The Night Of The Untraced

“……”There was no way Seungjoo could respond to that. He wanted to snap back, asking what kind of nonsense that was, but all that came out of his mouth was a defensive murmur of frustration.“I… I told you… I didn’t like that…”Even as he stammered out his words, Muheun didn’t stop his playful touches. Every time Muheun toyed with him, Seungjoo flinched, furrowing his brow in discomfort. His once-erect length had softened after climaxing three times.“Ugh, stop touching me…”Annoyed, Seungjoo snapped, but instead of pulling away, Muheun leaned in and kissed him. Soft, gentle words flowed from Muheun’s lips.“It’s okay, you didn’t pee.”Does he think I’m an idiot? What else could come out of there besides semen or urine?“…Of course I did.”Seungjoo retorted bluntly, but Muheun just smiled without responding. As Muheun continued to kiss him, Seungjoo turned his head away in an attempt to avoid him. But Muheun didn’t mind at all, pressing kisses along the side of Seungjoo’s face.“Really, you didn’t pee.”“……”At this point, Seungjoo wasn’t so sure anymore. If he had really made a mistake, Muheun might have reassured him by saying, “It’s okay,” but he wasn’t the type to lie about something like that.“Whatever, you clean it up…”Too tired to think anymore, Seungjoo muttered in a lazy voice. He figured it wasn’t his fault after all. Muheun chuckled, stroking Seungjoo’s soft skin, and Seungjoo leaned his forehead against Muheun’s shoulder, completely drained.“Everything’s soaked…”“Yeah, I’ll clean it up.”“Not me, ugh… the sheets…”“I’ll take care of those too.”Muheun gently comforted Seungjoo, kissing him once again. It was as if he couldn’t stop kissing him, like some ghost of affection was haunting Muheun. Though the idea of a ghost haunting Muheun seemed absurd…“What are you thinking about?”Muheun asked teasingly, pressing his lips firmly against Seungjoo’s. Seungjoo didn’t even have time to answer with, “I was thinking about you.” Muheun sucked gently on his lower lip before sliding his hands down Seungjoo’s back, laying him flat on the bed.“Mhm…”Already exhausted and far past his usual bedtime, Seungjoo blinked drowsily as he got comfortable. After such a draining encounter, he had even gotten used to having Muheun’s large member inside him. His eyelids started to droop, but at that moment, Muheun gave a small thrust.“Hng, ugh…”The sudden moan that escaped Seungjoo’s lips was swallowed by Muheun’s kiss. Muheun enjoyed the brief tightening of Seungjoo’s walls before slowly withdrawing his length. Just when it seemed like he was going to pull out completely, he left only the tip inside before sliding back in.“Ahh…!”The sensation of being filled again made Seungjoo gasp. As his breath caught in his throat, Muheun finally pulled back, sitting upright. He grabbed Seungjoo’s thighs and spread them apart, causing Seungjoo to instinctively grab onto Muheun’s arm.“Hyung, hng… again?”Why doesn’t he ever get tired? The drowsiness that had briefly washed over Seungjoo vanished in an instant. His dazed eyes met Muheun’s as Muheun gripped Seungjoo’s hips firmly and asked,“Are you sleepy?”“Yeah, ngh… ah…”“You can sleep if you’re tired.”Though his words were kind, his actions were anything but. Clearly, saying Seungjoo could sleep didn’t mean he planned to stop. Muheun began moving his hips slowly again.“Ah, hngh, ugh…”The hand that had been holding Seungjoo’s waist moved up to his stomach. Muheun rubbed soothingly, like calming a child with a stomachache, before pressing his palm just below Seungjoo’s navel and thrusting deeper.“Hic, ah, st-stop…”Seungjoo thought he’d already reached his limit, but now Muheun was hitting a spot even deeper than before. It sent jolts of pleasure through him, leaving him feeling like he was floating. Desperate, he grabbed Muheun’s arm, pulling him closer.“I can’t, ugh… I can’t do this…”Not even knowing what Muheun was planning, Seungjoo clung to his neck. Earlier, Muheun had said he couldn’t go all the way, but now it felt like he was about to push in to the very base. It didn’t hurt, but Seungjoo felt a flicker of fear.“Yeah… I won’t do anything scary. It’s okay.”Thankfully, Muheun didn’t push in further. Instead, he buried his face in Seungjoo’s shoulder. The way he nuzzled against Seungjoo’s forehead almost seemed like he was being affectionate, or maybe he was holding back.Muheun let out a soft sigh and started to move his hips again.“Ahhh…”Seungjoo’s body, which had begun to cool down, started heating up again. Maybe because Muheun was conscious of Seungjoo’s earlier complaint about feeling heavy, he carefully placed his hands on the bed, making sure not to put any weight on him. Then he pulled out and thrust back in with a firm stroke.