Seoul Dragon

When I came to my senses, it was already the first day of the semester.
Since I had already completed the semester retake application at the department office, I spent a month waiting for the semester to start with a relaxed mind.
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t nervous.
I don’t know what to say when I meet my male classmates.
And although the department head said she would speak to the professors, I don’t know how much that has been reflected.
To be blunt, I wonder if I should even consider coming out as a mutant.
But thinking about it again, I wonder if it’s really something to worry about.
So what if I mutated? As long as I don’t harm anyone, that’s all that matters, right?
Feeling like I might be overthinking things, I tried to relax.
Let’s just go with the flow.
My pounding heart calms down instantly. I just need to explain things to my classmates, and if the professors haven’t been informed, I can explain to them as well.
The attention directed at me will fade away soon anyway.

…is what I thought.
There was one fact I had overlooked.
The fact that my current appearance is not just pretty, but beautiful to anyone who sees it.
The gazes directed at me from the surroundings are tremendous.
Hey, you sir passing by.
You two definitely look like a campus couple, but your girlfriend has been glaring at you for a while now…? Is that really okay?
Suddenly, a chilling thought occurred to me.
With this level of attention, there’s bound to be someone, whether an attention seeker or not, who would ask for my number.
Oh, how dreadful.
I hope nothing happens on my way to the Humanities College.
Fortunately, no men dared to speak to me.
Perhaps it’s partly because, although my appearance is beautiful, I fundamentally exude an atmosphere that’s quite difficult to approach.
According to Yoon Seoa, I have an appearance that makes people feel like they’re walking on thin ice just by making eye contact.
As soon as I arrived at the Humanities College, I headed to the designated classroom.
The first course is… Understanding Modern Literature, conducted by our department head, Professor Kim Yeonhwa.
That was fortunate, in a way.
The department head already knows who I am and how I’ve changed.
When I arrived at the classroom, it was still sparse. No, beyond sparse—it was empty.
That’s natural, of course.
I intentionally came to the classroom very early to minimize encounters with people.
I just stared at my smartphone with my head lowered.
What I frequently visit is, of course, the mutant community.
I looked at it with a somewhat excited feeling, wondering what would happen today, and sure enough.
This time, it seemed like our High Elf friend had caused quite a stir.
[Ahhh save me!]
The Tree Lord is angry!!!!
It’s threatening to grow over 100 meters if I don’t transplant it to excellent soil immediately!!
-Why is this one acting like this again?
-I guess they periodically talk to plants and accidentally hit some panic button lol
-They say they’re a High Elf, but it feels like we’re watching a retarded elf
-What the hell is a 100-meter tree lol What nonsense
-This is a Giant Sequoia, it might not reach 100 meters but it can grow up to 80 meters!!!!!
-What the hell did you do to raise a Giant Sequoia? Are you really Korean?
-I am Korean, but I’m a black-haired foreigner living in California!!! I moved to California after mutating lol
-What did you say to make the tree freak out?
-I teased it for being so small despite being a Giant Sequoia, and it suddenly went berserk!!!
-What a crazy girl lol
-The scale is incomparable to Korean elves;; A Giant Sequoia??
-IKR I just grow moderate seedlings on my rooftop, but this one;;
-But if they’re a High Elf, shouldn’t other elves bow to them?
-Where would such a thing exist in modern times? I’ve never even met one? Honestly, with someone like this, I wouldn’t want to bow… what they’re doing is no different from my nephew ;; But I’m a bit jealous they can talk to trees
-IKR lolololol By the way, what happened with the garden manager job from last time?
-Um… a wealthy family wanted to hire me, so I got a job Actually, the pay was quite good
-Oh
My goodness. A black-haired foreigner in California.
No wonder the tree in the photo they uploaded last time was incredibly large.
As I was silently laughing to myself, I sensed people gradually filling the room.
But… suddenly someone started approaching me.
“Excuse me…”
Wondering who it was, I looked up to find a familiar face.
Lee Sihyun.
The junior I had saved.

