Within the shelter of the Gimpo safe zone, Ahn Jae-hoon, leader of the Returnee Transport Team 2, could not hide his excitement. Only hours earlier, he had nearly lost his life to a troll. Now, fortune had turned. He had escorted back a returnee with power strong enough to kill that same monster in a single strike.
On Earth, returnees varied in strength, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Among them, Lee Seong-jun's overwhelming display stood out as something rare. Even a juvenile troll, classified as a dangerous D-class monster, was no easy opponent. Yet Seong-jun had destroyed it instantly.
To Jae-hoon, the thought sparked wild possibilities. Perhaps this was the return of a new Sword Master — a legendary title once held by only one person in Korea's history. If so, both the nation and those who helped him would rise in prestige. Promotions, recognition, and influence could all be secured by leaving a strong impression on this man.
But beyond ambition, there was also gratitude. Seong-jun had saved their lives. Even if he appeared young and spoke bluntly, he deserved nothing less than sincerity.
In the quiet of the shelter, Seong-jun sat before a projected video, absorbing the information with calm focus. Yet his face darkened as the year flashed on the screen: 2085. Five years had passed since his disappearance into the Thousand Continents.
At once, worry pressed into his heart. His thoughts turned to his family. The park where he had first awakened — the very place he once lived with them — was now a ruin, destroyed by monsters. Fear tightened his chest, but relief followed when he learned the truth. His family had been safely evacuated during the invasion years earlier.
Gratitude softened his stern expression. His return, once uncertain and lonely, now carried the promise of reunion.
To fill the waiting hours, Jae-hoon proposed registering Seong-jun officially as a returnee. Registration was standard, beginning at the lowest F-rank, but what mattered was the foundation it provided for integration into society. Seong-jun agreed without hesitation.
The process was swift. A German-made scanning device measured his energy, giving him the expected entry rank. Though the sensation of being probed was unpleasant, it ended quickly. Even small conveniences — like offering to deliver his certificate directly to his family's home — left Seong-jun faintly satisfied. These gestures, though simple, spared him needless trouble.
Just as the formalities concluded, Jae-hoon's phone rang. The news carried more weight than any rank or registration. Seong-jun's younger sister had arrived at the shelter.
The calm he had maintained through battles and hardships wavered. His heartbeat thundered in his chest, faster and louder with each second. The door creaked open, and a voice he had dreamed of countless times reached his ears.
His sister stepped into view, breathless, her long hair flowing, her eyes searching. The sight hit him harder than any blow he had faced in another world.
Lee Seo-yoon. His only sister, the anchor of his past life, the very reason he had yearned to return to Earth.
The moment they locked eyes, all the words he had prepared scattered into silence. Emotion surged too strongly for careful expression. His chest tightened, his throat burned, and yet a smile broke across his face.
After decades of struggle, the Demon God who had once ruled another world finally returned not as a conqueror, but as a brother.
And with trembling breath, the reunion began.