I carefully analyzed the text, matching all character names and terms to the glossary before translating.

On the way to the Association in Hyun's car, I hugged my tuna plushie in the back seat and stared out the window with a sullen expression, feeling frustrated.

My mood felt strange today. My emotions were more unstable than usual, and things that normally wouldn't bother me were suddenly irritating.

What's worse, I seemed to have accepted being in a female body as normal. Well, I suppose it makes sense—my mind may be male, but my body is female.

But that's what's strange. Just a few days ago, I was still in denial, insisting "I'm a man," but now I'm accepting being female?

It's weird. No matter how unstable my emotions get, having my entire identity suddenly flip shouldn't happen.

The bigger problem was that I knew something was wrong, but couldn't control it.

*Sigh... Why am I like this today, seriously...*

I don't understand my own feelings.

Feeling like I might lose my mind from frustration, I kept sighing deeply while curled up in the back seat. Choi Hyun, who was driving, glanced at me nervously.

Why are you the one looking nervous?

I felt sorry, frustrated, slightly irritated, and even pathetic all at once. I was truly experiencing what it means to be "all over the place."

After blinking blankly, I buried my face in the tuna plushie's belly and sighed deeply.

"Hey. Isn't it about time you stopped being angry?"

"I'm not angry."

"You've been frowning and sighing heavily this whole time, and you're not angry?"

"...I said I'm not, okay?"

I tried raising my voice slightly to prove I wasn't angry, but instead of sounding more upbeat, my voice just got louder, making me sound even more irritated.

Finally realizing I'd been snappy this whole time, I set the tuna plushie aside and looked at Hyun's face in the rearview mirror.

Thankfully, Hyun just looked a bit glum rather than angry or irritated.

Here I was, being irritable while worrying about whether Hyun might get upset with me.

Even I thought, what kind of person am I?

I closed my eyes briefly to collect my emotions, gently placed my legs down on the floor, and called out to Hyun.

"...Hey, Hyun."

Honestly, being irritable first and then apologizing is incredibly embarrassing.

I mean, apologizing after doing something wrong is common sense, but why does it feel so embarrassing? I used to think that way, but now that I'm in this position, I understand.

It takes considerable courage to apologize after acting out first.

The light had turned red, stopping the car, and Hyun turned slightly toward me.

"Feeling better now?"

I expected a teasing grin, but his expression was much more serious than I anticipated, making me lower my eyes nervously.

*Is he... really angry? Did I complain too much? Did I say something I shouldn't have?*

As I hesitated, I caught myself overthinking again and frowned slightly.

Why am I worrying about this?

We're friends. Not just any friends, but childhood friends who tease each other about embarrassing moments.

I should just say, "Sorry, I'm not feeling great today. My emotions are all over the place and I don't know why. That's why I was irritable. I'm sorry." That's all I need to say. Why can't I do something so simple?

After a short exhale, I closed my eyes and spoke.

"I'm sorry for being irritable. My emotions are particularly unstable today, and I keep getting annoyed over nothing."

"That happens. Well... you may be small, but you're in a woman's body now, so I guess those days were bound to come. It's okay, don't worry about it too much."

His considerate words made me feel warm inside.

I was about to nod with a faint smile when I noticed something odd.

"...Huh?"

Those days coming because I'm in a woman's body...?

Finally understanding what Hyun meant, I frowned deeply.

I instinctively took a breath to shout but converted it into a deep breath instead.

Right... Hyun said that out of consideration for me, so I shouldn't snap at him. Besides, he doesn't know any better.

"I don't have periods."

When I answered as calmly as possible, Hyun jumped in shock, causing the car to swerve dramatically.

The morning rush hour traffic was already congested, and we nearly crashed into the car next to us, but fortunately, no major accident occurred.

Of course, I wouldn't have been hurt, but the near-accident itself startled me.

I unconsciously gripped the seat so hard I nearly tore it.

With wide eyes, I carefully removed my nails from the seat and sighed deeply.

I tried to hold back, but this was too much.

"Are you crazy?! We almost hit the car next to us!!"

"Ah, geez. Sorry. I was just surprised."

