In the light Yoohyun held up for me, I turned on the flashlight we had brought with us. It was one that had been at the hotel. As the surroundings brightened a little more, the familiar sight of the station came into view.
"We don't have time to go far, so let's go to Seolleung."
Relying on the two flashlight beams, we passed through the ticket gate. Slightly excited by the unfamiliar sight of a darkened subway station, Yerim looked around and then pointed at the wall.
"Isn't that Han Yoohyun?"
What Yerim was pointing at was none other than Yoohyun's birthday ad. As expected, the writing had been erased, though.
"There's one here too. It seems the time differs by location, but around Gangnam I think it's Christmas Eve."
"Then it's a birthday ad? Judging from the expression alone, it looks more like some expensive product ad where he has to put on a lot of gravitas."
Back then the kid really was a bit like that. As we went down the stairs, an empty platform came into view.
"It's not long until December. When do people start putting up birthday ads?"
"Why? Don't tell me you're going to put up a Guild Leader ad for him, Ahjussi?"
"Well, it's not like I couldn't."
I want to do it too, that's why. Yoohyun held out a mask—I had no idea where he got it from.
"The air in the tunnel will be bad."
"Thanks. Is there only one?"
"They're S-ranks. It's fine."
That was true, but it still felt awkward to use it myself while leaving Yerim out. I glanced at Yerim just in case, but before I could even say anything, she made an X with both arms to show she was declining.
"If you take the picture, Ahjussi, then it really would look like a birthday ad."
"Me?"
"I want to take one with Hyung."
"Huh? It's for a birthday photo, though."
"That's why I want Hyung there even more. Can't I?"
"Well… it's not like you can't. If that's what you want, then of course you can."
It'd be a bit embarrassing, though. At my answer, Yerim hopped down onto the tracks and waved one arm.
"Then me too! I want two, a group photo and a solo photo!"
"Sure, sure. I'll do as many as you want. What about you, Mr. Noah?"
"Me? Ah, me. I don't want an ad, but I do want photos with the people I'm close to. Several of them."
"That sounds good too."
Yoohyun lifted me down onto the tracks. Chief Secretary Song took the lead, shining the flashlight into the dim tunnel. I went through all kinds of things before the regression, but this was my first time walking along subway tracks. It felt a bit strange.
"What about you, Han Yoojin-ssi?"
Sung Hyunjae, who had been walking at the very back, spoke.
"Me? Me?"
"If it's February 7, then it's right after Team Leader Seok's birthday."
By Team Leader Seok, did he mean Seok Simyeong? No, why does Sung Hyunjae know Seok Simyeong's birthday? Even I don't know it.
"As for me, ads aren't really my thing..."
"Why not, Ahjussi? You should have one too!"
"Should I take the photo for you?"
"Huh? Yoohyun-ah, do you know how to take pictures like that? It's different from phone photos."
"I can learn."
Putting up an ad was way too much pressure, but looking at the kids' faces, I just couldn't refuse. Well, I've already been on broadcasts several times anyway. At this point, is there really any image of me left to sell?
"My dear partner-ssi, I'll personally take your picture with my phone, blow it up, and hang it in front of Seseong Guild on an ad balloon."
It would be a pixelated mess, though.
"What an honor."
"Hyung, me too."
"Ahjussi, me too!"
"If it's all right with you, I would like to ask as well."
"…No, kids. Mr. Noah."
When I get home, do I need to buy a really good camera first?
"Chief Secretary Song's birthday was earlier than Yerim's and Mr. Noah's, right?"
"It's later than Hyuna Unni's. Hyuna Unni's is March 3rd!"
"I'm fine."
Chief Secretary Song answered before I could even ask him. I seriously want to erase the phrase I'm fine completely from Chief Secretary Song's dictionary.
"By any chance, are public officials not allowed to have birthday ads put up for them?"
"There's no reason they wouldn't be allowed."
Sung Hyunjae answered for him. Then, looking as though he felt regretful and apologetic, he said,
"I've really neglected our Song Taewon-ssi too much. Next year, I'll buy every single ad space in Gwanghwamun Station and properly make it up to him."
Instead of answering, Chief Secretary Song let out a deep sigh from the bottom of his chest. Honestly, a station plastered entirely with Chief Secretary Song would probably be nice to look at.
"Just one. Just one is fine. One is okay, right, Chief Secretary?"
"…Yes. Thank you."
"It can't be helped. Then for Han Yoojin-ssi—"
"I'm one too."
I cut in firmly. One each. We exchange one each.
Before long, we reached our destination. We got off the tracks and climbed the stairs, stopping in the concourse on B1.
"Elder said the chances of me losing consciousness are low, but just in case, keep in mind that I might turn into someone else entirely."
