Retire: Side Stories
by CristaeTable of Contents
- Woo Heejae is 13!
- Save Your World
2-1. Some Things Do Not Change - The Graduation That Might Have Been
- Woo Heejae is 13!
[??? Qualification confirmed for possible overwrite]
[A world confirmed for destruction]
[The last survivor]
[Confirm]
[Overwriting to an arbitrary time]
That is my last memory.
“……!”
I gasped for breath. Just now…?
My fingertips tingled. I couldn’t feel anything. All that remained was the instinct that something was wrong. But what? What was wrong?
I tried to recall what I’d done before falling asleep. I was planning to see a movie I’d been waiting for after school…
No. That’s not it. This isn’t right.
Dripping fire. Heat. Trembling vibrations. A massive monster coming toward me.
A monster.
“Ugh!”
My head throbbed as if it would split open.
Yesterday, I went to school.
Yesterday, I was in Busan.
Yesterday, Uncle came back from the dungeon.
Yesterday, Yu Ji-eun died…
No, that’s not right. Yu Ji-eun was with me just last weekend…
None of it made sense. I looked at the bed I was lying in. The room. The desk. My phone was next to my pillow. I grabbed it and checked the date.
April 5, 2024.
[Overwriting to an arbitrary time]
Crash!
For the first time in my life, I fell out of bed. I didn’t even have time to feel the pain. I looked at my hands. My palms, starting to show calluses from following Uncle’s training every day, were still far from a hunter’s hands.
Of course. If it’s 2024, how old am I? Thirteen? I hadn’t even graduated elementary school yet.
“Heejae?”
“……!”
I jerked my head up at the voice from outside the door.
“Uncle’s coming in, okay?”
There was nothing in my hands. I’d been clutching Uncle’s dog tag until the very end.
I stared blankly at him. He was wearing an apron, probably preparing breakfast. The pink cat on the apron grinned so annoyingly it made me want to scream.
“Did you fall out of bed? What happened to you…?”
“…Uncle?”
“……”
“……”
The air changed in an instant.
Uncle grabbed me by the throat.
“Ghk…!”
“Who are you?”
“Un… cle?”
“What did you do to my son?”
1-1.
“So… my son? Our Heejae?”
Hong Seokyeong looked at his son, whose attitude had changed overnight. With that sullen face, it wasn’t impossible to believe, but even so, to just accept it…
It wasn’t that he couldn’t believe it. Rather, it was precisely because it was believable that he didn’t want to accept it.
There was a monster assassin claiming to be from the future, so… how to put this? His future son had become a child again? His mind had been swapped? Whatever the case, compared to a monster assassin, this was almost preferable.
“If you can’t believe me, don’t. I can’t believe it myself.”
He spoke curtly but kept glancing at me. So, so…
Despite everything, the first thing Hong Seokyeong thought of was his son. The son before him. But also, the son who was not here.
The thirteen-year-old son who had just begun to open up and smile shyly.
The same face, now with an endlessly adult and somber expression—if this really was his child…
‘I haven’t told him I love him enough yet.’
A father’s heart ached.
1-2.
“Prove you’re my Heejae!”
“Prove it? How…”
“There must be something only my son would know.”
“Like what? Your credit card PIN?”
“…No, not something that specific.”
“Then what do you want?”
1-3.
“……”
Park Seohyun twisted awkwardly. The principal had asked to see her if she had a moment, but instead of the principal, there was an elementary school kid.
“Excuse me.”
“Uh, uh-huh?”
Even if it were Mr. Han, or even Hyunwook, was Ji-eun an Academy graduate?
“You’re Park Seohyun, right?”
“…Do I… do you know me?”
“More or less.”
The boy glanced at Park Seohyun and said,
“You don’t suit the light.”
“…What?”
“Just saying. Think about it.”
1-4.
“Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“I haven’t seen Woo Heejae around lately. What’s he doing?”
“…Ah.”
“…Is he sick? Is he okay?”
“Ahem, yes. He’s fine. He’s gotten obsessed with movies lately and is busy going to see them.”
“Movies?”
“He’s always liked watching things, hasn’t he? Heejae, why?”
“I’m going to an overseas dungeon this time, so I wanted to see him before I left. I thought he’d come today.”
“Oh… I’ll let him know.”
“No, it’s fine. He’s not even cute, what’s the point.”
1-5.
“…Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“Heejae, is he going through puberty?”
“Cough, ahem, what?”
“He’s gotten… why is he even more annoying all of a sudden?”
“…Well, it’s about time for puberty.”
“Even the way he talks is different. He’s gotten old in the short time I haven’t seen him.”
“Well, uh…”
“I know you’re busy, but please keep an eye on him. I’m sure he’s just acting out to get your attention. Don’t you remember what happened last year?”
“That won’t happen again.”
“What about earlier this year?”
“…I said it won’t.”
1-6.
“Teacher.”
“What… is this about Heejae again?”
“He’s starting to creep me out.”
“It’s just puberty.”
“Isn’t puberty supposed to make kids rebellious? Why did he suddenly get mature?”
“…Didn’t he rebel enough already?”
