The Night Of The Untraced

A pure white room. In the spacious meeting room, only two people were present: Seungjoo, who looked troubled, and Gwangsik, who sat with his gaze lowered. The two sat across the table from each other, both remaining tightly silent.‘This is painfully awkward.’Seungjoo leaned halfway back in his chair, frowning deeply. He wanted to say something, anything, but the atmosphere was so tense that it was hard to even start a conversation. The room’s excellent soundproofing only made the silence more oppressive.‘How long are we just going to sit here like this…?’This was an office used by the Gwimae hunters. Specifically, it was a meeting room located within the office itself.From the outside, it looked like a hospital, but the interior felt like any typical office. There was a large table in the center, with rows of chairs lined up along each side. While Seungjoo wasn’t sure if the Gwimae hunters actually held meetings here, it was certainly a suitable space for conversation.But that wasn’t really the important part.“Hey.”Finally, it was Seungjoo who broke the silence. Unfortunately, even then, Gwangsik didn’t respond.“Hey, Gwangsik.”“…….”Gwangsik lowered his head even further as if to signal he didn’t want to talk. While he wasn’t wearing a hat to hide his face, his hair fell across his eyes, providing some cover. Seungjoo fixed his gaze on Gwangsik’s spiraled crown and let out an exaggerated sigh.“Agh.”How did things come to this?Everything was fine up until he’d left the courtroom with Muheun. They’d had a casual conversation, and even when Gwangsik later joined them, Seungjoo hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. Sure, Gwangsik’s expression had been a bit odd, but he hadn’t thought it would escalate to this level.‘He’s not a kid, for crying out loud…’Seungjoo scratched the back of his head as he replayed the recent events in his mind.Their current situation traced back roughly three hours ago.***“I hereby declare the official dissolution of Team 0.”Not long after Muheun’s announcement of disbanding Team 0, the trial wrapped up. It wasn’t a matter that could be immediately resolved, and the courtroom had grown too chaotic due to the successive accusations. Despite multiple attempts to restore order, the tribunal ultimately had no choice but to end the session and defer the matter to a future date.The association president was taken away by the tribunal members again, and several senior officials who had aided him were also detained on the spot. Among them was one man who resisted aggressively, storming over and grabbing Muheun by the collar.“Kim Muheun! Do you think you’ll get away with this?”He spouted the most stereotypical villain lines. The man shook Muheun with all his strength, but Muheun merely looked down at him with an indifferent gaze. The man was soon dragged away by the tribunal, while Seungjoo found himself gritting his teeth in frustration.‘Damn, who is this guy…?’Seungjoo impulsively stepped forward, only to be stopped by Muheun, who had stepped down from the stand. As if to calm him, Muheun blocked Seungjoo’s way and casually straightened his collar. Seungjoo, still glaring at the departing man, frowned when he saw him pull out a pair of sunglasses before heading out the door.“That man… he’s the one who was smoking before.”Back when Seungjoo was heading home from a drinking party, this man had been chain-smoking and had even asked him for directions. He’d been unpleasantly memorable, dumping a strange liquid and muttering nastily about a turtle-like Gwimae.“Cigarettes… that’s the one who opened my spiritual vision?”“Yes, that’s him.”Muheun, who’d remained expressionless even when grabbed by the collar, now hardened his face in a way that sent chills down Seungjoo’s spine. The sudden intensity was so striking that even Seungjoo, who’d been visibly annoyed, flinched a little. Not out of fear of Muheun, but rather out of worry that something might escalate.“Tch, so that old guy’s been strutting around ever since he got disciplined two years ago. Guess he must’ve latched onto the president,” Muyeon muttered beside them, clicking his tongue in disdain as the man was dragged out. Even Muryeong, typically unfazed, nodded in apparent disgust, as if the man’s very presence bothered him. If Kim Muryeong disliked someone, it meant there was definitely a problem.“So what exactly happened with you, oppa?”Muyeon belatedly asked, but instead of responding, Muheun slowly looked around, perhaps noting the number of people observing them. Then, he wrapped an arm around Seungjoo’s shoulders and began leading him away.