Seoul Dragon

“Come in.”
A familiar voice. Professor Shin Jeongmin.
The teaching assistant who has been helping students in various ways since admission.
She’s helped me a few times when I was in difficult situations, and even defended me when I caused trouble.
In a department where I don’t have any close friends except for my male classmates, she’s the only teacher I can trust and rely on.
As I opened the door and entered, suspicion arose in the teacher’s eyes.
“What brings you here?”
“I’d like to apply for a semester retake.”
“Semester retake? Are you a Korean Literature student?”
“Yes. I am a Korean Literature student.”
“That’s strange? I’ve never seen you before… What’s your name?”
“I look like this now… but it’s me, Seohyun, Professor Jeongmin.”
“Seohyun? Yoon Seohyun, class of 2014?”
“Yes. The Seohyun who always caused trouble and you always helped. I mutated and became like this.”
“…My goodness.”
The teacher seemed not to believe my words, but soon her mouth fell open as she looked at the documents I submitted. I had brought my hospital records just in case.
“So, your gender also changed?”
“That’s how it turned out. I heard it happens occasionally, but I never thought it would happen to me.”
“My goodness… Anyway, you’re retaking last semester, right?”
“Yes. Are there any other documents I need?”
“No. This is enough. Oh, but I think it would be good to inform the professors of the courses you’re retaking this time.”
“That would be best, right?”
“That way the professors will be less surprised. If you’re uncomfortable, I can tell them for you.”
“Ah… I still think it would be better if I visited them myself. Especially since I disappeared without saying anything last time.”
“True. The professors don’t have anything special going on now, so they should be in their offices. By the way, when did you wake up?”
“It’s been about two months now. They told me I was asleep for a full three months.”
“What did you turn into?”
“Well, a dragon.”
“A dragon?”
“Yes. Specifically, a Western dragon. Usually called a dragon, right?”
“Dragon? Wait. Then… is this you?”
The teacher showed me a news article from two months ago on her smartphone. This is embarrassing.
“Ahaha… Yes, that’s me.”
“My goodness. That’s amazing. Was the lightning story true too?”
“Yes. It seems to be a species characteristic. You could say I naturally awakened it?”
“That’s fascinating… You won’t drop lightning on me when you’re angry, right?”
“As if I would do that?”
“Why not? You confronted those seniors properly when they were imposing strict hierarchy. Even though you were big…”
“Come on, why are you bringing up old stories? That was even before I went to the military. And after becoming a dragon, my personality has become more gentle, so I won’t do things like that anymore.”
“Why did your personality change too?”
“After becoming a dragon, I seem to have gained some kind of emotional stability. When I first woke up, the doctor in charge of mutants told me, ‘I’ve never met a mutant as emotionally stable as you.’ So you don’t need to worry.”
As I waved my hands saying that, the teacher smiled.
“That’s really fortunate. Then, now that you’ve mutated, try to expand your relationships too. It was quite heartbreaking to see such a nice kid only hanging out with those male classmates because of one past incident. Try to get closer to your juniors too.”
“The juniors are afraid of me, so that’s not possible. Given how bad the public perception of mutants is… I think that would be quite difficult. And I prefer my relationships to be narrow and deep.”
“Well, that’s your value system, so it’s not for me to judge. Still, I hope you find more joy than fatigue through interactions with others.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for the advice, teacher.”
“To add one more thing, I think now might be the perfect time to change how others perceive you. Since you’ve become so pretty, you might even be able to date someone.”
“Teacher. I was a man just two months ago…”
“I know, I know. You’re talking about psychological resistance, right? Issues related to gender identity are common problems for mutants whose gender has changed. Still, I think it’s better to keep the possibility open. People’s values change over time.”
“I think so too. But still, not now.”
“Alright. Anyway, I was worried a lot, so I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thank you for worrying about me. My classmates were also quite worried about me, which touched me a bit.”
“Well, you guys always stuck together. But honestly, you all seemed a bit like an isolated island.”
“There was a bit of that aspect, yes. Since the five of us always hung out together.”
“Do they know you mutated?”
“They know that I mutated because I told them, but I promised to tell them the details when the semester starts. Such things are easier to talk about face to face.”
“I see. Anyway, there will be a lot of commotion in various ways when the semester starts. By the way, third year, first semester means you have to go on an academic field trip, right?”
“…Yes. I was supposed to go last time, but I ended up like this.”
“The academic field trip will probably be not long after the semester starts, so try to get closer to your juniors then. I’ll arrange some opportunities for you.”
“I’ll try. Thank you, teacher. Then I’ll show my face to the professors and speak with them.”
“Then, would you mind waiting a little? The department head is supposed to come to the office soon. It would be better to wait for 5 minutes than going around to different research offices.”
“Okay.”
While waiting in the department office, the teacher asked me various questions about what had happened during the past two months, and I said nothing special had happened.
“A student from our department was there when you caught that Minotaur-type mutant!?”
“Yes. Someone named Lee Sihyun, do you know her?”
“Of course I know her. I remember all the department students. Wow… such a connection exists. Isn’t she your junior?”
“She probably doesn’t know that. I just told her my name and left because people were trying to take pictures of me.”
