Chapter 121: Dimensional Invader
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: Dimensional Invader
Chapter 12 – The Half-Brother from Murim
1
“So, here’s the thing. Formally, our hunter team has three members now, but it’s giving me a massive headache.”
[ Sounds like you’re going through a lot, oppa. ]
The day after the whole mess with Yu U-jeong was somehow settled.
I was on the phone with Kkotbi, who was still on her international tour.
She was working hard every day to keep up with her schedule, but we still made time to talk like this for a few minutes each day.
“A hard time? Kkotbi, you’re the one who’s really working hard.”
[ I’m used to it. So, you were saying that this hunter, Yu U-jeong, is being way too clingy, right? ]
“Yeah. It’s gotten to the point where none of my defenses work on her anymore.”
With her ridiculous healing ability, Yu U-jeong recovered in a single day and was discharged the next morning.
Since she’s technically on our team, I went to pick her up. The moment she saw me, she rushed over to throw her arms around me, and I instinctively kicked her away.
The conversation I’d had with her came flooding back.
“Oh my, Ha-chan-ssi, were you waiting for me to get out? Should I give you a kiss as a reward?”
“Dammit, Yu U-jeong, what the hell is wrong with you! Where did all your pride go?”
“I don’t know! It’s all gone! I mean, who told you to be so damn hot when you saved me? Telling someone who’s lived her whole life leeching off others that she’s your teammate. It made my heart pound! Ah, want to touch it and see for yourself?”
“A-are you crazy?! Are you a psycho?! A pervert!”
“That’s right. I am a pervert. I can do anything you want. Ha-chan-ssi, what’s your type? Stockings? A maid outfit? Want to play ‘Master’?”
“Aaaaaargh!”
You’d think she’d tone it down now that everything was out in the open, but she came at me like a wild horse that had broken its reins.
I’d never met anyone like her in my entire life.
Seol-hyang, Ahyu, and Si-ho at least had the decency to respect some boundaries.
The other three have been getting more forward lately, but Yu U-jeong was like someone flooring the gas pedal and ramming a truck straight into me.
Forget boundaries. She was like a runaway train, just charging headfirst into everything.
Honestly, it’s terrifying.
The other three at least listen to me when I say something, but she’s like a wild animal. You can’t reason with her.
It was the first time in my life I’ve ever genuinely felt my virtue was in danger.
What made it even more of a headache was that I had absolutely no feelings for her.
“So I ran away.”
Today was the weekend.
After escaping from Yu U-jeong, I was on my way to train with Ahyu and had some time to spare, so I was talking to Kkotbi.
[ …Oppa, why do you keep attracting more women? ]
“According to a certain someone, it might be intentional.”
[ Intentional? Who would do that? And why? ]
“That’s the problem. I don’t know either.”
According to Baeksan, Seol-hyang is the one with the ability to see worldlines.
But knowing Seol-hyang’s personality, she’d be more likely to get rid of the women around me, not add more.
“Thanks to all this, I don’t have anyone I can talk to comfortably anymore. It’s not like I can discuss this with Ahyu, Si-ho, or Seol-hyang.”
I used to talk about my own problems while listening to Kkotbi’s.
So Kkotbi was well aware that I’d recently caught on to the three of them’s feelings.
‘And I think there’s something going on with Eunnamu, too...’
That part wasn’t certain, so I decided to set it aside for now.
That’s why Kkotbi was the only person I could talk to without any reservations.
As for Baeksan, there was no point. He’d just click his tongue or swear at me.
“Tsk, tsk.”
See?
He’s clicking his tongue right now.
[ So I’m the person you feel most comfortable talking to? ]
For some reason, Kkotbi seemed happy about that.
[ And that it’s okay to talk to me about them. ]
And for some reason, she sounded gloomy again.
“Kkotbi?”
[ Ah, n-no, that’s not what I meant. So, Ha-chan-oppa, out of the three of them, who do you like the most? ]
Her question left me speechless.
Who do I like the most.
To be honest, I couldn’t give a definite answer.
But when I considered just choosing one of them and starting a relationship, Baeksan told me to go ahead if I wanted the world to end.
Then again, not dating any of them wasn’t a solution either.
Because I know a day will come when I won’t be able to hold back anymore.
…No, honestly, I’m already at my limit.
I knew better than anyone that all three of them were incredibly charming women.
And with the three of them liking me so much, it was impossible for me not to feel something in return.
That’s why I was at a loss for words when asked who I liked the most.
It’s embarrassing to admit, but my heart was wavering for all three of them.
‘…Kang Ha-chan, you piece of trash.’
I never knew I could be so fickle.
[ So you haven’t decided on just one person yet? ]
“…I’m such trash, aren’t I?”
[ It’s only because they all like you so much, Ha-chan-oppa. ]
They like me.
Just as Kkotbi said, the three of them liked me more than anyone else could.
Though I still don’t understand what they see in me.
But saying that would be disrespectful to them, so I never let the words escape my lips.
[ How about moving to Dubai? ]
“Kkotbi, are you talking about polygamy too?”
[ Pfft, has someone already mentioned that? ]
I glanced briefly at Baeksan.
[ Mmm, a lot of returnees don’t really care about Earth’s laws. Honestly, as long as you and the other three are okay with it, what’s the problem? ]
“I never knew you were so open-minded, Kkotbi.”
[ Well, I’m a returnee too, after all. ]
Then, she hesitated before speaking in a small voice.
[ …And if there are three, it wouldn’t be a problem if that number grew to four. ]
“Domi-oppa!”
At that moment, an impact from behind nearly sent me stumbling, but I just managed to stay on my feet.
When I turned my head, Ahyu was there, wearing a mask and a hat pulled down low.
