The Night Of The Untraced

Muheun casually said “Gwangsik” again, without hesitation. Seungjoo furrowed his brow at this, but before he could ask what he meant by “people like Gwangsik,” Muheun quickly added as if talking to himself.“Especially someone like him, who can go off in any direction…”Was it just his mood, or did it feel strangely familiar? Now that he thought about it, Gwangsik had said he didn’t dislike Kim Muheun. But on the other hand, Muheun didn’t seem to hold any ill feelings toward Gwangsik either. Watching them, Seungjoo couldn’t help but blurt out a question.“Hyung, what’s your relationship with him?”“…Hm?”As soon as the words left his mouth, Seungjoo realized his mistake. It felt like he was interrogating someone who had cheated. He instinctively sat up straight and shook his head.“No, it’s just… when I listen to what he says, all he talks about is suspecting Hyung.”Muheun had even said that Gwangsik was the one who broke the Gwimae seal, or called him a puppet. He had badmouthed him as much as possible, so the fact that he wasn’t harboring any resentment was strange.“But you and Hyung don’t seem to have a bad relationship, so I was wondering what kind of relationship you two have.”He was even trying to cause trouble between them. Seungjoo quickly swallowed that last part. He was practically trying to stir things up between Muheun and him. Though it wasn’t exactly stirring things up, it was talking about the truth, but he couldn’t ignore the possibility that his own petty feelings might be mixed in.“Well…”Muheun paused for a moment, as if choosing his words, and then turned his gaze away. After a brief silence, he shrugged his shoulders as though there was no other choice.“You have to forgive him, he’s just a kid.”“….”Kid. Seungjoo flinched instinctively and lowered his gaze awkwardly.In order to register with the Exorcist Association, one had to become an adult and have their abilities recognized. This was sometimes done to weed out people born into exorcist families who lacked talent. Occasionally, some people were registered at birth, but even then, their official activities would only begin when they turned twenty.So, in the end, this meant that Gwangsik was an adult. He was probably around the same age as Seungjoo, who had just turned twenty. To someone like Muheun, who was ten years older, Gwangsik might seem like a child, but for Seungjoo, being called a kid felt strangely unsettling.“So, what did he ask you to do?”“…He wants me to convince you to help him bring down the association.”Seungjoo suppressed his complicated feelings and tried to speak in a calm tone. He didn’t ask exactly what kind of help Gwangsik needed. Muheun tilted his head slightly, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.“Are you going to convince Hyung?”“No.”The answer was firm. The smile that had lingered on Muheun’s lips grew slightly wider. Seungjoo said this with an expressionless face and in a dry tone.“Hyung will handle it on his own.”He wasn’t a psychic or a member of the association. Maybe in the future, if he inherited the family business, things might be different (though Seungjoo had no intention of doing so). For now, he had no authority in any aspect. So, he planned to just relay Gwangsik’s words and leave the decision to Muheun.“And besides, if I asked you to help, you wouldn’t.”“Ah… you think so?”Muheun gave a thin smile and reached out over Seungjoo’s head. Seungjoo reflexively looked up at his hand, and Muheun lightly tapped his forehead with his index finger, as if to tell him to stay still. Then, Muheun removed a thread from his hair before pulling his hand away.“If you asked for help, of course I’d help. It’s you, Seungjoo.”The way Muheun said it was oddly ambiguous. Was it because it was Seungjoo, or because it was ‘Seungjoo’? Either way, it seemed like an unnecessary assumption.“You knew I wouldn’t, didn’t you?”Seungjoo had said it half-jokingly, but Muheun didn’t laugh. Instead, he responded in a tone that seemed to say it was a matter of course.“Yeah, if you ever ask for something, there must be a reason behind it.”“….”It was a level of trust Seungjoo felt for Muheun. If Muheun said so, then it must be true. It was the kind of trust you just felt. But now, receiving it himself, it made Seungjoo feel strangely uncomfortable.“…So what are you going to do about it?”Normally, he wouldn’t have asked, but Seungjoo couldn’t resist the awkward feeling and asked the question.He had expected an answer about how Muheun wasn’t going to care, but Muheun didn’t answer immediately. After a long pause, Muheun’s lips slowly parted.“Seungjoo.”Muheun’s voice was low as he smiled sweetly. It was a picture-perfect smile, but that made it even more unsettling. It reminded him of a con artist… or perhaps a cult leader.With a face that could charm even the coldest of people, he spoke in a soft, friendly tone.“Hyung is going to become the association’s president.”This, too, sounded like madness.