YellowLight’s report and sales revenue came in.
Apparently, not many kids are studying hard enough to buy it right away—just one friend aiming for med school and the cram school director offered a few tens of thousands of won.
But.
“They’re offering 100 to 150 per bottle for the entrance exam?”
The issue is, instead of drinking it to memorize knowledge for studying, the kids want it for a temporary buff on exam day.
They’re all reserving it for the college entrance exam, and the price, even for students, is climbing into the millions of won.
“The kid retaking the exam said they’d convince their mom.”
These kids don’t have that kind of money—am I ripping them off?
I felt a bit guilty.
Even though I’m the one selling it.
Because of that, unless they’re Daechi-dong kids, I planned to sell it discreetly at a low price to avoid profiteering controversies.
I set up YellowLight as the middleman, intending to charge her a harsh franchise fee to keep things clean.
But for the day before the entrance exam, she’s bringing in deals worth millions per bottle.
“Rather than wasting money on a semester’s tuition or a third year of cram school, they’re going all-in.”
Some kids are even willing to pay more than the going rate.
Since it’s November and the cold snap makes rice drink last longer, I could make 30–40 bottles if no monsters show up. So…
“…This is some serious money.”
I know I could make even more profit, but…
“Exploiting parents’ anxieties with unauthorized health food sales in the education district.”
If it goes wrong, that’s straight-up news material.
They’d investigate the ingredients, but it’s just regular rice drink, right?
Under a microscope, the bacteria wouldn’t have “Intelligence +1” floating above their heads.
Still, a cram school in Daejeon probably won’t draw too much attention.
“Or maybe I should go for a big score.”
Health foods that boost brainpower for exam-takers would fetch the highest returns in Daechi-dong.
But.
“The damn gate’s the problem.”
When would I even go to Daechi-dong?
“If I go via Suseo, I could get there and back quickly…”
And here I am, searching how long it takes from Daejeon to Daechi-dong.
For now, it’s safer to sell to acquaintances in Daejeon.
I need money, but getting into trouble is my biggest worry.
In Daechi-dong, there are people who’d pay millions or tens of millions if their kids’ Intelligence went up.
But with that much money, rumors spread fast, and if I mess up in Daechi-dong, things could get complicated if the word gets out too big.
“Come to think of it, I heard a junior started a career in Daechi-dong teaching English after studying abroad.”
They say the money there is on another level once you establish yourself.
Should I hand it off to them?
The goal is to earn enough to buy this studio apartment, but if I can’t block the gate, it’s pointless.
I’ll think about it when I can block it more stably.
There’s no big exam for a while, and I’ve distributed all the samples, so I’m not making rice drink for a few days.
This time, it’s rice cakes.
“Pound glutinous rice, make rice cake dough, steam it in the rice cooker, and…”
Once you taste money…
Ugh, forget the gate, I wanna make money.
That’s basically my mental state now.
Honestly, I wish the monsters would just stop coming.
The King Slime almost killed me.
“Isn’t there a good way to make money and block the gate…”
[What’s with this heat you’re feeling after summer’s over?]
CatMan’s jab leaves me speechless.
Hunting monsters in this room and going out to make money are conflicting.
That value clash is making me waver, which is fair.
Just then.
“Space teleportation!”
Lately, the Sprout Fairy grabs my attention with one-liners like that and giggles ehehe when I look at her.
“Oh, right, Princess. Space teleportation?”
“Magic 100!”
“Magic 100, huh? Oh?”
Oh? Is that real?
It seems every time I hit a certain stat threshold, a unique ability tied to that stat pops up.
Thanks to the last Fairy’s Tear, my Magic’s up to 57.
At 50 Magic, I got enhanced recovery.
Enhanced detection.
Then advanced ice skills, and I can cast inextinguishable flames without a lighter.
It’s way more convenient than when my Magic was low.
And then.
<Mutation Factor – Felidae>
This popped up as usable.
It sounds like transformation—maybe I’d turn into a giant cat?
I haven’t tried it. What if I can’t turn back?
“So, if I want to hit 100 Magic, will you cry for me?”
“You gotta love me!”
It’s tears from being moved, huh?
I thought crying from the Fairy’s Tear would give me items, but it didn’t.
Obviously, making her cry with bad intentions wouldn’t yield good items.
I don’t want to do that anyway.
But if I love her any more…
If I mess up, this thumb-sized princess might get me wrapped around her finger.
Imagine I’m having a good time with a girlfriend, and suddenly a little girl’s voice yells, “I hate you! You said you loved me!”
That’d be a massive blow to my life’s business.
I worried for a sec, but it’s pointless.
Even if I get a girlfriend, I can’t bring her to this room.
“What? Why won’t you let me in? Oppa, you hiding a girl in there?”
Yeah, I’m hiding a girl.
One who directly demands love.
“Uh, um. Well… cute.”
“…You’ve changed.”
I wish I was better at expressing affection, but my family wasn’t like that.
It’s Mom’s fault.
She’s always doing temple massages or something.
Though I did go around the daycare bragging about Mom’s “big poop,” making her the poop lady.
When Mom struggled in the bathroom and felt relieved and happy afterward, I thought it was something to brag about.
I bet even if I have kids, I’ll be like my mom.
Still, seeing the Sprout Fairy sulking tugs at my heart.
I closed my eyes, stretched my arms to the sky, and shouted.
“L-L-Love you!”
It’s like a magic pose.
A pose that makes saying embarrassing things like apologies easier.
“Ehe, ehehe.”
It’s awkward, but she’s smiling so brightly, it feels okay.
