The Night Of The Untraced

They said that if you catch a snake and brew it into liquor, you’d be able to survive the winter with ease. ‘It’ didn’t even know what a snake was, but it did notice that the few friends it had were disappearing one by one. The friends who had made their homes in its embrace and basked in the sunlight with it dwindled day by day until eventually, none were left to be seen.On nights when loneliness became overwhelming, it would cling to the shed skins of its friends and cry all night long. When even those skins had rotted away, it felt as if the fragile balance it had been barely maintaining collapsed entirely. By the time ‘it’ decided to flee, all it yearned for were the friends whose forms it could no longer even mimic.“…I’m sorry, just endure a little longer.”One day, a human said that to it, and that’s when ‘it’ learned that it was called a Gwimae. At the same time, it was able to fall into a deep, peaceful sleep with the help of that human. The brief moment of rest felt incredibly sweet, but unfortunately, that peace didn’t last long.“…Is this the right place?”“The coordinates match, but…”Perhaps it was because it hadn’t fully awakened, but its memories after that point were jumbled and confused. Its eyelids kept drooping, giving it the feeling of being half-asleep the entire time. It was certain someone had woken it up, but it had no idea who it was or how they had done it.“We need to find a way somehow.”“We’re reaching the limit…”There weren’t many clear scenes to be seen. One of its friends had said they could barely see, and like them, its own vision was blurry and unfocused. The only things confirming it was still alive were the vibrations it could feel and the heat rising from the ground.“Let’s try this first, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll retreat.”Without knowing where it was headed, it crawled endlessly along the ground. It stretched out its body and squirmed forward. Just as it reached a dead end, someone stomped down hard on its back.“Pour that on it.”It had no time to ask what “that” was. Although the force wasn’t particularly strong, its body, still groggy from sleep, wouldn’t respond. As it wriggled its tail, something cold and sticky was poured over its head.It felt like its entire body was burning. The liquid was cold, but as soon as it touched its skin, it turned unbearably hot. It wondered if they had poured oil on it, as the excruciating pain felt like it was on fire.“…Is it working?”“It’s hard to tell yet.”“Its strength is weakening, but…”It couldn’t scream. Even if it opened its mouth, no sound would come out. It rubbed its body against the ground, but the burning sensation that had penetrated deep inside didn’t show any signs of subsiding. It let out several hissing sounds, and then the turmoil boiling inside it suddenly erupted from its mouth.“Inject more spiritual energy into it…”Why are they tormenting me? That thought consumed it. It couldn’t understand why they kept tormenting and tormenting it every time, what it had done so wrong to deserve this.The feeling of injustice made its insides churn, and it couldn’t hold back the rising anger, causing its eyes to roll back. All the resentment it had accumulated came pouring out, but it had no effect on the humans standing nearby.“What if it goes berserk?”“Hmm.”It panted for breath and thrashed about wildly. It remembered striking the ground with its tail, desperately hoping someone would help it. But no help came, and all that remained was pain.“Well, if it doesn’t work…”The man’s words strangely echoed in its ears. All its senses had become so heightened that even its previously blurry vision seemed a bit clearer. The man, his face obscured by round sunglasses, muttered while holding a lit cigarette in his mouth.“Team Leader Kim Muheun will take care of it.”“…!”Seungjoo suddenly snapped his eyes open. It was the moment someone grabbed his shoulder and forcibly pulled him. Gasping for breath against the burning pain engulfing his entire body, his fading consciousness slowly started to return to reality.“Haah…”He clutched his throat with both hands, coughing repeatedly. He couldn’t breathe properly, causing his shoulders to hunch inward. Just as he felt like he might die, someone gently held his shoulders and carefully lifted his upper body.“…I had a feeling.”The air that had struggled to enter his lungs finally reached deep within them. The person beside him let out a soft sigh and murmured in a very small voice.“Really…”Seungjoo couldn’t catch the rest of the words. Instead, he was met with a familiar scent that suddenly wafted over him. Like rain on dry earth, Seungjoo inhaled that scent greedily. The person gently hugged his trembling body and whispered softly in a soothing tone.“It’s okay, you won’t hurt anymore.”“Ugh…”Those words were so reassuring that it felt as if the blocked airways suddenly cleared. Instinctively, Seungjoo rubbed his face against the hand that touched his cheek. Overwhelmed by the unbearable pain, he found himself softened by the tender touch.Instead of pushing Seungjoo away, the person stroked his tear-streaked face and gently brushed back his bangs. Seungjoo thought he was just tidying his hair as usual, but then the person suddenly placed something on his exposed forehead. As his vision cleared slightly, he saw what appeared to be a yellowish talisman made of hanji, partially obscuring Muheun’s face.“…Hyung?”“Stay still.”Muheun spoke in a rare, firm tone, pressing down on the top of the talisman with his index and middle fingers. As the talisman adhered to his forehead, Seungjoo felt something snap, as if something had been severed. The fog that had clouded his mind cleared completely, and the pain in his body vanished without a trace.“…?”Blinking in confusion, Seungjoo stared blankly at Muheun. Muheun was still gazing at him with a serious expression. When Seungjoo raised his hand to touch his forehead, he felt the rustling talisman against his fingertips.“…What is this?”As Seungjoo’s rationality quickly returned, he even found himself thinking that he looked like a jiangshi. He didn’t quite understand how the talisman was attached to him, but it didn’t seem like it would come off easily just by touching it. As Seungjoo fumbled with the talisman, Muheun explained its purpose to him.