Chapter 106 – Return

I returned the crystals to where they belonged and headed to Gwangmyeong City Hall. We received a warm welcome surprisingly. Asura had ruled like a tyrant and the residents now rejoiced. They told me that Asura had led many to their deaths for mana crystals.

Everyone gathered at the abandoned building for a party that night. Gwangmyeong City Hall’s residents brought rice and meat as we sat around a campfire. We happily ate and talked. Of course, I left as soon as I finished since I didn’t feel like I belonged.

“Here, Kim Hajin. Take it.”

Yi Yeonghan handed me a bowl of porridge.

“What’s this?”

“For Yoo Yeonha.”

Yoo Yeonha had yet to completely recover after we lifted the curse. She currently slept in the tent.

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“The others are busy.”

Yi Yeonghan pointed to the campfire at Kim Suho and Chae Nayun talking with Asura’s former subordinates. The topic must’ve been funny since even Shin Jonghak laughed.

“We’ve heard the news. Currently, Seoul is split into several factions. Gangnam is divided between Shin Myungchul and Chae Joochul, while Gangbuk is…”

“How is Shin Myungchul’s reputation?” Shin Jonghak asked.

“He’s a great person who brought peace to the Gwanak region.”

“Haha, I see.” He enjoyed hearing them praise his grandfather.

Chae Nayun also asked, “Then what about Chae Joochul?”

Chae Joochul the Immortal was Chae Nayun’s grandfather and one of the strongest in the world. She received a negative reply contrary to her expectations.

“He’s not trustworthy at all. I stayed in Seoul for a bit, so I know. He’s sly, like a snake. He’ll surely cause something big in the future.”

“…”

Chae Nayun’s expression stiffened. Indeed, Chae Joochul wasn’t a kind person in my settings. I took the porridge to the tent.

“Hey, I brought some food.”

Yoo Yeonha raised her upper body from the bed as she groaned. She looked a bit disappointed when she saw me, but tried to hide it.

“You’re pretending to be sick, right?”

“Yes? Ah, no, I’m still tired… uup.”

I shoved a spoonful of porridge into her mouth. Yoo Yeonha nibbled in confusion and ate like a kid. She frowned at me after chewing about 10 times.

“What is it?”

“What.”

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?” Yoo Yeonha looked sullen.

“Didn’t you say you could barely lift your hands? I’m feeding you.”

“But that was…”

She probably pretended to get Shin Jonghak’s attention. I grinned and prepared another spoonful. —Kyahaha. I turned towards Chae Nayun’s laughter from outside.

“Ah, wait, wait! Ah!”

The porridge pasted around Yoo Yeonha’s mouth when I turned back.

“Open your mouth, would you?”

“What? You’re saying this is my fault?”

“…”

I cleaned off the porridge and fed her again. However, Yoo Yeonha kept her mouth tightly shut and glared.

“You don’t want to eat? You’ll starve to death.”

“No, it’s just that… it’s not very tasty. Don’t you have something other than porridge?”

“I have one ramen left.”

Yoo Yeonha swallowed hard and pretended like she would eat it reluctantly.

“Then I’ll take that. This is too bland.”

“I’ll make it for you if you finish this.”

Yoo Yeonha opened her mouth and started eating again.

“Why don’t you come out and talk instead of staying cooped up in here?”

“I don’t have the energy.”

Yoo Yeonha fell back in bed and covered herself with the blanket. I stood up to leave her alone when she suddenly spoke.

“Um…”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you,” she whispered sincerely. I simply nodded.

“It’s good that you know.”

“You always end up helping me out.”

“Right? When are you going to pay me back?”

Yoo Yeonha smiled and softly replied, “Hey, don’t you think we can become good allies?”

Allies… I could easily live a comfortable life if I became her ally. She would become a top CEO with multiple corporations in various fields such as magic engineering, pharmaceutics, guilds, auctions, and weapons.

“I can help you hit it off with Nayun.”

“What? I don’t need something like that.”

“Eh? You really changed ship?” Yoo Yeonha suddenly raised her upper body again.

