Today, I stared at my reflection in the mirror again.
A child's face.
I had inherited my father's delicate features and my mother's sharp eyes.
My reflection was undeniably beautiful.
Not in a masculine way, but in an almost ethereal, otherworldly sense.
Despite my mental age, I found myself clinging to my parents more and more.
When my mother returned home, I immediately ran to her, leaving my father behind.
"Mommy's home, my little Seon-ah!"
"Welcome back, Mom!"
She picked me up and kissed my cheek.
"That tickles, Mom!"
Lee Min-ah.
A sharp-eyed woman with short black hair and a towering height of over 180cm.
She was 27 years old and already a B-rank Hunter—a veteran in one of Korea's top ten guilds, 'Hwarang'.
The only reason our family could live in a Safe Zone was because of the support from her guild.
Despite my past life's memories, I craved this familial warmth.
Maybe it was because I had never experienced it before.
Even in my past life, I had jumped between relationships, searching for something to fill the emptiness.
That was why I had cheated.
That was why I had been a coward.
A bitter smile formed on my lips.
My father, Hyun-tae, called from the living room.
"Seon-ah! You ran to your mom the moment she came home? What about me?"
I grinned.
"I'll come hug you too, Dad!"
Even if the roles of men and women were reversed, some things didn't change.
I wanted this happiness to last forever.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city…
A woman sat on a couch, smoking a cigarette.
She was Park Yu-ra, a high-ranking member of Hwarang and one of its founding members.
At 37 years old, she had spent her life building the guild into what it was today.
"Min-ah just needs three more years. Then she can take a leadership position," she murmured.
Min-ah was a rising star, already considered a candidate for executive ranks.
"Maybe I should arrange a family dinner soon…"
Yu-ra had a five-year-old daughter.
Perhaps it was time to introduce her to Min-ah's son.
But Yu-ra failed to realize something.
To her, this was just a networking move.
Another step in her political game.
She didn't understand what it meant to sacrifice family for ambition.
And she had no idea…
How much her family resented her for it.
+
〈 Chapter 3 〉 Episode 2 - Meeting
On weekends, Min-ah and Hyun-tae would take their son, Seon-ah, to amusement parks or other places that might entertain a child.
Despite having the mind of a twenty-eight-year-old, Seon-ah found himself unable to reject their gestures, aware of his parents' affectionate gazes.
What began as an act—mimicking the behavior of a child—soon became second nature.
Repeating these moments over and over, he eventually realized that he was enjoying himself.
He failed to fully comprehend how much he cherished this newfound love and happiness.
Perhaps it was because the unfamiliarity of these experiences clouded his awareness.
Even after five years of receiving unconditional love, the feeling remained somewhat foreign.
Yet, he didn't want to disappoint his parents.
So, he continued to act childish, indulging in their warmth, and gradually, he started to feel that he was truly their child.
But today felt different.
That morning, Hyun-tae bathed him and dressed him in neat, formal clothing.
Both Min-ah and Hyun-tae also changed into more proper attire instead of the comfortable outfits they usually wore for outings.
Unlike their usual weekend trips, today seemed to require a certain level of decorum.
"Mom, where are we going?"
"A friend of mine invited us over for a meal. There will be a child your age there too. Let's go eat something delicious and have fun."
Min-ah explained it in a way a five-year-old could understand, hiding any uneasiness she felt about the invitation.
"Our little Seon-ah is mature and well-behaved, but still, make sure to get along with your new friend. No causing trouble, alright?"
Hyun-tae added, voicing what Min-ah hadn't been able to say herself.
"Yes, I understand, Mom, Dad."
Seon-ah responded politely, a departure from his usual childish demeanor.
Hyun-tae smiled and patted his head.
"Our Seon-ah is such a good boy."
Sometimes, when Seon-ah showed an unusual level of understanding for a five-year-old, it made Hyun-tae worry.
'If parents are unreliable, children mature too quickly... Are we not doing enough as parents?'
Though he never voiced these concerns, every time Seon-ah acted more mature than his age, doubts about their parenting lingered in Hyun-tae's mind.
'Is this really Seoul?'
Even considering the high property values of Seoul, the sight before Seon-ah was astonishing.
A two-story house with a sprawling garden, right in the heart of the city.
A place like this had to be worth billions.
'No, this isn't just a silver spoon... this is a diamond spoon.'
As they approached the grand entrance, Min-ah pressed the doorbell. A young woman's voice answered through the intercom.
"You're right on time, Team Leader Lee. Come in."
"Thank you for inviting us. Then, we'll be coming in."
Min-ah's voice trembled slightly as she responded.
It was clear that the woman on the intercom was the 'friend' she had mentioned earlier.
And judging by Min-ah's nervousness, this wasn't just any friend—this was someone with significant authority over her.
'In this world, where women dominate the workforce, she must be Mom's superior. But she sounds young... If Mom is this cautious around her, she must be really high-ranking.'
Seon-ah quickly assessed the situation and adjusted his demeanor before stepping inside.
As they entered, a young woman, a man in his mid-thirties, and a girl around Seon-ah's age stood in the spacious living area.
The sharp-featured woman, who looked to be in her mid-to-late twenties, was the first to speak.
"Welcome. It's been a while since we last ran into each other in the halls before a mission."
"Good evening, Executive Park Yu-ra. This is my husband, Kim Hyun-tae, and my son, Lee Seon-ah."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Hyun-tae."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Seon-ah."
As Min-ah introduced her family, Seon-ah took mental notes.
'Her speech is oddly formal, like someone in their forties... But she looks so young. Is she a nepotism hire? Climbing the corporate ladder at this age... My mom's work life must be tough.'
He was slightly mistaken, of course. He was unaware that Hunters, as they accumulated mana, aged much slower and maintained youthful appearances for longer.
Park Yu-ra introduced her own family in turn.
"This is my daughter, Park Yu-rin."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Park Yu-rin."
Yu-rin was a petite girl with large eyes and an innocent, cat-like expression.
From the moment they locked eyes, Yu-rin had been staring at Seon-ah intently.
It wasn't hostility or wariness—rather, it was a mix of curiosity and excitement.
'Is she interested in me? Does she want to be friends?'
Seon-ah smiled and extended his hand to Yu-rin.
"Let's get along well!"