Convenience Store

Translator : Elizabeth

“Hello, world!”

Looking blankly at the card held in hand, I spat out such words unknowingly. Somehow felt like I should do so.

Then as if responding, WELCOME! engraved on the World card twinkled faintly. Then soon melted as if seeping into empty air and disappeared without trace.

Card wasn't real object in the first place. Since it was existence close to illusion visible only to my eyes, it wasn't particularly surprising.

“….”

I looked at empty air where card disappeared for a moment then moved steps again.

Trudge, trudge.

Sceneries in memory brushed past as if tracing back memory. Wasn't that far from place I lived but street felt unfamiliar already.

But wasn't anxious anymore.

Long padding covering whole body.

Hood pressed deep.

I was still wrapping body tight. Due to ability not controlled properly yet couldn't stop effort trying to block others' gaze.

Nevertheless….

Excluding such unavoidable circumstance, felt conviction that act of stepping out of house won't be scary anymore.

Trauma was, already overcome.

Under dim sky, desolate road where cars pass sparsely. I who came out to road corner stopped steps for a moment and fell into worry.

Original plan was heading straight to destination taking taxi. But now out of trauma, I wanted to enjoy world a little more.

Anyway time is 6 AM. Wasn't time slot crowded with people.

After brief worry I moved steps toward bus stop.

If really, really by any chance situation I feared happens… calculation stood that if physical ability enhanced with Hermit talisman, can respond sufficiently.

Way to bus stop was quiet yet strangely lively.

Lights of streetlamps still remaining faintly. Between hardware store with shutter down and cafe with lights off, one restaurant opened from early time caught eye.

Sound of shoe heels and friction sound of bicycle chain turning cut dawn air occasionally.

Scenery of city waking up gradually. And surprisingly world didn't show any interest in me.

Worst assumptions that tormented me meanwhile didn't show sign of becoming reality even a bit.

Soon bus arrived and I nodded lightly to driver then tapped card.

—Beep, adult.

Took seat right next to exit. So can get off immediately if sign of people flocking is seen.

Didn't put gaze outside window on purpose. Just because overcame trauma letting guard down until emergency situation was foolish negligence.

With head down and hair covering half of face, observing people getting on and off bus, I organized Arcana became usable as talisman recently calmly.

Hanged Man, Judgement, Fool.

And World.

First Hanged Man talisman was object showing true value in situation where stress reached extreme. Based on helping adapt to stress, depending on situation sublimated it into inspiration too.

Judgement possessed considerably interesting effect. Actions performed while possessing talisman accumulate as ‘Karma’ manifested as actual efficacy.

Fool was… honestly speaking just funny. If putting energy into card Fool Arcana appeared but didn't seem to exert particularly practical influence.

If had to say, felt like got one inner friend.

Look even now.

—😀

Fool’s Arcana visible only to my eyes was grooming here and there reflecting own face on crown of bald passenger sitting in that front seat.

Felt like bursting laughter alone in quiet bus if kept looking, so I turned gaze with effort and thought about last card.

World.

This Arcana was something I had opportunity to obtain long ago.

When people flocked to my broadcast by I Am Invincible, had to choose one between Hermit and World, and I chose Hermit back then.

‘Maybe Justice Arcana too, might be able to obtain through other opportunity in future.’

Getting off bus I put one commercial building coming into view already in eyes. That such thing is mine, sensation of heart pounding was felt clearly.

Total floor area over 6,000 pyeong (approx. 20,000 sq meters). Person who brought contract said it’s worth few hundred billion won, but that seemed like price when almost no margin attached.

Even if region with small floating population, if that scale would be able to receive hundred billion sufficiently. On top of that Hyunwon’s new office building comes into this surrounding? Then would be worth aiming for few hundred billion too.

‘Intention to place me around new office building is felt blatantly. But if this degree of sincerity well, right for me to stick close too.’

Walking entrusting body to pleasant excitement soon throat became thirsty.

Just in time saw convenience store so decided to buy one drink. Felt like craving sweet thing so picked Caramel Macchiato and placed on counter.

“….”

But part-timer just stood still. Raising gaze slightly he was staring at my face piercingly with blank expression.

So met eyes together, he spat out strange interjection “Aht! Yet! Ah!” belatedly and scanned barcode hurriedly.

Moment inserting card in terminal finishing calculation and turning back.

