2.
To be honest, there was nothing strange at all about someone from the guild coming to see me.
Though it was unexpected that they’d come on the very day I regained consciousness—and that someone who seemed fairly high-ranking would come in person.
But that wasn’t a bad thing for me. I had plenty I wanted to ask anyway, whether it was about money or what would happen from here on out.
If they sent someone low-ranking, then the moment we started discussing anything sensitive, someone higher up would end up being called in anyway. The guild was no different.
Maybe the guild knew that too, and that was why they’d sent Iruna from the start.
In any case—the important thing was the conversation we were about to have.
Where should I start? How should I word things if I wanted even a slightly positive response?
There was a reason people said a single word could repay a debt of a thousand nyang.
While I was organizing what I wanted to say in my head, Iruna spoke first.
“You said you only woke up a short while ago, correct? From what I understand, you only just realized your sex had changed, but you seem quite calm.”
“Mm… Maybe it just doesn’t feel real yet. Or maybe I should say I’m calm because too much has changed.”
My altered body still felt nothing but awkward.
Every time I moved, the thin hospital gown brushed against my soft skin.
And whenever my chest, unsupported by anything, shifted, it startled me.
The changed sense of distance caused by my reduced height and shortened limbs felt unfamiliar too.
But perhaps because so much had changed all at once, I could actually remain calm.
Since I couldn’t deny that I had changed, I found myself thinking I should simply accept it.
“And besides, it’s much better than being unable to use my body at all or dying, isn’t it?”
More than anything, the relief that I hadn’t become disabled or died was softening the shock of this unfamiliar body to some extent.
If I’d lost an eye or a leg, I probably wouldn’t be as calm as I was now.
“You went through something serious, yet you seem quite positive. I’m truly glad.”
Perhaps she liked my composed attitude, because Iruna nodded with a faint smile.
…Though I, for my part, immediately thought I might have made a mistake.
‘Would it have been better to act miserable and draw out some sympathy?’
When discussing compensation or benefits, people liked to use the phrase “according to the manual.”
But a manual was ultimately only a device that set visible limits while also guaranteeing a minimum baseline.
In the end, the ones handling matters were people, not machines.
Depending on their mood or attitude, they might often guide you toward benefits from elsewhere.
Thinking about that, I wondered if I should start acting like I was having a hard time even now.
But I was the sort of person who found it easier to force a smile when things were hard than to pretend to be weak.
After watching Iruna’s expression and hesitating briefly, I decided to just be myself and speak honestly.
“As you’re aware, your sex changed due to an item that came out of the dungeon at the time. However, by the time we arrived on-site, the situation was already over, and the item had disappeared, so we were unable to determine exactly what kind of tool it was.”
“…It disappeared?”
“Yes. According to those present at the scene, it was spherical. Do you remember any additional characteristics?”
“I’m not sure. It just looked like an ordinary bead rolling around, but when I grabbed it, it suddenly started glowing and wouldn’t come off my hand.”
“There weren’t any noticeable traits like color or patterns?”
“Hmm… No. I don’t think it had anything like that.”
If the bead had strange markings on it or visible traits like shifting colors, I wouldn’t have picked it up by hand either.
Even in the world of dungeons, flashy-looking things were usually dangerous.
But the bead I picked up really had been ordinary. A gray bead that looked as if it were empty inside. Which made the betrayal sting all the more.
“Hmm… The question is whether it simply disappeared after fulfilling its function, or whether it was absorbed into your body. Compared to before your transformation, do you sense anything you didn’t used to sense? Or do you feel any strange urges periodically?”
“I don’t really feel anything like that… Um, may I ask what exactly you mean by sensing something I didn’t used to sense?”
Was she asking if I sensed something I hadn’t before, or if I had any strange urges?
The doctor earlier had also told me that my constitution might have changed and that we should keep an eye on it.
It sounded related to that. Could there be more going on besides the change in sex?
At my question, Iruna thought for a moment, then spoke carefully.
“There have been cases where someone became Awakened after being affected by an item from a dungeon and began sensing special energies such as mana. There have also been cases where a person’s race changed, altering their tastes or preferences.”
…Becoming Awakened through an item, or having one’s race changed.
