CHAPTER 007: Greeting
"It's passed for now, but... what do you plan to do moving forward?"
"Plenty to handle, but there's something more urgent first."
I still hadn't properly tested this new body of mine.
The sensation of it—something no professional equipment or scans could measure.
Most importantly, could I still fight with it like I always had?
But priorities were priorities.
"Gotta launder my identity first. You guys can swing that, right?"
"It won't be difficult. We are a government agency, after all."
The head researcher nodded, pulling out a tablet.
It was partly because of the bullshit I'd spat at Yoo Hayeon, but even without her, Lee Chang would have hidden his identity anyway.
The reason was obvious.
Announce to the world that a 2-meter-tall brute had turned into a pint-sized girl overnight? No fucking way.
I didn't even want to imagine the spotlight, the ridicule.
Especially since it was me.
As one of the rare A-rank hunters from a semi-awakener background, plus my rough personality, I had no shortage of enemies.
If this got out, they wouldn't stay quiet.
"We don't want to publicize Hunter Lee Chang's current state either. The success of the artificial trait awakening experiment is top-secret classified info."
And there was that reason too.
Turning a semi-awakener into a true awakener? That was like dropping a nuke on a world that had just stabilized.
"Security tight?"
"Yes. Excluding you, Hunter Lee Chang, only three or four researchers know—including me. And we're all under Director Jin Baek-hyeon's oversight. He'll find out, of course."
That was trustworthy enough.
"Keep me listed as missing, and make 'me' exactly like I blabbed to her. Name: Lee Jiyeon. Age: 17. Say I came from some orphanage, recently awakened."
"17... A bit of a stretch, but we can make it stick if we push. Understood."
"Good. Make it quick."
After that, it was minor details.
Exchanging a few more elements needed for the identity, then the head researcher guided me to a private room and left.
Alone now.
The quiet let tension ease, drowsiness crashing in.
Come to think of it, I'd pulled an all-nighter.
I flopped onto the corner bed for a nap, then remembered something and flicked my hand.
A translucent Hunter Network window floated in the air, just like the one Yoo Hayeon had summoned earlier.
Hadn't done it much lately, so the minor novelty hit me.
Simple magic, sure, but still kinda cool.
"Huh... gotta re-register?"
The Hunter Network allowed only one account per awakener, but even though I'd registered long ago, I had to do it again.
Not weird.
It recognized people by mana core shape, wavelength, etc.—Lee Jiyeon was a totally different person from old Lee Chang.
I shrugged it off and set up a new account.
"Nickname... fuck it, Yeah it is."
No interest in building some 'Lee Jiyeon' persona.
Generic as hell. Good enough.
Then I swung by the Magical Girl Gallery.
No big changes from before.
I typed a quick greeting post and almost hit send, then paused.
'Maybe show some manners...'
These closed communities often had toxic, hierarchical vibes.
Lee Chang had dealt with it plenty back in the day.
Back then, I'd flip the table at any bullshit.
Now? Didn't seem possible.
So, with no clue how much help I'd need from this place, basic courtesy seemed smart.
I pondered, then decided to record a video.
The community system had that feature.
I locked the system window to record mode, stepped back a few paces.
Recording from knees up.
"Hello, I'm Lee Jiyeon, newly awakened with the Magical Girl trait."
Solid start.
"I look young for my age, but I'm actually seventeen."
"Awakened as a semi-awakener young, now a true awakener."
Laid out the age bit first.
Hated being treated like a kid over looks.
"Lucky to awaken as a magical girl, but I don't know much yet."
"If my seniors guide me, I'll work hard to learn."
Stock polite stuff after.
"Please take care of me, seniors."
Slight bow, end recording.
30-second clip.
Previewed it—fine—and uploaded.
"Eh. That'll do."
Confirmed the upload, closed the window, crashed back onto the bed.
Kid bodies conked out fast.
Sleep took me quick.
So Lee Jiyeon never heard it.
The comment alerts right after, then pinging every few minutes for the next half hour.
I dreamed.
A pretty old scene, recreated.
