Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Let's Get Some Clothes (3)
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I doubted my ears for a moment.
'12 million won...? For just a dozen or so pieces of clothing...?'
The only clothes I'd ever bought were cheap internet finds sold for 10,000 won for three pieces. I never imagined department store clothes could cost this much.
I'd come prepared to spend maybe a million won at most, but 12 million? That was nearly a third of my bank balance!
"Th-this... if I just don't buy─ Ah..."
Only then did I remember that Yu So-jeong had already altered all the clothes to fit me perfectly with her Mending skill.
She'd punched holes right through them and restructured everything.
12 million won. Money that could buy 500 chickens, vanishing in an instant.
Yu So-jeong, who'd fitted the clothes to me, now seemed nothing but an object of resentment.
"Ugh..."
I glared at her, suppressing my anger. She stood there expressionless, oblivious or not to my mood. Or maybe it was my imagination, but I swear I caught a faint hint of amusement.
Sad was sad, but now that we were here, I had to pay up.
With trembling hands, I fished my wallet from my bag and pulled out my debit card with great effort.
"Ch-checkout..."
The moment I tearfully handed over the card, the clerk pushed it back.
"The payment has already been completed by this lady."
"Pardon?"
Her baffling words made me tilt my head in confusion. Was there someone else here besides me who could pay?
I turned to where the clerk pointed and saw Yu So-jeong standing there with her own card.
"I've already taken care of the payment. Shall we go?"
"Uh?"
A flicker of suspicion crossed my mind, but my brain quickly started piecing it together.
'There must be a reason she's buying me clothes.'
Maybe the Management Bureau was trying to saddle me with debt. They were probably desperate to control an SSS-Rank like me, using honey traps and money to reel me in.
But I wasn't falling for tricks like that.
"Ca-cancel it and use my card instead!"
Better my money than owing the Bureau anything. I thrust my card at the clerk.
Then Yu So-jeong spoke up.
"Awakener Lee Da-yoon. I took care of the payment. Not the Management Bureau."
"...Pardon?"
She'd paid herself? Meaning her personal card, not Bureau funds?
"Why? Why would you...?"
"To make a good impression on you, Awakener Lee Da-yoon. You're someone we need to look after properly."
Finally, it clicked. Yu So-jeong had given her superior—a gift!
Gift... bribe... nice ring to it.
But if something comes your way, something's gotta go back. She must want something from me too.
"What do you want from me, Miss Yu So-jeong?"
She pondered briefly before answering.
"A little help with a mission."
"A mission?"
"Yes. One of the tasks from upstairs is to 'take a photo of Lee Da-yoon.' I'd appreciate your cooperation."
Short deliberation, then decision. Posing for a photo was no big deal. And if it was a bribe for her mission, it didn't mean I owed the Bureau.
"Sure. That it?"
"...Yes. That's plenty."
"When should we take the photo? Now?"
Yu So-jeong shook her head.
"No. Timing doesn't matter. Is it okay if we do it after you get home?"
"Yeah. Shall we head out then?"
"Yes. I'll guide you."
She opened the fitting room door for me, and we left the department store, waving goodbye to the bowing clerk.
Whether because she was carrying my bags and clothes or because I'd scored a haul of new outfits, my steps felt light.
As I headed for the bus stop I'd memorized, Yu So-jeong gently grabbed my arm.
"Eh?"
"A car is ready. This way, please."
Following her lead, I climbed into a luxury sedan in the parking lot. Plush seats enveloped me.
"We'll need to prepare a car seat."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
As the car pulled out onto the main road, a window suddenly popped up before my eyes.
"Huh?"
"Is something wrong?"
A level-up window out of nowhere, without doing anything. Checking my status, my level had somehow reached 2.
"I just leveled up out of the blue. Wonder why..."
Soon, another window appeared to answer my question.
The user of Treasure 'Golden Flame Dagger' has defeated an enemy. You gain experience points.
"Ah...!"
All the puzzle pieces fell into place.
Kim Hwa-rin. She'd bought my dagger. And she was an A-Rank hunter, slaying monsters daily.
With my Frail Wyrmling debuff keeping me out of combat for ten years, this must be my special way to level up.
'Yeah, this is what SSS-Rank looks like.'
Unlike other production-type Awakeners, my future looked bright.
I could safely level up at home just by crafting and selling weapons to other hunters!
"Hee hee hee...!"
Laughter bubbled out unbidden.
"Something good must have happened."
"Yes. Something very good!"
I replied happily to Yu So-jeong's comment.
The car soon pulled up to my studio apartment. Yu So-jeong followed me inside, laden with shopping bags like it was routine. Just days ago, this rundown one-room filled with instant ramen now overflowed with luxury bags.
"Thank you. For helping organize too."
"It's only natural. Want help with the closet?"
"Oh, no! I'll handle that."
She neatly stacked the bags in one corner and turned to me.
"Lee Da-yoon. May I carry out that mission we discussed?"
"Oh, sure. Anything I need to prep?"
Couldn't just take a 12-million-won gift and pretend it never happened. I nodded readily.
"Better to wear one of the new outfits. Easier to attach to the report."
"Yeah. Any one work?"
She was just doing her job to eat, after all. Might as well help her get a good review.
"Something that shows off your physical traits well."
She rummaged in a bag and pulled out two pieces.
"This seems most suitable."
White camisole and dolphin pants.
"Uh... this?"
They were clothes I'd tried on and bought, but being photographed? It felt off. An adult woman in dolphin pants and a camisole—embarrassing if it didn't feel weird.
"It highlights your wings and tail best. Any further changes would stand out easily."
"Ugh... guess no choice then."
If it's for work, what could I do? Swallowing my shame, I took the clothes.
"I'll change."
"Yes. I'll wait."
As I headed to the bathroom with the outfit, Yu So-jeong stared intently. Ignoring the heavy gaze, I shut the door and changed.
The cramped bathroom wasn't an issue with my shrunken body.
The camisole had plenty of room for wings, and the horns didn't snag.
Looking in the mirror, it was... cute, but a bit provocative. The combo gave off a strangely domestic vibe in the bathroom.
'Not provocative, though?'
With my youthful look, it probably just seemed risky. Anyone finding this sexy would be a serious criminal.
Still risky-looking. Debating if photos were appropriate, I opened the door.
Yu So-jeong's eyes sparkled like catching sunlight.
"N-now take the photos."
"Yes. One moment, please."
She pulled out her phone and started snapping. One from the front, then requests followed.
"Could you sit naturally?"
"Strike a V-pose, please."
"Now lying down."
...After about ten shots, a strange doubt crept in.
'Do reports usually need this many photos?'
And for a report, wouldn't shots showing wings, horns, tail suffice? Why all these poses?
"Um... isn't this enough photos?"
When I asked, her hand froze on the phone.