Pseudo-Human Ara - 1
I had forgotten every scrap of modern knowledge, but I had never forgotten a thing about the ID card.
The ID card.
Plainly put, it was the document that proved I belonged to the Republic of Korea.
Having one meant I was proving I was a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
And being a citizen of the Republic of Korea meant proving I was human!
I asked Kim Miryeo with a voice brimming with excitement.
"Finally, you've recognized me as human..."
But Kim Miryeo shook her head and cut my words off with firm finality.
"That's not correct. Ara is an anomaly. Her unique serial number has not been erased, and she is still an entity that requires containment."
"...Tsk."
Well, well.
Just because I had caught one imp wearing the skin of a demon didn't mean my identity was proven.
Still, it was nothing but good that she had handed me an ID card. Nothing bad about it at all.
Kim Miryeo exhaled a long sigh and said,
"Shall I be honest? I don't think Ara is simply a simple anomaly. Anyone who has ever had even one conversation with Ara would come to the same conclusion."
"Hmm, that makes sense. I look perfect as a human on the surface."
"Exactly. But that doesn't mean I think Ara is human."
"I have no evidence that I am human, but I have clear evidence that I am an anomaly."
"...You seem to understand your own situation quite well."
Of course.
I was accepting my current situation very realistically.
Because I had accepted a god into my body, the power called 'Mind Value' was being observed from me.
And this Mind Value could only be observed in anomalies, without exception.
Even if my position with Kim Miryeo was completely opposite, I would have seen her as an anomaly too.
"Still, I have not given up on proving that I am human."
No matter what, my actions as the shadow of a tyrant and a bureaucrat must have been recorded in the lost history book.
If I simply found that lost history book, it would naturally prove that I was human.
"...I don't know how I can find the lost history as an anomaly."
When I heard my own words, Kim Miryeo gave me a deliberately serious expression and said to me.
"Ara. Let's talk about that from now on."
"...? What story are you talking about?"
Although Kim Miryeo's appearance was exhausted from staying up for several nights and days...
"The story of finding the lost history. And..."
As much as her eyes.
"The story of you turning from anomaly to human."
It was shining brighter than ever.
***
It had been less than a month since I had come from Joseon to the modern era.
I hadn't seen Kim Miryeo that many times, so I didn't know everything about her, but...
At least, her obsession with research was close to madness.
During the past Insect Face incident, she had commanded me, "No matter what you do, don't let it become nothing."
In other words, Kim Miryeo was a person who was willing to sacrifice anything for new research achievements.
For such a Kim Miryeo, the new existence called 'shaman' that I was, which she had never seen before.
And the story about religion would have been irresistible bait that could not be described in words.
Surprisingly.
Both of these delicious baits, I could naturally devour them if I proved that I was 'human'.
My past actions in Joseon must have been recorded in history books, so by retrieving the lost history book from the past, it would prove that I was human.
By the way, the history books would contain information about 'shamans' and information about Korean folk religion, shamanism.
The moment I prove I am human is the moment Kim Miryeo achieves tremendous research results. It is not an exaggeration.
Ah, but do not misunderstand.
I do not know whether Kim Miryeo truly sees me as human or not.
...Simply, it would be beneficial for her position to make me human too.
No matter what, my purpose with Kim Miryeo has become completely the same.
I have to find the historical records from the past somehow.
The answer is probably in the Cult of Chaos.
Twisted Victim.
Among the saints of the religions I know, the most famous for sacrifice is undoubtedly Jesus.
Even the Insect Face had drawn the cross symbol of Jesus.
If it was a noble sacrifice, but a twisted sacrifice.
It seems a bit strange, but it is clearly deeply related to the 'Cult of Chaos'.
For that reason, from now on, I have to study modern society as a human.
I have to stick closer to Kim Miryeo and learn the world.
This ID card is the first step.
I looked at the ID card that Kim Miryeo gave me with a dumbfounded expression.
Then I complained.
"Doctor. Wrong. The gender is female."
"Biologically it is female, right.
"I did not say? I am..."
"Do you think I will believe your words, or do you think I will believe science?"