Practicing this might help me nurture younger, weaker beings with love, right?
“Leaf!”
“Hm?”
“Take it. Eat it!”
Eat raw leaves?
Well.
After eating a monster, there’s nothing I can’t eat.
But the Sprout Fairy’s pot and flower seem like one body. Is it okay to take it?
Is she shedding leaves for fall?
“Can I really take it?”
“It’s fine. Take it all!”
So cute.
They say when she grows fully, she’ll awaken all her memories and regain her original form.
But she’ll still be a tiny girl like this, right?
Uh.
Why am I thinking of Room 202’s light green Calvin Klein panties?
Specifically, her butt curves.
And how she pressed her thighs together to hide them…
“Argh, you crazy idiot.”
“Why?! Don’t hurt yourself!”
I smacked my head, and the Sprout Fairy asked.
“No, no, it’s nothing.”
“Don’t hurt yourself! I hate pain!”
“Thanks.”
“Tell me if you’re worried! I’ll listen!”
She’s smiling so brightly with her teeth showing—super cute.
But I won’t share my worries.
They’re too adult for the Sprout Fairy.
Anyway, a girl who headbutts walls is a no-go.
She’d get early-onset dementia, and I’d be stuck visiting a nursing home, spoon-feeding a much younger grandma, carrying her hunched form to bed.
Even if she’s my wife by then, I’d have to change her diapers…
Uh?
Ahem.
Thinking of dementia reminded me of something.
My paternal grandfather is still alive, over 90, but he’s been diagnosed with early cognitive decline, suspected dementia, and is on medication.
Would boosting Intelligence help?
Tasting money makes me think of all sorts of things.
If item effects could help take care of my family, that’d be great, right?
But can an Intelligence boost treat dementia…
“You’re not eating?”
“Oh, no, no. I’ll eat.”
“I’ll eat!”
The Sprout Fairy seems to mimic words she doesn’t know.
I took a leaf from her pot and ate it.
Hm.
It tastes like ground spinach with just the green pigment extracted.
No real flavor.
What stat does this boost?
Hm?
[Consuming a fairy’s leaf allows you to acquire fairy skills.]
<Gate Transmission LV1>
You can unilaterally send inanimate objects through a gate connecting dimensions.
Items can only be retrieved if someone with this skill on the other side sends them back.
Depending on Magic and skill level, larger items or direct gate usage may be possible.
“Oh?”
I’d thought about using the gate during the King Slime incident.
Sending hospital germs or something to their world.
Biochemical terrorism.
Or sending sink filter food scraps as payback for the monsters they sent me.
Let’s see if their high level can block germs and stench.
What a fun skill.
“Eat another!”
“Really? It’s okay?”
“Yeah!”
No taste, but I took another leaf and ate it.
The Sprout Fairy has arms but used her petals like arms until now.
It says I can acquire another skill.
And the skill that popped up is…
<Space Teleportation LV1>
Instantly move a distance proportional to your Magic.
Continuous use is possible depending on Magic and level.
Can only teleport to places you’ve been.
“Whoa, w-wow!? Hey, wow! Yesss! Woo!”
I haven’t screamed like this since Son No. 7 chased a ball past the half-line in the Russia World Cup.
Space teleportation. This, this.
If there’s a magic I absolutely wanted, it’s this.
Now I just need to know where corrupt nouveau riche keep their golden calves.
“I love you! Really love you.”
“Ehehe.”
<Sincere Love +100>
It’s been a while since I boosted the Sprout Fairy’s growth with “I love you.”
She sleeps a lot, so I could’ve done it while she was asleep, but with other freeloaders around, it’s embarrassing.
But learning space teleportation makes “I love you” come naturally.
I could love if she asks.
“But you said I need 100 Magic to use it?”
“Do your best! I’ll help!”
Aha, yes, of course.
I smiled warmly, and she giggled shyly.
They say she’ll recall her past life’s memories as an adult when she matures…
She’ll be fine, I think.
“Let’s see.”
To read the description in detail, I checked with an Intelligence buff.
[Skill level increases with usage frequency.]
[Uses: 0/10]
[At Level 1, equipment is not transported.]
[At Level 1, limited to 10 meters.]
[At Level 1, coordinate errors are likely.]
[At Level 1, only usable from a base.]
[36,000-second cooldown exists.]
Pretty strict, huh?
“What’s that about equipment not being transported?”
“Strip naked!”
Terminator, huh?
The moment I become a mage, I’m socially out of reach.
“What’s ‘only usable from a base’?”
“Level 1 is only here! You come back here too!”
Oh.
So it’s a skill to move far within 10 meters and return home early?
Leaving clothes and equipment behind? Like giving up humanity for an urgent poop?
“What about higher levels?”
“Level 10 is worldwide! Every 10 minutes! Just see a picture and go there!”
“Wow.”
I want it so bad.
With this, I’d be free from commuting and could travel the world from my room.
“The training’s a bit tricky…”
Renting another room in this studio tel wouldn’t be hard training, but…
Double rent and an extra deposit are the issue.
How much more do I need?
It’s cheaper than buying the place outright, though.
While I was pondering, the Sprout Fairy shouted, “Hey!”
“I’ll help you! Don’t worry too much.”
“How?”
“If you end up somewhere wrong, I’ll call you back. I’ll save you!”
“Really?”
She’s offering to help with training errors, not the training itself, but her willingness brings a smile.
I watched her warmly, and she copied my earlier dramatic arm-raise, shouting.
“I wanna see you soon!”
Having someone waiting at home feels kinda nice.