Chapter 40

EP.40 The Saint Needs Money

As I was about to leave the orphanage, someone came running up to me breathlessly.

It was Hong Si-eun.

"Big sister!"

I was gradually getting used to my body, but I hadn't really adapted to the relationships with people who saw my changed body.

It meant that no matter how many times I heard "big sister," I couldn't get used to it.

While I was momentarily taken aback by the awkwardness,

the girl, seemingly in a hurry, quickly approached and grabbed my collar.

She tugged at the end of my clothes as if handling a bubble that might disappear at any moment.

"Are you leaving?"

You can tell just by looking.

When I nodded silently, Si-eun looked a bit dejected,

but then, as if accepting it, she let go of my clothes and moved her hand to her own pants pocket.

She fumbled in her pocket and then,

handed me her phone.

"Give me your number!"

I guess even in life, there are times when a girl will ask for your number.

Especially from a current high school student.

...

The fact that the words "current high school student" naturally popped into my head seemed to prove that I was someone thoroughly steeped in the internet, and I felt a bit self-deprecating.

"...."

My feelings were complicated.

It was more of a subtle emotion than happiness.

This was something that would never have happened if it were my original body, and I wasn't sure whether to take it positively or negatively.

The girl's expression darkened as she watched my every move.

Oops.

The silence had lasted too long.

Si-eun's face looked like she was about to burst into tears if I didn't say something soon.

I want her to cry.

...No, that's not right.

I restrained the wicked thought of wanting her to cry just because she had tears in her eyes.

What was my number again?

I never used it, so I couldn't remember.

I didn't want to be remembered as a scatterbrain who couldn't even remember her own phone number, so I eventually took out my phone and handed it to her.

Si-eun took it with a look of gratitude,

"Wow, it's completely old-school..."

Even as she said this, she pressed the buttons on the screen and dialed her own phone.

After confirming that my number had been saved, Si-eun handed the phone back to me,

and with a bright smile that only a girl of her age could give, she said,

"Will you answer if I call?"

"Maybe."

"That's too much!"

My mood could swing wildly depending on the weather,

or even without any warning.

I was a mood-driven person.

If I found it annoying, I definitely wouldn't answer.

So I didn't make a promise I couldn't keep, even if it was just a casual remark.

I tried to register Si-eun's number in my phone.

The phone book, which was empty, flashed in the corner of my eye.

Come to think of it, I had deleted everything.

This had happened a few years ago.

While thinking about this, I was pressing the buttons,

and the girl had already sneaked up to look at the screen on my phone.

I wondered what the problem was.

The high school student complained,

"Big sister, my name is Hong Si-eun, not Hong Si-ga..."

"I know."

"That's too much!"

But it just stuck to my tongue.

Anyway, the first number to enter my empty phone book was hers.

I was more inclined to stuff my phone into my pocket and head home.

Seeing this, Si-eun seemed to have something to say, fidgeting with her mouth.

What now?

Given the atmosphere that suggested she had something else to discuss,

I didn't rush her and just looked at her quietly.

Si-eun finally opened her mouth after a moment.

"Um, big sister."

"Yeah."

"Can we meet again?"

I thought it was a random request.

Wasn't this the attitude of someone who might never see me again?

When I didn't answer immediately, Si-eun started babbling.

"My sister, too. Ah, I mean my real sister. She said she really wants to meet you."

"You have a sibling?"

"Yes, she's eight years older than me."

I had heard of Si-eun's sister in passing.

She was definitely the one who named her dog Doji,

and was probably a weirdo whose brain was pickled in coins.

It was a bit hard to understand why she suddenly wanted to see me.

Why?

Seeing my puzzled expression, Si-eun explained as if making an excuse.

"Because she said she saw someone much prettier than what she likes, and I just couldn't believe it."

"Likes?"

"It's a game character. I didn't want to look at it in detail because I was sure it would make me despise her even more."

"...Likes a game character?"

"She said she would marry it if she could."

What does that mean?

Whether she knew it or not, my thoughts about her sister had shifted from a coin addict to a social misfit who couldn't distinguish between reality and fiction, and then to an otaku.

Si-eun finally let me go at that point.

I thought no one else would hold me back,

so I finally turned my back on the orphanage and headed home.

