One Week
One Week
Immediately after sending a text to Lee Yul, I messaged Park Haneul with trembling hands.
[Wolha: I'm sorry. I think I need more rest, so I probably won't be able to come this week.]
A reply came shortly after.
[Park Haneul: Wolha-ssi, you're saying you won't appear on broadcast at all?]
[Park Haneul: First warning. If you don't show up by the next broadcast, I won't be able to cover for you.]
[Park Haneul: You haven't forgotten about the penalty fee, right?]
I put down my phone and stared at the ceiling.
The 300 million won treatment fee I had to pay the Management Bureau...
I hadn't even deposited the first repayment yet.
And... the 15 million won penalty fee I never thought I'd have to pay.
Since it was tied up in another account, I hadn't spent it on Lee Suyeon,
but if I couldn't return to being a woman by next week, I'd have to scrape together another 5 million won.
"If I have to pay the penalty fee in this state... I'm truly finished."
My last remaining hope...
Was to desperately run dungeons to erase this sun and become a woman again.
That was the only option left.
But.
If the sun disappears, will the moon really return?
Can I really become Wolha again?
***
Lee Yul was waiting for me in front of the Gate.
"Hello, Yunha-ssi."
"Yeah, hi."
She carefully handed me a paper bag.
"Did you have breakfast?"
"...Huh?"
The bag was filled with several rolls of kimbap and energy bars.
At the same time, a loud growl came from my stomach.
"Since you said to come early, I didn't eat either. Let's eat together."
Lee Yul smiled slightly as she spread out a mat.
"W-well, if you insist."
I felt a surge of self-loathing, but pride was a luxury I couldn't afford.
I sat side by side with her on the mat and shoved kimbap into my mouth.
"Hmm, this is good."
"I'm glad. I was worried it might not suit your taste."
"Huh? Did you make this yourself?"
"Yes, cooking is my hobby."
Having something in my stomach made my head work a little better.
For a moment, she looked like an angel as she smiled at me.
***
The dungeon raid went surprisingly smoothly.
Lee Yul struggled to time her heals from the back.
Whenever monsters let out eerie cries, her face turned pale and her hands shook,
but she endured.
Most encouraging of all was my performance.
Until yesterday, I had been at the mercy of this body.
But today was different.
I had finally taken the reins of this monstrous physique.
With both hands and feet, I precisely targeted weak points and efficiently dispatched monsters.
Thanks to that, my hunting speed increased compared to yesterday.
Moreover, arriving early meant the boss room was empty, allowing us to take down the giant boar.
Lee Yul had another panic attack during the fight, but...
Fortunately, I finished it quickly and calmed her down by holding her like yesterday.
After exiting the boss room, we continued hunting on the First Layer.
"Yunha-ssi, I can't activate my trait anymore..."
"Already?"
"I-I'm sorry. I tried to keep up with your pace and overused it..."
"...No, I should've adjusted the tempo.
Let's call it a day."
While reassuring the apologetic Lee Yul, I discreetly checked my Status Window.
The sun had slightly diminished.
"...At this rate, will it take about two weeks?"
***
At the Settlement Office, I exchanged the cores.
Thanks to the increased hunting speed, today's earnings including the boss core totaled 810,000 won.
Splitting it with Lee Yul left me with 410,000 won.
(When I tried to give her the extra 5,000 won change, she adamantly refused.)
I pulled out a half-broken abacus in my mind.
Assuming I could keep arriving early to hunt the boss like today,
and adjusting the hunting tempo, could I make 500,000 won...?
Subtracting my daily food expenses would leave 250,000 won.
"25 times 30 is..."
"750. What are you calculating?"
"Thanks.
It's nothing."
750.
Even if I ran dungeons every single day without fail, 10 million won seemed impossible.
And I didn't see efficiency improving further.
As expected.
"I need to become a woman again quickly. Without Wolha's income, there's no solution."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Ah, don't worry about it."
But as night fell, the familiar chill rose from my lower abdomen.
I gritted my teeth and crossed my legs, but it was useless.
In the end, I turned on Suyeon's stream, donated most of today's earnings in balloons, and passed out.
Damn it.
***
Two days later.
My fan cafe had already descended into chaos.
Title: Wolha, are you even alive?
I even subscribed to you
Isn't it weird you've gone completely silent?
ㅇㅇ: She posted a selfie so she's alive
ㅇㅇ: Just recycling old pics lol
ㅇㅇ: LMAO Keunson Gom went back to Arin kkkkk
ㅇㅇ: OMG kkkkk one of the two whales got dumped
ㅇㅇ: NightEmperor always hops around so that side too...
ㅇㅇ: But doesn't Wolha have 300 mil in debt?
ㅇㅇ: Wolha wanna go to Han River together?
ㅇㅇ: If you're going, at least buy me a drink first!
I closed the fan cafe and opened Gom TV.
But there, the donation history awaited me.
Nearly all the money I'd earned over three days had flowed to Lee Suyeon.
At that moment, a message arrived.
[Suyeon: Oppa, you're not overdoing it, are you?]
[Suyeon: I don't want money that comes from starving others.]
[Suyeon's: What kind of nonsense is that.]
[Suyeon's: That's just pocket change.]
[Suyeon: Really?]
[Suyeon's: Really, I'll show you again today.]
