Chapter 183

It was a sunny holiday, and the National Cemetery was crowded. Families with young children and groups of tourists filled the area, making it more lively than peaceful.

As they headed toward the newly established 'Revengers' Memorial' from earlier this year, Kwon Jihan whispered softly.

"It's too chaotic. Should I ask them to make an announcement to keep it quiet?"

"No, it's fine. This is just right."

Even though the place was supposed to be solemn, Yoon Seo didn't mind the commotion. 

The old Revengers had died lonely deaths, so they would probably appreciate this lively atmosphere.

Hunters who died in the line of duty were buried in the National Cemetery, and the section was called the 'Fallen Awakeners' Cemetery'.

However, the old Revengers' cemetery was named the 'Hongik Ingan Memorial'. It was a place where the souls of those who had greatly benefited humanity were laid to rest. The name had been decided through a public vote.

The 'Hongik Ingan Memorial' was meticulously maintained without a single weed, and there were at least three flowers placed in front of each headstone. There were so many people that a line had formed, and the groundskeepers were allowing groups of twenty people in at a time.

"We'll probably have to wait an hour. Hyung, call your friend and tell him to come straight to us when he arrives."

"Okay."

Yoon Seo dialed the person they were supposed to meet today. The call was picked up after just two rings.

– Hey, Yoon Seo. Where are you?

"We're already here and waiting in line."

– There's a line?

"Yeah, it's pretty crowded."

– Got it. I'll be there soon. Is your, uh, boyfriend with you too?

"Yeah. Come straight to us when you arrive. Don't bother lining up at the back."

The person on the other end chuckled softly and said, 'Alright.'

Yoon Seo ended the call. The contact was saved in his phone as 'Annoying Park'. It was Park Juhong, a friend of both Lee Domin and Yoon Seo. 

note: the term '홍익인간' (Hongik Ingan) originates from Korean philosophy and is often associated with promoting the well-being and happiness of humanity. The name reflects the Revengers' dedication to humanity and honors their sacrifice.

Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo met Park Juhong after finishing their busy schedule and space travel. As promised earlier, they met at the cemetery, but due to the recent creation of the 'Hongik Ingan Memorial', there were so many people that they barely managed to pay their respects to the old Revengers before heading straight to a cafe. Park Juhong knew Kwon Jihan as Yoon Seo's ordinary, non-awakened, B-rank hunter boyfriend.

He was more surprised that his friend was in a relationship at all rather than the fact that it was with a man.

Yoon Seo also still couldn't quite believe he was in a relationship, so he understood.

At that time, the cafe had also been too crowded for them to have a proper conversation, so they parted ways. After each leading busy lives, they finally managed to set a date today.

"Hyung."

Kwon Jihan lightly tapped Yoon Seo's arm and motioned behind them with his chin.

A child standing in line right behind them was staring intently at the two, or rather, at the white ferret Yoon Seo was holding in his arms.

The kid, who looked about the upper grades of elementary school, tugged at his mother's hand.

"Mom, mom, what's that the uncles are holding? It's so freaking cute!"

"Huh? Didn't I tell you not to say 'freaking'…? Oh my, oh my. What is this, oh dear."

The mother, who had just spotted the cutest white ferret in the world, raised her tone in excitement.

"It's so cute. A ferret? Is it a ferret? Do you young men raise it?"

"Oh, yes."

"What's its name? How old is it? Male or female?"

"Its name is Riceball. He's five years old and male."

When Yoon Seo answered, the mother's face broke into a wide smile.

"You must be fans of Kwon Jihan and Seo Chaeyoon, right? We love them too."

"Mom, I want a Riceball too! You think it's cute too."

"Just because it's cute doesn't mean you can have one. Do you know how hard it is to raise a pet?"

"But these uncles are raising one."

"Uncles, can you tell this little one why raising a pet is difficult?"

"Leave it to us."