***

Everyone says this.

The first paycheck disappears easily.

When you start earning money, and a month's effort lands in your account, people tend to spend it all.

Isn't that exactly my story?

810,990.

What does this sequence of six numbers mean?

It's my balance.

The money in my account, which had been over ten million just this morning, was now empty.

Anyone who saw this would think I had gambled it all away.

If I had to help others in a world where I could barely support myself, it was a cheap price to pay.

They say easy money comes and goes easily.

I had shaken off any lingering attachments.

Eight hundred thousand won was certainly not a small amount,

but it wasn't a large sum for someone who wanted to live every day with pineapple pizza.

In a pinch, I could survive a week on a few triangle rice rolls and tap water, but I didn't want to do that.

If it were dog food, maybe.

That was a real delicacy.

Especially because it felt like I was throwing away my human dignity when I ate it...

"...."

I got carried away.

Anyway, if I saved carefully, I could last for two or three months, but I didn't want to live that frugally now.

The word "save" didn't even exist in my vocabulary.

I was impulsive.

If I found something I liked, for example, a payment for unlocking a new appearance in Rainbow Tales,

I knew I would spend the money recklessly, just like before.

I knew I had a messed-up spending habit, but it was too late to change now.

I wanted to spend money,

and I didn't want to be broke.

The answer was simple.

I needed to earn more money.

"Hmm."

I was a bit surprised by my own change.

Preparing for the future?

Isn't that the least like me?

Well, people do change.

While thinking about money,

I suddenly realized the sun was high in the sky.

It wasn't a set time, but it had become the usual time for my stream to start.

As if it were a regular task, I sat on the creaky chair,

...I need to replace this chair.

Anyway, I entered the platform in a trance and pressed the start button for the stream.

The alarm must have gone out, as viewers started to flood in.

I continued to broadcast a black screen and resumed my earlier thoughts.

Even though I had once given up on life, I didn't want to be in debt again or live on tap water.

And I want to spend money.

A lot.

Recklessly.

If I could, I'd open a pizza place that only sells pineapple pizza.

I'd even want to build a Dr. Pepper production factory.

And most importantly,

I didn't want my life to be shaken by money due to my impulsive spending habits.

[ Streamer Kita wwww ]

[ 2 minutes late? 2 minutes late? 2 minutes late? 2 minutes late? ]

[ Just being on is a blessing lol ]

[ Looks like you made a promise lol ]

[ So, what's today's schedule? ]

[ Part 1: Warm-up with Hancom Typing Practice, Part 2: Lethe, Part 3: 'Jechat' ]

[ Info - Streamer doesn't do 'Jechat' ]

[ Just a wish... ]

[ The 'Jechat' fans won't disappear lol ]

[ What's the reason for liking 'Jechat'? ]

[ The desire to communicate with the No.1 beauty in the region, even just on screen... Do you really not understand...? ]

[ You don't even know her face, what beauty lol ]

[ The word 'beauty' sounds so cliché ]

[ Why isn't the streamer doing anything or saying anything? ]

[ Is the mic off? ]

[ Streamer, come back to life, yeah! ]

Then,

what's the way to earn a lot of money?

A question I asked myself.

I already knew the answer.

After starting the stream, I thought and pondered for almost ten minutes,

and when I thought there were enough viewers,

I suddenly brought the mic close,

drew everyone's attention as people do when they have something important to say,

and finally said,

"Give me money."

...

Oh.

No matter what, I didn't mean to say it like that.

Author's Note:

Thank you, Sniper, for the 100 coin donation!

Thank you, Hajakgak, for the 100 coin donation!

I'll update the donation announcement shortly!

I came a day early because I missed you all so much hahahaha

It's a bit short... but I'll be back tomorrow, so please watch hahahaha

I wanted the protagonist to have some purpose, so I wrapped up the orphanage episode this time.

And also... I mixed up the names of the Hong sisters. I made a mistake because it had been a while since they appeared. I've corrected Chapter 11.

The younger sister is Si-eun, and the older sister is Si-yeon... I'm sorry....

And... I'm thinking about a real-life episode, but I'm not sure what to dress the protagonist in.

Not a nun's habit... what else could she wear?

I'll be back tomorrow!