The Night Of The Untraced

As soon as they returned from the trip, it was already April in the blink of an eye. The weather had become much warmer, and the midterm exams were just around the corner. Between studying for exams and working on assignments, the days passed by in a blur, and before long, the campus was covered in cherry blossoms.During this time, Seungjoo led a routine life as usual. After class, he would have dinner with his friends, study at the library, and when the time was right, head back home. Occasionally, when his classmates asked him to go out for drinks, he didn’t really turn them down.“……”So today, as usual, Seungjoo sat in the corner of the library, preparing for the upcoming exam. His friend Jinwoo, sitting next to him, was dozing off, and Seohyun had gone out to get coffee.Seungjoo, resting his chin on his hand and absentmindedly twirling his pen, let out a silent sigh at some point.‘Hyung will come to pick it up.’It had been quite a while since he had heard that. Muheun had said he would come right away, but it had been a long time, and he still hadn’t shown up. Just in case, Seungjoo had charged his phone, but there was no call or message.Was he busy? Or had he forgotten? No, the chance of him forgetting was probably zero.Should I contact him first?Seungjoo put down his pen next to his notebook and pulled out the usual phone from his bag. His concentration had dropped, so he thought he’d shift his attention for a moment to clear his mind. He wondered if Muheun’s phone number might be saved on his personal phone, just in case his work phone didn’t have it.Muheun’s phone was an older model than Seungjoo’s. It had no case or screen protector, but it was spotless with no scratches at all. Seungjoo couldn’t help but admire this attention to detail and gently tapped the screen.‘Just like his personality.’The geometric pattern background on the screen was still the same as when the phone was first purchased. When the PIN screen appeared, Seungjoo entered ‘123456’ without hesitation. He wasn’t trying to snoop around, and Muheun would have expected nothing more.The contacts list was much simpler than he’d anticipated. His mother, Kim Muyeon, Kim Muryeong, Ajumma, Ajeossi, Team Leader Lee Yunhee, and Seungjoo. He hadn’t expected such an empty list, even for a personal phone. The only unfamiliar name Seungjoo saw was ‘Team Leader Lee Yunhee.’‘She must have saved his work phone contacts.’Just to check, Seungjoo scrolled further, but there was no significant change. Even the messenger app, which he opened in a last-ditch effort, was the same. He had changed his number once in the past, but it still seemed so barren.“……”Could Kim Muryeong know? As Seungjoo thought about it, he shook his head. Even if Kim Muryeong knew his work number, if Muheun was just busy, contacting him would only seem like pressuring him. He wanted to say he’d just bring it to him, but Muheun would likely say he didn’t need to.Eventually, Seungjoo locked the phone again, without any progress. He had made a big deal out of it, but the entire process took less than three minutes.It was frustrating how there wasn’t even a chance to do something else. For a moment, he felt a little resentful toward Kim Muheun.* * *Muheun was never late for a time-sensitive appointment, but he was the type to leave a vague gap for indefinite promises.For example, when Seungjoo needed help getting to school, Muheun would never be late, but when it came to returning the phone, he would be nowhere to be seen. Unless Muheun specifically said when he’d come, Seungjoo knew it was pointless to wait.Even as a child, it had been like that. The neighbor hyung, who was better at keeping promises than anyone, would always leave Seungjoo waiting the moment he turned 20 and left for the association. Seungjoo would just believe the promise that he would come back soon and spent many moments staring at the gate that wouldn’t open.Others might think it was just a hollow promise, but Seungjoo had his reasons for believing in it. Muheun was the kind of person who kept his word. He hardly ever made empty promises, and when he made a promise, he would always keep it. So when Muheun said he’d come, Seungjoo knew he would, no matter how long it took.‘But the problem is I don’t know when.’Sighing, Seungjoo set down his makgeolli glass. One of his drunk friends filled his glass, though half of it spilled on the table, a fact only Seungjoo noticed.“Damn midterms… Let’s never meet again.”“What if the damn finals come instead?”“Life is bitter…”It was the day the midterms finally ended. It was Seungjoo’s first exam in university, and being naturally diligent, he finished all the subjects without much difficulty. He didn’t know what his grades would be, but he was sure it was time well spent, without regrets.As expected, the gathering naturally turned into a post-exam meetup with his classmates. Jinwoo, Seohyun, and a few other friends gathered at a cheap pub and ordered all kinds of makgeolli, deciding to enjoy a meal of pajeon since it was spring rain.The gathering soon became filled with drunk people within just two hours. At first, they were reminiscing about the midterms, but now they were raising their glasses to mourn the falling cherry blossoms. As if to echo their feelings, the rain outside became heavier.“But Seungjoo must have done really well on the exam. He looks so relaxed.”“He studied so hard. When I saw him hand in his paper, the back side was all filled in.”“Traitor…”“Well, if you were jealous, you should have studied harder.”Seungjoo responded casually with a short laugh. He wiped the spilled makgeolli off the table with one hand, while gripping his phone tightly in the pocket of his coat with the other. He was paying full attention to it in case the phone vibrated during the drinking session.“Wait a minute… was there a back page?”“Oh, I can’t stand it, Jinwoo…”The table burst into laughter at Jinwoo’s comment. Seohyun clicked her tongue, and Seungjoo stared at Jinwoo in disbelief. Meanwhile, another friend patted Jinwoo’s back, offering serious comfort.“It’s okay, you probably couldn’t have solved it either.”“You’re worse, you bastard.”Jinwoo’s grumbling voice wasn’t important. As he slowly drank from his makgeolli glass, Seungjoo pressed his thumb against his silent phone. His half-closed eyes had a somewhat troubled look in them.“When Seungjoo was studying, what were you doing, Jinwoo?”“What do you mean, we went to the PC room.”“Oh, true friendship.”Muheun still hadn’t come. The trip was over, midterms were finished, and soon the cherry blossoms would fall, too. People say others have separation anxiety from their phones, but at this point, it almost seemed like abandonment.‘He said he’d come pick it up.’It would have been nice to forget about it completely, but unfortunately, Seungjoo didn’t have a hobby of holding onto other people’s belongings. So, he made sure to charge the phone and carried it around everywhere, so he could return it to Muheun whenever he showed up.But there was a limit to how much waiting was reasonable. At this point, Muheun should have come by. If he didn’t need it, Seungjoo would have understood if he said so.