Category: A doomsday-level returnee devours calamities

The aircraft shook wildly, and an ear-piercing alarm blared without pause, startling everyone.

“Uwaaaaaah!”

“What is happening!?”

“We’re crashing!”

Inside the rapidly descending plane, Lee Taeseong cursed and looked out the window.

“This is seriously insane.”

KWA-GWANG!

Outside, lightning and storms raged endlessly, as if the apocalypse had arrived.

One of the plane’s wings had snapped off. Seeing this, Taeseong immediately headed for the cockpit.

The moment he opened the door, the first thing that caught his eye was the unconscious pilot. Checking his condition, it was clear he was already dead.

“Spiders?”

The cockpit was filled with hundreds of spiders. The difference from ordinary spiders was that these had cow heads, and each was as big as Taeseong’s leg.

Judging by the shattered front windshield, they had likely infiltrated through there.

Before he could even question why such creatures had entered, Taeseong’s body had already moved.

KWAAJIK!

He instantly crushed the head of the first spider that lunged at him.

Green liquid splattered in all directions, and wherever it touched, it sizzled and melted away with a hiss. It seemed to contain a potent acid.

Killing them one by one with his bare hands would be a waste of time. Taeseong lightly snapped his fingers, and a pure white frost spread around him.

CRACKLE!

In an instant, the hundreds of spiders surrounding him froze solid.

At best, they were insignificant creatures, likely no stronger than Delta-class.

After a brief consideration, Taeseong left the cockpit. It was unfortunate that the innocent pilot had died, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

Even for someone as capable as Lee Taeseong, piloting a plane was impossible. If it were a car or a tank, maybe—but he had zero knowledge of aircraft.

This wasn’t some movie or novel where grabbing the controls without a plan would magically make the plane fly.

Upon reaching the corridor, Taeseong spotted his companions. If they had been ordinary civilians, they would have been paralyzed with fear, but these people were administrators.

Sitting on the floor, drawing something furiously, Lee Eunha muttered nonstop.

“Nothing ever goes smoothly, seriously. I swear, ever since I got involved with you, Taeseong, things like this keep happening more and more.”

“Haha… it must be your imagination.”

“It’s done.”

What Eunha had drawn was a parachute and a boat. After materializing the parachutes, she handed them out to the group.

Next, Oh Haeyoung swung an axe, slicing through the plane’s wall.

SHWAAAAA!

The pitch-black sky was a chaotic storm of wind and lightning.

The hole in the plane tried desperately to suck them out, but unfortunately, none of these people were the type to be moved against their will.

Haeyoung was the first to leap out.

“See you down there!”

Next was Taesan.

“Hahaha! This is fun!”

Then, Go Yeonghui.

“…I didn’t even finish my manga yet.”

Then Eunha.

“Chief Go Yeonghui, you still want to read manga? I’m sick of books at this point. What if you get possessed again…?”

Finally, Taeseong and Sooah.

“I told you, I can go alone.”

“It’s safer if we go together.”

They jumped simultaneously.

The storm was so fierce that the parachutes were difficult to control.

If someone with psychokinetic abilities had been present, they might have been able to adjust their descent in midair.

Taeseong could see his companions in the distance, but they were drifting farther apart. If this continued, they would all scatter.

“……”

As he pondered a solution, a particular yokai flashed through his mind.

Daitengu.

A high monk who, after harboring resentment, had fallen into corruption and transformed into a tengu.

Seeing Taeseong suddenly tear his parachute, Sooah shouted in alarm.

“Oppa!? What are you doing!?”

At that moment, massive black wings grew from Taeseong’s back.

SHWAAAK!

Taeseong soared effortlessly through the air.

The sight of him flapping his giant wings evoked an eerie sense of unease.

If a black bird from mythology truly existed, it would look like this.

“So this is how it works.”

As he flapped his wings, the air currents around him shifted.

Although the area was engulfed in a raging storm, with the power of the Daitengu, he could at least control the immediate surroundings.

One by one, the scattered companions began gathering in one place.

Watching the winged Taeseong, Haeyoung gasped in admiration.

“Wow! Taeseong, you look amazing! I want wings too—can I get some somehow?”

Eunha shot her an exasperated look.

“…Do you really think that’s possible, Haeyoung?”

“Well, Taeseong doesn’t exactly follow common sense!”

At those words, Eunha fell silent.

She thought about it and realized Haeyoung was absolutely right.

‘Seriously, what is he? That level of predation ability is unheard of. And his assigned ranking must be fake—so what’s his true rank?’

Thanks to Taeseong manipulating the wind, they landed safely on a small island nearby.

“Shipwrecked in just a day, huh.”

“What the hell happened? The plane was fine—why did it suddenly crash?”

Taeseong answered.

“There were multiple impacts. Judging by the broken wing, something must have snapped it off. And this damn extreme weather didn’t help either.”

“Was it a creature?”

Taeseong nodded.

“When I entered the cockpit, the windshield was shattered, and the pilot was already dead. The place was swarming with spiders that had cow heads.”

“But… am I the only one seeing that? I can barely make it out, but… what is that?”

Haeyoung pointed toward the far edge of the sea.

Taesan and Taeseong, both possessing superior physical abilities, could see it, but the others could not.

“There’s something there.”

“I don’t see anything.”

“…Neither do I.”

“Same here.”

Dark clouds filled the sky.

Thunder rumbled loudly, and heavy rain continued to pour.

But Taeseong saw it clearly.

“A dragon.”

Haeyoung and Sooah gasped.

“A dragon?”

“A dragon, seriously?”

At that moment, a voice like roaring thunder echoed through the air.

It was immense and powerful, incomparable to anything they had ever heard before.

[I am the dragon. The one that hunts wherever you may flee! You are nothing more than my prey. When I drag you down and tear you apart, you will come to know my madness. Like a rampaging lunatic, I will trample you underfoot. As I defend this land and bring about your destruction, my frenzied cries will deafen your ears! This land is my eternal domain, and you are nothing more than the unfortunate ones chosen to test my devotion!]

[Come find me wherever you wish! I will stand guard over this land, and you will have no chance to appear before me again! The wound you have left behind is seeping into my flesh and blood, awakening deep within me. You have nowhere left to run. I will crush you completely!]

Taeseong, who had been listening in silence, muttered under his breath.

“He sounds pretty unhinged.”

“Y-yeah… maybe he’s hurt or something?”

Meanwhile, Lee Eunha’s mind was racing. She was piecing together the information they had, trying to deduce the identity of the creature before them.

Finally, after arriving at the answer, she spoke.

“That dragon… it’s probably King Munmu.”

Sooah’s face filled with shock.

“What!? King Munmu!?”

“Yeah.”

“You mean… King Munmu, the ruler who led the Unified Silla to prosperity? King Munmu the Great (King of Wisdom and Strength), Kim Beopmin!?”

When Lee Sooah’s eyes sparkled with excitement, Eunha flinched and answered hesitantly.

“Uh, y-yeah. That King Munmu. The hero who became a dragon after death to protect the land from foreign invaders.”

“The Guardian Dragon… So it was real all along. That’s incredible…!”

In truth, Lee Sooah had always been fascinated by stories of the Three Kingdoms era since childhood. She had spent years listening to, reading, and researching tales from that time. That was why she was reacting with such enthusiasm now.

“The Guardian Dragon does exist.”

Taeseong stated matter-of-factly.

“But he seems completely out of his mind. Should I just go kill him?”

“Are you insane!? That’s a protected entity!”

They had figured out what he was, but based on the way he spoke and acted, he was clearly beyond reasoning. If they could escape, avoiding conflict would be ideal.

But it didn’t seem like things would be that easy.

After all, the dragon was the one who had created this chaotic weather and destroyed the plane’s wing. It seemed likely that he had mistaken them for invaders…

‘Then what was that spider all about?’

The plane’s crash was also caused by the pilot’s death.

And the one who killed the pilot was that spider.

“Eugh! That’s disgusting! What the hell is that!?”

“Uh… It looks like a spider, but… its head is a cow’s!?”

“…What the hell is that? That’s terrifying.”

Before they realized it, spiders identical to the ones from the cockpit had surrounded them. Even at a glance, there had to be over a thousand. Their grotesque appearance made everyone grimace in disgust.

“Look over there.”

Beyond the swarm, something loomed in the distance—a spider so massive that it resembled a mountain of stone. Its long tongue flicked out as it observed them, and the aura it radiated was comparable to the Beta-class entities they had encountered in the Jukai Forest.

“A… an entity!?”

“Why is something like that here…?”

Taeseong’s eyes narrowed in certainty.

“It’s that thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“The one that drove the Guardian Dragon insane.”

“How do you know?”

“Just a hunch.”

Eunha quickly turned her focus inward.

She dove into the mental library she had constructed—a catalog of her accumulated knowledge and memories.

To improve her efficiency in recalling information, she had structured her thoughts in this way.

After her dispatch to Japan, she had also studied various reports on entity management with the administrators’ approval.

She understood that her role leaned more toward support rather than combat, so she had dedicated herself to research in order to be more useful during missions.

‘I know I’ve seen this somewhere before…’

She searched through her mental archives until she finally recalled what it was.

---

[B-Class Entity Management Report]

No. 09929

Entity Name: Gyuki (Ushi-Oni)

Class: Beta (B-Class)

Threat Level: 5

Warning: Red-class danger entity.

Information: A yokai that lives in the water and hunts humans. While numerous Gyuki once existed, it is believed that only one remains today. However, this lone survivor has devoured so many humans over the years that its power far surpasses that of ordinary Gyuki.

Notable Details:

1. There are unconfirmed rumors that it formed a marital bond with the snake yokai Nure-onna.
2. If its spiderlings are scattered in an area, immediate evacuation is advised. That place is already Gyuki’s hunting ground.

[Observation Record #008]
Access Denied.

[Observation Record #009]
Access Denied.

---

TL : This is what a Gyuki looks like

Taeseong spoke calmly.

“I will return to Korea.”

Hearing his answer, Hashimoto responded in a composed tone, as if he had expected such a reply.

“Do you have a reason?”

“I appreciate the offer… but there’s something I want to try with my colleagues in Korea.”

“Something you want to try, huh… That’s unexpected. From what I’ve seen, you were never the sentimental type. Weren’t you always someone who prioritized practicality above all else?”

Hashimoto looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘Did I misjudge you?’

“It’s true that I prioritize practicality. But if my standards change, then my priorities can change at any time as well.”

“So, you value your teammates enough to turn down my offer?”

“I suppose so.”

To be honest, his teammates had influenced his decision to give up on staying in Japan. However, if asked whether he gave up solely because of them, the answer would be no.

They played a part, but the real reason he changed his mind was something else.

It was the sudden phone call from Choi Harin.

Someone on the Korean side must have told her, because her voice over the phone sounded urgent.

— Lee Taeseong, I heard you got an offer to stay from the Japan branch chief?

— Yes.

— You’re not seriously thinking of staying in Japan, are you? Huh?

— I’m considering it. The terms they offered are quite good…

— Damn it, that bastard! There’s a limit to how shameless someone can be! Ah, and don’t get me wrong! I wasn’t talking about you, Taeseong. You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re just too damn talented. Hahaha! So, what exactly did they offer you?

— Basically, they said they’d grant whatever I ask for.

— Anything?

— Yes. Anything.

— Son of a… Wait right there! Just give me five minutes!

She abruptly hung up after asking him to wait for five minutes.

And sure enough, five minutes later, she returned.

— I’ve settled things with the branch chief.

— Settled what, exactly?

— What else? I got an offer that will change your mind. You won’t regret choosing not to stay in Japan. I worked it all out with the branch chief. Oh, and if you want to look into matters related to your parents, wouldn’t Korea be more convenient?

