Six Months Later: The Dragon's Streaming Hustle

It's been six months since I, the Gold ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dragon, returned to Earth. Quite a lot has happened in that time.

First off, when I got back, Earth was nothing like I remembered. While I was off in that other world, about 30 years had passed here, and apparently, these things called gates had popped up. That led to the rise of a whole new profession—hunters—and society had completely transformed. Countries rose and fell, and a global organization called the Hunter Association was formed, among other changes.

Luckily for me, I was spotted by the Association almost right away after returning. Thanks to that, I went through a few months of resocialization training and got assigned this apartment on the Seoul outskirts.

And recently, I've even started doing some light work. What kind of work? You ask?

"Hey guys, I'm feeling down."

Internet broadcasting, that's what. You might wonder why streaming of all things, but this is the perfect job for me. As a Gold Dragon, I hate moving unless it's for treasure. Sitting still and making money? Yes, please!

Of course...

Not super popular yet... but time will fix that! Breaking 30 viewers means 300, then 3,000 is next!

"I used to live surrounded by gold and jewels, you know? Is it right that I'm holed up in this microwave oven of an apartment? So, donate, please."

"Hey now. You think returning is easy? I lived a long time in that other world—it's not for just anyone."

My eyes are basically hacks for gaming. Viewers hit 50 once, but I keep getting banned. The AI flags it as cheating, but I'm innocent! It's just optimal movement. As a dragon... honestly, what can I even show here?

"Think about it, guys. If I drop polymorph here, hunters swarm in."

"Huh? Nah. Killing hunters would just cause problems."

"Custom-design?" What? Oh, polymorph.

"This? Nah, polymorph turns you into the form that best suits the caster. Guess this suits me."

Now that I think about it, I am kinda curious. Why this form? Dragons don't really have gender. First polymorph sets your look and sex. Usually, it reflects something familiar from before... but I turned into a total stranger—a woman. Long platinum hair, green eyes, sharp features. That's me now. No idea why, but I'm used to it. Hell, looks-wise, it's an upgrade regardless of gender.

"But seriously, this is ridiculous? Other girl cams have tons of viewers—why not me? I'm pretty, right?"

"Nah, don't kill 'em. Every viewer's precious right now... Wait, nah—say you're banning and start at 300k? Shield rights, whaddya think?"

I chuckled, leaning back in my chair, and the chat picked up.

Obsession with money... It's instinct, but who here would get that? Simply put, only treasure satisfied my hoarding urge before. But my perk skill, Treasure Digitalization, treats bank deposits as treasure too. So money fills the void somewhat.

It reset when I came to Earth. Fill it up like in that world, and something epic awaits? But it'll take insane cash. For unawakened humans...

"Imagine you're starving and food's right there. What do you do?"

"That's me 24/7. Gotta collect or I lose it. Money counts."

Association stipend's holding me back, but limits hit. I wanna hoard real treasure—or blow up streaming for cash rain.

"Tried that—Association said wait. Returnee and non-human? Trust issues."

I chuckled at that. Started for the money, but streaming's kinda fun. More dopamine than that medieval world. Humans there never chatted me up like this.

"So you guys gotta donate till then. C'mon, 200k and—"

Ring ring ring—

"Hm?"

...Did they hear me badmouthing the Association?

"Guys, phone break."

Screen and mic off, pick up. They asked to keep Association calls private, so I kill everything. Usually just check-ins.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Returnee Lee Se-yeon. How've you been?"

"Eh... fine. You see everything via Ha-eun anyway."

Park Ha-eun. Hunter who found me, now my handler by accident. That ★BlackSwordLover in chat.

"Problem is she's checking even on work hours."

"Uh..."

"Anyway, good news for you."

"News? What?"

Extra stipend? Ate chicken yesterday—getting risky.

"Like you asked, you can take the provisional hunter qual test. Thoughts?"

"Hunter qual... Oh? When?"

"Not official, so tomorrow best..."

Tomorrow?

"Uh, test details...?"

"Clear a gate with Hunter Park Ha-eun. Supervised by drone."

Straightforward.

"G... got it. Tomorrow it is...?"

"We'll schedule. Call if issues."

Click.

Issues? One big one.

Only 100k left.

"Haa... Hup!"

Sighed with a bit of mana by accident. Tiny flame at my lips—20k gone.

...Yeah, money's treasure. Skills cost cash equivalent. Now 80k...

Can't waste otherworld treasures here—they're irreplaceable real ones.

Tap. Last resort time.

"BlackSword, one thing."

"Lend me money? Like... 30 million won."

Please just once!! No money = I'm done!!

...Didn't borrow a dime, of course.