The moon hung quietly in the sky, casting a brilliant silver glow, while dark clouds drifted silently across the night.
Atlanta was the most vibrant city across both the old and new northern continents, yet as night fell, an eerie stillness settled over it, as if one were glimpsing another world entirely.
As the night deepened, a faint sound of wind brushing through the garden briefly stirred the silence.
Seated at a small table, Gehenna stared blankly and endlessly out at the dim garden beyond the window.
Her presence didn’t feel unapproachable, but there was no denying the heavy, unspoken tension that hung in the air.
“I miss that child.”
Suddenly, Gehenna muttered, fingers tracing the rim of a steaming teacup.
Though it sounded like a soliloquy, it wasn’t a solitary thought.
Hwa-jeong, sitting across from her with a matching teacup, glanced over—proof that the words were meant to be heard.
Gehenna continued, “The one who controls shadows. She was a bit arrogant, but her skill with the tea ceremony wasn’t bad, was it?”
“Not bad at all… but,” Hwa-jeong replied, nodding lightly before elegantly sipping her tea and smirking faintly, “why not just say it like it is?”
“Hm?”
“It’s only been four days, but you already miss her, don’t you?”
“…Ugh.”
Indeed.
It had been four days since Kim Soo-hyun returned to Earth.
Of course, these two beings had lived for eons beyond human comprehension, but time is relative, after all.
Is Kim Soo-hyun doing well? Is her health stable? Did the treatment fail? Is something wrong? When will she come back?
Filling her mind with thoughts of her beloved, Gehenna found the endless, twenty-four-hour longing unbearable and tedious.
“So, what? If waiting’s too hard, you’re going to tell her to go back to hell?”
“Yeah. The one you serve seems pretty eager to return there.”
Gehenna turned away with a huff but couldn’t hide a bitter smile at the teasing tone.
It was easy to guess who Hwa-jeong meant.
And, in a way, she wasn’t wrong.
Just today, Soona had shouted dozens of times, “How dare you leave me and go back?” or “Tell her if she comes back, she better never dream of seeing my face again!”
But by the end of the day, she always added, “Well, I guess I’ll wait… just for today.” So her true feelings were clear enough.
“Soona’s only flaw is her lack of honesty. …Well, I’m no different.”
Reluctantly admitting it, Gehenna sighed and looked toward the entrance.
“Yeah. I miss her. This moment, this reality without him—it doesn’t feel real. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he walked through that door right now.”
She set down her teacup, revealing the bottom, and slowly rested her chin on one hand, smiling softly.
“Hmph.”
Hwa-jeong turned her head, feigning boredom, but her eyes followed Gehenna’s gaze.
Of course, Hwa-jeong couldn’t feel any differently.
They had lived as one with Kim Soo-hyun for five whole years…
Then, suddenly, a commotion outside cut through the quiet.
Hwa-jeong, about to speak, fell silent.
At the same moment, the door slammed open, and both goddesses’ eyes widened—only to be deflated when Vivian came rushing in, breathless.
“What are you two doing just standing there?!”
Vivian reached the table without catching her breath and shouted loudly.
Her words made no sense, but before anyone could question her, she quickly pointed outside—more precisely, at the sky beyond the window.
Reflexively, their eyes followed her gesture and caught sight of Shin Sang-yong running through the garden.
Above the dim garden, the sky, which had been dark moments ago, was now dyed a deep violet.
Lightning flashed between the clouds, crackling and streaking down toward the earth.
At that moment, Gehenna and Hwa-jeong rose simultaneously, as if by unspoken agreement.
The scene was one they had witnessed just four days ago.
In other words, this phenomenon meant only one thing.
The first to arrive at the destination was none other than Shin Sang-yong.
While observing the stars, he had noticed the abnormal signs in the sky, sent out the alert, and rushed here first.
“Clan Lord…!”
Stopping in front of the temple shrouded in twilight, Shin Sang-yong caught his breath and lifted his head.
Had the situation already resolved on the way here?
The sky, once a sea of violet like the end of the world, had returned to its original color as if nothing had happened.
That meant the transition had just completed.
Though only four days had passed, and the ache of longing wasn’t yet unbearable, Shin Sang-yong’s heart tightened with tension every moment.
Placing a hand over his pounding chest, he opened his eyes wide and looked up.
Before long, he faintly made out a shadow cast over the long staircase.
“Not more, not less~. My IQ is exactly…”
And even a humming tune.
Moments later, a woman descended the stairs, twirling her hands as if noticing the dazed man.
She paused briefly, looking at him, then carefully continued down.
Bathed in gentle moonlight, her slender legs led the way as she walked down, eventually waving cheerfully.
“Oh? A familiar face! Ah! Are you Mr. C, the unremarkable ordinary man?”
“U-User Jegal Haesol?”
