“W-What do you mean, stay in his place?”
“It’s exactly what it sounds like. I have something to do here. So while I stay here pretending to be Yoon Hyun-chul, you’ll need to adjust accordingly and assist me.”
Hearing Su-ho’s words, Kim Goong-won furrowed his brow, still not understanding.
He understood the words, but how?
Seeing his confusion, Su-ho said:
"Still not understanding?"
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Su-ho immediately began using Reverse Morphology on the spot.
The face he was about to create was Yoon Hyun-chul’s.
As Su-ho’s face began to change in real time, Kim Goong-won’s mouth slowly opened in astonishment. His eyes widened as Su-ho’s face fully shifted into Yoon Hyun-chul’s.
“T-this is... nonsense...”
“This is how it’s going to proceed. Now, do you understand?”
“Ah, I understand!”
“Just to be sure, let’s add a little insurance.”
“Insurance?”
After finishing his words, Su-ho stood up and pressed a few pressure points on Kim Goong-won’s body.
[Pressure Point Technique Activated.]
As the skill activated, Su-ho took out a piece of gum from his pocket and handed it to Kim Goong-won.
“Try this.”
“...?”
Kim Goong-won hesitated but chewed the gum as instructed.
However...
“Uh, uh?”
Kim Goong-won’s eyes widened further.
It was no surprise.
The gum tasted like nothing.
“I’ve sealed your sense of taste. I’ll restore it when we’re about to leave. If you don’t want to live your life with taste blindness, cooperate.”
“Ah, no, do you not trust me?”
“Would you trust yourself if you were me?”
“Wow, you’re really saying such hurtful things.”
“You want me to show you what ‘hurtful’ means?”
“Ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that, big brother!”
“Better be good when I’m smiling. By the way, not just your tongue, but I’ve also sealed your lower body. It’d be best not to do anything foolish.”
“Y-You sealed my lower body?”
“If you’re curious, check in the morning or at night.”
“W-What, big brother!”
“Shut up. For the rest of the time, assist me well. If you do your job right, I’ll make sure to give you enough pocket money when we leave.”
“...Yes.”
This was enough insurance.
By restricting two of the three basic needs, how could Kim Goong-won betray him?
Of course, if his hatred for Su-ho grew enough to take such a risk, he could still cause trouble, but Su-ho knew his capabilities.
‘It’s not like he’s serving a life sentence. He’s someone who could endure for a few years, so there’s no way he can’t handle this short period.’
After warning Kim Goong-won one more time, Su-ho headed to the next visitation room.
In the next room, Yoon Hyun-chul was waiting.
Su-ho smiled as he greeted him.
“Long time no see.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
“You look much better than before.”
It wasn’t wrong to say that.
His face, once filled with dissatisfaction and indifference, still looked intimidating, but it now had a hint of relaxation compared to before.
He casually replied.
“It’s nothing special.”
“Haha, if Yoon Hyun-chul says so, then it must be true. Now, let me get to the point...”
Su-ho took out a blindfold from his pocket and said.
“Could you wear this for a moment?”
“Why the blindfold?”
“Just wear it. I want to show you a surprise.”
“...?”
Hearing Su-ho’s words, Yoon Hyun-chul tilted his head, but because it was Su-ho’s request, he obediently wore the blindfold.
Once he put it on, Su-ho stood up, helped him up, and slowly began pulling him backwards.
“...What are you doing?”
“It’ll only be for a moment.”
After walking a few steps backward, Su-ho spoke.
“You can take the blindfold off now.”
“...?”
What’s the difference?
Yoon Hyun-chul thought to himself as he took off the blindfold.
And then...
“...!”
His eyes widened to the size of plates.
It was inevitable.
Just moments ago, he was in the visitation room.
But now, what lay before him was not the visitation room, but somewhere else entirely.
“This place...?”
A cafe.
Yes... this was a cafe.
He almost didn’t recognize it at first because it had been so long since he had been to a cafe, but looking at the interior and atmosphere, he realized this was the coffee shop he knew.
With a stunned expression, he asked Su-ho.
“...What did you do?”
“I used a bit of magic.”
“Magic?”
“Yes, but my magic isn’t finished yet. For now, let’s go over there.”
Su-ho led Yoon Hyun-chul toward the farthest room in the cafe.
Though Yoon Hyun-chul had a bewildered expression, he followed Su-ho’s instructions and walked along.
But when they arrived at the door to the far room, Yoon Hyun-chul unconsciously stiffened.
“...S-Sis?”
The voice of a woman.
The identity of the voice was none other than Yoon Hyun-hee.
Upon seeing her, Yoon Hyun-chul froze.
Is this a dream?
Or a ghost?
No, this was, unbelievably, reality.
“...Oppa!”
Unable to hold back, Yoon Hyun-hee rushed into Yoon Hyun-chul’s arms.
He couldn’t resist and embraced her.
And instinctively, he realized.
This voice.
This warmth.
Yes.
It was her.
"My, my brother...?"
Yoon Hyun-chul stood there, frozen in disbelief as he took in the sight of his sister, Yoon Hyun-hee, in front of him. Her voice, her warmth—instantly, he knew it was truly her. Despite the years of separation, instinctively, he recognized his sister in an instant.
Without realizing, he embraced her, his trembling hands gently placed on her back. Through her clothing, he could feel her tremble, too. She clung to him, crying for what seemed like an eternity.
She kept saying, "I missed you so much," and "I really missed you."
And then, in a voice filled with sorrow and regret, she added, "...I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry."
His own emotions spilled over, and despite his best efforts, tears welled up in his eyes.
Suddenly, Su-ho's presence came to mind.
