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Chapter Text

It had been two years since Kim Rok Soo ended up in Team 1 with Choi Jung Soo under Team Leader Lee Soo Hyuk. Although Rok Soo may be reluctant to verbally acknowledge it, he considered the two of them to be his family. Therefore, he knew their habits and how to read their emotions.

While the three of them were eating dinner, Jung Soo’s eyes kept straying to the clock while a smile tugged on his lips. Whenever he did, his eating slowed down. Rok Soo frowned and tapped his fingers on the table.

“Looking at the clock isn’t going to make tomorrow come faster,” Rok Soo said. Jung Soo snapped his eyes forward.

“You need to make sure you eat properly,” Soo Hyuk said gently. Jung Soo had only gotten through one plate of food and had not gone for a second plate yet. Jung Soo awkwardly smiled and scratched his head.

“I’m sorry. I just-”

“We know. Your relative promised to come tomorrow.” Rok Soo shoved the plate of chicken towards Jung Soo.

“Rok Soo! My cousin promised that he’ll visit me in two years. It’ll be two years in a month!”

“I’m sure he’ll like you! He’ll be able to see that you’re actually a shy boy!”

“He went to look for someone. He’s strong enough to fight a Grade 1 monster by himself. I’m sure he’ll be fine!”

Rok Soo knew Jung Soo well. That’s why he knew Jung Soo was afraid. In this world, it wasn’t strange to see strong people die. No one was invincible.

“If you don’t eat enough, I’ll tell your cousin tomorrow,” Rok Soo said. He placed a new bowl of rice in front of Jung Soo. Jung Soo picked up the bowl with a smile showing his gratitude. Jung Soo was about to speak, but Rok Soo shoved food onto his plate. “Just eat.”

Rok Soo was actually looking forward to meeting Jung Soo’s cousin. He wanted to meet the person Jung Soo held so much admiration for as well as being his only living relative left. He could tell one reason Jung Soo was able to retain a pure disposition was because of him.

‘I believe his name is Choi Han.’

Choi Han. That name seemed familiar to him almost as if he heard it a long time ago. There was a nagging feeling in his head, and his heart beat wildly. But he ignored it. At the very least, he needed to remain calm in front of Jung Soo. It wouldn’t do any good if both of them were anxious.

Rok Soo’s body was drenched in water, and his hands were shaking. There was a spear made of water shooting up into the sky, but it only rained on top of him.

“Xxx-nim!”

“Human!”

A smaller spear appeared next to him. He grabbed it. Bright light pierced his body, but it did not hurt. He could feel its power spreading throughout his body.

The owners of the two voices from earlier came next to him. One was fluttering nervously checking his body for injuries. The other steadied his shaking body. Rok Soo could feel the way his feet sunk into the wet ground and the way his wet clothes clung to his body. He could hear the rain hit the lake and the rapid fluttering of wings. He could experience in detail these sensations as if he were there. However, he could not see the faces of the beings in front of him.

Rok Soo took off his necklace and placed it in the other person’s hand. “I used a little of it earlier, but there should be plenty left. I don’t need it anymore.” The other person frowned but did not make any other movements, so Rok Soo placed the necklace on him. “If you want, we could visit the Ubarr Territory again and get more of the Dominating Water. Or you can sell it or throw it away.”

“I won’t throw away a gift given by you.” The reply was too serious for Rok Soo’s comfort. “Xxx-nim, are you okay?”

“I’m fi-” Rok Soo coughed up black blood, and his body curled forward. The other person gently moved him until he laid on the ground.

‘Is it possible to feel such pain in a dream?’

“Human! You cannot die!” His body and his insides felt like they were twisting violently. It was hard to get a single breath in. “If you die, I will destroy the entire continent!”

Rok Soo brushed his face with both of his hands. He sometimes had nightmares that were actual events that happened in the past. He could feel, hear, and smell in vivid detail the demise that happened around him. This was one of the unfortunate effects of his Record ability. However, he did not usually have vivid dreams of an event that never happened.

‘Did I die in that dream? If I did, did the flying thing destroy the continent?’ Rok Soo felt that it was more threatening that vicious words came from a cute child-like voice.

