I pulled a windbreaker jacket from the closet. I’d thrown it away years ago, but it must have stayed behind in the room since I’d worn it so often. It was a bit large and loose, # Nоvеlight # so when I draped it on, it also covered my injured arm.

Closing the closet door, I looked around the main room. It felt smaller in reality, but memory must have softened it—now it seemed surprisingly spacious and clean.

If I ever come to a place like this again... will it have become our home by then?

I hope so. I want us all to live together here as long as our family home stays the biggest and most vivid one I know. Of course, the kids might multiply and we’ll have to move. Maybe I should see if we can add on to this house—the rooftop garden is large enough, so it seems possible.

“Your jacket is nice, Mister,” Yerim said with a surprised laugh as I stepped into the living room.

“It’s really old,” I replied.

“Trends always come back around~” Her cheerful voice held not a trace of shadow. Still, it made me uneasy. At S-Rank you get a mental fortitude buff, but it’s not万能—if anything, the higher the limit, the more you end up bottling things back until they explode bigger. My fear-resistance had side effects too; simply blocking out all negative emotion can’t be the answer... yet I can’t just stop using it. It’s a headache.

“I don’t want to send you off alone,” Yuhyun said, clinging to my back as he spoke in a pouty tone. Doing this at home reminded me of old times. When he was little, he had almost no emotion, then slowly learned to express himself. If he needed something he’d tell you as neatly as filing a company report, even before entering elementary school. Back then I thought how smart my little brother was—grown-up kids trying hard to act older are common, after all. Later he started saying what he wanted or didn’t want.

“I don’t want to be away from you all either, but what can I do? I’ll come back in one piece this time. Maybe I’ll call in the main team.”

It wasn’t my turn—normally they rotate—but I tried to soothe him. He still refused to let go. Even Yerim grabbed my good arm and pretended to cling. Yerim, I can handle your weight. You can really cling if you want.

“I’m on your side, but honestly, who’s going to believe you, Han Yuhyun?”

“...I did my best, really.” I couldn’t let them win that easily. It isn’t me, it’s the world’s fault. Given the right environment, I can take care of myself and live quietly. I haven’t given up on my unemployed dream yet.

“When it’s all over, I’ll really be quiet. I’ll take care of my health.”

I’d say I’d raise the kids and tend to Yuhyun and Yerim, then left the room. When I arrived in the familiar space, Myeong-woo was already there. His gaze flicked to my arm, then away.

“What’s up this time, sir?”

“I’m not sure, but it looks like the main team will join.”

“That’s a relief. Our kids worry so much.”

“Of course they do.” Even that felt like a hollow answer—I couldn’t shake the guilt. It’s all the transcendent’s fault. I really am innocent. Seong Hyunjae appeared next.

“You taking care of that body properly?”

“You’re so considerate. You worry about me more than I do myself.”

“Not you, your body. It’s precious and useful—I have a stake in it, you know.”

“Do you now?”

“Didn’t you hear? We signed a contract about a month ago: one-third of Seong Hyunjae’s body shares belong to me.”

You don’t remember? Of course not—but let’s pretend it happened. People forget little things. Hyunjae’s eyes lit up with a smile.

“Remarkable news.”

“I was shocked myself. Didn’t you hear, Myeong-woo? It made headlines: ‘Dodam Breeding Farm Acquires Half of Seong Guild’s Shares. Guildmaster Seong Hyunjae Thanks Director Han Yujin—What Happened Between Them?’”

“...Uh, yeah. Well, if Yujin says so, it must be true.”

Myeong-woo looked uneasy trying to play along. Hyunjae waved a new contract in front of me.

“But the terms changed, which is the problem. Law cares about bodies, not minds. So come on, let’s write a new contract: Guildmaster Seong Hyunjae will transfer half of Seong’s shares to Director Han Yujin plus any SS-Rank item he wants as compensation.”

He was joking, but my heart fluttered as he handed me the paper. Myeong-woo called, “Yujin...” softly. Huh, is it wrong to scam someone who doesn’t remember? Hyunjae lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Sorry you don’t recall such an important matter.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay~”

“So in apology I’ll transfer all my shares.”

“...What?”

Wait—not Seong’s? Hyunjae pulled out a pen. I froze, then stumbled back in shock.

“I’m kidding, kidding! Wha–”

I thought he’d run, but the contract was already in his hand. He edited the text, signed it....Holy hell.

“Hey, excuse me.”

What do you expect me to do with owning you!

“Give it back! I don’t need—”

Crackle

A strange sound, then the contract’s edge began to burn away. In moments it vanished without ash. Hyunjae waved his empty hand and smiled silently.

“Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement.”

...The Crescent Moon. He turned to me.

“I’d be delighted if Han Yujin could keep it.”

“...I think no one should own another person. Least of all by contract.”

It’s one thing to joke “I love you so much you’re mine,” but Hyunjae belongs to Hyunjae. I sighed heavily.

“They still allow proxy contracts over parts, apparently.”

“They couldn’t claim all of me, only parts. Even my life’s okay.”

He meant “I won’t die anyway”—if I die and revive, the old contract nullifies. Myeong-woo gave Hyunjae a curious look. Hyunjae met it.

