The Extraordinary Lurking in the Everyday (1)

Last night, I had a dream. In the dream, I sank all the way to the bottom of the deep sea. There, I came face-to-face with a god that had existed since the dawn of time. It was the kind of being that should have terrified any human—but surprisingly, I wasn't afraid of it at all. The reason for that would later be revealed by her.

"Husband? Me?"

A colossal entity as vast as a continent, older than the first ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠civilizations. A being without a proper name, one we could only call a god by the closest word available. And she declared that she would make me her husband.

Honestly, it felt way too unreal. It was like a dust mite marrying a human—what kind of difference was there?

"Got some peculiar tastes, huh."

If this was real, she must have one of the rarest fetishes out there. Why on earth would she pick me as her husband? If I were some legendary hero or once-in-a-century genius, maybe I could understand a little. But from her perspective, even great men and heroes were probably just bugs with funny colors.

Anyway, I—a mere human—couldn't comprehend divine logic.

"That's not the point, though."

Whatever. The dream from last night was hugely important to me, but right now, there was something even more pressing: my body had changed in some bizarre way.

"What the hell...?"

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my transformed self. Overall, my appearance hadn't changed much—no drastic shifts in build, height, or weight. But the details? They were wildly different, pushing me beyond human altogether.

"Scales, gills... this is kinda freaking me out."

The changes to my body boiled down to five main areas: eyes, skin, neck, teeth, and nails. My eyes had slit vertically like a snake's. Scales had sprouted across my skin in places—honestly, a bit gross. Gills had appeared on my neck, my teeth were sharp, and my nails had turned black and razor-edged. That was the obvious stuff at a glance; who knows what else I'd find if I looked closer.

"Ha... hahaha."

It was so absurd I could only laugh dryly. Just yesterday, I was human. Now, after one dream, I'd turned into... something else. Sure, considering the dream entity was godlike, it wasn't impossible. But still. It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hard to wrap my head around.

"How am I supposed to go to work like this?"

I stared into the mirror, pondering. Yeah, I'd changed, but work was work. Could I really show up looking like this? I'd probably get reported to the cops on sight.

"If I hide it well... might be doable."

It wasn't hopeless. With good disguise, I could probably cover up these monstrous features. Colored contacts for the eyes, thick clothes for the scales and gills. Gloves for the nails. Teeth... well...

"I'll say I got a scaling done."

It was a stretch, but no better options right now. If I had a lump of gold in my hand, maybe I could slack off. Even as a god's husband, I still needed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to clock in to eat.

"Guess I'll grab some lenses first."

I had no idea if it'd work, but it'd have to. What, you think the FBI's gonna nab me or something?

I managed to snag some lenses and throw on a solid outfit combo. I looked pretty normal now. Nodding in satisfaction at my disguise skills, I left my room and headed to the living room.

"I'm heading out."

"Don't cause a waterworks mess like last night, okay?"

A stone slab sat on the living room sofa. A mystical object infused with divine power. No proper place for it, so I'd just left it there. It felt like it could see and understand speech, so I gave it a quick greeting before heading out.

"..."

The commute to work was... normal enough. Wait at the bus stop, hop on the 80 when it came, ride to the office. It was packed, squeezing in took effort, but I was used to it.

...Or so I thought, forgetting one key thing: I wasn't the same as before.

"Oops."

Crunch!

The bus turned, my body lurched outward, my grip tightened instinctively—and the handrail crumpled like it was nothing.

"..."

I glanced around, checking if anyone noticed, but in the sardine-can bus, no one seemed to have seen. I casually let go and grabbed another strap, pretending nothing happened.

"Phew..."

I got off at my stop, finally exhaling in relief, and stared blankly at my hand.

"Strength's amped up too, huh."

Obviously, no normal person could dent a metal rail like that. Bending a long bar might be possible for a strong guy, but compressing it one-handed? Impossible, as far as I knew.

"...Gotta be careful."

A chill ran down my spine as I resolved to control my strength. Lucky it was a rail—not an animal or person. If I'd slipped up...

"Ugh..."

I shook off the mosaic-blurred nightmare in my head and walked toward the office, ten minutes from the stop. Not a big corp, but a solid mid-sized company with decent welfare and pay. The only downside? Brutal workload. But the competent colleagues made it manageable.

"Good morning."

"Lee, you're here?"