“Freshmen are supposed to have fun, right?”“That’s right, Seungjoo is just too diligent.”Seungjoo gave them a bewildered smile as they came to the absurd conclusion. They had all come to Korea University by studying just as diligently, yet some still found time to play. Normally, wouldn’t it be better to study even harder for the first exam since you never know how it will go?“Oh? We’re out of alcohol.”“Order more, order more.”“Boss! One more makgeolli here!”“…Are you guys drinking even more?”Seungjoo asked his classmates, bewildered, as they ordered more makgeolli. The last train was almost gone, but no one seemed to want to leave. Normally, the drinking session would have ended by now, but since the exams were over, it looked like they were planning to keep going.“Of course. We’re not going home until the rain stops.”“What are you saying? It’s supposed to rain all night. I’ll leave in a little while.”“Really, traitor…”Seungjoo, who had already been called a traitor twice, took out his phone. Originally, he had planned to contact someone after the drinking session, but since no one seemed ready to leave, he thought it would be better to send a message now. If he waited any longer, the other person might start working and he wouldn’t get a reply.[Hey][Do you know Hyung’s work phone number?]The recipient of the message was none other than Muryeong. Seungjoo thought that at least as Muheun’s younger sibling, Muryeong would likely know the number. That’s why he sent the message.Zing.For some reason, Muryeong replied in less than five minutes. The problem was that the content of the reply wasn’t very helpful.Kim Muryeong: [No? Should I ask Hyung?] 11:05 PM“…What would you even ask him?”Seungjoo muttered without thinking, and Seohyun glanced at him. Seungjoo shook his head, signaling it was nothing. The reply from Muryeong was still on his phone.Maybe they’re together now. If so, it would be easier to talk to them. If possible, he was even considering calling them and telling them to bring the phone back right away.However, unfortunately for Seungjoo, his guess was completely wrong. Not long after, Muheun’s phone, which had been in his pocket, vibrated briefly. He took it out with a sense of disbelief, and there was a message from Muryeong.Kim Muryeong: [What’s Hyung’s work phone number?]“…”I knew it. Seungjoo couldn’t help but laugh out of disbelief. He sighed and put the phone back in his pocket. Explaining the situation and telling them that Muheun’s phone was with him sounded like too much of a hassle.The important thing was that, in the end, even Muryeong didn’t know the contact information.* * *The drinking session ended quite a while later. The group was deciding where to go for a second round, trying to find a place as they discussed among themselves. Seungjoo, however, simply opened his umbrella and said one thing.“Second round is on you guys.”He had already stayed longer than usual. Normally, it would be time to sleep, and his parents would be waiting for him. He didn’t want to wander around bars or karaoke places through the night in the pouring rain.“No way, no way. We can’t leave until the rain stops!”“I have a curfew.”“You’re lying.”They hadn’t even mentioned a curfew before, so no one believed him, and naturally, the others didn’t take his words seriously. Seungjoo wasn’t serious about it either, so he just chuckled and shrugged.“Of course, I’m lying. But still, I’m going home.”Once he said that firmly, it seemed the others didn’t press the issue any further. Even Jinwoo, who Seungjoo thought might nag, just gave a resigned look.In the meantime, to Seungjoo’s surprise, Seohyun spoke up.“Seungjoo, are you really leaving? You’re the only one who’s still sober.”Seohyun didn’t drink much, but she enjoyed the social aspect of drinking. However, that often meant she had to take care of the aftermath. On a night like this, where it was clear what the outcome would be, it made sense she would feel bad about Seungjoo leaving, the only sober one.“You could just ditch them and go. I’ll get you a taxi.”Since the buses had stopped running, he figured Seungjoo would probably take a taxi. It was only half a joke, but if Seungjoo really decided to go home, he’d stick to his word and wait until Seungjoo got a taxi, even if he couldn’t take him there.“Want to go together?”“…”Seungjoo’s question was met with silence from Seohyun. She kept her mouth shut, looking away awkwardly.“Where would we go? Just make sure you get home safely.”“Sure, whatever.”Seungjoo didn’t ask again. Instead, he grabbed his sneakers and started walking. His phone, still in his pocket, hadn’t received any messages. Seungjoo sighed quietly to himself and waved his other hand as if dismissing it.“Drink responsibly, guys.”“Seungjoo, traitor!”“Traitor’s leaving.”After being called a traitor for the third time, Seungjoo decided it was time to accept the title. His nonchalant response was enough that no one tried to stop him this time.There was no hesitation in his steps as he walked through the rain.* * *It had been a little over half a month, and the moon was hanging in the sky like it had been cut in half. Seungjoo was walking through a dark alley, staring blankly at the sky hidden behind rain clouds. He had considered taking a taxi because of the rain, but he wanted to walk a bit since he had been drinking.In a way, it wasn’t so scary to walk at night anymore. He had never been particularly afraid of it, but recently, because of Muheun, an odd habit had developed. It wasn’t much; it was just a little awkward being alone.If you can’t take responsibility, you shouldn’t form habits. Seungjoo thought to himself, recalling how it was even when he was young. He wasn’t an irresponsible person, but there were moments he felt frustrated about it.His parents had told him that when he was very young, Muheun had once resisted walking on his own. Apparently, whenever it was time to start walking, Muheun would always want to be carried, and his shoes and walking felt awkward.Muheun had explained this incident with one sentence.‘Seungjoo was too small back then.’Well… it wasn’t an incorrect statement. Seungjoo was born in December, and he was small at birth with fairly slow growth. Until around 4th grade, he was probably shorter than Muryeong.But now, he wasn’t small anymore, and it wasn’t the age to have such childish habits. In fact, in a way, it almost felt like it was a relief that Muheun had become independent after turning twenty. If that hadn’t happened, he would have ended up with an endless, reckless personality.“How much longer is this rain going to last…”Seungjoo carefully avoided puddles and walked with large strides. He didn’t hate rain, but holding an umbrella was a bit cumbersome. He hoped it wouldn’t rain tomorrow, thinking random thoughts as he stepped out of the alley.“Excuse me.”“…”A man approached Seungjoo as if he had been waiting. Startled, Seungjoo pushed the umbrella back, and the man, holding an unlit cigarette, appeared. He fiddled with the cigarette and opened his mouth, but the important thing wasn’t the cigarette—it was something else.