Chapter 25: Shattered Lights

The expressions of the people leisurely roaming through the department store were all bright, without a trace of shadow.

From their mentality alone, they were completely different from the people in the conflict zones, whose lives were stained with gloom and hardship.

As I struggled under the unfamiliar atmosphere, Choi Siram returned with a warm cup of coffee from somewhere and placed it into my hands.

“Once you finish that, let’s go look at clothes for Jaeyoon-ssi right away. There were really a lot of things I wanted to do for you, and the first one was buying you clothes.”

“…May I ask why?”

“It might just be superstition, but my grandmother always used to tell me this. Good clothes lead the person wearing them to places worthy of their value. And who knows? Maybe the clothes I buy for you will take you somewhere truly good.”

“……”

“Haha, well, worst case scenario, there’s nothing to lose.”

Was it pity?

Sympathy?

Or perhaps both.

Embarrassed by his own words, Choi Siram scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

I didn’t believe in superstitions, but this time, my ears perked up despite myself.

Perhaps it was because of the timing.

‘Take me somewhere good, huh….’

“Finished your drink? Then shall we go? Ah, it’ll probably be faster if we just eat dinner outside too. Is there anything you want to eat? Anything at all. Looking at you, Jaeyoon-ssi, it seems like you haven’t even been eating properly lately. I should use this chance to properly nurse your health back.”

Did I really look that gaunt?

I sank into thoughts unrelated to the question.

Ahn Yijeong was like this too, and so was Choi Siram.

Both of them were constantly obsessed with feeding me.

I suppose from now on, I really shouldn’t neglect my health anymore.

Right now, I was somehow surviving on the support money provided by the center, but if I returned to the shelter, there would be plenty of physically demanding work waiting for me.

I should prepare for times like that by training muscles I never used, and also—

“Jaeyoon-ssi, why are you standing there spacing out?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about what to choose for dinner.”

“Do you eat Western food well, by any chance?”

“Yes. I’m not particularly picky.”

“Perfect timing then. There’s a really good pasta place around here. Their steak is pretty decent too since they use aged meat.”

“Then let’s go there.”

I was the one being treated anyway, so anything was fine by me.

I kept the rest of those thoughts to myself.

If I phrased it wrong, it might sound sarcastic, so I chose to stay quiet instead.

Choi Siram grabbed my wrist—the same hand holding the coffee cup—and stepped onto the escalator.

The large extravagant chandelier and the sweet melodies echoing through the wide interior reminded me of the hotel where Choi Siram’s company welcome party had been held.

“Hmm, which one is better? Should I just buy everything?”

“…Please restrain yourself.”

“But Jaeyoon-ssi, maybe because your skin is so pale, every color suits you. Bright colors look good on you, and look here—these navy shades or even darker colors fit you really well too.”

When we arrived at the menswear section on the seventh floor of the department store, a luxurious lobby lined with expensive brands spread out before my eyes.

Unlike the peddlers in the conflict zone marketplaces who sold cheap defective goods, the employees here wore neat uniforms or casual suits provided by headquarters and warmly welcomed customers passing through the entrance.

“You have an excellent eye, sir. This item is actually one of the biggest hits from our brand this year. The finishing details and the material itself are both extremely luxurious, so customers around your age really love it. The pricing is also quite reasonable, so please feel free to call for assistance anytime.”

They never pressured anyone into buying.

Instead, with gentle tones and voices filled with a peculiar persuasiveness, they effortlessly sold off most of the items displayed in the store.

Christmas Eve undoubtedly contributed to the booming business, but at least half the credit belonged to the staff themselves.

“Jaeyoon-ssi, can you turn around for a second? Look at me.”

I saw myself reflected in the large mirror inside the store.

But I couldn’t bring myself to properly face the reflection staring back at me.

I had felt this once before at the party hall too, but inside this glamorous space, I alone felt completely out of place again.

A worn jumper with frayed sleeves.

A scarf I had knitted myself, though the cheap material had already begun to pill terribly.

And sneakers so blackened that even their original color was impossible to identify, unlike the polished shoes Choi Siram wore.

There wasn’t a single thing about me that didn’t look shabby.

If I hadn’t entered with Choi Siram beside me, I probably would have drawn everyone’s ridicule and contempt the moment I stepped onto this floor.

And their eyes would have said it clearly.

This was not a place meant for someone like you.

There isn’t a single thing here suitable for the likes of you.

“This one, this one too, and this as well. Try them all on.”

Whether he understood my feelings or not, Choi Siram gathered armfuls of clothes and pushed me firmly into the fitting room.

