Now It’s Different
Death Qi Resonance.
That was the ability the No. 28 had named for himself.
It was neither foresight that could glimpse the future nor the attainment of any martial realm. It was an unknown sixth sense, one even he couldn’t explain with precision.
And yet, after crossing the boundary between life and death countless times, he had come to understand a few things about it.
First, it only reacted to a major crisis.
And not his own—only another person’s.
It did not respond to petty dangers in everyday life. It only awakened when the possibility of death, or of a life ruined beyond recovery, opened up before him.
Whenever he sensed it, the back of his neck went cold, the fine hairs on his body stood on end, and he felt a strange sensation of shallow breath and a heartbeat that seemed to strike one beat late.
Thanks to that, he had been able to avoid instructors who subtly maneuvered trainees into life-threatening situations, dodge collapsing training halls whose age and rot made them ready to cave in, and keep his distance from lunatics who secretly learned demonic arts until they went berserk and committed massacres.
The same had been true in actual combat.
Whenever his instincts pricked during an intelligence operation, the person in question had always turned out to be a demonic cultivator—or some eccentric hiding his true identity.
That was the reason the No. 28, thrown into a deadly place, had been able to survive by clawing and scrambling his way onward.
And now that same Death Qi Resonance had resurfaced in Song Tan’s body, leaping across time itself.
Of all moments, it had happened during a phone call with the younger sister he thought of as family.
Song Tan could not possibly fail to understand what that meant.
Before long, a major crisis will befall Im Seo-rin.
The problem was that he had no idea exactly when it would happen, or in what form.
“You… do you really have to do that fan meeting or whatever?”
[Huh? What are you talking about? Oppa, you’re not mixing up a fan meeting with a blind date, are you?]
Listening to Im Seo-rin’s dumbfounded voice, Song Tan sank into thought.
Back in the No. 28 days, whenever he felt Death Qi Resonance, he would avoid it no matter what.
That was the best way to survive.
But things were different now.
Now he would meet it head-on. And he would protect her.
No matter what happened.
“I’ll go. To the fan meeting.”
[Really!? But you said you’re working!?]
“I’ll just take leave. It’s been a while, so I should pay your parents a visit too, and spend some time with your father.”
[Waaah! Oppa, what’s gotten into you? Whenever I ask to see your face, you always drag your feet!]
“This time I’m going. It feels like it’ll be a special day.”
[Hehe, special it is. It’s our first fan meeting, after all! But still, now that you’re coming, I’m suddenly hyped. I’d better prepare even harder.]
“Don’t overdo it. And don’t make any unusual spur-of-the-moment changes.”
[Ew, why are you talking like our grandpa?]
“Don’t brush me off.”
[Okayyy! Ugh. Your nagging is something else, seriously.]
Though she grumbled, the sound of her laughing softly suggested she didn’t actually mind that he was looking after her.
[Ah! Right. Could you maybe come about an hour early?]
“Why?”
[I want to introduce you to the other members! They’re super curious about you too.]
“Why would they be curious about me?”
[How would I know? I mentioned you a few times, and I guess they want to see you in person. You can make it, right?]
“I’ll see how things look then.”
[Wow, seriously! If there’s anyone who’d drag his feet even after Iris says she wants to see him, it’s definitely you, Oppa. Quit being difficult and just come, okay? I’ll assume that means yes! Byeee! Tadaa!]
Im Seo-rin abruptly went into overdrive, rattled off everything she wanted to say, and cut the call.
It was a familiar pattern, so Song Tan set the phone down without a trace of surprise.
“Two weeks from now, huh…”
He stared at the desk calendar on the table and murmured the fan meeting date to himself.
***
The Iris fan meeting was being held at Amir Hall in Hapjeong.
Maybe because it was their first fan meeting since debut, the waiting room felt oddly taut, as if even the air had been pulled tight.
Unopened bottles of water stood in neat rows on the sofa, and sheets of paper that looked like scripts were scattered messily across the table.
The members who had been laughing and chatting just moments ago had visibly quieted down once they started finishing their makeup.
Im Seo-rin, standing in front of the mirror, fidgeted with her wrist for no real reason.
She looked calm on the outside, but she couldn’t hide the way her eyes wavered.
“Are you nervous?”
At Go Yura’s question, Seo-rin forced a smile.
“A little…? It still doesn’t feel real. Hehe, it’s different from music shows.”
Knock, knock.
Then came a knock from outside the waiting room.
The door opened, and a female manager peeked her head in.
“Seo-rin? You’ve got a visitor.”
The moment her expression brightened, Im Seo-rin stretched her neck out like a meerkat.
As the manager stepped aside, Song Tan appeared through the gap in the door.
“Oppaaaa!”
Seo-rin let out a high-pitched shriek and ran at him as if she were about to throw herself into his arms.