Sihyun had been continuously searching for Seohyun’s whereabouts.
Beyond rumors about the appearance of dragon-type mutants, she even went as far as exploring mutant communities in earnest.
But she had disappeared without a trace. To the extent that it seemed like she wasn’t engaging in any outside activities.
Despite the fact that many people would be interested in a dragon-type mutant, she didn’t show herself at all.
That was regrettable.
It was also impossible to find her just by the name Yoon Seohyun. How many people in Korea have the name Yoon Seohyun?
There was even a possibility that it was a pseudonym. Such a mutant who doesn’t reveal herself would naturally have given a pseudonym.
Throughout the vacation, what dominated her mind was the scene she had witnessed that day.
A hero who stopped a brutal mutant and saved her life.
‘Will I ever meet her again? I’d like to meet her at least once. Surely, being a dragon-type mutant, she’ll appear somewhere.’
Thinking that and ruminating on her regret, she headed to the classroom with classmates she had become close with during the first semester, preparing for the upcoming semester.
The course was Understanding Modern Literature.
It was a popular course because it was taught by the department head but wasn’t particularly strict, and the exams were quite kindly set.
“I heard there’s a group project for this… I hope we’re in the same group.”
Sihyun nodded as her classmate, Nam Suyeon, spoke.
“I know. I don’t want to suffer the ordeal of group projects by being separated.”
“From what seniors said last semester, it was no joke. They said there were even seniors whose team leader suddenly deserted.”
“Really? Who deserted?”
“I don’t know. They said it was a really scary senior… I don’t remember the name clearly. But from the detailed situation, I heard there was something going on. They took a medical leave or something… I’ve heard third-year male seniors talking about rumors that they collapsed from overwork trying to shoulder six group projects.”
“Six!?”
“Yes. And there were also many international students, so it was almost like preparing presentations alone.”
“At that level, even I would desert. Isn’t that crazy? To think of shouldering all that.”
“I heard the senior was quite responsible. You know how there’s no strict hierarchy in our department now? They say it’s all because that senior properly confronted the current fourth-year seniors.”
“What kind of heroic tale is that?”
“It is a heroic tale, hehe. But the senior fought so fiercely with the seniors then that even the second-year seniors were too scared to hang out with them.”
“Sounds like a real activist.”
“They are. Before, the current second-year seniors were constantly summoned by the current fourth-year seniors, and it was a mess.”
“At that level, shouldn’t they be thankful rather than scared?”
“Mentally, many seniors think that way, but they say the senior puts up walls with people… Even when other third-year male seniors bring them to gatherings, they just leave, saying they’re not used to such things.”
“Hmm… What’s that senior’s name?”
“I told you I don’t know well? Oh, wait a moment…”
Suyeon tapped on her smartphone, asking other classmates, and soon found the answer Sihyun wanted.
“Hey. Another friend told me. That senior’s name is Yoon Seohyun.”
“…What?”
“Now that I hear the name, I vaguely remember. Remember that senior who briefly showed their face during our orientation, who looked very fierce and rough? Really big. That’s the senior.”
“…I think I remember.”
There was a senior who briefly showed their face during orientation.
It’s a face that couldn’t possibly match the mutant who saved her then… but isn’t there a possibility?
Of course, it could just be someone with the same name.
“Do you know any rumors related to that senior?”
“I don’t know. They say that senior completely disappeared after deserting the group project last year.”
“…”
It was a disappointing answer for her who had hoped to hear some news.
“But why suddenly ask about that senior? Are you interested?”
“No, it’s not interest… Ah, it’s almost time. Let’s go to the classroom first and talk.”
“Sure.”
As Sihyun opened the classroom door, she felt like she couldn’t breathe for a moment.
Because she saw a woman dressed all in black, with a somewhat familiar silhouette.
A woman whose attire might seem dull to others, but even that suited her exceedingly well.
And the large hat on her head.
She still clearly remembered that hat.
As she watched the woman looking down at her smartphone, Sihyun unconsciously approached her.
“Wow… who is that? Was there such a person in our department? Is she from another department? Huh? Hey, Lee Sihyun. Where are you going?”
“Just a moment.”
After saying that, Sihyun approached Seohyun.
“Excuse me…”
“Hmm? Ah.”
In that moment, Sihyun and Seohyun’s eyes met. Seohyun smiled gently at Sihyun.
Looking at her smile, Sihyun was convinced that she was the person who had saved her.
“Are, are you the one who saved me back then?”
“We’ve met before, haven’t we? How have you been?”
“Oh, no, that…”
“You seem surprised to meet me like this, junior.”
“Ju-junior?”
“Yes. I’m Yoon Seohyun, class of 2014. You’re Lee Sihyun, class of 2018, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
Sihyun unconsciously nodded blankly.