The Night Of The Untraced

As usual, exorcists typically operate at night, not during the day. Ghosts mostly appear at night, and it’s easier for them to avoid the gaze of people. Gwimae hunters sometimes moved during the day, but they still tended to have a lifestyle that was the complete opposite of regular people’s.So, this meant that Muheun, too, slept during the day and operated at night—from the break of dawn until midday. That was likely his approximate sleeping schedule. But recently, hadn’t he been picking Seungjoo up according to school hours?“You said you’re going to work later, right?”After dropping Seungjoo off at school in the morning, Muheun would briefly take a nap, and then pick him up again in the evening. Today, he had even caught a Gwimae in the afternoon and walked all the way home carrying a strong adult man on his back. And now, he was bringing Seungjoo back to his home again.“Yeah, I have to go straight to the association after this.”“……”Seungjoo twitched his cheek and squinted at Muheun. No matter how strong an exorcist’s stamina, it was impossible not to feel tired. That’s why Kim Muryeong probably took naps at school after working through the night.“How many days does it take for Yeongi to fade away?”Maybe I should just skip school for a few days. I could go to the hospital and get a few doctor’s notes. For the classes I missed, I could just ask Choi Jinwoo or Kim Seohyun to fill me in.“Hm… about a week?”“A week…”That amount of time wouldn’t drastically affect his attendance. As long as he worked hard on assignments and exams, he could cover it.‘It seems like I only need to rest this week.’Today was Tuesday, so if he could stay home for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, he’d be okay. By Saturday, if his Yeongi sight was cleared, he should be fine by Monday.“Then I’ll just skip school this week.”Seungjoo quickly made his decision and told Muheun. Tomorrow, he would go to school a little late and leave early, so if he were to go, Muheun’s sleep schedule would be tight. While attendance was important, Seungjoo didn’t want to burden him by making him more tired.“You’re skipping school?”Muheun glanced at Seungjoo in surprise. Then, squinting his eyes, he raised his lips in a mischievous grin.“Well… that’s not bad either.”“Yes, so don’t come to pick me up tomorrow.”What would I say to my parents? Seungjoo thought as he turned his gaze back outside the car window. He could make up something about how the online lectures had replaced the in-person ones and then just go to the hospital during the day. It would be fine if he told Muheun to come with him for that.Just as Seungjoo was thinking this…“Don’t do that. Stay at my house while you’re resting.”* * *It was an unexpected comment. Of course, Seungjoo, with an incredulous expression, asked again.“Why would I…?”Why would he stay at someone else’s house when he had his own perfectly fine place? He didn’t mind sleeping anywhere, but if it was Muheun’s house, that was a different story. The times they used to sleep side by side had ended over a decade ago.“…Could it be that our house isn’t safe either?”For a moment, a chill ran through Seungjoo as he asked, and Muheun chuckled softly. His eyes, slightly narrowed, seemed to suggest that couldn’t possibly be the case.“Out of all the places in the country, your house is probably the safest, Seungjoo.”He even joked that it might be safer than the association’s headquarters. The talismans used on the gates and walls formed a strong, impenetrable barrier, and Seungjoo had heard that most exorcists could barely breathe once they entered his home.“Then, there’s no need for me to stay at your house.”Seungjoo said, and Muheun paused for a moment. He was still driving and facing forward, but from his profile, Seungjoo could tell that he was carefully choosing his words. Finally, a languid voice came from his lips.“We need to check on your condition.”“Condition?”Why was he suddenly talking about his condition?“You passed out earlier. You woke up after five hours.”Muheun spoke in his usual calm tone. His voice was gentle and soft, but there was an undeniable strength in it.“I was planning on sending you home first, but if that’s not necessary, you shouldn’t go. It’s better to stay at my house until your Yeongi clears up.”“Well, I just got scared, that’s all… And why do you need to check on my condition?”It seemed like a reasonable explanation at first, but Seungjoo still couldn’t fully agree with it. Muheun wasn’t a doctor, and if it was about his condition, it would be better to stay at home. At his house, there were medical professionals who could respond immediately if needed.“You need me to check. If it’s a side effect of Yeongi, an exorcist would know better. Besides, your parents don’t know that you can see spirits, right?”As he said this, Muheun briefly stopped speaking, turning the steering wheel slowly as he asked casually:“Or should I tell them?”“Are you crazy? Absolutely not.”If his parents found out, they’d probably faint. It was a secret that couldn’t be revealed at any cost. Besides, to tell them, Seungjoo would have to explain what happened with Muheun. That would be difficult not just for Seungjoo, but for Muheun as well.“The fainting earlier was just from being startled. It happened because it suddenly rushed at me…”It had been a split-second event, but Seungjoo remembered it clearly. Without Muheun holding him up, he probably wouldn’t have been able to stay upright for that long.“You know, Seungjoo, you’re a bit of a scaredy-cat, right?”“…Anyone would get scared when they see something like that.”Seungjoo wasn’t one to shy away from horror movies, but the stories the neighbors told were different. Horror movies were fake, but what these people spoke of was real. To exorcists, it was just everyday life, but to an ordinary person, it was closer to a ghost story.In that sense, the Gwimae he had seen earlier was unnervingly realistic.“I get what you’re saying, but really, I’m fine. Besides, if I stay out for too long, my parents will get worried.”His parents had never liked it when he went on school trips back in high school. Seungjoo had become so tired of it that he just put up with it, but they still didn’t like it when he stayed out late. If he stayed away for several days, there would definitely be trouble.“If you’re with me, they’ll be fine with it.”“……”Seungjoo couldn’t immediately respond and furrowed his brow. Muheun wasn’t wrong. Even though his parents were worried, they would quickly relax if he were with Muheun.“I already contacted them today. I told them you passed out from drinking and I’d let you rest at my place for a bit.”“…Ah, great. Now I’ll get an earful from them.”No matter what excuse he came up with, it was always the excuse of alcohol. The day after he had stayed out without saying a word, his mother had called him in and lectured him for a long time.Well, maybe it was a blessing that he hadn’t told her he fainted after seeing the Gwimae. It would be better for her to think of her foolish son as an annoyance rather than being truly upset.“Seungjoo.”Muheun called Seungjoo in his usual gentle voice. It was a sweet tone that hadn’t changed once since their childhood.“Even if I’m busy, I still have time to pick you up.”“…”Seungjoo flinched and closed his mouth. That calm statement hit the mark.