Amidst the people playing a game of wits to secure a prime spot, I managed to find a suitable place. It was slightly off to the side of the viewing platform, out of sight from others, but with an unobstructed view. There, right there.
"Mr. Ki, let's go over there. We'll have a better view from there."
"Ah, yes, let's do that."
Securing a spot is a race against time. I grabbed Ki Yu-hyun's arm and strode confidently to the perfect spot. Before long, the fireworks began.
First, small yellow sparks drew a picture in the sky.
The beautiful picture drawn by the fireworks was... uh...?
His face...?
It was Oh Seo-ho's face, grinning and winking with a bright smile.
The caption that appeared below read, 'Made by Oh Seo-ho.'
"He... He's quite narcissistic, isn't he?"
"He's not a bad person, but... yeah, a bit."
"Ah, have you met him before?"
"By chance, yes."
It didn't seem like a topic Ki Yu-hyun wanted to discuss, so he gave a brief answer.
Though initially taken aback, the following fireworks were splendid and beautiful. The dazzling light continuously changed shape, drawing pictures in the sky.
Indeed, the illusionist Oh Seo-ho. Though now more widely known as a celebrity, his skills were incredible. When a giant castle appeared in the sky and transformed into butterflies that disappeared, it felt as if the fireworks were leading us into a world of illusions.
Enjoying the fireworks and the cool breeze, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.
What is it?
"Mr. Ki, wait a moment."
"Why?"
"Well, I'll go get some drinks from the vending machine over there."
"I'll go."
"No, it's fine. It's right there. Stay here."
There was a vending machine not far away. I bought two warm barley teas and pretended to head back to our spot, but then I peeked into the bushes.
"..."
"..."
I tried to quickly pull down my cap, but it was too late.
There was no way I couldn't recognize that silver hair, which shimmered even in the dark night.
"...Kwon Ji-won, what are you doing there?"
Kwon Ji-won, crouched behind the bushes, and beside him was a friendly-looking man, Hunter Han Eui-sung.
"Hehe, Lee, what a coincidence meeting you here."
"...Hello, it's been a while."
"Surely you didn't follow your sister here... right?"
Right? No matter what, Kwon Ji-won isn't that idle. I scanned him with a skeptical eye.
"No, no, no! Of course not. It's a coincidence, a coincidence."
"But why are you both here?"
"Well, to watch the fireworks, of course. It's a rare opportunity."
A person who usually showed no interest in such events? I looked at Kwon Ji-won with suspicion.
"From behind the viewing platform, you won't see anything..."
"Hey! Over there! There's a spot over there, let's go!"
Just as I was about to press him further, Hunter Han Eui-sung got up and led Kwon Ji-won to a good spot. They seemed quite close, running to secure a good spot.
So, they really are friends... as Ki Yu-hyun said.
How close must they be to come watch the fireworks together?
After watching them leave, I returned to where Ki Yu-hyun was.
We continued watching the remaining fireworks and chatted. Surprisingly, he was a good conversationalist. I talked about the new menu I created yesterday, and Ki Yu-hyun mentioned that the <Dungeon Management Office> headquarters had been busy dealing with recent incidents.
"Wow, that's amazing."
The final highlight, a winter forest-themed fireworks display, concluded the show. The forest, which seemed to emit a refreshing scent, transformed into snowflakes that gradually disappeared.
Finally, the last snowflake dissolved into darkness, marking the end of the fireworks.
True to the fast-paced nature of the people, the crowd began to disperse to avoid traffic.
Ki Yu-hyun had said he had something to tell me, but he didn't say anything until the fireworks ended.
Was he planning to speak after the crowd thinned out? I sipped my warm barley tea and quietly observed Ki Yu-hyun.
It had been about two months since I first met him in the shop's front yard.
Ki Yu-hyun had helped me several times and was generally kind. Although he sometimes said strange things, I thought he was a good person.
However, there were times when I felt a strange, indescribable vibe from him.
How should I describe it?
Despite his well-crafted face, which couldn't be hidden by long hair or glasses, he seemed to lack presence.
He would suddenly appear and just as suddenly disappear.
Occasionally, when we talked, he seemed to know a lot but showed no particular interest in anything.
He was here, yet not here. It felt as if a part of Ki Yu-hyun was somewhere else.
Even now, I felt the same way.
I believed his words about not being able to taste much, as it seemed plausible for him.
The darkness descended again after the fireworks ended. The streetlights didn't reach this area, and his dark eyes sparkled in the darkness.
