“…It wasn’t hesitation.”Noa slammed his fist onto the ground and gasped for air. The pain that throbbed down to his bones couldn’t extinguish the fire eating away inside him. Some would probably laugh and mock him, saying he was pathetic—losing his mind and chasing after someone just because they’d shared a single night together.Just because of that?Noa could deny that with absolute conviction. Whenever he closed his eyes, a certain figure always appeared in his mind. Like an old masterpiece, that scene never changed—two people, standing and looking at each other.A short, chestnut-haired boy, and a tall, lean man.The boy’s green eyes sparkled as he looked up at the man. The man’s face, however, was scratched and blurred, as if smudged out of recognition. Yet the boy smiled so brightly, as though nothing in the world could make him happier. As though he were looking at someone divine.Even though that man had been one of the infamous villains of In the Hell.–Do you hate heroes? Then… I’ll become a hero you can like. I’ll become the kind of hero you could love.The child had told the villain who despised heroes that he would become the greatest hero in the world. With nothing but youthful zeal, that chestnut-haired boy had kept showing up at the scene, trying to capture villains, rolling through danger every time, believing he could convince that man.But—“We found Noatis!”Heavily armed heroes burst through the underbrush. Their faces turned pale at the sight of the mangled corpses and pools of blood. Hesitating, they then spotted Noa lying in the center of the clearing and rushed toward him.“Noatis, can you hear me?”“Yes, I’m fine.”Noa gave a short answer and pushed himself up to sit. The heroes checking on him exchanged confused glances, their eyes scanning the state of his shredded clothes. Judging by the rags he was wearing, he should’ve been critically wounded. Yet—“Noatis, what about your injuries?”Noa glanced at the hand extended toward him. It was his sidekick, Cha Dohwan. Grasping the hand, Noa rose and brushed the dust off his clothes.“None. You can see for yourself.”“I see. Strange, though—your clothes look like they’ve been through hell.”“That can happen. Nothing strange about it.”Cha Dohwan studied him for a moment, then nodded. Judging that Noa’s mood wasn’t great, he turned to help organize the scene with the other heroes.Noa looked down at his bloodstained hands. The wound that had split open his chest deep enough to show his insides was now completely gone. Just like back at Seonghwa Hero University, there was no doubt—Uichan had a special power.But Noa had no intention of telling anyone. He’d promised himself, at seventeen, that he would never again do anything that could harm Uichan.When he clenched his fist, a faint voice echoed in his memory like an afterimage. The boy who’d once met Under Doom had engraved an unforgettable vow on that day.Because he couldn’t forget the white hand that had pressed a candy into his palm. Because the loss and loneliness in that man’s voice had hurt his heart so much.–Are you… going to turn away from us too?Noa had only ever wanted to show him—show that man—that there existed heroes in this vast world who wouldn’t turn their backs on him.That aching tightness in his chest back then, that suffocating sadness—he’d been so moved by that man’s trembling emotions that he’d wanted to cry with him. He’d wanted to ask, who abandoned you?But in the end, when that man turned away and handed him a yellow candy, Noa couldn’t say anything at all.“…Who said I’d turn away? I’m going to live with you from now on.”The ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) boy had grown up, gained power, and achieved his ideals. Now, it was finally time to answer those words.***The place he returned to with Phantom Thief Kill was the tiled-roof house deep in the forest—Hyde’s residence. As soon as they arrived, both of them dropped to the courtyard like people falling from the sky. Uichan immediately rushed to check on Kill.His wounds had been severe; Uichan feared he might die any second.He could have sworn he’d seen a horrible hole through Kill’s abdomen, but—“Why….”