Chapter Text
“Team Leader-nim! Are you sure about this?” Kim Min Ah asked with a complicated expression on her face.
“Yeah..” Kim Rok Soo just answered her shortly.
“But I don’t see and feel anyone around here, sir.” Jung So Hoon commented as he looked around carefully.
Swooosh-
Jung So Hoon could feel the gust of the wind blowing towards them, muffling the sound of their footsteps and breaths.
It was quiet. Too quiet in here.
Seomyeon, Busan.
Kim Rok Soo and his team members are currently in Seomyeon district, the heart of the city in Busan.
This city is a historical place where the existence of the unranked monsters appeared for the first time in Korea. Seomyeon also famous because it once has the largest central shelter in Busan. There were many ability users who came from Seomyeon shelter that became the central figures of Korean ability users, even the first ability user who awakened with multiple abilities came from there. That was why it was said that it was fate and not a coincidence that the unranked monster had appeared there of all places.
However, the Seomyeon shelter only leaves a name for the Korean people now.
They stopped in front of one of the destroyed buildings. There is a broken signboard that says 'Seomyeon Shelter' at the top of the gate.
“It’s so sad.” Kim Min Ah muttered softly while looking at the area around that used to be Seomyeon Shelter.
Ruins as far as the eye could see.
There was no other way to describe it.
That was how miserably the Seomyeon shelter had degenerated as well as its surroundings.
Seomyeon...
This place which had once thrived as a commercial center and transportation hub in Busan was a mere shadow of its former self now.
This place that used to have a vast highway did not look the same anymore as it was now a damaged highway with abandoned cars.
It showed how urgently people had run away at that time.
The cars throughout the destroyed highway were either crushed or destroyed and did not have any semblance of their original shapes.
It showed that something big had happened to destroy the road that was a foundational amenity of society as well as whatever thing above it.
It just showed an extremely desolate scene.
Kim Min Ah lowered her head. A sorrowful yet bitter smile was drawn on her face. She bit down on her bottom lip and clenched her hands into fists.
“It was a good thing that this place finally taking under reconstruction.” Jung So Hoon suddenly speaks beside her as if he understood what Kim Min Ah was thinking.
“Hm.” Kim Min Ah hummed but said nothing more.
After 15 years since the first unranked monster appeared, the government decided to rebuild Seomyeon District after making sure there were no more monsters around. And they said the construction will start this year. It was strange indeed, after this place was abandoned due to the appearance of the unranked monster several times, they rarely saw the monster appear again in this place as if those monsters knew that no more humans were living in this place.
“It’s over there.”
Kim Min Ah quickly snapped out of her thoughts after hearing her team leader shout.
She looked at the building that Kim Rok Soo was pointing at. It was one of those forgotten buildings, not far from the former Seomyeon shelter. One side had crumbled, but the three-story building was maintaining its shape.
“Let’s go.” Kim Rok Soo instructed while slowly continuing his steps.
“How do you know about this, Team Leader-nim?” This was the third time Kim Min Ah had asked that question towards Kim Rok Soo. She didn't understand what their team leader was thinking. She could see the anxiety on team leader’s face, he looked like he was afraid of something but at the same time, he was looking forward to it.
He wasn’t like this before. Their team leader-nim that she knows always has a stoic expression on his face, he also looks calm in almost any situation, therefore, it was rare for Kim Rok Soo to show his emotions like this. She could feel his attitude change as if he was a different person. Even the way he walked was completely different from before, it was so firm yet elegant (like a model or some aristocrat family in a movie she watched in the past).
Kim Min Ah frowned as she looked at the back of their team leader-nim.
All of this journey started when she and Jung So Hoon came to Kim Rok Soo’s place, they decided to visit him because he didn't show up at the office. And when they arrived at Kim Rok Soo's place, they saw him in front of his apartment. They saw Kim Rok Soo carrying a large backpack and wearing a hat and long black coat, he looks like he was about to go for a long trip. It surprised her and Jung So Hoon, because all this time, their team leader had never gone far without telling them first. However, what was more surprising was that Kim Rok Soo said he was going to meet someone important to him.
