Seoul Dragon - Chapter 33

Upon returning home, I immediately called my parents about this news.

It seems like I got a job.

"Mom, I think I've gotten a job?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The NIS is saying they're establishing a mutant containment agency consisting of mutants?"

"Tell me in detail."

I relayed everything I had heard to my mom, including the information about the press conference.

"My goodness. Wait a minute... what about university?"

"They said I can continue attending."

"By the way, is that dragon really you?"

"Is there anyone else in Korea who could be called a dragon besides me?"

"I was so surprised watching the news. Oh my... you weren't hurt anywhere?"

"I'm not hurt, but that troublemaking mutant did become brain-dead."

"I saw that. Good job."

"It's practically the same as killing someone, isn't it?"

"He brought it upon himself. He was a vicious criminal who killed many people to begin with. You were just trying to protect yourself."

"That's true, but..."

"Don't worry about it. No one's going to criticize you."

"Okay."

"A press conference, my goodness, my daughter is doing all sorts of things."

"I know... I never expected it to come to this."

"But is it even possible to entrust a young person like you with heading an agency?"

"They call it a figurehead president. I'll just be the face, and the actual administrative operations will be handled by someone they'll assign to my agency? My job is just dealing with vicious mutants like this time."

"Does that person have multiple bodies or something? Administrative operations aren't easy."

"That might actually be true. He looked quite young..."

"If he's reached such a position at that age, he must be something special. Anyway, I understand. Do well at the press conference, and don't say anything that could be used against you."

"I got it."

The press conference was scheduled for the next day.

I briefly scanned the script. Memorizing this much isn't difficult.

No, actually, since I don't know what questions the reporters will ask, there will inevitably be situations where I can't rely solely on the script.

I need to stay alert and be careful not to talk nonsense.

If I talk nonsense as usual, it could be a disaster.

I wasn't particularly nervous.

Maybe it's because I've become more bold since becoming a dragon. In the past, I might have considered taking anxiety medication.

Even after all that commotion, the class group chat was still active.

I smiled slightly looking at it. They're as consistent as ever.

[Han Taehoon: Hey dragon, heard you're having a press conference tomorrow?]

[Yoo Hangyeol: Really?]

[Han Taehoon: Yeah, it's in the news]

[Heo Jihwan: Oh]

[Jo Minhyuk: But why a press conference all of a sudden?]

At Jo Minhyuk's message, I casually moved my fingers.

[Yoon Seohyun: Just having a press conference to say, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you"]

[Jo Minhyuk: Ah I see lol Good luck]

[Han Taehoon: Don't give them anything to nitpick, those internet ghosts will latch onto anything to drag someone down]

[Yoon Seohyun: Hey, you think I don't know that?]

[Yoo Hangyeol: She knows better than anyone... she's an internet ghost herself]

[Heo Jihwan: True... nothing to worry about then. If things go wrong, just transform into a dragon and sweep them away]

[Yoon Seohyun: Not a bad idea?]

[Jo Minhyuk: You're not really going to do that, right?]

[Yoon Seohyun: Of course it's a joke lol Would I be crazy enough to do that?]

[Jo Minhyuk: Lolololol]

I grinned while looking at the chat. Honestly, I was secretly worried.

I thought they might keep their distance after seeing me transformed.

But it seems those were needless concerns.

Come to think of it, even Seoa who saw me then didn't say anything unnecessary.

Other juniors even messaged to ask if I was okay.

Well, it seems they've defined how to accept me as a being in their own way.

Not bad. This gives me confidence.

Sincerity always gets through. Of course, there will be people who distort and misinterpret it.

But... if I take responsibility for my words and act accordingly, such people will gradually decrease.

Everyone, don't worry.

I won't hurt you.

Agent Choi Jeongho looked at the podium in front of him. Today, quite a lot might change.

Depending on how Seohyun speaks from that podium, the credibility of the subsidiary agency that the NIS is preparing will vary.

'While the workload will increase... this is better.'

