Baby Dragon Shenanigans and the Cool Beauty Gamer
Anyway, I'm definitely not a baby.
"Ahh.... Today’s work at the Hunter Association was no joke...."
After enduring another grueling day, Yoon Seol-ah headed straight to Lee Ha-neul's place, eager for some healing from those soft, squishy cheeks and that delightfully textured tail. Lately, it felt like clocking out meant coming to Sky Bro's house.... Not that she minded. She'd even stopped by the convenience store for some piping-hot bribes.
Beep beep beep. Click.
"Ehehehe.... I'm heeeere!"
"Ung-eung...."
Huh? Did Bro have a baby at his place? She tilted her head for a second, figuring she must've misheard. He'd awakened suddenly and changed appearance, but his mind hadn't regressed to baby level or anything. Unless the awakening's aftereffects made him even more childish.... That might actually be nice....?
Chasing the source of the sound just in case, she ventured deep into the room—and that's when she finally figured it out. The babyish babbling was coming from none other than Lee Ha-neul herself!
Oh my god....
Who knew something this adorable even existed!!! Ha-neul scribbling on a notebook spread out on the multi-purpose table, cooing away—it was a sight beyond any natural wonder. No way was Seol-ah letting this moment slip. She whipped out her phone and started filming frantically.
"Ung-hihi."
"Ehehehe...."
"Ah-oo.... Mweee...."
"Huff huff huff huff!"
"......Seol-ah?"
Crap. Big trouble. If she knew I'd been filming, she'd demand I delete it for sure.... Luckily, my superhuman reflexes let me pocket the phone before she noticed—she didn't mention it at all. I just took a few fluffy punches from her cotton-ball fists as punishment.
First things first, upload to the cloud. As Seol-ah endured the fluffy barrage, she replayed the footage in her mind and reached one clear conclusion.
Keeping this to myself would be a crime.
The next day, I was scouring the Hunter Gallery for tips on the White Tower's third floor—the final floor, where the boss appears. You had to come prepared.
The issue with the third floor was the three bosses. Since I was forced into mystic mode, it wouldn't be any easier—probably harder. Even if I could one-shot a boss with Dragon Breath, my mana would be razor-thin. Recharging takes time, so spamming three Breaths in a row was a massive gamble. No guarantee it'd clear instantly after.
Most people party up to handle it....
My problems: fixed mystic difficulty, plus being a total loner dragon nerd.
So I need a way to recover mana fast....
Or learn more skills. The key point? I had zero viable options right now. Head pounding over this unsolvable puzzle, I was killing time on Hunter Gallery shitposts when I spotted a message in the corner of my screen.
"Oh? I haven't posted lately."
Ah, right. This guy's from Hunter Gallery—we bonded over the same game and chatted often. I'd been neglecting the gallery and gaming while climbing the tower, so no real talk lately.
Did I say that? Wait, last time I think I claimed to be a Buffett-level monthly billionaire investor. I bullshit a new job every time, so who remembers.
Good things deserve good bribes. Dropped a premium burger set coupon to build trust—Hunter Gallery classic.
Hunter gear was insanely pricey. Made from tower/gate drops, impossible to mass-produce. Was HeyKimWorkHard a real hunter? I'd assumed his "new billionaire job every day" schtick was as fake as mine.
For a split second, I wondered if accepting expensive gear from someone a year younger was okay—but nah. Bow and accept.
Free gear? I'd trek to Daejeon for that. Turns out he lives nearby too. Appointment set, I hopped down from the chair, suddenly paranoid about meeting a creepy uncle. But nah—he'd dropped plenty of burgers. Trust earned.
Day of, in front of the cafe. I was ten minutes early. Blue cap should stand out— not many wear hats. Scanned inside, no blue cap guy.
Hm, I beat him here?
Stepped in, coffee scent hit hard.
"Oh my, little one lost?"