“Any thoughts, esteemed pre-transcendent?”

“Seeing this precedent worries me more for Yujin.”

Myeong-woo turned to me.

“I haven’t joined the transcendent ranks yet. But whatever happens this time, I won’t let it go. If I become system administrator—”

“Hey! Security here isn’t perfect, be careful!”

“It’s fine.”

Myeong-woo shrugged.

System-level transcendants are so rare that even in training no one dares touch them—neither allies nor neutrals. They need the system too.

“Is that so?”

“At least you get protection. Now... summon the main team, one by one.”

It really was their turn. I opened the system window to call Yuhyun—but Hyunjae was faster, and called Director Song.

“Hello, Director Song.”

Silence. Huh... he wouldn’t ignore a greeting even from the other side. Ah. Director Song’s gaze was fixed squarely on my arm.

“I’ll be back to normal soon, I promise!”

Yuhyun, who’d just arrived, half hid me behind his back.

“It’s common, right? Our Yuhyun once bit off Director Song’s arm too. I’m really sorry as his brother~”

“It was a fair fight’s result.”

“Still....”

“And I returned every part intact and offered treatment support. Director Song Taewon refused.”

Right, so I did well... I guess.

“It’s different from your brother who took it all. And the grades we fought at were nothing alike, plus you’ve trouble getting treated.”

“...Haeyeon Guildmaster is right.” Director Song spoke quietly. “As an S-Rank Hunter attached to the Inspection Office, it was my duty. Full recovery was possible.”

“Even if it vanished, you’re S-Rank. I’d have stepped in to regenerate you. High-rank Hunters handle regeneration with ease—one arm is no problem.”

“But low-rank Hunters suffer even with healer support. The damage dealt then was of a wholly different magnitude.”

I fell silent. I should’ve stayed quiet. Director Song sighed briefly.

“Please be careful.”

“...Yes.”

Moon Hyunah appeared next. I waved cheerfully—though I still half hid behind Yuhyun.

“Why so shy, big brother? Finally you show yourself. If you wanted to form a team, you should’ve called me first! I’m hurt.”

“I was going to call you, Hyunah, but Hyunjae stole the show!”

“He did? Still, I won’t go easy on him.”

“I know that.”

And rightly so. Yerim arrived shortly after.

“Hyunah-unni! Mister bit your arm off!”

Yerim! Hyunah spun to face me.

“So that’s why you’re hiding.”

“I got scolded a lot. I’m reflecting. But I didn’t mean to, really.”

“Han Yujin!” Mari’s voice called out. Yuhyun blocked Mari’s path. She glared at him.

“I still like kind people best.”

“Then Han Yuhyun is out, unni. You are unni, right?”

“Uh, yes! I’m older than I look.”

It got loud as more arrived. Liet waved to Samir.

“Hello, little one.”

“Long time.”

“You know each other? You’re Hunter Liet, right?”

“Yep. An arranged-marriage candidate~ though I declined.”

Mari’s mouth dropped open, then she dashed to Samir to pepper him with questions. Neither our team nor Hyunjae’s could be said to be well-controlled. Even without Mari and Samir, Hyunah and Director Song aren’t the type to obey orders blindly. They’d hold their posts in battle, but...

“Now the provisional system administrators choose the location themselves.”

Amid the commotion, Myeong-woo spoke. Hyunjae and I turned to him.

“The system is linked to information on past dungeons and vanished worlds. You’ve experienced them already.”

Japan and China’s dungeons—they must draw info from worlds swallowed by the Origin. The system’s incredible. With the Origin’s power, it can recreate worlds despite limits.

...Were those worlds really made real?

“Choose one from the available information. You may only access permitted dungeons and worlds.”

Myeong-woo looked at me sharply—a warning not to poke at something random.

“Any criteria to guide the choice?”

“None. Whether it helps in future matches is pure luck.”

Your choice might grant advantage or disadvantage. Careful, but I had no idea what to pick.

“Then you two build your system-management spaces.”

“...Yes?”

“Just follow the manual. Building directly is hard.”

Ah, okay. Hyunjae’s form vanished first. I did as instructed, channeling mana to enter the system-management space. It was just an empty void, but I felt the system’s mana flow more directly.

[Loading dungeon information!]

[Currently permitted information is within one thousand years by system time.]

A thousand years is long to us, but a moment to transcendants. Couldn’t we go further back? So...

If I go to a world when Hyunjae was still free...

Or to the time of the young Crescent Moon. If I could find a weakness by meeting that past self...

“Show me worlds related to transcendants.”

I tried speaking, but the system didn’t answer. Come on, work.

“How do I view beyond permitted info?”

[Access to information unrelated to the user is unavailable.]

Even within a millennium, I’d have to search. But there’d be nothing—what info of mine exists...

– Ppiyak!

“Okay, Ppiyak. Daddy’s busy.”

Ppiyak climbed onto my head and peeped again. I froze, then jerked up in shock. Ppiyak?! He tumbled off my head.

“Ppiyak!”

– Ppiya.

Why are you here?! Before I could gather him, the space around us flickered like a broken TV.

[Detection failed]

Wait, Master Myeong-woo, I think the system’s glitching here!