Chapter 3: Reality is worse than fiction

Reality is stranger than fiction.

Sharp black horns jutting upward, a glossy scaled tail. A tall red-haired woman I had to crane my neck to look at.

And those massive, swaying breasts—no, I didn’t mean to stare. They’re just so big they’re impossible to ignore. It’s not my fault. Really.

“You should watch where you’re going, kid. What if you got hurt?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry.”

The woman helped me up, grabbing my hand. Her tail kept tapping the floor, drawing my attention.

I kinda want to touch it.

“I’m not a kid. I’m an adult. Twenty-one. And I used to be a guy.”

“A guy?!”

“I turned into a girl after the transformation. Got shorter too…”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know. You just look so young…”

“It’s understandable.”

According to the health checkup, I’m exactly 142cm now. No wonder people mistake me for a kid.

Still, it feels weird. Like I’m really confronting the fact that my body’s changed.

As I stood there, the woman asked my name.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Garam Lee.”

“I’m Jimin Seo. Twenty years old.”

Hehe. She’s younger than me. It’s weird to think I’m older when there’s such a height gap.

But seriously, I really want to touch that tail.

“You’re a transformed person too, right?”

“Yeah. As you can see, probably something dragon-like.”

“Did you get taller from the transformation?”

“A little. Maybe 2cm.”

What? She was taller than me before, and that’s only a little?

“Unfair world…”

“Huh?”

“Oh, nothing. By the way, that tail…”

Jimin’s tail started wagging energetically, making crisp tapping sounds against the floor.

… I really want to touch it.

“Oh, wanna touch it?”

“Uh… is that okay?”

Jimin held out her tail, inviting me to touch it. But is it really okay? It’s part of her body, after all.

“The top of the tail doesn’t feel much because of the scales. The underside’s different, though. Oh, be careful—it’s sharp, you might cut yourself.”

“Well, if you say so.”

At Jimin’s encouragement, I cautiously reached out with my small hand.

Glossy black scales. I gently placed my hand on the neatly arranged scales, from the base to the tip.

“Wow…”

Smooth yet firm, with a slight elasticity. As I stroked the tail, the texture fully transferred to my palm.

I let out an involuntary sigh.

Dragons are so cool. Such a fantasy vibe. Like roaring and breathing fire.

“Jimin, can you breathe fire?”

“Can you fly, Garam?”

Guess not. What a shame.

As I got lost in touching the tail, I unconsciously started flapping my wings.

Flap, flap.

“Hehe…”

Letting out a goofy laugh, grinning like an idiot.

This tail is so cool. If I had to transform, I wish I’d become a dragon. A cool dragon.

I was so focused on the tail that I didn’t notice Jimin trembling, as if holding something back.

“…”

“Hehehe…”

… Until.

“Ugh, I can’t take it anymore!!”

“What?!”

A sudden shift in perspective. A floating sensation.

It didn’t take long to realize Jimin had slipped her hands under my armpits and lifted me up. Then came her full-force hug.

“Gah!”

“Garam, why are you so cute?! Your tiny size, your goofy grin, that ‘hehe’ laugh, and even those little wings flapping—ugh, it’s too much!!”

W-Wait, I can’t breathe.

“You’re so focused on my tail, grinning like that, not even noticing I’m dying to hug you, and then flapping your wings like you’re begging for it, right? It’s your fault, isn’t it?”

No, I mean, I can’t—

“So cute! What do I do? Your cheeks, your palms, all so soft, and your skin is so perfect it’s unfair! And your hair—it’s so nice and smells amazing. Are you sure you were a guy? How can someone be this cute?!”

I can’t… breathe…

Gasp.

…

“Hey, it’s time to go.”

“Huh?! What?”

… Just as I thought I might die buried in her chest, someone arrived, saving me from Jimin’s embrace.

I really thought I was done for.

Almost dying smothered in someone’s chest—what is this, a comic book?

