Seoul Dragon - Chapter 29

After successfully completing the magazine photo shoot, I didn't have much to do.

Just attending classes without any issues, completing assignments without problems... that kind of routine.

I kept the magazine shoot a secret for now. I didn't want to make a fuss about it.

There were a few underclassmen trying to get close to me, but except for those I genuinely liked, I didn't become particularly close with them.

As Teaching Assistant Jeongmin said, it wasn't going to be easy.

But what can you do? When people form relationships, there are those who match well and those who don't.

And occasionally, people would ask for my number.

...Yeah.

"Um, could I have your number...?"

"I'm not interested in dating. Sorry."

"Oh, it's not for dating, I just want to get to know you better."

"Sorry~"

That kind of situation.

Not for dating...? I could clearly see the desire to try to bed a mutant gleaming in their eyes.

It seems my previous interview had spread around campus that I wasn't such a dangerous mutant after all.

There were pros and cons to this. The pro was that people weren't afraid or wary of me.

The con was... situations like just now. People trying to cleverly exploit the fact that I have no intention of harming others to approach me somehow.

Come on, I told you I used to be male, right? What are you expecting from someone who's only recently become female?

Ugh, disgusting.

"Wow, your university life has become quite eventful since you became a mutant."

"Are you saying that because it's not happening to you?"

"No, I just think it's kind of pitiful."

As I was moving to my next class, Hangyeol spoke to me. Look at that guy, grinning from ear to ear.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"How could I not? To think I'd see the day when Yoon Seohyun would be bombarded with confessions from men. I wonder if those people would still want your number if they knew what you looked like before your mutation?"

"Absolutely not. Just like you guys."

"Exactly. Anyway... are you enjoying your department life?"

"It's fun, but tiring."

"Well, your tendency to hole up in your room wouldn't change."

"When you think about it, dragons as creatures typically nest in caves and sleep all day. Maybe I acquired that species trait too."

"You've been going around quite a lot for someone saying that."

"...Have I?"

Hangyeol looked at me as if he'd heard something absurd.

Thinking about it, Hangyeol was right.

It's a fact that my range of activity has expanded tremendously since my mutation.

"Well, live as you please."

"That's true. I'm living as I want anyway..."

"By the way, have you met other mutants?"

At that moment, Hangyeol asked if I had met other mutants. Other mutants...? I have, but should I talk about it?

...I guess it's fine?

With no particular topic of conversation in mind, I decided to share about the mutants I'd met recently.

"Recently, briefly?"

"Oh, you met some? Who?"

"A High Elf and an Arachne."

"High Elf...? That dark-haired elf who went to California? Well, I guess her hair isn't dark anymore?"

"How do you know about that?"

"She posts updates on the mutant community occasionally, right?"

"...You follow that too?"

"More people look at it than you'd think. Many are curious about mutants... I'm one of them."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really. Anyway, you met that High Elf? How was it?"

He asked me what it was like when I met the High Elf. I was about to keep quiet for Sia's dignity, but... Hangyeol isn't the type to go around talking about this, so I decided to just tell him.

"She was trembling before me."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Something about fear engraved in the entire species, or whatever. You know, like those fantasy settings? Where dragons exploit elves and dwarves... It seemed like fear ingrained from that."

"Isn't that just a fantasy setting? But it was real?"

"I don't know the details, but it seemed that way. And... she was super cute."

"Cute? Really? Based on her behavior, she seemed like someone who would cause all sorts of trouble."

"Well... of course there's a difference between how she appears online and in reality. She was surprisingly calm, and there was something addictive about stroking her cheeks."

"How old is she?"

"A year younger than me."

"Oho... And what about the Arachne? Don't tell me it's Seo Jin-ha?"

"How is it that you, who aren't a mutant, know more about mutants than I do?"

"Hey, anyone with even a little interest in mutants couldn't not know about Seo Jin-ha. She's a world-renowned master craftsman, and her background as the daughter of a National Assembly member. Moreover, the relatively moderate laws related to mutants are thanks to her, since her father is quite an influential Assembly member."

...Then what about my sister? What was she doing that she didn't know Jin-ha?

"Really? My sister didn't know her either, so I thought only certain people knew about her."

"Seriously? What kind of isolated life has she been living? She's someone who appears in the news just by turning on a smartphone..."

"I don't know either. Maybe she only studied after entering university. I heard business classes are brutally tough. And she had to take care of me after I mutated, so she probably didn't have the mental space for such things."

"Ah, I guess that could be it. But it's still surprising. When I saw her before, I thought she'd be well-informed about such things. So, why did you meet that person?"

