Chapter 5

The conversation with Shin Ah-yoon was fruitful.

Because she knew a lot of information that I didn't.

Unlike me, who had come outside without much thought, she seemed to have done quite a lot of research.

That's why I also immersed myself in the conversation with her for quite a while.

But doing so, there was one thing I had forgotten.

I was still monopolizing most of the gazes inside the community center.

Even if it were me, it would have been hard to look away. What just happened was truly fitting of the word "divine."

Honestly, even I, the person involved, am dumbfounded, so how must it be for other people?

If that lady had stayed, I really would have had the urge to kill myself.

I don't know where she went, but it's a fortunate thing for me.

Besides, if I'm with the werewolf Shin Ah-yoon, the stares directed at me would be dispersed...

"Ah, it's my turn! I'll go first!"

...It was nice that they were dispersed.

This is embarrassing. When was the last time I received this many stares? It's been so long I can't even remember now.

[Number 7]

At least my turn was finally approaching.

As soon as the number ticket I had pulled beforehand signaled my turn, I headed to the counter as if running away.

"Welcome... Hup."

When I went to the counter, the civil servant who had been sitting there with a bored expression gasped.

Just in case, I checked my appearance. Because it would be problematic if the clothes I was wearing underneath were exposed.

But my clothes were fine.

The long padding was covering my terrifying and shocking fashion state well enough.

...Then what the hell is the problem?

While I was flustered because I couldn't find the cause, the person staring blankly at me opened their mouth.

"A-Angel?"

"...No, I'm not."

"So what the other colleagues were talking about earlier was..."

Hearing that, it seemed rumors had already spread among the civil servants.

Well, of course they did. After causing such a commotion.

"......."

But that's that, and it's somewhat unpleasant from my standpoint.

Because I'm not the type to enjoy other people's attention. Especially if it's that kind of attention.

When I stared fixedly, only then did the civil servant snap out of it and respond.

"U-um, you are a mutant, right?"

"Yes. That's right."

"Oh my, I'm sorry. It's just that your aura is a bit different from other mutants, so..."

That, I can understand.

Because I'm also aware that I'm sufficiently unusual.

But dragging things out with trivial talk like this doesn't suit my temper.

"So, what do I need to do? I heard the procedure isn't that complicated."

"Ah, yes! That's correct. You just need to fill out a few simple forms and stamp your seal."

A few forms. They say ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's simple, but it's obvious it will take quite a bit of time.

Still, seeing as verification posts have already gone up, it might unexpectedly not take that long.

Then, suddenly curious, I asked.

"...Is there no need to do identity verification or anything? Even if my fingerprints are the same, there are people who have distanced themselves from a human appearance."

"They say even for those people, their fingerprint patterns remain the same. If it seems absolutely impossible, they say they test with DNA."

It seems this was the reason for drawing blood.

Certainly, if the fingerprints are the same, DNA wouldn't be any different.

The reason the government's response could be so fast was largely due to this characteristic.

Even if the person changed, it was only their exterior.

"Then could you fill this out first? Please read it carefully and just give your consent."

The civil servant handed over several documents.

Starting from the most basic identity verification and consent to view and provide personal information, to a consent form for securing records like photography and blood draws...

This must be the core of it all.

Before filling out the report, I submitted the consent forms first.

They probably need this to look up my existing identity on their end.

"Thank you. So your name is, Han Yoo-jin... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right."

"Yes."

"And your gender i...?"

Right, this day has finally come.

It was something I expected before coming here anyway. I need to steel my heart.

"...Male."

At those words, the civil servant blinked.

With that appearance, and that voice? With an expression roughly saying that.

"...I woke up, and this is my current appearance. My gender has also changed."

"I-I see."

The civil servant spoke, flustered.

It's not that I can't understand, but that kind of reaction is annoying. The one who should be the most flustered here is me.

"Yes, yes... Anyway, your identity has been verified, so now you just need to fill out the report form..."

"...Yes."

At a table a little further away, I filled out the report form with the pen the civil servant had given me.

While roughly filling it out, various thoughts came to mind.

Honestly, asking about the presence of violent urges or the ability to communicate is a bit meaningful, isn't it?

Are there actually people among the mutants experiencing these urges?

But I seem fine, and even Shin Ah-yoon seemed fine.

Mm, the probability of this seems definitely higher.

After appropriately filling out the paperwork and returning, the civil servant was waiting with a tense face.

"Um, yes. Just a moment, you can't write the current condition part like that. Could you change it to 'No Abnormalities'?"

