FLIA 118

“That’s right. It’s a bit far. So from now on I’ll be staying at the guild headquarters, and it’ll be hard to come home often for a while.”

In truth, once he revealed he was a purifier and started following the path of the Great Rift, even coming back to Korea would become difficult, but he decided not to say that here. At Yohan’s words, Kim Yejoo spoke nervously.

“Then I won’t be able to take care of you. You’re picky with food, you get hurt so easily, you catch colds every change of season…. And when something troublesome happens, you won’t even be able to get help from your brother.”

“But will there be many things where I need hyung’s help?”

“Your brother, I mean….”

Kim Yejoo and Yang Hwapyeong were left speechless with their mouths open. Only then did they realize that from now on it would be one-sided, that Yosep might need Yohan’s help, but the opposite would rarely happen. Yohan continued calmly.

…In truth, he felt like he might cry because it hurts his feelings. But he held them back. He did not want to speak the words he had thought over all this time while crying like a child.

“During the time I spent in the Abyss, I kept thinking. That no matter what it was, nothing in this world would be harder than living there. So I’ll be fine.”

Although his parents cherished his older brother, Yang Yosep, more and always distrusted Yohan, maybe that could be called another kind of love. But it was probably the kind of love and concern you give to a finger that is particularly thin and frail and keeps catching your attention.

Yang Yosep, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“Yohan is right.”

Yohan looked at him in surprise when Yosep took his side. He wondered why he had been agreeing with him since earlier.

“We didn’t tell you before because we thought you’d worry, but clearing a rift is no easy task. But he came back alive from a place far worse than that. From the place where even that Lee Hyunmook said his life had been in danger countless times. You can’t dismiss that kind of experience.”

Even after hearing the words of her eldest son whom she trusted so much, Kim Yejoo bit her lip and tried to persuade Yohan.

“But you’re only twenty-three years old… too young to be independent…, and you don’t even know how to do anything properly….”

Yohan, who had been listening to her words, answered with a bitter smile.

“I’m twenty-four now.”

One year in the Abyss.

The concept of time, which until then they only perceived as a word or a short phrase, finally dawned on them. Yang Hwapyeong and Kim Yejoo looked at their son again. To a parent, no matter if their child turned thirty or forty, he only looked young. Yosep looked that way, and the younger Yohan looked even more so. He was still so young. He still looked so young. It felt like he would always need care, and in a world like this, he seemed even more unreliable and tender-hearted, the kind of child they had to scold and keep close to the family. Since parents could not look after him forever, they had thought, until not long ago, at least they had to keep him near his older brother.

But now, strangely, their second son looked much more grown.

Yang Hwapyeong, who had been silent all along, sighed. Kim Yejoo suddenly felt her throat tighten. The two of them felt oddly desolate and empty, and at the same time guilty. Things had been so hectic that they overlooked them without thinking. When he said he became a low-level awakener, they had been secretly disappointed and brushed it aside. Even when he became a high-level awakener, they had taken it for granted he would work under Yosep.

And they suddenly remembered the quarrel before Yohan ran away from home.

Now, it was a blessing he came back safely. But if Yohan had not returned alive… just imagining that those harsh words, telling him to at least be half as good as his brother, might had been the last words they said to their son made their hearts ache as if torn apart.

“Our Yohan has grown up….”

Yang Hwapyeong, whose intoxication had completely worn off, muttered and reached out to pat his son’s back. He had always wished Yohan would mature, but seeing him now so calm and admirable only made him feel sorry and guilty. Kim Yejoo sighed several times and then spoke with a choked voice.

“Yes, that’s right. Yohan, you’re right. …Thank you and I’m sorry.”

Hearing his parents’ sincere words, Yohan felt the lump in his heart soften a little. As the awkward yet gentle mood continued, Yang Yosep stood up.

“If the talk is over, I’ll go wash up. I want to take a bath with hot water for the first time in a while.”

