Ssshhh…
The wind blew.
Flap!
My coat, reaching down to my knees, billowed vigorously in the breeze.
“You…”
“You…”
Our voices overlapped, both trailing off at the same time.
As the coat’s fluttering gradually settled, I lifted my gaze in a daze.
A Chesterfield-style leather coat in deep navy blue. Long purple hair cascading over the shoulders and down the back. And eyes, the same rich violet hue as the hair, staring at me with a look of utter shock.
The man looking at me with disbelief was none other than Heo Jun-young. (I swear, I’d never seen Heo Jun-young wear that expression before.)
I was about to say something, but stopped myself. I hadn’t expected to run into him right after coming in, and besides, his outfit was strange. Wearing that at this late hour was odd enough, but he also had a bag slung over his shoulder, like someone preparing to leave.
Finally, Heo Jun-young broke the silence.
“Have you been under so much stress lately that you’re seeing things? …No, is it those guys again?”
He furrowed his brow and suddenly reached behind his back. I caught sight of him gripping something and shouted urgently.
“Don’t draw your sword!”
The blade, sliding out at a diagonal, froze mid-motion.
“Let me make this clear—I’m Kim Soo-hyun, and the one on my back is Kim Han-byul. So please, don’t test your skills just to see if I’m really Kim Soo-hyun.”
I spoke clearly, inwardly impressed with how composed I sounded given the situation.
“Well, saying that actually makes you seem less like Kim Soo-hyun.”
Heo Jun-young tilted his head.
“Why?”
“The Kim Soo-hyun I know would have knocked me down easily by now and be looking down on me arrogantly, like ‘Is that all you’ve got?’”
“…I’m exhausted. I’m about to collapse. Don’t I look it?”
“Hmm… then prove it. Right here, right now, show me you’re Kim Soo-hyun.”
Still gripping his sword, Heo Jun-young spoke coldly.
I paused to think, then nodded in agreement. Looking at his intense gaze, I calmly opened my mouth.
“You’re just a dumbass who can’t even properly learn the Lee Hyun-hwan technique.”
At that, Heo Jun-young’s eyes widened like lanterns.
“Damn it…!”
Clack!
The half-drawn sword snapped back into its sheath with a sharp sound, and in a flash, Heo Jun-young stepped forward.
“Damn it! This time, you really are Kim Soo-hyun. Hey, hey! Are you okay? Are you really you?”
I was curious about his “this time, you really are Kim Soo-hyun” comment, but decided to ask later. For now, he was unusually flustered, grabbing and shaking me—a rare reaction from him.
“Are you really back? Hey, Kim Soo-hyun! What happened? And why is this one barely hanging on?”
“Don’t shout. You might wake the other clan members. …Anyway, can you take us to the dining hall first?”
When I asked to be led to the dining hall, a flicker of displeasure crossed Heo Jun-young’s face.
“…The dining hall?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Hah. So the first thing you say after coming back is that?”
“I know what you’re thinking, but for now, just quietly take us to the dining hall without waking anyone. For me and Han-byul, this isn’t just about food—it’s important.”
“You… you’re the very definition of calm under pressure. Do you even know what state your clan and clan members are in right now?”
“I don’t. But honestly, Han-byul and I are in a pretty serious condition. What we need right now isn’t to wake everyone up and get surrounded in chaos, but food and rest.”
Speaking seriously, I tapped my propped-up hand to signal. Han-byul hesitated briefly, then let out a pitiful groan.
Heo Jun-young’s expression remained complicated. But sensing I wasn’t joking, he roughly ran a hand through his hair and muttered.
“Damn it… what the hell happened all of a sudden…”
He glanced at Han-byul, biting back something, then turned around with a wry smile.
“Follow me.”
Fortunately, the inn’s dining hall was on the first floor.
After Heo Jun-young led us there, I immediately asked for some cooking ingredients. He sighed deeply but told me to wait, then headed to the kitchen. He was gone for quite a while, making me worry, but soon returned carrying a bowl of food that completely eased my concerns. To my surprise, he’d made soup.
Honestly, I was prepared to just throw anything together, so this was a huge relief. The soup tasted good, too—slightly bland, but perfect for someone starving. It was Heo Jun-young’s way of showing care. Only then did I truly feel I had come back and was welcomed.
“Wow. Living long enough to eat food made by Heo Jun-young. Maybe dimensional travel isn’t so bad after all?”
“Right? I never dreamed Jun-young oppa could cook this well.”