I should've been used to the "lost kid" treatment by now, but explaining every time was annoying. Still, better than polymorphing into a dragon and smashing the place....
"No. One iced Americano, please."
Looked up at the barista lazily. Post-girl-mode discovery: this vibe gets you taken seriously quick.
"Ah, sorry! Size?"
"Tall."
Handed over my card from my pocket. ....Counter was taller than expected—had to stretch arm fully. Barista smirked at my straining, amused.
Don't laugh, just take it!
Why are counters so tall? 130cm is totally normal. Finally paid, grabbed a table, people-watched. Where's Blue Cap?
We shared outfits, so he'd spot me—but I wanted first dibs. Staring around, someone suddenly blocked the window view, striking a pose. Blue cap.... long hair spilling out.
"...Sky?"
"Y-yeah.... Kim?"
"...You're a girl?"
Mutual shock. Duh. Who posts at 3 AM "Guys running that trash build need their hands broken" and comments "Idiots buying this are morons"? And it's a flawless cool beauty?
Wait, that analysis post was true? Bearded uncle writing "Hawa high school girl arc pls" and sweaty posts from female users.... Reality check.
Seeing crap like this shatters girl illusions!!
"...Sit first."
She looked unconvinced but sat. Probably both replaying our censored-rant histories....
"Never swapped names. Kim Ha-yeon. You?"
"Lee Ha-neul."
She crossed arms. "Weren't you 25?"
"Yeah."
"This you?"
Her gaze swept me again.
"Real 25. Age check." Flashed my hunter cert. 'Was guy, awakened into girl kid' too weird for first meet.
"Just.... never grew past this height."
She propped her chin, pondered, nodded. "World's full of weird. Anyway, skills?"
"Dragon-related. Oh, can polymorph into dragon!"
Excited to brag. She'd never blab—5+ years online pals.
"...And you?"
"Why tell you?"
She iced me. Stunned betrayal—then she cracked up. "Puhaha! Kidding! Water mage."
Hunter talk flowed; drinks arrived unnoticed. Iced Americano—gulped like water. Bitter hell. Grimaced hard. Couldn't spit in public, swallowed anyway. Not as bad as that pork rice bowl.
Glanced at Ha-yeon—chin-propped, eyeing me amused. Eyes softening, lips twitching....
"...What."
"Nothing." Turned away.
Didn't wanna be babied.... Snapped, "You've been 'you'-ing me nonstop. I'm older by a year, y'know?"
"Th-then what? S-sis...?"
"Guess so....?"
Honorific demand glitched her. That weird? Yeah, years of bullshit—no wonder.
"S-s-s-sis. Be right back, bathroom."
Stop me....
"Ooh, didn't know Singil had a spot like this."
Following Kim Ha-yeon into the Hunter Emporium, it hit me—we'd shopped department stores with Seol-ah recently, but this was different. Heart raced. Budget workshops to elite guild suppliers—eyes glued to the gear.
Solid armor tanks most hits.... Nah, polymorph shreds it.
Mithril-heavy sword's killer.... Got dragon claws tho.
Am I a value king hunter?
"See anything?"
"Uh.... Mana recovery accessory?"
"Mm. Accessories are best for that."
Magic trinket for fast regen? Could solo floor 3 smooth.
"Accessories? Crow Atelier's top. Check it!"
"Ooh...."
Browsing recovery section, clerk recommended; Ha-yeon chimed in. Nabbed a winner.
◈ Absorbs ambient mana to restore wearer's mana.
◈ Efficiency varies with atmospheric mana density.
30 million won. Absurd for normies, but Ha-yeon called it cheap and paid no sweat.
"Why mana recovery? Guessing tho."
"White Tower floor 3. My skills guzzle it."
"Then this senpai owes you tips."
"Sweet."
"Not just anywhere. No Hunter Gallery strats either."
"Spill!"
"One condition."
What? Not like Seol-ah's tail-horn obsession....
"Lemme pat your head."
"...."
Headache incoming.