Chapter 3

"An examination?" I tilted my head.

"Yes. They're simple tests that aren't difficult or harmful to the body at all. To name a few, there's a precise visual inspection of the body and a mana output test," Shin Chae-ah continued.

"It's essential for providing you with management and welfare services. I would be grateful if you could kindly understand."

Shin Chae-ah bowed her head. I blinked.

Come to think of it, so far, she's the only one who's managed to keep a conversation going with me. I'd finally found someone on Earth I could talk to after returning—maybe I could go along with things a bit obediently. That way, she might stick around longer. Besides, this was the only place I had to rely on right now. Food, clothing, and shelter are important, after all.

Yeah. I nodded.

"Okay."

"Thank you. The examination is prepared."

I picked up Book and followed Shin Chae-ah. As we walked a short distance, I glanced at her profile. Black bobbed hair. Blue eyes. Snow-white skin. A sudden curiosity bubbled up.

"How old are you, Shin Chae-ah?"

"Pardon? Oh, me? Um... twenty-four."

"Aha." I blinked. How old was I again? I stopped counting after 4,000, so I couldn't remember the exact number. Definitely over 10,000, though.

"That's a big difference from me."

"Uh... are you on the younger side?"

I blinked. "No. I'm older. By about 10,000 years?"

"........Pardon? Ah, yes. I, I see."

A slightly flustered reaction.

"Is this what small talk is? Conversation is really fun."

"Ah... haha. It really seems that way."

I blinked. Her reaction wasn't as lively as mine, but good was good. We kept chatting after that. Shin Chae-ah was an inspector who handled swords—apparently called a Hunter. She mainly subjugated monsters.

Come to think of it, she had been holding a sword when we first met.

We arrived at the examination room soon enough. No fancy lights or microscopes—just some test paper and basic tools. Instead, my eyes caught a palm-shaped device that looked like it measured mana.

I demurely sat in the chair Shin Chae-ah pointed to. She pulled out a magnifying glass and brought it close to various parts of my body. She paid especially close attention to the horns on my head and the thin tail near my hips. A measuring tape came out, and a few testing devices touched my skin.

I flinched each time the cold metal made contact. Shin Chae-ah jotted things down on what looked like a report form and continued the exam.

She looked up from the paper and at me. "May I touch them directly, by any chance?"

I blinked. "Sure. Go ahead."

Her hands touched my horns and tail in turn. The stroking and gentle pressing sent shivers down my spine.

"Eek!"

"Ah, s-sorry!" Shin Chae-ah yanked her hands back in a panic, flustered.

"It's fine."

Seeing my reaction, she reached out again. Her hand latched onto my tail. What? She was going to keep touching?

Knead, knead.

I glanced at her. Her eyes were sparkling. She had a dazed look as her hand kept moving, so I spoke up again.

"Shin Chae-ah?"

"Yes? Oh, yes."

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, haha. Yes."

She shook her head side to side as if trying to snap out of it, then finished writing on the form.

"A real Demon Race..."

"Yep. A real demon."

She looked surprised, like she hadn't expected me to answer. I tilted my head and asked, "Are there no demons on Earth?"

"Well... not none at all, but they're known to be extremely rare."

"Rare?"

"Yes. Even in Korea, there aren't many. Plus, the material emitted from horns and tails like yours is popular among Hunters... so they get treated preciously."

"Aha." Shin Chae-ah gave examples like alchemists.

"Of course, our Magic Control Bureau doesn't need anything from you, so rest assured."

I nodded along. And with that, the physical exam wrapped up.

Next was the mana test. I stood in front of the mana measurement device as Shin Chae-ah directed. It was a cubic machine with a palm-shaped button on top.

Shin Chae-ah looked toward one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠end of the room and called someone. A researcher in a white coat approached soon after. After hearing her out, he activated the device.

The researcher looked at me and spoke. "This measures mana output. Think of squeezing out every last bit of the maximum mana you can release at once from your hand. It's cutting-edge tech, so it can handle any amount—relax and let it rip."

Their eyes focused on me. I felt a little pleased.

"...Hmph."

I placed my palm on the device. The moment I started channeling mana from my hand—

"Wha-what!?" The researcher panicked and fiddled with the device.

The screen flickered with static, filled with those words. It showed no sign of recovering despite the researcher's touches.

"Mana measurement impossible...? With Korea's top-performing device...?" The researcher looked dumbfounded.

I pulled my hand away. The alarms quieted.