“I need to ask for directions.”‘…Why is he wearing sunglasses?’Even though it was so dark at night, the man was wearing sunglasses. The umbrella, the cigarette, the sunglasses—his outfit looked suspicious. Seungjoo squinted his eyes, wondering if the man could even see in those sunglasses. Then the man started doing something even stranger.“I’m trying to get to that subway station.”Without asking for permission, he lit the cigarette that was in his mouth. The whole sequence of actions was so natural, Seungjoo couldn’t even reprimand him. As the smoke wafted up from the burning filter, Seungjoo immediately furrowed his brows and started to speak.“Um, could you… put that cigarette out…”However, Seungjoo couldn’t finish his sentence. The smell of the cigarette smoke, carried by the rain, was worse than he had expected. The smoke, exhaled by the man, sliced through the rain and scattered near Seungjoo’s face.‘…What’s going on?’“This road is a bit tricky, so…”It was fresh and crisp, unlike the smell of cigarettes that Jinwoo usually smoked. There was a slight burnt smell, but it was faint, and every time he took a deep breath, it felt like his mind was clearing up. There was a sensation in his stomach, like something was piling up, which somehow triggered a feeling of déjà vu.“…”At some point, Seungjoo stared blankly, his expression distant. The misty smoke in front of his eyes made everything appear blurry. There was a strong thirst rising from within, and at the same time, he felt strangely refreshed, as if he had inhaled clean air. Even though he drank and drank, it felt like he couldn’t quench it, and whenever he felt like he couldn’t breathe, the smoke grew thicker.‘Is this… déjà vu?’He had definitely felt this way before, but he couldn’t remember when. As he tried to think about it, the sound of the rain disturbed his thoughts, and in the end, he took a big breath, as if his chest was about to burst.How much time passed?“Excuse me?”“…Ah.”Seungjoo snapped back to reality and furrowed his brow. The man, having finished his cigarette, removed it from his mouth and tilted his head. He placed the umbrella on his neck and shoulder and took out a portable ashtray with the other hand.“Are you okay?”“…”It felt like he was possessed. It was like when he smelled the Gwimae’s scent. A sense of imminent danger rose instinctively. But the man didn’t seem bothered at all as he simply pulled out a new cigarette.“Want one?”“…No.”Surprisingly, the cigarette was of the same brand that Jinwoo smoked. Seungjoo firmly refused and covered his mouth with one hand, clearly showing his displeasure. Although the man’s dark sunglasses made it hard to see, Seungjoo could tell that he was staring right at his face.“Ah… Sorry, I was rude. I’ll find the road myself.”At that, the man broke the cigarette he had just lit and threw it into the portable ashtray. He nodded as if embarrassed and passed by Seungjoo, as though he hadn’t even asked for directions.“What the…?”For a moment, Seungjoo hesitated. He had an unrealistic thought, wondering if he had just taken some kind of drug. Should he stop him, or just let him go? In that short moment, he couldn’t make a decision.However, instead of chasing the man, Seungjoo irritably ruffled his hair. His head was still foggy, and he had no idea what he would say if he stopped him. What would he ask? What was in that cigarette?“Ugh… creepy.”He jogged lightly but didn’t feel anything particularly strange. He even sniffed his arm to check if the smell had stuck to him, but all he could smell was the usual cigarette smoke and the rain-soaked air.‘Was it just my imagination…?’Maybe the alcohol he had drunk had exceeded his limit. If he thought about it, the dazed feeling earlier could’ve just been the effect of the alcohol.But he still felt uneasy because the sensation he had just experienced was similar to when he encountered Gwimae.‘So, if anything feels off from now on, just talk to Hyung. Don’t just brush it off thinking it’s nothing.’“…”‘It’s okay if it’s just a misunderstanding, got it?’Without thinking, he reached into his pocket to grab his phone. But it wasn’t just Seungjoo’s phone that he felt. As he grabbed the phone he hadn’t returned yet, a rush of frustration flooded over him.“Ugh, I have no way to talk to him…”What was he supposed to do, handing over the only contact he had? It was too late to go all the way to the officetel. Plus, he didn’t even think Muheun would be home.Maybe something happened to him again? Seungjoo pushed the negative thoughts aside and started walking toward home. After all, tomorrow was the weekend, and if anything was wrong, he could tell his parents. If things were fine, he’d just return Muheun’s phone in the morning.But as he instinctively grabbed the charm in his pocket, things that shouldn’t be felt started to flood in.“…”It was the cool, fresh scent of someone’s Yeongi. A temperature that felt too cold to just be paper, an oddly chilly sensation. It was something Seungjoo shouldn’t have felt, something he hadn’t been able to feel for a long time.“…Shit.”Damn it. The realization hit him at once, and Seungjoo quickly turned around. However, the man wearing sunglasses had already disappeared into the rain. Darkness, where not even a step ahead could be seen, seemed to grip Seungjoo’s ankles.It was the moment when his closed vision opened once again.* * *This passage delves into Seungjoo’s confusion and the mysterious encounter, blending sensory experiences with unease. The moment of realization and discomfort builds tension, hinting at deeper mysteries.For an ordinary person to awaken their spiritual vision, they had to directly receive the dense Yeongi (spiritual energy) of an exorcist. Simple skin-to-skin contact was not enough; it had to be absorbed through the respiratory system or mucous membranes for it to be effective. Furthermore, a certain amount of Yeongi needed to be transferred, so it wasn’t something that happened easily.Because of this, Seungjoo thought that the chances of seeing ghosts again were slim. He wouldn’t be kissing Muheun again, nor would he get involved with another exorcist. Even if he did, he was confident he could keep boundaries.“…”But then, his spiritual vision awakened again. And this time, he hadn’t made any contact with anyone. The only suspicious thing was the cigarette the strange man had been smoking, yet Seungjoo couldn’t even begin to guess what kind of principle had made it so.‘What should I do?’After feeling the Yeongi from the talisman, Seungjoo stood still for a while. He wished it was just his imagination, but unfortunately, he knew that wasn’t the case. The experiences he had gone through were still vivid in his mind, making it impossible to dismiss this as a simple mistake.It would be best to go home as quickly as possible, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He still had a long way to go home, and he couldn’t ignore the possibility of encountering a lost spirit like last time.Seungjoo calmly looked around. It was late, and with the rain falling, there was not a single person in sight on the streets. The eerie atmosphere felt somewhat reassuring, though.Alright, just keep walking, eyes forward, and ignore anyone who passes by. Don’t respond to anyone who speaks to you. Unless someone tries to jump in front of a car like before, there’s no chance of getting involved in anything strange.