"What's so surprising? I literally just said I don't have periods because I don't. Why is that so shocking?"

"Hah..."

As I blinked at him, Hyun let out a deep, heartfelt sigh and pushed his bangs back.

Wondering why he was reacting that way, I tilted my head, and Hyun covered his mouth with his hand and sighed again.

"This is mortifying."

"You... Don't ever talk like that in front of Ha-Young noona... or anyone else for that matter."

"Why not? What's wrong with saying I don't have periods?"

"Sigh... Yu Sia. I know you have no ill intentions and you're just clueless. But... that's not something you casually talk about. If that's not the case, just say 'it's not like that.' Understand?"

His serious teacher-like expression and tone annoyed me, but he must have a reason...

Wait a minute... Oh. OH. Wait, seriously?

"You sick bastard, what are you thinking?!"

"Why are you getting mad at me, you idiot?!"

"No...! Ah, that...! Logically, this body having periods doesn't make any sense!! But what...!! Die, you pedo!"

"Hey! Don't say things that will make others misunderstand! Besides, some people with modified bodies experience physical changes regardless of their apparent age!! That's why we're going to the Association today, and if you talk like that there, not only will you be in trouble, but I'll be dead too, you idiot!!"

Socially dead for sure, and possibly literally killed by an enraged Ha-Young noona.

Well, she probably wouldn't kill him, but she'd make him wish she had.

Hyun emphasized several times that I shouldn't say such things until we finished parking in front of the Association building, and I had to nod repeatedly under his pressure.

"Please, I'm begging you."

"I get it. I really get it, so stop talking about it."

His repeated emphasis was getting tiresome.

I frowned and waved my hand dismissively, and Hyun finally closed his mouth with a sigh.

"Does the Association do health checkups too?"

"Of course not for ordinary people. Only officially registered Heroes and monsters who have completed monster registration and passed individual screening by the Association Director can get checkups there."

"And that's me?"

"That's right. Be grateful you have an S-Class Hero as a friend."

I smiled and nodded at Hyun's confident expression.

I've actually been grateful for a long time. I just didn't express it verbally because I was embarrassed.

No, wait, I'm pretty sure I thanked him properly...

Well, it doesn't really matter.

We entered the Association through the revolving door. The first-floor lobby was much larger than it appeared from outside.

Once inside, I saw that the center was open, connecting the first, second, and third floors, making it feel less like a hotel lobby and more like a department store.

"Wow... This is the Hero Association?"

"Oh? Right... I guess this is your first time here?"

"Of course it's my first time. But it's much... bigger than I expected."

I had expected it to be large since it's the Heroes' headquarters, but it was much bigger than I'd imagined.

If the first floor was like this, the inside would be... well, predictable. They must have spent an absurd amount of money.

"But is it okay for Heroes to be this... flashy? Shouldn't they be more modest?"

It was so blatantly extravagant that I felt uncomfortable, so I nudged Hyun and asked.

Hyun made a thoughtful sound and scratched his head.

"It's been like this for a long time."

"How long is 'a long time'?"

"Since before the Hero Association was the Hero Association."

Ah, so it was built during the Hunter era. That makes sense.

I don't know exactly what the Hunter era was like, but I've heard enough to accept it.

"There's a lot on the first floor. A coffee shop, bakery, and what's that? A restaurant?"

"Ah, that. That's the employee cafeteria."

"That restaurant is the employee cafeteria? I want to be a Hero too."

"But it costs 20,000 won per meal."

"Never mind about being a Hero. Who pays 20,000 won for a meal? That's terrible welfare. I could eat three bowls of soup and rice outside for that money."

"But the pay matches it."

As we were talking while walking through the first-floor lobby, I noticed many eyes on us.

"S-Class Heroes must be rare even here."

"It's not me. They're looking at you. I come to work every day, so why would they find me interesting?"

"Really?"

I turned my head slightly toward where I felt the stares and made eye contact with a red-haired woman I'd seen once before on the rooftop.

Her glare was so intense I could feel her hostility even from here.

"..."

Let's pretend I didn't see that.

I quietly lowered my eyes and stuck close to Hyun.