Setting aside the fact that he didn’t remember her name or who the other ordinary men A and B were, Shin Sang-yong stammered out the words.
Jegal Haesol, standing right before him, smiled and continued.
“Yeah~. We’re not close, but still, nice to see you. Has it been almost five years? By the way, how much time has passed here? The surroundings look unchanged, so it can’t be long, right?”
Blubbering questions came fast and furious, leaving Shin Sang-yong at a loss for words.
His eyes darted meaninglessly until they landed on Jegal Haesol’s abdomen, where she seemed uncertain where to look.
“Oh my, where are you staring? How dare you look at a lady’s body like that…”
Sensing his gaze, Jegal Haesol wrapped her arms around her belly and shifted her posture.
If this were the usual Shin Sang-yong, he would have immediately apologized and bowed his head.
But this time, he didn’t.
Something was off.
If she had gained weight, it would be normal for it to show elsewhere, but only her belly was round and swollen.
It looked as if she were pregnant…
“Oh, I’m six months along now.”
Wait, seriously?
“Y-You’re pregnant?”
Startled, Shin Sang-yong looked up sharply, only to see Jegal Haesol bowing her head deeply.
Then, clenching her left hand tightly, she continued with a pitiful look.
“…Yes.”
“U-User Jegal Haesol?”
“That’s right. It’s his child.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I resisted, but… I couldn’t refuse in the end. Sob!”
“Huh?”
Tears welled up as she played the tragic heroine from a movie.
“Why, why didn’t you come? Why? I waited for you so long!”
“……”
“…That’s a lie. It was just a one-time conception, I guess? We went on a trip to celebrate his discharge… Who would’ve thought I’d get pregnant on the first try? Damn it, I shouldn’t have allowed it then.”
“……”
Jegal Haesol’s frustrated words came fast.
The only thing Shin Sang-yong understood was that they had gone on a trip to celebrate the discharge.
“Anyway, I heard he’s a boring guy. Next time, try to show some fresh reactions. Then maybe he’ll remember your name.”
“So, the Clan Lord is… uh, huh?”
But before he could organize his thoughts, Jegal Haesol had already shuffled past him.
Shin Sang-yong blinked, unable to ask what he wanted, when familiar voices caught his attention.
“Huh? Oppa?”
“Y-Yeah! That’s Sang-yong oppa! Oppa! Oppa!”
Two familiar voices.
Turning around, sure enough, Kim Han-byul and Lee Yoo-jung were coming down the stairs, faces glowing with joy.
Yoo-jung practically bounced as she landed lightly, grabbed Shin Sang-yong’s hand, and shook it vigorously.
“Kyaa! Long time no see! How have you been?”
“Uh, I’m….”
“Have you been well? Oh, I guess not much time has passed here, huh?”
“Yeah, about three or four days.”
“Heh~. Only that? Then you probably didn’t miss us much.”
“Unnie! What if you suddenly jump like that? Do you even realize you’re pregnant?”
Kim Han-byul, who had just caught up, shouted sharply, and Shin Sang-yong, regaining composure, instinctively looked down.
And once again, he was stunned.
Because the bellies of Kim Han-byul and Lee Yoo-jung were just as round as Jegal Haesol’s.
The soft, swollen curves clearly proclaimed their pregnancies, just as Han-byul had said.
“Geez. As long as you don’t tattle to oppa… huh?”
Muttering, Yoo-jung stopped when Han-byul gave her a sharp nudge with her elbow.
She glanced at Shin Sang-yong, forced an awkward smile, and scratched her cheek.
“Ah, ahahaha… Now that I think about it, I never explained.”
“……”
Shin Sang-yong remained silent.
“W-well… it’s been six months now, right? Ahem!”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s been six months for me too.”
“Listen, here’s what happened: to celebrate your brother’s discharge from the hospital, we all went on a trip together…”
“Unnie, you don’t have to say all that.”
Kim Han-byul quickly cut her off.
The man still said nothing.
So, while Shin Sang-yong was reeling from this second shock, the two women exchanged polite smiles and said things like, “Mrs. Su-hyun? Shall we be going then? We’re a bit tired,” and “Yes, for a pregnant woman, rest is the most important thing, Mrs. Su-hyun,” before swiftly making their exit.
What followed was much the same.
Han So-young glanced around as she descended the stairs, then ignored him completely and passed by.
Nam Da-eun paused briefly, took in the sight of the frozen Shin Sang-yong, and gave a simple nod.
Cha So-rim, hesitating, muttered, “W-we went on a trip…” then blushed faintly and hurried away.
Of course, all three women were visibly pregnant, and Shin Sang-yong quietly buried his face in his hands.
Four days.
Just four days.
He hadn’t exactly expected a heartwarming reunion, but there are limits.