He had said that the crescent moon in this dungeon was a remnant of the past that had been cut off from the main body. With the power of such a trace alone, it would be difficult to fully devour even the consciousness of someone with a high-grade mental skill, even if my stats were only F-rank.
"In fact, if I'm unconscious, it might be easier to deal with. Then it won't feel like me."
If it felt like I was still me, it would naturally be hard to attack without restraint. Especially for Yerim and Noah.
"If it really acts completely like the crescent moon, then gather as much information out of it as possible."
I said that while looking at Sung Hyunjae. In a way, this was also an opportunity to learn about the crescent moon and the contract binding Sung Hyunjae.
"Don't go easy on it."
"…I'll try."
Sung Hyunjae answered stiffly. It's not even my real body anyway.
"Everyone, put on your equipment. And if it looks like your mana's running low, drink your potions ahead of time. Yerim-ah, are you really okay?"
"Don't worry!"
Her answer was energetic, but that didn't stop me from worrying. Since it was going to look like me, after all.
"It'll probably be hard to use Low of Shadow without shadows, but Noah Oppa can't either, right?"
"Yes. I'd have to wait a long time."
Noah said regretfully. No, that wasn't what I was worried about when it came to skills.
"It would have helped if I hadn't used it when fighting Noona."
"No, Mr. Noah. I heard you beat her! You used it very well."
Noah, who had met the pre-regression Riette, said that with his newly obtained skill, he and Yerim had fought his older sister and won. Even though she would have been around SS-rank with the dungeon buff, he had beaten her and earned her acknowledgement.
He said it was a skill gained through a title, and that his existing skills had changed too, but since there were too many ears around, we decided to talk about it later separately. More than anything, it would be better if the current me didn't know for now.
"Mr. Sung Hyunjae and Chief Secretary Song, you picked the location, right?"
The two of them nodded at the same time. We started moving again. Only Chief Secretary Song remained behind while the rest of us moved toward the subway exit. Faint light was filtering in through the entrance visible at the top of the stairs. I took one deep breath.
"Then here I go."
I climbed the stairs. My legs are really working hard today. When I came outside, a wide road stretched before me. Crossing the quiet street, I looked up at the sky. Long streams of moonlight spilled through the dense clouds.
The moon itself, the main body, was nowhere to be seen.
"Over here, over here!"
Can't you hear me? There was still no particular reaction. I climbed up a streetlight and stood at the top. Can't you see me? Do I have to go all the way up to a building rooftop? The elevator probably won't work, so cut me some slack here.
"Moon, moon, bright moon~ moon that Lee Taebaek once played beneath~."
Please look over here. Are you looking down on me because I'm Stat F? Fortunately, before long, moonlight rushed in quickly from the distance. It filled the broad road and surged like a wave.
Jallang, jallang—
Along with the sound of countless tiny bells shaking all at once, the moonlight swept over my body.
The dim subway entrance brightened in an instant. It wasn't enough to say the sun had risen. Darkness still lingered, but a particularly dense moonlight stretched long and crawled all the way down the stairs.
Then, in a single moment, it seemed to be tugged outside and slipped out of the entrance, leaving behind only a faint glow once more.
"…Did it work?"
Bak Yerim asked quietly. Sung Hyunjae, who had been looking up at the subway entrance, stepped onto the stairs.
"We'll have to check."
"I'll go first. I have teleportation."
Bak Yerim climbed the stairs three or four steps at a time. The others hurried after her.
"Ahjussi!"
Bak Yerim shouted as she came out of the station. The moonlight had grown much fainter. It was dark enough that ordinary people would lose their way even on roads they knew well, but for an S-rank Hunter like Bak Yerim, this much light was enough.
As she quickly searched the area, Bak Yerim's gaze stopped above a streetlight. Han Yoojin was standing there. Moonlight drifted softly around him.
"Ahjussi, are you okay?"
"Hyung!"
"Yeah, Yoohyun-ah."
The answer came back as ordinary as ever. Standing atop the streetlight, Han Yoojin spread his arms slightly and spun around in a circle. The gaze with which he looked down at Han Yoohyun and Bak Yerim was slightly playful.
His deep silver eyes curved into crescents.
"Surprisingly, I'm still myself. It's just me. I was hoping maybe even a little of the crescent moon's memories would come in, but unfortunately, nothing at all."
"Hyung. …It really is you, right?"
"Of course. My beloved younger brother."
Han Yoojin smiled brightly. And then—
Kwa-rreureung!
A burst of light flashed out with a loud crash. It was a signal meant for Song Taewon, who would be waiting.
What the crescent moon was after was none other than Song Taewon. So there was no need to expose him to the crescent moon—to Han Yoojin. Once all of the crescent moon's power had settled into Han Yoojin's body, the moonlight searching through the streets would disappear.
