Awkward Reunion and the Thunder Spear
As he turned toward the familiar voice, Yu Se Eun came into view, staring at him in surprise. Naturally, her older sister Yu Sua was right beside her, but she seemed desperate not to get caught and was hurriedly clamping a hand over her little sister's mouth.
"Mmph…?!"
He let out a short, bewildered grunt of surprise. He'd expected it would be ages before they crossed paths again, since they'd parted without so much as a goodbye. Who would've thought they'd reunite like this? Am I somehow fated to keep bumping into these sisters? …Nah, probably not, but he'd been planning to track them down anyway, so this worked out fine.
He approached with a greeting.
"Hey. You two doing okay? …Though, uh, it might feel a bit weird running into each other after just a day."
"H-Hello… Y-Yes… We've been… f-fine."
Yu Sua stuttered like a broken robot, fumbling for words in her panic. Was it because they'd parted without a proper farewell and now here they were again so soon? Yeah… that made sense. Unexpected meetings always threw people off.
"No need to be so tense. It's fine even if we skipped the goodbyes."
"Y-Yes… Huh? Oh…"
Yu Sua flinched in shock, her face darkening like she'd been caught red-handed.
…Huh? That wasn't it? He'd meant it as a gentle opener, but it came out wrong. He'd resolved to change after regressing, but his silver tongue wasn't magically improving overnight.
He rushed to smooth things over before the mood soured further.
"Ah! No, I mean, don't sweat it. What's the big deal about skipping a goodbye? It's really fine, so no need to feel bad."
"Huh? Oh… It's not that…"
Yu Sua gazed at him intently with wistful eyes, as if she had something to say. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but she hesitated and gave up. If she had words, she should just say them… but they'd only met twice, so maybe that was too much to expect. Better not to push; take it slow.
"Anyway, what brings you two here? You don't live around… here, do you?"
"Yeah. We live nearby."
Yu Se Eun answered in her sister's place, while Yu Sua hesitated in lingering tension. But perhaps catching her sister's nerves was contagious— the lively spark he'd glimpsed earlier had vanished from the younger girl. Were they both hung up on the abrupt goodbye? Telling them it was fine probably wouldn't land with the sisters. Better to keep smiling and approach brightly; that might help more.
"Really? That's unexpected. Uncle's here on work."
"Work?"
"Yeah. Got a tip that a villain snuck in around here, so I'm here to catch 'em. Not retired yet."
"A villain?! Uncle, you're a hero?!"
"…Yeah. That's right."
Yu Se Eun gaped in utter shock, as if it were the last thing she expected. Well… it wasn't that surprising, was it? There were tons of heroes in this era. …Actually, with his scruffy look making him seem a decade older, maybe he didn't scream "hero." That settled it—he needed to clean himself up ASAP.
"Whoa… It's my first time seeing a hero up close!"
"Oh? Really?"
"Yeah! Oh, right. Sis told me not to say stuff like that. Oops…"
This time, Yu Se Eun clamped her own hand over her mouth and stared at him wide-eyed. Worried it'd come off weird, perhaps? Yu Sua jumped in with an excuse.
"H-Heroes don't come around places like this much! So that's probably why Se Eun said that."
"…Ah."
Heroes helped everyone and there were plenty of them, but they didn't help everyone. It came down to priorities. They preferred patrolling city blocks with skyscrapers over slums like this. And with police around, they figured cops could handle it… Excuses. They were just dumping it on others. Heroes were supposed to aid all people—that was the creed—but in reality, they chased personal gain. He had no room to talk as a former hero himself, but if he had one defense, it was that he'd hunted villains wherever they popped up, regardless of location. That had to count for something.
"…Sorry. Us adults—no, us heroes—should've done better."
"N-No! You don't need to apologize, Uncle. And villains don't cause much trouble here anyway. I just hope you don't get hurt fighting them."
"…Thanks."
Yu Sua waved her hands frantically at his apology. Despite whatever hardships she was facing, she was the one worrying about him. It made the tip of his nose tingle, a bittersweet ache stirring in his chest. Child or adult, it didn't matter—you always put others first.
"Anyway, since you live here, mind if I swing by later?"
"Y-Yes?! "
He wanted to fast-track getting the sisters out of this slum, but maybe that was too abrupt. Yu Sua panicked and mumbled evasively, as if hiding something she didn't want seen.
"Ah, n-no! It's fine! You don't need to come. Plus, our parents are home, and…"
"Got it. Sorry. Shouldn't have brought it up."
"…No, it's okay."
Yu Sua shook her head with a faint smile, a flicker of sorrow and loneliness in her eyes.
…He needed to retire ASAP and help these girls.
"Alright, I'll head out. See you later."
"…Okay."
With a wave goodbye, Lee Seojin parted from the sisters. But even after he left, they lingered, staring at the spot he'd stood and the direction he'd gone—like people reluctant to let go, lost in longing for someone absent.
※ Steelron's hideout was deep in the Slum Village, at an abandoned construction site turned to ruins. Foot traffic had died off in the half-built structures—a perfect spot for vagrants or criminals. But with a villain around, perhaps? Not a soul in sight.
"He hasn't bailed already, has he?"
The tip pinpointed here, but he might've moved. Lee Seojin hurried inside to check—
Whoosh!!