***It was the much-anticipated Thursday, the day of the Korea University Festival. The large-scale festival, which even nearby residents attended, was scheduled to run for two days, from Thursday to Friday. Though the festival lasted two days, Friday was the main event, with stages prepared for different artists every evening.On Thursday, there were relatively fewer people, but the atmosphere was just as lively. The booths opened as soon as it hit six, so many of Seungjoo’s classmates were already making plans for drinks.Among them, Seungjoo turned down every offer with a simple sentence.“I have plans today.”“Wow, Seungjoo, seriously!”As soon as the firm reply left his mouth, Jinwoo, who was sitting next to him, burst out in dissatisfaction. He was upset that Seungjoo was ditching him, though they hadn’t actually made plans. Still, he seemed to feel hurt. This time, Seungjoo understood his feelings and, instead of responding indifferently like usual, he genuinely comforted him.“You have plenty of other friends.”That kind of comforting didn’t really work. Of course, Jinwoo clung to Seungjoo, saying no other friend was like him. The smell of cigarettes still lingered around him, so Seungjoo nonchalantly pushed him away.“We’ll drink tomorrow.”“…Can you tomorrow?”“Probably?”“Alright, so we’ve got plans?”The vague answer was enough to satisfy Jinwoo. As Seungjoo had said, Jinwoo had many other friends, so it wasn’t a big deal if Seungjoo left him alone for a day.As soon as Jinwoo became excited and ran off, someone sitting in front of Seungjoo spoke up.“Seungjoo, what plans do you have? That older sister?”“…Who?”Seungjoo furrowed his brow at the sudden question. Seohyun spoke teasingly.“Why, that pretty older sister who came to school.”“Ah… Muyeon noona?”Seungjoo realized she was referring to Muyeon. It was surprising how she remembered someone who had only come once. Seohyun laughed, saying even her name was pretty.Seungjoo shook his head with an indifferent expression.“I’m not meeting that noona.”“…Really?”“Yeah, she’s busy.”Seungjoo added this reflexively, not wanting anyone to think he had any close ties to her. To make sure it was clear that they weren’t often meeting, Seungjoo opened his major textbooks and spoke in a gruff voice.“I just have plans with an older brother I know.”‘That Hyung is going to become the president of the association.’This morning, Seungjoo had been shocked by the words of that “just an older brother.” Was he sleep-deprived? Was the full moon still affecting him? Was it some kind of advanced prank he didn’t understand, or maybe a joke of some kind?Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and Seungjoo asked one simple question to sum up all his feelings.“Is Hyung crazy?”It was a rather cheeky question, but Muheun laughed without showing any signs of offense. He even smiled shyly as if finding Seungjoo’s question cute.“Do I look that way?”Though he seemed perfectly normal, that was precisely what made it feel so crazy. Sometimes, Seungjoo could feel a kind of madness from Muheun, similar to what he had noticed in Muryeong. It was like a racehorse with blinders—once they had a goal, they didn’t look back.“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying it’s going to happen right away.”That was obvious. The president of the association was still alive, so how could Muheun possibly become president right now?The association wasn’t like an elementary school; becoming president wasn’t a simple matter. First, one had to be nominated according to various criteria, and then they needed to gain the majority vote from the executive members.Nothing about it was simple, but the most confusing part was this.“Hyung doesn’t like things like that.”Seungjoo had heard from his older sister, Seunghee, that Muheun would look displeased and show no enthusiasm if he were ever nominated for class president. He didn’t have any desire for power and actually found such positions burdensome. But now, for him to say he wanted to be president of the association… What had changed for him to want such a grand position?“Well, that’s true… but…”Instead of denying Seungjoo’s words, Muheun smiled ambiguously and answered with a squint.“If I do well, I might get something I’ll dislike even more.”“……”Seungjoo didn’t ask what that something was. He instinctively knew Muheun wouldn’t answer that question. Instead, he awkwardly looked away, and Muheun asked him with a smile.“You wouldn’t say you can’t do it, would you?”“Hyung, if you want to, you’ll do it.”Since the day Seungjoo was born, he had never seen Muheun fail at anything. If he set his mind to it, he always got things done, so the idea of him becoming the president of the association didn’t sound totally impossible. Of course, Seungjoo didn’t fully understand the inner workings of the association.“So, will Gwangsik help you?”