Returned With Horns

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"Chae Seohyun."

As I blurted out the name that suddenly came to mind, I realized it was my name.

Maybe it's because I was only called Hero or Experiment Subject 4821 in the other world. My own name somehow felt unfamiliar.

[Chae Seohyun... Chae Seohyun, I see. Then, how old are you?]

"Don't know. It's been a while since I counted."

[Unknown. Alright. Gender appears to be female.]

As soon as I heard the word woman, female, I shouted convulsively.

"I'm a man! Damn it!"

[...Anyone can see you're a woman, though?]

"Shit..."

Han Ayoung fell silent for a moment at the sight of me cursing. Soon, thinking it was a common outburst of returnees, Han Ayoung ignored it and continued speaking.

[First of all, those clothes, it seems better to change them.]

At those words, I glanced down to see clothes that were either a kimono or hanbok, I couldn't tell which, with a snow-white chest clearly visible.

Why on earth did such a thing exist in that world? Thinking that, I shook my head.

"Can't take them off. They're cursed items."

[...Pardon? Then how do you bathe or use the bathroom?]

"I stay clean without bathing, and I don't use the bathroom in the first place. Everything is converted to mana."

Due to the effects of the experiments, no matter what I eat, all nutrients are converted to mana, so it had been quite a long time since I used the bathroom. If nothing else, this one thing was quite convenient.

[Is that real? No, is such a thing possible?]

"It's possible for me."

It was possible because I had a divine object called the Dragon Heart inside my body. Dragons also rarely eat, or if they do, they don't use the bathroom because it's converted to mana due to the Dragon Heart.

To begin with, my body existed half in the astral world and half in the material world, so it was even more so.

Han Ayoung, who had fallen silent again, perhaps unsure how to take my answer, opened her mouth just as I let out a long yawn.

[Then that... katana?]

"It's not a katana, it's a straight sword. It's the same. It's a cursed item, so I can't take it off my waist. If I do, everyone nearby will die."

The blade, which looks similar to a hwandudaedo* but with a slightly longer blade, drags on the ground. It was strange that the blade didn't get damaged even like this. (tl/n: a large sword with a ring-shaped decoration at the end of the hilt, was commonly used weapon in East Asia in ancient times)

As I tapped the sword, the blade rippled and shook. Han Ayoung, who had been quietly watching this scene, asked another question.

[...Is that also the reason you don't put it in a scabbard?]

"Yeah."

After that, Han Ayoung, who had thrown a few more boring questions about personal matters, quietly sighed.

[Well, I'll make you an ID card for now. You seem to be definitely Korean.]

"...Okay."

Only now they're making an ID card. H

onestly, it felt a bit draining. It also seems like it's been a while since I've maintained my sanity this long. Usually, I would have been screaming and rampaging within an hour of being confined in a space like this. Is it because I feel at ease?

Looking at it this way, it seems similar to the laboratory I was trapped in. Ugh, I'm starting to feel an attack coming on, can't they let me out? While I was thinking that, Han Ayoung spoke to me.

[And... there's a job that our Hunter Association offers for returnees. Would you like to hear about it?]

"A job?"

I need to find one, don't I? I absolutely needed a job, having no house, and no money. As I nodded, Han Ayoung's voice noticeably brightened.

[Our Hunter Association is always short on dispatch agents. Would you be interested in becoming a dispatch agent?]

"Dispatch agent? What kind of job is that?"

[It's a job where you're dispatched into gates to rescue isolated hunters. Ah, it seems better to discuss the details after we go upstairs.]

Perhaps because I showed interest, or because she judged me not to be dangerous after a few questions, Han Ayoung suggested I come up. Along with that, the door opened with a whoosh sound.

Hmm, this door looks quite solid, I wonder if I could break it. No, breaking it would be possible, but could I break it without using magic power? That was a bit curious.

But they're about to offer me a job, and I can't destroy my workplace, so I came out through the open door for now. If the conditions aren't to my liking, I might as well start by breaking that door.

"Ah, you've come up. Nice to meet you."

"Hello."

As I waved my hand lightly, Han Ayoung offered me a sofa seat.

"Please sit here for now. As for drinks... what would you like?"

"Hot chocolate."

As I mentioned the name of the drink I liked as a child but never had a chance to drink over there, Han Ayoung's eyes changed a bit.

