Chapter 10

Chapter 9: The Convenience Store Clerk (3)

It took me 30 minutes to clean the hardened lump off my arm. I thought I was going to die.

Even while cleaning, customers kept coming, and I had to work with one arm. I couldn't put the items in the bag at all, so Yuna helped me from the side. Feeling quite burdened, I asked her,

"Are you not going to clock out?"

"Once I clean off everything on that arm."

"I thought you'd be tired and just go home."

"Well, it's fine. If you hadn't helped, you'd still be flying around looking for a workshop, right?"

As she spoke, she inserted the cone of the ice cream with the bottom facing down. If you put it like that, the bag will burst...

"I'm helping you as a thank you for not having to work overtime, so don't say anything."

So, I decided to do as she said.

"Personally, I'd like to give you some extra for your effort..."

"You don't have to. I already got paid by the manager."

She immediately refused. The daily wage the manager gave me was already more than enough for a day's work. I thought the daily wage was enough, so I didn't want anything more.

People easily get ruined when they earn money too easily. Yuna laughed heartily and said,

"Actually, I don't have money to give. My balance is empty this month."

"It's because of the logistics, right?"

"That's part of it, but I have a few other responsibilities. Hunters usually struggle financially right before the settlement, so please understand."

"I understand. How many non-homeless office workers are there before payday?"

"Looks like you're short on money too, Chan?"

I was just thinking about how to pay the rent when the manager wired money to my account. No one is destined to starve to death.

"Instead, since my card is still active, I'll buy you a drink. Do you like chocolate milk, Chan?"

"I do, but I can't have it now."

"Come on, don't refuse."

"It's not that I'm refusing..."

I really can't have it. If this is a tip, then it's a tip, but you absolutely, absolutely cannot eat dairy products while working as a convenience store clerk.

Because one of the characteristics of working as a convenience store clerk is that even if you didn't have lactose intolerance before, you can develop it, and if you get a stomachache, there's only one way to solve it: lock the door and run to the bathroom.

While this is inevitable, it's also unavoidable to feel embarrassed. There's no substitute to cover for you while you're in the bathroom, so the convenience store effectively stops operating during that time. So, it's hard to go to the bathroom casually. It's not like I'm on guard duty at a sentry post...

Even if you have a thick skin and can handle it, it's best not to eat it. If you can hold off on drinking milk for a bit, your body and mind will feel much better. Even if you say you didn't have lactose intolerance before, just don't eat it if someone tells you not to. I developed it too, you know?

For similar reasons, don't eat all the expired items just because they're piled up. There's a reason why experienced people tell you not to.

"Then, how about coffee?"

"I'll have an Americano. I saw there was a buy two get one free deal..."

I stopped mid-sentence because a customer came in.

His face was flushed, his expression relaxed, and his hair was half-shaved, with his ears pointed on the sides. In five words, he was a drunk elf. He approached and asked me,

"Manager... uh... uh, where's the soju?"

"It's in the bottom corner of the refrigerated section."

After I explained, he started walking in the direction I pointed, but his unsteady gait was concerning. He looked like he was going to cause trouble...

He brought a bottle of Chamisul Fresh. It costs 1,800 won.

"It's 1,800 won."

"Just wait a moment..."

He rummaged in his pocket for a while and then handed me a pile of mixed 50-won and 100-won coins. When I counted, 100 won was missing.

"Sir, you're 100 won short."

"Huh? That's right? 1,700 won."

"The soju costs 1,800 won."

"This bottle is 100 won, isn't it?"

He held the bottle and tapped it on the counter.

"If I drink it here and give you the bottle, it'll be just right, right?"

Does it?

Well, the math is correct. Convenience stores accept empty bottles, and a soju bottle is worth 100 won. If the customer digs up 100 won from the ground or does a short-term job to make up the difference, I don't care. But the problem is...

"Sir, you can't drink alcohol in the convenience store."

"What? Why?"

Why? Because it's illegal.

Convenience stores are classified as snack bars, not regular restaurants, so drinking alcohol inside is illegal. Additionally, setting up a drinking party on the tables outside the convenience store is also illegal.

Legally, that's how it is, and morally, convenience stores are not just for adults. How would customers, especially kids, feel if they came to buy fruit jelly and smelled alcohol?

"I, I understand. I understand the manager's position!"

After hearing the explanation, he said this. However, from his tone, it seemed he didn't really understand and I doubted if he even listened to me.

"My home is far. Far. So, I'll just drink it here for 5 seconds, no, 3 seconds. I drink well, don't worry."

"Whether you drink well or not is irrelevant; you can't drink here at all."

"It won't take long. I'll drink it quickly and leave."

