episode_0019

“Waaaah!”

“Wow, holy shit…!”

“This isn’t a fire show or fireworks—what is this, a nuke? Damn, that’s insane, seriously…”

“Holy fuck, that’s next-level…”

I thought it’d just be a little flame show, but wow.”

My classmates seemed utterly dumbfounded by the surreal spectacle, and the underclassmen weren’t faring any better.

Even Yi Shihyeon, who had been drunk, sobered up instantly.

Shihyeon was staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Wait—she wasn’t the only one. My younger sister was making a similar expression while looking at me.

The face of someone who, despite witnessing it firsthand, couldn’t believe that the person they bickered with daily had caused this scene.

“…I really shouldn’t mess with Noona.”

I can hear you, you little brat. You’ll probably pick a fight later anyway.

Honestly, I was pretty surprised too.

I had fired it off just to test the limits of my flames, but I never expected they’d pierce through the clouds towering high in the sky.

Even nearby citizens out for strolls were staring at me in shock.

This… might count as causing a scene.

Still, I’d made sure to scan the surroundings and even checked the sky for any passing objects before firing, so no one got hurt. But… it definitely drew way more attention than intended.

I had expected to gather some eyeballs anyway, so that wasn’t the issue.

What worried me was that I might have unsettled someone.

Then, someone suddenly approached me.

“Whoa! This noona has horns on her head! And she breathes fire!”

A little girl, around five or six years old—likely out for a nighttime stroll with her family—had run right up to me.

Her parents, who had been gaping at my fire-breathing act, snapped out of their stupor and hurried after her, but the girl clung to me before they could stop her.

Clearly raised with affection, the child acted without hesitation.

But I wasn’t bothered. Kneeling down, I met her curious gaze.

“Think it’s cool?”

“Yeah!”

“Wanna touch them?”

“Can I really?”

“Sure.”

“Hehe!”

The girl reached out and stroked my horns.

Yeah, I don’t feel much. But to her, it must’ve been the opposite.

A firmness unlike anything found in humans. At her age, she wouldn’t know what a Variant was—she probably just thought I was some incredibly special person.

What does a child know? At that age, she has no concept of rudeness, and there was no malice in her actions anyway. So I just smiled and observed her.

“They’re hard! So cool!”

“Right?”

“Noona, why do you have horns?”

“Because I’m a dragon?”

“A dragon!?”

Her eyes sparkled. Just then, her parents—likely worried I might harm their child—rushed over and grabbed her hand.

“I’m so sorry! She doesn’t know any better…”

Looking up, I noticed unmistakable fear in their eyes.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Of course—fear of Variants was inevitable.

Not that I blamed them. They’d just witnessed me spewing flames through the clouds—how could they not be terrified?

Especially considering the havoc Variants had caused in the past, their reaction wasn’t unreasonable.

Just parents protecting their child.

“It’s fine. Kids will be kids.”

“Noona, noona! If you’re a dragon, can you fly?”

“Yeah.”

“Woooow! But you don’t have wings—how?”

“Wings?”

“Yeah!”

“…You wanna see them?”

“Yeah!”

“This kid…! Sorry, we really should go. Yiseo, come here.”

“No! I wanna play with the dragon noona!”

True to her six-year-old self, the girl—Yunseo—started throwing a tantrum.

Her mother, visibly flustered, exchanged helpless glances with her husband.

Meanwhile, my classmates, underclassmen, and sister watched with amusement.

Knowing firsthand how I treated others, none of them seemed the least bit afraid—just curious if I’d actually unfold wings.

Yunseo, however, was laser-focused on the idea. Well, of course she’d be fascinated.

I did say I had wings, despite none being visible.

…My clothes might rip a little, but what choice did I have? I turned to Seo-a.

“Seo-ah.”

“What?”

With the kid watching, I deliberately softened my tone—uncharacteristically sweet.

Seo-a seemed to recognize it too, her face briefly twisting in discomfort before schooling itself.

“Got any spare clothes?”

“Why would I?”

“Then… can you buy some? I’ll pay you back.”

“You’re really gonna do it?”

