Throat Candy Farewell and B-Rank Gate Shock
"Why the hell are you eating that, you idiot! Who's gonna pay the hospital bill if you get a stomachache?!"
That was the store manager I knew.
The kind who'd launch into a full-blown lecture the moment I cautiously eyed a discarded item and popped it in my mouth.
A textbook boomer, as they say.
"If you get sick, if you're too hurt to work, it's not just you suffering, Ji-woo. I've gotta find a replacement, and if I can't, I'll have to cover shifts with your mom's help..."
Not that it was a big deal—just one discarded lunchbox.
Eating scraps wasn't gonna give me some fatal disease or anything.
Still, I had to endure a long scolding from the store manager, who looked like an angry chihuahua.
By then, the discarded lunch was stone cold, so he tossed it and shoved some bland bean sprout bibimbap at me instead.
Bean sprouts are good for your health, or so he claimed.
He made a big show of it being his own lunch he was giving up. And that wasn't all.
"Don't say you were only five minutes late. How do you think you'll survive in the real world?"
One unlucky day when every crosswalk signal turned red just as I arrived.
I bowed my head repeatedly, apologizing profusely, but the store manager tore into me harshly.
"Even after you get a job, you'll make the same excuses? They'll mark you as a problem child in no time, you fool."
That's how I worked there for a solid five years.
Bracing for a harsh tongue-lashing over even the tiniest mistake.
I was ready to report him to the labor board over even a single won short on my hourly wage, but he saw through my schemes and thwarted them every time.
The numbers stamped in my bank account were always just a tad higher than promised.
So naturally, the store manager wasn't exactly a bundle of warm memories for me.
But maybe it's that saying—you end up loving those you hate.
-Ding♪
"Ah, welcome~."
Hearing that voice, always so sweet to customers, made my mouth go dry for some reason.
I'd planned to just say eat well and live well, then bolt from the convenience store.
"Uh... need anything, kiddo?"
His beard was a bit unkempt, like he was still working long hours.
His messy hair screamed half-hearted wash.
For some reason, it all stuck in my craw.
Weird.
The store manager had been kind to female Lee Ji-woo, not me.
He'd treated her like a daughter.
So why was I getting hung up on this?
"Hello, Store Manager. I'm Kim A-rin from Haetae Guild."
Finally, after I stood there speechless for ages, Kim A-rin spoke up for me.
She quietly explained everything.
"Th-that... really Lee Ji-woo?"
It didn't take long for confusion to flood the store manager's eyes.
To top it off, he scrambled out from behind the counter and squatted right in front of me.
"No way, how did this happen? Hey, Hunter Kim A-rin, she didn't catch some disease or anything, right?"
"No. She's perfectly healthy."
"Aigoo, poor Ji-woo must've been so scared..."
Well.
I'm more shocked by you acting like this right now.
"...Store Manager."
"Y-yeah, yeah. What is it, Ji-woo?"
"This is why I quit. Can't work like this."
I rattled it all off like a machine gun.
From now on, I'm not a convenience store part-timer—I'm Haetae Guild's precious S-rank hunter.
I'll make way more money than you ever did.
Unless we bump into each other by pure chance, we'll never cross paths again in this lifetime.
"So, that's... why..."
"......Did you try the braised beef? It's so good. Oh, maybe too salty?"
"...Haven't tried it yet."
His habit of cutting me off was as strong as ever.
Who cares about braised beef right now?
"Anyway, Ji-woo."
"...I'm busy. Just stopped by briefly."
"Even if you're leaving, at least let me take a photo. You're gonna be famous someday."
I heard his lame joke about using my picture for promo posters later.
I blinked, and there was Kim A-rin right in front of me, phone at the ready.
-Click.
"Aigoo, came out so cute~. Gotta show the wife."
"...You have customers waiting. I'm outta here."
Photo taken, no reason to stick around the store anymore. I headed out quick.
We're total strangers now, after all.
-Grab.
