I had fallen asleep, and when I opened my eyes, it was beneath a blanket of cold silence. As I listened to the ticking of the second hand, I exhaled in a room that still held lingering warmth. Someone’s outer coat was draped over my body. Nuzzling into it and taking a sniff, I caught Baek Tae-beom’s scent.
Blinking to adjust to the darkness, I slowly raised my head. Someone was sitting at the table. The man resting his chin in his hand had his eyes closed and seemed like a statue—not even appearing to breathe. I stared at his tousled bangs, the suit with a half-loosened tie, and the sharply defined bridge of his nose that stood out even in the absence of light.
I slowly sat up and approached him. Baek Tae-beom didn’t react to my movements, remaining still as though fast asleep. When I reached out and gently tousled his hair, he flinched sharply and slowly opened his eyes.
“Hyung?”
“Why are you sleeping like this?”
“I dozed off…”
As he said that, Baek Tae-beom looked puzzled by the fact that he’d fallen asleep at all. But he soon shook it off and looked up at me with a smile.
“Starting today, I’m with the Hansung Guild.”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at that.
“What about the Ga-hyeon Guild? You asked me to join, then disbanded it just like that?”
“No, I didn’t disband it.”
“What?”
“I negotiated with Lee Myung-won. I’m joining Hansung while still staying in the same guild.”
I let out a dry chuckle. It seemed absurd to go to such lengths for that guild. Perhaps reading my thoughts, Baek Tae-beom spoke in a clearer voice.
“While you were gone, I tried to keep thinking about you.”
“……”
“Your face, your voice, the way you talk, your tone, your touch… But as time passed, I started forgetting, and I got scared that I might even forget your name.”
His breath trembled faintly.
“So I did this to try and remember you.”
[The Constellation, ‘One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction,’ synchronizes with the Holy Vessel.]
“I’m kind of an idiot, huh?”
[The Constellation, ‘One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction,’ synchronizes with the Holy Vessel.]
I couldn’t say anything. Just as I began to slowly reach out my hand again—
[Congratulations! Attendance confirmed. You have received 100 Coins.]
“Ah, fuck!”
[Remaining Coins: 4,600]
At the sudden sound that burst from my pocket, I jumped in place. Baek Tae-beom was staring at me, eyes wide. My heart pounded in my chest from the shock. I pulled out my phone and checked it—it was already past midnight.
“What was that just now? A skill?”
“Something like that… or not… I guess it is…”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: This damn phone!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Useless piece of junk!]
Apollo raging in the chat window was nothing new, so I ignored it and turned to ask the question I’d been curious about.
“Do you know anything about the Gongmyeong Guild?”
“Gongmyeong? Of course… It’d be weird not to.”
“That much?”
“It’s considered the second most influential guild after Hansung. What’s interesting is that they do a lot of donations and charity work, and no one knows who their Guild Master is…”
“You don’t know either?”
“Nope. Even that old guy—uh, the Hansung Guild Master—probably doesn’t. It didn’t spin off from a corporation or anything either. It just suddenly appeared like a comet.”
It was suspicious—too much so. Especially considering that they hadn’t even appeared in the original work. I furrowed my brow, and Baek Tae-beom spoke gently, as if trying to reassure me.
“They’re not a bad group. You probably don’t need to worry.”
“I hope you’re right…”
“Oh, right. Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to go see my brother?”
At those words, I opened my eyes wide and looked at Baek Tae-beom.
“He woke up?”
“Not yet.”
Baek Tae-beom moved his lips as he replied.
“But still. I thought it’d be nice to go together with you.”
“Sure. When?”
“Tomorrow—no, I guess it’s today now. Today. After you wake up.”
“I’ll probably sleep in.”
“It’s okay. I’m right in the next room, so I’ll come get you when you wake up. Got it?”
Baek Tae-beom said that and rose from his seat. Naturally, my gaze followed upward.
“Get some rest.”
“Got it.”
With a gentle smile, Baek Tae-beom stepped out through the door. As I stared at the closed door, a wave of fatigue washed over me.
“Ugh, my back… Ah, I forgot to return his coat.”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Do you even know what mood is?]
“By the way, any updates from Lee Myung-won?”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You really just let my words go in one ear and out the other now. Impressive.]
I folded the coat that had been carelessly thrown over the sofa and changed into the pajamas that had been prepared. While doing so, I examined my body in the mirror. My fingers grazed over the area near my solar plexus. It felt like there had once been a gaping hole there, yet now there was nothing—not even a trace, to the point it gave me chills.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: What is it now? Another mess about to happen?]
“No, it’s not like that… I just need to check something. Or rather, I have people I need to find. I was wondering if Lee Myung-won’s been paying close attention to anyone recently.”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: This about that Gongmyeong Guild or whatever?]
“They’re suspicious, sure, but there’s someone I need to find first. Kang Si-hoo. There are others too, of course.”
I spoke calmly as I pulled on my top. Kang Si-hoo’s awakening was approaching. It was only a matter of time—within the month, if the original storyline held true.
