Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

1. Fairytale

Tonight is so cold, too cruel but too good to die for. Jumping off the bridge will surely kill her. From this height, she has little to no chance of surviving. Although she can swim, she will prefer to die drowning in the cold Han river. This way, Han Yoohyun needn’t bother to find her corpse.

Only several hours ago, she saw the interview between Han Yoohyun with the journalists who asking him whether he had cut his family tie with her off or not and he answered yes.

...I see. Rather than to talk properly like the human beings possibly could have done, her little brother decided to just leave her and cut their family tie off.

Once Han Yoohyun make it clear that the Hunters around his age is considered free, he left their house. No matter how hard she’s tried to reach out to him, he always turned the cold shoulder and she always ended up getting thrown out or dragged out of the Abyss Guild’s building. People claim her as trying to mooch off or leech off her successful little brother but she just wanted to be a family. He was the only one family she had.

She wonders since when does everything turn wrong?

She wonders what she could’ve possibly done wrongly to her little brother to earn this much harsh treatment and unfairness?

She wonders...

Would her brother even care if she died here?

Holding the fence of the bridge tightly, she’s about to jump when someone catches her wrist, pulling her by the wrist and turning her body around. She bumps into a broad, warm chest. Looking up, she meets someone in a business suit. He has a bulky, muscular body and the sharp eyes as dark as his hair.

He says with all seriousness “It’s dangerous. If you went too far, you would fall”.

She doesn’t care. She swats his hand away and laughs bitterly. Looking at him, she bites sarcastically “Don’t bother. No one would have cared if I had gone, anyway”.

He looks at her for the long minutes with those calm, indescribable eyes before he claims “Not true. Had I let you fall, I’d have felt upset”.

She scoffs “Nonsense. We’re practically the strangers”.

“Song Taewon”.

“What?”.

He reaches out his hand to her “My name is Song Taewon. What is your name?”.

Why does this man introduce himself and ask for her identity instead now?

Hesitantly, she accepts his hand and shakes hands with him “...Han Yoojin”.

“Now we know each other’s name, we’re no longer the strangers and acquainted”.

“Don’t be silly. Nothing will do good for you to be acquainted with me”, turning her body around, she waves her hand “Goodbye, Mr. Public Servant”.

There’s no way that she doesn’t know who is this person. He’s one of the S-Class Hunter in the South Korea and he’s the reason why this country still has its government. It’s all thanks to this man who chooses to serve the Hunter Association.

...So why does she sit on the family restaurant eating the bulgogi and BBQ with this S-Class Hunter Public Servant?

Back then, before she could leave him, he caught her wrist and pulled her by the wrist to here. Then, as shitty as her luck, the rain was pouring and Song Taewon put his coat over her head to cover her before holding her hand and puling her to the nearest place as a shelter which is the family restaurant they sit in right now.

As if he can read her mind, he offers her to drink “You’re getting upset easily when you’re hungry. Eat. Might as well fill in our stomach while we’re waiting for the rain to stop here. My treat”.

Not even the soju, liquors, or wines. He offers her the orange juice instead.

Offering the BBQ, he raises his eyebrow “You’re not going to eat?”.

Not that she will reject it when this Public Servant has treated her with food. Han Yoojin just wonders when does the last time she has eaten with someone else since the last time she ate something outside, it was with her little brother.

...It’s nice to have a simple dinner with Song Taewon. It’s delicious. Such a simple, mundane thing... how could she lose it? How much she missed it?

Something must have shown on her face because the next second, Song Taewon wordlessly reaches out his hand, patting her head.

Handing over the tissue box to her, he glances to the window outside “...I guess the rain is not going to stop very soon”.

Han Yoojin blinks away her tears silently and makes no move to wipe her tears away as she stares to outside through the window “...Yeah”.

Before they separate their way, he does give her his number. Looking at his business card, she decides to just keep it in her drawer and never calls him ever again.

2. Dreamscape

Just her luck.

Got hit by the car (well, almost) is not how she wishes to meet with Song Taewon again. Long story short, she just left the Abyss Guild building after asking Han Yoohyun to heal her leg, only to get dragged out of the building. Suk Simyeong immediately met her and handed over the credit card which undoubtedly held so much money as her financial support.

She drags her feet in her way back to home. She wants to laugh sarcastically. Does her brother truly think that the money can solve everything? The audacity he has. How could he ever think that the money could replace him?

What she wanted and needed is not the money, dammit! She just wants her brother by her side to soothe her just like when they were used to be together. She just wants to hug her little brother and cry on his shoulder.

Again, those words come to her mind.

What does she do to deserve this?

Since when does everything turn wrong?

She doesn’t look it coming when a car is coming at her way. She turns her head when she hears the loud honk and the next second, even if the car has stopped before it can hit her, she collapses unconscious on the ground. She thought that she got hit by the car but it seemed like it was not the case because she’s still alive.

When she opens her eyes, the first thing she’s seen is Song Taewon’s face as he presses his forehead on her forehead to check her temperature and all.

Song Taewon nods his head “We meet again, Yoojin-Ssi. Though, I don’t expect to meet like this”.

Holding her head, Han Yoojin finds Song Taewon’s black coat (from the smell of it) covering her upper body “...I’m still alive?”.

“Please, don’t make it sounded like you’re disappointed to know that you’re still alive, Yoojin-Ssi”, Song Taewon chides her, then gently asking her “Can you walk? Shall I bring you to the hospital?”.

Han Yoojin shakes her head, adamantly refusing to go to the hospital “...I’m fine. I don’t want to come near the hospital because I just got out of there”.

“Ho? You know each other? Interesting”.

They turn their head to the main perpetrator who almost hit Han Yoojin with his car. No one other than Sung Hyunjae.

Song Taewon deadpans, unimpressed “That’s not how you should react to someone you almost hit with your car, Sung Hyunjae-Ssi”.

Sung Hyunjae bows his head “My bad. What can I do to fix my mistakes, Yoojin-Ssi? If you need a healer—”.

“No”, Han Yoojin cuts him off and says instead “Treat me the liquor instead”.

The next morning, Han Yoojin barely remembers what happened last night. Han Yoojin feels the worst hangover she’s ever had when she wakes up on the stranger’s bedroom with Song Taewon sleeping on the couch at seven in the morning. She looks at him in horror but once Song Taewon reassures her that nothing happens (given her still complete clothes, it’s mostly true, much to her relief. Though, she probably wouldn’t mind either even though she’d have slept with Song Taewon) between them. They only ended up having sleepover in Sung Hyunjae’s house because both men do not know where is her house and Song Taewon doesn’t trust Sung Hyunjae enough to leave her alone with him (much to Sung Hyunjae’s clearly faking hurtful expression).

If her eyes were red and her voice was hoarse from too much crying and ranting last night, they would not mention it.

They officially become the drinking buddy after that.

3. Bloody Mary

“I’m home”.

The door of her house creaks opened without no one to answer her greeting.

“...”.

She slides into her house and discards her shoes without a care on where those are landing. After she locks the door which closed behind her, she saunters idly to her bedroom and flops on her bed, lying on her back. Looking at the ceiling, she stares above with those soulless eyes.

Pulling her hairtie off, she lets her hair cascade down her shoulders. Sauntering to the bedroom, she takes her clothes off, leaving those on the floor. She watches as the water pours to the bathroom’s tiles. She leans her back on the wall and slices her wrist, deep enough to draw the blood flowing out of her system.

She’s tired.

She just went out for the grocery shopping and those papparazis who have waited for her outside immediately bombarding her with the questions she doesn’t want to and can’t answer. Mostly, they asked about her relationship with her little brother and earned nothing, they just tried to ire her or created the fake news.

Thanks to the fake news, she has been oscratized by the people around her wherever and whenever she goes outside. Even without her brother turning the cold shoulder on her, it’s been hard for her.

She’s tired.

They said that she’s not the ideal type of a role model or some bullshits about their theory of why would Han Yoohyun leave his only family. Thus, he left.

Well...

No one would be sad or miss her even though she was dead, right?

“...Yoojin-ah?”.

The last thing she sees and listens is how Song Taewon comes into her bathroom with a panic-stricken face.

When she wakes up, she feels warm. The wounds on her wrist has been cleaned and she feels something wet on her forehead.

“Finally, you’re awake”.

She’s not surprised to find Song Taewon’s disapproval frown etched—Is it concern, fear, or worry on his eyes?—on his usually cold, handsome face. She groans as she stirs on her bed. She’s about to sit up but Song Taewon squeezes her shoulders, pushing her back down gently on the bed. Cradling her head on his hand, he helps her to drink the fresh liquid.

“Do you think you can stomach the porridge or the soup?”.

She nods weakly before he spoonfeds him the chicken soup. It’s warm that she feels teared-up. After she drinks her medicine, she asks the things she’s always wondered ever since they meet.

“Why did you save me? Not only in the bathroom but also that night... you should have known that I...”.

“I can’t just let you die”.

“You should have”, she hisses but what’s gotten out of her mouth is only the hoarse words of the strained, sore throat “Nothing good will do for you to get involved with me”.

“Living as the Hunter is not a peaceful living everyday either”, Song Taewon curtly nods his head as he tucks her into the blanket and put the compress on her forehead “You can’t expect me to let you die when you’re dying in front of me. Rest. You’re burning up”.

“...You’re a weird person, Taewon-Ssi”, blinking a single tear, she allows herself to accept this warmth just this once, holding his hand “...Thank you”.

The next time she sobers enough to think and finds Song Taewon, in fact, doesn’t leave her side and stays in her house, Han Yoojin is shocked to find out that they are neighbors. The fact that Song Taewon is her neighbour who just moved several days ago to the house right below hers and how the S-class Hunter of the Hunter Association could figure out her nth suicide attempt just from the leaking water of her bathroom before going straight to save her life sounded suspiciously too coincidental but who is she to judge for Song Taewon’s decision to save her life against her choice?

4. Happier Than Ever

When her fever has gone, he persuades her to come with her in the grocery shopping since it’s bad for her skin and health to coop up in her house all day. She hesitantly comes with him after covering her face and head with a mask and her hoodie, because she doesn’t want to get the eyes on her.

In their way out, Han Yoojin stops and halts him “Is it really okay to go out with me?”.

Song Taewon deadpans, tugging her hand “It’s too late to ask now. We’re on our way getting to the grocery shopping”.

Song Taewon holds her hand gently, fully aware of the way Han Yoojin fidgets with her wrist and how the people’s eyes make her shrink or shy away. He keeps her on the arm’s reach as long as they are outside. She’s fully aware of his body’s warmth, being this close with him. Thankfully, every time she feels overwhelmed by the people’s eyes on her or someone tries to approach her, Song Taewon’s imposing bulky figure is good enough distraction.

After her failed attempt (again) last night to consume the sleeping pills (overdoses) because Song Taewon barged into her house (again), he refused to leave her side. He dragged her to the bathroom and make her vomit, forcing her to drink the potion.

After the disastrously stressful day yesterday where Song Taewon contacted Sung Hyunjae to lend one of his Healers, Han Yoojin didn’t know whether she should feel elated and giddy when the Healer Sung Hyunjae had sent was healing her legs (fucking finally) this morning. He even called off work to stay with her and preferred to do grocery shopping with her.

She wonders why would Song Taewon nurse her and help her so much.

