TS Doesn't Just Happen in the Basement

-Hey, would you give up this month's pay if you could awaken instead?

That's what my buddy said to me over the phone yesterday while we were bullshitting. What did I even say back? Probably something like, "Of course, you dumbass, why the fuck wouldn't I?"

Anyone would toss a paycheck or two for the dream life of an awakener.

And today.

At 3 a.m. in the bathroom, I joined the ranks of the awakened.

I should've been screaming with joy, but I had two massive problems.

"What the fuck is this?"

Shoulders that felt heavier, long white hair cascading down to my back, and an empty crotch. The mirror showed a stunning beauty with long, slender limbs.

First problem. I'd turned into a woman.

"Ughhh!! What the hell happened to my body?!"

I knew awakeners' bodies could change based on their skills, but this was way too extreme. A sturdy adult man turned into a big-titted white-haired beauty overnight.

And the second problem.

"Private First Class Jeong, are you in there? Bed check..."

"Ah."

"Huh?"

I'm in the middle of my military service right now.

"Hey, hold on a sec..."

"Gahhh! Corporal Choi! There's a woman in here!!!"

"Fuck my life."

I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about to get discharged soon. Why couldn't this have happened a week later?

"Haah..."

I sighed, staring at the tiny paper in my hand.

"Voluntary early discharge is such bullshit..."

After getting dragged around to various offices for physicals and paperwork, they finally confirmed that male Jeong Sion and female Jeong Sion were the same person.

So what happened to this Army private first class who'd become a woman?

Out of 18 months of service, I'd completed 17 months and 29 days before getting an early voluntary discharge.

It took six days just for the paperwork, so my service time only shrank by one day, and it wasn't even a full-term discharge.

On top of that, because I was getting out a day early, I didn't get my last month's pay.

Well, at least I got out a day sooner. Gotta think positive.

But my real problem wasn't the discharge date.

Status window.

"What the hell is this?"

The skill description was way too vague and skimpy.

I'd messed around with the status window for days, but I still had no clue what it did. October 8th? That's exactly when I awakened, but what does "saved point" mean, and returning to it?

"Come on! If you're gonna turn me into this, at least give me a proper power!"

Furious, I plopped down on the sidewalk and started yelling.

-BOOM!

A passing drunk driver in an 11-ton truck smashed right into me.

"Gahhh! Corporal Choi! There's a woman in here!!!"

"What a fucking dogshit situation."

So that's how it works.

1.

After repeating six days of paperwork and physicals, I got discharged again.

"Discharged twice. Unreal."

Alright, time to sum up what I'd figured out so far.

Like a game's save point, it saves a specific moment, and when you die, you loop back to it. Looping only brings your memories—no items or changes carry over. Tested it: no limits on loops, no lifespan drain, no risks.

So...

"This shit's broken OP."

I don't even need to be a hunter. Win the lottery a few times, and my life's flipped 180 degrees. With this power, I could invest in real estate, retake the college entrance exam and get into a top school. College GPA? Loop a few times during exams for perfect scores. Pick up chicks with it too...

Ah, wait, that might not work.

"Now that I'm a girl..."

My crotch is empty. That deep bass voice is gone, replaced by this husky high tone. The jacked body I built to score girls post-discharge? Now it's this frail, delicate frame.

"Fuck. This sucks."

It felt like my whole life was invalidated. Like 22 years of male Jeong Sion vanished, replaced by some delusional chick claiming to be a guy.

"...Guess I'll memorize this week's lotto numbers."

Still, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gotta do what I gotta do.

"3 · 7 · 14 · 22 · 33 · 41... Bonus number 18."

Memorized the winning numbers.

"Check saved point."

"Hoo..."

Deep breath on the railing of a 30-story building rooftop.

Prep complete. One jump, and lotto winnings hit my account.

"I can do this. I can! Do! This!!"

Yeah, close my eyes, jump once, instant riches.

Hmm, but it's pretty damn high.

...What if this is all a hallucination from going insane?

