I Level Up With In-app Purchases

I Raise With In-app Purchases – 28

EP.28 She Put on the High Heels (4)

I tried to act as naturally as possible, as if I hadn’t expected Rebecca to react this way upon seeing it. I spoke with feigned nonchalance.

“What? Oh, that?”

“What is that? It’s so beautiful. Where did you get it? Can I take a closer look? Is it for sale?”

“It’s just a pair of shoes. Isn’t it a bit much to make such a fuss over them?”

“Just a pair of shoes? Don’t lie. If they were just shoes, you wouldn’t have packaged them so carefully!”

It was obvious to anyone that the shoes had been meticulously packaged, so my attempt to downplay them as ordinary shoes didn’t work. Her observation was accurate. If they were ordinary shoes, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to package them.

“Do they look special to you? They just look like ordinary high heels on the outside.”

“How can you say they’re ordinary! They’re sparkling and shining for everyone to see!”

Rebecca glared at me with eyes that seemed to say, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Well, most people don’t realize they’re special.”

“Have you only shown them to people with blind eyes? And you know these shoes are special. That’s why you packaged them so beautifully.”

“Of course. I’m the owner of these items, so I know. But as you can see, I can’t use them, so I’m looking for their rightful owner.”

Rebecca’s eyes sparkled at the mention of looking for their rightful owner. She probably thought she was the only one who could be the owner, just like Shine did.

“Looking for their owner? Wait, my heart is pounding.”

“I doubt you’ve fallen for me, so have you fallen for the high heels?”

“Honestly, I can’t deny it. It was love at first sight. How could anyone not fall for them? They’re so beautiful and…”

Beautiful?

“They’re so damn sexy!!”

“…You think they’re sexy?”

It was hard to believe she was talking about a pair of high heels. But Rebecca seemed sincere, placing her hands near her heart and breathing heavily.

“You recognized how special they are too, didn’t you? These shoes are special, superior, beautiful, and sexy!”

“……”

I knew they were special, but I didn’t find them sexy. I spoke to the excited Rebecca.

“At least, I know that not just anyone should own these. That’s why I’ve been searching for their owner for quite some time. It’s unfortunate. They’re meant for women, so how could I use them?”

“Hah… You’re right. Maybe it’s fate that these shoes have such a beautiful appearance.”

What nonsense.

“Look, they’re speaking to me right now. They’re asking me to use them! So, sell them to me.”

It seemed she ultimately wanted to say she wanted to buy them.

“I’m going to sell them at a high price.”

Rebecca assured me that wouldn’t be a problem.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be a cheapskate just because we’re friends. How much for these sleek shoes?”

She seemed ready to pay any amount. The problem was, I had no intention of selling them for money.

“I’m not selling them for money.”

“Not for money? Then what do you want in return?”

“Monster by-products.”

“Monster by-products? Why? Isn’t money better?”

“For personal reasons, I need monster by-products more than money.”

Rebecca, having been discharged from the military, probably didn’t have any monster by-products. It was understandable for her to feel frustrated when I said she needed those to get the shoes.

“Are you really going to do this to a friend? What’s the point of having friends? Just sell them to me for money.”

“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t be a cheapskate because we’re friends?”

Switching stances so quickly?

“Hey, I’ll treat you really well from now on. So, please? I haven’t hunted monsters in ages, so I can’t get them even if I want to.”

“You can buy them with money. Are you not willing to go through that trouble to get these shoes?”

Did she think she could get unique equipment with such little effort? I spoke as if it was impossible, and Rebecca, horrified, quickly clung to the glass case holding the high heels.

“No, no!! No! I’m sorry! Don’t listen to such ugly words, sweetie! I’ll definitely get you. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you.”

Anyone would think I was a demon king who had kidnapped a princess. Rebecca, in tears, tenderly caressed the glass case containing the high heels.

“So, are you going to buy them?”

“Sniff! Just wait a little longer. I’m sorry for being so incompetent!”

“Stop it, will you? I’m not going to change my mind.”

“Che!”

Rebecca, realizing her act wasn’t working, stopped pretending. Years of mercenary life had made me immune to most tricks. It’s quite normal for mercenaries to have diminished empathy.

“That won’t sell quickly, so bring what I asked for anytime. I’ll hand it over then. Of course, I trust you’ll pay the proper price.”

“Ugh… You’re really not going to sell it, huh?”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t sell it. I meant that very few people recognize its true value like you do, so it hasn’t sold. That’s why it’s still sitting in the warehouse.”

“Alright. Just wait. I’ll definitely buy it.”

“Haha, that works for me. It’s a troublesome item to keep in stock. Now, let’s stop looking at it and head up to the second floor. We need to drink.”

