By Zephyria Only then did Yohan fall silent, realizing it wasn’t that he spoke slowly out of reluctance, but because his words were sincere. Unlike his parents, who vaguely thought the Abyss must have been difficult, Yang Yosep, who had already been an Awakened and had tackled Rifts multiple times, had eyes that seemed to grasp, even if only a little, how terrible a place the Abyss must be. He swallowed dryly, and Yohan asked,
“What? Could you say that again?”
“Come here. I’ll speak closer so you can hear me well.”
Seeing Yang Yosep’s fist, Yohan ran away again. Then, turning his head so Yang Yosep couldn’t see, he grinned. He had rarely heard words of hardship or gratitude from his Hyung in his life. Seeing his two sons, one missing and one severely Corrupted, home safe and sound, the worried light finally vanished completely from Yang Hwa-pyeong and Kim Ye-ju’s faces.
“Let’s see again if our son is truly alright.”
“I’m really fine. I’ve never felt in better condition in my life.”
Gently reassuring Kim Ye-ju, who was still worried, and confirming his body was healthy, Yang Yosep said with a sigh.
“But if I was severely Corrupted, you should have reported me to the government.”
“Nonsense. What would you trust those people with to hand you over!”
Yang Hwa-pyeong, who had been watching with satisfaction, retorted indignantly. Yang Yosep’s face hardened, and he slowly shook his head stubbornly. As the warm atmosphere instantly cooled, Yohan just watched, observing cautiously.
“At least it was better than me becoming a parricide who harms my parents.”
“But you endured it well in the end! If they had handed you over to the government, Yohan wouldn’t have been able to treat you.”
“That’s true. But all of this is only because we were lucky and things worked out. If Yohan hadn’t come back, I…”
“Why are you making such meaningless assumptions about someone who’s already returned perfectly fine! If something like this happens again, I’d rather take you and live on a deserted island than ever do that!”
Yohan thought that Yang Yosep’s words made sense, and he also understood Yang Hwa-pyeong’s feelings. It was still common for Corrupted individuals to harm their families or those around them. However, on the other hand, he understood why his parents had locked him in the basement; if he were reported to the government and quarantined, they would never see their child again.
But keeping Yang Yosep here was definitely dangerous. Although Yang Yosep was showing patience even in his semi-delirious state, how long would that last? Moreover, Yang Yosep was an intermediate awakened with an excellent evaluation. A truly terrible tragedy could have occurred.
‘If Hyung had been quarantined by the government, it would have been troublesome, but I would have found a way to rescue him eventually.’
It would have been difficult for Yohan alone, but now he had Lee Hyun-mook and others… Besides, he had escaped the Abyss; what couldn’t he accomplish here?
Watching his family’s affairs as if they were stories happening far away, Yohan thought about the Sun Guild. Just imagining working together made him excited. Whatever he did here would be enjoyable and good compared to the Abyss.
“That’s enough! What’s the point of talking about what’s already over? You stop too. Let’s eat. Let’s have a meal with the children after a long time.”
Kim Ye-ju hastily intervened to stop the two as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Yang Hwa-pyeong and Yang Yosep also backed down without further argument. In fact, Yohan was quite hungry, so he quickly went to the table and sat down. He felt like the food from the company dinner had already been digested.
After saying grace, they picked up their chopsticks. Kim Ye-ju, overjoyed that both her sons were safe, had put on a much more abundant breakfast than usual, with the help of the housekeeper. Yohan, with anticipation, quickly took a large spoonful of rice and ate it with the side dishes. It was incredibly delicious.
Yohan, who had developed a habit of intensely focusing on meals, his greatest pleasure in the Abyss, didn’t notice his family staring at him in surprise. Normally, Yohan would chatter away while eating, but now he ate without a word, like someone who hadn’t eaten for days. This was also partly because his appetite had significantly increased after his Awakening. Yang Yosep also easily finished two to three bowls of rice per meal after his Awakening.
“Is it delicious? Do you want more rice?”
Kim Ye-ju’s eyes welled up slightly with pity for her second son, who had finished a bowl in an instant. Even so, her hand was already scooping more rice. Yohan, still a bit hungry, accepted without refusal and smiled.
“As expected, home cooking is the best.”