The taller of the uncles, the one with glasses, started listing the downsides of having a pet: the smell, shedding, and issues with bathroom habits, among others.

"It's so freaking cute…"

But the kid wasn't paying attention at all, instead gazing up with bright, sparkling eyes, clearly signaling, 'I want to pet it.'

"..."

Yoon Seo hesitated, wondering if he should let the child pet Riceball. The ferret had already figured out the child was adoring him and was trying to stretch his body eagerly to be petted. Yoon Seo held him back, thinking that if the kid touched him, they might beg even more to get a ferret of their own.

"Would it be okay if my child pets it just once?"

"Yes."

Only after the mother's request did Yoon Seo finally lower the ferret.

Peep peep!

"Oh, it's so freaking cute. Do ferrets always make that chirping sound?"

"…Yes."

"Even Riceball was chirping too. Not just your Riceball, but Kwon Jihan and Seo Chaeyoon's Riceball! A little bird chirping! I saw it on TV!"

"I see."

"A freakin' cute bird!"

"..."

Yoon Seo shot a glance at Kwon Jihan and then softly asked the child.

"Did you also see Kwon Jihan using the word 'freakin" on TV?"

"Yes! I saw it a lot. He was freakin' cool!"

Kwon Jihan cleared his throat awkwardly at the child's lively answer.

"If you stroke him like this, gently with your hands long like this, he'll like it even more."

"Okay!"

As the child followed Kwon Jihan's instructions, Riceball rubbed his body against the kid's wrist. The child happily exclaimed how freakin' soft and cute Riceball was.

"..."

"..."

Kwon Jihan couldn't even meet Yoon Seo's eyes. The mother, who seemed to have her hands full dealing with her child's language habits, asked.

"He doesn't bite, does he?"

"There are ferrets that bite, but our Riceball doesn't. You can pet him."

"Oh, I can't resist. I have to give it a try too."

The mother's hand reached out, stroking Riceball.

"He's really cute. His fur is so soft."

Peep, peep.

"Ah, I can't. If we have him, the fur will be everywhere. No, no, if it's a no, it's a no. Get it together."

It seemed like she was reminding herself.

"What is that?"

"Whoa, is that a weasel?"

"They said it's a ferret?"

Since ferrets aren't commonly seen outdoors, people's eyes naturally turned toward them. Before long, everyone in line nearby had a chance to pet Riceball.

Peep!

Finally, it was time for them to enter. With a proud look, Riceball stood tall on Kwon Jihan's head. Having basked in attention and joy, the attention-loving ferret shone brightly, almost dazzling.

A total of twenty people, including Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo, entered the memorial site.

"Alright, let's go see Dad."

"Okay!"

Behind them, a mother led her child toward the middle of the memorial. The child ran ahead but stopped when someone warned them not to run. The child seemed to know exactly which headstone they were heading toward, indicating this wasn't their first time visiting.

"They must be related to a Revenger… The kid looks about eleven or twelve years old." 

Kwon Jihan murmured.

Following the mother and child, others began to disperse, each heading toward their intended destinations.

Most of the visitors at the national cemetery were unrelated civilians, but naturally, there were also families and acquaintances of the former Revengers.

Yoon Seo briefly wondered who among them might be connected to the Revengers but decided to let it go.

"Juhong is running late. I'll give him a call."

Yoon Seo said, dialing his friend.

"Where are you?"

– Ah, I got here earlier… but the line was so long. I couldn't bring myself to push ahead, so I've just been waiting at the back.

"You could have told them you're with us and come up."

– It felt like cutting in line. You guys go ahead and see Domin. I'll meet you at the café later. Sorry.

"Got it. Take your time."

Yoon Seo shrugged as he hung up. There was no need to relay the conversation to Kwon Jihan. As an S-rank hunter, he could easily hear a conversation happening nearby.

They continued chatting as they walked toward the headstone.

"Your friend seems really kind."

