The Hun Family went back to North Korea boarding Yamato with them, after some days, they arrived at the borders then En boon Hun made Yamato small enough that the guards at the borders were not able to notice him. As they got in, Yamato was returned back to his original size and was thanked and rewarded with some money for his stay by Park as they both part ways.
Yamato found a small apartment to rent, nothing too flashy, just enough to rest his head for the night. As he laid back on the thin mattress, he muttered with a smirk,
"Finally… North Korea. A place people can't enter or leave. That's cool. Tomorrow, I'll start exploring."
The morning came. Yamato dressed carefully, making sure he looked sharp yet ordinary enough not to attract suspicion. With a stretch, he stepped outside into the quiet neighborhood streets.
Not long after, a small child, no older than five, spotted him. She tilted her head curiously, then smiled.
"Mama! There's a man!"
A woman soon appeared from the doorway of a nearby house, wiping her hands on an apron. Her eyes met Yamato's, and for a moment she studied him. Then she smiled warmly.
"So you're new here. Never seen you around before, kid… Welcome to the neighborhood."
Yamato returned the smile, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you, ma'am."
She waved him over. "Come inside. You must be tired. At least share some coffee with us."
Yamato hesitated for a second... strangers in enemy territory?.... but decided blending in was more important.
He nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
Inside, the house was simple yet homely. The woman poured him a cup of steaming coffee while the little girl clung shyly to her mother's dress.
After a few moments, her eyes narrowed slightly as she asked,
"You're not from this country, are you?"
Yamato froze for a split second. He could lie, but something about her direct gaze told him it wouldn't work. With no other choice, he chuckled softly.
"Yeah… you caught me. I'm not from here. I came from Tokyo. My name is Yamato… Yamato Ishida."
The woman's lips curved into a kind smile. "Cool name. Well, I'm Sen Bo Ra, and this little princess is Nam Hun Ra."
Yamato smiled, leaning down to wave at the girl. "Pleasure to meet you both."
Then, as casually as possible, he asked, "And your husband? If you don't mind me asking."
Sen Bo Ra's face softened. "Oh, he's at work right now. He's part of the Adams team of the Koruzan."
The words hit Yamato like a knife to the gut. His chest tightened, and his coffee nearly slipped from his hand. He forced a calm expression, but inside, alarm bells rang.
Koruzan… that's a red flag. If her husband finds out who I really am…
He took a slow sip, hiding the unease behind a smile.
He finished his coffee, bowed politely, and stood. "Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. I'll be leaving now."
Sen Bo Ra waved him off with a warm smile. "Sure... see you around."
Yamato stepped back into the street tobegin his walk of exploration. He moved carefully, head down, cap pulled low whenever a Koruzan patrol in uniform passed, this place was thick with eyes that could make trouble in an instant. He spent the whole day blending into the crowd: morning light, noon heat, evening shadow, and only then did he decide to head home.
That was when he saw them, two thugs surrounding Sen Bo Ra near her doorway, their mouths cruel and hands greedy.
One barked, "Pay us the money you owe."
The other shoved his hand into her blouse from beneath, leering, "Unless you want us to have some fun... then we'll call it even."
Anger flared in Yamato before thought could catch up.
He stepped forward and grabbed the nearer thug's wrist. "Let her go."
The thug laughed, staring down at the smaller newcomer. "Who's this brat?"
Yamato's eyes flashed blue.
He squeezed the thug's wrist until the man hissed. "I won't say it twice."
The hand slipped from Sen Bo Ra's shirt as the thug winced and staggered back.
"She owes us a million," he spat, trying to bluff his way out.
Sen Bo Ra stared at Yamato in shock, her voice a whisper: "I know those eyes…"
Yamato pulled out his phone. "Send me your account details."
The thug, shaking, fumbled for a crumpled slip and jabbed it at him.
Yamato tapped the screen; the transfer went through almost instantly. "If I see you within ten kilometers of her or her family, I'll kill you."
He said it calmly, but the promise in his blue gaze cut deeper than any shout.
The thugs took a step back, then another and finally bolted into the night, their bravado gone.
Sen Bo Ra sank down on the doorstep, trembling, and looked at Yamato with a mix of fear and gratitude. He shrugged as if it had been nothing and walked away, the city lights swallowing his silhouette.