“If you’re taking a break because you’re scared, I won’t stop you. But if you’re doing it because of me, then just go to school. I’m not going to ask you to make sacrifices for me.”His perceptiveness was so sharp. Sometimes, Muheun wasn’t like a exorcist, but more like a ghost. It seemed that Seungjoo realized that the reason he had relented wasn’t because Muheun was worried about him, but because he was worried about Muheun instead.And Muheun was someone who hated seeing Seungjoo give up on something.“Not sleeping a bit won’t kill you.”“No, why do you always…”Seungjoo growled, stretching the end of his sentence in irritation. The blunt choice of words annoyed him even more because it was exactly what he had been worried about. They both knew of someone who had died from lack of sleep.“So, stop worrying.”Muheun said, pulling over the car. While they were talking, Seungjoo could see two identical gates outside the window.Muheun, who had gotten out of the car first, walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Seungjoo with a playful smile.“You’re going to school, right?”“…”Could his attitude really change this quickly? Just a moment ago, he had told him to skip school. The part about his health, though, had been said half-jokingly, half-seriously.“…Do whatever you want. I’m the one getting annoyed, not you.”If he wanted to suffer on his own, Seungjoo didn’t feel the need to stop him. If he could maintain his usual routine, then Seungjoo was fine with that.“You’re a good kid.”Muheun, treating Seungjoo like he was Seolgi, lightly patted the back of his head. The fleeting sensation as his fingers brushed Seungjoo’s ear left an unexpectedly sharp feeling. Seungjoo, who had been about to stay quiet, sighed softly and got out of the car.“Since we’re here, let’s stop by and see Seolgi. He’ll be waiting for you.”The casual remark was more of a disguise to hide his embarrassment. Well, the truth was, Seolgi was waiting for Muheun.Muheun looked at the right of the two identical gates and winked.“True… Shall we go see Seolgi?”Wondering if Muheun might ask him to come along, Seungjoo turned his body to the left. He wanted to see Seolgi, but it seemed inappropriate to visit at this time. If he truly wanted to, he could just go have lunch with Kim Muryeong when called and hang out then.“Are you going home?”“Yeah, I should. We’re here.”As expected, Muheun asked while following Seungjoo, though he didn’t try to stop him since it was already late.At the wrought-iron gates, with intricate designs, Seungjoo grasped the handle and spoke.“Thank you for bringing me home.”It was surprising how deeply rooted their bond was, even without shared blood. They had lived here, in this place, for several generations. And the gate and house structure had remained unchanged, with not even a slight deviation.After all, one side was destined for a short life at the hands of evil spirits, while the other was destined to exorcise them. Mixing the two bloodlines would only have led to a deadly conflict. It seemed like the ancestors’ wisdom had made its mark.“Take care on your way home.”His polite farewell had become a habit when addressing Muheun. Back when he was younger, he might have just said “goodbye” in an informal tone, but as time passed, his attitude towards Muheun had changed. And Muheun’s responses had shifted too, now a simple “Alright, go inside” instead.“See you tomorrow.”“…”Seungjoo froze for a moment. Ever since the day his spiritual sight had opened, the last farewell had subtly changed. Why did such a small phrase stick with him so much? Even though he wasn’t usually sentimental, it made him feel a lump in his throat every time.“…I’ll see you tomorrow.”With those words, Seungjoo entered through the gate without looking back. The moment he took a step inside, the same subtle pressure that had been with him these past few days weighed down on him again. Perhaps when that feeling disappeared, Muheun’s farewell of “tomorrow” would vanish as well.That realization felt strangely melancholic.* * *A few days passed, and things continued on almost the same way. In the mornings, Muheun came to pick up Seungjoo, and in the afternoons, he was always waiting by the school gates like before. Seungjoo had thought about telling him not to stand there again, but since it was only for a few more days, he decided to let it be.Contrary to Muheun’s warning, Seungjoo didn’t see any ghosts or Gwimae after the first day. Every time he passed by the walkway, he stayed tense, but he couldn’t smell that eerie scent anymore. It was both a relief and made him wonder if Muheun had just been scaring him.On Friday, he struggled to reject Jinwoo’s invitation for drinks, and on Saturday and Sunday, he stayed at home, buried in assignments. Not that it was because of his spiritual sight, but the mountain of homework he had piled up made it unavoidable. Since he had to do it anyway, he decided to use the time to study for midterms as well.Then, when Monday came, Seungjoo instinctively felt it the moment he opened his eyes. Ah, Yeongi has finally gone. He didn’t feel the usual subtle pressure or chills that he’d been sensing lately.Should he contact Muheun and tell him not to come? While wondering this, Seungjoo finished preparing for school. He figured it was best to get confirmation from Muheun just in case, and if Yeongi really was gone, he needed to thank him properly for his help.However, when Seungjoo stepped out to the gate, what greeted him was not Muheun but the empty, silent streets. The neatly arranged street trees, the spotless road, and even the gate of the house next door, identical to his own.“…”Kim Muheun had not come.Yeah, it wasn’t anything strange. The week Muheun had expected, and the one Seungjoo had roughly estimated last week. The time was just right, and he could actually feel Yeongi slowly fading away. Since Muheun, who was more sensitive than him, might have thought it was safe to relax by now.But still, not even a word was said. On the Friday when they last met, Muheun didn’t say that he wouldn’t come next Monday. That this would be the last meeting, and it was time to return to normal.“Take a good rest over the weekend.”He realized too late that Muheun’s parting words had no promise attached to them.At first, he was stunned, but later, there was a sense of resignation as if he had expected it. Since it had always been a time-limited thing, there was no need to feel upset at this point.So, this wasn’t disappointment, but more like emptiness. Seungjoo wasn’t the kind of person who would get all romantic and pin hopes on pointless emotions. It was just that, out of habit, the walk to school by himself felt a bit lonely.“Seungjoo, are you here?”When he arrived at the classroom, Seohyun was there. She had been greeting her friends, and when she saw him sitting at the back, she blinked in surprise. She even asked him in confusion while he was taking his book out of his bag.“What’s up, are you sick?”“Me?”What an odd question. He wasn’t sick at all; in fact, he felt better than he had in a long time. When he had Yeongi inside him, he’d always felt this subtle heaviness around his chest, even when breathing at home.“Your face looks rotten.”“……”Was that an insult?Maybe sensing he thought that, Seohyun quickly corrected herself.“Oh, sorry. Not your face, your expression.”