While eating, I joked lightly, and Han-byul nodded, sucking her spoon. We devoured the soup like we were possessed, the warm, soothing heat spreading through our bodies, making us feel alive again.
Meanwhile…
“You’re really eating a lot. How many days have you been starving?”
Heo Jun-young looked at us with a slightly horrified expression.
I glanced at the nearly empty bowl, debating whether to lick it clean (Han-byul was already doing that, thinking she wouldn’t get caught), but I obediently put down my spoon.
“Now, tell me. What happened while we were gone?”
“Just… a lot of things.”
Heo Jun-young looked ready to press for more, but I just shrugged. He frowned in dissatisfaction, but I shook my head slowly.
“It’s a long story. And we need to stabilize our bodies quickly. We have to sleep now.”
“Eat first, then sleep?”
“Exactly. If I hadn’t had this soup, I probably would’ve collapsed and died somewhere within two hours.”
“……”
That might be an exaggeration, but with Han-byul, I was 100% sure she would have collapsed, if not worse.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about… this is crazy. Is this really real?”
Heo Jun-young pressed a hand to his forehead, shaking his head. Though calmer than before, confusion still showed clearly on his face. Watching him, I suddenly remembered the scene outside the door earlier.
“By the way, what were you doing out there? You weren’t waiting for me, were you?”
I shifted the topic gently, and Heo Jun-young’s face stiffened. Was he really about to leave?
“Why?”
I cut him off. He squinted, flinched, then clicked his tongue lightly and muttered.
“Let me be clear—I joined the Missionary because of you. Now that you’re gone, I have no reason to stay.”
“No need to make excuses; that’s the truth. But you’re not leaving because of that, right?”
Hit a nerve, he fell silent. Slowly, he averted his gaze and closed his eyes.
“I didn’t like it.”
“The clan?”
“Yeah. Since you disappeared, the Missionary has been… a complete mess. Of course, the Shadow Queen and others have been scrambling, but more and more annoying people kept showing up. Fights broke out frequently. If things had gone on like that, it was only a matter of time before it all fell apart.”
“……”
I thought so. Still, seeing them hold the city center, I’d hoped things were okay. Looks like Ko Yeon-ju failed to fully control and stabilize things. Without a central figure like you, her reign of terror probably didn’t work. Many must have resisted and rejected her.
I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket and lit it, waiting for him to continue, but Heo Jun-young seemed unwilling to say more and fell silent again.
Some time passed.
“Want some more soup?”
The long silence had become uncomfortable, so Heo Jun-young finally backed down. Han-byul brightened at the offer, but I politely declined. Though we were no longer at risk of starving, the priority was restoring our bodies’ balance. Eating too much too fast after starving might feel good at first but would ultimately disrupt that balance.
Han-byul looked clearly disappointed but accepted my reasoning without protest.
“So, what now?”
Heo Jun-young asked, and I thought for a moment before answering.
“I want you to help us.”
“You mean… with restoring your body’s balance?”
“No, I’ll handle that myself. Either way, you and the clan members need to be filled in on everything that’s happened. And I need to hear their side, too.”
“Hmm. So?”
Heo Jun-young nodded as if it were obvious and asked again.
“Just bring all the clan members here to this restaurant tomorrow morning. Everyone, no exceptions.”
“That’s not too hard. Anything else?”
“Yeah, one more thing. Tonight, Hanbyeol and I will be sleeping in the kitchen. I’d appreciate it if you could make sure no other clan members come near.”
“Should I keep it a secret that you’re here?”
“If possible, yes. Think about it—if you reacted that strongly, imagine how the others would feel.”
“Hmm… got it.”
There were two reasons for this request. One, I wanted to rest without interruptions tonight. Two, I didn’t want to have to say it twice. Gathering everyone at once and settling everything in one go would be cleaner.
It wasn’t really difficult, and Heo Jun-young, who hated noise, nodded in agreement.
With nothing more to say, I gave a simple order to summon the guests, and Heo Jun-young stood up, saying, “See you tomorrow.” But just before leaving the restaurant, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at me.
“By the way… aren’t you curious about that?”
“Hm?”
“Your brother. Or the Istanbul Low Road.”
“…….”
I was caught off guard by the sudden question.
“Of course I’m curious. But that’s exactly why I don’t ask.”
“……?”
“Because if I heard bad news, I’d probably rush over right away.”
“Is that so…”
Heo Jun-young chuckled in disbelief, shrugged his shoulders, glanced at me once more, then turned and left the restaurant. His footsteps gradually faded away.
A little while later.
