I'm Gonna Become a Master Merchant!
I wrapped up today's tutoring session and stream short and sweet before heading home. Tenri's condition was still iffy as expected, even though I'd jumped right into it with all that enthusiasm.
"Sure, today's already been announced as a break, but what about going forward?"
Instead, I sat her down calmly and sketched out a plan. Martial arts aren't something you master in a day or two, after all. She had talent, sure, but even perfecting the basics of the Earth Shaking Sword would take a few weeks.
"I'm thinking of extending the hiatus. Sorry to my meong-lings waiting for me, but…"
Tenri's unexpected choice caught me off guard. I'd figured she'd ease back into daily life first since this was long-term training.
"Got it. Recover your condition, do a few intensive days, and you'll have the forms down solid."
"Yes!"
"Then let's prioritize rest and taking care of your body first."
One might say going to a hospital would be better, but our house had some killer advantages.
"Pengnim. Try some of this."
"Uh? Oh, sure. But this is…?"
It was Su-yeon. Just drinking her pure water had major healing effects. Plus, she'd been super worried about Tenri that morning, so she was doting on her hard.
"It's Lily's special blended juice."
"Juice?"
When did she whip that up? It reeked of mana, so she'd probably used magic in the mix.
"Whoa…!"
Tenri's eyes went wide after Su-yeon urged her to sip it. I was pretty shocked too. Her body, which had been visibly sluggish even transformed—wounds healed but condition wrecked—was regaining vitality right before my eyes.
"Th-this is."
"Unnie-ya, have some too?"
While Tenri gawked, Su-yeon offered me a glass.
I couldn't refuse. "...Oh yeah."
"How is it, Pengnim, unnie-ya?"
"This is delicious enough to die for!"
No exaggeration—it was addictively good. The tangy sweetness hit the moment it touched my tongue, with a fresh aroma that lingered without any cloying aftertaste. Every note was premium. Just drinking it made me feel healthier…
A powerful vitality infuses your body, partially purging harmful substances within.
Wait, I was actually getting healthier.
"Right? Right? This is insane!"
Tenri was so moved she grabbed Su-yeon's hand and bounced around.
"Oho ho ho~ Looks like the prototype's a success. What a relief~"
"Prototype?"
I blinked at the random word as she covered her smile with her fan.
"Yes, prototype-sawayo. Lily's decided to become a merchant-sawayo!"
"…Wait, you meant actually doing business?"
Not just roleplay? I'd wondered why she'd blurted that out at debut, but I never expected this.
"This is gonna blow up."
"Ahem, of course-sawayo."
"D-did you need money?"
I asked cautiously, but Su-yeon shook her head.
"No-sawayo. Kongkong-i and Lily talked it over. About not being a burden to unnie-ya."
"…More precisely, a path to independence-kong."
Not being a burden. They'd worried about that, huh. The result being business… well, whatever.
"Simple-kong. You told Calamity to build her own strength, but that's not enough-kong."
True. Unless they were as strong as me, brute force had limits. Even I got endless stream chats and donations like "You saving strength to boil stew?"
That's why I'd tried hiding Innocent Lily at first. Su-yeon ended up stepping up boldly anyway.
"If hiding doesn't work and it'll leak anyway, take the lead instead-kong. That's why Kong and the contractor chose business-kong."
"Got it. Perfectly."
In short, strike first. Act as a "businesswoman" before demands as a magical girl—"hero"—come in.
…No wonder she said she wasn't a good kid. I got what she was worried about.
"That puts my mind at ease too."
"Nyaaang!"
Su-yeon, who'd been peeking at me anxiously, snapped open her fan with a grin.
Did I really give off that vibe? She'd been that worried? I nagged about daily routines like school, but I didn't micromanage beyond that. Unless it was heading to ruin or despair—Kaijin-level stuff.
"Uh, c-can I listen in…?"
"Magical girls talking, no biggie."
Tenri got a bit flustered at the sudden top-secret convo, but it was fine.
"Go rest inside then. This surprise new product'll speed things up even more."
Not sending her home. Only me and Su-yeon's rooms here. I lent her another unit in the villa instead.
It was my building now, after all.
"B-but is it okay to borrow the whole place?"
"It's fine. Empty anyway."
Even in Yeongju—a backwater—nice villas had sneaky vacancies. Not kicking out tenants; what's the harm in a short stay? I wasn't even in it for the cash.