“……Would I be in a good mood after attending first-period class?”“Well, yeah.”Seohyun quickly accepted the excuse he made. In reality, not only him but most of the classmates came to school with a sour look. Having first-period class on a Monday was a pretty harsh thing to endure.“How did we manage to go to school at this time back in high school?”“I know, right? It’s been so little time since graduation, but it feels tough already…”Listening to Seohyun and her friends chat, he opened his major’s textbook. He pretended to rest his chin on his hand and cover his mouth. He thought he was doing a good job of controlling his expression, but Seohyun recognized it right away, and he didn’t know what to say.‘I hated this, see?’Yeah, this was what he hated. If they met too often, it would just stir him up. His calm heart would always get disturbed by Muheun and then left behind.‘…Where are you going, hyung?’Was it when he was ten? When Muheun became a full-fledged exorcist at twenty and left home. He only had a suitcase, yet it felt so strange, as if he’d never come back.‘Hyung is moving today!’Muryeong’s bright response had shocked him too. He had never heard such words before. It wasn’t that he didn’t know what moving meant, but that Muheun wouldn’t live here anymore, and the times they would meet would drastically decrease.‘Why are you moving? Do you really have to?’It had only been a year since their older sister and brother passed away. Muheun had always been the one who took him in, even when he was alone, just like always. Except when he was at school, he sometimes stayed by his side even until he fell asleep.‘Hyung, you don’t want me to move, do you?’But he was moving. And he was going to leave so suddenly, like he’d never return. Usually, he was the one who acted insecure about being apart, but now, he was the one announcing he was leaving.‘It’s fine, you can go… but when will you come home?’‘Ah, it’s fine to go?’He still remembered Muheun’s face, smiling while he winked at him. The way he lifted him up while he was playing with Muryeong, and made playful kissy sounds like he was treating him like a dog. And Seolgi, who had been far away, rushing to them.‘Seungjoo, give me a kiss.’‘……’He was at an age where it felt embarrassing to kiss his older brother. Usually, he’d run away from it, but that day, it felt like he shouldn’t. So, he grabbed Muheun’s cheeks firmly and kissed him on the lips as he asked.‘Don’t cry saying you miss me.’‘……I don’t cry over things like that.’‘Really? I think you’ll cry when you miss me.’Although it was clearly a joke, it almost made him cry. Children’s intuition is incredible. It was because they instinctively sensed that this might be the last time. When Seungjoo closed his mouth, Muryeong pulled at Muheun’s pants.‘Hyung, me too, me too.’After Muheun kissed Muryeong, he petted Seolgi and left the house.After that, Muheun didn’t show his face again until Seungjoo and Muryeong became fourth graders. He had gotten busy after joining the association, but little Seungjoo couldn’t possibly understand the reasons behind it.So, when they met again, Seungjoo automatically spoke to him formally.‘…Hello.’At that time, he had grown quite a bit due to growing pains, and he had forced himself to forget Muheun in an attempt to erase the emptiness. There was this awkward feeling he couldn’t shake off. Muheun stayed silent for a moment, then faintly smiled.‘Our Seungjoo has grown a lot.’It was only much later that he realized that brief silence was actually the feeling of sadness. Well, even if he realized it, it probably wouldn’t change anything.He left for his parents’ house two days later, and when he came back, Seungjoo was already in the fifth grade.‘You always come and go without a word…’He didn’t recognize his feelings until much later, but even so, Muheun wasn’t someone he could just ignore. No matter how much he didn’t want to be happy to see him, he ended up welcoming him. Even if he didn’t want to feel sad, he couldn’t help it. No matter how much he tried to distance himself, Muheun kept getting closer, and there was no way to defend himself.The morning lecture passed in the blink of an eye. Since there was a lot of note-taking to do, Seungjoo nearly forgot about anything related to Muheun after a while. There was no point in dwelling on it for too long, as it was just a feeling he was already accustomed to. He thought there was absolutely no reason to drag it out unnecessarily.“Everyone, enjoy your meal.”After the professor left the classroom, Seungjoo headed to the campus cafeteria with his friends. It was because of Jinwoo’s strong suggestion to save money, though, as usual with smokers, any suggestion to quit smoking was completely ignored. If they just saved on alcohol, it would have been fine, but clearly, they were cutting back on meal costs to enjoy drinks and cigarettes.“Seungjoo.”As he was halfway through his meal, someone approached Seungjoo and called his name. He turned his head absentmindedly, and there stood a huge figure, one he rarely saw. The person was so tall that Seungjoo had to lift his head for a while just to catch a glimpse of their face.“…What is it, all of a sudden?”The person in front of him was someone Seungjoo knew well. With jet-black hair and a face so pale it almost looked ghostly, he was the freshman who had become a topic of conversation right after enrollment. Because of his characteristic cold expression, he was a well-known figure in the business school, one that most people couldn’t even approach easily to start a conversation with.And the words that came from this student, as he held out his phone, were:“Give me your number.”“……”Coughing lightly, Jinwoo, who was sitting across from Seungjoo, cleared his throat. Around them, Seohyun, her friends, and even others at different tables could be heard letting out inaudible breaths.At that moment, when everyone’s attention was on them, Seungjoo furrowed his brows and spoke sharply to the other person.“Why do you always make things sound so awkward?”He was Gi Hwanyeong, who had gone to the same high school as Seungjoo. He was closer to Kim Muryeong, and now he was living near the school with Muryeong. Although they both attended the same university, they were in different departments, so they had never spoken at school (though, even if they were in the same department, Seungjoo doubted they would have spoken).Like the people from his neighborhood, he too planned to become an exorcist after graduation.“Just ask Muryeong for my number.”Even as he said that, Seungjoo took the phone and inputted his number. It wasn’t surprising that Gi Hwanyeong didn’t have his number, considering they had known each other for two years. It wasn’t like he had it either.“I already asked, but I think he’s asleep.”“He’s sleeping at this time?”“……”He must’ve stayed up all night exorcising spirits and then fallen asleep in the morning. Still, it was already past lunchtime. If he had gone to sleep at dawn, he should have woken up much earlier. Though, Muryeong had always been one to sleep a lot.“Why do you need my number, anyway?”For some reason, Hwanyeong, who had been avoiding eye contact, looked back at Seungjoo as he handed back the phone. Instead of answering the question, he asked another one.“When does your last class end today?”