The Moon Rises Again
The Moon Rises Again
"...Why do you keep staring at me like that?"
It had already been six days since Lee Yul adapted to the boss battles.
We were sitting side by side on a bench in front of the Settlement Office, catching our breath.
But the gaze from Lee Yul beside me felt unusual.
She'd been openly scanning my body—specifically my shoulders and arms—since earlier.
"Ah, no! It's just... your shoulders, they're really broad!"
Lee Yul flinched and waved her hands in denial.
"You've been doing this for days now?"
"W-well... Maybe it's just my imagination, hehe..."
Lee Yul abruptly lowered her head toward the ground.
The tips of her ears had turned bright red.
...Was my physique making her uncomfortable?
"...Alright, whatever."
I decided not to press further.
There were more pressing matters to attend to right now.
***
Back home, I opened my Status Window.
The Sun was flickering as if it might go out at any moment.
Just a little more.
Just a little more and—
I swallowed dryly.
But will I even be able to enter the dungeon properly tomorrow?
I quickly grabbed my phone and called Lee Yul.
"Yes, Yunha-ssi!"
"Let's only do morning runs tomorrow. I have something urgent in the afternoon."
"Okay, got it! By the way... is there anything you'd like to eat tomorrow?"
"Anything's fine."
"Yunha-ssi, those answers are the hardest to work with!"
"Can't think of anything right now."
"Huhu, just kidding. I'll pack something delicious, so just come with an empty stomach!"
"Mm..."
I hesitated before hanging up.
"What's wrong?"
"..."
If my wish comes true tomorrow and I become a woman again, I won't be able to see Lee Yul for a while.
We've been practically attached at the hip for the past two weeks.
"...Never mind, see you tomorrow."
"Okay!"
After hanging up, I stared at the ceiling.
I'll contact her when things become certain.
Everything's still up in the air right now.
***
As night deepened, the familiar chill returned.
With trembling hands, I opened Gom TV.
[Suyeon - Night Communication Room♥]
"Oppa came to Suyeon's stream again today~"
A cutesy voice greeted me immediately upon entering.
Thanks to my relentless donations over the past six days without fail,
Suyeon's attitude had completely changed.
"Oppa really seems to only watch me. It makes me feel so secure."
Ugh.
My disgusting consistency of not missing a single day must have caught Lee Suyeon's attention.
"How was your day? Must have been tough?"
Suyeon smiled at the camera.
Her smooth shoulders above the black off-shoulder dress caught my eye.
Damn it, I'm gonna get fleeced again today.
Even as curses ran through my mind, my fingers mechanically pressed the donation button.
[Suyeon's Oppa gifted 1000 balloons!]
"Oppa's the best as always!
You liked this, right?"
Suyeon got up and adjusted the camera angle.
I naturally unzipped my pants and began stroking my erect shaft.
Suyeon placed her hands on the armrests and rocked her upper body up and down.
Her dress fluttered, making her chest bounce.
I matched her rhythm, stroking my cock.
My mind became a jumbled mess.
Beneath Suyeon's intoxicated breathing, Lee Yul's smiling face appeared in my mind.
The black dress transformed into a suit, overlaying Kim Ha-yeon's slender figure.
Squelch.
The first orgasm of the night erupted.
"How was that, Oppa? Did I do well?"
[Suyeon's Oppa gifted 2000 balloons!]
"Hah, haah."
My breathing grew rough despite it being just the beginning.
Not from exhaustion, but from dizzying excitement.
***
My consciousness returned with the final orgasm.
Sweat dripped from Suyeon's forehead on screen, but she still wore a smile.
I checked my balance.
6.8 million won.
A hollow laugh escaped me at the remaining amount.
"Haah... I hope this hellish routine ends today..."
Closing my eyes, I made a desperate wish amidst the depraved aftermath.
***
The next morning.
At the gate, Lee Yul handed me a lunchbox as usual.
"Ta-da! Today it's inari sushi.
You don't dislike it, right...?"
