Chapter 2 : Sister, cola can, no. 203

“Excuse me, are you alright?”

Someone tapped Seo-hyun on the shoulder. He snapped out of his daze.
The faction in his mind that craved cola was on the verge of winning.

It might seem like a trivial delusion, but even meaningless thoughts couldn’t be ignored in a god’s body. If they were, time felt like it stopped forever. This was a habit formed from that experience.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone who isn’t driven mad by my presence.’

Seo-hyun, starting to feel more human, lifted his head to look at the person who addressed him.

Two eyes, one nose, one mouth, two ears.
One head. Four limbs.
Temperament: Below zero. Mentality: Top class. Suitability: Sacrifice. Soul….: Gi:gi:gi:gi:gik.

“…Ugh.”

…Closing off his dizzying mind a little, he looked at her again.

A high school girl with bobbed hair that reached her shoulders.
Her concerned brown eyes reminded him of someone.
She wore a practical uniform, a mix of black and white, with a yellow armband.

Now, he *knew* her. She also spoke to him, meaning she *knew* him. So…

Seo-hyun, with an unreadable expression, suddenly hugged her.

“Kyaak?! W-What the?!”
“I missed you, Hyun-a.”
“Who is that?!”

She was dumbfounded, suddenly hugged by a stranger who called her by an unfamiliar name.

*

After a brief struggle, she managed to pry Seo-hyun off. Su-rim, regretting her decision to do her morning patrol on a Sunday, wiped the sweat off her brow and spoke.

“Whew… Haa…. Such a small kid, but so strong….”
“Hyun-a.”
“I’m not Hyun-a! I’m Choi Su-rim!”
“Hyun-a, right?”
“So, who is Hyun-a! Are you talking about the class president of Class 4?”

A glint appeared in Seo-hyun’s eyes. He pulled out a small crystal, sparkling like his own eyes, and showed it to Su-rim.

“Huh? What is…?”

Su-rim’s gaze grew hazy as she stared at the crystal, then looked back at Seo-hyun with vacant eyes. Seo-hyun twirled the crystal between his fingers.

“I see. You’re really not Hyun-a. Where does that Class 4 president live?”
“Um…, I think it’s the front building, 203…”
“Thank you.”

Seo-hyun smiled. Su-rim nodded blankly and headed towards the vending machine. She pulled a 1,000 won bill from her wallet and inserted it into the machine.

Watching intently, Seo-hyun spoke.

“You can go now.”
“Okay…. Thank you….”

Su-rim left to continue her patrol. She wouldn’t remember what just happened. Ever.

*

‘This also feels like I’m deviating from ‘humanity’,’ Seo-hyun thought, pressing the button on the vending machine that lit up green.

His symbol and authority, descended from his true form’s lineage: a beautiful, growing crystal. It could mesmerize minds, control thoughts, and even boast formidable physical offensive capabilities.

As a great being, Seo-hyun had used this power to plunder countless minds and usurp knowledge. Of course, the suggestion he just used and the acts he committed as an Outer God were vastly different in scale. The ones he attacked were foolish, wicked, and deserved to be associated with the profane.

Regardless, the recent situation bothered him in a way it wouldn’t have before. Away from the emotions of an omniscient being, viewing Su-rim being controlled from a human perspective gave him a strange sense of unease.

‘Well, I just need to use it when it’s important, right?’

Seo-hyun retrieved the drink from the vending machine. He clutched it in one hand, discreetly hiding it under the hem of his dress, and walked towards the apartment Su-rim mentioned. This glorious moment deserved a celebratory toast, like one would share with family after a reunion.

Seo-hyun walked along the sidewalk, remembering the fanatics who served the Outer Gods toasting during important moments. Of course, those fools’ cups were filled with blood instead of cola.

Cola.

Cola…. His thoughts drifted back to cola. He looked down at the can in his hand.

Despite his attempt to hide it, the cola peeked out from under his dress, its appearance a powerful appeal to be consumed.

Seo-hyun thought: I must resist. This absolutely needs to be savored. Meeting my family comes first.

Front building, 203.
Cola.
Front building, 203.
Cola.
Ah.

“…….”

Seo-hyun stopped walking barely 10 seconds later. Saliva flooded his mouth, threatening to drown his tongue.

Why did he even try to save it?

Seo-hyun frantically shoved the cola can into his mouth.

“Blegh.”

…Of course, the refreshing, fizzy taste he imagined wasn’t there.

*

Examining the cola can as he walked, Seo-hyun finally remembered it had a tab.

He stopped and started pulling at it. But he pulled in the wrong direction, and the tab, unable to withstand his godly strength, screamed for its life.

Oblivious, Seo-hyun continued, fueled by his determination.

His single-mindedness towards his ‘return’ had been so great, it had astonished even the Outer Gods. Now, with his return accomplished, that resolve was fully concentrated on a single cola can tab.

*Click*

The tab, with unseen tears, was ripped from the can. The can’s professionally-pressed tab, designed in a factory, couldn’t fulfill its purpose against such brute force.

Even with his diminished common sense, Seo-hyun knew this wasn’t normal.

“Aaah…, Aaaaaah…!!”

He groaned, feeling like a dog chasing its tail, staring at the mangled can. One might think that if brute force was tried once, it could be tried again. However, after the ordeal, the can appeared incredibly fragile to Seo-hyun.

His hands trembling with frustration and anguish, Seo-hyun finally saw the apartment entrance.

Swallowing his metaphorical tears, he quickened his pace. Living as a human meant learning how to open cans eventually.

He vowed to ask his sister or mother how to do it properly as he stepped inside. Fortunately, the old apartment building didn’t present any further obstacles.

And finally, for the first time in three human years, Seo-hyun stood before his home.