A Brother's Favor
A soft groan escaped her lips.
When the spirit fainted, a portion of the shock transferred to Kim Hayoung as well.
It wasn’t enough to knock her out, but instinctively, a wave of fear toward Lim Dojun surged within her.
To make a high-ranking spirit faint with nothing but a glare!?
Lim Dojun himself, however, was completely bewildered.
What the hell was that just now?
He had noticed a faint silhouette hovering above Kim Hayoung’s head and stared at it. Suddenly, she began to struggle. Then she looked at him with eyes full of terror. Since he hadn’t done anything at all, he felt unfairly accused.
That was when Go Wonjin stepped in between them.
“Just to get ahead of things, don’t say anything to this guy. He has nothing to do with that bastard Gang Taebeom.”
“…That was my intention anyway.”
Kim Hayoung wasn’t actually suspecting Lim Dojun. Of course Gang Taebeom had been killed by Go Wonjin!
Besides, she didn’t hold any personal grudge over the man’s death. In truth, Gang Taebeom hadn’t exactly been well-regarded among high-ranking government officials or within the Returnee Alliance. So even after his death, there was no one crying out for revenge. It was simply a tiny addition to the already existing friction between the government and the Returnee Alliance.
“Actually, it’s the opposite. I called you here to express my gratitude. I already thanked you earlier, but allow me to do so properly. My name is Kim Hayoung, an executive of the Returnee Alliance. On behalf of the Alliance and as a citizen of South Korea, I offer you my sincere thanks.”
Kim Hayoung bowed deeply.
Lim Dojun waved his hand dismissively.
“There’s no need for that. I simply happened to pass by and noticed what was happening.”
It was half true. If the soldiers had handled the situation well, Lim Dojun would have quietly assassinated Gang Taebeom and slipped away without getting involved in the fight. He simply hadn’t wanted to watch people who had been ordered to come here die meaningless deaths.
Even while bowing, Kim Hayoung carefully observed his attitude.
He doesn’t seem to be lying. Thankfully, he doesn’t appear to have a bad character…
She would need to watch him longer to be sure, but judging from how he had resolved the gate outbreak and arrived here quietly, he seemed like a peaceful person. Confirming that was important.
Powerful returnees who had lived long in another world often possessed slightly different mental frameworks from modern people. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t become mass murderers.
“You must have gone through a lot, getting tangled up with someone like Go Wonjin. But I hope you understand that not all members of the Returnee Alliance are like him. Most of us follow the law and live diligently.”
“…….”
Lim Dojun was extremely grateful he was wearing a mask that hid his expression. Maintaining a straight face was proving incredibly difficult.
“May I ask your name…?”
“…It’s Lim.”
Lim Dojun only gave his surname. He had participated in many operations in the past, and some of the Alliance’s executives knew who he was. Kim Hayoung didn’t seem bothered that she hadn’t heard the name before.
“The Returnee Alliance welcomes your joining at any time. If you become a member, we will provide top-priority protection and handling of any problems that arise, as well as take care of all the annoying miscellaneous tasks. If you wish, you may also assist the government and receive compensation in return.”
Since it would be beneficial for a powerful returnee to join the Alliance, Kim Hayoung enthusiastically promoted its advantages. In reality, there was nothing to lose for a returnee who joined. The Alliance helped them adapt to Earth, provided financial support so they could live comfortably, and even offered hobby assistance or normal job experiences if needed.
From the government’s perspective, it was far better to manage them within the system. It was a conciliatory policy born from the fear that forcibly incorporating returnees could lead to the government being overthrown.
“I’ll think about it.”
Lim Dojun shrugged.
If he were to reveal his identity someday, it might be different, but for now, joining the Alliance felt burdensome. He planned to reveal himself only after he had accumulated more power—when he no longer needed to worry about anyone’s gaze.
“I understand.”
Kim Hayoung didn’t press the matter further. Continuing to push would be counterproductive. It was enough if she planted the seed so that he would remember the Alliance’s usefulness when the time came.
After that, Kim Hayoung excused herself, saying she needed to report the situation to the other executives of the Alliance.
Once only Go Wonjin remained, Lim Dojun couldn’t hold back any longer and asked.
“Brother. Why did you help me?”
“Huh? You mean killing that bastard Gang Taebeom? I stabbed him once too, and more importantly, I was the one who first suggested hiding the body, wasn’t I?”
But Go Wonjin tilted his head as if he genuinely had no idea what Lim Dojun was talking about.
“That’s not what I meant. Aren’t you curious about my real ability or my goals?”
When they first met, Lim Dojun had approached him pretending to be powerless and only offered him drinks from his subspace. Even after that, he had stimulated Go Wonjin’s interest and grown close to him. It would be natural for Go Wonjin to feel betrayed once he realized everything had been a deception.
“Little brother.”
However, Go Wonjin let out a small chuckle, walked over, and draped an arm around Lim Dojun’s shoulders.
“Why the serious face? Everyone has their own circumstances. And if we’re brothers, there’s no need to ask about such things.”