"Thank you."
"Ah, Pengnim. I'll call when dinner's ready~"
"Oh… r-right."
They'd seemed buddy-buddy on stream. Now Tenri was awkwardly formal with Su-yeon. She only loosened up when excited.
…No way she still thought Su-yeon didn't know her identity, right? Nah. Plenty of VTubers live off fans saying "Just grow up healthy," but still.
The chaotic New Year's first night was truly nuts. I left Su-yeon mid-stream—she'd shifted to evening broadcasts—and headed out.
Tenri with her rock-solid resolve. Su-yeon paving her own path solo. With juniors pushing forward, time to clear some roadblocks ahead.
The spot was a dimly lit valley in Sobaeksan with a gate whose time was running short. Not high-rank, so no real rush, but I had my reasons for coming now.
"Unbelievable. How is land like this possible?"
"Agreed. But no time to dawdle."
To see two figures emerge from the lingering-time gate. I clicked my tongue at the bluer goblin and "cobalt-like thing" compared to the ones I'd seen before.
"No wonder it felt off. That uncle too. Did he miss 'em?"
"Who goes there!"
The goblin drew his sword at my entrance. Geez. Anyone'd think I was the villain. Especially since the goblin-looking guy spoke fluently.
"Insulting the Blue Goblin tribe?"
"Ah, something like that."
Even the tribe name's similar. Parallel world or dimensional evolution, maybe. Starting to get these gate mystery monsters.
"Magical girl."
"Yup. Magical girl. The kobold my junior owes a debt to?"
"…Ironclad Kobold tribe's Lansh."
The ironclad kobold feigned talk while radiating killing intent. Answered me quick, so I'd hoped, but hostile as expected.
"We've clashed with magical girls before."
"H-hey!"
Ignoring the blue goblin's call, the ironclad kobold charged. Hmm. This could be Tenri's arch-nemesis type.
Killing's easy, but her deflated face flashed back. Better capture.
I dodged the red aura straight punch and decided. Just subdue.
"This is your level."
"Ha. A magical girl judging fists? Laughable!"
His fist trailed my dodge fluidly. Eerily skilled. Technique shone way above body or mana.
For flight-and-flashy-magic orthodox types, maybe fine. But close-combat concept like Tenri? Natural counter. Her type's weak to skill.
…Hmm. Good chance to check Geukbing Style. Over two years unused. Rusty? Natural. Teaching martial arts anyway—regain feel.
"Bingho Maeng-hon."
Done thinking, I capped my physicals and mana to match his. Met his incoming fist with beloved sword Bingho Maeng-hon.
Chaeng-!
"Hngh?!"
Clash— he panicked, axis slipping to twist position. Sword mirrored his fist perfectly.
Geukbing wasn't fixed forms; it was my swordplay. Based on martial forms? Wujun something reverse—forgot. Not key.
Point: infuse every move with Geukbing. Sure, momentum finishers exist. But not brute swings like vs. Yamoroshi.
Long time—fun channeling technique.
"Different from that magical girl!"
Failed breakthrough after five exchanges, ironclad kobold retreated yelling. Heard he was taciturn to Tenri. Fiery now.
"But still, no martial arts, no intent—just empty sword!"
Roaring charge, fists wrapped in more aura. Empty? Harsh. No need—magical girl dreams, hopes, comrades' hearts here.
Irked, I ended inspection.
Kang!
"……Kuhk."
Relax. Flat of blade. Ironclad kobold crumpled.
Hmm. Not too rusty. Felt natural, like constant use.
"Hiiiik…!"
Blue goblin backed off. No trace of his tribe-rant spirit.
Rattledudu—
Time up; subdued quick. Froze blue goblin neck-down, plopped iced ironclad beside.
"First, how'd you exit the gate?"
"Wh-what?"
"You came from there?"
Pointed; ironclad lifted head instead.
"Touched it, weird text popped. 'Leave?' Agreed."
"What?"
Insane—
Wait. Tower message? Roughly: otherworlding progresses, vanishes, monsters release.
…Didn't say "trap inside." Internals/externals could cross gate freely.
"Wordplay."
Obviously trapping. Monsters didn't exit; world stabilized-ish. Just illusion? No smarts to use gates?
Ridiculous; forehead slap, eyed gate.
You can pay Gate Coins to enhance Tower functions.
View enhancements related to 'Otherworlding'?
…Ah, DLC?