“……Around 3 p.m.”Seungjoo had never thought that Gi Hwanyeong was the type to care about other people. Plus, with all the eyes on them, Seungjoo just wanted him to leave already.“3 p.m……”Hwanyeong narrowed his eyes, wearing a somewhat awkward expression. Still, after knowing him since high school, Seungjoo could read his emotions from that normally emotionless face.But the words that came out of his mouth were completely unexpected.“I finish at 4. Wait for me.”“……”Seungjoo paused and furrowed his brows. Why? He thought, and then he spoke aloud what was on his mind.“Why should I?”“I need you to take me home.”“……Why should I?”Was this some sort of game?If they were close, it wouldn’t be weird, but without Kim Muryeong, there was no reason for them to have any connection. In fact, without Muryeong, there was no reason for them to meet or talk. He had never even known his number after two years, so he was just as confused.“Aren’t we going in different directions…?”Seungjoo wasn’t going to Muryeong’s house, and his apartment was near the back gate, not the front gate. There was no reason for them to go together. Plus, neither Seungjoo nor Hwanyeong were the types to wait for someone to walk home together. Only Muryeong would be that kind of person.Hwanyeong glanced around, sensing the eyes on them, before lowering his voice with a scowl.“Hyung asked me to.”* * *“……”Older brother. That one word silenced Seungjoo. As far as he knew, there was only one person that Gi Hwanyeong could refer to as his “older brother.” And there was only one person who would ask him to take Seungjoo home.“I’ll contact you later. Wait for me at school. Don’t go outside.”With that, Hwanyeong walked past Seungjoo and exited the cafeteria. Being much taller than the others, he received quite a few stares as he walked out. Though, it wasn’t just because of his height.“……You know Gi Hwanyeong?”After a while, Jinwoo asked, and Seungjoo nodded with a dazed expression. It wasn’t really a secret, but it was surprising that Jinwoo, who wasn’t in the same department, knew him. Looking around, though, it seemed that many others knew Gi Hwanyeong as well.“We went to the same high school.”“Are you close?”“We just exchanged numbers, so how close could we be?”Seungjoo casually responded and then picked up his spoon again. The rice, which had been easy to eat earlier, now felt dry in his mouth. But he had to eat it, so he chewed through it, forcing it down his throat.“But why does he need your number? Who’s his older brother?”“……”What should he even say to this? If Gi Hwanyeong had wanted to lower his voice, he could have whispered… but maybe that would have looked even more suspicious.“Why does he want you to take him home?”“……It’s complicated.”In the end, Seungjoo just shook his head, giving up on explaining. He had no idea where to even begin.Just when he thought it might pass unnoticed, Seohyun, who had been quietly observing, casually spoke up.“Could it be that the ‘Hyung’ is the one with the tattoo…?”Seohyun touched the back of her neck with her left hand and trailed off. Before she could say anything more, though, the attention from their friends was already focused entirely on Seungjoo. And, quite conveniently, it was the same group who had shown interest in Muheun.The older brother who does dangerous work at night. And now, Gi Hwanyeong, who wanted Seungjoo to take him home instead of his older brother.“Seungjoo, wait…”“Ugh.”Seungjoo quickly interrupted Jinwoo’s words. He could already guess what kind of wild ideas were running through their heads. If they kept thinking like this, a crime drama about Seungjoo being involved in something dangerous and his older brother doing risky work was about to unfold in their minds.“You guys are overthinking it. It’s really nothing, so just forget it.”It would have been nice to have some way of brushing it off with a decent excuse at times like this. Unfortunately, Seungjoo didn’t have that kind of wit. Instead, when he spoke with an indifferent expression, the suspicious glances turned into ones of confusion. It seemed like it wasn’t a big deal after all, but that only added to the curiosity.“Hey, but Seungjoo, everyone around you is so good-looking.”As if she noticed Seungjoo was uncomfortable, Seohyun quickly changed the subject. Jinwoo immediately asked, “Me too?” but was shut down with a sharp remark about his lack of conscience. Smiling without a wrinkle on his face, Jinwoo pointed at Seungjoo with his chopsticks.“Seungjoo’s face does the talking. I bet his girlfriend’s pretty too.”“Whoa, Seungjoo has a girlfriend?”The conversation quickly turned to Seungjoo’s non-existent girlfriend. Then came all sorts of absurd speculations: he was probably going to meet a great beauty, perhaps someone older, maybe even someone wealthy.“Wow, Seungjoo doesn’t go out drinking much, probably because of his girlfriend, huh?”“Is that true? Seungjoo, did you really do that?”“If that’s the case, we totally get it.”“Really?”Seungjoo didn’t bother hiding his disbelief and immediately responded. They could at least make it sound plausible, but without the actual person speaking, they were just making up stories.“What, so you don’t have a girlfriend?”“Nope. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you guys.”“That’s not fair!”A burst of mockery followed, but Seungjoo didn’t care at all. From the way he was acting, it seemed more like he’d had a few drinks than just eating his lunch. Once Seungjoo finished his meal and put down his spoon, Jinwoo quickly finished the rest of his food and stood up to follow Seungjoo.“We’ll go ahead.”With a light greeting, Seungjoo turned without looking back.He felt uneasy, but it seemed like it wouldn’t be easy to brush off this time. Gi Hwanyeong, who hadn’t shown up in the morning, was now telling him to go home with him. This was nonsense.Jinwoo said something, but Seungjoo couldn’t really hear it. Swallowing a sigh, Seungjoo thought to himself that he probably needed to ask Gi Hwanyeong what was going on.* * *He didn’t have the number.“…….”Seungjoo furrowed his brow as he looked at his phone screen. His new phone, purchased when he turned twenty, didn’t have a single message from anyone. Or, more accurately, only group chats with his classmates, who had been talking non-stop throughout the lecture.When you exchange numbers, isn’t it customary to share yours too? But the discourteous Gi Hwanyeong had yet to contact Seungjoo by the time his lecture was almost over. He even wondered if he had forgotten.“Ugh, they’re all the same.”Surprisingly, Muryeong was just as bad. He still hadn’t replied to the message Seungjoo sent saying, “Can I have Gi Hwanyeong’s number?” Judging by the fact that it was unread, he was probably still sleeping. Seungjoo couldn’t understand why he was still asleep at this hour. He, who had regular sleep hours, just couldn’t fathom it.It was already 3:30 PM. Seungjoo eventually went to the campus cafeteria and bought a cup of coffee. The hot weather had made him crave an iced drink, but because the spring breeze was unexpectedly cold, he found himself nervously chewing the end of the straw.‘If I’d gone home by now, I’d be there already.’To wait for an hour just to go together for a mere 30 minutes (it would take only 10 minutes by bus)? It was remarkably inefficient. His spiritual eye seemed to be closed, and yet he felt compelled to do this.Seungjoo knew he could’ve just contacted Muheun directly. The problem was, he didn’t have a valid reason to do so. What would he ask? Why didn’t Muheun come himself, and instead sent Gi Hwanyeong?