Who in the world didn’t have circumstances? Go Wonjin’s own past was far from clean. No—he had walked a path soaked in blood. Even if he went back, he would have done the same to survive, but he still carried regrets. That was why he had no desire to dig into someone else’s past.
He must have had his reasons for acting that way!
“We decided to become sworn brothers, didn’t we? Or was I the only one who meant it?”
“…I also meant it sincerely.”
“Then that’s all that matters. Geez, you’re so soft. It’s because you’ve never been to the Extreme Martial God Sect, little brother. That place is full of people with snakes writhing in their hearts. But you, little brother, have such a pure and clean soul.”
Go Wonjin patted Lim Dojun’s shoulder a few times. He didn’t ask any more questions. It was his own way of showing consideration.
Honestly, it was quite touching.
…They’re like my old teammates.
It had been five years since he cut off all human relationships after being crippled and shut himself in his room. The teammates he had trusted and fought alongside were all dead. At some point, it seemed he had forgotten how to open his heart to others.
The fact that Go Wonjin—who had only known him for a short time—truly considered him a sworn brother came as a significant shock.
“Between brothers, you just help each other when things get tough.”
“Thank you, brother.”
Lim Dojun smiled faintly.
Just then, Kim Hayoung, who had gone off somewhere, returned.
“Go Wonjin. After discussing with the other executives, we’ve reached a conclusion. Ultimately, it wasn’t you but this gentleman here, Mr. Lim, who resolved the gate outbreak, correct?”
“…That’s right?”
Sensing an ominous premonition, Go Wonjin answered a beat late.
Kim Hayoung smiled brightly at him.
“Then technically, your disciplinary period hasn’t ended yet, and with Gang Taebeom’s death, additional punishment should be added. So after a quick executive meeting, we decided it would be good if you could clean up a few illegal organizations in Seoul. That should settle the matter. How does that sound?”
Go Wonjin’s face twisted.
He was the type who preferred doing only what he felt like doing at his own pace. He absolutely hated bothersome tasks like this. But since the justification lay with the Returnee Alliance, he couldn’t refuse.
“H-how many places?”
“Five.”
“…Please reduce it.”
“Out of the goodness of my heart, I’ll make it three. That’s the best I can do.”
It seemed Kim Hayoung had prepared her negotiation cards from the start. Go Wonjin reluctantly nodded.
“Please take care of it as quickly as possible. Well then, I’m quite busy, so I’ll take my leave. I still have a lot to discuss with the government.”
Since Go Wonjin had accepted the task, there was nothing to worry about. Kim Hayoung smiled and withdrew.
A dejected Go Wonjin turned to Lim Dojun with a desperate look.
“…Little brother. Could you possibly help me out a bit?”
Dealing with criminal organizations was far more troublesome than one might think. Assassinating one or two strong individuals would be simple, but those places were like cockroach nests—swarming with small fry. Some would try to run and hide in the city’s shadows. Even for Go Wonjin, hunting them all down alone would be nearly impossible. This kind of work suited a mage far better, so he needed help.
Lim Dojun chuckled.
“Yes. I’d be happy to help.”
“That’s my little brother!”
Naturally awakened individuals and returnees continued to appear periodically.
From the government’s perspective, they were a massive headache. If they entered official organizations and integrated into the system, it would increase national power—which was fortunate. However, quite a large number ended up joining illegal organizations instead.
Many people who gained power greater than others wanted to flaunt their superiority, and such individuals disliked controlled lives. As a result, if left alone, illegal organizations would periodically expand their forces. When the time came, the government had no choice but to launch sweeping operations like this.
Before heading out for the cleanup operation.
“Brother. Do you happen to like things like this?”
Lim Dojun took something he had prepared in advance from his subspace and handed it to Go Wonjin.
It wasn’t anything grand enough to call a gift—just a wooden plaque with a symbol engraved on it.
This is the sacred token of the Extreme Martial God Sect. Only believers with sufficient skill to enter the main headquarters may receive it.
It was something he had received from Lee Chaerin. Although it looked like a roughly made wooden plaque, she had told him it was far more than that. It held significant meaning for believers. He had brought it as a gift for Go Wonjin.
I wonder if he’ll like it.
In his heart, he wanted to give Go Wonjin something truly magnificent, but his subspace was too small. Otherwise, he would have asked Lee Chaerin to find one of the weapons Go Wonjin had used in that world.
“H-how did you…!?”
However, Go Wonjin’s reaction was far more intense than Lim Dojun had expected. His hands trembled as he accepted the token, and his eyes grew red.
“The sacred token… Haha… It’s undoubtedly genuine. It carries the touch of the Pope… I can feel it…”
He stroked the token for a long time as if it were a priceless treasure. Lim Dojun was taken aback by the unexpectedly passionate response, but Go Wonjin paid no attention to his surroundings and focused solely on the token.
—Vwoong!
Suddenly, the ordinary-looking wooden plaque began to vibrate. Then, like rising smoke, the illusion of a woman appeared above it.