“Is someone hurt?”

At the irritable question, Go Hyung-geon flinched.

“It's Si-hyun.”

“What about that bastard?”

“He got into a car accident.”

“Shit just keeps coming.”

“……”

“Was it serious?”

“Not too serious, but he has mild concussion symptoms.”

Hwang Tae-su irritably ground out his cigarette.

“Too many damn people getting hurt lately.”

“Sir?”

“Talking to myself. So which hospital?”

“Are you planning to go?”

“If that little bastard's faking, I need to smack him. Which hospital is it?”

“Hansung Hospital, sir.”

Hwang Tae-su stood up from his seat.

“I have lunch plans with President Kwak. Let’s stop by quickly before that.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Did you hurt your hand while working?”

Shin Seong-hyun quickly hid his bandaged hand behind him.

“No… it just happened somehow.”

“Have you thought about it?”

At the attending doctor's words, Seong-hyun couldn’t open his mouth. The doctor adjusted his glasses and spoke again.

“I understand. It’s a difficult issue.”

“Could you give me just a little more time?”

“You're asking for a grace period, I see.”

“...Yes.”

“Seong-hyun. What I’m about to say might sound cruel to you. But as a doctor, I have to say it. Please try to understand.”

“……”

“Lee Myung-sook isn't the only patient here. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes… I understand.”

“Please make a decision quickly.”

“...Yes.”

Seong-hyun left the consultation room weakly. Sighing repeatedly, he headed toward the ward where his mother was.

“Mom.”

“What happened to your hand?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“How can I not worry? How did it happen? At work?”

“No, I tripped and fell.”

“How do you get a wound like that from tripping?”

“I’m serious.”

Hearing her son say it with a childlike smile, Lee Myung-sook felt her heart tighten. No matter how it happened, it was probably related to her.

“Seong-hyun. Remember what I told you before.”

“……”

“I don’t need the surgery.”

“Don’t say that again, seriously.”

“I can just keep doing dialysis, right? Because of me, you…”

“Why do you only think about yourself?”

“……”

“I said I’d get the money for the surgery. I can do it. Then why do you keep…”

“……”

“Why do you always assume the worst and stress people out?”

“...I’m sorry.”

“So please, get the surgery. Don’t think about anything else. Got it?”

“...Okay.”

“I’m going now.”

“Don’t overdo it and make sure you eat properly. Okay?”

“Don’t worry.”

Seong-hyun left the room almost like he was escaping. Then he stood with his back to the room. His mind was full of conflicting thoughts when—

“Hey, Talmud.”

Hospital rooftop.

Hwang Tae-su lit a cigarette.

“Did you get home okay last night?”

“Sir?”

“You drank like hell last night.”

“Ah… yes. What about you, sir?”

“Wasn’t much. I got home fine.”

“……”

“Twenty-three.”

“Sir?”

“Your age.”

“Ah, yes.”

“It’s a good age. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No, I don’t.”

Hwang Tae-su took a deep drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. After a short pause, he spoke again.

“The world’s a piece of shit, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Damn it, nothing’s fair. We’re all born the same, but some bastards are born with silver spoons… some with dirt spoons.”

“……”

“And there’s even poor bastards born without any spoon at all. That’s how unfair this shit is, don’t you think?”

Seong-hyun remained silent. Truthfully, Hwang Tae-su wasn’t expecting an answer anyway.

While staring at a drifting cloud, Hwang Tae-su suddenly asked,

“What’s your dream?”

“Dream… sir?”

“Yeah. My dream used to be making it to the Major Leagues. Didn’t even get to the Blue Dragon Tournament, though.”

“...I’m not sure.”

“You’re not?”

“I don’t really have the luxury to think about things like that.”

“Still, you must have at least one. Lately, my dream is to quit smoking.”

“That’s… quite a modest dream.”

“Modest? Do you know how damn hard it is to quit this?”

“For me… it’s for Mom to not be sick and for my little sister to get into a good college.”

“That’s not really your dream, though.”

“If dreaming means wishing for something hard to achieve, then that’s my dream.”

Hwang Tae-su felt like he’d just been punched.