"I'm not picky."
"Phew, that's a relief. Me too!
...Maybe Yunha-ssi and I are somewhat compatible?"
"Being together every day, it's good if we match in small things."
"...That's true!"
While eating the inari sushi, I glanced at my Status Window.
The Sun had dimmed to barely visible slits.
Today's the day.
"Let's go."
"Okay!"
***
Upon entering the First Layer, I aggressively hunted monsters.
"Hah... hah... Yunha-ssi, why the rush today?"
"I told you on the phone! Got other plans this afternoon!"
Lee Yul panted as she caught up and cast buffs on me.
Each time her light touched me, power surged through my body.
One.
Two.
Ten.
As I continued hunting, covered in blood—
Snap—.
A sound like something breaking deep inside my body.
It's happening.
I opened my Status Window.
The Sun floating in the air had finally revealed its base.
"Let's stop here today."
"Huh? Already?"
"Yeah, let's head out."
Though Lee Yul looked puzzled, I hurried toward the exit.
***
Immediately after exiting the gate, I tossed the pouch of monster cores to Lee Yul.
"Please exchange these. I've got urgent business!"
"Huh? Yunha-ssi, where—"
"It's urgent! Going ahead!"
I couldn't hold back any longer.
I stomped the ground.
A nearby commercial building caught my eye.
I sprinted madly toward the restroom.
My entire body felt like it was freezing.
Fortunately, the farthest stall was empty.
The moment I locked the door, bone-chilling cold exploded through me.
"Ugh...!"
My vision blurred.
My hands moved downward on their own.
— "Oppa, don't look at anyone else. Just me."
Suddenly, Lee Suyeon in a red dress appeared, caressing my chest.
The first orgasm erupted beneath my underwear.
— "I know you can stand up again."
Kim Ha-yen embraced me from behind, whispering in my ear.
The second.
Then—
Footsteps sounded outside.
Someone grabbed my stall door handle.
"Anyone in there?"
Gritting my teeth, I held my breath.
"Why the moaning? Hey!"
"..."
"...Wrong stall?"
The footsteps receded.
But it was too early to relax.
The terror of possibly being caught amplified my pleasure to explosive levels.
Another illusion appeared before my tightly shut eyes.
— "Yunha-ssi!"
— "Ta-da! Today it's inari sushi."
— "Let's do our best tomorrow too, okay?"
Lee Yul reached for my cock.
Can I resist this?
"Haaah, uuaaah—!"
Everything went dark.
In the darkness, a final illusion flickered.
A faint silver light enveloped me.
Soft, cold hands caressed my body.
As freezing cold penetrated to my bones, my consciousness completely faded.
***
Inside the stall.
The massive body collapsed on the narrow floor began convulsing.
The giant wrapped in rags started shrinking inward.
Thick bones narrowed, tanned skin turning transparently pale.
Broad shoulders narrowed as clothes loosened.
Short, coarse blond hair turned silver from the roots, cascading down like a waterfall.
Rough breathing transformed into delicate moans.
Where the giant once lay, only a silver-haired woman buried in rags remained.
***
A cold tile floor pressed against my cheek.
"...Ugh."
I barely opened my eyes.
The fluorescent lights above were blinding.
When I tried pushing myself up, my body felt feather-light.
So light.
Staggering upright, I felt a heavy weight on my chest.
The oversized clothes slipped off one shoulder.
...Finally.
I stumbled toward the mirror.
Silver hair, blue eyes, pale skin.
And large breasts peeking through the rags.
With delicate fingers, I touched my cheek.
It was soft.
"...It's done. I'm back."
Joy and relief flooded me simultaneously.
I forcibly held back the tears threatening to form.
But at the same time—
Memories of living as a man for two weeks flashed by.
The heavy body.
The creaking mind.
That idiot who couldn't even do four-digit multiplication without a calculator.
And the people I met in that form—Kim Ha-yeon, Lee Suyeon... and Lee Yul.
I closed and reopened my eyes.
This is the men's restroom.