— That’s true.

— You trust me, right?

— I’ll try to.

— I’m serious. I really am!

Choi Harin had negotiated directly with the branch chief and secured an offer that ensured he wouldn’t regret his decision.

If the conditions were equal or better, there was no reason for him to stay in Japan. His colleagues were all in Korea, and he was originally from the Korean branch anyway.

“That’s unfortunate. But I understand your decision.”

“I apologize.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Just what you’ve accomplished while being stationed here has been more than enough for us. It would have been great if you had stayed, but there’s nothing more disgraceful than dwelling on something that’s already been decided.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Our doors will always be open. If you ever change your mind, let me know. I have a personal interest in you. I hope we meet again.”

“If the opportunity arises, we’ll meet again. I’ll take my leave now.”

Taeseong rose from his seat and exited the room. Hashimoto smacked his lips in disappointment.

As branch chief, it was regrettable that he couldn’t hold on to such a valuable talent. However, more than anyone, he knew—after reviewing Taeseong’s security file—that he couldn’t be forcibly tied down.

“I’ve lost a valuable asset.”

But they would surely meet again.

With his abilities, it was only a matter of time before he was assigned a mission similar to Hashimoto’s own.

---

A joint funeral was held for the administrators who had died in the recent operation. Among them was Beta-rank administrator Yukina.

The solemn ceremony concluded without incident.

Sooah, who had been holding back her tears throughout the funeral, finally broke down when she saw Yukina’s body consumed by the flames.

Watching this, Taeseong silently prayed that Yukina had safely returned to her original world and reunited with her family.

After the funeral, both the Korean administrators and those from other branches began the process of returning to their respective headquarters.

Taeseong’s younger sister, Sooah, also expressed her desire to return to the Korean branch, and the Japan branch chief readily approved her request.

It was a decision based on the assessment that making an enemy out of Taeseong would bring no benefits.

Xiao Yun had already left without a word, leaving behind only a single letter.

[Thinking about all the hell I went through because of you is exhausting, but I have to admit, it was fun. You’d better stay on your toes next time we meet, you monster. Say hi to Taesan for me.]

It was, in a way, the most Xiao Yun-like farewell.

As a Beta-rank administrator, he would surely cross paths with Xiao Yun again someday.

Since everything was already prepared, their return proceeded swiftly.

On the way to Japan, they had used Lee Eunha’s ability to travel. But knowing that every use of her power came at a great cost, they opted to take a plane this time.

Thanks to the branch chief’s authority, they were provided with a private jet, allowing the Korean administrators to return in luxury.

It was a gesture of goodwill.

The rewards for the mission would be handled individually by each administrator’s home branch.

“…We’re finally going back to Korea.”

“Administrator Lee Sooah, how does it feel to be returning home after so long?”

“It’s unreal. I never thought… I’d have the chance to return.”

“That’s life. You never know what’s coming next.”

“It really is like that, isn’t it?”

Sooah and Lee Eunha sat in plush seats, chatting quietly.

Meanwhile, Oh Haeyoung was fast asleep, wearing an eye mask with giant cartoonish eyeballs printed on it.

“Mmm… Mmm… Taeseong… Don’t go… I’ll get stronger… I’ll become strong enough to cut off your arm…”

Taeseong looked at her with a bewildered expression.

‘Why is she talking about cutting off my arm?’

Yu Gi-jun had decided to stay in the Japan branch. After all that crying and clinging, the fact that he was the one staying behind was ironic, but thinking back, he had a reason to remain.

Originally, Gi-jun had come here for a purpose similar to Taeseong’s. If Taeseong had come to find his younger sister, Sooah, Yu Gi-jun had come to find his missing wife.

He probably had no intention of returning to Korea until he found her. Still, he had built some friendships with the Japan branch’s administrators, so living here wouldn’t be too difficult. Taeseong had also made a personal request to the Yato siblings.

He owed Gi-jun a lot. Gi-jun had taken care of Sooah while Taeseong was absent and had also helped him in many ways after arriving here.

That was why Taeseong was willing to rush to his side whenever Gi-jun needed him.

― Sniff… Captain! Please stay safe! While I’m here, I’ll work hard so I won’t be a burden to you! You can look forward to seeing me the next time we meet! I will always respect you!

He seemed like a rough person, but when it came to those he cherished, he showed an endlessly soft side.

Taeseong knew better than anyone about Gi-jun’s potential. He was sure Gi-jun would soon gain great strength. The latent potential of his abilities was simply too high.

Telekinesis could evolve in countless ways depending on how it was utilized.

Since Taeseong had taught him the mana cultivation method he had revived from past memories, there was more than enough potential for growth.

“…….”

As he turned his head, his eyes met Go Yeonghui’s, who was crying while reading a comic book. Looking embarrassed, she scratched her head before carefully speaking.

“…T-Taeseong, do you want to read this too?”

“I’ll pass.”

When Taeseong turned away, Yeonghui popped a snack into her mouth, chewing quietly, before returning her attention to her comic book.

She looked like the happiest person here. Constantly wiping away tears, she must have been deeply moved.

Taesan, sitting in the back, was devouring ramen and other dishes, washing them down with alcohol, as expected of a seasoned drinker.

Inside the private jet, everything was peaceful.

Even though it had been a mission, living in a foreign country was always exhausting.

Just the fact that they were finally returning home gave everyone here a sense of comfort.

Taeseong was no different.

He had thought he was handling things indifferently compared to the other administrators, but looking back, he realized he had been more on edge than he had known.

But now, he felt completely at peace.

It was probably because the tangled knots in his life were finally unraveling, one by one.

At that moment, the pilot’s voice came through the luxury speakers.

[Honoured administrators, our flight will soon be entering South Korean airspace. We will ensure a safe journey until the end of the flight. Thank you.]

At the same time, Lee Eunha’s phone rang.

Riiing. Riiing.

Eunha, who had been chatting with Sooah, picked up the call.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end belonged to Intelligence Department Team Leader Choi Harin. Eunha frowned.

“What? What are you talking about? The plane? It’s flying just fine.”

What in the world was Harin saying to make Eunha frown like that?

“Yes. Yes. Got it. Okay. We’ll be careful. Wait, since when did he have that ability? It suddenly manifested? Huh… well, even a dung beetle has its talents, I suppose.”

She hung up.

Everyone around her was now staring at her.

Taeseong asked, “Was that Team Leader Choi Harin?”

“Yeah. She said something weird.”

Oh Haeyoung, looking curious, leaned in.

“Weird? What was it?”

“She asked if our plane had crashed.”

“Huh?”

“So I told her, ‘What are you talking about?’ And then she asked if we knew Administrator Kim Ho-jin.”

“Kim Ho-jin? Who was that again…? Oh! Taeseong’s colleague! The one who transferred from the Scouting Team, right?”

A name Taeseong had nearly forgotten.

Kim Ho-jin was a Scouting Team agent who had participated with Taeseong in the Gonjiam Hospital Search Mission.

Eunha nodded and continued.

“Yeah. Apparently, he recently awakened some kind of ability.”

“Ooh! What kind?”

“Precognitive dreams, or something like that. The time, the place—everything is random, with no discernible pattern. But sometimes, he suddenly gets a sense of déjà vu, falls asleep, and sees someone’s future. It’s still unclear, so I think they’re testing it at the institute.”

A strange sense of foreboding crept over Taeseong as he asked,

“So the dream he had… was about our plane crashing?”

“Yeah. More precisely—”

BOOOOM!

Before she could finish speaking, the plane crashed.

Lee Taeseong’s empty eyes turned toward the man before him.

His gaze was still and silent, as if staring into the abyss.

“…I bear no malice. I am merely doing what must be done.”

The Greatest Blade Under Heaven.

Three beings, called gods despite their human forms.

Among the Three Gods, one was the Demon-Slaying Divine Blade—Han Yugwang.

He responded.

“You have erased three nations with your own hands. The number of dead is beyond counting.

You are already a calamity.

How can you say there is no malice in your actions?”

Taeseong scoffed at those words.

“A calamity, huh… I suppose I’ve become one before I realized it. Yes, I am a calamity.”

There were countless other names for Lee Taeseong.

Demon King.

Calamity.

Ghost King.

Massacre Fiend.

Butcher of Blood.

Apostle of the End.

The Last Fang of the Oldest Wolf.

The Crimson Mage.

Dreamer.

Heavenly Demon.

Master of the Sixth Finger.

King of the Lowest.

High Priest of the Nameless Religion.

All of these names belonged to a single man.

To some, he was a hero.

To others, he was the Demon King to be feared.

Enemies came for him, whether he wished it or not.

Followers gathered around him, whether he wanted them or not.

Regardless of his will, his actions had left behind a legacy that humans could only revere in awe.

Among those he had slain were both the vilest of evildoers and the kindest of saints.

This was why opinions about him were so divided.

Humans were self-centered.

Their judgments were subjective.

To some, he was a hero who had avenged their murdered mother.

To others, he was the butcher who had burned down their village.

But to him, whether someone was good or evil mattered little.

At some point, his humanity had long since faded away.

He was nothing more than a being clad in human flesh, blindly moving forward to fulfill his purpose.

Not everything that looks human is truly human.

And Lee Taeseong knew this better than anyone.

“A legend should have remained a legend…How is it that, even after hundreds of years, you still bring such ruin? What turned you into this?”

“What turned me into this? That is the question I want to ask. Who was it that called me to this place? Why was I forced to endure all of this?”

“…I cannot comprehend you. Wraith of the past, your very existence distorts the natural order of this world.”

“That is none of my concern. I will simply finish what I must…And return.”

The man did not know Lee Taeseong.

And Lee Taeseong did not know the man.

The man had no idea what Taeseong had been through to become what he was now.

He had no idea what Taeseong had done to survive after first arriving in this world, no idea what sacrifices he had made to find a way back, no idea how much betrayal and suffering he had endured.

No one knew—except Lee Taeseong himself.

No one could understand the wretched, disgusting, agonizing life he had led.

No one could fathom his hatred.

No one could comprehend his rage.

Even if someone claimed to understand, it would be nothing more than empty words—understanding in name only, a lie disguised as sympathy.

Did they know what it felt like…

…when the doctor who once saved his life turned him into a living test subject?

…when a scalpel dug into his flesh without anesthesia?

…when he saw his own organs with his own two eyes?

…when the master he had served for twenty years, just to learn dimensional magic, revealed that they had always been after his heart?

…when his comrades of ten years poisoned him for a handful of gold coins?

…when the child he saved sold him out to an underground cartel?

…when the woman who swore to stay by his side forever, upon learning he was from another world, went to the church and demanded his execution?

There had been far too many moments to make him sick of humanity.

Before he sought out Taegorang, The Primordial Wolf, Taeseong had made a decision.

He would never trust humans again.

“I will say it once more. I bear no malice.”

“…Neither do I.”

Yes.

We are both simply doing what must be done.

---

Crunch. Crack.

Rip. Chew.

Gulp.

“A single stroke of the blade, huh…”

Taeseong gazed down at his arms—severed just moments ago but now fully restored.

Though they had returned to their original state, the sensation of being cut apart was still unpleasant.

He had devoured countless beings, thinking he would no longer feel such things.

But the world was still infuriatingly vast.

And there were still far too many strong ones left.

Among them, this man was the strongest human he had faced in recent times.

Every time Han Yugwang’s blade flashed, Taeseong’s body was sliced into dozens of pieces.

For the first time, he understood what it truly meant to say that the sky had been split.

Han Yugwang himself was no different from a perfectly honed blade.

Every movement he made contained the essence of martial arts.

Fortunately, with such skill came an immense concentration of essence.

Next to Han Yugwang’s upper body—now torn apart—his sword lay stabbed into the ground.