‘No reason for him to come himself.’Of course, he could claim that Muheun should deal with his own problems, but he didn’t think it was necessary, and it felt childish to say it out loud. Seungjoo decided to just wait for Hwanyeong. His spiritual eye might be closed, but there was no harm in being cautious. If he misjudged the situation and made a mistake, things would only get worse.At first, Seungjoo thought about sitting somewhere nearby, but the increasingly cold breeze made it impossible. So, with the straw in his mouth, he wandered aimlessly around campus, thinking that Hwanyeong would likely be in the business school area.* * *How much time had passed? Just as Seungjoo was about to walk past the humanities building, someone suddenly blocked his path.“Seungjoo?”“…….”He was genuinely startled. So much so that he spat out the straw he was chewing. He had been walking aimlessly without noticing anyone around him, and it wasn’t until the person spoke that he realized someone was there.“Seungjoo, right?”The person in front of him was a slightly taller man. He wore a cap pulled low, but the refined features on his pale face were clearly visible under the shadow. His lack of expression made it feel unreal for a moment.“……Who are you?”From his experience at the university, Seungjoo knew that about 80% of the people who suddenly talk to you are some kind of fraud. The other 20% weren’t exactly important, and ignoring them as he passed by wasn’t an issue.Of course, it would be different if the person knew Seungjoo’s name, but…“Who are you…?”“I need your number.”“…….”What was this guy now?“……What’s your deal?”What was with today? First Gi Hwanyeong, and now this stranger asking for his number. Was he from the same department? But someone like him should have been unforgettable. He was either from a different department or, even worse, someone mocking him for what Gi Hwanyeong had done.“I’m someone who wants to be friends with you.”“…….”Ah, so he was just a crazy guy. Seungjoo quickly concluded that and walked past him without any hesitation. There were so many weird people in the world that trying to deal with them would be a foolish move. The best thing to do was to ignore them as if you didn’t even notice.“Where are you going?”The man blocked Seungjoo’s path again before he could take even three full steps. His face, speaking as if asking a simple question, showed no emotion. Even his tone was calm, so much so that it was hard to distinguish whether he was asking a question or not.“I asked for your number.”Such a bold way of speaking. Seungjoo sighed quietly and looked him directly in the eye.“Yeah, but I’m not giving it.”“Why?”“…….”Why, he asks? Does he not understand? Who gives their number to a stranger right away?“Who are you?”“I want to get closer to you…”“I’m asking who you are. How do you even know my name?”Seungjoo asked each question one by one, but the man didn’t answer. He just silently stared at Seungjoo with his lips firmly closed. Just as Seungjoo was about to walk past him, he suddenly felt a chill run through him and his eyes widened in surprise.“…….”What the hell, is this a ghost?As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a chill ran down his spine. He staggered back, quickly reaching into his pocket to grab a talisman. It was such an awkward time that there wasn’t even anyone passing by in front of the humanities building.“What’s wrong?”“…….”What should he even say about the feeling of hearing concern from a ghost? He briefly considered the possibility that it might just be a person, but after looking at his lifeless face, Seungjoo concluded that it was indeed a ghost.Damn it, he had specifically been sure that his psychic sense was closed off.“Seung…oo…”At that moment, his phone vibrated in the opposite pocket. Seungjoo quickly took it out with an awkward motion. Without even checking the caller ID or looking back at the person in front of him, he simply lowered his head and brought the phone to his ear.―Where are you?“……Gi Hwanyeong?”It was the perfect timing for the perfect person. Seungjoo had never been so happy to hear from Gi Hwanyeong. This guy, also an exorcist-in-training, gave Seungjoo some comfort in that moment.“I’m in front of the humanities building…”Once Gi Hwanyeong arrives, maybe it’ll all work out. Seungjoo thought, feeling like he was holding onto a lifeline.“Right in front of me—”A ghost is here.He was about to say that when—“…….”― Hello?“…….”― Seungjoo?The words coming from the phone barely entered Seungjoo’s mind. With his eyes wide open, Seungjoo stared blankly at the air in front of him.The man who had been standing in front of him was gone, vanishing without a trace in that brief moment.* * *It was 4:55 when Gi Hwanyeong arrived at the front of the humanities building.He had called Seungjoo a couple of times to ask what was going on, but since Seungjoo didn’t answer, he immediately hung up. He could have asked a few more times, but his phone etiquette was just as bad as usual.“What’s going on?”Soon after, Gi Hwanyeong appeared, walking from the business school. He was so tall that Seungjoo could see him from far away.Seungjoo, still in a daze, muttered in a confused voice after he saw Gi Hwanyeong’s frown.“Hey… I saw a ghost.”“What?”What the hell is this nonsense? Gi Hwanyeong eyed Seungjoo with skepticism. Seungjoo, who had never had his psychic sense opened, was definitely not someone who could see a ghost. Gi Hwanyeong, looking unusually cautious, asked in a rare tone of care.“…Are you sick?”“Ah, damn it. My head’s… messed up.”“…….”Seeing a ghost wasn’t something Seungjoo had ever expected. As a perfectly ordinary person, he couldn’t help but be mentally affected. Noticing the confusion in Seungjoo’s face, Gi Hwanyeong replied with a cold voice.“How could you see a ghost?”“No, I—”Seungjoo was about to say that his psychic sense had opened, but stopped himself. If he said that, he’d have to explain how it happened. Gi Hwanyeong, being an exorcist too, would have already guessed what kind of interaction had taken place.“…Never mind.”“What’s going on?”In the end, Seungjoo gave up on explaining, placing one hand on his forehead. A lost soul would be handled by the exorcists, so he didn’t need to explain it himself. Also, there was a possibility that the person he saw was just another normal person.“Hey, I don’t have anything attached to me, right?”Seungjoo asked desperately, hoping for confirmation from Gi Hwanyeong. There was no way he could go through such a harsh time without some kind of misfortune. He even wanted to ask Muheun for a fortune reading.Gi Hwanyeong looked at Seungjoo silently before asking him just one thing.“Do you want to go to the hospital?”“…….”The tone of the question made Seungjoo feel like his face crumpled. The fact that he was even hearing “Go to the hospital” from Gi Hwanyeong made him realize that it probably wasn’t a ghost following him. Seungjoo shook his head, dismissing the idea.“More importantly, if you got my number, you should at least send a message. There’s no way to contact you now.”