Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Heading Home
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“……Good thing. Then I can just re-enroll and retake the semester.”
“But, can you really go back to school?”
“What’s stopping me? I’ve already paid tuition, so I might as well graduate.”
As we talked about college, I felt a strange gaze on me. It was my little sister.
“What.”
“Nothing, I was just thinking you’re pretty thick-skinned.”
“Why, again.”
“Honestly, you’re probably the only one who wakes up like this and immediately thinks about school.”
“Then what should I worry about instead of college?”
“Is there any guarantee college life will go smoothly? Just being a mutant will draw stares from everyone.”
She meant well, but it honestly just sounded ridiculous.
“Hey. That’ll only last a day or two. If I don’t do anything weird and just attend classes, the reactions will die down. I’m basically a loner anyway—no friends in the department—so who’s gonna care?”
“……Sigh. That’s so you, bro. Wait, not bro anymore. Hey. That only works if you’re still a guy. With your face now, guys are gonna swarm you.”
She had a point.
My current appearance was undeniably alluring to anyone who saw it…… No way guys wouldn’t flock.
Of course, not everyone was like that, but the crazed minority’s antics popped up constantly on university forums.
Ugh. Gross.
Just imagining it was enough to make me shudder. Some flailing idiot chasing after me? In this world……?
I wasn’t that open-minded; it’d probably give me goosebumps.
“Ugh, creepy. But it’s fine.”
“What is.”
“If they get too annoying, I’ll just show off a trick.”
“A trick?”
“Yeah. Like folding a coin in half.”
“…….”
“That alone should keep most guys away, right?”
What, why, whatever.
I grinned at my dumbfounded little sister.
It actually sounded fun now that I thought about it.
* * *
“You seem so relaxed—it puts my mind at ease, sweetie.”
“Why not just treat me like your son? I’m still not used to this.”
“That’s exactly why we need to help you adjust quickly. Are you okay with it?”
“Me?…… Yeah, whatever. Son or daughter, doesn’t matter. Oh, but I am a bit miffed.”
“About what?”
“If this happened in my freshman year, I wouldn’t have had to go to the army. At least I’m spared reserve duty, though.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. They exempt mutants from reserves. There’s precedent……”
The small talk dragged on for quite a while.
I must’ve looked like I’d barely survived to them, so my parents were pretty worried.
Well, except for my sister.
They also seemed relieved that I was calmer than expected.
During the three months I was out, my family must’ve seen and heard how mutants were changing the world, so they probably knew more about them than I did.
The inherent risks and all that. Since none of it showed in me, it made sense they’d relax.
Anyway, the moment my family left, the doctor slipped into my room.
Perfect timing—I had something to ask.
“Um, doctor?”
“Yes. What’s up?”
“When can I be discharged? I don’t feel sick or anything weird…… Wouldn’t it be better to just go home and come back for periodic checkups?”
“Want to do that?”
“Huh?”
“The agent mentioned earlier that you’re controlling your powers well. No need for more tests since the physical came back clean. We can just monitor your progress with regular visits, like you said.”
“Oh. Then yeah, let’s do that.”
“It’s late today, so rest here one more night. Tomorrow, we’ll process discharge. Contact your family too.”
“Got it.”
* * *
With time to kill in the room, all I could do was scroll the internet on my smartphone.
The web was all mutants. They were even launching mutant-only communities.
But this…… It’s kinda fun to read.
[Holy shit;;]
Planted a tree and it grew so huge it punched through the building.
What do I do now;;
-? Why’d you plant a tree out of nowhere?
-Because I’m a tree hugger……
-lmao Elf?
-Yeah;; No trees and the air feels so stale I can’t breathe.
-How you gonna pay for building repairs?
-IDK gotta figure it out…… But why’d it grow so fast?
-Elf racial trait?
-Even so;;
-Get a job at a botanical garden? Treekeeper sounds lucrative.
-Ooh good idea?
[Vampire life……]
Blood packs are so hard to get;;
Please donate blood, everyone……
Pig blood tastes like ass.
-What’s blood taste like to vamps?
-Just straight-up blood flavor, but it’s insanely good.
-You must go nuts for blood sausage lol.
-Yeah used to hate it cuz it was gamey but now that’s all I eat;;
There were presumed elves, presumed vampires. Even one who’d turned harpy with wings.
Truly, fantasy had come to reality.
Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games.
[What the fuck is this guy?]
