Chapter 107: That’s hilarious

Near the neighborhood playground.

It was an ideal spot for a small gathering and casual chatter, as it was a secluded area with few people passing by.

To be honest, I wanted to take this guy indoors, maybe to a cafe, but the thought was unbearable.

He probably hadn’t showered in a while.

“Here. Drink this.”

“Th-thank you.”

I handed over a warm cup of honey tea, and he gulped it down eagerly.

Despite his imposing physique, the way he sat primly felt oddly unbalanced, though he didn’t seem rough around the edges.

Still, the name Yuri—it didn’t match his appearance at all. It felt like a name chosen by parents who had a bone to pick with him.

“Ah, this is good. It’s been so long since I had something like this. Thanks.”

“You’ve been skipping meals? What about your family?”

“Well, that’s…”

I asked calmly, but he hesitated to answer, as if unsure whether he could trust me.

It was like he had resigned himself to the idea that even if he explained, no one would believe him.

“Your name is Yuri, right? It doesn’t sound like a boy’s name at all. Is there a story behind it?”

“It’s… nothing.”

As expected, his response was evasive.

Ajin and I exchanged glances, both of us drawing the same conclusion.

Whether he was a hero or someone related to one, it wasn’t hard to guess why he was being so cautious.

In modern-day Korea, where supernatural powers weren’t a thing, it would be difficult to discuss such matters openly.

Even if he were a hero, with his powers sealed, there’d be no way to prove it.

Right now, Yuri came across as just another scruffy NPC.

“I think I know why you’re holding back. Fine, let’s get to the point.”

“The solution was simple: I had to prove that I was connected to his world.”

“And fortunately, I had the means to do so—quickly and convincingly.”

“Are you sure about this? What if someone sees us?” Ajin asked hesitantly.

“It’s fine. I’ll set up a barrier.”

We’d done this when meeting Dayoung, too.

As I confidently spoke, Yuri blinked in confusion, clearly struggling to follow our conversation.

Well, that was understandable.

He probably thought he was the only one from his world here.

Closing my eyes, I focused my mind.

I moved the light of authority flowing through my body to my arm, from my arm to my fingers.

Finally, the concentrated light dropped to the ground like a ripple in water.

Clink.

As soon as it touched the ground, the space around us shattered like glass fragments, and the laws of the world reassembled.

The people walking along the distant road disappeared.

All presences vanished, leaving only the three of us in this distorted space.

This was only the second time I’d used it on Earth, the first being when I met Dayoung.

‘Huh, this feels different.’

Originally, this technique was meant to trap demons and crush them within the barrier.

Using it like this felt novel.

Next, I focused my energy to summon the hero’s sacred weapon.

A shimmering light enveloped me like a nebula, and soon, I stood clad in silver armor and a golden cape.

If this performance wasn’t enough to convince him, nothing would be.

“What do you think? Can you talk to me now?”

“Uh, uh…?”

Yuri’s eyes widened, overwhelmed by the spectacle.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Ji Sehee, a former hero and currently a streamer.”

“I’m Ryu Ajin, also a former hero, now an editor.”

Yuri hesitated before speaking timidly, “I… I’m also a hero. My name is Yuri. Nice to meet you.”

“What…?”

A strange, unpleasant sensation stirred within Dayoung.

It was like a faint prickle at the nape of her neck, familiar yet disconcerting.

‘Wait. I’ve felt this before.’

The realization hit her.

Ah, right. This was the same feeling she had when meeting Sehee for the first time.

‘Does she need to use her powers?’

‘And if so, why?’

Curiosity piqued, she glanced out the window.

It seemed to be coming from somewhere in that direction, far enough that the presence felt faint.

Dayoung picked up her phone, intending to send a message to Sehee, but stopped midway, realizing something important.

As a hero, her powers should have been completely sealed upon arriving on Earth.

‘Then how am I sensing this?’

Dayoung raised her hand unconsciously, focusing her thoughts.

As she drew out the faint ripple of energy from within her, something astonishing occurred.

A crimson light materialized in her palm.

Though faint, it was unmistakably the power of a hero.

***

Pepe, the frog-like creature at her side, gawked in astonishment.

“Wh-what’s this? Dayoung, are you…? I was just watching frogs mating, and now this—what the heck?”

Dayoung stared at the glowing power in her hand, nodding in agreement with Pepe’s disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s the hero’s power.”