“Well, I’m not sure about that.”This time, Muheun looked uncertain, as if he was genuinely unsure. The slight smile on his lips seemed both relaxed and cold.“If the association collapses, it’s troublesome… but if it falls, you can just rebuild it.”Isn’t he making something complicated sound too simple? It surely can’t be that easy.“Is that all Gwangsik said?”Muheun didn’t elaborate further and changed the subject. When Seungjoo nodded, he kindly spoke again as if he had been waiting for it.“Then, tell me about yourself, Seungjoo.”What about? There was no need to ask. Muheun continued in his usual gentle tone.“What did you see at school?”“……”This wasn’t something Seungjoo could just brush off. After all, the great Muheun wouldn’t let such things slide.“I saw a goldfish in the lake at school…”Seungjoo briefly explained what had happened. He had seen a small, black goldfish, and there were some suspicious aspects that made it hard to believe it was just a spirit. When he relayed the things Gwangsik and Muyeon had said, Muheun responded with a slightly perplexed expression.“…Did you tell those two?”Was it just a feeling, or did Muheun’s face look a little disappointed? He wasn’t faking weakness like usual with his furrowed brows.“I didn’t explain everything. Especially with Muyeon, I’d have to explain why she’s spiritually sensitive…”“Ah, I see.”His response seemed to understand, but it didn’t seem like a relief. It was as though it didn’t matter whether Muyeon knew or not. Was Seungjoo the only one in trouble here? Just as Seungjoo was thinking this, Muheun reached a clear conclusion.“That goldfish was probably Gwimae.”So, it was Gwimae. That wasn’t particularly surprising. Seungjoo had already suspected it vaguely.“Lost animals don’t suddenly become intelligent. And if it was a fish, it wouldn’t have come out of the water after it died. Usually, they don’t even realize they’ve died.”Once again, Muheun explained in a way that matched Seungjoo’s own thoughts. A goldfish with that kind of intelligence couldn’t just be a spirit.“So it’s either Gwimae, or you saw it wrong. But you have good eyesight, so it’s probably not the second one, right?”The playful gesture of pointing at his own eyes made Seungjoo chuckle, hearing the sweetness in the phrase “our Seungjoo.” He cleared his throat and asked again.“Can Gwimae be that small?”“Yeah, if it’s right before returning to nature, it’s possible. In that case, it’s not surprising that Muyeon couldn’t sense the energy.”Only a few people could track Gwimae’s energy, and among the people in their neighborhood, it was just Muheun and the aunt. If the Gwimae was strong enough, it could be sensed, but ‘tracking’ it was a different matter.“What’s strange, though, is how mild its energy was…”Muheun stopped for a moment after saying that. He stared into the air, his eyes slightly narrowed. Then, in a voice that seemed to be telling an old story, he began to speak softly.“There’s a curse passed down in the Seo family for those who caused a forest fire to save a friend.”It was a bizarre subject, but Seungjoo didn’t interrupt. Instead, he just looked at him curiously. Muheun met Seungjoo’s eyes directly and lowered his voice.“Having damaged a lifespan that cannot even be compared to that of a human, the curse chases that person’s trace and devours them for life.”The story of the Seo and Kim families. It was something that anyone familiar with exorcism would know, not just Seungjoo’s family but also their neighbors. In fact, because of this, the Yeongi born into the Seo family was infamous for haunting evil spirits.“Doesn’t something seem odd?”“What do you mean?”There were many odd points, so many that it was hard to believe. To be more precise, there were things that couldn’t be accepted. The fact that they were still paying for one ancestor’s mistake, that such a petty curse had been passed down, and that despite all of that, no one had died off in the family. And then, there was Seungjoo, born with a fate of longevity.Amidst all the unreal and bizarre things, what Muheun pointed out wasn’t any of that.“Gwimae is nature’s grudge. It doesn’t even speak human language, and even if it’s a Gwimae hunt, there’s no way to communicate with it. It might sound harsh, but to us, it’s no different than a beast.”At that, Seungjoo thought of the wild boar he had seen once. Its massive body, covered in sticky soot, with bright red eyes that burned intensely. It truly looked like a beast, and the memory wasn’t a pleasant one.“Now, here’s one question that comes to mind.”Muheun tilted his head and slowly started to speak. He flicked his finger as if to draw Seungjoo’s attention, then asked in a laid-back tone.“Who do you think interpreted the curse?”“……”Seungjoo’s hair stood on end. It was the one contradiction he hadn’t noticed, the one that was so obvious yet had slipped by.