“Let’s talk somewhere else.”And so, they headed to the office used by the Gwimae hunters. As Muryeong had once said, it was on a different floor than the ones usually used by exorcists. Fortunately, the office was empty, making it an ideal spot for a private conversation.“There’s something I didn’t mention about Team 0 during the trial.”Muheun shared with Muryeong and Muyeon the same details he had previously told Seungjoo: when he became the team leader, the purpose of Team 0, and even the function of the wooden tag he carried.“If you use the forced summoning authority, you’re allowed to make a single statement during the trial as a backup in case there’s no evidence. Think of it as a final argument…”The situation was a little different, but he had used that right to speak. Whether the tribunal would allow it was the question, and Muheun added that he’d felt like he was taking a gamble himself. Not that he looked tense at all when he actually said it.“Guess I was lucky.”Was it really just luck, or had he anticipated even that? In the end, it was all resolved, but the true thoughts behind it were still a mystery.“Then why did they put you in charge of a team like that, Hyung? They couldn’t have been unaware that you were the son of that man…”After listening to everything Muheun shared, Seungjoo asked a question that had been nagging at him. It seemed strange for the previous association president to put the son of someone who opposed their operations in charge of Team 0. After all, appointing the son of a councilor who had died from overwork would seem like an enormous risk.“There probably wasn’t anyone else at the team leader level. Not just anyone can be a team leader.”“And on the surface, Hyung looks neutral?”Muyeon and Muryeong each offered their thoughts to answer Seungjoo’s question. Though neither seemed completely sure, Muheun didn’t deny it; he just shrugged and posed a question of his own in a gentle voice.“When you have someone who’s a threat, do you know the best way to deal with them?”Someone who posed a threat—it was obvious that he meant Muheun. When Seungjoo shook his head, Muheun’s lips curled slightly.“You get them in the same boat.”“The same boat?”“Yeah, so they can’t betray you.”Essentially, like drowning together. It seemed the former association president hadn’t fully trusted Muheun, after all, even while appearing to give him considerable authority. By giving him power over shady dealings as well, they prevented him from turning against them.“When they created Team 0, the president filled it with kids brought in through their operations. As you said, since they were forcibly recruited, he made it so they weren’t bound by association rules.”It sounded plausible enough, but in truth, it was nothing but a ploy. By the time they were made members of Team 0, the kids had already lost all emotion. Trying to fix things after the damage was done wouldn’t change anything.“The team leader of Team 0 has always been the person who posed the greatest threat to the president. One previous team leader even tried to use the forced summoning rights. But… remember I mentioned that you need the team’s unanimous consent to use it?”As he did in the tribunal, Muheun took a wooden token from his sleeve. He waved it, then scoffed softly, as if the thought was ridiculous.“If you can’t get their consent, you can’t use it.”It was power in name only. Without emotions, there was little chance of anyone becoming angry or standing up for justice. Even in the face of injustice, the team members had no reason to take action.“The team leader position in Team 0 is just a way to disarm you while pretending to give you power.”Hearing that, the three of them fell silent. They didn’t know what to say. It was shocking enough to learn about the association’s hidden machinations, but hearing that Muheun had held such a role until today left them stunned.Muyeon looked at Muheun and asked in a voice that had grown subdued.“Does Mom know?”“More or less.”They didn’t dare ask what he meant by “more or less.” Nor could they bring themselves to ask how he had managed to use the forced summoning rights. Just as Seungjoo opened his mouth, ready to ask the question, the office door suddenly flew open.“…?”Bang! Someone hurried inside through the open doorway. They stumbled slightly as they entered, but seeing the four of them gathered, they stopped in their tracks. After taking in each of their faces—Muryeong, Muyeon, Seungjoo, and finally, Muheun—the newcomer slowly opened his mouth.“…Team Leader.”It was Gwangsik, who had left with his team as soon as the first part of the tribunal had ended. His hat was still missing, and he seemed unusually anxious. While Seungjoo was startled by his sudden appearance, Muheun only tilted his head, unperturbed.