Beginning

The world faced a great change.

The hero passed away.

Koreans couldn’t hide their sadness at the fact that the Leader of the People had died.

The Gates closed.

Hunters were bewildered by this sudden situation.

Gates weren’t just a simple threat in today’s world.

They were also essential for economic activity.

Certainly, without Gates, there would be no civilian casualties.

The vulnerable would no longer be threatened by monsters.

However, the absence of monsters means the eventual depletion of magic stones.

And now there’s no hero to lead these hunters.

In the midst of confusion, some cried out about the end times.

That was all.

South Korea was still enjoying peace.

The reversed heroes, represented by Seo Han-byeol, Kim Wan-seung, and Baek Kang-hyuk, managed the chaos.

There are plenty of monsters in the wild, unexplored territories.

For now, they obtain magic stones by dealing with these monsters.

The new social leaders were tasked with preparing scientific technologies to replace existing mana businesses before wild magic stones are depleted.

There was one more task.

It was the issue of treatment for former soldiers who received dishonorable discharge and record erasure.

The truth gradually surfaced.

Under Major General Kim Wan-seung’s command, the truth was investigated.

Righteous soldiers regained their honor.

Conversely, villains like Private Kim Il-soo had their evil deeds and names exposed to the public, leaving their names in history books as the worst soldiers in Korean history.

And.

Someone had to take responsibility.

It was impossible to blame the Leader of the People.

At least not immediately.

At that moment, South Korea would inevitably face civil war.

“I will pronounce the verdict.”

Therefore, it was necessary.

A scapegoat.

“The defendant, Seo Nanhwa, deceived the late Hunter Management Bureau Director Lee Yeon and abused her authority.”

Someone who committed evil deeds by the hero’s side.

Someone who deceived the hero and committed evil deeds.

“This court sentences the defendant to death.”

That kind of scapegoat was needed.

Seo Nanhwa willingly volunteered for that role.

“Nanhwa…”

Seo Han-byeol softly calls her imprisoned sister’s name.

“It’s been a while since we talked like this, sister.”

“…Why.”

“I won’t make excuses. I brought this upon myself, after all.”

Seo Nanhwa accepted death.

From the moment she aimed to be the hero’s left arm, this was a predetermined plan.

If there are substitutes for the hero, shouldn’t there also be someone to bear the sins?

There’s no need to talk about sacrificial lambs.

Wasn’t it something she brought upon herself in the first place?

She actually killed people.

She committed many bad deeds.

She can’t go to the bright, light world.

“I’m sorry.”

At least before completely disappearing into darkness, Seo Nanhwa said this to her sister.

“Actually, the resentment from when we fought before had long since disappeared. But I couldn’t get close. Because I wanted you to be in a bright place.”

It was a belated apology.

An apology that came far too late.

“You shouldn’t cry because I’m dying, right?”

“…You foolish sister.”

Seo Han-byeol didn’t look back.

Seo Nanhwa closed her eyes.

A week later, she ended her life as dew on the execution ground.

And so the world found its own peace.

Time flows.

Before she knew it, Han Seoyeon was finishing half of her second year.

Han Seoyeon’s daily life didn’t change.

She still spent her days with her precious people.

She lost the Falling Star Sword.

She gradually regained her lost potential and now became a C-rank Awakener.

That was a trivial matter.

It wasn’t something to particularly worry about.

Rather, Han Seoyeon had other things to worry about.

As a second-year Academy student, it was time to decide on a career path.

And for Michaela, a third-year student, it was time to face graduation.

“…Seoyeon.”

There was only one thing this meant.

“I will soon return to my homeland.”

Michaela Ernst von Wittelsbach had to return.

To her homeland in this world.

“You look gloomy.”

On a quiet rooftop.

A figure approaches Han Seoyeon, who is blankly alone.

“Did something happen? Sister.”

“…Suho.”

Han Suho.

Her sister, whose hair was cut short but still couldn’t hide being a twin, was there.

If there was a slight difference from before, it was the cape fluttering with her uniform.

Lee Ha-yul stepped down from the student council president position after becoming a third-year.

The one who took that position in her place was none other than Han Suho.

“Is it about your career path, after all?”

“I suppose so.”

What should she do from now on?

She knew this moment would come someday, but she hadn’t thought about it yet.

