In the corner of the convenience store's cash register, there was a red emergency call button.
Pressing it for 3 seconds would automatically call the police.
I'm guessing the reason the call button is on the POS system is because it's probably the least suspicious-looking thing for an employee to do when dealing with a troublesome customer.
If someone came in with the intention of causing a scene, they'd probably get suspicious if the employee was fiddling around under the counter.
This was the first time I'd seen the call button being used, so I asked the manager about it just to confirm.
"Did you really call the police?"
"Yup. I pressed the button. It's a nuisance for the police if it's just a prank call."
"No, I remember thinking troublesome customers were cute, so I just dealt with them appropriately and sent them away—this was back when I was being interviewed."
"Did I?"
The manager mumbled, glancing over at the bald-headed elf's expression.
"I just can't afford to be cute about this kind of thing anymore."
I couldn't agree more.
The elf's face had turned beet red upon hearing that the police were called to the point where I couldn't even tell if he was an elf or some red faced ogre.
"What? The police?! Why the hell did you call the cops on me?!"
"That's how it is. And I wouldn't recommend trying to leave - everything, the gesturing and the cursing, has been recorded on the CCTV, so if you try to bolt, it'll just make things worse."
Hearing the manager's sly remarks, the elf seemed to forget whatever he was going to say and just stammered.
I marveled at it from the side.
Just leaving the scene wouldn't necessarily make things worse.
The police aren't really going to be able to catch a troublemaker who storms out, nor would they bother, since they'd have to comb through CCTV footage from the whole intersection just to make a sketch, and the cops in this urban area probably get dozens of calls like this a day.
So, the manager was deliberately bringing that up - to scare him into staying put since the evidence is right here.
It's obvious that those security camera recordings wouldn't actually be usable evidence, but someone who's already gone off the deep end wouldn't be able to think that far.
"Y-you...!"
"And you know, those discriminatory remarks of yours are also punishable. I recorded everything, so I'll be sure to play it for the officers when they arrive."
"I never said anything like that! It's you humans who are discriminating against me!"
"The police can decide that for themselves. Although, if you stay calm and quiet, maybe I may show some mercy..."
It was blatantly obvious that she was trying to provoke the elf further.
The elf with his temper flaring, looked ready to overturn the coffee machine, but ultimately didn't act on it.
Sneaking a question to the manager, I asked, "When did you even record anything?"
"I didn't."
Huh?
"I thought you must have used some kind of magic to record it. Since you didn't seem to press anything special."
"Did you use magic."
"When?"
"You pressed a button and made the drunkard calm down. If that's not magic, then what is?"
Ah, wait.
I realized it now.
The power of the authorities (police) seems to work its mystical wonders even in this world.
"And that elf was cursing at you, right?"
"Yeah, he did."
"Normally I'd just let that slide but hearing that just really pissed me off. It's not like you did anything wrong."
After a moment's thought, I replied.
"Well... it's not the trash can's fault that trash gets thrown into it, right?"
No, I'm not - I mean, the convenience store employee isn't a trashcan for people's emotional garbage.
It's not that the employee doesn't know how to curse back or stand up for himself.
It's just that there's no point in getting into a shouting match - it won't improve the situation, and they have to hurry up and send the troublemaker on their way to tend to other customers.
It's not understanding, it's just enduring.
But there are always those who try to feel superior about that, treating the employee like "I'm the customer, I'm the king! I can control the employee's emotions! I'll just dump my trash here!"
That's a mindset they've cultivated over decades, and how could a lowly convenience store employee like myself change that way of thinking?
I just have to accept it.
That's why I used the trash can analogy, but the manager seemed quite displeased by it.
"Don't think of it that way, Channie. A trash can?"
"That's just how I feel those troublemakers see it."
"If another customer like that comes, just, uh... talk back to them. If they bring up what you said, just say it's store policy."
"Really?"
"What, you won't do it? I'm the manager telling you to."
Right, if the manager says to do it, the employee has to do it.
What choice do they have?
"But no physical stuff, alright? Draw the line there."
"I don't exactly feel like punching any hulking elves or chihuahuas either. As long as I can talk back without affecting sales, that should be fine, right?"
"Yup."
After about 3 minutes, the police arrived.
"Responding to the emergency call."
The police officer was wearing a helmet that obscured the face, making it hard to figure to figure out gender.
But her voice sounded that of a female.
There was also an alcohol testing device hanging from their belt, so they must have been coming from the DUI* patrol.
The middle-aged elf spoke up first, his voice raised in indignation.
"Officer, these humans started it! I just wanted to buy a bottle of alcohol, but they refused to sell it to me because I'm an elf!"
"When did I call you an elf...?"
"Don't try to deny it!"
This elf really has a talent for putting on that indignant face.
He seems to have realized there's no recording, since he went on a lengthy spiel about the discrimination he faces as an elf.
He says he can't get a job because he's an elf.
Whenever something goes wrong, he gets suspected first, because he's an elf.
