The Night Of The Untraced

Muheun said this casually while leisurely trailing behind Seungjoo. His long strides quickly closed the distance, and within a few steps, he had caught up. As he naturally positioned himself on the street side, Muheun shifted the bouquet to his other hand and flashed a grin at Seungjoo.“The scent of the chrysanthemums is way too strong.”In reality, it was hardly noticeable on this street. But for Muheun, whose sense of smell was almost beast-like, even that was overpowering. Well, for Seungjoo, who only faintly sensed it, it might have been like Muheun was almost sticking the bouquet in his face.“Why didn’t you buy another type of flower instead of chrysanthemums?”“I just got what was given. Chrysanthemums are simple enough.”Typically, when people think of memorials, chrysanthemums come to mind, but the exorcists had a slightly different approach. Like how Muheun was holding not only chrysanthemums but also other flowers.The reason most people use chrysanthemums is due to their solemn white color and the meaning behind them. However, for those who understand that death isn’t the end, there’s no need for a somber ceremony. While they didn’t act carefree, the atmosphere didn’t call for tears or sadness either.“Your mother’s taste in flowers can’t be beaten.”Every year, on the anniversary of her husband’s passing, Seungjoo’s mother would avoid chrysanthemums and instead mix in other flowers when sending bouquets to the neighbors. She would choose flowers with a subtle fragrance, a thoughtful gesture she had learned over time from knowing them.“You won’t be giving Hyung flowers, huh?”“Are you going to give them to me?”“It’s just a saying.”Now that Seungjoo thought about it, he realized Muheun didn’t seem like the kind of person to match with flowers. Seeing him hold a bouquet still felt a little out of place.“Have you ever given flowers as a gift?”“No, I’ve given them to a girlfriend before…”It was back in middle school. He had bought a rose to celebrate his 100th day with his longest relationship at the time. It was just a single rose, but she had loved it and carried it with her all day. She’d said, “I knew you wouldn’t be the type to give things like this, Seungjoo.”“Only once.”“Really?”Muheun glanced at Seungjoo, replying a moment later. His tone was soft but somehow seemed to carry a slight hesitation.After a brief silence, Muheun, with a lighter tone than before, asked.“Have you ever received flowers?”“At graduation?”“That doesn’t really count as a gift.”“Then, no.”What occasion would one receive flowers for? Seungjoo never really thought about wanting them. He wasn’t the sentimental type to enjoy receiving flowers, nor had he been close with someone romantic enough to give him flowers. So, he answered flatly and then, out of courtesy, asked.“What about you, Hyung?”“Well, Hyung has never given or received them.”“Did you have some kind of trashy relationship or what?”It wasn’t so much that he hadn’t received flowers; it was that he had never given them. Had he really never given even one flower to anyone he had dated? Seungjoo had given his girlfriend a rose and she had been so happy about it. It seemed strange that Muheun hadn’t even done that.“Trashy, huh…”For some reason, Muheun grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief, before briefly closing his mouth and letting out a quiet laugh.“I didn’t expect Seungjoo to lecture me about relationships.”“…”The way he spoke now felt a little too presumptuous. What was he doing, trying to teach someone ten years older than him? Seungjoo hadn’t meant to come across that way, but it could sound like that if someone overheard.However, Seungjoo averted his gaze and muttered, almost as a justification.“Honestly, not buying flowers in a relationship seems a bit off.”In a standard relationship, not getting flowers seemed a little strange. Surely, Muheun had been in relationships before, so why hadn’t he ever done something like that?“…”Wait, had he even seen Muheun in a relationship?“Well… that’s true, but.”Surprisingly, Muheun quietly accepted Seungjoo’s point. His tone was almost apologetic, and Seungjoo had missed the moment to ask if Muheun had ever been in a relationship.After a brief hesitation, Seungjoo shook his head and concluded for himself. No matter what, he was older, so he must have just had a bad experience in love.* * *As they passed a large intersection and climbed a residential hill, two identical gates came into view. On the left was Seungjoo’s house, and on the right was Muheun’s. Muheun had stopped living at his parents’ house for a while after moving out, but recently, he’d been visiting this gate more frequently.“Take care at the memorial.”As soon as they arrived in front of his house, Seungjoo spoke and reached for the gate handle.Normally, their goodbyes were brief. “Be careful,” “See you tomorrow.” A simple exchange, but it felt like a warm parting.“Wait a second.”But today, Muheun called Seungjoo back. Seungjoo turned around with a confused expression, momentarily distracted by his perfect appearance. Muheun selected a single pink flower from the bouquet and offered it to Seungjoo.“Here.”“…?”Seungjoo, still puzzled, took the flower. He wasn’t sure what kind of flower it was, but the shape looked like a rose.“Why this?”Was he supposed to use it as some kind of charm? Seungjoo wasn’t sure, but as he thought that, a calm voice answered.“A gift.”The unfamiliar word caught him off guard. Seungjoo stared blankly at Muheun, who gave him a soft smile.“You said you’ve never received flowers.”