The Strange Storage Room

When I stepped outside the store, a gentle, chilly breeze brushed past my face. The air felt... different. Clean. Like it had just been freshly laundered by dawn.

Back on Earth, this kind of air only came after a rainstorm. But here? It felt like the norm. Was it magic? Some kind of catalyst in the atmosphere?

I shrugged. Who knew. But it was nice.

The sun was slowly rising behind the high clouds. The street shimmered, still wet from a recent downpour. The pavement glistened like lacquer, reflecting the sky above. Bank and café windows displayed modern interiors—but the people who used them...

An elf in a leather jacket and headphones. A werewolf jogging in a tracksuit. Goblins in business suits, deep in conversation.

Seoul? Not quite. Better. There was no line between fantasy and reality here. Everything coexisted.

I passed a café where the barista—a dwarf with sleeves rolled up to the elbows—was pouring heart-shaped foam into a mug. Across the street, a glass skyscraper displayed a glowing ad: "Insomnia amulets—20% off today only!"

If someone were with me, they'd probably call this place a utopia. It had order. Rules. Law enforcement.

Still, anxiety gripped my chest.

What if someone talked to me? What if they asked a question I couldn't answer?

Even in my own world, I rarely went out. And now...

That's when I saw them.

Tucked away in a narrow alley between metal bins and old crates was a soggy cardboard box. Inside—two tiny fox cubs. One bright orange-red. The other white and blue, like snow and ice.

Small. Skinny. Curled into balls. Sleeping.

I could just walk past. Not my business...

But I couldn't.

Maybe if someone had helped me, just once...

I stepped closer. The box was damp underneath. I carefully picked it up—the cubs didn't stir.

I brought them to the store.

"Ha Rin-ah!" I called as I entered.

She stepped out from the back, wiping her hands.

"Something wrong?"

I held up the box. She peeked inside and squinted.

"Oh... they're adorable. I've never seen foxes like these. Not even close."

"Are they unusal?"

"Yes. Maybe fox spirits. They're incredibly rare—you almost never see any."

I nodded. "I'll take them to the room."

I placed the box on the floor, then gently lifted the cubs and laid them on the bed. They were warm and almost weightless.

On the nightstand—another note.

"Fridays at 4:00 PM — Delivery. Sign and store in inventory room."

I checked my phone. It was Friday. Ten minutes until delivery.

Back out in the shop, Ha Rin stood at the counter.

"I'll go meet the courier."

"Don't worry—I'll keep an eye on them. If they wake up, I'll text you," she said with a soft smile.

I stepped outside.

A few minutes later, I heard wings.A guy—maybe eighteen or nineteen—landed softly on a wyvern, like touching down on an air cushion. He wore a jacket and crossbody bag, tousled hair half covering his eyes.

"This the store?" he asked.

"Yeah. You here with the delivery?"

"Yes. I was hired by some man in a black top hat. Creepy dude. Looked through me more than at me."

The Boss. No doubt.

"I'm Son Woo-jin. Thanks for bringing it."

"I'm Gai. Nice to meet you. I don't know what's in the boxes—I just deliver."

I signed for them. They were mine now. I picked one up—it felt strangely light.

Either nearly empty... or enchanted.

I carried it to the storage room.

Only... it wasn't just a room.

Stone steps. Thick walls.

Was this a dungeon?

I followed the corridor. Doors lined the walls—each labeled:

"Artifacts." "Rare Goods." "Monster Parts."

I opened several - empty ones. But it was clear: this was only the beginning. Someday there will be full of things that people will desperately need.

Finally, I found a door marked:

"Basic Supplies."

I stepped inside and began unpacking. Groceries, cleaning supplies, wet wipes. Just the basics. But still—my first real contribution to this world.

When I came back up, Ha Rin was waiting.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah. They're still asleep. Like little angels."

I smiled and went to check.

But... they weren't asleep anymore.

Curled up on the bed, eyes wide, they hissed and growled—tiny but fierce. Their eyes shimmered with fear.

I knelt.

"I'm not your enemy. I promise."

They didn't run. But they didn't come closer either.

So I lay down on the floor. No sudden moves. No pressure. Just... nearby.

And I fell asleep.