"...Your taste is more..."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'll bring it right away."

I glared at Han Ayoung's retreating figure, then leaned back on the sofa she had offered.

To be honest, it still didn't feel real. Have I really left that cursed world? Honestly, I feel a bit sorry for Elucia. That Pope was a person who treated Elucia well.

But one of the 12 cardinals who had decided to ignore me was ranting and raving in front of me, so I couldn't help but feel irritated. In fact, I killed the previous Pope along with the Demon King in the process of subjugating him, so I wonder if they're playing pat-a-cake together in the afterlife.

"Here's your hot chocolate."

A cup full of hot chocolate ripples slightly as it's placed in front of me. I stared blankly at it, then quietly took a sip. The unique aroma of cocoa along with its sweet and slightly bitter taste envelops my tongue.

"...It's been really long."

"Come to think of it, how many years did you live in that world? That's what I'm most curious about."

"...I don't know. I didn't count that either."

It seems like at least 20 years have passed, but I couldn't know for sure because I hadn't counted since becoming experimental material for the Magic Tower.

As I shook my head, Han Ayoung looked at me as if looking at someone pitiful.

"Well, the past isn't important! You've returned now, so you need to live in the present."

"That's right. It's a good thing to say."

Saying that, Han Ayoung pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to me. Under the paper labeled 'Contract' were all sorts of sentences lined up.

By the way, is it so urgent that they pull out a contract as soon as they see my face?

"Please read it. If you have any questions, ask."

"Okay."

The contract listed conditions, points to be cautious about, and various official matters.

As I read through it, I realized there weren't any particularly problematic parts. What's this, why are only good things written here?

First of all, what I liked most was the salary. Unless there had been a sudden inflation, it was quite a decent salary.

"Let me ask first, how's the cost of living in South Korea these days?"

"...Ah, you're looking at the salary? That's quite good. If we didn't do at least that much, returnees and hunters wouldn't join the Hunter Association... Oops."

"Why are you covering your mouth after saying it all?"

I snapped, feeling dumbfounded, and continued reading down. 5-day work week, 9 to 6 if there's no particular work. Holidays are guaranteed to some extent... It certainly wasn't bad conditions.

"If there's no particular work?"

"Um, it means you might have to work overtime if something happens?"

"No, I know that... But do they usually specify this in contracts?"

"Well, um. There are some complicated circumstances about that."

"You mean it's either troublesome to explain or something you can't tell. Well, fine. It's not that I'm particularly curious."

After reading the contract to the end, I signed it neatly. The conditions weren't bad, and this was enough to make a living. The only strange thing was the non-compete clause, but since association employees seemed like public servants, it made sense.

"Then please come to work from tomorrow. Um, you probably don't have a place to stay right now, so please sleep in the night duty room."

"...Night duty room? You have something like that?"

"Huh? We do? Of course."

Can I take back the contract? Having a night duty room means frequent overtime work, doesn't it?

That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I soon gave up. It's only going to hurt me if I think too deeply about it.

"Ah, the facilities for affiliated hunters and the training ground are in the basement. Please visit them later. Well, it's about time for me to go home."

"Ah, okay."

"Before I leave, I'll just show you to the night duty room. By the way, is it impossible to wear something over those clothes?"

"Ah, that's fine."

"Then please at least put on a jacket. Your chest is... too eye-catching."

Seeing Han Ayoung's face turn slightly red, I shrugged my shoulders.

"It's hot."

"...Don't lie. Do you know it's winter right now?"

"Ah, it's winter? I was wondering why people's clothes were so thick."

Well, even the male hunter I first met was wearing thick clothes. I wondered why, but it turns out it's winter now.

Han Ayoung tilted her head at my answer.

"Come to think of it, aren't you cold?"

"I'm impervious to heat and cold."

"...I see."

Han Ayoung nodded as if dumbfounded and led me to the night duty room.

The night duty room was located across from the sealed room where Han Ayoung had taken me. As I entered, I saw a quite cozy space.

Entering the room that seemed to have everything it needed, I looked around and then lay down on the bed. It's so soft.

As soon as I lay down, I started to feel sleepy. I guess I was tired after all.

Han Ayoung had already left, probably having gone home. Moving my body that felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, I turned off the lights in the night duty room and quietly closed my eyes to sleep.