Chapter 84: Echoes Beneath the Rain

That night, I returned home using teleportation.

The familiar sensation of space folding around my body lasted only a fraction of a second before the world snapped back into place. The front gate of the house stood before me, quiet and unchanged, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction.

Watching Boris punish Alea had been… entertaining, in a way.

If I hadn’t told him to tone it down, Alea might have ended up being beaten relentlessly. Fortunately, Boris only flicked her forehead with his fingers.

Well—

Only a flick.

But judging from the way she nearly collapsed afterward, it must have hurt like hell.

I reached out and opened the door.

“I’m home.”

Almost immediately, footsteps rushed toward me.

“Oppa! You’re back!”

“We missed you!”

They gathered around me with bright expressions, their relief and happiness obvious.

But there was one person who stood apart.

So-ah.

Her arms were crossed, and her expression was anything but pleased.

…Uh-oh.

“U-uhm… what’s wrong, So-ah?” I asked carefully.

“Your face looks… strange.”

“Strange?” she snapped.

“I’m just annoyed because you disappeared again without warning!”

“B-but didn’t Donghyun tell you?”

“Even so, I’m still not happy about it!”

Ugh… she really was hard to deal with sometimes.

“But…” she continued, her voice lowering slightly,

“At least you told us before leaving this time.”

Her cheeks turned red, and she looked away.

I smiled softly.

She was always like this—angry on the surface, worried underneath.

I reached out and gently patted her head.

She stiffened for a moment but didn’t pull away.

After that, I walked toward Lee Donghyun, who was sitting at the table, eating instant noodles while watching a movie on his computer.

“Hey,” I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He glanced back.

“Hm? What’s up, hyung?”

“I’ve got a job for you.”

“What kind of job?”

“Don’t worry,” I replied calmly.

“It’s right up your alley.”

I pulled out a folded piece of paper from my pocket.

Written on it were several names.

Russian officials.

I placed the paper on his desk.

“Hack their databases,” I said.

“Find everything dirty they’ve ever done.”

Donghyun picked up the paper, scanning the names.

“Hm… this is easy,” he said confidently.

“Leave it to me, hyung. I’ll have the files ready by tomorrow night.”

I smiled faintly.

As expected—he was reliable.

“Alright then. Enjoy your time.”

I turned and headed toward my room.

When I opened the door—

I froze.

Someone was already sleeping on my bed.

Elvera.

She lay sprawled comfortably on my mattress as if it were her own, her silver hair spread across the pillow.

I had planned to rest here, but she had completely taken over my bed.

Her eyes slowly opened.

“Oh… Jinho,” she murmured lazily.

“You’re back. Come here and sleep with me.”

She patted the empty space beside her.

“U-uh… what are you doing in my room?” I asked, genuinely confused.

She smiled sweetly.

“My room is too uncomfortable,” she said casually.

“I want to sleep here.”

I let out a slow breath.

How was I supposed to sleep next to a thirty-two-year-old woman?

I walked over to my wardrobe, removed my cloak, and hung it inside.

“Could you leave my room?” I asked gently.

“Oh, come on~” she teased.

“Why are you so shy? I’ll help you sleep comfortably~”

Comfortably?

Just having you on my bed is already uncomfortable!

At that moment—

A butterfly suddenly appeared and tugged at my jacket.

“H-hey, wait! I haven’t changed yet!”

The butterfly ignored me completely.

Several of them appeared, lifting me and dragging me onto the bed.

I landed beside Elvera.

She immediately wrapped her arms around me like I was a body pillow.

“Shh,” she whispered.

“You should just be quiet and sleep.”

Ugh… how am I supposed to sleep like this?!

This felt exactly like what Eun-bi did when she kidnapped me before.

These women were insane.

I could clearly feel Elvera’s chest pressed against my body.

My entire body stiffened.

Damn it.

If this continued, I’d really be in danger.

Please… someone help me…

Right then—

The door opened.

Lee Mira stepped inside, clutching her stuffed doll.

“Oppa…” she said softly.

“I’m scared to sleep alone…”

Yes!

That’s it!

Help has arrived!

“A-ah… I see…” I said quickly.

“Then close the door and come up here.”

Lee Mira nodded sleepily, closed the door, and walked toward the bed.

She climbed onto it and lay down right between Elvera and me.

Right in the middle.

Elvera laughed softly.

“Hah… you really love interrupting my moments, don’t you~”

She gently stroked Lee Mira’s hair.

Finally, I could relax a little.

But… why did Lee Mira want to sleep here with me?

I glanced toward the window.

Outside, heavy rain poured down relentlessly.

Thunder roared, lightning flashing across the sky.

…Yeah.

That made sense.

Lee Mira was terrified of rain and thunder.

Even though she strangely loved watching Min-seo’s lightning powers.

I carefully shifted my body, creating a bit of distance between the two of them.

That small space alone made me feel much more comfortable.

I slowly closed my eyes.

And drifted into sleep.

At some point—

I heard a sound.

A sound I knew far too well.

The piercing wail of a siren.

My entire body stiffened.

I opened my eyes.

I was no longer in my room.

I stood inside a military base.

“A… what is this…?”

I looked around.

This place…

It felt painfully familiar.

A soldier ran toward me, shouting something.

I couldn’t hear his words clearly.

But his face—

I knew it.

The base began to shake violently.

Explosions echoed in the distance.

I lowered my stance to keep my balance.

This scene…

I recognized it.

The soldier came closer.

Closer.

He grabbed my shoulders and shouted—

“WAKE UP!!”

I jolted awake.

My body shot upright.

Cold sweat drenched my face.

I clutched my forehead.

“That… that was just a dream…”

“Just a dream…”

Why did that memory surface now?

Why that day?

I turned my head.

Elvera and Lee Mira were sleeping peacefully beside me.

I took several deep breaths, forcing myself to calm down.

Then I looked toward the window.

Morning light filtered through the curtains.

Dawn had arrived.

After taking a shower, I changed my clothes.

I walked into the kitchen and saw that Lee Donghyun wasn’t awake yet.

Looks like I had to make my own breakfast.

A few minutes later—

Donghyun shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.

His eyes widened when he saw me cooking.

“Hm? Hyung, you’re cooking?”

“Hm?” I replied.

“Oh… yeah. I woke up early.”

I had made a simple omelet with noodles.

Nothing fancy—but enough to fill my stomach.

Yet something continued to bother me.

That place in my dream…

Wasn’t that the military base where I once served?

Why did I dream about it now?

I felt confused.

So many things didn’t make sense.

But for the first time in a long while—

That memory shook me.

And confused me.

It was a day I never wanted to remember.

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