Oh, wow…
Gazing into the wardrobe, Ha Ju-on covered her mouth with her hand, letting out an inarticulate exclamation. Her reaction only deepened my unease.
“Well, yeah… you adapted a bit faster than I expected, didn’t you?”
“…”
“By the way, why are there so many clothes? You haven’t spent all the money you earn on this, have you?”
While Ha Ju-on tried her best to appear understanding, a subtle smirk betrayed her, her lips curling upwards just out of my direct line of sight.
I would have preferred outright mockery; this feigned consideration only served to double my humiliation.
“What? Why?”
“No, it’s just… fascinating, really… Pfft.”
“Just laugh if you want to, don’t pretend.”
Let me be clear: I didn’t exactly harbor a hobby of collecting or wearing cute and pretty outfits for my own enjoyment.
Though it felt somewhat pathetic to explain myself, I despised being constantly misunderstood. Taking out my smartphone, I displayed my golden-bordered Clam account, which proudly boasted 500,000 followers.
“What is this?”
“My account. Do you really think I’d wear these because I want to? I do it because it brings in money. People absolutely love it.”
“Whoa…”
Ha Ju-on’s reaction, upon hearing my words, was a blend of pure astonishment and, simultaneously, a profound sense of incredulity.
Her eyes conveyed a clear message: even if the allure of money was strong, my thought process must be profoundly twisted.
After a prolonged, subtle gaze, Ha Ju-on took out her own smartphone, located my account, and began scrolling through my previous posts.
“Wow.”
“…”
“Whoa.”
“…”
“But Oppa (TL Note: A Korean term used by a younger female to address an older male, often a brother or close male friend.), are you really doing this just for the money?”
“…I told you, yes.”
Truthfully… if I were completely honest, I had indeed begun to enjoy it a little along the way.
Yet, as I’d previously stated, it was more akin to flaunting and taking pride in a meticulously developed character’s avatar, rather than experiencing any deeper sentiment.
Consequently, it was an activity well within acceptable bounds.
“It really is cute, though… Do you get advertisements or anything?”
“I can’t do that because of my identity, but here.”
After a few taps on the screen, I presented the recently implemented subscription plan options, eliciting a hollow laugh from Ha Ju-on—a sound verging on outright mirth.
“Oppa, you’ve really been this way since the orphanage… No, never mind, let’s not talk about it…”
“The world doesn’t turn without money. You’ll likely have to work your fingers to the bone from now on.”
I harbored no real concern. Unlike myself, who had long veered off the conventional path by embracing ‘rice-farming’ (TL Note: A Korean slang term, ‘ssal-meok,’ referring to earning money in a game by selling in-game items or currency, often implying a less conventional or ‘grindy’ method), Ha Ju-on was the sort who had meticulously planned her future, even managing to secure a scholarship to a prestigious university in the capital region.
‘But then again…’
Now, after all this time, the situation had completely reversed.
Having awakened as a super-genius Weather Mage, I had ascended to become the true master of Bucheon City, commanding both immense wealth and formidable power. Ha Ju-on, by contrast, remained an unawakened commoner, her sole advantage being a marginally superior academic record.
Frankly, wasn’t this just my overwhelming victory?
*Tap.*
“What’s with that suddenly smug expression?”
“Mmph, are you crazy?”
When Ha Ju-on abruptly pinched and kneaded my cheek, I frantically waved my hands and swiftly batted her hands away.
“Oh.”
“What now?”
“Is it because you’re an Awakened being? This isn’t just ordinary softness…”
Ha Ju-on, apparently captivated by the texture of my cheek, reached out once more, but I, of course, had no intention of allowing her a second touch.
“No. Pay if you want to touch.”
“What’s wrong with just touching your face?”
“Are you unfamiliar with quokkas? My value per touch is considerably higher than theirs.”
Faced with my utterly audacious demand, Ha Ju-on wore an incredulous expression as she reluctantly pulled back her hand, a hint of disappointment in her gesture.
No matter the expression she wore, some things simply remained off-limits.
“You’ve checked, so that’s enough. Now go home.”
“I had some concerns about your living situation, given your transformation into a woman, but it appears to be perfectly acceptable.”
Of course. All the trial and error, from navigating underwear to mastering hair drying, had already been thoroughly completed.
After a moment of contemplation, Ha Ju-on nodded in understanding, then proceeded to pepper me with a series of other questions that had evidently piqued her curiosity.
“What does it feel like to Awaken?”
“There’s not much difference.”
“What’s your profession?”
“A Weather Mage.”
“…What’s that?”
How utterly ‘ping-peu’ (TL Note: A Korean slang term, ‘ping-peu,’ short for ‘finger princess/prince,’ referring to someone who expects others to do their basic research for them, as if they only need to move a finger to get information.) of her.
Yet, recalling my own initial struggles in researching the profession, I decided to make an exception and send her the translated foreign documents I had painstakingly compiled.
“Ah-ha… so that’s what it is? That’s a completely rare class, isn’t it? Is that why you’re doing this?”
“Roughly, yes.”
Having previously informed her of my intention to keep my profession undisclosed and my identity unupdated for the time being, Ha Ju-on, familiar with my nature, seemed to infer the broader context from that alone.
“Show me how you use your abilities.”
“No.”
“Can’t you make it rain in the bathroom over there?”
“Didn’t you read the documents? I specifically mentioned that I can’t even perform such a minor feat without a significant gathering of people.”
