As usual, I spent my time taking walks whenever I had free time, sleeping when I was tired, and before I knew it, the morning of our appointment two days later had arrived.
"All ready?"
"Yeah."
"Good, let's go."
I nodded and got into Hyun's car as we headed to the Association.
This was my second visit to the Hero Association since my health checkup.
The navigation showed 6:58 AM.
The traffic wasn't too bad since it was slightly earlier than the morning rush hour.
"But like during the health checkup, and now too. Do we always have to go this early?"
"Not particularly, but if we want to match my work schedule, we need to go early. I can't exactly take half a day off just to drive you there."
"That's true. But couldn't I have slept in and gone to the Association by myself?"
It's not like the Hero Association is hidden in some back alley. If I jogged from home, I could probably get there in about two hours.
"You complain about being driven, yet you think you'd actually jog all the way there?"
"Hmm..."
I cleared my throat and leaned back against the seat, faced with the crushing weight of his accurate assessment.
Just as Hyun said, if he had told me to sleep in and go to the Association by myself, I would have made all sorts of excuses to avoid going.
Well, maybe not avoid it completely. I probably would have arrived exactly at the test time or cut it dangerously close.
When I think about it that way, it's much better to ride with Hyun even if I'm a bit tired.
As I nodded at that thought, Hyun glanced at me through the rearview mirror and said:
"If you're really tired, you can sleep in the car. I'll wake you when we arrive."
I shrugged at Hyun's words.
I wasn't actually complaining because I was tired.
"I was just saying. If I were really tired, I would've dozed off as soon as I got in the car."
"That's true."
Before we knew it, we had arrived at the Association while chatting about various things.
I thought there would be a lot of people because of the exam, but it wasn't much different from when I came for the health checkup.
"I told you, exams happen all the time. It's kind of like a driver's license test."
"How would I know? I've never taken a driver's license test."
I haven't even held a steering wheel, let alone taken a driver's license test.
Hyun scratched his head as I shrugged.
"Just think of it as exams happening every day, and only those who apply for that day take the test."
"Ah, I get what you mean. So do formal Heroes take tests the same way?"
"No, that's different. Formal Hero exams have set dates. The Hero license is a national certification, so it's managed by the government, not the Association."
"I see..."
As I nodded and entered the Association, the familiar scene I had seen before greeted me.
This place really is flashy no matter when you see it.
I was momentarily amazed by what looked like money literally splashed everywhere, then hurried to follow Hyun who was striding ahead.
"Hey, what time is the exam anyway?"
"10 o'clock. It's 7 now, so we have three hours left."
Three hours... What am I supposed to do for three hours?
"So what am I going to do until then?"
When I looked at Hyun with that question, he shrugged with a face that said, "How would I know?"
Thinking he was serious, I stared at him for a moment, then aimed a low kick at him, annoyed by his expression with downturned lips and wide eyes.
Of course, Hyun dodged my kick without even looking and smirked.
Sighing deeply at what anyone would see as picking a fight, I pretended to walk away, then suddenly turned around and thrust my horns at him.
A surprise horn attack!
...But Hyun seemed to have anticipated even this, grabbing my horns and stopping me in my tracks.
"Not a chance."
"Ah!"
In the end, I was completely helpless with my horns caught.
I hate how powerless I become when my horns are grabbed...
[That is only natural.]
'Light Dragon?'
Suddenly popping up to say it's natural... What is he talking about?
I blinked at the Light Dragon's unexpected voice.
[A dragon's horns are a symbol of status. The longer and more beautiful the horns, the higher the status. In human terms, they serve a role similar to a crown.]
'But what does that have to do with becoming powerless when my horns are grabbed?'
[Who but an extraordinary being would dare touch a crown? Horns are only offered to those deeply acknowledged and accepted in one's heart, or to the master who holds one's leash. That is why dragons do not carelessly present their horns.]
"What...?"
Wait a minute... What did he say?
Did I mishear something?