"...Ugh."
Yeah.
The gender being wrong is something I can concede a hundred times.
[ID Card]
Name: Ara-gon (Ara)
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Date of Birth
...
...
...
But besides the gender, everything else was wrong.
I said with a sigh.
"Name, age, gender, date of birth, all wrong!"
First, my name is not Ara-gon, it is simply Ara.
No surname.
My mental age is at least over fifty this year.
Gender is male.
Date of birth is the day I was first discovered by the Bureau.
Although rejuvenating age does not seem bad...
"The rest are all unsatisfactory!"
"Ara. From now on, you will be a Grade C employee of the B.A.R.I. Anomaly Management Bureau Seoul Branch in a nominal capacity."
"Completely ignoring my words now, ugh... Well, from now on, where am I supposed to be locked up?"
"You will be locked up in the Bureau."
"So, the Bureau where..."
"The entire Bureau."
"...Hmm?"
I asked Kim Miryeo with a bright face.
"Then, can I roam the entire Bureau autonomously?"
"Yes. There are some restricted areas, but..."
"That's... a pleasant surprise!"
I was already very frustrated staying locked in a room all day.
Although it is half-free, it was a huge happiness for me.
Kim Miryeo continued.
"Of course, the areas outside the Bureau are strictly controlled. If you do not follow the control..."
"Do not worry about that part. Following the control is something I am very familiar with."
Comparing the time I spent in the palace as the shadow of a tyrant and the current control level of Kim Miryeo.
The former was overwhelmingly more uncomfortable.
Moreover, from Kim Miryeo's words, the Seoul Branch of the Bureau seems as vast as the palace at that time, so I can relieve the frustration easily.
Kim Miryeo's explanation continued.
Basically, since I am an 'anomaly', I cannot act alone in areas outside the designated areas.
Of course, I understood.
Honestly, I did not expect Kim Miryeo to guarantee this much autonomy.
Rest time is guaranteed six hours a day, bedtime seven hours a day.
When I asked why rest time is allocated so much,
"Resting is also work for Ara."
The answer came back.
Well, resting while encountering modern culture and customs can be said to be part of the modern adaptation process for me.
My main duties were roughly three.
First, learning modern knowledge, especially 'knowledge about the three religions'.
Second, making talismans.
Third, performing the personal secretary role for Branch Director Kim Miryeo.
It is personal secretary, but it is basically saying she will research with me by my side.
Other things were understood.
"Only the talisman making work, please modify."
"How should I modify it?"
"Modify the entire shamanic ritual. I am not some half-assed shaman who can only make talismans."
"Does that mean you will do gut for the employees?"
"Of course not? I am a shaman. If I need any employees, send them to me anytime to receive my help."
Kim Miryeo hesitated for a moment, then recalled the situation where she could have survived thanks to the talisman.
She nodded vigorously.
"Understood."
"Ah, and this is something I requested last time too."
"Building a shrine?"
"Remembering well. Yes, please allow the construction of a shrine and production of shamanic tools within the Seoul Branch."
"That part, I will decide after researching more about Ara."
"Ugh, just in case it is not strange. If there is just the shrine and tools, my capabilities will be at least five times stronger than now..."
"I do not want to grant it even more after hearing that."
"..."
Is it meaning that complete trust has not been built yet.
Kim Miryeo thought for a moment, then slightly lifted the corner of her mouth and said.
"Or, Ara can earn money and build it yourself."
"...Is that possible?"
"Yes. Ara earning money means helping the Seoul Branch employees in some way."
"Great! Doctor, jackpot! So, how much does it cost?"
"Hmm, well. I need to ask the construction department for a detailed estimate, but my estimate is..."
She smiled faintly.
"Probably at least 1 billion won."
"..."
The words 'this mischievous little witch' rose to the tip of my tongue, but I barely held them back.
By adjusting some more stories with Kim Miryeo.
I had completed my preparation to become a 'pseudo-human', who is both anomaly and human.
The first task as a pseudo-human.
Was to casually walk around the facilities of the B.A.R.I. Anomaly Management Bureau Seoul Branch once.