The atmosphere inside Atlanta Castle on this new morning wasn’t bad at all.
It felt like the clear sunlight was sweeping away the shadows lurking in every corner, as if the castle itself had just awakened from a deep sleep.
Well, considering the circumstances…
After countless hardships, they had finally conquered the New Continent, only to be on the brink of losing it to the enemy. Yet, overnight, the hateful demons had been completely wiped out.
Not a single one left alive.
So, it wasn’t strange at all that, despite some dazed or hollow expressions—like they weren’t sure if this was a dream or reality—there was no trace of negativity anywhere.
The only awkwardness in the castle’s dining hall came from Kim Yuyeon’s excessive displays of affection toward Kim Suhyun.
“Are you enjoying it, Suhyun?”
Yuyeon had reserved a table just for the two of them and brought out a meal she had painstakingly prepared since early dawn.
Even putting aside the fact that the breakfast was so lavish it could rival a royal feast…
And ignoring the fact that the entire spread was meant solely for her younger brother…
The sight of a grown woman clinging to her adult brother, feeding him bite by bite, was baffling beyond reason.
What was even more astonishing was that Suhyun showed no hesitation at all—he simply accepted every morsel she offered, swallowing obediently.
“I saw this on a nature documentary once. When mother birds feed their chicks, it looks exactly like this.”
“Good grief… at this rate, she might actually try to breastfeed him.”
Whispers floated around the room, but Yuyeon paid them no mind.
Far from embarrassed, she even made sure to tilt the water glass to his lips between bites, worried he might choke.
Every gesture, every expression, overflowed with love.
“Try this, too.”
Watching Suhyun eagerly accept the food with a blissful look, Yuyeon brought out another dish.
Two neat slices of red meat, resembling tuna sashimi, were arranged on the plate.
Though slightly different in color and size, the dish looked delicious—like a bowl of sashimi rice.
“This is radolof meat rice bowl. Today’s main course.”
Suhyun’s eyes sparkled at the mention of the main dish.
“Radolof meat?”
“Yeah. Haven’t you tried it before?”
“I have. I know what it is.”
“I see. Radolof meat is definitely tasty, but you can’t just eat any part. Adult males have tough meat, and the young ones smell fishy. But females have tender, fresh meat when young, and the flavor deepens as they age.”
“Oh… so we should only eat the females?”
“Not exactly. The flavor drops sharply the moment a female mates and has offspring. It’s strange. Anyway, radolofs move in family groups, so when you hunt them, it’s best to leave the parents and siblings behind and only take the sisters.”
Yuyeon emphasized the word ‘sisters’ as she picked up the slightly larger, darker piece of meat with her chopsticks.
“This one was probably the older sister. The color’s rich, so it’ll probably melt in your mouth. Here, open wide.”
Suhyun took the bite eagerly.
Yuyeon watched his slow, deliberate chewing with a slightly tense gaze.
When she saw his throat move as he swallowed, she carefully picked up the remaining piece.
It was smaller and lighter in color.
By Yuyeon’s description, it was the younger sister.
“Try this one, too. It’s not as flavorful as the first, but…”
Though her assessment was oddly harsh, Suhyun didn’t mind and ate it.
He soon nodded, and Yuyeon cautiously asked, “How is it?”
“Hm?”
“Which one tastes better?”
“Well… the second one seems fresher…”
At that, Yuyeon’s expression darkened for no apparent reason.
“But as you said, the first one definitely has a richer flavor. I think the first one suits my taste better.”
Then, just as suddenly as she had sulked, Yuyeon’s face lit up with joy.
“Really? Really?”
She asked repeatedly, her face glowing with happiness.
For some reason, she even glanced over at Kim Suyeon at the next table and shot a triumphant smile.
Suyeon, quietly eating, tilted her head in confusion.
But soon, her expression twisted into one of extreme disgust, and she stood up irritably.
Striding over, she shoved the beaming Yuyeon hard and stopped in front of Suhyun.
Suhyun blinked, spoon halfway to his mouth.
As their eyes met briefly in midair, Suyeon lowered her head halfway.
“Thank you.”
The dining hall fell silent.
Raising her head again, Suyeon met their gazes and spoke confidently.
“I was out of it yesterday. Actually, even this morning, I still couldn’t believe it.”
She sighed deeply and ran her fingers through her hair without purpose.
“To be honest… even now, I can’t tell if this is a dream or reality. But if this moment is real, I should be the first to say it—to thank you on behalf of our alliance.”
“…Ah, yeah.”
Suhyun answered a little late, distracted by the way her hair cascaded down.
After a brief silence, he smiled softly.
Meeting that shy yet gentle smile, Suyeon swallowed hard.
‘You’re different from me.’