“Who do you think could have understood what Gwimae said in its rage?”Why hadn’t he realized it until now? It was clear that this wasn’t just a common folk tale passed down through word of mouth. Based on the background they had lived through, it should have been obvious. Unless it was made up, someone must have figured out the origin of the curse and was still alive.“Seungjoo.”Muheun didn’t give Seungjoo time to think. He just fixed his gaze with his dark eyes and started speaking in a voice that was free of any laughter.“Hyung will ask.”And the question that followed was enough to leave Seungjoo feeling the shock of being struck from behind.“How did you understand what the goldfish was saying?”***Now that he thought about it, how had he naturally understood what the goldfish was saying? There hadn’t been any sounds, and he didn’t have the ability to read the goldfish’s mouth movements. Plus, he wasn’t someone who could communicate with animals.‘…….’The moment he realized it, a chill ran down his spine. The sensation he had felt at the time came flooding back to him. The goldfish, gasping and trying to speak, his intense focus on understanding those words, and the foggy feeling that had overtaken his mind.‘……It must have been just my imagination.’‘It couldn’t be.’Muheun immediately retorted, his tone gentle but firm, as if denying any possibility of self-deception. If it weren’t for Kim Muheun, it really wouldn’t have been the case. Seungjoo, thinking this, let out a hollow laugh.‘So what you’re saying is…?’He didn’t want to confirm it himself, but there was no avoiding it. At this point, brushing it aside wouldn’t solve anything.‘Are you saying I can understand what Gwimae is saying?’‘There’s a possibility of that.’Muheun looked at him with a slightly regretful expression, yet he didn’t offer the answer Seungjoo had been hoping for. He simply shrugged his shoulder once and added a kind explanation.‘There had always been similar speculations among the upper ranks of the Seoh family. But since there was no way to confirm it, they kept it quiet. Aunt and uncle probably know about it to some extent too.’‘…….’So even his parents knew about it. Seungjoo had never heard anything like that in his life.He had avoided any connection to paranormal phenomena and lived with his eyes and ears shut to such things. Until now, it had been something entirely foreign to him, and no one had drawn him into it. But now, the walls he had carefully built were about to crumble.If his spiritual eyes hadn’t been opened in the first place, he would have never known. That night, which he couldn’t even remember, had left too big of an impact. He had thought it would remain just another insignificant night, but it had instead turned into the turning point of his entire life.‘Do you remember when they said the new forces were targeting you?’‘……Yes.’Despite being deeply shocked, Seungjoo nodded at Muheun. He had been trying to figure out why this was happening, but no matter how much he pondered, it was already an irreversible reality. So, he decided it was better to focus on the present rather than dwell on the past.‘The exorcists probably assumed you have such abilities. They don’t know exactly how they plan to use them, but they probably decided they need them for their work.’The words weren’t particularly difficult, but Seungjoo’s head was spinning. He couldn’t figure out why they thought he had such abilities, what they planned to use them for, or what their ultimate goal was (and honestly, even if they told him, he wouldn’t have wanted to know).‘For now, I’ll check on the goldfish tonight. If it has returned to nature, then great, but if not, it’s best to take precautions.’He wasn’t sure why, but Seungjoo believed the goldfish would still be there. It would take ages for Gwimae to return to nature, and the goldfish he had seen didn’t look like it would vanish immediately.‘So Seungjoo, you…’‘I’ll come help search, too.’Muheun stopped abruptly at Seungjoo’s sudden response. He had been gently patting Seungjoo’s legs under the blanket. Seeing the small crack in his usual composed expression, Seungjoo quickly waved his hand.‘No, it’s not like I insist on searching together…’He didn’t mean he was going to help directly. Seungjoo was good at understanding his role and knew that he wouldn’t be much help to Muheun’s work. However, there was something he wanted to check.‘I’ll just watch from the side.’‘…Why would you want to watch that?’Muheun seemed to not understand Seungjoo’s suggestion. Normally, he avoided ghosts, Gwimae, and anything related to them, so it was strange that he now wanted to check it out. Seungjoo didn’t really want to, but after a brief consideration, he came up with several thoughts.‘If, as Hyung says, those people think I can understand Gwimae’s words, then that exorcist who was smoking cigarettes must be part of that faction. They probably tried to open my spiritual eyes on purpose, to prove their hypothesis.’