"Ji-woo, Ji-woo. Which photo do you think came out the prettiest? You pick."
"Hmm…. …The third one?"
"The third one, okay~."
When I picked the photo, Yoo Do-a said she got it and started composing her Instagram post at the speed of light.
Maybe it's because she's an S-rank Hunter in the speed category, but her typing speed was insane. I was watching from right beside her and couldn't even see her fingers move.
"Look, Ji-woo. I just posted it, okay?"
"Uh… hm……."
I peered at the phone Yoo Do-a held out, and there it was — posted on my Instagram — a photo that would make the last traces of the man Lee Ji-woo clutch the back of his neck and keel over.
A black beret. A yellow butterfly hairpin.
A cute little red vest over a white frilly blouse. A black-based plaid skirt. And a pink dolphin plushie hugged tight in her arms.
"What do you think, Arkiel?"
"You look absolutely radiant, my lady."
"Hmm…."
According to Yoo Do-a, it was exactly this kind of girly, cute photo that was going to make me money — but I still wasn't sure I got it.
I mean, today was literally the first time I'd ever posted a photo on Instagram.
Every time I refreshed, the like count went up, and comments were flooding in one after another. But since I still had no idea what was what, it all felt a little foreign.
- omg so cute i'm dyinggggggg
- Cute!!!!!!!!!!!!
- dying of cuteness
- So adorable 😍
- she's precious ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
- ❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜
- eek my heart stopped 💕💕💕💕
"Uh, uh… hm."
I still couldn't bring myself to look at the comment section properly — it was just wall-to-wall people saying I was cute. Felt kind of embarrassing.
Getting told I was pretty or adorable by a bunch of strangers was something I had zero experience with. It wasn't like this had ever happened to me before.
Still, if I had to say whether it felt good or bad — it felt good. There was no real reason to feel bad about being told I looked lovable.
Either way, it meant people found my face appealing. That was fine. Appealing beats off-putting any day.
Anyway, Yoo Do-a seemed to have serious influence on Instagram too. The moment she tagged my account, people came flooding in.
Her claim that she could make me famous wasn't just empty talk.
"Hmm…. The way I see it, you're gonna overtake me someday, Ji-woo?"
"Huh?"
"Something's already off about you, our little Ji-woo. The engagement is insane for an account that was just made."
Yoo Do-a said ad requests would probably start pouring in before long.
Of course, I couldn't take every ad, so she promised she'd go through the ones that came my way and let me know which ones were worth doing.
"Alright then, let's go get cake. We need to get there before noon if we want to beat the crowd."
I changed back into my original clothes and headed to the dessert café that Yoo Do-a said was her regular spot.
For the record, the outfit I'd just tried on was something Yoo Do-a had bought as a gift, swiping her own card for it. The clothes were neatly packaged in a fancy shopping bag.
I wasn't sure when I'd ever have occasion to wear it. But Arkiel said it suited me incredibly well, so I went ahead and accepted it.
"Ji-woo, do you not eat macarons?"
"C-cake is fine."
"The macarons here are really good though."
Cake is my absolute limit when it comes to desserts.
If I go as far as eating macarons, I feel like even my taste buds will turn into a girl's.
Next thing I know, I'll be raving about how amazing rosé tteokbokki cheese buldak malatang blueberry smoothie pasta — that whole long string of things — is.
Anyway, macarons were still a step too far for me. Wearing girl's clothes and eating girl's food are two different territories. At least for me, right now.
-Nom nom.
-Nom nom.
"How is it, Ji-woo? Is the cake good?"
"Sho good. Absholutely."
Back in my convenience store part-timer days, cake was practically a luxury item, so this was genuinely the first time I'd had cake in years.
The last time was a small slice at the final birthday party at the group home.
Maybe that's why — the moment I tasted cake again after so long, my tongue threw up the white flag and surrendered. Didn't even last a second.
-Munch munch.
-Munch munch.
"Ji-woo, Ji-woo. Look over here for a sec."
"?"
-Click.
"Heh heh. Cake ads are gonna come rolling in too."
Yoo Do-a murmured to herself with a mysterious little smile.
Then she showed me the photos she'd just taken and asked which one looked the prettiest.
She was going to post the cake-eating photos on Instagram too?
"The second one?"
"Okay. Second one."
I didn't really get why anyone would post photos of themselves eating cake on Instagram, but the cake mattered more to me than that.
It was my first time having department store cake.
"Arkiel. You should try some too."
"I, I couldn't possibly."
"This cake exists because of you, Arkiel. Have one bite. It's really good."
I cut a small piece and popped it into Arkiel's mouth despite her firm refusals — and her eyes lit up.
Apparently it suited a dragon's palate just fine.
It had to have been made by an S-rank pastry chef. If even a Hidden Boss approved, that was one seriously impressive baker.
No wonder Yoo Do-a was a regular.
-Ding.