“…Ah.”The quiet exhale was proof that he hadn’t thought about that at all. A hint of awkwardness appeared on his face, and Seungjoo let out a sigh as he relaxed his expression. Well, what could he expect from someone who had nothing? If he gave his number, it was probably because he was more or less pressured into it rather than doing it voluntarily.“Did you wait long?”“Exactly one hour.”He threw the plastic cup, now only containing ice, into the nearby trash can. There was no point in dragging this out any longer, as neither of them were suited for it. Asking that question in the first place was probably his way of apologizing.“Let’s just go home.”Seungjoo said and started walking first. He adjusted his bag, slipped his cold hands into his pockets. He hadn’t felt the energy from the talisman since this morning.‘Was he really human…?’He seemed to have a more vivid imagination than before. If one could distinguish a ghost just by their expression or skin tone, then Gi Hwanyeong, who was standing before him, would be the ghost. And besides, it was still too early in the day for a ghost to look that normal, wasn’t it?“What’s this about seeing a ghost?”“Man, you ask that so quickly.”Seungjoo, while complaining, told him about the encounter earlier. A stranger knew his name and asked for his number, acting suspiciously. He almost said the person looked like a ghost, but Hwanyeong gave him a suspicious look and asked:“So, did you give him your number?”“Did I?”From the way he spoke, it sounded like he had been hit on. Seungjoo quickly refuted, and Hwanyeong didn’t ask more questions. He just spoke firmly:“At this time, spirits don’t usually show up. And even if they do, you can’t see them.”The straightforward tone felt reassuring. Seungjoo sighed in relief for the first time, grateful for Gi Hwanyeong’s blunt honesty. If it were Kim Muryeong, he might have lied to comfort him, but at least Gi Hwanyeong wasn’t one to do that.“I really hope I never see one again…”Seungjoo muttered quietly, fiddling with the talisman. He wasn’t sure how effective it was, but he hoped it would keep him safe. Of course, he didn’t think his spiritual sight would ever open again.* * *Seungjoo, however, was being watched from a distance by someone.It was no lie that Seungjoo wasn’t close to Hwanyeong. They had known each other for a long time, and they saw each other often, but they weren’t exactly friendly. They had never been in the same class, and they had never had many conversations.Naturally, their walk home was completely silent, with both Seungjoo and Hwanyeong walking toward their homes with bored expressions. The only time Gi Hwanyeong smiled was when Seungjoo muttered after reading a reply from Muryeong, “Kim Muryeong is really fast.”“Hey.”When they passed a residential area and Seungjoo saw the front gate of his house, he finally called out to Hwanyeong. Hwanyeong glanced at him briefly but didn’t say anything. After a moment of hesitation, Seungjoo finally asked a direct question:“What did Muheun Hyung ask you to do for him?”He probably should’ve asked that sooner. It wasn’t that difficult, so Seungjoo wondered why he had hesitated so long. Hearing the question, Gi Hwanyeong didn’t change his expression as he answered:“He told me to take you home and check if you’re okay. Originally, he was going to ask Muryeong, but since Muryeong was asleep, I came instead.”Hwanyeong glanced at Seungjoo briefly as he said this. Since he was as big as Muheun, the way he looked down at Seungjoo wasn’t exactly comfortable. He stared intently at Seungjoo and then quietly added:“So I thought you were sick.”“…Well, it’s just…”Seungjoo didn’t share the details. He wasn’t the type to talk about those things in depth. If asked, he wouldn’t hide anything, but if no one asked, he wouldn’t volunteer the information either.He was glad he hadn’t mentioned his opened spiritual sight. Seungjoo’s cheek twitched in embarrassment.“But why did they make you do it? What were they doing?”It wasn’t meant to sound suspicious, he was just being honest. Kim Muryeong was busy with exorcisms, and Gi Hwanyeong was busy with school, so it felt a bit bad to ask them to run errands. But as soon as Seungjoo said this, Hwanyeong furrowed his brow.“Didn’t you hear anything?”“Hear what?”If he had heard something, he wouldn’t be asking. He hadn’t seen Gi Hwanyeong earlier in the morning, and then suddenly he appeared, which surprised him.Hwanyeong hesitated for a moment before speaking, a troubled expression on his face.“Hyung… yesterday…”He started, but the next words didn’t come for a while. It seemed like he was wondering if it was okay to say it. As Seungjoo was about to urge him on, he spoke with a frown.“Hyung got hurt a bit while working.”“…What?”Seungjoo couldn’t understand his words at first. “Working” probably referred to sealing the Gwimae. It was a dangerous task, but one that Hyung had been doing for over ten years. He wasn’t the type to make mistakes. But getting hurt… was it Kim Muheun?“So he asked us for help. He couldn’t come himself.”“…”Seungjoo’s lips trembled, but no words came out. All the coldness that had filled his heart was replaced by a mix of shock and a vague sense of unease.After a long silence, Seungjoo couldn’t hide the trembling in his voice as he asked:“…How badly was he hurt?”* * *The high-rise officetel building was still new and clean. Seungjoo had to look up for quite a while before he could see the top. You couldn’t enter the building without a password, and standing in front of the unnecessarily secure building, Seungjoo sighed heavily while holding his phone.What made me come here?It was Muheun’s place. The officetel that I had already visited twice, an unnecessarily spacious place. I had no memories of entering, but this was the second time I was leaving. It was a place where I couldn’t leave with good memories, no matter how many times I visited.‘…How badly was he hurt?’When I asked that earlier, Hwanyeong shut his mouth as if it was difficult to answer. Silence was soon a form of agreement, but there was no way it wouldn’t be understood as negative. Just as Seungjoo’s face turned pale, a calm voice added.‘I’m not sure either. I heard he fell off a cliff, but Muryeong says he’s fine.’‘…A cliff?’How could someone fall off a cliff and be fine? I could never understand the standards of these exorcists. Of course, I knew that it was likely he was truly okay, but still…‘If you’re worried, try contacting him.’Hwanyeong’s voice seemed calm, and he revealed that he had spoken with Muheun. If he was seriously injured, Kim Muryeong wouldn’t be sleeping so late. I would have received a call or message from him in some way.Anyway, after dropping Seungjoo off at home, Hwanyeong went straight back. From the fact that he watched until Seungjoo entered the gate, it seemed like Muheun had asked him to do that. Seungjoo left his bag at home, stood for a long time in thought, and then left with only his phone.That’s how he ended up at Muheun’s officetel.Even Seungjoo thought it was an impulsive decision, but by the time he realized it, he was already walking this way. If he had gotten lost, it would have been understandable, but it wasn’t hard to find, having only come twice before.