“Seems like I have to.”

“…Fine. But I wanna see too.”

“I’ll show you later at home.”

“You know that won’t work.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Handing her my card, I watched Seo-a hurry off.

Meanwhile, Yunseo’s parents fidgeted awkwardly. They probably didn’t want to impose further.

“Yunseo! Cut it out right now!”

“I don’t wanna go—!”

“Why’s she being like this today? Honey, say something!”

“Yunseo, let’s not bother the noona anymore, okay? We’re going home now.”

“She’s usually so well-behaved… what’s gotten into her?”

“Nooo! I don’t want to!”

Despite her father stepping in, Yunseo showed no signs of backing down—her piercing wails assaulting everyone’s eardrums.

“Yunseo, want me to show you my wings?”

“Yeah!”

“Then promise me one thing.”

“What promise…?”

“If I show you my wings and even fly you around a bit, you’ll listen to your mom and dad after.”

“Really!?”

“Of course. Noona never lies. Pinky promise… then thumbs-up! Deal?”

“Yeah!”

“…Again, I’m terribly sorry.”

“It’s fine. Kids are curious. I would’ve been the same at her age. Ah—could you all step back a bit? The wings might be… large. Wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt. Yunseo, stay with your mom for a sec, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Nayeon? Could you and the others move back too? The wingspan is pretty wide—getting hit might hurt.”

“Ah, sure!”

Once everyone cleared out, I exhaled and released my wings.

Crack.

A slightly eerie sound accompanied the expansion from my back—each wing roughly two meters long.

With both wings fully outstretched (spanning four meters), the onlookers’ eyes bulged. Even compared to the massive fire pillar earlier, this reaction was more intense.

“Woooooah! So big!!”

“Oh my god…”

“Impressed?”

“Can you really fly?”

“Watch me.”

I flapped once—wind gusted violently as my body lifted slightly.

Whoosh—!

“Cool, huh?”

“Yeah!”

“Come here. I’ll give you a quick ride.”

Without hesitation, Yunseo barreled into my arms.

Holding her, I ascended—keeping it low (around 10 meters) to avoid alarming her parents.

“Wahhh!”

“Whoa…!”

Yunseo squealed excitedly, and truth be told… so did I.

This was my first time flying with my own wings too.

The wind rushed past—autumn’s crisp breeze wonderfully refreshing against my skin.

“Having fun?”

“Waaah…!”

Nodding vigorously, Yunseo kept gasping in delight.

Honestly, an experience few could claim.

As we orbited the park, some bystanders snapped photos—something I’d long since accepted.

Back when I first decided to reveal myself as a Variant at university, I knew this would happen.

As long as it didn’t harm those close to me, I could tolerate it.

But if anyone dug too deep and harassed my people? That I wouldn’t forgive.

_Agent Choi Jungho better have backup measures._

After circling the park, I landed us back at our starting point—Yunseo practically glowing like she’d just ridden the best amusement park attraction.

“Seriously, thank you. She’s never this stubborn usually… Yunseo, let’s go home now, okay?”

“Haha… It’s just her curious age. Don’t worry about it. Yunseo—promised Noona you’d listen, right?”

“Uuun… Okay…”

Though reluctant to part, Yunseo obediently returned to her mother’s embrace—pinky promises being sacred.

“Noona! Bye-bye!”

Silently, I waved back.

…Except I couldn’t retract my wings yet. Without looking, I could tell my back was exposed.

With my clothes barely hanging on, I subtly wrapped my wings around myself.

Just then, my classmates and juniors swarmed me—some marveling, others asking if this happened every time I unfurled them.

“Yep. Which is why I said earlier—unless the clothes account for it, this happens. Speaking of… Where’s that brat?”

Right on cue, my sister came panting back.

“H-Here… clothes.”

“Ah, thanks. Hey, cover me while I change…”

“I’ll help too.”

Conveniently, now-sober Seohyun and Nayeon flanked me as human shields.

Super awkward.

_Do clothing stores for Variants even exist?_

I kinda wanted to try manifesting my tail next… but that would have to wait. For now.