The Guardian's Duty
Cheon Ji-yoon felt like she was dreaming. She couldn't help but think that, because she'd always believed she had no family left. Her parents had died when she was too young to remember them, and her only remaining family—her brother—had vanished into a massive rift at the age of seven. Officially reported missing, but after more than five years, everyone treated it as a death. Then some returners started appearing, sparking a flicker of hope. Maybe my brother will come back like that someday, she'd thought. But that hope faded after another five years, and she naturally let go. Hardly any returners showed up anymore anyway. That's how Cheon Ji-yoon learned to give up on things in life.
So when she got the call today, she was floored. Racing over at the news that her brother—missing for ten years—had returned, she came face-to-face with him. He didn't match the faint image in her memories, but the hand stroking her head and the voice calling her name were etched deep in her heart. Even if he wasn't her real brother, she thought it would be okay. Because in this lonely world, she'd finally gained a real family.
Lying in bed, she turned her head to gaze at Cheon Ji-hoo, asleep on a blanket spread out on the floor. She slowly studied his face, stuffed from three Sotdelia burgers at dinner. Skin like white jade, hair like silky white satin. Beneath those closed eyelids lay eyes like aquamarine.
My real brother is back!
No more teasing about being an orphan. Now she had someone to rely on. And someone she never wanted to lose again. From now on, she would protect him.
Her predicted awakening rank at Hunter Academy was A-grade. Once she awakened, she could easily earn enough to support her brother.
Yeah, just gotta awaken.
Clutching her excitedly pounding chest, Cheon Ji-yoon rolled over and closed her eyes. If this was a dream, she hoped it would never end.
* * *
Confirming Cheon Ji-yoon was asleep, Cheon Ji-hoo slyly opened his eyes. Propping himself up, he double-checked her steady breathing, then rose and snapped his fingers.
The cramped room of their low-rise officetel vanished, replaced by the open vista of an apartment rooftop.
"Earth."
My home. Dressed in short track pants and a white short-sleeved shirt, he stood with both feet on the railing, overlooking the city twinkling with night lights.
The massive rift. That damned thing that had hurled him to another world. Monsters poured out of rifts, and superhumans emerged. It was like a third-rate fantasy novel, almost laughable—but actually, it was perfect.
"No need to hide it, then."
He was a mage. The Archmage of Dawn and Descent—no need for flowery titles like "one who reached the end of truth" or "master of principles." Hiding that power to live among ordinary people wouldn't be hard, but in a world like this, he felt no qualms about unleashing it. Power was meant to be used when needed, right?
"And..."
Now he had someone to protect. Back on Earth, he was determined to safeguard at least his little sister. After endless battles in that other world, a peaceful life sounded ideal.
Activating his dimensional transfer magic circle had consumed most of his mana—unless he focused solely on recovery, he could only access about 20% of his true power for now. But even that was enough to handle hordes of so-called S-rankers. He could protect one sister from a nuclear blast if it came to it.
"Gotta make some money too."
A part-time job? Leeching off his sister like this would earn him trash-talk. But who would hire a high school dropout? Hunters made bank, but he'd worry her too much. After ten years of making her fret, it was time to ease up.
"Hoo..."
He'd thought returning to Earth would smooth everything out, but the worries were piling up like a mountain. Letting out a long sigh, Cheon Ji-hoo shoved his hands in his pockets and leaped off the railing.
Cold wind enveloped him, his white hair fluttering wildly. With a blink, he was lying on a slightly musty blanket.
For now, sleep and think later.
Cheon Ji-hoo enjoyed his first deep sleep in ages.
* * *
"Oppa, I'm heading out first—buy lunch with this!"
Woken by the bustle, Cheon Ji-hoo groggily opened his eyes to see Cheon Ji-yoon place 10,000 won on the small table and dash out the front door. He gave a small wave, stretched languidly, then flopped back down.
A bit more sleep.
How long did he slumber? His body, fully rested, no longer craved it, and his eyes opened on their own. Glancing at the clock above the bedhead, it was already 1 p.m. About fourteen hours, give or take.
"Time to get up..."
He couldn't recall the last time he'd slept this long. Always under threat, he'd never relaxed enough. Knowing Earth had no such enemies put his mind utterly at ease.
Rising, he splashed water on his face in the bathroom, pocketed the 10,000 won his sister left, and started to don his otherworld clothes—then remembered her advice.
'That stuff's way too flashy—don't wear it outside!'