“Ahh…!”A sharp wave of pleasure shot through Seungjoo from head to toe. Though he had felt drained, his body tensed up from the intensity of the sensation. Taken by surprise, Seungjoo realized that Muheun was once again pushing him to his limits, his breath caught in his throat.“Hyung, I… ngh…”“……”“I’m so tired, ah… ngh…”Seungjoo was doing his best to express himself. Since they had been communicating so far, he thought Muheun would understand this too—he spoke, trusting that assumption.“Ha… are you tired?”But Muheun only asked that question without showing any consideration for Seungjoo’s situation. His hands, which gently stroked Seungjoo’s back, contrasted with the unrelenting movement of his hips. Each deep thrust made Seungjoo’s hair stand on end.“Hngh… Huff…”“It’s okay…”Looking back, even those reassuring words seemed to be an automatic response. The kind words Muheun spoke were only the last remnants of his fading rationality. Not long ago, they had been communicating clearly, but Seungjoo couldn’t pinpoint where or how things had gone wrong.“Ah… Ah, hng!”Tears welled up in his eyes as Muheun slammed into him. Feeling like he couldn’t endure any longer, Seungjoo instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around Muheun’s neck. He bit down hard on the spot where Muheun’s Adam’s apple rested, and for a brief moment, Muheun stopped moving.“……”“Hngh… Stop… slow down…”Was he asking him to stop or just to slow down? Even Seungjoo wasn’t sure what he wanted. Muheun, who had already lost his rationality, was in the same boat. Their entangled bodies soon began to move again.“Mmh… Hah, ah…”If Seungjoo could have bitten down again, he would have. But all he could do was press his lips against the spot he had bitten. He let out a low groan from his throat, but he didn’t have the courage to bite harder.‘…How am I supposed to bite?’How could anyone seriously expect him to bite hard enough to draw blood? It wasn’t like Muheun wanted to hurt him, just as Seungjoo didn’t want to hurt Muheun. Though it felt like he was being pushed to his limits, the thought of actually causing harm didn’t sit right with him.“Hah… Huff…”Still, it was undeniably hard for Seungjoo, so instead of biting down, he sucked on Muheun’s soft skin with all his might. When that wasn’t enough, he lightly grazed the skin with his teeth, causing Muheun to halt his movements once again. A ticklish voice escaped Muheun’s lips.“…You’re grinding your teeth.”“…”It wasn’t much, but for some reason, that comment sounded strangely sweet. Even though Muheun said it without a hint of a smile, it felt like he was fondly teasing Seungjoo.“Here, suck on this spot too… okay?”Muheun wrapped his hand around the back of Seungjoo’s head and exposed the other side of his neck. Though it was a bold request, Seungjoo couldn’t resist the pleading look in Muheun’s eyes. Obediently, he pressed his lips to Muheun’s neck as Muheun whispered softly in his ear.“You need to suck harder.”Ah, maybe it wasn’t Muheun who was possessed by a ghost—it was Seungjoo. The way he instantly complied, as if under a spell, proved that.“…”Though his actions were clumsy, Seungjoo sucked on Muheun’s neck with all his strength. He bit down gently, leaving a mark out of pure instinct. As he felt a strange sense of satisfaction, Muheun’s reaction mirrored his own.“Ungh, Seungjoo…”Muheun moaned Seungjoo’s name in a satisfied tone, his grip tightening slightly on the back of Seungjoo’s head. Though it seemed like he might lose control, Muheun managed to calm himself, lowering his hand to pull Seungjoo into a hug.“…Hah.”With a quiet sigh, Muheun began moving again. He slowly pushed his length in, only to withdraw just as Seungjoo let out a soft whimper.“Hngh…!”This time, there seemed to be no end in sight. The act continued relentlessly until the first light of dawn illuminated the room. Seungjoo found himself debating whether he should punch Muheun to make him stop. Muheun’s neck was covered in marks, and Seungjoo’s voice had grown hoarse from all the moaning.It wasn’t until long after that Muheun finally drew blood from Seungjoo’s shoulder.It was well past dawn, and the room was filled with the warm sunlight that gently illuminated everything within. The rays of light filtered through the thin curtains and softly fell on Seungjoo’s sleeping face. As Seungjoo frowned at the brightness, a large hand moved to shade his eyes.“…Yes, I have Seungjoo with me.”The hand that cast the shadow belonged to Muheun, who was sitting against the headboard, quietly speaking on the phone. After noticing Seungjoo’s expression relax, Muheun smiled silently. His softly curved eyes seemed to gaze at Seungjoo, who was lying beside him, with nothing but fondness.