Soul fire

Jeongju said there were many things he wanted to do and become.

He never regretted leaving the fox clan's stronghold and living in the human world, he said. To Jeongju, who grew up like a flower in the safety of the stronghold, the free world outside made a great impression on him.

Jaegyeom-ah, I thought that the stronghold was everything in this world. Without you, I would have been trapped there for the rest of my life. Meeting you gave me courage for the first time. I feel like I'm dreaming every day.

Jeongju loved this land of infinite possibilities. It was a world where he could desire as much as he wanted and make that desire a reality. 'That's what it means to be human', Jeongju said.

Jaegyeom was envious of Jeongiu, who lived like a human while enjoying his freedom, but also felt pure. So that's why. Jaegyeom often thought that his existence might be the shackles holding Jeongju's ankles. In this life like stagnant water, neither Jeongju nor Mesani should have dipped their feet in any longer.

He wanted them to leave him and live their lives to the fullest.

'Do what you want and live, don't mind me or him.'

When Jeongju expressed his desire to set up a separate residence for him in Seoul while preparing for his debut in the entertainment industry, Mesani was disappointed, but jaegyeom agreed without hesitation. This life, which could neither grow old nor die, had to be solely his. But why…

Yoon Taehee might interfere with and destroy the life Jeongju has built on his own.

"Tell me, what do I look like in your eyes? What do you want me to be?"

Yoon Taehee said. I will be the person you say I am'. So, he kindly placed the sword in Jaegyeom's hand. But Jaegyeom knew, he knew that no matter which way he wielded this, it would only be him who got hurt.

"Friend, colleague, foe... Just say the word either way."

Friend, colleague?

Jaegyeom looked at Yoon Taehee with contempt. It's disgusting to talk about being friends again now. He was no longer a scumbag or a swindler. That just wasn't enough. Yoon Taehee now was more crafty and wicked than a malicious ghost, the most evil in the world.

"You are just trying to use me."

"Then you use me too."

Unlike Yoon Taehee, he did not deny it and responded calmly.

"I meant it when I told you to be careful."

With sudden words, Yoon Taehee made a serious face.

"… What?"

"Your uncle. There are especially a lot of spirits in places like broadcasting stations and filming locations. That field is littered with exorcists. If they knew that the current famous celebrity was a gwijae, they would definitely try to make use of it somehow. If you get caught, that's it. Though it looks like he's been lucky so far."

Yoon Taehee continued in a dry tone.

"Exorcists don't miss an opportunity. They are tenacious and persistent like a rat. Perhaps, at least one person has already noticed. Like me, there is a high possibility that someone will hide his identity and stick around him."

It was something he hadn't thought of at all. Jeongju lived among many people. It was certainly a possibility. The one who threatened was pointing out the reality with a cool and objective attitude.

"There are rats everywhere, do you think there's a way to get rid of them?"

Pointing out the complacency, his voice was cold. It was as if he didn't like the fact that jaegyeom and Jeongjju had let their guard down. He didn't seem to realize it himself. Yoon Taehee called the exorcists a rat without hesitation. It was strangely foreign to use insulting similes himself.

"You talk as if you're not that kind of rat."

Jaegyeom's mocking words made Yoon Taehee pause for a moment.

It was a brief moment. As if he had always been like that, he quickly returned to his normal face. Jaegyeom asked sharply.

"... So what are you trying to say?"

He mentioned Jeongju when threatening as if he was going to do something, and now he was saying that he meant it when he told him to be careful. As though he was saying, 'it's not just me that you have to be careful of. Jaegyeom couldn't figure out what he was thinking on the inside. Every word and action felt suspicious and dangerous.

"Look at it like this, I have a pretty high rank."

Yoon Taehee tilted his head and added.

"It is a pretty decent backing."

"What do you mean?"

"So I'm saying, try using me."

Jaegyeom's face contorted.

"... What?"

Yoon Taehee smiled slyly and put his hand on his own chest.