That's why his life is so hard, because he's an elf.
"So, you see, it's their fault, not mine! If you say it's my fault, then you'd be discriminating against elves too!"
The elf I had imagined in my mind was nothing like this.
I wanted to ask the manager what on earth was wrong with this elf, but the manager just watched the police officer with an intrigued expression.
So, I looked too.
The female officer had just removed her helmet, revealing a strikingly beautiful face.
But there was also an air of world-weariness about her.
Her skin was deathly pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and her irises were a vivid green.
Even her hair color was unusual, a mix of blonde and dark.
And most notably, this police officer was also an elf, with pointed ears.
"I'm sorry, but..."
The elf officer spoke quietly.
"Reverse discrimination is still considered hate speech. So please stay quiet."
At those words, the middle-aged elf was instantly silenced.
The elf officer stepped closer to the counter and asked softly,
"Officer Iruel here. May I take a look at the CCTV footage for a moment?"
"Of course. Shall I help with the operation?"
The store manager responded, but the elf officer shook her head.
"Just tell me the location."
"It's in the office over there."
"Thank you. Please follow me, sir."
"Why am I…."
"If you refuse to cooperate, I will take you into custody for obstructing official duties."
This was just a formality, and the intention was to keep the middle-aged elf close to us.
The middle-aged elf, with his head bowed as if bound by invisible ropes, followed the officer into the office, and only the manager and I were left in front of the cash register. The bald man had yelled so loudly that all the customers had left.
Now I could finally ask.
"Manager, the world I live in has an image of elves being noble and beautiful, but that doesn't seem to be the case here."
"Ah, so you have a very positive image of them?"
"Not exactly. There's also an image of them being arrogant and ill-tempered."
"It's a mixed bag. Some media portray them as rude, while others see them as kind."
"Ah, so they used to be noble and beautiful, but something happened?"
"Do you remember when they said there were too few people in this world?"
"Yes, I remember."
There was a war where dozens or hundreds of different species fought fiercely, and as a result, the human population had drastically declined.
"It was the elves who started that war."
"Hmm..."
The manager's explanation was, as expected, rather vague.
Apparently, when human technology started advancing a few decades ago, most other species readily accepted the technologies developed by humans, as it was convenient for them.
But the elves, being a nature-loving species, disliked the environmental damage caused by factories and pollution.
Eventually, the elves resorted to destroying anything they deemed harmful to the environment, and the problem was that there were a huge number of elves, as many as the trees in the world, according to the manager's estimate.
This led to an escalating conflict between the elves and other species, culminating in an all-out war.
In the end, the other species had to choose between siding with the elves to maintain the status quo or following the humans' path of progress.
"So, the elves became both a war criminal race and a minority group. They were heavily oppressed right after the war, but that trend has decreased somewhat recently. The elves have been making a lot of effort to reflect on their actions."
"The elf who just caused a scene doesn't seem to be showing any signs of reflection."
"Well... there are still some like that. It must be hard for them to adapt, having lived for so long."
"I understand, but I can't agree with it."
It's understandable that someone who was forced to move from a luxury apartment to a semi-basement would become embittered.
But throwing a tantrum at the convenience store just because he couldn't buy alcohol is more of a personality issue than a matter of adapting to the times.
"I don't think all elves are like that. There are many who are making efforts to adapt and change."
"Like the officer who went into the office?"
"Yeah. She must have really worked hard at it."
"She did look pretty exhausted."
"Her hair was completely bleached out to black, huh? That's probably from the stress."
Now the earlier mystery has been solved.
The default elf hair color is golden, and when they're stressed, it turns black. If it gets even worse, they could even start losing their hair like that troublesome elf.
"Confirmation complete."
The officer just walked out of the office, as if finishing a CCTV verification.
The middle-aged elf looked even more miserable, so it seems the excuses he made inside didn't work.
"For now, we'll take them both. The punishment will be decided after further investigation."
"You've got your hands full."
"As for the others... we'll impose a restraining order."
The officer then briefly took out a cigarette pack from her pocket, sighed, and then put it back.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
She saluted and left with the bald elf.
After glancing at the time, I asked the manager.
"Manager, it's time for you to head home."
"Ah, it's already 10:10 pm. I haven't counted the money and checked the cigarettes yet, let me do that and then I'll go."
"I can do that for you. You must be tired."
There's no need for me to do the work twice, since I'll have to count the money and check the cigarettes anyway after the shift change.
"Okay, then I'll head home first. Let me know if any issues come up."
"Got it."
The manager left, and now I'm the only one left in the convenience store.
Damn, I've already had to deal with a troublemaker before my shift even started.
Looks like I can't avoid those kinds of people, but I hope at least an hour or two will go by without any weirdos showing up.
As I was thinking about this, the first customer arrived.
It was a familiar face.
"Fucking hell, where's the toothpaste?!"
TL Note:
*DUI: Driving Under the Influence