“He’s not hurt and is perfectly fine.”Maybe I should have drawn the blackout curtains. Or should I go ahead and close them now? As these thoughts crossed Muheun’s mind, he looked down at the arm wrapped around his waist and quickly abandoned the idea. If he got out of bed now, Seungjoo, who had only fallen asleep at the crack of dawn, might wake up. Not to mention, Muheun didn’t want to let go of the warmth pressed close to him, even for a moment.― I swear, this kid almost gave me a heart attack this morning. You can’t imagine how startled I was…The voice on the other end of the phone was someone Muheun knew well. The person speaking was the head of the Seo family, a lifelong neighbor of Muheun’s and a major supporter of the Exorcist Association. Though they were an influential figure rarely seen by most exorcists, right now they were just a worried mother, fretting over her son who had snuck out in the middle of the night.“He actually packed up and left—took his pajamas and underwear with him too.”Muheun responded in a playful tone, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder. Despite having seen the clothes in Seungjoo’s bag, the only thing Muheun had dressed Seungjoo in was his own t-shirt. As for himself, he was only half-dressed, so in a way, Seungjoo was probably better off.“He said he told you before leaving. Did you see the note Seungjoo left behind?”With his now free hand, Muheun pulled the blanket higher, carefully covering Seungjoo, then took the phone back into his hand. The latest model, which had not a single scratch, wasn’t actually his, though he handled it with the familiarity of someone who regularly took calls.― Ugh, don’t even get me started. Do you know what he wrote? He just left a business card behind, saying he had to visit the Association.“A business card… from Manager Lee?”― Yes, Lee Yunhee.Muheun thought of his colleague, Yunhee, as he glanced over at Seungjoo. How on earth had Seungjoo convinced someone as rigid as Yunhee? Though he had turned the house upside down overnight, Seungjoo’s sleeping face looked peaceful, as if nothing had happened.― Is he still asleep? What time is it already…?“…Hm.”Muheun found himself at a loss for words at the sudden question. He chuckled softly and squeezed his eyes shut, embarrassed.“He must have been really tired.”It wasn’t a lie. Though the reason for his exhaustion was probably not what she imagined.“He came to me early in the morning.”“Mm…”Perhaps Muheun’s conversation was too loud, as Seungjoo stirred in his sleep, letting out a faint groan. He shifted closer, pressing against Muheun, who instinctively patted his shoulder a couple of times. Thankfully, Seungjoo soon drifted back into a deep sleep.“I’ll call you later with more details. Please don’t worry too much.”There was too much to explain over the phone, and if they continued talking, the sun would rise fully before they were done. Besides, there were still uncertain aspects of the situation that needed to be figured out before Muheun could provide a clearer explanation. Anyway, he intended to visit in person to explain everything properly.― I’m not worried. As long as he’s with you, Muheun, I can rest easy.“Haha…”Though she reassured him, Muheun couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. He was well aware that much of the current situation was his fault. Her words of concern, oblivious to the truth, pricked his conscience even more. And as if that wasn’t enough, she added an apology that made him feel even guiltier.― You always take care of him. I know it’s not easy.“…No.”Muheun lowered his gaze and replied softly. The quiet laughter that escaped him wasn’t from genuine amusement; it was more a way to mask his feelings of guilt.“I’m the one who should be sorry.”It was a sentiment that applied to many things. Not just Seungjoo’s recent escape, but the weight of guilt Muheun had carried for as long as he could remember. And now, it included the added burden of the events from the night before.― What do you have to apologize for? Anyway, I have to get to work now, so give Seungjoo a scolding when he wakes up. He might not listen to us, but he usually listens to you.“Yes, I will. Take care.”Though Muheun thought to himself that Seungjoo probably wouldn’t listen to him either, he politely ended the call.While Muheun had been talking, the sunlight outside had disappeared behind the clouds. He moved the hand that had been shading Seungjoo’s eyes and gently ran his fingers through Seungjoo’s hair.“Seungjoo.”“…”“Do you know how many people you worried?”Though the words were meant to scold, his tone was far too gentle, and it wasn’t nearly enough to wake Seungjoo. Not to mention, Muheun had spoken so softly that Seungjoo probably hadn’t even heard him. Although he had been told to scold Seungjoo, Muheun had no intention of doing so.‘The Association, huh.’Muheun recalled how shocked he had been when Seungjoo said that yesterday. It had felt as though the sky was collapsing. He had wanted to keep his precious younger brother close, safe from harm, and now Seungjoo had run off to the very place Muheun feared.