“Gwangsik, you’re going to break the door.”“…”At those words, Gwangsik turned to check the door first. For ordinary people, it might not have been an issue, but for spirit users, it was a real possibility. Finding no damage to the door, he quickly turned back and approached Muheun.“What’s going on?”Gwangsik didn’t answer immediately. He hesitated, as if trying to find the right words, taking a few steps forward before he finally began to speak in his usual mechanical tone.“Our team… it’s being disbanded.”His voice trembled faintly at the end. Not just his voice—his gaze at Muheun was also unsteady. Although visibly shaken, Muheun, on the other hand, appeared calm.“So, you’ve heard the news.”Hadn’t he informed the team members? Judging by Gwangsik’s reaction, he seemed to have been completely unaware. His usually emotionless, robot-like expression was now full of bewilderment.“It’s not immediate. Soon, the disbandment will proceed officially. Until then, I’ll remain in the team leader position.”“And after that…?”“I’ll have to step down.”Or rather, it was closer to being dismissed, Muheun added briefly. After a short silence, Gwangsik asked again.“Is this an order from above?”He seemed to assume that Muheun had been forced into this decision by higher-ups. It was understandable if he hadn’t heard what was said in the tribunal.“If that’s the case…”“No, I was the one who decided to disband the team.”“…”With that single statement, Muheun corrected his misunderstanding. Even as he saw the look of confusion in Gwangsik’s eyes, Muheun’s expression remained unchanged.“Once the disbandment process is complete, the members will be reassigned to other teams, so there’s no need to worry.”The team members hadn’t done anything wrong, so they would be smoothly transferred to other teams to avoid fallout. The work would be similar, so not much would change. It was the best course of action Muheun could take, but Gwangsik’s reaction wasn’t positive.“Other teams…”Gwangsik muttered softly, lowering his gaze. Without his hat, his expression was clearer than usual. His face gradually hardened, his gaze growing cold, and his voice lowering.“So… is it because we’re no longer needed?”There was no subject, but before anyone could question his meaning, Gwangsik clenched his fists tightly.“No longer needed, so… are we being discarded?”“Hey…”Seungjoo couldn’t help but speak up, but he couldn’t quite ask what kind of attitude that was. Gwangsik’s face, briefly glimpsed, looked too devastated. It didn’t seem like sarcasm; he seemed to be asking genuinely.“It’s not about discarding…”Muheun spoke slowly, watching Gwangsik. He didn’t seem irritated, nor did he seem flustered by the reaction.“This was always how it should have been. What’s wrong must be corrected.”It should’ve sounded like a reasonable answer, but for some reason, it came across as cold. It only felt that way more when Gwangsik lowered his head.“It sounds like you’re saying the team itself was wrong.”Gwangsik raised his head slowly as he spoke. His gaze at Muheun was no longer trembling.“To correct what’s wrong… I don’t understand why that requires disbanding the team.”“Gwangsik.”“You said, no matter what happens, you’d take responsibility. That because we’re a team, we should trust and rely on each other—that’s what you said… so I believed you until now…”Starting firmly, his voice grew weaker as he continued, his head dropping. His words trailed off, muttering like a dejected child.“But the team leader…”Watching this, Seungjoo finally realized the emotion behind Gwangsik’s reaction. More than shock or confusion, it was an overwhelming sense of betrayal and anxiety that had taken hold of him.“The team is the only thing being disbanded. Nothing else will change.”“How can nothing change…!”Gwangsik, who had shouted out in frustration, stopped himself with a regretful expression. It was the moment his eyes met Muheun’s. He bit his lower lip hard and, with a precise motion, bowed his head.“…I’m sorry. I’ll leave now.”With that, Gwangsik exited the meeting room. Or rather, he tried to. Had Muheun not firmly stopped him, he would have stormed out just as he had entered.“Stop right there.”“…”He froze mid-step, as if caught in a still frame.“Where are you going?”“I’m going to work.”It was still too early to start working. While preparation for a barrier was necessary, it wasn’t the time to leave in the middle of a conversation.“I’ll take care of it, so you rest today.”“No, I… I’ll…”“Rest. That’s an order.”For some reason, Muheun was unusually firm in stopping him. When he said it a second time, Gwangsik, with a stiff expression, glanced back at him.“It’s my job.”