“…”And yet, Muheun, who had never given flowers, was now doing so.Seungjoo opened his mouth to say something, but he didn’t know how to respond, so he closed it again. Before he could hide his bewildered expression, Muheun winked at him.“I’m giving you this because it’s the first time, too.”“…No.”So why give it to me? Seungjoo found it so absurd that he couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing him laugh, Muheun also grinned playfully.“You’re giving it to me because I said you had a trashy relationship, aren’t you?”Muheun was well aware that the gift held no deep meaning. Ever since childhood, whenever he found something that looked good in his hands, he’d always give it to Seungjoo. Whether it was something he picked up from a stranger, a chocolate from school, or even a four-leaf clover he found in the grass.“Well… that’s one reason,” he replied vaguely.Seungjoo found Muheun’s answer strangely ambiguous. It was a little unsettling because he wasn’t someone to assign much meaning to something like a flower. Hearing the response made him feel oddly uneasy. Just as Seungjoo was about to look away, Muheun spoke again, his tone low.“Oh, and…”Muheun rolled up his sleeves and checked the watch on his wrist. He usually found accessories cumbersome, wearing only a few rings (and those were for exorcism purposes), so Seungjoo wondered why he was wearing a watch today.That watch—wasn’t it also some luxury brand? While Seungjoo pondered this, Muheun said something he hadn’t expected.“Someone else will come to pick you up instead of me for a while.”* * *Was there anything more burdensome than unwanted kindness? Especially when the one offering it was someone you once had unrequited feelings for, who had turned cold in an instant after building arrogant habits to keep you from escaping?‘…Why?’Seungjoo unconsciously asked, a hint of questioning in his voice. He hadn’t asked for this, yet Muheun had taken it upon himself to create this hassle. Now, Seungjoo couldn’t help but wonder why the sudden change of plans.‘Why is someone else coming instead of you?’He didn’t want to act childish, but the thought lingered. The moment he had received the flower, his strange feelings were shattered, and now his mind had turned cold, like cold water had been poured over him.‘Hmm…’Muheun paused for a moment, his expression troubled. He seemed to be carefully choosing his words, furrowing his brows as if deliberating.What came out next was something Seungjoo couldn’t make sense of.“Because next week is the full moon.”‘…’What could that possibly have to do with it?The full moon, which came around every month, was a time when Yeongi’s strength grew significantly. On that night, the balance shifted, making it a rare time when spirits, even evil ones, weakened. It was a time when exorcists worked most effectively, and even creatures like Gwimae slept.‘So, you’re sending someone else because you’re busy?’If that was the case, Seungjoo could understand. The full moon was the ideal time for exorcists, and even Gwimae hunters worked most effectively then. Seungjoo understood this in theory, though he wasn’t sure if it made sense emotionally.‘Even if I’m busy, I still have time to pick you up.’But Muheun dismissed that excuse. He wore an uncomfortable expression and spoke firmly, as if standing by his decision.“Sorry, but I can’t tell you the details.”* * *There was no way Seungjoo could argue with that. He just stood there, speechless, looking at Muheun. Muheun, noticing Seungjoo’s blank stare, averted his eyes and spoke again.“I’ll tell Muryeong to inform Hyung.”After those words, Muheun told Seungjoo he needed to leave because it was getting late. He opened the gate and let Seungjoo inside before closing the heavy wooden door behind him with a thud.Seungjoo stood there for a while, lost in thought. After some time, he let out a hollow laugh.It was unbelievable. He had just received a flower, but in an instant, his feelings had shifted into something so disappointing. He had tried to push away his feelings, only to have them come back stronger, yet now, after accepting things, he was left with nothing but a sense of emptiness.‘…This really sucks.’He hadn’t expected anything, but now he felt betrayed. He hadn’t trusted Muheun, yet now he felt let down. Even though he didn’t want to hate him, anger surged inside him. If you say something, you should follow through. If not, then don’t say it in the first place. If there were genuine reasons, at least be honest and ask for understanding.Telling himself that Muheun didn’t have any obligation to explain didn’t help. The hurt in his heart wasn’t something that could be fixed by that reasoning. Muheun had said it was just for a while, so he would return eventually, but when? Not knowing made the uncertainty unbearable.But this train of thought didn’t last long.After taking a shower and lying down at home, Seungjoo felt a pang of regret for not being able to express his anger. But then, he thought it might have been for the best. He didn’t want to throw a tantrum, and besides, he couldn’t mix his emotions into the words he had spoken. Maybe he would be wrapped up in frustration for a few days, but wasn’t the past too unfair for him to just let out his feelings?* * *“…Seungjoo, has something happened lately?”Monday, first period. Seohyun, who had just arrived at school, asked Seungjoo, who was already sitting in his seat.The 9 AM lecture was enough to make an already exhausting day feel even more draining. It was a perfect reason to wear a sour expression, but even so, Seungjoo’s face seemed a little too serious for that hour. In fact, he’d been wearing this expression since last week without fail.