Pajama Party Pillow Wars

Our bug extermination operation at home dragged on into the late night, so I had no choice but to crash at Seol-ah's place for the night. For a moment, I wondered if this was all part of some elaborate trap set by her overzealous preparations... but thankfully, nothing worrisome happened.

Surprisingly well-behaved, Seol-ah was munching on snacks while binge-watching Netflix. It had been days of constant fussing ever since my body changed like this, but now a long-lost peaceful vibe settled in. Lounging in pajamas, wrapped in blankets, snacking while watching the latest trending drama... if this wasn't heaven, what was?

"I thought when you first suggested a pajama party, it'd turn into one of your hyper reptile-fan antics and make for an exhausting night."

"...What do you take me for, oppa?"

"A reptile-obsessed maniac? I can't even fathom how much you love lizards."

"Stop using those weird trendy phrases. The gap between your looks and your speech is insane."

Couldn't deny that. Anyway, a monumental moment like this deserved to be captured in photos. You know, that saying—all that remains are the pictures. Seol-ah was glued to the drama, so I snuck her phone and snapped a pic with a wink, perfect for blowing up on Inbyeol.

Click!

"Huh? What was that sound just now...?"

"Gotta preserve a historic moment like this in pictures."

Uploading to Inbyeol ahead of time meant I could check reactions first thing tomorrow morning. Perfect plan for a great start to the day. Okay, executing now.

"You're not seriously posting that to Inbyeol...?!"

"Duh, in pajamas? You'll rake in the likes."

"Nooo...! I already took off my makeup!"

Fat chance. I'd already confirmed the photo was upload-ready the second I took it. One tap, and my flawless plan was in motion. Non-awakener Seol-ah couldn't match my C-rank Speed upload blitz.

Seeing the post firmly up on Inbyeol, Seol-ah's face turned an uncontrollable shade of red.

"First time showing my bare face... ever."

"Call it even. You pay for posting pics of me willy-nilly."

"Wahhh... you make it sound so logical, I got nothing."

I hadn't forgotten that humiliation. Now she knew how it felt! Watching her too embarrassed to even lift her head was pure catharsis. Revenge complete, time to man up and drop it. Tonight was shaping up to be a blast in every way.

Just as I was settling back in to binge the drama, Seol-ah stared at Inbyeol with a mix of shame and anticipation. Clearly curious about reactions to her bare-faced pic.

...She's way more sensitive about her bare face than I thought.

But I'm always bare-faced. And hers was killer even without makeup, yet here she was overreacting—it was kinda ridiculous.

"Ugh, eat this!"

"Mmph!"

I chucked a fluffy pillow at her face, still glued to Inbyeol. It smacked her dead-on, and as it flopped off under gravity, Seol-ah glared at me with a you're so dead look.

Whoa, did I poke the bear?

Seol-ah closed her eyes dramatically, then shot me a sharp glare before speaking.

"You broke the sacred rule of pajama parties: no hitting with pillows."

"Wh-what rule is that all of a sudden?"

"No turning back now. Prepare for my full-power pillow swing...!!"

With her sudden pillow fight declaration came the incoming full-power swing. Thwump! Her pillow was soft and puffy too, so no pain, but now that war was declared, I couldn't just sit there. I lunged for the pillow I'd thrown earlier.

But Seol-ah yeeted it away to disarm me.

"Eat this—!"

She even stole my line, pressing the attack. To recover and dodge simultaneously, I kicked off the floor with my tail and leaped toward my pillow.

"Using your tail?! That's cheating!"

"What am I supposed to do, it's part of my body?"

I snatched it clean and unleashed a merciless barrage on Seol-ah. Thwump! Thwump! Thwump! Thwump!

"Gah! I surrender! Mercy!"

"You're a century too early to beat me. Train more."

Recalling our childhood pillow fights, I parroted my victory line from back then. Whew... this brought back that innocent kid vibe, didn't it?

...Wait.Hold up. What the hell am I doing?

Playing along like a little kid just 'cause I shrank? No more. I, man among men Lee Ha-neul, needed to reclaim my macho roots.

"Tough guy trait: Wash your face with ice-cold water."

Shower was done pre-pajamas, so cold face-wash it was. The water stung just touching it, but like a true tough guy, I splashed it on without hesitation.

"Eek, that's freezing...!!"