Even though he had been thoroughly purified, the fact that not a drop of water had touched him for a long time must have left him uneasy. While Yang Yosep hummed a tune and went to wash, Yang Hwapyeong let out a long, heavy sigh. Then he straightened his posture and asked.

“So when are you planning to go to that guild?”

“A week from now. That’s when the headquarters construction will be finished.”

“You’re not going to wait a little longer before going….”

Kim Yejoo spoke in a voice full of regret. Yohan also wanted to rest for a month or two, but his desire to work together with Lee Hyunmook and the others was stronger.

‘And he also said that around then, articles about me would start coming out….’

According to what Lee Chanha had passed on, reporters were desperate to uncover the identity of one of the returnees, in other words Yohan. That meant his family would likely get caught up in the commotion as well, so commuting only to and from the guild headquarters was the only option. Above all, he had to be at the headquarters to respond immediately to a Great Rift or any rift.

“I’ll stop by home whenever I get free time.”

“Should we buy some furniture and things?”

“Uh, no. They provide all the furniture, so I think I just need to take some clothes….”

Ding dong! The doorbell rang while Yohan was conversing with his parents. Yang Hwapyeong looked puzzled and asked Kim Yeju.

“Honey, are we expecting anyone?”

“No, Yosep wouldn’t invite guests at a time like this.”

Ding dong! Ding dong! The doorbell kept ringing. Worried that maybe Park Seungmin had come back to spit out more curses, Yohan stood up.

“I’ll go check!”

Yang Hwapyeong, out of habit, was about to stop him, but then remembered his son was no longer just an ordinary civilian, and he froze. Yohan walked to the door and frowned. There was more than one presence outside. And they did not seem to be civilians. Most likely, they were all awakeners….

What was this? Did Park Seungmin really come back? Yohan asked through the intercom.

“Who is it?”

–We received a corruption report and came from the Rift Management Bureau. Please open the door.

“……!”

A corruption report! Judging by the timing, it was obvious that Park Seungmin had made the report. Yohan added one more grudge against him and answered calmly.

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

The Rift Management Bureau’s suppression squads were known to be rough and violent. The targets they subdued were dangerous, and often the families of the contaminated resisted. Since they would force their way in anyway, Yohan had no choice but to open the door to keep it from being smashed.

“The Rift Management Bureau came?”

Yang Hwapyeong’s face twisted in anger. Kim Yejoo’s expression also stiffened. Both of them immediately thought of who would have made such a report.

When Yohan gestured for them to step back and opened the door, the Special Suppression Unit rushed in. They all wore helmets that hid their faces and black suits. Some carried guns, which set Yohan’s nerves on edge. One of them asked in an overbearing voice.

“Are you Yang Hwapyeong?”

“I’m Yang Hwapyeong. What is this about?”

Yang Hwapyeong replied stiffly. The agent swept his gaze around the house, then stopped briefly on Yohan. After judging how much of a threat the awakened man was, he seemed to decide Yohan wasn’t much, and continued in a blunt voice.

“We received a report that not long ago the awakener Yang Yosep, in a state of corruption above the Bureau’s severe level, fled into this house. We ask for your cooperation in a search.”

Blood vessels stood out on Yang Hwapyeong’s face in fury. On top of that, they had barged in at dawn without even taking off their shoes.

“Hey… listen. No matter what, you can’t just storm in like this and suddenly demand to search….”

“Be aware that if you refuse to cooperate, you may be arrested.”

This was exactly why the Special Suppression Unit had such a notorious reputation. They had the authority to search based on a report alone, without a warrant. They could arrest, detain, and even press criminal charges against resisting citizens, which made public resentment high. Even if a false report was made and the house was wrecked, there was no compensation.

Yang Hwapyeong was about to confront them fearlessly even with an awakened standing in front of him.

“Father? What’s going on?”

Of course, Yosep, who had been bathing, also felt the hostile presence. He instantly understood why the suppression squad had come to their house and boldly came out in only his underwear.

Yohan frowned in a different kind of displeasure. He needed his eyes cleansed immediately….