“Change ship?”

“From Nayun to Rachel.”

“What? No, it’s neither of them. I can’t afford to like anyone right now.”

“Come on, don’t lie.”

Yoo Yeonha looked at me mischievously as though she knew everything. I stared at her and nodded.

“No ramen for you then.”

“Eh? W-Wait!”

I ignored her and left. Then I went to Yi Yeonghan.

“She said she doesn’t eat porridge.”

“Huh? Really?”

Yi Yeonghan tilted his head and went into the tent.

— Yoo Yeonha, why aren’t you eating? Don’t have an appetite?

— E-Eh? Ah… well, um… ramen…

— Ramen? Kim Hajin said he’d make you ramen instead? I thought you didn’t like ramen.

— Eh…? Oh… right….

— Then just rest for today. You don’t have to eat.

— I don’t like you, Yi Yeonghan. I’m serious.

— W-What? Why?

— Get out. Just get out.

I eavesdropped on their conversation as I boiled some water. Yi Yeonghan came out and asked, “Kim Hajin? Why are you boiling water? Yoo Yeonha says she doesn’t eat ramen.”

“Did she?”

Yoo Yeonha peeked her head out of the tent and angrily blurted, “Leave him be. He saved my life. It would be rude to decline his offer.”

“What’s up with her?”

Yi Yeonghan retreated as I finished the ramen under Yoo Yeonha’s watchful eyes.

“Enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

Yoo Yeonha happily took the ramen into the tent. I glanced around and got on my bike, but Kim Suho noticed me.

“Hajin, where are you going?”

“Oh, I need to get something.”

I hadn’t used certain things in this world of the past. I noted them in my settings book, but never used them when I wrote the actual chapters. I planned on obtaining them since a few could come in handy.

***

Everyone continued training and sparring to become stronger. We relocated from the uncomfortable, abandoned building to live with the Gwangmyeong City Hall residents.

Magic power explosions and monster attacks occasionally occurred during the two weeks we stayed. However, we worked together with the residents to resolve any troubles.

Of course, they chased out some of Asura’s subordinates who committed crimes. With Kim Suho’s leadership, they also abolished the hierarchical system and any evil practices.

Kim Suho and the others grew quite close with the people of the past. Yoo Yeonha constantly looked for people who would become the ancestors of someone famous. Chae Nayun played with the kids every day and Shin Jonghak formed a crew that looked quite strong. Kim Suho also helped the residents create several facilities and renovated the existing ones. Everyone spent their time laughing and having fun.

However, I couldn’t enjoy it as much as the others since some of the people I killed remained dead. I didn’t know whether the residents knew or pretended not to know, but they treated me kindly.

“Huu.”

Time passed. I sat in a barbershop surrounded by many people.

“This is great. My hands felt itchy every time I saw your hair.”

“Yeah, it felt like the perfect length two weeks ago, but now it’s too long.”

Chae Nayun commented on my hair for some reason. I wondered if a barbershop should be in the middle of the road as I looked around. Kim Suho, Yi Yeonghan, Chae Nayun, Yoo Yeonha, and Shin Jonghak all glanced at me. Quite the crowd with people from the past also gathered to watch my haircut.

“By the way, can you leave a bit of his beard?” Chae Nayun asked on her own.

“Hm? Why? I want to shave it entirely.”

I asked as I rubbed my beard. It would shock Evandel if I went home like this.

“I think you’d look better with some of it left.”

“Nayun.” Yoo Yeonha smiled at her.

“What does it have to do with you?”

“Eh?”

Chae Nayun fell into a daze. Yoo Yeonha continued with an even bigger smile.

“I’m genuinely curious. Why does it matter how he looks?”

“W-What? I’m just trying to recommend a better path for him.”

“Mm, is that why you went on a drive with him last week?”

“What?” Shin Jonghak’s eyes coldly flickered.

“T-That was because we went to get food! W-What are you trying to say?” Chae Nayun shouted as Yoo Yeonha wriggled her eyebrows and backed off. Meanwhile, the surrounding residents smiled.

