Free Web NovelBack home, Roi was completely spent. Between consoling Hojin and then his sulking little sister Roze, he had nothing left.
And then there was the IV line taped to his arm—a creation his parents had commissioned from his doctor when they saw his bandaged hand. It was the palm that was injured, but Roi didn’t argue; he just went along. As a result, Roze had come running to him first, so in the end it had worked out.
Fresh blood, fresh blood—
Looking down, he saw Roze snuggled against his side, asleep. She was still a baby, so her breathing was surprisingly loud.
No wonder she’s tired.
Roi gently stroked the reddened skin around Roze’s eyes, sore from crying so much. His little cotton ball of a sister, who had wailed that big brother never called, seemed to have grown a bit in the time he’d been away. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
But when on earth am I supposed to grow?
He'd written “187 cm” in his world‐setting notes—so why wasn’t he getting any taller? He suddenly remembered the business cards he’d taken from Hojin’s house.
Where do people even get things like this?
Especially the one for the Awakening Serum. It looked like an advertisement handout and gave him a creepy vibe. On the back it boasted “First Developed Domestically” alongside an eight-digit code. He was grateful at least that he hadn’t been taken in by the cult—he’d actually gone into their lair. Roi tapped the card thoughtfully.
And then there was the “Salvation Church” card.
Just four syllables, and yet it reeked of cult. He could never understand how people fell for those con artists.
✧
But the next day, he was walking with Roze to meet Galbi. He’d planned to go alone, but Roze’s rhinoceros tears forced him to bring her along. And, overly protective big brothers that they were, they’d never let her down—even for a moment. What if someone snatched her? So even in the heat, he carried her the whole way, until a woman in red horn-rims approached them.
“Excuse me. Could I ask for directions?”
Roze tilted her head and echoed “Directions?”
The woman smiled at Roze and waved cheerfully.
“Well hello there, sweetie—such a pretty face. What’s your name?”
Tempting as it was to answer, Roze was extremely shy. She buried her face against Roi’s shoulder, rejecting the stranger. The woman forced another smile and turned back to Roi.
“Is there an internet café nearby? It’s been ages since I’ve been around here.”
“I’m not from here either, I’m afraid.”
Roi bowed and tried to pass by, but the woman blocked his path to add:
“My phone’s dead. Could you look it up for me? Sorry to bother you.”
Roi, growing annoyed, looked around: no one else to ask.
Galbi’s going to freak if I’m late.
He couldn’t ignore someone asking so earnestly. Holding Roze on one arm, he fished his phone out of his pocket.
“Sure. Let me help.”
As she reached toward Roze, Roi sprang around, glaring.
“No, thank you.”
“Oh—I just thought—”
“Really, I said it’s fine. She’s very shy around strangers.”
Had he been too brusque? But wasn’t it ruder to reach into a stranger’s arms? Filming Star Hero must have left him on edge. He dropped his gaze apologetically and opened his map.
“Internet café?”
“Yes. Feel free to check on the move if you’re busy.”
He gave quick directions.
“Go straight ahead; you’ll see one on the right.”
Roi nodded and slipped past before she could say more.
✧
Sure enough, beyond the café window, Bi sat arms crossed, scowling. Only then did Roi set Roze down and point.
“Princess, see that brother who looks studious?”
“Um.”
“If he tries to scold your brother, Princess must protect me, right?”
“Um! Princess will protect!”
“Good. Let’s go.”
Hand in hand, the siblings entered. Their eyes met Bi’s.
“You—!”
Bi jabbed an accusatory finger, so Roze planted her hands on her hips and stopped. She mimicked his gesture and piped up in her baby voice.
“No scolding! No scolding me!”
That level of cuteness drew stares from everyone in the café. Fortunately, the internet sensation “One-Second-Cat” was wearing a hat today, so no one recognized him.
“Sorry I’m late. Someone kept asking for directions on the way.”
As Roi approached, Bi looked at them both in disbelief.
“...What is this?”
“Say hello—this is my daughter.”
