Tie-Wearing Hyenas
The tie-wearing hyenas—clunk.
The plane touched down on the runway, letting out a heavy vibration. The acrid smell of aviation fuel and the dry cabin air stung my nose. I pulled off my eye mask, and the familiar nightscape of Korea flickered into view through the window.
I stretched out my stiff body with a long yawn, my joints creaking and screaming in protest. The pilot's polite announcement played over the speakers, and the door swung open. Following the flight attendant's guidance, I headed to the private terminal.
Immigration took less than three minutes. Being a national hero had its perks—a real cheat code at times like this.
I considered throwing up a mana barrier and flying straight to the penthouse, but the flight attendant's fidgety gaze bored into the back of my head. Her eyes were brimming with desperation, like she was about to burst into tears.
I wasn't heartless enough to ignore that and levitate away. This habit of going out of my way for people—it was a chronic condition that hadn't been cured even after awakening.
"I'll sign it for you. Photo too, right?"
My words lit up her face like cherry blossoms in bloom.
"Yes!!! Thank you so much, Hunter Tae-ho! I'm a huge fan—the real deal!"
She rushed over with a piece of paper the moment I gave permission. Her chatter didn't stop while I scribbled my signature—from gushing about being my fan to revealing she was a paid member of Ha-eun's YouTube channel, the one that basically sold out my private life for views.
TMI I never asked for flooded my ears. I handed back the paper and struck a neutral pose. She beamed like she'd won the lottery, snapping away at my side.
Click, snap.
"Thank you so much! I'll treasure this! Take care getting home!"
Leaving her sparkling eyes behind, I wrapped myself in a mana barrier. I kicked off the ground and soared upward.
Spending a moment to make someone happy—it was a hassle, but not a bad feeling. Cutting through the night air for about five minutes, the familiar silhouette of the penthouse came into view.
As I approached the firmly shut balcony window, Ha-eun flung it open like she'd been waiting.
Bang!
Party popper powder exploded over my head with a loud pop.
"Surprise! What the hell is this?"
"Hehe, safe return surprise event! Come on in, oppa. Dad's got the meat all set up."
I kicked off my shoes at the window frame and stepped inside. Too lazy to walk to the entrance, I extended my mana to neatly line them up there.
Newspaper was already spread meticulously in the middle of the living room, with Father prepping the grill. Behind him, Mother approached with trays of sliced garlic and potatoes, then spotted me and opened her arms.
I dove into her embrace as she set the trays down. The warm, cozy scent hit me—finally, I felt like I was home, not just back on Earth.
"Our puppy, you worked so hard."
"Didn't even fight. Just talked it out. I'll fill you in over meat."
Father handed me a cold beer the moment I sat. I took a big swig, the fizzy thrill racing down my throat.
"Aah—this service is over the top."
"Son, you really went through it."
"Nah, Dad. Wasn't that dangerous."
Pork belly sizzled pleasantly on the grill. The savory fat aroma filled the room as Ha-eun and Mother scooted right up beside me. I picked up my chopsticks and started recounting the Japan trip.
Top-secret info no civilian would ever dream of: the real otherworld inside the gate, their desire for interplanetary exchange, even the whereabouts of those who vanished during the Gate Shock.
But I kept quiet about the unidentified monsters gnawing away at that fantasy world. No need to plant needless anxiety in my parents' hearts.
"Elves?! You mean the pointy-eared ones actually exist???"
Ha-eun bounced in her seat, yelling before I even finished. Otaku madness gleamed in her eyes.
"Yeah. Spirits flying around too. Had a face-to-face with the Elf Queen."
"Whoa, Elf Queen! Kanfr! Epic! Like the silver or golden hair from anime?"
"Our puppy, eat first. Here, ahh—"
Mother stuffed a massive ssam into my mouth. My cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's. I chewed slowly and swallowed with effort.
"Left it to the governments for now. Might have to go back as a rep once negotiations wrap up."
"Then get a pic of the queen!"
Convinced the other side was surprisingly safe from my story, my parents didn't freak at the revisit news. My sister, eyes rolled back at "elf," was the real issue.
"Queen might be tough. I'll snap any random elf on the way."
"Yesss! Thanks! Oppa best! Real kanfr, gotta live long to see this world."
