The commotion that had somewhat settled after Kim Su-hyun’s declaration to leave flared up once again.
Kim Yu-hyun and Jegal Hae-sol.
Since they had just gone through a similar ordeal not long ago, one might think it would be easier to accept. But the feelings of the mercenary clan members were just as tumultuous now as before.
Even if the man they’d only seen in smartphone photos was one thing, Jegal Hae-sol was a whole different matter—more than enough to stir confusion.
Many clan members had drawn their weapons the moment they saw her in person.
If Kim Su-hyun hadn’t stepped in to explain directly, disaster would have been inevitable.
After a desperate effort that lasted quite some time, the allied forces, including Kim Su-yeon, finally seemed to grasp the situation—at least to some extent.
Of course, that didn’t mean everything would smoothly fall into place.
“What’s going on here?”
Kim Su-hyun pressed his temple with a headache, staring across at them with a troubled expression.
Surrounded by dozens of people, Kim Yu-hyun sat upright in a chair, his face utterly expressionless.
Beside him, Jegal Hae-sol couldn’t sit still for a moment, her eyes darting around excitedly.
“And you… how did you get involved in this?”
“I thought it’d be fun. I even begged to come along.”
“What?”
“My brother-in-law negotiated with Zero Code.”
Jegal Hae-sol winked as she answered.
“I’ve never seen Zero Code plead like that before. They were supposed to all come, but he said something like, ‘It’s a whole different matter when a mere human crosses over versus a god.’”
She basked in the attention, chattering away.
Kim Su-hyun looked at his older brother with a face that said, “Are you serious?”
But Kim Yu-hyun had been silent the entire time.
This wasn’t his usual demeanor.
It meant something was bothering him.
Only then did Kim Su-hyun realize his brother wasn’t looking at him.
His gaze was slightly to the side—fixed on Kim Su-yeon, who sat with her arms crossed.
“…”
Sensing the strange shift in atmosphere, Kim Su-hyun scratched his cheek, unsure of what to do.
How much time had passed?
“You…”
Kim Yu-hyun finally spoke after a long silence.
“Looks like you’re not too happy that I’m here.”
His voice was hoarse.
Kim Su-hyun subtly withdrew his arm, stopping mid-motion.
“Hyung?”
“Why didn’t you come back right away?”
“Well, there were some circumstances…”
“Circumstances? Isn’t this a different world?”
“Oh? You knew that?”
“I heard it from Zero Code.”
Kim Su-hyun made a sheepish face.
He knew well that no excuse would work on his brother.
More than that, it was hard to deny that if he truly wanted to, he could have returned long ago.
“I was going to…”
“Were?”
“I got interested in this world… But I really was going to come back.”
“…Su-hyun.”
Kim Yu-hyun sighed deeply, as if wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
“You didn’t come here by your own will, so I’m not going to blame you. But this is a multiverse. It’s a world you can’t interfere with—and shouldn’t.”
His stern reprimand made Kim Su-hyun’s shoulders slump.
He had no words against such a piercing truth.
A small murmur spread among the onlookers.
Seeing the usually confident Kim Su-hyun falter was unfamiliar.
Some even nodded in understanding, thinking, “So he really is his older brother.”
Kim Su-yeon had been watching Kim Yu-hyun intently since he started speaking.
Her gaze betrayed a clear sense of envy.
Because although she was said to be a counterpart to Kim Yu-yeon, their personalities were completely different.
Unlike the older sister who always coddled and soothed, Kim Yu-hyun was a different kind of person.
He scolded when necessary, disciplined when needed, but every word and gesture dripped with concern and care for his younger sibling.
In fact, when she first saw the photos, Kim Su-yeon had secretly imagined this.
Yes.
That image was exactly what she had dreamed of…
The moment she thought of the word “older brother,” her cheeks flushed.
They had known each other less than a day.
Yet, even knowing he would soon leave, she felt an intense pull toward him that left her confused.
On the other hand, she began to understand, at least a little, why her sister was so utterly devoted to Kim Su-hyun despite barely seeing him for days.
“He’s amazing…”
Kim Su-yeon muttered to herself.
“That’s not all.”
Meanwhile, Kim Yu-hyun kept his eyes fixed on Kim Su-hyun as he continued.
“Even if I accept that, do you know how worried your many wives must be?”
“…”
“What do you think your sisters-in-law would say if they saw you now?”
“Wait, wait a minute. This is a huge misunderstanding.”
Kim Su-hyun panicked, pointing at Kim Yu-yeon.
“This sister is my brother!”
His words left Kim Yu-hyun dumbfounded.
“Your sister is your brother?”
He couldn’t process it immediately.
“I told you, I know this is a multiverse. Just like there’s another me in this world…”
“So that woman is your counterpart?”
