Chapter 1 : A Guide That Rolled In Unexpectedly (1)

The warm morning sun streamed through the windows. Jisung started his day as usual, opening the doors of his cafe. He glanced around the interior, a proud smile touching his lips as he took in the decor that reflected his personal taste. He stretched luxuriously.

“Ugh…”

His joints popped and cracked.

“Ouch…”

He winced, then picked up a cup of Americano and walked over to the window. He watched the bustling flow of people commuting to work, enjoying a moment of peace before the Monday morning rush. Soon, customers would flood in, seeking their daily caffeine fix. This was his brief, precious moment of tranquility.

“The weather is really nice to…”

Jisung’s words trailed off. A red dot appeared in the clear blue sky, seemingly out of nowhere. It grew larger by the second. He stared, mesmerized, as it transformed into a massive, burning sphere. The cup slipped from his grasp.

Clang!

Brown liquid and shards of glass splashed across the floor.

“What… what is that?”

Jisung froze, his body stiffening at the surreal sight. Before his brain could fully process the situation, the red sphere plummeted to the ground as if gravity had suddenly ceased to exist. Then…

KABOOM!!!

A blinding flash of light and a deafening roar erupted. Jisung instinctively shielded his eyes with his arms. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears. He struggled to regain his balance, his vision blurred and his hearing muffled. When he finally stood upright, the scene before him made his lips tremble.

Everything was gone. Just seconds ago, a dense cluster of buildings had stood tall. Now, they had vanished, reduced to ashes in an instant.

“Uh…?”

Words failed him. He could only manage a strangled “Uh?” repeatedly, as if he had forgotten how to speak. The wail of sirens jolted him back to reality.

[This is not a drill. We repeat, this is not a drill. A terrorist attack has occurred. All citizens are advised to seek shelter in the nearest bomb shelter immediately! We repeat, this is not a drill…]

‘Terrorism.’

It was something he’d only seen on TV, something he’d considered distant and irrelevant. Now, it was happening right before his eyes, and fear gripped him, making him tremble. He took a deep, shaky breath and shook his head vigorously.

‘Get a grip! Panicking won’t help!’

He slapped his trembling legs, forcing himself to move. Thankfully, he had memorized the locations of nearby bomb shelters, just in case. He recalled the closest one to his cafe, flung open the door, and stepped outside. The heightened screams and successive explosions made him dizzy.

He bit his lip hard.

‘Run, run! Just run!’

He could survive if he reached the shelter. But his legs, numb with terror, refused to cooperate, threatening to give way beneath him. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself forward with every ounce of strength he possessed. As he ran, he saw something flash in the sky. Like a meteor, it streaked downwards, leaving a trail of white light.

‘No way!’

Another object falling from the sky. Jisung’s pupils constricted.

‘Should I go back to the cafe? Or keep running?’

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Before he could decide, the white meteor crashed nearby.

KABOOM!!!

A powerful blast and a fierce gust of wind slammed into Jisung.

“Ugh!”

He was thrown backwards, his head hitting a pillar.

“Ugh…”

Excruciating pain shot through his head, unlike anything he had ever felt. Clutching his head, he curled into a ball, fighting back tears. He slowly sat up.

Fortunately, unlike the area hit by the red sphere, the impact site of the meteor seemed localized. Relief that he was alive warred with the fear that he might have died. His heart pounded in his chest. He stared at the rising dust cloud and cautiously backed away.

He was about to run when he noticed something moving within the dust.

‘What is that?’

As the dust settled and the shape became clearer, Jisung quickly ducked behind the pillar. His hands trembled as he clasped them together.

‘It’s okay, it’s okay…’

Trying to ignore the rising sense of unease, he peeked out from behind the pillar. The dust cleared, revealing the figure. Jisung’s eyes widened.

Jet-black hair, jet-black eyes. From head to toe, the figure was clad in black. It was a person. Jisung blinked rapidly.

‘It fell from the sky, crashed into the concrete at an incredible speed…’

How could anyone survive that? Jisung felt his sense of reality crumble. He stared in disbelief, then flinched as droplets of red blood splattered on the ground.

‘Not entirely unscathed…’

A pool of blood spread around the black-clad figure. The sheer amount of blood made Jisung’s skin crawl. The man stood still for a moment, then took a step. He swayed precariously, then collapsed. Blood trickled down his face, staining his black hair.

‘Is he… okay?’

Forgetting his own predicament, Jisung watched anxiously. The man struggled to stand again, and Jisung panicked.

‘He’s going to die!’

With every movement, more blood flowed from the man’s wounds. Fearing the worst, Jisung watched as the man swayed, about to fall. He instinctively darted forward.

“Watch out…!”

He reached out to catch the man, but their eyes met. The man’s gaze was sharp, filled with a predatory intensity that froze Jisung in his tracks. The man’s hand lashed out, swatting Jisung’s outstretched hand away.

“Get lost.”

“…”

The voice was ice-cold. Jisung stared at the man, stunned, cradling his stinging hand. Despite bleeding profusely and barely able to stand, the man still clung to his pride. Jisung bit his lip, his hand throbbing.

‘What nerve! He’s bleeding to death, but all he cares about is his pride? I swear I’ll sew that arrogant mouth shut!’

Jisung glared at the man, his eyes narrowing. The fact that the man had fallen from the sky was completely forgotten. He watched as the man swayed again, attempting to stand.

‘Let’s see you stand then.’

He watched, a sullen expression on his face. Then, he noticed the spreading pool of blood seeping into his shoes. Reality crashed down on him. He snapped out of his daze and rushed forward, grabbing the man’s arm before he could collapse. He wouldn’t let the man push him away again. Saving a life was more important.

‘I need to call an ambulance…’

He reached into his pocket for his phone, glancing down. He froze. The wound on the man’s abdomen was closing rapidly.

“Huh?”

A gasp of surprise escaped his lips.

‘Do wounds usually heal this fast?’

Confused, he looked up at the man, who was staring back with equal bewilderment. They gazed at each other for a long moment. Then, the man’s lifeless eyes flickered with returning light, and a large hand reached out, cupping the back of Jisung’s head.

‘Huh?’

Before Jisung could react, he was pulled into the man’s embrace. He blinked, stunned, and then began to struggle, trying to pull away. But the man held him tight, unyielding.

“What are you doing?!”

“Just… just a moment…”

The desperate plea in the man’s voice stopped Jisung’s struggles. It was a voice filled with a desperate hope, as if he had found a lifeline in the midst of despair.

The man’s arms tightened around him, his hands clutching Jisung’s shirt as if afraid to let go. He buried his face in Jisung’s shoulder, his body trembling. Despite the man’s strength, in this moment, he seemed incredibly fragile.

Hesitantly, Jisung raised his hand and gently patted the man’s back, offering a silent reassurance. The man’s body shuddered. He slowly lifted his head, looking at Jisung. His eyes were wide, filled with a vulnerability that reminded Jisung of a lost child. Jisung gently brushed the skin beneath the man’s eyes, then began to stroke his hair, a soothing gesture.

The man closed his eyes, his expression softening. He pulled Jisung closer.

“I finally… found you.”