“Yes, but I’m the one giving the orders.”Muheun replied softly, then stood up. The three people who had been waiting around, unsure, had no choice but to stand up awkwardly, following Muheun. Still fixing his gaze on Gwangsik, Muheun nodded slightly.“Don’t go out like that. Be careful, and head to the dormitory.”His words sounded like concern, yet his tone was all business. It almost felt cold.“It’s an order. Do as I say.”It was clear. Gwangsik was in an unstable state, and unlike usual, his agitation made him unfit for the field.“…”But perhaps it was his pride that had been hurt, or maybe he felt more upset than usual.Out of the corner of his eye, Seungjoo noticed Gwangsik’s clenched fist trembling. Even as they walked, Seungjoo couldn’t take his eyes off it. “He’s angry,” Seungjoo thought, but at the same time, he felt an inexplicable sympathy.“Hyung.”That’s why, when their paths crossed, he spoke without thinking. Seungjoo reached out and grabbed Gwangsik’s tightly clenched forearm, speaking softly to the three people watching them.“I’ll talk to him for a bit.”It might have seemed like unnecessary interference, but Seungjoo had something he needed to say. In a way, it was fortunate. Didn’t they agree to talk once the trial was over?“……”“……”So, the two of them ended up sitting face to face in the inner meeting room. Muyeon and Muryeong, looking confused, made way for them, and Muheun hesitated for a moment before telling Seungjoo to call him when the conversation was over. He seemed to have noticed something, alternating between looking at Seungjoo and Gwangsik.“How long are you going to stay like that?”Seungjoo sighed heavily and propped his chin on his uncasted arm. His eyes, looking downward, were pitiful. Gwangsik, looking like a dejected puppy, had a deeply sorrowful expression. If that was the case, why had he even come along? His tightly pressed lips showed no sign of opening.‘Why did I even stop him?’Though Seungjoo wanted to scold him, he still had a sense of decency. He couldn’t bring himself to raise his voice at someone so thoroughly dejected.“Do you really hate the team being disbanded that much?”Seungjoo asked, trying to soften his tone. Gwangsik hadn’t responded when his name was called, but Seungjoo hoped he might react to a question. Of course, Gwangsik didn’t move a muscle.“You keep saying nothing’s going to change. It’s not like you won’t see each other anymore. You’re still in the same association, so what’s the big deal?”Seungjoo spoke in a half-hearted tone, but at those words, Gwangsik hesitantly raised his head. Seungjoo thought he might be giving a positive response, but his unusually light-colored eyes gleamed with rebellion.“Seungjoo, you don’t understand anything.”“I don’t, I’m not part of Team 0.”Seungjoo shrugged, adjusting his posture. He wasn’t intimidated by Gwangsik’s anger, likely because Gwangsik’s frustration seemed more like a feeling of unfairness rather than pure rage.“It’d be stranger if I knew what you were going through.”Seungjoo thought of Muryeong’s calm face as he chose his words carefully. When it came to offering comfort, no one could surpass Muryeong, but the problem was that Seungjoo couldn’t imitate his gentle manner. He had known that soft-spoken tone his whole life, but he could never replicate it.“If you’re unhappy, just say so. If you don’t tell me, how would I know?”So, Seungjoo decided to act according to his own straightforward nature. There was no guarantee that beating around the bush would get through to Gwangsik.Fortunately, Gwangsik seemed to have no intention of remaining silent any longer, as he spoke in a stiff, unwavering tone.“When I was young, a fire broke out at the orphanage.”The story began suddenly, and Seungjoo was already familiar with it. The orphanage, Yeonho Orphanage, which had been completely destroyed by fire. Gwangsik was the child brought from there.“Everyone died, but I was the only one who survived. When I had nowhere to go, the association took me in.”Just hearing this, it was easy to imagine how devastating the fire must have been. For him to survive, it was nothing short of a miracle in some ways.“That’s how the team is. Everyone here has been abandoned by their families, had nowhere to go, or has been alone since birth. That’s the kind of team we are.”Seungjoo had heard this from Muheun before, but hearing it from Gwangsik’s stiff voice left an unsettling mark in his heart. The emotions he was feeling were so clearly conveyed that Seungjoo felt a tightening in his chest.“But if the team disbands…”He knew the unspoken words. The unvoiced anxiety, the fear of having nowhere to go.“In the end, the team leader is the same. You use people when you need them, then throw them away.”