"If your physique undergo some changes, please come back again,"
Said Yoo Myeongwoo, putting away the ruler. From Han Yo-hyun's height and shoulder width to the length of his arms, even his hands had been measured. Unlike the equipment worn on the body, weapons rarely adjusted to the user's physique. It was possible to intentionally make them that way, but it was often better for durability and other reasons if they remained unchanged.
So, it was best to make weapons that fit the user's body.
Han Yoohyun looked at Yoo Myeongwoo with some confusion. Honestly, he didn't think they had a good relationship.
"Wasn't it enough to just make the weapons you asked for?"
Yoo Myeongwoo stared at Han Yoohyun as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.
"If Han Yoohyun encounters a problem, Yoojin will be affected as well."
He thought it wasn't a bad feeling to hear such a matter-of-fact statement. And shortly after, Yoo Myeongwoo handed a debuff nullification bead to Han Yoohyun. It seemed like a loan, but he didn't ask for it back.
He was aware that Yoo Myeongwoo didn't particularly like him. Everything was for Yoojin. Han Yoohyun found that more to his liking.
Still not fully accepted into his world, Yoo Myeongwoo was alright.
Crack! Sharp claws scraped against the wall. Han Yoohyun pulled Noah's forearm away and, instead of his shoulder, made the wall the target as he struck Noah's side hard with the back of his hand. It was an attack that allowed the opponent to respond, but Noah's body easily shifted away.
"Do partial transformations just before the price is set."
Maintaining a posture that was almost unaffected, Han Yoohyun spoke.
"It makes defense more difficult for the opponent when the size and attack points of the hands suddenly change."
"Yes, but the speed of transformation—"
"Practice it."
With a cold gaze warning not to neglect a good skill, Han Yoohyun silenced Noah's objections with a quick nod.
"It's the same in the Dragonification state. Being able to quickly change the size of your body is advantageous in battle. It's the same for switching between Transformation and Humanization. Liet Hunter seemed to use it skillfully."
"Yes, but Nuna is... fast."
After the duel with Riette, Noah had improved a lot, but he still occasionally displayed a lack of confidence. Han Yoohyun glanced at Noah disapprovingly. Noah was still lacking in various ways to meet his standards. Sometimes he found it annoying that Noah unconsciously put himself on the same level.
"again."
But Noah wasn't that bad. After all, he was improving little by little.
'If it helps my brother, it's fine.'
Han Yoojin wanted to help his brother even more, so Noah even asked if it was a good time for training. That was quite acceptable.
Those who entered his world. They hadn't fully entered yet, but they were not bad individuals who had taken a step forward. Han Yoohyun enjoyed his trip to Japan. There was no need to worry about Park Yerim, and everything went as expected. It was like a vacation with his brother, and he entered the dungeon of the Black Bull.
And in an unexpected situation, he found himself completely helpless.
"Just wait okay?"
The moment Han Yoohyun heard those words, he felt a chill. It was terrifying to think that his brother would come back to save him. He had to think of a way to get out somehow. At that anxious moment, the only things that came to his dizzy mind were Peace and Park Yerim.
He has them. Definitely.
Han Yoohyun stopped struggling. It was inevitable to feel anxious, but deep within him, a sense of relief was taking root.
Both Peace and Park Yerim had the ability to protect his brother safely. And there was also Noah. With those three, Han Yoohyun could wait calmly. Even the seemingly endless scolding he would receive from Park Yerim for seeking help was something to look forward to.
'...Take your time, brother.'
With others. As long as Peace and Park Ye-rim were by Han Yoo-jin's side, he could wait with peace of mind. He had seen how much Peace and Park Ye-rim had grown under Han Yoo-jin's leadership. Developing Peace, raising Park Ye-rim, and even surpassing his sister, Noah. All of it was under Han Yoo-jin's guidance.
So it was alright. He believed it would be alright.
And finally.
"I'll release you soon."
Brother is back. Han Yoohyun smiled, anticipating the displeased growls and sarcastic remarks. However, what thudded against his ear was a gunshot.
Bang!
The smell of blood instantly permeated the air. Han Yoohyun's eyes widened in disbelief. Why? It was an attack that Peace, Park Yerim, or Noah could easily block. Healing skills, potions—why did no one—
"Hyu- hyung!"
