Chapter Text
Eight long months had passed since the game island faded into memory, leaving behind a sea of scars and unforgettable memories. Jiyong woke slowly that morning in his small apartment, sunlight filtering gently through the curtains, its warmth in stark contrast to the cold still lingering in his soul. Beside him, the baby slept peacefully, her tiny hands brushing the air in innocent dreams, unaware of the storms her father had weathered.
On the nightstand, an envelope rested, a golden bank card peeking out from the edge. Jiyong picked it up with trembling hands, remembering the weight of all the promises he carried. He had paid off his debts—those that for years had crushed him under guilt and despair. He had fulfilled what Thanos had asked of him: to care for that little life, to protect her like the bravest warrior, and to honor the memory of the man who had sacrificed himself for them.
He remembered clearly the day he went to the Dragon Club. Se-Mi, Su Bong’s friend, welcomed him with a mix of sorrow and hope. In a soft voice and tear-filled eyes, she gave him the address of the apartment Su Bong had left behind. When Jiyong arrived, he found a place steeped in chaos—papers scattered across the floor, clothes tossed without care, memories of a turbulent past clinging to the walls. Among those papers, he found what might be the address of Thanos’s mother—a final connection to the man who had come to mean so much to him.
In that disarray, he also found a few of Su Bong’s clothes: a worn-out hoodie, a scarf that still held his scent. Jiyong kept them carefully, as if wrapped in that fabric he could still feel his friend’s presence—the strength that had held him up when everything felt lost.
With a heavy heart, he visited Su Bong’s mother. The woman, fragile yet strong, welcomed him with tears in her eyes and an embrace that seemed to hold years of unspoken pain. Jiyong told her everything—every detail of the cruel games, her son’s sacrifice, the courage and love he had shown until his final moment. She cried uncontrollably, clinging to Jiyong as if she could find a living part of her son in him. For hours they exchanged memories, laughter, and tears, promising to stay in touch—building a new bond, woven with threads of remembrance and hope.
Eight months later, Jiyong made a decision that would change their lives forever. He moved to Ulsan, a city surrounded by nature, where the air was pure and the trees whispered promises of peace. He wanted his daughter—whom he named Cho-Hee (meaning “beautiful and happy,” for that’s what his baby was)—to grow up in a place where she could be free, joyful, far from the ghosts that still haunted him. In that quiet setting, he saw the possibility of a different future—a rebirth for them both.
His music career had also begun to blossom. He had signed with a record label and was on the path to producing his first album, Übermensch, a deep reflection of his transformation and inner strength. They even offered him the chance to join a group with two other boys, Daesung and Taeyang—a path promising fame and success. But now, with Cho-Hee in his arms, he hadn’t made a decision. He had a daughter to raise, a world to rebuild. Now he was G-Dragon, a reborn singer—but also a devoted father.
One quiet afternoon, as he was feeding Cho-Hee, the little girl began to babble softly. Among her gentle sounds, one word emerged with clarity: “Dadda.” In that moment, something inside Jiyong broke. The tears he had held back for months rolled down his cheeks—warm and sincere. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of a sweatshirt—the same one that had belonged to Su Bong—a silent bond that still tied him to his friend.
With a smile full of love and bittersweet memory, he held Cho-Hee closer, knowing that despite everything, they had found light in the darkness. A new beginning—woven with sacrifice, hope, and unbreakable love.