Kim Min Ah and Jung So Hoon had known for a long time ago that Kim Rok Soo was an orphan, therefore they couldn't hide their shock when he said he wanted to meet someone that seems special to him, so far as they know, their team leader has never been seen to be very close to anyone. Kim Min Ah and Jung So Hoon then asked Kim Rok Soo where he was going, and the answer given by him made them even more surprised.
'I don’t know.'
That's why Kim Min Ah and Jung So Hoon ended up going out with Kim Rok Soo. They can't let their team leader go alone without knowing the direction and destination, especially in this world where monsters do exist. Kim Rok Soo can be said to be one of the top-class ability users, with his abilities he was allowed to lead the attack team, but Kim Rok Soo himself doesn't have the attack-related ability.
“I just happen to know.” Kim Rok Soo who had been silent for a moment answered Kim Min Ah’s question. It was the same answer that he gave to her before.
He could feel his team members staring at each other confusedly without looking at them.
Assistant leader Kim Min Ah and agent Jung So Hoon.
These two people were Kim Rok Soo’s team members. One was in charge of the attack team while the other was in charge of the support team.
He felt that they were people who could be trusted. However, he could not give the real reason why he could tell where the person he was looking for was located. It's not that he doesn't want to tell them, it's just that— it's too complicated to be explained.
He moved his gaze from the half-destroyed building to his right hand, his pinky finger to be precise.
Red.
A string, tinctured by a bright hue of blinding red, is tied on the pinky of his right hand. The strand ran from his hand down to the ground and endlessly flowed towards the forgotten building. Kim Rok Soo followed it with his eyes, tracing the wavy line of red that didn’t move an inch despite the dry breeze that blew occasionally. It just lied there on the ground motionlessly, proud of its blood-like tinge.
Kim Rok Soo, no, Cale Henituse then remembered his conversation with the God of Death as he continued his steps.
...
.....
“Hey, you! You said that I can meet her again, right?” Cale Henituse asked with a disrespectful tone towards the one who introduced himself as the God of Death.
“Sigh... can you speak nicely, human?” The God of Death answered him with a slightly annoyed tone.
“How?” Cale ignored his complaint and just straightly asked to the point.
The world is so wide, how could he find his reincarnated mother? Let alone the place, he doesn’t even know what his reincarnated mother looked like.
“Sigh... I will help you find her. When you wake up, you’ll immediately know how to search for her.” The God of Death understood his concern, that’s why he leisurely told Cale just to trust him.
Cale felt iffy of his response. He doesn’t believe in this Witch or Ghost or God or whatever he is. It’s the first time he meets him, he suddenly appeared out of nowhere and told him to make a deal as he already close to his death. But it’s not like he has a choice though—
The God of Death previously told him the real reason for his mother’s death. It was the biggest question in his life that he still couldn’t figure out the answer to. He knew that his mother did not die because of the carriage’s accident like what his father told him, but he couldn’t understand the real reason for her death since he was still a child at that time. And yet after he becomes an adult, all the trace or evidence of her mother’s dead already disappeared.
He lowered his head and bite down on his lip as the feelings of sadness, joy, guilt, and fear are mixed up together and enveloped his body.
“So how about it? Are you gonna accepted the deal?” The God of Death asked him again.
When the God of Death explained to him about the truth –that he hopelessly search anywhere, keep shadowing him every day, and haunted on his dream every night but still not getting any results until his death— the emotion he felt as he losing his breath was not despaired, anger or hatred, but relief. He just wanted to die and feeling relieved as he finally could be reunited with her mother again.
But then the God of Death suddenly offered him a deal.
“Are you agree to restarted your life?” The God of Death repeated the contains of the deal.
He will come back to the time when he was still alive and was 18 years old.
“Are you agree to turn back the time and change the fate of this world?”
He will come back to the time when the White Star had not dominated the eastern continent and attacked the western continent. Turning back to the time when the decisive battle of the world still not occurred. Therefore, he could come up with a plan to counterattack the White Star and maintain this world peace.
“And are you agree to transmigrated into another person in another world?”
He will come back to the time but at the same time, it was not truly him who will come back as 18 years old Cale Henituse. It was another person named Kim Rok Soo who comes from a different world from him. He will exchange souls with that person and continue his life as Kim Rok Soo in another world called Earth 1. He didn’t know the reason why it was supposed to be this Kim Rok Soo and not him who will come back to the past. But he didn’t want to think too much about it because on Earth 1 he could meet with his long-awaited mother.
