Chapter 54

The interrogation room was dim, light spilling weakly across the metal table. The air carried a sting as sharp as the lamp’s glare.

On one side sat Jinyoung, her tone cold and precise. Across from her, hands cuffed, was Yoon Sang-hak — his face calm, but his eyes dark.

From the observation room behind the glass, Beomjin stood beside Suchan, watching.

“Agent Yoon Sang-hak,” Jinyoung began, lowering her voice.

“You still deny the charges — abduction, confinement, and illegal drug use — against Gwak Jeong-woo, Park Sun-ho, and Choi Dong-jun?”

Sang-hak gave a slow shake of the head, his mouth curling into a sneer.

“Abduction? Confinement? I gave those kids a place to sleep and a shot at debuting as fighters. Tell me—how’s that a crime?”

Beomjin let out a hollow laugh.

Some people never change. Not even when they’ve already lost everything.

Suchan glanced sideways.

“You sure you don’t want to go in? You could question him alongside Jinyoung.”

Beomjin shook his head.

“If I go in there, I won’t stay calm. This is better.”

“He’s denying everything, but it won’t save him,” Suchan said quietly.

“The evidence we’ve gathered is enough to bury him.”

Beomjin didn’t answer. His gaze stayed fixed on Sang-hak—who looked less like a man under arrest, and more like someone still afraid of whoever stood above him.

Suchan clapped him lightly on the shoulder.

“Good work. Leave the rest to Jinyoung. She’s relentless when she needs to be.”

Beomjin nodded. “Understood. What about the Forest of Beasts?”

At that, Suchan’s expression hardened.

“…We’re still digging. But I can’t promise how far we’ll get.”

Beomjin thought of the “chairman” who’d greeted him before the match — a familiar face, yet one he couldn’t quite place.

“Then we’ll wait and see.”

Leaving the observation room behind, he stepped into the elevator and rode down to the fourth floor — the Special Beast Investigation Unit’s medical wing. At the lobby desk, he asked the nurse where Jeong-woo was being treated.

“Room 417,” she said.

Beomjin’s footsteps grew heavier as he approached the door.

Inside, the room was quiet. The faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air. Jeong-woo lay asleep, a nasal tube running to his nose, clear fluid dripping slowly through an IV line.

“Staring at him won’t make him wake,” a voice said from behind.

“I know.”

Without turning, Beomjin recognized the voice — Hojun, wearing a white doctor’s coat.

“You got him here just in time,” Hojun said, smiling wryly. “He’ll live. A few broken ribs, yeah, but given what you were up against, that’s a miracle.”

Beomjin managed a faint smile.

“…And the sample? The drug we confiscated?”

“Still analyzing it. We don’t know what’s in it yet,” Hojun replied. “But considering what it did to him…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Whatever it is, it’s poison.”

“Will he wake up?” Beomjin asked softly.

Jeong-woo’s stillness made him look like a man caught between life and death.

“I can’t say yet,” Hojun sighed.

“The dosage was too high. Worse than the boar case. They practically fried his nervous system.”

He muttered under his breath, almost like cursing.

“…Sick bastards. He’s stabilizing, but it’s not over.”

Then Jeong-woo’s body jerked suddenly — muscles twitching, face tightening in pain. Hojun placed a firm hand on his shoulder, keeping him steady.

“Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “I’ll make sure he wakes up—and when he does, he’ll thank you himself.”

“Please do,” Beomjin said, bowing slightly before leaving the room.

He’d just stepped into the hallway when he saw a familiar face at the far end — Jeong-woo’s mother, hurrying toward him, tears streaking her cheeks.

“Ma’am,” he greeted softly.

She reached him and grabbed his hand, her voice trembling.

“Thank you… thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, my Jeong-woo—”

Her voice broke. Beomjin squeezed her hands gently.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I should’ve found him sooner.”

But she shook her head.

“No. You were the only one who even tried. You were brave, and you brought him home. I’ll never forget that. Thank you—truly.”