“Sn…sn…”
I heard Kim Hanbyeol’s sniffling as she lay face down on the table. I stretched slowly. I hadn’t done much, but I felt pretty worn out.
“Well, I guess it’s about time I get some sleep, too.”
With that thought, I scooped Kim Hanbyeol up in a princess carry and slowly headed into the kitchen, looking forward to meeting the clan members after we woke up.
The next day.
After a long, deep sleep, I felt the rare urge to just stay in bed. There was no soft mattress, but the sleep I got after all the hardship was truly sweet. I honestly didn’t want to open my eyes and considered giving up and going back to sleep.
But I couldn’t just do that, so I kept waking Kim Hanbyeol and finished a simple meal. Then, after washing up thoroughly in the kitchen, I began checking my overall appearance—brushing my hair with my sword, shaving, tidying my clothes. I didn’t want to show up looking shabby when meeting the clan members after so long.
Kim Hanbyeol reacted much like I did when I first woke up. She was so reluctant to get up she even threw a little tantrum. But when I pressed gently on her stomach and whispered that the clan members were gathering, she suddenly jumped up in a panic. She stared at the kitchen door for a moment, then hurriedly got ready, mirroring my actions.
Meanwhile, I noticed that quite a few clan members had already gathered. I could hear footsteps and occasional voices outside the kitchen. Things like, “You’re here too?” and “Heo Jun-young called us.”
Especially amusing were comments like, “I heard we’re getting some really delicious food today,” and “Yeah, he said absolutely no one is allowed in the kitchen. I think he’s lost it.”
Still, the atmosphere was definitely strange. In the past, it would have been lively, if not chaotic, but now it was somber to the extreme. Voices were sparse, and despite the number of people, conversation was minimal. The mood itself was heavy with gloom. I could almost feel the weight of what Heo Jun-young said yesterday.
As I focused on the sounds outside, Kim Hanbyeol finished getting ready and approached. She wasn’t perfectly neat, but much better than yesterday. When our eyes met, I could tell she was very nervous.
Maybe this is how an actor feels just before stepping on stage. Meeting the clan members again seemed to make her heart race. I put a finger to my lips to signal silence, then quietly stood up.
Just as I lightly touched the kitchen door handle—
“But seeing everyone gathered like this really brings back memories.”
A clear voice drifted in from outside. It was Jeong Ha-yeon.
“Memories?”
That was Ko Yeon-ju’s voice.
Jeong Ha-yeon continued after the question.
“Yes. It’s like we’re having a meeting or something.”
“Is that so?”
“We all just quietly wait, staring at the door, wondering when the clan lord will arrive. Doesn’t it feel familiar?”
“…….”
Silence fell over the restaurant again.
“To be honest, I still can’t believe it. Even now, when I look at the door… I feel like he’ll just burst in any second…”
Jeong Ha-yeon murmured wistfully, trailing off.
“Ha. That’s right. Then he’d sit in the seat of honor and say, ‘Alright, let’s start the meeting.’”
Ko Yeon-ju imitated my voice and laughed softly.
The moment I heard that—
“And…”
Without hesitation, I flung the door open and stepped out. The voices stopped abruptly, and all eyes naturally turned to me. Finally able to step forward, I strode confidently and spoke.
“It’s been a long time, everyone.”
I heard someone swallow nervously, but I didn’t care in the slightest.
Calmly.
As always.
Just before any reaction could form, I smiled and continued.
“Now then, shall we begin the meeting?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Well… first off, if any readers were hurt by yesterday’s sudden plot twist, I sincerely apologize. (__)
I honestly didn’t expect such a strong reaction, so I was a little pleased. (?)
To clarify briefly… yesterday’s cut wasn’t intentional. What I mean is, sometimes what I intend and what readers feel can be like an inverse graph. Yesterday was one of those times. It’s true. Please believe me. I’ll stake my identity as Ro Yoo-jin on it. If there’s any lie in this, then I’m definitely Ro Yoo-mi.
As for the pacing, I’m a bit disappointed. ㅜ.ㅠ I want to say more, but it’s better shown in future chapters. This chapter focused on Kim Soo-hyun’s return, but the next chapter and the overall story will start fresh. The new episode has actually been underway since the last chapter.
Oh, and ^_ㅠ — this expression isn’t meant to provoke readers. It’s a mix of smiling and crying, basically meaning “I don’t know what to do.” By the way, (__) is a bow, often used when asking for understanding. :) and :D are happy smiles.
I hope this answers your questions well enough. (| . /)!!!!