The search began in secret, each brother going about it in his own way.
Dowa, the eldest, was the first to settle in.
He rented an old hanok house near the alley where Derek lived and disguised himself as a “distant older relative.” The problem was Dowa’s manner of speaking.
“Miss, have you been well today?” he said when he greeted an elderly neighbor.
The old woman blinked and asked, “Young man, where are you from? Are you filming a historical drama?”
Dosu, the second brother, bought an empty storefront and hung a sign for an herbal clinic.
With the cleansing power in his fingertips, he cured most ordinary illnesses. The problem was his prescriptions. One by one, the neighborhood men who received instructions like, “Drink nothing but water for three days and meditate,” fled as if their lives depended on it.
Doam, the third brother, remained in the Palace.
Instead, every night he sent scouting shadows through the barrier into the human world, keeping watch over So’s location and the gang’s movements.
Of the five brothers, he was the quietest—and the one who moved most broadly.
Dopung, the fourth brother, was—as expected—the first to cause trouble.
Just one day after Dowa told him, “Live quietly so the humans don’t notice you,” he was dancing with fans in the middle of the market and collecting coins.
“What is that? How can a person jump that high?” the onlookers murmured, and Dopung, thrilled, jumped even higher. In the end, Dowa came running, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him away.
Domok, the fifth brother, moved the most quietly, but also the most persistently.
Disguised as a student So’s age, he enrolled in the same village school.
He had only one goal—to stay by So’s side.
That afternoon, in the village school’s courtyard, Domok came face-to-face with Derek properly for the first time. So had brought Derek along and was proudly introducing him.
“This is my big brother Derek! He helped me!”
Domok’s eyes swept over Derek from head to toe.
The worn-out clothes. The gait that clearly suggested bad hands. And the way he looked at So.
“…He helped you?” Domok’s voice sank low.
A chill ran down Derek’s spine.
He had no idea why this kid his age had such a heavy gaze, but he felt it instinctively—this guy was no ordinary kid.
“Uh… well, it was nothing.” Derek backed away with an awkward smile.
Only So, completely unaware of what was going on, looked back and forth between them. “What’s wrong with both of you? Say hello!”
Instead of answering, Domok held out his hand.
It was a handshake.
But the moment their hands met, Derek felt a faint, chilling energy flow from Domok’s fingertips—as if it were a warning that said, Don’t cross the line.