Is it a pity or obligation from the goodwill towards the pathetic woman he’s accidentally encountered?

Fidgeting with her fingers, Han Yoojin braces herself to voice out her mind as they sit side by side in the car “Taewon-Ssi, you don’t have to go so far just because of your... obligation as the one who serves the citizens”.

Song Taewon sounds offended “I see. Do you think... I’ve done this all just because of the obligation?”.

She snaps sarcastically at that “What else, then?”.

Song Taewon doesn’t answer and turns the wheel instead “...Let’s go somewhere only we know”.

Han Yoojin is confused about what he’s talking about.

It turned out that they went to the dandelions garden on the outskirt of Seoul. Han Yoojin’s eyes shook as she recognized this place. She once lived in the nearest apartment from here with his parents and little brother. She often played here with the neighbor next door. When she was too stressed, she would go to this garden and Won Oppa, the older boy who was her neighbor next door, would listen to her and comfort her.

The question was, why did Song Taewon know this place?

Looking at Song Taewon, Han Yoojin’s eyes shook “...Won Oppa?”.

Song Taewon smiled thinly “Took you long enough to realize it”.

Song Taewon spread his hands and wrapped his arms around Han Yoojin’s body as Han Yoojin slammed into him. They talked about many things and one of them was Song Taewon’s attempt to soothe her, comforting her and asking her to stop hurting herself.

Cupping her cheeks, he leans his forehead on hers as tears streaming down her face “When I found you almost overdosed due to the sleeping pills, do you think how afraid I was? Don’t do it again. Stop hurting yourself”.

For once, she listened to him.

5. Inferno

That night, she does not plan to end everything by jumping off the second floor of her house after the slit on her throat, at first. However, she doesn’t expect to meet a group of gangster who burst into her house and burns her house. The brokers who have swindled her, stolen her money, and made her indebted with them are the ones who sent them.

“If you want to blame someone, blame your arrogant little brother”.

“Hey, is there really any use to attack her? Even if she’s still his older sister, no matter how estranged their relationship has been—”.

“At least, we can give a blow on that arrogant bastard’s pride”.

“Look, buddy. We want to take revenge on him, yes, but do you think her death will affect him, considering that his relationship with his sister is bad?”.

“Bad? Sure, it’s an understatement. He cut off the family tie with her, right? Even if her death will not affect him, at least we can give a blow on Song Taewon”.

What? What does it have something to do with Song Taewon?

One of the gangsters yanks her by the hair, tipping her head backwards as he taps his knife on her cheek “We got information that Song Taewon is interested in you. Even if your brother would not care about what happened to you, at least we still can use you to lure Song Taewon into our trap”.

It turns out that they have tried to lure Song Taewon into a trap, using her as a bait.

She refuses to cause a problem for Song Taewon. She’s sorry for causing a problem to her neighbors, but she has no choice. No, she has, but she just doesn’t want to.

She’s tired.

Tired of causing a problem to the people around her.

Tired of getting abandoned by the people she cares about and cherishes.

Tired of being an entertainment for the people who don’t even know her.

Even though she’s dead, the life will go on for the people around her.

Song Taewon would be upset, yes, but he was going to be fine eventually.

Sung Hyunjae would be fine as well. They are not that close, after all.

Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae are good friends. So, they would be fine.

Han Yoohyun would be fine. He’s not gonna miss her, even.

Using the knife in her hand, she cuts the pipe of the gas cylinder. She slits her throat after she throws a lighter to the kitchen. She manages to avoid the explosion, but the gangsters inside are not so lucky. Even if it’s not enough to kill them, at least they will not get out of it unscatched. Though, the fire still manages to burn her skin. Her body falls backwards and she’s suppossed to land on the ground. She’s expected it, but before her body collides on the ground, someone jumps from the room below her house and catches her. She feels a pair of strong, muscular arms wrapping itself around her body as her blurry eyes catch the glimpses of the golden chains—.

Oh.

“Yoojin-ah!”.

Oh. It’s them.

Sung Hyunjae has a grave expression as he presses a smartphone, calling an ambulance and a police. It’s rare to see such a calm and composed man like him be so angry like this.

“Yoojin-ah, can you hear me? Get yourself together!”.

Song Taewon keeps caressing and patting her cheeks, asking her to get herself together and not to close her eyes. It’s rare to see a usually stoic-faced man being panicked like this.

She feels bad for them, but she can’t help it. She’s so sleepy.

Perhaps, it’s because of the blood loss.

Perhaps, it’s the shock or exhaustion.

She just needs to sleep for a while.

The last thing she feels and hears is Song Taewon’s alarmed shout calling her name as he’s cradling her body and the back of her head. She faintly sees Sung Hyunjae approaching them frantically as well as Han Yoohyun (with a panic-stricken face) and Kim Sunghan run at them.

Ah, she must imagine it, for the latest.

Chapter Text

+1. Somewhere Only We Know

When they were children, Song Taewon had a childhood friend. She was a younger girl from the next door in their neighborhood. She was a cute girl who would spend her time with him, playing in the nearest garden or the nearest park. People might have thought her as an ordinary girl from a slightly wealthy family. She often talked about her little brother. He knew that she must have loved and cherished her little brother a lot even though he felt something was off from her little brother. Like, there was something sinister or bad about that brat. Contrary to her little brother, she was a girl with a bright smile, just like a sunshine.

He didn’t like how devastated she had looked when she was telling him about how her parents had wanted to abandon her little brother, only taking her with them. Song Taewon was curious about how could the parents be afraid of their own offspring. He was feeling more broken-hearted when she had told him that she would move and she would start working to support her little brother’s education instead of continuing to the Senior High School.

They parted their way just like that. Song Taewon just thought about how he would miss her lovely smile as he was looking at the garden where they usually would meet up.

Song Taewon didn’t expect to meet her again when they were adult.

Those eyes...

He was familiar with those gazes. It was the eyes of someone who was so tired of everything and wanted nothing but to rest. It was the eyes of someone who wanted to die. He caught her wrist and turned her body around, pulling her into a warm embrace to secure her. He had an urge to protect her. She felt warm, but her hands were so cold. She didn’t remember him, as he expected. They were no longer children, after all. They were adults now and they had changed drastically compared to when they were a child.

Still, the urge to stay with her and to protect her was the same.

Song Taewon realized that the rain would pour down the earth soon. He dragged her to the nearest shelter which was the family restaurant after covering her with his coat. He didn’t want her to get cold and he wanted to make sure that she would sleep with a full stomach. Thus, he ordered the food and drink for them. She looked so sad, as if reminiscing something. He wondered if she missed her little brother or something. After all, she did have the loneliness and yearning on those eyes.

He turned his head after looking at the tears welled up on the corner of her eyes. He didn’t say anything about her tears because he knew that it would make her uncomfortable. He just offered the tissue box as he commented about the rain outside. She agreed with him and no words came from her after that.

Only silence accompanied them.

The silence was not uncomfortable.

He insisted to drive her home, reasoning that it was dangerous for a woman to walk around late at night like this and he just wanted to make sure that she arrived home safely. Thankfully, she bought his reasoning.

He gave her his business card with a hope that she would call him again.

She didn’t.

Song Taewon was worried about Han Yoojin’s health. He saw the news in the TV about the accident in the Dungeon. He just contacted Sung Hyunjae because this man was the most trustworthy when it came to wreaking a havoc and blackmailing someone. He got the list of the Dungeon Brokers he would need to hunt, but they did not expect to almost hit Han Yoojin.

“Why did you so adamantly hunt them down, Mr. Public Servant?”.

“They broke the laws. What else?”.

“Not only this will go against the law, but you also acted out of character now. Isn’t it against the law to hunt down the Dungeon Brokers because of the personal grudge?”.

“I only want to stop them and catch them. So, no one would be their victim like her”.

Sung Hyunjae had talked jokingly as he stirred the wheel “Who? A woman?”.

Look, Buddy. Song Taewon was only being honest here.

Song Taewon said the matter of fact with all seriousness, a stoic expression on his face as he shamelessly declared “My first love”.

Sung Hyunjae had meant it as a joke but knowing this man, he should have expected that the Mr. Public Servant would most likely take it seriously but no, even he didn’t prepare for this “What? Who—?”.

Song Taewon shouted in alarm “Look at the front!”.

It was rare to see Sung Hyunjae lose his cool, to the point almost getting into a ‘hit and run’ after ‘almost’ hit someone using his car.

Worse even. That person was Han Yoojin.

After she collapsed unconscious, they parked the car nearby and checked on her. Song Taewon put his coat on her as a blanket. She was okay, only exhausted or too shocked. Still, he thought that they needed to bring her to the hospital. He disliked how she sounded so disappointed after learning that she was not dead yet.

Granted. Han Yoojin refused to go to the hospital and asked them to treat her a liquor instead.

He found out the reason why did she feel like wanting to die. No wonder she would be so devastated and in despair. After their parents passed away, Han Yoojin only had her little brother and she gave everything she could for her little brother’s sake. And yet, look where they were now. Look what did Han Yoohyun do to pay her back.

Song Taewon wanted to punch Han Yoohyun. Han Yoojin’s reaction be damned. He despised the ungrateful brat who threw away and abandoned his older sister once he was successful. For now, he held himself back. She was more important now.

Han Yoojin was drinking, ranting, crying, until she passed out. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon exchanged glances. Song Taewon did know where does she live, but he would pretend to forget it because they knew better.

Han Yoojin could not be left alone.

Sung Hyunjae offered him to have a sleepover in his house, which Song Taewon begrudgingly accepted because it was unlike he could just bring Han Yoojin to his house. His grandparents would not live it down. Not to mention, he didn’t trust Sung Hyunjae and he blatantly ignored Sung Hyunjae who dramatically was faking a hurt expression after he declared that he didn’t trust him to take care of her. Being unable to leave them two alone, Song Taewon joined having a sleepover in Sung Hyunjae’s penthouse that night.

Sung Hyunjae excused himself as he entered Song Taewon’s newest rent room “I heard a rumour”.

Song Taewon quirked an eyebrow “What rumour?”.

“I understand that you are concerned, but don’t you think that you’re acting like a stalker right now?”.

Song Taewon narrowed his eyes in judgment.

This shameless man. He would undoubtedly do the same thing if he were in his shoes.

No, scratch that.

He would do worse things, even. He would probably try to confine Han Yoojin after he somehow managed to convince Han Yoojin to succumb in his embrace. Song Taewon knew how dangerous this man could be. It was the reason why did he bluntly say that he could not trust him with Han Yoojin completely and chose to join having a sleepover in Sung Hyunjae’s house that night and drinking with Han Yoojin.

Sung Hyunjae smiled, looking amused at Song Taewon’s judgmental stare “Taewon-Ssi, I can feel the judgment in your eyes, you know?”.

By the way...

They smelled blood.

Song Taewon didn’t like from where did it come. It came from Han Yoojin’s room. Song Taewon contemplated to just break the door or ask the renthouse owner to borrow the key. Sung Hyunjae was surprisingly able to unlock the key with an expertise of a thief.

They smelled blood. Han Yoojin’s blood.

Sung Hyunjae covered his lower face in disbelief “Oh, shit”.

“...Yoojin-ah?”.

