Chapter 160
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Human Locust Swarm
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They say that if 500 billion locusts properly sweep through once, even the US and China would tremble in fear.
Now I get what that means.
The POS machine and barcode scanner, both red-hot from overuse. Shelves that looked like they'd been gnawed by bugs, sparsely stocked here and there. Trash bins overflowing despite being emptied three times already, waste trying to spill back out. And above all, me—looking like my soul had fled my body.
All traces left behind by the human locusts.
Was I dreaming right now?
"Huff, huff... Hyunwoo! What the hell is going on here?!"
The store manager had rushed over after my call, showing up in pajamas and what looked like his daughter's pink bunny slippers. Just seeing the terror in his shaking eyes told me this situation was beyond reason.
I barely peeled my lips apart—stuck from dealing with too many customers.
"I have no idea what's happening either. I just scanned barcodes nonstop all day without a clue... My mind's about to snap. For now, let's rush a new order. Otherwise, later customers might think we're closing the store or something."
"Y-yeah, right!"
Chop, chop, chop!
Watching the manager drag those ill-fitting pink bunny slippers, I slipped off my own and handed them over. I'd just wear my sneakers.
"Thanks, kid. Damn, what the hell is this? What the hell happened?"
"......"
As he checked sales and the store management system like always, my eyebrows twitched involuntarily. At first, he sounded shocked, but after seeing the revenue, his voice brimmed with joy.
I'd hoped for his success many times before, but not like this—not from a locust swarm of humans.
Still, I swallowed those petty thoughts and spoke up.
"Whew, Manager. Congratulations. You hit the jackpot out of nowhere."
No matter the circumstances, he deserved this happiness.
Hardworking at the store and at home, yet always shortchanged on rewards, consoling himself with four cans of beer each time. He needed moments like this to smile.
Thinking that way eased my mind a bit. Yeah, shove those ugly feelings from earlier into a corner. I'm not some monster without a shred of humanity.
"Heh, you're right. Won't happen every day, but today's sales alone are enough to make my belly full just looking at the numbers. You worked your ass off too, Hyunwoo. Grab anything you want—take it all."
My eyes flicked to the cigarettes for a second, but I slapped my own cheek and said,
"Shift's not over yet."
And exactly three days later.
I put a cigarette back in my mouth—the one I'd sworn to quit for good.
My ears felt like they were bleeding.
Even with no one around, closing my eyes brought a flood of voices and demands echoing in my head.
Does this include a freebie? Do you give spoons separately? Isn't this a buy-one-get-one? Give you one, can you just do half price?
"Like hell!"
[AM 4:36]
It really felt like I could kill someone if I stayed like this. With my physical stats boosted from quests, it was even more dangerous.
So, using the excuse of no choice, I'd bought a pack and was already on my third, chain-smoking away. The long-forgotten smoke scratched my throat, but that hazy nicotine buzz and the spin in my lungs made my head reel.
The cigarette after so long... still hit just right.
"Ah, fuck!"
Not even in a bad mood, yet curses spilled out. Partly from the thrill of smoking again, but mostly, I couldn't hold them back.
Tap, tap!
I roughly shook off the ash and checked the message in front of me.
[Quest: Study Hard to Increase Your Value has been completed.]
[Reward: 1,000,000 won and Low-level Speed Reading Skill granted.]
When did I even pick up this quest? It finally cleared today. With the Low-level Speed Reading Skill in hand, I planned to check out that novel Song Ayoung recommended.
But for three straight days, without fail—right during my shifts—people swarmed in. It felt personal, like they had a grudge.
Watching crowds pour in from midnight, they didn't even look human anymore. Like monsters tormenting me—if I'd had a K-2 rifle, I might've unconsciously mag-dumped on full auto, something I never did in service.
"Hoo......"
I sighed, trying to push out the negativity, but it wasn't that easy.
This time, I fully empathized—90% at least—with my friend who fell apart working civil service. Mine were mostly decent customers; his were the "demons" from his view, basic welfare recipients.
[Kim Hyunwoo: What kind of war are you fighting?]
I impulsively typed a pointless message, then deleted it. No need to stir up his anxiety.
Creak!
A passerby's footsteps made me shudder. Just someone heading to the gym at dawn with earbuds in.
"Man, I'm losing it."
The manager had it good, honestly.