“What are you even doing here…?”Clicking his tongue, Seungjoo pulled out his phone. Maybe he should have just sent a text. Regret settled in, but now that he was here, there was no turning back. He didn’t like getting caught up in troublesome situations, but wasting time for no reason wasn’t his thing either.In the end, Seungjoo made up his mind and searched for Muheun’s contact. It wasn’t hard to find the number saved under ‘Kim Muheun Hyung.’ He pressed the call button and held the phone to his ear as the ringtone continued.He thought to himself, maybe Muheun was sleeping, so he’d try once and leave if no one picked up. No, if the ringing went on for three more tones, he’d just hang up.Just as he was thinking that, Muheun answered the phone.“…Hello?”“…”Was it just his imagination? The deep voice sounded even huskier than usual. Maybe it was because he was tired, but it also felt strangely disinterested. Now that he thought about it, they really hadn’t talked much. The realization made Seungjoo’s throat tighten.“Hyung.”“…”It was just one syllable, but silence followed from the other end. He probably hadn’t even checked the caller ID.After a slight pause, Muheun answered, sounding sluggish as if he had been looking at the screen.“…Oh, Seungjoo?”That was the voice Seungjoo knew. Soft, gentle, the kind of voice that felt like a lullaby when you heard it while sleepy. It was still a bit lower than usual, but not as awkward as before.“I’m in front of Hyung’s place.”“…What?”“I’m in front of the officetel.”Seungjoo dragged the end of his words and glanced at the scenery in front of him. The glass door and the intercom with the password entry. The reason he hadn’t rung the bell yet was this.“…Which unit is it?”The elevator ride up was full of indecision, Seungjoo unsure how many times he’d considered just turning back. The truth was, he had come to check on Muheun out of concern, but honestly, if that was all, he could’ve just confirmed it over the phone. And besides, confirming how badly he was hurt wouldn’t really change anything.As he pondered, the elevator reached the 14th floor. Slowly, Seungjoo stepped out into the corridor and approached the door he had already memorized. He knew the location but didn’t know the unit number, so he hadn’t been able to ring the bell yet.[1405]Standing in front of the door, Seungjoo took a deep breath. Should he turn back now? That thought crossed his mind, but just as he was about to decide, the door suddenly swung open before he could even ring the doorbell.“…”“…”Of course, it was Muheun who appeared. Instead of his usual black t-shirt, he was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and comfortable sportswear. And surprisingly, he had a cast on his right arm, extending all the way to his shoulder.“…Sorry for coming without notice.”“That’s fine, but…”Muheun reflexively spoke, but then frowned, scanning Seungjoo from top to bottom with a look of slight disapproval. His next question, although spoken softly, sounded somewhat reproachful.“Did you come alone?”“…”He hadn’t done anything wrong, but he still felt like he had. It was as if he had come to a place he wasn’t supposed to be. Of course, the reason for Muheun’s bad mood soon became clear.“Going alone… it’s dangerous.”He had even sent Hwanyeong to make sure he didn’t go home alone, so it was no surprise he reacted this way to him coming here alone. Seungjoo, realizing his mistake, quickly responded.“I’m fine. My spirit eyes are closed.”“…”Muheun’s gaze quietly settled on Seungjoo. His jet-black eyes flickered for a moment, then they vanished. He then narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered.“I see.”So that guy was actually human. He thought he was a ghost, but it must have been a mere mistake. No, maybe it was even scarier that he was human.“Come inside.”Seungjoo hadn’t planned on going in, but before he could refuse, Muheun grabbed his wrist. Usually, Muheun wasn’t so forceful, but this time, his actions were stubborn enough that Seungjoo couldn’t pull away easily. Once the door closed behind them, Seungjoo slyly pulled his hand away and asked.“Hyung, you’re hurt, right?”The coldness in Muheun’s body temperature had faded to a more normal level. It seemed like Yeongi had completely disappeared. Of course, even if it had warmed up, it didn’t mean Seungjoo didn’t notice the change.“Did Hwanyeong tell you?”“Yeah… something like that.”Muheun’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then he smiled as though deflating.“I didn’t know you two were that close.”“I didn’t fall… I almost did, but I caught myself. I’ll take the cast off tomorrow.”Exorcists born with spiritual powers had far better recovery rates than normal people. A cut would heal within hours, and even a broken bone would heal in a week. With their ghost-like physical abilities, there was a reason Muryeong had said it was fine.“Did you come because you were worried about me, Seungjoo?”Muheun teased, narrowing his eyes into a crescent shape. His gaze felt strangely drowsy, as if he hadn’t slept in a while. As Seungjoo watched him silently, he suddenly realized something and furrowed his brow.“Well… I came because I was worried.”This was the sleepy Muheun, the one who always seemed to give off a lazy vibe when he was sleep-deprived. Usually, he kept a subtle emotional distance, but when he was like this, it felt like he’d accept anything Seungjoo said.“Now that I see you’re okay, I’ll go. Get some rest.”It was becoming annoying. Seungjoo thought quickly and turned around. He hadn’t planned on staying long, and he had come on impulse. It wouldn’t be strange if he just left from the entrance, but since Muheun had brought him inside, it wasn’t a big deal.However, before he could take a step, Muheun grabbed him again.“Are you leaving?”Seungjoo felt déjà vu as Muheun grabbed his arm again, this time above the elbow instead of the wrist. Looking at the veins bulging from Muheun’s hand, Seungjoo quickly pulled his arm away again.“I have to go. What else would I do?”“Hmm…”Instead of letting go, Muheun slid his hand down, slowly trailing it down Seungjoo’s arm until he reached his wrist. Though Seungjoo’s wrist wasn’t particularly thin, Muheun’s hand seemed big enough to cover it entirely.“Eat dinner before you go.”“Huh? I’m not hungry…”“Still, okay?”Muheun’s voice had a faint pleading tone, with an almost sugary sweetness. Seungjoo thought, Ah, this is why I was going to leave. Whether Muheun realized it or not, he smiled while giving Seungjoo’s wrist a light shake.“Let’s eat, then we’ll hang out before you leave.”* * *This had been the same in childhood. During exam periods or when he’d go with his father to a work site. After staying up for a few nights, Muheun would hold onto Seungjoo and not let him go. He’d give him candy to make him stay a little longer (though the candy was always eaten by Kim Muryeong), or pull him into his arms, whining that he was bored and didn’t want to leave.“No, what do you mean, ‘what are we going to do together’?”It wasn’t like Seungjoo was being a child throwing a tantrum. If he was tired, he should have just gone to sleep, but he didn’t understand why Muheun kept pushing him to stay and be annoying. Even though Seungjoo showed his impatience, Muheun didn’t give up.“Yeah, what should we do?”“…”There it was again. When Seungjoo said “what should we do,” it wasn’t actually a question about what they were going to do. Muheun was interpreting it however he wanted.“Is there anything you want to eat?”