Damn near a nightmare.
The company that entered the gate fifty strong was down to less than a platoon.
Only me with any fight left.
The big guy at the front—me—covered in wounds.
Blood pouring nonstop, adrenaline burned out, pain like I'd drop any second, but I kept going.
One step, one step. Toward the gate exit.
Finally, the blue-glowing rift-like gate.
Someone stood before it.
Crisp suit. Face shadowed under swept-back hair, hard to see.
He raised a hand.
Gun in it.
K5 pistol barrel aimed at me.
"——."
The man said something. Ears ringing with blood, couldn't make it out.
Then muzzle flash, gunshot—
Eyes snapped open.
"......"
Unfamiliar ceiling, literally.
Simple bed in the lab private room.
Clock said lunchtime.
Took a few seconds for dream haze to clear, senses to return.
Hand sticking out from the blanket.
'Fuck.'
Rather the nightmare was the dream than this.
Lee Jiyeon clenched and unclenched her tiny new hand.
No more pot-lid grip, calluses harder than steel plate.
Just soft, delicate fingers that'd bruise from a leaf scratch.
Sighed, lay there, then remembered and opened the system window.
Top right, notification overload.
Clicked—straight to the post.
Yesterday's greeting.
Better reception than expected.
Figured it'd be bland "welcome aboard" stuff.
Only then did I realize the communities I'd frequented were full of jaded souls from harsh times.
This era was stable, and magical girls? Young women only.
Couldn't have predicted the vibe as Lee Jiyeon.
Damn. Sweet enough to rot teeth.
Why "cute" so much?
Self-admitted barren soul like me? No confidence surviving here.
At least no gatekeeping. Silver lining.
Trembling sugary fingers scrolled comments.
Mostly similar, but some different.
"Phew."
Watching them trade savory curses actually reassured me.
This was right.
A purely saccharine friend-circle? I'd bail.
Scum like these around? Even a black-hearted bastard like me could dip in easy.
They seemed foreign, but auto-translate nailed it—nuance and all.
Gotta hand it to that S-rank dev.
Lee Jiyeon left a quick reply and closed the window.
Not hooked enough to browse yet.
Knock knock.
Perfect timing—someone at the door.
"Anyone home?"
"Yeah. Come in."
Door opened.
Plain middle-aged auntie vibe. The head researcher.
Hands full of stuff.
"What's all that?"
"Papers you need to see, and some clothes borrowed from staff kids."
"...Other people's kid clothes?"
"Didn't know sizes to buy new, so grabbed some everyday basics."
She shoved a paper bag my way.
Rest on the table.
I peeked inside.
Black hoodie, jeans, sneakers, socks, undies.
Plain as hell. Good.
Would've pissed me off if she'd brought skirts or some girlie shit—probably considering my old manly build.
Undies were the issue.
"Pants fine, but... this?"
Pulled out white cotton undies.
Panties and bra set.
The junior bra looked like a sports bra or crop top, but definitely lingerie.
"You're a girl now, so... uh, honestly, no clue. My only kid's a boy."
"Don't need it. Panties too—don't girls wear boxers? This looks uncomfortable."
Shoved the bra back, pulled out the rest.
"Should I step out?"
"Nah. Why bother..."
Already showed everything during exams.
She had that friendly auntie face, and this body still didn't feel real anyway.
She politely averted eyes, sorted papers— I changed.
Baggy scrubs hit the floor, new clothes on.
Always rocked loose boxers; triangle panties hugging tight felt alien.
Ignored the weirdness, pulled on jeans.
Loose fit—better.
Thin tee, then hoodie over. Body vanished.
Shoulders sagged.
Socks to ankles, sneakers. Done.
Spot-on sizes.
Head researcher had scanned old me, after all.
Full mirror in the corner.
Stepped up, looked.
Petite girl in baggy everyday clothes.
Black hoodie gave some edge, but on this frame? Just a kid in dad's stuff.
"All dressed? Oh... looks good?"
"Shut it."
She beamed warmly.
Lee Jiyeon hated that most.