Convenience Store 24: The Tower of the End 1st - Chapter 101



Only Krnovel

Episode 101 ?? Floor, Dragonia (2)

“……payment?”

“You have to pay for things. Let’s see. Twenty crackers, ten chocolate chips, twenty Big Bombs… … Oh my, you stole a lot.”

I scanned the empty spaces on the shelves and counted the number of items they had taken.

He opened his mouth slowly.

“You will be compensated 100 times the amount of the stolen goods, or 2,300 gold. I will give you a special discount of 89 silver.”

“… … .”

The red-bearded man looked back and forth between the can of mackerel he was holding in his hand and my face.

“How funny! How funny! Not only did the mongrel talk to me, he even asked for money! Puhahahahahahaha!”

Starts to laugh out loud.

“It was fun. I’ll spare your life. But… … .”

The third-ranking man’s gaze turned towards Mog.

“That mongrel seems to lack basic qualities.”

“Ah, ahh… … .”

Mog, who was receiving the gaze of the third rank, instinctively fell to the floor.

“I’m sorry! I don’t know the topic, so… … .”

“Okay, just die.”

Kiiiiiing-

A red sphere bloomed above the fingers of the third-tier dragon tribe.

‘Is that kid crazy?’

I snapped my fingers at him.

That moment.

Tukwaaaaang-

The convenience store door made a loud noise and shook back and forth like crazy.

“……uh?”

The Yong-in tribe, who appeared to be the man’s subordinates, blankly stared at the place where the third-ranking man had been.

“Ugh, euaaaah!”

They threw the bags they were holding on the floor and started running away.

‘These guys don’t have even a shred of camaraderie.’

I left the convenience store and looked in the direction where the 3rd tier had flown away.

“Ugh… … .”

I thought to myself as I watched the man groaning in the rubble of a collapsed building.

‘Is it because he’s definitely higher up in the hierarchy? He seems a bit more sturdy.’

“How… … a mongrel… … .”

I looked down at the muttering guy and let out a chuckle.

‘This guy and that guy, they all say they’re mongrel.’

Just how deeply rooted is that damned purism in their perception?

I grabbed the bastard by the collar and dragged him out of the rubble.

“2,300 gold, right?”

“Well, I’ll give you as much money as you want. If you come to my house… … .”

“Your house? Why should I go to your house?”

The yellow eyes of the third tier tremble.

“I don’t have that much money right now… ….”

At that time.

Mog runs up to me and says.

“Ancestor! Look inside the scales near the bastard’s chest! I heard that they usually hide important items there!”

“……okay?”

‘But even though he’s not my ancestor, he keeps calling me my ancestor.’

Even though they explained the climber’s presence.

‘Well, the title isn’t important, so let’s just let them do whatever they want. Anyway… … .’

I said, looking down at the third tier.

“Look at the scales.”

“What, what?”

“Take a look at the scales. Are you saying there’s something hidden inside?”

“Ugh… … .”

Let’s look at Mog as if he’s going to kill us.

Mog quickly hides behind my back.

“You guys can mess with me and get away with it… … .”

“What are you doing? Take them all out quickly. Aren’t you going to take them out?”

Let me raise my hand.

The creature flinched and began to rummage around in its scales.

After a while.

Chorrrrrrrr-

I looked at the gold coins piled on the floor and laughed in vain.

‘It’s not like it’s some kind of subspace pocket, but gold coins are pouring out.’

“It all adds up to 1,520 gold, Ancestor!”

Mog, who was busy counting gold coins, looks up at me and says.

“Really? Mog, you’re good at math, aren’t you?”

“lol…….”

“By the way, are you short 780 gold?”

The third tier flinches and shouts at my gaze.

“That’s all I have right now! Nothing more! It’s real! It’s real!”

“No, you have more.”

I put my hand inside the guy’s scales and started to explore the space.

Meanwhile.

chin-

Something caught my finger.

“What the heck?”

I grabbed his hand and pulled it hard.