“I hope I didn’t leave any marks…”Maybe there was still a bite mark. As Muheun thought this, he gently stroked Seungjoo’s neck. The skin was clean and unblemished, but Muheun figured the marks he had left were probably hidden beneath Seungjoo’s shirt. He had lost control last night, letting his instincts take over, and had ended up biting down without thinking.But, truth be told, Muheun wasn’t really in a position to worry. While Seungjoo’s visible skin was spotless, Muheun’s was covered in marks. Seungjoo had bitten his neck so hard that the red marks looked like flowers blooming on top of the pale orchid tattoo there.“…You’re just the same as when you were a kid.”Whenever Seungjoo used a straw or a paper cup, he had a habit of biting down on whatever he was holding. At first, I asked him to stop, but after a while, Seungjoo began to bite on his own. Even when he was a baby, he always had a pacifier in his mouth, and it seemed like he hadn’t outgrown that habit even as an adult.Of course, to me, he’s still a baby…Muheun adjusted his posture, imagining how much Seungjoo would cringe if he heard that. He stretched out next to Seungjoo, sliding an arm under his head, and Seungjoo naturally curled into his embrace. Seungjoo didn’t usually move much in his sleep, but when it came to Muheun, he would always snuggle in close.Maybe it was a deeply ingrained habit, or perhaps it was an instinctive desire for the spiritual energy he unconsciously sought.Muheun hoped it was the former, though he knew the latter was likely a significant part of it. Even now, he could feel the powerful aura of the spiritual energy he’d given Seungjoo last night.‘I’ll probably get scolded by mother,’ he thought.If anyone deserved to be scolded, it wasn’t Seungjoo—it was Muheun himself. His mother rarely got angry, but she always did when someone engaged in dangerous activities or lied to her. While she might show some leniency for lies depending on the situation, there was never any excuse for dangerous behavior.And in this case, Muheun knew that everything Seungjoo had done would likely be pinned on him.He didn’t feel bitter about it—just sorry. Sorry to Seungjoo, to his parents, and even to his older sister, Seunghee.As Muheun’s thoughts wandered, he absentmindedly kept stroking Seungjoo. Perhaps because of this, Seungjoo’s eyelids slowly fluttered open. When their gazes met in the empty room, Muheun felt a twinge in his chest—an ache he’d come to feel whenever he looked at Seungjoo.“Sorry, did I wake you?” Muheun asked, even though normally he would’ve just let Seungjoo fall back asleep. But today, for some reason, he wanted to talk. He tried to hide it, but the truth was, Muheun felt a bit excited. He had shared a bed with someone before, but waking up together like this was a first.But Seungjoo’s reply was unexpectedly disappointing.“Why aren’t you sleeping, hyung…?”“…”Still using formal language, huh?“It’s nothing. I just woke up for a bit,” Muheun said gently, swallowing his feelings of slight disappointment. He couldn’t blame Seungjoo. If he had grown distant enough to develop such habits, that was Muheun’s fault. No matter how many reasons there were for his absence, what mattered to Seungjoo wasn’t the cause—it was the result.“Let’s go back to sleep.”Muheun softly patted Seungjoo’s back, and he quickly closed his eyes again. It seemed he’d only woken briefly, as his breathing soon settled back into a deep, steady rhythm. The sound filled Muheun with a warmth he couldn’t quite describe, and he pulled Seungjoo closer, holding him tightly.Seungjoo probably had no idea how much Muheun had sacrificed to hold him like this, nor how many regrets Muheun had felt since the day they first kissed.This was a story that Seungjoo didn’t know—Muheun’s story.* * *Twenty-nine years ago, on the first day of the lunar new year, a child was born into one of the most prestigious exorcist families. The baby, who inherited the sharp spiritual power of his mother, the head of the family, could sense spiritual energy from the moment he was born. On days when he cried without reason, accidents large and small would occur, and on days when he laughed for no reason, something fortunate would happen in the household.The adults, marveling at the baby’s birth in the foggy dawn, named him Muheun (霧昕), meaning “mist at dawn.” They raised him with strict discipline to ensure his abilities would not be misused. They taught him to ignore future visions, as acknowledging them might bring bad luck. From a young age, Muheun, who was incredibly bright, never once disobeyed his elders.Then, ten years and ten months later—on December 23rd in the solar calendar, November 9th in the lunar calendar—another significant event occurred.In exorcist terms, malevolent spirits that interfere with human activity are called “son” (損). Days when these spirits do not roam are called “sonless days,” typically falling on dates ending in 9 or 0 in the lunar calendar—days often chosen for house moves or important events.On such a night, with no trace of wandering spirits, Seungjoo was born.To be honest, it was Muheun who had the prophetic dream. On his eleventh birthday, Muheun dreamt that he swallowed a huge sun in one bite. Not long after, he heard the news of the aunt’s pregnancy, and he knew that the life inside her was that very sun.But Muheun couldn’t tell anyone about the prophetic dream he had. There was only one reason: just as when he saw occasional glimpses of the future, he feared that speaking about it might invite bad luck. He couldn’t carelessly say, “I saw that child,” without knowing whether it was a good or bad dream.‘Muheun, did you know you were getting a sibling?’So, when the aunt asked, Muheun kept his mouth tightly shut, unable to respond. Sensing something in his silence, the aunt smiled warmly and patted Muheun’s head. When Seunghee, who was beside them, glanced over, she asked in a gentle voice:‘Let’s hope for a healthy baby, right?’Muheun didn’t have many ways to respond to that. He just nodded quietly and, looking at the aunt’s belly—which still showed no sign of pregnancy—he inwardly whispered, “Please be healthy.” He also secretly added a wish to see the sun from his dream again soon.The baby was the first to be born in nine years on both sides of the family, after Seungtae and Muyeon. Around that time, Muheun’s mother was already heavily pregnant, so Seungtae, who was envious of Muyeon, couldn’t hide his joy, asking if he too would get a younger sibling. Later, the two of them even plotted to have their youngest siblings marry each other, to which Seunghee quickly retorted that they should ask the babies what they think first.Of course, it wasn’t just the younger siblings who were excited about the new birth. Seunghee, too, was curious about the baby, asking every day, “How many more nights do I have to sleep?” And as luck would have it, Muyeong, who had just been born, was so angelically cute that their anticipation grew by the day.Muheun visited the neighbor’s house every day. The aunt, busy with work, often wasn’t home, but as her belly grew larger, she stayed home more often. With the aunt’s permission, Muheun gently touched her belly, speaking softly. Among the children, he was the first to feel the baby move.‘He must recognize your voice, Muheun.’Those words made him so happy that he couldn’t speak for a while. He barely heard Seunghee grumbling, saying it wasn’t fair that Muheun got to feel it first. The sensation of that movement, the proof of life, was the only thing that remained vividly in his mind.Time passed, and when the due date was about a week away, the aunt, who had been fine until noon, suddenly went into labor and was rushed to the hospital. Seunghee and Seungtae were left at Muheun’s house, and even Muryeong, who had been sleeping soundly, woke up and crawled around the living room.‘But what’s Muheun doing?’‘Oppa’s asleep.’Muyeon answered, but in truth, Muheun was under the covers, desperately praying. Not for the baby’s health or the aunt’s health, but simply that he wouldn’t see any visions of the future. Like the day Seunghee fell off the swing, he didn’t want to see a bad future that might come true.Maybe Muheun’s wish reached the heavens because he didn’t see any future until the aunt was discharged from the hospital. After just three days, the aunt returned home, her once-bulging belly now flat. Next to her was the uncle, and in his arms was a tiny bundle.‘It’s a boy, just like Muryeong.’The gender didn’t matter much to him; he only wanted to see the baby’s face in person.Four children gathered in the living room, having washed their hands thoroughly, ready to greet the new family member. The only one oblivious to it all was Muryeong, who sucked on his small handkerchief.‘Okay, let’s say hello to the baby.’At the long-awaited first meeting, Muheun, who had been nervous, had only one thought upon seeing the newborn.Wow, so tiny.His hands were small, his feet were small, and his face was wrinkly, reminding him of a potato. What part of him looked like a potato? The way his tiny face was scrunched up with its delicate features. Even though his eyes, nose, and mouth were all there, it was hard to believe that this tiny being was a person.Muheun had seen his younger siblings Muyeon, Seungtae, and Muryeong being born. While the age gap between him and Muyeon and Seungtae wasn’t large, even when he saw Muryeong just seven months ago, he hadn’t felt like this.Smaller than Muryeong, darker than Muryeong, and somehow more…insignificant.‘He looks like an alien.’‘…’Muheun froze. It was Seunghee’s sudden remark that stopped him in his tracks. Alien… it wasn’t that bad, but before he could process it, Seunghee blurted out something worse.‘Muryeong is cute, but why is he so ugly?’The adults burst into laughter. Even Muryeong, who had been sitting quietly, giggled and waved his handkerchief. Seungtae and Muyeon seemed to agree with Seunghee, but only Muheun, with a serious expression, refuted her.‘Don’t say that. I think he’s cute.’He was just cute, not ugly. Sure, he looked a bit fragile, but calling him ugly was going too far.‘Well then, give him to me.’‘No, he’s my brother.’Seunghee frowned and shook her head immediately. After making fun of the baby for being ugly, she suddenly felt threatened when asked if she wanted to give him away. Seeing the two children glaring at each other, their father, cradling Muryeong, chuckled as he spoke.‘All babies look like this at first. From what I see, Seunghee and Seungtae’s little brother is quite handsome.’Whether or not the baby knew he was being talked about, he just wriggled in response, too busy smacking his lips with his little beak-like mouth. Seeing that, Muheun’s expression softened, and even Seunghee, who had been sulking, mumbled quietly.‘…He is kinda cute.’Her voice was haughty as ever, but inside it was a trace of excitement that she couldn’t hide. Despite trying to act mature, she was clearly thrilled to have a second younger sibling.‘I’m going to pop over to the neighbor’s for a bit.’As the chaotic atmosphere began to settle, the uncle left with Muheun’s parents, saying he was going to bring something from the house next door. The aunt briefly went into the kitchen, leaving only the children in the living room.In less than a minute, the incident began with Seungtae’s curiosity.‘Hey, you’re not supposed to touch the baby.’‘It’s okay, I washed my hands.’Maybe he was fascinated by the baby’s soft, downy cheeks, or perhaps he was envious of his siblings sitting in the best spot to admire the baby. Despite Muyeon’s attempt to stop him, Seungtae carefully reached out and gently touched the baby.Before Seunghee or Muheun could stop him again, the baby, who had been sleeping peacefully, let out a loud wail.‘Auntie! Seungtae made the baby cry!’‘No, I didn’t do anything!’Unlike Muyeon, who ran straight to the kitchen to tattle, Seunghee and Muheun froze in place, their eyes wide open. Both were not used to a newborn crying, especially since Muryeong rarely ever did. Even Muryeong, who had been lying on his back whining, began to hiccup amidst the soft cries of “Heung, heung.”Undoubtedly, this was the greatest challenge in Muheun’s eleven years of life. Never before had he felt such confusion. As Muheun fidgeted nervously, darting his eyes around, he eventually bent down and pleaded desperately.‘…Please don’t cry, okay?’The baby’s pitiful crying made him feel uneasy. If it meant calming the baby down, he would have done anything. He didn’t shed a single tear, yet his whimpering was enough to tug at Muheun’s heart.‘Heung…’‘Good boy…’Without really thinking, Muheun gently rubbed the baby’s tiny fist with his fingertip, as he had done with Muryeong a few times before.Then, suddenly, the baby’s small hand clasped onto Muheun’s finger.‘….’He was just an eleven-year-old kid, but in that moment, Muheun felt something indescribable. The warmth transferred through his index finger was hotter and clearer than he had expected. The baby gripped his finger with all its might, as if using every last bit of strength, which moved Muheun even more.‘…Huh? The baby’s not crying?’The lady, who had hurried out of the kitchen, looked curiously at the baby, who had suddenly stopped crying. She then smiled warmly at Muheun, who was frozen in place with his finger still clasped by the baby.‘Did big brother Muheun comfort him?’Muheun couldn’t respond, but he was locked in eye contact with the baby for a long while. The baby’s half-lidded eyes were now wide open, gazing back at him. At that moment, as Muheun’s reflection appeared in the baby’s bright, shiny eyes, his own gaze briefly blurred.‘…Ah.’The vision of the future that flashed before him wasn’t of a specific moment. It merely conveyed one undeniable truth: this small life and his own were deeply intertwined.From the moment he swallowed the sun in his dream until now, a complex, inseparable bond tied the two together. It was a fate that only Muheun could feel, a secret he could never share with anyone.It was said that, since ancient times, the Kim family had a tradition of protecting the Seo family. They lived side by side in identical houses, and often had children around the same time, raising them together. The fact that the three siblings were the same age was a coincidence, but Muheun didn’t see it as without purpose.He believed it was his destiny to protect them. No matter what, he felt he had to devote himself to guarding this precious life. The feelings he had now were surely born from a sense of duty that had been preordained by the heavens.Fortunately, the baby was not subjected to the ancestral curse that had been passed down through the family. This was the result of a series of fortunate circumstances: the baby was born without any spiritual energy on a day when spiritual currents were particularly weak. Since “Son” wasn’t present, no one noticed, and the baby cleverly avoided a cursed fate.The parents, having survived the night and now facing the day, named the baby Seungjoo (勝晝), meaning “victory over the day.” Just like they had done for Seunghee and Seungtae, they gave Seungjoo protective charms, and celebrated his 100th day as well as every birthday with grand parties.Because the Seo family was always plagued with accidents big and small, the affection for Seungjoo, who was growing up healthy and safe, only deepened with each passing day.‘Noona, when will Seungjoo start crawling?’‘How would I know that, dummy?’‘Mom! Kim Muyeon called me a dummy!’The five children often gathered in a circle to watch Seungjoo, and many times the frightened baby would burst into tears at the sight of the group clustered around him.Seungjoo, who had been born particularly small, grew more slowly than the other children. Muryeong, who was the same age, grew rapidly, causing Seunghee and Seungtae to frequently ask, “When will our brother grow?” When Seungjoo finally managed to flip over for the first time, everyone clapped with faces full of joy.Perhaps because everyone cherished him so much, Seungjoo grew up to be an extremely shy child. He would burst into tears at the slightest touch and refused to be held by strangers. His temperament was so fickle that even if he was being held comfortably, he would often start whining to be put down.‘Come to hyung!’However, there was one exception to all of this: Muheun. He was the only person who could hold Seungjoo at any time without making him cry. Sometimes, Seungjoo seemed to prefer Muheun even over his own parents, which made the adults feel a little hurt.‘If you’re going to be like that, we should call you Kim Seungjoo.’Seunghee said this, but Seungjoo, already seated on Muheun’s lap, didn’t pay any attention. After all, he wasn’t old enough to understand such remarks. He simply tilted his head in confusion and began to doze off, causing Seunghee to soften and playfully poke his cheeks.‘Muheun, could you help me out?’Muheun often helped with changing Seungjoo’s diapers or feeding him formula. There was even a time when Seungjoo peed on his face, but Muheun found the experience endearing, and he cherished the baby all the more. His devotion was so strong that even Seunghee eventually gave in to his unrelenting affection.‘It’s not Kim Seungjoo, it’s Seo Muheun, right?’In such an environment, it was impossible not to care for Seungjoo. Whether Muheun took care of him first or Seungjoo followed him first was like the chicken-and-egg dilemma. But one thing was clear: Muheun’s affection for Seungjoo was extraordinary to the point that others found it excessive.There was even an incident where Seungjoo, just starting to walk, was constantly picked up by Muheun, who worried about his unsteady steps. This habit became so ingrained that Seungjoo, whenever he wanted to go somewhere, would stretch out his arms rather than walk on his own. It was quite an audacious attitude, but Muheun found it cute, which might have been the problem.‘No, Muheun, don’t carry him all the time. He’ll get spoiled.’When the lady of the house finally intervened, Muheun thought to himself, Is it so bad if he gets spoiled? I can just keep carrying him. He didn’t know how big Seungjoo would grow, but Muheun was confident he could lift him up even if he grew taller than him.Of course, Muheun didn’t want Seungjoo to have trouble walking. Worried that it would cause developmental issues, he eventually just held Seungjoo’s hand to help him walk. That was the first time Muheun realized that caring for someone didn’t always mean indulging them in everything.‘Come here, Seungjoo.’‘No, come to hyung!’‘Look, Seungjoo, here’s your favorite toy.’When Seungjoo began to walk properly, the kids would often sit in a row and have little competitions. It was a game they had also played with Muryeong, each holding candy or toys to lure Seungjoo towards them. Unlike Muryeong, who went to whoever had the food at the moment, Seungjoo would toddle straight into Muheun’s arms every time.‘Wow, Muheun hyung, that’s unfair!’‘Oppa, you shouldn’t do that.’‘How sneaky, Kim Muheun.’‘…I didn’t even say a word.’Though the outcome was obvious, everyone jeered at Muheun. But he just smiled and hugged the baby, who still smelled faintly of formula. Muryeong ended up taking the toy Seunghee had, and Seungjoo finally reached out for the toy. Thanks to Muryeong’s kindness in handing it over, the real winner turned out to be Seungjoo.From the time he couldn’t crawl to when he started toddling, then running on his own and eventually speaking, time flew by. Finally, Seungjoo was able to say ‘mom,” “dad,” and even “hyung.” While Seungtae benefited from this without effort, Seunghee and Muyeon felt betrayed that he said “hyung” before “Noona.”‘Our Muryeong said Noona first…’Muyeon mumbled in a voice full of defeat, but Muheun didn’t bother to argue. At that time, he was too busy writing a charm for Seungjoo. Seungjoo’s babbling of “hyung” was so adorable that Muheun was paranoid that someone might steal him away if he didn’t give him the charm.Although the charm didn’t seem to be very effective, Seungjoo grew up without any major accidents. As a baby, he had cried constantly, but as he grew older, he rarely cried. In fact, he often wore a grumpy expression, prompting Seunghee to click her tongue and tease him.‘Ugh, look at that face. Whose little brother is so ugly?’It was a playful tease, but Seungjoo didn’t mind. Muheun had told him he was cute and beautiful so many times that he already knew it wasn’t true. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Muheun was responsible for about 80% of Seungjoo’s high self-esteem.Of course, it wasn’t just Seunghee who teased Seungjoo. By the time Muheun entered high school, his mischievous streak had grown, and he often played pranks on Seungjoo. He would hide at the front gate and surprise him, or sneak up from behind and lift him into the air. Sometimes the pranks went too far, making Seungjoo cry, and it was always Muheun’s job to soothe him afterward.‘Aww, poor Seungjoo, so upset.’Even while hiccuping, Seungjoo obediently accepted Muheun’s kisses. He would shed big teardrops, then glare at Muheun with his lips tightly pursed, only to dramatically turn his head away in frustration.‘Hyung’s sorry, I didn’t mean it.’In hindsight, maybe Muheun felt a little sad about Seungjoo growing up. He didn’t like that Seungjoo no longer shied away from others and followed them just as easily as he used to follow him. Of course, it was also true that teasing Seungjoo and getting a reaction was part of the fun.‘You know, when Seungjoo grows up, he won’t play with you anymore.’Seunghee’s joking remark sparked a bit of anxiety in Muheun. He had already heard something similar from their mother, but hearing Seunghee say it too made him wonder if he had gone too far. The thought of Seungjoo distancing himself from him felt deeply upsetting, even imagining it.‘Seungjoo, you’ll live with your Hyung forever, right?’He lifted Seungjoo up playfully as he asked, but Seungjoo didn’t answer right away. Instead, he rolled his tear-filled eyes and tightly hugged Muheun’s neck. The warmth of that small body made Muheun smile softly, but it didn’t last long. Sensing something, Seungjoo looked up and asked,‘…How do I live with you forever?’That innocent question made Muheun’s face relax. Despite having just cried because of him, it seemed that Seungjoo really did want to stay with him forever. Under Seunghee’s disapproving gaze, Muheun forced his lips into a more serious expression and replied,‘Hmm, maybe we need to get married?’‘Like Mom and Dad?’‘Yeah, like Mom and Dad.’‘Umm…’Seungjoo looked doubtful. What could a little kid know? He furrowed his brows as if deep in thought. After a long pause, Seungjoo finally made up his mind and spoke with a determined expression.‘Then I’ll marry you, big brotherHyung…’‘You crazy idiot, what are you teaching him?’Seunghee immediately pulled Seungjoo out of Muheun’s arms. Though Muheun had been holding him easily, Seunghee muttered, “Wow, you’re heavy,” as she shifted to a more stable position. Holding Seungjoo securely, she gave Muheun a sharp look, as if he had said something outrageous, and told Seungjoo,‘Hey, don’t fall for it. You don’t have to marry your big brother.’She reassured Seungjoo several times, adding that he couldn’t marry Muheun anyway. She muttered, half concerned, half scolding, about how innocent Seungjoo was and how he was going to manage in life.But as Seungjoo calmly listened to her, he suddenly seemed to come up with a solution and boldly announced,‘Then you marry him, Noona.’‘What did I ever do to deserve that?’Her expression was one of disbelief. Despite the playful disdain from both siblings, Muheun simply laughed without showing any signs of annoyance.Of course, Muheun knew he needed to set things straight.‘Seungjoo, I have my own preferences, you know…’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~