Family BBQ and a Suspicious Stranger
"Hoo."
The yard was littered with shattered wood fragments. Roughly twenty trees, by my rough count. I'd only meant to loosen up a bit, but things had gotten a little out of hand.
"Guess I should clean this up."
I gathered the broken pieces into a pile, and only then did a light sheen of sweat bead on my forehead. Yesterday, I'd noticed a stack of firewood in one corner of the yard. As a gift, I picked out a few sturdy chunks that looked like they'd burn nicely.
"But... is it okay to just burn these?"
To be safe, I rubbed some dry scraps together to start a small fire. A faint, pleasant aroma rose, but it didn't seem harmful.
"...Hm?"
I brushed off the sawdust clinging to my clothes and turned toward the house when something familiar yet strange caught my eye.
"This is...?"
It had withered completely and crumbled to ash, but it looked just like a common weed from that other world.
"Is this... really it...?"
Honestly, it was ambiguous. Weeds all look pretty similar anyway. And this one had dried up long ago—it disintegrated at the lightest touch.
"Nah, probably not."
It was just something that looked alike. Plants from that world and Earth had different ecosystems from the start. Plants there always needed something extra to grow.
"Let's head back."
I shook off my hands and returned to the house. I mixed the firewood I'd gathered into the existing stack.
Gurgle.
Lunchtime had come and gone ages ago. After all the morning commotion, my stomach was already growling fiercely.
I considered reheating the leftover soybean paste stew, but Sujin had said she'd come home a bit early today.
"Better to eat together anyway."
Whoosh.
No sooner had I spoken than I sensed movement outside.
"Oppa!"
"Ah, Sujin. You're back."
"Nothing happened, right? You're not hurting anywhere?"
"Heh. Nah."
Sujin checked on me the moment she arrived. Her hands were loaded with shopping bags.
"What's all that?"
"What else? Return gifts for you, oppa!"
"Oho."
Seemed a bit pricey for the price of a few logs.
Sujin unpacked the bags one by one.
"First, some clothes that'd fit you..."
I'd been needing clothes anyway. When I first returned yesterday, I was in rags no better than burlap, so I'd been wearing one of her oversized T-shirts she'd used as sleepwear.
"Try 'em on."
"Mm."
These clothes looked weird. No patterns, just plain gray.
"Whoa! You look like a college student now, oppa!"
"D-Do people wear stuff like this these days? No designs or anything..."
"Ugh, oppa! These days, wearing flashy stuff gets you labeled a psycho! From now on, only wear what I buy you."
"Uh-huh."
"And this."
Sujin handed me a square box. Inside was a smartphone just like the one she'd been using.
"A phone. I set it up in your name, so use this for calls."
"Even a phone..."
"Pretty new model, right? Unlimited data plan."
"I-Internet's unlimited?"
Internet on a phone? Unthinkable back in my day. If I accidentally hit the internet button, I'd panic and shut it off.
"Sujin... you've made it big..."
"Pfft! What? Unlimited data's cheap these days."
She went on about Choco Pies or something, but I didn't catch it all. Point was, internet was basically free—use it freely.
"And finally!"
After some smaller items, she pulled out a large plastic bag. Inside was pork belly, plus a bunch of soju.
"Gotta have a party for your return, right?"
"Heh. Sounds good."
Sujin set up a BBQ station in the yard like a pro. With the grill and dedicated table, it looked legit.
"Was there always this much firewood?"
"Uh... well..."
"Yeah, we haven't BBQs in a few days."
I meant to mention the morning, but the moment passed.
Timing's always off.
For now, I quietly helped her load the grill.
In a flash, the BBQ was ready, and the pork sizzled golden on the hot plate.
I'd eaten plenty of meat in that world, but seeing Sujin's delighted face, I just went with it.
She wrapped a big ssam of perfectly grilled pork and held it out.
"Here, oppa! Ahh~"
"No need for that. You eat it. I'll handle mine."
"Heh. Okay~"
Watching her smile as she popped it in her mouth brought a warm grin to my face too.
