Side Gigs to Monthly Billions

"At this rate, I'll be pulling in billions a month from side hustles lol."

"Ooooh... so soft and squishy."

"...."

"Ooooh... oooh...! Wow, it's seriously super squishy! Like a total baby!"

"Ugh...."

My head throbbed at the thought that someone just like Seol-ah had multiplied, but I had to endure it. Compared to the strategy guides left by people who've cleared the 3rd floor—ones that spread online and get twisted out of shape—this was incredibly valuable info. The more I put up with her over-the-top petting, the more vivid and realistic the strategy would be.

"Ahem... Now, allow me to reveal my special strategy."

"Finally starting?"

"Alright, first off, you know the 3rd floor boss is the goblin guard trio, right?"

"Duh."

"So, about the speed-specialized goblin guard..."

To sum it up, the special strategy had to do with Kim Ha-yeon being a water-attribute mage. That's why there weren't any guides on the Hunter Gallery. Mages aren't exactly a dime a dozen, after all.

"No way, you're kidding? How am I supposed to use water magic?"

"Beats me?"

"You toyed with me for 30 minutes and that's all you've got to say?"

"Yup~ But I did tell you, didn't I?"

She totally tricked me! I chased after the punk as she bolted away, sticking out her tongue in an exaggerated taunt, and unleashed my ultimate spicy fist barrage—16 hits in a row.

"Haha! You think these cotton punches can take down tower monsters?"

"You...! You little...!!"

Our unintended chase turned into a full-blown pursuit through the magic shop district, and it took a good while before Kim Ha-yeon and I finally calmed down.

"Ah... This girl, is she really a mage? Her legs are insanely quick."

"Slow mages got weeded out ages ago~."

We paused to catch our breath, and that's when I spotted something eye-catching in a nearby magic tool shop. A vibrant orb glowing with blue light.

That thing...

If it was what I thought, maybe I could try out Kim Ha-yeon's strategy after all.

Walking into the house, I saw Seol-ah sprawled face-down on my bed, buried in the sheets.

"Wh-what the...!"

She wasn't moving a muscle. It looked like she was just asleep, but for some reason, seeing her lying there so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still filled my head with all sorts of wild thoughts.

No way... she's not dead, is she?

"Huh...? O-oppa... you're back?"

Turns out she was just resting her head on my bed. A fleeting why? crossed my mind, but I didn't want to know the reason, so I just sighed at Seol-ah.

Has she always been crashing here this much...?

No matter how I looked at it, she was practically mooching off us these days, showing up every single day. I considered saying something, but... nah.

She listened pretty well even when lounging around like that, so I could send her on errands, and it was convenient. Yeah. That was fine. Nothing to worry about.

It was the weekend anyway. She had her own way of relaxing, I guess. I naturally slipped out of the bedroom and plopped down at the computer.

Ostensible purpose: Researching the 3rd floor and browsing the gallery.

Come to think of it, it's been a bit since my last full run-through of the concept posts?

Periodic concept post marathons were essential. Understanding them was the key to writing your own. Wondering what fresh nonsense awaited, I dove into the Hunter Gallery.

Huh? Making bank just from being born a cute girl? How?

Ever since transforming, I'd met plenty of people cooing over how cute I was, petting me, giving me snacks. If that was enough to get rich, I'd have a butler rushing over at a snap and a top-tier Rolls-Royce in the garage by now.

But those things weren't connected. You don't get rich from a few snacks. What kind of nonsense was this to qualify as a concept post? Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked.

To my shock, it was...

Me...?

It might sound crazy, but it was reality. The thumbnail showed me sitting at the table, lost in thought. The angle and setup screamed Seol-ah had snuck the shot.

Hitting play, there I was experimenting with dragon language.

It was a bit mumbled, but I could make out the meaning. No real explanation needed. Just me practicing dragon tongue.

What did this have to do with making bank? Was it a hidden camera prank?

While I was baffled, I followed the link. The views on the Inbeol? A whopping 50k.

No. What? Me just sitting in a chair practicing dragon language got 50k views...? Are people that bored? Why watch this?

Reading comments gushing over how cute it was when I concentrated and my tail wagged, all sorts of nonsense, my face started burning up.

I knew exactly where I needed to head.

"Seol-ah."

"Yeah?"

"What's this all about?"