[ A__rin is now following you. ]
[ A__rin, Q_B.Seol_hwa, and others liked your post. ]
"Oh."
Just as I was finishing up the cake, my phone started dinging with notifications.
Kim A-rin, who had apparently gone off on some kind of Dungeon assignment, had liked the cake-eating photo.
So Kim A-rin saw my Instagram. Well, Yoo Do-a had tagged my account on the Haetae Guild's official Instagram, so it made sense that A-rin, being a Haetae Guild member, would've seen it.
- A__rin : didn't know you liked cake
ㄴ HT_Jiwoo : this one is seriously good
ㄴ A__rin : I want to poke your cheek
ㄴ HT_Jiwoo : what are you on about
I replied to Kim A-rin's comment, then spent a moment browsing what other people had written.
Honestly, I was curious. What kind of comments would people leave on a cute girl happily munching on cake.
- Parkgwontae : Such a pretty young lady eating so heartily..^^
- Parkgwontae : Hope you eat lots and lots of yummy things tomorrow and the day after too..😊😊😊😊
"Kgh."
I closed the comment section in exactly ten seconds.
I couldn't help it — I'd spotted a few comments with a very familiar name and a very familiar way of writing. Right below Kim A-rin's comment, no less.
Why is the store manager showing up here.
Could be someone with the same name, but usually when that happens, it's the person I know. There's no way a stranger with the same name would write in the exact same style.
"Um…. Ji-woo? What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing…. Really, nothing……."
I got up from my seat quickly. The Instagram notifications kept buzzing and buzzing, and it was getting to me.
I decided to just go ahead and buy the dress I'd been planning to get. Otherwise I'd keep thinking about the store manager.
I was a hundred times more embarrassed than I'd been reading all those other comments calling me cute.
-Ding.
-Ding.
[Store Manager] - (Paris Baguette cake gift voucher)
[Store Manager] - Almost forgot your birthday's coming up soon.. sorry sorry 🙏🙏
[Store Manager] - Happy birthday!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
"…………."
I ended up having to turn my phone off entirely.
I hadn't done anything particularly wrong today, but for some reason I felt like I was becoming trash in real time.
Why are you doing this to me, Manager.
We're strangers now.
"Hey, Ji-woo. Are you feeling okay? Did something go down wrong?"
"Oh, I'm totally fine. Really."
I frantically brushed off Yoo Do-a's puzzled voice and quickly stepped onto the escalator.
I couldn't let Yoo Do-a find out about the store manager.
About the past when Lee Ji-woo was a piece of trash who couldn't even ride the bus.
What if she decided someone that ultra-trashy had no business being in the guild and kicked me out.
"A-Arkiel. Help me pick now. Which one do you think would be best?"
"Hmm……."
With Arkiel's help, I started picking out a dress to wear when I went to see Erdi.
Wearing a flowy dress like this into a Dungeon would probably get it dirty fast.
But apparently Erdi liked this kind of thing.
And even if the monsters in the Dungeon came at me, I had Arkiel with me now.
She wouldn't just stand there watching while monsters ruined my dress.
"Is this everything they have?"
"Probably?"
"Hmm…."
Arkiel went through the displayed dresses one by one, then selected a few.
With the note that these were the best of what this store currently had to offer.
"Oh, have you made your selection?"
"Y-yes."
"Then I'll help you try them on~. Please follow me this way."
Whether Yoo Do-a had said something to her or not, a store employee came over first and led me to the fitting room.
Then she moved around me with practiced efficiency, adjusting the dress this way and that, darting around me from all sides.
I just stood still and she dressed me herself.
Apparently dresses like this are hard to put on alone — you always need someone to help.
"Oh my, you look absolutely stunning~. You're a total princess, miss~."
"……Uh hm."
"Your companion has a much better eye than I do. It really suits you perfectly~."
Feeling somehow even more embarrassed by the employee's high-pitched enthusiasm, I shuffled out of the fitting room.
And asked Arkiel and Yoo Do-a, who were waiting outside for me.
"Um, I'm all dressed…."
-Fidget fidget.
-Fidget fidget.
"…Does it look okay?"
"!"
"!"
Arkiel and Yoo Do-a both simultaneously had big exclamation marks flash across their eyes at the sight of my dress.
Arkiel especially looked more moved than anyone.
Tears even welling up a little.
"How can you be so noble……. Hic…."
"S-stop. Arkiel, stop. Why are you crying."
"I'm sorry…. You look just like you did back then, and before I knew it, tears…. …Hoo."
It seemed like my past self had been fond of wearing flowy dresses like this.
Whatever else might have been different, at least our taste in clothes wasn't the same.
-Whisper whisper.
"Do you think Erdi will like it?"
"Yes, certainly."
"Hmm…."
Anyway, as long as Erdi liked the outfit, that was enough.
The moment I got Arkiel's okay, I dashed back into the fitting room and changed into my regular clothes.
