Junyeok lay sprawled across the hotel bed, one arm hanging off the edge, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"What should I even do tomorrow?" he muttered, voice low and casual, though a faint frown tugged at his lips. "There's nothing for me… and those names on the leaderboard… sixth and fifth place… where did they even come from?"
He tilted his head, recalling familiar names—the daughters of Liemberg and the Monster & Drops shop—but something didn't line up. They weren't supposed to be here, at least as far as he remembered.
A quiet weight pressed on his thoughts.
Could this be the start of some butterfly effect?
Junyeok's fingers curled around the pendant at his chest. A small, nervous smile formed—more thoughtful than happy.
He remembered the earthquake—the chaos caused by the ground behemoth. Buildings crumbled, trains derailed, people screamed. And in that disaster… Yun.
She had been trapped under falling debris, a massive concrete slab pinning her down. Somehow, by sheer luck or fate, she survived—but at a terrible cost. Her legs… both broken beyond repair. The doctors' words had been blunt: She will never walk again.
Her sister… broken even more. She had watched, helpless, despair etched across her face. But she didn't give up. When news of a newly discovered C-rank dungeon reached them, she joined an A-rank party. The reward was a miracle elixir—a legendary S-rank item capable of curing any injury or abnormality.
All for her sister.
Junyeok remained silent, staring at the ceiling, expression unreadable.
She hadn't known what awaited her. Even her father tried to stop her—but she didn't listen. They had reached the twentieth floor. The boss was supposed to be a giant black serpent—a standard C-rank monster.
Instead… they found horror incarnate: a Gorgonling. Half-human, half-serpent. Its scales glistened like wet obsidian. Its upper body vaguely human, yet monstrous in its twisted proportions, with long serpentine limbs coiling and hissing, and a face that was human enough to recognize… but wrong enough to terrify.
Its power? Fearbound. One glance could freeze anyone in pure terror, leaving them paralyzed, heart hammering, unable to move or even breathe.
The entire party… wiped out. No survivors. Not even Lyn.
Junyeok exhaled slowly.
Yun had been traumatized, blaming herself ever since and locked herself in her room since then.
The Tragic Twins… that's what people called them after hearing Yun and Lyn's story after finding their relationship.Despite growing up apart, with different parents and personalities, the bond between the sisters had always been unbreakable. They might act cold toward each other, but in reality… they truly cared.
Junyeok let out a soft chuckle, tension easing slightly.
"Something's changed for the better," he whispered to himself, a small, confident smile forming. "At least this won't affect me… not now."
Nyxara, sitting quietly nearby, raised an eyebrow at the rare smile on his face. He really can't stop grinning, can he? she thought.
"I'd probably spend tomorrow… enjoying myself," Junyeok said casually, stretching his arms.
The next day, Junyeok leaned against the doorframe, holding a large box filled with chocolate bars.
"Here," he said, offering it to Nyxara. "For staying behind while I'm out. Think of it as… payment."
Nyxara's eyes sparkled. "I want to go too!"
Junyeok's expression darkened slightly as he pointed at the box. "Really? You want this? Fine. Take it."
Her face lit up. She leaned over the box, eyes wide and shiny, a bit of drool forming at the corners of her mouth. She quickly wiped it away, chuckling.
"You know what? I'll stay. But I get all of this," she said, hugging the box like treasure. Her eyes shone like stars.
Junyeok smirked, nodding. "Good choice. Enjoy."
Dressed in a sky-blue jacket left unbuttoned over a white T-shirt, matching pants, and white sneakers, Junyeok strapped on the bracelet he always wore—its incomplete charm catching the morning light. He stepped out of the hotel room, the warmth of the sun brushing against his skin.
As he walked, someone suddenly bumped into him.
"See where you're walking!" snapped a sharp voice.
Junyeok turned, frowning. Wait… isn't she…?
A girl, around sixteen, slim and athletic, with crimson red hair tied in a high ponytail, glared at him. Messy strands framed a confident, daring face, eyes bright and bold like they were daring anyone to challenge her. She wore an oversized white hoodie, black slim pants with side stripes, and white sneakers with red accents.
Junyeok crossed his arms, blinking. She bumped into me, yet she's yelling?
"Next time, watch where you're going," she muttered, walking away. Her voice dropped to a hiss: "What a loser."
Junyeok's lips twitched, half-annoyed, half-amused.
Did she just call me that?
He shook his head, chuckling lightly. "Whatever. I've got nothing to do with her anyway."
The sun shone warmly overhead, the day perfect—clear skies, gentle breeze.
Junyeok thought to himself, I really want some sweets. Maybe I should head to a nearby shop.
After buying a generous amount of sweets, he made his way toward the park, a small smile tugging at his lips. What could be better than sitting under this beautiful weather, enjoying my favorite treats, and just relaxing?
A flicker of worry crossed his face. Did I buy too much?
As he walked, a few leaves drifted down from the trees above, brushing against his shoulders. He looked up, puzzled. "What…?"
Before he could finish his thought, a sudden weight landed in his arms. Startled, Junyeok reacted instantly, catching the girl who had fallen from above.
Their eyes met. For a brief moment, something unusual stirred inside him—a sensation he felt somewhere before, long ago.
The girl's face flushed bright red, and she stammered, "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—thank you for catching me…" Her voice trembled softly, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
Junyeok's own words stumbled out awkwardly. "Oh… it's okay. You don't have to apologize. But… uh… what were you doing up there?"
She blinked, fidgeting with the edge of her hat, her sky-blue braid shifting gently over her shoulder. "I… I was trying to… um… reach something, but I… I must have slipped…" Her voice was soft, careful, timid, yet there was a quiet determination in the way she spoke—like she refused to give up, even in embarrassment.
Junyeok couldn't help but notice how delicate and ethereal she looked: long sky-blue hair in a neat side braid, loose strands framing her soft, innocent face. Her eyes were dazzling, wide with both apology and a shy curiosity. Her pale skin and frilly off-shoulder top, paired with a high-waist skirt and elegant jute hat adorned with a white flower, made her seem almost like she belonged in a painting rather than the real world.
He let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Well… at least you're safe now. But maybe try to stay on the ground next time, okay?"
She bowed slightly, cheeks burning. "Y-Yes… I-I will be more careful. Th-thank you again… really." Her words were soft, melodic, and carried the weight of genuine gratitude, mingled with a hint of shyness.
Junyeok looked down at her, still holding a piece of his chocolate in his hand. What did I just feel? He wondered silently, a strange warmth settling in his chest.
The girl fidgeted with the ribbon on her hat, stealing a quick glance at him. "I-I hope I didn't cause you any trouble…"
Junyeok smiled, more to himself than her. "No trouble at all. It's… kind of interesting, actually."
Junyeok: "By the way… what are you doing up there?"
The girl (blushing, looking down, her voice soft): "Oh… about that, I was—"
She trailed off, cheeks turning pink, as if the words were too embarrassing to say out loud. Junyeok blinked, feeling that familiar, strange flutter again.