Shin Chae-ah and the researcher's blank stares poured onto me. I took in the mood for a moment, then placed a hand on my hip.

"Heh, heh-heh?"

I struck an I'm super amazing pose. Whatever it was, I was awesome, right?

Then Shin Chae-ah hurriedly pulled out her phone. "Yes, Department Head. ...The device failed the measurement. It far exceeded the standard... You'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠come yourself? Yes, understood."

She ended the call with a slightly serious expression and looked at me. "...The examination is complete. Someone wants to see you—would you mind meeting them briefly?"

"Me? For real?"

"Yes. For real."

I felt a bit excited. More and more people seemed eager to get involved with me since coming here.

"Yay! I should give them a waaang!" I stretched both arms up high—the hug motion.

But Shin Chae-ah looked pretty flustered. "Pardon?"

"Waaang, you know, waaang."

Her face turned serious for a moment. "Uh, um... you didn't go 'waaang' when you faced the wolf too, did you?"

I blinked. I opened my mouth, then closed it.

"That's a different waaang. If we have to distinguish, that one's waaaang? This one's waaang. It means hug."

One was sucking in mana with my mouth; this was wrapping arms tight around someone.

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠froze. ".........Ah, yes. Got it."

I tilted my head. She had no clue at all.

I raised my arms a little. "See? Waaang! Like this."

"Pardon? Ah, y-yes...."

"For real. Try it yourself and you'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get it. Come on, follow me."

"Pardon? Uh... waa... waaang?" Shin Chae-ah awkwardly lifted her hands into the air.

I nodded in satisfaction. "Yes. Good job."

"...............Th-thank you...."

The researcher stared at us. Shin Chae-ah covered her face with both hands and trembled. After a few seconds, she dry-washed her face and pointed outside.

"Sh-should we go?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Me?"

I glanced at Book at those words—it had closed its eye. I puffed out my cheeks.

We arrived at an office. A blue-haired woman emerged from the spacious room and greeted me warmly.

"Hello. You must be Lee Seo-ah. I'm the one in charge of the Department Head position here at the Magic Control Bureau."

"Hello."

I looked at the Department Head, wondering if I should hug her, but she smiled so warmly it threw me off—I hesitated.

"Thanks for going through the exam today. As Shin Chae-ah Hunter reported, the Magic Control Bureau will provide you with every convenience."

"Aha, okay."

"We'll cover food, clothing, and shelter as basics... For living quarters, you'll use a temporary building near the Magic Control Bureau. It's called a building, but it's more like a studio apartment. ...Hmm, I wonder if that makes sense?"

"Yes. I've lived in a studio before."

The Department Head paused briefly. "I see. Anything you need? Feel free to ask."

I blinked. I recalled the phone Shin Chae-ah had used earlier. I'd used something similar in the Demon Realm too, but it was gone when I came to Earth.

"Could you get me a phone?"

"A phone? Sure, I'll have one brought right away."

I nodded. Memories of browsing communities on my phone surfaced. Communities—they gave a sense of belonging even when no one was around. That felt nice.

While the Department Head arranged the phone, I headed to the studio building she'd mentioned. It was literally a building with just one studio unit. It was a bit spacious for me alone, with a bed and some furniture.

Book scanned the place here and there and murmured lowly.

I blinked. "It's not convenient at all. Hmph. I can totally feel the distance."

I looked around the interior but found nothing interesting, so I returned to the Magic Control Bureau. The Department Head had already gotten the phone.

"Here."

"Thank you." I bowed my head and took it.

The Department Head spoke. "I've saved my number. The Magic Control Bureau's full of busy people, so if anything comes up before coming here, call me or Shin Chae-ah Hunter first."

I recalled the mana wards on the Magic Control Bureau walls and the numerous locked doors inside. Yeah, getting in normally would be tough.

"Okay."

I left the Magic Control Bureau and turned on the phone. It had been ages since I'd used one, so it felt a bit awkward, but not impossible.

As I fiddled with it, I accessed the Hunter community.

I blinked. Lots of random posts.

Then sirens blared intensely. At the same time, a flood of posts tied to one topic surged onto the community.

I blinked. The ground shook. Right in front of me, in the plaza, a massive golem loomed. Its overwhelming size, those boulder feet crushing the pavement with every step as it approached.

The Magic Control Bureau was on Jinong-ro. I blinked. Suddenly, I wondered what would happen if that foot stepped on it.