Chapter 4
Sirens blared from all directions at the breaking news of the Disparity Golem's appearance, and moments later, hunters from the Magic Control Bureau poured out to deploy.
Inside a massive black Magic Control Bureau vehicle, seasoned hunters sat armed, staring toward their destination. Yongsan-gu, where Seoul's Magic Control Bureau was located, was a hotspot teeming with resident hunters for that very reason. Yet a golem legion emerging there was unprecedented. Golems rarely showed themselves among monster species, and forming packs like this was even rarer.
Recon drones confirmed about eight of them. Golems boasted sturdy bodies and immense strength, each with unique abilities. Strangely, this legion all shared the power to spew corrosive fluids.
"Why's everything going crazy lately?"
"Tell me about it."
"First time seeing a golem legion."
One team. A mix from B-grade to A-grade, various classes. With the monsters rated high enough, elite hunters like these were dispatched. Their mood wasn't bad— just some grumbling about the headache and fatigue ahead.
Among these battle-hardened hunters accustomed to the unusual, one stood out as the exception.
"Chae-ah, heading out again? You're incredible."
"Pardon? Oh, yeah. Haha."
Shin Chae-ah gave an awkward smile at her colleague's praise. Known as a top B-grade swordswoman, she had a reputation in the bureau for her high field deployment rate. Her standing was excellent. Most would get cocky nearing A-grade, but not her—she threw herself into fieldwork even more.
Take the Lee Seo-ah demon incident; she'd gotten tangled up despite her workload and stepped up again today. Her colleagues knew, of course, and admiring glances followed.
"I'd take sick leave right away. Four fields in one day? No joke."
"Ah, yeah. Haha."
Shin Chae-ah stayed composed, as always. Pouring everything into the job. She wanted to grow stronger forever.
The battle unfolded much as expected. Even a first-time golem legion was just a bunch of golems clustered together. Melee brawlers and explosive casters unleashed a barrage, toppling them one by one. No matter the numbers, they were still golems—rock piles. Shatter the structure, and they crumbled.
But then.
"Something's off with the rear golem!"
"What the hell is that?!"
As over half fell, the one at the back showed no signs of collapsing despite the onslaught. Unlike the others, it didn't even crack—it regenerated damage, endlessly sustaining its health.
Firepower shifted erratically from three others to it, then back. In the chaos, a golem fist hurtled toward one colleague. Shin Chae-ah spotted it. He was in bad shape, couldn't dodge. She launched herself, shoving him aside.
The fist came at her. She blocked with her sword but couldn't fully repel the mana. Numbness shot through her as she tumbled across the ground.
"You okay!?"
"Pour it on!"
Support fire rained down. Shin Chae-ah rose shakily. Situation was dire. Rear golem was the ambush ace. A-grade or higher? It closed in with its bulky frame, fist raised.
"Waaah."
A familiar voice cut through, not loud but echoing to every living thing here. The golem froze mid-swing. Shin Chae-ah whipped around. Lee Seo-ah.
"What?"
Why's she here?
"Hello, everyone."
Lee Seo-ah bowed politely to all. As eyes turned to her, she blinked, then eyed the golem.
"..........Euhe?"
She charged with a patter of steps, scrambling up its arm onto its body. The golem creaked, pinned by some immense force. Atop its shoulder, Lee Seo-ah gaped wide and chomp—bit down.
"Munch munch. Mmm, good. You pass."
She plummeted straight down, landing nimbly on both feet with a thud. The golem's seized body slackened. It bellowed in fury, red eyes locking on her. Massive arm reared back.
As the fist plummeted, Lee Seo-ah stared calmly. The trajectory veered wildly. It smashed empty ground beside her. Earth quaked, debris flew.
Lee Seo-ah glanced at the embedded fist.
"Suuuper big."
The golem roared. Opposite fist rose, swung—trajectory twisted, cratered the dirt. Quake again. Amid it, Lee Seo-ah nodded curiously.
"This one's super big too."
It roared louder. Fists hammered endlessly, missing her, turning the ground to seismic chaos. Lee Seo-ah smiled like she was having fun. Noise filled the air. Dust billowed thick.
She brushed shoulder dust away and blew it off.
Lee Seo-ah murmured low.
"Boring now."
She met the golem's eyes. It locked gazes for an instant. Its roar cut off. Fist hung limp and twitching. It sensed the overwhelming disparity. Lee Seo-ah smiled leisurely. Even monsters feel it. Earth really is great.
