Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Seoul Dragon
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"Sis, you don't have anything else going on, right?"
"Would I? You know better than anyone how society views Mutants."
"So you're totally unemployed."
"Yeah, but honestly, there's nothing I can do right now."
"Heh. Anyway, nothing on your own?"
"For now. You?"
"I'm heading out for tutoring later?"
"You always find some ridiculous way to make money."
"I made a deal with Mom and Dad. They said if I live here, I handle my own pocket money. So no allowance."
"You're just saying that, but you're still using Mom's card, aren't you?"
"It's not like that. There are personal expenses, you know. Living costs are a big deal. Now that you're here, food costs have doubled."
"...True. Guess I need to find a job too. Oh, by the way, when's that reward money coming in?"
"Reward money?"
My sister looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"From catching that Mutant yesterday—they said there's a bounty."
"Who?"
"A National Intelligence Service agent."
"...Why's a spy catcher popping up out of nowhere?"
"Oh, you really are my sister. Your thought process is identical."
"What bullshit."
"Seems like they offer it because Mutants causing trouble is a problem..."
"Isn't that why incidents keep happening anyway?"
"Maybe those people are why there aren't even more."
"Good point. So how much?"
"No idea. Whenever it hits the account, let's go eat something."
"Ooh."
"Think of what you want."
She marveled as she shoveled the breakfast I'd prepared into her mouth.
Soon after, with a clatter, she started clearing the dishes.
"Just leave the dishes. I'll do them. Didn't you say you have tutoring?"
"Tutoring's at 7 PM. Still plenty of time."
"Then you do it."
"I was gonna anyway."
After finishing the dishes, I felt her staring blankly at me.
"What're you looking at."
"You got eyes in the back of your head or something?"
"I told you. I have Clairvoyance. I can sense any gaze directed at me. So, why?"
"You didn't dry your hair properly after washing. It's a mess. Come here. I'll dry it for you."
"What's with you? The ungrateful brat."
"It's too pathetic seeing someone so blessed not take care of it. Why, don't want it?"
"Who said no? Just surprised. They say if you do something out of character, you're about to drop dead..."
"You crazy bitch. No words too harsh for your sister."
"You always talk shit to me."
"Whatever, come here quick. Your hair's gonna get damaged."
"It won't. A Dragon's blessed body doesn't take any damage."
"What're you on about."
"It's true."
"How do you know that?"
"It just comes naturally."
"Naturally?"
"Yeah. Like instinct. If I just zone out, I automatically recall what I can do. Like remembering something I'd forgotten."
"That's wild..."
She muttered as she fetched the hairdryer and started gently combing through my hair.
With a whir, a warm breeze dried the lingering moisture in my strands.
"Your hair's really long."
"Should I cut it?"
"Nah. A Dragon's blessed body doesn't get damaged anyway. Plus, long hair looks pretty."
"Pretty for what?"
"When you play games as a girl character, you put insane effort into customizing. Why not live like that?"
"Hey. Am I a game character?"
"Not exactly, but at least try thinking of it that way. It's a waste otherwise. You've got looks that'd make celebrities jealous. Looking pretty or handsome in the mirror feels good. Boosts your confidence without you realizing."
"I've never been handsome, so I wouldn't know. Genes all went to one kid. Hey, don't sneakily grab the horns while saying that."
"Why, sensitive?"
"Cut the crap. No feeling. Just a bit unpleasant."
"Oh?"
"You like someone touching your body without permission?"
"Of course not."
"That's it."
"I see. So, any thoughts?"
"On what."
"Dressing up."
"Hey, it's not even been that long since I became a girl. Mental barrier's too high right now."
"Well, think it over slowly~ No rush. Just personally think it's a shame. Done. Your hair's quality is unreal. Silky smooth, like the saying goes."
"You always say that..."
"Thanks to the Dragon's blessed body, huh. So, what're you doing till classes start?"
"Dunno. Maybe streaming?"
"Sudden streaming out of nowhere?"
"You don't know the meta yet. Streaming after a gender swap is standard."
"What country's meta, you weeb. Whatever, if you wanna, do it."
