Seoul Dragon - Chapter 62

As it turned out, I wasn't the only one appearing on the entertainment show.

The broadcasting station had cast staff from the Mutant Crime Management Bureau.

That meant it included Yeonhwa and Harin along with me.

Surprisingly, I thought both of them would decline the entertainment show appearance, but they said they'd join me.

I thought Harin might do it for entertainment since she maintains her unique composure even on shows like this, but Yeonhwa was quite unexpected.

When I asked why, Yeonhwa answered as follows:

[Ha Yeonhwa: Because I can't stay cooped up in my room forever! Above all, that show is one I watch frequently too, so it's exciting.]

[Yoon Seohyun: Oh... that's exactly like me? But will you be okay? It'll feel very different from just stepping out of your room for a bit...]

[Yoo Harin: Yeonhwa unnie's just making excuses. She just wants to see her favorite celebrities in person.]

[Yoon Seohyun: Ah?]

[Ha Yeonhwa: Gasp, I've been found out!]

Upon hearing more details, it turned out Yeonhwa had a celebrity she was really, really, really a fan of.

She agreed to this offer due to her personal desire to see that celebrity in person.

[Yoon Seohyun: Then what about you, Harin?]

[Yoo Harin: I just thought it would be fun. It's not an experience you can have often, and I wanted to try something new these days.]

In short, the main reason for both of them was that they wanted to try some new experiences.

Both of them were either confined to their rooms or, even when they occasionally went to the Bureau, they'd just casually use their smartphones and then go home.

It must be the monotony of daily life.

They said they were extremely bored these days because mutant crimes had drastically decreased thanks to my presence.

...Actually, at that level, I wonder if they even need to come to work, but strictly speaking, we are civil servants. Even if we're just playing at work, we need to at least pretend to be working.

Anyway, living in such monotony, the entertainment show appearance seemed like quite an attractive proposal.

Moreover, the entertainment show we would be participating in was a nationally popular variety show.

It was also famous for making celebrities and guests go through extremely tough challenges.

It was quite exciting to directly witness such celebrities—who would be swarmed by fans like a tsunami just by walking on the street—rolling around here and there.

...But, they would be rolling around just as much.

Well, anyway, they probably readily agreed to appear since they wouldn't feel uncomfortable even if they had to roll around, being mutants after all.

Just because the entertainment schedule was set, it didn't mean we would appear on the show right away.

There were things to coordinate with the broadcasting station, and even though it's a variety show, there were plenty of points to be cautious about.

Above all, even for a variety show, a discussion on how to handle the opening should take place.

From the opening, it was better to inform the appearing celebrities in advance about what to be careful about with us mutants.

Of course, there were also things we needed to be careful about with the celebrities.

So, we were currently at the broadcasting station to discuss these matters.

The gazes from the surroundings felt quite novel.

It felt strange to be noticed by people who had likely seen so many celebrities that they would trip over them, now focused on me, Yeonhwa, and Harin.

Among them were also a few celebrities mixed in, so a smile never left Yeonhwa's lips.

Ah, this person was a big fan of celebrities.

"Wow, wow, Bureau Chief. That's Kim Jinhyun over there...! And there's Jo Hanhwi!"

"Y-Yeonhwa. I understand you're excited, but could you calm down a bit? Vice Chief? Where should we go?"

"The PD was supposed to come soon... Ah, there he is. Let's go."

The PD of the variety show "As Long As It's Not Me," Lee Myungho.

He greeted us with a hearty laugh.

"Haha, hello. It's an honor to have such distinguished guests."

"Ahaha... Hello. I'm Yoon Seohyun, Bureau Chief of the Mutant Crime Management Bureau. This is Vice Chief Choi Jeongho, and these are Bureau agents Yoo Harin and Ha Yeonhwa."

"I'm very nervous with all these beautiful ladies. Then, please come this way."

"As Long As It's Not Me."

True to its title, it's an entertainment show that gives all sorts of missions and quizzes to celebrities, and rigorously runs them through the resulting random penalties.

For instance, choosing between drinking a beverage or anchovy sauce, and penalizing those who drink the anchovy sauce.

Or distributing allowances for reaching a destination, giving some people more and others less.

Or dividing into teams when failing missions and having to sleep outdoors, with some sleeping outside and others inside.

