Ch.168Chapter 168. The Butterfly Dream (1)

Chapter 168. Butterfly Dream (1)

Beep beep beep beep!

The digital clock on the bedside table announced it was time to wake up.

Time to head to the convenience store, huh.

“Hnnnngh…!”

I got up from bed, making a strange sound that was half scream, half groan.

“Hmm.”

First, the morning poop to start the day.

After washing up, applying some lotion, and changing into comfortable clothes, my preparation for work was complete.

“Hello~!”

“Oh, you’re here.”

After a brief handover from the dozing middle-aged woman, I sat at the counter and officially started my part-time job.

Well, there wasn’t much to do.

Basically, I just sat at the counter dealing with customers while spacing out, occasionally organizing incoming stock in their proper places. And when things got a bit dirty, I’d clean the store.

Our convenience store was located near a small elementary school in a backward neighborhood. It was nice because it was quite slow except during lunch and dinner hours.

I opened the doors and windows wide for ventilation, and apart from dealing with occasional customers, I was just fiddling with my phone.

Woof!

A black-furred dog approached, wagging its tail. After passing the outdoor tables, it boldly entered through the main entrance and rolled over to show its belly.

I didn’t know who owned it or where it came from. It just started hanging around the convenience store one day.

Without thinking much, I thought “Aw, cute” and tossed it some food, and after that, it started visiting frequently.

I slowly stroked the dog’s belly.

Judging by its good health and well-groomed fur, it probably wasn’t a stray, but why was it wandering around without an owner?

I was worried it might get reported by a local resident and taken to an animal shelter or something, but that never happened.

Later I found out it was actually famous among the neighborhood people. As the pretty dog that would run away if anyone tried to touch it. No one knew who the owner was.

Maybe it was satisfied with my petting skills? The panting dog rubbed against me with its yellow eyes gleaming. I don’t understand why such a calm and affectionate dog would avoid other people.

As the dog was enjoying my “pat-pat,” its ears suddenly perked up, and it dashed out of the convenience store.

I knew why it did that.

“Mister! Did Kami leave again?”

It was because of the little kids who rushed in as soon as lunch time started. The dog seemed to dislike crowded spaces and would disappear as soon as it sensed people.

It’s just a bit shy.

“It ran away just before you guys came.”

“Dogs have good hearing.”

“I thought dogs had good noses?”

The disappointed children giggled and joked with each other before speaking to me again.

“Next time, hold onto it tightly!”

“What if it bites me?”

“Then it’ll hurt, duh.”

The brats giggled again.

“You little rascals.”

Maybe because this was the only convenience store near the school, or perhaps because I had a likable face to children, I’d become friends with quite a few kids since starting this job.

I really don’t know why they call me “mister” instead of “bro” or “big brother” though.

The little ones kept pouring in, and I had no choice but to keep scanning barcodes endlessly. After about an hour or two, it was finally time for classes to resume.

Good. The busy period is over now.

“Do you have meat!? Spicy thigh or chicken skewers!”

“You don’t have pigeon feed, right?”

A brother and sister holding hands.

“What are you looking at? Just give me those cigarettes.”

A grumpy female student studying for civil service exams.

“Red ginseng candy… don’t you sell red ginseng candy…?”

An elderly man with his granddaughter.

Neighborhood aunties and uncles, a Japanese exchange student, even a pastor.

“Patrasche. Good job.”

There was even a visually impaired person with a large retriever.

“Hahaha! Ha~haha!”

And a drunk troublemaker spouting nonsense after day drinking.

While I was dealing with these various customers who appeared irregularly, it happened.

“Hey.”

The manager suddenly walked in. Why is this guy here all of a sudden? Did he come to observe my work attitude?

“Convenience slave, how’s the job treating you?”

Look at how he talks. What’s with calling your part-timer “convenience slave”?

“It’s okay. Manageable.”

But he’s the boss who pays my salary. I answered with the most natural smile I could manage.

“How do you find this place? Not bad, right?”

This place. He probably means the neighborhood.

“Yes, it’s nice.”

Not bad except for being a bit secluded.

“In what way is it nice?”

