She was an adult now, working a full-time job.
"When we get home, make sure to eat properly. Aunt already cooked. And don’t forget—you’re back to work tomorrow. They said it counted as sick leave, so don’t mess that up."
"Okay, I got it."
"I’ll say it again—take care of your real life! Games are fine in moderation. I’m not saying don’t play at all. Just... don’t stay up all night every night playing. Aunt’s seriously worried about you."
"...Sorry."
"Don’t apologize. I’m not trying to scold you or anything."
Jinho turned his head with a gruff snort.
But she could feel it clearly—he was worried about her.
"By the way, noona, when I came to visit you two days ago, there was this weird guy in a suit standing in front of your room. What’s your deal with him?"
"Huh?"
"You’re not dating someone like that, right? I mean, if you just put in a little effort, you could have guys lining up for you."
"N-no! He’s nothing like that!"
Jinho gave her a suspicious look but shrugged.
"If you don’t wanna talk about it, fine."
"He just... said weird things. I think he was some kind of salesman. I sent him away."
She glanced sideways at the eco-bag sitting beside her.
Inside it was the envelope that strange man had given her.
Was it thirty billion won, he said...?
And an officetel in Gangnam, a luxury foreign car—
A deed to land somewhere in Seoul.
"A gift someone wanted you to have."
That’s what the man in the suit had said.
He asked her to verify it properly—the ownership had already been transferred.
Gulp.
She swallowed.
The documents were neatly packaged in an expensive-looking envelope.
She’d thought about opening them to take a look, but after debating with herself again and again, she decided not to.
Even if it’s real...
It didn’t feel right to accept it.
There must be a rightful owner.
If I don’t return it...
No, for now, she would have to think long and hard about what to do.
"We’ve arrived, miss!"
The taxi came to a stop in front of a run-down apartment complex.
Jinho pulled a few ten-thousand-won bills from his wallet and handed them to the driver, then stepped out.
"I’m heading off first. Gotta get to cram school. You go straight home, alright? No detours."
"Got it. Thanks."
"Later."
Jinho walked off in the opposite direction of the apartment complex.
"Thank you for the ride."
"A polite young lady, huh."
She bowed respectfully to the driver, then stepped out of the taxi.
Her apartment was right in front of the complex.
She rode the elevator up to the seventh floor.
A small, old unit.
Unlike Jinho’s family, who were born with silver spoons in their mouths, she and her mother rented a tiny, shabby place—but someday, she dreamed of owning a home for the two of them.
Beep. Beep-beep.
She punched in the door code, and the door opened.
What greeted her in the entryway was a photograph hanging on the opposite wall.
I’m home, Dad.
It showed a man on horseback, raising a trophy with a brilliant smile.
He had once been a promising equestrian—but now, he was gone from this world.
"Suyeon, you’re home?"
"Ah, yes! I’m back!"
"Sorry I couldn’t come get you. I wanted to make sure you had a hot meal waiting."
"You didn’t have to go that far..."
The kitchen was filled with a spicy aroma.
It must be kimchi stew—her favorite.
It would be packed with tofu and chunks of pork, just how she liked it.
"You’re really feeling okay? You sure you don’t need to rest a little longer?"
"If I rest any more, the department head’ll kill me. I’ll go back to work tomorrow."
"Alright. I’m almost done anyway. Go wash up and watch some TV."
"I’ll just put my stuff away, then help you."
"Nope. Absolutely not. I’ll do it all."
There was no arguing with her mother when she got like this.
Suyeon unpacked her things and sat down on the living room sofa.
Just then, a commercial was playing on the TV.
<The unicorn... is real!>
<Onee-chan!>
<I’ll feed you, pet your head, and...>
A mobile game ad.
It was one of those promotions emphasizing the bond between players and in-game characters.
...Damn.
She stroked her smartphone.
The game that had once consumed her passion was still inside it.
I worked harder than that guy ever did.
And it wasn’t like she was acting, like those ad characters.
She was sincere—she still was.
They’re... alive.
What had happened three days ago already felt like a dream.
If anyone else knew how she felt, they’d probably laugh in her face.
Call her a delusional addict. Click their tongues in pity.
Why did it have to end there...
She couldn’t say for certain what her sub-Master, Han Israt, had been fighting for.
But somehow... she felt like she could understand his heart.
There’s something I don’t know.
Something a person on the outside like her could never understand.
And yet...
They’re alive.
Maybe it was a delusion.
She couldn’t confess it to anyone.
But deep down, she was certain.
Those Heroes were alive.
Even if they were only characters in a mobile game, they had fought with everything they had.
That was why she had devoted a part of her life to them, too.
Because she wanted to see them make it.
"...Who are you?"
She whispered to her smartphone.
Of course, no answer came.
But without saying something, she felt like she would shatter.
"Han."
Her face twisted.
How pathetic—she was about to cry.
I want to play just one more time.
She wanted to know what had become of him.
If she could, she wanted to help.
"I knew it... you really..."
"Suyeon!"
Her thoughts were broken.
"It’s ready! Come eat, sweetie!"
"Ah—coming!"
Her mom was waiting.
She couldn’t show her a sad face.
Suyeon left the smartphone behind on the couch and headed for the kitchen.
Their voices echoed warmly through the small home.
A few minutes later—
Bzzz!
The phone vibrated on the sofa, its screen lighting up.
[Pick Me Up!]
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