Drool-Faced Awakening and Hard Mode Tales
Wow... style acknowledged! I'd been having such a smart, happy dream when the sound of knocking yanked me wide awake.
"Nooo! Dingdong, Toughie, Chicky, and I were playing in the magic castle!"
I'd been goofing around with my dream friends—cooking, playing with fire—when I got rudely woken up. The sadness of parting with them was fleeting, though. A refreshing clarity I'd never felt before washed over me, and I stretched long and hard.
Sunlight poured through the window, bright as day. No need to check the clock—I'd definitely overslept.
What time did I crash last night? I couldn't quite remember, but I'd passed out from food coma without even washing up. Maybe this kid body made me sleepier. Still, lots of sleep meant lots of growth spurts, so no need to think negative.
Not the time for that. Someone knocked and woke me, so first things first—check who it was. My only acquaintance was Yisul, so it had to be her, but hey, they say even a stone bridge deserves a tap before crossing.
What if some shady guy disguised himself as a radiation inspector and tried to rob me? Yisul had nagged me a bunch yesterday to watch out for strangers, and now I was paranoid for no reason.
I cracked the door open and peeked. Sure enough, it was Yisul.
"Did you sleep well, Seha? Nah, I can tell you did without asking."
"Huh?"
"Wanna touch around your mouth?"
Yisul pointed at my cheek with a grin. I touched my right one, feeling something crusty.
"How deeply did our baby princess sleep to leave drool marks on both cheeks?"
"…."
Her words hit, and I realized I'd faced someone without washing. Even family seeing me like this would be embarrassing, but a near-stranger I just got chummy with? A girl, no less!
Heat flooded my face—I could feel it without a mirror. Panicking, I slammed the door shut and yelled I'd wash up first.
"See you in an hour, then~"
She left with that. She gave me plenty of time probably to shower too, right? She'd probably guessed I skipped washing yesterday from my messy bedhead.
Prepping two strawberry cakes yesterday, sharp eyes—maybe she was quicker on the uptake than I thought.
Immediate problem: I needed a bath. No biggie for most, but I was an adult man in a little girl's body. Sure, it was my body now, but psychologically? Still a hard no on nudity.
In 1F, I'd compromised with just a t-shirt, rinsing in the river. But reality was catching up—no more dodging.
"Sigh. Hoodie and pants are easy enough."
I hung the hoodie in the wardrobe and sighed softly. Per Rigor, clothes put away cleaned themselves over time. Medieval village vibe overall, but dig deeper and SF elements snuck in.
No one watching, but embarrassment—or leftover guy ego?—had me squeezing my eyes shut as I stripped the rest and bolted for the bathroom.
"Ow ow…."
Blind rush: bonk. Head straight into the wall. If this were a game, stars would've spun cartoonishly overhead.
"No time—gotta shower."
Undressing took forever from shame; whining about pain would make me late. Yisul didn't seem the scolding type for a little tardiness, but if I explained? She'd tease me to death.
"I couldn't shower quick 'cause I headbutted the wall!" Way too pathetic.
Pain killed any pervy guilt during the wash, though. Read once medieval anesthetists conked patients with giant mallets to knock 'em out. That me right now?
Thought I'd fumble seeing my naked self or puzzle girl-washing, wasting time—but aside from multiple shampoos for long hair, first shower went smooth.
I dressed in fresh laundry from the wardrobe just as Yisul knocked.
"Seha can wash solo? Impressive~"
"Anyone my age can manage."
Her absurd praise drew a longer reply than my usual one-worders. Talking was tough before, worse post-change with extra issues. Unconsciously, cutesy girl-speak slipped out, so I kept it short. Biggest issue: calling people names. "Yisul-ya" didn't fit this body; "Yisul unnie" or "sis" felt wrong still.
Worried it came off cold, I checked her reaction—unneeded. She brightened, thrilled by the proper response.
We headed out to the cafeteria. Midway, she spoke up.
