Chapter 19
Early morning. I sat at the table eating leftover meat and white rice from yesterday. Today was a very important day that could change my life.
"Kids, Dad's going to take the hero qualification exam today."
The hero qualification exam is a test to determine who qualifies to be selected as a hero among people with magic power in their bodies. Even if you fail, you can still work under the title of 'hunter', but hunters don't have a good reputation. It's better to become a hero by any means.
"In this world, titles are important."
"Hmm. I disagree..."
Nom-
Suryeon spoke while nodding off, her eyes barely open. She seems not fully awake yet.
"What's important is the essence... hmm... titles are just secondary... I don't understand... why humans are so obsessed with appearances..."
"You're talking well for someone who's dozing off."
"Yawn- Even if I'm sleepy... my mind is clear..."
Suryeon used her fork like a spoon to eat warm white rice. Her words had a point. I put some meat on Suryeon's plate for her insightful thought.
"Well said. Your words have merit."
"Of course. Dragons are beings that see through to the essence."
"But what does a little one like you know about pretending to know things? Huh? Do you understand society? Just eat your food. Here, have some meat."
"..."
Suryeon pouted and silently put food in her mouth.
"I can understand without experiencing it directly. This is ridiculous."
She seemed to be mumbling something to herself.
As we were enjoying our half-asleep breakfast, Hwaryeon, after scraping her rice bowl clean, spoke.
"Homeowner! So what do you do in the qualification exam?!"
"Well, physical exams and magic power tests. Then they determine your rank through actual combat, they say."
"Combat!! Real combat!!"
Bang!!
Hwaryeon slammed the table hard. Choryeon was startled and spat out the lettuce she was eating, but Hwaryeon, seemingly blind to everything else, shouted loudly.
"You mean fighting?! Like the Tyrannosaurus, Giganotosaurus, and Spinosaurus we saw on TV!!"
"It's not that grand of a fight. Humans aren't dinosaurs, Hwaryeon."
"But it's still fighting, right! Then take me with you!! I want to see you fight!!"
Hwaryeon strongly appealed her opinion. Does she want to see others fight that badly? I picked up the remote and changed the channel.
"Look, retired heroes are fighting barehanded. Hwaryeon, just watch this."
"No! I want to see it with my own eyes! Take me with you! Take me, please!!"
Eventually, Hwaryeon lay down on the floor and started throwing a tantrum. Like whining for something at a supermarket.
"What kind of dragon acts like such a child..."
"I don't care! I'm going outside! Let me out!!"
This sudden protest is perplexing. What should I do? As if sensing my emotions, Suryeon briefly explained.
"Red Dragon trait: Obsessed with fighting."
"She's acting like this just because she wants to see a fight? Can't she just watch it on TV?"
"TV lacks realism. And for Red Dragons, fighting isn't just 'just'. She's a being that lives by fighting others."
"What happens if she doesn't fight?"
"Her fire will go out. She'll turn black."
Does she mean she'll turn evil? Without a precise explanation, I'm not sure what it means. But from what I gather, it seems Hwaryeon needs to fight other living beings periodically. Or at least watch fights with her own eyes.
"Take me with you!! I want to see the fight!! I'll just watch the fight, I won't join in!! I'm going to get angry!!"
"She's still throwing a tantrum."
"Waaaaaah!!"
Sigh. If I leave her at home like this, she's sure to cause big trouble.
"What should I do with this precious child?"
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't come up with a good answer. I might be late for the exam at this rate. In this confusing situation, Suryeon tugged at my sleeve and spoke:
"Homeowner."
"Yes, Suryeon?"
"Do as I say. I've thought of a good idea."
Suryeon confidently told me a method. After hearing it, I couldn't help but be impressed.
"Oh, I take back what I said about you being young. Dragons really are dragons, aren't they?"
"Ahem. Of course."
Suryeon awkwardly tried to hide her smile. Dragons are indeed dragon-like.
"Take me with you!!"
I'm not sure if that one still rolling on the floor is a dragon, but anyway, I decided to actively implement Suryeon's suggestion.
***
The hero qualification exam was held in Seoul-05 district. This area mainly deals in items used by heroes or hunters. It can be considered a hero-specialized district. As a result, public safety is stable, and it's said you can often spot quite famous heroes around.
