Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

Ha Cheongwon moved his eyes as if deep in thought.

 

Sluuurp. Sluuurp.

 

Hwashin sipped his ordered choco latte while waiting for him.

 

‘This tastes better than I expected. Next time, I should bring the kids here to try it. Or maybe they’ve already had it?’

 

 Ha Cheongwon, appearing to have made up his mind, opened his mouth.

 

“Let’s say what you’re saying is true. Then can’t I just get my sister out without having to report it?”

 

“Huh? Can you really do that, Mr. Cheongwon?”

 

That wasn’t like him at all.

 

He knew the danger of a gate appearing, but he didn’t warn the citizens? The Ha Cheongwon that Hwashin knew would live his whole life crushed by guilt even if his sister survived. What if he quit being a hero because of that? Absolutely not, that shouldn’t happen.

 

“Besides, if I get caught doing that, Jaeha would kill me.”

 

As if he had just realized that, Ha Cheongwon responded.

 

“…Ah. If it’s that guy, he might.”

 

“Hahaha, do you know? The only ones who call Cha Jaeha ‘that guy’ are the Unit 1 members and you, Mr. Ha Cheongwon.”

 

Hwashin put his choco latte down on the table, crossed his legs, and leaned back. With a more relaxed posture, he lowered his gaze.

 

“Anyway, Ha Cheongwon, you’re not that kind of person to do that either.”

 

“…So, what do you want to do? I don’t have the ability to solve that problem. I can’t use my foresight ability whenever I want, and it’s only B-rank—”

 

Right. With B-rank foresight, there was not much he could do.

 

Therefore.

 

“I know. That’s why I’ll help you. So that your ability can awaken to A-rank.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

…Help with awakening?

 

“Ha,”

 

There was a limit to lying. How could such an ability exist in this world? Unless that person was a mage, forcibly helping someone awaken was impossible.

 

“…Such an ability doesn’t exist.”

 

“It does. It doesn’t have a name, but it’s like a bonus attached to my ability.”

 

“What kind of bonus is that?”

 

“I know, right? If you don’t believe me, want to try it right now?”

 

“No, you’ve been saying–”

 

“It won’t take long. It’s not possible for just anyone. If what I’m saying is true, this is quite an urgent matter for you, Mr. Cheongwon.”

 

Hwashin beckoned with one finger, signaling him to lean in.

 

Ha Cheongwon, with a frowning face, looked at him. Hwashin sent him a characteristic gentle con artist-like smile.

 

“Just trust me this once. It’s no big deal, really. If there’s a problem, you can stop in the middle, right?”

 

‘What on earth are you trying to do?’

 

“It’ll really be over quickly. Right here, right now.”

 

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand this person’s behavior. Including this relaxed attitude.

 

This man was F-rank not long ago. Even if he had awakened to S-rank, could he really become this brazen? Or was he like this all along?

 

Ha Cheongwon himself didn’t fully trust Hwashin’s words.

 

Think about it. Right now, Hwashin was like a scammer selling a miracle cure.

 

Mana manipulation ability. It was already a monstrous ability. There was no place in the world where mana didn’t exist anymore. If he could even manipulate the abilities of the awakened, then maybe later on.

 

He could surpass Cha Jaeha. But predicting gate appearances? On top of that, saying he could help him awaken?

 

‘…As expected, I can’t trust him.’

 

Nevertheless, Ha Cheongwon slightly leaned his face forward. He had no choice. The mere mention that his suster could die was like a threat to Ha Cheongwon.

 

A slender fingertip lightly touched the white, shiny forehead revealed by his pomade hairstyle.

 

“Okay, let’s start.”

 

Hwashin smiled sweetly.

 

“From now on, memories you haven’t experienced will enter your mind. Don’t cry from the shock. If you endure it well. Ta-da, you’ll be S-rank too.”

 

His eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled broadly.

 

This is ominous, so ominous.

Ha Cheongwon thought as he tightly closed his eyes.

 

***

 

Karma rule no. 6: The law of connection.

 

A broken timeline was essentially the same as something that didn’t exist in the world.

 

In the end, it was his own words that ignored karma, but in this case, the law of connection was important.