“I severed the connection.”Muheun said this as he stood up, turning his back to Seungjoo. Although the talisman partially obscured his vision, it didn’t hinder him from seeing ahead.“I’ll take it off once everything’s over.”“…”For some reason, Muheun seemed quite angry as he said this. His tone was as gentle as usual, but the atmosphere lingering at the end of his words was different. His actions—turning away without meeting Seungjoo’s gaze—suggested that his emotions were not fully under control.“Now then…”In his previously empty right hand, a long stream of spiritual energy began to form. The brilliant blue energy transformed into a sword, the same one Seungjoo had seen before. He was momentarily captivated by the sight, but Muheun’s low, calm voice soon pulled him back to reality.“Close your eyes and count to 100.”It was a phrase Seungjoo had heard several times before. Although he had always obediently followed instructions, this time he couldn’t close his eyes in time, instead watching what Muheun was doing. He saw Muheun raise his right arm high, the sword leaving a bright blue trail as it swung, and the tip of the sword plunging deep into the Gwimae.“…!”A piercing scream echoed through the heavens and earth. A loud, rhythmic pounding—someone’s heartbeat—resonated in his ears. Just as the thrashing Gwimae attempted to rise, Muheun slashed it deeply with the sword still embedded in it.A jet-black liquid, like ink, gushed out, drenching Muheun and staining the grass-covered ground. Without much care, Muheun twisted the sword and then plunged it straight down into the Gwimae’s crown.“Wait…”Perhaps it was because of the talisman Muheun had attached, but Seungjoo didn’t feel any of the Gwimae’s pain. The only image burned into his mind was the sight of the creature coming to a sudden stop.The Gwimae, frozen like a paused frame, then slowly opened its maw and spewed out a thick, black sludge. The liquid pooled on the ground, and the areas it touched withered into a charred black, creating the appearance of a deep pit.The light faded from its eyes, and the Gwimae, which had been standing rigidly, suddenly collapsed onto the ground.“…No.”He should have stopped him. Realizing this too late, Seungjoo finally managed to speak, but by then, everything was already over. As soon as the Gwimae, in the shape of a giant serpent, melted into the ground, Muheun released the sword without hesitation. The blade disintegrated like ashes into flames, and the remnants of the Gwimae also rose as smoke.“Hyung just…”As Seungjoo stammered out his words, Muheun turned his head to look at him. Ink-like liquid dripped from Muheun’s hair, which he had carelessly swept back. Watching him blow the liquid off his hand, Seungjoo barely managed to force out his words.“…Did you kill it?”There was no reply, but that silence was as good as an affirmation. Seungjoo inhaled sharply, fixing his gaze on Muheun’s darkened eyes.Kim Muheun had killed the Gwimae.It was still before dawn. Seungjoo sat in the living room, his lips tightly shut.In front of him sat three middle-aged people, two of whom were his parents, but the atmosphere of the third person was noticeably different. The woman with jet-black eyes and an imposing presence had an impression that somehow reminded him of someone.“…Disciplinary action?”Seungjoo slowly moved his lips, locking eyes with the woman.The woman was the head of the prestigious exorcist family and the mother of the renowned Gwimae hunter, Muheun. To Seungjoo, however, she had always been just a kind and gentle neighbor.“Muheun hyung received disciplinary action?”Seungjoo asked, and the woman silently nodded. She gently touched the sleeve of her modified hanbok, lowering her gaze with a complicated expression.“Killing a Gwimae is forbidden.”It was a statement so heavy that it sealed his lips shut. The weight of it came from the bluntness of the word “killing.”“Of course, not just anyone can kill a Gwimae…”The woman trailed off, meeting Seungjoo’s eyes again. Her expression was complex, but the gaze she directed at Seungjoo was filled with warmth. Softening her expression for a moment, she spoke in a gentle voice.“Muheun must have done it.”‘…Killed?’Yesterday, Kim Muheun killed a Gwimae. The Gwimae’s body, which had turned into smoke and risen, covered the sky in darkness before dispersing like mist. The soot that had stained the ground was also completely wiped away, but the plants that had died because of it did not revive.‘How…?’Could a human even kill nature? It was said that Gwimaes were the grudges of nature and were considered divine beings beyond human reach. Sealing them away was the only way to deal with them; there was no way to eliminate them from the world.But a mere Gwimae hunter had killed a Gwimae. Without anyone stopping him, with an unyielding and merciless resolve.‘Why… why did you kill it?’There was no need to kill it. The Gwimae was already weakened, so couldn’t they have just sealed it like usual? Seungjoo didn’t know how to seal a Gwimae, but he knew there was a difference between sealing and killing.‘I had to.’But Muheun, who had killed the Gwimae, said that in a low voice. The Gwimae’s blood, which had drenched him, vanished without a trace whenever he touched it. Finally returning to his clean self, Muheun squatted down in front of Seungjoo and met his gaze.‘The seal had come undone in a strange way, and it would have taken a long time to put it back to sleep. If it were in a stable state, it might have been different, but otherwise, it would have rampaged during the preparation process.’‘What would happen if it rampaged?’‘It would have devoured the nearby souls.’The Gwimae devours souls. The words echoed in his ears. Muheun extended his hand towards Seungjoo, speaking calmly.‘I had two options. Let it rampage or… let you purify it, Seungjoo.’As soon as Muheun’s hand touched him, the talisman stuck to his forehead fell off. Muheun, who had tidied Seungjoo’s bangs with the hand holding the talisman, took a deep breath and curled his lips into a crooked smile.‘I didn’t tell you it would absorb the pain, Seungjoo.’‘…’So, you killed it because you couldn’t bear to see me in pain. Seungjoo, who had already coughed up blood once, had nothing to say to Muheun. He merely moved his lips, unable to hide his bewilderment.