"This must be the line."
My number is 192. I lined up according to the order. Nearby, I could see people hoping to become heroes. Among them, some had modified their bodies with machinery or brought expensive equipment.
'I envy those with money.'
They can improve their abilities through equipment. Looks nice. Not that I want to be like that. I stopped looking around and focused on the exam venue.
'Phew, I need to pass. And not get caught.'
I adjusted my hat, which I had made slightly larger than usual. I couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy.
'Suryeon said it wouldn't fall off even if moved roughly. I guess I should trust her.'
Right, Hwaryeon? I tapped my hat lightly with my finger. Then, I heard Hwaryeon's very faint cry.
"Hiss!"
Currently, she was hiding in my hat, holding onto my hair to avoid falling. This was all possible thanks to Suryeon's idea. I recalled what Suryeon had said:
'Use magic to shrink that noisy- I mean, Lee Hwaryeon's body. If you hide her in a hat, you can conceal her appearance from the outside.'
'What if her heart's magic power is detected? That won't happen. It's absurd to think humans could detect dragon magic. She won't be discovered.'
'Both inside and out. Humans can't recognize us.'
Conclusion: Ignorant humans can never recognize dragons. It sounded arrogant, but also typically dragon-like. That's why Hwaryeon was hiding in my hat.
"Hiss! Hiss!"
"I told you to be quiet and not get too excited."
"Hiss!!"
Hwaryeon pulled my hair, saying she wanted to go over there. But that wasn't possible now.
"Number 192, please enter."
"No, I have to take the exam now. Stay still and wait."
"Hiss!"
Ignoring Hwaryeon's cries, I headed towards the exam room. A female staff member and high-tech equipment were waiting for us at the entrance. She smiled brightly at me and said:
"Number 192. Please enter this way."
Pretty. Her smile is the type that captivates people. I responded to that smile with a gentle tone:
"Ah, yes, thank y-"
But suddenly, I felt a sharp pain and my smile twisted.
"Agh!"
"Excuse me? What just..."
This brat? I forced a rotten smile towards the confused staff member.
"Ah, it's nothing. Nothing at all."
Dare to interfere with my love life? I muttered while tapping my hat, making sure the staff couldn't hear.
"Hey, why are you pulling my hair? Do you want to be punished?"
"Hiss!"
"...I can't understand what you're saying."
I'll let it slide for now. Just wait until we get home. Three hours of wall-facing. I inwardly vowed revenge as I followed the staff member's guidance towards the high-tech machine.
"Walk this way, and the sensor will automatically detect the amount of magic power and give you a result."
"Yes, thank you."
I bowed once and walked into the machine.
Beep!
Immediately, a result sheet was printed from below the machine. The staff member checked the result and said to me:
"Oh, um... Could you measure once more?"
"Pardon?"
"This has never happened before... Even S-class heroes can be measured, but it says 'measurement impossible'. Let's try one more time."
"...Alright."
This is worrying. I walked into the machine once more.
Beep!
"Why is it 'measurement impossible' again..."
"..."
"Something's strange..."
"..."
The staff member said it was strange and looked at me suspiciously. It seemed like the problem was with me, not the machine. In reality, the chances of me being the problem were high.
"Ahem."
I took off my hat while hiding Hwaryeon, gently placing the hat on the floor. Then, I made a motion as if I was about to take off my top.
"It seems there's a problem. Maybe it's not recognizing properly? Should I take off all my clothes? Or should I at least try without the hat?"
"Oh, let's try without clothes. But nothing was detected from the hat... Well, okay... Let's try..."
I walked through the machine with confident steps.
Beep!
"Oh, no problem this time? Magic power D-rank. Please take the result sheet and go inside."
"...Yes, thank you."
I picked up my hat with a face that was smiling but not really smiling. I wasn't caught, but the feeling that I might have been caught made me feel like I aged ten years.
"Hwaryeon, let's be careful. It seems more dangerous than I thought."
"Hiss! Hiss!"
Hearing it might be dangerous, Hwaryeon started getting more excited. She must be a pervert. I headed inside to complete the hero qualification exam with this violent one.
'Still, magic power D-rank. I didn't have any before.'
Good. I had a feeling the results would be favorable.