These were the tough women who had left with a resolute vow four days ago: “We will protect Kim Su-hyun no matter what and return together.”
And yet…
“…Is this some kind of dream?”
To have a line of pregnant women arriving like sausages in just four days (though five years had passed in the modern world) was a reunion far different from what Shin Sang-yong had hoped for—no, it was wildly off the mark.
At this point, the word “trip” kept echoing in his mind more than Su-hyun’s condition.
He pinched his cheek hard.
“Wow, some things really never change here, huh?”
“Of course not. Time flows differently.”
Just then, a deep, unfamiliar voice made Shin Sang-yong’s eyes snap open.
White and purple uniforms.
Each carrying a large travel bag in one hand.
And sunglasses worn with playful grins.
The moment he recognized them, an inexplicable surge of joy welled up inside him.
It was Ahn Hyun and Jin Su-hyun.
First, Shin Sang-yong took a good look at their bellies, then raised his hand with all his might.
“Hey, you two!”
Ahn Hyun and Jin Su-hyun responded in kind.
As soon as they saw Shin Sang-yong, they shouted excitedly and rushed over, embracing him tightly in a joyful reunion.
Finally savoring a proper reunion, Shin Sang-yong was able to ask the question he’d been dying to know.
“So, what about Clan Road?”
But at that moment, both Ahn Hyun and Jin Su-hyun froze simultaneously.
Shin Sang-yong didn’t notice it, but…
“Uh, where are they?”
“They’re probably still in the summoning room. They said there was someone they absolutely had to meet… hmm.”
Ahn Hyun’s face, pointing toward the shrine, was full of worry.
For some reason, Jin Su-hyun’s expression had turned serious as well.
“What’s wrong? Is there some kind of problem…?”
“…I’m worried.”
“Worried? About what?”
“Not about Su-hyun hyung, but about you, Sang-yong hyung.”
Worried about me?
Shin Sang-yong tilted his head in confusion.
Jin Su-hyun crossed his arms and shook his head.
“Ah, but still, I don’t think Sang-yong hyung would be in any real danger.”
“Don’t underestimate it. It took all of us two years to get used to it. And don’t you know about the Baek Han-gyeol incident?”
“Well, yeah.”
“But we can’t just stop you from meeting them… sigh.”
Amid the cryptic exchange, Ahn Hyun let out a deep sigh.
He took off his dark sunglasses and handed them to Shin Sang-yong.
“Hyung, put these on. Quickly. And from now on, you have to listen to me carefully if you want to keep your backside safe.”
“Uh, my backside? Haha, you guys, joking around right after we meet…”
Shin Sang-yong laughed it off, thinking it was a joke, but Ahn Hyun and Jin Su-hyun were dead serious.
“First, you can’t avoid hearing their voices, but you must avoid looking at their faces as much as possible. Above all, don’t make eye contact.”
“That’s right. Especially when Su-hyun hyung smiles—then it’s best to just look away.”
As Ahn Hyun forced the sunglasses onto him, Jin Su-hyun added a word.
Both spoke with utmost seriousness.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Hello.
This is Royujin, returning today after being completely silent for two months.
……
I’m sorry.
Many readers worried about me for various reasons, and though I have no excuse for my absence, I feel it’s only right to offer a brief explanation.
After finishing the modern-day side story on September 18, I suddenly felt completely drained.
Maybe because the tension was released, I developed a high fever in the early morning and remember going to the hospital first thing the next day.
So yes, I was sick, but it wasn’t a long-lasting cold or flu.
After a few days of injections and taking medicine regularly, I recovered quickly, and by the time a week had passed, I was fully back to normal.
The problem started after that.
To put it bluntly, I slacked off.
After nearly three years of living under constant deadlines, finishing the main story and moving on to a side story felt like a relief I couldn’t control.
My body was better, so I thought, “I’ll just rest until this weekend,”
“I have plans, so maybe I’ll start writing tomorrow,”
“Ah, I finished the main story anyway,”
“Just today, then,” and so on.
Day after day, I kept putting it off, and before I knew it, a significant amount of time had passed.
Suddenly, two months had flown by…
I think that’s when I started feeling a kind of fear.
I knew I shouldn’t, but strangely, I just couldn’t bring myself to touch the keyboard.
After nearly a month of goofing off, my body got used to it.
Eventually, that fear turned into guilt, and I lived in a state of half-giving up.
In short, I didn’t disappear because of some incident or accident—I simply failed to manage myself and stopped updating.
I should have at least posted a notice, but I didn’t.
That was entirely my fault, and I’m deeply sorry. I have no excuse.
I feel ashamed and embarrassed toward the readers and Joara community I disappointed, and I sincerely apologize.
Though it won’t be for long, I will continue the remaining side stories and future works without ever letting such an unfortunate thing happen again.
I am truly sorry.
Sincerely,
Royujin