Yoon Seung-ryong was a very good cook, and the food from yesterday’s company dinner was delicious, but nothing tasted as good as home-cooked meals. After finishing the meal, the family didn’t leave the table, enjoying the warm and peaceful atmosphere while eating dessert. Looking at his fingertips, which had once grown unpleasant, slimy tentacles, Yang Yosep asked.
“So, until when are you going to keep your identity as a Purifier a secret?”
“Until the time is right? It might take a few months.”
To be precise, it was until they took over the Corrupted individuals according to the contract with the government. For this task, Lee Hyun-mook had purchased a suitable island under the Sun Guild’s ownership and was rapidly proceeding with construction. The island was a space where Corrupted individuals could be relatively safely quarantined in this era. Since they had to build facilities to accommodate nearly several hundred people, it was taking time.
‘Still, I can purify the people I’ve rescued.’
Just imagining the joy of those freed from suffering after receiving purification already made him feel good. Yohan was smiling unconsciously when Yang Hwa-pyeong, his cheeks flushed from a couple of drinks, said.
“Yes, Yohan. A High-level Awakened, how wonderful. That’s great. Truly great. You brothers will be able to help each other well.”
“You’re going to join your Hyung’s guild and work, right? Since you went through so much hardship in the Abyss, why don’t you rest a bit more before working?”
Kim Ye-ju also spoke with shining eyes, but Yohan was momentarily speechless. The boundless joy he felt upon returning home subsided slightly. Before he could say anything, Yang Yosep burst into laughter as if he had heard something absurd. Putting down the tangerine he had been half-heartedly eating, he said.
“Father. Why would he join my guild? What’s in it for him?”
“What’s wrong with your guild?”
Yang Hwa-pyeong, who had great pride in his eldest son, frowned. ‘Neon,’ the guild Yang Yosep founded with capital from home as soon as he Awakened, was receiving quite good evaluations. The guild members’ thorough concealment of Yang Yosep’s Corruption was also part of the reason. This was because the Neon Guild had investment from Samyeong Pharmaceutical Company. Yang Yosep was about to say something but glanced at his younger brother and closed his mouth, yielding the floor. Yohan calmly opened his mouth.
“I was actually going to tell you, I’ve decided to join the Sun Guild.”
“You’re joining the Sun Guild? You?”
Yang Hwa-pyeong and Kim Ye-ju were startled. Honestly, Yohan had thought they might have guessed, since he had already had a company dinner with Lee Hyun-mook and the existing Sunrise Team members. However, contrary to his expectations, his parents still hadn’t fully grasped that Yohan had spent a year in the Abyss and escaped, nor the value of a Purifier who was a High-level Awakened.
“R-right. Yes… The Sun Guild, it’s certainly a good place.”
Even as he said it, Yang Hwa-pyeong seemed bewildered, as if the alcohol had completely worn off. He adjusted his posture. My son will be working with that Lee Hyun-mook! Seeing a pleased light flash across his father’s face, Yohan spoke.
“But even if I weren’t a High-level Awakened, even if I were just an ordinary Strength Enhancement Type Low-rank Awakened, I wouldn’t have joined Hyung’s guild. Even if I hadn’t Awakened.”
“Yohan…”
Yang Hwa-pyeong frowned and opened his mouth. Knowing he was about to hear the same words he had heard countless times before, Yohan cut him off.
“This isn’t simply coming from inferiority or a sense of inadequacy. Even before this, I didn’t want to live as a tag-along to Hyung. My life and Hyung’s life are separate. In our house, Hyung was always the best at everything, so even if my parents’ eyes didn’t find what I’ve accomplished satisfactory…”
“Mom thought it would be good for you to work together as brothers.”
“Yes, it was all for your own good.”
Yohan didn’t affirm their words, merely lowering his gaze.
He recalled his parents’ reaction when he had claimed to be a Low-rank Awakened, fearing eavesdroppers outside the house. Even upon hearing the news of his Awakening, they had responded with awkward smiles, saying something like, ‘It’s enough that you’re back.’ Normally, Awakening alone would have been a cause for great celebration at home, but because Yang Yosep, an intermediate awakened, was present, it became something they couldn’t fully celebrate.
“Joining the Sun Guild…”
Kim Ye-ju, who had been muttering blankly while looking at Yohan, suddenly remembered something and looked up.
“But Yohan, the Sun Guild is far from here. How are you planning to commute?”