It was truly an entertainment show that sacrificed the suffering of celebrities for pure fun.

Usually, it's conducted with fixed members, and occasionally they invite guests... I didn't know we would be those guests.

"I didn't expect you would really agree to appear. It was just a shot in the dark..."

PD Lee Myungho said that as soon as we sat down.

"Actually, Yeonhwa and I are big fans of 'As Long As It's Not Me.'"

"Wow, really?"

"Yes, I've enjoyed watching it since I was young."

"Y-yes, really..."

For reference, Yeonhwa had drunk my blood before arriving at the broadcasting station, so her tension was heightened.

Perhaps that's why she didn't stutter her words oddly.

...It's amazing every time I see it. What effect does my blood have?

Come to think of it, the National Intelligence Service Director said he'd start discussing various things with pharmaceutical companies.

Perhaps clinical trials for medications using my blood will begin in the not-too-distant future.

Anyway, that's not the important thing right now. Surprisingly, Yeonhwa smoothly continued the conversation with PD Lee Myungho.

"May I ask... what species Yeonhwa and Harin are?"

"Yeonhwa is a vampire... more precisely, a Jinjho-type mutant, and Harin is a Fairy-type mutant."

"Jinjho? What's that?"

"Jinjho refers to vampires who rule over other vampires... It seems like I'm the only one now though."

"Oh... So it's like nobility or royalty?"

"Y-yes."

"Wow, you're quite amazing."

"N-not to that extent."

Of course, as Yeonhwa said this, the corners of her mouth were rising to the sky.

Anyway, as soon as the basic personal talk was done, we asked the PD how we should proceed.

"You can just act freely. There shouldn't be any major issues... Our show's theme is freedom anyway."

"But we still have to follow the missions, right?"

"Haha, I would like you to follow the mission content. Of course, using your abilities during the missions is allowed."

"Oh."

"After all, if we invite mutants and don't let them use their abilities, viewers would lose interest. Of course, I hope you use them at an appropriate level."

"That's only natural. Oh, by the way, when introducing guests, how should we make our entrance?"

"...I think many viewers would expect to see the dragon form, could you possibly come in that form?"

"That might be difficult. When I transform back to this form from my main body, it takes some time for my clothes to regenerate."

"Ah, then could you come in with your wings spread, and land?"

"That should be doable."

It seemed like he was really planning to make the most of this. Well, from my perspective too, if they're bringing a dragon, they might want to see the dragon form at least once.

...If only my clothes didn't regenerate so slowly, I would have done it once.

I also wanted to see the celebrities' surprised faces.

Wait, come to think of it, should I make a request to Jin-ha? It might be a bit of an unreasonable request... but I think she would likely agree.

Then, let's make this a surprise.

I can also have Harin and Yeonhwa ride on my back at that time.

After that, we continued to discuss various things. Though they didn't tell us the details of the missions, they told us where we would be filming, how the opening would go...

After grasping the general flow, they said they would leave the rest to our discretion.

They said it was okay to be a bit playful. After all, they said they would edit out any sensitive or problematic parts.

Well, that doesn't mean I plan to be disrespectful to the celebrities. I don't want to be lynched in cyberspace.

Still... overall, the discussion seemed to go well.

The filming date... was not too far away.

Fortunately, it didn't clash with other schedules.

Also, since the Vice Chief handled the detailed discussions, we could just show up without much burden.

Today is the filming day for "As Long As It's Not Me."

I had entrusted Jin-ha with making a suit for today, and she gladly made one that regenerates much faster than before.

After experimenting, I found that it regenerates completely in the brief moment between releasing the transformation in the air and landing below.

With this, preparations were complete.

I waited for Yeonhwa and Harin at the same place where the inaugural ceremony had been held last time.

Not long after, the two arrived, and I immediately transformed into a dragon.

"Can we really ride?"

-You won't even feel the weight, right? Just get on.

"Then, I won't hesitate...!"

Yeonhwa transformed into a bat, while Harin brought out her wings, and they both climbed onto my back.

Since my body is already massive, I didn't feel anything from them riding.

Alright, let's go.

Suddenly, I began to wonder about the celebrities' reactions.

They'll probably be scared out of their wits, won't they?