Han Yoo-hyun managed to somehow lift himself and caught the collapsing Han Yoojin in his arms. He pulled out a potion, but he already knew it was too late. Holding his brother, he looked around while trembling. Only unfamiliar faces met his gaze.
"Why."
No one was there. His brother was alone. He was completely alone.
"Alpha!"
A stranger tried to approach. Han Yoohyun forcibly gathered the mana he had left. The black-flamed mana wrapped around him as if protecting him. The person approaching, along with those standing behind, was forcefully pushed back by the gust of wind.
"Ugh!"
"Be careful! Don't get close for now—"
While A-ranks received minor impacts, the B-rank in the corner was pushed aside, hitting the wall and losing consciousness. In the silent room, Han Yoo-hyun, with a pale expression due to mana consumption, looked down at his brother.
Silence.
Not a sound of breath, not a sound of a beating heart. It was so close that he couldn't possibly miss it with his senses, but Han Yoohyun momentarily doubted his own hearing. And soon, he admitted it.
His brother was dead.
Han Yoo-hyun accepted that fact. Surprisingly, smoothly, quietly, without a single protest.
He acknowledged that his world had ended.
Therefore, there was no need to do anything. No need to scream, no need to shed a single tear. His world had already ended, and anything, any action, was meaningless.
Han Yoohyun's ragged breathing gradually calmed down. Almost, if not completely, to the point where it could not be heard.
At that moment, new footsteps echoed.
Sizzle, with electric sparks, the mana-protected lock of the door clicked open. Then, with a creaking sound, the door swung open.
"Who's there!"
"Wait, it's that- !"
The Nohsi stepped forward to stop the approaching person, but before that, golden chains moved .The whip-like chains struck the A-rank guards, knocking them down in an instant. The guards, swept away like dust, hit the wall and collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. Sigma did not spare a single glance at them, only focusing on the center of the room.
The body embraced by Alpha.
"Rank C."
There was no need for reply. He was already dead. Sigma looked at the Alpha, who seemed to stop breathing while holding the corpse with interest. It would have been intriguing if rank C had been alive.
But now, it was meaningless. Sigma sighed unconsciously. Suddenly, everything seemed boring.
"... that's it, already? without even fulfilling the contractual terms. That's Remarkably uncomplicated."
It seemed implausible. The process was much swifter and more straightforward than expected. It felt akin to watching an exciting movie that suddenly ended midway. Additionally, only the films that had been watched were scattered around, and the only one left unseen was the disappointment.
It was disheartening.
A profound feeling of emptiness engulfed him, unexpectedly robust enough to astonish even himself. Unlike a movie reel, this couldn't be continued—
'Wait a minute.'
Is he really dead? Sigma reflected on Han Yoojin's actions. He had already risked his life once in front of Sigma. Even when he tried to engrave the disc he acted as if he wasn't afraid of death. Was it really not precious to him, his own life?
'That can't be true.'
Sigma looked again at Alpha and the young man in his arms. Han Yoojin had intended to go to Akates from the beginning. It was not known about Alpha's rampage on the streets, both in terms of distance and security. Was he really going to take over Alpha? Was the plan not to save him from the beginning? If he didn't know anything, could Alpha have shown such a figure?
If Han Yoojin was precious to Alpha, and Alpha was precious to Han Yoojin, then Han Yoo-jin would not easily sacrifice himself for a bound Alpha. If he was planning to take over Alpha from the beginning, wasn't the plan to rescue him from the start? If he didn't know about Alpha's rampage, could Alpha have shown such a figure?
Sigma approached with a step. Han Yoohyun's head also perked up reflexively. It was a spontaneous movement. The red pupils captured Sigma's figure. It was a familiar face, but now it was meaningless.
However.
Han Yoohyun recalled the voice of someone calling his brother. There are still people. There are still people who cherish his brother.
"Ugh, cough!"
With a choking sound, Han Yoohyun's breath burst out. Physiological tears also welled up. Trembling, he held his brother's body even tighter.
For Peace, for Park Yerim, and for others. He had to take his brother with him.
"Ugh... Ugh...."
There was still something left in a world that should have completely ended. Han Yoo-yun forced himself to stand up. It was painful. Breathing was difficult. It would have been much easier to just stop and stay still. But one more time, just once more, he had to move.