Glug glug glug.
She poured a big glass of soju too.
"Kaaah! That's the stuff!"
"Mm."
"Heh. What, oppa? First time seeing me drink?"
"Well... yeah."
I'd left for that world when she was 15. Dad had given her makgeolli as a joke a few times, but that was it.
"C'mon, your turn. It was your dream, right?"
"Heh. Yeah."
Come to think of it, I'd said that a few times. Whenever I'd grab chicken feet and soju after work alone, she'd toddle over and ask.
'Oppa, is that good?'
'Pretty much.'
'Eww, smells like disinfectant.'
'Heh. When you graduate high school, we'll drink together.'
'Haha! I'm still in middle school!'
She'd keep stealing my chicken feet, so I'd end up boiling ramen.
"Mm."
I downed a shot. The sharp booze scent hit my nose, but a subtle sweetness lingered on my tongue. Long time no drink.
Come to think, I haven't had proper booze either.
Alcohol's made from grains there too. I'd had it a few times for the mood, but it tasted like rotten water spiked with booze.
With soju, the pork hit different.
Thus began our early evening booze fest with my sister.
As empty bottles piled up, Sujin's face flushed red.
"Hehehe... Oppa... I really missed you..."
"You're drunk."
"Drunk? Nuh-uh! This mana core means I don't get wasted easy..."
She said that, but she was sloshed. Four bottles solo—who wouldn't be?
"Sujin."
"Yeah, oppa!"
"Actually, I think my strength's fine even without a mana core. Those logs earlier, I actually..."
"Pffft! Oppa, even if your sister's drunk, lame jokes like that won't fly."
"Not a joke?"
"Hmph. Trying to butter me up 'cause you're freeloading?"
"No, seriously?"
I tried a few more times, but drunk Sujin just laughed it off.
Guess I'll tell her tomorrow when she's sober.
"...Oppa."
"Sigh. Yeah, Sujin."
"You can't go anywhere..."
Bam!
Sujin slammed the table mid-party. With her forehead.
"Hngh..."
Her forehead red, she passed out.
Her hangover must knock her out cold.
Hunter or not, sleeping outside in this weather means a cold. Maybe not.
"Up you go."
I carried her to bed. Her carefree sleeping face was just like when she was little.
"Hic..."
Having a nightmare? Her eyes teared up.
"Sorry for being a lousy brother."
"...Hngh."
From now on, I'll make up for lost time. No grand riches, but I'll keep this peaceful life going.
The words rose to my lips but stayed there.
"Sleep well."
"......"
I tucked her in thickly, and she smiled peacefully, deep in slumber.
* * *
"Sujin. Wake up."
"Ugh... my head..."
My sister, who'd passed out drunk since early evening, scrunched her face.
"...What time is it?"
"Seven. Get ready for work. Breakfast's ready—eat up."
"...What day is it?"
"Saturday."
"Ugh. We don't work Saturdays anymore..."
"R-Really?"
No work on Saturdays? Big corps like that? Then who makes the money?
"...Sniff sniff."
She twitched and sniffed.
"Did you make dried pollack soup?"
"Yeah. Tried it out."
I'd boiled some for her hangover. Dried pollack from the fridge, plus the magic powder Mom used.
"Should've let you sleep if I knew no work. Sorry."
"Nooo! Thanks for the soup!"
She bolted to the kitchen and sat at my modest spread, taking a spoonful.
Way better than my old attempts.
"Kya... delicious!"
"Good."
"Nom nom."
Fit her taste, thankfully. Hangover made her down the bowl in seconds, even refilled it.
Mid-second bowl, her face turned serious.
"Oppa."
"Yeah, Sujin."
"What do you wanna do?"
"Do?"
Sudden question over breakfast. Unsure her intent, I answered straight.
"No more fighting."
"......"
"Just like now. Farming with family in the old house. That's my dream."
"Pfft! For real?"
"Yeah. Hang tight. Your bro'll farm hard and retire you."
"Haha! Thanks."
She grinned satisfied, slurping more soup. I mirrored her.