The alarm. Ten minutes till my shift.

I woke—and froze.

They were sleeping on me. One on my chest, the other curled beneath my arm.

...Seriously?

I carefully picked them up and returned them to the bed.

Just as I turned to leave—I heard a soft whimper.

I looked back. "I'll be back," I whispered. I had no idea if they understood. But I needed them to hear it.

In the main room, Ha Rin was already waiting.

"Still sleeping?" she asked.

"Not sure… but I think they're less scared now."

"Good. Then it's your shift."

I stepped behind the counter.

Time passed slowly. The store breathed in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the overhead lights. Even the sounds in this world felt different.

And then... the customer arrived.

He moved silently.

Tall. Pale skin. Crimson hair that fell over his eyes. Eyes that burned even brighter—red like fire, yet cold as blood.

A vampire. I didn't need to guess. I just knew.

"Where..." His voice was soft and smooth, like velvet.

"...can I find the blood packs kept precisely at twenty degrees?"

"End of aisle three. Top shelf in the fridge," I replied, almost automatically.

He nodded, grabbed a pack, and returned to the counter. Movements precise. Like a cat.

He paid in silence — a few ₩о — and left just as quietly.

I exhaled.

Classic. No small talk. Just vampire efficiency.

Maybe the others would be that easy?

Nope.

The next customer... was something else.

The door jingled gently as she stepped in—a woman in a wide-brimmed hat drooping slightly at the sides. It was decorated with silver chains and dried herbs. A heavy, dark purple cloak flowed down to the floor. Around her neck—а necklace made of teeth (hopefully not human). In her hand—a woven bag stuffed with garlic and a plump green grimoire.

A witch? A sorceress? Or a very committed cosplayer?

"Good morning," she said. Her voice soft, like a ribbon. But her eyes—sharp. Grey with a hint of gold.

"Welcome," I nodded.

She walked the aisles slowly, examining everything from laundry detergent to lemon cream cookies. She gathered a modest haul: a few groceries, two sacks of rice, a jar of pickled roots, and a pack of wet wipes.

She set them down at the counter.

"That'll be... 18,400 ₩о ."

She opened her wallet—not leather, not fabric, but some kind of pressed bark, decorated with flowers.

And pulled out... white slips of paper. Like coupons or receipts.

"...Seriously?" I frowned. "Is this a joke?"

"Is something wrong?" she tilted her head.

"These aren't real money."

"They are currency," she replied calmly. "They hold value in South Krugast. Most merchants accept them."

"Well, I'm not most merchants." I crossed my arms. "Store policy—only ₩о. No exotic coupons."

She sighed.

"I don't have anything else right now. I'm... hungry. I've lost all income. Someone spread lies about my potions not working. But it's not true."

Oh boy. I could already see this ending in a shouting match—or someone getting tied up with enchanted rope.

But then... I had an idea.

"You're a sorceress, right?"

"Correct."

"You have any artifacts, or... something magical?"

"Uh..." She started rummaging through her bag. "I can read fortunes. Brew potions. I can do a mana compatibility test. Want one?"

"Actually..." I hesitated. "Can you tell if I have magical energy?"

She froze.

"I can!"

I flinched.

"Try it..."

"Alright," she smiled. "There is one way to check."

She pulled out a pair of glasses—huge, old-fashioned, with a copper frame and tiny crystals instead of lenses.

"This device is called a Mana Analyzer. It measures latent magical potential. If your level's above average... you might be trainable."

"Sounds... very RPG," I muttered. "Let's try it."

She put on the glasses and looked at me.

Crack!

The lenses split.

"What the—?!"

"No... seriously?" She snatched the glasses off, staring at them. "They... burned out?"

"...That bad?"

She stared at the shards, then burst into laughter.

"Either you have an insane amount of mana... or I cheaped out when crafting these."

"I like the first explanation," I smiled.

"So... we have a deal? I don't pay for the groceries?"

I nodded

"You bring a potion next time. And a new pair of glasses, if possible."

"Deal," she winked. "See you soon."

And just like that, she disappeared through the door—leaving behind the scent of dried herbs... and something sweet and faintly floral.

I sat behind the counter again.

In this world, you never know who's going to walk in next.

But I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.