No loops, just my delusion? If I fall and die for real?

"...Maybe hit up a psych ward first and try tomorrow?"

Not chickening out—life's on the line, so better be sure. Yeah.

Climb down carefully, gripping the rail, foot down...

-Slip

"Fuck..."

"Good thing it wasn't a delusion."

Falling from 30 stories, no time to feel pain. Silver lining.

Bought 100 lotto tickets plenty, match numbers on live TV, done.

Butterfly effect shouldn't change numbers since I only looped to buy lotto.

-This week's lotto numbers are... 3! 7! 14! 22! 33! 41!

"Numbers didn't change."

TV announcer matched my tickets exactly.

I'd wondered if loops isolated lotto probabilities independently, but nope.

-Bonus number... 18!

TV: 3,7,14,22,33,41,18.

Mine: 3,7,14,22,33,41,8.

...Huh? Bonus is 18, not 8?

"Mommy... mixed 'em up."

Threw myself out the window.

2.

"Here to claim my lotto winnings."

"Oh my! Congratulations!"

This time, no mistakes—nailed it.

One more fuckup, and I'd have offed myself from sheer embarrassment.

"Matched the bonus too."

"Haha, matching the first six means first prize regardless of bonus."

"What?!"

Wait, then why'd I die extra?

"Haa... just process the payout."

"Ah... yes, ma'am."

Irritation boiled over, face twisted; the bank teller shut up and worked.

Not her fault—pissed at myself.

Was I always this stupid? TS side effect?

"First prize 1.3 billion minus taxes: 870 million received."

Taxes are a bitch.

"Yes, thanks."

"Any interest in our deposit specials..."

"Not interested."

Grabbed my bankbook and bounced.

With loops, money's infinite—no need for investments.

Still, billions in hand? Hands shaking. Military savings bumps it to 900 mil?

Shake intensifies—rushed home.

"Save first."

"Save."

"Nice, perfect."

Everything's flawless. 900 mil in the bank, cheat-level power, sunny weather.

No problems at all.

Except being a woman.

"Haa... TS, huh."

Lived as an alpha male type, now woman's inconveniences pile up.

Shoulders ache from tits constantly, random reality crashes hit anytime.

"No way to turn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back into a guy?"

Awakening's a huge win, but psychological barrier to living as a woman is massive.

So I scoured info for days on turning male again.

No cases worldwide of awakeners swapping genders like me.

"...Maybe a dungeon has something?"

Sudden thought. Dungeons got everything—weapons to pet potions.

Searched raid rewards for gender-swappers; bingo.

-2013/8/15/Mermaid Island clear reward: Eriol's Tear (A)

10+ years old, can't get it, unsure if it swaps gender.

But only hope's dungeon rewards.

"Alright, let's try."

Decided, straight to action.

Phone out, dial.

"Awakener Association? Want to register as a hunter."

Start with hunter registration.

Awakener Association Seoul Branch.

Where overworked civil servants rot from overtime.

With insane workloads, they get rare legal fun times.

"How far you think this one's lasting?"

"12 rounds max, my line in the sand."

It's the Instant Dungeon for testing awakener combat power.

100 rounds of increasingly tough holographic monsters.

"No combat skills this time, right? 12's generous."

"I bet 11 rounds."

"Cheap bastard."

Newbie hunters' round counts were eternal office betting fodder.

Just soda stakes, but gotta chase dopamine to survive Association life.

"Why's she even hunting? Actress or model material."

"Subsidy probably. She's drop-dead gorgeous."

"...Get her number?"

"Shut up and work."

This hunter's looks drew heavy staff attention.

No combat skills, so bets centered on clearing 10 rounds.

Most said no.

"Results out!"

"Finally!!"

"Why so slow? 10 mins per goblin?"

All eyes on the result.

Fashion hunter chasing subsidy, or hidden master?

"...Bug?"

"Instant Dungeons don't bug."

"This real?"

83 rounds. All-time Korean newbie record.

"Call the branch chief! Now!!"

The Association flipped.