Soo Hyuk placed a cup of instant coffee in front of Rok Soo. Just as Rok Soo was about to take a sip, Soo Hyuk said, “Jung Soo, that punk. Even though he has today off, he’s coming here with his cousin.”

Rok Soo half-expected this. “Maybe I should have taken today off too…” Rok Soo grumbled.

“Oh, Jung Soo’s coming?” Han Baek Hyun asked. Next to him, Kim Hye Jin crossed her arms.

“That’ll ruin the surprise.” These two were from Team 3 and had joined the company a year before Rok Soo and Jung Soo.

Soo Hyuk downed his coffee and slammed the empty cup on the table. “We cannot let him enter the office. If we need to, we’ll use force.”

Hye Jin patted Rok Soo’s shoulders. “I think he’ll stay away if Rok Soo distracts him.” Rok Soo frowned.

“I’ll allow you to slack off work today,” Soo Hyuk said.

“I don’t think a team leader should say things like this…” Rok Soo felt like he was being sacrificed. However, he knew he had the best chance at wasting Jung Soo’s time. He reached his hand towards Soo Hyuk. “Then can I have some money to distract Jung Soo with?”

“Haaa, you punk…” Soo Hyuk reached into his wallet and pulled out a couple of bills. Rok Soo’s eyes glittered.

Rok Soo placed the bills in his pocket and stood up. “Thank you very much Team Leader-nim. I will go fulfill my duties.”

Rok Soo didn’t know what time Jung Soo would come to the company so he figured he’d wait near the reception desk. He headed to the first floor just in time to see Jung Soo and someone else filling in some papers. Jung Soo raised his head and made eye contact with Rok Soo.

“Rok Soo! What are you doing on the first floor? Well, it doesn’t matter.” Jung Soo nudged the person beside him. The person looked up, and Rok Soo felt his heart beat wildly. “This is my cousin, Choi Han.”

Rok Soo’s eyes strayed to the necklace Choi Han had. It looked incredibly familiar. “I won’t throw away a gift given by you.”

Rok Soo forced himself to focus. He offered his hand to Choi Han. “I’m Kim Rok Soo. Nice to meet you.”

Choi Han smiled. He shook Rok Soo’s hand. At that moment, a sharp pain pierced through Rok Soo’s head.

Rok Soo looked upon the man wearing tattered clothes while wielding a sword aimed at the two cats. The man’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“It’s a person. A real person,” the man mumbled. Rok Soo frowned. The other person Rok Soo had been traveling with moved forward, but Rok Soo held his hand up to stop him. The cats hid behind Rok Soo’s legs but hissed at the man.

“Are you living here? Did you come from Harris Village?” The man’s eyes were full of chaos. “I guess it doesn’t matter. If you come with us, we can take you out of here.”

Rok Soo stepped towards the man and held his hand out. He tried his best to put on a gentle smile. “I’m Cale Henituse. Nice to meet you.”

The man shook his hand, and Cale could feel him trembling.

“I’m Choi Han. It’s nice to meet you.”

Jung Soo placed his arms around both of their shoulders. “I wanted to show my cousin around. But I should avoid our office, right?”

Cale brushed his hair back and sighed. “I knew you’d figure it out.” He pulled out the bills from his pocket. “I managed to get some money from Soo Hyuk-hyung, so we can go eat out for lunch.” Jung Soo laughed.

Cale didn't pay much attention to the introductions Jung Soo gave between Choi Han and their coworkers. Cale observed Choi Han as subtly as possible. Other than his clothing, Choi Han looked the same from his memories.

Jung Soo went ahead to pay for a table and left Cale with Choi Han. “Are you okay? You’re kind of pale, and you were shaking earlier.”

“I’m not currently in the best of health. But it’s nothing to worry about.” Cale waved him off, but Choi Han still looked concerned. Cale smiled.

Choi Han was the same good person in his memories.

‘If I reincarnated here, I need to have a private talk with Choi Han. But how come he has the necklace?’ It was suspicious that Cale looked different but Choi Han looked exactly the same. ‘Worrying about it won’t do anything. I’ll just ask him later.’

The three of them ate grilled beef. Meat was delicious but meat paid by someone else was even more delicious. Cale was glad he could properly provide Choi Han food for their first meeting in this life. “Did you ever find the person you were looking for?” Jung Soo asked.