The conversation was going in circles. Meanwhile, a couple more customers came in, looking at the counter while choosing their items.

Feeling frustrated, I glanced at Yuna, who was watching the scene. She subtly pointed to herself, indicating she could handle it.

"It's fine."

I said it was fine. Since it was my job to serve customers, I glared at the elf and said firmly,

"Drinking alcohol here is illegal, and I don't want to get in trouble. Promise to drink outside, or I won't sell you the alcohol."

"What... what the hell?"

I ignored him. A customer who had just picked out items looked awkward, so I spoke to them first.

"Customer, would you like to check out?"

"Ah... Ah, yes."

Regardless of the bewildered elf, I took the items stacked in front of the lighter, checked them out, and sent the customer on their way. I did the same for the next customer. These people, though not human, didn't cause any trouble.

When I had served about three customers, the angry elf shouted,

"Damn it, I won't drink it. It's dirty, it's dirty!"

"You can't shout in the store."

"I'm leaving, brat! I'll drink outside, so give me a paper cup."

This guy, this place isn't a local café, why would you need a paper cup...

No, no, no. If I say we sell paper cups, he'll just cause more trouble. I want to get rid of him quickly.

I came out from behind the counter and took a cup from the display next to the coffee machine. The elf, holding the paper cup, opened the bottle and poured half into the cup, muttering,

"Damn, this world won't even let me drink."

Then he left. As a result, a half-empty soju bottle was left on the counter, emitting a faint alcohol smell.

"I'll go throw this away."

Anyway, if you empty it and close the cap, it's worth 100 won. Yuna smiled wryly and said,

"Let's go together. I think it's time for me to head home."

We went out together. I found a nearby drain, poured out the soju, and closed the cap. Yuna was holding an e-cigarette in her mouth. Surprised, I asked,

"Do you smoke?"

"I used to. This is a quit-smoking aid, not a cigarette."

"Oh, I thought it was a cigarette. I didn't know quit-smoking aids come in e-cigarette form now."

"The problem is I can't quit this. Do you smoke, Chan?"

"I used to, but I quit a few years ago."

"Really?"

I had smoked for a few years. From around the time I enlisted in the military until just before I started working, about five years.

"How did you quit?"

"I didn't quit because I wanted to, but because I didn't have money. I just naturally stopped."

To be precise, I quit because I felt pathetic.

In my first year of working, my salary was so low that after expenses, my living costs were tight.

After two months, I found myself searching every corner of my room for loose change, and when I finally gathered 4,500 won, I would go to the convenience store to buy cigarettes.

When I couldn't find 4,500 won anymore, I felt a sense of futility and looked in the mirror. I realized that I wasn't burning the cigarettes; the cigarettes were burning me.

After that, I tried to quit. My method was to chew gum, and keep chewing. After chewing so much that my gums were sore, the withdrawal symptoms subsided, and the smell of cigarettes became repulsive.

Eventually, I quit. After hearing my story, Yuna tilted her head and sighed in admiration.

"That sounds like a method that worked because of Chan's perseverance..."

"I'm not recommending it. I just did it that way."

The conversation paused for a moment, and then Yuna casually asked,

"Chan, are you going to continue working here?"

"I think so. Why?"

"Seeing that troublemaker just now, I thought you might have PTSD. Just in case."

As she spoke, Yuna subtly touched the knife at her waist. I thought if I had asked for help, it might have been a big problem.

"I have to continue. Today's work is today's work... and I got paid, so it wouldn't be right to leave."

"That's good. What are your working hours?"

"From 10 PM to 10 AM."

"Every day?"

"Yes."

"Can you handle it?"

"If I can't, I can't, that's all."

"Hmm... So, you'll be here a few days from now..."

Of course, I'll be here. But it felt like a muttered thought, as if she wanted to talk to me.

I was about to ask, but Yuna smiled and whistled. A pegasus flew from the parking lot of the opposite building, landed, and snorted. I wondered if this was a thoroughbred or a Holstein.

She mounted the pegasus, leaned her head on its mane, and said,

"I won't be able to come for a while, but I'll see you a few days from now."

"Aren't you coming every day?"

"It's a bit tough handling the monster logistics. It takes time."

She's busy. After holding the reins, she gave a final greeting,

"I'm leaving. Good job, Chan."

I decided to say goodbye too.

"Drive safely, Yuna."

Yuna looked at me as if she had been hit, then laughed and replied,

"Don't worry. I have years of experience."

We exchanged words like this.

* * *

After that, I served dozens more customers for a few more hours, and there were a few troublemakers, but let's skip that for now.

Finally, the morning sun rose. What a strong and good morning!