Puppeteer of Cloth and Thread "9th Floor Breakthrough..."
I woke up in the morning, and the community was on fire. Well, it's not that unusual for it to be blowing up. Usually it's because of stuff like Sword vs. Spear in the Gal Cup, but this time it was just the Tower's status changing.
The 10th floor had opened. An unknown floor no one had ever set foot on before.
'Not the Demon King from Europe, not China's Jin Do, not even America's six Seraphim?'
Breaking all the predictions, the one who climbed up was World's Greatest Swordswoman Yoo Sorang. After that, the Demon King cleared the 9th floor. Jin and the six Seraphim tried too but failed. All this happened while I was asleep.
"What the hell? Why does everything always explode when I'm sleeping?"
"Well, the Tower's 10th floor opening isn't that big a deal, is it?"
"What did you do this time?"
Han Yuseon flinched and avoided my cold stare. Looked like she had a guilty conscience. I debated chewing her out but just sighed it off in the end.
'She wouldn't tell me anyway.'
I tried prying for Tower info, but she clamped her mouth shut, so I got nothing.
"Back when the 3rd floor opened... we've still got quite a bit until the week's up?"
"It's been two days since we cleared the Tower."
Surprisingly, yeah. It's only been three days since Han Yuseon and I met. Maybe because she's a puppet, but damn, we got close fast. Ever since awakening as a Puppeteer, shit's been hitting the fan nonstop.
"So... with about five days left, just sitting around feels kinda lame."
"Is there something you want to do?"
"Not really? Even with 20 million won, nothing comes to mind."
I'm feeling the massive risk of not being able to go outside every damn hour. 20 million is big money, sure. In normal circumstances, I'd blow it all. But limited to indoors and cash only? Options vanish.
I could ask her to deposit it, but still, nothing much to do.
"That's probably because I'm here."
Han Yuseon replied casually, like it was obvious. As if she was handling everything herself.
'Wanna call her out on it, but... she's not wrong.'
Han Yuseon is competent. Very competent. I nodded. She looked more surprised than I did.
"Aren't you supposed to hit me with some mood-killing line around now?"
"Admit it and I'm a bitch, deny it and I'm still a bitch. What do you want?"
"A Puppeteer in a maid outfit..."
"Shut up. Zip it. Die."
Whatever she was imagining, she nodded with her arms crossed.
"A maid outfit on you gets my full approval."
"I'm serious, shut the fuck up."
I recoiled in horror. Han Yuseon's face is insanely pretty, but her words and actions dock so many points.
'Maid outfit... ugh, fuck.'
Since becoming a Puppeteer, my clothes didn't fit, so I've been stuck in this forced dress. It's like a daily test of my manhood. Getting TS'd into a cute pink-haired loli is fine and all, but I didn't sign up to be teased.
"Speaking of, why haven't you bought clothes yet?"
Han Yuseon tilted her head. I sighed at her puzzled look.
"Where was I gonna get clothes money... wait, now I have money?"
"And why not just make clothes?"
She tilted her head again.
'Make clothes?'
Her words caught me off guard; I stared blankly. Han Yuseon let out a long sigh, like 'How do I teach this idiot?' I decided to hear her out first before scolding.
"Puppets are made from cloth, thread, and stuffing. Sure, there are wooden or wind-up dolls too... but the basic idea of a 'puppet' is that."
"So?"
"A Puppeteer is the magician of cloth and thread. You can handle cloth and thread by default, so clothes are the same."
She pointed at the Golem Core.
"Just like you instinctively knew you could make a puppet with the Golem Core, with thread and cloth, you can make anything."
"Oh."
Puppeteer seems more subtle than I thought. Han Yuseon added,
"And if you use mana-infused cloth and thread, you can imbue special abilities too."
"Is that what your clothes are? You're always in a suit."
"This is just what I had."
"Ah."
She's in the same boat as me. In summary: mana-infused cloth and thread let you make enchanted gear.
'Gotta make clothes for Han Yuseon and me.'
Even if she says it's fine, wearing the same suit daily looks off to me. We're not a one-suit family—what is this?
"Then I need thread and cloth."
"I'll buy them. Mana cloth and thread are just fabrics, not that expensive. The markup's on tailor-made clothes."
"Oh, how much?"
"Look it up yourself. I don't know."
I pulled out my phone right away. Checked the prices.
'What the fuck?!'
My jaw dropped. Lots in the hundreds of millions. Sure, they're worth it—boosted defense, self-repair, stain-proof. But still, insane.
'Wait.'
If I can add abilities, can't I just mass-produce and rake in cash?
"Buy up all the cloth and thread you can with the money."
"...Pardon?"
Han Yuseon stared at me in shock, then glanced at my phone with wide eyes. She got my idea.
But.
"That won't work."
She smacked her lips regretfully.
"Can't imbue that much power?"
"No, that's easy. But it could put you in danger, Master Puppeteer."
"Fuck."
We're hiding our identities. Selling enchanted clothes out of nowhere? Even black market, we'd get caught. We're unregistered hunters as is—pure luck we haven't been nabbed. Korea's intel ain't that shit.
"Plus, if goods infused with your mana hit the market... tracing the source would be too easy."
"Yeah."
Too many ways to get busted. Gotta ditch these traits fast to become a billionaire. Farewell, my Hanwoo double horns. Farewell, my lavish days!
Fucking annoying traits.
"Your mana pool is low anyway—not suited for mass production. Probably just enough for your own clothes."
"I'll make you three outfits even if it takes forever. Buy materials for about 10 million won."
"...My clothes?"
Han Yuseon froze. I shot her a curious look at her weird reaction.
"Your suit enchanted or something?"
"No, not that... but..."
"If you like suits, I'll make suits. Doesn't 24/7 suits get uncomfortable?"
I tsked sympathetically. Even wearing my old suit to interviews sucked; full-time? No thanks.
"No... it's not that. Just... why make clothes for me?"
Han Yuseon asked, flustered. What kinda nonsense is that?
I replied incredulously,
"You think I'd make you a bunny girl or something? You're my... what? Partner? Companion? It's awkward, but yeah. Haven't done shit for you otherwise, so this much at least. Kinda sucks dressing you in billions-worth, but whatever."
Han Yuseon stiffened for a moment, then turned away. Couldn't see her face.
'...What's her deal? Too embarrassing? I mustered some courage there.'
I scratched my head, muttering internally. No big thoughts. Whatever she thinks, that's how I see it.
As Han Yuseon stuffed the cash bundle into her bag, she muttered softly,
"Idiot..."
"What?"
"I said no to bunny girl. At least a bikini..."
She mumbled awkwardly. I was speechless. What bikini? We swimming in the ocean?
"Cut the bullshit and go buy it. We'll discuss designs. My sense of style's trash anyway, so it'll be rip-offs."
"No guilt saying that so boldly?"
"Want my original? Disaster incoming..."
"Do whatever."
Han Yuseon shrugged. Thought she'd freak; unexpected.
'Shoulda shown her my art?'
Back in middle school, my drawings were peak. Got ridiculed, never entered contests. Probably modeled after my first love, Han Yuseon.
'Always Han Yuseon, huh?'
Anyway, my aesthetics suck. She doesn't know, though.
Han Yuseon grabbed the doorknob to head out. I yelled quick,
"Say something before opening—eeek! Fuck, seriously?!"
Clunk.
Door opened, chills exploded over me. I scurried like a squirrel, hid behind curtains, trembling.
Han Yuseon smirked at the sight.
"New high score today. 95 points."