“…No.”Seungjoo knew by now that Muheun wouldn’t listen to whatever he said in this state, so he just gave in and followed Muheun into the living room. The living room, as usual, was so spacious that it echoed if you made a loud noise.“I’ll just eat and go.”“No, you’ll have ice cream too.”“Why would you have ice cream at home?”Seungjoo was confused, wondering why someone who didn’t even eat sweets would have ice cream. The answer he got back was even more baffling.“I was going to give it to you when you came.”“You’re not a grandfather who buys candy for his grandchildren…”When did he even expect Seungjoo to come over? Technically, Seungjoo wasn’t even visiting today.“More importantly, let go of this.”“…Ah.”Finally, Muheun let go of the wrist he had been holding. He seemed to have forgotten that he was even holding it midway through. When Seungjoo rubbed the spot where their skin had touched, Muheun squinted and asked.“Hyung, should I cook for you? Or do you want to order something?”“Do whatever is easier. It’s fine if we go out to eat.”I wonder if he can cook with that hand. Going out seems more comfortable in many ways. As Seungjoo thought this, he quickly shook his head and changed his mind.“No, never mind, let’s just eat at home.”Eating out with Kim Muheun. It was obvious what kind of looks they would get, especially with him wearing a cast and already standing out. After all, the last time he had woken up at Muheun’s house, they went out for a meal and had a bit of a rough time. It was worse because Muheun had been so considerate and affectionate toward Seungjoo, which made the situation even more awkward.“Then wait a bit.”Muheun said this and disappeared into the kitchen. Seungjoo considered following him to help, but decided it would be better to just stay put, so he headed to the couch.Seungjoo, who had hung his jacket on the couch, looked around the living room absently.“There’s really nothing here…”A house that had just been moved into wouldn’t be this empty. If this was the case, why didn’t Muheun just pick a smaller place instead of foolishly choosing a big one? Well, since it was paid for by the association, it didn’t really matter.Since there was no TV in the living room, Seungjoo just fiddled with his phone. The group chat with his former classmates was still lively, and Muryeong had sent two replies late. Seungjoo realized it was in response to his earlier message asking why he had slept so long.Muheun called Seungjoo about 15 minutes later. As the delicious scent wafted in from the kitchen, Seungjoo heard Muheun calling him.Quickly getting up, Seungjoo went toward the sound, where Muheun placed a plate of pasta on the table.“I was going to make more, but it was really hard doing it with one hand.”The pasta, made with tomato sauce, was rolled up with a sprinkle of parsley on top. It looked quite impressive, and considering it was made with one hand, it was surprisingly good. Seungjoo knew Muheun was good with his hands, but he didn’t expect him to be this skilled even with his left hand.“Hyung, you’re really good at cooking.”“Is it really that good?”Seungjoo genuinely admired the dish, and Muheun gave a small smile. Though he didn’t think it was anything special, it seemed that he didn’t mind the compliment.“I should be. I’ve been living alone for 10 years.”Did living alone make people good at cooking? It was something Seungjoo couldn’t really imagine, since he had never even cooked ramen on his own.“I’ll eat well.”Having a meal together wasn’t as bad as Seungjoo expected. Even though Muheun had jokingly asked to be fed like a patient, Seungjoo firmly ignored it, asking if he had cooked with his feet. Naturally, Muheun shrugged his shoulders and began eating with his fork in his usual smooth manner.After the meal, they finished off with some ice cream. It was a chocolate ice cream from the convenience store, and although the size wasn’t large, Seungjoo finished the whole tub on his own. Objectively, he had eaten a lot, yet Muheun looked at him and asked, somewhat incredulously, if that was all he was going to eat.“I’m going to head out now.”“I’ll walk you out.”When it was finally time to go home, Muheun stood up to follow Seungjoo, despite his protests. As if he was going to walk out with him, Seungjoo frowned and scolded Muheun.“It’s fine, it’s not that far.”“It’s dangerous since it’s getting late.”It had gotten dark outside, but it was only about nine o’clock. When there were parties at school, people often walked around much later than this. Plus, Seungjoo wasn’t exactly an easy target—he was a strong man who usually wasn’t in danger.“It’s better not to walk alone if you can help it.”“I went to school alone this morning.”“……”Muheun fell silent at Seungjoo’s casual remark. Feeling a bit awkward about it, Seungjoo quickly regretted saying it and felt his cheek twitch. He didn’t mean to make Muheun feel bad, but seeing him stay quiet, Seungjoo felt uncomfortable.“I’m sorry.”It was typical of Muheun to apologize without offering any excuses. Seungjoo hadn’t expected an apology. It wasn’t Muheun’s fault, and it wasn’t like he had any obligation to do so.“Anyway, it’s fine, you don’t have to walk me out.”Seungjoo, feeling embarrassed, averted his eyes. Trying to hide his awkward expression, he ruffled his hair with one hand. Muheun chuckled and, with a kind expression, offered a suggestion.“Then, Seungjoo, do you want to choose?”“Choose what?”A bad feeling washed over Seungjoo. Whenever Muheun acted this generous, it usually meant he was about to make a ridiculous suggestion.Sure enough, a completely unreasonable option came out of Muheun’s mouth.“Hyung, you can either sleep at my house or go out with me.”“What are you going to do without a coat? You’re not going out like that, are you?”Seungjoo responded sharply, then began walking towards the door. He could hear Muheun laughing behind him, but he ignored it and continued straight to the entrance.Meanwhile, Muheun had gone back to his room and grabbed a coat before following Seungjoo.“But I can’t drive right now, so I’ll have to leave the car here.”“It’s fine.”When Muheun asked if Seungjoo wanted to take a taxi, he shook his head. After eating so much for dinner (Muheun had even given him another plate), Seungjoo wanted to walk to help digest. Muheun didn’t seem to mind and just grabbed his phone without saying anything.* * *“Do you usually get hurt this often?”On their way back home, after walking in silence for a while, Seungjoo asked, glancing at Muheun’s injured arm. The left arm was properly covered with a coat, but the other arm, due to the cast, was just draped over his shoulder.“Then I couldn’t do this job.”Muheun casually responded, adjusting the coat that had slipped off his shoulder. He said that injuries happened often, but not getting hurt was also a skill. He added that once he was past the rookie phase, injuries were rare.“This time, I made a mistake. I couldn’t sleep… and I was hungry because I was using a special talisman.”A talisman required high-purity Yeongi, which could only be obtained in extreme situations. The medium to hold Yeongi was the writer’s blood, and to make the blood pure, they would fast for about 48 hours. While most Gwimae hunters used chicken blood in such cases, sometimes there were unavoidable circumstances. 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~