At that age, his own dream had been to become a billionaire.

He wanted to collect all the luxury brands and hypercars in the world and roll around with women.

But this kid says his dream is for his mom to be healthy and for his brother to get into a good university.

“Man, you’re making me feel embarrassed.”

“Sir?”

“Talking to myself. So, what’s wrong with your mom?”

“……”

Seong-hyun didn’t answer. As the silence stretched awkwardly, he suddenly gave an unrelated reply while staring at a church cross in the distance.

“Do you think God exists?”

“God? Where’s that coming from?”

“Just… God.”

“God? G-O-D?”

“Yes.”

“Of course He exists.”

“You really think so?”

“There’s a ton of them around me. Dumbass, dipshit, atheist.”

Shin Seong-hyun let out a small laugh. Hwang Tae-su pulled out another cigarette.

Click-click!

Damn, the gas must’ve run out.

“Hyung-geon!”

“Yes, boss.”

“We’re out of gas. Bring me a light.”

Click!

As Hwang Tae-su lit his cigarette, he exhaled smoke while staring at the cross in the distance.

“That thing never disappears, huh.”

“……”

“Hey, Talmud. You just asked me if God exists, right?”

“Yes.”

“He’s right here. Dipshit.”

“Sir?”

“I’m buying your dream.”

Go Hyung-geon glanced at the rearview mirror.

“What?”

“Sir?”

“You keep trying to make eye contact.”

“……”

“What is it? Spit it out.”

“As expected of you, boss. Then may I speak freely?”

“Not too freely.”

“You haven’t seemed like yourself lately, boss.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

“Hmm… both, I guess.”

As soon as he said it, Go Hyung-geon regretted it and quickly covered the back of his head.

But his head remained safe (?) and a soft snort came from the back seat.

“We’ve got idiots and dumbasses all in one car. What a circus.”

“……”

“Give me a light.”

Hwang Tae-su lit a cigarette with the lighter he received. Go Hyung-geon once again glanced at the mirror.

“Now what, you bastard!”

“……”

“If you’ve got something to say, say it! Stop eyeballing me.”

“May I speak freely again, sir?”

“You were damn free earlier.”

“About that kid from the hospital just now…”

“Talmud?”

“What made you give him three grand? You didn’t even get an IOU.”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“I said I don’t know, you bastard!”

Such a temper… Go Hyung-geon grumbled, but Hwang Tae-su was being sincere.

He didn’t know why either. It wasn’t like he had said something impulsive because he was still drunk from the day before.

“Sh*t, this is f***ed up.”

“……”

“Hyung-geon. Turn the car around.”

“To where, sir?”

“Let’s go to ‘One Drink.’”

“Do you have business with the owner?”

“Do I need to report everything to you?”

“…No, sir.”

“Just turn the car.”

Moments later.

The car stopped along the roadside in front of One Drink.

Now that he was actually there, Hwang Tae-su couldn’t believe it.

He’d sworn not to even pee in the direction of that monster. What the hell was I thinking coming here…?

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

“I know, you bastard! Hold on a second.”

“……”

As he hesitated, wondering whether to go in or not—

Suddenly!

A head popped in through the open passenger window.

“Oh! Boss Hwang!”

“……”

“Nice to see you again, really nice!”

It was Monster #2, currently binge-watching Reply 1988.

“Trying to get back to work after resting for a while—it’s hell, huh?”

“Wow… Hyung, did you learn mind reading or something? How can you read my mind so well? After just a few days off, my whole body’s screaming.”

“You’ve been working hard. Go on in and rest first.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go in together.”

“I’ll tidy up and come later. Are you planning to keep Seo-woo here overnight?”

Yeon-jun scratched his head awkwardly.

“Thanks.”

“If you’re thankful, put the building under my name.”

“That depends… on how you behave. Hehe.”

“Get going.”

Yeon-jun left the store carrying the sleeping Seo-woo on his back. Not long after—

Someone hesitantly stepped into the store. Seo-jun, who was cleaning up alone, looked up.

“What brings you out this late?”

“Are you closed?”

“Depends on the situation.”

“Then… mind if I have just one drink before I go?”

