Mystical Fantasy : Not the Destiny Heroine

"I'd love to talk more, but I need to grab some breakfast first," Jinhyuk said reluctantly. "Let's continue later, Noona."

"Same here," Nayeon replied with a smile. "My morning shift just started."

Though their meeting was sudden and full of surprises, both knew time wasn't on their side. They exchanged contacts and waved goodbye as they parted ways at the end of the hospital corridor.

---

Midday arrived. Jinhyuk and Han-na stepped out of the hospital, walking leisurely through the narrow streets on the outskirts of the city district. They stopped at a modest eatery with a rusty tin roof and a creaky ceiling fan.

Han-na sat down and instantly became the center of attention. The stares—whether due to her scars, her clothes, or simply her face that didn't conform to social expectations—came from every direction. But she ignored them. She was used to it.

"You're used to those kinds of stares, huh?" Jinhyuk asked quietly as he opened a pair of wooden chopsticks.

Han-na nodded slightly. "It used to hurt. Now? It's numb. Besides, there's nothing I can do about it. Am I embarrassing you, Jinhyuk-ssi?"

"You don't need to be so formal anymore. We agreed we're friends, right? And no, I don't mind at all. I've even befriended giant terrifying creatures."

"Giant…?"

"Never mind. Let's eat."

They ate in silence for a while before Jinhyuk asked again,

"So, what's your plan now, Han-na-ssi?"

Han-na gave a faint smile. "You said no more '-ssi,' remember? We're friends now, aren't we?"

Jinhyuk chuckled. "Hahaha, you're right. Just a habit. Alright then—Han-na. So, are you going back to work?"

"Maybe," she said. "I don't have a concrete plan yet. But I have nothing else, so I'll need to work eventually."

"I see… I guess I need to look for a job too. Bills are knocking sooner than usual these days. Huff."

Han-na let out a soft laugh.

"I just realized," Jinhyuk said, "You seemed like the quiet type at first, but now that we're talking more, you're actually pretty talkative."

"And… I think I enjoy talking to you."

Han-na lowered her gaze, then said,

"Hmm. I live a scattered life, moving from place to place for work. I interact with lots of people. So naturally, I've become fairly talkative. Besides, I don't care much about appearances, so it's easy for me to just say what's on my mind. Whether I say something amazing or ordinary, no one really cares anyway. I'm used to chatting with many people. But those are usually just formal conversations. It's rare to have something like this."

"Like this?"

Han-na looked at him, calm. "A warm conversation. Like friends."

Jinhyuk went quiet. His expression softened a little. Then he asked, "Where have you been staying all this time?"

"My place changes often. Right now, I'm renting a small room in the Jangwon district. It's tiny, but it's cheap."

Jinhyuk immediately stood up. "Okay. I'll take you there. At least until I know you've arrived safely."

"Thank you… Jinhyuk."

---

When they arrived, the place was even worse than Jinhyuk had imagined. An old, nearly collapsing building with peeling walls and a damp floor. Han-na opened the door to a narrow room. It used to be a bathroom, repurposed into a living space. A wooden plank served as a bed, and a large bucket sat in the corner. The floor was still wet.

"You… live here?" Jinhyuk asked softly.

"Yup. It's cheap, and good enough for someone like me," Han-na replied, trying to sound casual. "Sorry for showing you a place like this."

Jinhyuk simply shook his head with a weak smile. "It's not a problem. Actually… I'm proud of you."

"Proud?"

"I live in a campus dorm. Sometimes I crash at my childhood friend's place. I haven't even been able to rent a space of my own. How could I call your place pathetic?"

Han-na chuckled softly.

She then crouched down and opened a pile of belongings in the corner. From beneath a slightly raised floor tile, she pulled out a small box.

She opened it and revealed a stack of neatly saved cash.

"This…" she said. "Is for you."

Jinhyuk stared at the money. "Huh? What for?"

"You've spent so much on me. Hospital bills, food, time, energy…"

Jinhyuk quickly waved his hand. "No. I can't accept money from someone who saved my life."

Han-na looked at him seriously. "You saved me too. At that restaurant. You protected me from those drunk men. You even paid for my hospital stay."

"Yeah, but that's—"

"This isn't about money, Jinhyuk. It's about returning kindness. I hope you'll accept it. Unless… you don't want to because the money's from someone like me."

Jinhyuk took a deep breath.

"Hey, don't say something that sad."

He finally took part of the money, then handed some back to Han-na.

"In that case… this is your salary."

"Salary?"

"For being my partner."

Han-na looked surprised. "Partner?"

"You said you wanted to be my partner in saving the world," Jinhyuk replied with a smile. "Let's start here."

Han-na slowly took the money. "In that case… deal."

They laughed. In the middle of that damp little room, a spark of warmth ignited. Two people abandoned by the world had begun writing a new story—unintended partners, but perhaps… destined.

But before they could savor that warmth much longer—

BANG!

A loud sound from outside shook the fragile walls. It sounded like a table being slammed—or a body hitting the pavement.

Han-na stood immediately. "That's normal around here," she said casually. "People around here like to settle things with violence."

Jinhyuk stood too. "Aren't you going to check?"

Han-na shrugged. "Usually just drunk people or small gangs fighting over money or turf."

But Jinhyuk felt something was different.

He walked out with Han-na. A small crowd had already gathered outside, forming a circle. Some were cheering, others watching with bored expressions as if this were a daily spectacle.

But Jinhyuk's eyes widened.

In the middle of that narrow street—between building debris and flickering neon signs—a young man with shoulder-length hair stood tall. In both hands, he held a pair of short metal sticks—they looked like police batons, but his movements were too fast, too precise… like swords within a martial artist's body.

One against… more than ten.

Each strike of his batons sent his opponents flying. There was rhythm in his attacks. Not wild, but trained—refined.

To the onlookers, it may have just looked like professional combat skills. But to Jinhyuk, he wasn't ordinary.

Han-na watched with a blank expression. "He doesn't look like someone from around here…"

As Jinhyuk narrowed his eyes,

The figure… looked familiar.

But the fight wasn't over.

One of the remaining gang members called someone out. A large man in a leather jacket stepped forward, a curved sickle strapped to his back. His face was full of scars, and his body nearly twice the size of the man with the batons.

Just as the tension hit its peak—

"Enough! Stop it." A woman's voice shouted.

A girl stepped in from the alley. Shoulder-length blonde hair, tough-looking face, sporty casual wear, and a sharp gaze. She approached the baton-wielding man and tried to pull him back.

"Let's go. We've been here too long, and that person hasn't shown up yet," she said to him.

But the gang boss wasn't done. He smirked and walked toward her. "Hey, don't go just yet, pretty girl. Where you headed? The night's still young… You can keep me company, yeah? Haha."

The girl rolled her eyes.

THUD!

A kick launched from the side. Her right foot struck the gang boss's chin.

Bam!

The huge man crashed down, slamming into a metal cart behind him. A loud metallic clatter followed.

Everyone fell silent.

"I told you to stop, and you still had the nerve to ask something gross," she muttered. Then she turned to her companion. "Let's go."

The two turned and walked away. But just before disappearing around the corner, the girl's eyes met Jinhyuk's. So did the baton fighter's.

They paused. Their gazes locked with Jinhyuk's.

Both… gave a faint smile.

Then walked away without saying a word.

---

Jinhyuk stood frozen. Han-na looked at him, puzzled.

"You know them?"

"I'm… not sure. But… somehow, they feel familiar."

Han-na narrowed her eyes, staring down the now quiet alley.

"I guess this world hides too many secrets, huh?"

Jinhyuk nodded slowly.

And maybe… I'll meet them again.

---