A weapon wielded by the greatest swordsman of the Eastern Continent naturally carried a powerful presence.

“A magnificent blade.”

Engraved along the bloodstained edge were the words:

尸山血海 (A mountain of corpses, a sea of blood)

Taeseong stared at the inscription.

How much blood had been spilled by this sword?

For a moment, he thought—

There was no difference between this blade and himself.

After a long pause, he reached out and took the sword in hand.

It suited him well.

After all, he had already built mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

He took a step forward.

Though he had just eaten, hunger gnawed at him once again.

The influence of Gluttony.

“…Damn it.”

There were still many pieces left in the Eastern Continent.

That was why he had traveled from the Western Continent, where he had resided, to this distant land.

This world was far larger than he had imagined.

It was as if multiple worlds had been stitched together into one.

Taegorang’s body fragments were scattered across this entire world.

“How much longer must I continue this wretched task?”

---

At the hidden sealing site of Taegorang at the summit of Seolbong Mountain.

[What brings you here?]

“…….”

[I asked what brings you here, Lee Taeseong.]

“It has already been over 600 years.”

[Yes, so it has. All this time, you have carried out your duties as my apostle. Yet you have not even recovered half of my body. Considering that you have received my power, isn’t your progress far too slow?]

Taeseong murmured with a twisted smile.

“……Too slow, you say.”

[What are you trying to say?]

Taegorang exuded an overwhelming presence, far stronger than before. This was the result of Taeseong’s relentless efforts to recover his body.

“You made a promise. That after 500 years, in recognition of my service, you would give me a clue to return to my original world.”

[Indeed, I did.]

“……As I said, it has already been 600 years. So why have you given me no word about it?”

[How dare you question me? You are nothing but a worm sustained by the power I bestowed upon you.]

A shadow darkened Taeseong’s face. He lifted his gaze to the colossal wolf, its vast form stretching beyond sight.

“You promised.”

Taegorang blinked once.

At that moment, Lee Taeseong’s entire body twisted like a wrung-out cloth—

And then exploded.

Paaah!

Blood and flesh scattered in all directions.

Moments later—

The splattered blood and flesh began to merge, reforming into their original shape.

[Do not pester me. I will handle it in due time. Do you dare to doubt me?]

“……No.”

[Do not concern yourself with useless matters. I have not forgotten our pact. I am researching a method to designate the coordinates of a specific dimension. Progress is being made. So you need only focus on your task. Do you understand?]

“……Yes, I understand.”

All Taeseong could do was give that answer.

He was powerless.

He knew he could not defeat Taegorang. He knew he could not return to his original world without his help.

No matter what, the one who was more desperate was Taeseong. Taegorang was his only hope of going back.

Even knowing he was nothing more than Taegorang’s puppet, there was nothing he could do.

[When I make progress, I will summon you myself. Until then, do not come here uninvited. If you dare to return and spout nonsense again, I will sever our contract. Do you understand?]

Taeseong bowed his head politely and answered.

“Yes, I understand. My apologies.”

[Get lost. I don’t want to see your disgusting face.]

As Taeseong left, Taegorang muttered under his breath.

[Tsk. That worm dares to be bothersome.]

---

Taeseong woke from his sleep, cursing under his breath.

“That damned son of a—”

From this memory, he now knew for certain—

That he had utterly despised Taegorang.

And yet, despite that hatred, he had clung to him, unable to abandon hope.

‘But regardless of my memories, I’ve returned to Earth now. That means Taegorang must have kept his promise in the end.’

From Taeseong’s perspective, that was the only possible conclusion.

The memories were the past. His present self was safely back on Earth.

“What the hell happened…?”

Could they have reconciled somehow?

Who knows—

Perhaps, despite his hatred back then, they later became quite fond of each other.

Opening a subspace, Taeseong retrieved a single blade. A razor-sharp sword with crimson letters engraved along its edge—

尸山血海 (mountains of corpses and a sea of blood)

As he gazed at the blade, Taeseong let out a breath of admiration.

It radiated an even more potent aura than he had seen in his memories.

“Not bad.”

It would work perfectly in sync with Hoirang.

After steadying his emotions with a deep breath, Taeseong rose to his feet.

He washed up quickly and prepared to leave.

His destination was the Japan branch of Tree.

More precisely, the branch director’s office.

He had made his decision last night.

Knock, knock.

“This is Lee Taeseong.”

“Come in.”

“I’m here to give you my answer regarding your proposal.”

“I see. And your answer?”

After a brief hesitation, Taeseong opened his mouth, his gaze resolute.

The conditions offered by the Japan branch director were too good to refuse.

“I—”

A bar is naturally a noisy place… but the room they were in had gone beyond mere noise—it was complete chaos.

Feeling relieved after his conversation with Lee Taeseong, Doman paid no heed to the stares of others and enjoyed his own drinking time.

“Heh. I should try using the food spirits I acquired this time. Some of them looked quite cute…”

No one knew exactly what he meant by that.

At the far end of the room, Xiao Yun had placed a hand on Taesan’s shoulder and was acting like a complete know-it-all.

“Taesan, are you seriously leaving a drop behind in front of your senior? The so-called Blood Sea Fist Demon leaving a drink unfinished? Huh?”

“Senior… What do you mean? When have I ever left a drop behind? Look, see for yourself. Is there any alcohol left? I, Taesan the man, have never once in my life left a drink unfinished.”

Managers were fundamentally different from ordinary humans. To put it more extremely, it wouldn’t be wrong to say they were practically a different species.

Of course, their abilities varied greatly depending on their rank, but generally speaking, most managers possessed an absurd level of alcohol tolerance.

Of course, exceptions always existed. After all, these were beings who could manipulate invisible forces, wield spectral powers at will, materialize drawings, and use all sorts of bizarre abilities. The idea that they would have the same alcohol tolerance as regular humans would be absurd in itself.

“Hahaha! That’s the spirit! Here, have another! Drink up, drink up! Let’s see who the real champion drinker is tonight! Lee Taeseong! Stop standing there like a log and get over here! Taesan! What are your team members doing over there?”

“They’re probably acting that way because of what you said, senior. It seems my team members like manager Lee Taeseong even more than I expected.”

“Aren’t you disappointed? A talent like him is about to leave for another country. And honestly, even though we’re all part of the same organization, I doubt the Korean branch is happy about losing someone to the Japanese branch…”

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

The sheer number of empty bottles stacked around the room spoke volumes. The table was filled with strong liquor over 40% alcohol, with some bottles even exceeding 60%.

At this point, some fools might argue that drinking pure ethanol would be more efficient, but the taste, aroma, and experience were entirely different matters.

Returning to the main point—while it was true that managers had superhuman alcohol tolerance, they were still human, and thus had limits.

Drinking this much high-proof alcohol for hours on end was more than enough to get them drunk. In fact, the bottles currently piled up had already been cleared away several times before.

And this was the result.

Yu Gi-jun, clinging to Lee Taeseong’s left arm using telekinesis, had tears and snot streaming down his face.

“You can’t leave, Captain! Please, don’t abandon us! After all we’ve been through to reunite… I can’t bear to part with you again!”

Anyone listening in would easily get the wrong idea.

But Yu Gi-jun wasn’t the only problem.

Oh Haeyoung, gripping Lee Taeseong’s left leg with all her might, was in an even worse state than Yu Gi-jun.

She looked like a tragic heroine in a romance drama.

“Taeseong! You’re not really leaving, are you? We… we were happy together! I know I lack in some areas compared to you, but we were all happy! I’ll do better! Please don’t abandon us! Huuuaaaang!”

Some of the Japanese managers had started glancing over. Initially too busy with their own chatter, they perked up at certain intriguing words.

“No way… No, that can’t be it. I must be misunderstanding something… right?”

“For just a misunderstanding, those two are reacting way too intensely. Anyone would think they just lost a parent.”

“Tsk, tsk. You guys are so narrow-minded. Isn’t it obvious? It’s a romantic relationship. As an expert in romance, I can guarantee that those three were in love. That’s why they’re reacting so dramatically.”

“So you’re saying there was a love triangle involving Manager Lee Taeseong? That means Yu Gi-jun and Oh Haeyoung were rivals in love?”

“No, no. You’re thinking too small. With that mindset, how can you survive as a manager?”

“Then…?”

“Manager Lee Taeseong was dating both of them. Love knows no barriers of gender or age.”

For the record, the Japanese manager who made this last remark had read over 500 romance novels but had never been in a relationship himself.

Watching the entire scene in silence, Taeseong muttered with an incredulous expression,

“Wait… I haven’t even said I’m leaving yet. Is this really necessary?”

He then shifted his gaze to Lee Eunha. Since he already knew Yu Gi-jun and Oh Haeyoung were unhinged, he turned to the most reasonable person among them for help.

“……”

Lee Eunha stared at him blankly. Her eyes were slightly unfocused, and the heavy scent of alcohol surrounded her—it was a different atmosphere from her usual self.

‘Wait… is she drunk?’

That was when Taesung realized his last hope had crumbled.

“Lee Tae Seongggggg!”

“D-Deputy Lee Eunha?”

Startled by her sudden loud cry, even Taeseong, who rarely showed emotion, was taken aback.

Hiccupping, Eunha staggered toward him.

“Hic.”

Seated in his chair, Taeseong was unable to move due to Yu Gi-jun and Oh Haeyoung clinging to him. Sure, he could easily fling them off into the wall if he wanted, but he didn’t want to ruin the mood on a rare enjoyable night.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

Seeing her half-lidded eyes, an ominous feeling crept up his spine. Before he realized it, she had approached right up to his face and grabbed his tie, pulling him forward.

“Do you have any idea how much I’ve cleaned up after you? And now you’re going to pretend you don’t know me and run off to Japan?”

“…I only said I received an offer. I never said I was going.”

Looking into Eunha’s dazed eyes, Taeseong felt unease creeping in.

‘Was she always this bad when drunk?’

They were extremely close. Even if she didn’t speak, the scent of alcohol mixed with her perfume was overwhelming.

If she got any closer, he’d be able to feel her breath.

“That’s the same thing! Who gets an offer from the branch director and turns it down?”

“……”

“Why do you think I’ve been putting up with all this crap in a foreign country? It was an investment, an investment! Lee Taeseong! You were different from the start! I knew if I held out, you’d make it big! You were the foundation of my stable future! And now what? You’re just going to Japan? Says who? Fucking hell. You’re kidding me, right? You’re not going anywhere. You hear me? You’re going nowhere!”

At that moment—

“Urp.”

In the middle of her passionate rant, Eunha suddenly gagged… and proceeded to throw up.

“……!”

Even before the vomit could scatter through the air, Taesung’s body moved instinctively.

With movement akin to a divine feat, he shot up from his seat and pressed himself against the wall.

“……”

“……”

The hall quickly fell silent.

Everyone was too shocked to speak.

But that silence didn’t last long.

As soon as Xiao Yun burst into laughter, Taesan, who was sitting beside him, followed suit, and soon, like a round of musical echoes, the other administrators also erupted in laughter.

“Puhahahaha!”

“Ahahahahaha!”

“Sis, look at that! There’s a noodle stuck in that girl’s hair!”

“Ito, I told you to be careful with your words. You know I have a weak stomach.”

The only ones who couldn’t laugh were the two administrators drenched in vomit—Oh Haeyoung and Yu Gi-jun.

They had fought through countless battlefields together, and now, they were covered in vomit together, staring at each other.

A bond forged through shared suffering.

Tears welled up in their eyes.

Real tears.

“…Gi,Gi-jun-ssi.”

“…Hae, Haeyoung-ssi.”

Without a word, the two embraced each other at the same time.