“Then I’m starting.”

The barber began to cut my hair. My head grew lighter as the scissors chopped off my shoulder-length hair. I gradually enjoyed the moment with the residents’ laughter, the light breeze, the warm sunlight, and…

“He doesn’t look all that bad, eh?”

“Of course! After all, he’s the one who drove away that tyrant.”

“How did he defeat him? Not even Dongsuk could do anything.”

The past would soon disappear.

“Alright, done. Now it’s time to shave.”

The barber finished cutting my hair and took out a razor. I felt startled since he brought it to my face without any shaving cream. Srrk, srrk— However, the barber used his magic power instead. I calmly entrusted myself to him. Soon, he finished and handed me a mirror.

“Oh?”

I felt surprised when I looked in the mirror. I could hardly recognize myself. The others felt the same. Chae Nayun, Yoo Yeonha, and even Kim Suho looked at me in awe. A clean pomade and a light beard like a Western model. I naturally checked my smartwatch.

[Buff – Master Barber’s Touch] [Will temporarily increase the invariable charm stat by 0.5 points.] [Duration – 4 weeks]

I shot up and respectfully asked the barber when I saw this alert.

“May I ask for your name?”

“Haha, do you like it that much? My name is Kim Woosuk.”

“Kim Woosuk. Do you perhaps have a son?”

“I do. I have an eight year old. His name is Kim Hojin.”

Kim Hojin. I would have to visit him in the present since gifts could often be inherited. I grabbed Kim Woosuk’s hands and bowed. Then I looked around. A mother waved with a child in her arms, elderly people smiled, and young men and women respectfully looked at me. I also bowed to all of them.

“Thank you for everything.”

My haircut was the last business of the day. No, of the past.

“We should be thanking you instead.”

“Goodbye.”

“Will you come by again?”

“These young men and women will achieve great things in the future. I’m sure we’ll see them in the newspapers.”

We didn’t explain much to them. They didn’t know that this was the past or that they were just records.

“Then…”

I turned to Kim Suho and the others. Now, we had to return. They nodded with a somewhat bitter smile.

“We’ll go get them.”

“Yeah.”

They each went to retrieve a crystal as I entered Gwangmyeong City Hall. I sat on the rooftop after climbing the stairs. Then I looked up at the sky. The sun fell halfway towards the horizon and the beautiful sunset dyed the world orange. I leisurely watched this beautiful scenery as I waited for the others.

Soon, the northeast water tower’s purple light disappeared. I could see Yi Yeonghan climbing the south steel tower. The fragments of the past slowly came together. I felt a presence behind me after about 10 minutes.

“Kim Hajin, take this.”

Shin Jonghak returned first. He casually threw the crystal at me and went back down. His lackeys (fan club members) waited for him with tearful eyes.

“Yo, Kim Hajin!”

A loud voice rang from below. Yi Yeonghan threw his crystal from the ground as I caught it.

“Thanks.”

Then I heard the clacking of Yoo Yeonha’s high-heels as she walked up to the roof.

“Where did you get those high-heels?”

“Someone gifted them to me. I’m quite popular, you see.”

Yoo Yeonha handed me the crystal.

“Oh, by the way…” I asked her something I felt curious about. “While you were cursed… you didn’t enjoy it or anything, right?”

“What do you mean? Why would I enjoy it?”

“Huh? Oh, um, never mind. Just ignore what I said.”

I had omitted a certain setting. [Yoo Yeonha likes being bullied.] I never mentioned it in the actual story since it felt strange and the opportunity never came, but I grew curious if that setting made it into this world.

“Anyways, I’ll be going now.”

Kim Suho came up as Yoo Yeonha went down.

“Kim Hajin! Here you… Huh?”

“Come down with me.”

“I want to be with Hajin. Ah, hey, what are you doing?”

Yoo Yeonha dragged him away as he gave me the crystal. The final crystal arrived three minutes later after Kim Suho.

“I’m here.”

Chae Nayun trudged up and handed me the crystal. With this, we had gathered all six crystals maintaining the past.