Actually, Cale Henituse didn’t really care about the fate of this world, he didn’t care about his life anymore since the world would come back to the moment when he meets that black-haired man named Choi Han that come from another world. It was the starting point that could change the fate of this world. He would not come back to the time when his mother still alive, so it was meaningless for him.
He didn’t care about this world anymore. He didn’t care where he gonna get transmigrated into. He also didn’t care about the fate that awaits him. He only cares about her mother.
He just wanted to meet her mother – although it was only her reincarnation— and start his life with her. He just wanted to pay for his mistake, because he couldn’t save her at that time.
That’s why...
“Yes, I accepted it.”
He will give up on living as Cale Henituse.
He will abandon this world, even he has to throw himself away because there’s a place that he wants to go to.
This time he will save her mother, this time he will protect her, this time he will take care of her and this time he will definitely make her happy ...
Even though it means taking another person’s life.
He knew that it was such an egotistical choice but he didn't care, his mother deserved a better life, she deserves all the happiness. Since the world couldn't give it to her before, then it’s his role to fulfill it this time.
“I understand. Then good luck with your new life, human.”
A bright light suddenly appeared and surrounded him. He shut his eyes as the light almost blinds him.
“But do not think that this is the end.”
The God of Death voice was oddly warm.
“You never know when you might be reconnected again with people from your past life.”
His voice slowly became quieter and quieter.
“Fate is something even the laws of the world cannot fathom.”
He started to lose his consciousness after hearing the last sentences from the God of Death.
And when he wakes up he already becomes another person named Kim Rok Soo.
...
.....
“Looks like it's empty here, sir.”
Jung So Hoon shouts, cutting into Kim Rok Soo’s thoughts. He realized that he had arrived in front of the half-destroyed building. Jung So Hoon and Kim Min Ah had long preceded him into the building to check the situation. Although it seemed there’s no monster around here but they couldn’t let down their guard.
Kim rok Soo stepped into the building, his eyes fixed not on inside the building but at the string that tied his pinky finger. He saw the string leading him to the top floor of the building. He then climbed the stairs and headed to the second floor of the building without hesitation.
“There's no one up there, sir.” Jung So Hoon unconsciously yelled at Kim Rok Soo. He could see his team leader frantically run over the stairs. He afraid the stairs gonna break since this building already abandoned for a long time.
“Team leader-nim, wait!” Kim Min Ah's voice echoed throughout the room. She ran chasing Kim Rok Soo.
Kim Rok Soo continued to follow the red string on the floor, he was so anxious that he didn't even listen to what his team members had to say. At first, he walked, then unconsciously accelerated his pace and now he was running…
‘Soon.’
Boom. Boom.
He could feel his heart beating fast. He was very nervous but also very excited, he doesn’t know how to describe the feelings he has right now.
He continued to run until he arrived quickly on the second floor, but the string that was lying on the floor was still spreading up the stairs to the third floor.
He then ran again to the third floor.
Arriving on the third floor, he could see the red string leading him to the room located on the right side of the stairs. The room is quite large, it looks like the room used to be the main bedroom because there is still a queen-sized bed that has been damaged and there are a wardrobe and sofa which has been split in two.
But it was empty. There’s no one in that room except him.
He looked back at the red string that was lying on the floor, it stopped at one of the corner walls right next to the broken wardrobe.
‘What is this?’ Kim Rok Soo was confused, not understanding the situation.
‘Am I wrong?’ He doubted whether he thought the red string was an indication of his mother's whereabouts.
‘No! It couldn’t be.’ He desperately walked slowly towards the wall.
He stared for a long time at the red string which was now short, unlike before. The string felt cold and didn't match its red color. He still couldn't believe that this string had carried him to such an empty place.
‘What the meaning of this?’ He crouched down trying to pull the red string, but it was futile. From the start, he already knew that he could not touch the string but could only see it.
‘Did the God of Death lie to me?!’ He turned around his body and leaned against the wall.
It was at that moment.
Creak.
He could hear the sound coming from the wall he was leaning against.
He immediately stood up and knocked on the wall.
Tuk. Tuk.
