“We couldn’t even tell the difference between dreams and reality! The Kim husbands looked thrilled~”

Yunyun said brightly, clearly amused. Well, that figured—goblins wouldn’t see much difference between the two anyway. They could fly, teleport, and hated fighting. The only real indulgence for them would probably be eating lots of delicious food, but that was something they could already do in reality.

“But hey, Captain Kim—your sister?”

“…What?”

“You look alike. Don’t you?”

Yunyun pointed toward the Puppeteer. Next to him, Bak Hayul was crumpled on the ground, fast asleep.

“Maybe a little… though not enough to call—him—a woman.”

If we did a DNA test, it might come out as the same person.

“Anyway, not family exactly—but he’s male.”

“But where you’re from, Captain Kim, weren’t people with long hair women, like, a hundred years ago? Right? It’s really long!”

“Uh… after modernization, yeah, people started cutting it short. But these days some guys grow it out again. And besides…”

Was I really about to give a gender lesson to a genderless goblin? Didn’t they teach this kind of thing in goblin school?

“Gender’s something you check at a hospital. They test chromosomes. These days there are even people who can turn into dragons, so you can’t judge by appearances.”

There might even be species that could change gender like clownfish. Goblins themselves were agender, after all. It was an age where multiculturalism had evolved into multi-species culture. Come to think of it, I still didn’t know Peace’s gender. Could a monster’s gender be determined with a DNA test?

While I was explaining all this to Yunyun, the Puppeteer watched me in silence, then raised his hand with a faint smile. A bad sign.

“Once you reach a Transcendent’s level, you can even change your—”

“Oh, stop right there!”

Don’t even think about doing weird things with my face! Sure, maybe he could, but that didn’t mean he should!

“So, Yujin—do you prefer having an older sister or an older brother?”

“I don’t need either! And you—why are you even—no, we’re not in that kind of relationship to begin with!”

“I think having an older sister would be fun~”

Yerim said, looking at the Puppeteer with bright, expectant eyes. Yerim, you’re just saying that because it’s funny, aren’t you? If Hyunah were here, she’d definitely be egging the two of them on to try it together. And Seong Hyeonje… well, maybe not right now.

“Don’t even think about doing anything stupid! If you’re going to, at least change your face first!”

“Here, I put a mole right here. Look, I’ve changed.”

“You look exactly the same!”

“In your culture, doesn’t a mole under the eye make you a different person?”

Had he been watching dramas next to the sleeping Sigma? What a piece of work. Sigma must’ve had a rough time living with this guy.

“Puppeteer, that’s enough. Just help Yunyun activate his skill. Yunyun, please open the portal in front of the breeding center building—the old one’s collapsed.”

Maybe Gyeol had already fixed it, but just in case. Yunyun nodded, and the Puppeteer steadied the mana around him so he could use his skill safely.

“I told you before—the system stabilization will take a day, maybe two. You can rest a bit till then.”

“Hyung, you really need to rest.”

“Yeah, don’t do anything—just rest.”

Yuhyun and Yerim both looked at me with worried eyes. It wasn’t exactly a time for rest, but I did need to clear my head. Peace, who’d grown large again after losing the ability to use his skill, carefully brushed his mane against my back. I leaned into him and hugged him gently. In front of Yunyun, a small portal began to form.

“The mana over there’s unstable—it won’t open big!”

“As long as Peace can fit through, it’s fine. We don’t have much to carry anyway. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome~”

Right then, footsteps echoed from the second floor. I straightened up, letting go of Peace. For some reason, I found it awkward to look toward the stairs.

He might be calm, but I’m still the same.

Even if he had no choice but to expose himself to avoid being dragged off by the Crescent Moon, the more I thought about it, the more it pissed me off. From my point of view, a friend had suddenly switched sides overnight. How was I supposed to explain that to anyone else? I’d have to say something, but…

Seong Hyeonje wanted to live because of me…

Yeah, no, if Gyeol found out, he’d be up in arms, flailing his little fists at Seong Hyeonje. The two of them had actually gotten pretty close. Better to keep this hidden. I swallowed a sigh and turned my head. Seong Hyeonje and Director Song were walking toward us.

