Why Should I Do It?
“Dmitri.”
“Yes, Store Manager.”
“Take the day off today.”
I said to Dmitri, who had come in late at night.
“Take the day off?”
“Yeah.”
“You mean I can't work today?”
“Yep.”
His expression twisted more and more. Dmitri's face crumpled into a pitiful pout.
“S-Store Manager.”
“What?”
“Are you... are you trying to ditch me? I can't afford to slack off!”
Even making that sad face, the handsome bastard still looked good. If there had been any female customers around, they would've probably scooped him up on the spot, their maternal instincts kicking in.
I hadn't realized you were this serious about convenience store work.
“Quit your sniveling, you big baby.”
I flicked him hard on the forehead.
“Eek!”
Dmitri's head snapped back.
“Don't cry. It's gross.”
“But Store Manager, if I can't work, I won't get that juice!”
“...Wait, were you crying because you thought you wouldn't get your juice?”
“Of course! It's the highlight of my day... The only food I can actually have.”
“Sigh.”
I'd thought he was serious about the job. Got my hopes up for nothing.
“I'll grab you one, so wander around outside the store today and head straight home at quitting time.”
Home for him was just that big coffin in the warehouse, but whatever.
“Got it!”
His face finally brightened at the promise of juice.
“As expected of the boss! Thank you! I'll serve you forever! Thank you! I could even die for this store... Uh, scratch that. Death's kinda scary. Anyway, I'll do anything!”
He grabbed a tomato juice.
“Then I'll be off!”
“Keep that face covered in town.”
“Yes, sir!”
Dmitri vanished into the darkness with his juice. Probably off to enjoy his rare day off. Off to meet some woman, no doubt.
The reason I'd given the night-shift Dmitri a break? All because of Luna.
With National Foundation Day coming up, I needed extra hands anyway, and there was something to check.
Whether she'd fallen under Dmitri's charm.
The Madam said she was fine, but better safe than sorry. She might've missed it.
About thirty minutes after Dmitri left.
“She should be here any minute now.”
Ting-a-ling.
The door opened. Luna peeked her face cautiously inside.
“Store Manager, you alone?”
“Yeah. You here?”
She scanned the store like a meerkat, eyes full of suspicion, looking everywhere.
Like she's searching for someone.
No way she's looking for Dmitri, right?
“That guy from before isn't here, huh?”
Luna slipped inside carefully and asked.
That guy from before—yep, Dmitri.
“You saw him?”
“I didn't mean to, but...”
“So you did.”
“Sorry.”
That reaction confirmed it. She definitely saw him.
Sigh. This is tricky.
But why'd the Madam say it was fine?
From what Luna was saying, it sounded like she'd clearly seen him under the charm's effect.
Maybe it was a weak charm?
“How'd you spot him?”
“W-When you moved suddenly, Store Manager.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
So it was my fault after all.
I'd stirred things up by moving too rashly. Felt heavy about it.
“Don't worry, though.”
“Huh?”
“I'm not the type to get shaken that easily. I've got a pretty open mind, you know.”
An open mind?
“Seeing that won't make me stop coming to the store or quit my condom shift.”
“...”
“You're my precious connection, aren't you, Store Manager?”
I found myself staring at her.
“You won't run away?”
“Of course not. Falling for someone is natural, right? No matter who they are.”
True enough. Even if it was a vampire using charm, you could still fall in love.
The problem was if the charmed one wasn't sincere.
At least she's the type who keeps her word.
Luna wouldn't just vanish suddenly.
That must've been what the Madam meant. She's under the charm but handling it fine, so don't overreact—just watch naturally.
Making a fuss might make her bolt.
Guess I stuck my nose in where it didn't belong.
One weight off my shoulders.
“Alright then.”
“Of course!”
“Hmm...”
I eyed Luna thoughtfully for a moment.
The brothel girl from the lake, dressed in that flashy, revealing outfit. Flowing black hair, her signature sleepy eyes, the beauty mark under one, and that piercing lakeside perfume.
She always teased me in clothes that showed off her chest almost entirely, but I knew the girlish heart beneath it all. Even her pranks came with a hint of shy embarrassment.
Despite years in the brothel, she still had that innocence. She might actually match well with a klutz like Dmitri.
“Dmitri.”
“...Pardon?”
“The guy you saw. His name's Dmitri.”