Song Taewon didn’t quite remember what or how it happened. What he had remembered was how he pulled her naked body out of the bathroom, wrapping her wet and naked body using the towel and his coat. After Song Taewon cleaned and treated her wounds, Sung Hyunjae left to pick a healer from his guild. Sung Hyunjae made sure that the healer would not say anything about this to outside.

The healer grumbled about how heartless Han Yoohyun who refused to heal Han Yoojin’s legs “What was he thinking? She will be disabled or worse, her legs could never be healed and she could not walk anymore. I heard that their relationship is bad but no matter how estranged their relationship is, isn’t this too much?”.

True. Song Taewon wanted nothing but to choke and hit Han Yoohyun on the back of the bead, to knock some sense into his head. Even Sung Hyunjae was displeased.

For now, Han Yoojin was his priority.

The Healer warned them to not make her depressed more than she already had. She had a major depression, after all. Although the healer had healed her legs, Han Yoojin probably would still feel the pain sometimes because it was not healed properly right away. Like, she would feel the pain even though the injury no longer existed. The bad weather might make it worse, too. Song Taewon listened to the healer attentively about what he should do and should not do to nurse Han Yoojin.

No matter how long it took, he would stay by her side and help her to heal. Until he could see her smile sincerely and happily from the bottom of her heart once again.

Song Taewon drove them to the outskirt of the Seoul city. He even carried her on his back to help her climb the uphill, ignoring her protests about how she still can walk especially after Sung Hyunjae’s healer healed her legs and she’s not a child. After he told her that he could hardly trust her to take care of herself, especially not after he found her almost being overdosed by the sleeping pills, she gave up and leaned her head on his back. She was warm. She was still too light for his liking, though. He needed to make sure that she would be well-fed.

“We’re here”.

They arrived on the beautiful flowers field at the mountain. It was so beautiful. The scenery was just like the painting goes straight out of the painting. She reached out her hand to the red camellia on the tree branch when Song Taewon was calling her.

“Yoojin-ah”.

Looking at him, her eyes widened when a flower crown was placed on top of her head by Song Taewon. She looked up at him dumbfoundedly, questioningly before Song Taewon remarked.

“Happy birthday, Yoojin-ah”.

It was a simple gift. He only brought her here and gave her something mundane such as a flower crown and  a bracelet. They only ate the sandwiches, fried chicken, and orange juice. However, she smiled brightly at him and told him ‘thank you’ as if he had given her a world. It was something simple he could give for now, with a hope that it would cheer her up.

Just like the fallen red camellia’s flower that would fall to the ground, the fat tears simultaneously come flowing out of her eyes. It must have been a while ever since the last time she’s ever heard it from anyone. With tears streaming down her face, she smiled with both her eyes crinkled like the crescent moon. It was like the sunshine, the way she used to smile at him.

Han Yoojin pressed her lips on the flower crown and the bracelet “Oppa, thank you very much”.

Song Taewon didn’t know what had gotten into him but he leaned down as he whispered “I love you”.

Han Yoojin’s eyes shook and she cried harder before she reciprocated the hug and kiss.

She smelled like the dandelions flower.

Song Taewon wondered how could it turn out into this.

He remembered that he just had the unwelcomed guests. He expected Sung Hyunjae, yes, but he didn’t expect to see Han Yoohyun with his subordinates, Kim Sunghan and Suk Simyeong.

“Stay away from my older sister and move from this place”.

Oh. Song Taewon wondered...

Why bother?

“You ungrateful brat. Did you seriously tell me this now?”.

Han Yoohyun frowned, so did Kim Sunghan. Suk Simyeong was the one who tried to mediate them but they didn’t have a chance to continue because they smelled the gas leaking out of the room above.

Wait.

Song Taewon quickly went to the balcony and he saw her room exploded. Not only that, but she also fell from her room, bleeding.

Without a doubt, Song Taewon jumped, wrapping his hands around her to catch her body “YOOJIN-AH!”.

Sung Hyunjae followed closely, already using his golden chains to catch other people who also jumped from Han Yoojin’s exploded room while helping them to land on the ground safely.

“Yoojin-ah!”.

Song Taewon pressed the cloth over the slit on her throat. Sung Hyunjae called the police and ambulance as he was trying to stop her bleeding. Han Yoohyun, Kim Sunghan, and Suk Simyeong helped Sung Hyunjae to restrain the people they suspected had attacked Han Yoojin.

After they interrogated those people as long as they were waiting for the ambulance and the police to come, they learned that these people were sent by the Dungeon Broker who had stolen her money and tricked her.

Sung Hyunjae stomped on that bastard’s head “Had you not invaded into her room, would she have tried to fight back with exploding her room?”.

“That bitch was the one who exploded her room and slit her throat!”.

Han Yoohyun, Kim Sunghan, and Suk Simyeong were shocked. Han Yoohyun blanched, as if the blood drained from his entire body. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon exchanged glances and they looked strangely calm in the three other men’s eyes.

Right.

This was not the first time for them to find out that Han Yoojin had tried to kill herself.

When the Ambulance had arrived, Song Taewon was carrying her and telling them “Save my lover first!”.

The Jupiter Guild Healer’s thunderous voice roared “What I told you guys before for not depressing her more than she already has? She has a major depression, for heaven’s sake!”.

Sung Hyunjae has ended up dragging them all to the hospital belonged to the Jupiter Guild’s Healer. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon didn’t trust to bring Han Yoojin to other hospital. At least, Han Yoojin could rest properly and focus on her recovery without worrying about the other patients and mass media. They had limited the mass media and the visitor. Thus, only Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon or any of the people they allowed to see her who could visit her.

So what did Han Yoohyun, Kim Sunghan, and Suk Simyeong do here?

Sung Hyunjae sighs because these three have refused to leave no matter how he has told them to leave “What do you want?”.

Han Yoohyun looks straight at Song Taewon whose back facing them “What did you say back then... does it true?”.

Without looking back, Song Taewon inquires “About what?”.

It’s Suk Simyeong who asks him “Are you lovers?”.

“Why bother now?”, Song Taewon looks behind over his shoulder with a vicious frown “You don’t even bother to heal her legs”.

“That—”, Han Yoohyun looks struggling with his words before he says “...I did it with a hope that she would never step into the dungeon as a Hunter again, for her sake—”.

Song Taewon rarely gets angry. However, he’s so angry this time. He kicks Han Yoohyun on the stomach, but the younger man can block it. So, he punches him on the face and Han Yoohyun falls backwards. Sung Hyunjae whistles, not willing to separate them, neither he wants to stop Song Taewon.

The ungrateful brat deserves it for hurting their Yoojin, after all.

“You ungrateful brat”, Song Taewon growls as he clenches and unclenches his fists “Are you out of your mind? Did you realize what have you done to her? You broke her!”.

Kim Sunghan wraps his arms around Song Taewon’s body to hold him back even though it’s a difficult task for him. His strength as an A-Class is no match against Song Taewon who is S-Class Hunter. Suk Simyeong supports Han Yoohyun, helping him to stand up. Sung Hyunjae doesn’t budge and he doesn’t have any intention to interfere or to stop them at all. Song Taewon reminds Han Yoohyun about Han Yoojin’s sacrifices for his sake and what Han Yoojin has strived to do to raise him. Song Taewon tells him about what Han Yoojin has told him, in the night when she was almost hit by a car and how she looked not mind even though she was died, about how she just wanted her family to comfort her like how it used to be. Song Taewon reminds him how Han Yoojin thrived and sacrificed everything just to support him and what did he do to repay her? He abandoned her.

“What make you think that your money can make it up for her? What she needed is not your money, but you. And what did you do? You turned a cold back against her as if she wasn’t there. What did she do to deserve this?”.

The door creaks open and Han Yoojin’s bandaged hand reaches out to grab Song Taewon’s wrist through the gap of the door “Oppa, enough”.

Song Taewon breaks free from Kim Sunghan’s grasp and opens the door, cupping Han Yoojin’s cheeks “Yoojin-ah, rest. You shouldn’t get up from the bed yet”.

Leaning on his touch, Han Yoojin clutches her hands on his biceps, burying her face on his chest “Don’t blame Yoohyun-ah. It’s not his fault. It’s my fault. I must have done something terribly wrong to make him do it. He’s not going to do something without a reason”.

“Yoojin-ah, no”, holding her shoulders, Song Taewon grimaces “You don’t deserve this”.

“No, it’s my fault. So, I need to put a closure in this case”, Han Yoojin glances at Han Yoohyun “As you wish, I will send the application to cut our family tie”.

Han Yoohyun tries to approach her and reaches out his hand “Noona, no”.

Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae block his way. Sung Hyunjae stands in front of Song Taewon who supports Han Yoojin, allowing her to lean on him.

“Why not? Isn’t this what you wanted? Not to be tied with me anymore—”.

“That’s not what I want!”.

“What’s wrong with you? I think this is exactly what you want? You said it yourself that you and I are not having a family relationship anymore. You disowned me. Literally. Might as well end everything”.

Han Yoohyun asks in disbelief “That’s why you tried to kill yourself?”.

Han Yoojin scoffs before she cries out “Why not? You wouldn’t even care even if I die!”.

“Don’t say that. I do care”, Song Taewon wraps an arm around her shoulder, caressing her cheek “Yoojin-ah, if your blood-related family only make you suffer, I will be your family”.

Han Yoojin is dumbfounded “...What?”.

Holding her hands, Song Taewon proposes “Yoojin-ah, will you marry me?”.

If her family can’t make her happy, he will make her the happiest woman alive and marry her.

Han Yoojin is bawling. She hugs him, punching his biceps and complaining about how unfair it is. How unfair, because how can he say that and give her a reason to continue living now when she doesn’t even care whether she’s alive or not.

Carrying her, Song Taewon saunters to the bed “Does it mean no?”.

After Song Taewon puts her down on the bed and kneels in front of her, holding her hands, Han Yoojin shakes her head before she smiles tearily in between her sobs “Dumbass. Of course, I will marry you”.

It turns out that someone in the hospital has recorded it, about what happened in the hospital. Han Yoojin’s name is slightly cleaned, a little. Some people symphatize with her and start to resent or despise Han Yoohyun for being an ungrateful little brother. Some people even mutter out their disappointment about how could Han Yoohyun leave Han Yoojin behind once he’s success after Han Yoojin has thrived to raise him after their parents have passed away.

Sung Hyunjae cocks his eyebrow “You don’t look satisfied”.

Song Taewon calmly states “What for? Yoojin-ah will not be happy with this, neither it will make up for the time she’s been suffering”.

Sung Hyunjae smiles thinly “Right”.

They look at the playground where Han Yoojin is playing with the kids who call her ‘Teacher’.

After that disastrous day, it has been hectic.

Some people criticized that they were too young to marry, or Song Taewon could have gotten a better bride, etc. However, they were silenced by Sung Hyunjae’s minions or the Chief of the Hunter Association who tried to do the damage control, being helped by Sung Hyunjae who gladly blackmailed them all.

Even though Han Yoojin told them that it’s fine and she doesn’t care, Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae released the press release to clarity Han Yoojin’s name. They explained the situation between Han Yoojin and Han Yoohyun no matter how complicated it was. Thus, it was then concluded that Han Yoojin’s name has been clean, and Han Yoohyun has to compensate for his one-sided actions.