"Nah. Just talking shit. You know how it is sometimes. Words slip out without brain filter. After all these years, you still don't know?"
At my words, my sister sighed.
Why? What?
* * *
Around evening, as my sister headed out for tutoring.
I checked my smartphone.
Then looked at the group chats.
The group project chat was dead anyway, no issue there. The problem was the one still buzzing.
Especially the one with my only line of contact—my college male classmates.
The four guys there had been asking about me nonstop since my mutation disappearance.
[Han Tae-hoon: Where'd Yoon Seo-hyun go? ㅋㅋ Ghosted the group project and wrecked that team]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: If a group project fails from one dropout, better off failing for real ㄹㅇ]
[Jo Min-hyuk: Pretty shitty~ Our group's a total mess too;; Told those fuckers to do the paper, and they scraped crap from everywhere]
[Heo Ji-hwan: Wanna smack 'em every time ㅋㅋ]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Seo-hyun fucked up registration last year, so this semester 6 majors, all group project leader spots... Six logs, and with his personality, maybe he bolted carrying it all?]
[Han Tae-hoon: Lol true. Yo Seo-hyun, something up?]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: He ain't even checking this chat?]
[Han Tae-hoon: Something really happen? Anyone been to his place?]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Wasn't at his place.]
[Jo Min-hyuk: Really just vanished? Weird;; Not like him?]
The scroll continued after that. Up to fairly recent.
[Heo Ji-hwan: Btw, Yoon Seo-hyun really dead?]
[Han Tae-hoon: Then wouldn't there be an obituary?]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Kinda worrying;; No one knows family numbers, dept office just says medical leave]
[Jo Min-hyuk: Some chronic illness flared up and he's recovering?]
[Han Tae-hoon: Or mutated? Most logical suspicion? Timing matches disappearance]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Yeah, possible? Mutated into something bad? Can't control it?]
[Heo Ji-hwan: Maybe...]
Still, as classmates, kinda touching they cared.
Three months ghosted, could've forgotten, but they remembered...
Guess I should at least report I'm alive.
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Hey]
Soon as I popped in, question marks flooded.
[Han Tae-hoon: You're alive?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Yeah;; Thanks for worrying]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: What happened? Really mutated?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Yeah]
[Heo Ji-hwan: What kind?]
[Jo Min-hyuk: When'd you wake?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Uh... Four days ago?]
[Han Tae-hoon: Woke up super late then? What'd you turn into?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Show you at start of term lol; Hard to go out now;; Can but inconvenient]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: ㅋㅋ Alive's good]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Anyway see y'all at term start]
* * *
Time flew by incredibly fast.
And surprisingly, nothing happened.
No Mutant rampages, steady checkups with no issues.
Plus, the hefty bounty from the Minotaur Mutant meant no one nagged while I lounged. Total shut-in life.
Sister tried dragging me out a few times, but I went once or twice and done.
I'm the type who merges best with home anyway.
Before I knew it...
One month till term start.
Others move post-start, but my situation differed.
Had to submit re-enrollment form to dept office.
I pulled my hat low.
Mutant perception kept worsening.
Few troublemakers the issue, but stigma always stems from minorities.
Better not invite hassle, so hat became daily外出 gear.
Golden eyes too conspicuous, so black lenses. What a hassle just to go out.
Stuffed prepared docs in bag, headed to dept office. Left right at 9 AM opening—no crowds.
Perfect, just run.
Mutation perk: No need public transport cash from place to school.
Jog there. Arrives in 10 mins.
Insane speed, no fatigue—running's fun.
But careful around people.
撞 one, they'd be critically injured. Won't happen, but... ifs exist.
Wanted wings out, but too attention-grabbing. Skipped.
Still remember sister's freakout first time I did.
Over two months, awakened all abilities naturally, like breathing.
Fly skies, wield lightning/fire, summon rain. Control weather.
Anyway, suddenly humanities building in sight.
Headed straight to Korean Lit dept office without hesitation.
Nerves hit as I approached.
Knew the TAs inside.
First time meeting anyone outside family post-mutation.
Hesitantly knocked on the dept office door.