She watched him go, whispering into the cooling air, "Thank you… thank you so much."
After Sen Bo Ra thanked him, she called out as Yamato turned to leave. Her voice was soft but heavy with guilt.
"I'm sorry I caused you another problem. How can I repay you?"
Yamato didn't even pause. "It's fine. Go take some rest, you must be tired."
"But… it was one million dollars," she pressed, her brows furrowing.
Yamato smiled, eyes closing briefly in that calm way of his. "I have more than that."
She bowed low as he walked away, her heart tightening. Those eyes… no doubt about it.
Back in his apartment, Yamato thought over his next steps, where he should explore tomorrow, what his path forward would be in this closed-off country. When he finally decided, he lay down and drifted into sleep.
The next morning, Yamato stepped outside and found Sen Bo Ra hanging clothes in the morning sun. He waved casually as he walked by. "Good morning, ma'am."
She smiled warmly. "Good morning."
Just then, little Nam Hun Ra ran out, her tiny hand reaching up toward him. "Play with me!" she chirped, grinning from ear to ear.
Yamato had things to do, important things, but he couldn't resist her innocence.
With a sigh and a smile, he followed her inside and began to play, laughing quietly at her boundless energy.
But the moment was cut short. Sen Bo Ra rushed into the room, her face pale. "Hide! Behind the fridge, quickly!"
Yamato didn't hesitate.... he slipped behind the fridge, holding his breath.
The door creaked open. A heavy voice filled the air.
It was the husband.
Nam Hun Ra ran to him instantly.
"Daddy! A man came to play with me today!" she said innocently.
The husband froze. "Which man was that?"
Sen Bo Ra's heart pounded. She forced a calm smile and answered quickly, "Our new neighbor. But he's not around now."
The husband's sharp gaze lingered on her for several seconds. Then, with a grunt, he said, "I forgot something. I'll get it and head back to work."
He turned and left, the air still tense even after the door closed.
Behind the fridge, Yamato let out the breath he'd been holding, realizing how close he had just come to being exposed.
Sen Bo Ra pressed a hand to her chest, whispering, That was too close…
And Yamato thought to himself, This house… might be more dangerous than I thought.
Yamato hurriedly excused himself from the house, saying goodbye, but Sen Bo Ra's voice stopped him.
"Wait," she called softly. He turned back, and she held out a folded piece of cloth.. a headband. She stepped closer, her hands gentle as she tied it around his head, arranging his hair so it covered one of his eyes.
"When I played sports in high school," she said with a soft laugh, "I used to wear this as a lucky charm. I know it'll work for you too." She smiled with her eyes closed, her warmth radiating like sunlight.
Yamato touched the headband, his heart tightening. Tears welled up, slipping down as he whispered, "Thank you so much… even my mum never cared if I was there."
His voice broke for a moment, but he forced a smile, waving happily as he walked off.
He spent the day touring the streets, blending into the crowd, his blue eyes scanning the cold city. For the first time in a while, he felt… lighter.
Before returning home, he stopped at a market, buying groceries... vegetables, rice, some fruit, a simple gesture, but one he thought would make Sen Bo Ra and little Nam Hun Ra smile.
But as he turned the corner that evening, his world shattered.
The house was engulfed in flames.
"No…" Yamato dropped the groceries and sprinted forward, the heat licking at his skin. "Sen Bo Ra! Nam Hun Ra!"
He forced his way through the burning doorway, choking on smoke, eyes wild with desperation. The living room came into view, and what he saw froze him in place.
Their bodies. Burnt.
Lifeless.
His knees buckled, and he fell beside them, clutching the scorched floor. A raw cry tore from his throat, the sound of a boy, not a warrior, not a bounty hunter, but a child who had lost another family.
He remembered her smile. The way she had tied the headband. The little girl's hand reaching up to him.
Tears streamed down, mixing with the blood that dripped from where his fingernails dug into his palms.
Then, a voice. Cold. Mocking.
"Hey, bounty hunter," it drawled from behind him. "See what you've made me do."
Yamato turned slowly, his face streaked with tears and blood, his blue eyes flickering with both grief and fury.
The shadow of a man stood there amidst the flames.
And for the first time, Yamato's sorrow began to harden into something else.
Vengeance.