Their hair and clothes were already drenched in the half-digested contents of Lee Eunha’s stomach, so there was no point in worrying about who had it worse.

As they sobbed in each other’s arms, the administrators chattered and laughed around them.

A party should have moments like this, they said.

Fuelled by excitement, Xiao Yun climbed onto the table and started dancing.

He had long since thrown away the dignity of a Beta-ranked administrator; tonight, he was simply enjoying himself to the fullest.

Lee Eunha, who had finally come to her senses, frantically apologized to the two sobbing administrators before dragging them out of the bar to clean up.

Meanwhile, Sooah, who had been hesitant and reserved at first, seemed to have adapted as she now chatted and laughed with the Japanese administrators.

Taeseong let out a sigh and looked around from his seat at the far end of the table.

“Hoo.”

At first, these people had regarded each other with deep hostility, ready to tear one another apart.

But now, they sat together, engaged in cheerful conversation.

This was the kind of camaraderie that could only form between those who had shared life-and-death battles.

It was a chaotic mess, but Taeseong didn’t dislike this kind of atmosphere.

No matter how powerful a person was, no one could keep running forever.

Rest wasn’t an option—it was a necessity.

The drinking continued deep into the night.

After sending Sooah home first, Taeseong drank until dawn before finally returning to the dormitory.

The bed he hadn’t slept in for a long time felt unbelievably comfortable.

---

There was no end in sight.

Why was this damned continent so vast?

How many fragments of souls were there to collect?

He had no idea how many people he had killed.

He had no idea how long it had been since he arrived here.

He had no idea why he was even doing this anymore.

500 years.

At some point, he stopped counting.

The only thing left in his mind was an intense desire for ‘return.’

Even if he forgot everything else, he forced himself to remember his name and the fact that he had to go back.

Name: Lee Taeseong.

Born in South Korea.

This was another world.

He had a family to return to.

He had a home to return to.

This was not his world.

“…Long ago, my master told me a legend of a demon in the distant west that devoured humans.”

“A demon, huh… Well, it’s not entirely wrong.”

“And now, you set your sights on this land? Demon King.”

If it were the usual Lee Taeseong, he might have just let it go. But he didn’t.

Was it because he was feeling sensitive? No.

The reason he deliberately stopped and spoke up was because the man had claimed to be a Gamma-grade administrator.

‘That thing is a Gamma?’

In Taeseong’s standards, a Gamma-grade administrator was a formidable force, deserving of considerable recognition.
And most of them carried themselves accordingly.

After all, the presence of someone like Taesan had left an overwhelmingly strong impression. Taesan was a man who valued loyalty, cherished his subordinates like his own life, and never forgot a debt.

Yet now, seeing this pathetic excuse of a man claiming to be the same Gamma grade as Taesan made Taeseong’s blood boil.

The man, staring at Taeseong with an skeptical expression, spoke.

“What? ‘Bitnari’? Hey, were you talking to me just now? Just because you’ve got a pretty face and a cute chick hanging off your arm, you think you can act all high and mighty?”

(‘Bitnari,’ is a disrespectful term implying someone is showing off or being flashy.)

Clench.

A vein poped on Taeseong’s forehead.

The man had just said something he absolutely shouldn’t have. Taeseong didn’t care about much, but when it came to Sooah, he lost all reason.

Worried that her brother might rip the man’s head off, Sooah quietly tugged at Taeseong’s sleeve and murmured,

“Oppa. You can’t kill him. He’s still an administrator.”

Hearing those words, Taeseong swallowed his anger and gave a small nod.

“What’s that girl mumbling about? Hey! From the looks of it, you’re an administrator too. Which branch are you from? What’s your name?”

“Lee Taeseong.”

“Lee Taeseong? What the hell, you’re a damn Joseon-jing*? Wait a sec… Lee Taeseong… I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before…”

(‘Joseon-jing,’ is a also a disrespectful term used by some Japanese people to insult Koreans.)

At that moment, the woman beside the bald man turned pale and urgently whispered,

“…Team Leader. That’s him. The hero everyone’s been talking about—the one who slaughtered thousands of yokai alone in the Aokigahara forest in Trees subjugation operation!”

Not thousands—hundreds of thousands.

Judging by the reactions around them, most of the people waiting in line had already been fed up with this bald bastard. It was obvious that he had been causing trouble long before Taeseong’s group arrived.

Though they had been full of complaints, no one had dared to step up because the bald man had been acting as if he was some high-ranking administrator.

That idiot might be a complete moron, but a Gamma-grade administrator was still considered a top-tier rank.

Even among administrators, they were rare, and to office workers or employees from other departments, they were practically untouchable.

‘He’s being called a team leader, so he really is a Gamma-grade administrator…How the hell can a moron like that be Gamma?’

Even if his ranking was disguised, Taeseong’s official grade was Delta. And even he believed himself to be a Delta.

So this situation was just baffling to him.

The more he learned about Tree, the harder it was to understand.

The bald man sneered.

“Oh… you’re that so-called hero? Is that why you’re acting so cocky, huh?”

This man had only recently been promoted to Gamma. He had been appointed as the leader of a newly established management team, and his abilities had been acknowledged within the Japan branch, leading to his promotion. Because of that, he was brimming with confidence.

And toward Lee Taeseong, he harboured a strange sense of inferiority and jealousy.

‘A damn Delta being called a hero? Fuck that. He just got lucky. It’s obviously exaggerated. Rumors are just rumors. There’s no way that guy is some hero.’

He had already made up his mind to use this opportunity to expose Taeseong as a fraud and ruin his reputation.

“Pfft.”

“You laughing? You think this is funny? Yeah, I bet it is. With everyone sucking up to you, you must think you’re untouchable now, huh? You reckless little shit, I’ll…”

One of the employees, watching the situation unfold, hastily intervened.

“Sir! You can’t act like this here!”

The bald man shoved the employee aside roughly and shouted,

“Get the hell outta my way!”

With a thud, the employee was sent flying—only to be caught midair by Taeseong.

Though the bald man hadn’t used his full strength, the employee was just an ordinary person. Meanwhile, the bald man, as idiotic as he was, was still a Gamma-grade administrator. There was no comparison.

“You okay?”

“…Y-yes, thank you.”

The employee winced, clearly in pain.

Taeseong turned his cold gaze toward the bald man, who now looked even more arrogant as he stepped closer.

“What? Got a problem with me? Huh? You wanna throw down?”

Taeseong was well aware that strength didn’t always correlate with character.

And there was only one way to deal with fools like this.

“A famous athlete once said…”

“The fuck are you suddenly babbling about?”

“Everyone has a plan.”

“What?”

“Until they get punched in the face.”

As soon as Taeseong finished speaking, the bald man scoffed and threw a punch at his chest.

BOOM!

“Ghehhrrk! Thith bithh-hh-hherhhheee!!”

So this was all he had?

And yet, why…

Why was his vision spinning? Why couldn’t he move his mouth properly?

By the time the bald man realized what had happened, he was already sprawled on the ground.

He had thought he was the one attacking first.

But that was pure delusion.

Before he could even throw his punch, Taeseong’s fist had already smashed into his jaw.

Had Taeseong miscalculated his strength even slightly, the man’s head would have exploded on the spot.
Fortunately, he had been careful.

The bald man, his teeth shattered, passed out on the spot.

Taeseong shifted his gaze toward the woman who had been his subordinate.

“You.”

“Y-yes!?”

“Take him.”

“…Yes, sir!”

The woman hurriedly lifted her unconscious team leader and fled the scene.

A wave of applause erupted from the surrounding crowd. The employee who had been shoved earlier repeatedly thanked Taeseong, while he silently walked into the restaurant.

“…Oppa. You’re a scary person.”

“That’s a misunderstanding, Sooah. Oppa’s not that kind of person.”

“Oh really? Then how does someone who smashes a guy’s jaw just because he was being loud not count as scary?”

“…It was self-defense.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.”

Despite her words, Sooah didn’t look particularly displeased. Rather, she was smiling brightly, as if she found the whole thing satisfying.

Following the employee’s guidance, they entered a private room.

The space was fairly large, and inside, over a dozen administrators were already gathered. Most of them were familiar faces.

With red cheeks from drinking, Eunha waved her hand enthusiastically.

“Taeseong! Over here! Over here!”

There were Yato’s and Ito’s team members.

“…Hello.”

“Captain! You’re here! We’ve been waiting for you!”

Xiao Yun.

“What took you so long? Sit down already. Let’s drink all night like the good old days.”

The heavily intoxicated Yu Gi-jun and Oh Haeyoung. And Go Yeonghui, who was already tearing up while sipping her drink.

“Captain! Hurry up and come drink with us! It’s been so long since we drank together after a mission… It reminds me of the old days…”

“Hehe. Taeseong~ You even brought your little sister~ Come sit and have a drink, our hero~”

“…”

But among them, there was an unexpected figure.

“Ashiya Doman?”

“Ahem.”

It was none other than Ashiya Doman.

Seated in a corner, he was drinking sake alone, and no matter how much Taeseong thought about it, he couldn’t understand why Doman was here.

“Why are you here?”

“…This is a gathering of survivors. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be here, is there?”

Now that he thought about it, that made sense.

Watching the scene, Xiao Yun smirked slyly.

“Old man, be honest. You have a real reason for coming here, don’t you?”

“A real reason?”

“…Ahem. Well, during this mission, I did receive a lot of help from you, and also, I felt I was a bit rude last time. I came to apologize for that.”

A sudden silence fell.

All the managers who had been chatting freely just moments ago turned their eyes to Doman.

It was a natural reaction.

Doman—the same stubborn, authoritarian Beta-rank manager—was actually backing down first.

It was an event so unprecedented that even if the sky were to collapse, no one would have expected to see it. The shock among the Japanese managers was immeasurable.

“N-noona… I didn’t mishear that just now, did I?”

“…You heard it right, so shut up and don’t make a fuss.”

“D-Doman manager actually…”

“…Who exactly were we fighting against?”

Looking to the side, Taeseong saw that Sooah was also staring wide-eyed, glancing back and forth between Doman and him.

“Oppa… What kind of person are you really?”

Doman cleared his throat in embarrassment, while Xiao Yun burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Taesan, did you see that? That stubborn old man actually backed down first! That just means your teammate is terrifying! Hahahahaha! I never thought I’d see this in my lifetime!”

Taesan also laughed heartily in response.

“Hahaha! I’m truly proud. It’s an honor that such a fine young man is my teammate. Senior! Let’s have a drink!”

“Alright! Let’s drink until we drop today! Using internal energy to sober up is absolutely forbidden! Got it, junior?”

“Of course, senior!”

The two, both from the martial arts world, excitedly poured each other drinks. Fortunately, their relationship seemed much better than Taeseong had expected.

Watching the cheerful sight, Taeseong smirked. Then, he turned to Doman.

“I don’t mind.”

“…Ahem. You’re a rare young man indeed. Would you accept a drink from me?”

Taeseong took a seat and held out his cup. Doman poured him a drink, and the two clinked glasses while maintaining their respective drinking styles.

“Good. From now on, let’s forget everything and get along as comrades who risked our lives together.”

“Sounds good to me.”

After that, Doman, seemingly relieved, drank with satisfaction.

‘Good. He’s more reasonable than I thought.’

According to what Taeseong had heard, Doman had received a portion of the yokai captured during the Aokigahara forest subjugation operation as compensation for the shikigami he had lost.

Meanwhile, Sooah, hesitating and glancing around, quietly took a seat next to Taeseong.

Taeseong spoke.

“Sooah.”

“…Huh?”

“You should thank the managers who helped you last time.”

One of the reasons Taeseong had brought Sooah here was for this.