“Suit yourself.”

Hwang Tae-su sat facing the kitchen.

“What’ll you order?”

“Hmm… Gochujang pork belly with a bottle of soju, please.”

“I recommend the gimbap.”

“…I’ll have the gochujang pork belly.”

“Then I recommend the fried egg.”

“Gochujang pork bell—”

“We’re out. Eat the fried egg.”

“…Understood.”

Hwang Tae-su casually brought out the soju and a glass. Before the side dish even arrived, he filled the glass to the brim and knocked it back.

One glass became two, two became three. By the time he was working on his fourth—

The fried egg arrived. With the main dish served, his drinking pace picked up.

Drinking silently, Hwang Tae-su suddenly took out his wallet. He pulled out 100,000 won and slid it toward the kitchen.

“What’s this?”

“An advance.”

“Advance?”

“For consultation.”

“Then I’ll take it.”

As Seo-jun collected the money, Hwang Tae-su carefully spoke.

“Uh, boss.”

“Go on.”

“May I ask about your true identity?”

“Would you believe me if I told you?”

“Well… if it’s believable, I might.”

“You won’t go around blabbing, will you?”

“Of course not.”

“I’m a demon god.”

“Sorry?”

“A demon god. Well, I used to be.”

…So he’s a lunatic.

Muttering to himself, Hwang Tae-su filled his empty glass again.

“What’s your relationship with Mr. Park?”

“A demon god and a hero, maybe?”

Pfft—!

“I didn’t know you could joke.”

“Since coming to Earth, I’ve picked up a few things.”

“You don’t have to tell me. I can pretty much guess.”

Monster.

“Do you know about the side effects of awakening?”

“Side effects of awakening?”

“They say one in a hundred Awakened suffers side effects.”

“Side effects?”

“Yes. There are many, but the most common is frontal lobe damage.”

“Hmm, that shouldn’t be possible.”

Seo-jun found it strange. From what he’d learned after returning, Ether was similar in concept to Heavenly Energy or Demonic Energy.

If Heavenly or Demonic Energy were part of nature—cosmic forces, essentially—then Ether was an unnatural energy.

That didn’t mean unnatural was bad. It just meant it was different from nature.

Ether was neutral in nature. It leaned neither way.

When a human absorbed Demonic Energy, they turned into a demon. Their emotions vanished.

On the other hand, those who absorbed Heavenly Energy had their emotions amplified.

But Ether was different. Because it was neither, it had no effect on humans.

‘Might be faster to ask Meruths.’

“…May I continue?”

Seo-jun shrugged.

“Anyway, because of that side effect, even calm people can change personalities—sometimes becoming violent. Most of the wanted Awakened are those cases.”

“I see.”

“Is the opposite possible?”

“The opposite?”

“Yes. Like a violent person becoming calm.”

“Ether doesn’t affect humans much. So… theoretically, no, the opposite wouldn’t happen.”

“If it did, what do you think the cause would be?”

“Probably means they're about to die. You know what they say—if someone changes suddenly, they’re going to die.”

“…Not that kind of reason.”

“Is that a problem?”

“For someone like me, it is.”

“Even if I tell you, would you believe me?”

“If it’s believable, I will.”

“It’s because of Park Yeon.”

“Mr. Park?”

“Yeah.”

Seo-jun was telling the truth. The change in Hwang Tae-su’s personality was because of Park Yeon.

Those who hadn’t previously been exposed to Heavenly or Demonic Energy were more susceptible to their influence.

And the divine power Park Yeon possessed was a type of Heavenly Energy.

Hwang Tae-su, who had unintentionally spent time around Park Yeon, couldn’t help but be affected.

But Hwang Tae-su didn’t believe it this time either. He just burst into laughter.

“That’s a funny one. Mr. Park only ever gets on my nerves.”

“If you can’t believe it, then that’s that.”

Seo-jun shrugged and returned 50,000 won. Hwang Tae-su looked at him as if to say, What’s this?

“Felt like a half-assed consultation.”

“You’re more honest than I expected. I’ll be heading out. Thanks for the drink.”

With that, Hwang Tae-su staggered out of the store.