“…Phew.”Having made up his mind, Seungjoo picked up his pace. There was no need to hesitate anymore. Staying stagnant wouldn’t change anything, and maybe, if he was lucky, he wouldn’t encounter anything at all.What the man from earlier had been up to could be considered later, in a safer place. The cigarette was suspicious, but that was just speculation, and with the man wearing sunglasses, Seungjoo couldn’t even properly see his face. Finding out who he was would be difficult, and the real question was why he’d behaved that way.“…Ugh, so frustrating.”Did misfortune follow him? He was supposed to live a long life, but it felt like he might not make it. Maybe he should ask Muheun to look at his fortune, but then he remembered, he hadn’t even been able to return his phone yet. What good was a fortune if he couldn’t even do that?There had never been a time when he couldn’t reach him when it mattered.Though Seungjoo hadn’t exactly needed Muheun, if there had been a moment when he did, Muheun would have dropped everything and come running. From childhood until now, Muheun had always put Seungjoo’s problems first.“…”Seungjoo suddenly realized he was complaining for no reason and slapped his cheek. When had he started wanting so much from him? He knew Muheun had no obligation to do anything for him, yet here he was, thinking like this. He didn’t even care about fortune-telling.He needed to think clearly. Muheun had taken full responsibility for everything he’d done. Even when tired, he helped with commuting and had refused Seungjoo’s offers of help. Even the reason he couldn’t contact him now—because he’d given him his phone when the mountain path was dark—wasn’t Muheun’s fault. And it wasn’t his fault that Seungjoo had encountered a strange man and had his spiritual vision awakened or that he had to walk the dark street alone.“…Damn it.”Yes, he knew. He knew in his head, but…The frustrating thing was that, even knowing all that, he still felt wronged. Why today? Why this coincidence? Why did this have to happen now?Just an hour ago, he’d realized he had no way to contact him. He had promised to visit the officetel tomorrow, suppressing his feelings of disappointment, worrying about whether Muheun had been hurt again, and feeling terribly frustrated by the fact that the connection had been severed.But now, with an unresolved problem added to the mix, Seungjoo couldn’t help but feel like he was losing his mind. There was nothing more unfair than an accident where you hadn’t done anything wrong, and this situation was almost like a car crash.Without knowing the cause, walking through the rainy street, Seungjoo was beyond irritated.“…”Seungjoo kept his gaze down and walked faster. He didn’t trust himself to pass through the narrow, dark alley, so he stuck to the wider, well-lit roads. If anyone passed by, he’d pretend not to see them, and when he finally reached the intersection where he had encountered a ghost earlier, he was relieved to find it empty.Maybe because he had walked briskly, he arrived at the residential area much sooner than expected. He just needed to go up the hill, and home was close. With that comforting thought, he was about to pull back his umbrella when a tall figure appeared at the end of his line of sight.“…”Under the streetlight at the bottom of the hill, with the flickering light…Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.A cold breeze brushed his neck. The sound, cutting through the rain, was much clearer when seen than when heard. Every time the light flickered off and on, the sound seemed to grow louder.Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.‘…Shit.’Seungjoo bit back a sharp curse and tightened his grip on the umbrella. Reflexively, he slipped his hand into his pocket and tightly clutched the talisman.Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.It wasn’t a loud noise, but for some reason, it sounded so clear. Someone standing below the wall, repeatedly banging their forehead against it. Was it a person, or was it just a shadow? Seungjoo couldn’t quite tell, but whatever it was, the strange figure continued to act erratically.‘…Why are they hurting themselves over there?’It didn’t seem like a person. If that was the case, was it a spirit, or a lingering ghost? But it was too dark to be a soul; please, let it not be an evil spirit. He had heard that spirits that couldn’t be called alive would harm the living in some way.How should he pass through there?It would be nice if he could just close his eyes and run, but sadly, he didn’t have the courage for that. If he passed by, the mysterious shadow might turn towards him.Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.“…”Seungjoo, holding the talisman, took a deep breath. His instinct was to turn around, but unfortunately, the only path to his home was beyond that hill. If he didn’t want to spend the night here, he would have to pass by whatever that was, no matter the consequences.Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.The rain grew heavier, and as the sound of it hitting the umbrella grew louder, the sound from the wall seemed to fade. Feeling a little braver, Seungjoo tilted his umbrella to shield himself and slowly took a step forward.Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.“…”Thump. Thump. Thump.“…”Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.“…”Thump.“…”At that moment, Seungjoo accidentally stepped into a puddle, making a loud noise. With a look of surprise, he stopped and unconsciously peered beyond his umbrella. Through the slightly tilted umbrella, he could see the shadow, now much closer than before.“……”“……”I had just thought it was a black mass, but it seems it actually had eyes. Otherwise, there would be no way I would have felt like my eyes met with it at this moment.The shadow, which had been standing still for a long time, suddenly tilted its head backward.‘I have to pretend I didn’t see it.’What if I hadn’t opened my third eye? I would have passed by this street without knowing anything, and then I would have gone home and fallen asleep without a clue. So, the only thing Seungjoo could do was to pretend he hadn’t seen it and not get flustered.However, that resolve didn’t even last five seconds before losing its strength. Just as Seungjoo was trying to look away, sticky black soot fell from it, as if washed away by the rain. It looked like it was melting, but that detail didn’t matter much.‘What the hell…’The two eyes that briefly showed were completely red, with no whites visible. From the rolling pupils, a dark red liquid flowed out, and anyone could see that it was blood. When the blood finally dripped from its chin to the floor, a bony hand wiped the tear and stretched downward.