Come in next morning after clocking out, and massive sales were logged. What manager wouldn't be thrilled?
He looked sorry for me, but couldn't hide his joy.
I got it—hell, not getting it would be the problem. Still, those shoved-aside petty thoughts kept rearing up.
'Wow, why are the orders here so huge lately? Almost five times other stores.'
Even the delivery guy saying that grated on me. That's when I sensed something was seriously off.
The manager timidly asked if we should hire another night shifter.
I said it was fine for now.
No clue how long this would last; hiring extra might wipe that rare smile off his face.
Better I break a bit more.
'Physically, I'm fine anyway.'
Honestly, anyone else would've collapsed or bolted by now. Not overrating myself—this was cold fact.
Just the stamina from quests was +9.
Even +1 makes a difference; this was insane.
'Felt it bone-deep at the Hanban Group mansion before.'
The issue was mental.
Crowds were bad enough.
Worse: every tenth one was a nutjob who thought they were sane, making insane demands.
Why make them scan their own PayPay card? Drinking inside's banned, so why not this food? Their brazen attitude—like their rules were gospel—drove me madder.
"Ah, my neck. Fuck."
Thinking of trash who littered inside, I lit another cig.
Ding-a-ling!
The doorbell—now grating—rang as I checked my phone at the counter.
"There's definitely something going on."
Couldn't happen without it. No mass hypnosis or whatever.
I'd skipped communities before—felt like self-harm compared to mirror therapy with Han Aebom—but checked one after ages.
Convenience Store Splurge, Shindong Station Store #1, Novel24
[Searching...]
Sensational ads aside, posts with similar keywords popped up.
1,170 new posts today related to my search. Not Han Aebom's fault—just lots of people doing this.
Scrolling furiously, various threads appeared.
What the hell is this?
Clicked thinking maybe it was about me—yep, no doubt, it was.
-Today I had the most ridiculous experience. Everyone beware. The night shift guy at that place, Kim Hyunwoo, is a mega asshole, super rude.
A question mark popped over my head after skimming.
What...?
-I'm not big on solid food, prefer liquids. Bought a ton of drinks. Recycling's a hassle, so I was gonna chug them there. Bastard says no eating drinks inside?
This prick, no way?
-Told him other places are fine. He says that's their problem, rules are different here. No drinks inside. Total psycho vibe. Beware, folks. He looks like a straight-up psychopath. Poor manager. Now I get why sales suck usually—blame the part-timer.
I was certain.
This was the guy who tried drinking booze inside, got mad when I said no, then chugged with one foot out the door, face under the eaves...
"Unbelievable."
I'd even been pretty polite. No smile, but no scowl either, I swear.
Yet he writes it like this?
Comments were worse.
Poor manager for real.
Reason sales suck usually. All that part-timer's fault?
Felt rude too. Morning manager was super nice.
Guy that age, night shift at a conbini? Already tells you everything. Report him.
This political shit?
Suddenly got why lawmakers brawl with extinguishers in parliament. This alone churned my guts—what if it happened face-to-face?
No, plenty must've seen I wasn't like that. Weirdly, no such comments.
Why the sudden push to boost that store's sales?
Check this, link.
Thanks.
Damn, manager's such a pitiful guy. Sniff, I'll join the spending spree. And that night shift Kim Hyunwoo is trash, right?
Yep. His work attitude makes you curse. Poor manager.
We'll give it back double. Make him quit on his own. Don't want manager firing him and him claiming unemployment.
A hollow laugh escaped as I clicked the link. There was a video shared.
Description: "Proud of our nation's finest—still dashing by chance."
[Trust Level: 100%]
Shindong Station Novel24 Store #1 owner. Works weekdays/weekends, mornings to late nights with a short lunch break. His only self-treat: four unsold beers a week. Touched after ages watching this.
Thinking of a small event. I'll fund up to a point—buy stuff here, show me receipts privately, get 30% back.
Pro-level editing worthy of a broadcast PD. Even my eyes welled up unnecessarily.
Fine, but.
Problem: star was my store's manager.
"What bored psycho does such a nice yet insane thing......"
I muttered.
Then, a nightmare voice from the entrance.
"Hyunwoo, could you pick a lunchbox today too? The one from before was so good."
Facing Oh Hanam, I tried forcing a casual smile.
Damn, too late.