Chapter 9

I suddenly stared into the mirror.

The figure of a beautiful woman, in which not a single trace of my former self could be found.

The woman in the mirror was still facing me with a mysterious posture.

I can no longer deny that the image of the woman reflected in that mirror originates from me.

Especially now that I've even purchased women's clothing.

"...Phew."

A sigh naturally flows out.

Looking back, the people in the mutant community had a lot of worries besides complaining about their changed bodies.

And what took up the majority of that were human relationships.

Worries like, now that my body has changed into this state, how am I supposed to face other people?

I am also facing a similar worry.

[Mom]

...What on earth should I tell my parents?

"Ah, ah."

What pops out of my throat is a beautiful voice that sounds like rolling jade beads.

A sound completely opposite to my previous rough, low-pitched voice. No matter who hears it, they wouldn't be able to associate it with the voice of the human Han Yoo-jin.

But what if I answer the phone in this state?

I will have to face a very common-sense and obvious question.

The question of, "Who are you?"

Of course, there is plenty of evidence to prove that I am me.

Even my fingerprints are the same right now. But I will have to go through a very arduous process to persuade her.

My parents are quite open-minded. Meaning they don't hold unnecessary prejudices.

But... will that apply to mutants? Will it apply to my situation?

I have a vague sense of expectation, but well. Wouldn't it be difficult, probably?

That's what I thought.

Thus, I couldn't bring myself to answer the phone.

Click-.

The call was cut off.

I looked at the blinking phone screen, then squeezed my eyes shut.

It's a story that has to be revealed someday.

It doesn't seem like I'll return to my original form, and it's not like I can go on living without seeing her face either.

I still don't have the confidence to answer Mom's call, but...

In the end, it's something I must do.

Ring-!

[Mom]

The phone rings again right on time.

"Phew..."

After taking a deep breath, I answered the phone.

Mom's voice was urgent. But at the same time, I even felt a sense of relief from it.

She must have been worrying about me, after all.

I'm glad for that worry.

But at the same time, a sense of anxiety rushes in. The moment I vocalize, how will that gladness change?

As I remained silent, an anxious voice could be heard from the other end of the receiver.

I intuitively felt that the time had come to end my long agony.

"...Mom."

"...I'm okay. For now."

A thick and heavy silence flowed.

I couldn't say anything more. Only the sound of breathing in could be heard over the receiver; no answer returned.

I felt as if my breath would stop.

What will Mom say if it stays like this?

If Mom denies me, I will...

After a brief silence passed.

A flustered voice struck my ears.

"...It's me, Mom."

Silence descended once again.

But this time, it didn't last that long.

"...Yeah."

An answer didn't return immediately from the other side of the receiver.

She must be agonizing over what to say.

However, it won't be easy to accept. It's inevitable...

But the one phrase that came out was something I completely didn't expect.

Me, the manly Han Yoo-jin.

Living for 21 years, the only day I've cried so far was once when I was born.

The number of times I can cry in the future is twice.

Only when my parents pass away, and when the country is ruined.

So... this thing starting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from my eyes and flowing down my cheeks is not a tear.

I was just relieved for a moment.

"...I don't know either. I just, woke up and my appearance had changed."

"...Yeah. Probably."

The reason Mom was able to understand my situation this quickly was largely thanks to the state of the world right now.

Because the phenomenon of bodies mutating didn't just happen to me.

In addition to the government continuously putting out press releases and focusing on stabilizing the situation.

Thanks to that, Mom was supposedly able to naturally connect the situation.

"...Don't say things like that."

I burst into a hollow laugh at Mom's joke.

I know Mom isn't just saying things like that for no reason.

Because it's a process of lightening up an atmosphere that could have become unnecessarily stiff.

At times like this, I marvel at Mom's conversational skills.

Mom must be just as flustered... but it's amazing how she doesn't show it at all.

"...No, it's fine. It's not like we're going to live without seeing each other's faces forever."

Mom seemed to be worrying that I might have mutated into a grotesque form like other mutants.

But in that aspect, I don't need to worry.

I don't really like it very much... but at least my appearance is beautiful on the outside.

Beep.

I pressed the video call button.

After a brief moment of buffering, Mom's face popped up.

The corners of my eyes get itchy at the face I missed for no reason.

And just as I saw Mom, Mom also saw me.

Mom looked at me with both her eyes wide open.

It seemed that even Mom couldn't hide her surprise upon seeing my appearance.

Of course, that surprise was closer to admiration than being negative.

"...Even without you saying that, I just went through a hard time because of that."

"Because it's a beautiful and pretty appearance?"

"As if. I was just stating an objective fact."

I shuddered at Mom's misunderstanding.

Saying I like this appearance? I already got hit on by another man just earlier.

Even if I wanted to like it, I couldn't.

"...Well, anyway. I'm perfectly fine."

"...I will."

"......."

Whenever I talk with Mom, it always feels like I'm being put on the defensive.

"Exactly one week left, actually. And the military is... sigh."

"For now, based on the mutant criteria, it seems I'm active duty. But since my gender has also changed... they said it might be different based on the Military Manpower Administration's criteria."

I agree.

To think I still have to worry about going to the military even after suffering this mess.

"...Even without you saying it, I will."

"Enough, are you saying that again? I told you the world won't end that easily."

Well, that's not wrong.

Still, there's no denying that Mom's actions are a bit excessive.

Who in the world these days goes around packing multiple survival bags?

"That bitch? What about that bitch."

Hearing those words, my previously warm heart sank.

That bitch is a hindrance even at times like this.

"...I can't either. Is she not answering your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠calls either, Mom?"

At those words, I snorted and said.

"Don't worry. I told you. Even if you threw her among a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠primitive tribe, she'd adapt while going 'ooga-booga'."

I could only let out a hollow laugh at those words.

Wow, it seems that bitch has really steadily worked on her image with Mom.

To think she hasn't shown her true nature even though she's not living independently but continually freeloading at home.

Abominable brat.

"Anyway, don't worry. Is it only for a day or two that she causes trouble?"

"That pig will come back on her own when it's time for dinner. Mom, you shouldn't worry too much either."

It's about time to wrap up the conversation.

Perhaps Mom felt it too, as she offered closing remarks.

"I do have a pretty lovely appearance now."

"...What's wrong with Dad."

After pausing for a moment, Mom continued.

"...What reason would I have to go to a dangerous place?"

Mom smiled warmly. I also smiled back and said.

"Go on. You should rest now."

Click.

The call was disconnected.

I stared blankly at the phone returned to the home screen, then turned on the SNS app.

I'm not the type of person who is good at these things, but... it's the perfect tool to find out what someone else is doing.

I went straight to my younger sister's account.

[Han Yoo-ri's SNS]

I wonder if her school has a day off today, or if she skipped.

Fitting for a social butterfly, this brat's feed was plastered with various photos.

And there was one photo uploaded today.

[Hanbyeol Pocha]

It's a bar name I'm seeing for the first time.

I immediately searched for the store in the search bar.

Hanbyeol Pocha.

010-XXXX-XXXX

Rating 4.1 stars. 3241 Reviews.

And the address.

54-gil, Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

I lost my words.

...That dog-like bitch.