‘……’Muheun, rarely at a loss for words, closed his mouth. He seemed surprised and maybe even frustrated. Seungjoo could tell that his assumption had been correct from the way Muheun reacted.‘If they did it once, they’ll likely try again. So, it’s better for me to figure out if it’s real or not beforehand. If it’s fake, then the reason they’re targeting me would disappear, and that would prevent the dangerous situation you’re worried about, Hyung.’It seemed like a perfectly reasonable explanation, but instead of easing his expression, Muheun asked again. His question, with the smile gone from his lips, almost sounded cold.“What will you do if it’s true?”When Kim Muheun spoke, it didn’t sound like a joke. And with that expressionless face of his, it felt even more serious.“If you really can understand Gwimae’s words, then what will happen after that?”Seungjoo instinctively knew. Muheun was leaning towards the possibility that it was true. That’s why, without confirming whether it was true or false, he had drawn a line and said he would look for the goldfish himself.The reason for leaving the possibility open instead of confirming the truth was to put in several safety measures. Or, more accurately, it was to not give up the slim hope that remained. After all, there’s a saying that “ignorance is bliss,” and sometimes maintaining an attitude of pretending not to know was necessary.Seungjoo assumed Muheun probably thought the same.“Then we’ll just have to wait until my spiritual eyes close.”But how long would that take? Turning a blind eye wouldn’t solve anything. If it were something someone else could solve, he would have been confident in closing his eyes to it. But if it involved someone else’s sacrifice, Seungjoo was prepared to face it.“Or… I could listen to what they’re saying.”The words he muttered almost sounded ambiguous. He could listen to what Gwimae was saying, or what the faction was saying. Muheun, with a serious expression, called Seungjoo’s name.“Seungjoo.”“No, Hyung.”Seungjoo didn’t give Muheun a chance to speak because he already knew what he was going to say. It would be something like “it’s too dangerous,” or “I’ll handle it,” or any words meant to remove Seungjoo from the situation to keep him safe.“You can’t always protect me, you know.”Though it might have been said out of frustration, it wasn’t a lie. Even if Muheun looked hurt upon hearing those words. Seungjoo couldn’t remain a child forever, and he didn’t want to stay in a position where he was always protected.“I’ll stay close to you, just like you said. It’s better to confirm things with you than let them sneak around me to check.”He spoke as rationally and sincerely as he could. It might have seemed like an impulsive decision to Muheun, but for Seungjoo, it was a serious conclusion. He didn’t think there would be a better option by overthinking it.“You know I’m not doing anything reckless.”Muheun stared at Seungjoo for a long while without saying a word. His gaze, fixed on Seungjoo, was filled with a mix of complex emotions. It almost seemed like the time when Seungjoo had started using honorifics for the first time, a little bit of disappointment showing in his expression.“Why are you looking at me like that?”“……No reason.”Muheun let out a thin smile and then squinted his eyes slightly, murmuring in a pained voice.“Just wondering when you grew up like this.”That wasn’t something to say while sitting on a bed. The reason they were having this conversation in this situation was probably because it was only after growing up that such things were possible.“Anyway… I understand what you’re saying, Seungjoo.”Muheun nodded with a much calmer expression. Still, he seemed to feel some regret, as he paused for a moment and cleared his throat before speaking. His dark, deep eyes showed a hint of reluctance that didn’t seem like him at all.“I want to say no, but I know this is just my selfishness. If you keep insisting, I know I’ll really get mad this time.”They knew each other’s limits well. If Muheun didn’t back down, Seungjoo would probably say he was going off alone, ghosts and all. They were both people who generally let things go easily, but there were certain lines that couldn’t be crossed.“I’ll do what you said. I’ll stay with you when we catch Gwimae.”As soon as Muheun gave his approval, Seungjoo let out a small sigh without even realizing it. He had been tense without knowing it. Muheun finally softened his expression and nodded sternly.“Just make sure to listen to me and stay safe, got it?”“That goes without saying.”That was the kind of answer Seungjoo thought would suffice, but Muheun insisted on making a pinky promise. Even though Seungjoo showed clear signs of not wanting to do it, Muheun didn’t care and extended his straight finger.“Come on, hurry.”“…Hyung, do you really have to do this at thirty?”“Why? When you were ten, I made a promise with you like this.”