Chapter 01

 The Child Entrusted to Them

The atmosphere in the house was unusually bustling that day.

Among the black sedans parked in the courtyard was the general’s car, bearing the golden eagle—the symbol of the Air Force—and four stars. It seemed that Father, who had returned home for the first time in a while, had brought a guest with him.

“Oh my, young master. You’re home.”

Madam Jang, the longest-serving employee in the household, had been directing the servants as they prepared various dishes in the enormous indoor garden. The moment she saw Seung-hyuk returning from training, she greeted him warmly.

As Seung-hyuk merely gave her a slight nod and was about to head straight into the house, Madam Jang called out to him from behind.

“Oh, and the General brought a young lady with him today. Go see her in the drawing room, young master.”

Before going to his room, Seung-hyuk entered the drawing room, where his father greeted him.

“Seung-hyuk, you’re home. Come and say hello. This is Rian. Starting today, she’ll be staying here with us. She’s nineteen years old, and she says she’ll be entering the ballet department at Korea University next year. Since she’ll be attending the same university as you, I’d appreciate it if you looked after her.”

His father’s explanation and request ended like a brief pre-flight briefing.

The girl with a clear, innocent face stood beside the middle-aged man in an Air Force dress uniform, holding his hand tightly. Her expression was tense.

Perhaps because of her nervousness, her face was pale, yet what stood out was how she maintained a perfectly straight posture despite it.

“Hello. I’m On Rian.”

After politely greeting him, Rian bowed deeply.

Seung-hyuk tilted his head slightly and returned her greeting.

“I’m Lee Seung-hyuk.”

He had an impressive voice and an equally impressive face.

Rian wasn’t particularly short for her age, but the man standing before her was so tall that she had to tilt her head quite far upward to look at him.

Her eyes met his sharp gaze beneath his dark eyebrows, and Rian instinctively flinched.

She had heard that he was a university student four years older than her, but there was absolutely nothing youthful or fresh about him—the sort of atmosphere one would expect from an ordinary student.

“General, the meal is ready.”

Madam Jang’s voice came through along with a polite knock on the door.

Only then did Rian realize that she had been staring at Seung-hyuk. She hurriedly lowered her head.

Rian’s father, Colonel On Hee-do, was undoubtedly one of Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk’s most cherished juniors and comrades.

The father who had risen to become the nation’s second-most powerful figure had come from a long-standing family of Air Force officers and had eventually reached the rank of general.

But he had not been handed everything on a silver platter.

He had fought fiercely on countless battlefields, both large and small, survived, and accomplished much with his own hands.

Although he had now retired from his position as a pilot, a man who had spent his life crossing the boundary between life and death inevitably had countless comrades who had survived—and countless others who had not.

Among them, Colonel On Hee-do, Rian’s father, was undoubtedly one of the juniors and comrades Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk held especially dear.

“I don’t know how I can face you or Rian.”

The father who had spent his entire life as a soldier was not accustomed to expressing his emotions.

Yet there was a rare trace of sorrow in his eyes.

“It’s all right, General. It wasn’t something that happened because of personal feelings. More importantly, wasn’t it for the sake of our country? I also understand that there was nothing you could have done in that situation.”

Come to think of it, it had been a long time since Seung-hyuk had seen his father dressed in his formal uniform.

Apparently, this was his father’s own way of seeing off an old friend who would soon be heading back into the battlefield to fight fiercely.

“Even so, the situation on the Arasia Continent is becoming troubling again.”

The words Arasia Continent caught Seung-hyuk’s interest even though he had only been listening to the conversation intermittently.

At the same time, the knife in Rian’s hand tightened around a piece of meat she wasn’t even eating.

Once considered a blessed land because of its abundant resources and prosperous nations, the Arasia Continent had now become the most dangerous place in the world.

Wars between nations, fueled by tangled and complicated interests, had continued for more than a century.

As sea levels rose rapidly because of the climate crisis, many countries had disappeared from the face of the earth.

The land that had once been divided into two nations had eventually been unified and given the name Huhan.

But surviving the rising waters thanks to the miraculous geological changes, as Huhan had, did not mean a country could afford to relax.

Every nation struggled with the redrawing of territories and the process of reintegrating various ethnic groups. In extreme cases, as on the Arasia Continent, these changes had resulted in tremendous bloodshed.

The relatively peaceful nations like Huhan continued sending military support to the countries of the Arasia Continent because of the power and resources still possessed by several nations there.

But the stability Huhan had barely managed to regain was fragile. If the flow of resources were to stop, Huhan itself would once again be placed in danger.

Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk and the other people in positions of power knew this all too well.

That was why strengthening Huhan’s position with Nars, its largest ally, was of vital importance.

In the end, after a fierce series of cabinet meetings, the decision had been made to deploy Huhan’s forces to Nars, one of the strongest nations on the Arasia Continent.