Even so, the store manager grabbed me one more time.
"Watch out for colds."
He pressed a 1,000-won throat candy into my hand.
Five years of work, and my severance was just 1,000 won.
Good thing I quit.
What more could I expect from a cheapskate who haggles over discarded food?
I left without regrets and hopped back into Kim A-rin's car.
"Unnie."
-Sniffle, sniffle.
-Sniffle, sniffle.
"...What..."
On the way to Lee Ji-woo's rooftop room.
Kim A-rin handed over some tissues at the constant sniffling from the passenger seat.
The story that followed was all about the store manager Ji-woo had just visited.
"About that convenience store where you worked, unnie."
"What about the convenience store..."
"Business is booming. Hunters hang out there all day, so they stop by constantly."
"...Not interested."
Ji-woo in the passenger seat tried to sound curt, but soon sniffled again.
No need to point out how her puffy eyes were visible in the side mirror.
But as Ji-woo's rooftop room came into view in the distance,
Ji-woo asked cautiously.
"...Kim A-rin."
"Yeah."
"Am I... ...cute?"
"Yeah. Super cute. Extremely."
Kim A-rin's immediate, unhesitating reply left Ji-woo lost in thought.
Her beat-up old phone displayed the photo she'd just taken with the store manager.
The one where he'd burst into a hearty laugh, saying she looked adorable.
"...Then."
"Yeah."
"If I, like, made an Instagram or something."
"You'd blow up. Huge. The store manager would know your account and everything."
"Th-that doesn't matter to me, okay?"
"I know."
Ji-woo's lips pursed at Kim A-rin seeing right through her.
Seeing that, Kim A-rin shared some news she'd like.
"We're going this afternoon."
"...Where?"
"Hunter Association. Time to measure your rank today."
She added they'd just sort her stuff quickly at the rooftop room and head out.
The movers from the relocation center would handle transporting it all.
"R-really?"
"Yeah."
"!"
Exclamation marks popped into Ji-woo's puffy eyes for good reason.
Rank measurement was the moment she'd been dying for, after all.
She'd been sniffling moments ago, but now she was excitedly typing away on her phone and posting.
"Ch-cheater, stealing Talulla...!"
Ji-woo, who'd been all smiles moments ago, looked utterly indignant for some reason.
...Precious unnie, but that was kinda dumb.
"Hngh."
"...We're here, unnie."
"Ah."
*Hop.* Ji-woo popped open the passenger door and hopped out.
Her backside scampering up the rooftop stairs looked thrilled to anyone watching.
"Sort into take and leave piles like this."
"Hmm..."
Familiar ceiling.
Familiar yellowish walls, flickering fluorescent light.
A small, junky fridge standing lonely guard in the kitchen, next to boxes of side dishes from the store manager.
Glance back, and there's the moldy old mattress with its uncooperative electric blanket.
Across from it, a half-open wardrobe and the box of toddler clothes Kim A-rin bought yesterday.
Right beside, junk computer and empty plastic bottles.
Recycling day was yesterday. Hm.
"...Unnie?"
"F-first... the computer hard drive."
"Your new computer's probably here by now, unnie. You can toss the old one."
"...Still need the hard drive."
An S-rank hunter who's computer-illiterate? This country's future is doomed. Sigh.
"Okay, besides the computer?"
"...Side dishes in the fridge."
"But unnie, what about your old clothes? Pack them...?"
"Pack 'em. Might fit later when I grow."
"...You're packing to wear them?"
Well, yeah, that's why you pack clothes.
I tilted my head, and Kim A-rin looked awkward as she explained.
"I'll buy you new ones later."
"I have my old clothes though?"
"...Just wear new stuff."
"But they're not worn out..."
Me fitting into female Ji-woo's clothes is far off, but tossing them feels wrong.
No tears or anything last I checked.
Why throw out good clothes? Geez.
"Unnie, the clothes I bought last time..."
"Gotta take those. They're brand new."
"...Yeah."