“Nothing’s going on.”The reply came quickly, but it didn’t seem very convincing. Jinwoo, who was sitting next to him, must’ve thought the same, as he was cautiously glancing at Seungjoo. Seungjoo noticed their gaze, but instead of saying anything more, he just turned his attention to his textbook.“Well… I’m glad if nothing’s wrong…”Seohyun’s mumbling didn’t even reach Seungjoo’s ears. Knowing it wasn’t the best attitude, he chose to rest his chin in his hand. As he lowered his gaze and pretended to focus, he could feel Seohyun and Jinwoo exchanging looks.“…”Yeah, nothing was wrong. In fact, it was so uneventful that Seungjoo almost wished something would happen. He wondered what he was doing, almost wanting to quit everything, but he couldn’t shake the possibility that something might happen, so he stayed patient and silent.‘Hyung will tell Muryeong.’Since that day, Muheun hadn’t come to pick Seungjoo up. Instead, Gi Hwanyeong came once, and Kim Muryeong came another time. Hwanyeong usually stood at the door in the morning, and Muryeong appeared at the front gate in the evening.‘Seungjoo!’The first time Muryeong came to pick Seungjoo up, another commotion arose among Seungjoo’s classmates. When a fresh-faced, cute guy greeted Seungjoo, the usual question reappeared: “Why are all the good-looking guys around Seungjoo?”Jinwoo’s reaction was the most exaggerated. He asked, playfully overdoing it if a new guy had appeared. After checking Seungjoo’s expression, though, he cautiously asked,‘…Are you not on good terms with him?’It seemed like his expression management hadn’t been perfect. “No, we’re fine.” Seungjoo replied, ignoring his classmates’ gaze and walking over to Muryeong. Muryeong, who had been waiting in place, spoke in his usual gentle voice.“Let’s go home.”The first day wasn’t too bad. Muryeong’s chatter was fine (though Seungjoo half-filtered the ghost-related stories), and when they got home, they walked Seolgi together. When Muryeong stood up to leave, Seungjoo found it easy to put on an indifferent face.“Don’t come tomorrow.”“…Are you telling me not to come to your house?”“No, I’m not crazy… it’s just…”“Just kidding.”Muryeong, who had widened his eyes in surprise, smiled softly. His eyes curved into a crescent moon shape as he smiled, unlike Muheun, whose eyes narrowed like a half-moon.His warm-toned eyes gazed at Seungjoo, and his calm voice began.“Hyung asked me to pick you up, but…”Muryeong’s way of speaking had a calming effect on anyone who listened. Muheun could also speak gently, but when it came to words alone, Muryeong’s tone was far softer. Perhaps Seungjoo felt more comfortable hearing it, since there were no hidden feelings behind his words.“I was worried, so I came.”“…”“Also, I wanted to see Seolgi.” He turned to Seolgi and added, “Right, Seolgi?”What could Seungjoo possibly say in response? The loud bark of Seolgi was enough of an answer.If Muryeong said it, then it must be true. Seungjoo thought as he spent the rest of the day.Then came the next day, and Hwanyeong arrived with a completely different reaction from Muryeong. When Seungjoo mentioned that he could go to school alone, Hwanyeong shot him a cold look, as though saying “What nonsense is that?” before giving a dry reply.“A five-year-old would go alone, of course.”“…That’s not what I meant, you idiot.”What was he taking Seungjoo for? He knew well that Seungjoo wasn’t lost, and there was no need for him to pick him up. But whether Seungjoo was shocked or not, Hwanyeong continued speaking slowly, not even looking at him.“Remember when you said I had too many thoughts and should learn from Kim Muryeong?”Seungjoo didn’t quite remember when he said that, but he’d probably said it while grumbling about Hwanyeong’s unnecessary worries.“I think I should be telling you that.”“…”Seungjoo thought, ‘Now I’m losing all the arguments to this guy?’ Though his head was indeed messy, he had believed he wasn’t showing it too much. Actually, it probably wasn’t too obvious.“Muryeong’s worried about you. He hasn’t even been able to go home properly since that day.”The “day” referred to the time when Seungjoo went to Muryeong, desperate, to talk about a new threat—someone who seemed to be targeting him.“If I don’t go, he’ll come. But at this hour, how would he even wake up?”The one who often sleeps in in the mornings, and who was always late when attending school. However, in this situation, he wouldn’t be sleeping through it. He would probably stay up all night or arrive in a dazed, half-conscious state. Seungjoo wasn’t eager to witness that kind of behavior either.Anyway, after going through all of that, Seungjoo completely gave up on stopping the two of them. They probably thought of it as an annoying, troublesome matter, but if they could endure it, it wasn’t something he should be concerned about. Besides, it was easier to have friends around than to hire bodyguards.So, the next day, and the day after that, Muryeong and Hwanyeong came to pick Seungjoo up. Fortunately, Hwanyeong’s schedule wasn’t too different from Seungjoo’s. On days when Hwanyeong arrived a bit earlier, they agreed that Seungjoo would adjust and come out early to meet him.Everything seemed to be getting sorted out, but in the end, the fundamental problem remained unchanged.He knew everything, so,he asked anyway,so, what the hell is Kim Muheun doing?“Hyung, what is he doing in the next half month?”Unable to hold it in, Seungjoo asked. Muryeong tilted his head and rolled his eyes vaguely. He answered slowly in an uncertain tone.“Probably out chasing Gwimae…?”It was an answer that anyone could give, even if it weren’t Kim Muheun. He didn’t even know the work number and didn’t really know anything about Hyung. Even though their relationship wasn’t bad, they were strangely indifferent to certain details.