Sister Shock – Blood Empress Incoming!
It's Yu I-kwon here, but anyway? It'd been about an hour since we left the rest area. As soon as we passed the toll gate, towering high-rises that were rare sights in Triia came into view.
"This is really Seoul..."
All the checks had been done back in Gangneung, but actually arriving here made it hit home that I was truly back in Korea. The sky had been blood-red when we escaped the dungeon, but it had long since darkened. The city's lights illuminated the streets brightly. Even at this late hour, countless cars zipped along the roads. And of all days, it had to be a Friday night—prime time with heavy foot traffic. I'd been inwardly worried about traffic jams, but no need. Apparently, there was a dedicated lane for the Hunter Management Bureau at the toll gates, prepared for gates that could pop up anywhere, anytime. Normally reserved for bureau staff, but in cases like mine—escorting a returnee—they could get temporary access with prior notification to the bureau.
We sped along the wide-open road, and in the distance loomed a tall, massive building. It hadn't existed in my original world, but I knew what it was at first glance. The grand Seoul Hunter Management Bureau overwhelmed me without warning.
"It's changed a lot since then, right? They said our facilities were lacking compared to foreign Hunter Management Bureaus, so they expanded it three years ago," said the female hunter who'd switched to the passenger seat from the rest area, turning toward me.
"The inside is even more amazing! After the expansion, tons of famous foreign franchise stores opened up, and now it's a must-visit spot for school trips."
"Whoa..."
I had no baseline to judge how much it'd changed, but the welfare facilities seemed no joke. A must for school trips? Felt like an outlet mall anyone could visit, hunter or not. Gotta check it out once I have some cash.
As I mentally added it to my bucket list, we entered the building and pulled into what looked like an underground parking garage. After parking, I followed the hunters into an elevator. When the doors opened, a massive lobby stretched out before us. The ceiling soared so high—at least seven stories—with open multi-level spaces, and the width easily dwarfed four soccer fields. It was like Incheon International Airport's lobby unfolding right in front of me.
"Unnie, this way!"
Whoops! I'd been gawking like some country bumpkin. I snapped to attention and stuck close to the woman so I wouldn't get lost. Despite the late hour, the place buzzed with people. Everyone carried all sorts of weapons, screaming "hunter" at first glance. But in this modern space, they looked like cosplayers.
The interior was so vast it took over ten minutes of walking to reach a certain counter. Unlike the crowded ones nearby, this was dead quiet. A female staffer spotted us and approached with a greeting.
"Hello. Are you Hunter Kwon Seung-cheol, as contacted?"
"Yes, that's me."
A familiar voice, even though we'd just met. It belonged to the male hunter I'd overheard on the phone while munching on walnut cookies in the back seat during the drive.
After the greeting, she turned to me with a genuine smile—no sales pitch vibe.
"Shall we head inside to talk first? You must be tired from the long trip, but the procedures are strict, so we need to wrap this up today for confirmation tomorrow."
"Sure, I'm fine."
"Then we'll head off to handle some business elsewhere. Staffer, could you contact us when it's done?"
"Of course. It'll take a while, so take your time."
"See you later, unnie!"
I gave a light wave to the departing hunters.
"Shall we go, then?"
After a quick farewell, I followed the staffer deeper into the building.
# We walked down a long corridor to arrive at a room about 40 pyeong, decorated mainly in light green and blue. The calming interior made me relax the moment I stepped in. Now, the staffer who'd guided me here and I sat facing each other alone.
"Let's get started. First, could you state your full name and date of birth?"
"Sure. Name's Yu I-kwon, born November 11, 1997."
She typed it directly into the laptop in front of her.
"Hmm... Ah! Here it is. Went missing in 2020... Wait, male?"
"Yeah, I was originally a guy."
She started alternating glances between the laptop—probably showing my old photo—and me.
"I've heard appearances sometimes change, but this is my first time seeing it in person..."
"Uh... not to toot my own horn after saying it, but... you believe me just like that?"
