Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Cat (Mirni) is Free (2)
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"Huh? Me, become a celebrity? No way...?"
"……."
As Valian had predicted, Mirni—who'd come back home after just two days—tilted her head, wondering what kind of weird question that was.
"...Th-then you're just going to give up on that expensive sponsorship?! No, even so, how can you quit such a pricey academy after only two days...!"
"Who's quitting? I just came to grab my stuff."
"Ah, I-I see. Whew..., that's a relief. I thought you'd bailed and come crawling back like always.... Hmm? But just now you said you're not doing the celebrity thing...?"
"Not that kind of celebrity. I'm gonna snag my diploma and bail right after!"
"...?"
"Don't overthink it. It's simple—I'm not gonna be an idol or actress. Instead...! I'm becoming an influencer."
"……?"
...Why does this cat meow less and bark more like a dog?
Luke had laid it out plain.
Exactly one year—he'd look after them. After that, zero fucks given. He'd front them settlement money to get on their feet, but then? Ties cut clean.
Mirni didn't doubt for a second it'd play out just like he said in a year. She'd woken up to the hard truth: she needed a fast way to make ends meet.
In any world, if you couldn't fend for yourself...!
"...you end up pathetic...."
Mirni was the type to have a full-blown panic attack at words like 'poverty' or 'cold.' To dodge that fate, she'd hustled faster than anyone to figure out her 'one true calling.'
'I'm not like other people.'
She wasn't a genius like Luxy, nor the studious type like Sylvia or Leon who could grind at a desk.
She wasn't bullheaded like Valian, nor slick like Alicia.
But one thing!
If she had to name her edge...!
It was her killer instinct for sniffing out what she was born to do.
And on pure gut feel, Mirni had nailed down exactly how she'd rake in cash in this world.
'Way better setup than Midgard.'
Staring at this world—this country called Korea—she'd realized one solid skill was all it took to win big.
Sure, some griped about "Hell Joseon" and the endless slump, but to Mirni? Total first-world problems.
In Midgard, talent meant jack if your station locked you to a plow forever—or worse, you starved or froze because you couldn't scrape together food or firewood.
Here? Flip burgers or swing a hammer on a site, and you're fed. Hit old age, the government foots the bill...!
Compared to Midgard? Straight-up paradise!
She—who'd once teetered on death's door from starvation before apprenticing under that old thief—could declare it loud and proud.
This place was still heads and shoulders 'better.'
Anyway! Scouting ways to eat, what jumped out was none other than <ENTERTAINMENT>.
One killer piece of content? Tens—hundreds—of billions in the bag. Mind-blowing!
Yeah, her hand tremors had tanked her skills below basic thief level, but her raw athleticism, street-honed acting chops, and tricks? Still there.
And above all, she was dead certain her looks stacked up against any beauty here.
Pretty face equals riches and fame on tap!
How could you not love that...!!
At first, modeling or acting tempted her. But her nature—no, her catfolk blood—couldn't hack orders or leashes on her freedom.
Catfolk: the unbound wanderers freer than air, whom no chain could hold!
So her smart play? SNS and solo streams—one-woman content empire.
Digging deeper, it checked every box: freedom galore, zero bosses breathing down her neck.
'Love it, but damn... not a cakewalk industry.'
Red ocean, they called it?
Easy to dip a toe in, hell to swim to the top... Solution? Aram Wiki preached starting with buzz and cred.
Under Aram's guidance, Mirni hunted a spot primed for quick fame and instant street cred.
Agency debuts dragged forever. No patience for that grind. Then bam—a model academy caught her eye.
"...Not bad?"
To Mirni, it was a golden ticket.
Language? Blessing fixed that—any tongue, no sweat. Talent? Her body and face were the talent.
Model walk?
Child's play next to thief footwork!
And now?
Top of the class. Hadn't even hit days before she proved it.
"...Staking 30 years teaching: first kid absorbs like you, Mirni."
"A-acting... legit first time? Pro-ready yesterday...?"
"Core and fat ratio nuts...? Birth yogi wouldn't touch this."
Diet-proof flawless figure, gaze-magnet charisma with killer flair!
Chameleon expressions that made any outfit pop, god-tier makeup (disguise mastery)—!
Instructors' dream talent. Not even a fortnight in, the nibble hit.
"...Mirni. Fancy a stage spin?"
"Hand me the shot, I'm there."
Others grind decades for this—she nailed it in under a month. Unfair as hell. Haters and envy spawned like weeds, but Mirni fired back fearless.
"Reality's a bitch, loser."
Angelic looks hiding a razor-wire tongue!
One of her nicknames, minted in a week.
"...Killing it, then."
No plan was bulletproof—jealousy could topple it like a sandcastle.
Aram nailed the weak spot, voicing her jitters. Yuseong just shrugged.
"Accident or not, she won't get hurt. Anyone dumb enough to start shit? Fair game."
"Let it ride."
"One less mooch—boost her. Block it why? Am I right~?"
Then it clicked for Aram why her master was playing so chill.
Normally he'd spew curses on sight, but a freeloader forging her own path? Pride swelling.
Proof? Grin creeping ear-to-ear, damn near ascension.
'Ah, finally one less home invader sucking air.'
Current vibe? Could break bread with the beasts...
'Ah, fuck... gut punch.'
Just picturing it twisted his stomach—even good mood had limits.
"...So, debut when?"
Sudden mood dip threw her, but Aram was the dutiful AI—straight to the info.
"...Feels like a marriage broker."
"Hmm, so one's coming up?"
"...Life's a real motherfucker."
Hearing it grated—but hey, that envy-bait talent was something.
"Yeah?"
"Buzz?"
"……."
...Even if the dirt was legit, Yuseong'd just meh it.
Mirni might be brainless as a brick, but she guarded her own ass like a fortress.
Not worried one bit...
"Shit..."
Of course his house housed one meddlesome pushover goddess who blew up over nothing.
'Stalker much? Pops up every damn time?'
Io—goddess gone gumshoe?—erupted hot.
"...Wasn't me who shipped her."
"......That body gonna pull it off?"
"……."
...How'd that charisma queen end up such a wreck?
Yuseong felt a weird pang of pity.