Arang Moves Out

"Fnyaaa…."

I stretched languidly as I sat up in bed, my body unfolding with that refreshing thrill like I was growing taller by the inch.

My treasure holding up okay?

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I reached out to stroke the gold bar I'd hugged to sleep.

Squish.

"Huh…?"

Instead of the hard texture I expected, my fingers sank into something soft and plush, like perfectly proofed dough.

Sleep vanished in an instant.

I frantically rubbed my eyes again and looked down at the gold bar nestled in my arms.

The color and weight were the same as yesterday…? But it was deforming all squishy under my fingers.

Ding.

"Did I accidentally Kknead the gold bar in my sleep last night…?" I grabbed the softened bar with both hands and kneaded it experimentally.

Squish squish.

So weird. It's not melted or anything—how's gold this soft?

Feels just like bread dough. It still had that cool metallic edge, kinda like touching a slime, and I was digging it.

…Gotta use this as my pillow tonight.

I played with the squishy gold slime for a good while before setting it gently on the edge of the bed and scanning the room.

It'd grown on me, but the wear and tear was obvious. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Fine for solo living, but it wasn't safe for me anymore—not with everything going on.

That guy popping into the restaurant yesterday, the guild leader stuff… who knows who else might show up.

I don't have any combat skills. If someone tried to kidnap me out of nowhere, I'd have zero way to fight back.

…Yeah, I'd been way too chill about it all.

I couldn't power up overnight, but I could at least move somewhere with better security.

Money wasn't an issue—I was loaded—and with those massive guilds gunning for me, sticking here was just asking for trouble.

Hmm… time to move. Somewhere secure.

At least a place with a police station right out front. Or maybe snag an apartment next to the Baekya Guild?

Decision made, I hopped up, threw on my coat, and headed for the door—only to freeze with my hand on the knob.

Don't go out alone. Keep your phone on at all times.

Cha Eunwol's warning from yesterday flashed through my mind.

…Right, no solo outings for a while.

I shrugged off the coat and crawled back into bed, plopping down with the gold slime under my butt as I grabbed my smartphone and dialed the guild leader.

Ring ring—click.

It connected before the second ring. Five-minute standby crew? Damn, fast.

[Hey, Arang. What's up? Calling this early?]

Her voice sounded pretty chipper through the receiver.

"Oh, uh, nothing major. I think I need to move soon."

[Move?]

"Yeah. With yesterday's thing and the guild stuff… I gotta prioritize safety. You free today by any chance?"

Cha Eunwol answered my tentative question like it was a no-brainer.

[Of course I'm free. Stay put. I'll be right there.]

"Okay, take your time."

The call cut off mid-sentence. I hugged the slime I'd been sitting on tight to my chest.

Now this felt secure.

Tail swishing, I sat obediently on the bed, waiting for my bodyguards.

Knock knock knock.

It wasn't long before the familiar knock sounded.

I opened the front door to find the guild leader in neat outing clothes and Kim Hyunah standing there like statues.

…They got here fast.

"Thanks for coming."

"No biggie. So, where do you wanna move?"

She scanned my room, crossed her arms, and asked.

"Hmm… somewhere with top-notch security and pretty safe?"

Cha Eunwol stroked her chin, humming thoughtfully, then smirked like an idea had hit her.

"Arang. Wanna live with me at my place?"

"Pardon…?"

"…Guild leader, what exactly are you saying?"

A dumb noise escaped me, followed by Kim Hyunah's icy glare.

Ignoring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠our reactions, Cha Eunwol kept going casually.

"What? Did I say something weird? Where in Korea's safer than living with me? My place has tons of rooms and killer views."

"No, but me crashing at your house…"

I curled my tail and backed away, but Kim Hyunah stepped forward, pointing at me.

What's her deal?

"Guild leader. Isn't that proposal a bit too self-serving? You're just saying it's for Arang's safety because you wanna live together, right?"

"What're you on about? I'm only thinking of our Arang here, Hyunah. Twisting my sincerity like that is too much."

Cha Eunwol chuckled, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyeing Kim Hyunah.

She usually greenlit everything, but got picky about anything Arang-related.

"Living with me would suit Arang better."

"That's your self-interest talking, isn't it?"

"…I can do better than you, guild leader."

"Hey, you keep backtalking me?"

Am I some stray cat at a shelter? Why're they fighting over me?

I stared at them, dumbfounded for a sec.

I was plenty grown and could live alone, thank you. Sure, safety-wise cohabitation made sense, but I had privacy needs too.

…Didn't wanna let anyone see my solo Kkneading sessions.

"Neither. I don't want either."

"Aw, why not!"

"I can live by myself? I need my own space."

"…True, cats are territorial, huh?"

"What're you implying?"

I glared at the guild leader, but she just smirked back.

She figured I'd cave eventually….

"Hmph, I'm living alone, so let's go house-hunting together."

"Man, I'd treat you so good at my place."

"…Understood. If you change your mind, just say the word."

They smacked their lips regretfully at my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠firm no.

Out on the street, it was bustling with people.

Flanked by Cha Eunwol and Kim Hyunah—escort even the president couldn't buy—I puffed up a bit.

Feels solid.

"You sure you don't wanna live together? I could buy a whole secure building for you. You just gotta move in."

"I'm good. I've got money now too? I'm grown up. I wanna pick and sign myself."

"Grown up? You're mouse-poop sized."

I ignored her and puffed my cheeks.

Who're you calling mouse poop…

"Stubborn. Fine, fine. You pick. But don't make us run around—I'll pull listings nearby. We'll pick from those."

"Ooh, perfect!"

I hated legwork anyway.

I nodded, and she messaged someone before patting my head.

"Takes about thirty minutes for the info. No standing around—let's hit a café and sort the list. Where to?"

Café, huh…

I glanced around, then suggested slyly,

"Han Serin's café. It's close."

"……What?"

Their faces crumpled in disgust the second I said her name.

…Weren't they acquaintances?

"What's wrong? You both look super annoyed."

"Tch. Hate going there on my own two feet."

"But it's close, so let's just go."

I grabbed Cha Eunwol's crossed arms—despite her protests—and dragged her toward Han Serin's café.

"Fancy meeting here. What a coincidence."

A heavy voice made my body stiffen.

"Uh…?"

"Fuck—Hyunah, guard Arang."

The Gerang Guild leader loomed ahead, bag in one hand, smiling calmly at me.

…He's not gonna kidnap me in broad daylight on a crowded street, right?

I ducked behind Kim Hyunah, swallowing hard as I peeked out.

"Why so guarded? I said it was a coincidence."

"Like hell it is—you're obviously stalking."

Cha Eunwol snarled back. He just chuckled at her chill threat and reached into his bag.

"Hah, you wanna fight right here, psycho?"

She tensed like she might lunge, watching his every move.

"Here, kid. Take this."

"Pardon…?"

I stared blankly at the pink teddy bear he held out, unsure how to react.

"…Hm. Don't like it?"