“……”It was at that moment that blood gushed out of its open mouth. The sticky blood poured down again, becoming black soot that clung to its body. The blood, starting from its ankles, slowly climbed upward, eventually covering its entire body until it became a black mass once more.‘This is crazy.’It was a strange and eerie scene. It wasn’t disgusting so much as it was chilling, and it wasn’t so much scary as it was unpleasant. The sight of it continually melting was incredibly unsettling, and thinking that it was all blood made Seungjoo feel nauseous.Seungjoo hesitated and held his breath for a moment. He thought it would turn back toward the wall any time now. If it started banging its head against the wall like before, he was going to hurry and pass by quickly.But the strange shadow didn’t turn toward the wall. Instead, it took a step toward Seungjoo. The moment it took a step, its legs wobbled, but it kept its balance and took a second step.One step, one more step. And another.“……”Seungjoo instinctively understood. It wasn’t coming with good intentions. There were only a few reasons it was staggering toward him, barely keeping its body together.And one of those reasons was highly likely to be that it was targeting his soul.* * *‘I need to run…’Seungjoo hesitated and stepped back, tilting his umbrella. The sound of his sneakers scraping the ground was unpleasant. The rain was still pouring heavily, but the noise of the rain couldn’t even reach his ears; his mind was blank.Was it possible, like that woman from before, to just pass through without noticing? He didn’t have Yeongi, and that thing didn’t consume souls like Gwimae did. Plus, he had the talisman given to him by Kim Muryeong, so perhaps the situation wasn’t as dangerous as it seemed.‘Damn… how am I supposed to know that now?’But given the bizarre scene in front of him, he couldn’t risk everything on such uncertainty. The cold air brushing his neck wasn’t going to change the fact that it was malevolent energy.It was an evil spirit. A being that had threatened lives for generations. Originally human, but unable to give up its attachments and thus unable to attain salvation, it was a pitiful soul. Once it lost its form, it could never return to its original state.“……”Seungjoo, swallowing back bile, took another step back. To be honest, he desperately wanted to faint right then and there. But he knew that if he did, he didn’t know what would happen next, so he forced himself to hold on to his reason.‘If I faint now, I’m really screwed.’His steps were heavy, but he moved his body anyway. Fortunately, the evil spirit coming toward him was moving extremely slowly. It struggled with each step, stumbling as it tried to keep its balance.If he ran quickly, he might be able to escape. Its movements were slow, and it looked like it would collapse after just ten more steps.Just as Seungjoo was about to turn his body to run,“……”The evil spirit that had been slowly walking melted into the ground.It was an event that could only be described as “melting.” From head to toe, it turned into a mushy form and, like rainwater soaked into asphalt, disappeared into the ground in the blink of an eye.“……What the hell.”The malevolent energy surrounding it also dissipated in an instant. As his mind relaxed, he realized that he was covered in cold sweat.“What the hell is going on…?”Had it gone away?As Seungjoo sighed and ran his hand through his hair, a small change occurred in a place he couldn’t see.The shadow under his feet slowly started to ripple, like water on the verge of spilling out of a full container. With the sound of raindrops falling, a black hand suddenly shot up from it.“……!”By the time Seungjoo realized this, the evil spirit had already half-emerged. The body that had risen from the ground spilled out blood mixed with rainwater, and in the blink of an eye, it was right in front of Seungjoo, its mouth twisted into a long grin.It had found him.“……”Seungjoo felt the overwhelming sense of helplessness and terror like never before. As the evil spirit reached out, his body froze, unable to even blink. The heavy malevolent energy pressing down on his chest made him instinctively bite his lower lip, holding on as best as he could.He thought he was going to die. If not, at the very least, he would feel unbearable pain. Holding onto the talisman with desperate strength, he braced himself.But in that moment,“……”A whizzing sound. An arrow, flying from somewhere, pierced the disgusting head of the evil spirit. The arrow, shaped like a flame, turned to blue ash the instant it struck the evil spirit. With a dull thud, the blood splattered past Seungjoo and onto the rain-soaked ground.Not long after, another arrow flew toward the collapsing evil spirit. The moment he saw the flames of the talisman again, Seungjoo couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, remembering the time when he had been frustrated by it.“……Ha.”The scent of the wind. In the humid air, Seungjoo felt the familiar presence that he had known all too well. As the flood of emotions surged up, a presence behind him suddenly pulled him toward it.“Seungjoo.”The moment the umbrella dropped and his body turned was simultaneous. The sensation of hands wrapping around his head, pulling him into a wide embrace, and the soft voice whispering as it rubbed his chin.“Good boy…”Ah… Kim Muheun. He always shows up at the worst possible moments, making it impossible to even hate him.“Close your eyes and count to ten.”Last time, he said to count to 100. The thought crossed Seungjoo’s mind inappropriately. Helplessly cradled in Muheun’s arms, Seungjoo gripped the person in front of him tightly to prevent himself from collapsing. Burying his face in Muheun’s collar, Muheun responded kindly.“Yeah, it’s okay.”“…….”Though he was drenched in rain, Seungjoo didn’t feel cold at all. The heavy downpour had turned into a drizzle, and more than that, Muheun’s warmth enveloped him. The sound of a thumping heartbeat near his ear helped him regain his composure.The creaking sound was ignored. There was a dull thud, like something breaking, but Seungjoo shut his eyes tight and focused on the sound of the rain. Whenever a chill crept up his spine, he inhaled deeply, burying his nose in Muheun’s neck.“…….”“…….”The relentless rain soon stopped completely. Realizing he was no longer being drenched, the hand that had been holding his head gently stroked the back of his neck. The hand that had lowered to his neck now patted his back a couple of times, as if comforting a child.“Yeah, Hyung, I’m here.”“……Ah.”The faint sigh was a relief greater than any words. Slowly raising his head, Seungjoo saw the face he had been thinking about all day.“Hyung, what the hell…?”The dark red blood splattered on Muheun’s cheek vanished as soon as he wiped it away with his own hand. As Muheun turned his empty hand in the air, he carefully lifted Seungjoo’s chin, tilting it upwards. In that delicate angle, Seungjoo flinched as Muheun gently brushed his lower lip with his thumb.