Why is he asking all these questions? He must really have nothing to do.

“Well, the kids are nice, the air is clean, the dog is cute? Just everything is nice, I guess.”

I didn’t mind answering, so I just told him.

…This was a bit embarrassing to say, but I felt some responsibility too. The responsibility of managing (temporarily) the only convenience store in this neighborhood?

To go to any other store, you’d have to walk at least 3 kilometers. There’s a large supermarket there, but you can’t walk 6 kilometers round trip just to buy a snack when you’re feeling peckish.

Almost everyone living in this neighborhood uses this convenience store. I might not remember all their names, but I’ve memorized all their faces.

I guess I’ve grown attached to it. Like a second hometown? Something like that.

Hmm. That sounds too cheesy even as I think about it. I shouldn’t say this out loud.

“…I see.”

The manager grabbed my hand.

“You are wise and brave. You have a strong spirit that doesn’t easily give up.”

What’s with the sudden embarrassing compliments?

“Well then, I’ll be counting on you. It’s time for you to go now. Find a way out.”

With those words, my consciousness briefly went out.

***

What was that?

I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping.

I was definitely possessed by a totem in another world… no, until just now, I had killed Childuryong and deactivated my manifestation?

What was that convenience store part-time life just now? Why did that manager whose face I can barely remember appear and say…

Ah.

I see.

I somewhat understood and got up. Ugh, was I lying on the ground for a long time? My clothes are all damp.

Huh? What?

I “got up”? Me? And I’m wearing clothes and feeling dampness?!

I raised both hands to touch my face, then examined my body.

A slightly rough chin. The scratch marks on my fingertips and the small mole on my wrist. Even the body of a young man wearing a convenience store uniform.

This is… my body?

“Huff, huff.”

I tried to calm my inexplicably rapid breathing while looking around.

Strange trees I’d never seen before, equally strange plants and berries, and small insects scattered everywhere.

First of all, this isn’t Earth. It’s not the world I was possessed in, and it couldn’t be my inner world either.

I stood there blankly, racking my brain for any clues.

What did the manager, or rather Malak disguised as the manager, say at the end of that strange dream? Find a way out?

I think that’s what he said. Anyway, it means I’m in a space that I need to escape from.

Let me check my status window first.

It works fine. What about the community?

It works too.

I slowly scrolled through the community posts until I came across a title I couldn’t possibly ignore and clicked on it as if entranced.

[OneSlice: My name is Charon, the one you call the Lich Lord. Possessed ones, I have taken the capital.

(Photo of a giant female humanoid with three pairs of wings)

I now control the soul of the evil god Shamishur.

This means only I can close the dimensional gate and command the demons.

Don’t worry. I won’t command them to kill you.

I want only one thing: the end of gods. Countless tragedies have been born from the desires and cruelty of monsters who call themselves gods.

This is probably not much different in the Earth you came from. What tragedies have beings who call themselves gods and their worshippers brought to your world? How many terrible things have been done in the name of gods?

There’s no need to list them one by one.

They are the evil mothers who give birth to tragedy, tumors that eat away at humanity’s freedom and future. Not just demons, but Ishtania and Roas must be dealt with too.

We just need to destroy things like cathedrals and totems that help them exert influence on the earth. Without the means to gain divinity, they will eventually lose their divine authority and fall.

Ishtania, which is connected to other worlds, will probably be safe, but it doesn’t matter. They will pay the price someday.

Strangers entangled in the gods’ schemes, I propose a deal to you.

I’ll give you three days.

Destroy all of Malak’s totems and post proof with photos on the community. Then I will close the dimensional gate and annihilate the demons.

I can sense his energy. Tricks like leaving one or two totems won’t work.

If you don’t destroy all the totems within three days, I will destroy the cathedral and remove the goddess’s influence first. If that happens, your only chance of returning home will disappear.

I always keep my word. I expect you to make a wise decision.]

…So this is why Childuryong and the dragons hesitated for a moment.

I thought he was still alive, but I didn’t expect him to become strong enough to control an evil god.

Yeah, just wait a little. I’ll be back soon.

As one hidden boss to another… let’s settle this once and for all.