Way colder than expected—I frantically scrubbed with a towel. Ahem. But failure is the mother of success. Can't quit tough guy life over one cold wash.

"Tough guy trait: Chug carbonated drinks in one go."

"Uh... oppa? Maybe don't..."

Seol-ah's protests led to bathroom testing—for insurance against spraying. Kinda wimpy, but not my house or my sink, so invalid. Just succeed already!

Gulp, gulp.

"Pffft—!!"

The carbonation exploded in my throat; I couldn't hold it and spewed the precious soda all over the sink. ...How did I fail every tough guy test?

This couldn't be happening...!!

"Tough guy trait: Jump from anything three stories or less!"

Curtains yanked open to a stunning night view. Oh right, 17th floor. ...The attempt counts, right?

"Oppa, whatcha doing?"

"...Crying inside."

"Not a single tear..."

"Real men cry on the inside."

Seol-ah eyed me like what's with him before burrowing back into her blanket. Never opened the window, but tonight felt extra chilly.

A good night's sleep improved my mood. Yeah, even the toughest guy couldn't flex when turned into a tiny fragile girl. So yesterday's three-peat fail didn't mean I was 100% girly now.

Time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for a mood boost—check Inbyeol.

Grabbed Seol-ah's phone and opened Inbyeol naturally.

"Grrraaah...!!"

This was it. Labeled a troll on Hunter Gallery, but a Inbyeol superstar? Sure, verifying everything on Hunter Gallery would make me famous too, but I wasn't ready for nation-level scrutiny.

Least wait 'til I hit A-rank hunter.

For that, back to tower climbing. First, change clothes.

"Heading out now...?"

"Yeah, no need to see me off."

Seol-ah rubbed her eyes emerging from the bedroom as I dressed. A casual hand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wave for her send-off, then I bolted home—bug-free now. Short distance, so quick return. As always, plopped at the computer hunting Black Tower 5th Floor strategies.

Recalling 4th floor with Kim Ha-yeon, strategies might be useless, but...

Still, might snag something useful.

Hunter life: everyone's dream, quick riches, but deadly risks. Prep thoroughly to avoid sudden death—that's smart hunting.

Contents vary, so reference only, no blind faith.

"Great Worm..."

A massive earthworm monster that swallows anything whole with suction. Dodge-tankers needed. But dragon form? No way it'd suck me in. Size mismatch.

Know thy enemy, know thyself—invincible. Mid-boss revealed via strategy; now me-time.

Come to think, haven't checked status in forever.

"Status window!!"

Majestic Lesser Dragon display, C-rank stat flood, skill list galore. Average 5th floor climbers hover D to D+—Dragon Heart paying off big.

This should solo a giant worm easy.

Memorized all useful strategy bits, packed survival essentials pre-tower. 4th floor took two full days; 5th might too. Prep accordingly—no sleeping on rock floors for me.

"Alright, time to head out?"

Arrived at the ever-ominous Black Tower. Hand to the door, familiar kaleidoscope lights and teleport sensation. Then, pitch black.

"Wh-what?!"

"Whoa! You scared me!"

Voices—people with torches staring at me. Stone walls in torchlight: definitely a cave. Starting in camp? Nah, straight in cave—unexpected.

Previous floors started at final points...

No biggie, move on.

Usual tower system, but objective wasn't the strategy boss. Mystic influence again, probably.

...Bigger specimen?

"Are you... the Dragon?"

The NPC who'd relayed to the commander before. This group: resistance army exploring the cave. Follow the story to objective, likely. Asked the one who recognized me where they were headed.

"What're you doing here?"

"Gathering materials for a battering ram."

"Battering ram?"

Oh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yeah, warring with some kingdom. Tower goal later?

"Yeah, monsters here carry ultra-hard minerals inside."

Resistance goal: hunt those, harvest minerals for ram. Giant Worm probably has 'em.

"I'll tag along."

"With the Dragon? We're honored. Thank you."

Followed them deeper via narrow lower passages. Three minutes of pure trekking—getting boring.

Boss start would've been nicer...

"Dragon? We're here."

Map-guy pointed. Massive cavern dwarfing the passage. Tiny torches couldn't touch the ceiling. Jaw-dropping scale, then vibrations—something approaching.

Giant Worm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠burst from the center.

"It's here!"

"Wait, the size...?"

Way bigger than gallery pics, mid-boss scale making the cavern feel cramped.

This thing could swallow even dragon-form me...?