For those who would acknowledge that his world had ended. Comrades who would understand and share similar feelings. He wanted to go to them with his brother, return, and then face the end.
Tears overflowed. Sadness that didn't need to be felt, various emotions filled his chest, his whole body. From head to toe, and even more. It felt like suffocating.
Han Yoohyun sobbed loudly.
It was difficult.
Why did it have to be like this? His brother was dead. It would have been enough for it to end together.
"Give him to me, Alpha."
The chains tapped on the floor. Sigma took another step closer. Han Yoohyun staggered, adjusting his posture.
"Hand over that corpse."
"No... I can't."
Han Yoohyun said stubbornly. His throat was completely dry. He knew very well that his current self was no match for the man in front of him. But he absolutely couldn't let it be taken away.
Bang!
The two proposals were the end. Instead of persuasion, the chains flew towards him. Han Yoojin might be able to come back to life, so there was some interest in his relationship with Alpha. The chains tapped on the floor and enveloped Han Yoohyun. Like a snake attacking its prey, he barely avoided the attacking chains. At the same time, he took out a dagger from his inventory and threw it towards Sigma. Clang! Kwang! Without the need to dodge, the chains easily deflected the dagger.
"Not even able to properly use weapons, let alone skills."
In this world, many weapons consumed mana. Most of the weapons in Alpha's inventory also had mana consumption as high as their grade. Currently, Han Yoohyun could only use relatively low-grade melee weapons.
Thud!
Kwang!
The chains continuously pounded on the floor and walls, pushing Han Yoo-hyun into a corner. The walls and floor as it's stronger than the previous confinement room, were not affected by the mana hall's power.
"Ugh!"
While trying to dodge the approaching chains, Han Yoohyun finally got hit hard on his shoulder. His clothes tore, revealing a long gash along his back. The damp feeling of blood spread quickly. Han Yoohyun, protecting his brother's corpse from damage, was pushed to the end of the wall.
It hurt. It wasn't because of the shoulder wound. He didn't feel anything like that. It hurt because the fact that his brother was dead and he was still alive was painful. Trying to stand up again, Han Yoohyun muttered several times.
'Why does it have to be like this?'
The person just wanted him to be killed. But at the same time, he had to protect. He had to go. There was still something to do. But why.
"...I don't want to."
If it was going to be this painful, this difficult. It would have been better to remain alone. I want this to stop.
Han Yoohyun swallowed his sob. But he still couldn't let go. He couldn't stop. Even though it wasn't enduring. He just, for some reason, couldn't let it go. Han Yoohyun held his brother tightly with one arm, scratching the floor while struggling to get up. A wound seemed to have appeared on his head as well, as blood mixed with falling tears.
"...Hyung."
I want to give up. But why do I keep trying to go back? Even though everything is already here. Even though everything ended here.
Now it was a limit. Controlling even one's own body was overwhelming. Even now, why couldn't he let go? Why when he wasn't alone anymore, why did it become like this, until the moment when he became fact became resentful.
[Hyun-ah.]
A message window appeared in front of Han Yoo-hyun. His chest, which was being crushed by sadness, throbbed heavily.
[I'm here, Hyun-ah.]
New messages appeared successively in his pupils. Dripping down through his cheek, like a round teardrop.
[I'm okay, Hyun-ah. I'll be back as soon as possible.]
"...Hyung."
[Please protect me]
Let's endure safely until Han Yoo-jin resurrects! Please protect Han Yoo-jin's body from powerful enemies for 5 minutes^▽^
Reward: Small automatic mana recovery]
Already 5 minutes have passed, and the quest was retroactively applied, displaying the completion window. If he received mana potions, Sigma would have prevented him from drinking them. However, the quest window was not visible to him.
Han Yoohyun immediately received the reward. His mana recovered slightly. Sigma looked at him somewhat surprised as he struggled to stand up.
"I thought you gave up."
"I still have to wait a bit."
Under the blink of his eyes, the last tear fell. Han Yoohyun held his brother's body dearly. He said he would come back. His world hasn't ended yet. It was fortunate that he didn't give up. It was fortunate that he didn't stop.
It was fortunate that he wasn't alone, and that's why he could continue to wait. It was truly fortunate.
Whirl- Flames flickered around Han Yoo-hyun. Flames with a faint, diluted bluish tint compared to usual.
---