But That Bastard Started First
Cheon Ji-yoon had assumed that when Cheon Ji-hoo suggested moving, it was because he hadn't fully adjusted to Earth yet after just returning. Moving wasn't something you could do overnight. You had to coordinate the new place and the moving date, pay up, and in their situation, they'd need a loan too—so finding a bank, scouting moving companies... Still just a kid, but she knew moving involved a ton of hassle.
And hadn't he said he'd go house-hunting with her? Yet here he was, suddenly moving?
"Oppa, where are we moving to?"
"Found a really nice place. They said immediate move-in, so I signed the contract."
Ji-yoon was genuinely worried for him. Had he gotten scammed? She stared at him anxiously, but Ji-hoo just gave a nonchalant thumbs-up. Then he lowered her hand from her face and slipped on his shoes. Let's go for now, he said.
Ji-hoo led her out of the officetel. A waiting realtor loaded them into the car and headed for their new home.
The scenery shifted. Ji-yoon tilted her head at the changing view outside the window. Villas were on the outskirts of Hunter Way, but they were heading toward the central area near Hunter Academy.
"Oppa, where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Arms crossed and eyes closed, Ji-hoo answered. Ji-yoon pouted but had no choice but to sit quietly.
Soon, she gaped at the apartment they pulled up to. It was the one she'd toured yesterday—the one she'd dreamed of moving into someday.
The realtor grinned as he guided them in. Ji-hoo casually pulled out a resident card, swiped it at the main entrance, and stepped inside.
"O-Oppa."
"What?"
"Where are we going?"
Unable to hold back, Ji-yoon asked again. Ji-hoo chuckled, left the realtor behind, took her hand, and led her to the VIP elevator. He swiped the card, and it shot straight to the top floor.
Last time, they'd used the regular elevator. VIP cards were for residents only.
The doors opened to a spacious foyer. The top floor had just two units. The elevator had doors on both sides—Ji-hoo's new place was 6801, neighbor 6802.
Stepping inside, Ji-hoo said, "This is our home from now on."
Ji-yoon blinked as she entered, unable to believe it. The place she'd thought she'd need to grind as a hunter to afford... was theirs? And unlike yesterday's empty shell, it was fully furnished now. Plush sofa and massive TV in the living room. Huge bed in the bedroom. Separate study and bedroom meant no more desk-by-the-bed life.
After peeking around, Ji-yoon walked over to Ji-hoo with a disbelieving face and plopped down in front of him.
"O-Oppa. This isn't a dream, right?"
"No way. It's ours starting today. Got you the big TV you wanted, a bathtub, king-size bed—the works."
"Where'd you get the money for this, oppa?"
"Did some part-time work."
Ridiculous. If part-time gigs bought places like this, everyone would live here.
Ji-hoo plopped down in front of her and grinned. "I worked hard to play big brother for once."
"You overdid it..."
She was dying to know where the money came from. What job paid enough for this?
"I'm gonna cry."
"You're already crying."
She touched her eyes at his words. Tears were streaming down for real. Joy? Absurdity? Who knew.
Ji-hoo reached out, wiped her eyes, and said, "Oppa told you—he's a mage."
"What mage has cash for a house like—"
"In my world, the richest were mages."
Magic cost a fortune in rare materials. Capital was key.
Ji-yoon checked one last time. "For real, this is our house?"
"Yup. Ours. Nail the walls if you want."
"...This is insane."
"Toss everything from the old place. We can buy new."
"No way. Got a few things to bring."
They took the elevator down, hopped in the realtor's car, and headed back to the officetel.
The moment they entered, Ji-yoon pulled a small box from the built-in closet and hugged it tight.
Ji-hoo tilted his head. "What's in it?"
"Wanna see? You might not remember, oppa."
She opened the box. Ji-hoo peered in and blinked.
"These are..."
Cute little hairpins. He'd saved most of his part-time cash but splurged some on treats for her or these pins as gifts. His biggest luxury back then.
She'd kept every one he'd given her.
"...You still have these?"