I thrust my phone right in front of Seol-ah's face. The screen looped the unauthorized upload of me practicing dragon language.

No one could miss the situation at this point.

"...Hehe, so cute."

"Explain."

Her response made me think we might need a security checkpoint at the front door.

"When did you even film this?! Without my permission!"

"You'd have said no if I asked."

"Exactly!"

"But keeping something this cute to myself is a crime against humanity."

If I were actually a baby, fine—but at 25 years old, getting this kind of attention and "moe'd" to death? Kinda meh.

I'd blocked her actress talk precisely because I saw this coming. I might not know much, but I knew I wasn't cut out to be an idol or influencer.

Thinking someone was always watching would make me paranoid and glitchy. But so far, so good. No one knew who I was or came looking. No slip-ups to tank my rep, and 50k views... probably not enough for recognition.

Better to set boundaries and control it than ban it outright. If I blocked every urge to overhype the cuteness, she'd just do it behind my back. Seol-ah was trustworthy, but push too hard and who knows.

"Sigh... Fine. Do what you want. I'm out."

"I can handle it? Score!"

"But ask permission before posting anything else!"

I worried what else she'd pull, but she wouldn't start trouble right away. Time to get back to concept post appreciation mode.

"What the hell is this."

Back in the Hunter Gallery, the concept posts were already a total mess.

The thread had somehow shifted to pinning my photo on the gallery front page. Totally meaningless, but it felt off-putting. See my face every time I log in? Get real...

Hmm. The admin stepping in with an official mascot appointment. What an honor...

Felt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a hammer to the head. Time to drop a statement post.

My post vanished into oblivion quick, but the welcome-backs kept popping up now and then no matter how much time passed.

...Not the best look, honestly. The gallery was buzzing today thanks to Seol-ah's Inbeol upload, so I'd sleep it off and investigate more tomorrow.

Shut down the computer, hopped onto the bed with a perfect landing, and used the sword from the tower to flick off the light.

Click.

"Seol-ah? I'm heading to bed."

"...Mm, night."

"Wait, no. I mean. You too, sleep well."

Part of me wanted to tell her to go home, but she'd ignore it anyway, so I gave up. It had been a tiring day all around—no energy left to argue.

"Yawwwn~."

I let out a massive yawn, burrowed under the covers, and wrapped myself up tight. Back in my old body, my legs always stuck out awkwardly, but now? Pure cozy bliss. These days, my head hit the pillow and I was out.

....

Click.

The wait while holding my breath until oppa ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fell asleep had paid off. Modern phones pack top-tier cameras—even in the dark, I perfectly captured the dozing S-rank capital-strongest cutie loli in all her languid glory.

"Hehe, a few more like this... Huh?"

Checking reactions on Inbeol, my account had a red notification dot. A DM this late? Kinda rude, but surely just gushing over the tail-waggy cutie, so Seol-ah tapped it without a second thought.

But the DM was way off from what she expected.

Kids’ clothes. Seol-ah glanced between the sleeping Lee Ha-neul's face and the DM.

OMG kids clothes?? She looks totally baby!!

Imagining Ha-neul in various kids’ outfits made Seol-ah's heart race. But she had to ask first. Permission and all.

"Oppa?"

"...."

Silence. Just Ha-neul's faint breathing.

This might take forever, but no biggie. A few more calls and she'd stir.

"Oppa? Oppa!"

"Mm... what..."

"Clothing company wants you for an ad. Cool?"

"Ugh... do whatever..."

Clear sleep-talk. But it was an answer. Yoon Seol-ah's fingers flew into action.

"Yes~."

In front of the White Tower. Stretching with arm circles was essential prep before entering, bracing for the intense action. But for some reason, people across the way were staring at me...

No, not celebrity paranoia—these were weird looks. I'd always hated even directions from strangers, let alone chit-chat. Fine. Avoid eye contact, slip into the tower...

"You're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that kid from the Inbeol vid, right?"

Looking over, female hunters had closed in, eyes sparkling.

"Handshake!"

"Hand heart too! Hand heart!"

"Photo okay?"

The sudden normie ultimate—no malice, just pure cringe explosion [EX]—made my vision spin. Not that an asocial like me had the guts to shatter the vibe and bolt. Fan service dragged on until I barely escaped.

One video's ripple effect is this big...?

What the hell was dragon language even worth...?