At this point, it seemed Rebecca wouldn’t rest until she had bought those high heels. With my goal accomplished, all that was left was to enjoy some drinks. The problem was…

“You’re going to take that to the second floor?”

“Can’t I?”

Rebecca, acting pitiful, was hugging the glass case with the high heels tightly. She claimed it was because she felt sorry for the high heels being left alone in the warehouse. It was such a ridiculous excuse that I felt like flicking her forehead.

“Fine, do whatever you want. Just for today.”

“Yay! Thanks, friend!”

In the end, I compromised and allowed her to bring the high heels to the second floor. I wondered why she needed the high heels while drinking, but I allowed it, thinking she must have her reasons.

“Mmm~ Ah!”

“….”

“Ahhh~ Ahhh~”

“….”

Rebecca, who had come up to the second floor hugging the glass case as if it were a precious safe, placed it carefully on the table. Then she started drinking in earnest, her eyes never leaving the high heels.

“Are you going to keep drinking like that? Why don’t you have some snacks too?”

“There’s no better snack than this.”

She kept repeating the cycle of drinking a glass, admiring the high heels, drinking another glass, and admiring the high heels again.

She must really like those shoes.

“Do you like them that much?”

“Yeah. To be honest, I never understood what was so fun about dating.”

Because of her mission to reclaim the desert, Rebecca seemed to have never turned her attention to trivial matters. It must have been hard for her to not date anyone with that face.

“But now you understand? Because of those shoes?”

Rebecca nodded.

“Yeah. I feel like I understand what it means to fall in love. If love is like this, I get it. If people date with these feelings, it’s no wonder they get so deeply involved.”

“You’re completely smitten. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know, I just like them. Just looking at them makes me feel full.”

In fact, this was a phenomenon I had also seen in Shine. Rebecca had more time to admire the shoes than Shine did, so she was completely captivated.

‘Even so, this is a bit much. She’s not exactly a miser, but…’

Seeing her drink like this, I thought it might be better to suggest an alternative rather than just telling her to stop.

“Do you like them that much?”

“I told you, I’m in love. I’m not joking.”

“Then how about renting them?”

“What?”

Rebecca’s eyes wavered at the word “rent.”

“You know you like them, but you don’t know their exact performance, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Of course, she would want to buy them even without knowing, but if I let her try them out like I did with Shine, she would appreciate them even more.

“So, rent them and use them, then come back with a price. As a friend, I can at least offer that service.”

She had said she wouldn’t be a cheapskate to a friend, but she was so captivated by the shoes that she couldn’t help but reconsider. My offer was too tempting to resist.

“So, I can use them right away?”

“Of course, it’s a rental.”

Sure enough, Rebecca quickly took the bait.

“You’re crazy… You really…!”

“Whoa?! What’s with you?!”

Rebecca suddenly pounced on me. As she nestled into my arms, her distinctive rose scent filled my nostrils.

– Bang! Bang! Bang! –

“You’re truly my lifelong friend!”

“S-stop it!”

She hugged me tightly and patted my back vigorously, driving me crazy. It wasn’t that she was hitting me too hard, but rather that her chest was pressing against mine, flooding me with all sorts of inappropriate sensations.

“I’m just so, so, so grateful! Try to take it positively!”

“It’s not positive, it’s torture!”

I couldn’t let my friend see my lower half reacting. Seeing my distress, Rebecca reluctantly let go.

“Huff… huff… that was close.”

“Geez! You’re so cold-hearted!”

What was I supposed to do? It’s your fault for hugging a guy like that!

“I’ll make sure to pay you well for the rental! Oh, does the rental fee also have to be in monster by-products? That would be difficult…”

“You’re my friend, and you want me to charge a rental fee? Forget it. Just pay me properly later.”

Charging a rental fee from a friend seemed too much, even if I was selling her something.

“Hey! That was just a joke. I’m already more than grateful that you’re letting me rent them. I insist on paying a rental fee. If you don’t take it, I won’t rent them.”

Rebecca, looking serious, threatened me to take the money. She said she wouldn’t rent the shoes if I didn’t accept the fee. Considering how she was still eyeing the high heels with such longing, it was quite a bold move.

I debated whether to tease her or not, but…

‘If I tease her, she might actually cry.’

What if I said I wouldn’t rent them without taking the money? She would probably cry for real. So, I couldn’t even joke about it.

‘Both Shine and Rebecca show a certain madness in their actions…’

In the end, I decided to accept a nominal fee and rented out the high heels. Rebecca, with tears of gratitude, said,

“Actually, I’m scheduled to return to the field next year. I’ll catch a really good one and give it to you.”

“You’re returning to the field?”

I pretended to be surprised at the mention of her field return. Even though I knew her circumstances, I had to act as if I didn’t.