Her warmth melted something inside him — something he’d ignored for too long. For the first time since the regression, the anger in his chest eased, even if just a little.

Since coming back, his world had revolved around Jin Geonmyeong. Vengeance had been everything. But now… he was beginning to understand what else mattered.

The things worth protecting weren’t abstract ideals—they were moments like this.

Taking a quiet breath, Beomjin turned toward the elevator and rode it down.

When the doors opened, he was greeted by two familiar voices.

“Well, look who it is! Our little Tiger!”

The affectionate, lively tone belonged to Sun-ae. She strode up beside Sun-woong, grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, fancy meeting you here again! Look at that poor face, all worn out. Honey, look at him—look how much this boy’s been through.”

“Ah, hello.”

Sun-ae hurried over and patted Beomjin’s shoulder.

“You did good, really. I heard you saved Jeong-woo.”

“It was the right call to leave it to you. Thank you,” said Sun-woong.

“Are you two here to visit him, too?”

The elderly couple nodded. Sun-ae raised the paper bag she was holding in both hands.

“They said the boy’s still not doing well, so I brewed some medicine—might help him recover faster.”

The sharp, earthy scent of herbal tonic filled the hall. Beomjin doubted whether Hojun would approve, but he didn’t voice it.

“Oh, right! Since we ran into you, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

Sun-woong pulled a small paper envelope from his coat. It fit neatly in his palm, and Beomjin recognized the faint, bitter scent immediately.

“…This smell—don’t tell me.”

“It’s Seomdan,” Sun-woong confirmed.

Beomjin’s eyes hardened.

“…Why do you have that?”

“It’s not for you,” the old man said calmly. “Someone asked us to deliver it, and I’d like you to be the one to take it there.”

“I can deliver it, sure—but who’s it for?”

“For the Dragon.”

The Dragon?

The moment Sun-woong said it, Jin Geonmyeong’s image flashed through Beomjin’s mind, cold sweat prickling along his arms.

“The Dragon’s bloodline you brought in,” Seon-ung clarified. “That child requested it.”

“…Seoyul?”

“Yes. She asked several times, so don’t forget to give it to her.”

Beomjin froze. The thought of Seoyul taking Seomdan was deeply unsettling.

Could she even survive it?

He wanted to ask, but by the time he turned, the elderly couple were already heading toward the HQ building.

“Please, make sure she gets it,” Sun-ae called cheerfully, waving as they disappeared inside.

Beomjin looked down at the small packet in his hand.

The memory of his own Seomdan ordeal came rushing back—the heat, the agony that tore through every nerve.

Could Seoyul really endure that?

Was she ready?

He clenched his jaw and turned toward the dormitory. He needed to confirm this himself.

At the Special Beast Investigation Unit dormitory, Beomjin let out a sigh before pressing the bell to Room 303. The door creaked open, revealing Lisa—her hair messy, eyes half-open.

“Oh, it’s you? What brings you here this early?”

Yawning wide, she scratched her head and leaned against the doorframe, clearly not thrilled to have a morning visitor.

“I came to see Seoyul.”

“…Come in.”

Inside, the living room was cluttered with clothes and shopping bags. Sitting on the sofa folding laundry, Seoyul looked up and beamed when she saw him.

“Ahjussi!”

Beomjin blinked, momentarily speechless.

The timid, fearful girl from his memories was gone. Her hair was now cut short and dyed lavender, and she wore a pastel pink hoodie with sky-blue shorts—pure Risa’s taste. Her makeup, once awkward and uneven, was subtle and bright, giving her an unexpectedly fresh glow.

“It’s been a while!” she said, smiling shyly.

Lisa crossed her arms and grinned smugly.

“So? What do you think of Seoyul’s new look? Gorgeous, right?”

“…Honestly,” Beomjin said, still stunned, “I barely recognized her.”

Beomjin gave an awkward smile.

“Risa helped a lot. Thanks to her, I gained some confidence too…”

“And she got even prettier, right?” Risa said proudly, brushing Seoyul’s lavender hair and flashing Beomjin a smug grin.

