Hyunseok had a much younger sibling. The age gap was a whole eleven years. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had practically raised her on his back when she was little.
Her name was Yoo Minseo. From a young age, she had always been diligent, polite, and considerate. Because of this, she was deeply loved by both her family and everyone around her. She was now a high school sophomore, just a year away from preparing for college entrance exams.
Over the weekend, Hyunseok returned to his hometown in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
Within the family, Hyunseok held a rather unique position.
Their parents were simple, good-hearted people, so it was no exaggeration to say that Hyunseok had essentially taken on the role of the family head. Since the age of twenty-six, he had been the one to make most of the important family decisions, and his parents generally respected and accepted his judgment.
Not that he ever acted domineering or arrogant, but still, within the family, the current head was Hyunseok. Especially in matters concerning Minseo, his authority even surpassed that of their parents.
"Mom, Dad, how could you allow it just because she begged? She's a junior in high school!"
Hyunseok's voice rose.
"But there are even middle schoolers who are active as Slayers!"
Minseo bit back the words that were on the tip of her tongue, Oppa doesn't even know what he's talking about!
She felt terribly disappointed. She thought her brother would be happy for her, but instead he was only angry. She wasn't just upset, she was hurt. And ironically, the deeper her disappointment, the more it made her angry.
"That's them, not you. Listen carefully. You are absolutely not doing anything that dangerous. Ever."
Hyunseok's tone was final.
"Oppa already said it. No."
"But Mom and Dad gave permission!"
Her eyes welled up with tears. She had awakened as a Slayer, and it had thrilled her. What's more, she had awakened into a support-type class, a rarity.
She could unfold Combat Fields and Recovery Fields, and she possessed a unique skill called Restore.
Support Slayers were far fewer than combat Slayers. They had the ability to return broken inanimate objects inside the Combat Field back to the state they were in before the field opened. But this only worked if they stayed inside the field from the very beginning until it closed.
And that was precisely why Hyunseok opposed it. Once inside a Combat Field, monsters automatically targeted anyone present as their highest priority.
The mechanics of aggro weren't fully understood, but it was known that even support Slayers sometimes became victims of sudden attacks.
"Mom and Dad only allowed it because they don't really understand. Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? Monsters are growing stronger by the day. With new species appearing, there's often no data at all, so even elite Slayers have to fight on edge. And you want to risk your life in such places, just to earn a couple million won? Study hard, get into a stable, comfortable, respectable job. That's my advice to you, as your brother, and as someone older in life."
"I don't care! I'm going to do it!"
Minseo burst into tears and ran into her room. Hyunseok let out a long sigh. His father, Yoo Segwon, who had been watching silently, sighed as well.
"She wants it so badly… why are you against it?"
"I've seen beast-type monsters up close. They're nothing like dogs. The sheer presence they have is terrifying."
He exaggerated a little.
"They're huge. Something like that could swallow Minseo whole in a single bite. Unless you've seen it with your own eyes, you can't imagine how dangerous it is. There are so many other good paths she could take, why would you let her walk into something like this? Please, Mom, Dad, let me handle this one. I'll never allow it."
❋ ❋ ❋
That evening…
"Minseo, come eat."
Despite it being late and despite surely being hungry, she had locked her door and refused to come out. Normally, her father Segwon would have scolded her, but today he left her alone. He could only imagine how deeply hurt she must have felt.
Hyunseok stood outside her door and knocked.
"Minseo, it's Oppa. Open up."
No response. An hour passed with him waiting, until finally the door opened, just a crack.
The room was dark, the lights off. A thin line of light spilled through the narrow opening, stretching across the room, lengthening Hyunseok's shadow. Minseo sat huddled on the edge of her bed, her face buried in her knees.
"Talk with me, Minseo."
"Go away. I don't want to listen. Leave."
If she wanted him gone, why even open the door? And yet, she had.
"Go away!"
He carefully closed the door behind him and walked to her bed. Sitting beside her, he said nothing, only watched. After a few minutes, she finally lifted her head slightly to look at him. That's when he began to speak.
"Minseo."
"..."
"I know you're upset with me. Awakening as a Slayer, it must've been incredible. Honestly, it is something worth celebrating. And you told me first. I was really thankful for that."
Her eyes lifted a little more.
"..."
"Truth is, I wanted to be happy with you. Seeing you find something you love makes me happy too. But instead of congratulating you, I got angry. I know that hurt you. And I'm sorry. I really did want to celebrate with you."
"Then why didn't you?"
Her voice was still sharp, but trembled with tears.
"Because what I wanted to celebrate wasn't you becoming a Slayer. It was simply that you were happy."
He shifted closer, gently hugging her and stroking her hair. He felt her body trembling.
"I'm sorry I didn't say congratulations. But you know I care about you more than anything. Please, just think about why I'm opposing this. Just once, listen to me."
"I know you're worried. But danger comes with the territory, Oppa."
"Maybe for you it feels normal. But for me, it's not. Call it overprotective, call it controlling, I don't care. I'm your brother. And you know how important this stage of your life is."
Whether it was his sincerity or her exhaustion, Minseo eventually agreed to focus on her studies for now. Hyunseok, with his sharp instincts, sensed she hadn't truly given up, but he chose to step back for the moment. Minseo was not the type to go back on her own word.
The next morning, Hyunseok received a handwritten letter from her.
"What's this?"
"Don't read it here. It's embarrassing."
"Alright."
They had compromised. The letter was seven pages long. Summarized, it contained:
Loving words of gratitude: "Thank you, Oppa. I love you, Oppa."A promise: she would study hard and place in the top ten in her class by finals.A proposal: if she achieved that, she wanted to at least try being a support Slayer during vacation. (Support Slayers could easily join non-corporate guilds if they wished.)And finally…
Hyunseok's eyes stopped at the fourth part.
Oppa, I don't know how you'll feel about this, but ever since I was young, I've always wanted to be like you. I wanted to study well like you, be good at sports like you, be good to Mom and Dad like you… everything. I kept comparing myself to you. I know it's not healthy, but I can't help it. I don't have anything I can say I'm better at than you. I know thinking like this is wrong, but the more I think of you, the more I respect you, admire you, and yet, sometimes it makes me sad and depressed. Isn't that stupid? But now, for the first time, I've found something I might be better at than you. That's why I want this so badly. If you take this away from me, I'll feel so small, so sad. I'll listen to you. I'll study hard. But can't you let me have just this one thing? Please?
Hyunseok was lost in thought.
She's been comparing herself to the memory of me… and that's a fight no one can win.
In her eyes, he was probably something like a superman, a flawless figure. The more she compared herself to that image, the smaller she felt.
I see… another favor to ask of that idiot Jongwon.
He thought of his eccentric friend who had gone abroad for a PhD, only to quit after two years and return to Slayer life.
Knowing Minseo, she'll make the top ten. Easily.
Which meant Hyunseok had to prepare for what came next. Letting her experience Slayer work, even briefly during vacation, was something he decided to allow.
But safety came first. And there was someone who could guarantee that. Ha Jongwon, from the I'UET Guild.
Hyunseok picked up his phone. As the dial tone rang, he thought to himself:
I need to get used to this power too. I'll have to start Slaying seriously.
He possessed stats far beyond what "Easy Mode" was supposed to allow. If used properly, they would give him enough strength to protect Minseo when the time came. He needed to practice, not in theory, but in real combat, before her winter break.
Finally, Jongwon picked up.
—What's up? You never call first.
"Let's grab some soju."
—When? Now?
—Yeah. I'm near your place anyway. Be there soon.
(End of Chapter 7)
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