“I was ten back then.”No matter how much Seungjoo grumbled, there was no way he could win against Kim Muheun on this. In the end, Seungjoo reluctantly linked his pinky and made the promise, officially receiving Muheun’s permission.He thought everything was settled, but then, one sudden thought caught him off guard.“…By the way, our school’s festival starts today.”At night, Seungjoo would need to look for the goldfish, but there were too many people during the festival. Though there was a fair distance between the booths and the lake, it was clear that avoiding attention would be difficult. Since the weekend was in two days, maybe it would be better to wait until then. Muheun responded in his usual slow voice.“It’s fine.”It seemed as if it was no big deal. With a confident expression, Muheun shrugged his shoulders and gave a small, soft smile.“I’ll handle that, Hyung.”***That reliable remark was the final conversation that sealed their agreement. After that, Seungjoo got into Muheun’s car and returned home to prepare for school.Since Muheun had washed all of Seungjoo’s clothes, he had no choice but to wear Muheun’s clothes on the way. His parents had already left for work, and the clothes he had worn earlier were tossed carelessly in the laundry room.“I’ll pick you up when school ends.”Since his spiritual eyes were now open, he couldn’t go around alone for the time being. According to Muheun, at least for a month. By that time, final exams would come around, and summer vacation would probably start too. Then, maybe, they wouldn’t have to commute together anymore.Yeah… That means, by that time, Seungjoo might not see Muheun standing right here again.“……”When all the lectures had ended, Seungjoo brushed past the people trying to stop him and headed toward the main gate. As he hurried, adjusting his bag, he spotted Muheun, as always, standing in the same spot. His usual warm smile was gone, and his face looked so expressionless it could almost seem cold.“That’s probably why no one talks to him.”He had said that no one even bothered to ask for his number, let alone start a conversation. It was easy to understand why, standing there with that face. When he smiled, he looked so gentle, but when he was serious, he gave off an intimidating aura that was hard to describe.Instead of greeting him immediately, Seungjoo took a moment to observe Muheun from where he stood.Muheun, who had disappeared without a trace two weeks ago, was now standing there as if nothing had happened, coming to pick him up. It could have seemed like a shameless act, but now that Seungjoo knew the reason for his disappearance, he didn’t feel like blaming him. The only thing that was holding him back was the new, lingering thought that suddenly grabbed him.So, what are we exactly?It was a late question, but it crossed his mind. They were too close to just be acquaintances, but a little too forward to be just good friends, and yet there was no agreed-upon understanding between them to call it something special.Actually, he could have just asked Muheun directly. But the reason he didn’t was that Seungjoo didn’t want to move beyond where he had stopped. Too much had already happened to him, and he didn’t want to add another worry.“I wonder if it matters…”Seungjoo was the type to brush things off and move on. If he hadn’t been that way, he wouldn’t have been able to adapt to a world where ghosts and other supernatural things existed. So maybe, it was okay to just let things flow and not think too much about it.“Anyway, Kim Muheun…”His drifting thoughts were interrupted when Muheun turned his head from a distance. It wasn’t a particularly far distance, but not so close that they couldn’t recognize each other. The moment he looked directly at Seungjoo, their gazes locked in the air.“……”“……”Soon, the expression on Muheun’s face changed. His cold eyes curved like a crescent moon, and his tightly shut lips softened into a gentle line. In an instant, he broke into a warm smile, calling out to Seungjoo in his characteristic gentle voice.“Seungjoo.”There was no need to answer. Without hesitation, Muheun began walking toward Seungjoo. As he took long strides, the distance between them closed, and Muheun, who had once been a distant figure, now became clearer. Finally, when he was right in front of Seungjoo, he flashed a teasing smile and took Seungjoo’s bag.“Why are you standing there like that?”“……”Ah, now Seungjoo remembered why he had liked him.It was that unwavering gaze. He had fallen for the way Muheun would find him no matter where he was and come to him. Even when he hadn’t done anything special, Muheun’s gaze had always been so warm, like something precious. And when he was with Kim Muheun, Seungjoo often felt like he was something incredibly important.“Hyung, you’ve got something on your face.”“……No.”Seungjoo, replying slowly, awkwardly looked away. He cleared his throat, and stretched his hand out to get his bag back from Muheun. But Muheun didn’t give it back; instead, he draped it over his own shoulder.