The deodorizer sprayed throughout the cramped booth to erase traces of human scent made me nauseous.

It smelled similar to the shower cologne lingering around Kwon Yiyul’s neck, yet somehow different.

“…It’s suffocating.”

After changing through nearly ten outfits in that narrow space, cold sweat streamed down my back.

Choi Siram insisted on buying everything I had tried on, but I firmly refused.

When I repeated that I would accept only one outfit, he deliberately chose the most expensive items in the store and neatly packed them into shopping bags instead.

The employee waiting nearby was practically blooming with joy, while I was already regretting following Choi Siram here in the first place.

“Now we should go look at shoes, right?”

“Choi Siram-ssi, this is already enough. What you’ve bought me is more than I deserve.”

“Come on, don’t say that. Since we’re already out, wouldn’t it be nice to look around a bit more?”

The employee’s cheerful “Please visit us again” echoed behind us.

Unable to resist Choi Siram’s persuasion, I ended up riding the escalator down another floor with him.

By now, both my hands were loaded with heavy shopping bags.

“Ah, Jaeyoon-ssi, wait a second.”

“What is it?”

“Tomorrow is Yiyul’s birthday, right? Since it’s his first birthday after joining the team, I thought it’d be nice to at least get him a small present.”

Following Choi Siram’s gaze, I turned my head and saw luxurious accessories displayed beneath soft lighting, their cubic stones glittering densely.

Choi Siram grabbed my hand again and moved on his own accord.

“Ah, this is hard. Just like earlier, I can’t decide….”

“Please take your time, sir. These kinds of cufflinks are very trendy among men these days. And if you look over here, this tie pin is studded with cubic stones as well, so even one piece can add a stylish accent to an otherwise plain suit.”

The glittering accessories displayed behind the glass case made my eyes ache.

The employee added that if cubic stones weren’t enough, they could even request a craftsman to customize it with diamonds instead.

Choi Siram politely declined, saying he didn’t want to go that far, though he still looked tempted.

“Jaeyoon-ssi, between these two, which do you think would suit Yiyul better?”

“I’m not sure. I really can’t tell just by looking….”

“…Really? Ah, what should I do….”

Even at a glance, the items were obviously expensive.

Things someone like me—a refugee with no money, no status, no title, nothing at all—could never dare dream of owning.

Once again, I drifted into the tiny universe inside my head.

If I too had been born into a wealthy family like Choi Siram, awakened as a high-ranking Guide, and received the love of my teammates… if that had been the case, would I also have been able to give Kwon Yiyul such expensive gifts on his birthday?

Would I have been able to choose freely without worrying about other people’s opinions or the price tag, thinking only about the tastes and feelings of the person receiving it?

“I’ll take this one. The person receiving it has a birthday tomorrow. Would gift wrapping be possible?”

“Of course, sir. I’ll prepare the item immediately. Please wait just a moment.”

In the end, Choi Siram chose a gold tie pin densely embedded with cubic stones.

For Kwon Yiyul, who usually wore suits, it seemed like the perfect gift.

Especially since the pale colors of his entire appearance suited bright shades remarkably well.

Perhaps he knew that himself, because Kwon Yiyul rarely preferred dark-colored suits.

“I’m getting hungry, and my legs hurt too. Shall we go eat now?”

“Yes. I was actually just about to say I’m getting tired myself.”

Dragging my exhausted self along, Choi Siram made another round through the department store and even bought gifts for the other team members as well.

According to him, if he only prepared a present for Kwon Yiyul, the others would feel left out.

Despite spending an absurd amount of money, Choi Siram looked completely unconcerned and remained in good spirits.

Murmur— Murmur—

“Hm? What’s going on?”

Just as we were about to leave the department store with our bags in hand, a crowd suddenly gathered around the fountain located at the center of the building.

I didn’t know what was happening, but people exchanged uneasy glances and whispered among themselves.

Crash—!

In that instant, the enormous chandelier hanging from the ceiling came crashing down onto the floor.

The violent impact shattered glass everywhere, severely injuring the people nearby.

One man convulsed in agony as shards pierced his abdomen before finally losing his life.

Those whose limbs remained intact screamed and desperately tried to flee the fountain area.

But before they could even escape, another deafening roar exploded nearby.

This time, it was an actual explosion.

The firepower was overwhelming.

The marble walls collapsed in succession, and the peaceful department store instantly descended into chaos.

Parents carrying children hurried toward lower ground to avoid secondary explosions.

Children who were separated from their parents curled into themselves in terror and burst into tears.

“Jaeyoon-ssi, what in the world is this…?”