“…”“Now that we’re no longer useful… that’s why they’re disbanding us.”Seungjoo couldn’t deny it. Gwangsik’s face was full of pain as he spoke. With his head lowered, Gwangsik murmured, barely audible.“You told us to trust you…”Tears began to fall, rolling down his face. The tear from his eye dropped onto the table, and just as Seungjoo blinked, Gwangsik looked up with a dazed expression.“…Why are you crying?”“Ah.”Seungjoo murmured softly, wiping his eyes. The tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes clung to his fingertips. He brushed them away with his sleeve, composing his expression as if nothing had happened.“I think something got in my eye.”It was a rather clumsy excuse, prompting Gwangsik to eye him with suspicion. But even so, he couldn’t say anything more. After all, Seungjoo wasn’t someone who would cry on behalf of others.Fortunately, once Seungjoo wiped them away, no more tears fell. His face returned to normal, as if he had never shed a tear. Exhaling a short sigh, Seungjoo looked directly at Gwangsik and spoke.“Hyung is just like that.”“…What?”Gwangsik blinked at the sudden remark, while Seungjoo’s brow furrowed.“He thinks alone, acts alone, and never bothers to tell me. Do you know what he often says? He says that hiding things without reason isn’t the way to care for others. But he’s the one who does it. If you don’t ask, he won’t tell you.”If one put it nicely, he didn’t make excuses. Put bluntly, he didn’t give explanations. It was a constant frustration, but Seungjoo knew why Muheun acted that way, so he couldn’t blame him. He thought that, if he were Muheun, he would probably make the same choices.“Hyung must have had his reasons. I get that. And when I find out later, I understand why he didn’t say anything.”Whenever feelings of frustration and sorrow built up, something would happen that made Seungjoo understand Muheun again, just before he was about to explode. Knowing that Muheun’s actions weren’t driven by selfishness, he couldn’t bring himself to criticize him.“But you know what?”Gwangsik blinked, opening his eyes. Without waiting for a reply, Seungjoo continued.“Human imagination is like that. Assuming the worst is its default setting, and if you keep having the same thoughts, they tend to lead to negative places.”That was why Seungjoo tried not to overthink things. People who feared the unknown tended to imagine every worst-case scenario in their minds. In a way, it was a defense mechanism, but the issue was that such thoughts could eat away at them.“I understand why you thought that way, but that’s just the worst-case scenario.”Discarding someone because they’re no longer useful—that’s not how people should treat each other. Seungjoo couldn’t even imagine what kind of life someone must have lived to make such an assumption naturally.“It’s probably not for the reasons you’re thinking.”Seungjoo’s firm tone made Gwangsik’s eyes flinch. It wasn’t a negative reaction; he just looked momentarily lost for words.“You said you don’t dislike Hyung.”“…”“Then you know he’s not the type to do that.”Seungjoo didn’t think Gwangsik genuinely meant to criticize Muheun. If anything, he likely spoke out of frustration, venting his feelings and then feeling hurt by his own words.“I…”Slowly, Gwangsik opened his mouth but lowered his head again before finishing. I’ve seen the top of his head a lot today, Seungjoo thought, staring at his round part. After a moment, Gwangsik spoke in a blunt voice.“I know he doesn’t have to tell us about the case just because he’s the team leader. And it’s the higher-ups who decide to disband the team, not me. We’ve always done as we were told, so we could just say, ‘Got it,’ this time too.”He wasn’t talking to Seungjoo. It was more like he was talking to himself, explaining things to himself, along with a confession full of frustration.“But I just can’t.”“…”“All I can think of are bad thoughts.”A pang squeezed his chest. Overwhelmed by sorrow, he feared that if he wasn’t careful, tears might start to spill again, just like earlier.Yet, suppressing all those feelings, Seungjoo forced himself to speak in a calm voice.“It’s because you’re upset.”Gwangsik looked up, startled. His light-colored eyes, thankfully, showed no signs of tears. Meeting that gaze steadily, Seungjoo quietly added,“Because you’re hurt.”If what he was feeling was betrayal, the root of that betrayal was this. The unresolved, overflowing negative emotions that he couldn’t quite let go of.“I told you, didn’t I? Hyung is just like that. I’ve even argued with him a few times over it.”Seungjoo wasn’t the type to be easily swayed by his emotions, but even he had voiced his frustrations to Muheun a few times. Although he had resolved those feelings by now, back then, he had seriously felt resentful toward him.