"Of course. That's our job. Oh, if you're an imposter, feel free to confess now? The sentence is about five years..."
"N-No! I'm not impersonating!"
"Hehe, just kidding. Testing the waters."
Damn, is this a trending joke among Hunter Management Bureau staff? Savage.
"Honestly, cases of impersonating gate-missing heirs from wealthy families for their fortunes are rare anyway."
"...That's weirdly specific. Has it actually happened?"
"Yep. Don't you remember? It was a huge scandal ten years ago..."
"Haha, uh... my memory's fuzzy on that..."
"Oh dear, some memory gaps, huh? Common for returnees, so no big worry."
"Yeah..."
Not gaps—just from another world—but I'll let it slide.
"Truth is, we can't fully verify returnee identities ourselves. Not just appearances, but gender swaps like yours or even full species changes make DNA tests useless."
"So how do you prove it?"
"We usually involve family for interviews. If they confirm, we process the survival report right there."
"Ah."
Makes sense. No matter the changes, families know secrets only they share. They'd spot me quick. My parents and sister would recognize me in a heartbeat if brought here. ...Right?
Sudden anxiety hit. This wasn't my exact original world—isekai butterfly effects could tweak details. What if things differed?
"Still, you're lucky."
"Huh? Why?"
She'd been typing furiously and now addressed me.
"Most returnees have mental issues. We always have a suppression team on standby outside. But you seem fine, so no need—relief."
"Really? Felt like no one was out there..."
"Yeah, Hunter Kwon Seung-cheol who came with you said no mental problems upfront. If cooperative, the handler can cancel standby."
"Oh..."
How messed up are other returnees to warrant that?
Her typing hands suddenly froze.
"...Huh?"
She let out a dazed sound and stared at me.
"Um... Yu I-kwon-ssi? What's your older sister's name?"
"Sister? Yoo Ji-na."
"Age difference...?"
"Two years older than me."
"Tsk... same name? C-Could I make a quick call?"
"Oh! Sure, go ahead."
She pulled out her smartphone and dialed somewhere. After about ten seconds, she spoke brightly.
"Hey, Ji-hye. Mind helping with something? I'm sending a message—check the main server for a search?"
She typed on her phone while on the call.
"Yeah, sent. You at the server room? Just input it and tell me if there's a match."
About a minute later.
"Searched? Results?"
Her eyes went wide at the response—shocked. Her gaze snapped to me.
"......You're really Yu I-kwon, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Not impersonating? This is serious if you are."
"Huh? No, I'm not...?"
"H-Hold on!!"
She bolted up and rushed out of the room.
What the hell? Why so panicked? Does that mean... in this world, my family is mega-rich?!
From the bureau's view, I'm a scammer impersonating the lost heir they're desperate to find. Screwed.
If they ask about my elementary school, I'd say the public one near home—but here, rich kids go private. What if this world's me prefers steak over ten bowls of cheap soup? Academic records, tastes—everything could differ on paper.
Tsk... we're done. Run now?
Yeah, bail. This screams doom. I stood to bolt.
Clunk—
But the room's only door swung open, and suited men entered.
"Yu I-kwon-ssi? Come with us for a bit."
Oh shit.
# "Deputy Director!!!"
The staffer who'd fled the room in a panic arrived not at her department, but at the Combat Support Division—handling hunter violence and security at the Hunter Management Bureau.
"Huh? A-reum-ssi, what's up? Weren't you counseling a returnee?"
"That's why it's a disaster!! Suppression team!! Get the suppression team on standby NOW!!"
"What?! But they said no mental issues!! Damn, I thought it was weird for a docile returnee...!!"
"No!! Not the returnee—the family!!"
"Wha—family? What's the family got to do—?"
"This returnee is Hunter Yoo Ji-na's little sibling!!!"
"For real?! Whoa... I heard the whole family died in gate accidents..."
"That's not the point!! It means Yoo Ji-na herself is coming here to verify!!"
"....."
"E-EMERGENCY!!! The Blood Empress is coming!! Everyone to the lobby—ASSEMBLEEEE!!!"