Episode 168. Phalaenopsis Dream (1)
Episode 168 Butterfly dream (1)
Beep beep beep!
The digital clock on the table next to the bed announced the wake-up time.
It’s time to leave the convenience store.
“Hmm… !”
I woke up from the bed making a strange sound that was half a scream and a moan.
“Hum.”
First of all, the morning poop that signals the start of the day.
After washing up, applying some lotion, and changing into comfortable clothes, I am ready to go to work.
“Hello~!”
“Oh, you’re here.”
After roughly handing over the handover to the dozing lady and sitting at the counter, the part-time job begins in earnest.
Well, there is nothing special about what I do.
Basically, it involves sitting around at the counter dealing with customers and arranging items according to their location as they come in. And if you feel it’s a little dirty, just clean the store appropriately.
Our convenience store is located near a small elementary school in a backward neighborhood. It’s pretty free as long as you get through the lunch and dinner hours.
The doors and windows were wide open for ventilation, and except when dealing with the occasional customer, I was just fiddling with my phone.
King!
A puppy with black fur approaches with its tail wagging. The puppy passed the outdoor table and confidently entered the front door, flipping his stomach.
I don’t know where and who raises the dog. At one point, he was wandering around a convenience store.
Without even thinking about it, he said, ‘Hey, he’s cute’ and gave me a few things to eat, so I ended up coming here often.
I slowly stroked the dog’s stomach.
I don’t think it’s a stray dog since it appears to be in good health and well-groomed, but why is it wandering around alone without an owner?
I thought they might have been reported by nearby residents and taken to an animal protection center or something like that, but that didn’t happen.
I found out later that he was famous among the people in this neighborhood. It’s a pretty puppy that you can’t touch because if you try to touch it, it runs away quickly. The owner doesn’t know.
Am I satisfied with my petting skills? The panting guy rubs her body with his yellow eyes shining. I don’t know why such a calm and affectionate dog avoids other people.
The dog, who was enjoying my ‘patting’, pricked up her ears and quickly left the convenience store.
I know why they do that.
“Mister! Did Kami go again?”
This is because of the kids who came in as soon as it was lunch time. She didn’t like crowded spaces, so she tended to disappear as soon as she felt deserted.
This friend is a bit shy.
“They rushed over before you guys arrived.”
“Maybe because it’s a dog, its ears are bright.”
“Don’t dogs have good noses?”
The disappointed children giggled and played with each other and then started talking again.
“Next time, hold on tighter!”
“And what if you get bitten?”
“It hurts.”
They are giggling again.
“You bastards.”
I don’t know if it’s because it’s the only convenience store near my school, or because I’m liked by the kids, but after starting my part-time job, I was able to become friends with quite a few kids.
I really don’t know why they don’t say ‘hyung’ or ‘oppa’ but just say ‘uncle’.
The kids kept flocking in, and I had no choice but to constantly scan the barcode. Maybe an hour or two passed? It’s finally time for class.
Good. Now the difficult times have passed.
“Is there any meat!? Spicy thighs or chicken skewers!”
“Didn’t the pigeons come in?”
The older brother and younger sister came together holding hands.
“What are you looking at? “Give me a cigarette over there.”
A female exam student with a bad personality.
“Red ginseng candy… I don’t sell red ginseng candy… ?”
From noble mtl dot com
A grandfather who came with his granddaughter
Neighborhood women and men, international students from Japan, and even a pastor.
“Patraiche. Well done.”
There is also a visually impaired person who brought a large retriever.
“Geunhahaha! Geun haha!”
There was also the truth of coming in after a day of drinking and spouting nonsense.
It was a time when I was spending time dealing with various guests who appeared irregularly.
“Hey.”
The store manager suddenly came in. No, why did this guy suddenly come here? Did you come here to observe work attitude?
“Pyeondori, is the job worth doing?”
Look at Malbonsae. No, what is cheating on your part-time worker? Cheating.
“Yes. “It’s worth it.”
But he is the boss who pays my salary. He smiled and answered as naturally as possible.
“What is it like here? “Not bad, right?”
It’s here. You’re probably talking about the neighborhood.
“Yes, I like it.”
It’s not bad except that it’s a bit laggy.
“In what ways is it good?”