He had a strong sense of gratitude and wanted to make sure the debt was acknowledged. Since he himself felt indebted to Ito and Xiao Yun for their help, he wanted Sooah to express her thanks as well.

“Go on.”

Nodding, Sooah stood up and approached Ito.

“Manager Ito… Thank you for helping me last time.”

“No need for thanks! You’re the captain’s little sister. That much is expected!”

When she then moved toward Xiao Yun, he waved his hand dismissively.

“No need for gratitude. That guy already keeps track of everything. That’s enough for me. Right?”

“Of course. I keep track of everything.”

“Hah, you crazy bastard. By the way, why did you meet with the head of the Japanese branch?”

“They offered to grant me whatever I wanted if I agreed to become a manager under the Japanese branch.”

Another silence fell.

The Korean managers, who had been loudly chatting just moments ago, all turned their eyes toward Taeseong.

A moment later—

“…The Captain is moving to Japan?”

“…Taeseong is joining Japan?”

With a loud crash, the Korean managers all jumped to their feet and rushed at Taeseong.

At the sudden question, Sooah asked, “Korea? Why all of a sudden?”

Since Lee Taeseong wasn’t the type to beat around the bush, he answered plainly, “I met with the head of the Trees Japan branch today.”

“…What? W-What did you just say? You met the branch head? H-How? No, why?”

Even Sooah, a manager under the Trees Japan branch, had never seen the branch head in all her time working there.
But it wasn’t just her—most managers were the same.

Taeseong spoke casually, as if he had met some neighbourhood acquaintance, but even team leaders rarely had one-on-one meetings with the branch head unless something truly special happened.

The highest-ranked managers who occasionally encountered the branch head were those of Beta grade or higher, and even they didn’t meet often.

“He offered to grant me anything I wanted if I agreed to become a manager under the Japan branch.”

Sooah stared at Taeseong with her mouth agape. She already understood in her head how powerful he was and what he had accomplished, but facing the reality of it was something else entirely.

But now, there was no denying it. No less than a branch head had personally tried to recruit him.

As someone who had been with Tree for longer than Taeseong, Sooah knew just how significant this was.

“S-So what did you say? What was your answer?”

“I told him I’d think about it.”

“What is there to think about?! You should’ve just said yes on the spot! The branch head himself made the offer! He said he’d give you whatever you wanted—why would you even hesitate?”

“Because it’s not me who’s desperate—it’s them.”

Sooah was amazed by his sheer nerve.

‘Is he seriously trying to negotiate with the branch head right now?’

“But is there even a reason to hesitate over a deal like this? Ah… wait, is it because of the managers from Korea?”

Taeseong didn’t answer. He couldn’t give a clear one even to himself.

Like Sooah had pointed out, the conditions the branch head had proposed were more than reasonable from his perspective—he had no real reason to refuse. Anyone else in his position would’ve immediately prostrated themselves in acceptance.

And yet, Taeseong had asked for time to think. There was something about it that made him hesitate.

‘Is it patriotism?’

In the past, as a soldier of South Korea, Taeseong had taken pride in protecting his country. Even if it sometimes meant taking lives, he had firmly believed that everything he did was for the safety of his homeland.

But that didn’t mean he had been exceptionally patriotic or blindly loyal to the state. He had simply done his duty—nothing more, nothing less.

Seeing the greed of the corrupt elites had often disgusted him. Watching his cherished subordinates get discarded like mere tools had made him question everything.

Perhaps the only reason he had managed to endure a military career filled with disillusionment and hatred was due to a lingering sense of obligation.

He wasn’t sure.

In some ways, it seemed like his parents had taken more pride in his service than he had. Maybe the reason he had continued for so long was because he liked how they looked at him with pride, as if their son, the soldier, was their greatest source of honour.

To a child, their parents are their entire world. If his only world had accepted and affirmed him, then perhaps he had done his best simply to protect that world in return.

“A nation must exist for its people to thrive. Take pride in what you do, Taeseong. This father of yours is proud of you. Never forget—you are our pride.”

“Thanks to you, your mom and dad can sleep soundly at night. Always take care of yourself, and look after your subordinates. That’s how you should live, okay?”

Looking at it that way, maybe his patriotism had been something forced onto him by external influences. There were still remnants of it within him, but in truth, the country itself no longer mattered much to him. He wasn’t even a soldier anymore.

‘Now that I think about it… if my return becomes public, my old unit will probably try to find me.’

He doubted that South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense could stand against Tree’s influence, but that wouldn’t stop some idiots from acting on their own.

“…Oppa? What are you thinking so hard about? I asked if you’re hesitating because of the managers from Korea.”

“Hmm… To be honest, I think they do play a part in it.”

Saying he hadn’t grown attached to them would be a lie. Even though he tended to be more indifferent than most due to his lost memories, he was still human.

From the moment he returned to Earth until now, he had been with them. They had faced death together multiple times. Each time, they had protected one another—Or rather, Taeseong had done most of the protecting, but that wasn’t the point.

Before he even realized it, he had come to see them as trustworthy ‘comrades.’ Though he had also formed bonds with some of the Japanese managers like Yato, Ito, and Xiao Yun, it wasn’t quite the same.

If he hadn’t cared about them, he wouldn’t have gone all the way to Aokigahara after hearing that a Beta-grade manager had died.
Without even realizing it, they had become quite precious to him.

“Judging by your expression, you must be really attached to them. Well… I guess it makes sense. They’re the ones who’ve been with you since you returned to Earth. So they’re all decent people, huh?”

“They’re not bad.”

“Then take your time thinking it over.”

Taeseong shook his head.

“It’s true that I’ve grown attached to them. But my top priority will always be you, Sooah. If you choose to stay here, then I’ll stay as well.”

Sooah hesitated for a moment before responding.

“With Master gone, I don’t really have a reason to stay here either. Do whatever makes you comfortable. You’re my only family—now’s the time to stick together, right?”

Taeseong smiled and nodded.

“Yeah. That’s how it should be.”

“But hey, Taeseong.”

“Yeah?”

“Shouldn’t you be heading out soon?”

“Where to?”

“They’re having a company dinner to celebrate the safe return of your team’s managers and those who participated in the mission! What? Don’t tell me you haven’t heard anything about it?”

Now that he thought about it, before heading to the branch chief, Ito and Oh Haeyoung had mentioned that there was a dinner today and asked him to join, even if it was late.

“A company dinner, huh…”

Memories of occasional gatherings with his unit during his military days resurfaced. It was one of those customary events that followed the completion of a mission.

“It wasn’t bad.”

“At this point, I’m starting to suspect something… What if the other managers don’t really care, and you’re the only one getting ahead of yourself?”

Seeing Sooah mumbling, ‘What if he’s the only one who doesn’t realize he’s being left out? That’d be kind of sad…’ made Taeseong feel an urge to smack her on the head.

‘Hold it in.’

There was no need to create unnecessary conflict when their relationship was finally progressing.

Still, he told himself that he’d have to reestablish order at some point when the time was right.

“Get up.”

“Huh? Why?”

“We’re going together.”

“Where?”

“To the dinner.”

“M-me too?”

“You’re a manager too, and my sister. There’s no reason you can’t go.”

“…W-well, that’s true.”

In reality, Lee Sooah wasn’t particularly close to the managers on the Japan side. Since she spent most of her time with Yukina, she had little opportunity to bond with others.

When she did meet them for work, it was a strictly professional relationship—just exchanging brief greetings.

She was well aware of this herself, which is why she reacted that way.

“If you’re being bullied, just tell me.”

“…I-I’m not, okay?!”

---

‘Tree’ had every kind of convenience facility within its branch.

From dormitories for employees to laundromats, karaoke rooms, PC cafés, restaurants, bars, clothing stores, gyms, and even department stores—practically everything one could need was provided.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Tree a city of its own. This was closely tied to its highly self-contained nature.

Managers weren’t outright forbidden from going outside, but from Tree’s perspective, it wasn’t exactly encouraged either.

So, as a form of “consideration,” they had established all these welfare facilities.

Moreover, prices were cheap, and the quality of goods was high, so most managers and employees handled their needs within Trees.

There was hardly any reason to go outside.

The place Taeseong and Sooah were heading to was the most famous bar in Tree’s Japan branch.

Its name was Baekilmong.

Not only managers but even employees of Tree visited this well-known restaurant, and there was often a waiting line even on weekdays.

Of course, high-ranking managers and employees in top positions were exempt from such inconveniences and could enter freely.

It might seem unfair, but that was just how Tree operated.

If you didn’t like it, the only option was to rise to a higher rank.

As Sooah glanced around, she teased him.

“Wow. You’re pretty popular, huh? People are whispering just from you walking by.”

“It’s temporary.”

As she said, people on the street were recognizing Taeseong and chatting among themselves. Most of their words were filled with curiosity or admiration.

‘I don’t get it.’

The way Taeseong saw it, Tree was a place devoid of blood, tears, hope, or anything else.

A ruthless, cunning organization that treated managers as tools while wielding immense influence over the world.

And yet, when he looked around, the streets seemed no different from any ordinary bustling district.

Even those who fought tirelessly to protect the hidden side of the world looked similar as regular civilians at this moment.

“See? You’re overthinking again, aren’t you? It’s nothing to be surprised about. People live here too, so of course, it’s going to feel similar. Just take it as it is, okay?”

Acknowledging her perceptiveness, Taeseong nodded.

After about five minutes of walking, they finally reached Baekilmong.

In front of them was a long line of people waiting to get in. From individuals dressed in black suits to those in pristine white lab coats, the crowd was diverse.

And among them, there were always those who couldn’t help but cause trouble.

“Hey! You damn part-timer! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting just to get a meal here? A whole hour! An hour! And yet, why the hell are those guys going in first? Huh?!”

A man, unable to contain his frustration, lashed out at an employee as Taeseong and Sooah entered without waiting in line, having already been registered as reserved guests.

“S-sir, those individuals had made prior reservations. Also, our boss specifically instructed us to accommodate them with extra care… We’d appreciate your understanding.”

“What? You little piece of sh*t! Are you discriminating against customers now? Do you even know who I am?! Huh?! I’m a freaking Gamma-rank manager! Gamma-rank!”

Hearing that, Taeseong paused just before entering and turned around.

A man with a shaved head dressed in a black suit.

Judging by his attire, he did seem to be a manager, but…

“You. Loudmouth. Stop whining and get back in line.”

From the subspace, Yukina’s corpse emerged, still pristine as if she were merely asleep.

It was only natural—her entire body had been frozen.

Sooah’s large eyes widened in shock.

“This… Master? Why do you have Master’s body, Oppa…?”

Taeseong had brought it with the intent of showing it to her, but now that he had actually done so, an overwhelming sense of worry crept in.

It was painful to admit, but to Sooah, Yukina was family—just as much as he was.

Perhaps even more.

After all, it wasn’t him but Yukina who had stood by her side through her hardest times.

And now, here he was, showing her the lifeless body of the person she cherished most.

He had no idea how she would react.

“What the hell… happened?”

With a calm expression, Taeseong began recounting everything he had been through.

How Yukina had been ambushed and killed by the yokai in Aokigahara Forest.

How she had been resurrected by the abilities of a yokai and had attacked the Japanese administrators.

And finally, how he had been the one to kill her.

In order to make Sooah understand at least the bare minimum, he also had to explain the abilities he possessed.

Taeseong told her about his innate power—his authority—called ‘Devour.’

He explained its mechanisms, the instincts that drove it, and the possible reasons why he had such an ability in the first place.

Of course, not everything was certain.

His understanding was merely a hypothesis pieced together from the fragments of memories he had recovered.

The conversation grew longer and longer.

Every explanation required another explanation.

Some things she might have already heard before, but he continued nonetheless.