I need to get out now.
Tightening the oversized clothes to cover myself as much as possible,
I tore off some leather to tie my hair roughly at the nape.
One last check in the mirror, then my phone.
"I'm running out of time!"
Forty minutes until broadcast.
Even taking a taxi to the studio would be cutting it close.
***
While waiting for the taxi, I organized my thoughts.
Among the neatly arranged memories, my donation records from the past two weeks surfaced.
"Ghk."
I barely suppressed the scream trying to escape.
"...I spent over 9 million won on this crap?"
My neck stiffened.
The horror of my past two weeks as a gullible whale hit me hard.
"Can't I request a refund from Lee Suyeon now...?"
As if that'd work.
Lee Suyeon's smiling face appeared in my mind.
Sighing, I waved at an approaching taxi.
***
Ignoring the driver's strange looks at my pitiful state, I got in.
"You have the address, right? Please hurry."
I opened my phone and went to the fan cafe.
Immediately began drafting my comeback announcement.
[Everyone, I've finally been discharged from the hospital. Sorry for not updating sooner.]
[Heading to Haneul Company's broadcast now. Please come watch if you can.]
The necessary words flowed effortlessly.
My typing fingers paused mid-air.
My fingers...
Just earlier they were so thick I kept making typos.
But no time for pointless thoughts.
— Click.
Took a selfie showing only my face and attached it to the announcement.
...I really returned to this form.
After posting, I found Lee Yul in my contacts.
After some thought, I deliberately wrote in rough speech.
...This should work?
[Kang Yunha: Won't be able to dungeon for a while. Will contact when I can.]
[Kang Yunha: Keep training until then! I'll check later!]
Lee Yul's face flickered in my mind.
...Sorry.
But dealing with Haneul Company comes first now.
I immediately opened SNS to Keunson Gom's messages.
His resentful, whiny texts filled the chat.
"Tch."
Sighing, I typed:
[Wolha: Was hospitalized for 2 weeks, couldn't reply...
Would appreciate if you came back.]
A minute later, the unread marker disappeared.
No reply came.
Well, a guy who went around telling everyone he'd left wouldn't respond immediately.
Putting my phone down, I looked outside.
Buildings filled my vision.
Two weeks off air.
Rampant rumors.
Chaotic public opinion.
Top donor's departure.
Objectively the worst situation possible.
...But not irreversible.
***
[Internet Broadcast Gallery]
Title: Wolha's back lololol
Comeback notice just posted
User: New selfie too. EXIF shows today's date.
User: So it wasn't desertion lol
User: Where were you for 2 weeks?
User: She said she was hospitalized, why don't you believe her?
User: Arin's live right now, chat's spamming about Wolha's return, her face is priceless LOL
User: LMAO screenshots are out, hilarious
User: Haneul Company's today, wonder if Wolha's appearing?
User: Probably crawled back scared of penalty fees lol
User: If she runs into Arin backstage, gonna be comedy gold
***
The taxi stopped at the studio building.
Taking a deep breath, I entered the lobby.
People glanced at me as I passed through to the elevator.
Head lowered, I got in.
Once the doors closed, I looked up.
The mirror showed a disheveled woman—no makeup, unkempt hair.
Get it together, Kang Yunha.
You can do this.
Ding—.
The doors opened to the waiting room.
Inside, female streamers' chatter and Park Haneul's voice leaked out.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.
The lively atmosphere froze instantly.
Sharp stares all turned toward me.
***
Same time, Settlement Office entrance.
Lee Yul stood blankly holding the pouch Yunha had tossed her.
She'd already exchanged the cores and put Yunha's share in an envelope, but had no one to give it to.
Her phone buzzed.
Lee Yul quickly checked the message.
Her shoulders slumped.
"...Won't see each other for a while?"
Dejectedly staring at her phone, Lee Yul suddenly raised her head.
She slapped both cheeks and clenched her fists.
"Still... I should buy equipment in advance so I can give it to Yunha-ssi when he returns!"
