The Night Of The Untraced

If he had to pick who initiated the breakup, it would probably be him, but despite that, he couldn’t help but feel like he was the one who had been dumped. Even though he had no right to feel this way, he found Seungjoo’s calm demeanor not just bitter but downright infuriating.Then, Seungjoo mentioned he was going to watch a play for a school assignment over the weekend. When the name ‘Seohyun’ came up again, Muheun clammed up, but his mood quickly lightened when he heard that Seungjoo would be meeting with two other people. Of course, right after, the wave of self-loathing hit him, and he couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.What did it matter if there were three of them? Or if they met one-on-one, what then?Had Muheun been a bit younger, he might have been caught off guard by the turmoil he was feeling. He wouldn’t have been able to mask his role as a protector or take Seungjoo to the meeting spot as a close older brother. However, working as an exorcist had taught him only how to hide his emotions, and he was confident that he wouldn’t reveal his shortcomings to Seungjoo.‘I’ll be waiting nearby.’In his heart, he wanted to follow Seungjoo around like a lost puppy, but Muheun understood how stalker-like that would be. There were simply too many people passing by to use the excuse of danger. Plus, Seungjoo would be with his friends the entire time, which made the likelihood of a strange person approaching almost nonexistent.With no other choice, Muheun kept a certain distance while wandering nearby. While Seungjoo was watching the play, he couldn’t even go inside the theater and instead killed time lingering at the entrance. Whenever he felt a twinge of anxiety, he focused all his senses on tracking Seungjoo’s energy, repeatedly confirming that he was safe.As evening approached, Muheun sensed an unfamiliar presence passing by. It was strong enough that he couldn’t ignore it, so he made sure that Seungjoo was safely at a restaurant before moving in the other direction.He thought he would have enough time to return before dinner was over, but unfortunately, things didn’t go as he had expected. It happened in an instant. The moment he stepped into the flowerbed in the park, the barrier surrounding the area activated. The type of barrier that activates when tracing energy was a specialty used by the exorcists known as Gwimae.‘Why here…?’There was no doubt it wasn’t a trap. There were no exorcists foolish enough to trap ‘that’ Kim Muheun in a barrier. He could break through a barrier like this with his eyes closed, and finding the core would be a piece of cake for him.However, the reason he couldn’t leave right away was that the negative energy inside the barrier was filled with the presence of the one who cast it. The negative energy of a soul is proportional to the positive energy they had in life, so exorcists with strong energy became targets for monitoring even after death.Suddenly feeling an ominous premonition, Muheun began to search the bushes, driven by the thought that if a soul turned into a malevolent spirit, Seungjoo nearby would be in danger.The layers of the barrier dulled the senses, but it didn’t affect Muheun. Even if he felt slightly muted, it wouldn’t hinder his ability to track a soul.He walked for a while until he finally discovered the soul near the center of the barrier. The soul of a man wearing a hat pulled down low was spinning around a tree, unaware that Muheun had approached.If that were all, he could have simply guided the soul to peace, but the issue was what was hanging beside him.It was the corpse of someone who had hanged himself from the tree. Though his face was hard to see, the clothes matched those of the soul, confirming it was undoubtedly the same person. Muheun had seen dead bodies before, but even so, the bizarre sight left him momentarily speechless.‘I can’t do it, I can’t, I can’t anymore…’In the midst of this, the soul muttered incomprehensible words while circling the tree. He seemed to have lost his sanity long ago, as he kept repeating the same actions.‘There are too many people…’‘…’‘It’s not effective, it doesn’t work…’He could have approached and spoken to the soul, but Muheun chose to keep his distance and just watch. The swirling negative energy was far too unsettling. The chaotic energy felt as if it could erupt at any moment if disturbed.‘I can’t take it anymore…’It didn’t take long for him to grasp the situation. The hanged corpse, the wandering soul, and the guilt-ridden words spilling from the soul’s mouth.‘…I don’t want to…’There were times like this. Exorcists who made extreme choices due to being unable to handle the pressure. For those who were certain that an afterlife existed, choosing death was often easier than for ordinary people. They would end their own lives without knowing what happened to those who committed suicide.‘I want to stop…’Muheun swallowed a sigh that rose to his throat and turned his back on the scene. With the barrier in place, he couldn’t call for help, so he thought he should first remove the core talisman. Well, even if he called for help, he wasn’t sure if it would lead to the soul’s peace.But at that moment, a word that he couldn’t ignore slipped from the soul’s lips.‘The lake…’‘…’Suddenly, he froze, his foot poised to take a step forward. With a look of dread, he turned back to the soul, who was still spiraling around the same spot. The soul spoke in a voice that was even more indistinct than before.‘If you release that…’‘…’‘The school…’He mentioned a school. The two words—school and lake—were laden with meaning.