My body felt heavy and dizziness overwhelmed me. I could barely maintain consciousness as a strange suspicion surfaced inside me. Was this world a novel or reality? The sentences I wrote popped up in my head as Chae Jinyoon’s heroic tales flashed before my eyes. The Tower of Wish, artifact scrambles, and the Tower of Miracle…

However, these things could no longer occur. For the first time, I realized I had killed someone, and something inside me broke. The subconscious belief that this world was just a novel finally shattered.

Tsss.

Black boots descended on the sleet-covered ground. I raised my head in a daze and saw Boss’ dark pupils. She fluttered along the snowy field.

“Take care of the corpse.”

Boss muttered as I stared at the tragic Chae Jinyoon lying with half his head blown up. He had partially transformed into a devil and the demonic energy in his body would soon explode.

Boss helped me up as I noticed my half-burnt body. The thin clothes I wore for Jain’s disguise had burned when I fired my gun. I staggered as I tried to stand and my head fell on Boss’ shoulder. She stood still and accepted me.

A portal opened nearby as Jain and Khalifa walked out. Their expressions turned grave when they saw the scene.

Then demonic energy suddenly shot up from Chae Jinyoon’s corpse. I couldn’t recall what happened next.

***

Chase Shinhyuk threw open the door on the night of January 3. KWANG! He saw a familiar face inside the morgue.

“Hello, Chae Shinhyuk.”

He met the forensic scientist, Kim Joongho, again 11 years after his wife’s death.

“…”

Chae Shinhyuk approached the corpse next to Kim Joongho. He clenched his teeth when he saw the man with only half a face. It was his son, Chae Jinyoon.

“Do you have any leads on the suspect?”

Chae Shinhyuk tried to maintain his composure.

“Not yet. An isolation barrier must’ve surrounded the crime scene. They didn’t leave a single trace.”

Investigators had all sorts of supernatural gifts like psychometry, cold reading, etc. However, not even the most competent could find any evidence.

“Was it djinns?”

“We aren’t sure.”

“But there’s demonic energy right here.”

Chae Shinhyuk pointed at the black energy around Chae Jinyoon’s right arm.

“Do I look like a fool?”

Tears began to flow from Chae Shinhyuk’s eyes.

“… Chae Shinhyuk.”

Kim Joongho softly sighed. He had no choice but to explain.

“This demonic energy… came from Chae Jinyoon.”

“… What?”

Chae Shinhyuk’s face contorted frighteningly. Kim Joongho stared at him with a complicated expression.

“This demonic energy came from Chae Jinyoon, but was stopped as it traveled through his veins. It must’ve stopped because he died.”

“…”

Chae Shinhyuk couldn’t understand. No, he refused to accept it. Demonic energy came from his son’s body? That was impossible… unless Chae Jinyoon was a djinn.

“You should be able to find the murderer with your abilities.”

Kim Joongho continued as Chae Shinhyuk began to breathe roughly.

“With Daehyun’s power, with Chae Joochul’s power, even rampaging through Pandemonium shouldn’t be difficult. However, we are no longer living in the ’80s.”

Kim Joongho’s gaze fell on Chae Jinyoon’s right arm.

“Jinyoon became a djinn. No, this is the first time I’ve seen such an arm. This is even more elaborate than a djinn’s devil transformation. It’s persisting even after his death.”

Chae Shinhyuk’s breathing grew even more disheveled. Killing intent could be felt in his eyes.

“I can only surmise that something happened four years ago during the djinn suppression operation. An autopsy will be necessary to discover the exact reason. However, that will also reveal Jinyoon’s true state.”

Chae Shinhyuk looked at his son. A half-blown face, an eye forever closed, a frail body, and… a right arm devoured by a mysterious existence. Chae Shinhyuk slowly closed his eyes as an emotion from the depths of his heart ate away at him.

“This right arm.”

Chae Shinhyuk spoke after some silence.

“Are you the only one who knows about it?”

Kim Joongho remained silent and nodded.

“Are you certain?”

“… Yes, but it’s something we will have to reveal one day. For humanity.”

