Laundry, Lies, and a Glowing Sock

It was supposed to be a normal morning. Just one peaceful hour before school, a warm bowl of rice and kimchi, and maybe even ten minutes to sit on the floor doing absolutely nothing.

But Min Jae's life had long since declared war on "normal."

And today, the first strike came in the form of a glowing sock.

---

The Laundry Incident

"MIN JAE!" his mother's voice echoed through the apartment like an incoming magical storm.

He bolted upright, nearly choking on a spoonful of rice.

"What did I do?" he shouted back.

"You tell me why one of your socks is glowing like a disco ball!"

He sprinted to the laundry room, skidding on the linoleum. There, standing beside a basket of damp clothes, was his mother, holding up what should have been a very normal black sock.

It was glowing faint purple.

And humming.

"Did you put batteries in this?" she asked.

"No, I—uh—thermal socks! They're for circulation!" Min Jae lied on instinct. "Very cutting-edge. Imported from... Switzerland."

His mother narrowed her eyes. "It's humming 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.' In reverse."

Min Jae took the sock. "I'll take care of it."

She folded her arms. "You're not cooking drugs in that basement, are you?"

"WHAT? No!" he snapped. "What kind of criminal uses goats and snacks as a front?"

She raised an eyebrow.

Min Jae paused. "…Don't answer that."

---

At School: Suspicion Levels Rising

When Min Jae arrived at school, he was already on edge—and it didn't help that his homeroom teacher, Mr. Choi, gave him a look like he was a wanted man.

"Late again," Mr. Choi said flatly.

"I was battling laundry," Min Jae replied, deadpan.

The teacher didn't even blink.

During lunch, Min Jae met with Sunwoo on the school rooftop. They sat on milk crates, hiding behind a utility box.

"Your sock's still glowing?" Sunwoo asked.

"I buried it under twenty pounds of rice in the pantry."

"Smart."

Min Jae groaned. "We're one magical mishap away from my mom throwing a bucket of holy water on me."

Sunwoo pulled out his phone. "Wanna see what made it worse?"

He showed Min Jae a viral post on social media.

> "Magic ramen? Seoul's new chicken shop rumored to sell snacks that sparkle!"

— Attached: blurry photo of Goji's tail sticking out a back door.

Min Jae dropped his head into his hands. "We're so screwed."

---

Goji Goes Rogue at Lunch

Min Jae returned home after school to find absolute chaos in the shop.

A local news van was parked outside.

Inside: reporters.

His mom stood at the counter, smiling politely but confused, as a woman with too much makeup asked questions like:

"So what's the secret to your son's flavor? Is it love… or sorcery?"

In the back, Goji was missing.

"Oh no." Min Jae ran straight to the supply closet. "Oh no no no—"

There was a hole in the ceiling.

Goji had climbed into the ventilation system.

Sunwoo appeared from the basement, whispering, "He's in the ducts. And he's got a fork."

"A FORK?"

"Yeah, and he keeps tapping it against the vents like he's planning something."

---

Live Interview Crisis

The news crew asked to speak with the "mysterious young chef" behind the snacks.

Min Jae, already sweating, slapped on an apron and stepped behind the counter.

"Hi," he said, voice cracking, "I just really like soy sauce."

The interviewer leaned forward. "Is it true your goat can juggle?"

Min Jae blinked. "No. But he can steal phones."

A metallic clang rang through the ceiling.

Goji's hoof broke through a tile, sending dust onto a reporter's head.

"EXCUSE ME," the anchor shrieked.

"Earthquake!" Min Jae said instantly. "Tiny, brief—localized!"

The camera cut away.

Goji's face appeared in the hole above, chewing on a USB cable.

Min Jae pointed. "That's our security consultant."

---

The School Problem Grows Teeth

The next day, Mr. Choi pulled Min Jae aside after class.

"I've been meaning to talk to you," he said, folding his arms. "A few students reported… strange happenings."

"Like what?"

"Ji-woo says her water bottle floated for five seconds. Sung-min claims he drank a can of soda that refilled itself. And I caught Jin-young whispering to a pencil and calling it 'Master Spark.'"

Min Jae tried to look confused. "Maybe stress?"

Mr. Choi raised an eyebrow. "One more incident, and I'm contacting your parents."

That night, Min Jae opened a crate in the basement and found the answer: one of Goji's enchanted snack pouches had gone missing.

Sunwoo peeked over his shoulder. "Think a student grabbed it?"

"Or Goji planted it."

Goji was currently sleeping in a drawer labeled "Dry Goods," snoring like a malfunctioning kazoo.

---

Back at Home: Final Straw

Later that week, Min Jae's mom confronted him in the kitchen.

"This is not just about socks."

Min Jae froze.

She pulled out a napkin.

On it: the tiny Third Market coin. One of the spares he thought was hidden.

"I found this behind the rice cooker."

Min Jae swallowed. "That's… a collectible."

She didn't say anything. Just stared.

"Okay," he said slowly. "You want the truth?"

Her eyes widened slightly.

Min Jae took a deep breath.

"I'm running a black market... noodle operation. But for a very niche audience. Like, artisan-level. Limited edition."

She stared.

He stared.

Goji trotted into the kitchen with a stolen toothbrush in his mouth.

She turned around, picked up a mop, and said, "If the goat glows again, I'm calling a priest."