Fuck.
***
Another two days later.
I hunted monsters like a machine.
But the sun was still less than halfway gone.
The silver lining was that Lee Yul was gradually improving.
A bisected wolf made its last stand, baring its fangs.
Lee Yul, who would've completely frozen before, now kept her staff trained on my back without stopping her trait.
I finished it with a kick.
"All done, Yunha-ssi."
Her voice trembled, but she no longer retreated.
Lee Yul was taking steps forward.
But I...
***
"Should've taken more photos..."
I'd run out of selfies to post on the fan cafe.
Just posting text wouldn't calm the storm either.
As I sat with my head in my hands, another message came from Suyeon.
[Suyeon: ...Um, Suyeon's-ssi? You're not taking out loans to send balloons, are you?]
[Suyeon: I can tell as a professional, you know?]
[Suyeon: I don't want to end up in the news either.]
My heart froze.
How could Lee Suyeon have figured out my financial situation?
Did I slip up somewhere?
...No, there's no way she knew.
She's just probing to manage me.
[Suyeon's: Suyeon-ah, you don't trust me?]
[Suyeon's: Seriously, I never mentioned it but I'm a Hunter]
[Suyeon's: Equipment and potions are a bit expensive but what I send you?]
[Suyeon's: That amount is truly nothing lol]
[Suyeon: ...Really?]
[Suyeon's: Of course, just trust me lol]
All I could do now was bluff.
***
As night fell, the vicious chill rose again.
With trembling hands, I deliberately selected the separate account I'd created.
The advance from Park Haneul.
My last safety net.
I shouldn't do this.
But I gave up resisting and pressed the transfer button.
I slumped into my chair.
Suyeon danced on screen.
I mechanically clicked the donation button.
"Haha, a Hunter by day, pretending to be a female streamer by evening, and at night..."
I forced my mouth shut.
What kind of fucking human being am I?
***
The next day.
Unlike at home, dungeon hunting grew smoother by the day.
My hunting skills became more proficient, and Lee Yul improved as a rear guard.
Except during bosses.
Even during this morning's boss hunt, she had a seizure, forcing me to finish quickly
and calm her by holding her.
But today, I might make 1 million won?
"You worked hard again today, Yunha-ssi."
Lee Yul took out a sports drink from her backpack and handed it to me.
At the same time, a breeze blew, scattering her hair.
Through the strands, her pale, slender neck glistened with sweat.
—Thump.
My heart began pounding madly.
What?
My lower body felt like it was freezing.
But it's not even night yet?
My pants tented.
Lee Yul's scent drilled deep into my nose.
"Ugh...!"
I bit my lip hard.
Forcibly turned my head away.
"Yunha-ssi? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Completely oblivious, Lee Yul tilted her head.
Like hell I'm okay.
I instinctively stepped back as she approached.
What kind of thoughts are you making me have about someone like this!
"...Sorry! Just remembered something urgent.
Let's run to the exit!"
"Huh?"
"One, two."
a p wait
"Go!"
I sprinted toward the nearby exit.
Thankfully, no monsters remained in this area.
***
Upon getting home, I leaned my head against the wall and texted Lee Yul.
[Kang Yunha: Let's rest tomorrow.]
[Kang Yunha: But I'll give you homework—build up some stamina.]
[Kang Yunha: Even as rear guard, you need basic endurance.]
[Lee Yul: Yes! Understood, Teacher!]
[Lee Yul: I'll register for PT!]
[Kang Yunha: Good.]
[Lee Yul: See you the day after!]
I set down my phone.
Tomorrow, I'll go to the dungeon alone.
I'll find a way to control this.
Fortunately, it was much weaker than the nightly chill,
so maybe I could endure it.
"Just one day. I'll go alone for just one day."
***
The next day, I entered the dungeon alone.
But I'd already grown accustomed to party hunting.
My earnings were less than half of yesterday's.
The only consolation was successfully suppressing the sudden chill.
***
As I exited the dungeon, I pulled up my Status Window.
One week of dungeon hunting.
The sun had diminished to nearly half its original size.
"At this rate... will it disappear completely by next week?"
Cutting it close?
It would likely coincide with Haneul Company's broadcast schedule next week.
The anxiety I'd barely suppressed came surging back.
If this sun fully disappears, can I really return to being Wolha?
And what if I'm even one day late and can't participate in Haneul Company's broadcast?
"The 15 million won penalty fee..."
I'd already dipped into the advance payment.
With trembling hands, I accessed a community.
[Streamer Gallery]
Title: Wolha's 8th day off.
Come back already you fucking bitch
ㅇㅇ: Now she's not even posting notices lol her belly's full
ㅇㅇ: Just die already
ㅇㅇ: Did she enter a dungeon or something?
ㅇㅇ: Says she's sick my ass
Keunson Gom: Still no word from her?
ㅇㅇ: You haven't heard either bro?
Keunson Gom: That bitch is ignoring my messages too. All 50k gone.
Arin: Oppa why you looking for her again? ㅡㅡ
Keunson Gom: Hahaha no way, we only have our Arin~
ㅇㅇ: LMAO kkkkk
"......Ha."
My vision darkened.
My hands shook uncontrollably.
Not having the energy to reply had backfired.
One of my thickest lifelines had snapped cleanly without hesitation.