Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Echoes of the Encounter
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The Orc boxer, Liang Wei, was quietly deported back to China.
From the way the Public Security Bureau glared at him like they wanted to kill him, it seemed he wasn't just some guy who ended up killing a few people.
Maybe I should've beaten him a bit harder?
In any case, contrary to my expectations that it would drag on for quite a while, the incident wrapped up surprisingly quickly.
Agent Choi Jeong-ho even thanked me for preventing unnecessary waste of time and manpower...
Thanks to that, the reward money was pretty generous.
I have no idea how they even calculate these rewards.
Well... I suppose I can think of it as an incentive equivalent to the costs they saved.
Anyway, having wrapped things up sooner than expected and gotten paid properly, I was in a good mood. But above all, the biggest gain was probably exchanging contact info with the utterly adorable Sia.
It wasn't so much a romantic perspective—more like looking at a cute little animal.
Sia said she was heading back to California. Something about having to tend to a tree there.
Apparently, the Giant Sequoia from last time had finally broken through 100 meters.
...Wasn't its maximum size supposed to be 85 meters?
According to her, she was just going to plant the World Tree seed in that 100-meter Giant Sequoia.
When I asked what a World Tree was, she said it was exactly that—a World Tree.
Once the tree fully grows while harboring the World Tree seed, it becomes a massive tree reaching nearly 500 meters.
100 meters was already an insane scale, but 500...?
Was she planning to build an entire Elf village or something?
"I'm actually planning to create a village in America for Mutants who live there. Of course, only the more benevolent ones will be allowed to move in."
"Won't you need the governor's permission for that?"
"She said she would."
"Huh?"
"She'll allow it. I guess she's aiming for the tourism industry and specialty products grown from the World Tree. In terms of rarity, it'll be the most unique village in the world, so she readily approved."
"But where did you even get that seed?"
"About a month or two after my mutation, a sprout appeared above my head? It grew for about a week and then bore this big fruit. Turns out, that fruit contained the World Tree seed."
"...Somehow, your story sounds way more dramatic than mine."
"Well, at least I don't have wings or a tail, and I can't control fire or lightning."
"No matter how you look at it, that seems way more impressive than fire or lightning."
"...You think so? But aren't you touching my cheek for too long?"
"Sorry. It's just so addictive..."
"That means my cheeks are that charming! Hmm... I guess that's a good thing?"
"Absolutely. Being able to easily win people's favor is a tremendous asset."
"Yeah, I suppose it is."
"But what did you look like before mutating?"
"Uh... At least bigger than now. Quite a bit bigger."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. I was about 170 cm tall, with a pretty good figure. But then overnight, I turned into this..."
She seemed somehow melancholic.
Her womanly body had vanished, replaced by a girlish, petite frame.
"That's why I'm jealous of you, Seo-hyun."
"I went from man to woman... so I don't really feel much about it."
"Oh, right. When you put it that way, I guess I was whining from a full belly."
"No, it's fine. I'm used to it now anyway. So, you're heading back to California now?"
"Yeah. Gotta tend to the World Tree. No wonder it kept demanding fertile soil... Who knew it had the potential to become one."
"Ahaha! The post you put up on the community was hilarious."
"Oh, then can I post about meeting you this time too?"
"Sure, go ahead. I've already done an interview with a reporter... so my personal info is basically out there on the internet anyway."
"Oh? What interview?"
"Just stuff about what happened when I mutated, personal thoughts, that sort of thing...? It'll be in the Korea Daily soon."
"I'll have to check it out. Well, I'll be off then. If you ever visit America, I'll come pick you up!"
"Thanks. Take care."
"It was fun!"
We parted ways after exchanging such trivial chit-chat.
Ah, I miss her already. I want to squish those soft cheeks again.
Even after becoming a Dragon, I hadn't felt much in the way of desires, but that was seriously tempting.
I hope we meet again.
* * *
A golden weekend. I was reading the post Sia had uploaded to the community.
[I met the super famous Dragon-nim from the community!]
I had some business in Korea for a bit, and by chance, I ran into a Dragon-type Mutant!
At first, I was so, so, so scared, but luckily he treated me well, so I could relax a bit...
But guys.
Did you know?
Elves tremble uncontrollably in front of Dragon-nim.
I've never trembled like that meeting anyone before—not even when I met the California governor did I feel any pressure, but standing before him, my body shook like a mouse in front of a cat.
It feels like some kind of instinctive fear ingrained in the species...?