‘I was going to lie to you…’‘Yeah, I know.’The gentle voice in response didn’t sound angry. It was just endlessly understanding.‘Sometimes, secrets are necessary.’As if they were brothers, Kim Muryung would sometimes say similar things after receiving a request, speaking in a secretive tone.While Seungjoo was choosing his words, Muheun crumpled the talisman in his hand and extended his other hand.‘Can you stand?’The talisman that had served its purpose burned away in Muheun’s hand. The sight of it flaring up and turning to ashes reminded him of the Gwimae’s final moments. Seungjoo grabbed his hand to stand up but winced and frowned.‘Ah… my legs won’t support me.’Without hesitation, Muheun offered his broad back to Seungjoo. Since there was no need to insist on walking on his own, Seungjoo quietly allowed himself to be carried. As Muheun lifted him, Seungjoo couldn’t help but look around at the empty landscape, overwhelmed by his emotions.‘…An exorcist wearing sunglasses broke the Gwimae’s seal.’The story that Seungjoo began to tell was from the memories he had seen in the Gwimae. It didn’t reveal how the Gwimae was born. It was heartbreaking, even painful, but he didn’t want to pass on his turmoil to Muheun, who had killed the Gwimae with his own hands.‘There were two exorcists, but I didn’t see the other one. They seemed to be experimenting with some strange liquid, talking about whether the power was weakening or infusing it with spiritual energy…’Even though the memory was a jumbled mess in his mind, it was vivid as if he had seen it with his own eyes. That was only natural since, at the moment he saw the memory, Seungjoo had become the Gwimae itself.‘They were worried about what would happen if it rampaged.’He hesitated briefly over whether to continue speaking. It wasn’t that he doubted Muheun, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to say more. Perhaps it was because, deep down, he knew Muheun wouldn’t give him an answer.‘But then they said that Team Leader Kim Muheun would take care of it if that happened.’‘…Really?’Muheun asked back but said nothing more. It seemed he had no intention of resolving Seungjoo’s doubts.Seungjoo lowered his head and rested his forehead on Muheun’s shoulder, wondering if this was what it meant when people said that sometimes secrets were necessary.‘Hyung.’To be honest, he didn’t really care what Muheun was hiding. He was curious, but if Muheun didn’t want to talk about it, Seungjoo didn’t feel the need to pry. There was probably a reason for not telling him, and that reason was likely for Seungjoo’s own good.‘Next time, don’t kill the Gwimae.’The unease he felt at that moment was more like grief for the Gwimae that had died before his eyes. He felt so conflicted that it overshadowed all the questions he had—like why Kim Muheun was a team leader or why those people said Muheun would handle it.‘Sorry.’Instead of saying he understood, Muheun simply offered that one-word apology. It felt like an answer that meant he couldn’t promise, so Seungjoo couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh. Rubbing his forehead against Muheun’s shoulder, he muttered with a sigh.‘What on earth are you up to…?’He didn’t think Muheun was doing anything bad. He also didn’t think the exorcists he saw in the Gwimae’s memory were in cahoots with Muheun. Even if Muheun ended up cleaning up after them, as they said, it was ultimately for Seungjoo’s sake. The problem wasn’t that he was suspicious; it was that he was worried.‘Why are you hiding so much from me?’Those words might have come out in a slightly grumbling tone. That must have been why Muheun hesitated for a moment while removing the core of the barrier. As he pulled off the talisman with his fingertips, the stifling air seemed to clear.‘Seungjoo, I…’‘Kim Muheun.’It was then that a strange voice suddenly interrupted. The voice wasn’t loud, but it was close enough for both Muheun and Seungjoo to hear. When Seungjoo lifted his head to look in that direction, a woman wearing a hat was walking toward them.‘You…’The woman spoke in a cold voice, and Seungjoo had never seen her before. He wasn’t sure if their eyes met briefly or if it was just his imagination. Judging by the hat, he wondered if she was an exorcist. Just as he was thinking that, Muheun’s familiar voice spoke a name.‘Yunhee-ah.’It was a name Seungjoo had seen on Muheun’s phone once. Was her last name Lee? He remembered it being saved as “Team Leader Lee Yunhee.”‘I didn’t expect you to come.’Muheun let out a short laugh and murmured in a relaxed voice. “It’s rather fortunate,” he added, causing Yunhee’s face to twist slightly, though it was hard to tell in the dim light.Seungjoo tensed up at the unusual atmosphere, but Muheun calmly asked Yunhee in a gentle voice.‘Did you bring the car?’The question was so natural that it seemed as if they had arranged to meet. Yunhee seemed to be at a loss for words, her lips moving without sound. Muheun helped Seungjoo get settled and then spoke casually.‘I’ll just drop Seungjoo off and be on my way.’So, Seungjoo ended up riding in Yunhee’s car back home. By the time they arrived, he had regained enough strength to walk through the gate on his own, without having to be carried by Muheun.Muheun told him to rest well and left for the association, and when Seungjoo woke up the next morning, he found the ajumma in the living room.“Disciplinary action…”The spirit sight that had been open was closed the moment he woke up in the morning. He had woken up a bit earlier than usual, but since he had gone to bed early, he felt fine. It would have been a decent day if the ajumma hadn’t mentioned the word “disciplinary action” while talking with his parents.Was Team Leader Lee Yunhee’s visit because of the disciplinary action? Or how did they even know about the Gwimae being killed in the first place? Did Kim Muheun know and still just silently take him home?“If it’s disciplinary action… what exactly happens? A pay cut?”He didn’t know the details, but he had a rough idea. It meant a pay cut, getting assigned to unpleasant B-grade tasks, and dealing with various headaches. That was the general idea when he asked, but the ajumma responded in her usual calm tone.