Tae Woon led the way into a boutique lined with sharply styled men’s fashion and accessories, immediately recommending a wristwatch.
“Watches from department stores are pretty much all the same, but this one’s decent for everyday use. I’ll use this to get a feel for your preferences and place a custom order later.”
Kim Sibaek, unaware of how many zeroes were on the price tag of this so-called “everyday” watch, stared blankly at the display. He had never cared much for material possessions, and since he typically wore whatever others gave him, nothing in particular stood out.
More importantly, there was one major issue when it came to wearing a wristwatch.
He pulled Tae Woon closer and whispered.
“There’s a biometric chip embedded here.”
Tae Woon’s eyes followed his gesture to the inside of his wrist.
“I’m used to wearing a device linked to the chip on my wrist. A watch would just get in the way.”
“You didn’t bring it?”
“No. It wasn’t exactly necessary in a warzone. But once I return, I’ll need to use that device again, so I’d rather not get used to something else in the meantime.”
Watching him keep the future of returning to Mak Slechth in mind, even in mundane matters like this, made Tae Woon’s lips curl into a smooth smile.
“Then at least buy some clothes.”
“Woonie, what do you think would suit me?”
While browsing, he casually asked—even though Tae Woon had been repeating the same lines: everything looks great, hyung is the best, it suits you perfectly. Still, he was curious. It was just a light question, but Tae Woon furrowed his brow and gave it serious thought before pointing to an item.
“How about this?”
“Oh…”
[Death and Beauty chimes in, unimpressed, saying that definitely isn’t it.]
Kim Sibaek was holding a pair of light beige slacks, while Tae Woon was pointing to a green sweatshirt. Beige was safe enough, and green could work depending on the shade, but this one was an eye-popping, vibrant green—he couldn’t imagine where Tae Woon had even found something so bold.
“You don’t like it?”
“No, no. I actually like green.”
It wasn’t that he disliked it. As long as the clothes looked neat, the color didn’t really matter.
Even as they continued browsing, Tae Woon ignored every polite refusal and bought whatever the clerks recommended. Saying he’d just go wild with spending, he freely swiped his card. Before long, both his hands were loaded with large shopping bags. When Kim Sibaek tried to take some of them, Tae Woon lifted the bags above his head.
“Why would someone as frail as you carry all this?”
“Sure, I’m weak, but it’s the younger one’s job to carry things and look after the elders. If I make someone your age haul this around, people are going to talk.”
“…Well, my physical age is still in my twenties.”
As Kim Sibaek winced at the reminder, Tae Woon, already ahead, turned back and called out with an exaggeratedly sad look in his eyes.
“Hyuuung, are you just gonna leave me all alone in the store?”
[Death and Beauty grumbles that brat knows far too well how to manipulate her Apostle.]
Unable to argue, Kim Sibaek followed after him.
The food court was full of menu items he’d never seen before. They browsed curiously through the unfamiliar names, bought three gelatos, and sat down in an empty spot.
[Death and Beauty claps with joy at how sweet it is.]
Lord Biendeoé, who had claimed one of the gelatos for herself, licked it happily. Sitting across from Tae Woon, Kim Sibaek scooped a spoonful of his own, and an old habit surfaced without thinking.
“Here.”
Absentmindedly, he held the spoon out toward Tae Woon’s face. Then it hit him—this Tae Woon wasn’t five years old. Not even fourteen.
Embarrassed, he tried to pull the spoon back, but Tae Woon beat him to it. He opened his mouth without hesitation and took the bite, then licked his lips. The way his red tongue traced over his pale lips caught the eye with an oddly striking contrast.
“That’s good.”
Kim Sibaek cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to distract himself. He thought of the young Tae Woon from years ago, with his chubby cheeks puffed out as he chewed whatever was given to him. The memory calmed him—it felt like healing.
“I haven’t touched mine yet. Want to switch spoons?”
“No, it’s fine.”
He’d cleaned up plenty of uneaten bites when feeding a five-year-old. Using the same spoon, he took another scoop, and Tae Woon’s eyes narrowed with a cryptic gleam.
“Next time, I want you to feed me something else.”
“What? Something other than gelato?”
“Something white.”
“…?”
The Tae Woon he’d reunited with after so long still said things that made no sense now and then. Rather than dig for meaning, Kim Sibaek just let it slide.