As he was wiping away his tears, Yoon Hyun-chul snapped his head toward the direction Su-ho was standing.
Su-ho was standing by the door.
"You...!"
Yoon Hyun-chul’s words caused Su-ho to awkwardly raise both hands, showing he meant no harm, and smile sheepishly.
"I’m sorry. This was the best I could do."
"I asked you to do this...!"
In that moment, Yoon Hyun-hee grabbed Yoon Hyun-chul’s arm and spoke.
"Don't do this."
"...What?"
"I asked for this to happen. So, don't blame anyone else. If you're going to say anything, say it to me."
"..."
Yoon Hyun-chul fell silent. But after a long pause, he finally accepted his sister's request.
"...Alright, I understand."
This was a relief for Su-ho.
Honestly, he had come prepared for a slap or worse.
In the meantime, Su-ho quickly pulled out the takeout coffee he had prepared and said.
"Shall we sit down and talk?"
Yoon Hyun-chul nodded silently in agreement.
Yoon Hyun-hee followed and sat down as well.
It was a relief.
Su-ho had feared that Yoon Hyun-chul might get angry.
After all, he had not planned to reveal everything about Yoon Hyun-chul’s situation just yet. But he knew he couldn’t let him be in the dark anymore. Su-ho had his own reasons for that.
He didn’t want Yoon Hyun-chul to be involved in the darkness any longer.
Su-ho had made a decision long ago—Yoon Hyun-chul was meant to stay by his side, helping him until the world was saved from the Gates. He would be the one to take action when it mattered, and Su-ho wanted him to find true happiness.
The future of the world was uncertain, and it might take a long time to fix everything, but Su-ho wanted him to be happy—forever. He wasn’t about to let the man live in anger and bitterness.
That’s why Su-ho chose this method to help him.
To solve a fundamental problem, one had to face it head-on and deal with it directly.
Of course, the chances were fifty-fifty.
Su-ho had prepared a backup plan just in case. A backup involving the Ring of Emotions.
If Yoon Hyun-chul got angry or upset, Su-ho could use the ring to calm him down and try talking things through.
‘I’m glad I didn’t use it just yet,’ Su-ho thought.
Generally, Su-ho didn’t like to use the ring at the first sign of trouble. After all, it was an item that forcibly controlled emotions.
Before bringing Yoon Hyun-chul here, Su-ho had confessed everything to Yoon Hyun-hee. He showed her his true face and told her who he was and what he had asked Yoon Hyun-chul to do. There was no eternal lie in the world, so he couldn’t keep pretending.
She was shocked, but she nodded in understanding.
"Then it was you who posted the picture of the cold noodles, wasn’t it?"
"Yes, it was a great place."
"Goodness..."
And then, she smiled. It seemed like she felt a sense of relief in knowing the truth.
That’s why Su-ho was able to count on her help.
After giving them both coffee, Su-ho explained everything in detail.
When all the explanations were finished, Yoon Hyun-chul was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"...I understand. I respect your choice and judgment, Su-ho. And thank you. Even though this was a transaction, you helped my sister."
"It’s nothing. Once you’ve chosen this path, I think it’s only natural to do what’s needed. By the way... while we’re on the topic, I have one more suggestion."
"A suggestion?"
"Yes, a suggestion. It's not an ordinary one, but I would like it if you could accept it."
"...?"
What kind of request could it be that he was being so cautious?
However, without hesitation, Yoon Hyun-chul responded.
"I don’t know what it is, but I’ll do it."
"Thank you. Then, for a while, how about taking a trip with your sister?"
"...What?"
Yoon Hyun-chul was immediately suspicious.
A trip?
I’m a death-row inmate!
But Su-ho was sincere.
"I don’t think just one or two short visits will resolve everything between the two of you. So, how about a few days off, a trip? Of course, since your status is what it is, traveling abroad would be difficult, but we can go somewhere in the country."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, of course. This schedule will be unofficial and the prison won’t know about it. While you’re away, I’ll stay here in your place."
"You, Su-ho?"
"Yes, would you like to see?"
Su-ho immediately used Reverse Morphology to take on Yoon Hyun-chul’s face.
Then, he began to wear an item he had prepared earlier.
It was a type of bodysuit, similar to the disguise mask Choi Yoon had worn previously.
The item was called Muscle Skin.
As Su-ho put it on and adjusted the settings, his body swelled to match Yoon Hyun-chul’s size.
Outwardly, he now looked completely identical to Yoon Hyun-chul.
With the added Voice Modulator device...
"Ah."
Once the voice modulator was in place, Su-ho was now a perfect Yoon Hyun-chul.
Both of them looked at Su-ho in astonishment.
"Wh-what is this..."
"Whoa, that’s crazy..."
Su-ho smiled and said.
"I have some business with the inmates at Cheongok. So, I was thinking of staying here in Yoon Hyun-chul’s place for a while. This is my request. While I’m staying here as him, you two can have some time together. Of course, since our identities are what they are, I’ll have to make some adjustments to you."
"Adjustments?"
"Yes, something like this."
The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
Su-ho raised his fingers and pressed on a few of Yoon Hyun-chul’s pressure points.
After a while, Yoon Hyun-chul's eyes widened in surprise.
Some parts of his body became numb.
Su-ho explained.
"Because of the restraints on your wrists, you won’t be able to use your magic or skills. So I’ve made a physical restriction. You’ll be fine for daily life, but you won’t be able to harm anyone. We’re in this together, but just in case, I had to take these precautions. Of course, I’ll also change your face. At least you’ll be able to travel freely."
Yoon Hyun-chul laughed in disbelief.
But then...
"Alright. I’ll do it."
He accepted Su-ho’s proposal without hesitation.