‘…Did you release that?’At Muheun’s sudden question, the soul turned to him with a look of shock. Perhaps he still had some consciousness left, as his trembling gaze began to fill with fear. Stuttering, a terrified voice escaped his lips.‘…Kim, Muheun…?’It wasn’t surprising that he knew him. While Muheun didn’t know all the exorcists, there wasn’t an exorcist who didn’t know Muheun. What was important was the revelation that struck him like lightning.‘You released the Gwimae seal?’What he thought was simply a hopeless exorcist turned out to be something else entirely. The trembling figure before him was unmistakably that of someone who had committed a grave sin. The soul recoiled, retreating behind the tree as if trying to hide.‘No, no…’Though the sight was pitiful enough to evoke sympathy, Muheun gazed at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. The fleeting feeling of pity vanished the moment he heard the word ‘lake.’ Anger surged within him, and he focused on controlling the chaotic energy.‘I didn’t do it…’There was no way Gwimae could emerge from a campus filled with positive energy unless someone artificially disturbed the entity that had been sleeping in the lake for a long time. Muheun had already sensed this level of truth, but what he truly needed to understand was something else.‘Who made you do it?’The soul tightly sealed its lips. It seemed he realized that half-hearted lies were futile. As Muheun stepped closer, he asked in a more subdued voice, ‘Answer me. Who made you do it?’This was an exorcist who had succumbed to guilt to the point of suicide. If no one had coerced him, he wouldn’t have taken such drastic action. He must have been threatened, or perhaps he was compensated like the executive who had siphoned off energy.‘No, no… it’s not true… no…’But the soul showed no intention of opening up. He could tell from the way he stumbled backward, shaking his head endlessly.Muheun had intended to force him to speak somehow, but before he could get any closer, the soul let out a shrill scream.‘Ah, ah, aaaaah…!’Blood dripped from the hands that clutched his head. The sight of him collapsing as if his form were crumbling was something Muheun had seen many times while working as an exorcist. It was part of the process where a soul loses its sanity, thoughts, memories, and heart, transforming into a malevolent spirit.‘…Hugh, ugh…’Muheun shouldn’t have let him lose his composure. He himself was lacking composure, leading him to make a foolish mistake. He knew the soul was in an unstable state but failed to consider the worst-case scenario, resulting in this outcome.The malevolent spirit, shedding blood instead of tears, was swiftly extinguished by Muheun on the spot. The soul, which had already lost its form, could never return to its original state. Even if there were the slightest chance of turning back, he wouldn’t hear the name of the perpetrator from that mouth.As he dispelled the barrier, the sun was setting slowly. Muheun checked his phone for missed calls and pressed the call button without hesitation. Although he could dismiss the unfamiliar number as spam, there was only one person likely to reach out in this situation.‘…’However, the other party didn’t answer until the ringing stopped. Just in case, he also tried calling Seungjoo, but he received no answer there either. He immediately focused his senses to track the energy, but the results were even more grim.‘Ah, damn it…’There was a presence near Seungjoo. The problem was that he sensed not only them but also the energy of someone else. The owner of that energy was a woman closely affiliated with the association’s president.Why is that person here? Even as he thought this, Muheun hurried toward Seungjoo. He tried to suppress the growing unease and kept replaying Yunhee’s words in his mind. As he walked briskly, the puzzle pieces he had been gathering began to fall into place.‘He probably deliberately broke the seal.’If Yunhee was right, one of Muheun’s earlier assumptions was incorrect. He had thought that bees would swarm around the flower that had begun to emit a scent, putting Seungjoo in danger. However, the appearance of Gwimae around Seungjoo indicated that someone had artificially released the seal, creating this situation, rather than Gwimae seeking him out.Nonetheless, it was clear that Seungjoo was being drawn to Gwimae, and it seemed the new faction wanted to observe this phenomenon closely. Therefore, the woman lingering near Seungjoo was likely a member of that faction. While the connection between the association president and the faction needed further investigation, it was obvious that a close relationship existed.This was not particularly surprising at this point, but the problem lay in why the woman presumed to belong to the new faction appeared around Seungjoo ‘now.’‘…Gwimae is here.’It was clear that the released Gwimae was nearby Seungjoo. She might have intended for him to encounter Gwimae while he was alone. And she likely wanted to observe that encounter from a close distance.With that thought, Muheun realized something he had overlooked. He had believed he was not trapped by the barrier, but in reality, he was just as confined. Furthermore, the presence he had initially sensed did not belong to the exorcist who had committed suicide. Given the time the barrier had been established and the state of the corpse, it was clear he had already passed away.Then what about that presence…?Reluctantly, Muheun formulated a hypothesis he didn’t want to believe. The malevolent spirit he had just extinguished was the one who had broken Gwimae’s seal. However, he couldn’t overcome the guilt and had immediately taken his own life, setting up layers of barriers to avoid detection. If someone discovered this fact, they could use such an incident as a trap to bind him.