#1

“Can you see it gliding between the towering 27-story apartment buildings?”

The reporter, unable to contain his excitement, shouted into the microphone. The cameraman hastily adjusted the angle upward.

Thick black smoke billowed uncontrollably from the top floor of the apartment building. The dense fumes spread in all directions, causing people to cough, yet no one could bring themselves to leave. The gathered crowd simultaneously lifted their heads, all eyes fixed on a single point.

Reflected in their unblinking eyes was something fluttering downward. A long, black feather.

A girl standing below, as if mesmerized, reached out for it. Just as her fingers were about to close around the feather, her father scooped her up and quickly carried her away.

The fire had yet to be fully extinguished. The apartment was still engulfed in intense flames and toxic fumes strong enough to melt the very structure, making rescue efforts difficult for the firefighters.

At that moment, it swooped down, spreading black wings as it glided over the heads of the firefighters. Her dark feathers partially veiled her eyes, and her jet-black hair streamed behind her like wings of its own as she shot through the smoke like a bullet. A faint trail marked the path she carved through the air.

“The moment you’re witnessing right now—a mysterious being has entered the apartment! Our firefighters are currently ascending in a ladder truck, but we have no idea what kind of confrontation might unfold. The most important thing is the safety of the residents still trapped inside!”

Firefighters wielded large-diameter hoses, blasting high-pressure jets of water, but the flames spread too quickly. Even more dangerous was the toxic gas. Everyone hoped the people inside would make it out safely, yet deep down, they knew the chances were slim.

And then—

A woman, her body wrapped in black wings, spiraled out of the thick smoke. As she unfurled her wings midair, pushing back the dark fumes, she radiated an almost divine presence—like the descent of an angel. The onlookers, mesmerized, gasped in awe.

Cradled in her arms was a child.

She gently handed the child over to a firefighter before diving back into the burning building. She repeated this four times. After rescuing every last survivor, she vanished without a word, melting into the dark storm clouds above.

Raindrops began to fall—one, then another. Within moments, a heavy downpour washed over the scene, mingling with the smoke and erasing all traces of her presence.

Her sudden appearance sent shockwaves not only through South Korea but across the entire world.

[Alien, demon, or a messenger of salvation? The mysterious black wings that appeared in the heart of Seoul!]

[Night Wing caught on camera! I was there to witness the shocking moment!]

[Exclusive! Is Night Wing just an ordinary university student from XX University?]

[The truth revealed—Night Wing is actually a man? We spoke with someone claiming to be an acquaintance!]

Rumors about Night Wing spread like wildfire. Some even formed organizations, utilizing cutting-edge technology and expert analysis to track her down. Yet, for some reason, the figure who once soared over Seoul had completely vanished without a trace.

Speculation ran rampant—some claimed she was a North Korean spy, while others spun conspiracy theories that she was a top-secret combat machine, first tested in Korea by the U.S. military.

One thing was certain—no one had uncovered Night Wing’s true identity.

* * *

“Do you hear that vibrating sound?”

My phone, facedown on the table, kept buzzing relentlessly. I was doing everything in my power to ignore it, pretending I didn’t notice—but if I could hear it, there was no way the others couldn’t.

“Dabi, I think it’s yours.”

Seon-ah tapped the table lightly with her index finger.

Damn it.

I swallowed the sigh rising in my throat and forced a smile. With everyone staring at me, I had no choice but to check the caller ID.

Reluctantly, I flipped my phone over.

[Father]

The moment I saw those three letters, my breath caught in my throat. It felt like the green juice I had that morning was wringing my insides like a soaked rag. But I was used to pretending nothing was wrong, even as a sharp pain coiled in my stomach.

Keeping my expression indifferent, I pressed the decline button. I could only hope my friends hadn’t noticed the slight tremor in my fingertips.

“You’re not gonna answer?”

“It’s just a survey.”

“Ah.”

With a short nod, Seon-ah dropped the subject and went back to chatting about her trip to Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, my phone vibrated once more—just a single buzz before the call ended.

[Father

What the hell is wrong with you? Do you think you can get anywhere in life with that rotten attitude? Get home immediately before I freeze your card.]

Just reading the text, I could already hear my father’s voice—his usual condescending tone, laced with disdain. My head spun.

The casual hum of conversation, the soft melody of some nameless pop song, the chime of the café door opening—everything around me was wrapped in a blanket of normalcy. Yet, I alone felt like I was drowning in nausea, struggling to keep myself together.

Even just sitting there, pretending to listen, felt unbearable.

“Can you believe it? My boyfriend bought it for me. Isn’t it pretty?”

A bright, excited voice brushed past my ear. My gaze instinctively followed, landing on Seon-ah’s hand.

Her long, delicate fingers—like porcelain—were adorned with a striking red ring, its deep hue standing out against her pale skin. The glow of the gemstone was so vivid that it almost reflected in my strained, forced smile.

I couldn’t look away.

“Wow. That looks like something from a department store. How did you even find this at a night market?”

“The price was just as high as a department store’s. Probably the most expensive thing at the market that night.”

Seon-ah laughed, holding out her left hand for the others to admire.

“But… it’s a little loose, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’m planning to have the gemstone removed and set into a different ring. Oh, right! My boyfriend also bought some snacks for you guys to share…”

The conversation shifted from the ring to food. One by one, unfamiliar treats began piling up on the table, yet my gaze remained fixed on a single point.

The chatter showed no signs of stopping. Everyone’s drinks were nearly empty, but my Americano had barely diminished, sitting untouched like an offering at a ritual.

“I’m gonna run to the restroom.”

“I’ll go with you.”

As if rehearsed, the others got up in unison and left together. Only I remained seated, the sole keeper of our table.

And then—

Thud.

A faint sound, barely noticeable. So quiet that only I, still sitting there, caught it.

Seon-ah’s red ring had fallen onto the table.

The luminous surface of the ring caught the light, gleaming for a brief moment before tumbling off the table. Roll, roll. It came to a stop right by my foot.

Seon-ah had already disappeared into the restroom, completely unaware that she had dropped it.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

My pulse pounded relentlessly, reverberating through my temples. Every fiber of my attention was drawn to the small object resting beside my right foot. I swallowed dryly.

I knew I should pick it up and return it to Seon-ah. That was the obvious, logical thing to do. But right now, logic was drowning under something thicker, something darker—an impulse that clung to me like tar.

It was a familiar sensation. I knew I would regret it. And yet, I also knew I wouldn’t stop.

My fingers twitched.

Keeping my back straight, I stole a glance toward the restroom. The door remained still. She had just gone in—there was still time.

This was my only chance.

I hurriedly bent down and picked up the ring. Without hesitation, I reached for my bag resting on the empty chair beside me and pulled it onto my lap. The zipper slid open in one swift motion. My hand dove into the innermost pocket—

Sluuurp.

A loud sipping sound from the next table made me turn my head instinctively.

“……!”

A man with dyed yellow hair was staring straight at me, chin propped up on one hand.

Our eyes met.

He didn’t look away.

His sharp, snake-like gaze glinted over the top of his sunglasses, which rested low on the bridge of his nose.

I didn’t care why he was wearing sunglasses indoors. That wasn’t the problem.

He took a sip from his now-empty cup, sucking on the straw until it made a hollow noise, then carelessly discarded it, popping the remaining ice cubes into his mouth. One cheek bulged slightly as he chewed. Crunch. Crunch.

Even as he ground the ice between his teeth, his eyes never left me.

I had definitely been caught.