Seven Years Younger
It's Nam Eung-ryeol!
"My master's got the Thunder Brain Sword."
"How...?"
"The sword came to me."
"No, I mean, how do you know Nam Eung-ryeol?"
"Ah, that's a long story. And there's still some stuff I can't talk about yet..."
Kim Jun didn't want to lie, so he laid out the truth first. Yoo Min-jeong nodded, saying she understood.
"So, where's the Thunder Brain Sword now?"
Yoo Min-jeong asked.
Kim Jun explained how he'd felt the sword materialize in his hand while he was sleeping, then added that it contained Podum.
Yoo Min-jeong was speechless. The stolen Thunder Brain Sword had crossed through space to find its owner. And now it was in Nam Eung-ryeol's hands.
"The Yeon Family stole the sword. That's what my master thinks, and the guild master agrees."
"...I had no idea."
"That's why I'm telling you. Honestly, I only found out yesterday myself."
Yoo Min-jeong realized Kim Jun had told her first because she was the team leader. Otherwise, he'd have called Yeom Sang-taek and Choi Muhyun too.
"Thanks."
Kim Jun grinned at that.
Yoo Min-jeong smiled back as she washed the dishes.
"What’s Nam Eu— I mean, your master like?"
"A doddering old geezer with dementia."
"......"
Yoo Min-jeong turned to stare at Kim Jun, dropping a bowl. This time, Kim Jun snatched it out of the air.
"Careful there."
"...What did you just say?"
Yoo Min-jeong couldn't believe her ears. No raider would ever describe their master like that.
"He's a quirky one. Anyway, you called Skyla, right?"
"Yeah, she's team now."
"Good call. I didn't think of that."
That little praise lit up Yoo Min-jeong's face.
"Just doing the obvious."
"But don't you think there might be issues?"
"Like what?"
"Age gap. Experience difference too. Skyla's a reporter—she probably sees us as kids."
"Maybe, but what can we do?"
Yoo Min-jeong pondered it.
No matter how she racked her brain, nothing clever came up. The best option would be forming a new team and sending Skyla there.
"I've got one idea. Wanna hear it?"
"Shoot."
Yoo Min-jeong finished the dishes and pulled some handmade dumplings from the fridge—delivered from her dad's favorite spot.
Kim Jun explained his plan beside her.
Yoo Min-jeong set the dumplings by the pot, wiped her hands on a towel, and eyed him.
"No way. She won't buy it. Hell, she can't."
"Skyla grew up abroad."
"She's been in Korea long enough to adapt."
"Wanna bet?"
"You're on. Loser grants the winner one wish."
"Deal."
Kim Jun swung his arm and headed to the garden.
Skyla strode confidently into Yoo Min-jeong's house, but the sight of the team gathered at the table made her shrink back a bit.
They're all here. Guess I wasn't the only one called. And they called me last.
"...Hi?"
The folks eating dumpling soup stood up.
"Sit here."
Yoo Min-jeong pointed right across from her, next to Choi Muhyun.
Skyla sat, and Yoo Min-jeong brought over some dumpling soup.
Chatter flowed.
Choi Muhyun spun a tale about a fender-bender out front, so he took a cab.
Yoo Min-jeong groaned—it was his third time telling it.
Skyla laughed along, but it felt forced. Like she just didn't fit in.
Less so at the guildhouse, but Yoo Min-jeong's home felt alien. Meanwhile, Kim Jun polished off one bowl... two... then emptied a third.
He set down his spoon.
"What's up? Only three bowls?"
Choi Muhyun teased.
"Had samgyetang at home."
The table went quiet.
Then Kim Jun grabbed his bowl, refilled from the pot.
"Can't stop now. Gotta eat one more. Might get hungry later."
Everyone burst out laughing, but Kim Jun ignored them, focused on eating. The laughter only grew.
Skyla laughed too, genuinely this time.
"I told the master. He said take your time since you're all together. Kang Jin-gu's on vacation, and guild doc O Won-jin is away on business. So relax and have fun."
Yoo Min-jeong said, bringing coffee, fruit, cake, and biscuits to the living room table one by one. Yeom Sang-taek helped.
"We ate like 30 minutes ago."
Choi Muhyun noted.
"Look over there."
Yeom Sang-taek whispered.
Kim Jun had sidled up, spearing apple with a fork while staring at the massive TV.
Eyes on screen, hand grabbing fruit, mouth never stopping.
Choi Muhyun laughed in disbelief.
Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, and Yeom Sang-taek led the talk.
Kim Jun focused on eating; Skyla smiled and listened.
After demolishing half the snacks, Kim Jun headed to the garden to play with the cats.
He dashed like the wind through the cats and overgrown trees.
Skyla followed. Better than eavesdropping on conversations she couldn't join.
A cute Russian Blue approached.
It sat before her, looking up.
A smile spread across Skyla's face.
"Hi, I'm Skyla."
She extended a hand; the cat dodged sideways and bolted, brushing her leg.
Turning, Skyla spotted Kim Jun petting it.
"These guys are smart as hell. They know exactly who can approach and who gets to touch."
"Really? Then why'd it dodge me?"
"You're not cat-like enough."
"...What?"
That caught her off guard.
"I know why you came out here. Words not clicking, right? Cut us some slack—we're young. Normal for a reporter to feel out of place."
"Maybe."
Skyla scrambled to hide her surprise at Kim Jun's sharp read—him, the guy who'd just been scarfing food.
"What about the master?"
"Huh?"
"As a man. Weak to booze, reels from shocks, but solid at heart. Take pity on the old bachelor?"
Skyla cracked up. Not a quick chuckle—her laughter pitched higher and higher.
Tears welled up.
"I'll take the sentiment. Not looking to date anyone."
"Just wait a bit. A raider you'll click with is coming soon."
"What do you mean?"
"Guild's getting another team. Won't vets who talk sense join up?"
"Haha, got it."
Skyla laughed warmly. Chatting with this kid felt oddly comforting, reason unknown but effect real.
"There's an even better way."
Kim Jun whispered, face like a salesman with a hot deal.
"What?"
Skyla wondered what quip he'd drop next to amuse her.
"You're twenty-seven, right? Subtract seven years. Seven years younger—who wouldn't love that?"
"And if I get seven years younger?"
Skyla wanted to hear him out.
"You become friends with us."
Skyla got the cat reference and admired it unwittingly.
"Imagine making four friends at once. You won't sleep at night from excitement."
Kim Jun grinned.
Skyla laughed till her sides hurt.
"So, what do you say?"
Kim Jun asked.
Skyla wiped her smile, eyed the three cats clustered by his feet—ones that trailed him like magic.
Cat-like...? Yeah, living a bit younger ain't so bad.
"Sounds good."
Skyla said.
"I'm Kim Jun."
He offered his hand.
"Skyla."
She shook it.
His phone rang.
Yeon Un-jae checked the caller and answered.
"Speak."
"...What?"
Yeon Un-jae frowned.
Skyla's solo scoop had nearly crippled Uramata Guild. And wasn't the carrier Kim Jun on Yoo Min-jeong's Pink Team?
Why would Skyla visit Yoo Min-jeong?
"Pink Team's all assembled."
Carrier Kim Jun didn't even register in Yeon Un-jae's mind. A newspaper blip was still just a carrier—not even human to him.
"Indeed, family head."
"Can't infiltrate?"
"Right."
Back when tensions flared with Jushin Guild, he'd targeted that house multiple times. Infiltration was possible a few times. But the intricate security was a deadly hurdle.
Unless Cheonchal Pavilion's leader went personally, a shadow getting caught would blow it wide open.
"Any guess why Skyla's meeting Yoo Min-jeong?"
"Understood."
Yeon Un-jae hung up with a long sigh.
A rare frustration after so long.
Cheonchal Pavilion would uncover every detail perfectly. But time mattered—info's value swung wildly on timing.
"No choice."
He dialed a number.
Ring tone.
The sultry voice belonged to Daily Raider's editor-in-chief, Choi Yeon-hee. Silver hair, seductive, but not someone he'd want stranded on a desert island with.
"Let's make a deal."
Tense tone.
"I'll give you juicy info. In return, you give me one piece."
"Uramata Guild got robbed of the Thunder Brain Sword. Vault in the guildhouse cleaned out."
Silence.
Deal sealed.
"You know why Skyla's obsessed with the Thunder Brain Sword?"
A flirty lilt at the end.
"Thanks."
Call ended.
Mystery solved.
Yeon Un-jae pictured Uramata's master. He'd pegged him as a big dumb bear, but clearly misjudged.
That guy dug up reporter Seo’s secret. Probably blackmailed her into joining or he'd spill to the press. Heh, the nosy hack got properly bitten by the bear.
Yeon Un-jae smirked, refining his plans.