“I’ll carry it for you.”Whether it was Kim Muheun, Kim Muryeong, or even Muyeon, they all hated seeing Seungjoo carry anything. It had been a habit since he was very young. Since Seungjoo was relatively weak, they couldn’t stand seeing him carry things. Ironically, Seungjoo had grown up strong and capable of handling anything physical, but they still couldn’t help themselves.“It’s not even that heavy…”Seungjoo didn’t bother taking the bag but simply put his hands in his pockets. As if to prove his newfound insight, a fresh, calming Yeongi could be felt in the talisman Muryeong had written for him.“So, what are we doing before we leave?”Since the days had gotten considerably longer recently, there was still plenty of time before nightfall. Gwimae was out during the day, so it wasn’t an issue if they went to see him now, but it might be more comfortable to go later when he’d be active.“Hm….”Muheun didn’t answer right away, instead scanning the campus briefly. After leisurely looking around, he glanced down at Seungjoo. Then, with a playful smile, he suggested lightly:“Wanna check out the festival?”***The proper start of the festival didn’t come until after sunset. Since it hadn’t been long since classes ended, the booths along the streets were still in full preparation. The scene, with banners and flyers scattered about, gave off a bustling, excited vibe, unlike the usual quiet campus.Seungjoo strolled alongside Muheun through the campus. He couldn’t bring himself to reject Muheun’s suggestion to see the festival. He hadn’t planned to walk around with someone so noticeable, but Muheun casually added it, so he had no choice.‘Hyung’s never been to a college festival either.’Now that he thought about it, Muheun probably never had the chance to visit such events. Not only had he not attended college, but he wasn’t the type to hang out in large groups with friends either. That was more Muyeon’s thing, or maybe Kim Muryeong’s.“I think this whole stretch is the Apple Department’s booth…”So now, Seungjoo was giving Muheun an impromptu guide to the festival. After all, it was his own school, so he felt some unexplainable sense of responsibility.“…Or is it the Business School?”Unfortunately, Seungjoo wasn’t much different from Muheun, an outsider. He didn’t have enough interest to look up any festival promotional materials, and participating in the booths wasn’t mandatory either.Honestly, it was just good if they didn’t get lost. Even though it had been quite some time since he enrolled, the campus was far too vast for him to memorize everything in such a short time. Besides, Seungjoo was just one of those students who stuck to the same routes, taking the boring path back and forth.“I don’t really know either. It’s my first festival too.”Seungjoo quickly gave up on explaining and admitted it freely. Muheun, who had been quietly listening, couldn’t help but chuckle at Seungjoo’s honesty. He had been smiling teasingly ever since Seungjoo started his awkward attempt at an explanation.“Does your department not have anything?”“No, we do. Something like a tavern…”The Sociology Department also had a booth. They were supposed to sell makgeolli with a tavern concept, but since alcohol sales were banned, it seemed they were offering drinks like sweet rice punch instead. Though Seungjoo also heard rumors about them secretly stocking makgeolli and dongdongju.“Really? You don’t want to check it out?”“No.”Seungjoo answered firmly. It was because he remembered the retro-style hanbok from the department’s group chat.“If we go there, we probably won’t catch Gwimae.”He had planned to stop by with Jinwoo tomorrow, but he didn’t want to go with Muheun. After all, he had excused himself from his classmates to meet up with him, and Jinwoo would probably be a pain.“If you get caught, you’ll have to help out. You want to serve, Hyung?”The students running the booth were so eager to attract customers that, if they weren’t careful, both Seungjoo and Muheun might end up helping out. And, with Muheun there, it was likely that his booth would get more customers.But when the subject of this scenario, Kim Muheun, reacted like this:“Serving… doesn’t sound too bad.”“…What? You’re not even a volunteer.”“You should be grateful I’m even considering it at thirty.”He was needlessly generous, or maybe it was humility? Whether Seungjoo was dumbfounded or not, Muheun just looked around in admiration.“Anyway, the festival is more serious than I thought.”Unlike when he was standing indifferently in front of the school, Muheun now exuded a relaxed vibe. Whether it was because his expression softened or because he kept smiling happily, he looked like someone who had come to enjoy the festival from the start.“…Is it fun?”“Yeah, it’s fun.”Muheun answered cheerfully, then turned his gaze to Seungjoo. His eyes, which curved with genuine happiness, made it clear he was enjoying himself.“It’s more fun because Seungjoo’s showing me around.”