Joining the Company (1)
My hometown is Incheon. In my childhood memories, it had a rural atmosphere, but when I snapped out of it, it had turned into a major metropolis. They don't really call it the Demon Capital anymore, do they? Looking at it like this, time really does fly.
[For real. Feels like just yesterday I was swinging a stone axe and going ugh-ugh.]
'Isn't that way too ancient?'
Anyway. Shin-nim and I were currently on our way back to my family home. It was about an hour by bus. On foot, it'd take roughly five minutes. Walking was overwhelmingly faster, but to get into the mood, I'd deliberately taken the bus.
"It's been forever since we last came here."
[We've had all sorts of stuff going on in the meantime.]
I hadn't been neglectful toward my parents or anything. I'd kept in touch regularly and sent gifts home a few times. But it was true that it had been a while since I'd seen them in person. I should've visited more often, but I'd gotten caught up in one thing after another, and this was the result.
[I don't look weird or anything, right? I look like a normal stone slab, yeah??]
'You're fine, so don't worry, Shin-nim.'
When going out, Shin-nim usually took her ghost form—something only I could see and sense. But this time, as a special exception, she was accompanying me in her stone slab form.
[We still haven't found a body yet...]
[But I really want to meet them in the real world.]
[Eung? Hubbyyy~]
I'd had no intention of allowing it at first. But it turns out husbands are endlessly weak to their wives' charms. Carrying around a stone slab might look a bit odd, but so what? A husband going around with his wife is perfectly normal.
'The question is how to explain it.'
At the very least, I needed to address my parents' questions. So on the bus ride, I racked my brain the whole time over how to explain this stone slab to them.
We got off the bus, and the sky was starting to turn orange. I'd timed it to arrive right around when my little sister got off work. I walked along, checking my watch now and then and taking in the familiar scenery with both eyes.
How long had it been? Subjectively, it felt like no time at all, but we'd already arrived home. It was a two-story house with a pretty spacious yard.
"Hey, Ppoppi. Been keeping the house safe?"
[Woof woof.]
In one corner of the yard stood Ppoppi, the newest member of the household. On the surface, just your average Shiba Inu. But its true nature was actually a deep-sea entity. A special one that Shin-nim and I had picked out. Think of it as a guardian dog for my parents' house. Something like that.
"Mom, Dad. I'm home."
'Just a sec! I'll be right there, hang on!'
I rang the doorbell, and I could hear movement from inside. Along with my mom's urgent voice, the front door burst open, and there she was.
"It's been a while, Mom. Everything okay while I was away?"
"Nothing but Yun-seo stuff—same as usual. Don't just stand there, come on in."
Following my mom's hand into the house, a delicious smell hit me. She'd apparently been cooking up a storm since I said I was coming. In the living room, I spotted Dad too. He was pretending to read the newspaper, but his eyes kept flicking over to me.
"Long time no see, Dad. Did you get the watch I sent last time?"
"Of course I did. Still wearing it."
He proudly held up his wrist. He must really like the watch I'd gifted him.
"Hang on just a bit, son—Mom'll whip up something tasty real quick!"
"Come sit here. Let's hear how you've been."
"We'll hear it together! You just keep reading your paper!"
"Urgh..."
The two of them were still as lovey-dovey as ever. Watching that heartwarming scene brought a smile to my face. I sat on the sofa as Dad suggested and set the stone slab down beside me.
"What's with the slab?"
[Eek!]
"It's my favorite collectible. My treasure."
[Eek eek!]
I couldn't exactly explain Shin-nim as she was, so I'd decided to bull my way through with something vague about the slab. Dad gave me a strange look—skeptical, but it seemed so precious he didn't press further.
"Expensive?"
"More valuable than my life."
[Urgh...]
Don't groan like that, man. Luckily, the kitchen noise covered it, so Dad didn't hear. I flicked the slab lightly on the "head," and it finally shut up.
"Dinner's ready—dig in!"
"Thanks for the meal, Mom."
"Looks great, dear."
And so dinner prep wrapped up. As we ate Mom's home cooking for the first time in ages, we chatted away. How things had been lately, how work was going. It was all everyday stuff, but it warmed a corner of my heart.
"Seeing anyone?"
"Yes, Dad. I am."