Now that she mentioned it, I felt like I’d seen articles about that.
Things like someone becoming Awakened overnight, or getting caught up in a gate, going to another world, and returning as a different race, were generally said to be irreproducible coincidences.
But very rarely, people apparently changed through tools that came out of dungeons.
And if that was true, then if such a tool could be found and mass-produced, wouldn’t it be possible to artificially create Awakened?
It seemed people had seen my sudden change in appearance and wondered if I belonged to that category too.
Well, even if it looked insignificant, it was still an item from a dungeon. It was more reasonable to think there had been some other change, and my sex had changed in the process, than to think only my sex had changed.
But… even when I focused on my body, I didn’t feel anything like a special energy. The only thing I could feel was the weight in my chest. That couldn’t possibly be mana.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think I feel any special energy… and I don’t really know about my tastes either. What does it usually feel like when they change?”
“Hmm… For example, cat Churu might taste incredibly delicious to you, or you might feel like you’ll die if you don’t drink the blood of the human in front of you immediately…”
“…Wouldn’t that show on the outside if that were the case?”
Churu and blood. I recalled seeing photos and videos of a famous cat beastkin walking around with Churu in their mouth.
I’d thought it was some kind of concept or a promotional photo spread by the guild, but their tastes really had changed to resemble a cat’s.
But if I’d changed like that, I’d probably have cat ears sprouting from my head or something. No matter how I looked at my body, it was that of an ordinary human.
“But what’s that about blood? Are there vampires?”
Since all sorts of races existed, from elves to beastkin, it wouldn’t be strange if vampires existed too.
But the thought of beings who subsisted on human blood walking around the streets made me just a little scared.
They wouldn’t kidnap passersby and suck them dry when they got hungry, would they?
“Uh… Haha, vampires? There’s no way something like that exists. I just said it on the off chance.”
“……”
At my question, Iruna’s eyes shook wildly. No matter how I looked at it, that meant they existed.
Judging by her reaction, it seemed like confidential information, but she must have mentioned it unconsciously.
When I first met her, she’d seemed very cold and intelligent, but maybe she was more of a ditz than I’d thought.
“Ahem. Then perhaps it was simply a tool that changed only your sex and appearance. There are so many strange and fascinating tools out there that it wouldn’t be odd for something like that to exist. Though it would have been a little dangerous if it could be used multiple times.”
“Dangerous?”
In an age overflowing with tools that exploded and called down lightning, what was so dangerous about a bead that merely changed your sex at most?
When I tilted my head, unable to understand, Iruna explained.
“A tool like that would be useful for criminals—or people who have committed serious crimes—when hiding their identities. As for an unregistered identity, they could simply claim they got caught in a gate and ended up that way. Of course, if one truly wanted to catch them, one still could, but it would certainly be troublesome.”
“Ah. Thinking of it that way, it is dangerous.”
“Right? Supernatural crimes have been increasing lately as it is, so if it became known that an item like this existed… Mm. Come to think of it, there’s that issue too. Please wait a moment.”
Iruna moved her fingers busily over the tablet she had brought.
She was definitely recording information about the bead.
After all, one of the guild’s jobs was to record and manage various items that came out of dungeons.
…If an identical bead were found somewhere else, and I touched it, what would happen?
Would I return to my original form? Was that too hopeful? Was it more likely I’d change into something completely different?
Since there was no guarantee it would change me back for certain, even if the same situation came up again, I didn’t think I could carelessly grab the bead.
“Ah. About things like the hospital bills…”
As I watched Iruna fiddle with the tablet, I cautiously brought it up.
It might seem like I was bringing up money too soon after meeting her, but what else could I do?
More than becoming a woman, my immediate problem was money and survival.
If she said they’d cover the hospital bills, I was desperate enough to lick the shoes she was wearing right now until they shone.
Perhaps Iruna read the desperation in my eyes, because she smiled and answered.
“Since this was an accident that occurred during a guild request, the guild will naturally cover all costs incurred. You don’t need to worry.”
“Ah. That’s truly a relief.”
This was why people said that even if you were going to live as a servant, you should do it in a noble’s house.
It had been worth stubbornly coming up to Seoul and continuously applying to the most famous guild in Korea.