"...Yes."

Even if they don't seem different, the nuance is significantly different.

With slightly reddened ears, I corrected the document.

"Yes, filling this out means you're all done. Do you have any further questions?"

Hearing that, I suddenly remembered something.

"Um, what will happen to my military service?"

"...Military service? Ah, you said you were male. Just a moment..."

The civil servant stared intently at the monitor for a moment before letting out an exclamation.

"Ah, you only have one week left until enlistment."

"...Will I have to go? I heard I could get public service."

"That is correct. But, regarding that... oh my."

Fuck, what is it.

As their words trailed off, I felt the urge to use harsh words for no reason.

When things go like this, it always means bad news is coming...

"Provisional judgment criteria have come down. Military service classification is divided according to the mutation type."

"...That's already been decided?"

"I'm also flustered that such detailed manuals came down on the very day of the incident, but that's how it is for now."

"So what is this criteria...?"

"It must not deviate greatly from a human appearance. Must be in a physically and mentally stable state..."

That's exactly me.

I became an angel with a reversed gender, but compared to Shin Ah-yoon, I'm quite normal. At least I maintained a human appearance.

All that's left is mental issues, but I already wrote that I was perfectly fine on the report form.

"...Can I edit the report form?"

"It's possible, but it won't have any meaning. This is all left on record."

"...Fuck."

Unable to hold back, a curse slipped out in the end.

"I'm sorry, regarding military service, you'll have to inquire with the Military Manpower Administration. We don't have the authority..."

"Yes, I know."

It's not like I'm angry at the civil servant in front of me either.

Anger just surged up at my situation.

Could such a reality, such a reality truly exist?

As I was huffing and puffing, the civil servant spoke carefully.

"Still, isn't there a possibility?"

"...Is that true. What you just said."

A hopeful cry heard out of nowhere.

My gaze naturally headed towards the civil servant's mouth.

"It's just my personal thought, but since your gender has changed, after all. I don't know the details either, but you might get deemed unfit during the physical examination."

"...Thank you."

Of course it was just an assumption, but it didn't mean there was absolutely no hope.

If even my gender got reversed and I still have to go to the military, I'd die from the injustice.

"Yes, then the paperwork processing is complete, and you may return home now. You might have to come back later to fill out additional forms."

"Yes, I understand."

Things I had been curious about were resolved to some extent, and the paperwork was completed.

Since the amount wasn't that much to begin with, the time it took was barely 20 minutes.

The government's neglect that I heard about while talking to Shin Ah-yoon earlier bothers me.

If those words are really true, just what in the world is happening for the government's administrative power to be entirely consumed...

When I returned to the waiting room like that, Shin Ah-yoon, who had finished earlier than me, was waiting.

She smiled brightly as soon as she saw me.

Perhaps due to her appearance transforming into a werewolf, it was slightly scary, but it was a gentle expression so it was somewhat cute.

"Old... Older brother!"

And it was the moment she called me.

"Over there, Pastor! The Satan devil is deceiving and threatening people, and trying to corrupt the Angel!"

Suddenly, a voice was heard from outside the door.

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon as I heard that shout, I frowned.

The content was one thing, but the voice was a voice I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had heard somewhere before.

Behind the violently thrown-open door stood the polite Christian lady with a triumphant expression.

Behind that lady stood a massive man who looked benevolent.

But you shouldn't judge based on appearances alone.

Seeing as he was someone brought here by that crazy lady right now, it would be hard to consider him a normal person.

It turns out she was making a tactical retreat.

To think she would bring reinforcements like this.

In an unfavorable situation, I crossed my arms and stealthily looked at Shin Ah-yoon.

Deep shadows had settled around her eyes, and it was plainly visible that her expression had darkened.

"...I am."

It was right before Shin Ah-yoon started to say something.

"Shh."

The man called Pastor raised his index finger.

"You need not say anything further. Matthew 9:36. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

"What does that..."

"Sister, you have lost your way."

The pastor murmured like that, as if truly feeling pity.

"However. The path you have fallen onto is no longer a path. Could it be referred to as anything else but an abyss."

"......."

"He who touches pitch shall be defiled. Even if you struggle in the mire, only mud will splatter. You cannot come out on your own, and no one can pull you out. Unless you wish to soil the pure white with something evil, please repent."

At those words, tears welled up in Shin Ah-yoon's eyes.

An expression that felt anger on one hand, and injustice on the other.

To that, I...

"Why don't you shut your trap?"

I absolutely could not hold back.