“Exorcists don’t really share work with each other, especially with those chasing Gwimae. Their offices are different, so there’s almost no interaction.”There’s an office at the association? It seemed natural, yet it felt oddly fascinating. Hearing the word “office” from someone as childlike as Kim Muryeong made it feel more surprising.“Didn’t Hyung tell you to look after Seungjoo?”“Um, he just asked me to take care of Seungjoo while he’s briefly away?”“He didn’t say why he’s leaving?”“Yeah.”“…Didn’t you ask?”“Uhh… Not really?”His tone suggested that it wasn’t worth asking. He tilted his head slightly and winked without a care.“I just thought he had something busy going on.”Actually, if the person hadn’t been Muheun, Seungjoo would’ve probably thought the same. Whether or not someone came to pick him up, he wouldn’t have cared. If they said they’d protect him, he would’ve let them do it after a single refusal, just like with Muryeong and Hwanyeong. He would’ve accepted it without pestering.“…”But that didn’t happen. Since the day Muheun didn’t show up, the thought of “why” filled his mind. Emotions were overwhelming reason, to the point that he couldn’t even understand himself.Seungjoo swallowed yet another sigh and pressed his pen onto the textbook. Of all things, it was the pen Muheun had used for fortune-telling, and even an innocent pen felt irritating now. Was he finally losing it? His frustration was boiling over, and he couldn’t contain the rising irritation.‘Should I contact him?’He pulled out his phone from his pocket but put it back in without unlocking it. He’d already been told he wouldn’t be seeing him for a while, so sending a message wouldn’t change anything. Plus, hadn’t he drawn the line by saying he couldn’t explain things?‘What could be the reason he can’t tell me…?’Since Seungjoo didn’t hide anything from him, Muheun didn’t hide anything from Seungjoo either. He might leave out some details, but if asked, he would eventually tell him everything.Concealing things for the sake of others wasn’t the way to go. That was something Muheun often said. Seungjoo agreed with him to some extent and had never blurred that boundary.Sighing once more, Seungjoo washed his face. Jinwoo glanced at Seungjoo but didn’t say anything.Muheun hadn’t come for two days now, and in two more days, it would have already been a week.* * *After all the classes ended, Seungjoo headed toward the main gate with his classmates. He was heading home, while his classmates were going to buy supplies for the festival. They subtly asked him to join, but Seungjoo firmly refused, saying he had plans.“Are you meeting that friend again today?”“He’s really cute-looking.”“Is Seungjoo friends with him from childhood?”The female classmates, including Seohyun, were particularly interested in Muryeong. It was similar to when they looked at Muheun, but different. With Muheun, it felt like they were looking at a celebrity, while with Muryeong, he gave off a more approachable vibe. The difference was that they couldn’t talk to Muheun, but with Muryeong, they might be able to.And as much as the reactions from his classmates were varied, the responses from the two Hyungje would also be different. Muheun would draw an appropriate line, but Kim Muryeong would likely accept everything and might even go along to a drinking session. Only after exchanging numbers with everyone and becoming closer than Seungjoo would he return home.“Stop it, he has a girlfriend.”It wasn’t really important, but planting false hope was dangerous. Especially since Kim Muryeong was notorious for being completely oblivious to the romantic feelings of others. Nothing was worse than hope torture, and the fact that it wasn’t intentional just made it worse.“…”Seungjoo, who had been deep in thought for a while, suddenly shut his mouth. He realized that Muheun probably wasn’t much different, just like his Hyungje. If it was hope torture, Seungjoo had been experiencing it enough since the last time.“No one said they wanted to date. I just said he was cute.”“Yeah, I wasn’t thinking about it either.”Seungjoo nodded, half-listening to his classmates’ words. He hadn’t expected it to be serious interest anyway. He had just said it, just in case.“What do we need to buy?”“First, let’s go to the bar up front…”Because the festival was coming soon, there was a big banner hanging at the front gate. Unlike his chatty classmates, Seungjoo silently looked around, trying to find Muryeong. Unlike Muheun, who always stood in the same place, Kim Muryeong’s location changed every time.One day, he had been participating in a survey conducted by a cult not far from the front gate. Seungjoo had thought it odd that he was so willingly taking part, but Muryeong had just been listening because he had nothing else to do. He hadn’t been forced or tricked, and he knew the group was a cult.So, Seungjoo thought he might be somewhere near here today. As he was thinking this, he suddenly saw someone standing at the front gate, and his eyes widened in surprise.“Huh?”His exclamation caught the attention of Seohyun, who glanced at him. Seungjoo was still staring at the front gate, surprised. He had spotted a person with a similar height to Muryeong, but with much longer hair, someone who seemed to be a mixture of Muryeong and Muheun.“Noona!”Seungjoo called out with rare excitement, quickening his pace. His classmates behind him looked at him curiously.The woman standing at the front gate, Muyeon, smiled brightly and raised her hand.