Chapter 29

28. Shopping

As soon as the regional schedule began, the road manager started moving with us. It was fortunate that Taeju was the lead in the movie; otherwise, bringing three staff members to an independent film set would have been excessive.

If it had been a shooting scene with experienced actors, Taeju bringing his pet might have been seen as bothersome.

"It's too hot. At this rate, all the staff will collapse."

"Indeed. It's early summer, and it's already 32 degrees."

Since there were few people watching the busking in the region, Junhee took the lead in gathering people for the scene. As the scene only featured Junhee and extras, Taeju was reading the script in the shade. However, the sudden heat made it hard to concentrate.

"Manager, wasn't there an ice cream shop at the intersection earlier? Let's get some ice cream after this scene."

"Sure. Hyungsub, I'll go to the ice cream shop, so keep an eye on things here."

"I'll go and come back."

Hyungsub, who was visibly tense, replied to Geonwoo. Taeju found Hyungsub's attitude a bit strange. He didn't act this way with Mina or himself, but he seemed to be overly deferential to Geonwoo.

"Manager, do you know Hyungsub? Are you acquainted?"

"Indeed, that's how it looks, right? He was a student at a dojo where I was once an instructor."

"Dojo?"

"Yes, Hapkido."

"Taeju, Manager is a 4th dan in Hapkido and a 3rd dan in Taekwondo. He could take you down in three seconds."

"Onee! Even so, I could last at least ten seconds, right?"

"Hehehe. Sure, try for ten seconds."

Taeju, who knew how strong experienced martial artists could be, found the manager to be a solid and well-trained person. If Hyungsub was his student, it meant both were skilled in martial arts, which made him feel more secure about safety.

"I really hate the heat. I prefer the cold."

"Me too, honestly. When it's hot, makeup melts, and you have to touch up so much. I'm glad you don't sweat much."

Taeju was complaining about the heat, but they had three weeks of outdoor shooting ahead. Despite the fast pace of Taeju's scenes, outdoor shooting had many potential issues, such as weather and location scouting. The heat was a significant problem.

The news about the drought was true; it hadn't rained, and the temperature was already over 30 degrees, which was a big issue.

"Oh, Taeju, are you hot? Want some ice?"

"Onee, let Taeju and Taesan rest in the van."

"If you're going, I'll go too. We need to manage our stamina."

"Sure. I'll keep an eye on things here."

Taeju checked the shooting site and decided to rest in the van. The shooting progress was not moving at all, and both the production team and actors looked frustrated. The early heat was exhausting everyone, including the animals.

*

"Taeju, are you worried about something?"

"Huh?"

"Look at this."

Hye flew up to Taeju with a deeply furrowed brow. Taeju managed to smile for a moment due to Hye's amusing expression but soon frowned.

"I'm bringing Taesan to the shooting set. But honestly, it's too harsh an environment for Taesan. He doesn't want to be alone, but the heat is really worrying me."

"Uh-huh. Taesan wants to be with you."

"I know. I want to be with him too, but it's too hot for him to rest properly."

"Taeju, let's go to the shop. We might find something Taesan needs."

Taeju realized he had only been using the consumables tab recently and hadn't explored the equipment or skills tabs. He started browsing the shop, hoping to find good items.

"Wow, what's all this? There are so many pet items?"

"Taeju, this one, this one. We have to buy it."

"Cooling band? It maintains a constant body temperature for the wearer?"

The light sky-blue cooling band looked like a bracelet for the wrist. It seemed a bit small for Taesan, but since shop items can be enchanted, it should be fine.

"Would this work for me too?"

"Taeju?"

"No, I get hot easily too. Hmm."

Hye alternated her gaze between Taeju and the cooling band.

Taeju, pretending not to notice, bought another cooling band. It was black.

"Hmm. I might lose it."

The shop had many items. Taeju scolded himself for not exploring it earlier.

"This is really good."