Tension melted away amid clinking glasses and grill heat. As the meal wrapped up, suppressed fatigue crashed in.
Yawn.
Couldn't stifle it.
"Puppy tired? We'll clean up. Go crash in your room."
"Yeah... wiped out."
Hotel luxury beds were nice, but nothing beat my own well-worn one. Dragging my creaky body to bed, the soft mattress enveloped me, and I plunged into deep darkness like falling off a cliff.
Knock knock.
"Oppa, you up? Dad's ordering jjajangmyeon for lunch!"
Ha-eun's chatty voice from beyond the door. I forced my heavy eyelids open.
Fumbling under the pillow, I grabbed my smartphone. I'd passed out right after dinner last night, sleeping like the dead till noon.
The fatigue clinging to my joints finally started peeling away.
"Coming..."
My throat rasped out a gravelly croak. Ignoring it, I turned the doorknob.
Ha-eun, squatting with legs spread right outside, unleashed her smirk.
"Whoa, look at our unnie's hair. Perfect bird's nest?"
She pointed at my tousled silver hair, cackling. I glared sleepily.
"Shut it. Before I punch your solar plexus."
"Harsh on your lil sis. Here, drink this and wake up."
She grinned annoyingly, handing me a chilled barley tea beaded with condensation. I chugged it. Coolness plunged straight to my stomach, clearing the fog from my mouth and mind like magic.
Mother, washing dishes in the kitchen, saw my disheveled state, peeled off her rubber gloves, and approached.
"Puppy, sleep well? Face all glowy after a good rest."
Her warm hands gently combed through my bird's nest silver hair. Too drained to resist, I let her.
In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, fully waking up. Toweling roughly, I emerged to Chinese delivery steaming on the table.
"Came fast."
"Regular spot. Got jjajangmyeon for you. Sit before it cools."
I hopped onto the chair. My dangling feet swung as I twirled noodles vigorously.
That's when the massive TV on the living room wall flashed red. Regular variety show cut to emergency news ticker filling the screen.
I froze mid-chopstick. Silently scanned the headlines.
Government had been scrambling to contain it yesterday. Now, overnight, they'd flung open the gates of truth to the world.
Ha-eun dropped her spoon mid-jjampong slurp.
"Oppa, that's the kanfr stuff you mentioned yesterday, right? Front-page news."
I shoveled a huge bite of jjajangmyeon. Sweet black bean sauce coated my tongue. Chewed leisurely, swallowed, then spoke casually.
"Thought it'd take longer. Pretty quick."
"So you gotta go back...?"
"Eat first. Then call the old man."
I wolfed down the rest. Moved to the living room sofa, fished out my buried smartphone.
Pressed the speed dial. Connected before three rings.
"Oh, Tae-ho? Made it home safe?"
His voice carried a strange vigor over fatigue—he'd probably been wheeling and dealing politicians all night.
"Yeah, whatever. Passed out, just woke up. Saw the news—everything's out?"
"Yep. Japanese government figured they'd choke trying to swallow it all alone."
A cynical chuckle from the association president.
Japan couldn't digest the massive interests or fend off coming disasters solo. Simple math. Plus, Earth's rep wasn't on Japanese soil.
"So. Next schedule? When do we head back to that forest."
My blunt question made him clear his throat, pausing.
"Uh... that'll take more time."
"Dragging? Looked like they'd shove us in tomorrow."
"Joint team is just pretty packaging. US and EU are losing it across the ocean."
He tsked.
"New continent opened—superpowers won't sit idle. They're blowing up diplomacy lines for a slice, haggling shares, entry limits. Expect a mudslinging fest among tie-wearers in UN halls for a while."
Clear enough: no immediate frontline action for me.
"So rest up. Leave the political shitshow to this old geezer and the suits. Once inter-nation talks lock in gate entry, I'll call."
"Got it. Take care."
I tossed the phone on the table. Leaned deep into the sofa back. Stared at the ceiling, sighing softly.
"US and EU union, huh."
Gun-free political warfare. Tie-wearing hyenas kicking off their ugly scramble for otherworld resources.
Osaka Gate would soon be a chaotic mess of global armies and hunters. Smashing mindless monster skulls seemed a hundred times cleaner.
Sensing the massive headache ahead, I slowly closed my eyes. Lazy afternoon sun warmed the quiet living room.