Magic Store 24



"I've always believed I should just endure and persevere."

The Pomeranian spoke with a very solemn expression, though that was somewhat undermined by the fact that it had just retracted its tongue back into its mouth.

"Even though I don't like it, since this master-servant relationship has been in place since birth, I thought I had to faithfully maintain it, since that's how everyone else lives. I just assumed I was the strange one."

No, you truly are the one who's strange here.

"But thanks to your broadening of my perspective, I now realize that the bond with my owner is one that suppresses my true nature and destroys my dignity. At this point, I'm not sure if I even want to continue this relationship."

As he said that, I felt a bit uneasy.

Even though this tiny Pomeranian wouldn't get run over at a city intersection, where would it get food and water?

Where would it sleep?

"Geez, at least talk to your owner about it, or go to an animal welfare group or something."

"No, this was likely my fate all along."

But the dog seemed to have already made up its mind.

Looking down at it, I tried to imagine myself in its position - leave home vs get fixed...

I'd definitely choose the former if I were in its shoes.

I've never used that body part and probably never will, but being told I can't use it anymore would still suck.

Losing the ability to wear briefs for the rest of my life?

No thanks.

As I watched it with a troubled heart, the Pomeranian came over to me and asked,

"Sir. I know this is an impolite request, but... could I ask you one more favor?"

"What is it?"

"Could you please remove this leash from around my neck? I beg you."

Dammit, at this point I just don't know what to do...

I bent down and unhooked the leash from the puppy's downcast head, and gently helped remove its front legs from the harness.

Finally free, the Pomeranian shook itself off and then walked to the middle of the lobby, plopping down.

"Aren't you going to leave before your owner gets back?"

"I'd like to say a few words before I go. I've grown a bit fond of you, you see."

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"Just give me your moral support. Suddenly addressing my owner directly might startle him, after all."

As soon as we finished talking, the dog's owner arrived.

Looking exhausted from their long walk, his already puffed-up face was even more inflated.

They tossed a crumpled wad of bills at me.

Unfolding it, I counted 12,000 won - just enough for two packs of cigarettes and a can of beer.

The math checked out, but they didn't hand over the cigarettes right away.

"Well? Where's my cigarette?"

"Excuse me, sir."

"What?"

I paused briefly to figure out how best to broach the subject.

"Your pet has something it’d like to say to you."

"What?"

They gave me a look like I was some kind of lunatic, then pointed at the dog.

"My pet?"

"Yes."

"To me?"

"Yes."

"The hell are you going on about-"

"Owner."

The Pomeranian spoke up quietly.



The dog that had found its voice seemed to be waiting for the pufferfish-headed person's response, but he looked utterly confused by the situation.

As he started glancing around, the dog spoke up again.

"I'm over here, owner."

"Huh?"

The pufferfish-headed person looked down at the dog with an even more baffled expression, puffing out his cheeks, but the dog remained unflinching.

"I'm simply confirming a fact you already know. Please do not evade the question - is it true that you left me here to go buy cigarettes?"

The pufferfish-headed person took several seconds before answering.

"Uh... yeah."

"And next Monday, you were planning to have me neutered, correct?"

"I didn't really have any thoughts on that, it was my wife's idea..."

"Do I truly deserve such treatment?"

That likely wasn't the response the dog had hoped for.

Though the dog seemed to have grown more resentful than affectionate, the owner was still the owner.

They had lived together for 2 years since the dog was a puppy.

Back then, the dog must have received plenty of doting.

But as time passed, the affection had faded while the harsh realities remained unchanged.

The Pomeranian's voice now carried a tinge of anger, even a low growl.

"I know I'm just a lowly animal, but I thought I was at least doing my part.”

“I licked you awake when the gas was leaking at night because you didn't want me barking.”

“I even managed to hold in my bowel movements well, didn't I?"

"Uh..."

"And that's not all. I never asked for more food than necessary, and while it was painful when you'd grab me and shake me around in your drunken stupor, I endured it all.”

“My back still aches sometimes from that.”

“But now you want to... to have me spayed?”

“Spayed? Really?"

I could sense a tinge of guilt and remorse coming from him as I listened to the Pomeranian's emotional plea, especially when it brought up the example of not asking for more food.

"As of today, I will be leaving on my own path. Please do not try to stop me," the Pomeranian says through sniffles.

"Though our relationship has not been the best, I am thankful you raised me and allowed me to grow healthy. I shall leave it at that... And, Sir?"

"What?"

"May I... come visit again sometime?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice at the moment, as the pufferfish-headed owner in front of me looked dangerously close to exploding.

The Pomeranian gave a small bow, then turned and declared, "Thank you. I wish you prosperity in your business," before walking away.

The convenience store was filled with only the soft background music for a long while.

The pufferfish-headed person eventually turned to me and asked, "What the hell was that all about?"

What can I say?

This was your pet, after all.

"I think it would be best if you spoke directly to your pet about this, sir. It would be able to explain it better."

