Chapter 99
At those words, Mr. Kim was dumbfounded.
“Yes……?”
“Cotton candy. Aren’t you selling cotton candy?”
“I am…… but…….”
“Give me some!”
Mr. Kim, still unable to grasp the situation, looked around at them with fearful eyes.
“Perhaps…… is this how you collect protection money here?”
At that, the man in sunglasses tilted his head.
“Protection money? What’s that?”
“Do you need something called protection money to buy cotton candy?”
“No? You just need money, don’t you?”
“Edstan is pretending to know something he doesn’t again!”
“No, I’m not! I know perfectly well?!”
“He keeps tricking me like that! I won’t fall for it anymore!”
“This time I’m not tricking you! It’s real!”
“Liar!”
Suddenly, the man in sunglasses and the man in the hat began to argue.
Meanwhile, the one in the hood stared at the cotton candy Mr. Kim had made, with eyes full of curiosity. This one had a face that made it hard to tell if it was male or female.
“Wow…… so this is cotton candy. It’s even more fascinating up close…….”
At that, the man in the hat immediately cut in, as if he hadn’t been arguing at all.
“But this cotton candy looks a bit different from the one we saw earlier!”
The pretty-faced boy next to him tilted his head and peered at the cotton candy.
“This…… doesn’t it look like a chicken head?”
“That’s right! It even has two eyeballs!”
“This part looks like a beak……. Could this be a chicken comb?”
“Nah, no way. To me, it just looks like a squashed head…….”
As they each chattered, pointing at the clumsily made cotton candy Mr. Kim had created with his still-unskilled hands,
“Quiet!”
Someone’s shout was heard from behind. Mr. Kim flinched and stiffened in surprise again, and those who had been chattering instantly fell silent. Soon, a girl squeezed through them and peeked out, then looked at Mr. Kim with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry, Mister. Our kids are a bit ill-mannered…….”
“Oh…….”
Mr. Kim blinked, looking at the girl.
She was about the same age as Mr. Kim’s daughter. Her petite height and slightly plump build were similar, which made him think of his daughter even more. Seeing the girl, who reminded him of his daughter, smile sweetly with her round, gentle face, Mr. Kim somehow felt his tension ease. He thought there was no way a girl like this could be a gangster.
“Cotton candy…… are you here to buy some?”
“Yes! We didn’t know where they sold it, so we wandered around looking for a long time.”
The girl smiled innocently and nodded. Then she looked at the cotton candy Mr. Kim had made with a curious expression.
“Wow…… it’s a strangely shaped cotton candy. So this is how they come out these days…….”
“It’s a duck shape. I haven’t been selling for long, so I’m still clumsy. So the shape is a bit…….”
“How long have you been doing it?”
“Only three days…….”
“For three days, this is really well made!”
The girl said firmly, clenching her fist. At her reply, Mr. Kim’s expression became blank, and he stared at the girl.
His daughter, who was studying abroad, would always say something like that when he sent her pictures of the cotton candy he made. Dad, for one day, this is really well made. For two days, this is really well made. Dad, you’re doing well. So cheer up. Dad, you can definitely become a cool cotton candy vendor.
He had only thought she said that because she was his daughter…….
“Can you make other shapes too?”
The girl asked with a sweet smile to Mr. Kim, who was lost in thought.
“Uh…… I can make bears, and rabbits too. Flower shapes are also possible…….”
“Flower shape!”
At his hesitant reply, the girl’s eyes sparkled.
“Could you perhaps make that for me?”
“Uh…… yes, I’ll try to make one.”
Mr. Kim clumsily picked up a wooden stick and operated the machine. Soon, colorful sugar powder turned into cotton and clumped together, being shaped into something resembling a flower. Although his movements were clumsy and slow, they all watched with curious expressions, constantly exclaiming in admiration.
“Wow…… that’s amazing.”
“All sorts of colors are coming out.”
“It really looks like it’s becoming a flower.”
“How does it do that?”
“Incredible!”
Swallowing at the outpouring of exclamations, Mr. Kim put even more effort than usual into completing the flower-shaped cotton candy. Even he thought it was the best shape he had made so far. Mr. Kim, feeling a little nervous, handed the cotton candy to the girl.
“It’s done.”
“Wow, it’s so pretty…….”
The girl, who had exclaimed in admiration, handed the cotton candy she had received to the person in the hood.
“Here, Alburn.”
He mumbled, staring at the cotton candy in his hand with a mesmerized look.
“Wow…… it really looks like a flower.”
“Right? Go on, try it.”
“I miss it. For some reason, it feels like I’ve gone back to when I was a caterpillar…….”
Mr. Kim frowned slightly, feeling like he had just heard a strange word, but he soon dismissed it, thinking he must have misheard. He probably heard “child” correctly but misheard “bug.”
While Mr. Kim was confused, Alburn carefully took a bite of the cotton candy, then his eyes widened.
“It melts away!”
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes. It’s soft, and sweet…….”
“See? It’s not disappointing, is it?”
“Indeed. So everyone was eating something like this…….”
He took a few more bites of the cotton candy, completely engrossed, then looked at Mr. Kim as if genuinely impressed and said,
“It’s amazing! It’s like magic!”
“Magic…….”
As Mr. Kim mumbled the word blankly, another man next to him chimed in.
“He made a big flower out of powder! Isn’t he a real magician?”
“Magician…….”
“You’re really amazing, Mister!”
“You’re cool!”
“You’re totally pretty!”
Suddenly filled with motivation by the outpouring of compliments, Mr. Kim said energetically,
“Would you like me to make more shapes?”
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