Looking at his pale face, I suddenly remembered the time he appeared at the Yongsan shopping mall.
He appeared with a shimmer of light, giving the impression that he would disappear just as quickly.
I instinctively reached out but quickly withdrew my hand, unsure where to grab.
"..."
"..."
In the complete silence, I couldn't bear the stillness and spoke first.
"It's getting cold. It seems like it's really winter now."
"Yes, it's quite cold."
"Mr. Ki, what did you want to say today?"
His face showed clear hesitation. Ki Yu-hyun took a shallow breath and slowly spoke.
"It's... I'm sorry for making you wait, Lee. I couldn't bring myself to say it. There were also some interruptions."
"It's okay. Watching the fireworks was fun. And it seems you were right about Kwon Ji-won and Han Eui-sung being friends."
Given that they came together.
Ki Yu-hyun smiled bitterly, as if he already knew.
"You might be surprised, but..."
However, he didn't continue, and silence fell again. I could hear his breathing, and I felt his tension.
Ah.
I can't handle this tense atmosphere.
"Hey, what is it? Just say it, I won't be surprised."
Unable to bear the stiffening atmosphere, I spoke up.
"Are you going to tell me some secret? For example... that you're the top-ranked Hunter, Muwon?"
"..."
He was visibly startled. His dark eyes widened.
Oh, was that it?
What else could it be...
* * *
Ki Yu-hyun decided to reveal his true identity to Lee.
He couldn't lie to her anymore.
The reason he had hidden his identity from before the regression until now was simple.
Being the top-ranked Hunter in the current Korean Hunter community meant he was more than just an individual; he was a strategic resource. The strong abilities came with restrictions on his actions.
There were practical reasons for avoiding unnecessary conflicts and moving freely, but ultimately, it was because he didn't trust others.
Even those who were always by his side, like Han Eui-sung, and even the party he fought with in the final battle.
Moreover, Ki Yu-hyun soon realized there were gaps in his memories.
Especially his memories before his awakening were unclear. Basic information like his birthdate, age, and place of birth remained, but he didn't feel like they were his. It was as if he was looking at someone else's memories.
Every cell in his body felt foreign. Could he really call himself a collection of recorded information?
'Finally, it's over.'
'Thank you, Hunter...!'
When the <Awakened Center> was destroyed, people cheered, saying the Hunter community could finally return to normal.
The person they were waiting for was Muwon.
At that moment, Ki Yu-hyun felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity. He felt a strong aversion to their joy, as if he had become an isolated existence, his shadow erased.
The power of the White Light.
The skill of weaving light threads in the darkness, using the intricate web of light created by the Spider Goddess to manipulate space.
However, every time he used this power, he felt as if he was flowing into 'the other side' through the web of light.
He feared that one day, when the web was complete, he would disappear beyond the <Ultimate Gate>, and another entity would take his place.
Who could he share such feelings with?
Thus, he regressed three years into the past and arrived at the present.
Initially, he had no intention of revealing his true identity to Lee.
Many things had changed since the regression, and she was at the center of it. It couldn't be a coincidence.
However, she was, in every way, an ordinary person. She had no connection to the cult or the God of Magic and had even been injured in a plot targeting Kim Deok-i's workshop.
Maintaining a loose relationship would be best.
Helping her when she was in danger, occasionally going for coffee, and never revealing who he truly was. A loose relationship where he only showed his well-crafted human side.
That's what he thought.
'Awakening doesn't mean you become a completely different person, right?'
That statement left a strong impression on him.
It wasn't directed at him. It was probably said out of concern for the young twins. She might not even remember such a trivial and ordinary statement. Yet, the more he thought about it, the more it felt like it was directed at him.
When he drank the coffee she made, he felt a warmth filling the void in his soul. Each time he tasted that warmth, he wanted to ask:
Do you still think that awakening doesn't mean becoming a completely different person?
However, he maintained a loose relationship, unable to bring himself to reveal his true identity.
Then, the black slime appeared, causing chaos in the city.
'Hey, you were just here. Guild Master?!'
The moment Lee pressed the alarm, Ki Yu-hyun instantly leaped through space to her. He acted before he could think, and it took him a moment to realize where he was.
The web of light felled the monster.
He saw her, holding the child, a manifestation of the Abyss, and rising resolutely to save the child.
'...Mr. Ki!'
The moment he heard her clear voice, he felt an urge to reveal who he was.