When I first heard about the psychological evaluation from Hyun, my immediate thought was, "So what exactly is this psychological evaluation anyway?"

I didn't think it was the typical mental health check. After all, what happens at a psychiatrist's office is called "counseling," not "psychological evaluation."

Of course, Hyun had given me a vague explanation, so I knew it was somewhat similar to psychiatric counseling. But with a name like "psychological evaluation," it felt... different somehow? I couldn't help thinking it would be unlike the psychiatric counseling I was familiar with.

I wasn't sure exactly how it differed since I'd never experienced one, but I vaguely imagined it might involve some ability user with mental powers who could draw out my inner self (the bad one), like something from a shounen manga.

But when I actually underwent the evaluation, it was quite different from what I'd imagined. Or rather, in some ways, it was very similar to what I already knew.

"Have you been going through any difficulties lately?"

"Um... well... getting this health checkup."

"Haha. This place is quite spacious, so running around everywhere can be tiring. Being in an unfamiliar environment and experiencing things for the first time must make you more tired and stressed than usual."

Right, psychological counseling.

I've never actually had psychological counseling before, but I remembered seeing it occasionally in American dramas and movies.

You know, sitting in a comfortable chair where you can recline or sit comfortably, having a casual conversation. That kind of psychological counseling.

So it was quite unexpected. If it's just this, why bother calling it a "psychological evaluation"?

Why did they name it that way?

I don't understand.

I would have asked Hyun if he were here, but right before the counseling started, he stood up, told me to come out when it was over, and left, so I couldn't even ask him.

Hmm.

"Whenever I feel tired or stressed, I take walks. I stroll leisurely along the riverside, then sit on a bench and watch people passing by for a while."

While I was lost in thought, I gently put down the mug I was holding as I listened to the doctor starting the conversation.

Maybe because the atmosphere was so comfortable, I tilted my head and asked a question about something I would normally have just acknowledged with a nod.

"You take walks when you're tired?"

"No matter how tired and exhausted I am, when I walk leisurely with my hands behind my back, the fatigue disappears like magic in that moment. It's quite amazing. Though I end up completely drained after returning from the walk. Haha."

Whether it was because of his casual remarks or the special situation of counseling, I found myself listening attentively.

Whether my ears physically perked up or it was just figurative, I was paying attention.

"Does Sia have any routines or personal ways to relieve fatigue or stress?"

"Hmm..."

My own way to relieve fatigue...

I pondered the doctor's question, but nothing particular came to mind.

In the past, I might have said playing computer games or lying down watching Neotuber shorts on my phone... but none of these were possible now.

I couldn't play computer games because I didn't have a computer, and watching shorts on my phone was the same situation.

*Even if I had them, I wouldn't be able to use them anyway.*

After hesitating for a moment while looking at my hand holding the mug, I smiled faintly and answered.

"Sleeping."

Instead of expressing doubt or asking questions about my answer, the doctor nodded in agreement.

"That's what most people do. There's no better way to solve the fundamental problems of fatigue or stress than sleeping."

"That's right."

"There's nothing wrong with that. Finding your own special method isn't easy in the first place. Before I discovered walking as a method, I only thought about getting home quickly, showering, and going to bed."

"That sounds very... office worker-like."

When I blinked and said this, the doctor laughed softly and nodded.

"Of course. Being a doctor doesn't mean I live some extraordinary life. I'm still human after all. It's natural to want to rest when tired, to want to quit when things get tough, and sometimes to want to escape from the repetitive daily routine."

Still human after all...

Though it was said in passing, those words resonated with me.

"Until recently, I was planning to quit my job and retire like this..."

With a rustling sound, the doctor pulled out a paper envelope from the inside pocket of his wine-colored vest.

Surprisingly, the envelope had the words "resignation letter" written in large letters.

"I was planning to retire."

"Why did you want to retire?"

"Haha, there's no special reason. I just wanted to rest. Being a doctor is hard work."

I nodded with an involuntarily weary smile at his reason, which was simpler than expected but something I could empathize with.

Rest is important. I don't know exactly how old he is, but being a doctor, he must be wealthy and could live comfortably after retirement. If it were me, I'd want to retire too.

But if he had actually retired, the doctor wouldn't be here now.

Following this obvious train of thought, I looked at the doctor and asked:

"Then why didn't you retire?"

"Because my resignation was rejected. Hmm. That might be difficult to understand, so to put it simply, my retirement was refused."

"Isn't quitting a job up to the person working there?"

"That's not wrong, but reality isn't so accommodating. Well, the biggest reason was that I was persuaded during a conversation with the person who was going to process my resignation."

The doctor, who had been laughing with a "haha," put the resignation letter back in his pocket.

"But I still dream of quitting. That's why I carry this resignation letter with me."

The doctor tapped his left chest where the resignation letter was stored and smiled gently.

"Has Sia ever had such experiences? Thinking about escaping from daily life or wanting to have new experiences?"

"Yes."

Surprised by my instinctive response, I closed my mouth.

New experiences, escaping from daily life for new experiences... yes. Before I became like this, I had thought about it a few times.

Like wanting to try drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes after seeing actors do it coolly in movies, or wishing a meteor would hit my school because I hated going there so much—such trivial fantasies.

Things like backpacking abroad with friends, going camping, or spending 24 hours at an internet café right after graduating high school.