“That’s true.”
1-7.
“Heejae.”
“…What now? I told you everything I know.”
“No, I just want to check a few more things.”
“Like what?”
“Do you know Sandra Gamble?”
Woo Heejae frowned.
He knew the name. He knew it, but she wasn’t famous enough for Hong Seokyeong to recognize yet. She would become as renowned as Hong Seokyeong in a few years, though.
That was still a few years off.
“Why? If you want to invest, now’s the time.”
“Ah, investment. That too, but… did she survive?”
“…?”
Not sure why he was asking, Woo Heejae answered honestly.
“No. Before I got younger… about a year ago? She died.”
“How did she die?”
“She got caught up in a terrorist attack…”
Hong Seokyeong nodded grimly. That expression made Woo Heejae uneasy.
“Why? What’s going on?”
Hong Seokyeong stroked Woo Heejae’s head gently, his voice playful.
“Kids don’t need to know.”
He couldn’t see his face, so he didn’t know if he was smiling.
1-8.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“Great! What’ll it be?”
Hong Seokyeong looked at the person sitting across from him. Androgynous features. If not for the husky voice, he might have mistaken them for a woman.
Alex Hope swept back his hair and smiled.
With a stiff face, Hong Seokyeong said,
“Let’s make a public partnership with Sandra Gamble. I don’t know much about mana engineering, but I think she can be trusted.”
“Oh, are you sure? People say Sandra’s research isn’t realistic… Ah! Not that Sandra can’t do it, just that others say so!”
“What do you think?”
“About Sandra?”
“Yes.”
“She’s the best, obviously!”
“Good. I’ve confirmed it through a reliable channel.”
“…No backing out, right?”
Hope studied Hong Seokyeong carefully. Only after confirming his resolve did Hope break into a broad grin.
“If I’m an investor, nobody will mess with Gamble easily.”
“Good. That’s all I want.”
“But you have to help me, too.”
“Hm?”
“I have a son.”
“A son?”
“Yes. Just like Gamble is precious to you, that child is precious to me. But…”
“…You can’t always be by his side, either?”
Hong Seokyeong nodded.
“You know how it is, chasing the Ark—one body isn’t enough. And there are too few people I can trust.”
“Ah, so how can I help?”
“Protect my son.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll protect Gamble for you.”
1-9.
“Alex Hope? What’s with that lunatic?!”
“Life’s more interesting with someone like that around.”
“I don’t need that! I’m not a kid!”
“If you’re not a kid, what are you?”
“How old do you think I am?!”
“Thirteen.”
“……”
“Heejae.”
Hong Seokyeong looked straight at Woo Heejae.
“No matter how old you are, you’ll always be my son.”
“……”
“Please, never doubt that.”
He gently drew his young son into an embrace.
“This time, I’ll do everything I can not to die.”
“……”
“So, will you trust me?”
The struggling stopped. He could have easily pushed away, but Woo Heejae did not leave Hong Seokyeong’s arms. Nor did he return the embrace.
He simply stayed still.
Hong Seokyeong didn’t mind and whispered. He’d never said this enough to his son. But to the child before him, he could say it as much as he wanted.
Hong Seokyeong was a man who did what he could.
“I love you, my son.”
Slowly, Woo Heejae hugged him back.
Despite the timid gesture, Hong Seokyeong smiled as if he owned the world.
- Save Your World
“I told you we had to clear it.”
Yu Ji-eun laughed hoarsely.
“Are you ignoring a hunter’s instincts?”
“What could be less reliable?”
“That’s true. But still.”
“Just shut up for a minute. I’m treating you.”
“Pouring potion on me isn’t treatment. If that’s medicine, every doctor in the world is out of a job.”
“Shut up!”
“Listen to how you talk to your older sister.”
“Sister, my ass…”
I gritted my teeth and poured the potion. Even after all that, the wound was still deep.
But it was getting better, little by little. The bleeding was stopping. That was reason enough not to stop. I hated wasting such expensive potion, but…
“Cough.”
Yu Ji-eun spat blood.
Damn it, this is exactly the kind of situation I was saving it for! I used up almost all my potions before the bleeding from Ji-eun’s abdomen finally stopped.
“Hey, that’s enough. I can move now.”
“But—”
“It’s dangerous to stay here any longer.”
She staggered to her feet and picked up her sword. The fires around us hadn’t all gone out. I nodded.
“What do we do now?”
“Ah… I’m not good at explaining.”
“Is that the only thing you’re bad at?”
“You little—”
Seoul was finished. There was no way a city in this state could recover. Streets burned. People lay dead everywhere.
I forced myself to speak, trying to shake off the gloom. Ji-eun responded in the same brusque tone, rubbing her neck. Something familiar hung there. I’d noticed it while treating her with potion.
A dog tag engraved with the name Hong Seokyeong.
I clenched my teeth.
“…What do we do now?”
“……”
“Hey.”
“……”
“Auntie.”
“……”
Ji-eun walked on, staring straight ahead. Her face, reflected in the flames of burning Seoul, was expressionless. But somehow, I felt she was crying.
“…Noona.”
