. She was already slick and ready. She settled onto him slowly, taking him inside. With every inch she sank, their breathing deepened.
When they were fully joined, Liria buried her face against his neck and moaned.
"Haa… Siwoo-ssi… you're inside me…"
She began to move her hips gently. Siwoo held her waist and met her from below. Her breasts swayed; her silver hair fell loose. They looked at each other as the pace quickened.
Liria gripped his shoulders tightly and cried out softly.
"Siwoo-ssi… I like you… I like you so much…"
He wrapped his arms around her back and thrust deeper. Her inner walls clenched hard as she climaxed. Feeling that tight pulse, Siwoo came with her.
They held each other for a long while, catching their ragged breath. Liria rested her forehead against his chest and spoke quietly.
"…It really is wonderful. Being with you like this makes the door feel like a blessing."
Siwoo stroked her back.
"Don't push yourself. If it ever feels dangerous, go back at once."
She lifted her head and gave him a long, affectionate kiss. Then she straightened her clothes and looked toward the door.
"I'll come again. Siwoo-ssi… you'll wait for me, won't you?"
He nodded. As Liria crossed the threshold she glanced back once more, eyes smiling.
Siwoo locked the warehouse door and unlocked the glass front. Sitting at the counter, he felt the lingering warmth she had left behind. Outside the window, the evening neon of Gangnam's nightlife district began to flicker.
After Liria left, Siwoo remained at the counter for some time. Her warmth, her scent, and the words "I like you" still lingered in his ears. It no longer felt like a relationship of bodies alone; emotion had begun to mix in.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and let out a short sigh.
The next day.
During the quiet afternoon, with the warehouse door left open while he ran the shop, the door rattled again. After locking the glass entrance and stepping into the warehouse, he found Seraphin standing alone.
She wore a black sleeveless top and short pants. The dagger at her waist was the same as always.
She looked at Siwoo and lifted one corner of her mouth.
"So after the silver-haired elf, it's my turn. Not a bad feeling."
Siwoo asked warily,
"What are you buying today?"
Seraphin tossed a few gold coins onto the crate.
"Drinks, soap, that white salt. And…"
She stepped closer and caught his collar. The distance between them shrank.
"Yesterday the silver-haired girl left carrying a thick scent of you. A deeply tangled smell."
When Siwoo tried to brush her hand away, Seraphin only pressed nearer. She was small, yet her presence was strong.
"I'm not the gentle type like Liria. But I have plenty of curiosity. I want to find out for myself what kind of man lives beyond this door."
Her hand drifted toward his belt and stroked slowly. Feeling the reaction already rising, she gave a low laugh.
"You're not giving special treatment only to the silver-haired elf, are you?"
Siwoo caught her wrist and stopped her.
"Just buy what you need and go."
Seraphin clicked her tongue in mild disappointment and stepped back—though she did not look fully defeated.
"Fine. I'll leave it there for today. Next time… I might make you want it first."
She gathered her purchases and walked toward the door. Just before leaving she glanced back.
"I know Liria's fallen for you. Me—I'm more interested in your body itself than in those feelings."
When Seraphin vanished beyond the door, Siwoo locked it and unlocked the glass front. He sat at the counter and pressed a hand to his forehead.
Liria approached with emotion; Seraphin approached with open desire. The door had only recently connected the worlds, yet already two very different kinds of ties were beginning to tangle.
Siwoo muttered low,
"It's getting… more complicated."
That evening, as he prepared to close, his phone buzzed. A text from the gold-coin buyer.
Siwoo read the message and deleted it at once. Quiet ripples were continuing on the real-world side as well.
He looked out at the neon and made a decision. For the time being he would pause gold-coin sales and manage the door more carefully.
Threads were beginning to unravel in both worlds.
That night, after closing the shop and stepping into the alley, he heard the familiar click of high heels.
It was Sera.
Today her outfit was more restrained than usual; the dress hem fell a little longer. She stopped in front of Siwoo and smiled lightly.
"Manager, your face looks better these days. Something good happen?"
Siwoo shrugged.
"Just got a bit of breathing room."
Sera stepped closer and smoothed his collar as if straightening it.
"If you've got room… have dinner with me. Not at the store—somewhere proper."
Siwoo studied her face for a moment. Liria, Seraphin, and the real-world Sera—three women, each pulling him in her own way.
After a brief hesitation he nodded.
"…All right. Where to?"
Sera's eyes brightened. She linked her arm through his naturally and smiled.
"I know a quiet place. Somewhere I think you'll like."
They walked out of the alley side by side. Sera deliberately stayed close; her perfume and body heat reached his arm.
For a moment Siwoo thought of the otherworld door, of Liria and Seraphin, then shook his head. Tonight he was walking with a woman of this world.
Sera drew his arm a little tighter and spoke low.
"First time having a real meal with you, Manager. Tonight… I won't rush. We'll talk slowly."
Siwoo looked at her profile. Neon light reflected off her long purple hair.
Their footsteps continued together along the night streets of Gangnam's entertainment district.