Something like a pure white tree branch came out.

“That, that is… … .”

“Look at this, you know?”

Krumil

Description: This tree was native to Dragonia before the land was polluted. It is said that its numbers have greatly decreased and it is now difficult to find.

Content: If you raise it well, it seems like you will be able to taste a good drink.

‘Krumil? But instead of fruit, you can taste a high-quality drink?’

While I was looking at the tree branches with bleary eyes.

Mog shouts in excitement.

“Ancestor, Ancestor! It’s Krumil! I can’t believe I got to see that precious thing with my own eyes… … .”

“What is that?”

“I heard that it’s the tree that produces Lamode!”

‘Ramode?’

From what I’ve heard, it seems to refer to a drink that comes from a tree.

“I see. But is it that precious?”

“Yes! You can use Lamode to make many different dishes!”

“aha.”

After all, the outside is a dead land where it is difficult for living things to move.

So, the creatures that provide this food must be precious.

‘Let’s take good care of this first.’

After I collected all the gold coins, I quickly tried to pack the Krumil tree into my subspace pocket.

Do you know?

This could become the basis for a new menu.

“Hey, you thief! Hand it over!”

The red-bearded man screamed as if in a fit of convulsions.

He thrusts his hand at me, claws exposed.

I snapped my fingers at the guy.

Kwaaaaaaaang-

“Keuk… … .”

A third-tier dragon tribe member who is lying face down against the wall with his eyes rolled back and his body shaking.

Mog looked at the guy for a while, then turned his head and looked up at me.

“Ancestor, aren’t you going to kill those Yong-in people?”

“……hmm?”

I smiled bitterly.

What could be wrong with that kid?

It’s just sad that this world is one where even children can talk about death so casually.

“It’s easy to kill, but we don’t do it because of the problems that come with it.”

“What are the resulting problems?”

“Mog, if what you say is true, then the third-tier dragon race is a dragon race of a higher rank in its own right. Isn’t that right?”

“yes that’s right.”

“But what if rumors spread that he died in District 5?”

Mog tilts his head, then scratches it.

“… … I don’t know.”

“Other high-ranking dragon tribesmen will probably come here. And they’ll try to find out why that dragon tribesman died, and in the process, this 5th district might be devastated.”

Judging from their behavior, they treat the 5th-tier Yong-in tribe as mongrel, almost like trash.

It was a situation where a massive massacre could have occurred.

‘If you can’t take responsibility, you should at least try not to cause any harm.’

“Ha, but what if that guy runs away and reaches the other dragons?”

“That may be possible. But… … I don’t think that’s likely.”

I was sure.

The fact that the third-tier Yong-in tribe will keep quiet about this matter.

‘Those people who are concerned about bloodlines have such strong pride. It’s not like I’ve dealt with that type of customer once or twice.’

He will definitely not leak this out, if only for the sake of his pride.

I crouched down to Mog’s eye level and smiled at him.

“There’s no need to worry too much, Mog, what you’re worried about won’t happen.”

“Yes, ancestor!”

“That’s good. I’ll give you a magic candy as a gift.”

I offered Mog a beer lollipop.

In the past, it was a candy that I bought together with my ‘partner’.

The attractive point was that when you eat it, your tongue gradually turns yellow.

“… … Can I receive something like this? I didn’t do anything… … .”

“Why haven’t you done anything? You told me about Dragonia, and showed me around the Land of the Dead.”

“still…….”

“also!”

He refused the cream bun I offered him earlier, and now he’s doing this again.

“What did I say earlier? In times like this, you just need to say thank you and accept it.”

“Go, thank you.”

Let me teach you how to eat candy.

Mog slowly puts the beer candy in his mouth.

“and…….”

‘I guess you like it.’

The way the ball kept moving left and right was a shape that suited my taste.

‘More than that… …what should I do with Mog?’

First of all, Dragonia, where pure-bloodism is rampant, is not a suitable place to sell products.