“Uncle Seoseong, are you okay?”

Yerim asked. Seong Hyeonje gave only a small nod in reply. Yerim blinked, startled. What the—why was he being cold even to Yerim now? I thought he’d only erased his feelings for me. Director Song stopped first. His faintly worried eyes met mine. I smiled silently, telling him I was fine.

Seong Hyeonje walked straight past us and stopped in front of the Puppeteer. He looked him up and down.

“Your name.”

The abrupt question made the Puppeteer raise an eyebrow.

“Not your business.”

“I think it is.”

Seong Hyeonje stepped closer.

“If it’s its puppet, then it’s mine as well.”

“I don’t deal with anyone who’s not cute.”

The Puppeteer’s eyes cooled instantly, his face going blank and icy. What the hell was Seong Hyeonje doing? He’d barely paid him any attention until now. The tension in the air was palpable—I couldn’t take it anymore and stepped forward.

“Mr. Seong Hyeonje! Why are you picking a fight with the Puppeteer—”

Suddenly, my body was yanked backward. Yuhyun. My brother pulled me into his arms as Director Song moved to block the front, almost simultaneously—

Crash!

A flash of light. Even the aftershock of the lightning strike burned through the sleeve of Director Song’s arm, charring the fabric black. The static pricked my skin from where I stood behind him.

“Director Song! Potion!”

“It’s only a light burn,” he said, stepping back with us.

The floor and ceiling were scorched black. The spot where the Puppeteer had been standing was completely destroyed. A metallic clink followed—the sound of chains. Seong Hyeonje’s hand was gripping the Puppeteer’s wrist tightly. Chains coiled around them, rattling as though bound to something invisible.

“You can use skills,” the Puppeteer said flatly.

Seong Hyeonje answered just as calmly.

“Considering what’s accumulated within me, it’s not difficult. It’s only the mana of a dream that’s come undone.”

“Since when?”

“Since I died. Before that, I had to conserve myself.”

…When he’d followed my lead. If I’d succeeded, he could’ve rested and dealt with what he’d built up. But now that wasn’t an option. My jaw clenched.

“A puppet should behave like one.”

“You talk big for someone who’s still only S-Rank.”

“Why so defensive?”

His golden eyes curved faintly as he smiled. He pulled on the wrist he held, forcing the Puppeteer’s hand to touch his chest. The Puppeteer’s fingers twitched.

“You can’t even strike me because you’re carrying that kid inside you.”

The Puppeteer’s eyes narrowed sharply, and he let out a laugh devoid of humor.

“There’s not a single cute bone in your body. Hey, Han Yujin—why are you hanging around with this guy?”

“…Well, I mean—”

Honestly, I’d started off disliking him too.

“Anyway, stop it!”

Normally, he’d have turned at my voice or at least said something—but he didn’t react at all. Yerim muttered that Uncle Seoseong was acting weird. He wasn’t weird—just back to the old Seong Hyeonje. But somehow, it did feel strange.

“Where’s Sigma?”

“My kid has nothing to do with you. And I’ll make sure it stays that way, so mind your own business.”

“Harsh. I value myself, you know. Naturally, I’d want to see my own face.”

“Go look in a mirror.”

The Puppeteer vanished. A few meters back, he reappeared—and around him, the weapons Gyeol had left behind flew toward him like magnets. His pale hand flicked the hilt of a sword as it came to him, spinning it midair before firing it like an arrow straight at Seong Hyeonje.

It was more a threat than an attack. Seong Hyeonje could easily have dodged—but he didn’t move. He just stood there, watching the sword fly toward his chest.

“Oh, for f—”

The Puppeteer swore. Crash! The sword shattered right before hitting him. Metal fragments bounced off, grazing his cheek and body lightly. The Puppeteer brushed his long hair back with a cold laugh.

“Can’t believe my kid grew up into a bastard like this.”

“Reality is what it is. So you’d better behave in front of your master.”

“Are you asking me to rip your tongue out?”

The air between them tightened again. Chains slithered across the floor toward Seong Hyeonje’s feet. Director Song’s voice cut through the tension.

“Enough.”

He stepped forward.

“The reason I agreed to assist Hunter Seong Hyeonje includes ensuring everyone else’s safety as well.”