"Geez, I can't believe the things I end up dealing with..." the owner muttered, starting to leave.

I quickly called out, "Excuse me, sir."

"What?"

"You should take your cigarettes with you."

I held out the unopened pack I had kept for him.

He snatched it and hurried out, but I called after them one more time.

"Sir."

"What now?!" the person snapped.

"You need to take your change, sir."

I had calculated that the beer cost 2,700 won and the cigarettes 9,000 - the remaining 300 won they had not taken.

I held out the jingling coins, but they snatched them and started to leave again.

"Oh, and sir?"

"Goddammit, what is it?!"

"Would you like me to throw away the cigarette packaging for you? The trash can is under the microwave, but..."

"Just leave it!"

That short-legged person wouldn't get very far even if they tried to run.

I was hoping to buy a bit more time, but it seems I've reached my limit.

After the pufferfish-headed person stormed out, I was left alone in the convenience store.

The time on the register was 2:30 AM.

Rather than calling right away, I decided to send a text first.

[Manager]

The reply came immediately.

[Yeah?]

[You're still awake. So, just now something happened...]

I couldn't wait any longer, so I launched into explaining the situation I had just experienced over the phone.

"...And that's how the Pomeranian ran off, with the pufferfish-looking customer chasing after it. That's the whole story. What do you think?"

[Hmm...]

The manager took quite a long time to respond.

I suppose even she found the situation rather absurd.

[For one thing, dogs can't talk.]

"That's the same in the world I live in. But why was the dog even here in the first place?"

[Hmm, I'm not quite sure I understand the meaning of that question...]



"What I meant to ask is, why were the dog's head and a human's head both present at the same time. If I use my own world as an example, there's something called the theory of evolution..."

As soon as I finished speaking, a loud sound rang out.

What was that?

[Ah, I see what you mean now.]

"Huh?"

[It means to point that - the dog evolved into a dog, and Cobalt evolved into a Cobalt. Right? How's that? Did I manage to get right?]

Not at all.

If Charles Darwin heard this, he'd surely kick the coffin lid and come rushing out.

Anyway, it does seem true that dogs can't talk.

But that Pomeranian was speaking eloquently in honorific language.

The manager's response to this part was:

[Could that Pomeranian be some kind of mystical beast?]

Mystical beast?

That Pomeranian?

[If you think about it simply, yeah. Dogs can't talk, so if one can, it must not be a regular dog, right?]

That makes sense, but it's still hard for me to fully accept, considering what I saw with my own eyes.

What makes that scrawny thing a mystical beast?

"Manager, I couldn't take a picture, but if you check the CCTV later, I think your opinion might change."

[Even if I saw it, I probably would've said the same thing. You can't judge mystical beasts by their appearance.]

The manager then went on to explain that mystical beasts refer to animals with special powers, beyond what regular animals possess.

If a creature has unusual abilities, even a stray cat or a sloth, they can be considered a mystical beast.



["Most mystical beasts are quite intelligent, so they can usually understand language, even if they can't speak it themselves. But a dog that can actually speak is something I haven't seen in a long, long time.]

"Have you raised any mystical beasts before, manager?"

[Not me, but an old acquaintance of mine used to raise one. It was a talking black cat.]

I could easily picture that - a cat curled up next to a witch's crystal ball, for example.

"But manager, if that Pomeranian was a mystical beast, wouldn't the owner have known and not used it as collateral for a loan?"

[They're not easy to come across and identify. The direct descendant of a mystical beast could appear as a regular animal, or a regular animal could give birth to a mystical beast. It's all very convoluted.]

"So the chances of encountering one are pretty low, huh?"

[Statistically, it's like one in hundreds of thousands. That's why obtaining a confirmed mystical beast is incredibly difficult and, most importantly... expensive.]

And since the Pomeranian never spoke a word in front of its owner, the owner had no way of knowing.

The owner is going to get an earful from their spouse later.

[It could have other abilities too. That cat I mentioned could levitate cups and play with them.]

"Well, that dog didn't seem to be aware of any special abilities, let alone being able to speak."

[A simple trigger could make it realize its own powers. By the way, did that dog say it might come back?]

"Yeah, that's what it said."

[Okay, if it does come back, let me know. You can even seat it at the counter if it wants to rest.]

“I'm not sure when it might return, but I'll be sure to mention it if it does.”

[...Oh, and Chan."

"Yes?"

[About that tool I mentioned earlier, what kind would you like?]



It took me a moment to recall, but the manager had said they'd give me some kind of magical tool.

Remembering what I had requested, I answered.

"A lint-free burlap sack."

[No, not that one.]

"I'm not really sure what's available, so I'm a bit hesitant to ask..."

While a staff of oak or Excalibur comes to mind, I don't know much about magic, so it felt a bit awkward to inquire.

The manager suddenly spoke up.

[How about a smartphone? A spare one, I mean. I found one that could be useful at home.]

"Uh, a new smartphone?"

[No, no, a spare one. I found one that might be suitable.]

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