“More importantly, have you discovered anything? Who did Han Yujin face, exactly”
Seong Hyunjae asked, walking deliberately to the table.
The participants were odd in number. Yet no one had voiced doubt. No hunter claimed to have beaten Han Yujin. Above all, it was hard to believe that she—who never yielded even to Transcendents—would yield so readily to an ordinary hunter. Han Yujin herself was by no means overwhelmingly strong. She simply clung to what she wished to protect with astonishing resolve—enough to withstand any normal S-rank Hunter. And yet, who on earth had she conceded to?
“I thought maybe it was the brother she lost before rebirth, but the fake wouldn’t sway her so completely. Even a convincing illusion would have made her angry.”
At worst, she would have tried to seize Chatterbox by the collar. Seong Hyunjae said he had no guesses, and Young Chaos raised an eyebrow in mild reproach.
“That isn’t what should trouble you.”
“I’ve had plenty of stalkers—I’m popular enough. If someone searched even my lost memories, they’d find countless admirers.”
Meeting a Transcendent opponent aside, it was banal.
“Even if the opponent is beyond your strength, you find that unremarkable”
“Those who must strive to protect and possess me are to be pitied, not me.”
A bright smile curved Seong Hyunjae’s lips. His fingertip pressed lightly to his own chest.
“They must devote themselves to shielding me until I am safely realized.”
Before I can be broken or stolen away.
“So of course I concern myself with those I choose, not those who choose me”
“A fittingly arrogant thing for a firstborn to say”
“That stings slightly”
It was neither boastful nor vain—just fact.
“As you say, Crescent Moon would never want to lose you. You are irreplaceable.”
Red eyes regarded Seong Hyunjae and the power within him. Hidden so deftly that not even other Transcendents noticed. Outwardly, he carried only this world’s memories; inwardly, the same erased self. The perfect disguise ensured all would see only the façade. Yet Young Chaos, who sensed the pure essence of power, saw faint traces of the truth.
“They said there is an Awakened they wish to raise as a Transcendent here. To extract a worthy Awakened is common, but nine times out of ten, they refer to you”
Crescent Moon had long served as cradle for many Transcendents. Nothing suspicious there.
“That explains the scrutiny then. Chatterbox accepted it too”
“Though Crescent Moon is the Filial Impiety, she influences both sides. A few of her Transcendents even became Obedience Addicts. So a mere request to glimpse you—Chatterbox would not refuse.”
“She can move between factions?”
“If not under confinement”
Seong Hyunjae looked curious, but Chaos said no more.
“Crescent Moon would wish to remove you to a safer world—there is that fretful child here. Why the children behave this way... the third is best.”
“If I vanish, his burden on Han Yujin will lessen”
“To remove someone from a stable world requires consent. Perhaps she’d offer terms favorable to you first.”
As Chaos finished, Seong Hyunjae flinched, stepping back. But faster—
Swish—
Suddenly Chaos’s sash coiled around his neck. An attack no foresight could avoid. The sash tightened and yanked him forward toward the table. His leg reflexively bent to catch him from crashing headlong. Just before his knee struck the glass, Chaos’s foot pressed under his chin, halting him, then gently set him down.
Amid that silent motion, Han Yujin still slept.
“Now that I know, I cannot leave you be”
Lowering the leg, Chaos pulled the sash tighter. Seong Hyunjae’s lone hand braced on the table. Bent knee to chin-level, he faced the child.
“If you ever sacrifice yourself... or follow Crescent Moon beyond this world”
Red eyes grew cold, devoid of mercy or pity.
“I will eliminate you”
Before the amassed power burst forth beyond even Young Chaos’s control.
Seong Hyunjae drew a short breath. The weight of restraint pressed against him, sending shivers down his spine. And yet his eyes curved into a smile.
“Did you not say Transcendents must intervene only minimally”
“If you had not been artificially made, yes”
“I am that too”
Even if Crescent Moon’s identical touch had shaped me through the same worlds—no one else would become this Seong Hyunjae. Environment matters, but we change differently within it.
How many bird species soar the sky, how many beasts run the plains?
“Until you lose yourself. That is why I watch over you”
The sash bit slightly into his skin but did not choke him further. Even bound, he could easily crush an S-rank Hunter. He could have forced a contract through threat or worse. But the man before him was still human.
“A pity”
In Chaos’s gold eyes gleamed a faint hunger.
“That it is not me who threatens your neck. That would be far more entertaining”
“You, who finds Transcendents trivial, would you dare”
“Of course not”
Seong Hyunjae’s lips formed a smooth line—“I am a liar,” his whisper seemed to say.
“If you interfere enough to end me entirely, what then for Crescent Moon”
“What then? She ends. Even if she rampages incomplete, she would be Transcendent-level.”
If Young Chaos attacked first, he would pay the price. Choking Seong Hyunjae thus was mere child's play. But attacking another Transcendent was different. Even if Seong Hyunjae survived, many Transcendents would seize the chance. Crescent Moon would not pass quietly either.
“Ah. You’re said to preside over the First Source world. If you retire now, disaster would follow.”
“If Transcendents were always Transcendent, would you know? They can all vanish. The damage would be immense, but eventually new saviors arise, and Transcendents are born.”
Even this world sprouts and grows anew. Without the System’s intervention, chaos would be longer and more devastating, but survivors would emerge.