“You’re bleeding.”“…….”Surprisingly, the emotion behind that single sentence was anger. It was a deep, potent anger, one that even made Seungjoo feel a little intimidated. As his words faded and his lips moved silently, Muheun slowly glanced around before starting to speak.“First…”He didn’t have time to check where Muheun was looking. His gaze seemed to settle, then slowly blinked before opening again, and by the time he looked at Seungjoo, any sense of unease had completely disappeared.“Hyung, let’s go home.”Seungjoo didn’t even think about refusing. Closing his tired eyes, he rested his forehead on Muheun’s shoulder. The things he wanted to say and ask, the things he needed to return, all floated in his mind, but the words that actually left his mouth were these.“Ah… I don’t want to be carried.”He didn’t want to be carried again, nor did he want to walk the streets at night. The fear he had felt earlier had completely disappeared, but his exhausted body didn’t magically recover.Muheun chuckled lightly, almost teasingly, and replied casually.“I brought the car.”* * *They returned to the officetel in Muheun’s car. When Seungjoo hesitated, unsure how to get into the car with his wet clothes, Muheun opened the passenger door for him, saying he would take him to the emergency room if he caught a cold.Once in the car, Seungjoo immediately texted his parents, letting them know he was with Muheun.His soaked clothes dried quickly, but as soon as they arrived at Muheun’s place, Seungjoo went straight to the shower. Muheun had offered to run a bath for him, but Seungjoo declined, saying he didn’t want to go that far and just needed a quick shower.Since his clothes were all wet, Muheun gave him some fresh clothes to wear afterward. It was a plain black T-shirt and elastic-waist shorts. He didn’t have any underwear, but Seungjoo didn’t care and put on the clothes before coming out of the bathroom.“All clean?”Muheun was sitting on the sofa, waiting for him. He had a towel draped over his shoulder from having taken a shower in another bathroom. Feeling a little awkward, Seungjoo stood still, and Muheun tilted his head, motioning for him to come over.“Seungjoo, come here.”“…….”He inwardly grumbled, not wanting to be treated like a dog, but he quietly walked over to him. Muheun, holding some ointment in one hand, gestured to the seat next to him.“Sit down. Let me put some ointment on it.”It seemed like Muheun was concerned about the cut on Seungjoo’s lip. Seungjoo had been surprised by how sore it was while showering. He had been biting his lip without realizing it was bleeding, so it made sense.“Do you even have ointment at home?”Surely Muheun would have something like that. He wasn’t the type to care much about small wounds—he usually just toughed them out with his powers.It wasn’t a joke, either. Most psychics could heal minor cuts within hours. Just like how Muheun had fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder in a day. That was why Seungjoo’s house didn’t have any first aid supplies, only things for Seolgi.“I bought some, just in case.”“Just in case…? What could that be for…?”Seungjoo’s cheek twitched as he sat on the sofa. It was probably a baseless assumption, but he had the feeling that “just in case” was referring to him, since he was the only person who might get hurt near Muheun.“Open your mouth and show me.”Muheun squeezed some ointment onto his ring finger and gently pulled Seungjoo’s lower lip down. As Seungjoo followed, Muheun carefully applied the ointment to the wound. For a moment, Seungjoo held his breath, trying to avoid making any noise, as their faces were so close.“…….”“…….”The proximity felt a bit too intimate. Though the wound would likely heal soon enough, Muheun’s serious expression made it feel as though something was wrong.“Does it sting?”“Not really.”“You’re tough.”Muheun chuckled lightly, as though impressed. Though applying the ointment felt a bit overboard, he seemed to think it wasn’t enough, showing a look of dissatisfaction. Seungjoo, sensing the mood, casually changed the topic.“How did you know about the place earlier?”He had been unreachable all this time, but miraculously appeared at the crucial moment. He didn’t even want to imagine what might have happened if Muheun hadn’t come. How did he know Seungjoo was there at this late hour?“Just…”Muheun wiped the ointment off his hand with a tissue from the table. Seungjoo thought he would immediately give an explanation, but instead, the next words that came were:“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”“…Why?”He knew how frustrating it was to leave something unsaid, and yet when he asked in disbelief, Muheun just winked at him.“First, take a nap.”Ah, Muheun must be tired too. It was far too late to explain everything. But for exorcists, this time of night was probably normal. As he thought this, Muheun’s quiet voice continued:“You should rest.”“…”It seemed that the one who needed rest wasn’t Muheun, but Seungjoo himself. He wanted to say it was fine and let him talk, but oddly enough, that simple line made him fall silent.“…What.”It had been a tiring night. It was late, he had drunk a little, and he had gone through things he never imagined he would in a single night. There were many things he was curious about, but he was also so tired that he couldn’t even process the words.“It’s too late.”Muheun said this and stood up from the couch. When Seungjoo remained sitting, dazed, Muheun gently grasped his wrist.“Let’s sleep, Hyung.”“…”The crescent shape of his eyes brought a sense of relief. The tension that had remained until the very end vanished completely.“What about work?”“We don’t need to go today.”When Seungjoo asked indirectly, Muheun replied casually. Whether that meant it was a rest day or just that he wasn’t going out, it felt a bit ambiguous, but it wasn’t just a matter of his mood.The house, with its minimal furniture, was the same in the bedroom. As Seungjoo looked at the solitary king-sized bed, he realized something else and became tense.‘…Are we really sleeping together?’He had intended to stay the night from the beginning. If he had gone straight home earlier, he wouldn’t have been able to hide his emotions in front of his parents. No matter how calm Seungjoo was, it would have been impossible not to feel awkward after seeing something like that. It was late, and there were things he wanted to ask, so he had planned to just accept the situation and get some rest.But simply staying the night and sleeping in the same bed as Muheun were two different matters. The first meant he would endure discomfort, but the second meant he would have to face embarrassment as well. Now, it seemed too troublesome to go back after changing clothes.“I’ll sleep on the floor.”Seungjoo offered this practical solution. Knowing Muheun’s personality, he expected him to reject it, but figured he would at least pretend to agree if he complained about the discomfort.However, the response from Muheun was more pragmatic than he expected.“Hmm… There’s no extra blanket.”