Side Hustle Dreams
On this lazy Monday afternoon with nothing better to do, I plopped down in front of my computer and dove into some serious mining.
It was that horror game where you're gathering materials to build a house, only for a green monster to sneak up behind you and try a mutual suicide pact. Released over ten years ago, but still the nation's beloved classic.
"Whoa! Diamonds, sweet!"
Just an hour into the game, I spotted one embedded in the corner of a cave. Filled with gratitude, I started clearing the surrounding blocks, estimating the haul.
And there it was—slowly revealing itself—a pile of diamonds. Four whole blocks' worth! If luck's on my side, you can get up to two per block, so at least five, maybe more.
"Hehe, enough for a pickaxe and a sword!"
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
But nope, exactly one per block, crushing my hopes.
"……………. This luck is trash-game levels."
I mean, come on—one each? I can definitely make a pickaxe, but I'm short one for a sword. Such an awkward spot.
"Ugh, this sucks... Next time, I'll mine during [Miracle Time]."
[Miracle Time]
Extremely boosts luck. An overpowered advanced spell usable only once a week, but disapproved by Sis and So-hee unnie.
Sure, using an advanced spell on a mere game might seem silly, but when else am I gonna use it? [Miracle Time] is for super-specific situations anyway—otherwise, it's just for fun. Honestly, I only used it once on Sis before, and haven't touched it since.
It doesn't stack from disuse or anything, so wasting it on something trivial isn't a bad call.
Or should I just pop it now? It lasts all day anyway...
"Hmm... Yeah, let's do it."
No big plans this week anyway.
Snap—
Focusing my mana, I flicked my fingers, and tiny orbs of light rained down around me. Proof that [Miracle Time] had activated properly.
"Heh, life's all about luck. Basically forcing the difficulty down, but whatever."
I was about to resume mining when—
Ding-dong♪—
The doorbell rang for the fourth day in a row.
"Huh? Who's that?"
Too early for Ra-yoon. Without thinking, I opened the front door. Something thudded off it—thunk—but no one was outside.
Just a perfectly medium-sized box sitting on the porch.
"Oh, package. What'd I order again?"
I hauled it to the kitchen, peeled off the tape, and opened it.
"This is... Oh right! The webcam I ordered four days ago for streaming!"
I'd been waiting, but Ra-yoon's training distracted me, and I totally forgot.
"Whoa... Now what? Actually trying to do it feels like such a hassle."
Impulse buy, but the motivation's gone. Streaming was just a way to beat loneliness anyway.
But after meeting Ra-yoon, a month's worth of isolation vanished. She'll be popping in and out till graduation...
Of course, post-graduation, back to square one. But will I even still be here?
Details from Sis, but timeline's unclear. Roughly, once they uproot all Crimson Guild ties and deem it safe, she'll call me back to Seoul... Probably 1-2 years at least?
"Whoa, thinking about it—why not just debut?"
Next time Ra-yoon heads to the Hunter Bureau for testing, I could tag along and register too. Looked it up yesterday: you can hunt anonymously if you want.
C-rank and up pull corporate exec-level income, so privacy's common. Face out there? Busted quick. But masks allowed, no biggie.
Hunter Bureau's strict on personal security, so perfect for registering without Sis or So-hee unnie knowing.
"Alright! Decided. Heading to Seoul this week for sure—hunter registration time."
Wait, told Ra-yoon I'm an ex-hunter already. Register first, learn the ropes, so I can answer her questions later without suspicion.
"And start streaming too. Need an alibi for when I tell Sis and So-hee unnie later."
Long tails get stepped on. Streaming's camouflage for my hunter gigs. Popular or not, doing something kills suspicion.
Plan set, I sprang into action.
Lee Ga-eul woke Monday morning at her usual time. Even the most disciplined can't easily escape the morning bed's cozy embrace—but she managed effortlessly.
Heading out to wash up, she caught a savory soup aroma and the sizzle of something frying.
In the kitchen, the source: a woman with chin-length hair swept to one side, radiating mature charm. The picture of a devoted homemaker.
Ga-eul greeted her. "Good morning. Sleep well?"
The woman paused, beaming warmly. "Morning, Ga-eul. You too?"
"Yes. Need help?"
"Nah, almost done. Wash up, and tell your uncle breakfast is ready?"
She was Kim Soo-jung, Lee Dae-gun's wife—Ga-eul's "aunt."
"Sure," Ga-eul replied curtly, heading to the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, freshened up, she approached her uncle's room. Gym equipment everywhere; Dae-gun mid-workout. Ex-hunter habit—daily mornings unless something came up.
Sensing her, he turned. "Morning, Ga-eul. Sleep well?"
"Yes. You too, Uncle?"
"Yep. How do you have zero sleep inertia? At your age, Grandma's wake-up spikes were my alarm."
"Guess I matured faster. Anyway, breakfast's ready. Let's go."
"Already? Hmm... Lately, the whole family's ditching morning sleep."
"Family"—Ga-eul's lips twitched upward. Her real one shattered beyond repair. No more moping forever.
Dae-gun was blood kin, but Soo-jung? Practically a stranger. Yet she treated Ga-eul like her own daughter, earning sisterly affection in return—not quite mom, but close.
Wrapping up, Dae-gun grabbed a black vest from the corner and exited. Ga-eul eyed it curiously.
"Uncle, what's that?"
"Oh? My old weighted vest. Ra-yoon asked to borrow it."
"What crazy scheme now...?"
"Right? Said it's essential for magic training—wonder where she heard that nonsense. Promised it, so handing off today."
"I'll deliver it after school."
"Sweet, thanks. Here."
"Sure, I'll ma—!!"
Thud—!
He handed over the vest; she crumpled under its weight.
"G-Ga-eul?! You okay?!!"
Caught off-guard, Dae-gun panicked. Ga-eul hit the floor wide-eyed like a startled cat.
Regaining composure, she rose slowly, glaring accusingly. "………How many kilos is this?"
"Uh... Around 30?"
"………"
"G-Ga-eul? Uncle drive you today?"
"...No. I'll wear it to school—like training."
Lee Ga-eul was a fiercely competitive high school girl.