 

The result Hwashin could offer through karma was just one outcome that existed among numerous timelines. In other words, what Hwashin was doing was merely helping to connect the future of Ha Cheongwon becoming A-rank to the ‘present’.

 

Thus, it was not just about drawing out Ha Cheongwon’s ability to become A-rank, but about changing the person himself.

 

“I am starting it.”

 

From the spot where his finger touched, blue light bubbled up. The soap bubble-like lights hid themselves inside Ha Cheongwon’s forehead.

 

Soon, memories that Ha Cheongwon had never experienced began to unfold in his mind.

 

Those scenes were the gruesome moments of Ha Cheongwon that Hwashin had read about in books.

 

「 “…Yes, that’s my sister.”

 

Ha Cheongwon confirmed his sister’s corpse. Then he covered it. He left the morgue without a word and slumped into a chair in front of the room.

 

What was the reason he decided to become a hero? When he thought back to that reason, what remained for Ha Cheongwon was his sister. Still young, someone who needed protection. A child who couldn’t live without him. Just take good care of her until she becomes an adult. Don’t let her feel the absence of their parents, always stay by her side.

 

Ha Cheongwon’s palms, which had repeatedly wiped his dry face, soon became wet. 」

 

「 “In a week, five gates will open throughout Gangnam District. About three of them are expected to be between A-rank and S-rank. It’s better to dispatch the 1st unit and the attack units GH1 and GH3—”

 

A-rank foresight ability. Now, instead of just seeing 30 seconds ahead, critical issues that could threaten the country naturally appeared in Ha Cheongwon’s mind.

 

“….Proceed as planned.”

 

He was going to quit being a hero. Because he no longer had a reason to continue. But on the day his sister died and he was clearing out his desk, he saw a man being interviewed on TV.

 

“I am neither a hero nor omnipotent.”

 

The man was S-rank, the strongest hero in the country. Yet he was saying he was not a hero.

 

Ha Cheongwon’s grip on the organizing box tightened. He resented that man. Why couldn’t he save his sister? Why wasn’t he there earlier that day?

 

“But all the citizens you’ve saved call you a hero. What do you think about that?”

 

The man replied.

 

“…I couldn’t save everyone.”

 

“…”

 

“To those I couldn’t save, I am not a hero but a villain.”

 

It was a short interview. At Cha Jaeha’s words, the strength left his hand holding the box. For some reason, tears flowed again.

 

Yoojin, what should oppa do?

」

 

“Ugh.”

 

The memories surged in. Ha Cheongwon grasped his neck as the overwhelming mass threatened to consume him. He needed to breathe. Saliva dripped from his dry lips.

 

“Focus.”

 

A light flick to his forehead brought him back. Ha Cheongwon, who had slightly fallen backward, returned forward and exhaled harshly.

 

“Cough, gasp.”

 

Tears flowed down his cheeks like water from a broken faucet.

 

What was this? What were these memories? The vivid death of his sister and images of himself. Ha Cheongwon was lost between the future he hadn’t experienced and the present.

 

In front of Ha Cheongwon, who was disoriented, Hwashin stood there with a peaceful face.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“…What is this right now-?”

 

Hwashin quietly watched Ha Cheongwon’s twisted expression.

 

When was the last time he had cried for someone? Even when Dragon died, he didn’t shed a tear.

 

Hwashin was excessively indifferent to the pure emotion of sadness.

 

To an ordinary person, it would seem chilling.

 

But try living for over 200 years. If you were to grieve every death, you wouldn’t have been able to hold on.

 

Hwashin answered with a smile.

 

“It’s a future forcibly shown to you by drawing out your potential. A future where the gates opened, and no one expected it.”

 

It was a lie, but didn’t it sound plausible? In reality, it was just an insertion of scenes he had read from a book, but Ha Cheongwon seemed to believe it.

 

This lie would soon become a turning point for him. A turning point where his current self would no longer be himself.

 

“Now that the limit on your ability has been lifted once, the output might be a bit erratic. Even I don’t know exactly what will happen since this is the first time I’ve lifted it this way.”

 

“…Uugh.”

 

Indeed. Ha Cheongwon felt like vomiting and his head was spinning. Was this what it meant for the limits of ability to be lifted? How skillfully must one handle their ability for this to be possible?

 

His harsh eyes, having turned red from crying, turned toward Hwashin.