In addition, he raided the pockets of the third-tier Yong-in tribe and made a lot of money.

Honestly, I didn’t mind going home.

‘but…….’

It’s not Mog.

Because this was his home and his hometown.

‘If we let the 3rd tier dragon tribe live, the 5th district will be safe, but I can’t guarantee Mog’s safety.’

He’s already seen Mog’s face.

Doesn’t that mean you can just quietly go find Mog and kill him?

‘Ugh, I’m worried.’

If it was a stranger whose face I didn’t even know, I wouldn’t have had these worries.

Since we were entangled in a web of fate, I had no intention of just standing by and watching.

“Mog, do you have a place to live?”

“You can live anywhere in District 5!”

Mog speaks confidently.

‘In short, you’re saying you’re going to sleep out somewhere in District 5.’

We must provide at least the minimum safety measures before leaving.

‘There must be a good way… … .’

At that time, I was looking down at Mog and lost in thought.

Pong-

‘hmm?’

Isn’t there a red beard growing on Mog’s face that wasn’t there before?

“… … Mog?”

“yes?”

“Ugh… … .”

The moment I saw Mog, I was speechless.

For some reason, where Mog’s face should have been, there was a third-tier dragon’s face.

No, that was just the beginning.

Pong, pong, pong-

Mog’s face changes in real time between a woman’s face, a man’s face, and an old man’s face.

I asked Mog quietly.

“Mog, do you have any ability, like the ability to transform?”

“yes?”

Mog, who had been looking bewildered, laughs bashfully.

“Ancestor! Only you can do polymorph! I can’t do it.”

“……is it so?”

I took a hand mirror out of my subspace pocket and shined it at Mog.

Pong, poro pong pong-

“Huh? Huh huh??”

Was he surprised by the fact that his face was changing from moment to moment?

Mog suddenly falls on his butt.

‘Looking at that reaction, it seems like it was a really new ability… … .’

At that moment, I felt something cold.

‘No way, again?’

Elves, Demon Kings, Giants, Halflings.

Already, countless examples flashed through my mind.

‘What did I feed Mog? Just cream buns, kimbap, and sandwiches… ‘

Mog didn’t react like that when he actually ate them.

That means… … .

“… … .”

I looked closely at the candy stick sticking out between Mog’s lips.

‘Could it be because of that?’

“Seo, Ancestor, why is my face like this?”

“Mog, calm down.”

I calmed Mog down, who was trembling.

“Imagine calmly, in your head, the image of the person you want to become.”

“Uh, uh… … yes… … .”

Mog, with a sad face, nodded his head with difficulty.

After a while.

Pong-

‘oh…….’

Fox mask, smiling lips.

I stuck out my tongue as I looked at Mog, who had transformed into my exact appearance.

‘This is almost like a clone… … Wait, really?’

I hurriedly lifted the mask Mog was wearing.

“Seo, Ancestor?”

Fortunately, what was revealed beneath the mask were Mog’s eyes and nose, unmistakable.

‘Whew, it seems I can only transform into what I see. Surprise!’

I breathed a sigh of relief, but still had one question in mind.

‘But is that also because of the candy?’

For some reason, the ends of Mog’s once white hair had turned golden.

Also, it seems like the scales have grown a bit more than before.

‘Well, I guess I can feel safe with this level of transformation ability.’

I said, patting Mog’s head.

“… … Perhaps the escaped third-tier dragon clan might come after you.”

“are you okay!”

Pong-

Mog, who has transformed into a young woman, puts strength into her shoulders.

“With this power given to me by my ancestors, I have nothing to worry about!”

‘Certainly, with that level of transformation ability, it seems like it could stand on its own… … .’

Still, I’m worried about Mog’s safety.

It might be because he is still a young boy from the Yongin tribe.

‘I’d like to help you more, but… … I think it’s right to leave before we get too attached.’

I put 10 gold down in front of Mog.

“Ancestor, why are you suddenly giving me gold coins… … .”

“Mog, this money is possibility.”