“He’s been reassigned to a provincial post. He probably won’t be able to come up for a while.”“…”Seungjoo was left speechless, unable to respond. He let out a hollow laugh, recalling something Muheun had said before. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, yet Muheun had still kept the promise he made.‘I won’t bother you anymore.’He knew. He knew that killing the ghost was an accident and that Muheun likely didn’t foresee a future where he would face disciplinary action. No matter how much Muheun could see the future, he couldn’t predict such specific and clear situations.Yet, even knowing all this, an inexplicable storm of emotions surged within him. Perhaps it was resentment. Alongside it was a long-standing disappointment towards Kim Muheun, who ultimately told him nothing.‘Take care.’At the very least, he should have told him before he got out of the car yesterday. Even if he didn’t know that Muheun was being sent to a provincial post, he would have known that killing the ghost was a serious offense. There was no way Muheun didn’t realize that Team Leader Lee Yunhee came because of that.“In that sense… I have a favor to ask you,” the housekeeper said, breaking the silence as Seungjoo stood there lost in thought.“A favor?”The housekeeper’s words pulled Seungjoo back to reality, and he met her gaze. The atmosphere felt unusually serious, and her voice was somber.“Seungjoo, I want you to stay at home for the time being.”The summer sun had advanced so much that standing in the yard made his eyes squint against the intense light. The neatly trimmed lawn was greener than ever, and the flowers blooming here and there were vibrant, soaking up the sunlight. The spacious yard, harmonizing with the grand hanok, was beautiful, but the expression of the person standing there was not.Seungjoo stared intently at the yard’s wall. The wall was too high for an ordinary person to climb, and it was plastered with all sorts of talismans to the point of looking messy. These were put up to protect the Seo family, and the exorcist association replaced them every year.“How long have you been standing there, young master?”After some time, a gardener wearing work gloves approached Seungjoo. He reflexively bowed and forced a smile as he straightened up. The gardener, who had a friendly expression, asked curiously, “Today is Monday… Aren’t you going to school?”His parents had already left for work, and it was usually the time Seungjoo would be at school as well. The gardener, who had worked for the family for a long time, knew how diligent a student Seungjoo was.However, he was so used to Seungjoo being a high school student that he wasn’t familiar with his college schedule.“I’m on vacation.”“Oh, vacation…”The gardener nodded and chuckled, casting a slightly envious glance at Seungjoo. “Right, college vacations start early, don’t they?” His voice held a touch of wonder at how much Seungjoo had grown.“You must be enjoying it.”The comment was made in passing, and Seungjoo just smiled without any objection. Although he was wandering around the house with unwanted free time, he knew that it must seem enviable.The gardener soon returned to his work, and Seungjoo went back to staring at the wall.‘Seungjoo, stay at home for the time being.’It had been a few days since the housekeeper said that. It hadn’t been a long time, but to Seungjoo, it felt as long as an eternity. No matter how much he liked being at home, staying of his own volition was different from being confined.‘The forces derived from the association are targeting you, Seungjoo.’What surprised Seungjoo was how much his family seemed to know. They might not know all the details, but they were aware of his unique constitution and the dangers it posed. These were things Seungjoo had planned to discuss with them soon, and he had no intention of hiding them.‘Muheun told us.’The housekeeper explained that Muheun had mentioned Seungjoo might be in danger and that he had asked them to look after him if he had to go away. Upon hearing this, Seungjoo reconsidered, thinking that perhaps Muheun had foreseen this entire situation.‘It’s best for you to stay at home until things are resolved. We’ve talked to your parents, and… the housekeeper is worried too.’Now that the adults had stepped in, there was no way Seungjoo could rebel like he had against Muheun. He wasn’t so ungrateful that he could say no in front of his concerned parents.All Seungjoo could do was suppress his frustration and ask,‘…Where did Hyung go in the provinces?’The almighty Kim Muheun must have known the exact timing of when Seungjoo’s spirit sight would close. That’s probably why he allowed the purification of the ghost and imposed the condition of waiting until the spirit sight closed. He might have feared that if he didn’t intervene, Seungjoo would actually go to the association and do something reckless, something Muheun didn’t want him to do.‘…Focus on your final exams first.’‘…’‘Let’s talk again after your exams.’So that’s why he gave me a grace period. It wasn’t that he was waiting for the finals to end; he was waiting for the summer vacation to start. It was to confine Seungjoo to a safe place once he no longer had to go to school.“Hah…”He hadn’t realized the subtle sense of wrongness would feel like this. He suspected that Muheun was hiding something, but he never imagined it would be like this.He had said he was sick of decisions being made without him, yet here they were, handling matters that directly concerned him while leaving him entirely out of the loop.“Damn it, really…”Seungjoo clenched his eyes shut, biting down on a curse. Damn Kim Muheun. Muttering it didn’t change anything. The overwhelming emotions that washed over him were none other than fierce anger and a sense of betrayal.Seungjoo, who had generally lived the life of an exemplary student, rarely rebelled against his parents. He didn’t get into trouble, not even dozing off during classes. The only reason his overprotective parents let him go on school trips was because his usual behavior was so commendable.The occasional act of rebellion for him was nothing more than putting off his homework to play a game of soccer. Of course, he would always finish all his studies on time afterward. The first time he really troubled his parents was when he drank alcohol after starting university, but even then, it was with Muheun, so it didn’t really count as misbehavior.It was only natural. If anything happened to him, both families would be thrown into chaos.Half of it was not wanting to worry them, and the other half was a stubborn determination not to let their worries come true. Everyone treated his life as if it was fragile, as if it could break at any moment, but he wanted to prove that he wasn’t so weak. He often spent nights alone, refusing to become like his sister and brother, despite denying the existence of spiritual beings with a rebellious spirit.