Cale flinched. Choi Han looked down. “No. I won’t give up, but I can’t leave you alone either.”

“Is the person someone I know?” Choi Han shook his head.

“It’s someone from the time before I met you.”

‘This is kind of awkward.’ Cale planned on waiting until he was officially clocked out of work to talk to Choi Han. After all, he had some respect for work that he didn’t want to reveal an earth shattering secret on company time, but maybe he should reveal it now. Soo Hyuk did tell him he could slack off today. ‘But I don’t even know how I died.’

Cale Henituse died. He was avoiding thinking about his death as he was more excited on meeting Choi Han again. Plus thinking about how he died was scary.

The back of his head started to throb. Cale stood up. “Excuse me. I’m going to the bathroom.”

In the privacy of a bathroom stall, Cale watched fire dance upon his open palm. He extinguished the flames and a small whirlwind replaced it. It disappeared, and then came a small water spear, stone spear, and the shield.

“I can use them here too.” It would have helped him a lot earlier if he knew he could use these powers. In his life as Rok Soo, he always wanted to fight with overwhelming strength.

Cale’s headache worsened, and he grabbed his head.

- The Lion Tribe is attacking the Sekka Estate. It seems like they’re trying to find the Paerun Kingdom’s divine item, but they won’t find it.

Clopeh Sekka smirked.

- They’re also trying to get rid of the water in the Lake of God’s Tears. I will take this chance to turn the Lake into a River.

“The safety of your citizens comes first.”

- Of course. We’ve had an evacuation plan for a long time. No one can beat us in the North.

“Then do what you have to.”

The magic communication device turned off. However, it immediately glowed red. Eruhaben connected the call.

On the screen, the crown prince wore a suit of armor. He still had not placed his helmet on.

- The imperial prince has finally made his move. I thought he would have done this in the middle of the war. How nice of him.

The crown prince shook his head amusedly.

- Rosalyn is coming to the capital with the Mage Brigade, the Flame Dwarf Tribe, and the abandoned Bear Tribe. I will fight as well. Adin must not get his hands on the Roan Kingdom’s divine item. If need be, I’ll break it.

Cale wasn’t sure how difficult it would be to break a divine item, but he had no doubt that the prince would somehow find a way.

- I need you to go to Puzzle City. It seems like Arm has been preparing something.

The device cut off. However, it glowed again. It was from the hidden Wolf Tribe village. Cale motioned for Eruhaben to connect it.

- The invisibility magic placed upon our village has disappeared. It seems like Arm has caught wind of our location.

Cale glanced at Raon who had his eyes closed and was breathing heavily. Since Raon was in his first growth phase, he could not use magic.

- The Bear Tribe’s King is here. We’re requesting back up.

Cale looked around his group. Lock tightened his fists and nodded his head.

“Lock and Choi Han. You two head to the Wolf Village. Mary, head to the capital. The rest of us will head to Puzzle City.”

Cale gasped as another memory entered his head. He felt chills run down his back.

“Cale Henituse. I have come to kill you,” a figure with a white mask said. “I heard about your feats at the Gorge of Death. I need your Earth attribute ancient power.”

Cale activated the Indestructible Shield to its maximum strength. The silver wings shined bright. It was a beacon within the night. The masked figure leisurely stepped forward and raised his fire sword.

Slash! The Indestructible Shield broke. The light disappeared, and Cale’s palms were cut.

‘Why does remembering have to be this painful? Who decided this?’ Cale did not like any kind of pain. Even a paper cut was too painful for him, but it seemed like he would experience it frequently.

He closed his eyes and organized his thoughts. After the war with the Indomitable Alliance consisting of the Norland Kingdom, Askosan Kingdom, and Arm, the Mogoru Empire betrayed their alliance with the Roan Kingdom and invaded. At the same time, Arm invaded the Paerun Kingdom, attacked the Wolf Tribe, and was planning something in Puzzle City. On top of that, someone had tried to kill him. Or rather, they did kill him but was not successful in taking the Super Rock.

If Cale and Choi Han were here, it’s possible the figure in the white mask was here as well. It’s possible both their allies and enemies were here. Then it would be best if he hid his identity.

