Chapter 138

Chapter 15 – Dohwa

[Hehehe.]

“Is my story that interesting?”

[Of course, it is. I always enjoy talking to Ha-chan the most.]

Listening to Seolhyang’s voice on the phone, I let out a bitter sigh.

It was already November 24th.

As we were about to enter December, I was heating up instant rice at home while talking to Seolhyang.

The topic of our conversation was none other than the recent events in Iceland.

While the Korean Hunter Management Bureau was handling the situation, Seolhyang had been keeping an eye on global trends.

Recently, the Korean Hunter Management Bureau had been subtly spreading the existence of SS-class Hunters.

At first, other countries were skeptical, except for Alters.

But after it was revealed that a Korean had defeated the Rank-Outside Dimensional Being, Ilbeli, the existence of SS-class Hunters became known among the upper echelons of other nations.

Of course, this was only circulating among the upper echelons of those countries.

If my existence became known to the general public, my daily life would be turned upside down, so Seolhyang had taken measures to prevent that.

“Thanks for always taking care of things.”

[Say something else.]

“…I love you.”

[I love you too.]

Seeing Seolhyang urging me, I felt a bit shy saying those words, which I was still not used to.

From a distance, Baeksan was looking at me with a face that suggested he was about to throw up.

Well, who told you to eavesdrop?

“Damn it, I really need to stay away when you’re on the phone.”

As Baeksan walked away, unable to stand it anymore, I continued the call while watching him leave.

“But is it really okay for things to go this smoothly?”

Thanks to Baeksan, it wouldn’t be strange for me to be recognized as an SS-class Hunter in terms of firepower.

Still, I was worried if it was really okay for things to go this easily.

Hearing my question, Seolhyang chuckled.

[Of course, it’s okay. In fact, I’m grateful.]

“Grateful?”

[Other countries and organizations have recently become aware that an SS-class Hunter, along with a Returner, defeated a Rank-Outside Dimensional Being.]

Hearing that, I immediately understood.

“You’re showing the unity between Hunters and Returners.”

[Exactly.]

To reiterate, our country has a good relationship between Returners and Hunters, thanks to Geumgang-ho.

In other countries, the relationship is often extremely hostile.

So, the fact that I, along with Eva, defeated a Rank-Outside Dimensional Being would be a significant issue for other countries.

It was a case that showcased the synergy between Hunters and Returners the most.

“Then, it’s a good thing.”

[Yes, it will serve as a useful case to improve the perception of Returners.]

Hearing Seolhyang’s explanation, I finally managed to smile in relief.

“…That’s a relief. If that’s the case, I’ll do it as many times as needed.”

[If you keep challenging Rank-Outside Dimensional Beings, I’ll really get mad.]

“Ah, understood.”

I said it like a promise.

[Think about how I feel seeing someone I love getting hurt every day. Do you want to see me get hurt, Ha-chan?]

“I’d rather get hurt myself.”

[Don’t get hurt.]

Hearing that, we both laughed it off.

“Ah, right. I told Eva about it. What do you think about having a gathering, Seolhyang?”

Seolhyang hadn’t revealed to everyone that she was “I Know.”

To be precise, she hadn’t had the chance to reveal it because she had been so busy with recent events.

[Hmm, I don’t mind as long as Ha-chan is there.]

“You say that, but you’ve been subtly taking care of our guild too.”

[That’s because it’s the guild Ha-chan made.]

Grumbling, Seolhyang still smiled.

[Alright. Let me know when you set a date. I’ll make time. It’s the perfect timing now.]

Except for Erebus, Giraseong has been subdued.

Alters also needs to resolve internal conflicts first, so things are quiet.

There are still issues with the Dimensional Gates opened by Giraseong, but the World Returner Association is handling that.

So, Seolhyang has been relatively free lately.

“Alright, I’ll set a date and let you know.”

[Don’t just wait until then to contact me. I need to hear your voice at least once a day.]

As she said that in a coquettish tone, I coughed awkwardly.

“I’ll definitely keep that.”

[Yes, yes, good. I love you. See you later, my husband.]

After Seolhyang’s call ended, I scratched my cheek with an awkward expression.

There was a reason Baeksan had left in a hurry.

Just then, the microwave beeped, indicating that the instant rice was ready.

Thinking I should at least fill my stomach, I was about to take out the rice when I realized my phone was ringing again.

Picking up the phone, I saw it was a call from Ayu.

Is she asking to play a game?

I picked up the phone and answered immediately.

“Ayu?”

[Domi Oppa.]

At that moment, her voice sounded different, more subdued than usual.

Hearing her voice, I quickly put the rice back and started grabbing my clothes.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick? Should I come to your place?”

As I asked urgently, Ayu answered cautiously.

[Dohwa is missing.]

Ayu’s younger sister had disappeared.

—

After hearing Ayu’s news, I rushed to the location where she was waiting.