‘If something happens to you, Hyung will lose it.’But after all the caution and care, this is the conclusion he’s left with.They had made decisions without saying a word to him, creating a false sense of safety. They must have thought that as long as Seungjoo didn’t know, everything would be fine, blindly eliminating any potential danger and making sacrifices in the process.‘Do you trust Hyung?’He had said “I trust you” so many times that they probably thought he would just keep believing forever.Although his trust in him didn’t collapse, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of betrayal strong enough to shake that trust. The more resolute Muheun became, the more anxious Seungjoo felt, almost as if the nervousness was drying out his throat.‘Muryeong is worried about you. Since that day, he hasn’t been able to come home often.’This wasn’t just about Muheun. Sometimes, the concerns they showed weighed too heavily on Seungjoo. So heavy that he occasionally felt guilty for doing nothing, as if he were committing some sin.‘How can you being in danger have nothing to do with me?’‘…’‘How could it possibly be just your problem?’No matter how high Seungjoo’s self-esteem was, there were times when he couldn’t help but think that his existence was a mistake. Why couldn’t this just be his problem? Why did everyone have to worry about him? It would be so much better if he could solve it alone, like studying or grades. But those thoughts inevitably led to a crushing sense of inadequacy.He hated dangerous situations, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t frustrated. Seungjoo was curious, he wanted to know, and he wanted to make choices on his own.Even if he tried to endure it out of consideration for not causing trouble, he found himself growing angry after being told to just stay put.“…”Late at night, Seungjoo woke up when everyone else was asleep. Normally, he would be deeply asleep at this time, but there wasn’t a trace of drowsiness on his face. Even in the darkness, his sharp eyes held an inexplicable determination.As if drawn by an unseen force, Seungjoo got up and carefully tidied his bed. The faint moonlight streaming in illuminated his every move.After making the bed as he was used to, he quietly approached his desk. He didn’t turn on the light. It just felt like he shouldn’t. Every action was performed with great stealth, and even the act of swallowing felt suspicious.He began packing clothes into the bag that had been hanging on his chair. He folded and packed his t-shirts, pants, and underwear in order, and, out of habit, didn’t forget to include ointment and bandages.What else should he bring? As he looked around, his gaze fell on a single flower neatly placed on his desk. At first, he thought it was a rose, but he later learned it was called a ranunculus. It was the very flower that Muheun, dressed impeccably in a suit, had unexpectedly handed to him.‘A gift.’‘…’‘You said you’ve never received one before.’Thanks to hanging it upside down and drying it carefully, the flower had only slightly faded in color, but its shape remained intact. He wondered why he had kept it all this time, knowing it was such an uncharacteristic thing for him to do. Despite realizing how delicate and out of character it was, he simply couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.“…Ha.”Seungjoo took a deep breath and slung the bag over his shoulder. Then he pulled a small, rectangular piece of paper from his pocket and stared at it quietly.It was a business card that read “Team Leader Lee Yunhee.”Getting his hands on the business card was a chance occurrence. Since he didn’t receive it directly, “getting his hands on it” was the only way to describe it, though it wasn’t as if Seungjoo had stolen it. Technically, he found it, but even that was a bit ambiguous.“Just a moment. There’s a lot of stuff in the back.”Before Seungjoo got into Yunhee’s car yesterday, Yunhee had said this and began tidying up the back seat. Seungjoo, who was being carried by Muheun, waited while Yunhee finished and then spoke to Muheun.“You’ll have to sit in the front. There’s no room.”Even in that situation, Muheun made some ridiculous suggestion about how Seungjoo could just sit on his lap. Naturally, Seungjoo didn’t pay any attention and, with Muheun’s help, got into the back seat.The problem arose after everyone was in the car when Yunhee made a remark.“Buckle up in the back seat too.”It wasn’t an unusual thing to say. Seungjoo was the type to always fasten his seatbelt wherever he sat. So, without much thought, he pulled the seatbelt, only to find a small piece of paper wedged where the seatbelt clicked into place.“…?”What he found there was Yunhee’s business card. It bore the mark of the Exorcist Association and read, “Team Leader Lee Yunhee, 1st Team.”It was so deliberately placed that it seemed too intentional to have been accidentally dropped. Seungjoo, feeling puzzled, instinctively turned to look forward.“…”“…”Their eyes met. The gaze through the rearview mirror only lasted a moment before breaking. Yunhee, who had been looking at Seungjoo steadily, turned his head as he started the car. Seungjoo, who had been about to say something, found himself unable to utter a word and ended up just holding the business card.Judging by his fairly good intuition, it was clear that Yunhee had placed it there on purpose. While moving the items in the back seat aside, he must have discreetly tucked the business card into a convenient spot. Though there were plenty of exorcists trying to make a good impression on him, for some reason, Seungjoo didn’t think that was Yunhee’s intention.