 

“Bear with the pain. You don’t want to end up like that future, right?”

 

Hwashin stood up after sipping the remaining choco latte.

 

“Come find me if the pain continues. Or if you have something to say. Got it?”

 

Ha Cheongwon, staring blankly at Hwashin’s back, buried his face in his hands. Sigh.

 

***

 

– Hey, why did you really help Ha Cheongwon? Does it even benefit Unit 1?

 

On the way back to the center, Dragon’s voice echoed. Hwashin responded with a bright smile, having grown accustomed to this voice in his daily life.

 

‘You’ll find out later.’

 

To change the original story, they needed something new.

 

Buzz—

 

As the automatic door of the center opened, the boisterous voices of Unit 1 could be heard from a distance. To be precise, it was Yoo Jian’s voice.

 

“Hey, I told you to control your strength! I’m holding back too, you know?”

 

“Why? Shouldn’t we train as if it’s the real thing?”

 

“Are you serious? I’m really going to use my strength, okay?”

 

Since when did things get so tense?

 

As he got closer, Mueum was watching the two with a face of enlightened detachment. Hwashin naturally stood next him and asked.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Despite the vague question, Mueum answered immediately.

 

“After finishing her drink, Jian noona said she felt sluggish and challenged Jaeha… Mr. Jaeha to a sparring match.”

 

“Ah, a sparring match. But why are they like that?”

 

It looked more like a fight than a spar. With a smirk, Hwashin looked down at Mueum. Mueum responded in a voice that was half sigh, half sound.

 

“Noona is holding back, but Mr. Jaeha is taking it very seriously.”

 

“Really? I thought it would be the opposite.”

 

Unlike their whispered conversation, Yuoo Jan’s voice was loud and clear, filling the hall.

 

“Don’t whine about it hurting!”

 

With a light bounce, Yoo Jian disappeared from sight. She reappeared behind Cha Jaeha in an instant.

 

Thanks to her S-rank physical abilities supported by S-rank auxiliary skills, her speed was too fast for Hwashin’s B-rank dynamic vision to follow.

 

“…Both Mr. Jaeha and noona. But I didn’t know Mr. Cha Jaeha had such a personality.”

 

“Right. …But you’re still calling him Mr. Jaeha? Don’t you call him hyung? Are you still uncomfortable with Jaeha?”

 

When would these two become close? In the original story, they would have become close by now.

 

Did something change because of him?

 

“…Not exactly. but suddenly acting close is, you know, awkward.”

 

Jeong Mueum puffed out his cheeks and blushed slightly. What!? So it was because of this kid’s pride?

 

“…Ah, you’re too cute.”

 

“…Don’t hug me! Ah!”

 

Both sides of the training ground grew more intense.

 

“Hey, Cha Jaeha, don’t dodge!”

 

“Dodging is a skill too.”

 

“I said don’t hug me!”

 

It was another noisy, happy day for SH1 Unit.

 

***

 

“You’re a bit late today.”

 

“I had a lot of work piled up.”

 

“Your eyes are bloodshot, and you look quite tired. Yoojin is sleeping; would you like to just go home today?”

 

Despite the kind concern of the attending nurse, Ha Cheongwon silently shook his head. Today, he felt an even stronger urge to see his sister’s face.

 

In the dark single bedroom, he drew back the curtains of the room designed with mana suppression.

 

Sound asleep, with her chest rising and falling slightly, Yoojin looked peaceful. How could such a peaceful scene turn into that terrible future?

 

Ha Cheongwon didn’t fully trust Hwashin’s words. But he didn’t think it was all lies either.

 

What should he do? Ha Cheongwon gently brushed Yoojin’s disheveled bangs back and sighed, wiping his dry face. He then pulled out a hidden cot and lay down on it.

 

Still in his suit, he didn’t have the energy to change.

 

And the next morning, Ha Cheongwon immediately sought out Hwashin.

 

– Hello~ This is Hwashin…!

 

“…What is this?”

 

– Ah, this is Mr. Cheongwon’s number? What’s wrong, did you have a dream?

 

“….Y-Yes, I did.”

 

Ha Cheongwon’s voice, filled with confusion and anxiety, came through the speaker.

 

He replied with a trembling voice.

 

“…A very terrible dream.”