The Jelly Alien Will Save You! Chapter 8

It was because I had feelings of doubt that it was disappearing!

 

I tightly closed my eyes and brainwashed myself: ‘That is a delicious hamburger steak, finely minced tender meat with plenty of demi-glace sauce.’ Then I opened my eyes.

 

As I did, the melting hamburger steak returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

 

Oh!

 

I picked up the hamburger steak with both hands.

 

“It worked! It came back!”

 

“Good job. Keep believing like that from now on.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Alright, I should buy this.

 

What’s 7% when I can just purify it anyway! 

 

As I chuckled with that thought, I suddenly tilted my head.

 

Wait, could it be… if I purify the price tag, won’t the contamination not accumulate?

 

It might just be a ridiculous idea, but…

 

I just have to try it!

 

Action was taken immediately.

 

‘Purification!’

[3,900 Won]

[0%]

 

‘It worked!’

 

Purifying the price tag not only removed the noise but also made the contamination gauge price 0%.

 

I smiled slyly at the sight.

 

Yes, this is exactly it.

 

With this, I will purify as much as I can and buy everything!

 

But even if I could buy things with a trick, how was Cha Haeeon handling the contamination?

 

Just the instant rice, canned tuna, and meatballs he ate this morning would easily exceed 20%, wouldn’t they?

 

…Don’t tell me he gave me what he had been saving up to eat?

 

Touched, I immediately grabbed Cha Hae-eon and said.

 

“Cha Haeeon, Cha Haeeon.”

 

“What now?”

 

“Lend me the cart for a bit. There’s something I want to try.”

 

“What are you trying to do?”

 

Cha Haeeon had the face of an uncle exhausted from playing with a kid.

 

Hmph!

 

“It’s something good!”

 

Before Cha Haeeon could stop me, I pushed the cart forward and nimbly climbed onto it.

 

As the wheels rattled along, the display shelves flashed past like waves. 

 

‘Purification! Purification!’

 

Riding the advancing cart while repeatedly shouting for purification, the noise on the price tags was washed away in succession.

[5̷,5̷̸̴̴̴00 Won̶] -> [0%]

 

[1̷,2̵00 Won̶] -> [0%]

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

[7̴,8҈00 Won̶] -> [0%]

 

As all the noise on the display shelves flowed down, I felt a thrill right to the tips of my hair.

 

Having crossed to the end of the aisle with the cart, I spread my two arms wide.

 

“Ta-da!”

 

A short distance away, Cha Haeeon was standing with round eyes as if surprised.

 

I giggled.

 

“I’ll give it all to you as a gift. It’s payback for breakfast.”

 

Cha Haeeon stared at me blankly, then very faintly raised the corners of his mouth.

 

“Does it cover the carrots too?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Ahem.

 

“See, I was helpful, right? Now you want to live with me, right? You don’t want to abandon me, right?”

 

Cha Haeeon broke into a refreshing smile. His already pretty face sparkled even more.

 

“Well, maybe a little.”

 

Oh, he smiled.

 

It was the first time the usually stiff guy smiled.

 

[Quest: Establish a friendly relationship with the Earth native species – Complete!] 

 

Nice!

 

Cha Haeeon seems to like me a bit now, right?

 

I giggled and began loading the 0% foods into the cart. 

 

“Let’s eat this too. Ah, that one too!”

 

I’m grocery shopping with a cart!

 

Just as I was getting excited thinking I had crossed off an item on my bucket list.

 

Along with a chilling sensation sweeping down my spine, the edges of my vision suddenly began to darken.

 

‘…Huh?’

 

In an instant, my vision was dyed black.

 

“Customer!”

 

A voice calling out to me was heard.

 

Only then did I realize why my vision had darkened.

 

Because an employee with a gaping hole for a face had approached right under my nose.

 

Before I knew it, five or six employees were surrounding the cart I was in.

 

Faces that looked like empty black holes circled me.

 

* * *

 

While I was tense, the employee asked in a bright voice.

 

“Customer, don’t you need any fresh vegetables?”

 

It was a voice that certainly would have been accompanied by a beaming smile if a face had existed.

 

“Ve-vegetables?” 

 

At my question, the employee held a zucchini next to her face and said.

 

“Yes, we are selling this fresh zucchini at 30% just for you. It’s on sale!” 

 

One zucchini for 30%? Isn’t that a complete rip-off?

 

“That’s too expensive!”

 

“Expensive? Heavens, no. Look at this, the zucchini is so fresh it’s practically jumping for joy.” 

 

The employee shook the zucchini, miming it jumping around. She laughed ho ho ho as if finding her own wit amusing.

 

On the other hand, I looked at it with half-closed eyes. If it were actually jumping around, it would mean it’s contaminated and not fresh at all.

 

“How about it? It’s a special price of 30% only right now!”

 

I had absolutely no desire to buy it, so I was about to politely decline.

 

But past the employees, my eyes met Cha Haeeon’s, who was shaking his head with a serious expression. It meant I shouldn’t refuse.

 

I was about to ask ‘Why?’, but then I remembered.

 

Rule number 4.

If someone recommends a product, you must buy it.

 

I looked at the ‘fresh zucchini’ with a reluctant gaze.

 

Since I can just purify it after buying anyway, buying it for about 30% should be fine, right…?

 

Besides, it means I can’t refuse even if I don’t want to.

 

It felt as frustrating as a thorn stuck in my throat, but there was nothing I could do. 

 

I firmed my resolve and opened my mouth.

 

“I’ll buy it.”

 

“Thank you, customer!”

 

It was when I received the zucchini. The employee who sold it vanished into dust with a poof.

 

Did they ascend to heaven or something?

 

While I was blinking blankly, the employees surrounding me each spread their arms wide.

 

In their hands were different products.

 

“How about free-range eggs? It’s 40%, customer!”

 

“A pack of wine-aged pork is 55%, customer!”

 

“High-sugar Shine Muscats are 69%, customer!”

 

“E-eh?!” 

 

“We’re having a time sale, so now is the perfect timing to buy!” 

 

Good grief. A time sale? Does that mean the price goes up even more after time passes? 

 

My mind went blank. The words of recommendation heard from all sides were suffocating me.

 

I hurriedly used Purification and then bought the eggs first.

 

Because if I didn’t buy them slowly one by one, my Contamination Gauge would skyrocket and I’d become a monster!

 

Every time I used Purification once, 10% of the Contamination Gauge disappeared.

 

How many more times can I use Purification now?

 

I shouted with an anxious look.

 

“Next, the pork!”

 

“Thank you!”

 

“Customer, the Shine Muscat time sale is right about to end!”

 

“I’ll buy it!”

 

My cart was now fully packed with zucchini, eggs, pork, and even Shine Muscats.

 

The employees who had recommended purchases to me vanished one after another with poof, poof sounds.

 

Is it done now?

 

I can’t use Purification anymore… It was just as I was panting and trying to catch my breath.

 

“We have to go.”

 

It was Cha Haeeon. He hurriedly approached and pushed the cart.

 

Puzzled by his anxious demeanor, I asked.

 

“Huh? What’s wrong? Didn’t we buy everything?”

 

Then, a voice that sounded like it was smiling brightly was heard a beat late.

 

“Customer, we have a time sale going on just for right now.”

 

There’s still one left?

 

“■■■ is 99%.”

 

I slowly turned my creaking neck backward.

 

An employee was standing demurely with both hands clasped together.

 

“Would you like to purchase ■■■ at 99%?”