A Brief Commotion
"L, lair...?"
"Yeah. Dragon lair."
After getting out of the car and entering the secured area where the gate was located, I passed on what I sensed to Ha-eun. She touched her hunter watch with a serious expression, as if waiting for something.
"Good thing it's inside the gate? The presence isn't that strong."
"Th-then what do we do...?"
"What do you mean? We just do our job. What do hunters do?"
"...Clear the gate?"
"Right. It's not that hard, is it?"
I checked my hunter watch as I said that. Second stream in two days. Yesterday was unavoidable, so I took a day off without notice. With no announcement, viewers probably think I'm dead by now.
"Um... are you okay with this...?"
"Huh? With what?"
"It's a dragon. Isn't it like kin to you, unnie...?"
"Oh, that angle? Well, kin if you wanna call it that. But, hmm... dragons don't really have much kinship love."
Self-love is stronger, actually.
Ha-eun bowed her head and murmured in agreement.
"I... see..."
"Plus, its rank feels way lower than mine. Might as well sweep the lair clean while we're at it."
"Rank...?"
"It's coming into view. Should I start the stream?"
"Ah! Y-yes!"
I fiddled with my hunter watch a few times, and the chat UI popped up in the air. It'd take a bit for people to join the stream, so maybe enter first? I muted the mic and approached the Association staff guarding the gate.
"Hold it. This is a civilian no-entry zone."
"Suppression Team 3's Park... Ha-eun...!"
"Suppression Team 3? Hm, stand by. And the one next to you?"
"C-rank Goldie... no, Lee Se-yeon."
The staffer nodded and ducked into what looked like a makeshift guard post, making a call somewhere. Watching quietly, Ha-eun asked me cautiously.
"You still going by Goldie?"
"What do you mean 'still'? That's my name. The Association just calls me by my old one on their own."
Since becoming a dragon, I'd thought of myself as Goldie. But after returning, even when I gave my name, they treated me as my original Earth one. Legally, Lee Se-yeon was still valid, apparently. Maybe I need to file for a name change...
"Identities confirmed. Head up the path. Since it's a special management gate, please carry a rescue beacon at all times."
Anyway, we passed without issue and headed into the controlled zone. I glanced at the chat.
***
"Ha-eun, help me out? Kick the ones crossing the line."
"Yes!"
Gold Dragon's Hunter Stream
Viewers: 1,463
Way too many people. What the hell is going on? As I panicked, Ha-eun, fiddling with her own hunter watch beside me, sighed.
"Looks like our coordinates got leaked..."
"Coordinates?"
"Yeah, your video's circulating online. But it's been twisted into 'edited fake' or something."
I followed the link she sent. A video claiming my breath scene was manipulated, with "proof" breaking it down point by point.
"What? I breathed it myself—how is this bait?"
Absurd hooks pulling it off as real aggro. And it's spread everywhere online.
"...Unbelievable."
How to handle this... No one'd believe me now anyway.
"Alright, kids? Listen up for a sec."
◈ Is this the fake gate streaming spot?
◈ Buying this bitch's dox lmao she's hot af
"Ughhh... Unnie, too many—I can't ban them all—"
"Hm, not bad though?"
"...Pardon?"
"A thousand won just for sitting here. Why not let 'em?"
"Wh-what do you mean...!?"
Chat froze at my words. After a brief silence, it started up again.
Lines getting crossed more and more. Humans ride the vibe—hard to start, but easy to follow once someone does. And the heat's ramping up.
I smiled and spoke.
"Yeah yeah, got it. But hey, what can you all even do besides yapping?"
"Kids. I can live without streaming—never had much popularity anyway. And you said I faked it, right?"
I puffed a tiny flame from my mouth.
"Wanna say that to my face? Good memory here. 27 nicks just crossed into harassment."
I called them out one by one. The raging chat went dead silent fast. Sudden worry—whose turn next? What happens if called?
"Normally I'd handle my way, but this is Earth, right? Earth style it is. Ha-eun?"
"Ah... Y-yes! Requesting Association direct lawyer...!"
She caught on quick.
"Let's try that, kids. Got time—immortal species. Bonus compensation too."
Checked viewers.
Viewers: 645
Scaredy-cats.
"Ha-eun, I'll send the list of nicks I called. Handle 'em. Track video spreaders too. The rest..."
◈ I'll give.
◈ Sis you know me...?
"Good. Do that."
We'll settle after. I'll find who spread that vid.
***
The brief incident wrapped up. Ha-eun and I checked gear at the gate. Well, just her.
"Still more?"
"Yes. Just this last check."
Impatient viewers raging already.
"Kids, girls always take time prepping. Never dated so you don't know?"
"Me? I'm not a girl."
No learning curve? Humans adapt fast, though.
"But real talk, can you live without streaming?"
"Nah? All the cash I blew starting this! Gotta stream til I recoup at least."
"Coolness? Typo?"
That speech pattern... Trendy?
"Anyway, we're hunting dragon. Some still doubt, so I'll prove no fake vid."
"Humans better at kinslay than me, no?"
"Seeing y'all fight now, it's wild."
"Unnie! All set!"
As I chatted with viewers, prepared Ha-eun approached. She headed for the gate, but I stopped her.
"Wait, Ha-eun—gimme your hand."
"My hand?"
Checked bank, activated skill.
Body Enhancement - Gold
Balance: 300,000 won
A faint golden aura wrapped her.
"Output low to save cash, but it'll help. Some enhancement boost too."
"Ooo... Feels light! But... why me...?"
"Can't have you dying."
Her eyes sparkled, touched. That good?
"You're my backup contract. Gotta protect you."
"Contract...? Thought you gave up...?"
"Why would I? Gold dragon obsession lasts centuries."
"Eek..."
"Enough praise. Quiet down. Entering now."
I let go of her hand and stepped into the gate first.
Tak—
Brief float, then the interior appeared.
"This... abandoned mine...?"
"Seems like."
Dark, damp abandoned mine center. Could pass for cave, but rotting wooden pillars everywhere screamed civilization. Long abandoned, though. Earth-dwellers would love it. Air flow suggests a big plaza too.
So, the one nesting here...
Already sniffed us. Quick senses?
Mana flow shifted subtly. Not aggressive yet—hoping we'd pass?
"Hngh..."
"Hm? Ha-eun?"
"Ah, nothing... sudden headache..."
Headache? Oh.
"Here, take this."
"Huh? What's...?"
"The gem shard from the forest? Forest gem piece? Makes its own oxygen."
Pretty deep—CO2 buildup rough on humans.
Handed it over, took a few steps.
Kieek!—
Monsters incoming already. Small ones creeping from dark.
"Kobolds? Like last goblins, no diff."
I clenched fist, but—
Shing—
Ha-eun drew sword, stepped forward.
"You save money, unnie. I got these. Here as teammate, not supervisor."
"You?" almost slipped out. Who's worrying who?
Lair means loot anyway—no big cash hit. Proof still needed, but...
"Alright, handle it."
Too confident to refuse—awkward. And bursting proof big later funnier?
Gotta gauge her skill. As backup contract. What gem to craft her into...
Thud— Slash!—
In the dark mine, her blacker blade flashed sharp.