Seoul Dragon

My expectation that reporters would camp outside Hanguk University’s Humanities College the next day remained just that—an expectation.
What I mean is, while some students came to see me, there wasn’t a single reporter in sight.
“Hey, isn’t that obvious?”
“What is?”
Yoo Hangyeol, who was next to me, said. He reacted as if he was hearing something ridiculous.
“Do you know what could happen if they mess with a mutant? Especially you, a mutant who destroyed that terrifying minotaur-type mutant.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah. They might secretly photograph you from a distance, but they wouldn’t dare approach you with cameras.”
“But when did Korean trash reporters become such gentlemen? I’m pretty sure they didn’t care about such things just three months ago.”
“A while back, one yellow press outlet messed with a mutant, and three reporters? They died right on the spot. By the way, that mutant was the minotaur you pounded into the ground.”
“…Wow, really?”
“It’s not on the wanted list for nothing. Reporters have personally felt how terrifying that minotaur is, so of course they’d be cautious about approaching you. You turned that minotaur into a pancake.”
“That must have been quite a scene.”
“So, well… Articles might appear saying things like ‘Hanguk University Mutant,’ but I doubt anyone would be brave enough to interview you?”
“That’s a relief. Ugh, I heard from my sister yesterday that rumors about me have spread even to the Business department.”
“Really? By the way, is your sister at Hanguk University too?”
“Yeah. Hanguk University Business. Didn’t I tell you?”
“No, you didn’t. Is she pretty?”
“What kind of answer are you expecting from me, who used to be her brother? Besides, you have a girlfriend.”
“We broke up a long time ago.”
“Oh, really?”
“It hurts, so don’t ask anymore.”
“Alright. Anyway, since the university community is full of stories about me, I thought reporters might be camping outside the Humanities College. I thought countless handshake requests were waiting for me.”
“Oh my.”
“What are you doing after this?”
“Not sure. I have a free period now.”
“Wow, so jealous.”
“What about you?”
“Well… I’m just running around to major classes. I should have finished them last semester.”
“Aren’t you taking any liberal arts classes this semester?”
“I’ve already fulfilled most of my liberal arts requirements. I pushed back major courses in my first and second years to have fun… If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re going to be a great example for juniors.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell them to take care of their major courses even in their first and second years, using you as a cautionary tale. Hey, by the way, aren’t you curious about the female classmates? They were wondering about you too.”
“Why should I be curious about them? They were either on the side of those scumbags trying to get me or they just kept their mouths shut.”
“True…”
“They should be seniors now anyway, so just tell them to graduate quickly. If I run into them at school, I might really want to kill them.”
“When you say it like that, it really sounds like you would, and it’s scary.”
“It’s just a figure of speech. How can you say that when you know what I went through?”
“…That’s true.”
“Especially An Yein. If you ever meet her, tell her to absolutely stay out of my sight. She should be thankful I’m holding back because of mutant perception. I might not kill her, but I could definitely give her disabilities that would make life difficult. I might be able to tolerate the others, but if I meet her, I’ll roast her alive.”
An Yein. It’s been a while since I recalled this name.
She was the girlfriend of the senior I beat up, and after that hazing incident, she went around spreading all sorts of malicious rumors about me.
If it was just that, I wouldn’t be this angry… but that wasn’t the end.
The problem was that she even conspired with that senior to frame me as a sexual assailant.
Fortunately, thanks to Teacher Shin Jeongmin who knew that I had never hung around with her, nothing happened, but…
Even thinking about it now makes my teeth chatter.
My freshman department life was completely ruined because of her. No, it’s fortunate it ended with just my department life; my entire life could have fallen into ruin.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
Whoosh.
In an instant, the tips of my hair began to burn.
I clicked my tongue. My emotions must have been too intense.
“Whoa! What’s that!”
“Ah, sorry. My emotions got intense for a moment…”
“Got it. If we ever run into her, I’ll definitely tell her. To absolutely stay out of your sight. But she doesn’t have many reasons to meet me anyway.”
“Tell the others too.”
“…Okay.”
This is an issue before considering the perception of mutants.
That woman almost ruined my life. She should consider it fortunate that I’m holding back now.
If she appears before me… Well, I’m not sure if my rationality could endure.