“…”

Chae Shinhyuk placed his hand on his son’s cheek. The skin already felt cold and dry. Caressing it felt no different than a fish. Chae Shinhyuk muttered with a somber tone.

“… I never thought I’d see the day my son woke up.”

He thought Chae Jinyoon had died four years ago, but his son miraculously woke up 2 weeks ago and he had felt like he was on the top of the world.

“Today, I lost my son for the second time.”

His son passed away too quickly, almost as though he had woken up just to say a final goodbye. Chae Shinhyuk would bear this heart-wrenching pain for the rest of his life.

“I don’t want to lose him a third time. I want to bury him peacefully for Nayun.”

Chae Shinhyuk spoke while looking at Kim Joongho. Kim Joongho could only bow with a sigh as tears flowed from Chae Shinhyuk’s eyes.

“… I will do my best. I’ll take my leave now.”

Kim Joongho left the father and son alone.

“…”

Chae Shinhyuk caressed his son’s face with a trembling hand. He couldn’t say anything as he choked on his tears. He only had one wish.

Son… my son… I hope you have a better father in your next life…

***

A memory from the past came to me. It lacked color and missed several moments, but I often dreamed of it.

— Nayun.

Oppa called me after watching me practice archery for a long time.

— Un?

— You can take a break if it’s too hard.

He held up my hand and seemed sad when he saw my blisters and cuts, but I shook my head.

— I’m going to work even harder. I want to become an even greater hero than oppa.

Oppa smiled at my arrogant remark and stroked my hair. His hands felt warm and reliable.

— I hope you do. By the way, you didn’t forget about next week, right? We’re going to the amusement park.

He had planned a trip to Korea’s most famous amusement park, Foreverland. However, instead of being happy, I shook my head with a troubled expression.

— Um, I can’t go. I’m going somewhere else with my friends.

— Really?

He seemed disappointed, but quickly grinned.

— Then I guess we’ll go some other time. Oppa is going to work now, so don’t overwork yourself. You won’t grow taller if you do.

— Un. See you later, oppa.

That morning remained so vivid in my memory for one reason. That night, oppa came back in a coma.

“Ah.”

Tears flowed from my eyes as I woke up. The dazzling sun shone through the window as morning on Baekdu Mountain arrived. The air at Yoo Sihyuk’s martial arts school felt refreshing without any mana phenomena like fogs.

I looked beside my bed at the precious pictures I took with oppa.

“Huhu.”

A smile emerged on my face. I took out another picture hidden below after making sure no one was around. It was the picture of me and Kim Hajin.

“It came out so well.”

I wasn’t looking at it for any particular reason. It just came out really well. It definitely wasn’t because of Kim Hajin.

“Auu.”

I stretched after putting the picture back and headed to the bath.

“You’re here, unni?”

A small 10 year old girl greeted me as I entered the bath.

“Oh hey, you’re up early too.”

“It’s Jihae.”

“Right, Jihae.”

Yoo Sihyuk had 16 official disciples, eight males and eight females. They received training under Yoo Sihyuk and five other instructors. However, Kim Suho, me, and 10 other camp members weren’t included among the official disciples. We would only stay for winter break.

“Auu, so good.”

I hopped in the hot spring after showering. Nothing could go wrong with a mana-rich hot spring. I came out after 20 minutes. Then I switched into my uniform and went out to the front yard for morning training.

“Yo, Chae Nayun.”

Shin Jonghak and Kim Suho came up to me. They seemed to have taken a bath too. I snickered at them.

“Isn’t it a beautiful morning?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I feel like I can beat you today. You better watch out.”

Was it because of the clear sky? I felt particularly good today. Kim Suho looked at me and laughed.

“Why are you so energetic? Is it because today’s letter day?”

“Eh?”

Today was January 3, our tenth day here. The schedule contained a special event.

“N-No, that has nothing to do with it.”

Electronics didn’t work on Baekdu Mountain, so we couldn’t communicate with the rest of the world. This problem could be fixed, but Master Yoo Sihyuk left things as they were. However, we could communicate with the outside world on letter days.

“She’s right, Kim Suho. The only one she would want to write to is already here, so cut the nonsense.”