“I’m not sure if this is what he wanted me to do with it…”Seungjoo sighed softly as he adjusted his bag. His gaze fell on the wall he had stared at endlessly during the day. The sight of it, covered in talismans, was somewhat eerie in the dark night.His parents would be worried. Thinking this, Seungjoo began walking. He had left a note in his room, just in case, and planned to answer any calls immediately. Though he had left the house without a word, he didn’t intend to act like a rebellious high schooler.She didn’t climb over the wall. There was no need to since the sturdy front gate was right in front of her. Besides, the wall was too high for anyone other than the neighbors to climb over. There was even a security system installed, so even if she managed to get over it, the alarm would go off immediately.Seungjoo unlocked the gate and grabbed the iron handle. Feeling oddly tense, he swallowed dryly. With a push, the heavy gate creaked open.“…It was that easy.”Taking the first step took longer than expected, but taking the second step wasn’t difficult at all. As soon as he stepped outside and closed the gate, he felt both a sense of relief and an overwhelming sense of emptiness.In the first place, he hadn’t been imprisoned. He had simply stayed put because he was told not to go out. No one had even thought Seungjoo would leave, so they hadn’t bothered to lock him in.“Well… they’re not that kind of people.”They might scold him, but they weren’t the type to abuse him. That’s why he felt even more sorry and why he had tried so hard to follow their words. Not just his parents, but even Kim Muheun, despite being frustrating at times, never resorted to force.Leaving the gate behind, Seungjoo crossed under the streetlights. Two messages from an unregistered number had arrived on his phone. One was a set of coordinates, and the other was the name of a place presumably at those coordinates.So, she’s a ghost hunter too. Well, as a member of the 1st Team, it made sense.“…I’m not sure if this is the right thing to do.”Seungjoo sighed and put his phone back in his pocket. The talisman he always carried was in there too. He habitually fiddled with the talisman, but with his spiritual sight closed, he couldn’t sense Mu-ryeong’s energy.In a way, it was a relief that his spiritual sight was closed. If it weren’t, he probably wouldn’t have dared to step outside in the middle of the night. He would have been too afraid of seeing a ghost or being possessed by a spirit, and he would have stayed holed up inside, surrounded by talismans.And maybe, he might have mistaken the distant figure for a ghost.“…”In an alley not far from Seungjoo’s house, a black sedan was parked at the entrance to the main road. It was the same car he and Muheun had ridden in on the day Muheun killed the spirit. And the person standing in front of it was undoubtedly Yunhee, whom Seungjoo had contacted earlier.“You arrived quickly.”Yunhee spoke to Seungjoo, who had approached, in a flat tone. She wasn’t wearing a hat like last time but was instead dressed in a neat suit. Seungjoo gave her a slightly awkward bow, and Yunhee nodded as she opened the back door.“Get in.”In the end, Seungjoo didn’t get into the back seat. After glancing at the open door, he hugged his bag and climbed into the passenger seat instead. Without saying a word, Yunhee got into the driver’s seat, and this time, instead of telling him to fasten his seatbelt, she started the car right away.“I’m sorry for bothering you when you’re probably busy.”Seungjoo politely apologized first. It was late at night, and though it was a typical time for exorcists to be active, it still felt rude to ask to be picked up so suddenly.“I’m off today, so it’s fine.”Yunhee replied calmly as she turned the wheel. Though Seungjoo felt a bit guilty, Yunhee, after briefly glancing at him, added slowly.“Of course, I didn’t intend to help a runaway teenager…”“I’m not a runaway.”Seungjoo denied her words with a disinterested tone. He was definitely not a runaway, and he did inform his parents. Well, whether they actually heard him was another matter.“And I’m not a teenager.”“…Ah.”Right, he had turned twenty. Yunhee seemed to murmur something to that effect as she nodded in understanding. Seungjoo also fell silent and turned his head away.While staring blankly out the window, it was Yunhee who spoke first this time.“So, what do you plan to do at the association, young master?”“…Hmm.”She got straight to the point. Seungjoo frowned slightly and cleared his throat. He had asked for help, but he wasn’t sure if he should tell Yunhee about his real intentions.‘…Where exactly did Hyung go?’When Seungjoo had asked that, the housekeeper hadn’t given him a clear answer about Muheun’s whereabouts. The treatment of a disciplined person was kept confidential, so she said she didn’t know where Muheun was either. If he pushed harder, he could probably find out, but the chances of her sharing that information with Seungjoo seemed close to zero.‘Then, how long will he be away?’‘Well…’The vague way she trailed off made it clear that she didn’t know either.If he was disciplined and sent away, and if there was no certainty about when he’d return, then… There were so many things Seungjoo hadn’t been able to ask him, and now, he might not get the chance to ask anything at all.He had agonized endlessly over this during the few days he stayed at home. Would it be better to just listen and stay put, or should he continue to see him occasionally, as he had done before? Since everything would eventually be resolved with time, maybe it was best to stay here, blocking out the world.Over ten reasons to stay crossed his mind, but despite all of them, one thought kept interfering with everything else. A thought… No, it was more accurate to say it was a feeling. A feeling of resentment toward Muheun, that infuriating older brother.Damn it, Kim Muheun. How long are you going to keep doing whatever you want?It wasn’t about seeking compensation for his romantic feelings. It wasn’t about his habit of showing up out of nowhere and leaving whenever he pleased—something Seungjoo had grown used to by now. It was about his selfish sacrifice, trying to end things on his own.So that night, Seungjoo sent Yunhee a message. “Hello, this is Seo Seungjoo. I have a favor to ask.” The message began with a sincere request to take him to the association. If he wanted to meet Muheun, he needed to know where he was, and for that, he first had to visit the association.Fortunately, Yunhee didn’t argue and simply replied with a date and time. It was strange that there wasn’t even a polite greeting, but somehow that straightforward message made Seungjoo trust her more. If Yunhee had made a fuss like someone trying to curry favor, Seungjoo probably wouldn’t have considered asking her for help.