episode_0004

I pulled the hood deep over my head. The horns were cumbersome, but at least they were roughly concealed.

Since openly revealing myself as a Variant would bring nothing good, I had no choice but to move cautiously.

And so, I arrived at the department store.

“Ugh… I finally feel alive now that we’re inside. By the way, unnie, aren’t you hot?”

“Unnie?”

“Well, given how you look now, should I call you oppa instead? You know that’d be even weirder, right?”

“…Right. At this point, what’s the point of fussing? I’ll just have to get used to it.”

“So, are you hot or not?”

“Not particularly.”

“You’re not hot wearing a hood pulled down like that in this weather? Wow…”

“Oh, is it hot today?”

“Heat wave warning.”

My sibling’s curt reply.

…A heat wave warning? Isn’t it June right now?

“…Isn’t it June?”

When I asked that while looking at them, they clicked their tongue.

“Exactly. The weather’s gone insane. Anyway, good thing you’re not hot. Keep that hood pulled down tight. If you get caught, all hell will break loose. We might even get kicked out of the store.”

“It’s that bad?”

“Variants have caused so many incidents that some stores outright ban them. Especially big stores like these—unless you’re a certified Variant with a clean record, they won’t let you in.”

“I’ll have to be really careful. Also, what kind of department store has entry restrictions?”

“What can I say? Blame the troublemakers. There was even a time when a department store almost turned into a disaster zone.”

“Tch.”

The taste on my tongue turned bitter. Seriously, at this rate, I’ll have to wear this hood forever.

Still, if there’s one thing I’m really, really grateful for, it’s the fact that I don’t even feel the heat right now.

Did becoming a dragon make me resistant to heat or cold or something?

That’s kinda nice.

“What about clothes?”

“I’ll handle the measurements. Just wait in the changing room, unnie. I’ll put together some outfits for you.”

“Do whatever you want.”

“I’ll be looking around, so call me when you’re done shopping for unnie’s clothes.”

“Sure.”

…And thus began our department store tour.

My sibling, grinning from ear to ear, swiftly picked out clothes left and right. The way they moved so deftly suggested they were very familiar with this.

After glancing around at various items, they soon called out to me.

“Hey! Come here!”

“Coming, coming.”

They then shoved me into the changing room, brought over a hat from outside, plopped it onto my head, and said:

“Strip.”

“……”

What kind of perverted remark is that?

But my sibling, with practiced hands, took my measurements and brought back underwear and clothes that fit me.

“The world is disgustingly unfair,” they grumbled.

“What now?”

“Seriously, does this make sense? Your body’s slim, but your chest is ridiculously big? That’s cheating!”

“It does seem big… but is it really that huge?”

No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem that extreme… Maybe because I’m thin?

“It’s huge! At least a D-cup, no doubt!”

“Hey, hey. Keep your voice down. And does this really look like a D-cup?”

“You’re just skinny, that’s why. Anyway, since we’ve got all the clothes, hurry and wear the hat. Unless you wanna keep flipping your hood.”

“Got it.”

“The world’s too unfair. Why does someone who used to be a guy get a body like this…?!”

“Pfft, like there’s much to envy. I’m basically a walking bomb now.”

“Other than that, though, it’s all good, isn’t it?”

“That’s the problem… I have no idea how I’m supposed to handle social life now. The perception of Variants is way worse than I thought.”

Muttering to myself, my sibling spoke up.

“Whoa. I thought you were chill about everything, but you’ve got your own worries?”

“Of course I do? But… well, I guess I’ll figure it out along the way. At least no one’s gonna try to hurt me, so that’s something. Besides, I was already kinda introverted, so being alone isn’t new.”

“Won’t people talk behind your back?”

“Let them. As long as they don’t say it to my face, I don’t care.”

What others say about me doesn’t really bother me. I already considered my academic life half-ruined anyway, given my colorful track record from the past.

“Guess so… But, who knows? Maybe you’ll end up being super popular.”

“Ugh. That’d be awful. I already know exactly how those people operate—if they suddenly acted friendly now, I’d just be creeped out.”

“If you ask me, the problem is that you’re way too picky about who you befriend.”

“Narrow and deep is the best kind of relationship.”

“Yeah, yeah. Given how you’ve lived, I doubt that’ll change anytime soon. But really, no one in your department you’re close to?”

“I wouldn’t say none, but not exactly super close either? Just, y’know, attend classes together, play games sometimes… That kinda thing.”

“That’s surprisingly close for you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but who knows if they’d still treat me the same now. Like you said, some might approach me with ulterior motives. If they were complete strangers, fine, but if people who knew me before I changed suddenly act like that… I’d feel kinda gross.”

“Thought you’d just snap them in half?”

“That’s just a saying. I don’t plan to be some troublemaking Variant.”

“Well, you do you. Anyway, how’s the outfit? Like it?”