Considering how many small and mid-sized guilds pretended not to know when hunters lost body parts during dungeon raids, claiming it was personal responsibility, it was enough to bring tears to my eyes.
“As Korea’s best guild, it’s only natural that we do our utmost for every single guild member.”
Those words were very much to my liking. Thanks to them, I had gained a few months of breathing room.
Finding a proper job in that time would realistically be difficult, but I should be able to find at least a part-time job.
“…Do you happen to have any plans after you’re discharged?”
“Plans?”
“Yes. I know it may be needless interference… but in your current state, it seems it would be difficult to make a living solely through requests assigned to Grade 9 guild members.”
…Mm. She’d struck a sore spot. I had been thinking about that since earlier.
“I was worried about that too, but, well, I’ll have to look for a part-time job at least. If I could, I’d like to keep doing collection work. Ah, right. Before that, the guild isn’t going to kick me out because I’ve become useless, is it?”
“How could we do that to a precious member of the guild? But regarding requests… since it would be far more reasonable to hire other people, I’m afraid it would be difficult.”
“I guess so…”
Grade 9 guild members. Especially people like me who went out into the field, weren’t viewed very favorably by society.
But even without specs of any kind, you could do the job as long as your body was sturdy. The labor intensity wasn’t that high compared to the pay either.
This depended on the guild, but if an unexpected accident occurred, the guild might provide support.
Because of that, there were quite a lot of people willing to take the risk and do this work.
When I was a man, I was young and sturdy, so I got picked for every request I applied for.
But now? Well. Maybe if I worked out hard and built up stamina and strength, but it would probably be difficult.
“Looking at your personal details, you have no family… and your academic background is…”
Iruna’s expression darkened as she spoke of my situation.
A few years ago, when I was still in high school, the gate and dungeon incidents had begun in earnest.
I got caught up in that and was left alone.
I had no family. As for education, of course I was a high school dropout. No certifications either.
My situation was like that of a minnow tossed into a rough sea without any preparation.
“Would it be difficult to transfer to an office position…?”
“…Office positions place great importance on credentials like academic background and certifications. Even if I personally wanted to help, there are many eyes watching, so it wouldn’t be easy.”
I asked because I thought it would be wonderful if they made me an office worker for the guild, even at the lowest rung. But as expected, it didn’t seem possible.
Even people who had graduated from Korea’s most prestigious universities waited desperately for office positions to open at Baegya Guild.
There was no reason for them to seat someone like me, who didn’t even have a common computer certificate, let alone a college diploma.
And even if they did somehow seat me there, the glares would be painful.
“Tsk. If I look hard enough, I’m sure I’ll find at least one place to work. Stamina is something I can build up.”
I understood in my head that this wasn’t something human strength could do anything about.
But being put in this kind of situation again still made me feel a little empty.
The hardest part was probably that I had nowhere at all I could lean on comfortably.
Damn gates.
…Of course, this time, it was my fault. Anyway.
“Hmm… I’d like to help you as much as possible.”
Still, this person here was a good person.
I could see that she was trying to do whatever more she could within realistically possible limits.
She called me a precious guild member, but in truth, there was no need for her to pay this much attention to a replaceable Grade 9 guild member like me.
Since the incident had happened in such a crowded place, they might be treating me well for the sake of public image.
But judging from the atmosphere conveyed through her words and expression, she seemed like a good person to begin with.
“Well, it’s a world people live in. I’m sure I’ll manage somehow.”
It was a harsh world, but if there were people like Iruna who wanted to help others, I would probably be able to survive somehow.
When I grinned at her in that spirit, Iruna instead rose from her chair with a troubled expression.
“I think I should be going for today. I’ll look into various things as much as I can, so please rest well in the meantime. If anything feels wrong with your body or if you have any questions, contact me anytime at the number on my business card.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Would she really come again next time? Would she bring good news?
It was probably better not to expect anything. Unlike me, she was surely a busy person.
“Still, that’s one worry off my mind.”
Just finding out that I didn’t have to pay the hospital bills myself was a huge gain.
To be able to receive kindness as if it were only natural, in a world where kindness was not a given.
I felt like praising my past self over and over for deciding to come up to Seoul first.