“Uichan, haa….”Kill propped himself up on his hands, his breathing rough but steady. There was no trace of the injury anywhere on his body. Uichan unconsciously looked down at his own hands. He hadn’t used his Ability—but if Kill’s wound had healed……then the little ones must have used it again.In that case, maybe Noa’s wound had healed too. The thought sparked a fragile hope. At the same time, he worried—wasn’t it harmful for the babies to use their power like that?“Uichan, are you hurt? Our youngest, let me see if you’ve got any injuries.”The moment Kill came to his senses, he grabbed Uichan’s shoulders and examined him frantically. When Uichan shook his head, Kill sighed in relief and pressed a hand to his forehead.“This time was truly dangerous… but thanks to you, I’m alive. Somehow, I keep owing you.”“That’s because you got hurt because of me… It was because of that finger. Komi brought it. Where is it?”Uichan glanced around and soon spotted the finger lying on the ground. He carefully picked it up with the cloth and handed it to Kill. Kill took a small box out of his playing card and placed the finger gently inside.Just as he closed the box, the sliding door behind them rattled open. Uichan turned to see a man leaning against a wooden pillar. He looked at them and smiled.“What’s this? You two sneaking off for a secret rendezvous without me?”“Huh…?”Hyde descended the wooden steps, his black robe fluttering. Half-dressed, he crouched before them and stared.“So why are you two together? I came by to check on Uichan while I was working, but you’d vanished. So I went looking—and what do I find? The Phantom Thief I sent on a mission, together with you. Hmm.”He reached out and brushed the back of his hand across Uichan’s cheek. A smear of blood came away—Noa’s blood, though Uichan kept silent.“Did you go out for a little secret tryst without telling me?”The chill in his tone made Uichan swallow dryly. Hyde’s pale gray eyes shifted between him and Kill before settling on the latter. Unable to meet his gaze, Kill bent down to pick up his hat from the floor.“…It turned out that way by accident. Not a rendezvous, just… a walk, perhaps. Hmm, Uichan must be exhausted; perhaps it’d be best to let him rest first.”“Well… fine. I have something to discuss with him anyway. Phantom Thief, the item?”Hyde’s hand moved lazily over Uichan’s face and ears, wiping and smudging the blood away. Judging by his relaxed manner, he didn’t seem particularly angry.“I did steal it, but I’m not sure if it’s the right one.”Kill took out the small wooden box from his hat and set it on the ground. Hyde waved his hand dismissively without even looking.“I’ll check what’s inside later. Leave it. Go to the Punishment Hall, will you? There should be three of them. By now they’ll be feeling bold enough to try something.”At the mention of the Punishment Hall, Uichan pressed his lips together. Kill simply nodded and stood. Pulling out a playing card, he flicked it—and his tattered clothes instantly transformed into pristine condition.He donned his hat and monocle, then smiled, ruffling Uichan’s hair.“See you next time, youngest.”“Ah… yes. Take care, Phantom Thief. Don’t get hurt.”Kill smiled softly, wrinkles forming near his eyes, and nodded. Just as he was about to vanish with his cane, Hyde, who had just helped Uichan to his feet, called out to him.“Phantom Thief.”“Yes, sir?”“Next time, if things look bad, pull back. Imagine how sad Uichan and I would be if one of our brothers got hurt. There’ll always be another chance. But there’s only one life, right?”“…Yes, I’ll remember that.”Phantom Thief Kill was the eldest among the brothers. As far as Uichan knew, he was in his mid-forties—a refined gentleman. At all times he treated his siblings with solemn courtesy, never boastful, always composed.He was experienced, but also cautious and clever. Of all of them, he probably cherished his family the most deeply. Kill smiled faintly at Hyde’s words, bowed with gentlemanly grace, and dissolved into drifting white spores.The spores floated gently away on the mountain breeze. Only then did Uichan look up at Hyde, who had just pulled him upright.“Where’d you get those clothes? Did Mother Ship bring them?”“No.”“Then?”“…I don’t know.”“You don’t know?”Hyde laughed out loud at that. Uichan couldn’t bring himself to admit that the babies had used their power to fetch them. At times like this, saying “I don’t know” was safer than lying.

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