In the end, Han Yoojin and Han Yoohyun cut their family tie. Han Yoojin refused to take the money which Han Yoohyun had offered as the compensation.

Song Taewon and Han Yoojin were getting married and moved to a two story house on the outskirt of the Seoul with a garden and pond nearby. Han Yoojin decided to finish her GED and studying in the online classes till she finished the degree. Once she finished her degree, she sent the job application and became a Teacher in the nursery near their house.

Right now, they live with Song Taewon’s grandparents. Song Mun-Deok and Kashima. They are Song Taewon’s grandparents who have raised Song Taewon ever since Song Taewon’s parents passed away. Song Mun-Deok has a similar personality with Song Taewon. Meanwhile, Kashima is a kind-hearted grandmother who always treats everyone nicely as long as you don’t make her angry or upset. Not even Song Taewon and Song Mun-Deok can win against Kashima when the nice grandmother is angry.

Han Yoojin has prepared herself, at first. After learning that they will live with Song Taewon’s grandparents, she’s nervous whether they will accept her as their grandson’s bride or not. However, they accepted her as their granddaughter. She’s so happy to the point of tears.

It should be fine now. But still, they sometimes can’t help but worry.

Sug Hyunjae blows out the smoke of his cigarette “Then, what are you going to do with your wife’s stalkers?”.

Even now, Han Yoohyun still sends some of his subordinates to watch over Han Yoojin secretly amd discreetly.

Song Taewon contemplates to tell Han Yoojin “Personally, I don’t mind as long as the bastard didn’t show up in front of her or bring harm on her”.

Suddenly...

“Seonsaengnim!”.

They’re shocked when Han Yoojin is kneeling on the ground, covering her mouth. She tries to reassure them (which doesn’t work at all) that she’s okay despite her pale face. Thus, Song Taewon brings her back home and grandpa, Song Mun-Deok calls the physician from the next door in their neighborhood.

The physician is a good grandmother. Her name is Yoon. Grandma Yoon smiles brightly as she announces.

“Congratulations! You’re pregnant. Been 2 months”.

Oh. They are going to be the parents.

Chapter Text

1. Oh, Simple Thing, Where Have You Gone?

When Han Yoojin celebrates her birthday with Song Taewon in such a simple way, she looks so happy and smiles brightly at Song Taewon.

Han Yoohyun crumples the papers in his hands and burns them. Suk Simyeong and Kim Sunghan who have been working for their boss to watch over (a.k.a. stalking) their boss’ Noona collectively sweatdrop. They have no idea about the reason why would their boss still insist on stalking on his Noona when he has announced publicly that he has cut the family tie with his Noona and adamantly refuses any kind of relationship with his Noona.

And now this?

Kim Sunghan and Suk Simyeong will not say that they know about Han Yoojin. However, they don’t expect to find out about the relationship between Han Yoojin with the S-Class Hunter Song Taewon.

The Song Taewon can feel interested in a woman and he takes an interest in Han Yoojin of all women!

Of course, Han Yoohyun suspects that Song Taewon has an ulterior motive.

Does he want to take advantage of his Noona? Not a chance.

Thus, he visits Song Taewon and demands he moves out of his Noona’s apartment, offering the money, fully knowing that Song Taewon still has his grandparents to take care of. Though, he’s taken aback by his harsh reaction which claims him as an ungrateful brat.

Now, what’s his problem?

What’s wrong with him?

Suk Simyeong and Kim Sunghan are on guard because Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon look on the verge of combusting. Unfortunately, they don’t get a chance to fight.

Everything goes down south in a matter of seconds. Suddenly, Song Taewon goes to the balcony and jumps to catch Han Yoojin’s fallen—bloodied—body. Sung Hyunjae controls his golden chains, right behind Song Taewon, jumping outside as well to smooth Song Taewon and Han Yoojin’s landing while catching the bastards who are probably responsible for what happened to Han Yoojin.

He’s right. Only, he doesn’t expect to find out that his Noona was the one who blew her rent room and slit her throat, jumping backwards from the balcony. Something’s off. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon’s reaction, it’s as if... as if this is not the first time for them to discover Han Yoojin’s suicide attempt.

It turns out that it was indeed not the first time Han Yoojin has tried to commit suicide. Multiple times, Han Yoojin has tried to kill herself but either Song Taewon or Sung Hyunjae (or both) is there to save her when he’s unavailable.

How can this happen?

Hasn’t he sent his underlings to watch over her and report her every move?

Unless...

No.

Han Yoohyun grabs his head.

He’s failed his Noona.

How can he make it up for his Noona?

He struggles to let his words out as he answers Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon’s questions. Song Taewon’s rage is well-deserved and Han Yoohyun doesn’t fight him back in the end. Especially after Song Taewon recites how broken his Noona has been and how bad he’s fucked up.

Even so, his Noona still asks Song Taewon to stop and no, she doesn’t blame him. Instead, she blames herself. She even proposes to cut their family tie, thinking that it is exactly what he has wanted.

Since this hospital belongs to one of Sung Hyunjae’s minions, the hospital is securely guarded by the Jupiter Guild’s members. He can’t even visit his Noona. When he’s able to sneak into the hospital and he has had enough courage to confront his Noona, he sees Sung Hyunjae watching from a far distance as Han Yoojin is discharged from the hospital and Song Taewon helps her to depart.

Because Han Yoojin’s rent room exploded and she lost all her belongings, Song Taewon brought the clothes for her. Not only does Sung Hyunjae send the clothes for her, but Han Yoohyun also sends several gifts for her using a random identity and address because Han Yoohyun doesn’t want his Noona to reject his gifts. The clothes she’s gotten which Sung Hyunjae and Han Yoohyun have bought for her will be delivered to Song Taewon’s house while Han Yoojin prefers to wear the clothes Song Taewon Song Taewon’s grandmother has taken from their wardrobe.

Han Yoojin narrows her eyes at the clothes she’s gotten, courtesy of Sung Hyunjae and Han Yoohyun “...It’s too much, you know?”.

Wrapping the shawl around Han Yoojin’s neck, Song Taewon pulls her closer “It’s a good thing that my grandmother still kept some of my late mother’s clothes. Even though it’s a bit old-fashioned, but it’s still decent to use. Do you not like it?”.

Han Yoojin tightens the shawl around her neck and shakes her head “...It’s comfortable”.

“Your belongings are only these?”, Song Taewon carries a suitcase, being fulfilled with her clothes, before he holds her wrist “Let’s go home”.

Han Yoojin doesn’t move and lowers her head “...Where? I have no home”.

Han Yoohyun’s heartaches and he wants to confront her, but Sung Hyunjae stops him.

Han Yoohyun snarls “Move aside”.

Sung Hyunjae scoffs “Just because you’re her blood-related family, it doesn’t mean that you know everything about her, brat”.

Before Han Yoohyun can interfere, Song Taewon moves to crouch in front of Han Yoojin, holding her hands “Yoojin-ah, you can stay with me. Even if we haven’t officially married yet, but you can stay in my house”.

“It’s not that”, Han Yoojin shakes her head “My home... the place where I can return to, where my family members will wait for me and welcome me... It’s been long gone”.

“We will live with my grandparents and I will not do something indecent before our marriage if that’s what you’re worried about”.

“It’s not that, Oppa. I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me. I’m happy... to have a family again and to get a new home, but...”, Han Yoojin looks straight at Song Taewon with tears brimming on the edge of her eyes “...Do I deserve it? What did I do to deserve it when not even my brother wanted me? For as long as we’re together, I’m nothing but a burden—”.

Song Taewon doesn’t let her finish her words and cuts off Han Yoojin’s words by kissing her lips, pulling her closer. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifts her off the floor.

“Yoojin-ah, I told you, didn’t I? If your blood-related family make you unhappy and only make you suffer, I will be your family”.

Carrying Han Yoojin on his hands, Song Taewon kisses her wet eyelids before pressing his forehead on her forehead.

“You are my family. I will make you happier. I will never betray you or leave you”.

Pressing his shoulders, she asks “...You will never leave me?”.

“I will stay by your side until you no longer need me”.

Leaning closer, Han Yoojin wraps her arms around his shoulders and they kiss.

Sung Hyunjae pokes Han Yoohyun’s shoulder in pity “If you still consider her as your sister, then you should prioritise her happiness”.

Han Yoohyun leaves a bouquet as the get well soon gift for her, turning his body around.

2. When You Get Older, Plainer, Saner

Just because Han Yoojin has cut their family tie and he approves of it, it doesn’t mean that Han Yoohyun will stop caring for her. He fires the incompetent people who weren’t even aware of Noona’s suicide attempts. This time, he can’t overlook his sister’s every change or movement.

Even though he has sent the ‘compensation’, Han Yoojin will always send it back through Sung Hyunjae or Song Taewon. Never personally like she previously did. As if she’s fully convinced that merely appearing in front of him will affect him negatively.

From what the recruits have reported, Han Yoojin just finished her GED and she joins the university to earn her Degree. His Noona has entered schooling online after finishing her GED to earn a Degree for being a Teacher. Han Yoojin has sent the application to the kindergarten or nursery around her neighbourhood. Han Yoohyun believes that his Noona will make it. His Noona is good with children, after all. Right now, Han Yoojin is living her life as an ordinary person, not as a Hunter.

This is exactly what he has wished for, right?

So why does it feel hurt?

Checking on her from a far distance will not bring harm to her, right?

Han Yoohyun checks on her, watching over her when Han Yoojin is in the nursery. His Noona is a hard worker as usual. She works for the kindergarten from Monday to Friday. She works in the nursery on Saturday. On Saturday, Han Yoohyun is getting antsy and he goes to check on her.

Long story short, Han Yoohyun coincidentally sees it when he’s checking on her secretly. The children in the nursery drag her to where Yoo Myeongwoo is lying flat on the ground, thinking the tall skinny man is dying when in fact, he’s collapsed because of starvation. Han Yoojin cooks the Fried Rice Kimchi and Pancake Kimchi for Yoo Myeongwoo and the kids in the nursery for their lunch.

Yoo Myeongwoo is crying as long as he recites about what happened to him. It turns out that his house’s certificate was confiscated by the Dungeon Broker to pay their debt. It happened not too long after his sister’s death. Homeless, jobless, and having no family members to return, Yoo Myeongwoo feels like dying and he’s starving. That’s how he’s near the nursery, starving.

Either Han Yoojin feels pity for Yoo Myeongwoo or is reminded of her old circumstances before she met with Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae, Han Yoojin decides to help Yoo Myeongwoo. For the house and the job, Han Yoojin talks with the nursery’s owner who is Song Taewon’s Grandmother’s close friend. Luckily, Grandma Kim (the owner of the nursery) kindly allows Yoo Myeongwoo to stay in the nursery as the nursery’s security. Aside from making sure of the security of the nursery as long as he lives there, Yoo Myeongwoo should clean the nursery and sometimes, help Han Yoojin cook the food.

Yoo Myeongwoo clasps his hands, crying hardly “You are truly an Angel, Yoojin-Ssi!”.

Han Yoojin laughs awkwardly “It’s nothing, really. You should give thanks to Grandma Kim who allowed you to work and live here”.

“But still, I would be homeless and starving if only you didn’t find me! Thank you!”.

Han Yoohyun agrees with Yoo Myeongwoo, but can’t he keep his distance from his sister? His sister is a married woman.

