Bonds Beyond the Team

My first member, Yoo Seo-ah, had exacted her revenge by severing Park Bong-su's arm and shredding his entire body with petals of slashing sword qi. Her vengeance was justified, so no one could punish her for it. But Yoo Seo-ah shrank back, fidgeting restlessly.

"The Yoo Seo-ah who was supposed to be dead comes back perfectly fine, Park Bong-su's arm gets chopped off and he collapses, and all this happens right in front of all those industry insiders and reporters... Is this the kind of mess that happens just because the captain stepped away for a bit?"

It was because ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Captain Kim Seo-hee of the 1st Unit had returned right on cue, having been away on a special mission. The moment Yoo Seo-ah finished her revenge, Kim Seo-hee had dropped from the sky like a bolt. She'd heard the news of Yoo Seo-ah's death mid-mission and flown straight here from the provinces. The unit captain had abandoned her mission and rushed all the way to Gangnam Station Gate. To smash the gate that killed her subordinate with her own hands. To avenge her underling.

But when she arrived, Yoo Seo-ah was alive and well, while Vice Captain Park Bong-su lay in tatters.

"Ha, haha. Well, now."

From Kim Seo-hee's perspective, it was only natural for her to let out a disbelieving chuckle.

"I-I'm s-sorry..."

"Forget it. What do you have to be sorry for? The screen's got the footage looping big and clear. Anyone can see who's at fault."

Yoo Seo-ah tried to apologize while gauging her reaction, but Kim Seo-hee cut her off. Then she strode over with heavy steps and placed a hand on Yoo Seo-ah's shoulder.

"You did good. Both getting revenge and coming back alive."

"..."

"You've got business with that guy back there, right? Go on. I'll handle the cleanup."

"C-Captain...!"

"Oh, right—you need to gear up and head into the gate right away, yeah? No time to waste, so hurry back."

With that, Kim Seo-hee turned her gaze from Yoo Seo-ah toward the reporters below the podium.

"Th-Thank you...!"

A model of leadership and accountability. Yoo Seo-ah bowed deeply in gratitude to Kim Seo-hee before hurrying down from the podium. Her footsteps naturally led to one man: Kang Jinseong, the reason she was alive ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and breathing.

"Jinseong-ssi!"

"Ah, Team Leader."

Yoo Seo-ah's chest swelled at the sight of Jinseong turning his head with a soft response to her call.

"You were amazing. So cool. As expected from our team leader."

"Eut."

Jinseong-ssi praised me. Said I was cool. Called me 'our'...

It wasn't anything special, but Yoo Seo-ah's heart pounded anyway. Not because of the words themselves, but because Jinseong had become special to her.

I definitely wasn't like this earlier, but just seeing Jinseong-ssi's face makes me feel good...

Yoo Seo-ah couldn't tear her eyes from Jinseong, who gazed at her with a faint smile. Her lifesaver, who had pulled her from the chill of death, solitude, and terror. Just facing him filled her chest with warmth.

She poured out the words she'd been holding in her heart.

"Thank you so much! It's all thanks to you! Me being alive, being able to come back and get revenge, overcoming my fear—everything!"

Having a lifesaver, someone reliable, someone who'd always have her back—it gave her strength just knowing he was there. Yoo Seo-ah couldn't hold back her gratitude.

At her sincere thanks, Jinseong blinked blankly for a moment before replying with a smirk.

"No big deal."

"Hik?!"

The moment she saw that faint smile directed at her, Yoo Seo-ah felt her heart drop. It reminded her of just 30 minutes ago, sobbing uncontrollably in his house. She'd realized too late how precious their time together was, shed tears of regret, and whined about how things used to be better. Jinseong had cupped her cheeks in his palms, wiped her tears with his thumb, and given her the same smile.

"Our team leader's still a baby." While saying those heart-fluttering, crazy words...! Yoo Seo-ah was only a year older, yet Jinseong had this mature ease. The kind that made her want to keep acting spoiled, to lean on his warmth.

Facing Jinseong's warm composure, Yoo Seo-ah realized something.

Jinseong-ssi's smile makes me happy. I want to stay by his side forever. I want to keep making him smile. What do I do...

