The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 2.8

“I’m sure. But the situation is what it is.”

The shop owner handed the pin back to Rosette with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. While she was at a loss, Levit stepped in, unable to watch any longer.

“Hyungnim, don’t be like that.”

“Levit, I’m talking with a customer.”

“She may be your customer, but she’s my customer too. What does this make me look like to my customer?”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“Give her a better deal. You know she’s not lying.”

The man narrowed his eyes at Levit’s words.

“You’re really smitten with this customer. At this rate, you might even confess your feelings.”

He then asked teasingly. Levit’s cheeks turned red.

“What are you saying? It’s only natural that I want to be nice to someone who’s been nice to me. Besides, you owe me something too.”

Levit crossed his arms confidently and made his threat. The shop owner watched Levit and put him in a headlock saying, “You little…” Levit playfully screamed “Gak!” and broke free from the shop owner.

“I’ll buy it for 40 silver. Not a penny more. No one else would give you more than this anyway.”

Rosette glanced at Levit. Levit nodded.

“Ah, okay.”

“And since the clothes cost 20 silver, I’ll give you 20 silver in change.”

“Give her 30 silver, Hyungnim.”

“Levit, are you trying to make your hyungnim a pauper?”

The shop owner yelled at Levit.

“I know you’d still make a good profit with 30 silver. And you owe me…”

“Fine, fine. I’ll give her 30 silver.”

The man put the clothes in a bag and handed over three 10-silver coins. What debt could he possibly owe Levit… Rosette became curious.

“Thanks, Hyungnim.”

“Go quickly. You’re giving me a headache.”

The shop owner waved his hand dismissively at Levit, who was saying goodbye. Levit giggled and left the shop. Despite telling them to leave quickly, the shop owner came out to see them off. Unlike her first impression, he didn’t seem like such a bad person. Rosette felt a bit embarrassed about getting heated earlier over Levit’s situation.

“Thank you…”

“It’s nothing.”

Levit showed his rabbit-like teeth and smiled at Rosette’s words.

“I should thank you too.”

“Huh? For what?”

“For bringing me from my brother, and for speaking up to the shop owner. You said those things because you genuinely cared about me.”

“It was nothing.”

“To me, it was something. No one has ever done that much for me.”

Perhaps because of this, Levit kept smiling despite his swollen cheek. Rosette felt a bit sorry for him. She stopped in front of a gelato stand and asked.

“Levit, Evan. What flavor gelato do you want?”

“Chocolate and strawberry.”

Evan immediately called out the gelato flavors he wanted. Levit declined a few times before choosing lemon flavor. Rosette, who chose peach flavor, watched as the vendor skillfully scooped the gelato.

“That’ll be 1 silver and 10 bronze.”

After paying and receiving her change, Rosette suddenly realized something. So how much money do I have left?

After making a rough calculation, Rosette clutched her forehead. If three servings of gelato cost 1 silver and 10 bronze, then a meal for two would cost about the same or more. Rosette looked at the peach gelato in front of her. It was a moment of regret for something she had just bought herself. Instead of asking the pointless question “I don’t suppose I can get a refund?” Rosette took a big bite of the gelato. The peach gelato with chunks of fruit was fragrant and delicious, but Rosette became a bit depressed.

***

Two hours later, the three of them stood in front of a door. Though only half a day had passed, so many things had happened that her head hurt.

After eating gelato, they stopped by the security office to report the theft, but the security officers seemed distracted and didn’t appear likely to search very hard. What could they be so preoccupied with? The only one who listened to her story properly was a woman with short reddish-blonde hair. But even that security officer told Rosette not to expect too much. Rosette had no choice but to leave the security office feeling quite disappointed.

“Here.”

Rosette took out 1 silver coin from her wallet and handed it to Levit. Having learned the value of money, her hand naturally trembled.

“I’m sorry, I wish I could give you more.”

“No, you don’t have to give me anything. You already bought me gelato. That’s enough.”

Levit shook his head and stepped back.

“You must take it. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything today.”

Rosette took two steps forward and held out the coin to Levit again. After a long hesitation, Levit accepted the money. Then he handed it back to Rosette. She opened her eyes wide at this puzzling behavior.

“I have something to apologize for. Actually, today the medicine… costs 30 bronze.”

“…What?”

Rosette asked in confusion. Something she bought for 5 silver actually cost 30 bronze? That’s not even 1 silver. Levit hunched his shoulders and confessed the truth.

“I was going to sell it at my price or just take a small cut… but because I bragged about getting money yesterday, my brother got greedy. He took everything from me, so I can’t give it back right now, but I’ll repay you somehow. This is that 1 silver.”

Rosette hesitated. It was actually Rosette’s fault for not knowing the market price. But having no living expenses for two months was also a problem. After some deliberation and a bit of back-and-forth, Rosette took back the 1 silver.

“But do you have any means to pay it back?”

Rosette asked worriedly. She was concerned that if he went to ask his brother for money, he might get beaten again. To Rosette’s question, Levit smiled brightly and said.

“Actually, I’m quite good at pickpocketing too! I can do it in three days.”

“….”

Rosette was silent. She didn’t know where to begin with her criticism. Feeling that continuing this conversation would give her a headache, she vaguely answered and went inside.

“I’m so tired… Evan, aren’t you tired?”

“Tired?”

Evan asked back in a puzzled voice. He seemed like someone who didn’t understand the concept of fatigue at all. Ah, even after becoming human, you still have good stamina. Rosette looked at the still-energetic Evan and buried her face in her pillow.

“Becky…”

She missed Becky, who would quickly bring bath water and help her bathe whenever she looked tired. And the honey-sweetened milk that was always placed on the nightstand after her bath. Rosette pulled herself together, fighting against her weakening resolve.

“I’m going to take a bath.”

Rosette got up with the determination of a general heading into battle. Evan stared at her intently.

***

“I can’t live like this.”

Rosette declared. Evan, who had been eating bread with a gloomy face, looked up.

“A person can’t live on bread alone. Right?”

“I agree.”

Evan briefly expressed his agreement. After having their wallet stolen, they had survived for three days on breakfast bread alone. The breakfast bread was palm-sized, and they received four pieces daily, which they divided into one piece each for breakfast and half a piece each for lunch and dinner. This amount was woefully inadequate for both Evan and Rosette. Thanks to this arrangement, they managed to live without spending a penny for three days, but their strength was rapidly deteriorating.

“We need to earn money before we get any weaker.”

“How?”

“That’s what we need to figure out now.”