Staying in the dress any longer was making me feel embarrassed.
I'd have to put it back on when I went to see Erdi anyway, but still.
"Thanks for the dress, unnie."
"Don't mention it, it's nothing. It really suited you so well."
On the way back home.
I thanked her for making time today, and at the same time asked Yoo Do-a's permission for something.
That I'd be going out briefly with Arkiel tomorrow.
"Going out? Where to?"
"Oh, j-just looking around the neighborhood? I've been cooped up at home and I'm a little bored."
I couldn't bring myself to say I was going to meet a Hidden Boss tomorrow.
I just fumbled through an excuse about wandering around the neighborhood with Arkiel.
"Well, if it's Arkiel. That should be fine."
Fortunately, Yoo Do-a gave her permission without much suspicion, telling me to have a good time.
In her eyes, Arkiel was apparently more than capable of serving as my guardian.
And honestly, she actually was. Right now Arkiel was working hard to protect me by any means necessary.
"Still, don't come back too late, okay? Strange men might snatch you up~."
"They'd be reduced to ash first."
"Hm? What was that?"
"Oh, nothing, unnie. Arkiel was just joking just now."
I made excuses on Arkiel's behalf and quickly got out of Yoo Do-a's limousine.
Then I ran straight toward home. I couldn't have Yoo Do-a pressing me with more questions.
She was already sharp enough as it was — if she started interrogating me, I had no confidence I could keep up the excuses.
"Hey, Arkiel."
"Yes. Speak freely."
"Um, when other people are around — no more talk about reducing things to ash, okay."
"Understood."
Only after giving Arkiel a gentle warning did I start discussing what to do tomorrow.
All I knew right now was that I needed to find Erdi and ask for her help.
I had the navigation talisman Hwaran gave me, but I didn't know Erdi's exact location.
If Erdi happened to be in some remote Dungeon out in the countryside, just getting there would be a whole ordeal.
Or she might even be overseas, for all I knew.
"Arkiel, do you have any idea where she might be?"
"Hmm…. She was fond of dark places."
Well, she is a rat.
I couldn't actually say that out loud, so instead I asked more specifically about where Erdi might be.
"Arkiel, can you feel anything? Like her energy or something?"
"Nothing in particular, aside from yours…."
"Hmm."
It seemed like for now, I had no choice but to rely on Hwaran's navigation talisman.
Still better than having no clues at all.
With the intention of at least getting a rough sense of her location in advance, I spoke Erdi's name to the talisman.
-Whisper whisper.
"Er……di……."
-Hummm.
"Oh. Did it work?"
The talisman, having heard the three syllables of Erdi's name, began to tremble — and slowly floated up into the air.
Then it came to a dead stop in the middle of the living room.
-Flash!
"Whoa?!"
It blazed with an intense light.
Not a navigation tool — a flashbang.
"…!"
But Arkiel's eyes wavered.
The look of someone who had seen something.
"It's…opened. Look."
"Huh? What is…?"
Arkiel then, instead of answering, grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.
And there it was — a black hole, torn open in midair.
"What… what is that?"
"In my estimation, it appears to be a passage connected to wherever Erdi is."
She urged me on, saying the passage might close if we didn't go through right now.
Arkiel hadn't known the talisman would work like this either.
Honestly, neither had I. I'd expected something like a map to pop out.
No, more than that —
"R-right now?"
"Yes. There's no time."
In the end, I changed back into the dress and hurried toward the small Gate.
Because Arkiel had a look of urgency on her face, saying it was a one-use talisman and now or never.
If I'd known it would be like this, I would've saved it for tomorrow.
Somehow, a Gate had opened inside my house.
…I could close it later, right?
-Ding.
[ Confirmation of Entity: Lee Ji-woo's return detected. ]
[ Return coordinates updated to Entity: Lee Ji-woo's last recorded location — Hidden Area. ]
The moment I leapt through the Gate, the familiar notification window appeared before me.
But unlike when I'd first met Hwaran, I wasn't suddenly teleported anywhere.
Arkiel was still standing right beside me.
…With a look on her face that was, for some reason, quite a bit more fearful than usual.
【 [ ! ] WARNING: Hidden Boss Detected 】
【 [ ! ] WARNING: Hidden Boss Detected 】
【 [ ! ] The true ruler of this Dungeon has its eyes on you……… 】
[ Entity: Erdis Arcana recognized. ]
[ Encounter with Hidden Entity confirmed. ]
[ Saving biometric data for Entity: Erdis Arcana……. ]
[ Save complete. ]
[ Current saved data count: 4 ]
A wasteland filled with nothing but crumbled buildings.
Rubble blanketed everything in every direction.
And from the center of that rubble — a pair of blue eyes, quietly watching me and Arkiel.
"…Hey."
"Why did you come."
A kid who looked at least two years younger than me, speaking informally.
Must be the rat thing — even her informal speech had a squeaky edge to it.