"Morning, Section Chief~"

Opening the office door, I saw my familiar coworkers. My boss, the balding dad-vibes Nam Bu-jang; my colleague Kim Gwa-jang; and my junior Yeon Dae-ri. No such thing as a truly family-like company, but after nearly three years together, it sure felt that way.

"Should I finish yesterday's stuff?"

"Yeah, that's the only new one."

"Got it."

I sat at my desk, booted the computer, and stretched my fingers. Most of yesterday was done, so today was just wrapping up. Hands on the keyboard, I dove into typing.

"..."

Typing puts me in a zen state, different from fishing. Fingers fly faster than my brain, optimized for cranking out tasks. But this damn body caused trouble again.

"Ah, shit."

Crack!

My blackened, sharpened nails—gleaming like diamond, tough as hell—had shattered a keycap despite my caution.

Damn, how do I explain this? Brain spinning, I called out to the boss.

"Keyboard cap broke."

"Your keyboard's old anyway. Grab a spare."

"On it."

I fetched a spare from the corner drawer, plugged it in. Careful typing this time—no repeating idiot mistakes.

Tap. Tap-tap-taptap.

Mid-flow, a voice from beside me.

"Hmm? Section Chief, manicure?"

I turned. Yeon Dae-ri was eyeing my nails. Others hadn't noticed or cared, but as a girl, the odd color caught her eye. No point correcting the misunderstanding, so I just nodded.

"My sister kept nagging, so I tried it."

"It suits you so well! Never thought manicure would look good on you, Section Chief!"

Uh... compliment? First time hearing that. Kinda awkward, but...

"Thanks, glad you think so."

"Just being honest. Can I see closer? It sparkles a bit, I'm curious."

"Nah, too embarrassing."

This retriever pup's eyes sparkled as she leaned in. I panicked and shoved her back. One close look and she'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spot the weirdness—total disaster.

Wear gloves starting tomorrow.

Gloves indoors felt off, but better than getting busted. If asked, say it's a fashion thing.

"Ughhh! Done finallyyy!"

"Good work, everyone. Time to head out."

"See ya."

After grinding through work, quitting time arrived. Yeon Dae-ri spun in her chair, stretching. Nam Bu-jang and Kim Gwa-jang vanished quietly. As I gathered my stuff,

"Section Chief. Meat? My treat."

"Let's go."

Social life was tricky for me now, but meat? Irresistible. I treated last time—fair's fair.

"Bet!"

"Usual spot?"

"Duh! Only place with real meat."

These days, scammers hyped belly fat samgyeopsal or premium cold pork tripe. But our company BBQ joint was legit, so we always went there for drinks. Today, same deal—pushed open the door.

"Auntie! Pork for four, beer!"

"Soju too, please."

Grill on the table, drinks served. Sizzling pork glistening in fat—mouthwatering.

"Garlic on the wrap~"

"Ssangjang with rice and two pork pieces."

"Two per wrap is cheating!"

Anyway, one big bite. Chased with soju and beer shots.

"Perfect."

"Grrrah...!"

Bliss in our mouths. After that... blank. Came to: empty grill, both of us smashed.

"Ueeeng... world's spinning..."

"Taxi's coming. Hold it together—no puking."

Drinks wrapped, I called a cab, shoved the floppy Yeon Dae-ri inside. She was wasted—total hassle. As I closed the door,

She looked at me, voice surprisingly clear.

"Section Chief. Crash at my place tonight?"

"What?"

I froze. Did she like me? We were close, but anything more? Nah. And with her drunk...

"Going home like this... dangerous..."

"Wait, what'd you say?"

"Ueee..."

She mumbled gibberish and passed out. Crisis averted? I prepaid the driver, sent her off. Called my own cab.

Waited a bit—taxi approached. Waved it down, hopped in.

"Phew... wiped."

Wild dream last night left me unrested. Plus today's chaos. Told the driver my address, closed my eyes for a nap.

"..."

How long? Felt the taxi stop, stirred awake, lifted my head.

"Here's the fare..."

Handing my card—empty front seat. Froze mid-air.

What? Driver stepped out for a piss? But the scenery...

"Where the hell...?"

Stepped out. blinding white world greeted me. Fog everywhere, visibility zero. But even through it, the massive bridge stretching endlessly was unmistakable. Glanced at the sign by the entrance.

"Hmm..."

Somehow, I'd stumbled into something seriously weird.