"My treasures."
Treasures forever. After losing their parents, her only family vanished too. When everything was gone and she was utterly alone, these pins remained—the proof she'd had a brother, a loving family.
Ji-hoo's chest ached. He couldn't imagine her loneliness. The fact she'd clung to these cheap pins all this time filled him with emotion.
He picked one up—a faded one with a teddy bear charm. Then, delicately as if handling fine art, he pinned it at an angle on her bangs.
"...Still suits you. My little sis."
"Duh, I'm your sis."
She beamed. He smiled bitterly.
Reasons to never part again were piling up.
* * *
They packed at the officetel—moving done. Barely any stuff: clothes and her treasure box.
They stashed the suitcase at the apartment, then hit the department store. Time for essentials, clothes. Ji-hoo's wardrobe was white tee, jeans, sneakers—that was it. Summer coming, but the closet needed filling.
At the store, Ji-hoo became Ji-yoon's dress-up doll. Everything looked good on his rack of a body. Staff joined in, suggesting outfits; they tried and bought repeatedly.
He'd been a one-outfit guy in the other world, but if it made her happy...
She got the same treatment—try on, buy.
By day's end, VIP treatment. Hands full of bags, they exited amid staff bows, cabbed home.
VIP elevator to the foyer. Ji-yoon still muttered in disbelief, "This is our house..."
Dream home: big tub, terrace, huge bed, giant TV.
"If this is a dream, I never wanna wake up."
"Not a dream, so relax."
They unpacked clothes, then dinner. Moving day called for jjajangmyeon. Salty noodles and tangsuyuk delivery—stuffed, they strolled the complex's path.
Ji-yoon, half-dazed, murmured, "Being a mage is amazing..."
"Nah, I'm just special," Ji-hoo replied.
"Like an archmage or something? Dropping meteors from the sky?"
"Want a demo?"
He could. For his cute sis, a couple meteors easy.
But she shook her head in horror. "No! Just... don't vanish without a word again."
"Never."
He vowed it. Even if summoned like ten years ago, he had ways back—or to block it.
Cool evening breeze on their walk. Back home, movie and chatter. Perfect night.
Friday banter endless; they trashed the boring film. Finally, Ji-hoo unfolded the cosmos again.
Their new living room became vast space. A fresh universe—inky black filled with new galaxies and star clusters.
Ji-yoon's eyes sparkled like before. Ji-hoo smiled softly, dispelling the mana.
Thus their Friday night slowly passed.
* * *
Deep into the night. Ji-hoo sat up in bed, blinked, and cast Teleport.
Instantly on the apartment roof. Barefoot on the railing, he peered down.
Prime spot for aerial bombing if trouble hit—but bombing day felt near.
"Hm."
Squinting, he spotted mana flows twisting oddly. Away from the complex, near the Han River.
To him, a sign of an impending rift.
Mana twisting, space warping. Pondering, he sighed.
Rift there meant crowds and chaos tomorrow or next—weekend starting. He passed on the noise.
He craved peace. Peace meant preemptively smashing threats—as his master taught.
Blink. Teleport.
Hand to the warping mana, he forced the rift open.
Crackkk! Space crumpled; a rift yawned wide before him.
Bigger than ones he'd seen. Unbeknownst to him, an A-rank—high-difficulty, needing teams of A-rank hunters.
But he stepped in without hesitation.
"...Ha."
Ridiculous sight. Familiar monsters: Big Ants he'd slaughtered by thousands for materials in the other world. Giant ants, nothing special beyond worker ants outsizing adult men.
"Ant nest, then."
Why an otherworld ant hill as an Earth rift? Later.
How long were Big Ant tunnels? Endless, rumor said. Deep as hell. Core hunt would take effort.
Kieeeek!!
One sensed him, screeched. Others joined, earsplitting.
He frowned, raised a hand. Noise vanished.
Ant cries muffled in silence.
Quieter now, he exhaled softly. "Let's kill 'em all first."
Behind him, a red magic circle spun fiercely.