-You met that Dragon-type Mutant?
-Me!!! He was super kind!
-What the heck did a High Elf and a Dragon even do together?
-We just chatted at a cafe! Oh, and something fun might happen in California soon!
-Something fun? What's that?
-You'll find out when it happens lololol Expect it!
-Seeing her laugh like that again feels off somehow... What about that Giant Sequoia? How's the tree?
-It's over 100 meters now...
-ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
Definitely, there's a big gap between seeing her on the community and meeting her in person.
On the community, she comes off like a playful kid, but in reality, she's completely different, so that contrast is huge.
Next up were posts about my interview.
[Dragon-type Mutant interview dropped???]
It dropped, so here it is lol
Just your average upstanding college student, but it feels like he gets some mental stability bonus as a racial trait?
-So jealous fml;; No matter how you look at it, mental traits seem the most important for Mutants;;
-But it makes sense—if he didn't have that kind of mindset, Seoul would've been a sea of fire, right?
-Fr lol
-Yeah, probably
-Think about it: Mutants strong enough to cause disasters all seem to have mental buffs, don't they?
-Seems like it? And pre-mutation personality gets amplified too, I think.
-Fr?
-Look at the Minotaur lol Hard to judge from one case, but apparently he had 7 prior convictions even before mutating? Total scumbag criminal ㅇㅇ Prosecutors revealed it recently.
-Oh huh interesting;;
-That High Elf in the post above can manipulate vegetation at will, right? That shit's a disaster waiting to happen lol Could make mountains roll around.
-Hearing it like that gives me chills;;
Reading someone's post about my interview on the community, I see some pretty plausible speculations popping up. I myself had been thinking along those lines.
Maybe the reason I got this immense power without freaking out was to prevent chaos in society.
Or perhaps my ordinary citizen mindset shone through.
I don't know the details... but if this exhibitionist streak of mine had manifested in a bad way, it could've caused serious trouble.
And that's when my little sister poked me.
"Interview dropped, huh?"
"You saw it?"
"Yeah. For once, you gave normal answers unlike yourself? Did you bribe the reporter?"
"Where would I get bribe money?"
"You got paid again recently. Something about turning a Mutant into dough."
"That was after the interview... I just answered sincerely with all my heart."
"Hmm. Guess we can't reveal to our department that you're my sister for a while."
"Why?"
"Why? The business majors will keep coming to see you, and you wanna deal with that?"
"...No."
"Exactly, so we're keeping it quiet. How's that for sisterly consideration?"
"Pfft, thanks a lot. You're just saying that to avoid the hassle yourself."
"Pretty much. Having a famous family member is such a pain."
"If you know, then behave yourself. Don't get dragged into anything annoying."
"Isn't that what I should be saying to you?"
"...Yeah?"
"Even the stuff you've already done is on a massive scale. Why'd you change so much all of a sudden when you weren't like that before mutating?"
Tell me about it. I want to know that too.
I let out a sigh.
* * *
-...This is Choi Jeong-ho.
"Ah, yes. Agent. It's Jin-ha. Seo Jin-ha."
-What is it?
"It's nothing much, but could you maybe set up a meeting with the Dragon-type Mutant?"
-Tell me the reason. I can't just introduce you to her casually.
"Oh my, aren't you being too cold?"
-No matter how much it is you, Jin-ha, matters regarding Seo-hyun are beyond my discretion.
"Ahaha. Fair enough. It could cause a huge fuss if mishandled. Don't worry. I just want to make some clothes for her. I am an Arachne-type Mutant, you know? Dragon-type Mutant... I mean, Seo-hyun? Right? Anyway, I saw a photo of her with wings spread, and inspiration just flooded in. She'd make a great model for my shop."
-I'll ask her once. But no coercive attitude. If Seo-hyun gets angry, Seoul could vanish.
"Psh, I don't have a hobby of committing suicide. Anyway, I'll be waiting for good news?"
-...And I'll report this to the assemblyman.
"Go ahead. Am I doing anything wrong? My dad won't say a word."
-I know, but procedures are procedures.
"Jeez, our agent's such a stickler for rules. Loosen up a bit."
-You know full well what happens when you don't. You're the one who should know best.
"...Heh. True that. Anyway, thanks for your hard work."
Jin-ha pressed the end call button. Dragon-type Mutant, Yoon Seo-hyun.
"This could be fun? Wonder what clothes to make..."
Jin-ha still held onto the thrill she'd felt when she saw the photo of her with wings spread.