“Oh... okay.”
“Might be none of my business, but good to know.”
“Thanks for telling me.”
For a spy-slash-brothel girl, she had a surprisingly kind heart. Gotta make sure Dmitri doesn't screw around.
If he makes her cry even once, I'll cut off his juice supply.
I get it. When Do-jin called her over, Luna steeled herself.
Is he gonna silence me?
It made sense. Even in the empire's sexually open noble culture, same-sex relationships were rare. Extremely so.
Most kept it hidden.
The church deemed it wrong, obviously.
Even at the lake brothel, they handled gay clients with caution. No need to pick fights with the church, even with the crown prince and imperial backing.
If word spread that the convenience store manager Do-jin was messing around with a guy...
That'd be trouble for him.
So hide it. Be honest with Do-jin to ease his worries.
She took a deep breath outside the store and slipped in carefully, in case that guy was there.
Ting-a-ling.
“Store Manager? You alone?”
He wasn't there. The man whose shape and face she'd barely glimpsed, hidden behind Do-jin's body—she'd only heard his voice.
“You saw?”
Do-jin's face looked strangely desperate as he asked.
Ah, he wants to keep it hidden too. Of course. It's a big deal.
She had to reassure him.
“Don't worry, though.”
“Huh?”
“I'm not the type to get shaken that easily. I've got a pretty open mind, you know. Seeing that won't make me stop coming to the store or quit my condom shift.”
“...”
“You're my precious connection, aren't you, Store Manager?”
“You won't run away?”
“Of course not. Falling for someone is natural, right? No matter who they are.”
She didn't really get it, but she didn't want to lose Do-jin over it.
Love knows no borders, they say. Not even gender...
Who knows. She'd never truly felt love before.
She always exaggerated her emotions around people, but it wasn't always real—just her special way to seem more appealing.
Do-jin's face relaxed as he listened. After thinking for a long moment, he spoke in a gentle voice.
“Dmitri.”
“...Pardon?”
“The guy you saw. His name's Dmitri.”
“Oh... okay.”
“Might be none of my business, but good to know.”
Why say his name in such a tender voice? Was he serious?
Did the Store Manager really have real feelings for that guy?
That's why he never reacted, no matter how much I teased or flashed my chest.
Why? Her chest ached at Do-jin's kind smile. Like a sharp knife slicing in.
This must be what it feels like to get stabbed in the heart.
Weird.
Was it that incomprehensible? Why did it hurt so much?
Inexperienced as she was, she couldn't figure it out. Confused by the unfamiliar emotion, Luna forced a smile.
“Thanks for telling me.”
***
Good. Luna seems to be handling the charm better than expected.
She even agreed to help out at the store for National Foundation Day.
-Help at the convenience store for Foundation Day? I'm pretty pricey, you sure?
With Robinson helping too, no manpower shortages on the big day.
She took her condoms and headed back to the lake, head bowed low.
-Robinson and I will alternate for a bit. Gotta hide it from him.
I wonder what face he'd make if I told him Dmitri and Robinson don't get along.
Luna didn't seem like she'd rush at him blindly. If she'd demanded an intro right then, I might've hesitated a bit.
Maybe lift the curse immediately.
Still, better tell the Madam it's best to do something eventually.
No matter how well she's holding up, can't leave her charmed forever. It might not even be her real feelings.
If she's still drawn to Dmitri even after it's lifted, well... introduce them then.
“Finally, some peace of mind.”
Everything with Luna was sorted. With the crisis of losing talent averted, I could relax a bit.
Ting-a-ling!
“Stoooore Maaaanager!!!”
Not Luna—an unwelcome guest burst in.
“Why didn't you pick up when I messaged you through the crystal ball! I messaged you so many times!”
Purple-haired mage Repis.
“I'm going crazy. Please, please...”
Her flushed cheeks glistened with sweat trickling down. Had she been comforting herself alone?
Her body reeked of woman—perfume, sweat, and skin mixed into a lewd scent.
She'd thrown on crumpled clothes haphazardly and grabbed my collar at the counter.
“Do it. My pussy's throbbing so bad I might die. Ungh.”
The desperate plea of a frustrated woman.
I looked at the disheveled Repis and spoke.
“Why should I do it?”
“...Huh?”
Repis stared up at me with a dumbstruck face.
“Why the hell should I?”