I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 660

"Somehow, the expo is almost over. I haven't been able to come much during the final stretch, probably because I've been so busy lately, but I managed to attend at least when it was about to close. Hehe."

"I thought you'd make time to come at least once. KSM is coming up soon, time flies. How’s the preparation for the competition going?"

"It’s not much different from last time. There are a lot of things to adjust if I want to participate as a manifestor, and a lot to take care of, so I've decided to use my old avatar in the virtual reality."

"That's how it turned out, huh."

It was the last day of the expo, Sunday.

As I mentioned recently, August passed, and September was here. The expo, which had seen a lot of action, was winding down. Harmonie and Dice, who had become EM-level manifestors, had smoothly gotten back on track, and so had our editor.

Just a short while ago, the fact that I had changed from a man to a woman had caused quite a stir in society, but thankfully, thanks to all the effort in stabilizing public opinion and society, there were no problems whatsoever.

Some might have preferred the chaos that comes with emergency landings, watching the mess unfold and the inner conflict of identity, but well... that never happened.

'...Actually, I didn’t want to pass that on to our editor.'

The phrase "pass it on."

In other words, it means someone in a higher position gives their experience or wealth to someone below them — I wonder if everyone figured that out by now.

The explanation I just gave was everything I had experienced. Looking back, it was a truly dreadful time. Of course, at the time, it included moments where I had to shoot rioters with a shotgun while dealing with identity struggles, so it couldn't have been helped.

And though it's too late to say it now, my body had changed so much that I could easily enter the Central Park Health Center — now renamed Central Park HQ — without much of a problem. Looking back, this transformed body has been quite helpful.

While I was briefly reminiscing, down at the large concert hall of Building D, the idols hired for today were performing under brilliant holograms that could never be seen anywhere else, dancing and singing.

Being seen here meant we were in a VIP section that only a select few could access, but no one paid much attention to it. In fact, someone even added a comment.

"Wouldn't it have been more effective if the Mecha newbies had danced instead?"

"…Unfortunately, the concert hall floor isn't that sturdy. We’ll think about it next time. Not sure when that will be though."

"Wow, I never imagined I’d hear that it’s really going to happen."

...Crazy people obsessed with tails and Vyams.

Anyway, that concert had nothing much to do with this expo. Ever since the expo began, many idol groups and their management companies had been asking if they could perform. Among them was a request from SSM Entertainment, where Dice and Harmonie were affiliated. Though they mostly play games, SSM is actually a company that develops idols.

The performers there were from SSM too. Now that I think about it, I remember receiving a CD from a boy group called Signal 50, or something like that, a while ago. I wonder where that ended up...

"If you hadn't played games, wouldn't you be dancing and singing over there?"

"That's an inappropriate joke."

"Ack, whyyy—! Why doesn't Eugene admit that he's this pretty?!"

"I'm not someone who makes a living off my face."

Though I wasn’t going to deny it either.

The tail, fangs, and pointy ears might make me feel uncomfortable at times, but maybe it’s just me. I don't really like dancing in front of others.

Still, I have to say, I’d definitely get attention. Those kinds of people usually measure around 165/45, right? But I’m 172/250. It's a bizarre body that's already stepping into the physically impossible realm.

Anyway, while I was lost in these thoughts, Dice added:

"Now that I think about it, after I got that wildcard from you and started getting closer, someone up top asked about you. They wanted to know if you were interested in becoming an idol."

"...I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that before."

"Of course not. I was too busy working my ass off to remember and tell you something like that."

...Well, that’s true.

Anyway, while about 10,000 people were watching the performance down below, drones were flying around, carrying loads to somewhere. They were dismantling unnecessary facilities.

Expos are basically about renting specific zones. Just like a fair, when Icarus finishes using something, they look for the next person to take over. It’s probably hard to find someone as influential as us though.

Because of that, the Incheon Tourism Corporation asked if we could do something more, but well, we’re leaving D-building’s mock combat room and the theme park. I hope they’re satisfied with that.

On another note, I saw the Vyams flying around, disassembling the facilities, and they seemed quite restless.