Clinging to his arm with the natural ease of a snake winding around a tree, she beamed at everyone.
“You all saw him for a second just then, right? This is Song Tan oppa—he’s a police officer! Isn’t he ridiculously cool!? He’s basically my real older brother. Hehe.”
“He’s a ‘real-brother-like’ older brother, not your actual older brother, right? I think you should let go of that arm.”
At Yura’s correction, Seo-rin drooped and loosened her grip.
Song Tan stepped forward and bowed.
“Good to meet you. I’m Song Tan. You must all have had a hard time looking after this little troublemaker. She’s a bit… foolish—no, rather, careless at times, but she’s a good kid, so I’d appreciate it if you’d take good care of her.”
The moment he finished speaking—
Clap, clap, clap.
The members burst into fervent applause.
Even the female manager, who had been standing there blankly, joined in.
“Approved! So you really did know her since she was a snot-nosed kid. You definitely know a lot about Seo-rin unnie.”
“Why does hearing that make me feel so much better?”
“Eek, you guys are all so mean!”
Seo-rin pouted, but nobody corrected the wording of what he’d said.
Then the members introduced themselves in turn.
“Hello, I’m Lauren. It feels like I’ve seen you a lot somehow, but this is our first meeting.”
“I’m Camille~! I’d only heard about you, but seeing you in person feels like looking at a celebrity!”
Last of all, Go Yura looked at him with calm eyes.
“I’m Go Yura. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Song Tan scratched his chin and asked quietly,
“By the way, what exactly did Im Seo-rin say about me to get this kind of reaction?”
“Hmm… just that you’re a dependable pillar she can trust and lean on?”
“A sun that pulled her out of the pitch-black darkness?”
“……”
Song Tan fell silent for a moment. Then he turned his head, and Im Seo-rin shot him a glare as if to say, What are you looking at?
“What? Why? It’s true!”
Song Tan shook his head and looked forward again.
Go Yura, who had been staring at him intensely, finally spoke.
“If I may be so bold, can I ask you one thing?”
“Of course.”
“Celebrities—especially idols—tend to get twisted by even the most trivial things. Absurd speculation and rumors spring up like weeds. Since you’re a police officer, I assume you know exactly what I mean.”
“Hey, Go Yura.”
Seo-rin’s expression hardened as she glared at Yura.
Lauren and Camille were busy watching the two of them nervously.
Song Tan, however, merely nodded as if it were no big deal.
“I understand your concerns perfectly.”
“I’m sorry if that sounded rude. Everyone worked hard to get here, so it’s only natural there’d be plenty to worry about.”
Her voice was somewhat cold, but her tone was respectful.
“That’s a good attitude. In fact, it’s reassuring. It seems Seo-rin has met good people.”
Im Seo-rin had been worried that Song Tan might take offense, but seeing him smile instead, she let out a relieved breath.
“For the record, I didn’t tell anyone I was coming here except my father. And just in case, I didn’t enter through the main entrance—I came in through the underground passage after walking around two blocks. On the way up, I used the rear emergency stairs in the CCTV blind spot, so I doubt anyone saw me.”
“Ah, no… I didn’t mean for you to go that far…”
For the first time, Go Yura, who had been expressionless until now, looked genuinely flustered.
“But may I ask one thing as well?”
“Yes?”
“Why is Seo-rin the leader instead of you?”
Song Tan was honestly curious.
Anyone could see that Yura was far more suited to the role of leader.
Go Yura answered matter-of-factly.
“Back then, we just decided the oldest would be the leader. Seo-rin’s birthday is a month earlier than mine…”
“What a pity.”
“What!? Why!? What’s wrong with me!?”
Seo-rin frowned, suddenly and inexplicably offended.
“Heh-heh, this oppa is kind of funny. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone talk to Seo-rin unnie so blatantly like that.”
The female manager, who had been watching in silence, couldn’t quite hide the twitching corners of her mouth either.
There was even a hint of something like a weight lifting off her shoulders.
“Hiiing, you’re all picking on me.”
Seo-rin pouted, then quickly broke into a grin and, like a show host introducing a guest, started telling the other members about Song Tan.
“Back then I told him I was so, so miserable I felt like I was dying, and this oppa said…”
Everyone watched Im Seo-rin chatter away on her own with fascination.
They had known her for a long time, but this side of her was new to them.
The manager glanced at the clock on the wall, and Song Tan rose from his seat at once.
“It was nice meeting you all. My father says he’s arrived, so I should get going.”
“Already? That’s disappointing…”
Song Tan instinctively lifted a hand as if to pat her head, then stopped himself and gave her shoulder a couple of light taps instead.
“Do your best. I’ll be cheering for you right up front.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll show you something amazing!”