Apollo responded disinterestedly.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Who’s that supposed to be?]
“Just someone. What about Anubis?”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Went off to fight his Contractor.]
“Huh?”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Don’t worry about it. Grown-up business.”
“Excuse me, but you’re not a grown-up—you’re practically a deity-grandpa.”
As I spoke while sitting on the bed, Apollo scoffed.
[The Constellation, ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun,’ has sponsored you with an item.]
Something materialized in the air and landed in my palm.
[Height-Boosting Nutrition Jelly F]
[A nutritional jelly that helps you grow taller! Eat it before bed, brush your teeth afterward, and do height-boosting exercises to double the effects! Wake your sleeping growth plates!]
I said nothing for a moment, then threw the jelly straight to the floor.
“Are you picking a fight right now?”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Acting all cocky with no Coins and no power.]
[The Constellation, ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun,’ has sponsored you with an item.]
Again, something dropped from the air and landed in my arms.
[Soft and Cuddly Baby Bunny Pillow F]
[A plush baby bunny pillow that gives you a warm, loving feeling like you’re in a dream. Hug it tight and drift off to dreamland.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Why don’t you just go to sleep already?]
“Ha.”
I was about to chuck the bunny too, dumbfounded, but paused when I saw its bright, sparkling, innocent eyes. The longer I looked, the cuter it seemed…
Still half in the motion to toss it, I instead pulled it into a hug. Apollo sneered, but I ignored it and laid down on the bed.
“I’m going to sleep now, so shut up. If you’re going to keep yapping, at least toss me some Coins while you’re at it.”
I buried myself into the bed, speaking lazily. Ignoring Apollo’s flustered reaction, I surrendered to sleep.
And I dreamed.
The world was engulfed in fire. Acrid smoke burned my nostrils, and barefoot, I stood atop twisted rebar. Flaming red blazes rose on every side. There was no one left to scream anymore, and Baek Tae-beom stood before me.
Lying at Baek Tae-beom’s feet was Kang Si-hoo’s corpse.
Just like in the final chapter of The Apocalypse Chronicles of Another World.
Volcanic ash drifted down like snow. Baek Tae-beom gazed at me with emotionless eyes. He looked like a hollowed-out tree stump. Like a branch that had snapped with nothing left.
I slowly moved my hand. Surprisingly, my body followed my will. I realized it was a dream—but felt no urgency to wake. Roaring explosions echoed in waves. Baek Tae-beom’s entire body looked soaked in blood as he slowly tilted his head.
“Who are you?”
He asked me.
I answered willingly.
“Choi Ga-hyeon.”
“Everyone should be dead by now…”
“Maybe you forgot to kill me.”
Realizing I was barefoot, I rummaged through the rubble around me. I found a pair of shoes—far too large—and put them on. Burn marks covered them, but I didn’t care. Baek Tae-beom stared at me like I was some strange animal.
“Why’d you kill him?”
Knowing it was a dream, I spoke to Baek Tae-beom without hesitation. He quietly looked down at Kang Si-hoo’s corpse. His sword was buried in the man’s abdomen.
Kang Si-hoo’s corpse, surprisingly, wore a smile.
“Because I was jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“He had everything I couldn’t. I was envious… but I also loved him for it. Because I knew I could never be like that.”
“Then why destroy the world?”
“Because it was useless to me. It never did anything for me.”
I pulled an umbrella out from the pile of debris. Then opened it above my head, as if to shield myself from the falling volcanic ash. The transparent umbrella was riddled with holes.
“Even so, that doesn’t make it okay.”
“Not okay?”
“Yeah. It’s not.”
I smiled as I spoke.
“That just won’t do, Tae-beom.”
“……”
Baek Tae-beom’s face twisted into a complicated expression.
“You know my name?”
“Of course. You told me to call you Tae-beom.”
“I did?”
“You did.”
“You’re insane.”
“Hearing you say that… hits different.”
I never thought I’d hear Baek Tae-beom call me crazy.
“Do you want this?”
“That?”
“The umbrella.”
I set it down, as if to say, come get it yourself. Baek Tae-beom’s eyes twitched as he stared at me like I was some kind of bizarre creature. But I couldn’t hand it to him directly.
“Why…”
Because it was time to go back. The tremors beneath my feet were growing stronger. I lifted my head.
The world was drenched in crimson.
***
A sharp vibration from the phone woke me. My face buried in the pillow, I lifted my head and groped around the bedside until I found it. I couldn’t remember what the dream had been about, but there was a lingering haze—and it didn’t feel bad.
“Hello.”
—Sorry, Hyung. Did I wake you?
“Mm. No, it’s fine. I was already awake…”
—It’s past noon, and I didn’t hear anything from your room. Let’s go eat lunch.
“It’s already past twelve?”
I checked the time and let out a dry chuckle. I must’ve really been exhausted.
“Alright, I’ll head down to the dining hall.”
—Okay. I’ll be waiting.