That day, the rain is quite strong. Han Yoohyun still stands watching over her from a far distance, hiding behind the tree. Thankfully, the umbrella helps him hide his head. Han Yoohyun wonders what his sister is thinking as she looks at the dark sky with those sad eyes.

Yoo Myeongwoo thinks that Han Yoojin looks uncomfortable and wonders “Yoojin-Ssi, are you not feeling well? You keep caressing or holding your legs. You’re limping sometimes, too...”.

Han Yoojin freezes for a second before she admits with a thin, sad smile as she’s massaging her knees “...Accident. I was late to get the treatment. Ever since that time, my legs constantly feel hurt, especially at the bad weather like this”.

Ah.

This is one of his failures. Han Yoohyun wonders if he can get closer when Yoo Myeongwoo suddenly goes to the kitchen and he comes back carrying a water basin with the lukewarm water and a towel. Yoo Myeongwoo tells her to compress where does it feel hurt since the pain in her legs is coming from the cold? It works and the pain is lessened a bit. When Han Yoojin thanked him, Yoo Myeongwoo smiled brightly like a sunflower.

Han Yoohyun thinks that Han Yoojin will be fine as she befriends a new coworker named Yoo Myeongwoo whom she has saved.

3. Just That You Could Cut Me Loose

Han Yoohyun wonders if either Song Taewon or Sung Hyunjae (or both) has put a tracker device on him or Han Yoojin.

Because how could they always appear in time every time Han Yoohyun wanted to talk with Han Yoojin? Either Sung Hyunjae or Song Taewon (sometimes both) will come to pick her up if one of Song Taewon’s grandparents can’t come to pick her.

For example, one day when Han Yoojin’s legs hurt again due to the bad weather. The phantom pain must be unbearable till Han Yoojin can’t even sit. She’s just lying there on the floor, breathing raggedly. Han Yoohyun almost approaches her but Yoo Myeongwoo helps her to lie inside. Not too long after that, Song Taewon comes to pick her up. His Noona has a fever but still pushing herself to get to work. Yoo Myeongwoo tells Song Taewon that Han Yoojin has eaten and drunk the medicine. Thus, she’s asleep.

Carrying Han Yoojin on his back, Song Taewon bows his head “Thank you for taking care of my wife”.

Yoo Myeongwoo waves his hands, telling him that it’s nothing. The women in the nursery swoon about how lucky Han Yoojin is to have Song Taewon as her husband. Han Yoohyun still feels doubt about it. He can’t fully trust the thief who has stolen his sister away.

So, it’s a shock to him once the news has reached him.

Han Yoohyun unconsciously burns the document in his hand “...What did you say?”.

Kim Sunghan bows his head and wonders how his Guild Leader will react to this news “...Your sister, Han Yoojin-Ssi is pregnant”.

After Han Yoohyun hears the news about Han Yoojin’s pregnancy, he’s conflicted. He wants to meet her and congratulate her on the baby, but he can’t help it. He thinks that he’s being petty right now. He knows that the baby in his sister’s womb is innocent, but he can’t help it. He feels jealous of the baby who hasn’t even been born yet because the baby will surely get the love of a mother from Han Yoojin. Han Yoojin will love her husband and children more. Han Yoojin will focus on her newly-found family more. Han Yoojin will forget him and she never cares about him anymore.

After what he’s done to her, no wonder.

Han Yoohyun clenches his fists.

How ironic.

Karma did exist, huh?

Perhaps, this was exactly what he deserved to get for hurting his sister.

Suk Simyeong lifts his eyeglasses “Guild Leader-nim, what will you do?”.

What to do, huh?

Honestly, he’s not sure. Right now, he tastes his own medicine. Yes, he has managed to make his Noona quit. He should be satisfied and relieved, but Han Yoohyun feels like drinking the bitter medicine instead. He needs to talk with her, at least once.

On Sunday, Han Yoohyun visits Song Taewon’s house. Song Taewon’s grandpa, Song Mun-Deok welcomed him. Kim Sunghan and Suk Simyeong have come with him this time. Song Taewon is not pleased at all.

Sung Hyunjae whispers to him “Where’s Yoojin-Ssi?”.

Song Taewon wonders why should this man join as well “Grocery shopping with my Grandma and Yoo Myeongwoo”.

Han Yoohyun can hear it. He must explain the reason why he came to visit in the first place. He wants to repent for what he’s done towards his sister and the only things he can think of as a way to reconcile (if his Noona ever wants to reconcile, that’s it) or to help her in a way, to help his Noona raise her children.

Han Yoojin barges in with Yoo Myeongwoo and Kashima in tow, rummaging through the plastic bag to get the dried bacon “We’re home! Grandpa, here is your favourite snack”.

It’s not a secret anymore that Song Mun-Deok adores and pampers Han Yoojin more than he does with Song Taewon.

Song Mun-Deok approaches her and ruffles her head “Oh, thank you very much, Yoojin-ah”.

Sung Hyunjae teases Song Taewon whether he feels the discrimination or not and Song Taewon simply shrugs it off, asking the other madman about why should he feel discriminated against or jealous of his wife when she’s just getting what she deserves.

Han Yoohyun feels out of place as he watches the bantering between Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon, as well as the friendly conversation between Han Yoojin with Song Taewon’s grandparents and Yoo Myeongwoo. Yoo Myeongwoo tugs Han Yoojin’s sleeve and Han Yoojin looks at where Han Yoohyun, Suk Simyeong, and Kim Sunghan are.

Han Yoohyun stands up and wants to approach her “Noona”.

Han Yoohyun’s heart ached as he saw her bright expression just now crumpled and she froze for a good minute.

“Ah, I...”, Han Yoojin smiles in a restrained way before turning her body around and going out “I will go grocery shopping. See you later”.

“Haven’t you had???”, Yoo Myeongwoo says in disbelief, though he understands the reason behind her aversion, he can’t let his friend be exhausted. So he does what a supposedly good friend should do, holding her bicep “Yoojin-Ssi, wait! Remember what the doctor said? You shouldn’t be too exhausted!”.

Han Yoojin tries to keep her smile “Myeongwoo-Ssi, we just went grocery shopping to buy the ingredients for six people. I don’t know that we have additional guests”.

Sung Hyunjae pipes in unhelpfully “More precisely, the uninvited guest”.

Han Yoojin pinches Sung Hyunjae’s cheek with a thin smile and Song Taewon elbows Sung Hyunjae’s side with a deep frown.

“I will make it quick, so Noona needn’t—”.

Turning to Han Yoohyun, Song Taewon wraps his hands around Han Yoojin’s shoulders “Then just state your business here and leave”.

Kashima smacks Song Taewon’s bicep “Taewon-ah, that’s rude”.

Well, they end up drinking tea together.

Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae want nothing but to stay by Han Yoojin’s side but Kashima and Song Mun-Deok make it clear that no one should interrupt the conversation between the siblings. Thus, the others stay in the vacant room beside the one where Han Yoojin and Han Yoohyun are talking.

“What do you want?”.

“I heard that you’re pregnant”.

“And?”.

“... Congratulations, I guess. For your marriage and the baby”.

“...”.

“Also... I hope Noona will receive this”.

Han Yoohyun hopes she will take it for the baby because he knows, it might be hard for his Noona to raise her (from how she raised him). Looking at the same black credit card which Suk Simyeong has given to her when she was asked by Suk Simyeong to never meet with Han Yoohyun anymore (how could she forget how Suk Simyeong glared down at her in disdain as he said that she must be a shitty older sister for Han Yoohyun wanting to leave her?), Han Yoojin snatches it and narrows her eyes.

Han Yoojin stands up, her head lowering forward, her bangs masking her face “Taewon-ah”.

Song Taewon slides the door open and approaches his wife “Yes?”.

Handing over the black card in her hand, Han Yoojin asks “Break it”.

As Han Yoojin has asked, Song Taewon snaps the black credit card into two.

Turning her body around, Han Yoojin tells them that she needs to cook, tying her hair into a ponytail “If that’s all, please leave. I think I have made it clear that I don’t want to receive your money. I am not that shameless to leech off your money”.

“But... Noona seemed struggling. I just wanted to help!”.

“Why bother now?”.

“Noona, please...”.

Han Yoohyun admits that he’s at fault for her suffering and that he’s so short-minded, but not even once does he wish for her suffering.

“Trust me, I never meant to disown you. I just don’t want you to get hurt. Had I known how harsh the impact on you, I wouldn’t have...”.

“You could have told me beforehand! And you never did!”.

They end up fighting again.

“I would have understood, had you told me beforehand. Yes, I would be upset, but I wouldn’t be so broken-hearted if I knew it. I wouldn’t have to choose to just kill myself if what you said had been true. Did you hate me that much?”.

“What? I never hate you!”.

“From what I saw, what has been going on between us only proved that you, deep down in your heart, hate me. What else the reason why would you chase me away every time I tried to find you? When I was asking you to heal my legs, you refused coldly... When my legs were injured gravely, what I wanted, what I needed was for you to hug me, to tell me that it’s okay, like we used to be... But no! You turned me down. You gave me a cold shoulder me and gave the money instead, walking away as if I didn’t exist... I wondered for a long time... Actually, what did I do wrong?”.

“I did it to protect you!”.

“Protect me? Don’t make me laugh! How could turning me down and estranged our relationship into the stranger protect me? The one who saved me when I was trying to die, multiple times, was not you... it’s Taewon-ah. Had he not stopped me, you would have found my body six feet underground right now!”.

Han Yoohyun can’t bear to see her tears as Song Taewon hugs her to comfort her and convince her that everything will be alright. Song Taewon glares at him coldly. Han Yoohyun knows how badly he fucked up. Thus, he leaves.

Not too long after that, Han Yoojin is kidnapped.

4. Let’s Raise a Glass Or Two To All The Things I’ve Lost On You

It’s rare for the S-Class Hunters to gather like this. Under the personal request from Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae, the other Hunters gather in Song Taewon’s office now. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon have called the other Hunters to help them in this rescue operation to save Han Yoojin. Not only Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon, but also the other Hunters who agree to come here like Moon Hyuna, Riette Luire, Bak Yerim, Han Yoohyun, Kim Sunghan, and Suk Simyeong.

Han Yoohyun slams his hands on the table “How could it happen?”.

Song Taewon closes his eyes “I won’t make excuses”.

Han Yoohyun pulls his collar and growls “How could my sister get kidnapped?”.

Sung Hyunjae narrows his eyes “How about the stalkers you have posted to watch over her every movement?”.

Han Yoohyun, Kim Sunghan, and Suk Simyeong have no excuse for that. From the footage they hacked and checked from the CCTV, Han Yoojin were grocery shopping with Yoo Myeongwoo before she was kidnapped by the Dungeon Brokers.

Moon Hyuna joins because Song Taewon is her old friend. Bak Yerim just follows her Senior. When they are asking about Riette Luire, Riette snaps at them that she’s just coming because Sung Hyunjae is asking her to help him find Han Yoojin. Riette owes Sung Hyunjae and she can’t simply turn down Sung Hyunjae’s request to help him find Han Yoojin.

Han Yoohyun smells something fishy here “I don’t know that you’re so close to my Noona”.

Riette rolls her eyes “He didn’t tell you? That woman is his first love, he said”.

Silence.

“WHAT?”.