“It’s a time when everyone will get busy. Me too, and the seniors too. Recently, I haven’t even seen Da-eun’s face at all.”

Lee Ha-yul decided to become a social worker.

Reflecting on her past when she looked down on the weak.

Baek Da-eun had been busy lately.

As the only heir to the Baekhwa Group, Korea’s top conglomerate, she was continuing efforts to correct Korea’s chaotic political situation, following her father.

Thanks to that, seeing her face at the Academy became a rare occurrence.

“Do you have anything you want to do, sister?”

“…Well.”

Han Seoyeon achieved her dream.

She obtained a world where her sister, Suho, is happy.

She achieved a world where vulnerable groups like the slum children no longer have to fear the threat of monsters.

There’s nothing more to wish for.

…No, there is something she wishes for.

But she couldn’t easily wish for it.

Han Seoyeon recalled the time when she was absent.

In places she couldn’t see, her sister was suffering again.

It was all caused by her own foolishness.

Now, she will never let her sister experience sadness again.

For that, she had to stay in Korea.

She can’t leave.

She can’t be with Michaela,

“…Are you worrying about me again?”

“…”

“You’re really a pushover, sister.”

Han Suho smiled naturally.

“I told you before. I want you to find your own happiness, sister.”

“But…”

“I’ll be fine. Really. Rather, if you can’t be happy because of me, that would make me more unhappy.”

“…”

“Besides, you know. I’m not alone without you anymore.”

As if urging, Han Suho proudly puffs out her chest and says.

“I decided to live in a share house, the three of us. With Sua and Blossom. With the three of us together, isn’t it a bit more reassuring?”

Han Suho is no longer alone.

She has come out from under her sister’s shadow.

Her sister is precious.

Of course, she’s happy when she’s around.

But even without her sister, she doesn’t feel anxious like before.

Now she can live well enough without her sister.

“…I’m a proper older sister now too. I have a younger sibling. I can’t keep relying on you forever.”

Above all, Han Suho also ended up having a younger sibling.

A sibling who still doesn’t know much about the world.

To live with such a sibling, Han Suho will become a mature older sister.

She will return to her younger sibling as an older sister what she received from her sister as a younger sibling.

“So, I’m fine now. What I’ve received so far is enough. Thank you, sister.”

“…I’m the one who should be thankful.”

Han Suho cuts off.

Han Seoyeon’s hesitation.

“Thank you. For being the sister of someone like me, an incompetent older sister…!”

“D-Don’t cry! If you cry, I feel like I’ll cry too!”

She repaid the grace she received from her sister.

“Among the Hunter Academy rules, I believe there’s early graduation for academically excellent students…. Want to hear about it?”

Han Seoyeon nodded silently.

She─.

“…Are you really okay with coming with me?”

“Yes.”

She will move forward.

With Michaela.

From now on, forever.

“I plan to make graves.”

Korea has recovered from the damage.

But other countries haven’t.

“Even though the Gates closed and many monsters disappeared, there’s still no progress on the aftermath. In places with unstable public order, corpses from monster damage are still left abandoned. I want to at least bury those people’s bodies in sunny places.”

It’s her birthplace in a way.

Michaela wanted to show them the utmost respect.

“It will be a difficult journey.”

“I don’t mind.”

It was certainly not an easy task.

Hasn’t it become time for the girl who has shouldered so many things to rest?

“As long as I’m with Michaela, I’m happy doing anything.”

“…I see.”

So there was hesitation in suggesting it first.

The girl came.

To Michaela’s side.

That fact made her a little, actually so happy that.

Michaela couldn’t control her rising smile.

“…Actually, I was planning to bring this up a year later.”

Michaela, what she would have brought out only after returning from her journey.

“Seoyeon.”

Kneeling on one knee.

A ruby that sparkles uniquely like the girl’s eyes.

“I, Michaela Ernst von Wittelsbach, swear to love you for a lifetime.”

She hands over the ring.

“Will you love me for a lifetime too?”

Han Seoyeon, unable to control her rising emotions, finally shed tears and.

“…Yes.”

She reaches out her hand.

Michaela carefully slipped that ring onto Han Seoyeon’s left ring finger.

“I, Han Seoyeon, swear to love Michaela Ernst von Wittelsbach…!”

The two move forward together.

Their reality, not inside a novel.

One story ends.

And, another story begins.