Chapter 145

Ayu, bewildered by Dohwa’s selfless consideration, pressed her forehead against my chest.

“You could have just resented me comfortably…”

“Ayu, sometimes choosing the easy path is harder.”

There are always people who insist on taking the difficult road.

And most of them prioritize their family over themselves.

“Just like you couldn’t ignore Dohwa after hearing Gukhu’s words, Dohwa felt the same.”

“I never did anything for her. In fact, I destroyed everything she had. Why?”

“Because she’s family.”

Even though they didn’t grow up together.

And their fathers were different.

But Gukhu, who was both her and his mother, clearly connected them.

“Ayu, you’ve always known that Shin Sora’s life wasn’t your entire existence.”

Ayu had been turning a blind eye to Cheon Hong-ryun’s life, not abandoning it.

That’s why she was so shaken when she saw Dohwa.

The life of Cheon Hong-ryun, which she tried to ignore, kept resurfacing.

“Ayu, you are Shin Sora, but you’re also Cheon Hong-ryun.”

“…”

Ayu’s blurry eyes looked up at me.

“Dohwa doesn’t think of you as her sister just because you’re Cheon Hong-ryun. She thinks of you as her sister because you’re Ayu.”

I cupped Ayu’s tear-stained cheek with my hand.

Ayu, with teary eyes, held my hand with hers.

“And you, Ayu, are the person I like the most.”

They are not different people.

Both Cheon Hong-ryun’s life and Shin Sora’s life have shaped the Ayu of today.

“I told you earlier. I like you for who you are now.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Tears streamed down Ayu’s face.

I caught her tears with my hand so they wouldn’t fall to the ground and disappear.

“Dohwa said she doesn’t want to return to Murim. Ayu, let’s talk to Dohwa properly again. I’ll be by your side.”

At that moment, Ayu transformed into Cheon Hong-ryun.

Returning to her form as Cheonma, she smiled at me while still in my arms.

That confident smile was my favorite of hers.

“I think falling in love with my husband was the best thing I ever did.”

Hearing that, I smiled back, and Cheon Hong-ryun kissed me again.

Her face, uncharacteristically of Cheonma, was deeply flushed.

“This is the first time I’ve been in this form, so I’m a bit embarrassed.”

She coughed awkwardly, stepped back, and turned away.

“I’ll go in first.”

As she shyly entered the café, I faced Baeksan, who was standing by the door.

Baeksan, with his arms crossed, glanced at Cheon Hong-ryun and spoke to me.

“Kang Ha-chan, Cheonma will grow even stronger mentally after this.”

“Is Ayu still growing?”

“That’s not the point.”

Baeksan uncrossed his arms and looked towards the café.

“Though already deeply involved, the Cheonma in my memory became closest to you after this incident.”

In Baeksan’s world, did I build a relationship with Ayu like this?

As I looked at Baeksan, he sighed deeply at me.

“Remember, if you die now, it’s truly the end.”

“…Baeksan, when I died, what happened to Ayu?”

Baeksan looked at me as if the answer was simple.

“In my world, the one who killed the most Hunters and Returners was none other than Cheonma.”

Hearing that, my body stiffened.

“The only reason I could defeat Cheonma was because that woman had just killed all the divine beings Erebus summoned from the Heavenly Realm and even Erebus himself.”

Baeksan spoke matter-of-factly.

“Listen well, Kang Ha-chan. I don’t know how much I can do in this world, but I couldn’t stop Cheonma head-on either. I’ll help you save and help others.”

Baeksan warned me.

“But remember one thing: your death will definitely end the world.”

That warning seemed to carry Baeksan’s deep sorrow.

Having heard about the world he lived in, I could only nod.

“So, don’t get hurt and take care of yourself, kid. It’s best for you if I don’t intervene.”

“Yep.”

“At least you answer well.”

Not expecting much, Baeksan quickly gestured for me to go in.

Following his gesture, I entered the café, recalling Baeksan’s return.

‘January.’

Baeksan had said he returned at that time.

If there’s no error, Baeksan will return to our world soon.

‘Then what about Baeksan then?’

What will happen?

I can’t know yet, but thinking of the future, I stepped into the café.

After the conversation ended well, I was making a call somewhere.

Click-

[Who is this?]

After a moment, a playful voice answered.

“It’s Kang Ha-chan.”

[Ah, my husband. Can you tell me your wife’s name?]