It was gradually returning.

And more than that, the once-unshakable constraints of this world were loosening.

“Could it be that this world is… breaking down?”

“No, I don’t think that’s it. If it were, we’d have been able to use our full powers from the beginning.”

“Sheesh… Even so, the liberation of heroes? My heart swells with pride, I tell you.”

Pepe, who had claimed he could flip in midair, actually began flipping overhead.

Ignoring his antics, Dayoung focused her thoughts on analyzing the current situation.

It was like plugging a leak—power was seeping through tiny cracks.

‘It’s weakening due to external influence.’

‘If this was caused by external factors, then it meant the world’s suppression hadn’t changed.’

‘Which meant…’

‘No way…’

Dayoung gulped as a hypothesis formed in her mind.

‘Is this because of Sehee?’

‘Could the world’s suppression have weakened because she was with her sister?’

‘If the hero’s powers were being restored and the key was Sehee…’

It was just a theory, but the eerie certainty sent chills down her spine.

In her hand, the faint flames of magical power—her symbol from the other world—continued to flicker.

Even Pepe looked at her with a mix of awe and delight, nodding emphatically.

From Dayoung’s perspective, the return of her hero’s power was undoubtedly a good thing.

“Congratulations, Dayoung the Hero!”

“Yeah, thanks, Pepe.”

“Now let’s team up with that witch Sehee and create some Northward Unification content. One hundred million subscribers won’t just be a dream.”

Thwack!

Once again, Pepe’s head was struck, forming a V-shaped dent.

***

“So… you ended up like this when you returned?”

“Yes.”

Yuri answered timidly, leaving both me and Ajin at a loss.

A gender-switch curse, of all things.

What a headache.

As I listened, it became clear that Yuri’s transformation was different from mine.

My transformation was an unintended side effect of overusing the goddess’s power, but his was a curse inflicted by the Demon King.

‘What kind of Demon King would waste so much effort on such a specific and costly curse?’

‘If I were the Demon King, I’d target lifespan or inflict an incurable disease instead.’

It seemed their Demon King was petty, vindictive, and disturbingly obsessed.

“Because of this, I can’t show myself to my family anymore. I ended up living alone, barely scraping by like this. Hehe.”

Yuri let out a hollow, bitter laugh.

In short, he was cursed to become a man and couldn’t return to his family.

“Then… Excuse me for a moment.”

“Huh?”

Placing my palm on Yuri’s forehead, I channeled my power.

Even if the worlds were different, curses under the name of magic had similar structures.

As I unraveled the familiar pattern, light enveloped Yuri, and he transformed into a high school girl with long black hair flowing down her back.

“This… this is?”

It wasn’t a transformation—it was a return to his original form.

Of course…

Flash.

The effect lasted only a moment.

As I withdrew my power, the light shattered like glass, and Yuri reverted to his male form.

For a while, Yuri stared at himself in stunned silence before suddenly grabbing my shoulders in desperation.

“Is there any way to break this curse? Please help me!”

“Whoa, calm down.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

He quickly composed himself, sitting upright with an intense gaze locked on mine, as if he were determined not to miss a single word.

“First, I’m a bit different from ordinary heroes. I don’t have the same limitations, and I’ve been able to help other struggling heroes, like Ajin here. I think I can help you, too.”

“Then…”

“I’ve already set up a spell at my house that works like what I just used. Originally, I created it for cases like Ajin’s, but it should work for you, too. However, you’d need to stay at my house for a year. That’s how long it would take to break the curse completely. Are you okay with that?”

“Uh, Sehee, does he just have to live there?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ajin, who had been listening quietly, quickly asked for clarification.

I couldn’t keep Yuri by my side indefinitely, so I’d set up an aura in my home.

Inside that space, no curses or harmful effects could take hold; instead, they’d be neutralized.

While it would take time, it would also save me the trouble of intervening constantly.

“While you’re in the house, you’ll be able to live in your original form. When you go outside, you’ll turn back into a boy, but if you can endure for a year, you’ll be able to reunite with your family.”

I extended my hand to Yuri, who was staring at me in a daze.

I didn’t know how he would interpret this gesture.

‘Would he see me as a savior, or would he harbor doubts even while clinging to hope?’

Still, remembering what Ajin and I had discussed earlier, I said, “Will you come with me?”

I genuinely hoped he would.