Chapter 35: The Convenience Store’s New Product, Bento (2)

“Who is that person?”

“Why? Did something happen?”

As Seojun, who was putting omelets into paper cups beside her, tilted his head and asked, Hyejin said in a small voice only he could hear.

“The customer just now was Hunter Kim Isang. Do you know him, Seojun?”

“Kim Isang? Ah, you mean that summoner hunter?”

After handing the last omelet to a customer, Seojun continued.

“He has divine powers, right? They say he’s the best at seeing things, whether as a shaman or summoner. I heard he often goes into dungeons to release the souls of dead hunters, and it seems that was true.”

“Yes. It seems so. Anyway, that person just came and went. It’s amazing seeing him in person.”

Hyejin tried to look for Isang’s figure heading into the dungeon again, but he had already disappeared long ago. 

Feeling regretful, she placed her hand on the table and sat still, when Seojun spoke again.

“The omelets sold out again today. I think I need to go buy ingredients.”

“Ah, ingredients. I’ll go. I have an artifact, so I can go quickly. I feel bad always asking Asha.”

When Hyejin looked inside the convenience store, Asha was sitting in the corner, playing with the puppy that had been following her around. 

The sight of a cat playing with a puppy was fresh and adorable, so Hyejin smiled and watched for a moment before taking off her vest and leaving it in the staff room.

Then, she said to Eunwoo and Suho.

“Suho, it’s time for you to clock out. Eunwoo, I’ll adjust your shift to afternoon, so take a break. I’ll work the morning.”

“Ah, that’s a shame. I’m used to putting heals on my body, so I’m fine without sleep for about a day.”

“No, that’s not okay. You’ve already been working for nearly 24 hours.”

Despite Hyejin’s deliberately stern voice, Eunwoo shrugged.

“I won’t ask for more money. Just let me do this until today, and after work ends today, I’ll rest properly. Okay?”

She’d seen many people eager to clock out, but someone who didn’t want to leave work? 

Hyejin let out a deep sigh and said to Seojun.

“Then, I’ll quickly go to the mart.”

“The mart? If you need anything, should I buy it before clocking out?”

Suho, who was taking off his uniform as if finishing up, asked Hyejin curiously. 

Hyejin quickly waved her hands.

“I’ll go myself. It’s my job. The omelet ingredients are all out, so I’m going to the mart.”

After speaking, Hyejin looked at each of the part-timers’ faces and continued as if something had occurred to her.

She wanted to treat them to a meal.

“Is there anything you want to eat? If possible, I’d like to treat you to a simple meal at least. Ah, of course, Suho, since it’s your clock-out time, you can go. It’s already way past.”

“If you say that, I’d like to eat and then clock out.”

Hyejin recalled that she hadn’t provided a proper meal to the part-timers even once. 

She planned to include meal allowances separately in their salaries, but still, with all the part-timers together now, she wanted to do something. 

Such opportunities wouldn’t come often.

Since it was clock-out time for Suho, she didn’t want to hold him if he didn’t like it, so Hyejin watched him anxiously and smiled faintly at his cheerful response.

With this many people, something hearty like steamed chicken or tteokbokki would be good.

It was already past 9 AM, and Hyejin was starting to get hungry too.

Until now, Hyejin had been filling up on convenience store food, and she was getting tired of it.

But going out to eat would mean going to a restaurant with celebrities and attracting all eyes. 

She couldn’t leave just one person to watch the store since she had to guard it.

Outside the dungeon, it wasn’t just hunters; there were civilians too, so entering a restaurant would draw a lot of attention and interest.

“Something I want to eat. Well, I’ve always enjoyed lobster, steak, things like that at hotels……. Can you buy that for me, Manager?”

Hearing Eunwoo’s words, Hyejin clenched her fist. But she smiled and said.

“I can cook a bit. Well, of course not as well as you, Seojun, but I can make home-cooked meals at least.”

“Then, I’d like kimchi jjigae.”

Suho, who had been listening quietly, said to Hyejin.

“Kimchi jjigae?”

“Wow, kimchi jjigae! For breakfast, steaming hot kimchi jjigae. I’ve been curious about commoner food, so I’ve eaten it with friends sometimes, and it was pretty tasty. Tuna is good, and pork too.”

“Kimchi jjigae is quick to make.”

At the much more modest response than expected, Hyejin turned to Seojun. He sent an OK sign with his hand and said.

“If you need help.”

“Ah, no. I can do that much alone for our part-timers. It’ll be quick cooking in the staff room, so you eat too, Seojun. I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste though.”

“Cooking is all about sincerity. I’m looking forward to it.”

