Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: [Reality] The Sucker and His Little Sister
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“Take 'em out.”
Ah-rin said it bluntly, like it was nothing.
“Take what out?”
“All the stuff you bought. You said you got it from Zara, right?”
“Ugh, what a pain... Fine.”
I grumbled but still opened the shopping bag.
Truth be told, I kinda wanted to show off a little.
These were things I'd dropped over 700,000 won on—not exactly pocket change.
The sales associate had raved about them being the latest trend, personalized styling just for me.
A chance to shut up my little sister, who always mocked me for wearing nothing but tracksuits.
I pulled out the spoils and spread them across the bed.
The new clothes flaunted their flashy designs in all their glory.
“Here, check these out. What do you think?”
I grabbed the first one and held it up.
Swish.
It was an oversized shirt with a bizarre pattern mixing fluorescent lime green and purple.
“The sales guy said this is the hot street vibe right now. He started with some tame shirts, but then said my fair skin tone makes bold colors like this pop way better. He highly recommended it.”
I parroted everything the clerk had told me, but Ah-rin's brow furrowed as she listened.
“......”
“So? Killer, right?”
“......Makes me wanna kill you, for real.”
“What?”
“Whatever. Next.”
Not the reaction I'd hoped for.
What? Is it that bad?
No way.
I pressed on and pulled out the next item.
This time, baggy cargo pants with a whopping eight pockets.
Khaki color.
“These are workwear style, apparently. All those pocket details amp up the masculine charm. He said my sturdy legs need something like this for balance.”
“......Hah.”
Ah-rin's brow crumpled at the sight of the pants.
No, these too?
Fine, next one then.
“And check this out.”
This one was pricey for real.
Over 200,000 won jacket.
A leather jacket with cubic skull designs on the back and epaulet-like fringes dangling from the shoulders.
I had no clue about fashion, but it looked badass anyway.
“Ta-da. This is the highlight. The clerk said he doesn't show this to just anyone, but it fit my shoulders perfectly, so he pulled it special from the back. New season limited release—maniacs can't even get their hands on it.”
Ah-rin stared at the jacket wordlessly.
Her gaze shifted from the skull motif to my face, then back to the skull.
Then she let out a deep sigh.
“Haa......”
Her eyes held a mix of contempt and pity, her face twisted like I was utterly pathetic.
She's still pretty even like that—it's almost unfair.
“Hey.”
“What.”
“Did you pick these out?”
“Nah? I don't know jack about fashion. The clerk recommended them. I told him I suck at clothes, and he said he'd coordinate me head to toe. So I trusted him.”
“All recommended by the clerk?”
“Yeah. Super nice about it too. Throwing around terms like linen blends, seersucker, tapered fit—honestly, I didn't get half of it, but it sounded legit.”
“Idiot.”
“What the hell? Hey, watch your mouth!”
Her sudden curse got me riled up, but she ignored me and nudged the shopping bags with her foot.
“So, how much did you blow on this crap?”
“725,000 won.”
“You lunatic. Might as well have thrown it in the gutter.”
With that, she snatched the jacket from my hands and shoved it roughly back into the bag.
She started cramming the other clothes scattered on the floor too.
“Hey! What're you doing? You'll wrinkle them!”
“Shut up and pack.”
“Why though?!”
“We're returning it all.”
“......Huh?”
Returning it?
What the hell out of nowhere.
I'd bought it less than an hour ago.
“Return? You crazy? I can just wear 'em. The clerk said they suited me fine......”
“Hey, moron. Still don't get it?”
Smack!
Ah-rin slapped the back of my head.
“That clerk played you for a sucker. You scream 'fashion-blind nerd,' so he buttered you up with nice talk at first, then dumped his toxic inventory. Street vibe? That's just eye-searing highlighter trash. Workwear? Straight-up construction site gear. Pulled from the warehouse? Duh—too embarrassing to display, so it's been rotting back there waiting for a mark!”
“......Huh?”
“He slapped fancy excuses on it all. Seersucker? Tapered? Basic terms to sneak in the garbage. Even a clown dresses better than this.”
Her rapid-fire facts left me reeling.
Toxic stock?
Smooth-talking scam?
Thinking back, the store had felt chaotic.
Started with tame shirts, then suddenly he was pushing bolder stuff, saying it suited me better.
Kept praising the fit and explaining everything so nicely.
“All that was just sales sleight-of-hand? But he was so friendly......”
“Obviously. You bought 700k worth of junk—he probably wanted to kiss your feet. You got played.”
“......”
“We're going back for a refund. Now.”
“Hey, but...... returning's awkward. Embarrassing. Tags are already off.”
“Receipt's there, tags or no—we can push it. Embarrassment the issue? When you're about to flush 700k?”
“Still......”
“You rich or something?”
“Uh? Well...... money...... it'll pile up soon enough......”
“Bullshit. Quit whining. Come on. I'll handle it.”
Doing what she said felt like a hassle—and scary.
No confidence marching back to that intimidating store vibe and demanding a return.
What if that clerk got pissy and said I loved it earlier?
'Weird. The daily quest cleared though.'
Wait a sec.
The condition was:
[Daily Quest Complete: Acquire new clothes that fit your body]
They fit size-wise, regardless of style—so it counted?
Damn system.
As long as the box got checked, design could be trash?
Makes sense—the system knows zilch about fashion.
“You coming or not?”
Ah-rin was already at the door, bags in hand.
No choice then.
“Lemme carry that.”