"She said she'd make clothes for me, so I immediately agreed. For free, too."

"Wow, really? The most expensive of her clothes go for hundreds of millions of won, and you're getting such clothes?"

"...Hundreds of millions?"

"Yes, hundreds of millions. How much was that formal suit at the last auction...? I heard it was sold for about 1 billion won with all the premiums attached, being one-of-a-kind, made with the utmost care by an Arachne-type mutant."

At that moment, I couldn't believe my ears. What? How much? 1 billion won?

"...Really?"

"What would I gain by lying to you about this? Anyway, you're saying you're getting such clothes for free? Wow, this guy's life just took off after becoming a mutant."

"No, I didn't know they were clothes of that caliber. No wonder... the quality was incredible. From what I heard, she seems to give them to mutants for free. She said it's compensation for giving her inspiration?"

Hangyeol looked at me with eyes full of envy upon hearing this.

I deliberately asked him playfully:

"Jealous?"

"Of course I'm jealous... Who wouldn't be envious of someone who just received 1 billion won while sitting down?"

"So, aren't you going to ask me to buy you a meal or something?"

"Would you?"

"Since I've learned the true value thanks to you, I can at least buy you that much."

"Oh... then shall we call the guys for dinner tonight?"

"Deal. But don't invite other juniors, let's just go by ourselves. I'm tired of being hassled by underclassmen these days."

"You've become quite the celebrity. Alright, alright."

As we were chatting about this and that while walking... suddenly, my phone rang.

Checking who it was, it was Agent Choi Jeongho.

...Huh? What could he want at this hour?

"I need to take this call."

"Okay. Should I go to the lecture hall first?"

"Save me a seat."

"Sure thing."

As soon as I separated from Hangyeol, I pressed the call button. Right after a brief ring tone, I heard the agent's urgent voice.

"Seohyun? Are you near the university right now?"

"Yes. I'm at school right now... what's the matter?"

The agent's voice was so urgent that I immediately sensed something major had happened.

"I, ah... I really didn't want to ask for help with this again, but it's an emergency. Currently, a dangerous wanted mutant is heading toward Hanguk University!"

"What? Why would a mutant go to Hanguk University?"

"We don't know the exact reason either. This is a mutant who doesn't follow common sense logic, and with excellent escape abilities. We've only been able to track traces. We were a bit relieved since it had been quiet for a couple of months... but it seems to have suddenly resumed activity."

"How dangerous is this mutant?"

"If we're talking about charges, it's serial murder. Compared to the previous Minotaur, this one has killed many more people and vanished without a trace."

"What kind of mutant is it?"

"...A demon. A demon-type mutant. Originally we couldn't even track its traces, but suddenly it started leaving trails everywhere, allowing us to notice. It's heading toward Hanguk University as if making a declaration of war!"

It was clearly a serious situation. A demon?

"As much as I didn't want to ask for your help with such a serious matter, this time I really have no choice. Could you possibly help us?"

"The compensation must be substantial this time."

"...The bounty on that bastard is currently the highest we've set."

"That works for me. I feel like I've become some kind of bounty hunter."

"I'm truly sorry. If a dangerous situation arises, you're free to flee. From there, we'll have to accept the sacrifices. Originally, we shouldn't be passing such dangerous tasks to you... but since there's a high possibility that our agents wouldn't be sufficient, I've reluctantly asked for your help."

"It's fine. You've accommodated me a lot, so let me repay you this much. And... somehow I feel like that guy is targeting me. Since there's a high possibility this is happening because of me, I'll try to resolve it."

"...Thank you very much."

My instinct whispers that the target is me.

I scanned the surroundings through my clairvoyance.

Then, I was able to detect a dark, blurry figure approaching me.

...Found you. Demon bastard.

The speed at which it was flying toward me was incredibly fast.

This... if I stay here, there's a possibility that other people might get caught up in this.

But I couldn't leave my position right now either.

It seemed like it would arrive before I could evacuate.

Also, since it might take people hostage, if it's certain that it's targeting me, it might be better to assess the situation here and then move.

And the moment I thought that.

BOOM!

"Aaaah!"

The ground exploded, and flames rose from the surroundings.

The sudden appearance of the mutant turned the area into chaos.

Students who had been peacefully walking through the university screamed and began to flee.

"...Found you."

Simultaneously, I heard a harsh voice that sounded like it was scraping metal, as if it had risen from hell.

I looked at it.

I saw a male figure with black horns similar to mine, resembling those of a mountain goat, black wings, and a pitch-black tail.

An appearance that anyone would think of as a demon.

And he was looking at me with extreme animosity.

At that moment I was certain. As I thought, that demon came for me.