“…”It didn’t seem like a lie, but it did sound a bit teasing. After all, Seungjoo had only offered half-hearted guesses and then admitted he didn’t know anything himself.“We’re looking for the Great Archer of the Korean University! Try archery before you leave!”As they continued walking, a loud voice from an event booth caught their attention. Seungjoo turned his head absently and spotted a large bear mascot at a booth with a target and bow. He couldn’t help but exclaim quietly in surprise.“Wow…”How is he supposed to carry that?The bear mascot with a pink ribbon was even bigger than Seungjoo’s upper body. It was probably the grand prize, and given its size, it looked ridiculously heavy.At that point, it seemed more like a penalty than a prize. As Seungjoo thought this, Muheun asked him:“What’s up?”Muheun followed Seungjoo’s gaze and then wore a mischievous grin. His question was full of his usual playfulness.“Do you want that bear?”“No.”Of course, Muheun probably didn’t think Seungjoo would say yes. Seungjoo had no interest at all in such a cute bear. So, he answered with a sharp no, but before he could say anything else, a member of the archery club, wearing a target headband and with two braids, quickly approached them.“Hey, handsome! You look like you’d be good at archery, would you like to try it out?”Maybe it was because of the friendly smile, but the person was so much more approachable than the typically aloof Kim Muheun. They didn’t even realize that the handsome man next to them was actually very good at archery.Seungjoo had been about to turn down the offer, but Muheun beat him to it.“How much is it to try?”“…Hyung, are you seriously going to do this?”Seungjoo asked, shocked, but Muheun didn’t mind. “I just think it would be fun.” With that, he shrugged casually. The archery club member quickly began explaining the details.“It’s two thousand won for one round. If you hit the center of the target with all five arrows, you get the grand prize! I’ve been generous—since you’re so handsome, you only need to hit it three times.”“Wait, three times for the grand prize?”“Yep, just three!”Even when Seungjoo asked in disbelief, the club member nodded with a smile. The round target headband fluttered as they nodded. They probably thought Seungjoo was intrigued, but his mind wasn’t anywhere near interested.‘Crazy, three times? Who even says that?’Three times? He wouldn’t be able to hit five even with his eyes closed. Surely, Muheun could do it, but still…“Three out of five…”To make matters worse, Muheun looked genuinely excited, his expression bright with enthusiasm. Whether it was because he thought archery would be fun, or because of the bear mascot he might win, Seungjoo wasn’t sure. Actually, it almost seemed like he was excited at the thought of someone else getting stuck with that bear.“Hyung, what would you even do with that huge bear?”Seungjoo, now desperate, quickly threw out the question, but it didn’t have much effect. He only got a reproachful look from the archery club member nearby. Seungjoo had assumed Muheun would easily handle it, but the truth was that hitting three out of five wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.“Isn’t the bear cute?”“It’s not cute.”Seungjoo responded firmly, but the only person who reacted was the archery club member, looking up at him with a dramatic expression.“…You don’t think our prize is cute?”“…”Ah, this isn’t what I meant.“No… it’s cute, but…”“Right? That’s a bear worth over a hundred thousand won!”The club member proudly boasted with a loud voice. Seungjoo’s growing discomfort didn’t seem to phase them in the least.“You could give it to your girlfriend, or keep it by your bed to cuddle with. It’s super soft…”Muheun didn’t have a girlfriend, and he probably wouldn’t fit on a bed with the bear. Of course, there was a younger sibling in the neighboring house, and there’d definitely be enough space for them to snuggle with the bear in bed.Seungjoo lowered his voice, looking troubled.“Hyung, think it over. You’re going to pay two thousand won for that…”“Seungjoo, do you want to try it?”“Damn, did you even listen to me?”“Of course I did.”With a grin, Muheun pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. It was obvious he intended to give it a go, so the archery club member quickly ushered him over. Following behind, Muheun flashed a sweet smile.“The bear is cute, right?”“…”That’s not what I meant.Muheun, already walking ahead, left Seungjoo to reluctantly trail behind. As he thought of ways to escape the situation, his face remained full of frustration.The chapters have been revised, edited, and compressed, and the complete main story has been released for free, as I’m concerned it might be taken down or worse. I didn’t want to disappoint the readers, so I apologize for any inconvenience, and I hope you enjoy reading the complete story! The side stories will be coming soon, so don't worry~