an unfortunate change in genre

Part 6

The child was thin, not just scrawny but malnourished.

That's probably what initially attracted Choi Han's attention. Or perhaps it was the worn out clothes that looked about as well cared for as the child did.

Still, the child was clean and neat. Although, it was clear to anyone who observed carefully that it was at the level of what a child could do for themselves.

In other words there were no signs of the child being cared for by an adult.

The sight made Choi Han's stomach squirm uncomfortably. The poor kid looked around his nephew Jung Soo's age.

Who could possibly treat a kid like that?

Choi Han was only twenty years old but even he was responsible enough not to allow a child to exist in such a state.

He hesitated to approach though. The kid was just walking down the street, minding his own business. It would be strange if a stranger came up to him and offered to help. And there was the larger issue of what Choi Han could actually do.

Perhaps call child services? Bring the child to a police box?

It felt a bit half-hearted but it would probably be the only thing the young university student was capable of doing to help.

Just as he'd made up his mind though, there was the screeching of tires.

Choi Han's feet were moving before his brain completely registered what was about to happen. Years and years of training in his family's swordsmanship gave him razor sharp reflexes.

The scrawny child weighed nearly nothing as Choi Han collected him in his arms, diving out of the way of the swerving car just in time.

He let out a shaky breath, opening his eyes to check the child for injuries and meeting a pair of surprised brown eyes that slowly settled into calm acceptance faster than Choi Han would have been able to.

It was strange how quickly the child adjusted to the circumstances. Choi Han tried to ask are you okay but he felt too shaky to speak, instead he tried to stand up and help the child to his feet as well.

It would have been fine.

The child was safe, Choi Han was safe, and from the sound of the background noise someone was giving the reckless driver a piece of their mind.

But Choi Han staggered, nearly falling over, his vision spotting and blurring. He saw those strange brown eyes widening with worry before everything went black.

[Choi Han]

The voice sent shivers down his spine. It was as deep and dark as death itself.

[I'd like to make you an offer.]

It was a really scummy offer. Choi Han would regret accepting it.

But he'd probably accept it again if given the chance.

The overwhelming weight of the aura around him wasn't giving the current Choi Han much of an opportunity to really consider his options though. His knees felt weak and his eyes shook fearfully as an overwhelming aura that he had never experienced in his life enveloped him.

He knew instinctively that it was death.

At twenty, he'd never really had a near death experience. He'd trained his body to exhaustion but excluding the events preceding this meeting, Choi Han had lived a peaceful life.

It left him completely unprepared for the ineffable weight of death around him.

"...who...?" His voice was so weak that he hardly recognized it.