“Possible… …what is your last name?”

“Whatever you do with the money, Mog, is up to you.”

I would have liked to have given him at least 100 gold.

That would only endanger Mog.

Because money that you can’t afford always brings trouble.

“You can either use it to buy something delicious, or use it to fund your dreams. The choice is yours.”

With those words, I slowly got up from my seat.

Then he closed his eyes tightly and turned his back.

“Now, wait a minute! Ancestor! Ancestor!”

Despite Mog’s cries, I stubbornly picked up the key and inserted it into the convenience store door handle.

“Ancestor! I haven’t even heard your name yet… … .”

“The Ever-Breaking Heart, that’s my name. It was fun, Mog.”

Clank-

After a while.

The convenience store suddenly disappeared from its location.

The boy from the Yongin tribe with hair that was a mix of white and gold muttered quietly while staring blankly at the place where the convenience store used to be.

“A heart that is always… … broken… … .”

Only the candy stick remained in the boy’s clenched fist.

*

‘Hmm… … .’

When I returned home, I felt uneasy for no reason and couldn’t put my luggage down easily.

‘Oh, it bothers me for no reason.’

If Mog had been an adult, a high-ranking member of the Yongin tribe, it would have been less of a burden.

I immediately shook my head vigorously.

‘No. I’m not going to take responsibility for it for the rest of my life, so how can I take care of it more? That should be fine.’

Mog is already a child who has been living tenaciously in District 5 without me.

But what if I show too much favor?

How is this any different from pouring fertilizer on wildflowers?

Excessive fertilizer will only kill your wildflowers.

‘Yes, 10 gold would have been adequate. If I had given more, I might have been targeted by the surrounding dragon tribes.’

Plus, he even gained polymorph abilities.

Even if a third-tier dragon tribe targets Mog, he will be able to easily escape.

‘Mog will be able to live well on his own!’

I slapped my cheeks hard and started to pack my things.

‘Ugh… … .’

A wad of cash pouring out of a bag.

All of this money was converted from gold coins stolen from the Yong-in tribe.

‘Good, good. With this money, I can negotiate well with the tenants and do some remodeling, right?’

And that’s not all?

As I bought the building, I had some leeway in managing my finances.

I also planned to use the extra money to level up.

‘You should level up as steadily as possible. That way, you can acquire new abilities.’

Back when I was whistling and stacking stacks of bills.

Bam-

A white branch came out of the subspace pocket along with a wad of money.

‘Oh no, I forgot this. I need to plant this soon too.’

A strange plant obtained from Dragonia.

When I think about how the 3rd tier Yong-in tribe rolled their eyes and tried to retrieve this Krumil.

It must not be an ordinary plant.

I took the cream and went down to the basement.

Abundant-

The underground fields were already full of irises and amaryllis in full bloom.

‘Mmm, it smells good!’

I savor the scent of iris that fills the basement.

I carefully planted the crocuses in the empty spaces in the field.

‘But will Krumildo also benefit from fertilizer? I hope the fertilizer works.’

I spread fertilizer around the croup.

I crouched down and observed Krumil closely.

But there was no significant change.

‘hmm…….’

At that time.

Bam-

‘oh?’

Doo doo doo doo doo doo-

Small branches begin to sprout above the pure white branches.

Eventually, Kurmil stopped growing.

‘Is that all grown up? It looks quite pretty when you look at it like this.’

Is it because the color of the cream is white?

It looked like a small winter tree covered with snow instead of leaves.

‘Christmas is just around the corner, so maybe it would be a good idea to put up some decorations here… … .’

At that time, I was gently caressing the branches of the krmil.

Whew Whew Whew-

The Krumil begins to emit a dazzling light.

At the same time, isn’t there a pure white liquid flowing out from each branch?

‘If you raise them well, you can get a good drink… … Is that what it means?’

I put my hands together and put them under the flowing liquid.

The texture is similar to milk, it’s soft.

‘Where, the taste is… … .’

I put my face close to the liquid.