Kim A-rin looked relieved at my answer, for some reason.
Anyway, surprisingly little to pack.
Clothes, computer, side dishes—done.
Was moving always this simple?
"......Dorms have everything. Leave anything not essential."
"Ah, but the fan's a must. Without it, summer roasts you alive."
"Unnie, the dorm has AC."
"El-electricity bills are insane!"
"...Don't worry about bills."
At my flustered voice, Kim A-rin gave me a pitying look.
I'm not wrong, so why the face?
"Hang on, unnie."
"Huh?"
"Those... clothes you're wearing."
"What's wrong with 'em?"
Comfy hoodie and shorts—my go-to.
Warm up top, cool down below. Perfect for going out.
"We're heading to the Association later."
"So?"
"Change. ...They're dirty with dirt."
Reporters might snap pics after measurement.
Bonus: I look kinda sloppy now.
"Shower first. I'll pick clothes."
"...Showered this morning."
"I know you went out this morning. Came back all dirty, thinking no one'd notice..."
"Wh-what. Just a walk."
"Anyway, shower. Gotta go clean."
Kim A-rin wasn't wrong.
If reporters are shooting, better look sharp.
Problem: Showering's awkward now.
Strip in the bathroom, and legally speaking, stuff I shouldn't see appears.
It's my body, but even this morning I showered eyes closed.
-Knock knock.
-Knock knock.
"Unnie, want me to wash you? Must be hard alone—"
"Nooo!!"
...Better than someone else washing me!
I'd figured Kim A-rin might bathe me someday, but not today......!
-Shhhh—
"...Haa."
Showered at warp speed, cracked the bathroom door, grabbed the clothes Kim A-rin left.
That's when it hit me.
Should've brought shower clothes in advance.
"D-different ones! Gimme others!"
"......Movers coming soon. Hurry and change."
No streaking out naked, so I meekly donned Kim A-rin's picks.
The dead man Lee Ji-woo screamed from the heavens at these clothes.
No choices given.
-Peek, peek.
-Peek, peek.
"...I'll remember this..."
"Suits you, unnie. So cute."
Whatever, let's go.
Kim A-rin, done packing, led me out, saying I'd stir up dust carrying stuff.
"Sorry we're late. We'll load up quick~."
"Little miss waited long? Uncle's got your stuff~."
The relocation guys who'd just arrived bowed warmly.
But I had to correct them.
They were mistaken.
"N-not little miss."
"Princess then? Kahahahaha~."
Instant gut feeling: Arguing with these jolly uncles would just hurt me.
Why's Kim A-rin just watching?
"Unnie, unnie."
"What."
"Photo? For Insta."
".........Now?"
"Perfect timing."
*Click.* Before I could speak, Kim A-rin snapped away.
No mercy.
She'd definitely be a photographer without awakening.
"Anyway, unnie. Let's head out."
"......Fine."
Uncles would haul my stuff to the new place.
Me and Kim A-rin to Association for measurement, then 9 PM news interview as new S-rank hunter.
Or so I thought.
-Bzzz—
-Vrrr vrrr vrrr—!
-Beep beep beeeep—!
"Wh-what?"
Just as I climbed into Kim A-rin's car.
My junk phone blared.
Tilted head, unlocked—emergency alert.
The neighborhood erupted in chaos.
People rushing off yonder, noisy as hell.
Movers' smiles vanished.
But I realized: Evacuate now, and those boxes outside—the side dishes inside—spoil.
Fridge already hauled out for tossing, can't shove back in.
No, my side dishes.
Haven't even tried the braised beef yet......!
"Let's go, Kim A-rin."
"Wait, unnie."
"Finish in an hour. Or the sprouts go bad."
Hurry and end whatever gate nonsense, get back—I urged her.
Weird cries echoed from afar, but two S-rank hunters in the hood.
B-rank shock? Piece of cake.
"...Assimilation."
-Thud thud thud—!
"I'm going ahead—!"
"W-wait, unnie!!"