Ayu was standing in front of a café building, and I ran straight to her.

“Ayu.”

Calling her name as I caught my breath from running, her eyes turned to me.

Ayu’s eyes were filled with anxiety, just like during the call.

Seeing her like that, I cupped her cheeks with both hands to calm her down.

“We’ll find Dohwa. Why are you so anxious? Don’t worry too much. Dohwa will be fine.”

She seemed to calm down a bit from my touch, her eyes softening as she held my hands with hers.

“…It’s not exactly Dohwa that I’m worried about. Something else is bothering me.”

“Dohwa is missing, but something else is bothering you?”

Ayu hesitated for a moment before burying her head in my chest.

“Do you think Dohwa won’t resent me?”

Hearing that, I fell silent for a moment.

Ayu had killed Dohwa’s mother.

To be precise, her mother was Cheon Hong-ryun, but Ayu didn’t consider her as her own mother.

She just felt that everything had become meaningless after that.

Dohwa, however, considered Ayu as her sister.

Even though their fathers were different, they were still siblings from the same mother.

“Dohwa’s life was ruined because of me.”

“Ayu, that’s—”

“I could make excuses, saying I was desperate to survive. But from Dohwa’s perspective, there’s no way she could accept that.”

Ayu bit her lip.

Back when she was Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun, she never felt guilt for any of her actions.

But after returning to Earth and living in modern society, witnessing her parents’ deaths with her own eyes, she was no longer Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun but Shin Sora.

People change.

Even Returners are no exception.

“When Dohwa first came to me, I thought she had come for revenge.”

“You thought she came to take revenge on you?”

“Yes, even if I didn’t want to die, I was prepared to listen if she resented me.”

But instead, Dohwa asked Ayu to save her world.

That must have confused Ayu even more.

Dohwa, whose life was ruined because of Ayu, was asking for her help.

“Maybe Dohwa thought of you as her sister.”

“Someone she barely talked to, just sharing the same blood? Domi Oppa, I know the world isn’t that beautiful.”

Ayu’s eyes were filled with complexity.

Having been caught up in dimensional travel and experiencing numerous events, the world didn’t seem bright to her.

I know that too.

The world is full of irrationalities, and even I fell into despair after what happened with Gwak Sa-yeon.

“Ayu, but Dohwa’s mother once asked, right? If you were getting along with Dohwa.”

“…Yes.”

“Then maybe Dohwa’s mother kept telling her. That she has a sister, and how that sister is living now.”

Even though Dohwa was a child forced upon her by the Demon Sect leader, to Dohwa’s mother, Cheon Hong-ryun was her daughter.

Seeing her become the leader of the Demon Sect and rule the world, what thoughts must she have had?

One thing is certain: when she asked if Dohwa was getting along with her, Cheon Hong-ryun must have felt deep emotions towards her.

Because she was the child she had abandoned.

“Children are greatly influenced by their parents’ emotions.”

Children are like blank canvases.

Parents paint parts of their lives onto their children, and in doing so, they find parts of themselves in their children and love them even more.

Surely, the feelings Cheon Hong-ryun had for Dohwa’s mother must have been painted onto Dohwa as well.

“And Dohwa knows too. What the Murim Alliance has done.”

Dohwa, who had to be sent as a hostage to the Demon Sect, would know best how those events unfolded.

“So, Ayu, you’ve been watching Dohwa for the past month, right?”

It’s been about a month since Dohwa came from Murim to Earth.

During that time, Dohwa must have been living with Ayu.

So, Ayu would know Dohwa the best.

“Do you think Dohwa resents you?”

Ayu slowly shook her head at my question.

That action itself showed Dohwa’s feelings.

Seeing that, I slowly reached out and hugged her.

“Ayu, you want Dohwa to resent you.”

Ayu’s body trembled slightly.

Ayu’s life as Cheon Hong-ryun.

A life forced upon her to survive as Cheonma.

In that life, Ayu suffered and fell apart.

So, she threw everything away.

But that discarded life was about to continue through Dohwa.

If Dohwa had come to resent her and seek revenge, Ayu could have ended Cheon Hong-ryun’s life by killing her.

But Dohwa didn’t resent her.

Instead, she politely asked Cheon Hong-ryun to return and save Murim.

That must have been even more painful for Ayu.

“Ayu, you’re not alone now.”

I held Ayu and let her know that I was by her side.

“I’m here, our brave guild members are here, and even the World Returner Association is here.”

There are many people who can help her.

“Even if everyone else is too busy to help.”

I looked into Ayu’s eyes.

“I’m here.”

No matter what happens to you, I’ll help.

I said that.

Ayu looked at me with blurred eyes and then slowly smiled.

“…Yes, that’s right. Domi Oppa is here.”

Seeing Ayu finally smile, I felt relieved.

So, I smiled back, and Ayu looked up at me and said.

“I want a kiss now.”

Suddenly, she just went for it.