Roi said casually. Bi’s eyes widened so far he’d thought they’d pop. The features, the proportions—he couldn’t deny it, even if Roi had claimed he’d had her alone.
“Oh, no, she looks about three.”
“She’s five.”
Wait. If she was five... when did he—?
Bi was speechless. Struggling to stifle his laughter, Roi decided it was time to stop the joke.
“Just kidding! This is my sister Roze. Say hi!”
“Hellonyo! I Roze.”
“Well done~ Now, promise me: no insults to Galbi today. Only nice words, okay?”
Perched on Roi’s lap, Roze extended her tiny pinky finger in promise. Bi’s mouth quivered; he clearly wanted to yell, but he was holding back for Roze’s sake.
“What would you like to drink, princess? Choco? Strawberry?”
“Uuum~ Choco!”
“Got it—choco. And you, Galbi? Choco too?”
That swift “choco!” from Roze’s baby tongue left Bi dazed. He’d thought he’d escaped the obsessive fangirl, only to be tortured by this adorable sibling pair. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Bi sighed deeply and pressed his hands to his temples.
“Anything...”
He’d half-surrendered. Soon Roi returned with three iced chocolates. He handed his phone to Roze.
“Princess, Daddy’s talking with his friend—why don’t you watch TeeniePings?”
“Um!”
Roze was utterly captivated by the notorious TeeniePings show on his screen. Over two hundred magical creatures danced /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ to catchy tunes. Lost in it, she didn’t even notice Roi slip away.
Now free to speak in earnest, Roi turned back to Bi.
“Galbi, is this the invitation you mentioned?”
He placed the Salvation Church card on the table.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Hojin hyung’s house.”
Bi nodded, confirming the cult’s name matched what Roi had tried to infiltrate.
“The name’s right, but I can’t tell if it’s a real invitation.”
“So I have to go see for myself.”
“Go? Did you even hear what I said? That place isn’t just some ordinary cult.”
“I know.”
“You promised you’d never go back. Isn’t that enough? Let it go—you almost broke a bone that day.”
Logically, Bi was right. Hojin had vowed to stop attending, so Roi needn’t worry.
But I still feel uneasy...
Roi scratched his brow in thought. All along, he’d felt someone trailing him more closely. At first he’d chalked it up to coincidence, but even inside the café, the presence hadn’t vanished. They hadn’t come in, but they hovered just outside.
Since when?
As his expression hardened, Bi waved it off.
“Hey, you’re fine. What’s with the scowl?”
Touched that Roi seemed concerned for once, Bi’s heart fluttered—until Roi’s next words shattered any sentiment.
“No, not you.”
“What, you little...?!”
Bi bit back a vulgarity as Roi rose from his seat, pale and serious.
“I’m stepping out for a bit. Watch my sister, please.”
“What? Hey, where are you going? I can’t babysit—!”
Completely absorbed in TeeniePings, Roze barely noticed she'd been shifted to the seat beside Bi.
“As long as you don’t interrupt her, I’ll be right back.”
“Hey!”
Before Bi could protest further, Roi slipped out of the café.
✧
Outside, Roi paused, uncertain where to go. Then he spotted a convenience store at the end of the block and strolled in.
Would they follow?
He couldn’t tell if the watcher was after him, after Roze, or both—and it made him uneasy.
If they want Roze...
He thought of the kidnappings of rich heirs in dramas. But the presence kept trailing him, no matter what.
Inside the store, Roi filled a basket with TeeniePings merchandise to buy time. The presence never approached closer than a few meters.
If they keep following, I’ll have to strike first.
First strike wins. But he didn’t know their strength, so he needed a weapon. Roi added a clear umbrella to the purchase. As he headed to the register, he sensed the follower drawing near.
They’re coming.
For reasons unknown, they’d decided to show themselves. Roi calmly left the store, only to come face to face with...
“Oh! We meet again here. Thank you so much earlier.”
He recognized the woman in the red horn-rims—the same stranger from before.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t you remember? You told me about the PC café.”
So it had been a planned approach. All that trailing, then pretending coincidence—infuriating. He replied curtly.
“Oh—right, you from before.”
“...‘You from before’?”
