Left in Rage

Before Akira could answer, the pitter-patter of small feet pulled his attention elsewhere.

The little daughter of Cha-Jong peeped through the doorway into the room, her round eyes apprehensive and frightened.

She tiptoed closer to Akira, clinging tightly to a stuffed animal hugged against her chest.

Daughter innocently

"Are you alright, Big Bro?"

"You made me worried."

Akira blinked, taken aback for a moment.

The innocence in her voice and the honest care in her eyes struck deep within him. 

A rare softness crossed his face as he smiled warmly at her.

Akira whispering

"Yeah, I'm fine now."

"And with such a pretty little girl worrying about me, how could I not be?"

The girl's face brightened as her concern dissolved into a pleased grin.

The door swung open, and in walked Cha-Jong's wife.

Min-Ji was a stately, elegant woman, rather tall with distinguished features—a face that held an intrinsic graceness about it, even in simple house clothes; the room was enlightened when she smiled.

Min-Ji teasingly

"Hello, kiddo."

"You finally decided to wake up, huh?"

"You had my husband and little girl worried sick, you know."

Her teasing tone was light, but her eyes spoke of real relief.

Akira squirmed uncomfortably, massaging the back of his neck.

Akira apologetically

"Yeah… sorry for all of the trouble I caused."

Min-Ji waved a hand, laughing dismissively.

"No issue."

"As long as you apologize, we're good." - (letting out a laugh)

"Now come on, you need food."

"I made a lot, and you'd better eat every bite if you want to recover properly."

She nodded toward the dining table, where several steaming dishes were set out. The smell of fresh-cooked food filled the air, and Akira's stomach growled audibly. He hesitated, unsure how to react to such unreserved hospitality.

Min-Ji clapped her hands, beaming.

"See?"

"Your stomach agrees, too."

"No more stalling—come eat."

Softening, Akira followed them to the table where the family members had gathered. Plates of rice, grilled fish, kimchi, soups, and all sorts of side dishes were nicely set.

Yuna, Cha-Jong's daughter, sat next to him—her eyes full of curiosity and delight.

As Akira ate, he couldn't help but notice the scene before him the simplicity of it all. A family sitting together, laughing, sharing stories was a picture so unlike the isolated and cruel life he had been living nowdays.

Cha-Jong after a pause, his tone serious

"I know there's more you're not telling us, Akira."

"And I respect that."

"I'm not going to pry into your past."

"But for now, just know you're safe here."

"My family and I owe you that much."

Akira nodded, his expression softening slightly.

Akira curious

"Cha-Jong, what happened in the dungeon?"

"After I collapsed, what did you all do?"

Cha-Jong's movements stilled for a moment, the chopsticks in his hand pausing mid-air. He set them down deliberately, his expression carefully neutral.

"Someone… scary came and slew that vampire."

"Then he was gone."

"We didn't even get a proper look at him."

"It all happened in such a hurry."

His voice was steady, but Akira could sense there was more to the story.

Akira frowning

"Someone came and killed her?"

"Just like that?"

"She was unbelievably strong."

"And you're saying he finished her with ease?"

Cha-Jong nodded.

"I don't know who he was."

"He vanished just as suddenly as he appeared."

"I'm sorry, Akira, that's all I know."

Akira furrowed his brow in thought as he remembered the words of Cha-Jong.

His memories of the fight were rather patchy, but he could distinctly remember the overwhelming strength of the vampire.

For someone to defeat her so effortlessly was hard to understand.

"But… I remember my arm being cut off."

"How is it intact now?"

"And fully healed?"

The question made Cha-Jong's face change ever so subtly, the flicker of something not spoken crossing his features. He quickly recovered, smiling faintly.

"You never lost your arm."

"That was illusion magic the vampire used to mess with your mind."

Akira's eyes narrowed slightly, scouring Cha-Jong's face.

The explanation didn't sit right with him, but Cha-Jong's manner was firm and offered little room for argument.

Akira after a moment resolute

"Ok."

"If you say so."

The awkwardness hung in the air for a second before Min-Ji finally broke the ice, her voice positive and chipper.

"Enough heavy talk at the table."

"Kiddo, eat up."

"You'll need your strength if you plan on leaving this house anytime soon."

Yuna pulled on Akira's arm, her innocent voice cutting through the awkwardness.

"Big Bro, will you stay with us a little longer?"

"You're fun to have around."

Akira looked at her, taken aback by her frankness.

A real smile pulled at the edges of his lips.

"I'll stay a little longer if your mom doesn't kick me out first."

Min-Ji burst out laughing, and Cha-Jong shook his head, smiling amusedly..

The table where Akira sat with his fingers absently ruffling through Yuna's hair.

The little girl was giggling, her eyes sparkling wide as she clutched the hand of her jerry-built hero.

Having finished the meal, Akira leaned back with a contented sigh.

"Ah, man, I'm stuffed."

"It was great,"

He let out with a rare, sincere smile.

"Thanks, Min-Jin-chan."

"I appreciated it."

Min-Jin beamed at him, her hands still busy clearing the plates.

"I'm glad you liked it, Akira."

"It's a pleasure having you here."

Cha-Jong, who had been unusually silent during the conversation, set his cup down and leaned forward. His face was diffident, a mixture of curiosity and respect.

"Akira… I've wanted to ask you something.".

Akira lifted an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"Your last name… Shoto."

"It's the same as the great invetor, Shiro Shoto."

"The one that invented all the technology that helped Stars worldwide fight against dungeons and monsters."

"By any chance are you… related to him?"

The atmosphere in the room changed in one moment Akira's easy manner snapped rigid.

He dropped his smile, and something he had never brought before crossed Cha-Jong's vision. In his dark eyes was brewing a tempest as he dropped his gaze onto the table.

Cha-Jong gestured immediately and threw a hand up in something like an apology.

"I—sorry, Akira, I didn't mean to…"

After a heavy pause, Akira finally spoke, his voice low but steady.

"...I'm his son."

The weight of those words crashed into Cha-Jong. His eyes widened as he sat abruptly, scraping loudly as his chair hit the floor before it fell over.

Min-Jin gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes jerking in rapid succession between them

"R-Really?"

Cha-Jong stuttered, his face a mixture of shock and non-belief.

"For real?"

"His son?"

"But… everyone thought you died too a year after Shiro passed away!"

"I know,"

Akira replied, his tone clipped.

"That's what everyone thinks."

"But the reality is completely different."

The silence that followed was stifling.

Cha-Jong opened and closed his mouth several times, but apparently, he couldn't find the right words.

"I'm sorry I brought it up,"

He whispered, his voice tinged with apology.

"But … if it's not too much to ask, will you tell me what truly happened?"

Akira examined him a moment, his sharp eyes searching for Cha-Jong's sincerity.

Then, he let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair.

"Why not?"

"You already know I'm alive."

"No point in hiding it now."

Cha-Jong turned to look at Min-Jin.

"Take Yuna and go to your room for a while, please."