A sharp wind howled from somewhere.
Crackle!
A lightning-charged spear slammed down right in front of him. Dodgable, though.
"Hoh. Quick on your feet."
He sidestepped easily and put distance between them. A burly blond middle-aged man with a vicious face dropped from above, eyeing him appraisingly as he yanked his spear free. A current crackled along its length… nasty. Threatening enough for this era's standards, but war had been full of guys like this. Good thing his mind was sharp; even if his body was rusty, he could react.
"A hero here to catch me?"
"Yeah. The Hero Association is pretty good at tracking folks down. Enough to find you way out here."
"Heh. Fair enough."
Steelron flashed a villainous grin and raised his spear high.
Krunch… Krackle—!!
Electricity surged wildly around him, like thunder from a clear sky.
"Fine! Come grab me if you can!!!"
"Was planning to anyway."
Steelron thrust with blinding speed.
Crackle!
Lightning grazed the ground, racing toward him. But he could handle—
"Tch!"
"Pathetic!"
He twisted away, but it clipped his arm. The shock jolted through him like fire. Damn it—not like him to miss a dodge like that. Why…? Ah. My head gets it, but my body doesn't follow. Headache-inducing. The mental-physical disconnect was worse than expected.
"Gives me a headache. Struggling against a punk like this."
"Ha! Big talk for a weakling. That bravado'll cost you your life!"
"Shut up."
Mind-body gap? Screw it. Fight rusty if he had to. He wouldn't fold over something this minor—or he'd have died in the war ages ago. He was the Sword Saint; his blade reached heights no other superhuman could touch. As long as that knowledge and insight remained intact, he was still the Sword Saint.
"Pathetic display."
"All talk. Time to end this!"
Steelron reared back for a charge, lightning raging fiercely around his spear. Clip him once, and it's fatal. Lee Seojin sensed the threat instinctively. Time to prepare.
Huuu… He exhaled deeply, stepping back slowly, eyes closing as he drew his sword reverse-grip.
Reverse Sword
A moment of silence. Then Lee Seojin opened his eyes and murmured lowly.
The word barely left his lips before Steelron charged.
"I'll pierce you!"
Crackle! Lightning erupted in his wake. Blinding speed—he expected to impale his foe. But the spear met no resistance.
What?!
Steelron panicked inwardly. But he followed with combos. Surely the next would land fatally—wrong.
"Hah!"
"Hmph!"
"Hup!"
Steelron lashed out wildly from every angle. Nothing connected. It wasn't mere evasion; it felt like stabbing through smoke—no feedback at all. He was the one being pressured, despite his onslaught.
Crack!
Halting amid sparks, Steelron realized speed meant nothing. He needed power—overwhelming power.
"Not bad! Fine—take this…"
Steelron leaped high.
Crackle-crackle—!!
Lightning gathered at the spear tip, transforming the weapon itself. Sensing the shift, Lee Seojin dropped evasion and counter, resetting his stance. A single decisive blow—for both.
Soft yet unyielding strength contrasted Steelron's savage edge.
Draw Sword
"I'll finish you!"
Lee Seojin's blade flashed toward the plummeting spear.
Flash Flower
The electrified spear plunged. The sword traced arcs through the air. Clash of powers. But softness overcomes hardness. Lee Seojin's swings were elegant, like painting flowers on the canvas of empty space.
Lines formed. Lines connected. The lines bloomed into a flower—and sliced Steelron clean.
Splurt—!!
Sword marks erupted across his falling body, blood spraying wildly.
"Gahk…! Impressive…"
Steelron dropped his spear mid-plunge, critically wounded, crashing heavily as he acknowledged defeat and praised his foe. The fight ended in an instant.
"Hoo…"
Lee Seojin sheathed his blade, catching his breath. It looked like a dominant win at a glance… but far from it. His right arm, numb and tingling, refused to move from sheathing position. Burning pain throbbed fiercely. He forced it with his left hand, massaging to ease the agony bit by bit.
Damn. The risk is no joke.
He'd moved as he knew how, yet his body couldn't keep up. He'd thought his past self was decently trained, but compared to Sword Saint days, this was pathetic. He'd honed his blade solely for annihilating foes—no milder techniques. Guess he'd have to train his body from scratch.
"…Headaches on top of headaches."
An A-rank villain was no issue—within expectations. The real problem was his body failing him.
…Wish the Hero were here now. Her buffs strengthened allies. Going into battle boosted by her felt like commanding a heavenly host. They'd reunited, but who knew if she had her powers yet.
"…Time to bag the villain."
The more he dwelled, the more his sisters tugged at his heart, bittersweet and aching. Their reluctance to show him home meant something they wanted hidden. And he could guess what.
※ After the fight, Lee Seojin bound Steelron so he couldn't resist, contacted the Association, and left. One thing he missed: someone had watched it all. His past self would've noticed instantly, but weakened as he was, it slipped by.
"Whoaaa… Amazing, Uncle. Right, Sis?"
"…Yeah. Incredible. If only we were that strong…"
"Doesn't matter. Sis is the best to me no matter what."
"…Me too. Se Eun-ah."
From afar, the sisters who'd witnessed the entire Steelron clash reflected on it. The fight had been impeccably clean—delicate, even beautiful. They wished for such power themselves. Memories of their powerless, wretched past surfaced.