“Oh, Seungjoo!”She was Muryeong’s older sister and Muheun’s younger sister, Muyeon. She was the second of the three siblings, and like them, she worked as an exorcist under the association. Seungjoo had known her since childhood, and he especially liked her because of her cheerful personality.“It’s been so long! Seungjoo, you’ve gotten taller.”“Wow… I haven’t grown at all since high school.”“Really?”Muyeon laughed and casually threw her arm over Seungjoo’s shoulder. Instead of pulling away, Seungjoo tilted his head slightly, allowing her to do so. His usual sullen face was now replaced with a pleasant smile.“But why are you here, Noona? Did you come instead of Kim Muryeong?”“Yeah, the youngest said he’d bring you these days, but I missed you, so I came to bring you instead.”Come to think of it, Muyeon was the team leader of the 4th team, which Muryeong was part of. She had probably heard a general update from him and had offered to come instead.“Are you not busy?”“I am, but I have some free time now.”Muyeon ruffled Seungjoo’s hair in satisfaction before letting him go. Seungjoo, though his hair was a mess, just casually fixed it with one hand without showing any signs of displeasure.“It’s been so long since I’ve been here at Korea University. My Seungjoo’s a junior now…”“You went to the Education Department, right? Our majors are so different.”“Anyway.”Muyeon laughed again, saying they were all alumni after all.When Seungjoo entered Korea University, Muyeon had immediately bought five whole chickens (two of which Kim Muryeong had eaten). The specific department didn’t matter; all that mattered was that she had a junior at the same university.“Noona, it’s been a while since I’ve been to the campus. Can I look around a bit? Are you busy, Seungjoo?”“No, I’m not busy…”Muyeon wasn’t the one busy anyway. What was there for a university student to be busy with, if it wasn’t exam season? Seungjoo didn’t have to hurry since he was going home anyway.As Seungjoo thought about heading to the lake to talk about goldfish, he turned his body when he noticed something.“…”“…”A few steps away, his classmates were gathered in a cluster. They were all looking at Seungjoo and Muyeon, alternating their gazes. It seemed they were surprised, curious, or just had a lot of things they wanted to say.“…What? Why are you standing there?”“Well…”When Seungjoo asked, Jinwoo rolled his eyes. He then tilted his head slightly toward Muyeon, who was standing behind Seungjoo.“That… ahem. Who’s that…?”“Ah.”Seungjoo, suddenly realizing something, frowned. He hadn’t thought of it in his excitement, but now he expected yet another troublesome situation to arise. After giving up on Kim Muheun and then Kim Muryeong, now it seemed like Muyeon might cause him to give up on his sister too.“Just an acquaintance.”So, he answered vaguely, but surprisingly, the response came from behind. Muyeon, who had been observing his classmates with interest, spoke up.“Wow, Seungjoo… Did you just explain me as ‘just an acquaintance’?”Her voice was full of feigned disappointment. Of course, it wasn’t entirely true, and it was half a joke, but since Seungjoo didn’t bother to correct her, Muyeon smiled brightly and looked at the classmates.“These are Seungjoo’s classmates?”Only the female classmates responded with “Yes…” and Muyeon gave them a warm, adoring look.“So cute… Is there no girlfriend among them?”“Noona.”“Okay, okay.”When Seungjoo sharply cut her off, Muyeon immediately backed down. Unlike the teasing Muheun, Muyeon was much more straightforward with her playful jokes and apologetic when needed. With a wink, she smiled and asked Seungjoo.“If you were planning to hang out with your friends, I’ll wait.”“No, they’re going shopping for the festival, and I was on my way home.”“Seungjoo, aren’t you preparing for the festival?”“No.”“You’re just being lazy, huh…”Muyeon gave him a knowing look, as if she were a concerned guardian worrying about her child’s social life. Seungjoo, feeling a little embarrassed, scratched the back of his neck, when one of the male classmates suddenly spoke up.“If your sister’s okay with it…!”“Oh, no.”But before he could finish his sentence, Seungjoo immediately cut him off with a sharp reply, dismissing any possible suggestions in a monotone voice.“I’m not coming to the festival, I’m not giving my number, and I’m not going shopping with you. Get a clue.”“…”It almost sounded like a rap. Then, a chuckle echoed from either Seohyun or one of the other classmates. Of course, the guy who had tried to speak up frowned and retorted.“Hey, you should at least hear her out!”“Do I really need to? That’s why you’re out of luck.”For guys like this, it was better to be blunt rather than pretend. Seungjoo had realized that early on, so he gave a playful smile and clicked his tongue. The key was to be just dismissive enough so they couldn’t get mad.“If you get it, I’m leaving first.”* * *Seungjoo’s noona, Muyeon, who was nine years older than him, seemed quite happy to visit the campus after a long time. She remarked that she hadn’t been to such a busy place in a while and how much she had missed this ordinary setting, enjoying the atmosphere with a delighted look on her face. Well, strictly speaking, it didn’t really seem like she was talking about the “campus.”Among the places Muyeon had visited, there was the lake, but Seungjoo couldn’t bring himself to talk about the goldfish he had seen. He had only realized later that if he mentioned it, he would have to explain about his spiritual vision. If Muyeon asked how that happened, it would be awkward to explain. So, instead, he asked if Gwimae could appear in places like this, but Muyeon paused, thought for a moment, and then answered.‘It’s usually impossible.’