“E, excuse me!”

Part-timer called me.

Looked back thinking something like this would happen, but words different from my expectation popped out.

“Yu, Yujin-nim! R, right….”

Compared to calling name vigorously back words withered powerlessly.

But that wasn't important. Important thing was opponent knows me.

I asked with eyes wide open.

“Are you viewer?”

“Yes, yees!”

“Ah ah….”

Truly surprising coincidence. Added words a little just in case.

“Then… are you my fan?”

“C, correct!”

At that moment Justice Arcana flashing through head. Confirming opponent is really fan I smiled happily and approached counter again.

Just in time no other customer so was good timing to share conversation.

“Honestly want to shake hand at least. But due to personal circumstance physical contact is a bit difficult. Instead shall we take photo together at least?”

“Eot! Aht! That!”

He hesitated like broken machine for a moment then soon nodded head violently.

We stuck awkwardly and took selfie once each with respective phone.

Short filming ended and awkward silence flowed for a moment.

“….”

“….”

Just looking at each other like that, I who felt fascinated by first fan met eventually brought up this words.

“Shall I read Tarot once too?”

Part-timer who heard that opened mouth slowly as if understanding meaning one tempo late then soon nodded head violently once again.

Chwareureuk.

Thus Tarot deck was spread on counter.

“Wow….”

Seeing opponent admiring at scenery nothing special I smiled slightly and said.

“Recalling what you are worrying about currently, please pick three cards.”

“Yes, yees!”

He picked cards excessively carefully. Enough to guess holding quite heavy worry even without using ability.

“First will look at cause of worry.”

Saying so, flipped first among cards he picked.

[SEVEN OF WANDS]

7 of Wands. Card containing appearance struggling to keep own conviction.

I nodded and opened mouth.

“Kicked out of house saying want to become novelist.”

“Heo-eok!”

Part-timer stepping back making sound almost dying breath. Face was hardened like person who saw some ghost.

I tilted head and asked.

“…Didn't you know my skill?”

“Ah, knew but…. Experiencing directly is more surprising….”

Seeing hand placed on chest seemed really surprised a lot.

I smirked and flipped second card.

[THE FOOL]

Fool.

—Reversed.

Frowl furrowed automatically.

“Ah… If reversed is it bad? Mm….”

Part-timer asked in worrying tone. Reversed didn't mean unconditionally negative, but seemed not time to argue such thing now.

I continued words calmly.

“Part-time job, first time right?”

“Ah… Correct.”

“Very hard right?”

“Uh, mm… Yes….”

He hesitated for a moment then eventually nodded.

Honestly speaking result was obvious even without seeing last card daringly.

Person for whom living out of parents' protection, part-time job, moving toward dream are all first time. Maintaining livelihood in that state dreaming of novelist, naturally was burdensome task.

Still I flipped last card.

[EIGHT OF CUPS]

8 of Cups.

As expected.

He eventually takes step back from dream.

“Result… is bad right?”

Raising head part-timer was making bitter smile. He was already in state half concluded.

“Seems I had no talent. Can't be helped.”

To words muttered gloomily, I shook head. And said firmly.

“Don't say such sound. Wasn't work started thinking there is talent in the first place right.”

“…!”

He raised head with startled face.

“Wanted to do because writing is fun. Right?”

“Ah….”

Exclamation leaked out thinly as if breath blocked. Then soon lowered head deeply again.

“B, but… Not being able to write just because one part-time job is hard isn't it too shabby?”

“Part-time job is first time, and writing is first time too. This is natural.”

“There are many people who succeeded writing as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠side job though….”

“Then those people, what do you think of them?”

“Yes?”

“I mean people who succeeded writing as side job. Do they look like people who achieved just nothing special work?”

Coming up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to here, seemed he also noticed what I try to say.

“N, no… Think they are amazing….”

“Correct. Whatever work two jobs is hard. Looking at person succeeded with side job, there is no one saying did nothing special work.”

“Ah….”

“You are not weak.”

Whether words just now touched deep inside heart, he was making face like about to cry soon.

I looked at him for a moment, then took out yellow paper bundle from pocket. Tarot talisman produced entrusting outsourcing to Voyeurism.

Putting energy into Hanged Man talisman among them handed to part-timer.

“Honestly understanding parents' heart too, little ambiguous to take side completely. Still since you are my fan.”

