#29 Chapter 7. Yoo Hae-bin (3)

It was a story that could fill nights on end if told in full, but boiled down to just a few sentences.

Yoo Hae-bin. She had come from another world beyond the Rifts.

Even under a millennium of demonic rule, some beings had resisted having their souls subjugated—the descendants of their leader among them. And judging by her total mana output and dominance, she wasn't human either. Before the demons invaded, hers had been the most powerful race in that world beyond the Rifts.

"A dragon? Yeah, think of it like that... But anyway, we got totally wrecked. Things were already a mess when I came here, so by now... probably..."

Over twenty years ago, before Yoo Hae-bin was even born, the revolutionary forces had finally risen after years of preparation. The godlike being who ruled over all demons had fallen to the 36 Heroes and vanished, making them think they finally had a shot.

"They didn't expect the war to end in a year. A hundred years, two hundred, maybe even another millennium... But the demons were getting weaker, fighting among themselves, so if they could just break the soul domination, they figured they had a real chance. All that enemy firepower would flip to our side, after all. I'm not fudging my age—I'm really eighteen—but back when I was little... well, from what I knew, they weren't totally without results."

In the main story of World Guardian, reversing soul domination had been practically impossible. But with the demon overlord gone and his power inaccessible, cracks must have formed.

It matched exactly what I'd inferred from the late-game descriptions of the world beyond the Rifts.

"But... why did it fail?"

Even as I asked, I had a hunch about the answer. Yoo Hae-bin had crossed over alone ten years ago, after all. It had to tie into the events I knew.

And my guess hit the mark.

"Rumors started circulating. No idea why, but the Rifts were supposedly going to surge again. The demons seemed to be plotting something—they called a truce among themselves and came at us full force. A massive Rift opened during that battle, and the adults helped me escape through it to here. I don't know what happened after. No way back, so I just pretended to be an orphan and scraped by... and suddenly ten years passed."

"What were you planning after graduating school?"

"Who knows..."

Yoo Hae-bin let out a hollow laugh at my question. Sad, angry, but so lost she didn't know what to do.

"Probably join a guild, hunt as an awakener? Whether finding a way back or killing demons, I'd need to get strong and climb the ranks. Seeing Sea at Jeil High felt kinda nice at first, even though we'd never met. Our elders were like comrades indirectly, so... Her personality's a bit quiet, so we didn't click right away, but we got close eventually. Oh, and since it came up—Jin Yu-ri's been picking fights with Lee Sea since middle school first year. Sea doesn't seem like the type to gossip about that stuff, so I'm telling you as a friend."

"Uh... thanks."

Watching her expression shift from tattling to something meaningful felt weird. Sounded like she'd had a rough childhood, but her natural disposition made her bounce back fast.

That was enough context. Time for what I really wanted to know.

"Can't you transform into your true form?"

"Oh, that? I could if I really tried, but I'm holding back right now."

Yoo Hae-bin frowned, looking genuinely regretful as she continued.

"The adults set some precautions before I crossed over, just in case I got caught. This appearance is altered a bit too—live like this until you're strong enough to fend for yourself anywhere. Transforming even once would flag me on mana scans right away. And now, my combat power's probably close to my true form's... though it'd be hard to say for sure without trying."

She gazed at me steadily after spilling all that—a silent protest asking why I hadn't untied her yet. I waved my hand.

Shiiik—

A sharp sound rang out, and Yoo Hae-bin stretched hugely, freed from her physical restraints.

"Haaaah... My whole body's sore. So... can I ask you a few things now?"

"Shoot."

"Oppa—uh, Sea's brother. Professor. That black mana flickering from your shoulder earlier... and why'd you bring me here."

Just one question, but her eyes held near-certainty.

"It's been almost a month. Phantom—that A-rank terrorist group that crashed the party and killed Sanil Electronics VP Yeom Ui-jun. They say a key executive uses the same techniques as you... I know that much."

"Alright, say I am that guy?"

"I wanna know... why. You wouldn't just kill for no reason, right?"

I answered plainly.

"Revenge."

"Revenge? For what?"