Why did that thought keep echoing in her mind?
That smile was warm, almost envious.
And that feeling wasn’t directed at Suhyun himself, but entirely at her.
There was no hint of disappointment—only praise.
“You’re really amazing. You’re doing great.”
With such overwhelming power, what was it about me that this other self envied?
Suyeon suddenly wanted to ask.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
Just as she opened her mouth, a sudden question snapped Suhyun back to attention.
“Huh? Ah…”
“The tide of war has turned greatly in our favor.”
At last, a constructive conversation began, and Jeong Hayeon, who had been quietly observing, slipped in.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, we’ve protected the New Continent and gained tremendous breathing room.”
“That’s right! The demons must be shocked.”
“I want to see the faces of those from the Old Northern Continent.”
“Yeah. We can just settle here now.”
Before long, the room buzzed with excitement.
Voices rose in celebration, laughter filled the air as they dreamed of a rosy future.
They weren’t wrong.
The demons’ plan to capture Atlanta in the Northern Continent had failed, and their forces were severely weakened.
The Old Northern Continent alliance, which had been waiting for an opportunity, was now like a dog chasing a chicken.
Meanwhile, the mercenaries, Istantel Low, and Hamil had gained a new stage in Atlanta.
A land flowing with milk and honey—it was no exaggeration to say their path ahead was smooth.
Yet, Suhyun’s expression remained cold, almost blank, as he watched.
“You look like you’re on a vacation or something.”
Muttering to himself, he pulled out a cigarette from Yuyeon’s arms.
She frowned and looked at him, still surprised he had touched her chest so casually.
“It’s not really that advantageous.”
Everyone heard his second remark clearly.
The dining hall quieted as if doused with cold water.
All eyes turned to the man lighting his cigarette.
“What do you mean by that?”
Yuyeon asked.
“Exactly what I said. As long as Satan is still around, the demons will never be easy to deal with.”
His glance seemed to say, ‘You know this, don’t you?’ and Yuyeon was left speechless.
“For the record, I almost lost even when I had a better situation and stronger forces.”
A strong look of disbelief crossed Yuyeon’s face.
It was hard to believe he could almost lose despite such power.
But she understood what he meant.
She was well aware of Satan’s cunning.
“Well… it’s good to be happy, but let’s be clear. It’s not ‘tremendous breathing room,’ just a little bit. The Northern Continent behind us isn’t exactly an ally, either.”
Hearing the pointed remark, Hayeon bowed her head in embarrassment.
“Um, you know…”
“And I’ll be leaving soon. Even today, if possible.”
Yuyeon struggled to speak, but Suhyun cut her off firmly before she could finish.
Sighs echoed around.
“I don’t know how I ended up in this world, or how I got involved, but it’s time to go back. No, I will go back. Things must be chaotic over there by now.”
After all, his comrades, wife, and child were all in his original world.
Unless he chose otherwise, it was only natural he should have returned long ago.
Yes.
She understood that deep down, but still, no one could hide their regret.
With him here, everything would have been so much easier.
After a while, Hayeon, who had been quietly watching, cautiously spoke up.
“I see. Then, is there anything we can do to help?”
“No, thank you for your concern, but I’ll handle my return on my own.”
Kim Soo-hyun, having drawn a clear line once more, slowly rose from his seat.
He glanced around the room before turning to Kim Soo-yeon with a bitter smile.
“I’m not planning to get involved any further… but if you don’t mind, I can at least offer some advice.”
At those words, Kim Soo-yeon abandoned the thought of pleading with him.
She could tell he had firmly made up his mind.
In truth, considering all he had already done, she had received a favor she could never repay.
To expect more now would be shameless.
“…Alright. I’ll gratefully listen.”
At her straightforward reply, Kim Soo-hyun gave a small, satisfied smile.
Though the quiet sobbing from Kim Yoo-yeon nearby tugged at his heart, he held back and signaled for them to move on.
It wasn’t wise to have too many ears listening, especially since the secret of this round hadn’t been revealed yet.
It was, in its own way, a gesture of consideration.
Soon after, Kim Soo-yeon, having caught the signal, turned toward the door.
Then—
Rumble!
Suddenly, a heavy, muffled sound like thunder struck the window.
Startled, everyone instinctively looked up, eyes wide as if on cue.
Just minutes ago, the sky had been clear, not a cloud in sight.
But now, it had darkened, thick storm clouds gathering ominously.
As if lightning and thunder were about to break loose at any moment.
After a brief silence, someone staring out the window muttered in a daze,
“…What’s going on?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Phew. The long side story is finally coming to an end.
Sorry for taking a day off yesterday.
With only a little left, I’ll do my best to wrap up the omnibus finale quickly.
Thank you all. (__)