I added smiling.

“Can give this much help. Last challenge, try your best not to regret.”

Not long after that. One verification post came up on Twe’re.

———

[Verification Yes) Unraveling story meeting Convenience Store Boy (Pyondori) Yujin-nim actually]

[KickedOutFromHome]

(Photo of convenience store part-timer with face mosaiced and Yujin taking photo sticking awkwardly)

(Photo of Tarot talisman drawn with picture of naked woman hanging upside down)

First uploading verification first.

Thinking about that time hand still trembles a little.

Person doing part-time at convenience store in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠provincial small city.

Recently nuisances (Jinsang) increased so mentality was ground (worn out) a bit much.

Guy not communicating, guy throwing item at counter, guy picking fight uselessly….

Was day wanting to quit part-time like usual.

Then one customer entered.

Wearing long padding and hood pressed deep so at first thought just customer calculating quietly and going again.

But moment putting down item on counter face seen briefly was too pretty so I became blank for moment.

Really.

Surprised inside but looking again was face seen a lot somewhere.

Then realized.

Ah… Yujin-nim?

Thought heart sinking.

Person seen only on broadcast at convenience store I work…?

Really squeezed courage and spoke, she said correct smiling, took photo together, and even read Tarot.

Verification photo above is what came out then.

And Tarot… Ah.

Thought amazing even when watching video but experiencing directly dimension was different.

Me kicked out of house saying writing novel.

Hard because part-time first time.

Really didn't say anything but guessed all.

Felt suffocating.

And almost cried at advice she gave.

Honestly speaking almost cried, yes.

Furthermore gave one talisman at end, after receiving that strange thing happened.

Every time getting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stressed meeting nuisance strangely good scene or sentence comes to mind.

Thanks to that writing wildly.

And another strange thing is every time inspiration bursts like that talisman picture changes like slightly scorched.

I also saw other people’s reviews so knew but seeing directly fascinating in different feeling again.

Yujin-nim.

Really thank you.

Growth trend of novel serializing now is unusual.

This is all thanks to Yujin-nim.

Yujin-nim is no different from another parent of my work ‘Became Female Convenience Store Clerk’.

Will try living hard.

Really thank you.

[Comments]

- Ah dog envious I am also Pyondori but why Yujin doesn't come here.

- Photo taken together dog awkward did you two fight? lol.

- That was your work??? Fck masochist protagonist’s fcking delicate psychological description was dope so thought female author but eit sh*t ptui ptui ptui.

- Oh reading it f*cking horny.

- Want to have those talismans too is there no way don't need particularly talisman efficacy though ah.

  L Try putting outsourcing to Voyeurism that guy.

  L Tried long ago but said no f*cking firmly.

  L No why??? Not particularly problematic right???

  L Said if by any chance human deceiving as fake appears damage can go to Yujin so doesn't sell.

  L Ah reason goes understanding a little then just try speaking to Yujin openly.

- What is TS are you gay?

(……)

———

“Hello. I am Seo Hyo-ju.”

She extended hand with greeting. However Yu Ah-jin shook head lightly.

“Sorry. Due to personal circumstance physical contact is difficult.”

Seo Hyo-ju hesitated for moment but soon organized expression. And looking at Yu Ah-jin with much more serious face asked.

“So, what is story to tell?”

“Story. Mm… Better to do that moving seat a little.”

“…Yes?”

In the first place this place was appointment place Yu Ah-jin decided. But moving to another place from here?

It was moment natural displeasure was about to bloom inside Seo Hyo-ju.

Yu Ah-jin took out two cards from bosom. Moment Seo Hyo-ju's gaze captured letters engraved on one of them, ‘THE WORLD’.

—Pazik!

That card crumbled whitely and spark like tearing air burst out.

“Kkyak!”

Seo Hyo-ju stepped back reflexively losing balance and fell on butt.

“Wh, what…?”

And when opened eyes again.

“…!”

She was standing in completely different place.

Daldongne of night.

Shabby houses lined up densely along sloped alley, and in sky above that….

Unrealistically huge moon was floating.

That too, bizarre moon engraved with human face.

Beside Seo Hyo-ju who was just opening mouth unable to understand situation Yu Ah-jin appeared nonchalantly and said.

“Your revenge.”

Cutting off words for moment she added looking at Seo Hyo-ju straight.

“I will help.”