"The Great Rift ten years ago. Selfish bastards triggered it for their own gain and covered it up. Killing those scum—that's my goal."

I watched her face closely as I spoke. Shock first, then hatred creeping in.

"So it wasn't natural... humans caused it... then, uh, then..."

Yoo Hae-bin trailed off into silence. My enemies were hers too.

If there'd been no Great Rift. If the demons hadn't exploited it. If they'd kept fighting each other instead of uniting to raid the revolutionaries' base...

Her last ten years might've been very different.

Finally, she asked in a low voice.

"If that's true... who are they?"

Timing felt right. I replied with an invitation.

"I don't know them all. But if you want, you could find out with your own strength. ...With me."

"..."

Yoo Hae-bin stared straight into my eyes. Meeting her gaze, I knew her answer.

Ten years ago, at the funeral. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠After talking with Seo Yeon-hee. Staring blankly at my reflection while washing up at the sink...

I'd had the exact same look as she did now.

I'd pondered how to convince her on the way here, but no need. It felt fated.

She was destined to join Phantom, like it was already set in stone.

Just then, Seo Yeon-hee opened the door and entered.

"All wrapped up? Oh? Ah, deep in important talk, huh?"

"Who's she?"

"Our boss."

Seo Yeon-hee, in a wide-brimmed hat, approached and removed it. Yoo Hae-bin's eyes widened at her revealed appearance.

"Huh? ...Huh?"

"What? Do I look like someone you know?"

Yoo Hae-bin glanced at me, stammering.

"Uh... no, right?"

"Absolutely not—she just dresses like that to mess around. She doesn't look like this normally."

"No, but... wow, this feels so weird..."

My head throbbed watching her mutter. I shot Seo Yeon-hee a glare.

Her new look from ten days ago: a twenty-something version of Sea, smiling brightly at me.

I sighed deeply and told her seriously.

"I'm dead serious. If you keep that appearance, I can't hang around you. Please, for the love of god, change it."

"What'll you do for me in return?"

"Forget it, I'm out."

"Hng... really?"

Going firm to avoid her latching on worked—she let out a soft nasal huff, then whined in mock offense.

"Dojin, you're acting tough today 'cause someone's watching? Normally you're so sweet to me."

She bragged weirdly, then swiped her face with her hand. Her features shifted slightly while keeping her build. Less Sea now, more... Sea-adjacent?

Seo Yeon-hee turned to me.

"Mind filling me in on what you two talked about? Gotta hear that first."

I recapped: Yoo Hae-bin's life so far, what she'd want from joining Phantom. I gave her a brief on the organization too, and Seo Yeon-hee suggested.

"Hae-bin, right? You need to make a wish too... Want time to decide?"

"No, I'm good."

Yoo Hae-bin stepped forward decisively.

"Assuming everything I heard is true, I need power to face the humans behind the Great Rift—and the demons."

"Smart cookie," Seo Yeon-hee praised.

Yoo Hae-bin couldn't tell if we were lying yet. But refusing Phantom's offer meant she wouldn't leave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alive. So she conditioned her wish as a safety net, bracing for even the contract to be a trick.

"Kid's got a good head on her shoulders. Handles school slick too."

"Yeah. Train her well."

"If she's full member, she figures her own tasks. Can't babysit."

"Probation period, and you're in charge, Dojin. Should I pin a yellow epaulet on you? Chick chirping away. Dragon fits the image though."

"That's species discrimination."

"...No need to suspect anything," Yoo Hae-bin muttered, steam practically venting as we bantered.

Moments ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠later.

"Ready to start?"

"...Yes."

A red glow shimmered in the room's center at Seo Yeon-hee's words. One second, two... soon over thirty. I watched the contract closely.

Expected it to take longer than for others. She couldn't fully trust us, nor we her. Had to scan beyond mindflow into memories.

Suddenly, Seo Yeon-hee frowned.

"Hm?"

I tensed to move, but she blocked me with a hand.

"Nah, it's fine. Just feels like she's had a hard life. Hm, uh..."

If she said fine, it was. But she looked unusually flustered.