Han Yoohyun snaps at Song Taewon in disbelief “...Did you know it?”.

Song Taewon looks so done “As much as frustrating it is, I do”.

Han Yoohyun says in disbelief this time “And you’re fine with it???”.

“Yoojin-ah is so oblivious when it comes to it. Unless you say it right into her face, she will not believe it”, Song Taewon jabs his thumb at Sung Hyunjae “It’s not like this guy has done something to steal my wife away, so it’s fine as long as it doesn’t bring harm on us. Not to mention, Yoojin-ah quite enjoys bad-mouthing him when we’re having lunch or dinner together”.

Sung Hyunjae (clearly faking it) makes a hurt expression “You two are so mean. Haven’t I been a good friend for you?”.

Song Taewon holds back the urge to facepalm as he sighs “Once again, as long as you don’t bring harm on us, it’s fine. Of course, I will fight to death if you ever try to make a move on my wife”.

Sung Hyunjae smiles brightly as he pats Song Taewon’s shoulder “Oh, I would never dream of it, my friend”.

Bak Yerim deadpans “Whatever. Shouldn’t we be more focused on how to save her?”.

Suk Hayan, Suk Simyeong’s niece suddenly barges in “Uncle! I found her location!”.

Han Yoohyun asks desperately “Where is she?”.

Moon Hyuna says in amazement “That’s fast. How could you do it?”.

Suk Hayan looks hesitant but she elaborates in the end “Uh... I was trying to track down her traces using the tracker device belonged to Sung Hyunjae-Ssi”.

Sung Hyunjae smiles as he turns his head to Song Taewon “Remember the earrings I’ve given as one of my wedding gifts for Yoojin-ah?”.

(Fun fact: Sung Hyunjae sent so many wedding gifts, including the jewellery box. Had Song Taewon and Han Yoojin not stopped him, Sung Hyunjae would have sent more).

The Satan posing as Casanova states shamelessly “I put the tracker device in her earrings”.

Song Taewon pulls his collar this time with both eyes burning in a promising vengeance “Sung Hyunjae, you...”.

Sung Hyunjae calmly states “Now, now. We get to save her this way, right?”.

Han Yoohyun wants to punch Sung Hyunjae but for this once time, he holds himself back “...For once, I’m grateful for what you’ve done”.

Song Taewon scolds Sung Hyunjae and warns him to take the tracker device away or he will ban him from visiting their house forever.

Sung Hyunjae protests, faking a hurtful expression exaggeringly “Come on, it’s not like I’m the only one who did it. Didn’t you put the tracker device in her smartphone as well?”.

“I have asked for her consent and told her that it’s for her safety. She said that it’s fine. You put the tracker device without her consent”.

Moon Hyuna says in disbelief, wondering whether she should laugh or cry “Both of you are shameless and overprotective!”.

Bak Yerim wonders what’s wrong with these two Ahjussis being possessive over an F-Class Hunter. Is she that pretty charming? She’s curious now.

Once they get to the location, Sung Hyunjae asks Riette to teleport. Riette begrudgingly retorts that she only has two hands and her hands are full as she teleports herself with Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae.

Sung Hyunjae cheerfully says as he waves his hand “You guys better come to pick us right away. We can’t promise that we will leave some douchebags behind for you to beat”.

Han Yoohyun curses as he orders Kim Sunghan to drive them. Once they arrive at the crime scene, they find Sung Hyunjae and Riette tying the criminals while the corpses of the dead ones are melted by the poison.

Yoo Myeongwoo runs at them as he waves his bloody hands “Jupiter Guild Leader-nim, please call ambulans!”.

They find Han Yoojin, but...

Han Yoohyun barges into the jail “Noona!”.

They suck in a deep breath, too shocked to say something. The criminals (including the Dungeon brokers) have been beaten up black and blue by Song Taewon who put them all inside the jail. They can’t move even a single finger.

Holding Han Yoojin’s unconscious body, Song Taewon’s expression is severely savage and scary like the unleashed beast “Don’t come any closer”.

Moon Hyuna has a goosebump in her entire body “Ha! Finally you show your true colour”.

Bak Yerim states coldly “Do you refer to the wolf being disguised in a sheep’s skin, Sunbae?”.

Sung Hyunjae whistles “Who knows that the shepherd will turn into a werewolf because the little red-riding hood is stolen from him?”.

Song Taewon cancels his skill and huffs as he carries Han Yoojin in his arms hurriedly “Stop talking nonsense and let’s bring her to the hospital!”.

Han Yoohyun wonders if he should feel glad because ironically, he is allowed to stay near his Noona this time. Grandma Kashima and Grandpa Song Mun-Deok are the only ones who do not act hostile. Well, Song Mun-Deok indeed glares at him constantly but Kashima convinces Song Mun-Deok and Song Taewon to let Han Yoohyun stay, at least.

Han Yoohyun grits his teeth and clenches his fist.

Actually, what for did he do it all?

His plan to stay away from his Noona only backfires on him. Look at where it brings him now. His Noona is suffering and hurting because of him. Holding Han Yoojin’s hand, Han Yoohyun stares at Han Yoojin’s long straight blonde platinum hair and pale skin. There are stitches on her chest as well, right above her heart. The bandages wrap around her head, her hands, and legs.

“Kh”.

Han Yoohyun’s eyes widen as he frantically calls the doctor.

“Noona, hold on! The doctor will—”.

“Who are you?”.

Han Yoohyun feels like he’s stopped breathing.

Han Yoojin is safe, but she has lost some of her memories. She remembers Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae. She remembers Song Mun-Deok, Kashima, and Yoo Myeongwoo. She’s forgotten about Han Yoohyun. Han Yoohyun is unable to bear the pain and he leaves, turning his body around like how he’s always done.

Had he known that this would happen...

He would have never left his Noona.

Now his Noona is gone.

5. All I Ever Wanted Was You

Han Yoojin has given birth to a pair of twin siblings. Han Yoojin and Song Taewon have a son named Song Han-Tae and a daughter named Song Ji-Won. His niece and nephew often play on the playground near the nursery when Han Yoojin and Song Taewon are working. Song Han-Tae is just like his father’s carbon copy while Song Ji-Won is exactly his Noonan’s carbon copy.

One day, Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae are trapped in the Dungeon and it turns out that Han Yoojin has sneaked into the Dungeon. She and Song Taewon passed away. Sung Hyunjae can get out of the gate in the last minute, but Han Yoojin and Song Taewon can not be saved. Han Yoojin leaves the dying letter in which she will trust her children’s custody to Song Taewon’s grandparents and Sung Hyunjae.

Yoo Myeongwoo visits him not too long after the funeral, giving a footage for him. It’s a record of what Han Yoojin and Yoo Myeongwoo were talking about when they were kidnapped. Han Yoohyun knew that Han Yoojin and Yoo Myeongwoo were kidnapped by the Dungeon Brokers because they targeted Yoo Myeongwoo, at first. After learning that Han Yoojin was pregnant, they wanted to sell her to the auction.

The children of the S-class were unheard of at that time. Song Taewon’s children with Han Yoojin were known as the first offspring from the S-class ever. His Noona’s decision to trust her children’s custody with Sung Hyunjae is not unreasonable. It’s the most perfect plan she must have come up with after so much contemplating.

In the footage, Han Yoohyun watches Han Yoojin’s conversation with Yoo Myeongwoo about the reason why she loves Song Taewon. Han Yoohyun watches how Han Yoojin wished for a life of mundane life, like how they used to live before the gates and monsters started to appear. Both Han Yoojin and Song Taewon desired the same mundane life. They held hands as they walked to reach their destination.

Han Yoohyun hates it because he has been left behind by his Noona after that man stole her away. When Han Yoohyun was away, Song Taewon reached out his hand to Han Yoojin and Han Yoojin accepted his outstretched hand. Walking side by side, Song Taewon and Han Yoojin left them all somewhere only they knew.

In the footage, Han Yoojin recited her theories of what she possibly could have done wrong to Han Yoohyun till Han Yoohyun hated her. When Yoo Myeongwoo asked her about the reason why would she think that her brother hated her, she told him about what she’s experienced and she could tell that Han Yoohyun must be disappointed in her.

Was it because she refused to come with their parents and chose to stay with Han Yoohyun instead?

Was it because he no longer needed her?

Whatever the reason was, Han Yoojin was too tired to find out. When Song Taewon asks her to live and propose to her, she no longer has the energy to walk forward and she has no confidence to confront Han Yoohyun anymore. Yoo Myeongwoo suggested Han Yoojin talk with Han Yoohyun again because from what he saw, Yoo Myeongwoo didn’t think that the Abyss Guild Leader hated her. Han Yoojin shook her head and started crying.

“Thank you, Myeongwoo-Ssi. However, I’m afraid... I can’t help but remember how cold-hearted he was when he refused to heal my legs... I don’t want to make it clearer that Yoohyun-ah hated me... I don’t want to make him hate me more than he already has”.

Han Yoohyun’s tears fall uncontrollably. He leans his back on the wall as his vacant eyes stare into nothing.

“Ha... I’m a son of a bitch...”.

+1. One Last Time

Han Yoohyun has tried to take over the custody of Han Yoojin’s children but it’s difficult considering he and Han Yoojin are strangers after she has cut their family tie. Sung Hyunjae has become the twin’s Guardian instead. Song Han-Tae and Song Ji-Won have refused adamantly to stay with Han Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae because they want to stay with Song Mun-Deok and Kashima, their great-grandparents.

Han Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae cooperate to kill the Dragon Lauchitas because they want to get the Wish Stone and they earn the Wish Stone at the same time. They wish to turn back the time because they want to meet with their cherished people again.

For one last time, they need to be the ones to save Han Yoojin.

Han Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae grab the Wish Stone at the same time and declare in unison “Bring me back to her!”.

In another world, Han Yoohyun gets back his sister and their ‘family’ has expanded.

Han Yoojin is startled when Han Yoohyun hugs her tightly “Yoohyun-ah?”.

“Noona, forgive me”.

“What the—? Why are you crying???”.

“If you want me to beg, I will beg you but please, please don’t leave me. I’m sorry”.

“Yoohyun-ah, calm down. I’m not leaving”.

Han Yoojin can’t say no after looking at how distraught Han Yoohyun was when he was crying. She agrees to live with him in his dorm, though Han Yoohyun is quite displeased at the fact that they need to share the dorm with Bak Yerim and Yoo Myeongwoo as well. Not to mention the upcoming additional members.

Well, at least he got back his Noona. That’s all he needs.

In another world, Sung Hyunjae steals Han Yoojin before she falls back into either Song Taewon’s embrace or Han Yoohyun’s hands.

Han Yoojin pulls Sung Hyunjae’s hair in protest “For once in your life, can you listen to someone, you bastard?”.

Wrapping his hands around her slim waist, Sung Hyunjae showers her with kisses on her face, earning her giggles “Forgive me for being rough last night but no, I don’t think that I can stop after listening to the sounds you made last night—”.

Han Yoojin covers his mouth, blushing furiously “Stop. Still, do you want to break your Item?”.

Sung Hyunjae holds her hand and kisses her palm after licking her palm “No. You are my future wife”.

In a world where their children continue living, Han Yoojin and Song Taewon open their eyes to the other realm. They are in a very beautiful flower garden they used to visit.

