“Bora, actually, I was just an ordinary adult man.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, and I even served in the military. I’m a Korean military veteran.”
“Hmm… Really?”
“So, I’m not going there.”
But Bora didn’t even listen to my words with half an ear. She was trying to grab my hand and struggling to drag me into the store.
I dodged her hand and tried to escape here and there, but I couldn’t beat the physical strength of an adult woman. I was caught by Bora and had no choice but to go where I didn’t want to go.
“Ugh!”
“Shh! Hana, stop resisting and come here.”
Bora grabbed my hand and dragged me into the store. Inside, there were various school supplies. From pencils and erasers to bags and pencil cases, everything needed for school life was there.
“Wow…”
Surprisingly, this place was different from what I had imagined before entering. It was a decent sight, I guess?
But I didn’t want to enter elementary school, so I whined to Bora.
“Bora, I really don’t need to go to school…”
“Hana, if you want to survive in society, going to school is a must. Why do you think education is mandatory up to middle school?”
“But…”
“Hana, you need to go even more. If you just stay in the building all day watching TV and playing on the computer, your brain might explode and you’ll become a fool?”
“Eek! I don’t want that!”
“Then will you listen to me today?”
“Ugh… okay.”
I had no choice but to succumb to Bora’s threats and persuasion. Still, as someone who had even served in the military, it was hard to imagine studying with elementary school kids.
With my excellent brain, it would literally be like playing with little kids. Even though my body had changed and my mind had become a bit weird, I still had the common sense of an adult man.
Of course, as time went on, sometimes my mind couldn’t keep up with my body, and things got a bit strange…
“Excuse me, where can I find school supplies and bags suitable for an elementary school student?”
“Ah, that’s…”
While Bora and the employee were talking, I quietly slipped away. Since I was already in the store, I wanted to take a look around slowly.
I acted like a spy, scanning the items on display with my eyes. There were so many different things that it was hard to tell which one was better.
What caught my eye was Lumi. A pencil case with Lumi’s illustration was right in front of me. As if hypnotized, I grabbed the pencil case.
The spacious interior and the high-quality illustration of Lumi completely captivated my attention. I gently placed the pencil case in the shopping basket Bora was holding.
“Huh?”
Bora seemed to feel something being placed in her basket and looked down at it.
“Hana…”
Bora took out the pencil case I had put in, examined it, and then said,
“Hana, you’re a man who’s been to the military. Wouldn’t you dislike a pencil case with such a character on it? An adult man wouldn’t buy a pencil case with a character like this.”
I had no response to Bora’s sharp remark. Still, I liked this pencil case, but Bora seemed to have other ideas. She looked like she wanted to buy a more ruggedly designed pencil case.
No matter what, the plain, dull pencil case Bora was holding didn’t appeal to me at all. It made me not want to go to school at all.
“Ha… Hana isn’t a man who’s been to the military, but a little kid…”
I had no choice but to surrender to Bora’s words. It was a necessary decision to get the pencil case with Lumi’s illustration. I was sure I’d cry a lot if I missed out on it.
After watching me for a bit, Bora smiled and patted my head.
“Just kidding, just kidding. I’ll buy whatever Hana wants. You’re the main character, right?”
I couldn’t help but be moved by Bora’s words. Bora was truly the best. Hearing her words, I excitedly started putting the things I wanted into the basket.
The highlight was the bag with a large illustration of Lumi on it. I really loved this one. It was the best among everything I had picked so far.
I tried the bag on once. As expected, it fit me perfectly, as if it had found its rightful owner. The bag and I were one. I smiled, put the bag on, and ran around the store.
With Lumi’s bag on my back, I was invincible.
Tap tap tap
Running around with my short legs, I felt like everyone in the store was watching me. Feeling those gazes, I stayed close to Bora.
I went back. I felt awkward because I probably looked as excited as a little kid.
Returning to Bora’s side, I tried my best not to look like an overexcited child.
However, when it came time to do the final calculations, Bora seemed a bit off.
“No… why is it so expensive…?”
“Customer…”
There was a dinosaur costume outside, so I didn’t catch everything Bora said as I went to check it out.
—
When I got home, I was admiring the pencil case and bag with Lumi’s drawings, along with the other stuff I’d collected.
And if you bought stationery with Lumi’s drawings, you could enter an event. The first prize was a cloak made just like the one Lumi used.
Using my new ID, I successfully entered the event by writing down my resident registration number and name. Having an ID really is essential.
While I was killing time watching NewTube, I heard someone walking outside. Ever since I transformed into this body, I’ve become super sensitive to movements.
‘Hmm…’
The slow, dragging footsteps could only belong to one person.
“Hana, hi!”
A young-looking woman in a clean office outfit burst through the door, trying to surprise me. I pretended to be shocked. Adults get disappointed if you don’t react the way they want, so I decided to play along.
“Ms. Seyoung!!!”
I got up from my chair and went to greet the guest in my room. Kim Sehee from Starlight Food often visits, but Kim Seyoung has been coming around just as much lately.
But it seemed my words didn’t sit well with her, as Kim Seyoung blinked her eyebrows and said,
“Hana, you should call me unnie.”
Since she’s still in her early 30s, she probably wants to be called “unnie.” Plus, she’s not married yet.
But the problem was me. Calling her “unnie” was just too embarrassing. Maybe I could call her “noona,” but that might make others look at me weird.
So, I went with the next best option—something better than calling her “unnie.”
“Boss~ Did you bring something delicious today?”
“Yeah, yeah, just call me Boss.”
As she said that, Kim Seyoung patted my head and handed me a bag full of gifts. Curious about what was inside, I peeked into the paper bag.
“This… this is!”
The paper bag was filled to the brim with delicious candies. Sure, I can survive on just water and sunlight, but indulging in culinary pleasures is what makes us human.
So, candy was like a drug to me. Eating food and candy? Two birds with one stone.
I giggled as I pulled out the candies and started eating them. The sweetness spread in my mouth, and my already good mood felt like it was about to soar.
“Hana, do you know where Bora is?”
“Bora? She’s probably in the office.”
“Really?”
After saying that, Kim Seyoung stepped outside for a moment. She probably went to meet Bora.
I rummaged through the paper bag, looking for the tastiest candies. Some of them didn’t seem to suit a 30-something’s taste.
A few minutes later, Kim Seyoung came back with Bora. I looked at the two of them in my room, confused.
Now it’s time to see the Little Magician, Lumi…
“Hana.”
Bora called my name. I looked at her with a blank expression.
“This is a gift.”
“A gift…?”
In Bora’s hand was a shiny ring that caught my eye. What kind of ring glows like that?
I absentmindedly took the ring from Bora and examined it. It looked like a gemstone ring.
Not a clunky design, but something a renowned designer might create after a fierce battle.
“Hana, come here. The Boss will put it on you.”
Kim Seyoung took the ring from me and slipped it onto my right hand. As the ring slid onto my finger, I felt something coursing through my body like blood.
The strange sensation swirling through me made it hard to keep my balance.