No surprise there. Now that the Mecha newbies were finally about to move on from their long and tiring stint as maid-Vyams, it was time to return to being free agents. Not like they ever got paid for it anyway.

...I hope they won’t show up at my place in Yeouido demanding their salary later on.

"So, if I want to see the Mecha Vyams again, do I just need to go to the Icarus Korea branch?"

"...I don’t know how it ended up like this, but I guess that's what’s going to happen. But I’m not sure if they'll let you in. It might not be as easy to get in whenever you want."

"Yeah, that makes sense. If it was easy, anyone could just walk in and try to see them…"

Exactly.

It wasn't about who could get in or who couldn’t; it was about the number of people. Even at the café where the Mecha newbies were serving, only a few actually received service. If everyone gathered around to see the Mecha Monnani, it would be a hassle.

I wasn’t planning on making it public either, so... the first thing I had to do was probably secure a space big enough to house dozens of families.

The place I’m living in now, with Dice moving in right next door, was a miracle in itself.

We’ll look for a new place later. I gazed down at the dismantling expo.

Harmonie added from beside me:

"Do you have anything planned after this?"

"I’m planning to go to the U.S. I have something to keep an eye on. Like I mentioned earlier to my parents, there's something I need to handle with the military humanoid project."

"We can’t keep up. See you later. You’re not going to do a surprise raid like last time at the Asia qualifiers, right?"

"Maybe."

Everyone chuckled.

After the expo near Rochester, another expo, and now off to the U.S. again... I wonder if I’ll go to the final championship afterward. I’m kind of tired of it now.

But I’m not complaining. All the work I've done is finally starting to pay off.

As I was thinking this, I heard a voice from beside me.

"I think you’ll keep living like this forever, Eugene. Even when you’re old... No, when I see Laurentina, she doesn’t seem to age. Will we be like that too?"

"Based on age, you should call her something else, not 'sister.' Anyway, you’re right. Manifestors age much slower than others. You saw how well I did after rolling around in the harsh military, right?"

Looking back at those days in the K-military... the answer is obvious.

The sergeants who looked like grandfathers, the seniors who looked like retirees despite being around my parents' age, the ones only five years older than me who already looked like uncles... the military is the place that speeds up time like nothing else.

Yet Laurentina stays in her 20s, even after staying up all night, drinking, and doing tough training in the sun—though she doesn’t smoke.

I’ll probably be like that too. And these guys will be too.

They all seemed to have guessed that and added:

"I thought so. You’re Eugene, so that’s how it will be."

"…"

"Then, forever with the Mecha newbies, turning this planet into a tail mountain and heading into space…! Ahh!"

"Always adding one more word, you brats."

"I won't make my tail that long, Eugene, seriously~!"

I knew they were joking.

Of course, I was reacting a bit too strongly because... maybe that future was actually waiting for me. Something like how people awaken as psychers in Grimdark 40k... if this world also turns into a place where everyone gets a snake tail over time... well, that would be pretty horrifying, right? It’s not a matter of rarity.

Luckily, Emperor Henry is sitting in the White House right now, so if the Vyams increase, we’ll discuss related legislation later.

Right now, I think they’re planning to wipe North Korea off the map, so it’s a bit early to contact them.

There are a few things I still have to do, but I only had one thing to say.

"After I take care of all the little stuff, I’ll buy a building where you all can live together. Prepare a lot of money."

"...You're really going to do that? No, never mind, I’m all for it. I won’t oppose it."

"Looks like Dice is finally getting the hang of things."

If someone had opposed me again, I would’ve had to take their tail off... well, never mind. That’s not going in the right direction.

Anyway, like I said, it’s time to reorganize. I’ve been living here for quite a while, but it’s time to make a change. This place can either be used as a sort of vacation home, or I can put it back on the market.

If I manage to secure a new house, there will definitely be a second housewarming party. I’ll probably invite the Mecha newbies too. Though that's a future thing, and the future tends to turn into reality sooner than you think.