Since Yoo Hangyeol left after just taking morning classes, I took the opportunity to contact Sihyun.
I asked if she was free today.
I said I’d treat her to a delicious lunch.
Sihyun spammed happy emoticons.
Then she asked if she could choose what to eat.
I readily agreed.
I usually just grabbed cafeteria food or fast food, so I didn’t know in detail which places were good.
And originally, it’s better for the junior to eat what they want.
Usually, seniors introduce good restaurants to juniors, but… Since Sihyun had already spent a semester here, she’d know which places were good and which weren’t.
If she relied on my disastrous sense, both of us would just end up disappointed.
As I waited near the university’s main gate, I spotted Sihyun.
“Hello, Senior!”
“Hello, Junior. You’re energetic today too.”
“Hehe. How can I not be energetic? It’s a free meal.”
“That’s true. No one in Korea can resist a free meal.”
“I found this place by chance before, and it’s really good, so I often took my friends there.”
“What kind of place is it?”
“Do you like Indian curry? Not the kind you mix with rice, but the one you eat with chicken and such.”
“Oh, I do like that.”
“Their chicken curry is really delicious. The tandoori chicken is good too. The only downside is that it’s a bit expensive… hehe.”
“Don’t worry about the price. I have more money than the average university student right now.”
“T-Then, despite being shameless…”
“That money all came from catching the minotaur. I got a reward.”
“Oh, really?”
“That minotaur was quite famous. I just found out today, but it even committed murder.”
“Yes, that’s right. I wasn’t that interested so I didn’t know, but I looked it up that day and found out.”
“Anyway, so you don’t need to worry about my financial situation.”
“Okay!”

Indeed, the restaurant Sihyun recommended wasn’t recommended for nothing. I didn’t know the food would be this good.
Especially when dipping naan in chicken curry, the flavor was no joke.
Worth every penny, you could say?
For dessert, plain yogurt. It was also plain and nutty, which was really nice.
It was a thoroughly satisfying meal.
“That was really delicious.”
“I’m glad, Senior. Thank you so much. Let me buy coffee.”
“Sure. Should we come again? We have the same class after Tuesday lunch anyway.”
“I’d love to.”
As we walked towards the Humanities College while having a pleasant conversation, I could feel the gazes around us. Actually, I felt intense stares at the curry restaurant too… but it was bearable.
Mutants aren’t that common, and interest in dragon-type mutants was already causing a stir in the Hanguk University community.
It would be a bit embarrassing if someone approached us… but that didn’t happen.
As for people talking among themselves, well, I just let it be. That can happen.
How many people wouldn’t feel anxious seeing the current me?
Especially when the social perception of mutants is so messed up.
“So you should be careful with that professor’s class. I’m not sure if there will be group projects this time… but there probably will be. He enjoys making students suffer.”
“That’s a problem…”
“If we can be in the same group, let’s work together. Before I mutated, I was a group project carrier, you know? My PowerPoint might have been a bit sloppy, but all the group projects I did in my sophomore year got A+ grades. My classmates will vouch for that.”
“Wow. But I’d feel bad about freeloading…”
“Of course I’ll assign you research work, that’s enough. You’re a freshman. Or would you like to practice making PowerPoints together at my place later?”
“Yes! I’d be grateful if you’d do that!”
Sihyun was a good person inherently, so being with her wasn’t burdensome.
And since I tend to become more talkative with people I’m comfortable with, Sihyun seemed to welcome that too.
Perhaps we might get along really well.
After all classes ended, I sent Sihyun home and then turned my steps towards my own home.
Up to this point, it could have been an uneventful yet quite satisfying day.
Why do I say “could have been” a satisfying day?
Because…
I encountered someone I never wanted to see again in my university life.
An Yein.
The woman who tried to drag my life into ruin.