After wandering for a while, sitting down with a sweet treat finally allowed him to take in the surroundings. As someone used to public stares thanks to his status as an Apostle, it took him a moment to notice—but many people were casting glances their way, pointing their phones toward them.
“What’s everyone doing with their phones?”
“They’re probably taking photos or videos.”
“Ah, right. I forgot people do that. I’m just not used to it.”
Kim Sibaek paused, thinking. In his experience, the kind of people others tried to capture in photos were usually celebrities…
It’s not me they’re photographing—must be Woonie. That’s why he had me wear the hat earlier.
One question was answered, but another quickly replaced it. Wasn’t Tae Woon just the leader of a guild? He wasn’t a celebrity. So why…?
Everything about Earth after twenty-one years felt unfamiliar—especially Tae Woon, who remained an enigma.
“If I don’t want to be in pictures with you, can I make them stop?”
“It’s fine. They’ve probably already taken a ton inside the department store anyway.”
And really, it wasn’t like he wasn’t used to cameras. Back when he was a fencer—and even in Mak Slechth—being in the spotlight wasn’t new.
But thinking about Mak Slechth made his expression darken. Reading his surface thoughts, Biendeoé sent him a Divine Word.
[Death and Beauty murmurs that she misses her Paladin and the Pope.]
He did too. The people he had left behind hovered in his thoughts—Gloiuken, the disciple he’d taught; her younger brother, who saw him as a father figure; the Pope; the Emperor of the Atrebathum Empire…
He would go back. Once he completed enough quests.
But before those thoughts could pull him under, a voice gently called him back.
“Sibaek hyung.”
Tae Woon reached out and took his hand. The boy had grown so much—his hand now easily enveloped Sibaek’s.
“We’ve finally met again after so long. Even if it’s not every day… can you think only of me when we’re together?”
That voice—warm with the heat of summer—echoed faintly in his ears. It was the voice he’d thought about over and over during his time in Mak Slechth.
“Just a few more years and I’ll be an adult. Just like you, hyung. So I…”
The words that child never got to finish echoed in his chest, spreading slowly like ripples through his heart.
Just then, a ringtone pierced through the moment and scattered the memory. Tae Woon frowned and declined the call without even checking. The phone rang again immediately.
Kim Sibaek let out a soft breath and gently pulled his hand away.
“Is it something urgent?”
With a sigh, Tae Woon answered.
“What.”
As soon as the call connected, a loud male voice boomed out—so loud that even Sibaek could hear every word from where he sat.
– “Hey, Tae! I heard you got a boyfriend! A guy, seriously?!”
“I’m sorry! I told him it wasn’t true!” Seo Gaeun’s desperate voice cut in, clearly trying to stop the chaos from escalating.
Recognizing the familiar tone, Kim Sibaek’s tense expression eased. The voice had changed a bit with age, but the attitude—and the dynamic—was unmistakable.
“Hyung. I nearly broke my arm arm-wrestling Tae. That punk’s tiny and skinny as hell, but why the hell does he keep trying to beat me?”
It was Pi Minhyung. Tae Woon, Minhyung, and Seo Gaeun—the three of them had always been inseparable. Knowing they were still close brought him as much comfort as confirming they were all safe.
“Hang up.”
– “Eunho told me you were at MA Department Store. Anyway, I just got here—don’t move! Where are—”
Tae Woon ended the call without a word and turned off his phone.
And then—
BEEEEEP! BEEEEEP! BEEEEEP!
[Death and Beauty is startled.]
A piercing high-frequency alarm shrieked through the air, and at the same moment, he sensed a burst of demonic energy. It was only because of his divine alignment—opposite to such energy—that he could feel it. Reflexively, he looked up.
But before he could see anything, Biendeoé, flustered, flapped her wings into his face, obscuring his vision.
[Death and Beauty gasps—space is warping!]
[Death and Beauty is bewildered, unable to comprehend this phenomenon!]
The floor rippled beneath him, sinking down like a trapdoor before lurching skyward. His entire sense of direction collapsed—falling up, rising down—until sensation and perception unraveled in a disorienting mess, dragging his consciousness into blackness.
“I had a restaurant reservation,” Tae Woon muttered, voice low with irritation. “This is so damn annoying.”
That was the last thing Kim Sibaek remembered.