Hyejin recalled the ingredients for kimchi jjigae in her head.

Moderately fermented kimchi, tofu, pork, plus a bit of glass noodles, green onions, garlic, onions, etc.

And omelet ingredients, corn cans for corn soup, butter, sliced cheese, etc. 

Rice to eat with kimchi jjigae was needed too, so instant rice as well.

The convenience store had the necessary ingredients, but she couldn’t keep consuming the store’s products just because she needed them.

“Should I go with you?”

Eunwoo said to Hyejin.

“It looks like there’ll be quite a lot of stuff, so it’s better to have one more person go. I’ll work extra instead, so go quickly.”

Hyejin, who was about to wave her hands, replied to Suho with an apologetic face.

“Then, I’ll go quickly. Sorry, Suho.”

“It’s fine. Anyway, since you’re providing breakfast, it’s good for me to eat and go.”

“I’ll make sure to add overtime pay when I calculate your salary.”

Actually, carrying bags of stuff was work too. 

Things like corn cans needed several, so heavy, and if the bag tore on the way, it’d be a disaster. Better to borrow an extra hand and divide into several bags.

“Yes. Then let’s go together, Eunwoo. Thank you so much for helping.”

At Hyejin’s words, Eunwoo’s face brightened.

“Ah, in case you refuse. Actually, I wanted to see a mart. I’m so famous, I can’t go to big places like large marts. And my father always tells me to take bodyguards……. But why take bodyguards just to go to a mart? I’m not someone who needs that much protection.”

It had only been a day, but was Hyejin getting weird for starting to adapt to Eunwoo’s self-absorbed speech?

“That’s a bit unexpected.”

Hyejin, who had ignored the previous words, nodded slightly in admiration, hearing only the sentence ‘I’m not someone who needs that much protection.’

Then, Eunwoo playfully retorted.

“I’m a chaebol second gen, but still a pretty decent person.”

“We’ll have to see more to know, right?”

“Ah, hyung, that hurts if you say it like that!”

At Suho’s firm interjection, Eunwoo pouted his lips.

“You two, did you know each other before? Eunwoo is new today, but you’re already speaking informally with Suho.”

When Seojun said it with a curious expression to the two, Hyejin quickly told him.

“Eunwoo has amazing friendliness.”

“If you want, drop the formal speech too, Seojun hyung. You’re older than me, right? You look it from your face.”

At Eunwoo’s words, Seojun shook his head and replied.

“I’ll drop it when we’re more comfortable. It’s not comfortable yet for Eunwoo.”

“Are you teasing me on purpose?”

“Isn’t it up to interpretation?”

Hyejin looked at the three chatting amiably at the counter. 

They seemed mismatched yet somehow fitting, and a soft laugh escaped her.

“Stop talking now and let’s go to the mart, Eunwoo.”

“Ah, shame. I could’ve retorted with something good.”

“Come on. I’ll buy you something you might like outside.”

“Huh?”

“Even if you’re a chaebol second gen, right now I’m the one employing you.”

“Wow, convenience store benefits are the best. Then snacks, snacks!”

“Okay, okay. Anyway, let’s go now.”

***

Hyejin came out of the dungeon briefly with Eunwoo using the artifact.

This was downtown Seoul, but the civilians didn’t show surprise seeing Hyejin and Eunwoo using artifacts.

They had seen countless hunters until now.

“The mart is just a short walk from here.”

“Just in case, I brought sunglasses.”

Eunwoo put on sunglasses and scanned around, but no one seemed interested in him.

Should she call this fortunate?

Hyejin had been inwardly worried, but it was fortunate no one recognized Eunwoo, though on the other hand, she thought he might get hurt.

Hyejin glanced at Eunwoo’s expression. 

Far from hurt, his gaze was fixed on the mart sign 10 meters ahead, with no regard for others’ eyes.

Before entering the mart, Hyejin headed first to the snack shop next to it.

“Where are you going? Snack shop? Is that the place selling that sundae or something?”

As Eunwoo followed Hyejin with interest and asked, Hyejin nodded.

“Since you came along, I’ll buy you a sundae skewer. It might not compare to lobster or steak, but try street food and see how tasty it is.”

“Sundae skewer?”

“Yes. It’s fried sundae dipped in sauce, some places dip in peanut sauce. Have you tried sundae?”

When Hyejin said it looking at Eunwoo, he thought for a moment and shook his head as if obviously not.

“I’m curious, but I’ve never eaten it. I never had the chance to try street food.”

“Good timing. I’ll buy you one.”

“Wow! Already excited. Or thrilled?”

Hyejin and Eunwoo walked side by side to the snack shop.