I checked my flight ticket to the U.S., which was scheduled for a month later, and let out a small sigh.

"Did everyone enjoy the expo this time?"

"Of course. I almost exploded from eating so much."

"There will be plenty of times for that. Make sure you all prepare well. Maybe in a few years, I’ll take you all on a space trip."

"Space Vyams... I’ll be looking forward to that."

"Of course."

I said, patting the heads of the three of them. With my left hand, right hand, and tail.

It was kind of strange, but I realized that even if one more person joined, I could still pat their head. I guess this is one of the best ways to use a tail, huh?

'…'

What should I say?

I’ve felt this before, but honestly... while having this body hasn’t been without its difficulties, I don’t regret it, nor would I want to go back to the old days when none of this existed.

And I just hope that those I’m patting on the head feel the same way about it.

It was summer.

A sentence was emphasized, and a new sentence was about to begin.

"…"

The weather has turned chilly.

It felt colder than usual. It felt like the expo had just ended yesterday, but already, it was late October, almost November. Kato, thinking about this, opened his eyes inside the blanket.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the wall, and when he tried to check the time, the current time appeared on the wall. It was 7 AM. He had gone to sleep at 2 AM the night before, so it was still pretty early to be getting up.

He had hugged the pillow - with no cover - so tightly that his chest felt tight and heavy. His body felt heavier than he expected, but it didn’t seem like a cold. The room temperature was just fine.

Thinking that, Kato lay back down again. The slight wakefulness allowed him to fall asleep again in a few minutes, and during that time, thoughts floated around like fragments.

'...I should wake up around 10.'

Today's Kato had quite a bit to do. Actually, it was more in the realm of content creation.

After spending about a month in the U.S., Eugene returned and checked on various matters, one of which was finding a house for the Mecha newbies and her loyal subordinates.

So, with about 100 million dollars, she bought an entire apartment building overlooking the Han River. This was something she told me directly.

'To move her close friends into the house next door... what a world...'

Of course, there’s a difference. She didn’t give it away for free. But as expected of Eugene's trusted subordinates, they all had enough money to get into the house.

For Kato, though, he didn’t really feel the need to move in. He made more than enough money to live comfortably, even without working, but living near the Vyams was a completely different story.

Just jokingly, what would happen if this place were called the Vyam nest? That thought briefly passed his mind, but it was impossible now. He soon fell back into deep sleep.

Before he knew it, the dark sky outside had turned into sunlight, and as it slowly climbed toward the zenith, Kato woke up again.

The temperature difference at the end of October was terrible. But by 9 AM, when he woke up, the weather was warming up a bit, though it didn't feel real yet.

He could no longer sleep. Moving his body like a Vyam in the blanket, he slowly coaxed his groggy mind awake. The first thing he did was check his phone to see if there were any messages.

As expected, Hotteok had sent a message reminding him to prepare for the housewarming.

'How could I forget that... idiot...'

He yawned.

Stretching deeply, he felt the same heaviness in his body, but it wasn’t unpleasant. However, now that it was the beginning of November, he had to be careful about catching a cold.

Just in case, maybe I should take some medicine. He thought, carefully getting up.

And—

"...Eh? Huh?"

His hair, like a waterfall, fell.

Purple, blue, and pink mixed perfectly into long, flowing hair. For a moment, he wondered if he had left the VR on while sleeping, but when he touched his neck, there was no sensation of a choker.

Without realizing it, he lowered his head. But he couldn’t see anything. A body that hadn’t been there yesterday now blocked his entire field of vision.

His head started to spin. He grabbed his chest with his hand. The softness he felt from his hand, and the strange sensation in his chest, seemed to pierce through her—his spine.

But that wasn’t all.

"Ahhh!"

A bluish, but gradually turning red tail fluttered at the tip of his gaze.

Yes.

When Kato woke up from an uncomfortable dream, he realized that he had turned into a giant Vyam in bed.

It didn’t take long before he screamed.

"Shit! AAAAAH!"

Kato.

Winner of the Malaysian Blue Snake lottery.

3 hours before Eugene’s second housewarming.