"I said it earlier. You can use me too. I can protect you. If you're on my side, I'll be on your side too. Yesterday's enemy became today's ally, it's more common than you think."

He whispered in a low voice.

"I hope you make a wise decision, I'll look forward to it."

Threats, then appeasement.

***

The moment Lee Youngshin rushed at Mesani, he cried out for help, feeling a great threat. He was already afraid of humans, but when a tall, large man he didn't even know rushed at him, he was about to faint. In the vast yard, a bout of chasing began.

Mesani, who was running away in a panic, opened the front door and took refuge in the house. That was the decisive factor in losing the game of hide and seek. He definitely locked the door, but Lee Youngshin opened the door very easily and entered. It was the moment when the extraordinary dexterity of the chief of the Ceremonial Instruments Department shined.

The chase continued inside the house, which was blocked on all sides. Thanks to that, the inside of the house was five minutes before the opening. Lee Youngshin captured Mesani without difficulty.

"Let me go, huhuh, let me go uhhhhahhhhhgggg..."

Lee Youngshin held Mesani so tightly that he couldn't even move his fingertips. It was a very strong force. He rubbed his cheek on Mesani's head who then whimpered and cried even louder, making a strange, incomprehensible sound.

"My lord, my lord, huhuh, please send me to my lord, uhhhng..."

Just as a child cries out for 'Mom' as a habit, Mesani, who had no parents, cried while looking for his lord instead of his mother. Lee Youngshin, who was rubbing his cheek against Mesani's head, hesitated.

"Your lord..?"

The child had been looking for someone since before. He glanced around the inside of the house. After all, it was an ordinary family home. Traces of human life were buried everywhere. It seems that there was someone he lived with. When he first received the report, it was said that a man had disappeared with the child.

Lee Youngshin wondered, was he calling that man 'my lord'?

However, the title of 'my lord' was usually used for superiors. Was the divine wild ginseng child worshipping a higher power? He was doubtful if it was a mountain god. Seeing him settle and live in a family home like this, there's no way he was enshrining the mountain god. Besides, there seemed to be a human touch, how did this happen...

Lee Youngshin, who was lost in thought for a moment, opened his mouth.

"Child, don't cry."

Putting aside his doubts, Lee Youngshin decided to take control of the situation. Belatedly realizing his strong grip which he didn't mean, a little embarrassed, Lee Youngshin relaxed the arm that was holding Mesani. Then he gently wiped his tear-stained face.

"Sorry. I scared you, didn't I?"

"Uh, huuhhguuuhh..."

"If you cry like this, your lord will be heartbroken."

Lee Youngshin brought up 'his lord' very naturally. Then, with a feeling of desperation, Mesani, who had been obediently embraced, paused for a moment. At the response that came back a beat late, Lee Youngshin smiled with satisfaction. At the same time he spoke in the kindest and most harmless manner possible.

"Your lord is such a soft person who gets upset whenever you cry.

Your lord has been telling me so many stories about you, so I really wanted to meet you. I was so overjoyed that I behaved rudely.

Forgive me."

Mesani turned his puffy face.

"D- Do you know my lord?"

"Sure, of course I know."

A line of doubt bloomed on Mesani's face.

"So I came to this house. As you know, this house is not open to anyone. Your lord gave me a hand. Besides, I know who you are.

That's why I called you 'child' from the first time I saw you. How can I, a mere human, know all this? It's because your lord told me."

Come to think of it, that was true! Mesan, swallowing the rest of his tears, widened his eyes.

"R- Really?"

"Yes. The reason I came here was because your lord asked me to."

"My lord asked for a favor?"

Lee Youngshin nodded and raised Mesan whom he was holding.

"The lord asked me to bring you."

"Me? My lord did? W- Where is he?"

"Ah. That is..."

Oops. He hadn't even thought about that.

For a moment, Lee Youngshin, speechless, averted his eyes.

"Uh, so..."

"... Yes?"

"S..S. Se- Seoul."

"... Seoul?"

Mesani's expression changed completely. It was as if he was doubting if that made sense.