The gate closed behind them with a soft, crackling hum. The light faded. The Memory Tomb was gone.
Kim Suho walked out first. The air outside was cool. The sky was slowly darkening, painted with orange and purple shades. Behind him, Mirae, Minho, and Jinho followed quietly.
No one spoke.
They had seen many strange things inside the tomb… but the one that stayed with them most was the voice of a girl, soft and broken, calling out—
"Brother… is that really you?"
That single sentence had stunned everyone—especially his teammates.
Now, they stood in the evening light, the hum of traffic distant, the world feeling quieter than usual.
Mirae looked at Suho, wide-eyed. Minho was staring at the ground, brows furrowed. Even Jinho, usually relaxed and confident, was at a loss for words.
Suho opened his mouth to say something—but couldn't. His throat felt tight.
Then Minho stepped forward, putting a hand on Suho's shoulder.
"Everyone has their own secrets," Minho said, gently. "You don't need to tell us if you don't want to."
Suho looked at him, surprised.
He hesitated. Thoughts swirled in his mind.
What if they leave me after they know the truth?
What if they think I'm a monster?
What if… I end up alone again?
But even with all the doubts, Suho found himself asking, "Will you listen to my story?"
All three nodded.
They moved to a quiet bench nearby. The streets weren't busy. A cool breeze rustled the trees. The last rays of sunlight fell through the leaves.
And Suho began to speak.
He told them how he used to be weak. Weaker than anyone else. Born into a hunter family, but treated like he didn't belong. Ignored. Forgotten. Sometimes even mocked by his own relatives.
But there was one person who always believed in him—his little sister, Kim Areum.
"She was the only one who stayed by my side," Suho said quietly. "She was bright, kind… and stronger than I'll ever be."
He told them about the day she didn't come home. How everything inside him broke that day. How he screamed, cried… and then the Necrosystem awakened inside him.
He explained what the Necrosystem was: a strange, powerful force that allowed him to raise and command the dead. He told them how it helped him survive, how it gave him strength.
He talked about the battles he fought alone. The monsters he faced. The undead he created. He told them about leveling up, growing stronger, and building his army one soul at a time.
Finally, he told them about the quest—about the seven fragments of Areum's soul, scattered across different gates.
"If I can collect all seven," Suho said, voice trembling, "then… there's a chance she might come back. She might be alive again."
He couldn't look at them after that. He stared at the ground, hands clenched. His voice was low.
"I understand if you don't want to be around someone like me anymore."
Silence.
Then Suho slowly lifted his head.
Mirae was wiping a tear from her eye. Jinho was shaking his head with a smile. Minho gave a deep nod, eyes filled with something between pride and sadness.
"You think we'd leave?" Mirae asked softly. "We're your friends."
"You went through all that alone," Jinho said, "and still stood strong. That's what makes you a real leader."
Minho smiled. "Thanks for trusting us enough to tell us, Suho. We're with you."
Suho's eyes widened. His chest felt warm. The fear he had been carrying for so long… it melted away. It was like a heavy chain had fallen off his heart.
He didn't say anything, just smiled quietly.
For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel alone.
"Please don't tell anyone," Suho said after a moment. "About the Necrosystem. About Areum. This has to stay between us."
"You have our word," Mirae said, and the other two nodded.
The team stood, walking slowly away from the gate. The streetlights flickered on. The city was still alive around them, but something inside Suho had changed.
He felt lighter.
Stronger.
He felt like he finally had people he could trust—not just allies, but friends.
That Night
Suho lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His room was quiet. He could hear the soft hum of a fan and the distant sounds of traffic.
He opened his status window.
[Status Window]
Level: 24
New Skill Gained: Corpse Explosion
Description: Detonate a chosen undead, dealing heavy damage to enemies in a wide area.
He raised an eyebrow. "That's… dark. But useful."
A soft glow appeared beside him.
He turned his head—and saw her.
Areum's soul.
She looked the same as always. Bright eyes. Gentle smile. A soft blue light surrounded her.
"You've come far, Oppa," she said.
"You're here," Suho said, sitting up a bit.
"You've collected three soul fragments now," she said. "There are four more left."
Suho's eyes narrowed. "What about Sector 19? You mentioned it before."
"Yes," Areum said. "The fourth fragment is there."
A notification pinged in his vision.
[New Requirement – Sector 19 Access]
Minimum Level: 35
Minimum Undead Count: 50
Suho sighed. "That's going to take time. I'm only level 24… and I have less than 30 undead right now."
"You'll reach it," Areum said softly. "And now that you have three fragments, I can help guide you. You'll be able to hear my voice from now on."
Suho looked at her in surprise. "Really?"
She nodded. "I'll be with you. Always."
Suho smiled. He leaned back, pulling the blanket up to his chest.
Even though the night was quiet, it didn't feel empty anymore.
He could hear her voice. He could feel her presence.
And with his friends by his side, and his sister guiding him, Suho knew—
He would keep going.
No matter how long it took.
He would bring her back.
And he would never be alone again.
To Be Continued...