"Wh-what?! You serious?!"
Mom jumped in shock at my answer to Dad's question. It was a natural reaction. I'd been single for as long as I'd been alive, and people around me always said I had no game with women. No wonder my sister and I had that bet on dating vs. job-hunting. My parents had probably given up on grandkids by now.
"She's super shy, so the introductions took a while, but I'll bring her by soon."
"Hohoho."
"Moooooom."
They both looked suspicious at first, but when I spoke seriously, they seemed to buy it. Their colorful expressions had me chuckling. Technically, it's not a girlfriend—it's my wife. If they knew that, they might faint from the shock.
"Dear, pinch me. I must be dreaming these past few days."
"Don't jinx it!"
"But the good news keeps piling up? If this isn't a dream, what is?"
"Hmm... y-yeah, maybe?"
As I laughed at their banter, the front door opened. From the presence, it felt like my sister.
"I'm home, Mom."
"Welcome back, Yun-seo. Come eat."
I turned to see Yun-seo in a suit, bag in one hand, coffee in the other. Her eyes were weary from fatigue, but she was smacking her lips like she was starving.
She really did get a job.
Honestly, I still couldn't quite believe my sister had landed employment. Part of me wondered if she was bluffing. But seeing her in full salaryman mode, it looked legit. I'd have to ask which company hired her.
"Bro's here too?"
"Yo."
"Hey, good to see ya."
She changed clothes and came back. Looked like she'd shower after eating. She was a bit surprised to see me belatedly but soon flashed a confident grin. Having achieved her long-held dream of employment, her ego was inflating, huh?
"What's this about a job..."
"Food first, talk later. I'm starving."
"Alright."
She skipped the bragging to chow down. Devouring it like she was possessed. Eating more than your average athlete. Did she always eat like this? Back in the day, she just picked at her food.
"Phew... now I can live."
"Explanation?"
"Was just about to. Interrupt and you're dead?"
With that, she launched into her story. The hiring process, what the company did, her role there—the works. She'd always been a good talker, so it was engaging the whole way.
"And that's how it happened!"
"Wow~"
"Our girl's awesome!"
"Best daughter ever!"
Applause broke out when she finished. Mom and Dad had probably heard it multiple times already, but they acted like it was the first time, beaming with joy. I'd felt her efforts indirectly too, so I congratulated her sincerely.
"Congrats on becoming a working adult."
"Just words?"
"Gift's in your room."
"Best bro ever!"
Only at times like this. Still, seeing her grin happily about her job was satisfying. Love her or hate her, she was my precious little sister. I hoped that smile would last forever.
So...
'Gonna have to check her out.'
[Shiver...]
I needed to figure out why my sister was lying. And why there was this weird mana emanating from her body. If something shady turned up... I wasn't even sure what I'd do.
I spent the weekend hanging out with my parents. Went into town with my sister too. She insisted on treating me since she was a working adult now—fat chance. I poked her side, told her to save up for something nice, stuffed her with beef, and sent her home.
[Hubby? You pissed?]
"A little? If someone doesn't stop me, who knows what I'll do."
[Not stopping you, FYI...]
Three days after getting back home, I still couldn't calm down. The thought that my sister might've joined some shady company kept my blood boiling.
Was she caught in some anomaly? Or tangled up with ability-user criminals or a shadowy group?
"Maybe smash first, think later."
[Tremble...]
[Shiver...]
My mind was a mess, so my energy wouldn't settle. A savage aura clawing at the whole apartment. Seeing that finally made me think I needed to cool off. Yeah, calm down first. No point getting worked up—some things you can fix excited, some you can't. Right now called for caution.
"Gotta assess the situation first."
Sis was definitely involved in something. But I couldn't be sure it was bad. Could be coincidence, or the company might be fine. Or maybe she knew and chose it herself.
For now, just calm down and act...
[Um... Master? There's something I need to report.]
"What?"
[The protective spell on your sister just broke... Kiiiyaaak! I don't know anything, save meeee!]
Scratch that. Context, good or evil, consequences—screw it all. Anyone even remotely involved gets pummeled. Then I'll demand answers.
"Let's go, Shin-nim."
[Y-yeah!]
With that thought, I tore open space toward my sister.