The Cutest Little Lamb at the Convenience Store

I went to the convenience store-yang! —Convenience store part-timer, Hayul Seon.

A small convenience store with not a single customer. I check the time on my phone, and it's already past 2 p.m. But my shift change isn't until 6 p.m... still four hours left.

"Aw~ So boring."

The place where I'm working is in an undeveloped area about 30 minutes by bus from Hwaseong New City, where my home is. Hwaseong City still has a rural vibe in the west compared to the super-developed east side.

...I called it rural, but it's not real countryside. There used to be a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠university around here. But about 10 years ago, a pretty big gate popped up right in the middle of the school, so classes were obviously suspended while they dealt with it. They cleared the gate a year later, but by then the school had gone bankrupt. Honestly, it's pretty common outside Seoul. Unless it's a university in Seoul, a national flagship university in the provinces, or one of those super famous ones in the sticks, they're all the same.

Because these days, if you awaken, you don't even bother with high school, let alone college. And the number of awakeners just keeps growing. I even heard kids who awaken super young just file the paperwork and skip elementary and middle school altogether.

So this place? The gate just drove the final nail in the coffin. It wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway.

"If only I'd awakened too."

I wonder if things would be different...

...It was two years ago that I entered the Child & Family Studies department, dreaming of becoming a daycare teacher. But now I'm on leave.

Not because of tuition—I've gotten national scholarships and even some merit-based ones a few times. It's just...

I've only been hearing bad stories about daycare teachers lately, so I kinda hit reality hard, you know? All five guys in my small department went off to the military. A bunch of the girls transferred or took leaves too... so I did the same.

I was just rolling around at home, and Mom nagged me to at least get a part-time job. But jobs around here are dried up, so this convenience store was the best I could find.

Why's there a convenience store in a ghost town university district next to a dead school? University areas always have villa neighborhoods for commuters. Even though the uni's gone, workers and office folks still live in the villas around here, commuting to the new city. So a few restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores hang on. Of course, most of them head out on weekdays, so no customers at this hour.

Or rather, barely any people in the neighborhood at all. So the conclusion is...

"Aw~ So boring."

I've been staring at my phone so much there's nothing left to see. SNS is just show-offs flexing, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠news is all hunters this, gates that—no matter the topic. Should I dive into online communities or start a mobile game?

...As I was slumping over the counter with those thoughts, the door chime rang.

"Welcome... huh?"

??? Huh? What?

The first thing I noticed was the enormous horns sprouting from both sides of her head. They curled around in a full circle, just like ram horns. And in stark contrast to those black horns, snow-white, super fluffy hair flowed down almost to her knees.

She was wearing simple jeans and a black hoodie jacket. But she was so pretty it felt like some famous French designer had agonized over it for 48 hours to create the world's one-and-only perfect outfit. I want those clothes.

I looked up at her face, and there was this cute, milky-pale-skinned little girl with an expression of extreme tension, her cheeks flushed pink.

Yeah. In one word: like a little lamb.

The little lamb said shyly,

"A-aa... H-hel-lo-yang."

Oh my gosh. World. I... don't usually say stuff like this, but I have to for this kid.

...She's adorably perfect.

......

The cute kid greeted me in a tiny voice, then bowed her head and trotted off between the aisles with a churok churok.

Wow... she's insanely pretty. That "brain-melting" trend lately? I think I just experienced it.

I could catch glimpses of her between the shelves. Just staring blankly was more entertaining than anything—no boredom at all. Even more than hunting for hot actors on TV or YouTube.

...Those horns, though. She's an awakener, right? I've heard some awakeners get animal ears, tails, or big horns like hers because of their traits. So-called beastkin.

Back when gates and status windows first appeared, people discriminated against beastkin, but now it's just seen as some awakeners' unique style. Good thing. A world where a little kid like that doesn't get picked on for it.

****

But... what is she looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for?

She's been wandering around the store, searching for something. I wanted to ask, but whenever our eyes met, she'd duck her head and hide deeper in the aisles.

For me, just seeing her face wiped away all boredom. But for her, she must be super sad not finding what she wants.

"......"

I'm not a clothing store clerk—just a convenience store part-timer. My job is to man the counter, do some cleaning, restock now and then. Normally, unless a customer's stealing, I can just sit here.

...But before I'm a part-timer, I'm an adult. It's my duty to help a kid in trouble.

So I stepped out from the counter and approached her as she kept searching, and said,

"Hey, can I help you find some—"

"Eek!!"

—Huh?

The kid jumped back in total shock. Her face full of fear, she alternated looks between me and the eco-bag clutched in her hands. Her eyes were a little teary, but she was so cute even that face was adora— No.

Snap out of it, Hayul Seon! The kid's scared and about to cry! Aren't you Child & Family Studies? What do you do when a kid fears adults?!

I stepped back two paces, knelt down to her eye level, spread my hands wide to show I wasn't hiding anything.

