RFH Chapter 20

Episode 20

As the mansion disappeared, so did Yoo Seongtae’s lingering thoughts. His figure gradually became more transparent, reminiscent of a spirit ascending to the afterlife after resolving its regrets.

Following that, the rift also began to break apart slowly.

“No one ever saved me.”

Yoo Seongtae muttered, his face half-lost in a daze.

“But now, do you think I would suddenly believe in God?”

“....……”

“Do you really think I’d believe in something like God…?”

Watching him mutter to himself was frustrating, but at the same time, Min Hyemi couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. She stepped forward toward Yoo Seongtae, who was sitting on the ground.

“To be honest, I don’t really believe in God either.”

“…...…”

“But if a miracle happens, shouldn’t you at least accept it?”

That might be the key difference between her and Exodus.

When she miraculously returned to this world one day, she did everything she could to forget the previous one. Thinking about them only filled her with rage, but she never considered returning to that world just for revenge.

On the other hand, Exodus was made up of those who couldn’t escape the past. They were so consumed by vengeance and obsession with their previous world that they were willing to throw this one into chaos.

That was why she could never be part of Exodus.

“I will never join your side.”

“You, of all people, shouldn’t say that.”

Now, Yoo Seongtae looked just like a lost child.

“You suffered the same pain as I did…”

“But we have to forget it.”

Min Hyemi answered in a calm tone.

“We have to forget and move forward.”

As she spoke those words, she realized something—her anger toward the past world had lessened, if only slightly.

She was already in the process of healing.

‘So, in the end, I’m not as bound to it as I thought.’

Realizing this, Min Hyemi let out a bittersweet smile.

Just then, the rift, now completely shattered, emitted a dazzling light and ejected them back outside.

***

“They’re out!”

“They did it!”

The surprised voices of the hunters filled the air as Min Hyemi and Seon Jejun emerged.

But there was one person missing—Yoo Seongtae was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Yoo Seongtae? He came out of the rift with us."

"Yoo Seongtae?"

At Min Hyemi's words, Kwon Anna looked around, biting her lip when she couldn't find any trace of him.

"Damn it, he must have exited somewhere else."

When a rift disappears, people don’t always exit in the same location.

It seemed that Yoo Seongtae had ended up in a different place.

"We should have caught him this time!"

Kwon Anna clenched her fists in frustration.

"There will be another chance. Don't get too upset, Captain."

"Next time, I'll make sure to crush him."

Han Ian and Kang Jinhyuk each muttered something that reflected their personalities.

At the very least, they had managed to come out safely.

Min Hyemi took a deep breath, feeling as though everything had finally ended. The fresh air outside the rift stung her lungs, but it was a relief.

"Damn it, I just want to live quietly now…"

Even as she said that, she found herself thinking back on what had just happened.

She had never believed in God.

But after witnessing Seon Jejun save the younger version of Yoo Seongtae, she felt herself wavering—almost as if she could start believing in the existence of a higher power.

Just then, a system window appeared before her.

[‘Find the Savior’ Mid-Quest Cleared!]

[Hint about the ‘Savior’ received: 1/3 pieces obtained!]

Ah, right.

She had almost forgotten about this.

Since this was the final hint piece, it might provide a decisive clue about the identity of the Savior.

[‘The Savior’ was tormented for 30,000 years, his liver devoured repeatedly for the sake of humanity.]

"..……"

The identity of the Savior now seemed painfully obvious.

While Kwon Anna, Han Ian, and Kang Jinhyuk continued their discussion about Exodus, Min Hyemi approached Seon Jejun.

"I have something I want to ask."

"Go ahead."

As always, Seon Jejun responded with a calm expression.

"Have you… saved me before?"

"……...."

"I know this might not make sense, but the system says so. Yet I have no memory of it."

At this, Seon Jejun smiled faintly before answering.

"I’ve never specifically saved you… I only sought to save humanity."

"What do you mean?"

"It makes sense that you don't remember me. You've never met me before."

"Then… how exactly did you save me?"

"I'm not just your Savior. Like I said, I saved humanity."

Finally, Seon Jejun revealed the truth.

"You’ve heard about my unexpected quest, right?"

"Yes, I know about that."

"The quest gave me a choice. A kind of balance game."

That was eerily similar to her own experience.

Min Hyemi listened intently, her expression growing serious.

"There were two options: one was to return to my original world."

"And the other…?"

"The other was to become Prometheus, suffering for 30,000 years, having my liver devoured every day, in exchange for saving the humans who fell into this world."

At those words, Min Hyemi’s face turned pale.

So that means…

"I simply chose the latter option."

***

When Seon Jejun first realized he had become the mythological Prometheus, he didn’t think much of it.

‘As long as I don’t follow fate, it won’t matter.’

He had no intention of suffering for 30,000 years, having his liver devoured. So, he figured he just had to avoid stealing fire for humanity.

But his resolve didn’t last.

Because…

[Achievement Unlocked: <The First Outsider>]

[Reward Granted!]

[You can now hear the wishes of humans who have fallen into another world.]

From that moment, he began hearing the wishes of others who were in the same predicament.

Kim Hyunsoo: Please, let me go home.

Yoon Bomi: I want to return to my world.

Lee Jiyeon: Send me back.

Park Minhyeop: I just want to go home.

Seeing dozens of such pleas every day tormented him.

Then, the emergency quest arrived.

[Quest Notification!]

[Balance Game!]

[Option 1: Return to your original world alone.]

[Option 2: Follow the fate of Prometheus—having your liver devoured for 30,000 years in exchange for eventually sending the others back.]

Seon Jejun chose the second option.

Like Prometheus, who sacrificed himself for humanity, he had walked the same path.

Even as he was chained to a mountain, enduring the endless torment of having his liver eaten, the wishes of the lost humans kept pouring in.

Due to the strange distortion of time, he spent 30,000 years seeing those desperate messages from another world.

And among them, one particularly stood out.

Kim Joonsoo: I want to go back.

Eun Jungwon: I miss my parents.

Han Jiseok: I long for my world.

Most wished to return to where they came from.

But then there was one different plea.

Min Hyemi: I wish every human who loves me would just die.

That wish was unforgettable.

The name ‘Min Hyemi’ was burned into his mind from that moment.

Later, when Exodus attacked the Disaster Management Bureau, and he saw a nameplate reading 'Recovery Team 2 Captain: Min Hyemi', he finally encountered one of the people he had saved.

“Oh…”

Meeting her in person filled him with a deep sense of fulfillment.

But his memory of her wish was so vivid that when he saw the fallen enemies around her, he blurted out,

"Did you kill them?"

“Huh?”

Realizing his mistake, he quickly corrected himself.

Regardless, seeing Min Hyemi seemingly well and alive reassured him.

And he thought to himself—

That enduring 30,000 years had been worth it.

That if it meant saving others, he would endure another 30,000 years of torment.

To him, Min Hyemi represented something profound.

She was proof that his suffering had meaning.