“…”“You’ll get cold if you just sleep.”Even though the weather had warmed up, it was still April. At night, the temperature dropped sharply, and spring chill was still in the air. It was clear that it would be cold to just sleep without a blanket.“No summer blankets either?”“Hyung, I’ve only been here for less than two months, Seungjoo.”So, Muheun hadn’t had the time to buy summer blankets. He added that the one spare blanket he had was already washed, and the blanket they were using wasn’t even a winter one. Since Muheun didn’t feel the cold, there was no need for a thick blanket.“If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll sleep on the floor.”“Oh, how could you?”Seungjoo frowned and pulled his wrist away from Muheun’s hand. He had some decency, so he didn’t want to make it more complicated than it had to be.“I’ll just sleep in the bed. Why would the homeowner sleep on the floor?”As he moved toward the bed, Muheun chuckled. He lowered the room’s lighting while watching Seungjoo climb into the bed.“You’re not saying it’s comfortable, though.”The casual remark was hard to deny. Seungjoo was already feeling a bit awkward in various ways.“It’s uncomfortable. It’s not like we’re kids.”There were several reasons for this. Seungjoo wasn’t particular about where he slept, but if he had to sleep next to someone, it was a different story. Even though he said he didn’t have any sleeping habits, he still found it more comfortable to sleep alone.And the person in question was Kim Muheun. Sleeping in the same bed with another grown man felt a little awkward, and no matter how much he tried to act nonchalant, he was bound to feel a little self-conscious. Back when they were kids, they would sleep without thinking, but now it felt like things had changed.“Hyung, you don’t have sleeping habits?”“What are you talking about, Hyung does have sleeping habits.”Seungjoo naturally made space in the bed. Even though Muheun had said there was no spare blanket, there were still two pillows. As Seungjoo lay down with a pillow properly placed, he looked at Muheun and spoke.“You bother me a lot when you sleep.”That was the reason he didn’t like sleeping next to Muheun as a child. It wasn’t that he hated it, it was just a bit annoying. So, it was a bit inaccurate to say he didn’t have sleeping habits.Muheun was the type to bother the person next to him until he fell asleep. He would always try to give someone a pillow or rub their forehead with his nose. And when he was asleep, his physical affection would increase, and he would pull the other person into his arms.“Me?”“Yes, Hyung.”Muheun looked genuinely surprised at Seungjoo’s words.“Didn’t you know?”“You should’ve told me.”Muheun casually replied, climbed into the bed, and added in a calm voice before Seungjoo could say anything.“It’s been so long since I’ve slept with someone.”“…”It was clear that the “sleep” he was referring to wasn’t the same kind of sleep Seungjoo had in mind. Knowing that made Seungjoo feel a little weird, so he looked away. But Muheun, lying beside him, pulled the blanket up to Seungjoo’s neck.“Today, I won’t bother you.”The voice that gently spoke was excessively tender. Even the way it softly whispered while caressing around his chest area.“Sleep well.”“……”Should he tell him not to treat him like a child? He thought about turning around but decided to stay still. He thought that if he acted self-conscious, it would make him feel more awkward.Thanks to the large bed, lying next to each other wasn’t uncomfortable. They weren’t pressed up against each other, just maintaining a reasonable distance, and he was softly patting him.Muheun now spoke in a voice so soft it was almost like a breath.“Good night.”“Good night, Hyung.”He wasn’t sure if he had said it or not. As soon as he closed his eyes, the feeling of the spirit extending its reach made even moving his lips difficult.Now that he thought about it, it was well past bedtime. He thought he drifted into sleep after that thought.* * *He had a dream where he was being chased by something. He didn’t even know what he was running from, but he kept running endlessly. His legs became heavy, and he staggered, barely managing to move forward. Even when he walked, it felt like he was stuck in place, and sometimes his feet would sink into an unknown swamp.His breath was coming in ragged gasps, and he felt like he was going to throw up any second. He wandered aimlessly, and the collapsing surroundings began to turn into a dead-end alley.‘……’Suddenly, Seungjoo stopped in his tracks, breathing heavily. His heart pounded wildly, and it felt like the blood was rushing through his body. He had been running out of breath, but now his eyelids grew heavy, as though he was suddenly overcome with sleep.How does he get through here? If he stays like this, something bad will happen. But he couldn’t even remember why he was running in the first place.‘……!’Then, something grabbed his ankle. At that moment, he saw a pitch-black hand rising from the ground. The hand, strangely shaped as if it was melting, slowly pulled his ankle into the earth.‘……’He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. He had fallen to the ground, and as he reached with his fingers, trying to free his ankle, the more he struggled, the wider the area sinking into the ground became.‘Help…’He begged in a voice that wouldn’t come out, gritting his teeth and scratching at the asphalt with his fingertips. As he crawled along the ground, he clearly saw the ‘thing’ that had been hidden in the shadows appear before him.And then, their eyes met.“……Seungjoo!”“……”Suddenly, his eyelids snapped open. His chest, which had been tight, instantly filled with air. Gasping for breath, he turned his head and saw concerned eyes looking down at him. Those dark, almost black eyes seemed so deep that he felt like he could fall into them.“Are you okay?”The owner of those eyes was none other than Muheun. Seungjoo shivered and slowly regulated his breathing. The soft lighting around him, the peaceful scenery, was completely different from the dark alley from earlier.“Ah…”It was a dream.“……Ha.”Once he realized that, emotions surged up. With a short sigh, he covered his eyes with one hand. Muheun, who had been sitting up, carefully smoothed his bangs, probably noticing the sweat on his forehead from the nightmare.“Did you have a nightmare?”“……”Instead of answering, he just nodded. He didn’t have the strength to speak. Seeing that, Muheun’s voice was tinged with guilt.“I’m sorry, Hyung, I was too late.”* * *The words were ambiguous. Was he apologizing for waking him up so late, or was it for coming too late earlier? He would guess the latter, but it wasn’t something Muheun needed to apologize for.“……It was late.”Seungjoo responded slowly with his eyes still covered. He exhaled a long breath and let out a small laugh.“I thought I had left my phone behind…”He didn’t feel the need to tell Muheun that it wasn’t his fault. After all, even if he said that, he knew it wouldn’t make Muheun feel any better. Whether it was the open third eye, the encounter with the evil spirit, or even getting caught in the rain.So, maybe it was better to pretend he hadn’t understood.