“First, I’m going to ask where Hyung is…”There were countless things to negotiate. Seungjoo knew better than anyone the position and authority he held. By tomorrow, his parents would likely come looking for him, so at least for tonight, the association wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.“I’m going to ask them to cancel his disciplinary action.”He knew it was a reckless attempt, but he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. Kim Muheun, being disciplined? This was someone who hadn’t even received a single demerit in school. If anyone deserved to be disciplined, it was those who had broken the spirit seal, not Muheun.“Hyung isn’t someone who should be punished.”“….”Yunhee glanced at Seungjoo after his resolute statement. The road was empty, with no cars passing by, so Seungjoo simply stared intently at the deserted road.Looking forward again, Yunhee spoke in a businesslike tone.“I agree that Kim Muheun isn’t someone who should be punished, but canceling that disciplinary action would be impossible unless you’re at the level of the association president.”“Then I’ll ask the association president.”He didn’t know the new president, but he had met the former president a few times when he was younger. In terms of companies, the Seo family was in a position akin to investors, so meeting the highest-ranking person in the association wasn’t too difficult. Of course, whether that person would grant his request was another matter.“Don’t worry. Just get me to the association, and I’ll take care of the rest.”Seungjoo had no intention of asking Yunhee to help him beyond that point. He planned to face the association president and negotiate on his own. If he could have gone to the association by taxi or public transportation, he wouldn’t have even asked for Yunhee’s help.“I heard that the young master of the Seo family is known for being so cautious…”Yunhee trailed off, choosing her words carefully. Though he didn’t finish his sentence, Seungjoo could guess what she was implying. It was probably something along the lines of, “Why are you being so reckless then?”Answering that would be tricky, so Seungjoo simply turned to Yunhee and asked a question instead.“You gave me your business card on purpose, didn’t you?”Yunhee frowned. She tapped the steering wheel with her fingers before replying in a slightly cold tone.“If you knew that, you shouldn’t have kept it.”“…”Her voice was low, almost intimidating, if only for a moment. But Yunhee didn’t stop there; she added slowly,“Didn’t Kim Muheun tell you? To be careful of people who approach you when he’s not around.”Seungjoo had heard similar warnings countless times. It was a typical caution like, “Don’t follow someone just because they offer you candy,” but most of them were sincere. And if Muheun found out that Seungjoo had contacted Yunhee this time, he would probably get an earful.“So what made you trust me enough to reach out?”The comment, seemingly muttered to herself, was really a question directed at Seungjoo. More precisely, it had a sarcastic tone, but Seungjoo responded in his usual indifferent voice.“If I thought it would be dangerous, I wouldn’t have contacted you.”In fact, the first person who came to mind was Gwangsik, but Seungjoo didn’t have his number. He regretted not getting it instead of just giving out his own. Then he snapped out of it, realizing how foolish it was to think of asking for help from someone he barely knew, just because they had crossed paths a few times.So why did he choose Yunhee? The answer was actually quite simple. He needed the help of a spiritualist to get to the association, and aside from the people next door, he didn’t know anyone personally. It wasn’t just because he had received a business card; it was a conclusion he reached after considering various circumstances.“You’re close with Hyung, aren’t you?”‘Yunhee-ah.’That day, when Seungjoo had run into Yunhee in front of the grave, there was unmistakable warmth in Muheun’s voice. He hadn’t expected Yunhee to come, but was relieved when she did. There was even a hint of relief in his voice. It might have been a subtle difference to others, but Seungjoo, who had known Muheun for a long time, could tell right away.“If you were dangerous, Hyung wouldn’t have put me in your car.”This was the decisive reason why Seungjoo chose Yunhee. If Yunhee were truly dangerous, Muheun wouldn’t have let Seungjoo get into her car. If it were the Kim Muheun Seungjoo knew, he would have called someone else or carried Seungjoo on his back and walked endlessly. In a way, he was stubbornly honest to the point of being naïve.“And I have a good eye for people. I can tell pretty quickly if someone’s the type to cause harm.”Maybe it was the instinct honed by years of caution. Having grown up hearing warnings all his life, Seungjoo’s ability to sense danger had sharpened over time. Now, he could roughly distinguish whether someone was deceitful or not.“Why do you think Hyung gave me his business card even though he’s under disciplinary action? He must have given it to me so I could contact him if I needed something while he was away. It’s not like he gave it to me to ask for favors or connections.”If that were the case, she would have been trying to flatter him instead of giving warnings. Or she might have taken him to a quiet, secluded place and threatened him. If it were the former, Seungjoo could simply ignore it; if it were the latter, he had his own preparations in mind.“Just so you know, I left your business card at home. If anything happens to me, you’ll be the prime suspect.”“…”Yunhee looked momentarily dumbfounded by Seungjoo’s words. It was like preemptively threatening someone before they could threaten you. Despite thinking that, Seungjoo kept his expression neutral. Yunhee could only let out a helpless chuckle.