Serin was always annoyed by her mother's annoying tone.
Suddenly, I thought that the holey sock my mother was holding looked like me.
It was old and worn out, so anyone who saw it would think it was shabby.
If I could just throw it away, I wanted to throw it away right now.
This time, Serin, who I thought was asleep, suddenly woke up and took a thick book out of the bookshelf.

“If….”
As she dragged on, as if she were going to say something important, her mother glanced at Serin briefly through the magnifying glasses perched on the tip of her nose.
“Mom, if you were to be reborn, how would you like to live?”
---From "The Heat"

The store looked like a long row of white rice cakes.
It was unusually tall and magnificent compared to the nearby buildings, so when you climbed up to the rooftop, the other houses in the area seemed like matchboxes.
In what appeared to be an entrance, there was a large door that Toriya could enter without having to bow his head.
As they arrived at the door, the door slid open on its own without any signal.
It felt like I was in a haunted house.
And before the door could even fully open, loud music leaked out from inside.

Inside the dark store, there was a truly lively, festive atmosphere.
For a moment, I began to suspect that Toriya had mistaken the ballroom for a store.
The old man also coughed in vain, as if he was not used to this atmosphere.
A mirror ball spun ceaselessly on the ceiling, and the surrounding area was filled with people whose silhouettes were visible only.
As goblins dressed in fancy clothes performed on a stage as tall as a person, a neatly dressed male goblin approached and offered an unidentifiable drink on a tray.
Serin didn't really feel like drinking, but when the old man offered her two glasses and handed her one, she reluctantly took the glass.
---From "Gatekeeper Toriya"

"Do you want to rid yourself of the misery you're carrying? How about living the life of your dreams? What if you could start a new life that others would envy?"
Durov deliberately delayed the moment for dramatic effect.
“Let me introduce you.
“The pride of our Jangma store, the goblin beads!”
Then Durov lifted the cloth with a dazzling movement like a magician.
It was a cool pose that must have taken half a day just to get used to.
The cloth opened wide in the air and fell backwards, fluttering.
---From "Rainy Season Store"

"What on earth should I steal? I've been staring at books here for years, but I still don't know.
“I want to steal things that are helpful to humans without other goblins stealing them.”
The goblin looked up at Serin with eyes full of anticipation.
Serin dipped the tip of her pen into the inkwell, wanting to help in some way, but was unable to write anything.
Mata sighed deeply.
"Sometimes, people say they achieved their dreams even in difficult and challenging situations. Actually, that's because my father stole their willingness to give up.
My father won the Goblin of the Year award a whopping seven times for that.
“In contrast, I am still like this.”
---From "Mata's Bookstore"

“They are all waiting for their own season.”
Serin asked again, not understanding what Popo meant.
“Is it your own season?”
Popo took a sip of tea and nodded slightly.
“Every flower and tree has its own season.
Some trees bloom brilliantly on some days, while others bloom only in late summer or fall.
Even on the coldest winter days when all other plants are frozen, there are flowers that reveal their presence.
What I do is take care of the plants here by collecting the tears and sweat of human effort.
So that it can bloom at the most appropriate time.”
---From "Poppo's Garden"

Issha flitted between the trees, almost clinging to each other, and provoked them.
When passing under tree roots, he would lie flat on the ground and slide through as if he were a mollusk.
Serin, who was not falling from Issha's back, seemed more impressive than Issha, who was avoiding the attack.
'You need to come to your senses.'
Serin forced her eyes open and looked around.
Fortunately, it was just as she thought.
The trees were so focused on catching Issha that they bumped into each other and swayed around.
Some trees were also seen with their trunks twisted and fallen over.
Other trees had already fallen over it, making it a mess.
But the trees covered in dust tirelessly and persistently followed.
“That’s enough, Issha.
“Let’s lure them away and then go back to Grandma.”
Issha gave a short cry and turned her head out of the forest.
The excited trees hurried after him.
The forest began to move again.
---From "Poppo's Garden"

“Do you want anything too, sir?”
"of course."
The old man glanced over his shoulder at those still engaged in heated discussion and continued.
Serin's eyes were shining brighter than ever.
“What I wanted to get here was youth like you.
No matter how much money you have, you can't turn back time.
“Do you have any memories?”
Serin was taken aback by the unexpected question.
“Memories?”
“Yeah, I mean, whenever I think about those happy moments.
I don't have that.
“I spent my whole life doing business, so I only realized it later.”
The old man let out a small sigh.
“I’m saying that there are things that are much more precious than money.
“If I could go back to when I was younger, I would spend more time with the people I love.”
Serin thought quietly about what the old man had said.
I remembered the moments I spent with Issha.
---From "Underground Maze Prison"

“Issha is not a stupid cat who only cares about eating.”
For a moment he doubted his ears.
Behind him stood something that should not have been there.
Serin, who should have fallen down after being hit by the piece of plank he had thrown, was standing upright.
Where she had been, a piece of board was split exactly in half.
“You, how….”
Serin cut him off and shouted.
“Issha is the best eater cat in the world!”
Then he took a strange stance, pulling one leg back.
It was a pose I had never seen before.
“And above all….”
It took a moment for the rest of the story to come out.
“My precious friend.”
---From "Guide Cat Issha"

"ah…."
A short exclamation burst from Serin's mouth.
The rain that had been pouring down heavily since morning and seemed like it would never stop stopped, and before we knew it, the dark clouds had cleared away.
And as if by promise, a rainbow appeared in the sky.
Serin suddenly remembered a certain store and her friends.
Then, a faint smile appeared on her lips, perhaps because of her promise with the boy, or perhaps because a good memory came to mind.
A ray of sunlight streamed through the window and settled warmly on her shoulder.

---From "Rainbow"