Ji-eun stopped and looked at me.
“…Hey. Heejae.”
“…What?”
“From now on, if you’re going to cuss someone out, do it at the teacher, not me. Got it?”
“Huh?”
“I was against it. Remember that.”
“What?”
“I told him if he didn’t tell you, he’d regret it.”
“What?”
“Ha. And I’m the one who has to clean up the mess…”
“What the hell?!”
But Ji-eun didn’t even pretend to listen. She just dragged me toward the Administration. Or, rather, where the Administration used to be.
Where a once-glittering building now stood in ruins. Only one thought came to mind.
At least I’m not alone here.
Ji-eun sighed and kept moving. She never stopped, as if she knew exactly what she had to do.
At the site of the former Administration, Ji-eun picked something up and called me over.
“Stay right next to me.”
“What is it—hey, answer me.”
“There’s not much time.”
“Time?”
Right on cue, the ground trembled. In the distance, a massive monster wreathed in flames approached. Ji-eun shrugged and examined what she’d picked up. It looked like a watch…
When her hand touched it, it powered on. An item?
[——- Confirmed. Authorization procedure initiated.]
[0 0 0 0 – 0 0 – 0 0]
[Set date?]
Ji-eun nodded.
“April 5, 2021.”
[Confirmed]
[Execute?]
“Yes.”
[Confirmed]
[Authorization procedure activated]
[A noble sacrifice]
[A new savior]
“Requesting companion confirmation. My younger brother.”
[Confirmed]
[Approved]
[Companion sequence initiated]
Ji-eun grabbed my hand. Mana whipped around the item in a violent storm, so thick I could barely see.
The item spoke.
[Your world]
[Save it]
2-1. Some Things Do Not Change
“…Hey, Yu Ji-eun!”
“Hey?”
“You used my vacation days!!”
Woo Heejae stormed into the house, scowling. Yu Ji-eun glanced at him and nodded, “Ah, right.”
“I used your vacation for something today.”
“Why are you using my vacation?!”
“You didn’t seem like you were going to use it.”
“What kind of excuse is that?!”
“Oh. Did you go to school today?”
“……”
“I must have forgotten to tell you. Sorry.”
Yu Ji-eun grinned.
“Morning exercise feels good, right?”
“You did it on purpose!”
She ignored his shouting, knowing he wouldn’t stay mad for long.
Not because Heejae was so good-natured he couldn’t stay angry at his sister, but because there was something else to distract him.
“So, what was it you had to do… what is all this?”
See?
Heejae stopped scolding and came over.
“What, did you make all this?”
“Some I made, some I bought at the market.”
Heejae glanced around. He probably didn’t know what the food was.
But Yu Ji-eun knew. After her older sister died, she’d prepared this with the teacher’s help. After joining the Administration, she’d been too busy and left it to the temple, but she always tried to visit on the anniversary.
Heejae tilted his head, but sensing something different in her mood, he fell silent.
Without further explanation, Yu Ji-eun slowly plated the food and set it on the table. She hung her necklace, the one she always wore, on the memorial tablet instead of the usual paper. A small metal tag engraved with the name Hong Seokyeong.
“Come here.”
At last, Heejae realized what she had prepared.
“We couldn’t have a funeral for Dad, but we can at least hold a memorial.”
“……”
“Here. Have you ever bowed before?”
“…Yeah.”
“It’s just us, so the order doesn’t matter… You know you bow twice, right?”
Heejae nodded quietly. Yu Ji-eun tried to smile, then gave up and ruffled his hair.
His hair was still damp. Even on his day off, he must have gone to school to look after the kids. Such a diligent kid. Even after being dropped into the past twenty years ago, that hadn’t changed.
Yu Ji-eun thought of the children at Yangseong High. Her living sister, herself. That child probably wouldn’t become Yu Ji-eun. Or rather, wouldn’t become Hong Ji-eun.
For Hong Ji-eun, that was enough.
Heejae, though awkward, followed Hong Ji-eun’s lead and bowed to their father’s memorial.
“Heejae.”
“…Whenever you call me like that, you always say something weird.”
Sharp as ever.
“I think it’s time you knew.”
“There’s still stuff you haven’t told me?”
“Yes.”
Hong Ji-eun shrugged.
“I found you.”
“…What?”
“You. The younger you.”
“……”
“It was hard. I figured they’d hide the kids first if something happened, so I hit the lab first… Anyway, I found you, so it’s fine.”
“…Are you going to bring him here?”
“Of course. He’s in an orphanage, but I’m not going to leave him there.”
“……”
“The only problem is figuring out what excuse to use to bring him out… Little Ji-eun was easy, since my appearance has changed so much. She just thinks I’m a teacher with the same name.”
Heejae fell silent. Hong Ji-eun had known him for over ten years. She immediately sensed he was hiding something.
But she didn’t press him. If he was having that much trouble hiding his expression, it was something he had to say.
If she just waited patiently…
“Nuna.”
“Yeah.”
See?
“There’s something I haven’t told you…”
Heejae hesitated for a long time before speaking.
“…Actually, I had an older brother.”