‘But Choi Han would be a target.’ Both of them could not die. Cale refused to die again. He would make sure they survived this time. No matter what.

Cale returned from the bathroom and saw that only Choi Han was left. “You were taking awhile, so Jung Soo left earlier. Said he needed to talk to Lee Soo Hyuk about something.” Choi Han frowned looking at Cale’s pale face. “I can walk you home.”

Cale shook his head. “I have to go back to work and pretend to stop Jung Soo.” Choi Han smiled at that. “Let’s go together. I’d also like to talk to you about something after work.”

Choi Han seemed confused but nodded his head. They went back to the company and encountered Lee Ji Soo from Team 5 and Nam Yoo Shin from Team 6. “Did you lose Jung Soo?” Yoo Shin asked.

“He should be where Team Leader Soo Hyuk is.”

“Isn’t he in a meeting?” Ji Soo said. Cale frowned. Although Jung Soo said he’d avoid the office, maybe he was too curious.

Cale saw a bright light in the corner of his eye. He looked out the window. Was that lightning? It shouldn’t be raining today. Outside the window, he could see the other wing of the building, which was where their office was. “What’s wrong?” Ji Soo asked.

Cale didn’t answer and continued to observe the other wing. He didn’t have a good feeling.

In the other wing through one of the windows, bright light flashed.

“Ahh!”

A bright ball of light hit one of the Roan Kingdom’s knights. Blood burst out of his wound and mouth. Rosalyn kept her hands steady.

“Keep going! Don’t lose focus!” Rosalyn seemed to be shouting for the other mages as well as herself. Magic had pierced deep into the body and was reacting with the blood. The knight’s face was flushed as if he had a fever, but Cale knew he was dying. He was not the only one on this field.

‘Is it magic or is it an ability?’ Cale did not want to gamble. He ran off.

The bright light could have been anything. There could be a problem with the lights. The building was old, so it wouldn’t be weird if stuff broke. A monster could have entered the building although that was extremely unlikely if the siren hadn’t gone off. A rookie could be showing off their ability, but it would make more sense for them to do it in the training ground. Yet Cale hoped it could be for any of those reasons no matter how unlikely they may be.

Cale leaned on the wall for support as he turned the corner.

Underneath the window that had flashed, there was a crater on the floor and Choi Jung Soo’s limp body.

Chapter Text

Cale kneeled by Jung Soo’s body and grabbed his shoulder. He lifted his hand and felt blood on his fingers. He heard footsteps from inside one of the rooms. The door was slightly open.

“Stop sneaking around. Who are you?” Cale said this in the Roan Kingdom’s language.

“Who are you?” The voice answered back in the same language. Cale crouched protectively in front of Jung Soo.

“Come out!” The door opened wider, and Cale could see someone wearing a tracksuit. This person swung their sword in the air and water came towards him.

However, Cale was partly relieved. ‘This isn’t magic. This is-’

He threw his hands out and activated the Indestructible Shield. The silver wings shone bright. The water collided with the shield and caused an even brighter light.

In the other wing, Lee Jung Hun, Heo Dong Geun, Park Eun Ji, and Yoo Ji Won joined Lee Ji Soo and Nam Yoo Shin. “What are you doing?” Dong Geun asked.

“It seems like there was a flash of light over there,” Ji Soo said. “Rok Soo ran away once he saw the light. After that, Choi Han followed him.”

There was another bright flash of light on the other side. They leaned against the window to get a better look.

“Was that a fire?” Yoo Shin asked.

“That’s not a fire. That’s…” Jung Hun’s voice trailed off. Dong Geun turned to look at him. Jung Hun’s face was pale, and his hands shook. He was not the only one.

“I feel sick,” Eun Ji said as her legs trembled. Ji Won steadied her until she sat on the floor. She leaned her back against the wall. “I feel like there was something like this a long time ago. Before the monsters came…”

“I think I get what you’re saying,” Ji Soo said.

“You’ve paid me back enough. You’re free to go.” Cale didn’t look at Choi Han as he said this. “If you have anywhere you’d like to go, I can arrange a carriage for you.”