‘…’Was it just his feeling? It almost sounded like she was implying that it could happen. If it was a 0% possibility, Muyeon’s personality would have firmly shaken her head.However, since she said it was almost impossible, Seungjoo thought of the “goldfish spirit” Gwangsik had mentioned and asked again.‘So, can animal spirits talk to people?’‘Hmm, they could try to talk…’Muyeon’s half-smiling face made Seungjoo think of Muheun. When Muyeon smiled brightly, she resembled Kim Muryeong, but when her smile was slight, she reminded him of Kim Muheun. Seungjoo had joked before that if he lined them up, it would look like a gradient.‘But whether people can understand it…’Muyeon, not unlike the others in the house, always said the same thing when talking about Seolgi.‘But why do you ask? Did someone mention it?’‘Ah, some people said they saw something strange by the lake.’Seungjoo naturally used the excuse he had already prepared. He couldn’t exactly say he had seen it, so he was going to pretend it was a rumor going around the school. He felt bad for trying to test her, but if some students had seen it, Muyeon might go investigate.‘They said it was like a black goldfish…’‘Really?’As expected, Muyeon asked back as she turned to walk. He didn’t even need to ask where she was going; she was heading toward the lake.When they reached the fence, Muyeon, after glancing around the wide lake, spoke in a confident voice.‘I don’t sense anything here.’Muyeon was the team leader of the 4th team of the Exorcist Association, meaning she was a semi-leader-level expert. Even though it was daytime, if there had been any spirits in the area, she should have sensed at least some lingering energy. But she tilted her head as if she really couldn’t feel anything, then leaned against the fence and looked down.‘Noona, it’s dangerous.’‘I’m fine, I won’t fall.’She added that she wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake of falling here.‘…But you never know.’Just then, Seungjoo grabbed Muyeon’s sleeve. Fortunately, Muyeon quickly adjusted herself and repeated the same words: she couldn’t feel any energy here.‘Are you sure it wasn’t just a mistaken goldfish?’‘It could be…’The only possible explanation Seungjoo could think of was that the goldfish spirit had somehow attained enlightenment in that short time. Lost animals naturally achieved enlightenment after a while.‘It’s not dangerous, right?’When he asked to be sure one last time, Muyeon had asked if his sister could write him a talisman. It seemed like he thought Seungjoo was scared, but for Seungjoo, it was hard to answer.‘I’m just a little worried.’It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t anxiety or concern, either. It was just that he was a bit unsettled. He had forgotten about the ghost he saw at the intersection, the wild boar in the mountains, and the evil spirit standing in front of the wall, but this small goldfish…‘Anyway, you’re so kind. You’re worried about the kids, aren’t you?’Seungjoo didn’t answer, but Muyeon just concluded that way. It was the same protective look she had when she proudly gazed at her child. At twenty, Seungjoo wasn’t really a kid anymore (especially since he was taller than Muyeon), but it was clear she still saw him as young.Well, it didn’t really matter to Seungjoo. Muyeon was actually older than him, and he didn’t mind her caring for him. Seungjoo understood how comforting the stability provided by an adult could be.‘Let’s go home now.’So, the two of them returned home side by side. Muyeon suggested they have dinner together, so Seungjoo stopped by the next house and played with Seolgi for a while. Muyeon left her family home around dusk, saying she was heading straight to work.‘Noona, um…’The reason he couldn’t ask if Muheun knew what Hyung was up to was simple. He had pretended to be fine in front of Kim Muryeong, but he didn’t have the confidence to ask in front of Muyeon. As soon as the name “Muheun Hyung” came up, he felt like she would be deeply unsettled.‘…No, just told him to be careful.’‘In a boring way.’Muyeon gave him a puzzled look for a moment, then said a warm goodbye. She promised that Muryeong would probably come in his place if she had the time, though it seemed like an unlikely promise. Nevertheless, Seungjoo didn’t feel disappointed, as he hadn’t really expected much.Yes, it was different from when Muheun had said it.The feeling of disappointment towards him was truly because of his own feelings. He unintentionally faced that truth. What would have been no big deal with anyone else, had remained in his heart simply because it was Kim Muheun. The lingering grudge had silently accumulated, filling him up without him realizing.That night, Seungjoo lay in bed, thinking about Muheun. More precisely, about the things he had said and the sound of the door closing in front of him. What was the reason he couldn’t tell him why he couldn’t come after fifteen days? And where could Seungjoo be involved with it?Naturally, no conclusion came. He tossed and turned in bed, pondering, but all he could do was sigh.* * *Two days later, it was the seventh day since he hadn’t seen him.As night fell, they said the full moon would rise. The night before had been particularly bright, and while looking at the moon, which resembled a full moon, Kim Muryeong talked to him. He looked unusually energetic, and though he said he’d be busy the next day, he seemed in a good mood.As time passed, the festival was right around the corner. Because everyone’s mind was on the event, one of the lectures was canceled in the middle. Excited classmates ran out to prepare booths, and Seungjoo, following Jinwoo, leisurely filled in.