For a brief instant, Song Tan’s eyes swept over the entire waiting room.
No matter how carefully he looked, he couldn’t see any obvious danger.
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
He bowed slightly and quietly left the waiting room.
Still scanning the surroundings, just in case he had missed something.
***
About ten minutes before the fan meeting began—
“Well now, look who it is? Isn’t this our proud Officer Song Tan?”
“Oh my? You’ve really grown into a dependable man, haven’t you? Hoho, I hardly recognized you.”
Im Gwan-hun and his wife had arrived.
“Have you been well?”
“Haha, us? We’re always the same.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit often.”
“Sorry? What for? I hear about how busy you are until my ears are practically worn out, thanks to Driver Song here.”
Song Bong-gu, who appeared from behind them, took his son’s hand with both of his hands, as though trying to make up for the time they’d lost.
“Why are you so skinny? Are you not eating properly these days?”
“I’ve been eating too well, actually. I’ve gained five kilos.”
“Really? That’s strange. Why do you still look so thin to me…”
At Song Bong-gu’s worried expression, Im Gwan-hun let out a hearty laugh.
“He looks far more manly than before to me. Better, even.”
After a brief reunion, the four of them took their assigned seats.
The family invitation seats were in the very front, closest to the stage.
Murmur, murmur—
As the event neared, the seats quickly filled with fans.
“All right! Let’s meet today’s stars, Iris! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome them!”
When the host shouted the introduction—
“Hello! We’re Iris!”
The four members trotted up onto the stage and bowed.
“Aaaahhhh!”
Cheers exploded through the hall, and the members responded with bright, flower-like smiles.
The fan meeting proceeded with perfect smoothness.
The opening greeting, the talk segment about recent updates, the games, the live stage, the special events—it all flowed without a hitch.
The fans went wild over the many charms the girls had never shown on broadcast, and the venue was soon overflowing with excitement.
In the midst of that warm atmosphere, Song Tan could barely clap or cheer properly.
All of his attention was fixed on Im Seo-rin alone.
His heavy, lowered eyes darted about before settling on her again.
Was I mistaken?
Everything was so peaceful it almost made him doubt himself.
At least, so long as he focused on her.
Song Tan had been staring at Im Seo-rin for so long that he finally loosened his gaze and glanced upward without thinking.
A sudden jolt ran through his eyes.
Bang— bang— bang!
Each time a tremendous blast of sound shook the hall, one of the lighting fixtures mounted above the stage trembled.
So subtly that an ordinary person would never have noticed it.
Bang! Bang!
With another heavy vibration, the light shook again.
This time the movement was even greater than before.
Song Tan’s gaze followed the light as it drifted downward.
And there, beneath it, was not Im Seo-rin, but Go Yura.
Song Tan sprang from his seat and launched himself onto the stage in an instant.
A lightning-fast movement so abrupt the security personnel couldn’t even react.
At that moment, someone shouted,
“Watch out!!!!!”
The fixed bracket, unable to bear the trembling weight of the light, snapped with a crack.
“Kyaaaah!!!”
One of the stage lights came crashing down straight toward Go Yura’s head.
As he ran toward her, staring at her frozen face with her mouth open in blank shock, Song Tan thought,
If that light falls as is, the shards will seriously injure a lot of people.
His father and the Im Gwan-hun couple were seated in the front row.
He absolutely could not let that happen.
First, Song Tan snatched Go Yura’s wrist and yanked her into his arms.
At the same time, he twisted his body and completely shielded her.
In that instant, his eyes shot upward.
Blocking the collision is impossible.
Im Seo-rin was on his right, and his father was behind him.
At this rate, everyone could be badly hurt.
Then I change the point of impact.
To make that possible in this situation, he had no choice but to absorb it with his body.
His concentration surged to its limit, and he drew up every ounce of internal energy he had.
Song Tan lowered one shoulder and leaned into the path of the falling light at an angle.
He did not raise his arms.
Instead, he positioned his shoulder and back—the broadest, hardest parts of his body—toward the expected point of impact.
The light housing struck him first.
“Ghk.”
Blunt, naked pain—like his bones were being shattered to pieces—rushed through him.
Song Tan gritted his teeth and managed to twist his body just enough.
Because of that, the angle of the falling light shifted slightly, and its weight slid to one side.
BOOM!!!
The collapsed light hit the floor and detonated with a deafening crash.
“Kyaaaaaah!!”
The sudden catastrophe turned the venue into chaos in an instant.
Fortunately, just as he had intended, most of the fragments sprayed inward toward the stage.
But there was nothing he could do about the stray shards.
“Are, are you okay!? Quickly! Get him to a hospital—!”
Glass fragments had embedded themselves in Song Tan’s shoulder and back.
Blood streamed red through the gaps, and Go Yura’s face went completely white.
---