I approached Seong Hyunjae, intent on grabbing him by the collar or ripping out his hair—but he remained utterly unfazed, as though nothing I could do would affect him. And in truth, nothing would. He was always unshakeable, and now even more so. Maybe I should’ve threatened to shave his head with clippers instead of yanking his collar. Even the most arrogant person might flinch at that. Then I’d auction off his hair—certified by the Sesung Guild master. “Freshly plucked Seong Hyunjae hair, pesticide-free, organically grown... actually forcibly trans-crescent cultivated, trademarked!”

I was about to feint grabbing his collar and then seize his hair when suddenly—

“Hyung, wait.”

Yuhyun held me back, and Director Song stepped in front of Seong Hyunjae.

“Do not approach rashly.”

“Director Song?”

“Is this the usual Sesung Guild master?” Song Taewon’s voice, heavy with certainty thanks to shared senses, rumbled.

“Seong Hyunjae’s attitude toward Han Yujin reminds me of half a year ago. At first I thought his memories were flawed,” he glanced back at Seong Hyunjae. “He’s reading my movements more precisely than before, yet he’s also underestimating my capabilities.”

“Taewon has not changed.” Seong Hyunjae’s lips curled in a smile. Taewon’s brow furrowed.

“...Is this Seong Hyunjae before the regression?”

“Should I applaud? I’m delighted you recognize me so precisely.” His tone dripped with sarcasm, yet also sincerity. Of course he’d be pleased—to him, Taewon was a man who had died and returned. The look in Seong Hyunjae’s eyes was almost affectionate.

“You’re healthier than the last time I saw you, with no losses. You seem... softer, somehow. Taewon, are you in love?”

“No.”

“Not yet after your return? Your wedding was quite joyous.”

“Director Song married?!”

Who? With whom? Someone I know? One of the officers? Not a mortal or low-rank hunter—maybe Hyunah? Director Song sighed and looked at me.

“No, Han Yujin.”

“...I wasn’t thinking that.”

“Of course it was a joke—like with Hunter Moon Hyunah.”

Of course, of course! Taewon fixed Seong Hyunjae with a hard stare.

“State your purpose.”

“I wanted to say a final farewell to those I lost.”

Seong Hyunjae’s voice softened, the opposite of Taewon’s bluntness. Unlike me, who could have sent a postcard, Director Song never even visited their graves. Bittersweet—

“State your purpose.”

Song Taewon’s tone chilled as he warned him. Surely Seong Hyunjae hadn’t come merely to exchange farewells. This wasn’t the original him, but an overlay. Even if he offered to step aside, Taewon would shrug it off as meaningless.

“So cold. Even Haeyeon Guild Master Soyeong seemed fond of you last time. Around fifteen days before Taewon’s death, she was tipsily hiding you and warned me to keep my distance.”

“You... you, Yuhyun?”

“There are few who can stand before the Sesung Guild master. Back then your touch supporting Han Yujin felt awkward and tense.” He smiled as he looked at Yuhyun.

“Now it feels natural.”

I glanced at Yuhyun. A shadow flickered across his face—he must be uncomfortable hearing about the pre-regression past.

“After Director Song died, did you truly never return to Korea? You abandoned your guild and home?”

Even someone living well alone must have felt some attachment.

“I may be gone, but the Sesung guildmembers once followed me loyally. Soyeong seemed to like you. And Vantes and Evelyn...”

“Do these current Miller hunters like me?” Seong Hyunjae asked in surprise.

“Of course. They’re here in Korea, after all.”

They treated him like a superior—it’s a sign of affection. And Soyeong admitted she liked his face; surely Evelyn did too. At least they liked the guildmaster’s salary and items.

“Yet you left alone. You could have stayed home.”

Instead he sent postcards about sheep and ran off to Switzerland, erasing memories as he went. It still burns me up.

“I came to open the gift Taewon gave me.”

Plunder. Seong Hyunjae couldn’t have left that power unused.

“It was a power meant to swallow me—it could have overwhelmed me. I couldn’t dig up the carefully made tomb, even if it was empty.”

“For safety?”

“And the things I cultivated.”

His golden eyes cooled to steel, and a razor-sharp smile curved his lips.

“I’ve seen enough of my work trampled.” He tapped his temple lightly. “Though memories are erased, emotions remain.”

“Were you the Crescent Moon?”

“You’d never let me go free—whether severing the contract or being devoured by shadows.”

“That latter suit you least,” I said. To embrace Plunder was to embrace self-destruction. Seong Hyunjae tilted his head faintly. He’d never surrender his life, not after all he’d endured. Yet if the Crescent Moon reached fullness, he’d cease to be himself. What fate more horrifying than losing yourself to someone you love?

“Wait—did the Crescent Moon really appear? In Switzerland?”

“Indirectly, via Dungeon Break. That’s why I stand here.”

“What happened?”

Seong Hyunjae smoothed his collar and replied, “Han Yujin, is the price of victory not your collar rather than information?”