Still half-stunned, Beomjin stood by the doorway before remembering the reason he’d come.

“Right. I actually came to give you this.”

He pulled out the Seomdan. Seoyul clapped her hands in delight and rushed over.

“Oh! Seomdan! You brought it just for me?”

“Yeah. They said you personally asked for it.”

“That’s right! She needs it,” Risa chimed in.

Beomjin instinctively drew his hand back before Risa could touch it. The motion made both women blink in surprise.

“…Why do you need Seomdan?” he asked, voice serious.

Unlike his wary tone, their faces stayed bright. Risa nudged Seoyul’s back. “Go on. Tell him yourself.”

After a brief hesitation, Seoyul gathered her courage.

“I… I want to stand on my own now. I know why you brought me here, Ahjussi.”

Beomjin’s eyes flicked to Risa, who quickly looked away.

“I don’t know when my power will awaken,” Seoyul continued. “But I don’t want to live scared of it anymore. I don’t want to hide from what I am. That’s why I asked for the Seomdan.”

“You know exactly what it does, right?”

“Of course,” she said firmly. “I thought about it a lot before deciding.”

“Don’t worry,” Risa added. “Trust her. She’s a Dragon’s bloodline.”

Seeing Seoyul’s determined expression, Beomjin slowly unclenched his fist and placed the small crimson pill onto her open palm.

“I just… swallow it, right?”

Risa nodded.

“It won’t taste good,” Beomjin said with a faint smile.

To him, the Seomdan was the size of a peanut—but in Seoyul’s small hand, it looked like a marble.

With a deep breath, the young Dragon swallowed it.

Under the watchful eyes of the Tiger and the Fox, the Dragon accepted her trial.

Her lips trembled.

As the Seomdan slid down her throat and settled in her chest, her shoulders jolted.

Her skin flushed red, breath growing ragged. The air thickened—heavy, charged.

Risa and Beomjin stayed silent, watching closely.

Seoyul hunched over, trembling, hugging herself tightly.

Seconds stretched into what felt like minutes.

Then she raised her head, blinking as though seeing the world for the first time. Her pupils were wide, gleaming with a strange, vivid light that made Beomjin’s breath hitch.

“Seoyul, are you okay?” he asked, stepping closer.

She inhaled deeply and nodded.

“The world feels… different. But I’m not scared.”

Her gaze drifted toward the window, her focus sharpening.

“I can smell the trees outside… and the people nearby. I can feel them.”

“You’ll get used to it soon,” Beomjin said.

Seoyul scrunched her nose with a small laugh.

“It’s just… so strong.”

“That too,” Risa said lightly. “You’ll get used to it.”

Touching her nose, Seoyul looked back at Beomjin.

“Ahjussi, I’m ready now.”

Her voice was steady, her eyes resolute.

Beomjin knew then—

It was time to break the seal of the Flute of Ten Thousand Waves.

Gyeongju.

By the time they arrived, the sun was sinking.

The car had been filled with chatter and nervous laughter at first, but the closer they got to the Gamunsa Temple Site, the heavier the air became.

A chill pressed down over the land. The sky hung gray, the wind howled strangely, and even the birds had gone silent.

“This… doesn’t feel normal,” Risa murmured from behind the wheel, staring up at the swirling clouds.

When they stepped out, Beomjin, Seoyul, and Lisa stood before the ancient ruins.

Seoyul walked closer to Beomjin.

“The Flute of Ten Thousand Waves… it’s sealed underground here, right?”

“Yeah.”

He answered quietly, recalling the sorrowful end of the Imugi.

“…It’s time to bring it out.”

Seoyul pressed her palms together in front of her chest. A faint shimmer of energy rose from her body, like heat mirage in sunlight.

“Then let’s go,” Lisa said softly. “Let’s claim the treasure of legend.”

Beomjin nodded and started toward the stone pagoda’s outer wall—toward the hidden path that led underground.