“Nah. Just follow. Keep your mouth shut and stick behind me. Got it? Speak up, and you'll get suckered again.”
“......Yeah. Got it.”
Her sharp tone had me shrinking, nodding meekly.
Feels less like a little sister, more like a big sis.
Scarier than Mom even.
“But it's late, right? Store might be closed......”
“Zara in this neighborhood's open till 10. No more yapping. Move.”
She knows her stuff.
Ah-rin was already out the door.
I sighed once and trailed after her.
The Zara store smack in the middle of the bustling street.
Stepping in, thumping music and air freshener assaulted my nose, that same oppressive vibe from earlier hitting hard.
Shoulders hunching involuntarily.
Why do I always feel so small in here?
Unlike me, Ah-rin charged straight in without hesitation.
She's my sister, but wired different.
“Welcome~ to Zara~”
The female clerk at the entrance greeted sweetly, but Ah-rin didn't even glance her way.
“Who was it? The one who recommended these clothes.”
“Uh? One sec.”
Ah-rin scanned the store.
Luckily, he stood out quick.
The tall, handsome male clerk was at the counter.
“That guy at the counter.”
“Got it.”
She marched right over.
Zero fucks given.
The clerk spotted her, blanked for a sec, then startled into a greeting.
“Welc—”
Then he saw me behind her and addressed me.
“Oh? Sir? Back already?”
“Uh, yeah......”
As I fumbled, Ah-rin plunked the bags on the counter.
“We bought these here earlier. Refund everything.”
His smile stiffened. He glanced between the bags and Ah-rin.
Then back at me.
“Ah, size issue? We can exchange for another.”
“No. Clothes suck. Full refund.”
She cut in before I could speak, glaring at me.
Remembered her 'shut up' order—stayed quiet.
“......Pardon?”
His face twisted.
Clearly thrown by the blunt 'suck.'
“Suck how? Sir, these are hot season items...... You liked them earlier, right? Especially this jacket—you were thrilled. Said it fit better than the safe picks I showed......”
He looked to me for backup; I averted my eyes.
I'm innocent.
You screwed me first.
Ah-rin fired back instantly.
“Liked? We know you sweet-talked a clueless guy into clearing your junk. You pushed these. Called 'em street vibe. Workwear style. Right?”
“Ah, yes. I suggested styles that'd suit him...... Offered basics first, but he seemed to want something different......”
“You joking? Slap 'street' on highlighter paint and it becomes street? These pants—what even? Pockets make workwear? Total stock dump.”
“N-no! Maniacs love these......”
“Maniacs? What maniacs? Ask everyone here? Anyone wanna wear this? You know this is straight-up fraud.”
Her voice rose; other customers and staff started glancing over.
Spotlight on, clerk panicked.
“Tone it down...... Fraud? That's harsh......”
“Not fraud? Then what is this?”
Ignoring his plea to quiet down, she amped up and yanked out the leather jacket.
The skull one.
“Sold this as new season limited edition?”
“It is limited stock......”
“Happy fabric. Cheap-ass vinyl. Hawking it as limited ain't fraud? Caught a sucker and dumped inventory—admit it.”
“No, I thought he could pull it off......”
“Pull it off? Who? You think this ugly guy can? Seriously?”
“Hey...... Ah-rin. Ugly?”
Why drag me?
“File a corporate complaint? Report false advertising hard-sell to consumer center? Nah, blast it online better. Communities tank store reps with this shit—you know.”
Her volume climbed; whispers rippled around.
“Whoa, those clothes. Paid for that?”
“Clerk's the worst. Recommending garbage like that?”
“I'd be too ashamed to carry it.”
My face burned red.
I'd legit thought they were fine—my taste that trash?
Brushed off Ah-rin's words earlier, but strangers saying it stung.
Clerk sweated, eyes darting to a female staffer—manager type.
Eye contact; she nodded subtly.
Just do it.
“A-alright. Since you're unhappy, we'll make a one-time exception.”
He took the card with a sour face and processed the cancel.
“Don't smooth-talk people next time. Sell clothes, not your conscience.”
Ah-rin fired the parting shot and yanked my arm.
“Let's go.”
“Uh? Y-yeah.”
Damn, she's savage.
I couldn't have said a word.
Blessing having a sharp sister—saved my ass.
Truly grateful.
Endured the shame, fought for me.
“Hey...... Thanks. Seriously, without you I'd have gotten fleeced blind.”
“How much of a pushover do you look? Falling for that obvious bullshit.”
“Yeah. Hearing you now, it was all crap—but I bought it hook, line, sinker.”
“Good you get it now. Money back?”
Phone pinged with cancel notice.
“Yeah. Just hit.”
“Cool. But what blew up your skirt to buy clothes? At a place like that. You always rock baggy tracksuits.”
True—not my usual spot.
Didn't suit me anyway.
“Lost some weight, started working out—old clothes don't fit anymore.”
“Hmm...... So?”
“Figured might as well dress up a bit. Better look sharp while I'm at it.”
She eyed me oddly, then clicked her tongue.
“Tch...... Whatever.”
Muttered to herself.
“What?”
“Nothing. So, new clothes?”
“Yeah, but just grabbing basics. Feels off forcing it—not my thing.”
“Back to tracksuits?”
“What else? You said it—I'm fashion-blind.”
“I'll help.”
“What?”
Her words left me gaping.
“I'll help you shop.”
Somehow, we ended up planning to go clothes shopping with Ah-rin the next day.