This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 90

There were only two conditions, but even so, was it really that simple?

Honestly, when I set out to find the first shop, I thought I would achieve my goal quickly… but it seems that was just a misunderstanding on my part.

After spending quite some time wandering around with my Senior, it really felt like I was just hitting dead ends.

“Ah, um… with the budget you mentioned earlier, I’m afraid we can’t provide that level of equipment.”

It seemed the same was true for this shop we visited.

As soon as we revealed our budget, the shop owner, wearing a smile that radiated pure capitalism, started approaching us. But before long, that smile had faded slightly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes… it seems that way. If you could increase the budget a bit, it might be possible, but in the current situation, hmm…”

Still, from a business standpoint, they probably didn’t want to let a customer with a strong desire to buy just walk away.

With a seemingly probing comment about our intentions, my Senior stepped in for me.

“If the conditions we mentioned earlier can be met, I am willing to spend a bit more.”

“Oh, is that so? Then how about I prepare a quote for you?”

“Yes, please.”

“Just a moment… I need to check my stock first…”

With that, there popped up the all-too-familiar visual of a calculator from under the counter.

You know, the kind found in shops in places like Dongdaemun or Yongsan, where every store has at least one.

The moment that calculator appeared, a flashy calculator showdown began.

“You mentioned you would increase the number of output devices, right?”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“Let’s see then, we need to add this… and this… ah, this one too.”

Why were there so many additions?

Was this how foreigners felt when they first encountered the endless variety of side dishes in Korea?

We ordered only a single dish, and yet it felt as if they were preparing a full course meal.

So, while feeling slightly uneasy… the clattering of the calculator finally came to a halt.

“Um… this should be about right.”

Then, a calculator displaying a series of numbers was thrust in front of us.

As I scanned the numbers with my eyes, I thought to myself.

‘Why…’

Do these types of shops always rely on calculators to announce prices?

Couldn’t they just say the amount directly?

Could it be that if they verbally state the price, they might catch some kind of disease where thorns grow on their tongues?

In any case, the amount revealed on the calculator screen was definitely not a small sum.

It was even beyond the limit my Senior indicated she could afford.

Still, perhaps they decided that if the conditions were met, this amount was still acceptable.

“So, you’re saying we need around this much to obtain the desired equipment?”

My Senior, seeming to ponder for a moment, looked straight at the shop owner and asked that.

And the response she received was—

“Eh, no.”

Which left the possibility of a special discount opportunity in question…

“The amount you mentioned earlier is the base cost, and this amount is added on top of that.”

Now that was out of the question.

I should have picked up on that the moment the calculator appeared…

Muttering that inwardly and shaking my head, I noticed my Senior’s gaze had turned cold, as if she shared my thoughts.

Well, obviously, how could it be any other way?

The quoted price wasn’t the total but an additional cost on top of the existing budget, making it at least 50% more expensive than what we had heard at the shop we visited earlier.

It seemed odd that there could be such a disparity if both places were meant to deliver the same results.

Was the previous place at the retail price while this one was at the sell-off price, perhaps?

Anyway, it was clear that this shop was far more expensive, and it wasn’t feasible to be outright overcharged.

I couldn’t just stand there and tell them they’re doing a lousy job selling, nor could I let my Senior take matters into her own hands with that stormy expression.

So, I stepped forward instead.

“Um… could we take a look around at some other places first?”

“I don’t mind, but… are you sure?”

“Eh?”

What could be the issue?

I genuinely asked in curiosity, and the reply seemed to imply that she had nothing to feel bad about.

“No… I only worried that it might be difficult for you two. After all, the only shop around here that would match that price is ours.”

“Wow… oh… is that so?”

To be honest, I was genuinely impressed.

Looking at her expression and gestures, it really seemed like that was the case.

If we hadn’t stopped by other shops before this, I might have accidentally been fooled without any joking involved.

“Or are you perhaps disappointed in the service?”

“No… it’s not that…”

“Not that? Your expression says otherwise. I mean… honestly, I’m giving it to you at a total loss, but since you’re students, I’ll throw in a few extra speakers!”

Before I could respond, she pulled out several boxes from under the counter and started stacking them as if she were playing with building blocks.

Though they looked like items I could buy for around 5,000 won at some discount stores.

Yet still, just by her words and actions, she seemed like an angel of charity.

The problem was, that made everything even more ridiculous.

‘I have to get out of here.’

Honestly, I was somewhat intrigued by what else she might say, but now I really had to consider escaping from this shop.

After all, my Senior appeared to be incredibly impressed by the shop owner’s antics.

If she had her trusty wooden sword with her as usual, I bet she would have drawn it already.

But since she couldn’t do that, she seemed poised to grab the shop owner by the collar instead.

“Th-Next time! I’ll come back later!”

In a rush, I grabbed my Senior’s hand and pulled her out of the shop. After all, I couldn’t allow my candidate, whom I was managing, to resort to violence against a regular person.

We hurried out of the shop, almost sprinting to widen the distance. Only then did it seem like reason was returning.

That was when I realized my Senior’s hand was indeed still tightly gripped in mine.

I quickly let go and offered an apology.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

I had rushed to do it because it honestly felt like something would go horribly wrong if I just stayed still, but in her perspective, that might not have been the best.

“Ah, no…”

And as suspected, my sincere apology seemed unnecessary to her, as she waved it off… but I saw it.

Her hand that had been held by me was now tightly gripping the seam of her pants.

‘I don’t think… she was sweating…’

At least I felt that way, but maybe it was different for her.

Anyway, feeling guilty, I kept my mouth shut and cautiously observed her.

Seeing that she didn’t like the awkward atmosphere, my Senior seemed to ponder for a moment before proposing something in a whisper.

“Shall we take a break at a cafe?”

Well, I guess it was about time to take a breather.

After all, thinking about it, we hadn’t stopped since we set out.

If this had yielded significant results, I wouldn’t be too concerned, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Perhaps my Senior’s earlier frustration was due to fatigue from all that wandering.

“Um, shall we? Then?”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Eh…?”

“What I mean is… it’s one o’clock, right? Don’t you have an appointment?”

“Well, that’s true, but there’s still plenty of time.”

As she said, we still had an hour and a half until one o’clock.

Surely we could find a decent place within that time frame.

“And more importantly… since I haven’t eaten breakfast, I’m starting to feel a bit low on energy…”

“Are you suggesting that we pick up something to eat?”

“Oh, there’s no way I’d do that. That’s not it at all.”

To break the slightly awkward atmosphere compared to earlier, I exaggerated my actions on purpose, and my Senior let out a chuckle.

“Doesn’t seem like it… it sounds very much like that.”

“Well, if you’re willing to treat, I wouldn’t refuse.”

“Then I think a place that sells both coffee and toast would be better… I wonder if there’s one.”

“Ah! How about that place over there?”

As Dogun and Baeksulhwa turned toward the cafe they decided to take a moment to rest, Yoonseo was preparing for her outing.