Are you asking all that? It looks like there isn’t much to do.
“Well, the kids are nice, the air is clean, and the dog is pretty? “I just like everything.”
It wasn’t that I really didn’t want to answer, so I just said it.
… I was a little embarrassed to say this, but I also felt a sense of responsibility. Responsibility for (temporarily) managing the only convenience store in town?
If you want to go to a store other than here, you have to walk another 3 kilometers. It’s a large supermarket, but you can’t go 6 kilometers round trip just to buy a snack when you’re hungry.
Almost everyone who lives in this neighborhood uses this convenience store. I didn’t remember all their names, but I memorized all their faces.
Should I say I became attached? Feels like a second home? That’s roughly it.
Tsk. Even thinking about it again, it seems like bullshit. I shouldn’t say this out loud.
“…I see.”
The store manager held my hand.
“You are intelligent and brave. “I have a strong spirit that doesn’t get frustrated easily.”
What is this all of a sudden? I give all kinds of shy compliments.
“Then, please take good care of me in the future. Let’s go now. Find a way out.”
With those words, my consciousness went out for a moment.
***
What was it?
I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping.
I’m definitely possessed as a totem in this world… No, just a moment ago, I killed the Seven-Headed Dragon and canceled its manifestation?
What is that convenience store part-time job? Now, the manager whose face I don’t even remember comes out and says…
Ah.
Is that so?
I came to terms with it and stood up. Ugh, did I lie on the floor for a long time? My clothes are all damp.
Uh? What?
‘Stand up’? I? Besides, I was wearing clothes and I felt wet?!
I raised both hands and touched my face, then took a look at my body.
Slightly rough chin. Scratches on my fingertips and small moles on my wrist. Even the body of a young man wearing a convenience store uniform.
This is my body, right?
“Heo-eok, heo-eok.”
For some reason, I calmed my breathing and looked around.
There are strange trees that I have never seen before, as well as strange grasses, fruits, and small insects that I have never seen before.
First of all, it is not Earth. It wasn’t the world I was possessing, and it couldn’t have been the inner world.
I stood there in confusion and kept shaking my head to see if I could figure out anything.
What did the store manager, or rather Jin Malak, who disguised himself as the store manager and showed me the strange dream, say at the end? Find a way out?
I think it was said something like that. Anyway, I’m in a space that I have to get out of.
Should I turn on the status window first?
It works well. What about the community?
It works.
As I was slowly scrolling through the community posts, I came across a title that I couldn’t get past and was fascinated by it.
[Piece: My name is Charon, and I am what you call the Necrolord. Possessors, I have taken over the capital.
(Photo of a huge female giant with three pairs of wings)
I now control the soul of the evil god Shamishir.
This means that I am the only one who can close the portal and give orders to the demons.
Don’t worry. Because I won’t manipulate them into killing you.
There is only one thing I want: the end of the gods. Numerous tragedies were born from the desire and heartlessness of monsters who called themselves gods.
This will not be much different on the Earth you came from. What kind of tragedy have self-proclaimed gods and their worshipers brought upon your world? How many terrible things have been committed in the name of God?
There is no need to list them one by one.
They are an evil mother that gives birth to tragedy, a tumor that eats away at the freedom and future of humanity. We have to deal with not only demons, but also Ishtania and Loa.
They only need to destroy things that help them exert influence on the earth, such as cathedrals and totems. If the means to gain godhood disappear, one day you will lose your authority as a god and fall.
Ishtania, which is connected to other worlds, will be safe, but it doesn’t matter. You will pay the price someday.
Strangers caught up in God’s tricks, I offer you a deal.
I will give you three days.
Destroy all of Malak’s totems and verify the photos to the community. Then, I will close the portal and annihilate the demons.
I can feel its energy. Cheating by leaving only one or two totems does not work.
If all the totems are not destroyed within three days, the cathedral will be destroyed and the goddess’s influence will be removed. If that happens, your only chance of returning home will disappear.
I always keep what I say. I hope you make a wise decision.]
… Was this the reason why the seven-headed dragon and the dragons hesitated for a moment?
I thought he was alive, but I didn’t know he had become strong enough to control the evil spirit.
Okay, just wait a moment. I’ll be back soon.
With the same hidden boss…Let’s put an end to it.