At that point, Song Taewon would move locations without Han Yoojin knowing. The only person who knew the next location was Sung Hyunjae, and the plan was that if it became too difficult to hold Han Yoojin here, Sung Hyunjae would retreat first, join up with Song Taewon, and keep avoiding him until dawn.
Yoon Yoon and Bak Yerim could move quickly too, but it was hard for both of them to keep using their skills repeatedly for a long time while bringing another person along.
"That startled me."
Looking at the golden sparks flashing out, Han Yoojin muttered without sounding startled in the slightest.
"Did Chief Secretary Song really just leave? I'm perfectly fine."
"If you're perfectly fine…"
Sung Hyunjae said as he stepped forward. The hem of his coat swayed lightly.
"Wouldn't it be better to forget Song Taewon-ssi and stay here talking with me slowly? Until dawn."
"I don't really have anything to say."
"That disappoints me. I have plenty."
"Ah, I have plenty of complaints. Isn't this whole situation ultimately thanks to you, Mr. Sung Hyunjae?"
The silver eyes smiled. The gold eyes stiffened faintly. Han Yoojin bent his knees slightly. He showed not the slightest sign of pain in his legs.
Teong!
The top of the streetlight snapped downward. Han Yoojin kicked off the now-angled streetlight, shaped like a ㄷ, and in an instant his body was right in front of Sung Hyunjae. Sung Hyunjae raised an arm in defense, and tak, Han Yoojin's hand caught that arm.
Right before his nose, Han Yoojin's smile deepened further.
"My little moon."
At the low whisper, Sung Hyunjae's brows furrowed sharply. He shook off the hand gripping his arm and swung his long leg. At the same time, Han Yoojin lightly leapt upward. Han Yoojin's foot touched Sung Hyunjae's leg, and without resisting the rising force, his body spun once through the air.
"You really are sensitive~"
Han Yoojin arced widely through the air and landed on the streetlight pole as though it were flat ground. With light steps, tak, tak, tak, he walked all the way up to the top.
"I'm sorry for blaming you, Mr. Sung Hyunjae. But I'm holding myself back in my own way too. I want to start snapping at you, demanding you tell me where Chief Secretary Song is, but I don't want to do that either."
"…So Han Yoojin is still Han Yoojin."
"Yes, that's right~ Which makes it even more of a problem. Yoohyun-ah."
Han Yoohyun flinched and looked up at his older brother.
"You should be on my side, shouldn't you?"
"…Hyung."
"Hm? Yoohyun-ah. My beloved younger brother. Let's go look for Chief Secretary Song together."
"No. Hyung said no."
"I'm your Hyung too, though? That's harsh. Ah, or is it because there are two Hyungs now, so it's okay to throw one away?"
"Hyung!"
Han Yoohyun shouted in shock.
"There's no way that's true!"
"Ahjussi, that was too much just now!"
"I don't have even one person on my side. What about you, Mr. Noah?"
"…Right now, I can't take your side either, Mr. Yoojin."
Han Yoojin let out a sigh.
"I know I shouldn't be like this either. But I don't think my stats are quite SS-rank. And as for skills, well, I'd need something worth using in the first place. Even if I double attack skills, I don't have any decent skills to apply that to."
Han Yoojin spread both arms wide and gave a big shrug.
"At this rate I'm really going to end up doing nothing but talking nonsense until dawn."
"If this is not Han Yoojin-ssi's true heart, then I would gladly listen to it for as long as you like."
"Excuse me, Mr. Sung Hyunjae. Do you want to see the kids cry? Do you think you'd be fine either? Words can hurt people terribly. If you get stabbed, as long as you're still alive you can just splash a potion on it, but there's no medicine for a wounded heart."
"I'm perfectly fine, so why don't we spend time alone together?"
Charrrr—golden chains whirled around Sung Hyunjae.
"I heard you went to the aquarium with the children. It isn't far from here, so let me ask you on a date."
"I think there'd only be empty tanks left?"
"That too wouldn't be bad."
"You've really got weird tastes. What kind of date is that, you look ready to drag me there by force. Were you planning to throw me into a tank again this time? If I become one of your fish, is that a rise in status? Better than a common F-rank, right?"
"With a taste that peculiar, I'm starting to want to gag you too."
"You can't say stuff like that while waving chains around in front of the kids. Kids, don't listen to him. You mustn't hang around adults like that. Back off, back off."
"Then come quietly."
Sung Hyunjae took a step forward. Han Yoojin exaggeratedly shivered and said he was scared.
"It's cold out, and I'm not a very good swimmer. So then, Chainling."
Han Yoojin stretched out one arm as he spoke. A cluster of light gathered over it, and then a small faerie dragon appeared.
- Yes, Daddy.
"I wonder how long I'd be able to use your power in my current state."
- More than an hour.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
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