“At times like that, all sorts of thoughts come to mind. If he was going to act this way, he shouldn’t have been kind. He shouldn’t have given me hope. Why make someone expect something and then let it end like this?”If he was going to leave from the beginning, if even his departure was meant for Seungjoo’s sake, then maybe it would have been better if he’d just been cold-hearted.“Sometimes he’s so frustrating I feel annoyed. If even I, who’ve known him my whole life, feel this way, imagine how it must be for you.”Even so, is there anything more frustrating than not being able to hate him? Of course, disliking and resenting someone are two different things.“Sometimes I feel like… forget that he’s my hyung…”Seungjoo was about to vent when he suddenly noticed a deep gaze on him and stopped talking. Gwangsik was quietly looking at him, his expression as innocent as a child’s, as if he’d never been upset.“Didn’t you say you liked our team leader?”“….”Why bring that up now? Seungjoo raised a skeptical eyebrow, but Gwangsik didn’t even blink. He simply asked again, as if he genuinely didn’t understand.“So, is it okay to badmouth him like that?”“Hey, I wasn’t badmouthing…”He started to say something in defense but found himself at a loss for words. In truth, it did sound like he was criticizing Muheun. So Seungjoo cleared his throat awkwardly and responded bluntly.“What’s it matter? Go tell him if you want.”Even if Muheun heard, he probably wouldn’t mind. He might just chuckle lazily and maybe even give him a teasing kiss. Or he might wear an apologetic expression and act like he was at fault.“Anyway, it’s only natural to feel hurt. That’s how people are. Rules or no rules, what can you do if I’m upset?”It would be nice if emotions worked the way one wanted. Unfortunately, even the bright and gentle Muheun occasionally felt down. Feeling emotions wasn’t wrong; the important thing was how to handle them.“So once you’ve sorted out your thoughts, go ask Hyung again. Do you think you’ll reach a conclusion just by mulling over it on your own? Like I said earlier, if you don’t speak up, the other person won’t know.”If he could understand the reasoning, the hurt would probably lessen. At least that was how it worked for Seungjoo. And if it was Muheun, he was sure Muheun would offer a mature apology, leaving no hard feelings.‘He must have anticipated this from the start.’After all, Muheun was exceptionally perceptive. When he decided to disband the team, he must have anticipated how the team members would react. That’s probably why he didn’t seem surprised when Gwangsik stormed into the office.But the odd thing was why he hadn’t explained it sooner…“I didn’t know it was because I was hurt.”“Huh?”Startled, Seungjoo looked back at Gwangsik, who was staring blankly into space with an unreadable expression. In a strangely emotionless voice, he said,“I didn’t know I was feeling this way because I was hurt.”It took a long moment for Seungjoo to understand. By the time Gwangsik’s gaze refocused, and he clutched his chest, lowering his head, Seungjoo’s expression had turned vacant.“So… this is what being hurt feels like.”Seungjoo’s face twisted as he held back a rising anger, letting out a frustrated sigh. A phrase Muheun had once said echoed clearly in his mind.“They train those kids to suppress their emotions.”“…”Those scumbags.When he first heard that, he hadn’t imagined it would feel like this. He’d thought it was awful, but he hadn’t realized how deeply disturbing it was. Even if exorcists aren’t supposed to have emotional reactions, and even if they’re not meant to feel sorrow, there was no need to completely sever those feelings.“I’ll do what you said. I need to talk to the team leader.”Unlike the turmoil Seungjoo felt, Gwangsik looked much calmer than before. He nodded, resolutely, looking almost refreshed.“By the way, didn’t you say you had something to talk about?”Now that he seemed a bit more composed, Gwangsik asked Seungjoo. He seemed to recall Seungjoo asking him to spare some time before the trial started. In fact, this conversation had started because Seungjoo had mentioned he wanted to talk.“Oh, that…”However, instead of explaining, Seungjoo hesitated, rubbing his cheek. Earlier, he had something he wanted to ask, but now it felt irrelevant. More accurately, he was certain of what he needed to know before even asking.“No need. I’ve confirmed it.”“Confirm?”“Yeah, confirm.”Gwangsik gave a puzzled look, but Seungjoo simply stood up. There wasn’t much else to say, so he was ready to wrap up the conversation.“Let’s get going.”