Chapter 23 Part2 (1/2)
<chapter 23.=”” level=”” 6=”” -=”” 2=””>
”Gute Nacht…[1] Congratulations on the level up. Then, sleep well.”
”No wait. Please don't lie down.”
Perhaps he'd come at a bad time; the merchant behind the counter, Pleine, congratulated him whilst wearing a nightgown and bent her body over the counter. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, taken aback, stopped her, and Pleine, as if expecting it, sighed and raised her head.
”I don't usually take customers when I'm about to sleep...”
”So you have times when you don't take customers, huh.”
”But you're special Mr. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo... Hoo.”
She said, and tapped her own cheek. It was a teasing gesture, but it seemed to work, as she awoke slightly and barely opened her eyes.
”Thank you for the consideration.”
”Haam [2]… You understand me how I feel, right?”
As there was a empty wine bottle rolling atop the counter, even Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who didn't understand women very well, could tell exactly how she felt. He was sure that she was a woman who loved her alcohol.
”It was such good liquor that I wanted to drink it with someone else. Would you like to drink with me? Ah, that's right. You can't drink it, Customer. Hehe.”
Pleine, who was always teasing him, sounded tipsy. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt like it would take quite a long time to do his shopping, shrugged his shoulders, and approached the counter. Pleine still looked at him with drowsy eyes and spoke.
”Is it urgent today?”
”No. But since I used up one of my permits, I'd rather finish my business or it'd be a waste.”
”Are you saying you have some time? Then... please listen to my story.”
”?”
She wasn't asking him to tell her his story, but rather, she wanted him to listen to hers? What was this granny talking about? With that in mind, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo looked at Pleine vacantly. It seemed like she'd understood the doubt within his goblin fire, so Pleine added on.
”I'll give you a 20% discount on one item. In exchange, please don't tell this to anyone else.”
”Then please go ahead. I don't have ears, but I'm still a really good listener.”
To think she'd deduct 20% of the price off an item just by listening to her story! Lee s.h.i.+n Woo knocked on his chest, as if he were ready to listen at any time, and sat down.
Pleine chuckled at Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's trustworthy figure, and opened her mouth, releasing a pink sigh.
”You're fine in this regard, Mr. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, but given the opportunity, the other male customers will hit on me. You know that, right? You see, today...”
”Wait a sec. Where did you just look? Where were you looking when I said you were fine!? You know that's s.e.xual hara.s.sment, right!?”
”I suppose you can't even s.e.xually hara.s.s me. At any rate, that customer bought wine, drank it on the spot, and kept sticking to me; I should put up a sign saying no eating or drinking because seriously...”
Pleine completely ignored Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's protests, and continued to speak. Pleine started with that drunk customer (Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt like he knew who she was talking about for some reason), who drank alcohol and attempted an unbecoming trick on her. She also told him about how much her usual customers pestered her, as well as the fact that she couldn't meet with G.o.d very much and all the things she was trying to figure out, like G.o.d's intent...
”It's better above ground. Since I'm just one merchant amongst many up there. It's just a clean, business relations.h.i.+p up there...”
”...How is it up there?”
”It's completely unscathed. Everything is plentiful and peaceful up there, excessively so. I wonder if they're even aware of their impending doom...”
She started by talking about business, but when he thought about it, this was the perfect chance to hear about what happened on the surface, as she had a link to it. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo asked her naturally.
”I heard that there have been times where heroes were dispatched to the surface as well.”
”It's only happened a couple of times. You should already be aware of this Mr. s.h.i.+n Woo, but this curse that has completely covered the Empire... hasn't invaded the surface yet.”
”It'll invade the surface at some point though, right?”
”I believe the humans above ground won't allow it to.”
”Excuse me?”
This was news to him. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's (nonexistent) ears p.r.i.c.ked his ears. Before she continued, Pleine brought out a new wine bottle, and immediately bit her lips. As she was beautiful, even the sight of her vigorously drinking from the bottle was quite nice.
”Gulp, gulp... Puu. You see, they're overconfident in their strength. After they received the first oracle, they sent heroes down underground a few times; when they didn't return, they just decided to seal off the underground.”
”So did they succeed!?”
”They thought they did at least. But no... At this rate, the curse will someday take over the surface as well. This is the price of their arrogance, and... their sin.”
”Sin...”
”That's it with the bonus information. Mmm, paa...”
It ended at the most exciting part. But, as Pleine could read Lee s.h.i.+n Woo like a book, it didn't seem like she'd tell him anything more about the surface. While Lee s.h.i.+n Woo clicked his tongue, Pleine continued to curse at the secret shop customers.
”So, about the customer I had last time...”
”Who's your most handsome customer?”
”Lloyd H.K.?”
”Then what about the prettiest?”
”Seira... Von Retadane.”
She replied, and then nodded her head.
”She's a beautiful woman, though she's quite rude.”
”Really?”
”Hoo... I suppose it's time I let out all the curses I've been holding back.”
Pleine cursed at Seira Von Retadane for quite a long time, as if it was the right time. Pleine looked so happy as she cursed at Seira with every single word; Lee s.h.i.+n Woo couldn't even think of stopping her, and just stood still whilst listening to her. Thus, two hours pa.s.sed.
”Oh my. It's already this late? I'll be going to sleep now.”