On and Hong tapped Choi Han’s shoes as they looked at Cale. Choi Han shook his head. “I do not have anywhere to go. I would like to remain by your side to protect you.”

Raon fluttered around Choi Han. “I am enough to protect the human! But I would not mind having a lackey.”

On and Hong meowed and it seemed like they said, “We are also here to protect!”

Cale crossed his arms and snorted. “I do not plan on getting hurt. I also have the Indestructible Shield.” Choi Han ignored those words and looked at Cale with a determined gaze. Cale sighed. “I’ll arrange a contract for you to look over. If you’re going to protect me, you’ll need to be paid for your time. And, hmm…” Cale looked over the children. “You three will need an allowance.”

Choi Han had an awkward smile. “Ah, Cale-nim, unfortunately I cannot read the language of this land.”

“Then I’ll have to assign you a tutor. Raon could also join you.”

Raon landed on top of Cale’s head and puffed his chest. “I, Raon Miru, am a fast learner! I will learn it fast enough to teach Choi Han!”

Choi Han smiled.

Behind the corner, Choi Han crouched with one hand over his sword. His eyes shook as he stared at the silver wings. His other hand trembled as it clenched his necklace.

‘Finally, I-’

The culprit in the office slammed the door completely open and ran away. Choi Han broke out of his trance and ran forward. He made eye contact with Cale as he said, “Cale-nim. Please retreat to somewhere safe. I am very glad to meet you again.”

Choi Han ran to the staircase at the end of the hallway. The culprit ran down the stairs, so Choi Han leaped down to catch up to him. The culprit flinched and backed away. Choi Han took his sword out of its scabbard. The culprit shot a ball of water at him. Choi Han slashed it, but the water cut his skin. Multiple water balls floated around the culprit.

Choi Jung Soo’s head laid on Cale’s jacket. Cale lowered his phone. “You’ll be fine. Someone with a healing ability is on the way. How are you feeling?”

“My shoulder kind of hurts,” Jung Soo laughed. His shirt was stained black with the amount of blood coming out of his wound. His face was flushed and sweating. He looked feverish. “Were you the one my cousin was looking for?”

“Yeah.” Jung Soo was always sharp. He knew he couldn’t hide this from him. “And were you trying to look in the office?”

“Yeah. I learned my lesson.” Jung Soo tried to laugh again, but it turned into a groan. Cale wished he had his spatial dimension bag, so he could take out a potion. “Let’s all have a long talk later.”

The healer, Cho Ha Joon, ran up to them. Cale lifted Jung Soo into a sitting position. Jung Soo struggled to open his eyes. “Let me see. Does it hurt?”

Ha Joon shifted Jung Soo away from Cale’s arms into his own. Once Ha Joon used his healing ability, Cale’s attention shifted towards the end of the hallway. “Please take care of Jung Soo.”

“Huh?” Ha Joon and Jung Soo looked at the back of Cale’s head. His shoulders were stiff. Jung Soo grabbed Cale’s arm.

“Ow!” Jung Soo exclaimed.

“What are you doing?”

Jung Soo moved his hand lower to grab the cuffs of Cale’s sleeves. “Because…” Cale’s eyes focused on Jung Soo’s own. His pupils stopped shaking. “Are you alright?”

Cale took his hand away from Jung Soo. “Yeah…” Cale rubbed his hair back and sighed. He finally calmed down. “Thank you.” He picked up an object off the floor before running down the hall.

Choi Han hid on another flight of stairs as water flew by him. He tightened his grip on his sword. Choi Han did not know who this man was. In the present, this man worked in the same company as Jung Soo and was the company he would soon join. In the past, this man spoke the Roan Kingdom’s language. Yet he attacked Cale and Jung Soo.

A black aura surrounded his sword. He no longer hid behind the stairs and charged forward. The black yong cut through the water. The man stumbled back.

“Choi Han!” Cale ran down the stairs. Choi Han twisted the man’s arms behind his back. The man’s sword clattered to the floor.

“I’ve captured the attacker.” The man glared at Cale. Cale stepped in front of him.

“Jung Iseul, do you not recognize me? It’s Team 1’s Rok Soo.” Cale placed the glasses that he picked up earlier onto Iseul’s face. There was a crack on one of the lenses. Iseul blinked as his eyes focused on Cale. “Since you responded in the Roan Kingdom’s language, are you from there?”

“No. I am from the Whale Tribe.” The corners of Cale’s lips curled up. “Who are you?”

“Then there is no need for us to fight.” Cale motioned for Choi Han to release him. Iseul rubbed his wrists and took a wary step towards his sword. “I am Cale Henituse.”

“You-” Iseul readjusted his glasses and observed Cale. He glanced at Choi Han who stood firmly by Cale’s side. “I am Paseton. I’m sorry I attacked you. I thought I was back at the city, and I couldn’t see without my glasses. My memory was quite blurry in the morning. As time passed, I became more confused. I thought the war was still going on.”

“Are you okay now?” Cale asked. Paseton was about to nod his head, but his knees gave out. Choi Han grabbed him before he fell. “You used up a lot of your ability.”

Choi Han carried Paseton on his back while Cale picked up his fallen sword.

“We should take him to the medical bay. But are you okay?” Cale looked up and down Choi Han’s body. There were cuts on his clothes and on his cheeks. He was also drenched, but he smiled.

“I am glad I can see you again, Cale-nim.” It was such a pure smile that Cale had to look away.

“You said that earlier,” Cale grumbled. He tried to keep a stoic face, but his emotions seeped into his words. “I am also happy we could meet.”

Choi Han’s black aura pierced through Sayeru’s body and violently attacked his insides. Sayeru laughed as blood spurt out of his mouth. With the last of Sayeru’s strength, he summoned multiple light arrows. However, they did not aim at Choi Han. They pierced through Lock’s body.

“You bastard!” Choi Han stabbed his sword deeper into Sayeru’s body and twisted it until all he could see was Sayeru’s smirk and dim eyes. He yanked his sword back. “Lock!”

Lock’s body was bleeding on the ground. Choi Han gathered Lock into his arms. Because Lock was from the Wolf Tribe, potions and healing magic didn’t work. He had fast regenerative abilities, but his wounds looked too serious.

“Hyung, go to Puzzle City.” Choi Han tightened his grip around Lock. “You need to help them. You’re the only one who can.”

Choi Han gritted his teeth and nodded his head. He also knew it was too late. He gently laid Lock back down. He walked to the teleportation circle with a stoic face. The mage nodded his head. Choi Han looked at Lock’s body one last time and closed his eyes. He felt the mana wash over him.

When Choi Han opened his eyes, he wasn’t sure what he saw. His body was frozen, and his pupils were shaking. He was supposed to have been teleported to Puzzle City.

Yet there was nothing before him. There were no buildings, no trees, and no rock towers. There were no swords, no blood, and no fire. Most importantly, there were no people. Just an expanse of clear rocky ground.

Choi Han knew his feet were moving, but he could not feel it. He looked around as if someone could be hiding, but there was nowhere anyone could hide. He brushed his hands against the ground in case people were buried, but there was nothing there.

“They have to be at the capital.” Choi Han could tell he was speaking, but he could not feel it. He clenched his fists and his nails pierced his palm. The pain helped center him. With a louder voice that hurt his throat, Choi Han yelled, “They have to be there!”

He could not use the teleportation circle as there were no mages with him, so he ran from Puzzle City to Huiss. He ran just like he ran in the Forest of Darkness. He did not care that his clothes ripped after being snagged on a tree branch. He did not realize how hard it was to breathe or that his face was covered in sweat.

The only thing he could do was to keep running.

At the capital, the first thing he noticed were the broken bones of a white skeleton dragon. Underneath it, he saw the bloody figures of the Flame Dwarf Tribe Chief Kanelle and members of the Bear Tribe. There were other bodies being carried out. Choi Han looked at every body.

Most of them were people Choi Han did not recognize, but their uniforms made it obvious they were Roan Kingdom knights or Mogoru Empire knights. He had to stare at some bodies as their faces were disfigured but eventually he could figure it out. He could see the bodies of nobles like Taylor Stan and Antonio. There were enemies like Becrock and Duke Huten.

There were also his friends. Mary and Rosalyn. Choi Han pushed forward. His hands hovered over them. He could barely make out the blood on Mary’s cloak as it had dried black. Meanwhile Rosalyn’s face was half burnt and her arms were crushed.

Choi Han’s legs finally collapsed. He looked upon the destroyed palace that marked his friends’ graves. He didn’t know if it was a better sight than the empty Puzzle City.

- Unfortunately, our preparations could not prevent this disaster from happening.

It was an unfamiliar voice. Choi Han looked around, but no one else seemed to hear it.

- However, this is not the end. This will happen again. I will have to use a lot of my power to create a chance to stop it.

- Do you want to meet your friends again?

Choi Han gasped. He had not felt anything until this moment. He felt his heart beat wildly.

- You will have to wait, but they will reincarnate in your original world and eventually regain their memories. I will send you back home.

Choi Han had given up on the idea of returning to Korea. He was forcefully brought to this world and suffered decades in the Forest of Darkness. Then he found a new home. He did not care about returning to Korea. He only cared about his new family.

- What do you say?

‘If I can meet Cale-nim, Rosalyn, Lock, Alberu, Mary… If I can meet my family again, I’ll go wherever.’

- Then it’s a deal. I am the God of Death. May we meet again in the future.

Just like that, Choi Han transmigrated once again to Korea in the forest near his family’s house that he initially disappeared into. He followed the steps of a distant memory as he walked out of the forest and onto an uneven path.

He saw things he had long forgotten about and did not believe he would ever remember. There’s the mossy log that kids liked to jump on and salamanders liked to hide under, the only tree along this path whose trunk was covered in wide mushrooms, and the half-bent sign that his neighbor’s bike rammed into.

He followed all of these signs to the largest tile-roofed house in town. It looked the same as the house of his memories. His blood family was still here. Waiting.

The next couple of days passed by in a blur. No one quite felt real. He looked the same as when he disappeared yet his relatives were so much older. Shock, relief, pity, and careful kindness. He felt these things from the people around him yet he felt nothing.

His hands clenched onto the necklace containing the Dominating Water. This was the only tangible connection Choi Han had with his family. It was the only thing that prevented him from breaking down thinking it was all a dream.

Choi Han clenched onto this necklace when the world descended into chaos, when he returned to town and saw the destroyed tile-roofed house that reminded him so much of the destroyed palace, when he promised Jung Soo he’d come back in two years if he could not find who he was looking for, and when he searched all over Korea to find people who might not remember him while hoping they did not die again.

“That was how I came to meet you again,” Choi Han said. He sat at a table in Cale’s bedroom. Cale frowned.

‘The God of Death just dumped Choi Han here? He couldn’t have explained anything else to him? He even dumped him in the Forest of Darkness without explaining anything. That bastard…’

“Have you been eating properly?” Cale asked.

“When the monsters first came, it was a little hard. But otherwise, I have been eating proper meals.”

Cale nodded approvingly. “That’s the most important thing.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “The enemy will probably reincarnate here too. It’s safer to hide the fact you transmigrated here instead of reincarnating. I don’t believe anyone else would think about transmigration. And, hmm…”

Cale eyed the Absorbing Necklace. Choi Han understood. He hid the necklace underneath his shirt.

“If anyone brings up the necklace, I’ll say you found it inside a monster and make them think the gods gave it to you as a gift. I know you cannot act so don’t try to lie. Just leave it to me or stay silent.” Choi Han continued to observe Cale. “What? Is there a problem with the plan?”

“No, it’s just… Are you okay? You were pale the morning we met, and Paseton didn’t take remembering very well.”

“I am okay.” Choi Han did not seem to believe him. “I don’t remember everything. The last thing I remember was being at the capital and someone with a white mask wanted to kill me. They were after the Super Rock. That means I have to keep my identity a secret. So you can’t call me Cale-nim around others.”

“The story me and Jung Soo made was that I was his younger cousin. I can call you hyung.”

Cale nodded. He reached his hand out to Choi Han. “It is suspicious if you stayed beside me, but you are Jung Soo’s relative. We’ll use that to our advantage.”

Choi Han shook his hand. “I won’t leave your side again. I will protect your second life.”

“We’ll survive together. I won’t leave you alone again. No one is going to die this time.”