“I have both Jin Seolhyang and Baek Seolhyang. Which one should I say?”

[Hehe, both are fine. Is it about Dohwa?]

Playing along with the joke, Seolhyang seemed in a good mood.

“Yeah, you heard from Eun-hyeon.”

[She reports everything quickly. I’ve been waiting for your call.]

Hearing that, I smiled apologetically.

“Sorry, I caused trouble again.”

[What are you talking about? Ha-chan, I’ve never thought you caused trouble.]

Seolhyang’s kind voice warmed my heart.

[This time too, it’s all things you got caught up in. Yet, you always solve things way beyond my expectations.]

Her words made me feel warm.

[Of course, it’s frustrating that you keep getting hurt.]

“Sorry about that.”

[I’ll accept that apology. Just understand how I feel seeing you hurt every time.]

If Seolhyang got hurt, I’d be devastated, so I apologized again.

[I really want to spend more time with you, not just with Cheonma. I’m always busy, can’t see you, maybe I should quit being the World Returner Association head.]

Seeing Seolhyang’s obvious disappointment, I adjusted my phone.

“I’ll come over today.”

[Really?]

As soon as I said that, Seolhyang’s face lit up.

“Yeah, I told you. If you say so, I’ll come. You said you wanted to see me, so I have to keep my word.”

[Really, really? Wait, do I have clothes? Ah, no. Come to our house. It’s cleaner, no, uh, okay?]

“I’ll do that.”

As soon as I said I’d come, Seolhyang, flustered, made me smile, and I heard her laugh.

[Haa, you know my heart too well.]

“That’s why you like me, right?”

[Yeah, I love you the most in the world.]

Imagining Seolhyang’s happy smile, I smiled too and ended the call.

I realized I was getting used to dating both Ayu and Seolhyang simultaneously.

“…Is this really okay?”

Getting used to two-timing.

I feel like I’m drifting further from normalcy.

But since both of them like me, I have to do my best to reciprocate their feelings.

“Haa, well, it’s come to this. What can I do now?”

Both have confessed their feelings.

I have to do my best to make sure neither feels neglected.

Who knew I’d end up in a harem?

But the problem is, there’s another person who comes to mind in this situation.

‘Si-ho.’

If Si-ho were added to the mix, what would happen?

Si-ho has practically confessed to me, but she hasn’t crossed the final line.

Si-ho is clearly waiting.

For the day she turns twenty, not caring that I’m a minor.

“…”

Thinking of Si-ho, I fell silent for a moment before turning away.

This year is almost over.

Next month, it’ll be the new year.

I quietly returned to Juk-sim’s house to wait for Eva.

Firmly believing that next year’s me will handle it.

In front of Seolhyang’s house.

I looked up at Seolhyang’s house.

Maybe because it’s my first time coming here alone.

I felt a bit nervous.

“Kang Ha-chan.”

Baeksan called out to me.

Turning to him, he looked at Seolhyang’s house and spoke.

“Tell Cheolhyeol to investigate if there are any high-level dimensional beings with proper intelligence among the dimensional beings recently.”

“High-level dimensional beings with intelligence?”

My eyes widened at that.

I realized this was what Baeksan meant when he told me to ask Seolhyang earlier.

“Yeah, the Tower of Apocalypse summons dimensional movement and dimensional beings, but it also acts as a dimensional barrier to some extent.”

“Like preventing dimensional invaders from entering freely?”

“Exactly. That’s why dimensional beings with proper intelligence and social skills are rare. Most are just driven by instinct.”

Certainly, most dimensional beings are like animals, driven by instinct.

Though that’s what makes them dangerous.

Just as humans dominate with intelligence, intelligence is a powerful weapon.

“But that barrier is only as strong as the Tower of Apocalypse’s freedom. Specifically, the Tower has certain stage rules.”

“…Rules?”

“Yeah, rules. If the dimension surpasses a certain stage, it moves to the next. Usually, higher-level dimensional beings start coming through.”

Baeksan spoke as if he’d experienced it before.

But for me, it was more shocking than bewildering.

“Originally, this was supposed to happen later. But recent events have accelerated things. Like Cheonma’s sibling issue. Everything’s moving fast.”

“Is it because of me?”

“Not exactly you, but probably because of me.”

Baeksan sighed deeply, thinking his regression was the starting point.

Baeksan seemed to feel responsible.