Memories resurfaced.

Events from the hidden world he had experienced.

The moment he encountered the oldest wolf and became his apostle.

The countless humans he had slain to fulfill his duties as an apostle, devouring their strength.

He told her everything.

And yet, Taeseong knew that even this was just the tip of the iceberg.

The memories he had regained revealed that something significant had happened between him and Taegorang, The Primordial Wolf.

In those recollections, he had harboured immense hostility toward Taegorang.

He didn’t know why, but the sheer intensity of his hatred in that memory far surpassed any other emotion he had ever recalled.

The more memories he uncovered, the more questions arose.

The soldier named ‘Lee Taeseong’ before the dimensional shift was starting to take shape.

But the ‘Lee Taeseong’ who had been stranded in an isolated world?

That was still an mystery.

Through these memories, he also realized just how vast the world he had been in truly was—possibly even larger than Earth itself.

“…That’s how it happened.”

“……”

Throughout his long explanation, Sooah barely showed any change in expression.

She simply listened in silence, nodding occasionally.

She seemed deep in thought.

Of course she was.

This wasn’t something easy to accept.

Taeseong couldn’t shake the possibility that after hearing all this, she might come to despise and resent him even more.

He had struggled, clawing his way through life, just to survive.

Just to return to his family.

Just to achieve his own goals.

But no matter what excuse he made, in the end, he was a killer.

Every person had their own reasons for living.

But no reason could ever justify taking another’s life.

In his resurfaced memories, he had slaughtered countless strangers simply for the sake of his ‘purpose.’

At first, he had felt guilt.

But at some point, he had stopped feeling anything at all.

Perhaps he had suppressed those emotions to keep himself from breaking.

Or maybe…

He had simply become so accustomed to killing that he no longer felt anything.

So many unknowns still remained.

And even now, amid these thoughts, a deep hunger gnawed at him.

A part of him wondered—if he devoured the essence of an even stronger being, would he find the answers he sought?

Suddenly, he recalled Ryomen Sukuna’s final words.

—Why do you wear the skin of a human?

Wearing human skin.

That meant… he wasn’t human.

If even a being like Sukuna—worshipped as a king by yokai and infamous for devouring his own twin to become a calamity—had said such words…

Then what was he?

During his conversation with Oh Haeyoung, was it really just coincidence that Pinocchio’s nose had grown?

Maybe… he truly wasn’t human.

The silence grew heavier.

Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed when Sooah finally spoke.

“So in the end… you’re saying you killed Master.”

Technically, he had only put down someone who had already died once.

But the words weren’t wrong.

He admitted it without hesitation.

“Yes. I killed her. And I devoured her power as well.”

“Can you show me Master’s ability?”

Taeseong nodded and conjured an ice crystal in the shape of a flower in midair.

Sooah stared at it in a daze, then murmured softly,

“…It’s beautiful.”

And then, the last thing he expected to hear—

“Thank you.”

Caught off guard, Taeseong couldn’t find the words to respond.

Sooah continued, her voice steady.

“……”

“You saved Master, Oppa. Master had always… wanted to return to the world she came from. That’s why she devoted herself to her work, even taking on the position of administrative director. But even with the power of the ‘Tree,’ sending her back wasn’t easy. According to the scientists, this universe contains countless other universes and dimensions.”

Taeseong nodded.

“Finding the coordinates of a specific world and initiating a transfer is nearly impossible. But now that I think about it… I can’t help but wonder if the Tree was using Master all along. I won’t deny that what they were attempting was difficult, but if it were the Tree, shouldn’t it have been possible?”

Taeseong agreed with Sooah’s words.

The Tree had countless entities under its domain.

Some were publicly known, but others were undoubtedly classified under the highest levels of security.

Even Beta-class entities had the power to influence entire nations, so it wouldn’t be surprising if higher-level entities could manipulate entire worlds or dimensions.

The mere fact that the Tree had managed to exist for so long was proof that it possessed the capability to control such entities.

“In any case, that’s what I think. I got a little side tracked, but to get back to the point—Master considered ‘death’ to be one of the possible ways to return to her original world.”

“Death?”

“Yes.

She believed she could only return if she died.

She even attempted to take her own life multiple times…”

“Why would she think that?

That doesn’t sound like the Yukina I knew.”

The Yukina Taeseong had seen, though only for a short time, was a highly rational and composed individual.

Suicide…

Even if she had been pushed to her limit, wasn’t that conclusion far too extreme?

“She may have seemed like an iron-willed person on the outside, but inside… she was already falling apart.

Master suspected that everything she had gone through was the result of some transcendent being’s ‘game’ or ‘entertainment.’

She was convinced that high-dimensional beings existed—ones who looked down on people like us as if we were mere ants.

And she believed the only way to escape their game was through ‘death.’”

Death…

Thinking back, when he had first fallen into the hidden world, he too had considered suicide as a means of returning.

Though he had quickly abandoned the thought.

“I know it’s strange for someone like me, who isn’t even really family, to say this… But Master must have felt disgusted by the life of a puppet. She once told me something—If she ever lost her sense of self against her will…”

Sooah continued speaking calmly, but her lips trembled slightly.

“She told me to kill her with my own hands. I couldn’t do it in the end…But I’m sure she would understand.”

“……”

“Thank you. You used your ability just to bring her body here for me to see, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Hah… I think I get what you were feeling when you did it, but…Your thought process is kind of psychopathic, don’t you think? Freezing a corpse solid and carrying it around in a subspace?”

Taeseong looked slightly dejected, prompting Sooah to flash him a playful smile.

“I’m just kidding. Seriously, though—how can someone who single-handedly wiped out all those monstrous yokai be sulking over something like this? I thought a lot while listening to you. I always complained about how hard things were for me, but…You must have had it so much worse, Oppa. I’m just glad you made it back, even if it was late. And thank you… for saving me when I lost control. For everything, really.”

“Sooah, you don’t have to thank me for any of that. We’re family. It’s only natural.”

“Ugh. How can you say something like that with such a straight face? I don’t know if you’re just shameless or if you really don’t think about things…By the way, can you store people in that subspace of yours?”

“People? Hmm… I’m not sure. Wanna try?”

Sooah shot him a look of pure disdain.

“…Don’t even joke about that.”

At that moment, something jumped out of Taeseong’s shadow.

It was Wairang, who had shrunk himself down and was now biting into one of the chicken legs Taeseong had set aside as a snack.

Normally, he would never have done something like this, but his hunger had gotten the better of him.

‘This little bastard…Wairang. Who told you that you could just appear and start eating my food? Should I take this as you getting cocky after eating those snake bastards?’

[Whimper… Whimper…]

As Taeseong glared at him with cold eyes, Wairang, sensing the danger, shrank himself even further and jumped onto Sooah’s lap.

It was an instinctual act of self-preservation.

Sooah cuddled the little wolf in her arms as he wagged his tail and acted as adorable as possible, then looked up at Taeseong.

“Oh my god! Is this the wolf everyone’s been talking about? He’s even cuter in person! What’s his name?”

“Wairang.”

“Wairang? What does that mean?”

“It means ‘wolf from the outside.’”

“…Wow. You really half-assed that name, didn’t you? Wait—why is he trembling so much? Is he sick?”

“…Probably just cold.”

Taeseong stared at Wairang for a moment before turning back to Sooah.

“Sooah. Do you want to go back to Korea?”

Lee Taeseong mulled over his words.

In other words, what he had just said was essentially a scouting offer. The head of the Japan Branch wanted Lee Taeseong.

“Is that even possible?”

“And why wouldn’t it be? As long as you agree, this can be handled right away.”

“I belong to the Korea Branch.”

“I already know that, even without you saying it. But that’s not a major issue in this discussion. I’m personally acquainted with the Korea Branch Director, so I can talk to him myself.”

It was already widely known that Lee Taeseong was no ordinary Delta-grade administrator. Given the heavy losses suffered in this mission, Hashimoto considered him an invaluable asset.

Even though many administrators had been lost, if he could recruit Lee Taeseong, the gains would outweigh the losses.

To Hashimoto, the value of a single Lee Taeseong was greater than that of 300 administrators.

“You only need to make a choice. You don’t have to worry about the details. If you need money, I’ll provide it. If you need a new identity, I’ll arrange it. If you need artifacts, I can grant you indefinite access to Beta-grade or higher entities. And if there’s anything else you desire, don’t hesitate to ask.”

It was an extremely generous offer.

Although Lee Taeseong wasn’t particularly familiar with the hierarchy or internal workings of Tree, he was well aware of how high the position of the Japan Branch Director was. In military terms, Hashimoto was at least equivalent to a division commander responsible for an entire division.

“Within the extent of my authority, I’ll meet any conditions you set. You’re valuable enough to deserve that much.”

For such a man to personally make an offer like this, it was a decisive move.

To be honest, the proposal was tempting.

Money was essential to survive in modern society. Eating, sleeping, and wearing clothes—all required money.

He had no ambition to become a tycoon, but he did recognize the necessity of securing enough wealth for himself and Sooah to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

Since Hashimoto mentioned arranging a new identity, it was likely that he would be given a fresh identity as a Japanese citizen rather than remaining a Korean named Lee Taeseong.

Given Tree’s influence, something like this wouldn’t be difficult for them.

“Are you asking me to nationalize as a Japanese citizen?”

“If you wish to remain a Korean, that’s fine too. Citizenship is just a technicality. You would simply be working under the Japan Branch instead of the Korea Branch. Besides, your sister is already affiliated with the Japan Branch, so wouldn’t this be more convenient for you?”

“…….”

Now that he thought about it, Sooah was indeed part of the Japan Branch. He had naturally assumed they would return to Korea together, but if he accepted this offer, bringing Sooah back with him might become even more difficult.

‘It’s also important to consider whether Sooah even wants to return to Korea.’

Frankly, he hadn’t expected such an offer—especially not directly from the Japan Branch Director.

After evaluating his own worth objectively…

‘Yeah, it makes sense.’

He accepted it.

Lee Taeseong was someone who could assess himself with a cool head.

He also understood that, at this negotiation table, he was the one holding all the leverage.

“Would it be alright if I took some time to think it over before giving you an answer?”

Hashimoto, looking visibly exhausted, nodded.

“Of course. Take your time and decide. But I can’t give you too much time, so think carefully. Offers like this don’t come often.”

“……Understood. Thank you for considering me so highly. Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

Lee Taeseong rose from his seat and exited the room.

As he stared at the now-vacant seat, Hashimoto flipped through the documents on his desk.

After scanning the papers for a while, his expression twisted in disbelief.

“……S-grade? I knew about the existence of the Sigma-grade, but this is my first time actually seeing it. Wait a minute… What’s this? Even as an Alpha-grade administrator, I don’t have the clearance to view this?”

And he wasn’t just any Alpha-grade administrator—he was the Japan Branch Director.

If even he was restricted from accessing the information, that meant virtually no one could.

( TL : I read the reviews on NU and this is not a mistranslation. The highest level in the Tree is Sigma which is above Alpha )

---

[S-Grade Entity Management Report]

No. 0625
No. ■■■■

Entity Name: Returnee Lee Taeseong (=■■■ ■■).

Disguised Grade: Delta (Delta).
*Pending Reclassification.

Grade: Sigma (Sigma).
*Requires Reassessment.

Threat Level: ■■ (Insufficient Clearance to View)
*■■-Grade Hazardous Entity.

Information:
A former special forces soldier who returned after being swept into a dimensional shift. Experienced the Reverse World and returned to Earth, but appears to have lost most of his memories.

Upon his return, the entity’s combat capability was assessed to be at the level of a standard Delta-grade. However…

〈Edited〉

He displayed an unreasonably rapid rate of growth within a short period. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding the cause of this growth, with the most probable explanation being the “memories” of Lee Taeseong, which were presumed lost.