Taeju unfolded the portable folding pet tent he bought from the shop and marveled at it. By connecting the two halves, it became a one-story portable tent. It could be locked from the outside and had temperature control magic, making it usable in any season. Though not very spacious, it was perfect for Taesan.

"I should have bought it earlier. I made Taesan suffer unnecessarily."

"Taeju, let's buy this too."

"Huh? Sumeumzip? A cat house?"

It looked like a giant macaron. The cute shape was appealing, and the description mentioned it had a stamina recovery ability like a tiger's den. It looked good to keep in the car, so he bought it immediately.

"Hye, pick something for yourself. And let's get something sturdy too."

"Really? Then I like this."

"Is that what you like?"

"Yes."

Hye chose a magic net gun. Seeing her sparkling eyes, Taeju reluctantly bought the net gun as a gift. The magic rope and Hye's toughness were evident.

Ddanun said he didn't need anything, but Taeju bought him a large shell-shaped pool. It could be filled with water, leaves, or soil.

"Since we're here, let's open a box, shall we?"

"Red box?"

"Yes. Let's open just three."

It had been a long time since Taeju opened a random box. Apart from the golden and silver boxes he got as rewards, it was the first time since he obtained the Choco Cherry Tree.

The anticipation was palpable. Initially, he was disappointed by his bad luck in draws, but it turned out well. The seeds he obtained then earned him a lot of DP, and most importantly, he met Hye. He definitely had good luck in draws.

"Ah, let's try again. Five this time."

"Taeju?"

He opened eight boxes, but only one high-end suit pleased him. He wanted to open two more to make it ten, but Hye's stern gaze made him close the shop obediently.

'I feel like something good will come if I open two more. Maybe I'll try later in secret.'

The desire to open more boxes didn't fade.

*

Today, Taeju and Taesan wore items to combat the heat. Taeju wore a cooling band on his wrist, and Taesan wore one around his neck. Hye gave him a strange look, but he bought them just in case. Though registered as pet items, he hoped they would work, thinking it was worth a try.

Considering the commission he paid to bring the items to reality, it would be a significant loss if they didn't work. The commission to bring items to reality was equal to their shop price, plus additional costs for carrying them. Taeju's DP was almost depleted.

His current DP was less than 10,000. He might have to sell the expensive herbs he had saved, which were rare and stored in a dedicated storage box. To avoid selling them, he needed to find other ways to earn DP.

'They were expensive. I hope they work.'

"Looks like you have a lot of luggage today."

"Indeed, quite a lot. But with the heat, we need to eat well. Fruits are good for hydration too."

He packed a few boxes of fruit. Cold drinks and ice cream were good, but chilled fruit was better, especially for outdoor shooting in this heat.

"It seems even hotter than yesterday. With this heat from the morning, it will be tough during shooting."

"Huhuhu."

Taeju smiled comfortably, feeling the effect of the cooling band on his wrist.

'Huhuhu. Right. I am a living being, not a pet.'

Taesan was playing in the Sumeumzip. After securing it to the chair, he went in and rolled around. The cage in the car seemed unnecessary now.

They arrived at the shooting site and waited for the setup. Once a waiting area for the actors was prepared, Taeju set up the tent. The beige and brown folding tent was quickly installed, and Taeju put Taesan, wearing a harness, inside.

"What's this? A cat tent?"

"Yes. They have these now. Taesan can play and wait here."

"Should have bought it earlier."

"Indeed."

"It looks comfortable. Look at him, rolling around. He seems to enjoy it."

Taesan was rolling around in the tent, not anxious because he could see Taeju through the open front.

'Now I can focus on shooting. I wasn't distracted, but I was worried.'

"I'll work hard and buy better things for you, Taesan."

There were many items he couldn't afford, like pet-specific magic wings and floating cribs. Pet items were surprisingly expensive, whether in reality or the garden.

*

"Cut. Phew. Let's try again."

"I'm sorry."

The atmosphere on the set felt cold. A new extra actor was already on his thirteenth NG in the same scene. Despite being a graduate of a performing arts school, he couldn't deliver a short line