By Zephyria 
“That’s right. It’s a bit far. So from now on, I’ll be staying at the new building, so it’ll be hard to come home often for a while.”
Actually, after revealing I was a Purifier, if I started chasing after the Great Rift’s movements, it would be hard to even enter Korea, but I decided not to mention that plan here for now. Hearing Yohan’s words, Kim Ye-ju said anxiously.
“Then Mom won’t be able to look after you. You’re so picky about food. And you get hurt so easily, and you catch colds every season change…. If you get into trouble, you won’t even be able to get help from your Hyung.”
“But will I need my Hyung’s help often?”
“Your Hyung, well….”
At the question of whether he would need his Hyung’s help often, Kim Ye-ju and Yang Hwa-pyeong were left speechless, mouths agape. It was only then that they realized that from now on, Yosep would need Yohan’s help, not the other way around, and that such a situation would rarely occur. Yohan continued calmly.
…Actually, I felt like I could cry a little out of disappointment. But I held back. I didn’t want to convey the words I’d been thinking while crying like a child.
“I thought about it the entire time I was in the Abyss. Nothing in the world could be harder than being there. So, I’ll be alright.”
While their parents might have cherished their elder son, Yang Yosep, more and always been less trusting of Yohan, that could perhaps be considered a different kind of love. However, it was likely the kind of attention and love given to a finger that was noticeably thin and short. Yang Yosep, who had been listening to Yohan quietly, opened his mouth.
“Yohan is right.”
Yohan looked up in surprise as Yang Yosep backed him up. He had been wondering why his brother was taking his side so much since earlier.
“I haven’t told you until now because I didn’t want you to worry, but clearing Rifts is not an easy task. Yet, he came back alive from a place even more dreadful than that. From a place where even that Lee Hyun-muk faced countless life-threatening situations. Such experiences cannot be ignored.”
Even after hearing the words of her eldest son, whom she trusted so much, Kim Ye-ju bit her lip and tried to persuade Yohan.
“But you’re still…. not ready to be independent…. You’re only twenty-three, and you can’t do anything properly yet….”
Yohan, who had been listening quietly to her faltering words, replied with a bitter smile.
“I’m twenty-four now.”
The year in the Abyss.
The concept of time, which had only been perceived as a single word or short phrase, finally hit the two of them. Yang Hwa-pyeong and Kim Ye-ju looked at their son anew.
In the eyes of parents, their children always seem young, whether they are thirty or forty.
Yang Yosep seemed that way, so Yang Yohan, the second son, seemed even more so. So young. Still looking so young…. He seemed like he would always need looking after, and in this world, he was unreliable and tender-hearted, so they felt they had to keep him close to family, scolding him when necessary. They had thought until recently that since parents couldn’t care for their children forever, they should at least keep him near his Hyung.
But for some reason, their second son suddenly seemed so much older….
Yang Hwa-pyeong, who had been silent and reserved the entire time, let out a low groan, and Kim Ye-ju’s voice suddenly became choked. Both felt strangely lonely and empty, and at the same time, apologetic. Things they had overlooked without much thought due to the chaotic nature of events now weighed on their minds. Such as their inner disappointment and casual dismissal when he was said to have become a Low-rank Awakened, or their assumption that he would naturally work under Yang Yosep even after becoming a High-level Awakener.
Then, another memory suddenly surfaced: the argument they had before Yohan ran away from home.
It was a great relief that he had returned safely now, but what if Yohan hadn’t come back alive? What if their harsh words, telling him to at least do half as well as his Hyung, were the last words spoken to their son? The mere thought of it felt like their hearts were being torn apart.
“Our Yohan has grown up so much…”
Yang Hwa-pyeong, his drunkenness completely gone, mumbled and reached out to pat his son’s back. He had always wished for his son to mature, but seeing him act so calmly and admirably now made him feel pity and regret. Kim Ye-ju also sighed a couple of times, then said with a choked voice,
“Yes, that’s right. Yohan, you’re right. …Thank you, and I’m sorry.”
Hearing his parents’ sincere expressions, Yohan felt the knot of resentment in his heart loosen a bit. As an awkward yet warm atmosphere continued, Yang Yosep got up from his seat.
“If the conversation is over, I’ll go wash up. I want to take a bath with warm water after so long.”