Tree researchers have suggested that he is an “Irregular,” a claim that is nearly certain.

〈Edited〉

‘Mother’ estimates a 92.75% probability that entity Lee Taeseong encountered ‘■■’ in the Reverse World. The identity of ‘■■’ remains [Insufficient Clearance].

The world he was in is estimated to be at a hazard level of ‘■■’ or higher. Due to insufficient data, the margin of error in the world’s hazard level assessment is 43.945%.

Abilities: [Restricted Access]

Special Notes:
He is the older brother of Tree’s Japan Branch administrator Lee Sooah (=Entity Name: Pure Flame). Since his return, he has displayed an exceptional attachment to his family.

Based on all observations so far, simulation results indicate a 99.999999% probability that he will adopt a hostile stance toward Tree if Lee Sooah is excluded from the organization.

〈Edited〉

Entity Lee Taeseong poses a severe risk of ■■ to Tree. As such, all administrators are [■■].

---

[Observation Record #■■]
Access Restricted.

[Observation Record #■■]
Access Restricted.

[Observation Record #■■]
Access Restricted.

[Observation Record #■■]
Access Restricted.

[Observation Record #■■]
Access Restricted.

[Observation Record #■■■]
Access Restricted.

[Observation Record #■■■]
Access Restricted.

“Lee Taeseong… Just what kind of anomaly is he that they’re going this far to protect him?”

The fact that security at this level was in place meant even Hashimoto, the branch director, would need upper-level authorization to access the files.

“The more I look into this, the more interesting it gets.”

---

After leaving the branch director’s office, Lee Taeseong went straight to find Sooah. She, too, was an administrator under the Japan branch so she would have already heard about the operation.

That also meant she must have heard about the death of her mentor, Yukina.

Yukina had looked after his sister in his absence, so the loss must have been devastating for her.

As her older brother, he couldn’t help but worry.

Even after ten years of hardships, which must have strengthened her resilience, in Taeseong’s eyes, Sooah was still a small, fragile girl.

He arrived at the dormitory where the Japanese administrators were staying. If it had been any other Korean administrator trying to enter, the process would have taken quite some time. But for Taeseong, such procedures were no longer necessary.

Standing before the door, he knocked.

The door opened, and Sooah appeared.

“Oppa.”

“Sooah.”

“I heard you came back. You don’t seem injured, at least. Are you really okay?”

Taeseong nodded.

“Yeah. My body’s fine.”

“…Come in first.”

As he stepped inside, he slowly looked his surroundings.

He wasn’t sure if it was because she was Yukina’s disciple or if the Japan branch simply had good accommodations, but the dormitory she was staying in was quite decent.

‘She keeps things pretty tidy and seems to be living well enough.’

Imagining her living here alone while he was away left him with a strange feeling.

When had she grown up so quickly, becoming independent on her own?

A constant feeling of guilt and regret toward Sooah always lingered in his heart.

He was proud of her, yet at the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder—had she been forced to grow up too soon, at an age when she should have still been able to lean on others?

‘Well… Having joined Tree in the first place, none of that really matters anymore.’

“Sit anywhere you like, Oppa. Want something to drink?”

After a brief moment of thought, Taeseong replied.

“Got any alcohol?”

“Yeah. What do you want? Beer? Soju? Whiskey?”

After breathing in musty air throughout the entire mission, he craved a cold beer.

But then, something struck him as odd.

“Sooah… Aren’t you underage?”

Sooah, who had been rummaging through the fridge, turned to him with an shocked look.

“Oppa.”

“Hm?”

“Are you a boomer?”

“……”

“I asked, are you a boomer?”

“…No.”

For a moment, Taeseong was too stunned to speak.

Of all the things he had expected to hear from his little sister, this wasn’t one of them.

In reality, the fact that she had alcohol in her fridge wasn’t an issue at all.

He knew full well that nagging someone who risked their life every day over something as trivial as drinking would be utterly foolish.

Even so, he had brought it up—not to scold her, but to lighten the mood, even if just as a joke.

She was pretending to be fine, but deep down, she was undoubtedly hurting.

“Oppa, I’m almost an adult now. And Tree administrators can drink as long as they have a guardian’s permission, even if they’re underage.”

So it’s ‘When in Tree, do as Tree does,’ huh?

What kind of ridiculous rule is that…

“And who’s your guardian?”

“Master.”

A brief silence fell between them.

Without another word, Sooah pulled out two bottles of beer and set them on the table.

“And from now on… I suppose it’ll be you, Oppa.”

Since his return—

No, not just since his return, but for the first time in their lives—

They shared a drink together as siblings.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

Without a word, we drank.

After about ten minutes, Sooah, her cheeks now red, finally spoke.

“I still can’t believe it. That Master is really gone…”

To Lee Sooah, Yukina had been an invincible figure.

Much like how a child sees their father as a superhero.

Downing an entire bottle in one go, Sooah murmured.

“This damn world… After ten years, I finally got my only family back… And now, it takes another from me.”

“……”

“Am I really cursed?”

Taeseong shook his head.

“Not a chance. You did nothing wrong. It’s this world that’s messed up.”

With a faint smile, Sooah gazed up at the ceiling and whispered.

“She looked after me for ten years… And I couldn’t even see her one last time before she left.”

Hearing that, Taeseong hesitated for a moment before finally opening a subspace.

While Taeseong rested, Xiao Yun and Doman moved around, waking up the administrators.

The ones who had regained consciousness late each reacted differently.

Some, as if waking from a long dream, looked around blankly.

“Are we… alive? Is this… not all just a dream?”

Some, realizing they were still alive, expressed gratitude to every god that existed on Earth.

“I’m alive! I’m really alive! Thank you! Thank you so much! All the gods who heard my prayers, I sincerely thank you!”

Others, overwhelmed by relief and fear that hit them belatedly, let out the tears they had been holding back.

Many had died.

Among them were colleagues they had worked with for a long time.

They were grateful to have survived another day, but as administrators, they knew that tomorrow, death could come at any moment.

The Korean administrators, after regaining their senses, sought out Taeseong first.

Like the others, they had also lost consciousness, but their past experiences and trust allowed them to clearly understand who had caused this entire situation.

“It looks like he’s over there.”

“Whoa… What the hell is all this? Did a missile drop or something?”

“What exactly happened here…?”

Yu Gi-jun jumped into the massive crater, using psychokinesis to slow his descent, while Oh Haeyoung, struggling to climb down, eventually shouted, “Oh, whatever!” and just jumped in.

She tumbled quite a bit but wasn’t weak enough to be seriously injured from it.

Taesan, carrying Lee Eunha and Go Yeonghui over his shoulders, jumped in as well.

With a heavy thud, he landed, kicking up dust in all directions.

“You’re all awake now.”

Oh Haeyoung’s large eyes welled up with tears before she suddenly dashed toward Taeseong.

She looked just like an excited puppy rushing to its owner.

“Taeseong-siiiiii!”

She threw herself into Taeseong’s arms, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at him.

Startled, Taeseong tried to push her away, but after seeing her expression, he changed his mind.

“I’m really… really glad you’re safe! If only I were… stronger, then you wouldn’t have had to suffer like this alone… I’m sorry for being useless!”

Oh Haeyoung had performed remarkably well for an Epsilon-grade administrator, but unfortunately, she was surrounded by too many exceptional people.

Recently, she had been coming to terms with her own lack of power, and this incident had painfully reminded just how weak she was.

If Yu Gi-jun hadn’t broken his limits.

If Go Yeonghui hadn’t overcome her trauma.

If Lee Eunha hadn’t sacrificed her lifespan.

If Taesan hadn’t shown up.

If Lee Taeseong hadn’t arrived.

She would have died.

Without someone’s help, she couldn’t have survived.

That realization made her feel even more miserable.

And she wasn’t the only one thinking this way—everyone here felt the same.

Whether by choice or not, they were all administrators of the Tree.

Their individual goals might have differed, but they would continue living as administrators.

That meant they would always be standing closest to death.

They would face situations like this again, and while they were lucky to have survived this time, there was no guarantee for the next.

That’s why they had to become stronger.

To survive the next crisis.

“Captain, you’ve been through a lot. I just keep owing you my life.”

“Thank you, Taeseong. I always scolded you for acting recklessly… but this time, we survived thanks to your unpredictability.”

“Hahaha! I suppose this will be the last time I call you ‘Chief Lee Taeseong.’ Not just me, but all my teammates owe you our lives. I’ll forever take pride in the fact that I once had a man like you as a subordinate.”

“…Thank you.”

The rest of the team also expressed their gratitude.

They all knew it.

The fact that every single member of the Korean team had survived this mission—while countless other administrators had perished—was nothing short of a miracle.

From the moment Yukina, one of their key combatants, had died, failure had seemed inevitable.

If Taeseong hadn’t come, not a single administrator on this mission would have made it out alive.

“Thank you, everyone.”

“…….”

“For staying alive.”

As Taeseong spoke those words, everyone fell silent, letting them sink in.

Thank you for staying alive.

Such simple words carried so much weight.

.

.

.

【Aokigahara Forest Entity Subjugation Mission Report】

Total personnel deployed: 300

• Beta-grade administrators: 3
• Gamma-grade administrators: 32
• Delta-grade administrators: 189
• Epsilon-grade administrators: 76

Casualties: 277

• Beta-grade administrators: 1
• Gamma-grade administrators: 28
• Delta-grade administrators: 172
• Epsilon-grade administrators: 76

Survivors: 23

● Due to the intervention of an anomaly, there was a significant inconsistency in the intelligence obtained beforehand. As a result, the operation was deemed a near-certain failure following the death of Beta-grade administrator Yukina, one of the primary combatants.

● It is presumed that Delta-grade administrator Lee Taeseong of Korea single-handedly eliminated Ryomen Sukuna, the true ruler of Aokigahara’s sea of trees.

● Estimated classification of Ryomen Sukuna: ■■

● Approximately two-thirds of Aokigahara’s forest has been annihilated, presumably due to the aftermath of Lee Taeseong and Ryomen Sukuna’s battle.

● With the anomaly’s source eradicated, the fundamental objective of the operation has been achieved.

Mission result: Success.

---

The administrators who had been sent out for the subjugation mission returned.

Since it had been such a large-scale operation, rumors about the mission had already spread widely within the Japan branch.

Naturally, the most talked-about figure was Delta-grade administrator Lee Taeseong from Korea.

He was already incredibly well-known—having defeated the Yato siblings in a spar, ripped off Xiao Yun’s arm, and even caused chaos in the Japan branch.

He was so infamous that even office workers and janitors in the Japan branch had heard his name.

But this mission was on a completely different scale than anything before.

A large-scale operation involving 300 administrators.

While they had managed to eliminate the source of the anomaly and complete the mission successfully, the majority of the personnel had perished.

Even within the Tree, where death was always close, casualties of this magnitude were extremely rare.

Yet, despite that, the Japan branch was in a celebratory mood.

Rather than mourning the dead, they were rejoicing over the safe return of the survivors.

There was a reason for this attitude.

When they first received news of Beta-grade administrator Yukina’s death, most in the Japan branch were convinced the mission had failed.

Even after hearing that Lee Taeseong was the additional reinforcement sent in, their reaction remained the same.

Sure, he had shown some extraordinary feats, but if even a Beta-grade administrator had died, what could he possibly do?

They had all assumed that no one would return.

It was a tragic thought.

Three hundred invaluable personnel—longtime comrades—were about to die a meaningless death in some remote forest.

At least, that’s what they had believed.

But then, against all odds, some had made it back alive.

And not only that—the mission had been a success.

And the one who had accomplished all of this was a foreign administrator.