“Whoa, Seungjoo, what’s this? Did you come to help?”“Seungjoo, the man of loyalty!”“Without loyalty, Seungjoo is nothing!”There was nothing for Seungjoo to do, but his classmates welcomed him like a savior. As soon as he arrived, they cheered and gave him tasks. It seemed they had been waiting for a slave, but Seungjoo accepted their requests without a word. And once his hands were free, he headed towards Seohyun’s side.“Move, I’ll do it.”“Uh? Oh.”Seohyun, who was in the middle of setting up lights, handed him the things he was holding. He was struggling because he was too short to reach the ceiling. Why was he doing this when he couldn’t even touch it? Seungjoo thought to himself as he stretched his arms and hung the lights.“Where else do I need to hang it?”“……”When Seungjoo asked, Seohyun didn’t answer right away and briefly looked away. After a small cough, Seohyun pointed to a few spots on the ceiling.“Just hang them evenly in the middle.”The explanation was vague, but it wasn’t a difficult task. Seungjoo moved quickly and hung the lights at the right intervals. Seohyun, who had been trailing behind, asked in a curious voice.“Why are you helping all of a sudden?”“…Is it so strange that I’m helping?”“No, it’s not…”Seohyun trailed off, offering an awkward smile. It seemed he appreciated the help, but it was still surprising.“You don’t seem to like doing this kind of thing.”“Well…”Seungjoo shrugged without denying it. It was true that he found it bothersome, but it wasn’t something he hated to the point of avoiding it. Back in high school, he had even helped with creating pamphlets for the library club once in a while.“I just came because I had nothing else to do. Even Jinwoo’s over there doing that.”Seungjoo pointed toward where Jinwoo was setting up a table with his classmates. He had claimed he would only be drinking, not selling alcohol, but somehow, he had ended up getting the most excited and joining in.“Ah, right. The time’s a bit awkward, huh?”Seohyun nodded, quickly understanding. Seungjoo’s answer seemed plausible. Well, it wasn’t a lie, but the real reason was a bit different.‘Because next week is the full moon.’The full moon Kim Muheun had talked about was today. It had been exactly a week since he left, and now Seungjoo, who had been feeling down for the past few days, found himself once again questioning things. With Muryeong and Hwanyeong starting to come to pick him up, those lingering questions he’d held in his heart for so long began to surface.“……”Will he come back after the full moon?Muheun had said “for a while,” but he never told Seungjoo when that would end. The fact that he didn’t set a definite time frame seemed to be a way of pushing Seungjoo into an indefinite wait. Whatever Muheun was thinking, it was clearly a harsh thing to do.When did he become so desperate to wait for him?Seungjoo had thought the emptiness he felt when he was alone without him was just loneliness, but it seemed that it couldn’t be expressed by just a simple word like that. If that was the case, he might as well have just said he wanted to be by his side from the beginning. Why did people have to make him feel so petty?“What’s wrong?”“……It’s nothing.”Seungjoo shook his head and tried to clear the expression on his face. If he stayed still, he’d keep losing focus, so he decided to keep himself busy instead. As he worked on the festival preparations, his thoughts would hopefully shift, and if he could forget about Kim Muheun, that would be even better.There were many tasks to do, but the festival preparations went more smoothly than expected. Since each person’s help was valuable, Seungjoo’s contributions, especially with physical labor, made a big difference. He took charge of the heavy tasks, so the larger jobs were quickly finished.“I’ll take this out.”About an hour later, Seungjoo grabbed the box filled with trash and headed out of the tent. The large box was packed entirely with paper, and its weight was no joke. If it were Kim Muryeong, he would probably carry it easily. Seungjoo thought absently.The trash from the festival preparations was to be dropped off in the trash bin behind the building. Since the sociology department’s booth was quite a distance away, Seungjoo began to regret carrying the box by himself as he got halfway there.This is heavier than I thought. Maybe I should’ve shared it with Jinwoo. But by the time he thought that, it was too late to turn back. The best he could do now was to hurry.There were plenty of students in front of the building, but the back area where the trash bin was located was nearly empty. It seemed like either everyone had already dropped off their trash, or they were planning to take it out all at once later.Seungjoo placed the box in a corner and massaged his stiff shoulder. The bruise on his left forearm had completely healed not long ago. He had been careful, fearing that Muheun might find out, but luckily, he had gotten through it without being noticed.“……I guess it wouldn’t have mattered if he had found out.”Even if Muheun had known about the bruise, he likely would have disappeared just like he did now. He had said that he couldn’t explain the reason clearly.And why worry so much? It was an impulsive thought, but maybe it wasn’t completely wrong.Seungjoo checked the time and decided to head back to the booth. He thought he’d helped enough by now and considered starting to clean up and go back.But just as he was about to pass by the building, an unfamiliar presence brushed against the back of his neck.