***Outside the office, Muheun was waiting. Leaning against the wall, he straightened up when he saw the two of them coming out together. Seungjoo started to pull out his phone but paused, eyes widening.“Hyung, were you here the whole time?”He’d told him to call when they were done, yet it looked like he had waited right there the entire time. It hadn’t been that long, but still, it must’ve been boring to wait around.“Had nowhere else to go,” Muheun replied with a cheeky smile and a casual shrug. Then, as he turned his gaze to Gwangsik, the latter flinched and averted his eyes.“You’re heading back to the dorm, right?”“…”Gwangsik nodded silently. He looked less defiant than before, perhaps affected by his talk with Seungjoo. Hesitating for a moment, Gwangsik finally spoke up.“When you get back… there’s something I’d like to discuss.”“With me?”“Yes.”Even if Muheun didn’t know, Seungjoo could easily guess what Gwangsik wanted to say. He likely wanted to express his feelings of disappointment about the team disbanding.“Alright, let’s talk when I get back.”“Yes, I’ll be going now.”Gwangsik bowed politely and passed by them, crossing the hallway. As Seungjoo watched his figure gradually disappear, he was struck by a feeling he’d had before—a sensation of watching an NPC exit the scene, foreign yet oddly familiar.“Come on, Seungjoo. I’ll take you back.”Muheun lowered his hand, which had been holding Seungjoo’s arm, intertwining their fingers. Seungjoo looked up as he returned the grip.“Are you heading straight to work, Hyung?”“No, I’ll go after sunset.”It was indeed a bit early to start getting ready. Muheun could set up a barrier quickly, so he didn’t need to rush like the other exorcists.“Then let’s go to the dorm.”With that, Seungjoo started walking toward the dorm. To get there, they needed to take the elevator down and head to the building behind the main hall. Muheun followed him willingly, then asked,“Why? Did you leave something behind?”“No?”Seungjoo glanced back at him as if wondering what he meant. He’d already gathered his belongings last time, so he had no real reason to go to Muheun’s dorm.“I just want to spend more time with you, Hyung.”Did he really need a reason for that? Normally, Muheun would tell him not to go home and insist he stay, yet now that he wasn’t leaving, he was asking why.“Unless you’re busy, Hyung.”“…”Muheun blinked and stared blankly at Seungjoo. Just then, the elevator arrived with a soft ding, and the doors slid open. Tilting his head, Seungjoo raised an eyebrow.“Are we going home?”“No.”The sharp response came out even before the question was finished. Muheun shook his head emphatically and gripped Seungjoo’s hand tighter, his face breaking into a delighted smile.“Don’t go. Stay with Hyung.”***As soon as they arrived at the dorm, Muheun wrapped Seungjoo in his arms and wouldn’t let go. Overflowing with joy, he smothered Seungjoo’s face with kisses and rolled around on the bed with him, all the while carefully avoiding putting pressure on his casted arm.“Why… why are you so excited?”“Do I look excited?”“Yes, very.”Seungjoo answered firmly, wriggling to adjust his position. They were so close that he was starting to feel hot—not to mention his face kept flushing every time Muheun kissed him.“Just… because I’m happy.”Muheun’s laughing response felt almost embarrassingly affectionate to Seungjoo. He was probably just saying he was in a good mood, but it sounded like he was saying, “I’m happy because of you.” And then Muheun pulled him close again, making it even harder to ignore.“What did you talk about with Gwangsik?”“Weren’t you listening outside?”Seungjoo briefly considered pulling away but then simply rested his face against Muheun’s chest. The warmth radiating from Muheun seemed to cool him down a bit.“The room’s soundproofed. With the door closed, you can’t hear anything.”“Oh… We didn’t talk about much.”Gwangsik would speak up for himself soon enough, so Seungjoo figured it wasn’t his place to intervene. Besides, he barely knew the details of their relationship, so choosing sides felt premature.“By the way, Hyung.”“Yeah?”As Seungjoo lifted his head slightly, Muheun leaned down to plant a kiss on his forehead. He’d been leaning in for a kiss whenever he got the chance. Seungjoo blinked and looked up, a bit flustered.“One of the exorcists who helped the President was Team Leader Yunhee. What’s going on with that?”During the trial, Yunhee had been one of the exorcists reported to have conflicts with the association. To Seungjoo’s memory, Yunhee didn’t seem like someone who would work for the President. In fact, she had even stood by his side when they met the President.