Chapter 15 Meeting at the Orphanage Volunteer
Chapter 15: {A Meeting at the Orphanage Volunteer Work}
The orphanage (or child care center, as they called it on Earth) held deep meaning for Yu Ji-hu, both in the otherworldly continent of Terra and here on Earth.
It was a place where children without parents grew up—just like he had after turning ten.
Knowing the pain of losing parents all too well, Ji-hu had always enjoyed helping such children. His frequent visits to orphanages with Scarlet and Mine back then were some of his happiest memories.
Perhaps that was why—
Ah, I woke up again.
Ji-hu realized he hadn't been able to sleep peacefully.
As he opened his eyes, a wave of bitterness washed over him.
Still not over it, huh?
It had already been two weeks since his return to Earth.
Despite the passage of time, the wounds of betrayal from the women of Terra still lingered. Of course, six years of shared history couldn't be erased in just a fortnight—but that didn't make the bitter ache any easier to bear.
And right now, he wasn't alone in bed.
"Can't sleep?"
His sister, Yu Ha-rin, cracked open her beautiful eyes slightly as she asked.
Tonight, she had requested to sleep beside him for the first time in years, so they now shared the same bed.
Dressed in sleepwear, Ha-rin wore a simple pair of shorts that accentuated her figure—curves so striking they could make anyone dizzy. Though she had always been blessed with an enviable physique, the sight of her in those shorts, lounging on the bed, carried a seductive charm that her usual cold, regal demeanor never revealed.
Her smooth, milky thighs and long, shapely legs were particularly eye-catching, while her sleeveless top left her ample cleavage and pale shoulders exposed.
This was a side of Ha-rin no one else ever saw—only Ji-hu.
"Yeah, just not in the mood for sleep."
"Another dream about that world?"
"...Yeah."
As Ji-hu nodded, Ha-rin's expression softened with sympathy. She reached out from her side of the bed and gently stroked his cheek.
"If it's hard on you, don't hide it. If my little brother ever keeps his pain from me, and something happens because I didn't know... I'd never forgive myself."
Ji-hu quietly took her hand in his.
"Okay, I promise. If something's bothering me, I'll tell you first."
"Hehe, good boy."
Ha-rin's hand moved to ruffle his hair affectionately.
"...Aren't I a little too old for this kind of treatment?"
"Not at all~ To me, you'll always be at that age. Hehe."
Seeing her delighted smile, Ji-hu gave up arguing. He couldn't bring himself to refuse when she looked so happy.
Besides... he liked seeing her smile.
"You're amazing, Noona."
"How so?"
"You're strong, beautiful... The strongest and most gorgeous woman in the world is my sister. Even as a kid, I thought you were incredible. I still do."
"And?"
Ha-rin smirked.
"Did you ever resent having a sister like me?"
"No, never once."
At his answer, Ha-rin smiled faintly, satisfied.
"Good. I've always been happy to have you as my little brother."
Under her loving gaze, Ji-hu felt a hint of embarrassment.
No matter how much he grew, in her eyes, he would always remain the little brother she adored.
"There were things I wanted to tell you when I got back—things I thought about during those six years apart."
"Like what?"
Seeing her curiosity, Ji-hu smiled slightly.
"That when I was little, I used to wonder if you were an angel who'd descended from heaven. And that you stole one of my dreams."
"Stole your dream? Which one?"
Ha-rin's expression stiffened abruptly, making Ji-hu quickly backtrack—joking was off the table now.
"Ah, it's nothing serious. Relax, Noona."
Though her urgency faded, the shadow in her expression remained. Ji-hu explained:
"Really, it's no big deal. Just... when I hit puberty, I thought, Wouldn't it be great to marry the most beautiful woman in the world? But since you were the most beautiful, that dream kind of... died."
"Oh, I see."
Ha-rin nodded in understanding, then resumed stroking his cheek.
"Then I'll confess something too. Do you know what my greatest fear is?"
"What?"
"That one day, you'll get married, grow closer to your wife... and push me away. That I'll become unnecessary to you."
Her answer felt like retaliation for unintentionally startling her earlier.
Ji-hu shook his head slightly.
"I'd never push you away. You're family—you'll always be by my side."
"Mm. So you'll stay with me forever?"
"Yeah. Even if I marry someday, I won't leave you."
"Good. That's all I need."
With a satisfied smile, Ha-rin suddenly shifted closer. Before Ji-hu could react, his face was nestled between her ample breasts.
"Noona?"
"Just stay like this for a bit. Haa~"
The softness of her chest pressed against him, and her scent—so sweet it almost didn't seem human—filled his senses. Gradually, a strange drowsiness washed over him, and he drifted off in her embrace.
Just sleep deeply, my beloved little brother.
Watching him slumber in her arms, Ha-rin smiled and closed her eyes.
"Ji-hu, do you have plans today?"
Ha-rin asked abruptly over breakfast.
"Yeah. I was thinking of visiting an orphanage. Didn't you say you sponsor a few lately?"
"Mm, that's right."
She nodded, sipping her coffee. Ji-hu smiled faintly.
"That's a good thing you're doing."
"Hehe, hearing that from you makes it all worthwhile."
Ha-rin returned his smile before setting down her cup.
"If you're going, want a recommendation?"
"Sure. Somewhere that really needs help would be best."
"Got it. I'll look into it and pick one. But first, take this."
She handed him a card.
Black with gold VIP lettering, it bore not a bank's name, but that of the Underground Guild.
"What's this?"
"A guild-exclusive card. I had it made in advance for when you returned."
Ji-hu turned it over in his hand.
"Does it work like a credit card?"
"Yep. You can withdraw from any bank. Use as much as you want."
"How much is in it?"
"Over 20 trillion won."
Ji-hu set the card down.
"...You're not joking?"
"Nope. Problem?"
Ha-rin grinned.
"Noona, that's way too much."
Six years ago, at seventeen, he hadn't been poor—but 20 trillion was an unimaginable sum. To Ha-rin, however, it seemed trivial.
"Things have changed since then, Ji-hu. To us, 20 trillion isn't a big amount now."
He could guess what she meant.
As the world's strongest Awakened, leading the Underground Guild—a force blending elites from both worlds—her title of "Empress" was no exaggeration. In times of crisis, her value far exceeded mere numbers.
"Still... it's too much for me right now."
"Then just keep it. If it's too much, only withdraw what you need. Besides, your own savings from before are in there too, so don't stress."
"Oh, okay."
Relieved to hear his pre-Terra savings were included (at least a few hundred million won), Ji-hu relaxed.
I'll ask for a statement later to check.
My Ji-hu is too frugal.
If he wanted, I could buy him an entire island.
Watching him balk at 20 trillion, Ha-rin felt a twinge of disappointment.
Had he asked, she could've gifted him not just an island, but a resort—or even hundreds of trillions, equivalent to South Korea's national budget.
Given her standing in the world, it wouldn't even be a stretch.