“……”It was just an instinctive feeling. There was no one around, but he knew exactly who it was—someone who always appeared at times like this. There was no sound of footsteps, but the chill running down his spine felt strangely familiar.Without any warning, Seungjoo turned around. He had a strong feeling the person would be behind him this time. When he turned, sure enough, a familiar face met his gaze.“……”“……”A man wearing a black cap stared at Seungjoo. His strikingly beautiful eyes widened in surprise. The man, who had reached out as if to grab Seungjoo, was, as expected, Gwangsik.“……I knew it.”Tsk, Seungjoo clicked his tongue and shook his head. Yeah, he had been wondering why Gwangsik had been absent lately. It didn’t seem like he’d give up that easily after providing a fake birthdate and disappearing.“Why do you always pop up like this, Gwangsik?”“……”At the word ‘Gwangsik,’ he flinched slightly. Even though he’d been called that name repeatedly last time, it seemed to have become awkward again in the gap since then. Well, it was a name with quite an impact to get used to in a short time.“…How did you know I came?”“I don’t know, just had a feeling.”Seungjoo, who had answered carelessly, suddenly frowned as he realized something. How did he know I came? Does that mean this guy had been aware all along that there hadn’t been any signs of me?“Don’t you ever get tired of it? Showing up behind me all the time.”“This is the first time I’ve come from behind.”“…Tch, whatever.”Seungjoo replied irritably, then absentmindedly looked around. No one was still coming near the trash heap. He used to think he was a ghost, showing up only in places where no one else was. For a living person, it was hard to understand why he always appeared so secretly.“Why’d you come today?”Seungjoo asked that out of politeness. He didn’t really feel like being polite, but he figured if he didn’t ask, the guy would stay silent for a while again.While thinking about what nonsense he was going to say next, Gwangsik suddenly spoke up.“I don’t have a birthday.”“What?”What an odd topic to bring up. A birthday? Out of the blue?“I don’t have a name, and I don’t have a birthday. So I couldn’t tell you.”“…”Seungjoo wasn’t sure why he was saying this now, but he had a vague idea of the flow of conversation. He must have been bothered by the fake birthdate Seungjoo had given him last time. Seungjoo had already forgotten it completely, but now, after so much time had passed, Gwangsik was making excuses about it.It was a bit of a ridiculous situation, but the important part wasn’t that.“…You don’t have a name or a birthday?”How could someone from Korea not have those? Names aside, your birthday is just the day you were born, so how could that not exist? It didn’t make sense. Seungjoo was about to tell him not to talk nonsense, but swallowed his words instead.“Yeah, neither.”“…”It didn’t seem like a lie… at least not one made up on the spot. Gwangsik was naturally expressionless, but he wasn’t hard to read. If this were a lie to dodge something, there would probably be a hint of hesitation.“Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?”Several possible scenarios crossed Seungjoo’s mind, but most of them seemed like they belonged in a soap opera. Maybe he had been abandoned as a child and didn’t have a birthday, or had lived without an identity, like someone who had died but still walked the earth.“If you were lying last time, then that’s that, why bring it up now…”Seungjoo trailed off with an annoyed look on his face. It was just a reflex from experience, and he had a feeling he shouldn’t get any further involved here. Maybe because he had lived his childhood with everyone worrying about him, Seungjoo was highly sensitive to such risks.“Did you come here to say that?”“No.”Gwangsik answered firmly, pulling his hat down low. His already shadowed eyes were nearly hidden. Whether his head was small or the hat was too big, it was hard to see his face at a glance.“I came to talk about Kim Muheun.”“…”Seungjoo flinched, his expression hardening. Of all the names, why did that one have to come up now? No matter how much Seungjoo’s face darkened, Gwangsik continued to speak in his robotic tone.“You know the Gwimae hunters are busiest around the full moon, right?”It wasn’t a question he expected an answer to, and Seungjoo didn’t feel like responding. In fact, he couldn’t answer. The moment he heard ‘Kim Muheun,’ all the emotions he had been holding back suddenly surged up—irritation, or maybe sorrow.“But Kim Muheun…”“Hey.”At Gwangsik’s cold voice, Seungjoo stopped talking. There was still no emotion in his gaze. Seungjoo, struggling to keep his emotions in check, looked him in the eye.“What does that have to do with me right now?”Why does he always come to me with this nonsense? No matter what I say, he won’t listen, so why does he keep showing up? He never answers anything I ask but just keeps feeding me things I don’t care about. Now he’s even bringing up Muheun’s name for some stupid reason.“What does it matter if the Gwimae hunters are busy? Kim Muheun? What about Kim Muheun? Is he unsealing some Gwimae again, or playing around with the association’s puppet strings?”Seungjoo repeated Gwangsik’s words mockingly. He didn’t believe a word of it, and Muheun had denied it too. If Gwangsik said something similar again, Seungjoo was ready to scoff right in his face.“I told you. No matter what you say, I won’t believe it, and I’ll just go tell Hyung. You think I’m a joke? Just because I’m listening doesn’t mean I’m not pissed off, you bastard.”Swearing slipped out unintentionally. The more he spoke, the more he felt his emotions intensifying. It felt like he had never been this angry before, but he couldn’t calm himself down.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~