That falling for an older guy meant no escape. The moment she realized it, words she needed to say to Jinseong came to mind. She had to re-enter the Gangnam Station Gate soon as part of Cheongmyeong Guild's 1st Unit, so time was short. Even though her thoughts weren't fully sorted, Yoo Seo-ah opened her mouth toward Jinseong.

"Uh, um, Jinseong-ssi."

"Yes, Team Leader?"

"Well, you see..."

But for some reason, the words wouldn't come. Her mouth went dry, and even meeting his eyes was hard.

Why am I like this? I just need to say, 'Let's keep meeting often from now on.' It's not hard. Just say it...

"Uh, umm..."

Thinking it was easy, but saying it out loud was impossibly tough. Heat burned her cheeks, her heart raced wildly, and she couldn't hold his gaze.

Then it hit her. Why she couldn't say this simple thing.

She was scared. Scared of hearing Jinseong say, "Huh? That might be... kinda tough."

Of course, Yoo Seo-ah knew Jinseong would never say that. But one thing had changed from before, fueling her anxiety. She was now with Cheongmyeong Guild, and Jinseong had retired as a hunter. They weren't on the same team anymore. Their worlds had diverged.

In this situation, suggesting they meet often would likely end up as empty words. After parting this time, it'd be hard to see Jinseong again. They might meet occasionally, but with different lives, their paths would cross less and less. She'd be busy hunting, and he'd be busy with non-hunter life.

"Jinseong-ssi, um, us... we can keep meeting from now on, right?"

So, mustering every last bit of courage, this was the best she could manage. Their worlds had changed, so frequent meetings would be tough. Distance might grow their hearts apart, and one day he might leave her. Even so, Yoo Seo-ah wanted to be with Jinseong. She didn't want to accept this reality straight-up.

At those words carrying all her wishes, Jinseong looked slightly surprised and replied.

"Team Leader, your team with me is over now. The days of meeting as colleagues are done."

"...Ah."

A cold plunge into reality. A chilling drop in her heart shook Yoo Seo-ah's entire body.

"Yeah... I guess so..."

The wish she'd mustered the courage to voice crumbled against the wall of reality. Her ears rang, her vision spun.

Just as tears blurred her sight.

"If that's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the case, calling you 'Team Leader' feels kinda weird now."

"Huh?"

Strange words followed from Jinseong's mouth.

"We're not on the same team anymore, so keep calling you 'Team Leader'? The title doesn't fit. You're not my team leader anymore."

"Wh-what do you..."

"It's time to change how we address each other. Yeah, that'll work. From now on, I'll call you Seo-ah-ssi. Like how you call me Jinseong-ssi. Sound good?"

Changing titles meant he'd keep using the new one going forward. It meant continuing their relationship. Yoo Seo-ah's plummeting heart began pounding fiercely again.

"From now on, I'll protect you, Seo-ah-ssi. You're my first member, after all."

"Ji-Jinseong-ssi..."

"Looking forward to it, Seo-ah-ssi."

With that, Jinseong extended his hand to Yoo Seo-ah. As if afraid someone might snatch it, she grabbed it with both hands. Clutching his large hand tightly, feeling his warmth, she replied.

"Yes! Looking forward to it too, Jinseong-ssi!"

It was the moment their relationship solidified. In a way and form distinctly different from before.

Back home, I turned on my phone, and notifications poured in. Every one was about Yoo Seo-ah and Cheongmyeong Guild. As expected from one of Korea's three great guilds—the ripple effect was no joke.

"Even Baekga's jumping in while the iron's hot. Scary stuff."

Speaking of Baekga, that guy suddenly popped into my head. Hope she's doing okay. Well, with her skills, she probably is. No need to worry about her—I've got others for that.

But even so, I couldn't help worrying a bit. Our worlds might be different now, but she's my childhood friend we've known since kids.

"Eh, whatever. Sitting here worrying won't make her come back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sooner. And right now, I've got other stuff to handle anyway."

But first things first—useless worries could wait. I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts and spoke into the air.

"You said I hit an achievement. What's the reward? Hand it over already."

Right after Yoo Seo-ah diced up Park Bong-su earlier, a notification popped for reaching max service satisfaction rating. I unlocked some weird achievement called 'This House Is Awesome,' and 'Service Evaluation Incentive' activated too. Now that I was home, time to check the rewards.