“I see. When the semester starts, there will be many interesting events in various ways.”
“Events…?”
“Ahaha. Then, when the semester starts, try to get closer to Sihyun. She has a good reputation in the department and is quite popular, so your circle of relationships will probably expand quickly?”
“Isn’t that too calculating an approach?”
“Where in the world is there an approach that isn’t calculating? Besides, since you’re her lifesaver, she’ll probably approach you first even if you don’t approach her? If she does approach you, don’t push her away too coldly.”
“I won’t do that intentionally.”
“Then that’s fine.”
Around that time, the department head opened the door and came in.
Department Head Professor Kim Yeonhwa.
The professor in charge of understanding modern literature.
“Oh, you were in the office? Teacher Jeongmin.”
“Ahaha. Of course I should be in the office.”
“Really, there’s no teaching assistant as diligent as Teacher Jeongmin. Anyway, is everything I asked you to prepare ready?”
“Yes. And Professor, do you have a moment? I have something to tell you.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“It’s about this student.”
“I don’t recognize the face? Was there such a pretty student in our department?”
“Ah, Department Head. I’m Yoon Seohyun, class of 2014.”
“Seohyun!? That big male student? Ah, I heard you were on medical leave, but you mutated?”
“Yes… I sincerely apologize for disappearing without saying anything.”
“No, no. If it’s mutation, that can happen. By the way, are you okay? The perception of mutants isn’t very good, so it must have been hard.”
“Ahaha… It wasn’t particularly hard.”
“That’s a relief. With your gender changed as well, wasn’t it difficult to adapt?”
“Whether it’s a species characteristic or not, I’m emotionally very stable, so there was nothing to adapt to.”
“I see. What species are you?”
“A dragon.”
“…Dragon? Are you an Eastern dragon or a Western dragon?”
“Western dragon. Usually called a dragon.”
“My goodness, how fascinating. Have you applied for semester retake? We’ll meet again this semester.”
“Yes. I’ve applied. Haha… I’ll work hard.”
“Good, good. If you have any difficulties, talk to Teacher Jeongmin or me. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, right, Teacher Jeongmin. Do the other professors know that Seohyun has mutated?”
“No. I just told Seohyun to visit the professors’ research offices.”
“Is there really a need for that? There’s a meeting today, so I’ll just tell them.”
“Ah, thank you, Department Head.”
“It’s nothing. This is what a department head should do.”
The department head quickly spilled out everything she had to say and disappeared like the wind.
“…That saves you some trouble. So, are you leaving now?”
“Ah, yes. I should go. I need to prepare for the semester too.”
“Alright. Take care.”

After visiting the department office, it was again an extension of my unemployed life.
Of course, I occasionally visited the hospital to check my physical condition.
Other than that, the only notable thing might be that my sister dragged me around here and there.
She was turning me into her dress-up doll, complaining that I always wear dull clothes.
“Wow… This really, really suits you.”
“…How much more do you intend to embarrass me, sister?”
“But don’t you think it’s good to dress up brightly like this? Don’t you think so, Seoa?”
“Of course, of course. I was feeling like I was being dyed in dullness too?”
My sister, who laughs once while saying this, looks particularly annoying today, but that’s probably just my imagination.
The reason I’ve become my sister’s dress-up doll is entirely because of our mother, Madam Lee Minhwa.
Madam, who occasionally raids the apartment of her two children… or rather, daughters, saw my closet and exclaimed, ‘You’ve become a woman, so what’s with these dull clothes?’ She then took Seoa and me to the department store.
And so, now I’m in the position of a model about to go for a photo shoot.
Because of my horns, which require me to wear a hat, my mother prepared bright-colored hats as well.
“Dress up occasionally. You’ve become so pretty.”
“How come you sound exactly like Yoon Seoa?”
“Seoa said that too? Isn’t that natural for a mother and daughter?”
“…Of course.”
By the time we had swept through the department store and returned to the apartment, I was already exhausted.
Even though I had thought that after becoming a dragon, I wouldn’t get tired easily, I really couldn’t handle the infinite energy that women seem to have when they go to department stores.
After sweeping Seoa and me like a storm, my mother went to meet her friends, saying she had an appointment.
As I was sitting blankly in the living room organizing my extremely bright clothes, Yoon Seoa approached and said:
“The semester is starting soon, how do you feel? Are you excited?”
“Not particularly. I’m just thinking I might suffer from group projects again this semester.”
“Sigh. Anyway, since I’m also in the Humanities College, if you don’t have anyone to hang out with, you can hang out with me.”
“Be a proper freshman and hang out with your department friends.”
“Sis. Don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“That female college students all seem to get along well in the first semester, but after the vacation, factions form clearly. Everyone harbors knives in their hearts, and about three or four group chats are created.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? Still, I’m telling you to create at least one safe place in your department. I did the same.”
“Hmm… Alright. Then is it okay if I visit you occasionally?”
“…Do as you please. But be sure to tell me if anyone messes with you.”
“Why? Are you going to help me?”
“Help my ass. I have to help the brave one who messes with you. I know your temper. I’m saying this because I’m worried you might cause trouble.”
“……”