But since becoming like this, I hadn't really thought about such things.

What would be the point now?

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's perfectly fine. Don't feel pressured."

"..."

The doctor wasn't rushing me but giving me time to think slowly by myself.

So I thought for a long time. Not about what I wanted to do, but why I had answered "yes" to the doctor's question.

And after much contemplation, I came to this conclusion:

"...I want to go for walks."

"Walks are good. Hemingway Street in Seocho-Gu is really nice for walking. Have you been there?"

I shook my head.

The doctor nodded again.

"Then is there a path that Sia has thought about wanting to walk on?"

It wasn't a difficult question, but I needed some mental preparation, so after thinking for a moment, I opened my mouth.

"I just want to walk around near my home. Like I used to... the way to school, the path I used to run to the internet café when skipping self-study sessions, the streets I wandered on weekends... It doesn't have to be anywhere special, I just want to walk around those ordinary places."

"Can't you go now?"

I nodded at his calm question.

Currently, I couldn't even go outside the house without Hyun, let alone go for walks.

"Can you tell me why you can't go out?"

"...Because I can't go out alone. There's an organization targeting me, and if I'm in danger, Hyun will have a hard time."

Actually, I could handle the stares. It was a bit burdensome, but I could ignore them if I tried hard enough.

But I was afraid to go outside because of Harmageddon.

Not once, but twice.

And they didn't come at night or to places without people—they caused terror attacks in broad daylight in crowded places, trying to take me away.

How could I think about going outside when such people existed?

Above all, it was obvious that Hyun would suffer more because of me, and I didn't want to be selfish knowing that.

"Is Sia unable to go outside because you're worried about Choi Hyun?"

Am I not going outside because I'm worried about Hyun? That was true.

But that wasn't the only reason. There were definitely other reasons.

"It's not just because of that. I can't go out because a bad organization is targeting me."

"You mean Harmageddon."

So you know. Well, of course you would, working for the Hero Association.

If you know, that makes the conversation easier.

"Yes, that's right. Because I'm... a monster modified by Harmageddon. Those guys are targeting me, so I can't go outside."

"Being targeted by a dangerous organization like Harmageddon—that's disastrous."

"It is... Those crazy bastards who commit terror attacks whenever they see me, whether Hyun is there or not... Ah, I'm sorry for cursing..."

I cursed without realizing it due to my surging emotions, but the doctor nodded and said it was okay.

"If you're being targeted by such a dangerous organization, you probably don't have many places to stay. Where do you usually stay?"

"I stay at Hyun's house."

The doctor nodded again.

"I see. The house of Choi Hyun, an S-Class Hero, would certainly be a safe place to stay. But Choi Hyun can't always be at home, so what do you do then?"

"I just... do nothing, watch TV, or sleep... take naps."

"Have you ever worried about Harmageddon attacking when Hyun isn't there?"

"I've thought about it, but... I think it'll be fine. It's not just any ordinary house; it's the home of Choi Hyun, an S-Class Hero. Besides, if they were going to attack, wouldn't they have done so already?"

"Sia's opinion makes sense. So to summarize... the reason Sia can't go outside is because you're worried about Choi Hyun."

Why did the conversation circle back to the beginning after I talked so much about Harmageddon?

Did he not listen to anything I said? Feeling slightly annoyed, I blinked slowly, and the doctor looked at me with a faint smile.

"Sia isn't afraid of Harmageddon. You're afraid of Choi Hyun getting hurt and suffering because of them."

"No, that's..."

Is it not...?

Unable to continue speaking, I opened and closed my mouth before firmly shutting it.

"A little while ago, Sia said this: 'There's an organization targeting me, and if I'm in danger, Hyun will have a hard time.'"

Once again, a casually thrown remark pierced my mind like a dagger.

Thinking about it, I had been connecting everything to Hyun from start to finish.

It's safe because it's Hyun's house. It's safe because I'm by Hyun's side. It's okay because Hyun is there. It's okay because it's Hyun.

Because I don't want to trouble Hyun. Because I don't want Hyun to struggle. Because I don't want Hyun to get hurt.

Hyun. Hyun. Hyun.

Choi Hyun.

Those two syllables were stuck in my head and wouldn't leave.

*Why...?*

Even for childhood friends, this level of concern is strange.

This isn't just caring for someone; it's...

*This is obsession.*

Is it because I became a woman? No, I've never thought about wanting to hold hands with Hyun or having that kind of relationship while looking at him.

Maybe I had such thoughts unconsciously, but as far as I remember, I've never liked Hyun romantically.

Is it because Hyun saved my life and helped me numerous times?

This reason is certainly significant, but it's not enough to justify this level of "obsession."

Is it because Hyun knows my secret about being the Light Dragon?

No, Hyun isn't the type to blackmail me with my weakness or spread such rumors.

I was confused.

The moment things I hadn't noticed before suddenly came into view, I felt beyond bewildered—I was terrified.

"If Choi Hyun is the problem, perhaps another S-Class Hero instead of Choi Hyun—"

The moment those words left the doctor's mouth, "I" opened my eyes and looked at the doctor.

After meeting "my" gaze, the doctor stared at me silently for a while, then put down his pen with a trembling breath.

"—I think that's enough for today's counseling."

At those words, "I" silently stood up and left the room.

The tea remaining in the mug had not fully dissolved, leaving only sediment stuck to the bottom.