"Oh yeah, earlier at the inn—heard a big thud? You catch it, Seha?"
My head-wall collision, obviously. Twenty meters to her room, and it carried?
"Uh… not sure."
I played dumb; she grinned wider, ruffling my hair.
As long as I wasn't loitering by the door, no way she knows it was me. Bump mark's gone by now.
I dodged her petting hand knowingly, finished breakfast, and we headed to the square.
Yesterday, that mystery guy's "survivors' meeting in the square" sounded like a casual 10-person chit-chat.
But murmurs hit before we entered. Eyeballing it, nearly 100 people packed the place.
Guy rushed the message and dipped to round everyone up in a day! Yisul and I noted he seemed busy—mystery solved. Calmly herding confused folks in a strange world? Insane leadership. Me, dazzled by cake or crying from wall-smacks? Couldn't imagine.
We joined as time hit; central guy started speaking.
"Thanks for sparing time amid the chaos. Why I gathered you: share info to cut future casualties."
After? Unity, keep spirits up—pure boilerplate. Interest waned fast.
Overate lunch? Sleepy already. Post-change, drowsiness hits anytime.
Adult mind or not, elementary body meant mood swings, childishness, sleepiness. No teacher nagging like school made it worse….
Tap tap.
"Seha, pay attention—your part's coming."
Yisul's whisper snapped me awake. Speaker tilted 30 degrees? Nah—I'd dozed on her shoulder, tilting my world.
Oh crap! I jolted, checking her face, patting cheeks—no drool repeat, thank god.
"Phew."
Relieved sigh; now three guys stood in a row.
"Hello. First, how I cleared 1F."
Isn't that the buff guy quizzing Rigor on arrival? Stuttery then, smooth now.
"I'm Seo Taewon. Deep self-loathing after job rejections. Wanted change, got yanked here, picked Hard Mode on a 'whatever' vibe. Woke to ogre charging."
He hesitated, reluctant.
"Thought to fight with sword—way outmatched. Ran instead. No proper rest, panic-chasing. Looks dumb but I'm a good runner, stamina fine. Six hours fleeing? Sudden clear."
Shame in admitting pure running? Head hung low.
Still bolder than me begging for Easy Mode.
Mood soured; speech guy added.
"My personal digs: most like Taewon—flee to clueless clear. Just 5 Contribution Points. 1F clear needs ogre down, naturally."
Hard Mode 1F: kill ogre. Mine? Dingdong playtime auto-clear—Easy Mode perks. High points too, thanks Easy.
Second newbie: older face.
"Jo Hwanseok. Picked Hard like Taewon; ogre appeared. Kendo background, dueled the dim brute—sword snapped, no kill shot."
He demoed dodges, tendon-slicing with branch—crowd awed.
"Sword lessons later. Key: ogre immobilized, me swordless standoff. Then—a slime appeared."
Slime mention jolted me wide-eyed.
Easy Mode slime links here?!
"Huge, taller than me—doom, tears. But it ignored me, engulfed ogre, crushed and melted it. Cleared by fluke."
Vague end; speech guy—emcee?—neared.
He's the leader? Slept through name.
"Hwanseok-ssi, more to say?"
"Oh right. Slime acted friendly—bounced huge beside me. Ogre dead, poofed here; no close look."
"No, not that—the Contribution and skill."
Hwanseok startled, sheepish grin.
"Cleared: 50 Contribution, acquired [Basic Swordsmanship] skill. Not me though—next, Ye Jeonghyeon-ssi, the real deal."
Passed baton, pointing at bore-speaker.
Ye Jeonghyeon—leader/emcee. How's he top ogre soloist?
Last: Jeonghyeon.
"Intro earlier; now my 1F tale. Hwanseok hyped me—here's proof."
Finger snap: magic circle, sharp stone materialized, launched airward.
"Meager still, but my magic."
Wow... style acknowledged! Lost magic study fire reignited.