“You shut up… geez.”

I smacked Shin Jonghak’s shoulder. He kept making me curse when I tried to fix my way of talking.

“He’s coming.”

Yoo Sihyuk walked towards us with his hands behind his back.

“Get ready.”

We stood in a straight line. How long would today’s training last? 10 hours? 12 hours?

***

The sun had long after 14 hours of hellish training. Chae Nayun lay in bed and stared at a piece of paper.

[Hi, I’m on Baekdu Mountain.]

“… That doesn’t sound right.”

She had already written her letter to Chae Jinyoon. It only took 30 minutes as she followed her heart. However, this particular letter required more time.

[I’m in Baekdu Mountain lol. Training is so easy;; What are you doing?]

“No, that doesn’t sound any better…”

Chae Nayun ruffled her hair and threw her pen down.

I should have read some books. I don’t know how to write at all!

Chae Nayun sighed, but wouldn’t give up this chance that only came once every 10 days. She picked up her pen and fell deep in thought. Tok, tok— Someone knocked on her door and burst inside.

“W-What!”

Startled, Chae Nayun hid the letter with her body. Yoo Sihyuk looked down at her as she slowly raised her head.

“… Chae Nayun.”

He sounded somber. Chae Nayun hid the letter in her pocket and slowly got up.

“Yes, Master. Um, you should knock before entering a lady’s room.”

“… Come outside for a minute.”

Yoo Sihyuk seemed uncharacteristically serious.

“Yes?”

“… Just come outside.”

He sounded kind, unlike his usual self. She tried to recall if she did anything wrong as she followed him.

***

The tragic news was announced on January 5. Yoo Yeonha quickly ended a meeting and got in her car after receiving the news from her parents. Chae Jinyoon had died. Her parents didn’t tell her anything else. She remained shocked until she thought of Chae Nayun. Yoo Yeonha’s heart sank when she recalled the cheerful Chae Nayun 2 weeks ago.

“Let’s get off.”

Yoo Jinwoong spoke softly as Yoo Yeonha followed her parents out of the car. No reporters dared to besiege Daehyun’s funeral home, making the venue oddly quiet and lonely.

“Eh?”

Yoo Yeonha paused while trudging to the entrance. She saw a familiar person under the shade of a nearby tree. Kim Hajin smoked a cigarette while staring at the funeral home with a complicated expression.

“Why isn’t he going in? And he’s smoking?”

“Yeonha, what are you doing?”

Her mother suddenly called her.

“Ah, yes, I’m coming.”

Yoo Yeonha followed her mother inside. She spotted Chae Nayun sitting in a daze with hollow eyes as soon as she entered. This was the first time she ever saw the cheerful Chae Nayun like this.

Yoo Yeonha swallowed a sigh and stood in front of their family.

“Nayun.”

“… Ah, Yeonha… you came.”

Chae Nayun greeted her and tried to smile, but that only made her look more pitiful. Her lifeless eyes seemed ready to burst into tears. However, she desperately held herself. Yoo Yeonha understood that was the type of person Chae Nayun was.

“Yeah, wait just a minute.”

After adjusting her dress, Yoo Yeonha stood in front of Chae Jinyoon’s portrait and bowed with her family.

“Chae Shinhyuk.”

“Oh, you’re here.”

Yoo Yeonha walked back to Chae Nayun as their fathers talked. Yoo Yeonha looked into her eyes and softly held her hands.

“Um, Nayun… Where are the others?”

“… I didn’t tell them. I didn’t tell them, so don’t call them here.”

Chae Nayun sounded desperate. However, Yoo Yeonha thought of Kim Hajin smoking a cigarette outside.

“Even if you say that… that person is already outside.”

“… That person?” Chae Nayun meekly asked.

“Kim Hajin.”

Chae Nayun fell into a daze at his name and remained motionless.

“I, I’ll be back soon.”

Then she walked out of the funeral home.

“…”

Chae Nayun couldn’t even walk properly. Her legs shook as she staggered forward. She seemed too different from her usual self. Yoo Yeonha could only feel sorry.