She parted her lips slightly.
"Crunch."
From shoulder to hips, massive fangs etched across it. Explosive rupture. Shockwave erupted; the golem shattered to rubble. Debris scattered.
Hunters gaped, stunned.
"Wh-what...?"
"Insane."
"What... what did I just witness...?"
"That thing's the real monster...?"
Even veterans who'd seen countless monsters and hunters couldn't hide their shock. Peace returned abruptly. Scattered rock chunks everywhere. From them, Lee Seo-ah pattered to the hunters, planted hands on hips, and puffed up proudly.
"How was that? I went kyaaang on all of 'em. Praise away~."
Hunters blinked, then clapped one by one.
"Incredible!"
"Ooh...!"
"So cool...!"
Lee Seo-ah nodded smugly, pleased.
"Heung. Good, good."
Shin Chae-ah watched blankly, then let out a hollow laugh. What the heck is she? Seemed like more to report upstairs.
I blinked as the hunters prepped to withdraw. The recent mana taste faded from my mouth. Stronger than that wolf—thicker flavor. Collect a bit more, forge a weapon. Right now, I devour messily with big attacks, but a weapon lets me pinpoint targets cleanly. Sample with the weapon, finish with my waaang.
Book can craft it. Most of its mana came from me anyway.
Lost in those thoughts, Book spoke up.
[At least you managed contact with humans. Even had a sort of conversation.]
".......Hmph."
[Hm? Something lacking?]
I stared blankly at the hunters loading gear.
"Their expressions aren't perfect."
[Expressions?]
"Yeah. Like they're in awe? No sense of seeing an equal being."
[Different species, massive mana gap—natural reaction, no?]
"Eueng. Maybe."
Hunters laughing and chatting among themselves caught my eye. Memories of my Earth arrival: terrified faces, huddling together. I murmured blankly.
"I wanna be human."
[Human?]
"............Yeah, human."
Ding—lightbulb over my head.
"Right, gotta become human."
[Hm?]
I brushed off and stood, pointing skyward.
"First step to becoming human."
[First?]
"Make friends with humans."
Book blinked at me.
[Friends? The kind I know?]
"Yep."
[Not sure it's wise right now.]
"No, it's perfect."
Make human friends one by one. They talk, interact—no problem. Gradually build ties with tons of people. Someday, beyond this bureau, the country, the world knows this cute me. I'll be super famous, by any means. So for now...
Start with Friend #1.
Perfect plan. Then Shin Chae-ah approached. She'd patched up quick from her injury.
"Lee Seo-ah-ssi?"
"Oh."
I blinked. Opportunity already!
"Hi, Shin Chae-ah-ssi."
"Ah, yes. Thanks so much for the help just now. We finished without casualties thanks to you. Not sure how you got here, but..."
"Followed your vehicles. Anyway—"
I cut straight in.
"Wanna be my friend?"
"..........Pardon?"
Shin Chae-ah blinked blankly.
"Friends?"
"Yes."
"Uh......"
I tilted my head.
"Shin Chae-ah-ssi?"
"Yes? Oh, uh......friends?"
"Yes, friends."
She rolled her eyes, mouth agape. Then bureau vehicles arrived. She hurried off.
"F-first, hop in the car!"
"Eueng."
I followed, murmuring.
"Never miss prey."
[Chaos already.]
Be my friend nicely.
....
After, I kept friend-requesting Shin Chae-ah relentlessly, but she dodged with flustered faces. She's the one I've interacted most with—perfect candidate. This complicates things. Time for a plan: Operation Make Shin Chae-ah My Friend. Show up armed to the teeth, demand friendship? Crude, but maybe better ways.
Musing that, I returned to the bureau dorms.
"Gonna think it through step by step. Hard work'll make friends for sure."
[Just to check—'hard work' means normal, right?]
"Yep."
[......Feels like big trouble brewing.]
Slept in my dorm, woke next day. Casually checked hunter community on my phone.
There, a post about me.
In a dim room of some building, thick with potent, sinister mana, a skull-masked man peered at his phone.
Then, an anonymous message pinged him. A photo of Lee Seo-ah—the demon.
"Finally, finally found the demon."
He grinned wickedly.
"Those horns, those massive horns. The final piece for my grand world domination plan... those horns...!"
Ecstasy filled him. He gripped his weapon and shot up.
"Wait there. I'll take your life and claim those horns right now!"