Yoo Hae-bin seemed hesitant, like something pricked her conscience.

The glow faded. The two contractors met eyes wordlessly. Yoo Hae-bin nodded faintly; Seo Yeon-hee smiled and clapped.

"Great. Contract done. Call it for today?"

"What was that?"

Why the look exchange? Seo Yeon-hee replied playfully but firmly.

"Nope, privacy."

"Again?"

Like with Rabbit Mask and Fox Mask at the last meeting—no personal details for me.

If it was need-to-know, she'd say. Yoo Hae-bin clarified vaguely.

"Just... my life's messy. Nothing good, no need to share."

"Yeah, sorry for even seeing that much."

They teamed up to scold me indirectly; I dropped it.

Wrap-up time, as Seo Yeon-hee said... but.

"Hold on."

I stopped Yoo Hae-bin at the door.

"Yes?"

"One last thing you gotta do."

"What's left?" Seo Yeon-hee asked puzzled. I hesitated—is this right?—but got to it.

"Tell me one thing before you go."

This quest was still uncleared. Even after pushing her to exhaustion and knocking her out.

Only one way left in my mind: make her say it herself. Verbal submission counts as physical, right?

"Relax your body completely and say it sincerely. 'I, Yoo Hae-bin, admit total physical submission to Lee Dojin after defeat.'"

"Huh? De-defeat? Physical ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what? Total submission?"

"Dojin..."

Yoo Hae-bin looked baffled, but Seo Yeon-hee's piercing stare hurt more—like I was human trash, a first from her.

I stood firm, commanding decisively. Prostration might not cut it.

"Hurry. Admit that even using every means, you couldn't beat me. Accept it humbly and declare it."

"...Just do it. He gets like this sometimes. Kinda extreme today, but not malicious."

Seo Yeon-hee soothed her. I explained kindly again.

"Acknowledge every scenario you imagined today, all your counters combined."

"Ha... you really want me to?"

"Not joking."

"Professor's face is red."

"Now."

"This is insane..."

Grumbling nonstop, she faced me squarely and confirmed.

"So... from the ambush, realizing it was you, every possibility of getting caught... all my resistance options combined... admit defeat?"

Her eyes lost focus as she spoke. Pitiful sight, but I held firm.

"...Yes."

"...I'm out. Can't watch this."

Seo Yeon-hee left coldly, heels clicking. She'd usually laugh at the spectacle, but this was too much.

Now alone. Yoo Hae-bin looked up at me.

Deep breaths, imagining something, then stammering.

"I, Yoo Hae-bin... admit defeat to Lee Dojin... physically... t-total... huuu... total physical submission... sincerely..."

It worked... And turns out she's a really good kid. Rank A after this? Takes serious kindness.

I stepped forward, wanting to pat her shoulder—sorry, you did great.

But she backed two steps, rejecting coldly.

"Please don't come near me."

"Yeah... sorry."

I left first with a bitter smile, ending today's Rift-to-now saga. Phantom gained a new full member and rewards, but left a memory making even Seo Yeon-hee grimace.

March 30th, Tuesday afternoon.

During Magic Dynamics class, Lee Sea suddenly felt something off.

...What's this?

Nothing much different, but two people in the room stood out hugely.

"Professor, a question!"

First, Yoo Hae-bin beside her. She rated Lee Dojin's lectures highly but never this enthusiastic.

Today, she was vibrantly engaged—model student material.

Second. Lee Sea glanced to the room's side.

Why's she over there?

Jin Yu-ri, always front-row claimed, sat in an obscure corner today. Not even paying attention like usual.

Head down motionless, brief board glance, then nothing... sneaking peeks at Lee Dojin.

Did Oppa scold her for messing with me...?

She didn't want that, and it seemed unlikely. But Jin Yu-ri's vibe now...

Why's she scared of Oppa?

Only read as avoiding him. Then Lee Dojin called on someone.

"Alright, the basic formula for output vs. resistance here... Jin Yu-ri, care to explain?"

"Y-yes, sir—!"

Jin Yu-ri shot up, voice cracking near-squeak.