Earth Ding! [Quest]
Complete homework submission on time before the day ends.
Reward: 300 + 75 (25%) Karma
Failure Penalty: -
"...This is... pretty nice, honestly..."
The quest had popped up even on Earth. Luckily for me, they were all the kind that cleared themselves without much effort—quests popping up one after another.
Things like not being late to class, greeting the convenience store clerk, wearing different clothes from yesterday, brushing teeth after meals. Mostly obvious daily habits.
I could really feel the strong intent to turn (former) Park Chanyoung into a proper human being. The only issue was it made me feel a bit shitty, treating me like I was on that bastard's level...
"But looking at how fast these quests clear... I can put up with it."
That +25% tacked onto the rewards made me tolerant of all the stress. I'd been seeing it for days now, so I was used to it, but it still put me in a good mood every time.
I finished my homework quickly, emailed it to the professor, confirmed the quest clear, then called up the Status Window and dove into Terraforming.
I spent one day training inside Terraforming, then one day attending classes on Earth. That was how I kept my balance.
Three days had passed on Earth, but for me, it was a total of six.
"Hey, why'd you do that...? You were trying to shake her off 'cause you didn't like her?"
"Uh...? Just kinda..."
Baek Hamin and Go Dayeon had broken up. Right on schedule—exactly three days, as I'd predicted.
Tough break for Baek Hamin, but the whole university knew about it. Go Dayeon was super active on SNS, and the rumors about them dating had spread way too far, drawing tons of eyes.
Early-20s guys and girls who romanticize campus rom-coms pour all their attention into pretty couples' love lives. Especially if it's gossip fodder.
Dating at a cafe near school? Rumors fly. Shopping on some famous street? Rumors everywhere. Their private messages staying secret was the bare minimum...
With Go Dayeon's personality, she'd never let rumors blame her for the breakup. She'd clear the air without hesitation. Fair enough—she's barely at fault from what I've heard.
Go Dayeon kept it subtle on her public SNS. Blasting someone outright would've backfired on her image.
Her strategy? Friends. Word was spreading through them, just as planned.
How Baek Hamin had acted over the past three days...
"...Sigh. I should've realized when you got all serious about CCing her..."
"..."
"Jiyeon's pissed at you now. I get shaking off Go Dayeon, but doing it so obviously? What about Jiyeon, who introduced you two...? Apologize to her later, at least via text."
Baek Hamin started hanging his head, going quiet. His face was so easy to read—I could guess his thoughts effortlessly.
He was pissed. Not showing it openly, but my sharp eyes and short height let me catch it: his ugly, twisted scowl.
Fucking moron.
He didn't get why his friend Jiyeon—who'd set them up—was mad, or why he'd failed. No effort to understand, obviously.
He figured he was blameless. Just like that personality I'd come to know all too well.
A guy who blamed every misfortune on externals, never himself. Had that changed in under a week?
No way.
For twenty years, he'd chalked up rejections to his looks. Now with a handsome face, same behavior should've gotten different reactions. But nope—negative stares everywhere.
"Fine... whatever. Not talking at all during dates and just eating? Maybe not fully your fault...
"But..."
"..."
"You barely eat normally—why order four main courses solo at a restaurant? Her Insta showed you couldn't even finish half."
Gluttony, duh.
"And making Go Dayeon pay for a 150,000-won bill? What the hell? She posted the receipt. She covered it, right?"
"Uh... Well... Hot guys get treated by girls, don't they...?"
"...What...? The fuck... hold up, that doesn't even make sense?"
Wait... that dream talk when we swapped—'girls shower hot guys with money and gifts'—wasn't exaggeration? Actual belief?
And he tested it day one? ...Impressive. How'd it not blow up immediately? Go Dayeon not roasting him on the spot makes her a saint. For real.
His friend clutched his head, face twisted, after that jaw-dropper. Then a deep sigh.
—Hoo...
"...Guess bad feelings built up since you couldn't trash-talk Go Dayeon openly... She'll tank your image if she airs it. You cool?"
"Uh... umm..."
"Sigh... You're smarter than me—you'll handle it."
Damn... another saint pretending not to hear. We must've been pretty tight.
Anyone normal wouldn't take Baek Hamin's words at face value.
