Chapter 3 – Return (2)

Chapter 3: Return (2)

Woojin went straight home. As he opened the door, he surprised his mother who was watching TV.

“Huh? Didn’t you say you had a company dinner today?”

Wordlessly, Woojin walked up to her. His mother who had died horribly ten years ago. The memory of his dead parents haunted him every day for those ten years, resulting in his chronic insomnia. But now, she was here, alive and well.

She was confused by Woojin’s seriousness.

“Son? Is something wrong?”

Woojin did not answer but hugged her tightly.

“H-hey! What’s going on? What’s happening?”

He let go of her. His mother looked at him in shock and reached to wipe his cheek.

“Why are you crying? Were you fired?”

He did quit, but he wasn’t crying because of that. Woojin took a deep breath and asked, “Where’s Father?”

“He said he’s working in the morning, he’ll be back soon. Why? What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing. Let me take a shower.”

“Okay.”

Woojin then went into his room, took a shower, and changed into more comfortable clothes. It was then that his father came into his room.

“Hmm? You’re early.”

Woojin also walked up to him and hugged him. He couldn’t hold back from hugging his father, smiling just as he had remembered. His father signaled his mother to ask if she knew anything but she just shrugged.

“Were you fired?”

He wasn’t sure why they were asking the same question, but Woojin just smiled.

“No. I’m just glad to see you.”

“Yeah, you’ve been very busy lately. So, why are you so early today?”

“Exactly. He said he had a company dinner today. Why are you early? Are you sick?”

“No, I have something to do. I have to meet someone.”

“Are you going out? I thought that since you’re back early today, we can order chicken and…”

“We can order it once I get back.”

Woojin smiled as he put on a jacket and came out of his room.

“Are you going out?”

“No. Eunseo will be home soon, I’m just going out to get her.”

His mother then walked up to him and asked, “Are you sure you’re not sick?”

“No. I’ll be back.”

Woojin then walked out. His father asked his mother, “Did he just say he’s going to get Eunseo?”

“Yeah. What happened to him?”

His father shrugged.

“I don’t know. He should be okay.”

“Do you think he got fired?”

“Maybe he quit because it didn’t fit him?”

“No way! He tried so hard to get that job!”

His father then opened the refrigerator and took out a beer.

“We’ll have a talk with him when he gets back.”

Woojin called his sister as he left the house. She said she was on the bus and so he waited for her at the bus stop. Soon, she arrived and got off the bus.

“Woojin?”

“Let’s go home.”

His sister quickly came up to him and held him by his arm.

“Woojin! I want ice cream!”

Ten years ago, his sister was a senior in high school and was really smart. However, they weren’t too close unless she wanted something from him.

“What do you want?”

“Oh? Are you really buying? YAY!”

If this was still in the past, he would’ve snapped at her, but not now. It was his sister that he met after ten years. He still remembered her pale, cold face after her soul was sacrificed. Buying ice cream for her was nothing.

Woojin stopped at a nearby 7-Eleven and brought two ice cream cones. His sister looked at him weirdly.

“Is there something wrong?”

Woojin looked down at her as he put the ice cream to his mouth. Until what happened ten years ago, he wasn’t really that close with his sister. He was six years older than her and had become a bit annoyed for having to look after his younger sister. It got worse after he returned from the military as his sister hit puberty then. However, they began talking to each other after Woojin got a job, especially when she needed money or something.

Now that he thought about it, it was because he was just lazy. He could see Eunseo was happy to see him. Woojin then said, “I quit my job.”

He smiled at his shocked sister.

“I’m joking. I had to meet with someone today, so I got out early.”

“You shocked me.”

She smacked Woojin’s shoulder. Woojin asked, “Do you get bullied at school or anything?”

“No, people treat me well when they find out that I’m your sister.”

“Me?”

“You were famous, you know?”

Woojin laughed. He definitely was famous when he was in high school. It was foolish to think about it now, but he was good at fighting. Maybe that allowed him to find Amon’s avatar after ten years.

“Tell me if you have any problems. I can get my kids to solve it.”

“Okay.”

And like that, they were soon back at home. As soon as Woojin walked in, both parents came out to greet them. Woojin spoke as he saw his sister going in.

“Let’s get some chicken and beer when I’m back. I’ll be back soon. You stay at home too.”

“Of course. Don’t come back too late though.”

Woojin nodded and walked out. He wore the Gloves of Wyvern, a mask, a hoodie, and then looked out at the window. The ones that attacked came through the door, and the time of their attack was between six and seven.

Similar incidents would happen for the next two consecutive days. The total death toll would be twenty-two, with seven missing. It would be a massacre that happened while kidnapping people with higher-than-average spiritual power. He couldn’t save everyone, but he was determined to save his family and his sister. And stop the summoning of that damned god.

Woojin stayed still until the sun had set. After a long while, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs and saw the lights coming on as someone walked up. Woojin was on the 13th floor. He stretched his body and pulled out Cocktail-B.

The drug was created by mixing avatar blood. It was expensive but it was also addicting. He didn’t think he would use it even after coming back to the past, but this was the best thing he had.

He injected it into his thigh, and the body shook after taking the drug for the first time. As it coursed through his entire body and heightened his senses, he opened his eyes.