“If Director Song stands in my way…”

Seong Hyeonje turned to him, then took a single step back.

“I’ll leave it at that. I am in need of assistance, after all.”

…At least Director Song could get through to him. Still, it stung a little. So my words didn’t even reach him now, huh? Maybe his attitude toward the Puppeteer was none of my concern anymore. Maybe before, he’d only restrained himself for my sake.

“But don’t trust it too easily,” he said, slipping the Searcher’s chains into his inventory.

“It may wear Han Yujin’s face, but that thing is a Transcendent. If it looked any different, you wouldn’t have accepted it so easily.”

“I’m well aware and keeping watch,” Director Song replied evenly.

Seong Hyeonje’s eyes flicked past him—to me. My shoulders twitched. Come to think of it, I had trusted the Puppeteer way too easily. I hadn’t even doubted his claim that my doppelgänger puppet was something Sigma had taken. Sure, there was the contract as proof—but who could say if it really was the same puppet, or some Transcendent pretending to be one after taking Sigma?

“That guy’s really got a shitty personality,” the Puppeteer muttered, clicking his tongue. The weapons that had been floating around him dropped to the ground with a series of metallic clangs.

“…Anyway,” I said, gesturing for the cowering Yunyun to come out of hiding, “it’s true you didn’t actually attack him. You must genuinely care about Sigma.”

“If it weren’t for my kid, I wouldn’t have come here at all.”

“I’m not saying I trust you completely. After all…”

I met the Puppeteer’s gaze—eyes that looked so much like mine yet weren’t.

“For you, protecting Sigma is what matters most. If you had to choose between us and Sigma, we already know the answer.”

“Of course.”

So, for now, we could trust him—but as Seong Hyeonje said, we couldn’t let our guard down. Our goals were different.

“I was so startled I nearly woke up from the dream!”

Yunyun flapped his hands dramatically. “Come on, hurry up and go to Seoul already!”

I glanced back at Seong Hyeonje, then started toward the portal.

“What’s up with Uncle Seoseong? What happened?” Yerim whispered close beside me. I couldn’t explain, so I just gave a sheepish smile.

“Well… it’s not the first time, right?”

“I guess not.”

Yeah. Nothing new there. And at least this time, he’d trusted me enough to let me handle it. If he’d just ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) cut me off completely, saying he’d failed and was done with me, that would’ve crushed me—but this way, it was like he’d said he’d come back once there was another way. So I’d let it go. Still pissed me off, though.

“I think Gyeol rebuilt the house!” Yerim exclaimed.

Familiar scenery came into view. The breeding center grounds, once ruined by monster attacks, were surrounded by fresh walls again. The streets were intact, too. Only the sky felt strange.

The moon had drawn far away. Still ten times larger than usual, but no longer suffocatingly close. Stars filled the empty space it left behind—bright ones standing alone, small ones clustered in clouds, twin stars twinkling together, wandering stars drifting here and there, some faint and still. Countless eyes seemed to gaze down upon the ground.

“…Let’s go inside.”

The sky felt heavy. We needed a roof over our heads. As we headed toward the building’s entrance, the convenience store door jingled open.

“Dad! Can I eat all this? It’s a dream!”

Byeol came running out, arms full of snacks. Unlike the stars above, she was the kind of star that made you smile just by looking at her. Seol and Gyeol chased close behind.

“Byeol! Dad’s real! You can’t eat that!”

“He doesn’t need any—eat it all.”

Kids, seriously. Maybe Gyeol had brought them here to cheer me up. It worked; seeing them made my heart feel lighter.

“Hyung, you shouldn’t—actually, just one.”

I caught Byeol as she ran up, dropping snacks along the way. Gyeol, picking up the fallen ones, suddenly looked behind us. Seong Hyeonje’s eyes were on him. Gyeol snorted, crossing his arms.

“See? He’s fine! I told you, nothing to worry about! Dad, let’s go inside already!”

“Y-yeah. Let’s go.”

Don’t say anything stupid, Seong Hyeonje. Keep your mouth shut. Thankfully, he did. Before Gyeol could notice anything strange, we hurried into the building.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep