The Night Of The Untraced

“… Watched?”Seungjoo looked up at Muheun with a bewildered expression. He couldn’t immediately comprehend what Muheun had just said. Being under surveillance? Who would suddenly do such a thing?“Me? Why?”“The reason needs to be investigated further, but…”Muheun squinted his eyes and dragged out his words. His expression remained unpleasant, but his voice had softened significantly. He was clearly trying to suppress his irritation consciously because Seungjoo was in front of him.“As far as I can guess, yes. Remember the faction I mentioned before?”The new faction that aimed for power. The troublesome ones that targeted Seungjoo, prompting Muheun to declare that he would protect him.“It seems that faction is still hovering around you. They want to verify if your abilities are genuine and, if so, find a way to use you.”“They want to see if I can communicate with spirits? Like that cigarette last time?”“Yeah. Now that your spiritual vision is open, they wouldn’t need to approach you directly.”How did they know his spiritual vision had opened? Well, if they had been following him all along, they might have figured it out. They might have guessed based on sensing Muheun’s spiritual energy within him.The part he didn’t understand was something else.“Ridiculous, they just ask for help anyway…”All Seungjoo had heard from the spirits were grievances filled with resentment and anger. Their names had been repeated to the point of wearing thin, and they had begged for help so much that it had become tiresome. Yet, knowing that, what could they possibly do?“So, I was being watched earlier too?”“They were probably nearby. Close enough to hear our conversation but far enough to not get caught by me.”Now Seungjoo understood why Muheun had interrupted him earlier. It was to ensure that no one else would hear what he was saying, as the saying goes, “Walls have ears.”“They don’t need to know about reading the spirits’ memories.”“…Oh.”Not just reading their memories. Seungjoo thought and then moved his lips to speak. He had to share what he hadn’t told him earlier.“I absorbed a spirit earlier.”“…Absorbed?”Muheun asked, caught off guard. Seungjoo nodded, recalling what happened when he embraced the spirit.“Technically, I should say I sucked it in and then released it…”It was a sensation difficult to describe. Unlike the cold energy filling his stomach when he kissed Muheun, the energy that entered his body left a sharp pain and then exited.“And the spirit became smaller.”“….”Even after hearing Seungjoo’s words, Muheun remained silent for a moment, simply gazing at him with calm eyes. After a slow blink, he asked in a low voice.“Are you okay physically?”“I’m fine now.”Earlier, it felt like his whole body was being torn apart, but now he felt nothing. It was all just phantom pain, with no actual harm done to his body.“And Gwangsik dropped in the middle. He was the one who interfered with the sealing…”In retrospect, it was an embarrassing situation. Had he left it alone, Muheun wouldn’t have had to set up a barrier himself. It was no wonder he had questioned what Gwangsik had done.“Hyung.”Seungjoo started with a serious tone. He thought he was fine, but speaking it out loud made him feel a bit worried. He had no idea what he had done.“Is this part of my constitution too?”As if absorbing spiritual energy wasn’t enough, he might have the constitution to absorb the energy of spirits as well. Even though the spiritual energy accumulated in his body, the spirit’s energy vanished without a trace.“…Hmm.”However, Muheun hesitated to draw a conclusion. His eyes were also dark, sunk into the shadows.After a long pause, Muheun answered with a faint smile as usual.“It might be something like that. Don’t worry.”“….”If Muheun said so, it must be true, but there was a lingering unease. It was hard to pinpoint, and naturally, Seungjoo couldn’t bring himself to mention it.“…How did you know I was being watched?”“I had a rough sense of it for a while. Then today, I heard it clearly.”“From whom?”“From an exorcist I happened to encounter.”Muheun shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze to the trees. His eyes briefly glinted sharply, but Seungjoo didn’t notice and asked.“The person at those coordinates?”“Yeah, that person.”He wasn’t sure where the coordinates were, but Gwangsik must have arrived by now, contacting the association as instructed by Muheun to handle it.“…Is that person dead?”Muheun looked back at Seungjoo when he gently asked for confirmation. He neither denied nor affirmed, but his response leaned towards the latter. Then Muheun tilted his head and winked.“It might be unsettling and scary… Do you want to hear about it?”“No.”Muheun laughed, as if he expected that response. He probably didn’t intend to share the story anyway, so he spoke as if to intimidate. Although Seungjoo was curious about the details, his curiosity had never overpowered his rationality.“Is that why you didn’t answer the phone?”“Yes, I called back later, but they didn’t pick up.”Muheun then wore an extremely apologetic expression. Knowing he might apologize if left alone, Seungjoo naturally shifted the topic.“…Gwangsik said that spirit seemed to have been sealed and then released.”He mentioned the energy felt too weak for a typical spirit. They might have missed it if Seungjoo hadn’t noticed.“This was the work of that faction too, right?”Seungjoo wasn’t a spirit hunter, but he knew that the likelihood of a spirit’s seal breaking was very low. If it were so easy to break, incidents would have occurred long ago.“That possibility is quite high.”“Why would they do that? What do they gain from it?”Seungjoo chuckled incredulously. Their methods seemed clearly strange, even without deep contemplation.“Letting evil spirits run free and unsealing spirits… wouldn’t it just become troublesome for them?”They claimed to seek power, but what would it accomplish if they tarnished the association? It wasn’t out of an inability to forgive their wrongdoings but rather out of an inability to understand, which was frustrating. Seungjoo wasn’t the kind to get righteously angry about such things in the first place.“They’re making the workforce short-handed.”Muheun finally provided a clear answer. As Seungjoo appeared not to understand, Muheun explained slowly in a gentle voice.“This industry always lacks manpower. Exorcists and even the messengers (使者) are too busy to catch their breath.”Reapers, who guide spirits, constantly complained about severe manpower shortages and overwork. Consequently, many spirits were missed, and helping these spirits pass on was also one of the exorcists’ duties.“I don’t know the ultimate goal of that faction, but they must have behind-the-scenes work to do on their way there. To avoid interference, they have two options: create a smokescreen or leave no time to interfere.”One by one, Muheun unfolded his long fingers. He shrugged and smirked as he extended his index and middle fingers.“When such incidents occur during busy times, the investigation into the new faction naturally suffers due to the lack of personnel.”“So, they did it on purpose to create busyness?”“Currently, that’s quite likely.”Muheun kindly added that this was only a guess. The truth wouldn’t be known until they caught the faction and heard their story.“In a similar context, what do you think is the biggest hindrance when approaching you, Seungjoo?”“…You?”Muheun laughed as if Seungjoo had gotten the answer right. Although his smile was languid, his eyes were not.“They probably know that I investigate spirits with broken seals. The busier I am, the more time you spend alone, so they’d want to check on you while I’m away.”The explanation was both understandable and elusive. While Muheun’s words didn’t seem wrong, Seungjoo felt that wasn’t the whole story. Likely, Muheun shared similar thoughts as he spoke.“Anyway, that’s why…”Muheun slowly began and then grasped at the air. Blue energy rose like smoke from his clenched hand. The energy wavered and then condensed into the shape of a sharp sword.Muheun spun the sword in his hand, reversing the grip on the handle. As the blade traced a semicircle, it left a vivid blue trail in the air. Entranced by the mysterious sight for a moment, Seungjoo watched as Muheun unhesitatingly thrust the sword into a tree.“Like this,”With a thud, the sword lodged into the tree, trembling violently. Seungjoo flinched and stepped back as a web-like energy began to spread across the tree trunk. At the same time, a black mass plummeted from high up in the tree.“The seal was broken.”“….”It was a sparrow. Specifically, the spirit they had missed earlier. An odd creature, black soot falling off every time it flapped and struggled.“…Unbelievable.”How long had it been there?It seemed the spirit had flown to hide in a nearby tree. Given how quiet it had been, it must have been hiding its presence from the moment they arrived. The important thing was that it had been this close all along, yet they hadn’t noticed at all…“Did you know?”Seungjoo asked, and Muheun shrugged instead of answering. It was a question that didn’t need an answer. If he hadn’t known it was there, he wouldn’t have thrust his sword into the tree so suddenly.“I said it couldn’t have gone far.”Should he be surprised that the spirit only managed to flee this far, or should he be impressed by Muheun’s ability to find it so quickly? They had said even the team leader couldn’t find it due to the weak energy, yet Muheun found it with such ease.Seungjoo looked down at the spirit that had fallen to the ground with an amazed expression. It seemed to have injured its leg in the fall, as it couldn’t stand properly. It merely fluttered its wings, its short beak stuck in the ground.“…Is it hurt?”He had sensed it from the beginning, but something was off about its movements. Watching it gave him an uneasy feeling. It was even more so now that it had changed to the size of a sparrow.“Rather than being hurt… it’s more like it’s angry.”Muheun pulled the sword from the tree and spun it lightly. The action was almost habitual, showing his skill in handling the sword. Even to someone who had known him his whole life, he seemed strangely unfamiliar at that moment.“It’s like being rudely awakened from a deep sleep when it was forcibly unsealed.”According to Muheun, the sparrow was angry because it was woken from its slumber. If it was behaving oddly because it wasn’t fully awake, then its current struggle made sense.‘But still…’He understood it was angry and that it was irritated, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t hurt. When their eyes had met briefly, it had seemed to say ‘I’m in pain.’“Seungjoo.”“…”Startled, Seungjoo looked at Muheun. He had been intently observing the sparrow on the ground. Muheun tapped the ground beside the spirit with the tip of his sword as he spoke.“This isn’t a real animal.”“…Ah.”It was something he’d heard before. Muheun had once told him that spirits weren’t real animals, just grudges of nature, and they shouldn’t have emotions.“They transform into the creature they’re most familiar with, the one they’ve seen the most.”It felt like he was being told not to pity it. Seungjoo understood this logically, but emotionally it was difficult to accept. If he could separate them so clearly, he wouldn’t have felt guilty in the first place.“…Being a spirit hunter is no easy task.”Muheun tilted his head at the seemingly offhand remark. His expression seemed to ask what he meant, so Seungjoo brushed his hair back and frowned.“You like animals. How do you handle this? I don’t even like them that much, and it’s hard for me, so it must be harder for you.”Muheun and his siblings had loved animals since childhood. They weren’t afraid of insects or bugs, and on rainy days, they’d gather in the yard to watch earthworms. To be precise, they loved all living creatures.On the other hand, Seungjoo wasn’t as affectionate. He found the neighbor’s pet dog cute and lovable, but that was about it. Dealing with living animals was always challenging, sometimes even uncomfortable.“You like animals.”Muheun countered Seungjoo’s words with just one sentence. When Seungjoo flinched, Muheun continued in a gentle, calm tone.“It’s not that you don’t like them; it’s that you have a soft heart. You’re inherently kind, so it’s difficult for you.”“…”Wow, this must be the rose-colored glasses effect.It was similar to how Muyeon viewed Seungjoo as a guardian. Listening to Muheun, anyone would think Seungjoo was the kindest person. But Seungjoo knew well enough who the truly kind-hearted one was.“Kim Muryeong is the kind and soft-hearted one.”“Our Muryeong isn’t soft-hearted.”Muheun squinted his left eye and nodded slightly. A thin smile escaped through his lips as if amused by the remark.“You’re gentler than Muryeong.”“I mean…”Seungjoo wanted to deny it, but Muheun turned away before he could. The gentle gaze he had given Seungjoo turned cold when directed at the spirit. Seungjoo instinctively clamped his mouth shut at the sight of Muheun’s darkened eyes.“…”“…”With the outside noise blocked, the only sound was the spirit’s struggling. It showed no signs of exhaustion, still crawling on the ground. As Muheun said, it was more of an angry fit than a sign of pain.‘…Who broke the seal?’It would be nice to catch the culprit. As he thought this, Seungjoo suddenly recalled the scene he saw when he touched the spirit. He hadn’t seen it clearly, but it was undoubtedly the spirit’s memories. Had he seen a bit more, he might have seen the culprit’s face.“Hyung, maybe…”“No.”But as soon as he opened his mouth, Muheun cut him off. He planted the sword on the ground and looked at Seungjoo steadily.“Absolutely not.”“…”Always quick to catch on. He must have realized what proposal was about to be made just from the cautious introduction. That’s why he responded so firmly, as if to say it was out of the question.“You don’t know what might happen to your body if you try that again.”Seungjoo thought that maybe he could read its memories if he touched the spirit again. He averted his gaze. If it were possible, he could quickly find out who broke the seal. He had vividly experienced its memories when he encountered the goldfish.“When did you become so reckless?”However, Muheun seemed unwilling to accept Seungjoo’s suggestion. His tone was slightly reproachful, and beneath it was clearly concern. Seungjoo had expected this reaction and had already prepared his response.“…I don’t want to live being watched.”Vaguely knowing it’s dangerous and actually being watched are two different things. Even though it wouldn’t change his behavior much, it would make him feel uneasy.“Hyung, you can’t follow me around forever.”“…”Muheun showed a somewhat hurt expression despite Seungjoo’s frustrated words. He raised his eyebrows and twisted his well-shaped lips. But that didn’t mean Seungjoo should stop speaking.“It’s better to face danger once than to remain in constant danger without knowing who it is.”“I’ll make sure it’s not dangerous.”This time, Muheun shook his head without a moment’s hesitation. He firmly added before Seungjoo could say anything more.“And finding the culprit is my job.”He couldn’t ask why it was his job because, although Seungjoo was the one being watched, Muheun was the one more worried. Moreover, strictly speaking, dealing with the spirit was Muheun’s role as a spirit hunter.“If they were able to break the seal, they’re probably high-ranking. High-ranking exorcists usually keep their faces hidden. We can’t risk experimenting on you without being certain.”“…”Hearing those words, Seungjoo frowned, realizing something he hadn’t considered. He recalled hearing that Muheun’s father also wore a mask during his work. High-ranking exorcists went to great lengths to conceal their identities.“…It’s not that you made me do it. I volunteered.”He tried to find a loophole in Muheun’s words but couldn’t persuade him. Perhaps realizing there was nothing more to say, Muheun exhaled softly and pulled a talisman from his pocket, speaking lightly.“You can close your eyes if you’re scared.”There was no need to close his eyes. Seungjoo just took a step back and looked down at the spirit. Still sprawled on the ground, the spirit struggled, unaware of what was about to happen.‘He said it’s not an animal…’Perhaps thanks to repeatedly telling himself this, it now looked more like a black mass than a sparrow. Though it had a short beak and long tail like a sparrow, sticky soot remained where its feathers should have been. The more it struggled, the more its form became distorted.“It might be disgusting…”Muheun muttered quietly and lifted his sword. Blue spiritual energy slowly emanated from the sword aimed precisely at the spirit. Normally, Seungjoo would have closed his eyes, but he stared blankly at the spirit as if entranced.“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”“I’m fine.”The answer was brief, and Muheun didn’t hesitate. He closed his eyes briefly and opened them again with a serious expression.Then, the moment he drove his sword into the spirit’s body.“…!”An excruciating pain struck his chest. It was as if his solar plexus had been pierced, making it difficult to breathe. Seungjoo reflexively hunched over and covered his mouth, coughing loudly.“Cough…!”If his lungs were to be crushed, this might be what it felt like. With a feeling like he was about to vomit, something surged up his throat. Muheun looked startled and turned to Seungjoo, who belatedly removed the hand from his mouth.“…”“…”A heavy silence fell between them. Seungjoo, unable to speak, opened his eyes wide. The liquid that covered his palm was nothing other than bright red blood.“No…”Why is the blood coming out all of a sudden?Seungjoo, feeling confused, started to speak but could only manage a raspy cough. Blood dripped from his palm onto the floor. He stood there in a daze for a moment before snapping back to reality and hurriedly spoke.“Hyung, I’m okay….”It was a half-habitual response. Muheun was always the first to react sensitively whenever something was wrong with him. He intended to reassure Muheun that he was really okay and that there was no need to worry.However, before Seungjoo could hide his hand, Muheun stepped forward and grabbed his wrist. The grip was too strong to resist, so Seungjoo just pressed his lips together. Muheun’s expression turned icy as he confirmed the blood seeping from Seungjoo’s hand.“…What is this now.”The trembling gaze was different from before. His eyes trembled slightly, and nothing came out of his parted lips. Before Seungjoo could say anything, a long sigh escaped from between Muheun’s parted lips.“Ah…”Very slowly, Muheun closed his eyes and opened them again. His eyelashes fluttered, and cracks began to form in his stiff expression. At the moment when he seemed on the verge of breaking,“…Hyung, hyung!”Muheun bent down and lifted Seungjoo, cradling him in one arm as if he were a child. Startled, Seungjoo quickly wrapped his arms around Muheun’s head. Even then, he was careful to keep his right hand, covered in blood, away from Muheun.“Hyung, just a moment!”His urgent shout didn’t quite reach Muheun. Holding Seungjoo, Muheun approached the tree and reached for the talisman. It seemed he was about to break the barrier, and Seungjoo, now truly desperate, pleaded in a sincere voice.“I’m really okay, hyung!”“…Okay?”A chill ran down his spine at Muheun’s low voice. Usually gentle and soft-spoken, his husky voice carried an overwhelming presence even with just a single word.“You vomited blood.”“…That.”“That can’t be okay.”Muheun, speaking firmly, reached for the talisman again. Just as he was about to pull it off, Seungjoo grabbed a handful of Muheun’s hair with his unbloodied hand. It wasn’t intentional; it was an instinctive action because he had nothing else to grab onto.“Oh, Kim Muheun!”Whether it was fortunate or not, Muheun paused. It was more of a brief hesitation, but Seungjoo seized the opportunity to forcibly turn Muheun’s head to face him. The two eyes that met at such a close distance were as dark as if they could suck him in.“…Calm down.”Seungjoo’s sighing voice settled calmly. After finally uttering those words, he let go of Muheun’s hair and frowned. Of course, he intended to go to the hospital, but there was something more important to do first.“You have to seal the spirit.”As soon as Muheun let go, the sword that had been embedded in the spirit disappeared without a trace. The spirit, too, now lay limp and quiet, as if dead. Although it seemed all over, the sealing process had been interrupted, so they had to finish the task.“Ah… Seungjoo.”Muheun murmured softly, closing his eyes tightly before opening them again with a look of frustration. Even in that simple gesture, a jumble of emotions could be felt—anxiety, impatience, and in some sense, anger.“Is that important right now?”Of course, it’s important. The situation arose because of that small sparrow. If they left it unattended, who knows what problems might occur later?“We need to finish what we started. We can’t just leave after setting up a barrier. We have to seal the spirit and…”“That barrier can be set up in 10 minutes.”Muheun retorted sharply and took a deep breath in and out. Despite that, as if unable to calm down, the sound of grinding teeth was vividly audible. Seeing that leaving him alone might lead to reckless actions, Seungjoo spoke with a more assertive tone.“I’m not in pain.”“…”Muheun’s jet-black eyes were fixed on Seungjoo. He seemed to have a lot to say, but Seungjoo gave him no time and continued.“I’m feeling better.”His throat was still a little itchy, but it wasn’t painful. The pain he felt earlier had completely disappeared. Tasting blood in his mouth was inevitable since he had just coughed it up.“I’ll go to the hospital. I will, but let’s sort this situation out first. If we just leave the spirit here, who knows what might happen next time?”He wasn’t trying to emphasize the spirit’s danger. He was simply pointing out that if they didn’t know the cause, they couldn’t solve it. Coughing up blood was definitely because of the spirit, but there was no guarantee that going to the hospital would prevent it from happening again.“Think rationally, hyung.”“That…”The rest of the words came out very quietly, mixed with a bitter laugh as if saying, “Is that even possible?” Seungjoo understood how Muheun felt, but they needed to remain calm, especially in situations like this.“We need to find out why I coughed up blood.”“…”Muheun probably knew as well that Seungjoo had truly gotten better and that rushing to the hospital wouldn’t change anything. Ignoring it now might lead to a similar situation repeating itself.“I won’t die from this.”It was a statement that could have provoked him, but it was the best he could do right now. Perhaps using such blunt language would help him regain his composure, even if his hardened expression would crumble in response.“Hah…”The breath he let out trembled faintly at the end. It was like that time when he had been saved from drowning. His damp breaths felt frail and delicate.Instead of speaking, Muheun buried his face in Seungjoo’s chest. Not satisfied with just that, he wrapped his free arm tightly around Seungjoo’s waist.“Why are you like this, really…?”“…”Yeah, why have I been like this lately? Seungjoo thought to himself and swallowed a sigh. Normally, he would have awkwardly pushed him away, but right now, he couldn’t bring himself to do that. Instead, he gently placed his clean hand on the back of Muheun’s head.‘…Your hair is really nice.’It wasn’t the time for such thoughts, but they came to him nonetheless. Muheun’s hair, black to the point of being dark blue, was as soft as strands of silk. Usually, it was Muheun who touched his hair, so aside from when they were very young, this was the first time Seungjoo had touched his hair.“If someone saw, they’d think you were the one who was hurt.”Feeling a baseless sense of guilt, Seungjoo smoothed out the area where he had grabbed Muheun’s hair earlier. Muheun didn’t show any signs of discomfort, even when his hair was pulled by a sibling ten years younger. He remembered that he had similarly grabbed Muheun once before, and Muheun hadn’t minded then either.‘That time was unavoidable, though…’Seungjoo lowered his eyes, recalling the day of the full moon. The memory of their lips brushing then was still vivid, and it seemed a little ridiculous that they were pretending as if nothing had happened. It was also absurd that, despite declaring that they should keep their distance, Muheun was clinging to him as if he were about to fall apart.“…Are you really okay?”“I told you, I’m fine.”He answered immediately, but Muheun still didn’t seem relieved. Seungjoo could tell by the way Muheun buried his face deeper and mumbled uncertainly.“But why is your heart beating so fast?”So that’s what he was doing—listening to his heartbeat. It was a method an uncle taught him as a child, saying it helped to focus on the heartbeat when something unsettling happened. When they were young, Muheun would hold Seungjoo and let him listen to his heartbeat.“It’s because you suddenly picked me up, so I got surprised.”Seungjoo answered nonchalantly, but he was surprised too. Who wouldn’t be startled after coughing up blood? He only managed to gather his nonexistent calm to reassure Muheun, knowing he was more upset. If he had been alone, he would have panicked and barely managed to call 911 to go to the hospital.“…”“…”For a while, only the sound of quiet breathing was exchanged. Seungjoo remained held by Muheun, and Muheun kept his face buried in Seungjoo’s chest. Neither of them thought about changing their positions. More precisely, Muheun didn’t seem inclined to put Seungjoo down.With each slow breath Muheun took, Seungjoo felt the warm breath through his T-shirt. Although his startled heart had calmed down, now he was starting to feel tense for another reason. Even the hair strands brushing against his fingers felt excessively ticklish.“…How long are we going to stay like this?”When Seungjoo finally spoke, Muheun lifted his face from his chest without replying. The gaze that looked up at him was much calmer than before. Muheun, who had been staring at Seungjoo blankly, moved the hand that had been around Seungjoo’s waist to his face.“What are you doing…?”Without hesitation, Muheun wiped the blood from the corner of Seungjoo’s mouth with his sleeve. When Seungjoo widened his eyes in surprise, Muheun used his shirt to wipe the hand that Seungjoo had been awkwardly holding. Seungjoo didn’t pull away because Muheun’s hand was still trembling slightly.“Hey, hyung. You’re getting blood on your clothes.”“It’s black, so it’s fine.”Muheun replied nonchalantly and sighed again. Seungjoo had always looked up at Muheun, so seeing him from above felt strange. Things like the top of his head, which Seungjoo had never seen before, or his eyelashes that seemed even longer than usual.“…Put me down now, please.”Fortunately, this time, Muheun gently put Seungjoo down. He lowered his posture very slowly and waited patiently until Seungjoo’s feet were firmly on the ground. Muheun was so careful with every move that Seungjoo had to focus on not stumbling even by accident.“Aren’t you tired? You’ve been holding me for quite a while.”The last time he checked, he was around 70kg. It was understandable when he was small and light as a child, but now, he wasn’t small or light enough to be easily lifted just because he was sick. Yet, seeing Muheun effortlessly lift him made Seungjoo marvel at his monstrous strength.“I could lift you even if you were twice as heavy.”Muheun replied lightly and then took Seungjoo’s hand, which he had wiped earlier, and wiped it more thoroughly with his own clothes. Seungjoo didn’t bother to resist, knowing that Muheun wouldn’t listen anyway. He also thought that since the clothes were already ruined, it wouldn’t make much difference if they got wetter.“Are you sure you’re not hurt?”“No, I’m fine.”How many times had Muheun asked this now? It wasn’t annoying, but it did make Seungjoo feel a bit embarrassed. Especially when Muheun placed his fingers on the pulse at the side of Seungjoo’s neck with a deeply serious expression.“Take a deep breath.”“……”“Now, slowly exhale.”“……”“Come on, do it.”Seungjoo obediently opened his mouth as instructed. He didn’t think this was necessary, but he knew it was easier to just go along with it. If he didn’t let Muheun check him thoroughly, Muheun might actually carry him to the hospital with one hand this time.“On the surface, everything seems fine…”“I told you, I’m okay.”It was indeed strange. He had coughed up blood, yet there wasn’t a single place that hurt. Although he wasn’t a doctor, he was confident that even if he went to the hospital, they wouldn’t find any internal injuries.“…It was the same when Gwangsik grabbed the Gwimae earlier.”“Earlier?”Muheun frowned as Seungjoo subtly brought it up. Seungjoo rolled his eyes to glance at the Gwimae lying on the floor. Now that he was bringing it up, he felt a bit self-conscious.“Whenever he stabbed with the sword, the same spot as the Gwimae hurt.”“……”Muheun immediately looked serious when he heard this. He had a look on his face as if asking why Seungjoo hadn’t mentioned this sooner. But since Seungjoo hadn’t deliberately kept it from him, he tried his best to maintain a neutral expression.“I just thought it was my imagination. I didn’t expect blood to come out…”As usual, he thought he was just possessed by the Gwimae. The pain was an illusion, and the important thing was the part of him that had absorbed the Gwimae—this was how he had explained it to Muheun.“It always hurts a bit when I face the Gwimae.”Seungjoo spoke as calmly as possible, trying to make it sound like no big deal. Muheun was already looking at him with troubled eyes, and if Seungjoo showed even the slightest anxiety, Muheun would surely lose his composure.“You said you absorbed the Gwimae, right?”“Yes.”“I see…”Fortunately, Seungjoo’s calmness seemed to rub off on Muheun, who now responded much more calmly than before. This was closer to how Muheun usually was—someone who rarely panicked or got surprised and handled everything maturely. The only problem was that he tended to act extremely when it came to Seungjoo.“I think you’ve merged with the Gwimae.”“Merged?”“You’re sharing sensations.”Even as he said this, Muheun’s expression was far from pleased. He sighed deeply, looking frustrated, and ran a hand through his hair as if he didn’t want to have this conversation.“We’d have to look closer to know for sure…”“Then let me try.”“What?”When Seungjoo responded without hesitation, Muheun frowned and looked at him. Seungjoo, his expression unchanging, gestured toward the Gwimae on the floor.“I’ll touch it again, so watch from the side. Let’s see if this is just my nature or something else.”“Seungjoo.”“There’s no other way.”Normally, Seungjoo wouldn’t be so forward, but this seemed like the best option. At this point, even Seungjoo couldn’t just ignore what was happening. Besides, this might be his last chance to confirm his condition while Muheun was by his side.And, perhaps recklessly, he had a gut feeling that the Gwimae wouldn’t harm him.“How do you seal a Gwimae?”“…Just think of it as hunting.”Even though it was an out-of-the-blue question, Muheun answered calmly. His soft, measured voice delivered the expected response to Seungjoo.“You suppress it with force and seal it with a talisman. It’s nothing special.”The process of making a talisman was probably anything but simple, but just hearing about it made it seem quite straightforward. Though it wasn’t a detail Seungjoo was particularly concerned with.“Can you seal it?”“……”Muheun’s mouth clamped shut. Seungjoo brought up the more direct reason why Muheun couldn’t answer.“Can you stab it again with the sword?”There was no need to hear the answer. Seungjoo was confident enough to bet everything he had that Muheun would say “I can’t.” The inflexible Kim Muheun, the overly worried Kim Muheun, who had just seen Seungjoo cough up blood, wasn’t going to do the same thing again.“So, I’ll do it.”“……”This time, Muheun couldn’t bring himself to say no. He must have realized there was no other way either. That’s probably why he lowered his head, covering his eyes with one hand.‘What’s he so worried about…’The person who always seemed to have no difficulty with anything now looked as if he was carrying the weight of the world, biting his lip. Even though he had always solved problems without hesitation, the only thing that came out of his mouth this time was a single self-deprecating remark.“I’m so useless.”“…Huh?”Seungjoo blinked, responding reflexively. He hadn’t expected those words. Kim Muheun and “useless” were two words that didn’t belong together.“No, what… Did all the useless people in the world die or something?”Other people supposedly spent hours preparing for that ‘stupid barrier’ Muheun was talking about. And it wasn’t just the matter of dealing with the Gwimae; Seungjoo had never seen Muheun fail at anything—whether it was studying, sports, or even training Seolgi, Muheun excelled at everything.“Honestly, if it wasn’t for me…”Seungjoo swallowed the rest of his words. He had almost said, “You wouldn’t hesitate if it weren’t me,” but stopped because it felt strange, as if he were admitting that Muheun treated him specially.“…Anyway, let’s hurry. I still need to find my phone.”Any further delay would only waste more time. Muheun must have thought the same because he removed the hand covering his face and looked at Seungjoo. With a sigh, he spoke in a subdued voice.“Do you really have to do this?”Seungjoo instinctively knew this was the final check. Muheun was likely conflicted because he hadn’t found a better solution. Knowing this, Seungjoo spoke seriously this time.“If it hurts, I’ll stop right away.”“……”“If I cough up blood again, we’ll abandon the Gwimae and go to the hospital.”Muheun’s face twisted at the mention of “again.” As if he couldn’t bear the thought, he let out a groan, “Ah…” and then lowered his head, mumbling softly.“You’re so stubborn…”“Wow, you know you’re not the one who should be saying that, right?”Where did I learn this stubbornness from? Seungjoo shot back with an exasperated look, and Muheun sighed again. He was still hesitant, but it seemed he wasn’t going to oppose it any longer.As expected, Muheun looked at Seungjoo with a worried expression and spoke.“If it starts to hurt, you have to stop.”It was practically a half-permission. Muheun added in a slightly firmer tone.“You come before the Gwimae. Got it?”The renowned Gwimae hunter was making an irresponsible statement. Instead of arguing, Seungjoo simply nodded. Only then did Muheun’s expression soften a bit.“Good boy.”Muheun’s hand slowly reached out to stroke Seungjoo’s hair. He gently brushed aside Seungjoo’s bangs and carefully caressed his ear and the back of his neck in turn. The touch was so delicate it tickled Seungjoo’s chest, making him awkwardly clear his throat and turn his head away.“Stop treating me like a child.”To be exact, not a child, but a dog. Either way, it was a touch he didn’t particularly welcome. The part that bothered him most was that Muheun’s seemingly casual actions managed to unsettle his own emotions.“Then… I’ll do it.”As soon as Muheun withdrew his hand, Seungjoo approached the Gwimae. It was still lying motionless on the ground. By now, he wondered if it might be dead, but since Muheun hadn’t said anything, it probably wasn’t.“Don’t forget what you said.”“I know.”Seungjoo responded absentmindedly as he crouched in front of the Gwimae. Now that he was face-to-face with it, he felt nervous and had to fake a nonchalant tone. Muheun positioned himself behind Seungjoo, narrowing his eyes as he closely observed them.Seungjoo… He didn’t hear Muheun call his name. Seungjoo secretly felt relieved by that, swallowing hard. He took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on the black mass that no longer resembled even the shape of a sparrow.And finally, Seungjoo made up his mind and reached out toward the Gwimae.* * *The darkening sky no longer revealed even a single star. Only a thin crescent moon showed itself through the clouds that hung like mist. Under the ink-black sky, a sign that read “No Entry” was posted along the park’s fence.It was a space where ordinary people wouldn’t enter, but beyond the fence, there was the silhouette of someone. The person was dressed entirely in black, wearing a hat pulled low, like a shadow. It was impossible to tell if they were male or female, but the spiritual energy surrounding them indicated that they were an exorcist.After standing still for some time, the person finally pulled out a phone from their pocket and made a call. The spiritual energy, which had been radiating outward, dispersed faintly as they took out the phone.“……”The dial tone echoed. The sound was faint, almost inaudible, but since the surroundings were quiet, it was clearly heard. Soon, the ringing stopped, and a thin voice emerged from their tightly closed lips.“Yes, it’s me.”With those words, the woman pulled her hat down even further with her empty hand. She leaned discreetly against a tree and stared intently at a spot not too far away. Her gaze was fixed on a wall of spiritual energy blocking the path.“…I lost them because of the barrier.”The woman let out a thin sigh, speaking in a slightly subdued voice. The wall before her was too solid to break by force. No, even if she could have broken it, she wouldn’t have dared to.“The one who cast the barrier is Team Leader Kim Muheun, so if I had followed them in, I would’ve been detected immediately. They’ve even blocked out sound, so eavesdropping is impossible.”Her voice was so emotionless that it could almost remind one of someone else. When the person on the other end of the line said something, the woman fiddled with the brim of her hat and calmly replied.“I apologize. Yeonho interfered, and things got complicated…”Her words, which carried a faintly ominous tone, included a name unfamiliar to the listener. The woman didn’t stop there; she continued with a conjecture that bordered on certainty.“It seems he’s following the young master of that household.”There was silence on the other end of the line. The woman, too, couldn’t say anything for a moment. After a while, she listened to the voice coming from the other side and responded firmly.“No, I’ve confirmed that part.”Her gaze turned toward the barrier. In her cold, steady eyes, a hint of interest flickered briefly. Beyond the transparent wall, only trees were visible, but she had already obtained the information she wanted.“They seem to be…”The rest of the sentence didn’t come out immediately. She hesitated, searching for the right words to describe the extraordinary scene she had witnessed—a Gwimae, once larger than a head, shrinking down to the size of a palm.“They seem to be purifying it.” 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~