Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Nearly Destroyed Bucheon City (3)
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Swish.
Rustle.
'Hmm...'
I spent a good while moving around in front of the full-length mirror propped against the wall, checking my outfit from every angle, before finally nodding in satisfaction as I admired the adorable girl staring back at me.
'Definitely cute.'
Today was the day I'd finally mustered the courage to try on the proper women's clothes I'd splurged on.
At first, there'd been some resistance, but once I framed it as just customizing an avatar for my beloved in-game character rather than dressing myself up, it didn't feel all that weird.
"Can't resist a good look."
A custom-layered outfit with a bright lace blouse over a black spaghetti-strap dress.
I wasn't exactly a fashion expert, but with such standout looks, even a haphazard combo came out top-tier.
"..."
Honestly, my new girl self was obnoxiously cute.
Cuter than a red panda rearing up to threaten or a quokka clutching its favorite leaf.
Was there anyone in the world who wouldn't fall for a creature this angelic?
I wasn't a narcissist or anything, but even so, the sheer destructive power of my current appearance transcended mortal limits—no way to stay composed.
High School Dropout Middle Schooler: I'm legit insanely cute af
I'm really freaking cute;
Not sure about cute, but yeah, you're definitely nuts;
As long as you're happy.
Why you only? Lemme see too.
Proof go.
Temu Mountain Sword God: What if that middle school girl boomer is actually a real middle school girl?
Everyone's way too skeptical
The world's so harsh.
You're calling yourself a boomer too lol
No way judging by her tastes
Fr, she's always pushing old-school games and hipster anime—probs older than me
But how's she a high school dropout if she's middle school?
Dunno lol
"..."
The channel users, predictably, didn't buy it—but surprisingly, I'd never told a single lie here.
Whatever. Believer or not, the fact remained: I was the cutest, most amazing super-genius beauty dropout middle schooler.
Knock knock!
[Delivery~]
"...Leave it at the door."
It'd been a month since awakening as a Weathermancer, and my bank balance sat at 4.21 million won.
Stuffing mala rosé tteokbokki—the stuff I'd gotten hooked on lately—into my tiny mouth, I closed my eyes and pondered my next moves.
'Gotta make some money, somehow.'
Not that it was a joke—I'd blown through nearly 3 million in just a month.
Some on games... and with the new body, buying clothes and essentials felt like money melting away like cotton candy.
Couldn't keep repeating the gal binge - game - hobby routine forever.
'No part-time gigs, no jobs.'
Whether as a normie or Awakener, as an identity-forged illegal immigrant, options were zilch.
Basically, only remote gigs doable with just an online alias.
Which circled back to gold farming.
"...Figures for my life."
No complaints, really. I had talent for it, and the cash covered subscription games, occasional chicken—plenty.
So I fired up my dormant work rigs, plopped into my trusty chair, and dove into farming runs on my main games.
Tap.
Tap tap.
Clack.
"Ugh, this is so damn uncomfortable."
Didn't notice with one PC, but multi-tasking highlighted how my shrunken size was a real hindrance.
Did this new life even improve anything?
That sobering thought hit, but fearing another Bucheon rain alert, I shook it off and forced some positive vibes.
"Pretty. Cute. Total babe."
But it didn't really lift my mood.
I'd been content enough as my old male self.
If only the looks stayed the same and just the powers came—could've muddled through with my old identity, no petty angst.
Drip.
Drip drip.
Plop.
A momentary emo spiral, and yep—clouds gathering overhead.
Seriously, zero control?
A light nudge stopped the rain easy enough, but nipping issues in the bud? Tricky.
"Sigh, why do I even bother...?"
Maybe just prevent disasters and let the rain do its thing? But my conscience wouldn't let it slide.
More precisely, bad memories from that soaked bus ride fleeing my old place lingered unpleasantly.
"Occasional rain's enough."
I tweaked it to partly cloudy, grinded comps for gold and items, netting 37k won that day.
'Not bad, but...'
After awakening and peeking at other Awakeners' earnings, clutching this felt underwhelming.
Once you taste the high life, no going back?
Bluntly, gold farming efficiency sucked—but couldn't shake the needless loss vibe.
'Just go public with my class in a big showcase?'
I knew it deep down.
Reveal everything, demand due respect? I'd rocket to unimaginable heights.
With this lovable look, reactions would gush; maybe even national sweetheart status.
"..."
That thought tanked my mood for no reason.
I crawled on knees to the secondhand TV, snatched the remote, and mashed channels.
[Currently, Typhoon Haneul's influence has intensified tsunamis observed along the Pacific coast. As of 8 PM, alerts issued for eastern Hokkaido seas, Kanto, and Kansai regions—expected up to 5m.]
"..."
Hadn't stepped out beyond trash runs in a month, but post-awakening, I hadn't just wasted time.
Beyond testing powers, I'd researched applications extensively.
Like this.
Whoooosh.
Hugging knees, I lifted a hand—light flashed, senses expanding beyond Bucheon to vast expanses.
Closer to Typhoon Haneul, air churned wildly.
And the real-time shifts in flows, cascading events.
'...Field of view's wider than yesterday.'
Pohang cooler than prior, Kitakyushu's air extra humid, the cool breeze I felt now.
Unrelated on surface, but all linked.
How you wield it dictates the sky's myriad faces.
Whoooosh!
Irresistible force twisted atmosphere, ripples spreading micro-changes everywhere.
Dozens, hundreds, thousands of echoes later, reintegrating into nature—TV showed serene blue seas as always.
Slosh.
Splash!
Whoosh.
"...Feels like a god for real."
A miracle hard to credit to one hand.
But back to tiny TV world, reality's puny self stares back unchanged.
"...Anyway, time for bed."
I expect nothing from people.
In my life so far, that was always foolish folly.
Swish.
When foul moods linger, just burrow under covers, shut eyes, sleep it off.
Like always, same routine.
Drift off somehow, and morning comes anew.
#
"What... what on earth is this?"
"No idea. Definitely not normal, though..."
At the same time, somewhere in Japan's Maritime Security Agency observation center.
Staring at the sea reverted to normal as if time rewound, the team struggled to hide their bewilderment.
"Dungeon-related...?"
"Could be. Anything can happen in these seas now."
But Director Matsui sensed an odd dissonance from the scene—not mere external shift, but like deliberate intent or will at play.
Yet he snorted, dismissing it as fancy.
'No way. Getting old, imagining nonsense.'
No Poseidon from myths in reality, even in this shattered common sense era.
"Might herald a dungeon—keep eyes on nearby waters for a bit."
"Yes, sir. Monitoring and deploying as needed."
"Good work."
Matsui patted his subordinate's shoulder farewell; a cool breeze swirled through, refreshing the facility's air.
No one spared a thought for that breeze's origin.