“Yunhee’s younger sibling is sick.”Muheun replied as he brushed Seungjoo’s bangs out of his eyes. A stray strand had tickled his face.“Some people who are born with spiritual power have bodies too weak to handle it and fall ill. It’s a condition similar to what they call spirit sickness.”He explained that she had been born with a naturally frail constitution. It was rare, and often the body adjusted over time.“The association is researching treatments in that area, and I heard that Yunhee’s sibling was one of the patients. She probably had no choice but to follow the President’s orders.”It was a situation where she had to help, even if she didn’t want to. Seungjoo recalled what Yunhee had said when she brought him to the association.‘I really don’t want to get involved in this… I just want to be done with these troublesome tasks.’Perhaps she, too, wanted to break free from this cycle. Without a choice, she might be hoping for this to end more than anyone else.“I’ll have to ask for leniency for her.”Expulsion was unlikely, and she would probably return after a light disciplinary measure. The association, perennially short-staffed, wouldn’t let go of someone as capable as Yunhee.“But isn’t Team Leader Yunhee thirty-four? Is it okay to call her by name like that?”“When did you learn her age?”Muheun chuckled, catching a hint of wariness in his expression. Always needlessly possessive. Seungjoo could never have imagined this side of him before.“She’d hate it if I called her ‘noona.’”“Oh…”Seungjoo sighed at the casual answer. He could almost see her reacting with disgust at the thought.“What will happen to Team 1 without her as leader?”“They’ll appoint an interim leader.”It reminded Seungjoo of a temporary class representative, though he kept the thought to himself, certain Muheun would laugh if he said it out loud.“It’ll probably be me. There’s no one else fit to lead a team like that.”The odd-numbered teams, including Team 1, were made up of top exorcists, and no one but Muheun had the skill and experience to lead that team.Just as he was thinking that, Muheun added with a gentle laugh,“And the former members of disbanded Team 0 will all be placed in Team 1 for now.”“…”Seungjoo blinked, momentarily speechless. Muheun as Team Leader of Team 1, and all the former Team 0 members joining him… it was like…“…Isn’t it just a name change?”Muheun winked playfully, repeating what he’d said before.“I told you, nothing will change.”‘Only the team is disbanding. Nothing else is different.’“This is all just for show. It’s common to mess up and just rebrand with a new name.”“Well…”That was true, regardless of the field. The problem was that at least one person had been genuinely shaken by it.“Then why didn’t you tell Gwangsik?”He was so upset over it. Muheun must have known, which was why he’d offered to take over his tasks.But Muheun furrowed his brows, looking unusually troubled.“Even I found it hard to say…”Hearing the word “hard” from Muheun felt oddly out of place to Seungjoo.“I couldn’t exactly say, ‘You’ve all been mistreated, and that’s why we’re disbanding the team…’”It was difficult to fully understand. Seungjoo could grasp why telling the truth might be hard, but it wasn’t like Muheun to be incapable of it.“And in times like this, it’s better to have someone to vent at.”“Venting?”Instead of answering, Muheun pressed a kiss to Seungjoo’s forehead. The gentle touch left a faint tingle where his lips had been. Muheun softly brushed his cheek, locking eyes with him.“I taught them that it’s okay to get angry when they feel wronged.”Seungjoo’s reflection filled Muheun’s dark eyes, which looked more calm and grounded than usual.“Since I taught them that, I have to be ready to take it too.”It seemed he understood Gwangsik’s feelings well. Still, he’d decided not to correct him, prepared to endure a bit of resentment for a while.‘You have to let kids be kids sometimes.’Muheun’s expression looked so forgiving, it reminded Seungjoo of something he’d once said to him. A remark so mature it had made even the “kid” he was talking to feel strange.“How old is he?”At Seungjoo’s casual question, Muheun smiled quietly. His gentle, curved eyes looked oddly conflicted. After a moment, his lips parted slowly.“Eighteen.”“…”Eighteen. An age when most kids would be in their second year of high school, the same age Muryeong had been two years ago when he’d become friends with Hwanyeong.“Hyung, actually…”Seungjoo, now serious, began speaking with a solemn expression. He’d been pondering it alone, but now that he was sure, he needed to share. And, of course, they needed to discuss how to handle it.“I think Gwangsik might have a Gwimae.”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~