My friends would laugh so hard if they heard.

Completely drained, my wings drooped. After catching my breath, the man who’d approached continued as Jimin and I calmed down.

“I’m here to pick up the transformed individuals. I actually arrived earlier, but you seemed busy, so I waited…”

“Oh… sorry.”

“No, it’s not like we’re in a rush. Anyway, let’s get going.”

With Jimin, I followed the man to a van parked outside the hospital. He hopped into the driver’s seat and opened the door like it was routine.

I climbed in, the door closed, and the van started moving.

The soft hum of the engine, the warm afternoon sunlight streaming through the window. Lost in these pleasant sensations, I felt a tap on my side.

“Garam?”

“Yeah?”

“Since we’ve met like this, wanna exchange numbers? Is that okay?”

“Oh, sure. Here.”

I pulled out my phone and handed it to her. Jimin tapped away, sending herself a message before returning it.

A girl’s number in my contacts? My phone used to be full of just guy numbers.

Is this the power of appearance? Is this good or bad?

When I was a guy, I never had any luck with women, and now that I’m a girl, I’m making connections? Oh, my tragic fate.

… I’m definitely bragging to my friends later. Yo, your buddy got a girl’s number!

Imagining their shocked “You?!” faces made me chuckle.

Thinking of friends, I kinda miss hanging out with them. Since we can’t go out until the phenomenon is announced, I guess that’s on hold?

That’s a bit of a bummer.

Mnya.

“…”

Mnya…

“…!”

Mnya…

“Wake up!”

“Huh!”

Rubbing sleepy eyes, I woke to a voice calling me.

“Garam, your halo is so cool. It glows softly when you’re asleep, then brightens when you wake up.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know…”

A halo with an auto on-off function? High-tech in the weirdest way.

At least it won’t disturb anyone’s sleep, so that’s a relief.

Getting out of the van, I saw the sky slowly darkening.

Stretching with a groan, I looked ahead and saw a huge building.

“A hotel?”

“Yes. Go to the front desk, and they’ll guide you. Or, everyone inside is involved, so just ask anyone if you’re unsure.”

I wasn’t expecting much from “lodging,” but it’s a massive, shiny hotel. Wow.

A week locked up in a fancy hotel I’d never visit in my life? Can I stay forever instead of just a week?

Ahem.

The van hurriedly left after dropping us off, probably busy. I waved goodbye to the driver and headed to the hotel lobby with Jimin.

Such a huge space.

“Wow…”

“Cool, right? Everyone’s…”

It wasn’t a lie that they’d gathered all the transformed people here. The hotel was bustling with all sorts of individuals.

People with cat ears, dog ears. A furry werewolf, or people looking like elves or dwarves from comics.

“Whoa, Jimin, look over there.”

A bipedal lizard-like person! Amazing!

I guess I’m pretty normal. Just wings and a halo, nothing too wild.

Now I get what the doctor meant by “your body’s close to human, so the checkup was quick.”

Anyway, Jimin and I headed straight to the front desk.

On the way, I felt eyes on us—mostly on my glowing halo—but they quickly looked away, maybe used to weird stuff.

…

The front desk explanation was brief. We got our room assignments, were told meal times to not miss, and that we could use the hotel’s other facilities.

“Life’s full of surprises. Never thought I’d end up in a place like this.”

“Garam, you don Statistically, you haven’t been to hotels much?”

“Yeah. What about you, Jimin?”

“A bit.”

Jimin’s probably secretly rich.

I made an awed face, and her tail started wagging vigorously.

Remembering the hospital incident, I stepped back a bit, and her tail drooped in disappointment.

Sorry, Jimin. I don’t want to suffocate…

Since we’re on different floors, Jimin got off the elevator first. We agreed to meet downstairs for dinner, and then I was alone.

About thirty minutes until dinner, so I’ll rest in my room and text my friends I can’t game tonight.

With that thought, I stepped out of the elevator.