The System is an aide. So is Young Chaos. Hence his aversion to Crescent Moon’s methods—using many worlds to breed monsters devoid of will.
Chaos’s gaze softened.
“You too are a victim, in your way”
“Indeed”
“I will not pity myself, so spare me your compassion”
“Shall I feign pity then”
Chaos loosened the sash slightly, flicking an eyebrow. Seong Hyunjae, sensing a blow, hunched his remaining shoulder.
“Wait—”
Han Yujin shot awake. Gasping, she scanned around, her expression darkening.
“What was—”
She could not remember. It felt important, yet hazy as heavy mist.
“Something, I mean... huh?”
Turning, she saw Seong Hyunjae—crouched, collar bound as if in mid-struggle. Her eyes widened.
“Seong Hyunjae? Wh-what—am I in your dream?”
If someone unable to enter dreams like Young Chaos or the newcomer appeared, perhaps it was part of her own dream. Seong Hyunjae smiled nonchalantly.
“It’s a dream.”
“No, why are you here? This isn’t my home sofa. I’d understand a dryer showing up”
He was someone she knew well, but still. Han Yujin glanced at Young Chaos—holding Seong Hyunjae’s sash.
“Sir, why... did I do something wrong in my dream? Or did the real you pass away... are both of you dreams?”
“This is no dream”
Chaos abruptly tossed the sash aside. Han Yujin staggered as she rose.
“Sir, please don’t treat Seong Hyunjae so... it’s just a dream. He’s quite gentle, you know—wait!”
She suddenly noticed Seong Hyunjae’s missing arm and scowled.
“No, why did you lose your arm again?”
“There were circumstances”
“Always losing arms—you even appear like this in dreams! You’ll grow used to being without it! Hey, Hyunjae!”
“...Hm?”
“Why the shock? It’s my dream—I can speak casually. Why does someone so perfect end up like this? I pretend not to worry, but I’m quietly upset!”
“My apologies”
Han Yujin patted his back, causing him to wince and clutch his shoulder.
“Even in dreams, it hurts. Don’t bully Director Song—and why did you beat Yerim? You’ve far more experience as a Hunter... do you have a conscience?”
“I sparred with her five times”
“Oh, did you? Well done—wait, it’s a dream. I don’t recall you saying that.”
“How did it feel?”
Seong Hyunjae quickly shifted the subject, speaking soothingly.
“You seemed exhausted. If you wish, I could help.”
No matter the opponent. Han Yujin gave a short, humorless laugh.
“No thanks. I think I’m better now... sir, you’re the same even in dreams—sir, look. He really is kind. This is my dream, but it’s not exaggerated. He acts the same in reality.”
“You just see me coaxing a child to get what I want”
Young Chaos spoke sourly. He too had hoped Han Yujin would reveal her innermost feelings, but coaxing as if feigning innocence in a dream was ridiculous.
“Oh, don’t be so harsh. Hyunjae, try being cute”
Seong Hyunjae forced a sheepish smile while Young Chaos waved him off.
“Disgusting”
“But he’s handsome. Sir is handsome too. Do handsome people feel nothing toward other handsome people? Yuhyun didn’t seem interested. Still, be kind”
“Han Yujin is kind”
Seong Hyunjae laid his one arm gently across Han Yujin’s shoulder and looked melancholy.
“Lately, I feel left out”
“Why?”
“Director Song is stolen by the little girls, Hangeol lectures me... Sesung guild members prefer no superior. Even Han Yujin wanders alone, so no one approaches me comfortably.”
Han Yujin blinked in surprise. Had it been so?
“Not stolen—Director Song still watches over you. Soyeong and Evelyn always treat superiors formally. I’ll comfort Gyeol—team members come °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° first. But it is my dream, after all.”
Han Yujin tilted her head.
“In reality, you two get along fine. Yuhyun said he enjoyed videos of you and Yerim.”
“Might have thought I looked lonely subconsciously, wanting to care for me...”
Thud! Young Chaos kicked the table, pulling Han Yujin away from Seong Hyunjae. The table spun away like leaves in a whirlwind and crashed where Seong Hyunjae had stood. He leapt back one step.
“Enough.”
“I’m your elder, you know!”
“Firstborn, mind your own concerns.”
“Um...”
Han Yujin hesitated, then spoke.
“You barely remember dreams, right? Honestly, I can’t take care of myself. I don’t really like myself much.”
Young Chaos sighed softly.
“That can’t be helped. Caring for others is easy. See, he lost his arm—I had no time to worry about him, and look, he’s fine. Maybe thanks to a good rest.”
“You mean you were too busy caring for others to look after yourself?”
“Anyway... still”
Han Yujin chose her words carefully.
“I think maybe—someday—it could change. I might live for myself someday, not just to care for the others.”
Even so, she shouldn’t overspend. Han Yujin glanced at Seong Hyunjae. She didn’t much want luxury goods on a department-store rack. They must be custom-made—but the thought came unbidden.
“For now... yes.”
Though a dream, she held back saying she hated herself. Young Chaos patted her head gently, as if to say many words left unsaid.
“Thank you for coming, sir. Seong Hyunjae, though it’s a dream, keep your arm in mind. I care for you both, so please don’t fight too much.”
“Your brother will worry, so wake up now.”
“Huh? Yuhyun?”
Chaos covered Han Yujin’s eyes with his palm. She opened them wide.