6. The Complete Form
6. The Complete Form
After escaping the building that had become a mess, I loaded Choi A-young into the car and got in myself.
"Ugh, um..."
Only when Shingen opened the window and finished smoking a cigarette did she finally come to her senses.
"Here, here is...?"
"You awake?"
He looked at her, who was blinking her half-opened eyes and glancing around.
He speaks in a gentle tone that is completely different from when he was fighting.
"You, you are—"
"What manners to speak to your brother you haven't seen in a long time."
Thud!
Like a scene from peaceful daily life 10 years ago, he lightly chopped her head with the edge of his hand.
"Aak!"
"You're exaggerating when it doesn't even hurt; I hit you with all my strength withdrawn."
"You, really my brother...? My brother Choi Geon-hyeok?"
Only then did she blink rapidly, as if not believing it, and asked again.
"Of course I'm your brother. Even though my face has aged a lot, it shouldn't be to the point where you can't recognize me, right?"
Afraid that his family might not recognize him, he diligently managed so that no scars or wounds would appear on his face.
"I can't believe it at all... Then tell me one secret that only we two know!"
"That's simple. In your second year of high school, you confessed to the boy you liked, got rejected, and didn't go to school for several days— oof."
"Aaaaaah! Stop there!!!"
A-young let out a scream close to a shriek and tightly covered Shingen's mouth with her hand.
"That's enough... If you say more, I'll really kill you."
Nod nod.
When Shingen nodded in affirmation, only then did she remove the hand that was covering his mouth.
"Still, it's a relief that you haven't changed much from before."
"...Where on earth did you disappear to? Mom and dad were really worried!"
"I already met mom and dad and am on my way back. And it seems you're no less in causing trouble for mom and dad, right?"
"Ugh...!"
Hit the nail on the head, she couldn't offer any rebuttal.
She knows it herself.
How her parents would think of her actions, what emotions they would feel.
"What on earth happened while I was gone?"
"......"
"What happened that you ended up in such an organization?"
What had happened while Shingen was gone?
He was curious about the story of what had happened that his younger sister had changed so much.
"Well... it might be a long story, but if it's okay, I'll tell you."
Hesitating, she took a breath and began to talk about the things that happened after Shingen disappeared.
After Geon-hyeok disappeared to the Noir World, his family did everything they could to find him.
But in the end, they couldn't find him, and not long after, the Great Cataclysm occurred, causing them to lose everything they had.
The world was wounded, and countless people died.
Nevertheless, the parents believed that their son would return and held on, settling in the homeland that had turned into a shanty house.
At first, A-young also tried to support her parents as much as possible, but as time passed, her patience hit rock bottom, and she began to think with near certainty that even her own life was being ruined.
Not long after, she even awakened as a hunter and was finally able to make a decision.
'If things continue like this, it looks like even my life will be ruined. This is nothing but self-defense, after all.'
Instead of becoming a hunter, she headed for the underworld.
At first, she spent time killing other criminals, extorting money, and committing robberies.
After spending a long time in the underworld, scouting offers came in, and she chose to join the Doksahoe, which had the largest power among them.
After that, through promotion, she became the chairman's secretary and guard, enjoying authority as the second most powerful person in Doksahoe.
After firmly establishing her position, she even visited her parents for the first time in a long while.
Of course, nothing but wounds remained from that end, but nevertheless, she decided to be satisfied with just confirming their faces.
After all, if she hadn't been prepared to that extent, she wouldn't have set foot in this world in the first place.
'...It's empty.'
She gained immense wealth and fame, but as time passed, the emptiness in her heart did not disappear.
She enjoyed a life without lack, but sometimes she even began to think what use all this was.
Still, she couldn't escape.
Because she was already too deeply involved, and because there was nowhere else that would accept her other than here.
That's how she spent 10 years.
There was no guilt from living with blood on her hands, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that everything had been twisted and ruined.
In the moment she was living through such days.
Suddenly, before her eyes, her only blood relative who had disappeared 10 years ago appeared.
"So, that's how it came to be now."
"......"
"Don't you think it's pathetic, brother? Not a child anymore, but a grown adult abandoning even parents and going around doing butcher's work like killing people..."