Song Taewon reaches out his hand “Yoojin-ah, let’s go”.

Han Yoojin wears the white dress, feeling the most peaceful she’s ever had “To where?”.

“Somewhere only we know”.

Song Taewon once told her that he wished to see her smile happily and sincerely from the deepest of her heart once again when all her wounds have been healed.

Han Yoojin smiles sincerely and brightly in happiness as she holds his hands.

Holding hands, they walk away to somewhere else only they knew together.

Chapter Text

1. This is gonna hurt but I blame myself first ‘cause I ignored the truth

The first time Sung Hyunjae met her, he was impressed by her boldness. Even though he and Song Taewon were the S-Class while Han Yoojin was the F-Class, Han Yoojin was fearless. She was not afraid of him and Song Taewon as long as there was no pressure, unlike the ordinary F-Class. Perhaps, raising an S-Class had something to do with it. To say that Han Yoojin was an interesting woman would be an understatement. No wonder Chief Officer Song would be attracted to her. There was something about Han Yoojin which made them attached to her. The attachment would grow, wanting her to be his.

Desire her.

It was a shame, truly.

Had it been Sung Hyunjae who met her and reached out his hand first, would she have accepted and fallen in love with him instead?

Sung Hyunjae shook his head, chiding himself inwardly for thinking over something so incredulous.

“What am I thinking? No matter how attractive she is, I should not have fallen into a woman who belonged to another man”.

He should have known better than to fall in love with someone else’s woman. He didn’t want to stand on Song Taewon’s bad side. Sure, he enjoyed Song Taewon’s involuntary company and he thought that Han Yoojin was attractive, but he was not going to be a homewrecker.

Being their partner-in-crime? Very welcomed.

However, he was not going to steal Song Taewon’s first love. Especially not when the man was so devoted towards Han Yoojin and the said woman looked like having a crush on him as well. That woman’s skill to tame that wolf in a shepherd’s clothes was impressive, to say the least.

Unfortunately, it seemed like Sung Hyunjae was not able to hide his feelings entirely from Song Taewon from how the bear-like man with a hello kitty heart (only every time it related to Han Yoojin, though) had confronted him openly that night.

Song Taewon scowled and inquired straight to the point “Are you interested in Yoojin-ah?”.

Sung Hyunjae blinked his eyes and smiled as he replied teasingly “What do you mean? I do think that she’s interesting, though”.

Song Taewon held back the urge to facepalm “Pardon. Let me rephrase it. Are you interested in her and see her as a woman?”.

“I am not going to steal her, if that’s what you’re worried about”, Sung Hyunjae shrugged and replied nonchalantly as he wiped the plate before serving breakfast for Song Taewon “Why don’t you just confess to her? From what I see, she’s interested in you as well”.

Song Taewon seriously pondered it as he chewed the roasted bacon and fried eggs on his plate. Cute. It made Sung Hyunjae smirked in amusement.

Han Yoojin yawned as she rubbed her eyelids, walking to the kitchen “Good morning...”.

“Good morning, Yoojin-ah”, Song Taewon nodded curtly before pressing his palm on Han Yoojin’s forehead “How do you feel?”.

Han Yoojin blushed and took a step backwards, waving her hand “I-I feel fine... better, honestly. Thank you very much for your company last night”.

Song Taewon hummed, ruffling her head “It’s nothing”.

See? It was obvious that they were interested in each other romantically. Why should he step in between them and probably ruin their relationship?

Better safe than sorry.

“Morning, Yoojin-Ssi. Let’s have breakfast together”, Sung Hyunjae served a plate of light breakfast for Han Yoojin with a polite smile “Shall I drive you home after this?”.

“Ah, I can’t—“.

Han Yoojin was about to reply that she could not burden them more than she already had but Song Taewon cut them off.

“No need. I will drive her home”.

“Protective much, huh?”.

Song Taewon scowled at Sung Hyunjae’s teasing tone. Instead of answering him, Song Taewon resorted to glaring at him with a warning, as if trying to tell him ‘Do not seduce her in front of me so casually like that, you shameless man’. Thankfully, Han Yoojin was obvious for the entire conversation and she was unaware that Sung Hyunjae was being a flirt.

Whether he liked Han Yoojin or not, he would support both of them because they were so cute and they were his precious friends.

.

The first time Sung Hyunjae realized that something was off with Han Yoojin was when Song Taewon was acting strange and they were unable to contact Han Yoojin. So, they barged into her house and they found her alive, thankfully.

“Yoojin-ah, are you okay?”.

With those dull eyes, she acknowledged them and smiled thinly “Oh, I don’t know that you two will visit. Wait a minute, I will prepare the snack and drink”.

Song Taewon asked her that she didn’t have to, but she didn’t listen. It was like... she was half-aware of her surroundings, having difficulty differentiating the reality and her dreamscape. It turned out that her major depression kicked in. Usually, it would make her drown in dissociation or succumb to a delusional state as a result. It was the latter right now. Song Taewon didn’t look too surprised. Sung Hyunjae had heard about Han Yoojin’s estranged relationship with Han Yoohyun but he did not expect it to be this bad.

Just to irritate the younger man, once he had a chance to meet with Han Yoohyun at a party, Sung Hyunjae asked casually as he twirled the wine glass in his hand “How have you been doing with your sister, Young Master?”.

“Which sister you’re talking about?”.

Ha... This bastard. He didn’t even know about his sister’s depressed state, right?

Song Taewon was absent at the party that night. It was because he wanted to attend Han Yoojin. Sung Hyunjae also wanted to stay with her and Song Taewon, but unfortunately, he could not.

Sung Hyunjae sipped his wine “I see. Even if you are siblings, you are not close”.

Han Yoohyun snarled in warning “Sung Hyunjae”.

Sung Hyunjae just wanted to rile him up when he was whispering to him, low enough till it was only the two of them who could hear it, squeezing the younger man’s shoulder.

“Because had you been close with your sister, you would have known that your sister is spending a good night with her lover tonight. Seems like she hasn’t told you about it yet, or... is your relationship with her that estranged till you don’t even know that she has someone she loves?”.

The scrunched face of the Young Master was worth it.

.

Sung Hyunjae should have expected this. If that Young Master still cared for Han Yoojin, no matter how small it was, he would investigate what happened to his Noonim, but Sung Hyunjae did not expect this level of audacity (and stupidity). Sung Hyunjae had been a witness, only watching as long as the drama happened in front of him between Song Taewon, Han Yoojin, and Han Yoohyun. Sung Hyunjae had been supportive as long as Han Yoojin and Song Taewon were having a hard time. Since those two were his close friends, Sung Hyunjae would help them as long as it was still in his power.

One of the moments was when Han Yoojin’s major depression kicked in and this time, she succumbed to a dissociation. She had been bedridden in the first trimester of her pregnancy. After the stupid stunt the Young Master had done, she was constantly succumbing to her deep slumber. Even when she was awake, she would stare into nothing. Song Taewon and his grandparents contemplated sending her to the hospital because her condition worsened.

There was once when Sung Hyunjae visited the hospital. In winter, he accidentally found Han Yoojin in the garden, sitting on the snowy ground. She was only left unattended for 15 minutes and she got into trouble.

Wrapping his coat on her shoulders, Sung Hyunjae chided her and carried her bridal style “Yoojin-ah, what are you doing? Sitting on the snowy ground like this—”.

Cupping his cheek with her cold hand, she mumbled “Hyunjae-Ssi... How long I’ve been out?”.

After she’d been out for weeks (what felt like months or years), she was aware. Sung Hyunjae recited about what happened as long as she was ‘out’, ignoring the way his heart was beating loudly.

Her touch felt scalding despite how cold her hands were.

Maybe, just maybe...

He should not have let this love bloom.

2. Didn’t care if the explosion ruined me

When Han Yoojin was kidnapped, Sung Hyunjae just realized who was she.

He didn’t care nor deny it when Song Taewon boldly told the others about what Sung Hyunjae felt towards Han Yoojin. After all, it was the truth. However, Sung Hyunjae was shocked once he found out about who was Han Yoojin. When Sung Hyunjae, Song Taewon, and Riette were there, they didn’t expect to see the carnage. Han Yoojin was laughing as long as she slaughtered the people in this criminal’s base. She was using the silver chains, similar to his golden chains.

Song Taewon shouted in alert “Crescent Moon! Give back my wife!”.

Sung Hyunjae’s eyes shook “!!!”.

Looking at Song Taewon, Han Yoojin (or whoever they were inside her) scoffed “Relax. I was trying to save your wife before these rodents tried to do something funny to my Incarnation”.

It turned out that Han Yoojin was the Incarnation of the Crescent Moon. It had a similar concept with the Gods and their Holy Maidens/Saints. The transcendent beings like the ‘illegitimate children’ would need help from the humans of the world they had thrived to save. Only the person with a pure heart and innocent soul could be the transcendent Incarnation.

“This woman has agreed to be my Incarnation as long as she could live longer, enough to raise her children when she’s supposed to die when she’s giving birth to her children. Am I not allowed to borrow her body now when she’s in utmost danger?”.

That statement made Sung Hyunjae’s blood run cold.

Once the Crescent Moon left Han Yoojin’s body and Song Taewon caught her body, Song Taewon and Sung Hyunjae exchanged glances.

What happened that day would be kept a secret and they would make it as if this place was ruined by them, the S-Class.

3. Gave you all of me, and now honestly, I got nothing left

The first and the last, the only time Sung Hyunjae got to touch her was when she was dying in her arms. To save his wife and his friend, Song Taewon was willing to give his life. To save her children, Han Yoojin was willing to give her life.

“Why... Yoojin-ah, just why?”.

Holding her body which getting colder and colder as time passed, Sung Hyunjae was at a loss. Not far from there, Song Taewon’s corpse was lying on the cold ground.

“Do me a favour”, cupping his cheek, Han Yoojin smiled weakly “Please... take care of our children”.

It was unfair.

Sung Hyunjae knew that the world was cruel, but the world had been unfair and cruel to Han Yoojin. What did she do till she had to suffer like this?

However, Sung Hyunjae knew the weight of their sacrifice. To save this world, they handed over the seed of this world to their children. Thus, even though they died like what the Diarma and the other cults had planned, this world would not be destroyed.

So, the only thing Sung Hyunjae could do right now was...

“...I will”.

Han Yoojin smiled in relief and thanked him as the light in her eyes died out. Only when the light in her eyes dimmed, Sung Hyunjae pressed his ear on her chest.

“...It’s too quiet”.

Quiet.

It was so quiet. As quiet as Han Yoojin and Song Taewon’s departure from this world.

He decided to let her go because he wished that she would be happier.

However, was it the right choice to begin with?

Sung Hyunjae had so many regrets and one of them was her. He hoped that she would be happy and she wouldn’t have to die with her husband so soon like this.

Pressing a tender kiss on her forehead, Sung Hyunjae blinked a single tear as he held her cold body close “Yoojin-ah, just you wait... I would never forget you. In the next life, you’d better be prepared because I would never let you go. Ever”.

.

Sung Hyunjae made sure that Song Taewon’s grandparents would not lack anything in their old days. He also adopted Han Yoojin and Song Taewon’s children. To win the custody war between him and Han Yoohyun, Sung Hyunjae even entered a contract marriage with Evelyn Miller. Thankfully, not only Evelyn Miller had been cooperative, but she also was a good mother figure for the twins who had to lose their parents at a young age. Sung Hyunjae made sure that the twins would not be lacking anything before he entered the Dungeon.