Is it that flashy? Stylish, cool, badass. Of course, by otherworld standards. Unfamiliar with current Korean trends, he dutifully stashed them in his subspace, then shuffled out in pajamas and tight slippers.
After a lap around the nearby walking path, hunger hit. He spotted a nearby fast-food joint.
"Ah, this is it. Craved this so bad."
Sotdelia. Named for soaring sales. Cheon Ji-hoo's favorite brand. Among cheap, tasty burgers from childhood, nothing beat it. That bargain sauce flavor—no otherworld dish could fill the void it left. Even after yesterday's feast, it didn't get old.
His striking looks drew stares. White hair, blue eyes, ethereal beauty. Plenty of sidelong glances. But Cheon Ji-hoo ignored them, demolished his burger, cleared his tray, and left Sotdelia.
"Now then..."
Walked, ate. What next? After a moment's thought, he decided on school. As her protector again, he wondered how her school life was going.
Hunter Way—the city of hunters—had one school: Hunter Academy.
Hands in pockets, he stepped forward. The ground shifted instantly from sidewalk to high-rise railing.
Balanced on the railing, he surveyed the area. Far off loomed a massive building. Dome-shaped, encircled by a wide fence enclosing paths and structures. The dome resembled a baseball stadium, but uniformed students confirmed it: Hunter Way's sole Hunter Academy. His sister had left in that uniform this morning.
"Hmm..."
Will she be happy if I visit?
A brief hesitation, then another teleport. He needed to see with his own eyes how she was faring.
* * *
"Shit! Where'd he go?!"
The Hunter Association had let Cheon Ji-hoo go, but not without strings—covert surveillance. Today's watcher was A-rank hunter Lee Joo-hwan, wielder of the sonar skill for environmental detection.
"Argh, driving me nuts."
Cautiously trailing with his skill. Even if non-hostile, the guy who crushed multiple S-rankers was a monster. They planned to monitor discreetly, but he vanished right in front of him.
Maxing out sonar yielded nothing.
"Where the hell...?"
Unbelievable—like magic, gone in an instant. Despite every nerve on edge!
Lee Joo-hwan tore at his hair and slumped down. If the guy caused trouble, it'd be disciplinary action and a stack of reports.
Then a spark: he pulled out his phone, fired up SNS, and searched "white hair" + "man."
With that unique look, the internet sea of info would have something.
"Please, please... Found it!"
A post about a handsome white-haired guy near Hunter Academy. He hailed a taxi at once. Just don't cause any incidents while I'm gone.
* * *
The Hunter Association hoped Cheon Ji-hoo wouldn't become a hunter. Powerful enough to kneel S-rankers, his entry would upend the balance. Rifts were Earth's new normal—no one wanted the board shaken. So they accepted his terms without fuss, and he said nothing more.
"Impressive."
Teleporting to Hunter Academy, Cheon Ji-hoo murmured. Hugely so. Bigger up close than from afar—larger than his otherworld Magic Tower, perfect dragon nest size.
Where was Cheon Ji-yoon? A quick scan, then he stepped—scenery blurred.
From main gate to dome roof. Peering from the edge of the open-center dome, he saw a central grassy training ground. Students in gym clothes practiced swordsmanship or trained their physiques.
Don't normal schools have soccer fields or something?
Fleeting thought. Closer look needed—he teleported to a bench by the field. Cast perception-blocking magic to avoid notice during their training, then watched leisurely.
There—Cheon Ji-yoon, swinging a wooden sword half her size vigorously at the air.
"Not bad."
Her A-grade prediction was legit. Unawakened, yet her swings could handle three goblins easy.
As he watched, students approached her—wooden swords, massive mallets, cold weapons. Friends at first? Then—
Clang—!!
Weapons clashed; besties, apparently. Kids these days bond by sparring with weapons? Earth had changed a lot.
But three-on-one was unfair.
"Want a hand?"
No biggie. Basic mage trick: smooth blood flow for boosted physicals, enhance muscle flexibility for better moves. Otherworld mages called it "miracle magic" blindly, but understanding principles allowed advanced applications.
"Strength Enhancement, Speed Enhancement, Spell Concealment."
Three spells from his hand. Mana swirled into language, shot skyward to her head. Spell Concealment hid the magic circle—no one would notice.
Orange Strength Enhancement and blue Speed Enhancement circles activated above her.
Her movements shifted dramatically. Hard-pressed in the three-on-one, she now pushed them back. They charged again, baffled, but she flicked her sword, sending all three tumbling.
Cheon Ji-hoo smiled faintly.
"Yeah, that's how a proper spar should look."