“Even so, the might of our Huhan Air Force is now at a world-class level, so I’m sure everything will be fine. I’ll complete the mission and return within three years, without fail.”

Colonel On Hee-do answered calmly, seemingly aware of the anxiety and worry his daughter was feeling.

His voice carried such confidence that it truly sounded as though he would return within three years.

Only then did Rian lower the knife she had been gripping tightly and take a sip of water.

“Come to think of it, I heard that Lieutenant Lee Seung-hyuk will already be entering his final year in the Air Force Officer Department next year.”

Colonel On Hee-do spoke to Seung-hyuk as though deliberately trying to change the subject, despite already knowing the answer.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Seung-hyuk, who had been quietly eating, raised his head and answered in a calm voice.

Korea University was the most prestigious university in Huhan, offering an educational system that extended from kindergarten all the way through university.

There were so many departments that it was difficult to find a field of study the university did not offer, but the crown jewel of Korea University was its Officer Department, which trained military officers.

As global affairs became increasingly unstable following the climate crisis, strengthening national defense had become a top priority for countries around the world.

The role of soldiers had become extremely important, and they received various privileges as a result. Naturally, protecting the nation became one of the most coveted professions.

In particular, because securing air superiority first had become a decisive factor in victory, fighter pilots were considered the most prestigious profession in Huhan’s Air Force, enjoying an unparalleled reputation and待遇.

And this was one of the factors that had enabled Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk to rise to become the nation’s second-most powerful figure.

“I’ve heard quite a lot about Lieutenant Lee Seung-hyuk’s reputation. Apparently, all of his training scores are among the very best. To be commissioned as an officer at such a young age… General, you must be very proud.”

Colonel On Hee-do sincerely praised the young officer.

The Air Force Officer Department operated as a six-year program, and its admission requirements were extraordinarily strict. Simply getting through the entrance examinations was an immense challenge.

The joy of finally being admitted after passing numerous tests lasted only briefly. From their very first day, cadets had to endure relentless and grueling training.

More than half of the students eventually dropped out.

Fighter pilots, in particular, were held to even higher standards than ordinary cadets because they had to make decisions on their own while in the sky.

Being able to respond swiftly to all kinds of situations based on sound judgment was not something that could be achieved through education alone.

Lee Seung-hyuk was a brilliant strategist and a naturally gifted fighter pilot.

Things that were difficult for everyone else came effortlessly to Seung-hyuk.

Completing the six-year curriculum and additional flight training in an incredibly short period of time, as well as becoming the youngest commissioned officer and rapidly rising through the ranks, were all so easy for him that they felt almost boring.

Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk and his wife, Kang Soo-jin, could not hide their pride as they looked at their son.

Although they came from a deeply rooted family of Air Force officers, they could not find a single person among all their ancestors who possessed talent comparable to Lee Seung-hyuk’s.

Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk himself had once been an eagle who ruled the skies in his youth, but reaching his position had required fierce effort and countless setbacks.

Seung-hyuk, however, possessed a physique that seemed perfectly suited for the task and was exceptionally talented at handling fighter jets.

“I hope the day comes when we can fly together. Come to think of it, I have a feeling that day may not be very far away.”

Colonel On Hee-do chuckled as he looked at Seung-hyuk.

Even after seeing him again, he was such an impressive and admirable junior.

Seung-hyuk offered Colonel On Hee-do a polite smile in return.

He was an exceptionally handsome young man who looked as though he had stepped straight out of a carefully painted masterpiece.

When his face was expressionless, his features appeared fierce, but when he smiled, he became even more captivating.

Seung-hyuk possessed an effortless magnetism that drew people toward him without him even trying.

Colonel On Hee-do was no exception.

“I’d appreciate it if you could look after our Rian. She’s not particularly outgoing or sociable, so I’m worried about whether she’ll be able to adjust well in an unfamiliar place.”

At the lavish dinner table, filled with all kinds of delicacies, Rian had eaten nothing but vegetables and water.

So when she suddenly became the subject of conversation, she jumped in surprise and looked at her father, who was gazing at her with concern.

Perhaps disliking being treated like a child, Rian shook her head and held tightly onto her father’s hand while quietly mouthing something to him.

Seeing this, Seung-hyuk put on another polite smile.

“Please don’t worry too much. I’ll make sure to look after her.”

Hearing Seung-hyuk’s answer, Colonel On Hee-do finally seemed somewhat reassured and began talking with Lieutenant General Lee Jung-hyuk about various other matters.

Once everyone’s attention shifted away from her, Rian cautiously turned her head and looked across the table at Seung-hyuk.

Seung-hyuk was also holding his glass of water while staring directly at Rian.

Contrary to the reassuring words he had just given her father, there was an almost excessive lack of emotion in his eyes when they met hers.

There’s something dangerous about this man.

Even without consciously realizing it, Rian was instinctively warning herself.