The Protagonist (1)
Beep, ring-a-ding.
I opened the door and stepped into the entryway. "I'm home."
Not the formal "I'm back"—just casual half-speak. After all, I'm the oldest in this house.
For the first few years after our parents passed, I'd stuck to the polite "I'm back" out of habit. I didn't want to admit we had to change the greeting that came with walking through the door.
But when I was twenty-one or so, and Sea had just started middle school, she shot me a glare and asked whose house I thought this was. Were there other people here besides her brother and her?
Our sibling relationship was already strained by then, but at least she still called me "oppa". That's when I realized my petty stubbornness was making her feel our parents' absence even more acutely. From that day on, I dropped the formalities without hesitation.
She was fourteen, hitting puberty—super sensitive. My reputation was in the gutter, so she must've been embarrassed by me too. I was out wandering every night, barely acting like a proper brother.
The least I could do was watch out for stuff like this.
But sadly, it didn't seem to make much difference. Dozens, hundreds of coincidences and inevitabilities piled up, and our relationship went straight downhill. I couldn't even remember the last time she called me "oppa".
When she had to talk to me, she'd skip the formalities and get straight to the point. If I started a conversation for no reason, she'd often ignore me completely.
Just like now.
"You order pizza?" I called out to Sea's back as she watched a variety show on the living room TV.
No response, as expected. I walked over to the table with the pizza box and tried again. "Can I have just one slice?"
Finally, a sigh-laden reply came. "You drank, didn't you."
"Not much. Didn't even have snacks. I'm starving."
"……."
Sea got up, irritation radiating off her. She took her cup and plate to the kitchen, then snapped back with a voice like icy wind. "Seems like this one's lasting a while... Why not call it quits before you get dumped and embarrass yourself more here?"
"It's not like that."
I denied it awkwardly, feeling a pang of embarrassment. Sea had some huge misconceptions.
First, that I was living a playboy life, swapping partners left and right. Sure, I met up with people a lot. Partners changed often, and there were plenty of nights I pulled all-nighters and came home around lunchtime with a bowl of gukbap.
If you searched online communities, there were sightings. I wouldn't deny the facts themselves.
But it was all with Seo Yeon-hee, disguised in different identities and appearances—mostly work-related. Nothing else existed, period.
Second misunderstanding: the phrase "before you get dumped." No one took that engagement seriously anymore, except Sea. If our parents were alive and I wasn't living like this, who knows... but right now, it was a dead letter.
Setting aside young Sea, no one directly involved wanted it to proceed—my fiancée, her parents, or me. No matter how I cleaned up my act from here, breakup was inevitable.
By this summer, it'd be done. She'd graduate and start working; no more delaying.
I couldn't explain all that in detail to Sea. She glared at me with disgust bordering on revulsion, left the pizza box, and vanished into her room.
"……."
That means I can eat the rest, right?
I managed the household finances, so no need to feel guilty over a few pizza slices.
With a wistful self-question, I looked down at the table. The spaghetti—stuck with a "Review Event" sticker—was untouched. My favorite menu when ordering pizza. The pizza was basically a freebie; this was the main draw.
Why sign up for the event if she wasn't gonna eat it? A bit puzzled, but I couldn't bring myself to ask if I could have it. I decided to just eat it myself.
It doesn't reheat well once cold. A rational, justified call.
I plated two of the five remaining pizza slices and nuked them in the microwave. After the big job today, I'd eat, shower, and crash.
About thirty minutes later, nearing midnight.
"Hoo…."
After a warm shower, lying in bed, fatigue hit me late. My head throbbed with various worries, but so did a sense of accomplishment.
The Birth of the Demon God, the long side story sequel to World Guardian where I was the protagonist. I'd finally wrapped up the main journey, with only the epilogue "Funeral" left.
Finish that, and I'd get chapter clear and completion rewards, unlocking the official sequel.
My heart pounded with tension and anticipation. I'd get stronger. The sequel would clarify what I needed to do for my goal.
Staring at the dark ceiling, I whispered quietly. "I can do it. I won't give up. Ever."
No matter the sequel's title, the protagonist, or who blocked my path.
I'd achieve what I wanted.
Of course, I knew. I was doing bad things. Living pathetically, unbelievable for the son of the world's top two heroes—running around as a terrorist criminal.
But I admitted it all… and punishment could wait.
Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin. My novel's protagonist and heroine, whom I'd poured my heart into. My loving parents who brought me into this world.
Once they came back to life.
"Keep cheering me on. Just wait a little longer."
I sent that resolve into the void, knowing it wouldn't reach, and drifted to sleep….
Morning came with phone notifications.
"Faster than expected."
Last night, it seemed under media blackout, but it leaked sooner than I thought. Makes sense—lots of witnesses to the attack, rumors would've spread. Hard to keep under wraps long.
A private message arrived too: a polite note with funeral details.
I got out of bed and opened the closet. The black mourning suit on the far left caught my eye. Rarely worn, but necessary today.
Out in the living room, Sea was prepping for school, her face dark. She glanced at me, lips twitching like she wanted to say something.
I cut in shortly. "You heard?"
"……."
"I'll head over around lunch. You come after school. No need to change—just wear your uniform."
The school would handle escorting the kids anyway. Yeom Ui-jun's position at National Academy 1 was major.
Sea’s eyes trembled faintly. She hesitated without a word, then headed to the bathroom.
Bigger shock than I thought….
Whatever the funeral, that part stung with genuine regret.
Even without a body, the funeral hall was packed with mourners. Faces I knew. Faces I didn't.
The chief mourner was Yeom Ui-jun's younger brother. They'd clashed over company control, not close at all—or so I'd heard.
But he looked utterly devastated.
I suppressed the nagging prick in my chest and finished the rites, sitting at an edge table.
People occasionally approached me. We exchanged greetings, shared drinks in the heavy atmosphere, talked.
"Ui-jun thought the world of you…."
"Yes…."
"Heard you two had dinner the night before last?"
I lowered my gaze without answering. This place felt so uncomfortable.
Killing Yeom Ui-jun was necessary. But we weren't strangers to each other alone. Countless others were connected, some good people who pitied me.
Facing them, I felt like an irredeemable perpetrator. Or maybe that was the truth.
A sudden voice snapped me out. "Stop bothering the kid and leave him be."
Sharp black suit, icy aura. A woman who looked early thirties at most approached. Seo Yeon-hee.
"Dojin, long time."
"Ah, yes."
Her tone held no warmth. This was her default as the Mist Witch, separate from how she acted alone with me.
Her silent pressure cleared the crowd. Her eyes softened briefly with familiarity, but her voice stayed cool. "Staying long?"
"Heading out with Sea, back tomorrow."
She gave me a knowing look. "Want a drink?"
Awkward for me to turn away and sip in front of her, but she seemed quietly pleased.
How much time passed? Past three p.m., outside grew noisy. Listening in, it was students from National Academy 1, dismissed early for group condolences.
"Sea here?"
"Over there."
Large group, but I spotted her easily—no need to look hard. Her expression still sour….
Worried, I watched her and the other students closely.
And right then, a hologram message appeared.
You've encountered the protagonist --- of the official sequel to World Guardian, !