Chapter 4. New Moon Night (3)
A time much younger than now. Before even entering middle school. Lee Sea had already developed this habit back then.
It started with just turning on the light in her own room. After a while, the living room too. Then the kitchen. And eventually, the bathroom and every room in the house.
It happened naturally, inevitably.
Once Lee Dojin became a college student, he started spending much more time away from home. On weekends, it was hard to even catch a glimpse of him during the day, and even at night, things weren't much different. Occasionally—specifically, once or twice a month—he wouldn't come home until dawn broke.
Whenever that happened, Lee Sea would turn on every light in the house and bury herself under the covers in bed. She often couldn't sleep until morning. Even if she managed to drift off, she'd wake up multiple times. Clutching her pounding chest, harboring some faint hope, she'd step out of her room—only to find the lights she'd left on shining brightly. The TV murmured in the background. That was it.
Her brother hadn't come home, so she'd turn everything off again. Restoring the silence fitting for the quiet dawn where nothing could be seen or heard, she'd crawl back into bed.
Lee Dojin had no idea such nights had repeated for so long.
Today would be no different, right?
'Eight people, he said...'
That's what he'd told her earlier that day. Including himself, five guys and three girls. He was going to hang out with friends.
Lee Sea didn't believe him.
Just once, she'd seen him on the street. Walking with some woman she didn't know. That single sighting had shocked her threefold.
First, he was with someone other than his fiancée Han Se-ra, at a distance as intimate as lovers. She'd blinked and looked again, but they sure didn't look like just friends. And the woman was beautiful. Not quite on the level of Han Se-ra, the unrivaled beauty she'd seen in her life so far, but she exuded a different allure. Flashy clothes, sensually adorned jewelry sparkling. Her looks, her expressions—they all seemed to shine in perfect harmony with him.
Such a woman was chattering away at her brother in an affectionate tone.
And the second shock. Lee Dojin himself looked unfamiliar. Different from the brother she saw at home. Dressed in an outfit she'd never seen him in, matched to the woman beside him. He seemed bored, yet he conversed with her comfortably.
It was as if he weren't the brother she'd known.
The final, third shock. Lee Dojin had lied to her.
The next day, around lunchtime when he finally came home, Lee Sea had cautiously asked.
"What... did you do yesterday?"
"Oh, just... hung out with friends and the night dragged on. Sorry for coming back late."
She didn't press him on why he wasn't telling the truth. She had no right to, living off him like she was, and she didn't know what face he'd make or how he'd respond. Facing that terrified her.
Instead, as she'd done for years, she decided to split her heart in two. Her brother, more precious than anything. The one who didn't come home, who lied, who might even find his little sister a burden.
She drew a clear line between them.
Lee Sea's love ran deep and thick; she couldn't dilute it into something shallow and faint. Nor did she want to. But she could direct it in two ways.
The affection she naturally held. And the resentment that inevitably welled up despite it.
Keep the two emotions separate. Let the resentment show on the surface, and the affection could remain pure, untainted.
That kept the balance.
In truth, she couldn't handle the resentment, and the affection pooled in a corner of her heart, slowly turning into something else. She knew that. But thinking that far was too exhausting.
Of course, it should've been the same today...
'This feels weird.'
Maybe because they'd had more contact lately with the new semester starting. It wasn't working like usual. She'd turned on all the lights, the TV was murmuring—time to go back to bed. But her feet wouldn't move.
'Ten thirteen...'
The time on her phone clock. At this point, hoping he'd come back early due to some schedule snag was just ridiculous.
Still, Lee Sea opened the messenger app. Her private chat with her brother. His messages were plentiful; hers were few, short, and curt.
Her fingers typed: 'When are you coming?'
She had no intention of sending it—just testing, then delete.
Was it a mistake? Or her true wish?
In an unexpected blunder, after half a day of silence, Lee Sea let out a small sound from her lips.
"...Ah."
Her finger had brushed the screen. Right on the send button.
The little '1' indicating unread vanished before she could blink. Lee Sea frantically canceled the send, but the trace remained.
[Deleted message.]
"Ah..."
Too focused on deleting, she hadn't thought this far. And even if he hadn't opened the chat, he might've seen the preview.
To cover it up, she had to send another.
This way, at least it wouldn't look like nagging. It was her only excuse.
"...What an idiot."
She glared resentfully at her fingers, muttering to herself. Fortunately amid the misfortune, the sudden tension left her body languid. Maybe she could sleep now. She turned off the lights and TV, returned to her room, and buried her face in the pillow.
Just in case, she maxed the notification volume, but no reply came from her brother.
After the commotion settled.
All three decided to voice their 'wishes.'
"I'll give you time, so think carefully."
With those simple words, Seo Yeon-hee headed up to a second-floor room. Of the three members who'd already stated theirs, the old man and the kid approached me.
"Bro, you've gotten way stronger than before, huh? Scared me there."
"I had to take a second look myself. Even if Yeom Ui-jun was the man I knew, you could've taken him down easily."
"Sorry for dragging you all this way only for unpleasantness."
I didn't agree inwardly but replied without false modesty.
Who knows if Yeom Ui-jun had been at his peak... Even I wasn't sure. At the time, with my full power, a draw would've been the best I could hope for. Now, with unused hologram rewards and new gains, I could win if I threw everything at it.