[Is it difficult to accept? That's understandable. However, seeing how you offer your horns to Choi Hyun, one can only conclude that you have acknowledged him at an unconscious level. The reason you become powerless when Choi Hyun grabs your horns is precisely because of this.]
"No way..."
[If you find it hard to believe, think carefully about what you felt when someone other than Choi Hyun reached for your head.]
I pondered the Light Dragon's words.
How many people had patted my head or touched my horns besides Hyun?
None.
Well, maybe Ha-Young noona, but that's ambiguous so excluding her, there was no one.
No, there were people who tried, but I always dodged them first.
Wait, does that mean I really...
"Hey, are you okay?"
When the Light Dragon's voice disappeared, I could hear Hyun's voice that had been masked by it.
I turned around with a start and felt my face suddenly flush.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Yeah..."
"You don't look fine. Is it because I grabbed and shook your horns?"
Hyun said that while reaching out to place his hand on my forehead.
What I had accepted without a second thought now had meaning, and I couldn't just accept it anymore.
—One can only conclude that you have acknowledged him at an unconscious level.
Remembering the Light Dragon's words, I flinched and stepped back quickly, avoiding Hyun's hand.
Surprised by my sudden evasion, Hyun blinked and stared at me.
"...Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine! Really, really fine! Um... uh... ah. I need to use the bathroom!!"
I ran away, leaving Hyun with a dumbfounded expression.
I've accepted Hyun as my master? Acknowledged and accepted him deep in my heart?
So that's why I became powerless whenever he grabbed my horns?
That weird feeling and those strange sounds I made were because of that!?
"Urgh...!"
Sure, he's reliable and helps me whenever something happens, but that doesn't mean I've acknowledged him as my master!
And unconsciously accepting him as my master? What kind of crazy talk is that!!
After running like mad without looking back, I reached a secluded corner and crouched down.
My face felt hot from running so hard.
""Haah....""
""Huh?""
I turned to the side at the sound of a sigh right next to me and met eyes with a woman with black straight hair and dark circles that reached her cheekbones.
The woman who met my gaze looked at me blankly, as if she didn't understand the situation.
"Wow... you're pretty..."
I blinked at her too.
Pretty, out of nowhere... While it wasn't unpleasant to be complimented, I was more confused than anything.
After staring at each other for a moment, her eyes gradually widened before she screamed in panic.
And because she suddenly started screaming, I was startled and screamed too.
"Hiyaaaa!?"
"Uwaaaaah!!"
After the commotion died down, as I was calming my startled heart and catching my breath, she spoke with a trembling voice.
"W-who are you...?"
"That's what I want to know..."
"Ah, um... well... that is..."
Sweating profusely and fidgeting, she bowed her head deeply and introduced herself.
"H-Hero aspirant, 22 years old, P-Park So-Ah at your thervice!?"
She must be incredibly nervous to bite her tongue like that.
I just blinked blankly, unable to respond properly because she was making enough of a fuss for both of us.
Oh, I should introduce myself too.
Finally coming to my senses, I awkwardly bowed my head.
"Um... Yu Sia, 18 years old."
"Ah, yes..."
After carefully studying my reaction, she quietly returned to her previous spot and kept glancing at me nervously.
She was so obviously watching me that it was visible.
Honestly, it's really burdensome.
So much so that I almost forgot what happened with Hyun earlier.
...Ah. Damn pink elephant.
"Urgh...!!"
"Eek...!"
I covered my face with both hands and shuddered as the "Hyun is my master" theory resurfaced.
I'm crazy. I must be crazy...!!
"A-are you okay...?"
When I looked up, she was fidgeting anxiously while looking at me.
With her deathly pale face and forehead drenched in cold sweat, she looked worse off than me, yet she was the one worrying about me.
If even someone who looks worse than me is saying this...
Feeling self-loathing, I covered my face with both hands and sighed deeply.
"I want to die..."
"M-me too..."
Wait, why you?