April 3, 2012. Seoul, South Korea.
The hall was filled with a silence that seemed louder than any noise. Gray walls, high ceilings, and black wreaths gave the room a heaviness that was impossible to escape. Only the soft glow of candles illuminated the space, casting a gentle light over a photograph at the center. In it was a woman with a kind smile, a smile they would never see again in real life. Lee Mi Yeon, their mother.
Park Hyun Woo sat on the floor, clutching at his shirt, trying to keep his hands from shaking. He felt as if the entire world had collapsed around him. Beside him, leaning against his side, sat Park Yuna. Her small fingers gripped her brother as though she feared he too might disappear.
The sound of raindrops tapping against the window blended with the soft sobs of relatives and family friends. But the children seemed cut off from it all. They just stared at the photograph, swallowed up by their grief.
Yuna (through her tears): "Big brother... why did Mom leave us? Didn't she love us?"
Her voice trembled, and each word hit Hyun Woo's heart like a knife. He wanted to say something, but the words got caught in his throat. He knew their mother loved them more than anything, but how could he explain that to a seven-year-old?
His lips quivered, and he leaned closer to his sister, whispering.
Hyun Woo: "Mom... she would never have left us if she had a choice. She always said she'd be here for us. It's just... now she's in heaven. She's watching over us, and she wants us to be strong."
Yuna buried her face in his shoulder, her body shaking with sobs. Hyun Woo gritted his teeth and held her close, trying not to cry himself. It felt as though if he broke, Yuna would lose him too.
Time dragged on painfully. People approached, offered condolences, said words the children barely heard. Hyun Woo felt like he was in a fog. His thoughts kept returning to that moment when the doctors told them their mother had died.
He remembered her last days—her weak voice still trying to comfort them, her warm hands reaching out to hug them despite her pain. On the final day, she looked at him and said, "Take care of Yuna, okay? You're the head of the family now." Those words cut through his heart again and again.
Now he sat in this cold hall, with a photograph on the altar instead of his living mother, not knowing how to keep moving forward. He knew only one thing: he had to do everything to keep Yuna safe.
When all the guests had left, only the two of them remained in the hall. Yuna sat on the floor, her face buried in her knees, while Hyun Woo stared at the photograph. His eyes were dry, but a storm raged inside him. Slowly, he stood up, walked over to the altar, and clasped his hands in prayer.
His voice was quiet, but in the empty hall, it echoed clearly.
Hyun Woo: "Mom... I don't know what to do. I'm scared. But I promise... I'll do everything to make Yuna happy. I'll be strong so I can protect her. Even if it's hard. Even if I can never smile again. Just, please... watch over us."
He took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling voice. The tears he had held back for so long slowly rolled down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and turned to his sister.
Hyun Woo: "Yuna, let's go home. We need to rest."
She looked up, her eyes red from crying. She nodded silently and reached for her brother's hand. He took her hand, and together they left the hall, leaving behind the last memories of their mother.
Outside, the rain still fell. The dim streetlights lit up the wet pavement, and a cold wind cut through them. Hyun Woo and Yuna walked in silence, sharing an umbrella that someone had left in the hall. Yuna leaned against her brother, her legs trembling from exhaustion.
Hyun Woo looked straight ahead, trying not to notice the cold. His mind spun with thoughts of how he was going to cope. He was still a child himself, but he knew that there was no one else to care for them. It felt like the rain would never stop, as if their world would remain forever gray and empty.
When they got home, he helped Yuna take off her wet coat, made her a cup of hot tea, and tucked her into bed. She fell asleep quickly, exhausted from crying and the weight of the day. Hyun Woo, however, sat by the window, watching the rain.
His thoughts were full of fears, but among them was a single feeling—determination. He remembered his mother's words, her final plea, her voice. He clenched his fists and whispered:
Hyun Woo: "I won't let you down, Mom. I'll become strong. For Yuna. For our family."
The darkness of night filled the small apartment, lit only by the dim glow of streetlights filtering through the curtains. The room was quiet, save for the barely audible ticking of a wall clock. On the bed lay Park Hyun Woo, curled on his side, his face tense as if he was fighting something invisible.
His breathing quickened, and his body jerked. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Tears rolled down his cheeks, leaving wet streaks. He sighed, wiped his face with his hand, and mumbled softly to himself:
Hyun Woo (whispering): "That dream again... Why won't it leave me alone?"
Slowly, he sat up, lowering his feet to the cold floor. His eyes flicked to the clock on the nightstand — 2019.06.15 3:15 AM. He rubbed his face, wiping away the last of his tears, and got up. His body felt heavy, just like the thoughts swirling in his head.
He walked to the bathroom, careful not to make a sound that might wake Yuna. He turned on the cold water and splashed his face several times, giving himself a chance to calm down. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he saw the tired face of an eighteen-year-old. Dark circles framed his eyes, his hair was disheveled, and his gaze was empty.
Hyun Woo dried his face with a towel and paused for a moment, leaning against the sink. His heart was still pounding, the memories from his dream refusing to fade. Finally, he took a deep breath, folded the towel, and quietly walked past Yuna's room.
He carefully opened the door. Yuna was asleep, curled up under her blanket, her hair splayed across the pillow. Hyun Woo watched her for a few moments to make sure she was sleeping peacefully, then quietly closed the door. Her world was safe as long as he stood guard.
Returning to his room, Hyun Woo lay back down on the bed. He placed his hand over his eyes, trying to fall asleep again, but his thoughts wouldn't let him rest. It felt like the weight of the past was still crushing him, despite all the years that had gone by.
Hyun Woo (whispering): "A new day... new challenges... But I promised. I promised I'd protect our family. I'll do whatever it takes."
His voice faded into the dark, but the words echoed in his mind. He rolled onto his side, trying to find a comfortable position, but sleep wouldn't come. Instead, his eyes drifted to the nightstand.
On it lay his phone and an open wallet. In the clear slot, his Official Hunter Card was visible. The light from the street fell on it, illuminating its details: a photo of a young man with a determined gaze, his full name, his hunter registration number, his home address, and most importantly—his rank.
"E-Rank."
That rank was like a brand. The lowest level, signifying that in the eyes of the guilds and the Association, he was practically useless. But for Hyun Woo, it was a mark of pride. Even if he was weak, he kept trying. That card was a symbol of his determination to survive and care for his sister.
He stared at the card, remembering his first raid, his first steps into this dangerous world. He had been terrified, but he had kept going. For Yuna. For their future.
Closing his eyes, Hyun Woo took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Sleep still wouldn't come, but he knew that morning was near. Tomorrow would be a new day, and he would meet it, as always, with the determination to keep moving forward. Even if the world stood against him, he would not give up.
In the darkness of the room, his breathing grew steady, and only the ticking of the clock disturbed the silence of the night.