RG 153

The warm energy cleanly erased the cold. The King, feeling Cha Seohu’s divine power, recalled the memories from when he had lost consciousness.

‘That energy that touched my forehead…’

She was certain. Hard to believe, but the energy from the man before him was undeniably the same one that had healed her mind. Then… does that mean the story that he healed Song Ji-un’s body, just as he had healed her… is true?

Realizing that Cha Seohu was not a conman, the King’s heart began to race wildly. She felt hope. Her voice trembled from the anticipation that rose to her throat. “Is that… really true…?” Her face, once pale to the point of whiteness, flushed red with excitement. She urgently turned to Song Ji-un and cried out desperately, “Really, truly? My disciple, my energy in your body…”

This side of One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting was something Song Ji-un had never seen before. Momentarily surprised, he soon gave a gentle smile. “It’s true.” He took her hand. A cool sensation brushed his fingertips.

Her body was as cold as snow, and Song Ji-un’s body was slightly warmer. Before, Song Ji-un had the same body temperature as she did.

Even with a cold-attribute skill, Song Ji-un was still human. It wasn’t natural for him to have the same temperature as her. Only now did she realize that obvious fact.

Cha Seohu had turned Song Ji-un back into a human.

“…I see.”

As if realizing the difference in body temperature as well, the King’s face, looking down at their hands, was filled with countless deep emotions. After staring with quivering eyes for a long time, she shut her eyes tightly. From beneath her snowy white eyelashes, something small and sparkling fell.

Controlling the overwhelming emotions, the King asked Cha Seohu, “Human, did you say your name was Cha Seohu?”

“Yes.”

“Cha Seohu, I sincerely thank you for healing not just me, but also my disciple.”

I owe you a great debt. As she added those words, Cha Seohu deactivated his Divine Power skill and shook his head. “I only healed you because I wanted something from the mountain keeper. The reason I helped you was to find traces of the ones I’m pursuing.”

“Even if you had a purpose, it doesn’t change the fact that we are indebted to you.” She spoke firmly, then hesitated before opening her mouth again. “Thank you.”

“…”

“Thank you, Cha Seohu.”

The words of gratitude, unable to be swallowed, burst out. Maybe because of that, Cha Seohu looked a bit flustered, unlike his usual self. He even felt a little awkward. It was a ticklish feeling, like dozens of butterflies fluttering in his chest. A very unfamiliar sensation. 

Not knowing how to react, he simply scratched his forehead awkwardly, when the King, looking overjoyed, politely asked, “If it’s alright, I would like to have a conversation with my disciple.”

Well, the two of them probably had a lot they wanted to talk about. Answering that he would wait in the living room while they went upstairs, Cha Seohu soon noticed something on the floor.

‘What’s this?’

Left behind where she had been, a small, transparent crystal shimmered softly like a jewel. Just by appearance, it reminded him of a diamond.

‘Did they drop it?’

It seemed to belong either to One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting or to Song Ji-un. Cha Seohu, deciding to return it to them later, picked it up and kept it.

***

A couple of hours later, after finishing her conversation with Song Ji-un, the King called for Cha Seohu to come to her room.

When he entered, she, seated in a chair, welcomed him.

As soon as Cha Seohu sat across from her, the King spoke. “Earlier, I must have greeted you quite haphazardly because I wasn’t in the right state of mind.” She gave a faint smile. The wary gaze that had once looked at Cha Seohu as if he were a swindler was now completely gone. “Thank you for purifying the jewel and energy embedded in my forehead, and for healing my disciple’s body. You’ve saved the life of a precious disciple, and that’s a debt I can never repay with words alone.” 

Her back was straight, her gaze confident. Even as she expressed her gratitude, the King maintained her dignity, not lowering her head excessively, fitting for someone of her status. Cha Seohu found this appearance much more comfortable than before.

“Think nothing of it,” he replied.

“If you ever find yourself in trouble, come find me. I will help you as much as my power allows.”

“I’d be happy to. I imagine you’re quite resentful toward the people from the lab because of all this.”

“Would I feel just resentment?”

Despite the playful reply, a murderous glint flickered for a moment in the King’s silver-blue eyes.

The things they had done to her had involved Song Ji-un as well. Judging by what the man who handed over the business card had said, it was clear they knew exactly what information the King was searching for when they approached her.

For Cha Seohu, it was a welcome situation. Although he had saved the King mainly to persuade Song Ji-un, having someone so powerful now standing on his side was incredibly reassuring.

“I heard from my disciple,” she said. Struggling with how to phrase it, her lips moved slightly before she finally continued. “He… apparently has an older twin brother?”

“Yes.” Expecting that the King would bring it up, Cha Seohu answered leisurely, “His name is Song Jiwon. He’s running the Circle Guild under the name Song Ji-un. After their father died during their childhood, he grew up in an orphanage, not knowing he had a brother. Apparently, he also lived all this time believing a different name was his real one.”

All of this information had come from the current Circle’s guildmaster—the “fake.”

“A twin brother would be the most convincing. Even if his skill makes aging slower, the resemblance is just too striking.”

Growing up in an orphanage after his father’s death had actually been the life of the pre-regression Song Ji-un. It was quite different from the current one. The current Song Ji-un had lived with his mother after his parents’ divorce, then with his grandmother after his mother passed away. The pre-regression Song Ji-un had lived with his father, and after his father’s death, moved to an orphanage.

Could such forks in fate also affect skill awakenings? It was an answer no one could be sure of.

“My disciple had another blood relative besides his grandmother…” Muttering in a low voice, the King soon let out a bitter sigh. “That brother must have lived a terribly lonely life. Losing his parents, not even knowing he had a sibling, growing up in an orphanage…”

There were many people with similar tragic stories. With the appearance of dungeons and rifts, society had been thrown into long-term chaos, and countless people had lost their homes and families to monsters. Records that could confirm family relationships had often been lost. That loss had made it possible for the imposter to claim to be Song Ji-un’s twin brother.

‘I never thought I’d learn about the pre-regression guildmaster’s past like this.’

Though it was all to persuade Song Ji-un, it still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“…Despite living such a lonely life, he’s a remarkably good person.”

The pre-regression Song Ji-un, the real one—not the imposter—had indeed been a good man. Hearing the sincerity in Cha Seohu’s calm voice, the King felt herself relax a little. “My disciple has already made his decision. To go with you all. He probably wants to see his grandmother, whom he hasn’t seen in so long, and to meet his brother.”

“He can’t live here forever, after all.” Cha Seohu paused for a moment, studied her carefully, and then asked, “You’re not coming with us?”

“I don’t know.” The King turned her gaze out the window. The green leaves of the tall trees brushed gently against the glass. “My disciple also asked me to come along. But I don’t think it’s a decision I can answer lightly.”

“You’re free to come if you wish. You’re controlling your energy well, and even if something happens, I can always use divine power to help.”

“Are you saying you’ll follow me around wherever I go just to use your skill?”

“I’m a busy man too, so it wouldn’t be too often.”

When Cha Seohu shrugged slyly, the King let out a short laugh. “I’ll think about it. Even for me, leaving a place I’ve lived in for nearly thirty years isn’t something I can decide on lightly.”

“I understand.”

Even though her disciple, who had lived with her for over twenty years, was leaving, the King showed no hint of sadness.

When he first heard news about the current life of Song Ji-un from the fake, Cha Seohu thought Song Ji-un must be more miserable than he had been in his past life. A mountain keeper, living alone on a snowy mountain—it sounded unbearably lonely.

But thinking about it now… With someone like the King, who cherished Song Ji-un so purely, wasn’t he already happy?

‘I’ve found another reason to prevent the Great Calamity.’

Cha Seohu realized that for Song Ji-un to be happy, the King had to stay by his side.

***

Two days later, they were set to depart. It was far too little time for Song Ji-un, who had lived here for so long, to prepare himself emotionally, but Cha Seohu had somewhere he had to be, so it couldn’t be helped.

‘The ranking match is just around the corner.’

He didn’t really care if he lost first place, but because Yesung’s side had heavily publicized the upcoming match in a proper arena, he couldn’t just skip it. Imagining Kwon Taehyeok standing alone in the middle of the arena, waiting for a Cover who never showed up…

And then imagining the fury he would unleash afterward…

‘Man, that would be seriously pitiful. I might as well hand over the first-place title too.’

Of course, he couldn’t tell Ryu Seonghyeon or Song Ji-un about any of this, so he vaguely made up an excuse about needing to meet a personal acquaintance. Thanks to the King siding with him, saying if he was going anyway, they might as well leave as soon as possible, the schedule was finalized without much trouble. If everything went as planned—after descending the mountain and sending Song Ji-un to the Circle Guild—he should be able to make it to the ranking match without issue.

More importantly—

“…Cha Sahyeon.”

As Cha Seohu called him while gazing out the window at the night sky, Cha Sahyeon, who had been standing silently in the darkness, quickly answered, “Yeah, Brother?”

The more urgent matter than the ranking match was Cha Sahyeon. Cha Seohu was still conflicted about what to do with him before leaving the mountain. He also hadn’t properly explained the situation to Ryu Seonghyeon yet. Since Ryu Seonghyeon remembered Cha Seohu’s younger brother, it made sense he was confused. Even though he was being considerate by not asking any questions, they couldn’t stay in this awkward state forever. Eventually, he would have to say something.

‘…Forget it. Let’s just deal with Cha Sahyeon’s energy first.’

Sighing inwardly a hundred times, he turned around. “Come here.”

At that gesture, a flash of light briefly glinted in those deep green eyes. Cha Seohu, looking up at the approaching Cha Sahyeon, forced himself to steady his wavering mind.

‘Think rationally.’

Even if Cha Sahyeon was terrifying and dreadful, he had to keep him close. That was what the system wanted, and doing what the system wanted was the quickest way to steer away from destruction. More importantly, no matter how many times he tried to drive him away, Cha Sahyeon would only circle around him like an abandoned dog. In the end, Cha Seohu’s judgment meant nothing—the answer had been decided from the start.

“You said you wouldn’t disobey my words.”

“As long as I have memories of being with you, I will never harm you. I will never refuse your words.”

Repeating Cha Sahyeon’s own words back to him, Cha Seohu said, “Until I give you permission, never use your skill.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t kill anyone recklessly. If anyone I know is ever in danger, you step in and protect them.”

“I will.”

Even under conditions that suppressed his freedom, Cha Sahyeon swore without hesitation. Then, smiling brightly, he bent down—so that Cha Seohu could place an item around his neck.