And finally,

"I'm really sorry. Did I scare you bad?"

A sincere apology.

...Please don't be scared of me. If this kid cries because of me, I'd lose sleep tonight—no, for life.

"...Hic, hic... I-it's... okaay-yang...."

Thank goodness it didn't come to that. Phew.

A moment later.

"Oh? You're looking for a lunchbox?"

"Y-yesh... hic... yeah-yang...."

"Lunchboxes aren't in the snack corner—they're over there by the refrigerated shelves."

Huh? But I think she checked there earlier.

My question was answered right away.

"Uwing... none here-yang."

"Ah...."

She was too short; from her height, she couldn't see the lunchboxes on the upper shelf.

Got it. I'll suggest to the manager we rearrange this for sure.

......

"Okay~ That's 5,300 won. Want a bag?"

"N-no-yang."

"Then insert your card here."

Squish-click!

"All set with payment."

"Ooh!"

I ended up pulling out all the remaining lunchboxes one by one for her to see. She pondered, then picked one stuffed with pork cutlet. Payment done.

Her happy face was way cuter and prettier than when she was teary-eyed earlier.

...She could head out now, but for some reason, this adorable kid was lingering in front of me, fidgeting.

What is it.

"U-um... N-no, uh... sis-ter-yang."

"Hm? What's up?"

"Um... like... th-tha-tha-thank... you..."

"???"

Ah, I get it.

Her words dragged on like a buffering video, but I kept smiling at the fidgety kid.

Is it because smiling is customer service basics? No. I think I know what she wants to say.

...You got this! You can do it!

"Tha-tha... Thank you-yang!!!"

Yes! Good job!

I called out to the kid dashing away like she was fleeing.

"Sure thing~ Come again!"

......

A small convenience store with not a single customer. Phone says 2:30 p.m. Shift change at 6... still three and a half hours left.

"......"

Who was that kid? Child actor? Model? Influencer? Nah. She was insanely cute—if she did that stuff, I'd know. Why come to this empty rural neighborhood?

New family moved nearby? Not the best place for raising kids. One thing's for sure.

"An unbelievably pretty kid I'll never forget."

Lush, soft hair. Huge horns on both sides. Beautiful golden eyes. Pale skin that looked so squishy... I kinda wanted to poke it.

But more than all that.

"Such a kind-hearted kid."

I don't know her full story, but she seemed super timid. She flinched when she first came in, bolted if our eyes met. Even teared up when I spoke.

But still... she tried so hard to thank a mere convenience store clerk like me. It was impressive.

"What is it..."

Feels so healing. Yeah. That's why I wanted to be a daycare teacher—I love kids like that.

...Even if bad news articles still pop into my head sometimes.

Nothing in the world's easy, right? Every job has its hardships. It's not like risking your life every second like hunters.

And above all.

There are still plenty of good kids like her in the world.

...Maybe I should study hard again.

......

Wait. She's not being abused or something, is she? Kids don't usually tremble like that at a word unless...

Coming to the store alone without a guardian, and it's a weekday—kids her age should be in elementary school? Wait?? Should I call the cops?

"But her skin was flawless—no scars or blemishes."

And that hair. Keeping it that long and soft isn't easy. A kid can't manage hair that long alone.

Yeah, she must have good parents. There's gotta be circumstances I don't know. No way she has a trait that keeps her hair perfectly lush and pretty.

Kyaaaaaaaah!!!! So scary so scary so scary—super scary!!!

I just wanted to buy a lunchbox!! But... this was basically my first time picking stuff out in a convenience store, so I had no idea where the lunchboxes were!! Why aren't they with the snacks and cup ramen!? Shouldn't food be grouped together? Don't you know how to organize?!?

And convenience stores don't have age limits!! Why hide lunchboxes where kids can't see?! This is kid discrimination!!!

...She didn't see, right? Me tearing up a little? So embarrassing. What am I, a baby?

Just so you know! Not my fault! I was sniffling 'cause I couldn't find any lunchboxes no matter how hard I looked, then she sneaks up from behind—super startling! If someone asks super nicely if you're looking for something, of course I'd freak and tear up!!!

"...Hiiing."

Too much. Internet said convenience store clerks are so bored time crawls—they just sit on their phones no matter if customers come or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not. All lies! Fooled again! Everyone else knew but me, right?!?

"...Still."

She apologized right away after. Even found the lunchboxes I couldn't see and pulled them out for me.

...I'll forgive her just this once. For real. Hmph!

And honestly, no one's ever said that to me before.

-Sure thing~ Come again!

...Someone telling me to come again.

-Get out. Scram. Die. Monster.

That's all people ever say to me.

......

A bit of chaos, but first goal—buy lunchbox—complete!! Chwah!!

Mission one success—Mijeong's happiness energy fully charged-yang!! Now I'll order a drink super cool at the neighborhood cafe too!!