Even though he had been purified, he seemed to feel uneasy about not having had a single drop of water on his body for a long time. As Yang Yosep went to wash, humming a tune, Yang Hwa-pyeong let out a long, heavy sigh. Then, adjusting his posture, he asked.
“So, when do you plan to start at that guild?”
“In a week. The construction of the new building will be completed then.”
“You’re not staying a little longer….”
Kim Ye-ju said with great reluctance. Yohan also wanted to rest for a month or two, but he felt a stronger desire to work with Lee Hyun-muk and the others.
‘And they said around that time, articles about me would start being released…’
According to what Lee Chan-ha had conveyed, reporters were desperately trying to find out the identity of one of the people who escaped with him, namely Yohan. In that case, it was highly likely that his family would get caught up in the commotion, so commuting to and from the new building was the only option. Most importantly, being at the new building would allow him to respond immediately to Great Rifts and Rifts.
“I’ll visit home when I have free time.”
“Should I buy furniture or something?”
“Uh, no. They provide all the furniture, so I think I just need to bring clothes to wear…”
This was when Yohan was having that conversation with his parents. Ding-dong! The doorbell rang. Yang Hwa-pyeong asked Kim Ye-ju, bewildered.
“Honey, are we expecting any guests?”
“No, Yosep wouldn’t invite guests over when he’s like this.”
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The doorbell rang again and again. Fearing that Park Seung-min might have returned to spew more curses, Yohan got up from his seat.
“I’ll go see who it is!”
Yang Hwa-pyeong, who habitually tried to stop him, flinched, remembering that his son was no longer an ordinary civilian. As Yohan walked towards the door, he furrowed his brow. There were more than one or two people outside. They didn’t even seem like civilians. They were probably all Awakened…
What is it? Did Park Seung-min really come back? Suspecting, Yohan asked through the intercom.
“Who is it?”
― We are from the Rift Management Agency, responding to a report of a Corrupted individual. Please open the door.
“……!”
A report of a Corrupted! Judging by the timing, it was obvious that Park Seung-min had made the report. Adding another grievance against Park Seung-min, Yohan calmly replied.
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
The Rift Management Agency’s methods for subduing Corrupted individuals were quite aggressive and rough. This was likely because the targets were dangerous, and the Corrupted individuals’ families often resisted. Since they would barge in anyway, Yohan had no choice but to open the door to prevent the sturdy door from being broken.
“The Rift Management Agency is here?”
Yang Hwa-pyeong’s face contorted, his mood instantly soured. Kim Ye-ju’s face also hardened. Both of them immediately recalled who the culprit for the Corrupted report might be.
Yohan gestured for them to step back and opened the door, and the Special Unit members flooded in. They were all wearing helmets that obscured their faces and black suits. Some were holding guns, making Yohan’s nerves sharpen. One of them asked in an overbearing voice.
“Is Mr. Yang Hwa-pyeong here?”
“I am Yang Hwa-pyeong. What is this about?”
Yang Hwa-pyeong replied stiffly. The Special Unit member scanned the interior of the house, his gaze briefly stopping at Yohan. After assessing how much of a threat the Awakened individual might be, and seemingly deeming him not much of a threat, he responded in a blunt voice.
“We received a tip that the Awakened Yang Yosep recently took refuge in this house after being severely Corrupted, exceeding the Rift Management Agency’s standards. Therefore, we request your cooperation with the search.”
Yang Hwa-pyeong’s face, now extremely displeased, flushed with anger. What’s more, they had stepped into the house without taking off their shoes, in the early morning hours, close to dawn.
“No… excuse me. Even so, barging in like this and suddenly demanding a search…”
“Please be advised that refusal to cooperate may result in arrest.”
This was precisely why the Rift Management Agency’s Special Suppression Unit had such a notorious reputation. They had the authority to search without a warrant, based solely on a report. Since they could arrest and detain citizens who resisted, and even pursue criminal charges, public dissatisfaction was high. Even if their household belongings were destroyed due to a false report, they received no compensation. Yang Hwa-pyeong was about to confront them fearlessly, even with Awakened individuals present.
“Father? What’s going on?”
Naturally, Yang Yosep, who had been bathing, had noticed these unsettling presences. He immediately grasped the reason for the Special Unit’s visit and, brazenly, came out in his underwear. Yohan, displeased for a different reason, scowled. I need my purification right now…