"......"
Twenty years apart, but she's my sister. I could guess her thoughts.
"Don't worry. No hunter plans at all."
"...Thanks."
No joke. Peaceful farm life in the hometown—that's been my dream since my one-horned demon days.
Hunter work? Fighting monsters—dangerous, obviously.
My only family, thought dead for 20 years. No way she'd want me risking it again. Same for me.
Would be nice if Sujin retired too.
Management or whatever, still a hunter. Hunting monsters ain't safe.
Wanna tell her quit now, but broke as I am, no standing.
Thus, a fuzzy dream: Farm money to retire her.
Dunno how much farming for a Yukang Group deputy manager retirement.
"Ahem."
"Mmm~ Thanks! Super tasty!"
She finished breakfast; I did dishes. She insisted, but I said freeloading too much was awkward, so she smiled and yielded.
Time to bring it up.
Not to show off. Just want that leisurely farm life. Gotta tell sis—maybe she can help if needed.
"Sujin..."
Ping!
"Huh?"
Drying hands post-dishes, odd sound. From her phone.
"What was that?"
"Oh, Kkaetok. Messages are like that now. You pager-gen don't know?"
"...I'm not that old."
"Heh. Kidding."
She grinned, checked her phone.
"Ah. Damn."
"What happened?"
"Emergency call. Sorry, oppa—mind if I pop to the office?"
"No Saturdays?"
"Yeah, but ugh. That shitty section chief. Keeps summoning me since management."
"Then go."
"Mm. Oh! Gimme your phone quick."
"Huh? Here."
She snatched it, fiddled fast.
"There. Master the new apps by the time I'm back. Okay?"
"Apps...?"
"Figure that out first. Fighting!"
Off to work she went.
"Couldn't say it again."
Alone, I scratched my head sheepishly.
"Might as well start."
Got the phone yesterday but ignored it, clueless.
Gotta learn eventually.
I half-lounged on the sofa, poking around.
Thirty minutes later, I had the basics.
"Whoa. Does everything."
Unlimited internet was no joke—like a full PC.
News, videos, messages—anything.
Soon browsing celeb news, munching leftover pollack.
"What? This actor still unmarried?"
"Whoa. UK's still got Queen Merry?"
"Russia's prez became king?"
Deep in articles, footsteps outside.
Back already?
Ding-dong.
Not door unlock—doorbell.
Sujin wouldn't ring.
"Who is it?"
No visitors since returning. Rural spot—no wrong address.
"Park Sujin?"
Thick yet high voice outside. Oddly halting speech.
I opened the door.
"Sujin's not..."
Words caught in my throat.
Sujin took after Mom—fair skin. But this person was beyond: snow-white skin, sharp nose. Black longcoat made it starker. And those blue eyes—like from that world.
"Who are you?"
"Park Sujin?"
Just repeating her name.
Hard to peg gender. Pretty face like a girl, but short round bob and low voice said boy.
"I'm her brother. Who're you?"
"Park Sujin. Comes here. Said I can come."
"Mm. Okay? Name?"
"...Ivan. Ivan."
Ivan?
Similar name from that world. Mostly guys.
"Wait a sec. I'll call Sujin."
I pulled out my phone. Yellow app for messages, she'd said.
"...Stop."
"Pardon?"
"Park Sujin brother. Dead, she said."
"Well, yeah, but first contact Sujin..."
"Police contact. No."
"Police? What're you—calling my sister..."
Crack!
Before I finished, Ivan's hand clapped down. To smash the phone.
Sister's gift—no way.
Plus, hadn't finished those articles.
I twisted reflexively, blocking with my forearm.
Hoo.
Blocked, but that strike told me: no normal human strength.
This guy's one of those hunters.
"...What the hell?"
"You. Not Park Sujin brother. Lie."
"No, I am."
"You. Police spy."
"What?"
No time to refute nonsense. He stepped back swift, flung open longcoat—sword sheath at waist.
Blue eyes burned with killing intent.
"Give back Park Sujin. Or die."