"Yeah, he's always been a bit foolish like that. Domin was the same way."

"You must have been pretty frustrated with them."

"I used to curse them out, calling them blockheaded fools. Back then… it was a time when being too kind meant you were a pushover. Ah."

Yoon Seo's voice softened as he let out a small exclamation.

Kangjin's headstone was covered in flowers. Right next to it was Lee Domin's headstone, also surrounded by a burst of fresh blooms.

Though they would soon wither, for now, the flowers looked as if they had bloomed right there.

Yoon Seo knelt before Kangjin's grave, bowing his head in greeting.

"Kangjin hyung, hel…."

"..."

He glanced briefly at Kwon Jihan.

"I didn't finish the greeting."

"Alright, I'll let it slide."

Kwon Jihan said with a light laugh.

Seeing that he wasn't about to pull out any medicine, Yoon Seo felt relieved and turned back to Kangjin's grave to finish his greeting.

"It's been a while hyung…."

Yoon Seo closed his eyes.

Lee Kangjin's soul ashes were scattered over Jirisan.

The sight of brightly shimmering stars descending into the valley blanketed in pure white snow was a beauty that could not be seen even in dreams. Kwon Jihan was by his side and had expressed it this way at the time.

'This place feels like space.'

Yoon Seo agreed with that statement.

This place is space. Since Earth is part of space, Jirisan is part of space, too.

Yoon Seo opened his eyes. Kwon Jihan sat quietly next to him, mourning.

"Kwon Jihan."

"Yes, hyung."

"Could you tell Kangjin hyung that story? About how humans are made of stardust."

"Sure."

Kwon Jihan murmured softly.

A part of the elements that make up humans exists only through stars. A long time ago, a star that became a supernova exploded, scattering its remnants across the universe, and those remnants formed other stars, planets, and life. The elements born from that explosion became a part of humans. It was a wonderful story about how we are all made of stardust.

Yoon Seo thought it was quite a nice theory.

Lee Kangjin would be reborn as a new star, just as all living beings are.

As part of the universe.

And the deceased Revengers too. Perhaps, in some far-off corner of the universe, they've already become stars.

Peep!

Yoon Seo snapped out of his thoughts.

Peep. Peep peep.

Riceball's chirping was unusually cheerful…?

Suddenly filled with unease, Yoon Seo shouted.

"Riceball! No, don't do it."

Peep.

Riceball poked its head out from between the flowers.

Kwon Jihan chuckled softly.

"Riceball is cute."

"Is this really the time for compliments? Riceball is digging up the memorial flowers."

"Kids can do that sometimes.. You're raising him too strictly hyung."

"I'm going crazy. Hurry up and help clean up these flowers."

Yoon Seo quickly lifted Riceball's wiggling body. The ferret looked up at him with wide, curious eyes.

"You can't do that."

Peep?

"These are the flowers for Kangjin hyung's memorial. You know Kangjin hyung, right? Brown hair, thick eyebrows."

Peep?

"You used to sit on his head all the time. Even during serious strategy meetings, you'd nest in his hair, and he didn't know what to do with you."

Peep!

Riceball wriggled in Yoon Seo's arms. As soon as Yoon Seo let go, the ferret scurried over to the gravestone and tried to dig into the hard ground.

"Looks like you remembered."

"It should remember by now. It's only been 11 years. Help me tidy up these flowers."

"Alright."

Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo quickly tidied up the flowers Riceball had scattered before anyone else could see the mess. They had become accustomed to cleaning up after him. It was something that came with having a troublesome pet. Hong Euiyoon often told them to discipline Riceball properly, but Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo would usually just advise against doing it again and move on. As a result, Riceball's behavior was getting worse by the day.

By the time they finished fixing the flowers, others who had been mourning at nearby gravestones gathered to pay their respects to the leader of the former Revengers and the victim of the last dungeon.

As the crowd grew, Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan took Riceball and moved over to Lee Domin's gravestone.