Chapter 6

She cleaned. Cleaned.

When was the last time she'd done any cleaning? A month ago? A year? She couldn't even remember. After all, she'd spent so many years living in outright defiance of housework.

"Wh-what… should I start with…?"

She'd dragged herself out of bed thanks to the Status Window, but she had no clue where to even begin. The wallpaper was caked in grease, the floor buried under trash. Dust blanketed every spot her hands and feet couldn't reach. And that wasn't all—the bathroom was a moldy nightmare, the toilet so grimy it was hard to find a single white spot. Total disaster.

The one silver lining? She didn't have much clothing, so no need to sort laundry.

Clap clap. She smacked her cheeks.

Then, as if making a solemn vow, she rolled up her sleeves.

"Tr-trash first!"

Start with the basics. That was her decision.

Three hours.

A full three hours passed.

'G-gonna… puke….'

She'd gathered every bit of trash from the floor—and even the stuff under the bed—bagged it all up, and tossed it. She'd even mopped. It wasn't perfect yet, but the room was worlds cleaner than before, welcoming her back.

"Kinda… proud… maybe…."

The Status Window seemed to acknowledge today's efforts, updating the incomplete goal to complete. Wiping away the sweat pouring down her face, she inwardly cheered and pumped her fist.

"Now just… gotta run…."

Of course, the thought of the run still ahead left her feeling glum. But thanks to her Persistence trait, giving up didn't even cross her mind.

'Yeah, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just 1km… I can do it, right…?'

Nodding to herself, she changed clothes. Cleaning had gotten her outfit filthy anyway.

'…….'

Brand-name workout gear. A gift from long ago, maybe? She hadn't washed it properly, so the old stains lingered. Scuff marks from shoes here and there, bloodstains soaked in deep. Traces from her days as a guy, when she'd been beaten and robbed.

She brushed off the dust and marks slowly.

'Gonna be a new me…!'

Nam Ha-neul nodded proudly and headed out.

The sun hadn't set yet, but the streets weren't crowded. She rarely exercised, so she had no idea where or how to run.

'Park first… maybe?'

Decision made, she stretched like she'd seen somewhere online and started jogging. It had been so long, her form looked a bit comical.

'O-oh… maybe I've got talent….'

Just 1km to go—not far at all. But her Stamina was a measly 11.

"H-huff… huff…."

The mission was "run," but she jogged a few steps, walked, stopped, repeat. The Status Window had clear criteria, and the distance filled slower than expected.

'Tired….'

She wore out fast. Her knees ached. But she didn't stop.

'Thanks to the trait… probably.'

Her Persistence trait definitely kept her going. And from there, something deeper inside her began to shift steadily.

But for now, she was still just a body with nothing to show ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for it.

"Whoa, check out that body."

"Is that for real?"

Throughout the run, stares and snickers aimed her way. Even as a woman now, her body was the same as her male days—embarrassing. She hung her head low.

It felt like high school all over again. She couldn't run anymore and stopped.

The world narrowed to just people and her, everyone cursing her out. Maybe the comments weren't even about her. Maybe few were even looking.

Didn't matter.

The ground spun. Bugs crawled over her skin. She lost track of where she was. Her vision went white, then breathing got tight.

Nam Ha-neul barely registered the Status Window popping up in front of her. She just wanted to get home fast.

Panting roughly, she wiped tears with her sleeve and walked. After that first round of mockery, every passing glance felt like condemnation.

She stopped in an alley heading home, gripping a utility pole and vomiting for a while.

"Urk, uuuugh."

Familiar stares, but they always hurt. That's why she'd holed up in her room.

Physical pain she could endure. But emotional? Too much.

She'd been thrilled just moments ago about getting good at games. Now it felt like nothing had changed.

Her legs buckled, but she didn't want to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stay outside. She hurried home, collapsed into bed.

No shower, no change of clothes—just no energy left. She pulled the blanket over her head.

"H-hic… sob, waaah…."

Tears came. Not just from the insults. She'd thought she could change. But like always, effort wouldn't make a difference for someone like her.

Her boiling emotions kept her from calming down. Nam Ha-neul closed her eyes under the covers, seeking sleep. Escape into dreams again.

…So she didn't see it.

Quite a lot had changed.

She had a terrible nightmare. A giant cherry monster chasing her relentlessly, yelling why she'd run away.

Nam Ha-neul screamed apologies while fleeing.

"S-sorry!"

Just before being crushed by the cherry, she jolted awake thrashing.

"Gasp… huff… g-good, safe."

She'd never ditch again. She'd paid for her escape, she thought. Good thing it was just a dream.

"……."

Then yesterday replayed in her mind. Lucky she was home now, or it could've gotten worse.

'Depressed….'

She couldn't help feeling down.

Grrrowl—

After cleaning and running, no food yet. Her empty stomach made it worse.

She threw off the blanket to scrounge something—

"Huh?"

She spotted the overnight alerts floating there. Charm up 40, plus mission rewards—total 42. From a horrific -5, her Charm hit 37.

Nam Ha-neul kicked off the covers, stood, and went to the mirror.

"Whoa…."

A lifetime as a fat, ugly guy. Now the mirror showed a somewhat chubby girl. Skin unkempt, fat not fully gone, burying her Charm—but cuter than before.

'Lost… so much weight.'

She opened the Status Window to check traits.

Her morbid obesity had downgraded to plain Obesity, F-rank. Ugly dropped from B to D.

She struck poses like girls on SNS. Soon gave up—not that pretty yet.

Even so, accounting for the baby fat, her average-ish stats made her face seem like it'd be cute once slimmer.

Staring a while, she blushed and scratched her cheek. Joy at her female form? The ultimate guy, now this. She coughed awkwardly alone.

Then back to the Status Window.

The punishment mission had renewed.

'…3km.'

Triple the distance.

"No way… distance tripled… but reward only doubled."

She puffed her cheeks at the Status Window, grumbling. Higher Charm made her look cuter pouting. Hated the imbalance.

And…

'Scared to go out….'

Yesterday's trauma resurfaced. Even improved, people would point and laugh. Gaming hiatus had made her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠forget her place in the world.

After much hesitation…

"Ah…! Skill."

New skill time. Presence Erasure—game character vibes for real. Powers incoming, exciting.

'This… might let me go out.'

No one notices unless she speaks first. No whispers, no piercing stares.

'Okay, then… right….'

Grrrowl—

Her stomach decided: food first.

Before it finished, she flopped to the floor. Floor was clean—no dust.

She knew what it wanted without reading fully.

But…

"No no no—!! Wanna eat something tasty now, waaah…!"

Miserable. Yesterday's ordeal, now tasteless salad for breakfast? She rolled on the floor, flailing.

The Status Window seemed flexible so far—not rigid. Tantrum might work. Or just bad mood, wanna vent.

She peeked at the new mission and beamed.