“Like Hyung, like Dongsaeng….You really are Kim Muheun’s sibling.”It didn’t sound like a compliment, but it wasn’t exactly an insult either. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Seungjoo twitched his cheek and shifted the question back to Yunhee.“So what about you? Why are you helping me?”It made sense for Seungjoo to grab onto any lifeline he could find, but Yunhee’s reasons for this unnecessary volunteer work were unclear. While Seungjoo planned to properly repay her later, it didn’t seem like Yunhee was helping out of any expectation of personal gain.“If the young master asks for help, I should help.”The response came naturally, though it didn’t seem entirely sincere. Seungjoo clicked his tongue inwardly and furrowed his brows.“Could you stop calling me ‘young master’? You can speak more casually, too.”It was an off-topic remark, but it was something Seungjoo had wanted to say for a while. He was used to being called “young master,” but hearing it from Yunhee felt strangely uncomfortable. Maybe it was because he considered Yunhee a friend of his brother. It felt odd for his brother’s friend to speak so formally to him.Yunhee, however, didn’t hesitate to respond.“Then you stop calling me ‘team leader.’ I don’t really like being called that by regular people.”It was rare for someone from the association to classify him as a regular person. That distinction, as simple as it was, felt oddly touching.But what else could he call her besides ‘team leader’? After thinking for a moment, Seungjoo blurted out the most familiar term.“Noona?”“Ah, that’s a bit…”Yunhee sighed softly, a displeased expression on her face. Seungjoo, who had assumed Yunhee was around the same age as Muyeon and Muheun, didn’t understand the reaction. Muyeon was the youngest team leader, and Muheun called Yunhee by name, so Seungjoo figured Yunhee was about thirty.“How old are you, team leader?”“Thirty-four.”“…What?”The age was a bit higher than he expected. The fact that Yunhee looked so young was one thing, but now Muheun’s attitude towards her seemed a bit problematic.“Wow, Kim Muheun is like four years younger than you…”“…”The words that unconsciously slipped out of his mouth were met with a rather bewildered gaze. Seungjoo, realizing that he had just casually referred to someone ten years older than him, cleared his throat awkwardly.“So, why are you helping me?”“I don’t really want to get involved either… but I’m tired of dealing with this annoying stuff.”This time, the reason she gave seemed more genuine, though it was still somewhat unclear.“Annoying stuff?”“There are things like that. You don’t need to know, kid.”Even though Seungjoo had asked her to speak casually, Yunhee went ahead and treated him like a child. Of course, as someone who was relatively younger, Seungjoo couldn’t really argue with that.“And I’m not that close to Kim Muheun.”If only he knew that saying so made them seem even closer. It wasn’t a particularly friendly response, but Seungjoo had a feeling that if he asked Muheun, he would get a similar answer.While they talked, the car was already climbing up a deserted mountain road. There was no traffic, not even traffic lights, so they arrived much faster than expected. As they drove up the mountain road without even turning on the headlights, Yunhee, looking at a building that came into view in the distance, said,“We’re almost there, so get ready.”The Exorcist Association’s building was an old mental hospital deep in the mountains that had been converted for its current use. It was a place where ordinary people rarely set foot, and even if they knew of its existence, it wasn’t easy to find. Rumor had it that a hallucination barrier covered the entire mountain, and only exorcists with spiritual sight could find the path to the association.“…”Seungjoo followed Yunhee out of the car, tightly clutching a talisman even before entering the building. He’d only ever visited during the day, so he hadn’t realized how eerie the place felt at night, like a ghost might appear at any moment. Of course, if a ghost did show up here, it would probably have a much scarier experience.“You’re really scared, huh.”Yunhee muttered to herself, looking at Seungjoo with a somewhat unfamiliar expression. These exorcists seemed to have no empathy. Whenever Seungjoo showed even a little fear, they would observe him as if he were some curious specimen.“No, this is normal.”Seungjoo replied with a scowl, taking in the building around him. There weren’t many windows, and some of them even had iron bars. He knew the interior had been renovated nicely, but knowing something logically and feeling it emotionally were two different things.Yunhee started walking ahead, and Seungjoo followed closely behind. When they scanned Yunhee’s fingerprint and iris at the entrance, the glass doors smoothly slid open. It was a security system that every exorcist affiliated with the association was registered in.‘It’s so high-tech in weird places,’ Seungjoo thought as he cautiously stepped inside. There was another steel door inside, which couldn’t be opened without the strength of a spiritualist.As expected, Yunhee easily turned the handle and opened the door. She held it open for a moment, allowing Seungjoo to step in first.“…!”Suddenly, someone appeared right in front of him. Startled, Seungjoo instinctively stepped back, and Yunhee quickly positioned herself in front of him. The steel door slammed shut with a loud bang, and Yunhee frowned deeply.“What the hell? Don’t scare the kid like that.”“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you…”The person who had suddenly appeared was an exorcist dressed entirely in black from head to toe. With a hat pulled low over her face, it was hard to see her features, but from her voice, it seemed she was a woman. She glanced back and forth between Yunhee and Seungjoo before speaking abruptly.“The Association President is expecting you.”"강시" (jiangshi) is a term from Chinese folklore and popular culture that refers to a type of reanimated corpse or zombie-like creature. In traditional Chinese mythology, a jiangshi is a corpse that has been reanimated and is known for its aggressive behavior.