Chapter 24
Loadon finally let go of Iseul, his massive frame loosening as he allowed Choon-hee and Chul-jun to carefully carry her limp body across the room.
They laid her on a wide sofa, her breathing shallow but steady. Blood streaked her face and neck, staining the fabric beneath her.
Her torn clothes barely clung to her, and her battered body looked as if she had been dragged through war itself.
"Gullius!" Joon-seok's voice carried across the living room, sharp and commanding.
A polished butler mech appeared instantly in the doorway, servos humming softly as it bowed with precise, formal grace.
"Greetings, Eldest Master Kim and companions," it intoned, voice smooth but weighted with authority.
Its glowing eyes flickered once before locking on its master, awaiting instruction.
This was Gullius—the mech his father had left behind years ago to protect them in his absence. A guardian and caretaker bound by duty.
For four years now, the mech had watched over Joon-seok and Hae-won on this harsh Scrapper Moon.
The transition from the main world and running for their lives had been grueling, leaving them struggling to adapt.
In the last few years before finally settling on Scrapper Moon, they had traversed the surrounding moons: Comet Reel, Retron, and Cymbal.
Joon-seok had learned the names of their cities and territories.
On Scrapper Moon: Neo-Seoul, ReScrap City, Entertainment Central, Barracks City, and Clean Air City.
On Comet Reel: Tartaia, Bergmite, Guo Tang, and Endway.
On Retron: Markship, Flowway, and Tinker Run.
On Cymbal: Knowledge City, Finder City, and Griprock City.
All of these were new names to him, though he committed them to memory as Gullius explained. It was a reminder of how vast Domination had spread its roots across every sphere.
They had fled the main world of Domination, a colossal planet three times the size of Jupiter, brimming with dangers.
Comostra rift tears split its lands, but the government maintained dominance, installing high-grade radiation absorbers in cities so the streets were far safer than the moons.
Metals, droids, and mechs of the highest grade walked and flew through the cities—a stark contrast to the makeshift scavenger life of the moons.
Even with all this knowledge, Joon-seok knew he could never return.
But here on Scrapper Moon, amidst chaos, scarcity, and constant danger, he had found friends and family—even if the truth of their origins now caused tension and hurt.
He had learned the full picture only gradually.
Joon-seok, Ji-ho, and Hae-won had come from the main world, sent away to survive because their father and grandfather were entangled in the deadly politics of the great families and the military.
They had to hide their identities to be safe.
Only after meeting Chul-jun, Chang-min, and Choon-hee had they truly felt grounded, forming bonds that ran deeper than mere friendship.
Ji-ho had followed them from the main world, bound to Hae-won as both brother and fiancé, ensuring their survival.
A year later, they had met Iseul-ya—a stubborn, grief-stricken girl barely sixteen, left to care for five younger brothers after their parents' disappearance.
She had stumbled into the scrapyard, unaware of the gangs and scavenger rules carved into steel and blood.
She had been drowning in impossible responsibility, but they had saved her, forming a bond that became family.
Visits to her patchwork home became regular.
They brought snacks, gifts, and laughter, slowly weaving themselves into her world—and she became part of theirs.
Yet life on Scrapper Moon was not simple.
Dangerous storms and radiation pervaded, rival gangs controlled corners of the cities, and Comostra rifts threatened constantly.
And tonight, standing bloodied and broken, guilt gnawed at Joon-seok.
What use was his training if he couldn't protect Hae-won or his younger sister?
He clenched his fists, trying to gather thoughts to instruct Gullius.
But before words left his lips, the mech's sensors flared, locking onto Hae-won in his arms.
"Oh my! No, young miss! What happened?!"
Gullius rushed forward, its polished frame moving with startling speed.
It scooped Hae-won from him with uncanny gentleness, cradling her as though she were made of glass.
With a sweep of its arm, the floor panels hissed and opened, and from beneath rose a glowing healing box.
The lid split open, sterile light spilling out.
Gullius placed her carefully inside, the healing box adjusting around her body.
Then the mech turned—and its glowing optics froze on Iseul.
Gullius knew her vaguely.
It had delivered items to her home before, following Joon-seok's orders.
She was always polite, carrying herself with quiet strength despite exhaustion in her eyes.
"Young lady Iseul-ya!" Gullius's tone pitched with alarm.
