With the deal done and the tension finally defused, the Peace Guild thanked Soo-yeon with curt nods before retreating to their vehicles.
The remaining reporters packed up, a few glancing back over their shoulders, already uploading headlines like:
"F-RANK MIRACLE GIRL SAVES SEOUL"
"WHO IS THE KID WITH THE HUG?"
Civilians slowly dispersed, whispering among themselves.
"Did you see the look on Jin Tae-woon's face?"
"That kid hugged him like it was Tuesday."
"Weirdest crack event in years..."
Soo-yeon, still gripping Joon-seok's wrist like a leash on a tiger cub, pulled him along a side road away from the crowd.
He didn't resist—just followed, curious eyes flicking toward the roadwork teams ahead.
A group of uniformed post-disaster engineers stood at a half-collapsed building, using abilities to mend cracked stone and realign shattered concrete. Earth magic. Restoration buffs. Soft blue runes lit the road like chalk under moonlight.
"Those humans... fix broken places?" Joon-seok asked.
"Yeah," Soo-yeon muttered. "Wish they could fix people too."
She stopped and turned, her eyes locked onto his.
"Joon-seok. Who the hell are you?"
He blinked.
"What?"
"No more weird pauses. No more 'oh I don't remember' crap. Let's recap."
She held up her fingers, counting.
"You survived the first floor of the Tower. Alone."
"No guild. No backup. No system support."
"Even the Peace Guild leader couldn't sense a trace of you when they checked the place after it collapsed."
"You walked out naked, claimed you had no memory, and now you're acting like a sweet-but-glitchy AI in a human skin suit."
Joon-seok opened his mouth to speak.
"Oh—and let's not forget the knife," she added. "The same one that destroyed a dimensional crack like a bug zapper. And you just happened to know where it was."
He raised a finger.
"Well—"
"And you're not acting like an F-rank. Am I wrong?"
"If you'd just let me explain—"
"I'm listening," she said, folding her arms.
"Well—"
"Wait don't tell me you're a returnee !" She asked Interrupting him again.
"Returnee ?"
Soo-yeon stepped back and stared at him.
"You actually do know what that is?"
He shook his head.
"Not really. What's a returnee?"
She let out a dramatic sigh and planted her hands on her hips.
"Returnees are people who disappear during a dungeon or dimensional crack incident. They get sent to another world—a different dimension."
"They survive, level up, and return years later with broken abilities. Stronger than S-ranks. Almost like cheat codes."
"It explains why you act like someone who's never used a phone or worn pants."
Joon-seok tilted his head.
"So... humans get lost. Then come back stronger?"
"Exactly."
"Are there many?"
"No. But enough to get their own online forums."
He was quiet for a moment, processing.
So... these humans have their own mythologies how Convenient.
"See?" she said. "You're not saying anything. It makes sense now. You're a returnee!"
Joon-seok looked at her evenly.
"You're wrong."
She frowned.
"Huh?"
"I'm not a returnee."
"Then how did you get that knife? And survive the first floor?"
"The truth is..."
Joon-seok paused.
How would she even take it?
His mother barely handled it—and she was pretending to be okay.
But Soo-yeon?
She was unpredictable.
Weird.
Loud.
Would she scream?
Would she run?
Would she call him a freak and bolt into the sunset?
He looked at her.
She stood there, arms crossed, waiting.
He felt it again—that weird, annoying pressure in his chest.
Worried? Am I... worried?
No. That didn't matter.
What mattered was his mother.
Protecting her. That was the goal.
That was all.
"The truth is... I'm the boss monster."
He waited.
"Not really Joon-seok. I took over his body... out of curiosity."
He looked up.
Saw her face shift.
Eyes wide.
Breath catching.
In his mind, he imagined:
"Kyaa! Monster!!"
She'd scream, yank her arm away, run through traffic.
He blinked.
But that didn't happen.
She was still standing there.
He shook his head.
This was harder than he thought.
"Actually," he muttered, "I'm just kidding. Forget it. I need to meet my mother."
"Wait, wait—HEY!" Soo-yeon yelled. "You said anything! That was something!"
"Nah, forget it. Maybe I'm a returnee."
"Oh no, you don't just drop 'first boss monster' and walk away like it's a joke! What does that even mean?!"
Before he could reply, a voice called out behind them.
"Joon-seok?"
It was Mi-sook.
She stepped out of the shop, brows furrowed in worry.
"Did you bring the knife?"
"No. I sold it."
"What?" she blinked.
Then noticed Soo-yeon.
"Oh! It's you, Soo-yeon."
The younger woman smiled and gave a polite wave.
"Hello, Miss Mi-sook."
"Are there still monsters coming out?" Mi-sook asked cautiously.
"No," Soo-yeon replied. "It's over. Things are safe again."
Mi-sook exhaled, visibly relaxing.
"Thank the goddess. Then why don't you come home with us? I'll prepare a proper meal."
Soo-yeon hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Sure. After all..."
She smirked.
"Today's my treat. Joon-seok here just won the lottery."
Mi-sook's eyes widened.
"What? Is that true, son?"
Joon-seok blinked.
Looked at Soo-yeon. Then at his mother.
"...Something like that."