“I’ll give you your phone tomorrow. Hyung, you should sleep again.”Seungjoo said this, lowering his hand from his eyes. Muheun still looked down at him in silence. After a moment, Seungjoo shifted and turned to his side. Then, Muheun finally spoke softly.“If it’s not work-related, I don’t really have anyone to contact…”A large hand slipped under Seungjoo’s head, gently lifting it so that Muheun could make Seungjoo lie on his side toward him. The movement was so natural that Seungjoo couldn’t resist it.“I couldn’t come to pick it up because it was the fifteenth.”“What does the fifteenth have to do with it…”Before Seungjoo could finish, he buried his face into Muheun’s chest. It wasn’t intentional; Muheun had grabbed his head and pressed it against his chest. The warmth of Muheun’s body through the thin T-shirt made Seungjoo momentarily lose his words.“……”Muheun smelled faintly of fresh air. Even though his body was warm, wherever they touched felt cool. Perhaps it was because of the open third eye, but his natural scent hadn’t changed much.“You’re being good.”Muheun seemed to like the way Seungjoo was obedient. Slowly, he caressed Seungjoo’s head and back, pulling him closer and holding him tighter.“Let’s sleep like this.”“……”“I said I wouldn’t bother him… Didn’t I?” The breath brushing against his head was excessively ticklish. The way his chin rubbed against his hair, the hand gently patting his back, and even the knees that touched under the blanket.If it were usual, he would have pulled away from the embrace, thinking it was a gross gesture. However, the reason he couldn’t do that was, strangely enough, because the moment he was held in his arms, he felt a real sense of relief. The lingering fear and anxiety seemed to melt away in those cautious touches.Looking back, when he first saw the ghost, it didn’t seem to bother him much. First of all, the Hyung had been human, and the ghost didn’t suddenly appear. And once he realized it was a ghost, Muheun was there with him. His life had been in danger, but that wasn’t because of the ghost, and strictly speaking, the ghost didn’t even threaten him.But this time…“It’s okay now.”As he was about to recall the scene from earlier, a gentle voice whispered in his ear. Muheun pulled Seungjoo a little closer and slowly stroked his hair, as if handling something fragile.“I’ll make sure you don’t have any more nightmares.”“…Tch.”No matter how much of an exorcist he was, he didn’t have that kind of power.Instead of pointing that out, Seungjoo rubbed his forehead against Muheun’s chest. He curled his body slightly and tightly shut his eyes. His fingers twitched as if he wanted to grab something, but he managed to hold himself back from reaching out to him.“Sleep…”The scent of fabric softener brushed his nose, the sound of Muheun’s voice in his ears, and the gentle hand running through his hair. If he stayed still, focusing only on the sound of the rhythmic breathing and the thudding heartbeat, his mind slowly began to relax.Once, Kim Muryeong’s dad had said something. When you feel anxious, listening to someone’s heartbeat can help a lot. Even when putting a child to sleep, holding them quietly in your arms would make them fall into a deep sleep.Now, he understood that method’s effectiveness. As time passed, his heart slowly softened, as though his discomfort melted away. When their breathing synchronized, suddenly, even the smallest things seemed to stand out.“…”“…”Isn’t the distance a bit too close?A moment ago, he had barely noticed it, but now, every place they touched felt overly conscious. For example, the occasional breath or the long fingers brushing his nape, or even the thighs that pressed against his knees.The hand that had been patting his back was now gently brushing Seungjoo’s hair. Even as a child, when Seungjoo was in his arms, this had always been a habit. Gently rubbing with his thumb and index finger, or running his fingers through Seungjoo’s hair.Perhaps it was because of that subtle touch, but the sleepiness that had once drifted away didn’t return easily. Instead, it felt like his mind was becoming more awake.Muheun finally moved his hand away from Seungjoo’s hair after stroking it for a while. His hand didn’t go all the way down; instead, it moved to the side and lightly touched Seungjoo’s ear and earlobe. Without realizing it, that feather-like touch became bothersome.After playing with his hair for a while, Muheun asked in a very soft voice:“Do you want a piercing?”It was such an unexpected question for someone who was supposed to be asleep. It seemed like he knew Seungjoo was awake. After all, he had the hearing of an animal. Even when Seungjoo pretended to sleep as a child, Muheun had been able to tell by his breathing, which he later explained to Seungjoo.“Not here… on the right side.”Since Muheun had been touching his left ear, he moved his hand to the back of Seungjoo’s head and added, “Not left, but right.”No matter which side, Seungjoo’s answer was already clear.“I don’t do stuff like that.”Piercings? No way. Even without piercings, he hated wearing anything bulky or hanging off his body. Whenever his parents gave him rings or necklaces for luck, he would wear them out of courtesy once or twice and then leave them lying around.Well, Muheun probably didn’t mean it seriously. He was the type to make such comments even when his lips were cracked. If he were to pierce his ear, it was obvious what kind of reaction he would get. For now, it was just another one of his whims.“You’re decisive.”As expected, Muheun let out a thin laugh, as if he hadn’t expected an answer. The breath that flowed with the laughter was too clear, considering they were so close. Fortunately, he wasn’t ticklish; if he were, he would have jumped up in surprise.“…”“…”Even after that, Muheun continued to stroke Seungjoo’s head. Was he trying to put him to sleep, or was he trying to wake him up? His hand continued its playful movements without stopping.Was it just his imagination? It seemed to be getting hotter. His lower body, covered by the blanket, felt stifling, and the shoulder pressed into the bed from lying on his side was uncomfortable. But above all, Muheun’s muscles felt too clearly defined through his thin T-shirt.“…Stop touching me and sleep.”Finally, when Seungjoo spoke, Muheun let out a small sound and moved his hand down. His fingers slid along Seungjoo’s neck, then moved around to his waist. Instead of stopping there, Muheun pulled Seungjoo closer with one arm, drawing him tightly toward himself.“Mm… Let’s sleep.”Now, their bodies were even closer than before. Their upper bodies, and even their lower bodies, were almost pressed against each other. For a brief moment, Seungjoo felt Muheun’s thigh brushing against his between their legs.“…!”Seungjoo, startled, pushed Muheun away. Though they didn’t part far, it was enough space for Seungjoo to turn away and lie on his side, pretending to be nonchalant as he adjusted his neck. 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~