Hate me.
Despise and loathe me.
Don't forgive me.
That's how her words sounded to Shingen.
Even so, Shingen's response was already decided.
"I'm sorry..."
"......"
"It's all my fault that you ended up like this, and that our parents ended up like this."
Even if it was beyond his control, since it all happened because of him, he decided to apologize first.
If he didn't apologize, the guilt would just linger anyway.
"There's a lot I want to say, and a lot I need to say, but first, I apologize."
He never knew the world would change this much after he disappeared.
He was worried about the family he left behind, but he never thought about what emotions his family must have felt.
That's why he apologized.
"Then... where have you been all this time, brother?"
After hearing Shingen's apology, A-young, who had been silent, cautiously asked.
She seemed curious about where he had been during those ten missing years.
"Even if I tell you, you probably won't believe it. Are you sure you want to know?"
"With the world in this state, what could possibly be more surprising?"
She forced a smile to lighten the mood.
...
..
.
"...And so, I was able to return to Earth."
"......"
Choi A-young's expression, having listened to the long story all the way through, changed subtly.
She looked as if she was wondering what kind of story she was even hearing, and also seemed to be thinking whether this was really reality.
"So, you're a Returnee... and the world you fell into was an Earth where criminal organizations ruled the world?"
"You got it."
"And you conquered that world's Earth, then got suddenly sucked into a gate and returned to our Earth?"
"That's right."
"...Honestly, I can't quite believe it all... but thinking about the power you showed, I guess I can believe it. We thought you were just missing, but you weren't. I think I understand now why you're so strong."
My brother was a Returnee...
Even though her face still showed disbelief, since she was saying she understood anyway, Shingen decided to just let it go.
If a long-lost family member suddenly returned, said they were a Returnee, and talked about conquering a world in another dimension before returning, even he wouldn't believe it.
"So, where do you plan to go now?"
A-young, sitting in the back seat with only her head peeking out, asked.
"I have to go see our parents first."
"Ah... go see them now?"
She was flustered by his talk of going home, but Shingen maintained his composure.
"Well, where else would I go? I came all this way to look after you. Our parents still miss you, you know."
"......"
From talking the previous day, he had figured it out.
Even though they said otherwise, they were waiting for their daughter.
That's why Shingen had decided to act.
He intended to fulfill the filial duty he couldn't for ten years, even if it was now.
"No objections accepted."
"W-Wait a second...!"
Before she could say anything, Shingen immediately stepped on the gas and started racing down the road.
After speeding down the road, they soon arrived in front of the house.
Shingen got out of the driver's seat, and after a moment's hesitation, A-young also stepped out of the back seat, faltering.
"O-oh, coming here after so long feels so awkward and nerve-wracking..."
"It's all your own doing anyway. Just hurry up and go inside."
Pang!
He kicked her hesitant butt, forcing her to go in.
"Ow, ouch! Stop it...! I'll go in on my own!"
"Then do it quickly. Who'd believe you just by saying that?"
Showing the unmistakable usual dynamic between siblings, the two of them entered the house together.
At the sound from the yard, the door of the shanty house opened, and their father poked his head out.
"Geon-hyeok? Come in and have some lunch togeth-"
Seeing the figure of A-young standing in front of Shingen, their father couldn't finish his sentence.
"......"
Seeing that, she too couldn't say anything, busy avoiding his gaze.
Even though it was their first meeting in years, neither of them could find the words to speak first.
Shingen just watched the awkward situation from behind.
He thought he shouldn't intervene now, no matter who spoke first.
As that awkward time passed...
Step...
Their father came out barefoot, without even putting on shoes, and stood before A-young.
Though their father was small and shrunken now, A-young could do nothing before him.
"Listen-"
"...Why did you only come looking for us now. A-young-ah... you foolish child...!"
After staring at A-young for a moment, their father simply pulled her into a hug.
The father, who hadn't shed a tear even when meeting Shingen, shed tears for the first time.
Though his suit was getting wet with tears, A-young just accepted her father's sorrow without a word.
The reunion of the family, gathered together after so long, didn't look so bad.