“For now, I’m glad there’s nothing billowy. Even though I’m a girl now, I’d still feel weird wearing a skirt right away.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

“But who knows? Maybe that discomfort will fade someday.”

“Hmm. Wanna wear it out?”

“Yeah. I’ve got the hat anyway… And even though I said it’s not hot, walking around with a hood flipped isn’t exactly comfortable either.”

I hastily threw on the most neutral-looking outfit—a short-sleeved black button-up and black wide-leg pants.

Even though black might be heavy for summer, since I don’t feel the heat anyway, I just stuck with black.

The reason for choosing black?

If something gets on it, it won’t show.

My sibling called my fashion sense trash… but hey, fashion’s ultimately about the face.

With this face, even a potato sack would look good. So what if my outfit’s a bit drab?

“What about lunch? Since we’re out, let’s grab something good.”

“Huh? What about Mom?”

“Said she’d be home before us since we’d take longer. She must’ve had an appointment.”

“Then let’s just order delivery at home. Eating with a hat on is annoying.”

“Okay. How about pizza?”

“Not bad.”

“Let’s hurry and catch the subway. I’m dying from the heat.”

Not long after boarding the subway, we arrived at the station near my apartment.

The department store hadn’t been far.

But then—

WHYYYY—?!

A disaster alert siren tore through the air, blaring from every smartphone on the street.

The surroundings erupted into chaos.

Since we were on our way home, my sibling and I checked our phones at the same time.

The message was long and complicated, but the gist was simple:

A Minotaur-type Variant has escaped.

Current location: Seoul.

Specific location—

Near Korea University Station.

…Wait. Isn’t that close to our place?

KWA-BOOOOOM!

A deafening roar the moment we stepped out of the station.

The sound of destruction rang vividly.

And of course, the Variant was rampaging dangerously close to where we were.

My sibling froze, recognizing the severity faster than I did.

They fidgeted nervously, far more agitated than I was.

“…What do we do?”

Even I, who’d never faced a Variant directly, could tell this was serious. But my sibling—who’d spent months watching Variants—was understandably more unnerved.

“KYAAAAAAAH!”

Screams echoed in the distance. Even from afar, the sheer desperation in those cries made the danger palpable.

A sense of urgency gripped me.

If casualties occurred in the middle of the city because of a Variant, public perception of Variants would plummet further. Instinctively, I knew that.

And if that happened… walking around freely like this might become impossible.

I absolutely couldn’t let that happen.

At the very least, I refused to be labeled a walking bomb.

So, I had to stop it.

The moment that thought crystallized, something shifted in my vision.

No, not just my sight—every sense expanded, as if unfolding.

It was like looking down from the sky. If clairvoyance existed, this must be what it felt like.

The Variant’s location?

Near Exit 2 of the subway station—a bustling street.

How unfortunate. That street was where my future officetel stood.

Meaning, the Variant was blocking our way.

If I led my sibling there, they could be in danger.

I stopped mid-step and spoke.

“Yunseo.”

“…What?”

“Stay here. The Variant’s going berserk near the shopping district. And the worst part? That bastard’s wrecking the place right in front of our building.”

“How do you even…?”

“I’m a Variant too. Don’t know why, but I can sense where it is. And right now, it’s really dangerous. Someone could die if this goes wrong.”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going?”

“…I think I have to.”

“What?! Are you insane?!”

My sibling freaked out. I probably would’ve too.

But I had no choice.

If public perception of Variants hit rock bottom, I might have to drop out of college altogether.

Given how people are, it was only a matter of time before movements to expel Variants from campuses began.

If I weren’t a Variant, I might’ve joined them. But unfortunately, I am.

And after all the tuition I’ve paid, I refuse to get kicked out.

Some might say it’s petty to act over something like that, but to me, it’s a big deal.

I ground my teeth studying to get into Korea’s top university—I won’t let some absurd accident get me expelled.

Besides, since the Variant was posted right in front of our building, dealing with it was unavoidable.

Like it or not, I had to step up.

“Think about it. If someone dies today, how will society look at me—another Variant? I might not even be able to walk outside anymore.”

At that, their expression wavered between anxiety and reluctant understanding.

“…Can you even stop it?”

“Yeah. I don’t know where this confidence is coming from… but I feel like I can.”

Honestly, my willingness to go stemmed from an inexplicable certainty—that I could handle this.

“So, stay here. I’ll call you when it’s over.”

“…Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. The doctor said the longer a Variant’s been transformed, the stronger they are.”

“And?”

“I’m the most recently transformed Variant in the world. Remember when I woke up? A casual punch dented an alloy wall.”

“…Got it.”

The moment they replied, I bolted at full speed.

No time to worry about controlling my strength.

Then—

The scenery blurred past me like I was riding a train.

“WHOA!”

Someone gasped in surprise. But I couldn’t spare the attention.

I ran. And ran.

Eventually, I arrived at the epicenter of destruction.

And at its heart—was the Variant.