While handling mutant-related tasks, Jeongho had been crushed under a murderous workload that would have been too much even for two people.

If it were just paperwork, it wouldn't have been this difficult. But having to go out in the field to track down and capture mutants as well made it almost unbearable.

But if the newly created agency today operates normally, his field work would be greatly reduced.

The paperwork might increase, but that's at least better than going out to beat up mutants. No, in the long run, the workload would decrease rather than increase.

...Of course, that's if Seohyun can fulfill that role sufficiently.

Jeongho wasn't particularly worried about that.

Just looking at what Seohyun had done so far, she had no major problems dealing with mutants.

Rather, her mere existence might be able to deter malicious mutants.

Mutants' senses are extremely sensitive, and there wouldn't be a mutant whose survival instincts wouldn't raise a red flag upon seeing such a being.

Given that her actions and behavior so far have built trust... today's press conference should also end well.

Jeongho looked at Seohyun as she stepped onto the podium.

Without any particular sign of nervousness, she stood in front of the podium and tapped the microphone.

The buzzing noise from the microphone announced the start of the press conference.

The flashing cameras are dazzling. But I stood tall. I haven't done anything wrong, so there's no need to feel intimidated.

The reporters were looking at me with burning eyes. And among them was An Soyoung, the reporter who had interviewed me before.

For a moment, our eyes met. I smiled slightly and nodded to her.

"I'm An Soyoung from The Korea Daily. I have a question."

Starting with her, the full-scale questions began to fly in.

"Many people are afraid of your dragon form that you showed last time. An individual with great power naturally causes anxiety in people. I would like to ask what views you have on these people's thoughts."

I nodded at her statement.

"Honestly, I think it's a natural reaction. Even I would have felt fear if I were in their position. Especially since I once shot fire high into the sky in a park... I think it would be strange not to be afraid. Also, there have been quite a few incidents caused by identity confusion among various mutants."

"Then, how do you plan to alleviate people's anxiety?"

"I... well. Honestly, even if I proclaim here that I am a safe being, I don't think many people will believe it. How could they believe it when their lives would be in danger if that dragon went berserk? Don't you think so, too?"

"That's... true?"

"So, I plan to show through actions. So that people can believe I am a safe being."

At that moment, a question from another reporter flew in.

"I have one question."

"Yes, please speak."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Well, would it suffice to say because I want to? There's no other meaning. It's really just because I want to do it."

"Is it related to your subduing mutants who committed crimes before?"

"To answer, yes, that's right. You know, as soon as I mutated, I heard that people in the world have a not-so-good perception towards mutants. And though you may not believe it, I was an ordinary university student. Just an ordinary citizen you might commonly see passing by on the street. And I still think of myself as an ordinary citizen."

I took a slight breath and continued.

"I don't know if the public can accept this, but at least that's what I think. And what such an ordinary citizen wants is one thing. Just to walk the streets without being feared by others. That was what I wanted most, and subduing those vicious mutants was an action taken with that intention. I wanted to let the world know that not all mutants cause trouble and threaten others."

"...I see. Thank you."

Next, a question came from another reporter. Looking in the direction from which the question came, I saw a familiar badge.

Swiftree.

A place famous for yellow journalism.

"I've heard that in the process of subduing the mutant this time, the mutant fell into a brain-dead state. I believe murder should not be justified under any circumstances... what are your thoughts on this?"

"I think it's unfortunate too. But... it was unavoidable. The demon-type mutant was already a vicious criminal who had killed more than ten people. Also, his abilities were excessively threatening, and if left alone, the damage would have been greater."

"For self-defense, isn't this excessive suppression?"

As expected, it seemed like they were trying to scratch me slightly to forcibly create an issue.

Is traffic more important than life to this person?

Moreover, from what I've heard, Swiftree is a place where three journalists died.

Yet I didn't expect such provocative questions.

Well... they probably had confidence that I wouldn't get angry with this level of provocation since I appear quite moderate.

This is actually good.

Just by responding rationally to that reporter's statement, my evaluation will rise.