Even his containers already held seriously injured patients.
He sighed, remembering he had told his master to approve his upgrade next time—it was well deserved.
"Young Master, what in Domination has happened here?!"
Without waiting for permission, it shoved aside the others, scooped Iseul into its arms, and placed her in the healing box beside Hae-won.
Its polished frame whirred as it straightened, hands on its metallic hips, optics blazing with something dangerously close to disapproval.
"Why are there so many injured patients today?" Gullius demanded.
"I thought the young master was only going to the scrapyard."
The mech began pacing, servo joints clicking sharply.
Everyone felt dizzy watching and listening to him ramble.
"How shall I explain this to your father and grandfather when they check in? The two young masters were left in my care, yet you allow chaos to erupt around you?"
Its optics narrowed further, gaze cutting straight through Joon-seok.
"And as for this young lady—how do you call yourself an older brother to one you took under your wing if you cannot protect her?!"
The sting of the words pierced deeper than he expected.
Joon-seok lowered his gaze, unable to meet the mech's eyes.
His fists tightened, jaw clenching until his teeth ached.
For once, he had no defense, no retort.
He felt the truth in Gullius's accusation, and it left him hollow.
"The same with you others, especially you, young lord Ji-ho. You promised that as the oldest of this team you would make sure to take responsibility if anything happened! So are you ready to take responsibility?!"
Gullius pointed at his nose, throwing shade as his gaze swept over the others, who tried to make themselves invisible.
But now… Choon-hee, Chul-jun, and Chang-min could no longer hide their shock and betrayal.
Choon-hee's mouth fell open. Her fists curled into tight balls at her sides, nails cutting skin. She stepped back instinctively, almost tripping over a chair, her eyes wide, reflecting disbelief.
"You… you're from the main world?" she whispered, voice breaking. Her chest heaved, heartbeat hammering against her ribs. She could feel her own loyalty twisting with shock, betrayal, and a hint of fear.
Chul-jun's entire frame stiffened. His hands shot to his head, pressing as if he could physically squeeze the words from his brain. His jaw went rigid, teeth grinding. "All this time… you lied?!" he spat, voice low, trembling with anger. Blood rushed to his ears, heat flaring through his veins. He stepped back, every instinct screaming distrust.
Chang-min's reaction was subtler but just as lethal. His eyes narrowed, lips curling in a snarl as he rubbed his temple with one hand, hiding the tremor in his fingers. His other hand flexed at his side. Sarcasm dripped from his voice, but inside, his chest felt hollow.
"Figures. Couldn't be simple, could you? Always something hidden…"
All three froze in place, physically recoiling from the realization, processing the betrayal that had just shattered their understanding of their friends.
Then Joon-seok took a deep breath, his voice firm but weary.
"It's not like that. We never wanted to hurt anyone. Things on the main world… things with the big families… it's never simple. We had to keep ourselves hidden from eyes that would have destroyed us the moment they knew who we were."
Ji-ho stepped forward, voice steady but weighted with sincerity.
"I never lied about anything that truly mattered. The information we couldn't share… it wasn't meant to deceive. It was about keeping everyone safe—including all of you."
Choon-hee's hands trembled, but she didn't step back this time. Chul-jun's jaw remained tight, and Chang-min's fingers unclenched slightly, though tension still radiated from his posture.
"I… I know it seems like betrayal," Joon-seok continued, glancing at Choon-hee.
"Especially with you and me… we always had our own bond, and I never wanted to break that. But I had to think about survival first."
Ji-ho nodded, eyes locking with theirs.
"We never meant to hurt anyone. Especially not Joon-seok, and certainly not you, Choon-hee. Trust us, it wasn't as simple as it looks."
Everyone felt the weight of the revelation, tense and raw.
Though anger and hurt lingered, they understood the danger and secrecy the trio had endured.
The room hung heavy with unspoken apologies and fragile understanding.
Slowly, the tension eased, though none of them spoke outright forgiveness yet.
It wasn't the time for that. The focus had to remain on the present—on Iseul and Hae-won.
Meanwhile, the healing box pulsed faintly as Hae-won's breathing steadied, and Joon-seok exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
Secrets had been revealed. Trust was strained, but necessity demanded unity.
Whether family stood beside him or against him, whether bloodlines tangled or broke—he would protect them.
Even if it cost him everything.