While I wouldn’t have minded revealing other details, I resolved to keep hidden the truth that my capabilities as a Weather Mage far surpassed those of others.
For in this world, some truths are better left undiscovered.
*Creak.*
“Alright, I’m leaving now. Don’t just play games; keep in touch occasionally.”
“If I feel like it? Mmph…”
Ha Ju-on, having audaciously pinched and kneaded both my cheeks in a final, surprise attack before her departure, sent me a cautionary message a considerable time later.
*Ding!*
– Ha Ju-on: [Photo]
– Ha Ju-on: Your video was cute, lol.
– Ha Ju-on: Seriously adorable, haha.
“…”
It made sense that her farewell message had been delayed; she had evidently subscribed to my ten-thousand-won plan and was busy perusing the exclusive photos and the video of me embracing the camera.
It was fine. As a professional influencer, I wouldn’t be swayed by such trivial remarks.
Still, the prospect of her consistently checking my posts and reacting in the same manner in the future… it left me feeling inexplicably overwhelmed.
*Ding!*
– Ha Ju-on: Oh, and
– Ha Ju-on: No matter how much you like money, don’t upload ‘those kinds’ of photos, okay?
– Ha Ju-on: Weird sites are forbidden too.
– Choi Jian: What;
What on earth does she take me for?
Certainly, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t entertained similar fantasies during my ‘menhera’ (TL Note: A Japanese slang term, ‘menhera,’ referring to someone with mental health issues, often used to describe someone who is emotionally unstable or attention-seeking.) phase, but I would never actually bring them to fruition.
I’m already living comfortably without resorting to such actions, so why on earth would I bother?
“Ugh.”
It felt as if a typhoon had just swept through.
It was a sentiment I’d long held, but for someone who relished solitary living as much as I did, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being utterly drained.
‘…’
With the uninvited guest finally gone, it was time to revert to my primary occupation.
I quickly lay down on the bed, immediately launched the Archive, and after thoroughly reading the backlog of ‘nyeom-geul’ (TL Note: A Korean internet slang term, ‘nyeom-geul,’ for popular or highly recommended posts.), I found myself tilting my head in bewilderment.
[Title: The Channel Master << If this idiot needs a beating, hit like ㅋㅋ]
[Yirin-chan’s Thighs]
[Content]
You crazy b*tch, why the hell did you click that, lololol.
[Comments]
– It’s seriously over.
– Because of the Channel Master, our livelihood is collapsing… our families are breaking apart…
– But what if we actually get sanctioned for this?
┗ What do you mean ‘what if’? The Channel Master needs to prostrate themselves naked and take responsibility to find us a new place to move to.
[Title: Channel Master? Analysis Complete, yo.]
[Thief Crab]
[Content]
“They’re an idiot, yo.”
[Comments]
– Agreed.
– This is the first time I’ve seen this guy swear, lol.
– What kind of Channel Master presses a self-destruct button just because they’re curious?
– I’ll never forgive the Channel Master who euthanized the gallery overnight.
– Save me… I don’t want to die…
[Title: Guys, I’m really, really, really sorry, but]
[Wangnyang Bread]
[Content]
I swear I didn’t click it because I was curious…
It was really because of the cat ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
You know I’ve managed the channel diligently without any trouble…
Please believe me.
[Comments]
– You expect us to believe that half-assed lie?
– How can a cat use the Archive, you f*cker?
– That button doesn’t even activate without mana infusion.
┗ Wangnyang Bread: I’ve called a hunter I know, so please wait a moment, I’ll really prove it.
– But what changes if you prove it?
┗ Wangnyang Bread: If my innocence is cleared, I can deal with the situation with maximum rationality and full effort.
┗ Hmm… okay for now.
****
A major incident had erupted unexpectedly within the channel.
It turned out the Channel Master had accidentally activated the call button for a senior administrator, requesting a channel reclassification.
‘…This is bad, isn’t it?’
One might wonder what the problem was, but the Archive’s senior administrators were, quite literally, on a completely different dimension from a channel’s vice-master or master.
They were salaried administrators who resolved all sorts of issues and disputes within the Archive, receiving compensation from the Chief Administrator.
Often referred to as J.J. Russell’s private division, recklessly summoning them could lead to the entire channel being treated as a disturbance and facing severe sanctions.
[Title: Proof]
[Wangnyang Bread]
[Content]
[Video]
[Video]
I paid a mage acquaintance who can access memories and convert data to get these videos.
I believe they are a well-known person, so there should be no room for controversy.
Regardless, it was my mistake, so I will do my best to handle the situation.
[Comments]
– Is this real?
– No.
– Um.
– I thought they were making ridiculous excuses because they were guilty, but it seems they really were wronged, sigh.
– No way, this is just too unfair, lol.
– That person is expensive and busy, yet they managed to bring them here. Is the Channel Master also a capable hunter?
The channel users had initially believed the Channel Master, whose conscience was pricked by their own mistake, was spouting absurd excuses. However, the Channel Master’s words were, in fact, truthful.
Specifically, while the Channel Master was managing the channel, a cat nearby had struck and knocked over a coffee cup. The Channel Master’s desperate attempt to catch it mid-air had, with uncanny precision, activated the emergency call button.
‘This isn’t easy.’
It wasn’t the Channel Master’s fault, but it was also their fault.
And finally, amidst the chilling silence, the Archive’s senior administrator began to make their appearance.
[Title: You have 10 seconds]
[V]
[Content]
Explain yourself, heh.