If you’re crazy, can’t you just live quietly?
Why rampage on the street? Life’s hard enough as a mutant……
-Later when I get strong I’m beating his ass.
-Fr?
-Duh cap bitch looks like minotaur-type mutant lol good luck not getting flattened.
-But fr the hot-tempered mutants are the most pitiful.
-How little self-control do you need to act like that? Most mutants don’t cause trouble lol.
-True yeah look at that vamp above chugging packs and sausage instead of people.
[Guys fr every race is showing up]
Reality’s straight fantasy lol.
Elves, dwarves, harpies, vamps, all kinds of beastkin……
Heard there’s even a slime?
What else?
-Somewhere there’s gotta be a dragon.
-Dragon would cause chaos lmao.
-Would it breathe fire n shit?
-Come to think…… While I was in hospital rumors flew yeah there’s a presumed dragon mutant.
-Fr??
-Yeah I awakened like 2 months ago? They said mutations were still ongoing then.
-Omg;; But what are you? 2-month mutants are rare.
-Elf but not your standard elf.
-Like high elf?
-Yeah.
-Damn dragon sounds scary;; Won’t it cause a huge incident?
-Dunno but longer mutations mean more mental stability supposedly? Doc said.
-Really?
-Yeah I wasn’t confused or anything.
-Weird;; What’s high elf vs regular?
-Dunno…… Never met an elf friend, but I can hear plants talking.
-Crazy.
I flinched reading the posts.
Late mutation, possible dragon…… That sounded like me.
Didn’t expect my story to pop up here.
That high elf might’ve awakened at my hospital.
After that, I kept digging into mutant history.
Scrolling through events, damn, all kinds of shit had gone down.
Makes sense—fantasy crashing into daily life? Of course chaos.
Some stories serious, some hilarious—I chuckled, then hit the hay.
* * *
Woke up to morning light.
Scratching my messy hair, I felt…… horns.
“……Ah.”
Hard, coiled black horns.
Still not used to these. People touch bumps on their heads instinctively, but these were full-on horns.
Fiddling with them, no sensations from the horns themselves.
Felt like solid bull horns to the touch.
Heard I had wings and tail too, but no clue how to summon them.
Tail whatever, but wings? Wanna try flying someday…… Eh, it’ll happen.
Zoning out, I remembered to call family.
Time…… 9 AM. Mom’s probably up.
Casually dialed her.
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Hey, Mom. They said I can discharge today.”
“Huh?”
“My condition’s super stable, powers under control no practice needed. Just come back weekly for checkups?”
“So what’ll you do?”
“Yeah. Heading straight to my place. You kept the lease, right?”
“Oh, forgot to mention. Canceled your old place, got a new one. Maintenance costs…… No point keeping an empty room, so when the lease ended, we moved your stuff. Got a nice officetel for you and Seo-ah near her old spot. Address incoming. Familiar area since it’s by where she lived.”
“Oh.”
“Talked to Seo-ah too. You’re a girl now, so you’ll need her help sometimes. That’s why. You okay with it?”
“Nah, it’s fine. Let’s live together. We did as kids anyway…… And yeah, I’ll need her help like you said.”
A twinge of regret, but no big deal. We’d only gotten two places cuz that psycho Seo-ah threw a fit.
“Address…… Ah, here? Dropped stuff at Seo-ah’s a lot. That cafe I hit often. Oh, Mom, everything good but…… I got no clothes. Can you bring something basic?”
“Got it. Be there soon. Let’s shop while we’re at it. Won’t know your sizes anyway……”
An hour later, Mom showed up with my sister.
“You good?”
“Saw me yesterday.”
“This kid. Just saying. Discharge now?”
“Yeah. Packed up…… Just walk out. Oh, got a hoodie?”
“Seo-ah packed it. Said you’d cause a riot otherwise.”
“Ooh, you? What’s the occasion?”
“What. Isn’t it obvious?”
“Knew you’d forget.”
“Die.”
“Oh right, gotta get you underwear too. Department store first.”
“Cool, grab mine while we’re there?”
“You? You got tons.”
“Nah, nothing fits now.”
“Fine, fine. But pick good stuff for your brother.”
No wonder she came so obediently—had an angle. Semester over, summer coming. Eyeing summer clothes.
“Yeah yeah. Oh, sizes? Want me to measure?”
“You measure. Don’t wanna freak out store clerks.”
“Sure, whatever.”