“Are you going to destroy them now?”

She sat next to me with her knees together.

“Yeah, get ready.”

“Can I watch?”

“Sure.”

I held the crystals in my palm. Then I infused stigma’s magic power into them. The tattoo on my upper arm glowed blue as the crystals fused into a small sphere. I held it up with my thumb and index finger before lightly squeezing. Clang— A sharp sound rang out as the crystal crumbled into purple dust. The changes quickly set in. The scenery began to disappear as the sky shattered. I calmly watched the recorded world of 1972 break down.

“Hey.”

Chae Nayun suddenly asked. Just like me, she watched the sky disappear. “Is this what it means to forget?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. I just wondered if forgetting meant the person would disappear from my heart like this.”

She sounded calm, but her eyes turned red as she thought about her family. However, she didn’t cry.

“How would I know? Why are you asking that?”

“I can’t recall my Mom’s voice no matter how much I try. Her scent, the happy days we spent together… I don’t remember anymore. It’s like they disappeared.”

I turned to the side and faced her. I had never experienced anything like that, so I chose some words from a book I once read.

“Don’t worry about it too much. You can’t smell anything from a flower that doesn’t wither.”

“What’s that. So cringy.”

“It is what it is.”

Memories felt precious only because they wore out and became partially forgotten over time.

“Hmm.”

It seemed like I had failed at comforting her. I took something out of my pocket.

“Here, you can have this.”

“Eh?”

“It’s a ticket.”

Chae Nayun tilted her head at my explanation.

“A ticket that will help you see flowers for a while.”

I felt my fingers curl up at my own words. What I gave her was a time capsule. A small box with a lock and an analog clock marked 01/01/2018.

“What’s this?”

“A time capsule. You know what that is, right?”

“Do you think I’m stupid? Of course I do.”

One of the items I noted in my settings, but never used. It took me a whole day’s worth of stigma’s magic power to find it using the Book of Truth.

“What is it for? And why are you giving it to me?”

“You see the number there? You can change it to go back to that time period for a while. To be more precise, you’ll be looking at your memory of that time from deep inside your subconscious.”

“…”

Chae Nayun widened her eyes at me. Then she blurted a single word. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Why aren’t you using it instead?”

I felt a tinge of pain in my heart when she said that. Honestly, I had planned on using it for myself perhaps in five or six years when my parents’ voices and appearances grew faint. I could hold onto my fading memories. However, an item from this world would surely cause a problem in the present. It would be better for Chae Nayun to use it.

“I don’t even know my parents’ faces, so there’s no point in me using it.”

I made up a good excuse. Chae Nayun looked at me before putting the time capsule down.

“Then I won’t use it either.”

“What?”

“It’s cowardly. Either we both use it, or we don’t at all. That would be the right thing.”

I felt shocked, even slightly angry. Then I pressed her temple with a finger.

“I should smack you.”

“What? Are you crazy? Fight me then.”

She raised her fists and took a boxing stance.

“Shut up and just use it, or you’ll regret it.”

“…”

Chae Nayun pouted and picked up the time capsule. It seemed she didn’t want to give it up so easily despite her words.

“Where do you want to go?”

“To 2013.”

Chae Nayun changed the numbers on the clock.

“March… 13th.”

“Why then—”

Plop. Chae Nayun disappeared without a trace before I could finish. Almost like magic, or perhaps a miracle.

“Hm.”

Suddenly, I stood alone. I stretched and looked around. Everyone else seemed to have returned except for me. Half the world had turned dark. The sky looked blurry, but pieces of the setting sun still shone. Even a crumbling world looked beautiful. I closed my eyes inside this disappearing world. The ringing as it crumbled seemed to shake my heart as well. I should be back in the present once I opened my eyes…

“Hey, Kim Hajin!”

I opened my eyes at the sudden voice. Then I quickly looked around and recognized Wind Mountain. My half-closed eyes looked up at the person who called me.

“There you are.”

Lush vegetation, fresh mountain wind, and brilliant sunlight. Chae Nayun brightly smiled along with this beautiful scenery.