Kim Su-hyun nodded quickly at the interrupted question.
But Kim Yu-hyun narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with strong disbelief.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his brother, but this explanation was hard to accept so readily.
“Hah.”
Jegal Hae-sol let out a dry laugh, clearly unimpressed.
“Ridiculous. That woman? Why? Shouldn’t you say you’re a woman too?”
“Exactly.”
Kim Su-hyun calmly agreed.
Jegal Hae-sol, who was about to retort, blinked in surprise.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m telling you, she’s my counterpart.”
Both their gazes shifted simultaneously to the left.
Kim Su-yeon, quietly observing, lowered her eyes when they met Kim Yu-hyun’s.
Suddenly, a warm flush spread through her.
At the same time, Kim Yu-hyun’s pupils dilated like lanterns.
He reflexively stood up but then turned back, glaring angrily.
“Kim Su-hyun! Why are you lying…!”
But his shout didn’t last.
There wasn’t a trace of falsehood in Kim Su-hyun’s aggrieved expression.
And the reactions around them silently confirmed the truth.
“It’s not a lie.”
“What…”
“I was surprised when I first arrived too. That’s why I got interested.”
“N-no way.”
Kim Yu-hyun struggled to hold back trembling as he spoke.
“I-I can’t believe it… How could this be…”
He had heard about it, but this was beyond anything he expected.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
He shook his head hard, forcing himself to calm down.
Then suddenly, he shouted loudly.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
The shout echoed sharply, ringing in everyone’s ears.
“My little brother…!”
After glancing once at Kim Su-hyun, Kim Yu-hyun slammed his chair back and strode toward Kim Su-yeon.
His steps quickened by the second, causing Kim Su-yeon to step back.
But she bit her lip tightly and took a deep breath.
“Um…!”
She stared Kim Yu-hyun down with determined eyes.
“Hello.”
Kim Yu-hyun stopped in his tracks.
Kim Su-yeon looked nervously at the handsome man before her.
Lately, with Kim Yu-yeon constantly hovering around Kim Su-hyun, Kim Su-yeon had felt a subtle sense of exclusion.
Now, the sudden appearance of Kim Yu-hyun, claiming to be concerned for his younger sibling, was a fresh shock to her.
“Please listen. I am Kim Su-yeon, the mercenary clan lord of this world and a user with seven years of experience.”
Her clear, steady voice rang out.
She even bowed politely.
Her glossy hair cascaded softly.
“Though it may be hard to believe… it’s true.”
Raising her head, she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear.
“…”
Kim Yu-hyun’s face turned pale.
His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
He was so stunned his mind went blank.
“What… is this…?”
Seeing her older brother’s dazed expression, Kim Su-hyun gently touched his shoulder.
But Kim Yu-hyun brushed the hand away, turning his full attention to the woman before him, leaving his younger brother behind.
“So you’re… Su-hyun’s counterpart?”
“Yes…”
“In other words… my… younger sister?”
“Yes…”
“No… no way… That can’t be… I admit Su-hyun has a unique charm, but…”
“Unique charm?”
That wasn’t something you said to someone you just met.
But for some reason, Kim Su-yeon took it as a compliment.
“Th-thank you…”
She half-lowered her eyes, shyly pressing her hands against her flushed cheeks.
“B-but please don’t look at me like that…”
“…?”
“It’s just… it makes me feel weird… I-I don’t know.”
“…!”
Watching Kim Su-yeon shake her head repeatedly as if to say “I don’t know,” Kim Yu-hyun let out a breathless groan.
“You say… younger sister?”
Hearing that, her eyes sparkled as she tilted her head.
“Oh… Yu-hyun oppa…?”
At that moment, Kim Yu-hyun, who had been muttering nonstop, suddenly shuddered as if struck by lightning.
He bowed his head deeply and stayed silent for a long moment.
Like a lost soul, he stood there so still it seemed he might collapse if anyone so much as touched him.
“Hyung, are you okay?”
Kim Suhyun called out, but there was no response.
Had he suffered some kind of severe shock?
Half in disbelief, Kim Suhyun hurriedly activated his third eye.
Kim Suyeon seemed to share the same concern. She hurried over, gently grasping Kim Yuhyun’s arms, careful not to startle him.
Then, slowly rising onto her tiptoes, she cautiously leaned in closer to his face.
“Oppa… are you alright?”
Her soft, delicate voice brushed against Kim Yuhyun’s ear.
From behind, Kim Suhyun clearly saw it.
Two messages suddenly appeared, floating in the air.
[User Kim Yuhyun’s profile changes detected.]
[‘Younger Brother’s Fool’ Jinmyeong has evolved into ‘Younger Brother’s Fool (Awakened)’!]