They'd hear: 'I'm mad at Go Dayeon for reasons I won't share, and making it obvious.'
"...Anyway, wanna hear it from you—is the rumor true? It's exaggerated, right?"
"Uh...? What...?"
Fish... lips... flapping...
—Haa...
"...Nah. Not for out here. You wouldn't have anyway. Don't sweat it."
Baek Hamin's friend started to speak, sighed, and swallowed it back. I could guess what he'd meant to say.
But it never came—instead, he dropped one line and left.
"...And shower for once. You stink lately."
I knew that feeling well. When we first swapped, my old body's stench was revolting. Never imagined human odor could hit that hard.
What's wild? That's the mildest rumor floating around.
Excluding that friend's words, here's what I'd overheard on Baek Hamin's fuckups. My skill sharpened my hearing—picked up all the whispers.
First: Whole school knew he had a girlfriend, yet he hit on girls for numbers. Craziest part? Same uni female classmates. Boyfriend or not, didn't matter.
Several cut him off; his rep among girls was trash now.
Second—hilariously, involves me. Huge wise-man time kept me off SNS till I heard. He'd name-dropped me, spewing every curse. Looks, height, skin, even dragging up I'm an orphan. Too vile—folks cringed.
I installed SNS quick, screenshotted everything. Lawsuit material.
I'd said no outright bullying at uni before? He crossed that line. What'd proud alumni think of classmate Baek Hamin's post?
And last... Hard to believe even for me: He got Go Dayeon drunk, tried motel. Probably what his friend almost said.
Dating or not, official two days in, blackout drunk? That's beast-level.
Good it stopped short... fucking scum.
Relieved it was just an attempt. Hoped no more lives ruined by that bastard.
Bar near uni—plenty recognized social Go Dayeon. Friend spotted her pre-motel, crashed at her place.
Next morning, full story out—Go Dayeon flipped, dumped him. Total dating time? Barely over 48 hours.
I brushed past Baek Hamin on my way out, murmuring low.
"Look forward to that lawsuit hitting your door soon."
"!!..."
The fuck that glare? Like I was the SNS curser? Hilarious prick.
I laughed loud in his face and kept walking.
—Screech... thud!
"Oh? Baby Angel?"
"Heehee... Oops! Park Chanyoung! Hello!"
Baby Angel's fury melted into a greeting when she saw me home. I eyed Anzelli—her chat partner—asking what was up with my face.
"Welcome back, Chanyoung! Uh... well, that Baek Hamin's handler angel? She's making crazy demands on my junior... Baby Angel's pissed."
"Such outrageous demands!"
Baby Angel's face flared up again at Anzelli's words. Angels this 3D? She stresses me out every time... Half my fault, probably.
"What's the deal?"
"Mm... involves you. That SNS rant from Baek Hamin?"
"Ah... no way?"
"Their handler begged no lawsuit on the curses... Wants you convinced."
"No way we're intervening! Angels only step in if we caused it! I've watched that shitshow grinding my teeth! Why didn't she stop the post?? Her fuckup—why us?!"
Thud! Thud!
Baby Angel pounded her chest in rage.
"...Anzelli? Mind brewing some cloud tree tea for Baby Angel?"
"Ah! Got it!"
Whoosh! Patpatpat...
Cloud tree tea blocks stress—she'd calm down. Anzelli took my cue, fetched three cups from the kitchen.
—Slurp...
"Hoo... So... sorry. I got too worked up..."
Apparently Baek Hamin had his own handler angel. Even so, he'd never listen.
Guy like that doesn't heed advice—wouldn't have that personality.
"So? I'll say it straight: Even if you beg, I'll do what I want."
No matter Anzelli's plea, no means no. I needed to fuck him over. Lawsuit incoming.
Unless Baek Hamin pays worse.
"We won't stop you! Do what you want, Chanyoung! Hell, please sue... That handler rubs me wrong."
"Mm... yeah. My junior and hers are rivals... Bad blood."
"I'll reach mid-tier angel before that jerk!"
—Sip!
Baby Angel and Anzelli sipped tea amiably. Tea blocks stress, not grudges, huh.
Good they weren't blocking me. Now just wait for Baek Hamin's handler to show?