Sung Hyunjae and Han Yoohyun managed to slaughter the Lauchitas. The reward was the ‘Wish Stone’. Sung Hyunjae and Han Yoohyun reached out their hands to the ‘Wish Stone’ at the same time and wished for the same thing.

“Bring me back to her!”.

The bright light blinded them and Sung Hyunjae woke up in his bedroom. He checked the time and he was unsure whether he returned to the past, or simply moved to another world. Whatever it was, he had to find her first.

Sung Hyunjae found out that Han Yoojin had just been kicked out of the Abyss Guild’s building. He followed her until he found her on the bridge, holding the fence. Before she thought doing of anything funny, Sung Hyunjae stood beside her.

“Tonight... the star in the sky is so bright, but it’s too cold to die”.

Han Yoojin glanced sideway “I guess so”.

“Wanna have a drink? My treat”.

They ended up in one of Venus Hotel’s VIP rooms, drinking the wines. Han Yoojin was rambling about her little brother, just like what she did to Song Taewon back in the past.

Ah, he missed this.

“What about you, Sir? What make you think that on the bridge? Did someone just jilted you?”.

“Sort of”, nursing the wine in his wine glass, Sung Hyunjae chuckled bitterly “She’s married to her First Love. Not only my feeling is unrequited, but she’s also getting married to my best friend”.

If Song Taewon had ever heard him calling him his ‘best friend’, he would probably have scoffed at it.

Han Yoojin looked at him in pity, not knowing that she was the woman who had broken his heart “You have my condolence”.

Being a broken-hearted mess, they slept together.

4. Drank off that love, my head up, there’s no forgetting you

Waking up in the stranger’s house with her entire body sore was not a pleasant experience. Supposedly. The last time she checked, she was still in the hotel with that man who claimed to be broken-hearted because not only he was rejected by his first love, but that woman was also married to his best friend.

What a waste for the fine specimen of a man!

Who could have possibly rejected a man as handsome, rich, and gentle as him?

Either that woman was blind or she simply thought of him as a jerk, thus she decided to marry the poor man’s best friend.

Probably both.

Not knowing that she was the said woman.

Unfortunately, all pity she had felt for this man vanished once she found out about his true identity.

The S-Class Sung Hyunjae.

She accidentally overheard his conversation with his subordinates, telling whoever the poor soul across the phone that he needed to take the day off because he had an urgent problem. Private one.

Long story short, Han Yoojin felt tricked (which was not entirely wrong) by the S-Class who was the rival of her little brother and she was trying to sneak out of his house. It didn’t end well, because Sung Hyunjae’s alter ego just decided to kick in a wrong time and made a wrong turn. Han Yoojin was trying to escape when she was caught red-handed by Sung Hyunjae. She jumped from the nth floor before his chains could catch her and she fell into the aquarium with the monster in it.

It was the Kraken-like monster. It wrapped its tentacles around her body strongly, enough to crush several of her bones before that octopus manhandled her body, slamming her on the aquarium’s glass wall. Han Yoojin was getting a concussion, broken ribs and dislocated limbs as she was drowning in the aquarium.

It was suffocating. The last thing she saw was Sung Hyunjae’s shaken eyes beyond the glass wall.

.

Other memories flooded his mind. He staggered, remembering his past life.

In that life where he lived as ‘Sigma’, he had a partner. Her name was Sung Jin-Ah. She looked so much like Han Yoojin.

“Sigma, if we ever met in the next life...”.

Sung Jin-Ah’s last mission was to infiltrate the Auction near the Dungeon in Hong Kong. Sigma found her corpse in the aquarium where her limbs were chained and she was sold by the traders as one of the rarest Items.

Sung Hyunjae saw Han Yoojin’s image overlapping with Sung Jin-Ah and he broke the aquarium without a second thought. He slaughtered the monster who dared to harm Han Yoojin using his electric waves. Ignoring the roasted squid, Sung Hyunjae called the healer of his Guild and ordered his subordinates to clean the mess in his house.

Once Han Yoojin woke up, she didn’t remember anything. The Healer said that it was probably because of the shock or the concussion on her head. Sung Hyunjae covered his face with both hands, hiding the smirk on his face.

Ah. It was good. So good.

It seemed like Heaven had done a favour for him.

Was it because of pity?

No wonder Han Yoojin had been ‘familiar’ with him. It turned out that Han Yoojin was Sung Jin-Ah’s reincarnation. He got to reunite with his past lover and nothing could stop him from having her in this life.

“Guild Leader-nim, she will be fine. You don’t have to worry”.

Oh, he still had to take care of several things, indeed.

Looking at Han Yoojin apologetically, Sung Hyunjae held her hands “Jin-Ah, it will be fine”.

5. You’ve awoken me, but you’re choking me, I was so obsessed

Han Yoojin was getting confined for the entire Winter in Sung Hyunjae’s house. Having lost her memory, she had no idea that Sung Jin-Ah was not her real name in this life. However, Sung Hyunjae had made sure that no one could track down Han Yoojin’s whereabouts. Sung Hyunjae made the Abyss Guild Master and everyone thought that Han Yoojin had died due to a suicide on the bridge. Her body was never found anywhere, no matter how hard they tried to look for her body in the Han River. Sung Hyunjae even bought a new identity for Han Yoojin. Han Yoojin’s once-dark hair had turned platinum blonde, similar to the colour of the moonlight at night. She went with the name ‘Sung Jin-Ah’ pretty well. Not only did she make the perfect wife for him, but she also awakened with her unique traits.

“You have the ‘Caregiver’ title?”.

Han Yoojin—or, also known as Sung Jin-Ah to the world right now—nodded her head cutely “Uh-huh. I have several useful skills that I’d like to discuss with you and... I’d like to listen to your opinion”.

“About what?”.

“What if we build a breeding centre where we can breed and train the monsters from the dungeons? Once they are trained enough, they can become the Guild’s Mount”.

“Jin-Ah, our wedding is soon. You can take it easy for now, but you can do whatever you want later. I will support you whatever your decision”.

Han Yoojin grinned and jumped to sit on his lap, wrapping her hands around his shoulders “Thank you so much, love!”.

Sung Hyunjae chuckled as he patted her head “Are you that happy?”.

Wrapping her hands around his torso, she leaned her face on his chest, purring “Of course! I’m happy to know that I can be useful to you”.

Giving a light peck on her cheek, Sung Hyunjae smiled “You don’t need to be useful, Darling. As long as you stay by my side, that’s all I need from you”.

“Aw~ you are such a sweet-talker~”.

Evelyn Miller cleared her throat, ignoring Kang Sooyoung who suddenly felt the wall more interesting, before she decided to interject right now “Guild Leader-nim, sorry to interrupt, but your future wife has an interview in two hours and I should pick her up now regrettably”.

Sung Hyunjae clicked his tongue inwardly as Han Yoojin stood up abruptly with a blushing face. Right, they had the interview shows on the TV before their marriage and it was her turn now.

It didn’t turn out well at first.

Han Yoohyun had barged into the Jupiter Guild’s building and demanded to meet with Sung Jin-Ah.

+1. I loved you dangerously

Sung Hyunjae watched the record of the interview last night. ‘Sung Jin-Ah’ claimed to have met Han Yoojin in the Auction near the Dungeon Break in Hong Kong. The interview asked about how Sung Hyunjae and Sung Jin-Ah could meet. Of course, Sung Jin-Ah only told them about what she had heard from Sung Hyunjae. It was the made-up life story which Sung Hyunjae had arranged for Han Yoojin’s new identity as Sung Jin-Ah.

Sung Jin-Ah was an orphan in Pecinan and she lost her parents at a young age because her parents passed away in an accident. Because of her parents’ debt, she must work hard in the Auction and she met with Han Yoojin in that place. Sung Jin-Ah told the world about what kind of life ‘Han Yoojin’ had to live and how she died. Sung Hyunjae felt his heart tightened because the way Han Yoojin died, from what Sung Jin-Ah had described, was actually how Sung Jin-Ah had died in the previous life. It seemed like her memory of Sung Jin-Ah and Han Yoojin were mixing, meddling with each other.

Unfortunately, this interview also invited the uninvited guest to the Jupiter Guild building. It seemed like Han Yoohyun claimed that Sung Jin-Ah was Han Yoojin.

Holding Han Yoojin’s hand, Han Yoohyun demanded—begged “Noona, have you forgotten about me? It’s me, your Dongsaeng”.

“What Dongsaeng? I don’t have a sibling! I think you’re mistaken. I am Sung Jin-Ah, not Han Yoojin”, Han Yoojin tried to swat his hands to no avail “Let me go!”.

“Let go of my fiancee, Young Master”.

Sung Hyunjae pushed Han Yoohyun and wrapped his hands around Han Yoojin’s waist as she held her head. Carrying Han Yoojin in his hands, Sung Hyunjae curtly nodded his head and glowered at Han Yoohyun.

“Young Master, I would appreciate it if you didn’t visit here uninvited and treat my fiance rudely like this”.

Han Yoohyun wanted to refute but Song Taewon came in time because Sung Hyunjae had called him to drag Han Yoohyun out of the Jupiter Guild’s building. People felt pity for Sung Jin-Ah and Han Yoojin because of the mistreatment of Han Yoohyun. Sung Hyunjae let his fiancee bury her face in his chest before he went back to his bedroom, carrying her to their shared bedroom.

Holding her head, her teary eyes shook violently “Sung Hyunjae... who am I? I—I don’t know why, but... whose memories—?”.

She didn’t get to finish her words because she groaned in pain, holding her throbbing head.

Sung Hyunjae shushed her, cradling her head and carding his fingers through her hair “Shh, it’s okay, my Dear. I’m here. You will be fine. I promise. Do you trust me?”.

Sniffling, Han Yoojin nodded her head before Sung Hyunjae kissed her. Poking her lips with his tongue, he asked for permission. Han Yoojin opened her mouth and moaned as his tongue slid into her mouth and entangled with her tongue. She gasped and moaned into his mouth as Sung Hyunjae slid his hand into her cleavage, massaging her breast. Sung Hyunjae pushed her, lying with her back on the bed. It was a slow process as they took off their clothes while kissing torridly.

“Mph!”.

She jerked her hips as he poured the liquid from the lube on her vagina before his fingers slid into her entrance. Holding her hips, he looked straight at her, asking for permission. She nodded her head and prepared herself. He slowly and gently entered her wall. She clenched her fist on the white sheet, yanking her head backwards as tears streaming down her face. He stopped to give her time till she could bear with his size.

Holding the back of her head, Sung Hyunjae furrowed his eyebrow and shushed her, like trying to soothe an upset child, as he felt her sobbing silently “Shh... you will no longer be in pain”.

Wrapping her hands around his shoulders, she whispered “Hyunjae, I don’t regret it... Be it as Han Yoojin or Sung Jin-Ah, I don’t regret it”.

Sung Hyunjae’s eyes shook as he looked straight at her eyes. No lies on her eyes as she smiled with both eyes crinkled like the crescent moon. Sung Hyunjae smiled broadly and pressed his forehead on her forehead.

Yes, this time, they would not let go.