Chapter 1 Don't Worry About Anything
Chapter 1: [Don't Worry About a Thing]
[Don't Worry About a Thing]
Yu Ji-hu opened his eyes.
"Where...?"
As he sat up, he noticed two things—the plush comfort of the bed beneath him and the fact that his body, which had been battered by attacks from those he trusted most, was now completely healed.
His ruined clothes had also been changed into simple, comfortable ones.
"You're awake, Ji-hu. It's me—your noona. Do you recognize me?"
The sight that greeted him was a woman of breathtaking beauty. She carried an untouchable, noble air, exuding both elegant grace and a cool, composed demeanor—enough to make anyone sigh in admiration.
She wore a sleek black dress that revealed her shoulders slightly and fell just above her knees, her waist-length black hair swaying gently. Though she looked slightly more mature than when he'd last seen her, there was no mistaking her.
"...Noona."
His only family—his older sister, Yu Ha-rin.
"Yes, Ji-hu. It's me."
Ha-rin smiled faintly, but soon, concern filled her expression.
"Are you okay? Does anything still hurt?"
"...No, I'm fine."
Ji-hu forced a weak smile. He tried to make it reassuring, but the shock and betrayal he felt hadn't faded yet, making it difficult.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"...Sorry. I'll talk about it when I've calmed down."
"Alright. Just tell me when you're ready."
Ha-rin didn't press further, and Ji-hu managed a small smile at her understanding.
"Thanks, noona."
The betrayal by the comrades he had trusted as much as his own sister was unbearably bitter. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he had just returned to Earth after being betrayed, collapsed unconscious, and only now regained his senses.
To him, it all felt like it had just happened.
Scarlet. Mine. Yenia. Iris.
He had never imagined they would betray him. He hadn't even known about the so-called "Oracle" that had reached the Empire.
They must have hidden it from me.
He didn't know the exact contents, but the Demon King had fabricated the Oracle, making it seem divinely ordained. And they—his most trusted allies—had believed it and turned against him, trying to kill him.
He had never doubted their loyalty.
He had never even considered the possibility that they would betray him.
Why? Why couldn't they trust me?
He had been summoned to that world and fought with everything he had to defeat the Demon King.
Once the Demon King was dead, he would have gained the power to return to Earth. He had always planned to go back—but he had assumed they would come with him.
Thanks to the memories they had built together, they had all agreed. Even Mine, the Saintess, and Iris, the princess, had genuinely welcomed the idea of going to Earth with him.
He remembered smiling sincerely at their enthusiasm.
Why? Why? Why couldn't they trust me?
The more he recalled those memories, the more the wounds from their attacks ached, even though they had already healed.
"Ji-hu, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired."
At his words, Ha-rin smiled gently. She reached out, her soft hand brushing his cheek as she spoke.
"Ji-hu, if you're tired, don't think about anything for now. Just rest. From now on, I'll always be here to take care of you."
Her affectionate words made him smile genuinely this time.
"So don't worry about a thing. Just trust me and get some proper rest."
"Thanks, noona."
With that, Ji-hu closed his eyes again, drifting back into sleep.
Ha-rin watched her brother with tender eyes full of love before turning her head away.
The moment she did, the gentle smile on her beautiful face vanished, replaced by a chilling fury.
How dare they... How dare they lay a hand on my brother.
She could feel her killing intent surging, but she suppressed it immediately, not wanting to disturb his sleep.
"Leia."
[Yes, Your Majesty.]
Using her communication-type ability, she called one of her subordinates who was currently active outside.
"I'll be spending time looking after Ji-hu for a while. Make sure no unnecessary matters reach my ears. Understood?"
As the strongest Awakened on Earth, many sought Ha-rin's power.
But she rarely acted on such requests. She had no intention of wasting this precious time with her beloved brother, who had just returned after so long.
[Understood. I will relay your orders to the others as well.]
"Good work."
With that, she severed the connection.
In this world's brutal days of slaughter, she had emerged as the final victor, reigning as the Empress and commanding the obedience of countless individuals.
Leia was one of those who had sworn allegiance to her during that time—but she was far from the only one.
Her subordinates were spread across the world, acting as her eyes and ears, expanding her influence.
I was fine, but you... You must have suffered so much, Ji-hu.
The days of slaughter in the other world had been an exhausting cycle of battle.
But she had always won, growing stronger until she stood unrivaled.
Ji-hu, however, was different.
Unlike her—ruthless and merciless—he was an astonishingly kind-hearted person.
Even at seventeen, the last time she had seen him, he had been unusually righteous and compassionate compared to others his age. No matter what world he had been thrown into, he must have struggled.
But this reaction isn't just from the battles.
This was the look of someone crushed by utter betrayal and despair.
Though she didn't show it, Ha-rin had already deduced that someone her brother trusted had betrayed him.
Probably someone—or some people—he cared about deeply.
She was certain now.
Who dares...
If she ever found them, she would never forgive them.
The day they lost their parents as children, she had Awakened and sworn an oath:
No matter what, she would never lose her brother. She would protect him.
And yet, someone had hurt him.
The thought made her rage burn hotter.
Ji-hu is my brother, but unlike me, he's far too kind. How dare they wound him like this.
She would never forgive them.
Ji-hu, from now on, I'll always protect you.
No matter what choices or conclusions her little brother came to, she would stand by him unconditionally. With that resolve, Ha-rin gazed at his sleeping face.
Ji-hu was dreaming.
A dream of the past—of the time he had spent with Iris.
"Korean is quite difficult."
The beautiful blonde swordswoman, Iris, was struggling to learn the language.
As the princess of the Empire, she had received a high-level education, but that didn't make her a linguistic prodigy.
So whenever she had time, she would learn a little from Ji-hu, though it was clearly a challenge.
"It is difficult, but you've improved a lot."
Ji-hu smiled warmly.
"You're right. I'll keep working hard until I can speak your homeland's language fluently."
"Yeah."
Having been summoned from Earth, Ji-hu had been able to speak this world's common tongue perfectly from the start.
He didn't fully grasp how hard learning a language could be, but he cherished these moments.
Teaching Iris Korean deepened their bond, and he had been so happy—so in love with her.
But the dream shifted abruptly.
Now he saw Iris, stabbing him from behind with her sword, her eyes filled with hatred as she tried to kill him.
Why? Why? Why?
Why hadn't she trusted him?
"Why... why... why?"
Muttering in his sleep, Ji-hu jolted awake.
"Ah."
His body was drenched in cold sweat.
Ha-rin, noticing he had woken from a nightmare, immediately reached for a damp cloth and gently wiped his face, her voice laced with concern.
"Ji-hu, are you okay? You seemed to be having a bad dream..."
"No, noona. I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you..."