“Heehee, I saw you from behind and snuck up on you. Who are you talking to?”
“Ah, it’s Kkotbi. Here, I’ll put you on.”
“Gasp! Kkotbi! Our Yua! Yua, I love you! I’m watching your whole tour, so fighting, my love! Marry me when you get back!”
Ahyu took the phone from me and excitedly professed her love for Kkotbi.
Watching her, a playful smile formed on my lips.
“What’s this? You’re always talking about marrying me and living happily ever after. Are you planning on bigamy? I’m calling off the engagement.”
“Wh-what!”
As soon as she heard my words, Ahyu’s face turned beet red, and she was too flustered to say anything.
I felt bad for Ahyu, but I always teased her because I found that side of her cute.
Then, Ahyu suddenly grabbed the hem of my shirt.
She looked up at me, her eyes glistening.
“…Will you… marry… me?”
My entire body froze at her incredibly serious question.
I never expected Ahyu to counter my teasing like this.
“…A-Ahyu, that’s…”
“…I’m okay with it.”
Seeing her clutch my shirt tightly, I was at a loss for words.
Her hand fumbled its way up my shirt as she took a step closer.
Her eyes began to flutter shut, her lips parting slightly, and I could see plain as day the answer she was waiting for.
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding.
[ Yua! We’re going to eat soon. Let’s hurry! ]
A voice flowed from my phone, which Ahyu was still holding.
Both Ahyu and I flinched and froze. Our eyes met, and Ahyu’s face, which was already a carrot, looked like it was about to overheat as she quickly ducked her head.
“H-here, your phone, oppa.”
“Oh, right.”
As if she couldn’t take it anymore, Ahyu handed my phone back, and I quickly took it.
“Uh, Kkotbi? Sorry, I was just talking with Ahyu.”
[ Ah, it’s okay. Oppa, I have to go eat now, so I’ll get going. ]
“Oh, okay. Talk to you later.”
[ Yes, later. Yes… ]
The call ended, the last thing I heard being the faint, listless sound of her voice.
In that time, I looked up to see Ahyu had come up beside me and linked her arm through mine.
An awkward silence stretched between us.
But Ahyu kept her gaze fixed forward, refusing to look at me.
Like that, we entered the park where we always trained.
“Hey, Ahyu?”
Unable to bear the silence any longer, I spoke up, making Ahyu flinch.
She remained silent for a while before finally letting go of my arm and taking a few steps back.
“…Domi-oppa.”
“Yeah.”
“I heard from the Iron-Blooded Empress. She told me that woman confessed to you.”
Hearing that, I slowly nodded.
She must have realized long ago that Seol-hyang had feelings for me.
“And I’m sure it’s the same with that kid, too.”
Ahyu let out a small sigh, likely referring to Si-ho.
Then, as if she’d made up her mind, she looked up at me.
Her eyes were trembling more than I had ever seen them before.
“I’m going to be the first, no matter what.”
The first.
The meaning of her words didn’t quite register, and my eyes widened.
“J-just so you know! Anyway!”
Ahyu, seemingly unable to bear the embarrassment, crouched down and covered her face.
How did Ahyu come to like me so much?
I could sort of understand Seol-hyang’s and Si-ho’s situations.
And for Ahyu, well, it’s natural to develop feelings for a guy you see often and are close with.
But what was the reason she liked me this much?
This was the woman who had once commanded an entire world.
Just then, Ahyu shot up from her spot.
As I looked at her, puzzled, I saw she was staring intently at something.
When I followed her gaze, I saw a man with plum-colored hair standing there.
He had a pretty, rather than handsome, face. His clothes, which reminded me of Cheon Hong-ryeon for some reason, looked like something out of a historical drama. Both he and his outfit were a complete mess.
“…How are you…”
“Ha, haha… Sister.”
He began to collapse right where he stood.
Startled, I was the closest, so I rushed to catch him. As I did, I realized his clothes were soaked in blood.
“Ahyu, this man!”
Shocked, I looked up at Ahyu, but she was frozen in place, unable to move.
I didn’t know what was going on.
But I knew one thing for sure: he was important to Ahyu.
Judging by his martial arts-style clothes, he was probably…
‘From the same world as Ahyu.’
I couldn’t be sure if he was a returnee.
“Son of a bitch.”
At that moment, Baeksan swore, as if he recognized the man too.
But regardless, I knew I couldn’t just leave him there, so I hoisted him onto my back.
“Ahyu! To the hospital, now!”
When I shouted, Ahyu snapped out of her frozen state, looked at me, and bit her lip hard.
“…Okay.”
Her reply that day was unusually faint, and it weighed on my mind.
* * *
After leaving him at the hospital, I took off my blood-soaked tracksuit and gave it a quick rinse.
The weather had turned to a deep winter chill, and I was a bit cold with just a hoodie on, but thankfully, being inside the hospital made it bearable.
The man I brought in was now hospitalized.
The doctor told me his injuries weren’t that severe.
It was just that his body was a wreck from severe malnutrition combined with the kind of energy overload often seen in hunters. He would need a long time to recover.
I came out of the restroom and glanced at Baeksan.
He had been lost in thought ever since the man appeared, but he finally turned to look at me.
“Kang Ha-chan, we need to talk.”
Ahyu was currently in the man’s hospital room.
So I agreed to Baeksan’s proposal and found a deserted spot.
“Do you know something about that guy from earlier?”
“The Heavenly Demon will probably tell you about that. The first thing we need to discuss is the fact that he’s a dimensional invader.”
I froze at his words.
A dimensional invader.
That was the term Baeksan had used to describe a foreigner who had crossed over from another dimension.