From the sound its created, it looked like this wall was made from wood. He felt strange about it. He was sure the other walls weren’t made from the wood. He then walked over and checked towards the other wall. When he tried to knock it, there was no sound like the one made by the wall earlier.
“So you’re here, Team Leader-nim.” Kim Min Ah speaks to him as she finally found Kim Rok Soo. Jung So Hoon was behind her.
“Kim Min Ah, can you punch this spot?” Kim Rok Soo suddenly ordered her while pointing to the flat area on the wall.
“Huh? Um... as strong as I can, sir?” Kim Min Ah was confused with the sudden command but soon obeyed his order.
“No, just lightly. Very lightly.” Kim Rok Soo was afraid this building gonna be split into two if she used all her strength. He already knew how strong she was— she also one of the top-class ability users after all. She had a grade 1 ability user specialized in attacking, making her one of the members of the vanguard as well one of Kim Rok Soo’s attack squad leaders. And Kim Rok Soo still doesn’t know what’s behind this wall, it could be a clue to where his reincarnated mother is, so he must do it carefully as not to destroy the thing on the other side of this wall.
“Yes, sir.” Kim Min Ah understood that Kim Rok Soo telling her to hurry from the stern voice and the expression on his face. She then walked over to the wall, touched the spot where Kim Rok Soo was pointing at for a moment before raising her fist.
Thump!
It was only a small hit yet the wall that she had punched instantly crushed into pieces. And from behind the scattered dust, Kim Rok Soo could see there was a small room with stairs. The stairs were different from the one in the middle of the building, it was much smaller and spiral in shape. Kim Rok Soo soon realized that before he entered this building there was a rooftop on this building, but he did not find the stairs leading to the rooftop.
“I will go first.” Kim Rok Soo stepped into the room and slowly climbed the small staircase when he saw the red string that tying his pinky finger guide him to the rooftop. Kim Min Ah and Jung So Hoon followed behind him.
Tap. Tap.
Kim Rok Soo went up the stairs two-step at a time, wanting to get to the rooftop as quickly as possible. He could feel his whole body trembling with every inch of his step. Maybe it because he was afraid and desperate. He hopes this time he can really find his mother and not just an empty room like before.
Panting, he saw the roof entrance doors only a few feet away. Standing still, Kim Rok Soo put a hand to his chest, taking a deep breath. He needed to act calm. He didn’t want to freak out whoever he would meet up there.
‘Mother. My mother. I’m here.’
Kim Rok Soo opened the door hesitantly. The chill air greeted him, he closed his eyes for a moment from the debris that hit his face. He then looked around, nervousness building up inside him.
“Who are you?”
Startled by a soft and high-pitched voice, Kim Rok Soo looked at the edge of the roof, spotting the source.
It was a young girl.
Kim Rok Soo saw a young girl with deep black eyes, bright skin color, and shoulder-length black hair sitting on the ground and turned her head towards him. Her face showed a confused and anxious expression, not understanding the current situation she was in.
There are two medium-sized stones with an inscription in front of her, also a bucket of flowers placed on each one of the stones. Kim Rok Soo soon understood that those stones were a tombstone. He then looked back and forth between the girl with his right hand, he could see the red string that tied around his pinky finger was connected to the pinky finger of the girl.
“How did you get here?” The girl could see the man standing quietly in front of her, his mouth continued open and close as if he was about to say something. She was confused by this unexpected situation. When she heard a noise from the stairs, she was fear it was a monster, but then she saw three people approached her.
“What do you want?” The girl impatiently asked the man in front of her again, she wanted to get an explanation from him quickly.
“!!”
The girl gasped, she could see the man began to shed tears.
‘What the – ’
An awkward silence fell between them.
They just stay still, no one saying a word, yet they could feel each other having a lot of thoughts in their heads.
After a few minutes of silence, the girl started to speak towards the crying man using polite language, “Uh... I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t know what happened, but can you answ—” but the man suddenly cutting her words.
“...Family.”
“Huh?” The girl couldn’t understand the meaning of that word. She was about to say something, but the man speaks to her again.
“I’m your new family…” The man said softly to her, hesitantly, he reached out one of his hands. She could see a gentle smile on his face and somehow — without understanding the reason — there was a feeling of longing developing in her.