...That’s despicable! Even if I’m wronged, I’ll grab his collar!

“Yuhyun, let go.”

“But hyung, the current Sesung Guild master is dangerous.”

“It’s okay; I keep promises. Director Song, please step aside briefly.”

I shoved off Yuhyun’s hand and strode forward. Director Song hesitated, then stepped back. I walked straight up to Seong Hyunjae, and he bowed his torso slightly, offering his neck again with that same unshakeable confidence.

Worthless, absolutely. I reached out and caught his collar, tugging with all my might—yet he didn’t budge a millimeter. He would allow nothing beyond what he permitted. What looked like crossing a line was in fact still within his bounds.

“Seong Hyunjae.”

I spoke softly.

“As you say... Perhaps this isn’t my story at all.”

Maybe I was just an outsider, watching from beyond the line—never fully knowing, eventually forgotten, a cameo fleetingly seen.

“But now it’s my story.”

No matter what anyone says.

“The story of pushing down the man who erased others’ memories and grabbing his collar.”

His golden eyes glinted in amusement.

“Of course, it’s Han Yujin’s story.”

He spoke as though proud, and I felt a curse on my lips.

“Should I apologize for erasing memories?”

“Only in words?”

“What do you want?”

“Something small—like grabbing your collar is to me.”

“I can do that anytime, as you wish.”

Really? He released his collar, and I lunged for his hair. He could never have predicted that—even with precognition!

“You bastard! I’ll rip out every hair on your head!”

“Hyung!”

See his attitude! Truly the world’s greatest, yet weak enough to cling to faded hair. I grabbed a handful, but his roots were S-Rank strong. Yuhyun and Director Song both gasped. Even Seong Hyunjae was surprised. Myeong-woo’s voice called from a distance: “Yujin...”

“Wait—”

“No waiting! Stay seized all night until they pull out!”

His hair is insanely sturdy! Not a single strand came loose!

“Hey! Is this not Han Yujin’s story? It is! It always was, and it is now, and it continues!”

If regression wiped everything away, I wouldn’t even be here. All I have now is because of that time.

“Hyung! You could get hurt! Let me cut it, okay?”

“Han Yujin, your fingers could be cut by his hair. Better to use a weapon!”

“Yujin, should I craft scissors that can cut S-Rank hair?”

“Hold on, hold on—just one strand!”

I braced my feet on his shoulders and chest and yanked with all my strength. He gripped my waist but didn’t forcibly pry me off—perhaps because of his promise.

“If it were someone else’s story, why should I suffer? From start to finish, it’s my story! Yours, but mine too! {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} The world doesn’t revolve around you, right? It’s mine now, and I won’t lose it! Give it back!”

“Calm down. It seems hard for you to pull out as Han Yujin.”

“Don’t tell me to awaken as F-Rank—I’d have plucked it out long ago!”

“Hyung! Your fingers are bleeding!”

In my frenzy, I’d nicked my hand. His hair really is wickedly strong! Makes sense—if it weren’t, monsters in dungeons would tear it out.

“He worries because he cares!”

I released his hair and stepped down. My anger subsided slightly. Yuhyun checked my palm.

“Your hand wound’s worse!”

“Well... it doesn’t count since I didn’t pull any hair out! One strand remains!”

“Be prepared.”

Seong Hyunjae roughly tidied his disheveled hair. Even torn, it suited him about as much as his infuriating face. Then he unclenched the hand that held my waist.

“You’ve shrunk a bit, and lost muscle.”

“···He’s been a hunter longer than me.”

Must he compare everything?

“Overall you’re leaner, and your waist’s softer—”

“Stop commenting on my body!”

Still, I can’t deny it—I’ve been busy six months post-regression without regular training. This is S-Rank life!

“Honestly, hyung, you’re thinner now than just before regression.”

Yuhyun said, concerned as he dressed my wound.

“Back then I was average, and I’ve never been frail.”

“There are many higher-rank hunters around you, so you looked small by comparison—but you’ve always been above average.”

Director Song chimed in. I quickly protested.

“Not to mention my core strength is better now... I exercise enough chasing the kids around!”

“Yujin.”

Finally Myeong-woo spoke.

“Health demands a routine. Have you eaten three meals at fixed times this past week?”

“Well... time zones! It was France! Everything’s different, even the water!”

I jabbed a glare at Seong Hyunjae. Why spout useless trivia?

“I still haven’t heard your reason.”

Director Song said to Seong Hyunjae, who gestured him closer and whispered something. Yuhyun shook his head—apparently it was a whisper beyond even an S-Rank’s hearing.

Song Taewon’s expression hardened, and he sighed.

“I understand, for now.”

“What did he say?”

Seong Hyunjae looked at me and smiled silently.

“He said, ‘Tell me if Han Yujin accepts my message.’”

“Fine by me.”

He said he wouldn’t tell me unless we were teammates—how petty.

[Practice game has ended.]

A message appeared belatedly. So... what now? Shall I call the team for a brawl?