Awakening Backlash
On my way to the Awakening Test Center.
The mandatory awakening test everyone has to take at twenty. That test everyone secretly hopes might turn them into an Awakener.
I wasn't expecting anything.
No Awakeners in my family. Not even among my relatives. Never seen one around the neighborhood either.
So this was basically just like a health checkup. Nobody goes to a health checkup hoping they've got cancer, right? ...Okay, bad analogy.
"Registration number 374, please proceed to examination room 3."
The announcement echoed through the hall.
A line of people like me waited outside the exam room. Mostly around my age. Some looked tense, others giggled with friends.
...I came alone. Not sad or anything—just that all my friends had already finished theirs.
"Please place your hand here."
The exam room was simple.
A machine with a round crystal orb. And one examiner.
I placed my hand on the crystal.
No sensation at all. Figured as much. Non-Awakener. Hurry up and finish so I can grab some triangle kimbap from the convenience store. Tuna mayo flavor.
BEEP—BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
"...Huh?"
A warning alarm blared.
The crystal began to glow. White light, growing brighter and brighter.
"The, the readings..."
The examiner's face went pale.
I didn't even have time to ask what that meant.
The light exploded.
My vision went white. Agonizing pain split my head, and something surged back through my entire body.
...That was the last thing I remember.
I opened my eyes.
A white ceiling. Disinfectant smell.
Hospital.
"...Huh?"
My voice was wrong.
It came from my mouth, but it wasn't mine.
High-pitched. Thin. Definitely a woman's voice.
I slowly raised my hand.
Small.
Not my hand. Pale, slender, nails neatly trimmed—a woman's hand.
I threw off the blanket. My body was different. All of it. Even the embarrassing parts.
"......"
A mirror in the bedside cabinet. I reached for it.
A stranger stared back—a woman I'd never seen.
Black hair to her shoulders, big eyes, pale skin. Plain but somehow soft and fluffy-looking.
Not a beauty, but cute. ...If she were a guy.
"...What the hell."
I panicked.
But oddly, it didn't last.
Couldn't say why. This should've driven anyone insane, but my body felt like this was normal. Like it was already used to it.
...Creepy adaptability.
"You're awake."
The doctor entered.
Middle-aged man. Tired eyes behind glasses. Probably pored over my charts a dozen times.
"Mana backlash during awakening caused a physical transformation."
...Physical transformation. Nice clean term.
"Unprecedented case, so we'll monitor, but your bodily functions are fine. However."
"However?"
"We can't measure your awakening ability yet. Mana levels unstable. Recommend retest once stabilized."
Summary:
Awakening test accident.
Turned me into a girl.
Ability unknown.
Body fine—discharge okay.
...Does this even make sense?
"Any chance of going back to normal...?"
"Can't say at this point."
Can't say.
Most irresponsible medical word ever.
I sighed.
The woman in the mirror sighed too. ...Adapting to that was the hard part.
Finished discharge and stepped outside.
Raining.
"...No umbrella."
Of course. Sunny when I came for the test.
But something weirder.
No people.
Broad avenue in front of the hospital—no cars, no pedestrians. Shops shuttered.
What? Didn't notice inside, but the streets were deserted.
...Something happen?
Checked my phone. Notifications galore.
[Emergency Disaster Message]
[Seoul-wide Evacuation Order Issued]
[Calamity-grade anomaly detected. Evacuate immediately.]
[Shelter in place indoors. Do NOT go outside.]
"......"
I'd just walked out.
Pocketed the phone.
...Whatever. Already out. Duck into the nearest building.
Started to move—
Something approached from the distance.
In the rain.
A huge black dog.
...Pretty big. Larger than a big breed? But nothing else special. Black fur soaked and sagging, tail limp.
Sad eyes.
I'd always liked dogs.
Never owned one, but petted strays, hated shelter videos.
...This one looked like a total stray.
So pitiful in the rain.
"Hey."
Voice slipped out.
The black dog stopped. Turned slowly. Big eyes fixed on me.
"Where's your owner? Can't just stand in the rain."
Approached.
One step, two. Size hit home—way bigger than expected. Like a Great Dane, maybe.
Reached out.
Hand on its head.
Damp. Wet fur texture. Cold outside, warm underneath.
Dog froze.
Like it was the first touch ever.
"Got soaked, huh."
Stroked slowly. Head to neck. Brushed wet fur aside.
Dog stayed still.
No twitch. Just its limp tail wagging—barely, but there.
"You're a good boy."
That moment—
"You there! Dangerous! Come here right now—!"
Shout from behind.
Turned. People. Black combat suits head to toe. Armed. Five or six, fully geared.
...Hunters.
Pro anomaly fighters. Only seen on news.
The woman in front yelled. Coat over her suit, intimidating even in the rain.
"Dangerous—move slowly toward us! Get away from that anomaly!"
"Huh?"
Anomaly?
I tilted my head.
Looked around. Me, black dog, hunters over there.
Where's the anomaly?
"...This dog?"
Kept petting its head.
"He's super chill. But seems like no owner."
Hunter froze.
"...Dog?"
Her tone was odd.
Not surprise, not anger. Like, Is she serious?
I wondered the same about her.
Lifted my hand from the dog—
"Grrrrrr......"
It growled. At the hunters.
Then turned to me, whining. Nuzzled my hand.
...Yeah, total softie.
"Hold on, he's getting anxious."
Petted again. Scratched behind ears—eyes half-closed, tension gone.
Whispers from the hunter team.
"...That's really Calamity-grade?"
"Matches observatory data and coordinates."
"Then why's it acting like that?"
"Don't ask me. No idea."
Couldn't catch it all, didn't matter. Rain thickening—couldn't leave him out here.
Lead hunter approached slowly.
Hand on hip weapon. Guarded steps.
"Mind if I check your ID?"
Firm voice. Eyes wavering slightly.
"Sure."
Showed phone ID. ...Still had my old male photo, but hospital discharge papers should cover it.
"Discharged today. Hospitalized from awakening test accident."
"Awakening accident...?"
"Yeah. Some explosion, they said. Turned me into this."
No need to spell out this. She'd get it.
"...What’s your ability?"
"They don't know yet."
Her eyes narrowed faintly.
Turned to her team, low voice. Wind carried it clearly.
"Report to the Management Bureau. Awakener appeared who neutralized a Calamity-grade barehanded."
...What?
Calamity-grade?
Neutralized?
Kept scratching the dog's head, thinking.
...No clue what she's talking about. He's just a big dog.
Dog noticed my pause, sniffed, shoved its nose into my palm.
...So cute.
"Hey."
Asked the hunter.
"Can I take him home? He's such a good boy."
She stared.
Eyes wide with shock.
Probably stunned seeing a civilian outside during evacuation.
The black dog plopped down beside me. Tail wagged faintly again.