Delta-grade administrator Lee Taeseong from Korea.

A mere Delta-grade administrator had gone as reinforcements…

And a miracle had happened.

So rather than dwell on the dead, they chose to celebrate the return of the living.

A joint funeral for the deceased would be held in a few days.

Until then, they would maintain this atmosphere.

To the Japanese staff, Taeseong was nothing short of a hero.

At first, he had been an unknown menace.

Then, he became a madman who had slaughtered Japanese administrators just to save his sister.

And in the end, he was the hero who had saved them all.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

“Because of you, our comrades have returned safely. You are our hero.”

“Administrator Lee Taeseong, if you ever need help, just say the word. If there’s anything I can do, I will gladly assist.”

“I will never forget this debt. Korea is our brother.”

A foreign administrator had risked his life to march into the jaws of death.

Regardless of his intentions, his actions were something rarely seen in the bleak and ruthless world of the Tree.

Having become a hero overnight, Lee Taeseong felt overwhelmed by the praise and cheers as he made his way to the Japan branch director’s office.

“…….”

He wanted to rest immediately after returning, but this wasn’t just any administrator summoning him—it was the director himself.

He had no choice.

Upon arriving at the office, Taeseong knocked on the door, and a voice called out from inside.

“Come in.”

The moment he heard the voice, he instantly knew who had summoned him. The person from before when he was fighting against Japanese administrators.

—Everyone, halt.
—Deputy Director Yukina, relay the orders from above.

A mere voice alone had commanded everyone to stop. An Alpha-grade administrator.

Taeseong entered and sat in the chair across from the director.

The man in front of him looked surprisingly ordinary.

A weary-looking man, seemingly in his mid-thirties.

At a glance, he was no different from an average office worker.

“This is our first time meeting face to face. I’m Hashimoto, the director of the Japan branch of the Tree.”

“Lee Taeseong .”

“I received the mission report. You performed beyond expectations.”

“I was just lucky.”

Hashimoto’s tired eyes landed on Taeseong, and he spoke in a lazy tone.

“Just lucky, huh… That’s quite the understatement, considering the display of strength you showed. I heard that every time you swung your sword, dozens of Gamma-grade entities were wiped out. Would you really call that luck?”

“Yes. I was lucky.”

“You’re more shameless than I expected.”

Already exhausted, Hashimoto found himself growing irritated at this pointless back-and-forth.

“Don’t make that face. I apologize if it sounded like I was interrogating you. Whether you were hiding your strength or not, it’s none of my concern. Since the higher-ups haven’t said anything, it must have already been settled. I was merely curious.”

“…….”

“But that’s not the real reason I called you here.”

“What is it?”

“I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

Hashimoto nodded and handed Taeseong a single blank sheet of paper.

“What’s this?”

“Write whatever you want. If you don’t need money, name anything else you desire. As long as it’s within my power, I will grant it. And, I will offer you the now-vacant position of Deputy Director.”

“…….”

“Administrator Lee Taeseong. Come to Japan.”

Gasping for breath, Taeseong staggered before collapsing onto the ground.

Despite his extraordinary regenerative abilities, the recoil from wielding an incomplete authority was not something he could easily withstand.

He had torn through space and summoned a paw from another dimension.

Whether it belonged to the Primordial Wolf, something of comparable might, or merely one of its kin, even Taeseong himself did not know.

And yet, he had managed to invoke such an authority thanks to fragments of memory he had obtained by devouring Shuten Doji and the Daitengu.

“Haa… haa…”

His head throbbed.

Suppressing the raging energies within his body, he steadied his breath and looked ahead.

“…What a fucking mess.”

That was his first impression upon witnessing the devastation he had wrought.

Everywhere his gaze landed had been carved out.

It was like a child smashing their fist into a sandpit—but on an unfathomable scale.

More than half of the vast forest had been erased.

Where once stood towering trees and dense, unknown plants, now lay a massive crater, as if a bombardment—no, a meteorite—had struck.

From the ground, Taeseong merely thought, It was stronger than I expected.

But from above, the sight was beyond mere contemplation.

The entire region’s map would need to be redrawn.

Taeseong rose to his feet again.

He had to claim Ryomen Sukuna’s crystal.

Even after that reality-shattering strike, the crystal that emerged from Sukuna’s body remained intact.

It survived a force that wiped out half the forest…

An incomprehensible fact, but Taeseong was too drained to dwell on it.

What mattered was that the crystal remained.

And he was starving.

Though Ryomen Sukuna had been a formidable entity, the crystal from his body was unlike any other.

The previous crystals had all been red and different in size.

The one he obtained from Yukina had been blue.

But this one—

It was black.

A color that screamed ominous.

Dark energy surged from it in thick, writhing waves, as if proving its cursed nature.

But Taeseong’s hunger had reached its limit.

If he cared about such things, he wouldn’t have eaten Orochi’s tail in the first place.

Taeseong—

Was not a picky eater.

Step. Step.

A handful of lucky survivors stood frozen, staring blankly.

They had been the first to retreat when their leader, Kairikunanshin, was effortlessly devoured—

And that was the only reason they still lived.

Had they hesitated even slightly, they too would have been erased without a trace.

Most of them were high-ranked yokai, once part of the Hyakki Yagyō, yet they now resembled condemned prisoners awaiting execution.

To beings who lived by the law of the strong, Taeseong—who had obliterated their king—was no different from a god.

He picked up the crystal and placed it into his mouth, biting down with a crunch.

Surprisingly, it tasted… decent.

Like a jelly.

With that useless observation, his meal came to an end.

And then—

Memories surged into his mind like a tsunami.

For what felt like an eternity, he stood frozen.

Though only minutes had passed outside, Taeseong had relived an entire fragment of another life.

“…”

For some reason, the version of himself in those memories harboured deep hatred toward the Primordial Wolf.

As past and present overlapped, he failed to suppress his emotions, his presence expanding uncontrollably.

Sensing it, every yokai within the forest collapsed to the ground, bowing deeply, their foreheads striking the earth beneath them.

Then, in unison, they cried out—

[Ahhh! Our king!]

[The true king has returned!]

[We celebrate the birth of the great king!]

The aura he now exuded was more than enough to make them worship him.

It was only natural.

Kairikunanshin (Monster of Unmatched Strength) had been born from the very desire to become the king of yokai.

And Ryomen Sukuna—the one who had abandoned the throne—

Both had now been devoured by Taeseong.

The power he possessed now surpassed that of every yokai in the forest combined.

But Taeseong couldn’t care less.

Grinding his teeth, he muttered—

“Primordial Wolf… that son of a bitch…”

---

Meanwhile, Xiao Yun finally regained his senses and surveyed the scene.

Most of the other administrators remained unconscious.

Thankfully, none were dead.

“…Unbelievable. What the hell did I just witness?”

His hands trembled.

The overwhelming shock had yet to fade.

Xiao Yun replayed everything that had just happened in his mind.

He had watched Lee Taeseong’s battle from start to finish.

Not out of curiosity.

But out of instinct.

The instinct of a warrior—

To witness that man’s combat firsthand was the only way to reach the next realm.

And in doing so—

Xiao Yun had succeeded.

The immense energy now flowing through him was proof of his breakthrough.

Yet even with this newfound power, he had barely managed to stay conscious under Ryomen Sukuna’s overwhelming presence.

Like the others, he had been reduced to curling up and trembling, but by focusing every ounce of his internal energy on his mind, he had at least been able to grasp the situation.

And out of all the administrators, he was the only one who had done so.

Even Doman, an administrator of the same rank, had lost his sanity to fear.

But Xiao Yun had endured.

Because what he had just witnessed—

Was nothing short of the reincarnation of an evil god.

However, there existed an even greater monster.

Korea’s Delta-grade administrator.

Lee Taeseong.

Even before the evil god, he did not shrink away.

On the contrary, he stood proud.

And as if to prove the source of that confidence, he tore through space, revealing something immense within.

That was the end.

With a single strike, more than half of this vast forest was obliterated.

Recalling that sight sent shivers down Xiao Yun’s spine.

“…As expected, my instincts weren’t wrong. This is why one must bet wisely.”

The Gambling King, Tang Unryong.

Among his many nicknames, the one considered the most trivial shone the brightest today.

Xiao Yun felt an unshakable regret that he was the only one to witness such a majestic spectacle.

‘What is the Tree even thinking?’

Unless the higher-ups of the Tree were blind, it was absurd for someone like Lee Taeseong to remain classified as merely “Delta” grade.

For this to be the case…

There could have either been an error in the ranking process, or the Tree had deliberately disguised his rank.

As a seasoned administrator, Xiao Yun was certain of the latter.

For some unknown reason, the Tree was intentionally concealing Lee Taeseong’s rank.

“A new Alpha is about to be born.”

Xiao Yun approached Doman, who seemed the most likely to regain consciousness.

“Old man.”

Doman, laid on the ground, was muttering in terror.

“I’m sorry. I apologize. Please forgive me, Master.”

“What are you babbling about?”

“I will never do it again. Please, just spare my life. If you let me live, I’ll never appear before you again. I’ll live as if I were dead.”

Was he recalling some nightmare from his past? His complexion was pale.

Unable to watch any longer, Xiao Yun slapped Doman across the face.

Smack!

“Hmm… One slap isn’t enough? I didn’t put any emotion into it, so try to understand, old man.”

Just as Xiao Yun was about to land another slap on the other cheek—

Doman opened his eyes.

With a dazed expression, he looked up at Xiao Yun.

“…What are you doing?”

Xiao Yun, wearing an awkward grin, slowly lowered his raised hand.

“Did you sleep well? From the looks of it, you seemed to be having quite the pleasant dream.”

A stinging pain radiated from his left cheek.

As Doman rubbed his reddened cheek, he finally came to his senses and urgently asked,

“That monster! What happened to that monster?”

“See for yourself.”

Xiao Yun pointed forward. Doman turned his head.

Where towering trees should have filled his vision, a massive crater now stretched before him.

And within it, a lone man stood.

“…….”

The yokai, lowering themselves on the ground as if welcoming a god, murmured unknown chants without pause.

Their expressions were so devout that it was almost respectful.

Overwhelmed by the eerie spectacle, Doman muttered blankly,

A shiver ran down his spine.

“Could it be… that man killed the monster?”

“Who else? The old man groveling on the ground, crying his eyes out? Or those administrators knocked out over there?”

Despite Xiao Yun’s sarcasm, Doman paid no mind.

Still unable to take his eyes off the scene, he recalled his own words—

And his blood ran cold.

Cautiously, Doman asked,

“Xiao Yun.”

“What, old man?”

“Are you… on good terms with that man?”

Understanding the intent behind the question, Xiao Yun showed a wicked grin.

The thought of holding this stubborn old man over a barrel made him happy.

“Of course. Very much so. You remember, don’t you? How I turned your branch’s administrators into mush for that crazy bastard? I even had to use my precious immunity privilege to clean up that mess.”

“That did happen…”

“But I don’t regret it. That guy might be half-insane, but he’s got a clear sense of gratitude and vengeance. He’s a mad dog who won’t rest until he’s avenged any insult against him. But for those who’ve done him a favour, he’s surprisingly loyal.”

“…….”

Doman’s face grew increasingly pale.

The more he listened to Xiao Yun, the more he realized just how screwed he was.

Watching this, Xiao Yun celebrated internally.

‘Heh heh, the old snake sure is a coward.’

After a long moment of deep contemplation, Doman cautiously spoke.

“Then… could you…”

“Hmm?”

“Put in a good word for me? Tell him that what I said in the past wasn’t my true intention… and that I’d like to maintain a good relationship with you moving forward…”

Xiao Yun smiled brightly and replied,

“For free?”