Surveying the castle interior wrecked by the battle's aftermath, the four regular members excluding the old man and kid were scattered. Rabbit Mask stared silently at me from afar, while Fox Mask had just stepped out of the castle. She wouldn't be dumb enough to run—and even if she tried, she'd be caught quick—so she was probably stepping out to think deeply.
The tall man still looked troubled. Understandable, being suddenly told to pick a wish. I got his feelings, but no choice. If he didn't speak, he'd top the suspect list for dangerous individual.
And the last one remaining. The burly guy I'd pummeled earlier shuffled over awkwardly.
"Ahem, uh."
"What? Need more potions? They're over there—help yourself."
"Nah, wounds are all healed... "
His follow-up surprised me.
"Sorry about that."
"Huh?"
Rubbing his thick neck like a pot lid, the giant repeated himself.
"Look, I figured you were some scrawny punk. Got on my nerves bossing us around just 'cause you impressed the boss, and Yeom Ui-jun didn't even seem that strong, so killing him wasn't some big deal—I underestimated you. My bad. Formal apology."
"...I went overboard too, so let's call it even."
I was flustered replying. I'd meant to straighten out his rough attitude and grumbling. Now I looked like the jerk.
The old man clapped delightedly.
"That's it— that's how comrades should be. Heartwarming to see. Back in my youth—"
"Hey, but uh!"
As the old man revved up, the boy swiftly changed the subject. I dreaded listening, and the giant seemed the same, focusing on the kid.
"Mister, what's your wish gonna be?"
"Nothin' comes to mind. I'm content with life now."
The giant answered vaguely.
Phantom members' 'wishes' to Seo Yeon-hee. In one word, ultra-high-level contract ritual.
First, the subject reveals their deepest desire. The more specific and intense, the stronger the effect—but no need for details. Wealth, fame, power. Abstract works fine.
Next, Seo Yeon-hee peers into their mind. Not deeply—just verifying honesty.
She says she only reads the mind's flow... Anything more is tiring and rude.
Once established, no worries needed. Under the premise it won't harm Phantom, they can borrow a portion of her power related to the wish.
Net gain. Members with wishes have meaningfully higher survival rates than those without.
"I know that, but... really nothin'?"
"Fightin' strong guys is enough for me."
"Then go with that. I wished for the same 'cause nothin' else came up—if not, I might've lost an arm by now."
The giant tilted his head at the boy's salesman pitch, then asked me.
"Hey, you make a wish? Those black wings."
"Unrelated. Whether I did... don't wanna say."
"Hmph, actin' all high and mighty. Makes sense—you're the boss's lover, probably don't need wishes."
The giant's knowing mutter drew looks from the old man and kid too. From their glances, denying it wouldn't convince them...
"Believe me if I say no?"
"I judge by what I see and feel."
"Hm, I've got the years of experience."
"Bro, I may lack years, but my gut's sharp."
"...Think what you want."
I replied coldly, turning for the stairs. Their whispers followed.
"That your answer?"
"Headin' to the boss's room alone... Not your average errand."
"Was iffy on evidence, but confirmed now."
Why assume it's not business...? Absurd. Sighing, I reached Seo Yeon-hee's door. A clear voice stopped me then.
"Wait."
"Yeah?"
The woman in the cute Rabbit Mask. One of the two members whose identity I didn't know. Silverish hair and ruby-like eyes stood out as she asked.
"That room... why're you going in?"
"Got business with the boss."
"Ah..."
Leaving her hesitant, I knocked.
"Boss, it's me."
Come in.
"Plenty of time left—rest up," I told her curtly, entering.
Seo Yeon-hee, removing her wide-brim hat, approached with a pleased look.
"What? Sleep if you're tired."
"...Not my room."
"Why not? Two beds."
Her slender finger pointed to one side. Sure enough, two beds. Sizes differed sharply—one spacious for two, the other barely fitting one person.
"Six rooms, soon seven people. So only this room has two beds."
No point asking why six rooms. Better nitpick details.
"Mine's too small. No discrimination, but can't sleep feeling slighted. Heading back to the hotel."
"Then use the big one. Plenty of room for two."
"...My bad."
"Hm? For what?"
"Reflecting on sassing back half-assed..."
Meaning: quit teasing. She grinned at my words, walking to the window. Opening the curtains, she gazed skyward, murmuring softly.
"So dark tonight."
New moon lunar day. Moonlight faint beyond dim—practically nonexistent. Especially black tonight.
"I'll handle it—watch comfortably."
"Hope so, but if something needs doing, cover for me."
"Got it."
No more talk after. She lounged on the bed reading; I pondered the task ahead.
Hoping this night passed with just one life taken.
As midnight neared.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah."
Opening the door, I escorted Seo Yeon-hee downstairs. The six regulars gathered; she spoke.
"Who first?"
"Me?"
The tall man stepped forward, moving to the center. Seo Yeon-hee spread her left hand; red energy extended, rippling.
"Think of your 'wish' in your mind. I'll see what you desire."
"Understood."
"How long?"
"Less than ten seconds for me."
The giant and boy's exchange. Ten seconds passed. Another ten. A minute. Time dragged; red light persisted.
Seo Yeon-hee faintly frowned. Then, as if realizing something, she hummed.
"'Dangerous individual'... so that's what it means?"
The words barely registered.
Boom!
I kicked off the ground, charging the castle center.