‘Ah…’The overwhelming emotions that surged within him were disillusionment toward all of them. He hadn’t expected any humanity from them, but he never imagined they could stoop so low.His only remaining hope was the assumption that the woman had followed Yeonho instead of Seungjoo, but that was shattered the moment he reached his destination.‘You just let Gwimae…!’‘Gwangsik.’He had almost lost his temper and had deliberately addressed him that way. It was hard to ignore the sight of Seungjoo firmly gripping his wrists. After all, he didn’t particularly like the name Yeonho, so it wouldn’t matter much how he referred to him.‘Let go of that.’‘…’He had desperately hoped otherwise. But the word ‘Gwimae’ that escaped from Seungjoo’s lips explained the entire situation. Just that was enough to ignite his anger, but as soon as he realized Seungjoo’s gaze was tearful, it felt as if everything went dark before him.‘Seungjoo is hurting.’It was an emotion that could hardly be described as mere anger. Tear stains marred his cheeks, and his lower lip was almost split open. Furthermore, the wrist that Seungjoo had gripped too tightly was turning red, suggesting it would at least bruise.‘I lost Gwimae.’He understood with his mind that Yeonho had done nothing wrong. He knew that Yeonho, as a fellow Gwimae hunter, would have tried his best to protect Seungjoo, who had encountered Gwimae.‘No, hyung. It’s not his fault.’However, when Seungjoo said that, Muheun felt as if he had been struck from behind. Seungjoo, who had always believed in him no matter what he did, was now defending Yeonho as if siding with him.‘I’m sorry, because of me.’Was it jealousy? Or was it a sense of deprivation? He recognized that it was an excessive emotional response, yet he felt like he was losing Seungjoo. The look of deep remorse on Seungjoo’s face, the way Yeonho gazed at him—it all struck him hard.‘…It’s okay. You can find him.’He reminded himself not to act immaturely. He wasn’t sure how many times he had resolved this internally. Trying hard to relax his expression and act like the mature older brother, he poured all his effort into hiding his discomfort. When Yeonho bowed and looked back at Seungjoo one last time, he had to bite his lip to prevent his expression from twisting.Yeonho was incredibly vulnerable to kindness. He likely hadn’t experienced such simple expressions of gratitude or remorse very often. It was clear how significant Seungjoo must have been as a new stimulus to him.However, it seemed that it wasn’t just Yeonho who had developed feelings for Seungjoo. The usually indifferent Seungjoo, who showed little interest in others, and who hadn’t even asked Yeonho’s name, was now asking about him.‘Which team is he on?’The beginning of every relationship stems from curiosity about the other person, just like Seungjoo’s inquiry now. What starts as an insignificant interest can quickly blossom into affection.‘When did you become so interested in him?’Well, it was likely just a human-to-human fondness. Even knowing that Seungjoo would have no romantic interest in Yeonho, Muheun still felt a creeping sense of crisis. After all, Yeonho had already saved Seungjoo twice. He could hardly predict how their intertwined fates would play out.‘You know it’s funny when you act like that, right?’Seungjoo, who had drawn a firm line, eventually expressed concern for Muheun, asking if something was wrong. The calm gaze they shared seemed eerily tranquil, allowing Muheun’s anxiety to settle, even if just a little. The deep chestnut eyes directed toward him had a purifying effect, clearing the unpleasant feelings just by meeting his gaze.How would he survive without him? While searching for Gwimae, he had pondered such thoughts as they wandered through the thickets. Whether he was closing the barrier or informing him of the current situation, up until the moment they sought to find and seal Gwimae, Seungjoo’s presence had been his only comfort. More precisely, he had thought that he needed to stay composed to protect Seungjoo.Gulp…!But the moment he plunged the sword into Gwimae, Seungjoo doubled over, coughing up blood. The sight of blood pooling in his palm felt like everything he had been barely holding onto was collapsing around him.‘…What is happening now?’The future that appeared before Muheun was similar to the one he had seen on the day Seungjoo made his last proclamation. It was the very scene he had witnessed when he had pulled Seungjoo close and forced a kiss, ending up biting his tongue hard enough to draw blood.‘Ah…’It was a fear Muheun had never felt even once in his life. Having already lost Seunghee and Seungtae, the sense of loss was vivid to an almost unbearable degree. The fear of possibly losing Seungjoo and the guilt of ruining everything with his own hands began to intertwine, tightening around his throat.‘What’s wrong, really…?’Even as he held Seungjoo and listened to the sound of his heartbeat, he couldn’t find any peace. Seungjoo’s clumsy fingers running through his hair felt as fleeting and unstable as a mirage, vanishing at any moment. The urge to cry made it exceedingly difficult to think rationally.‘…That, it was the same when Gwangsik was catching Gwimae earlier.’Earlier, Seungjoo had mentioned absorbing Gwimae, but now he claimed to share sensations with it. Muheun wanted to ask why he hadn’t said this sooner, but he knew better than to press him.‘Then I’ll try.’He had never once thought of himself as incompetent. The reality that he had to rely on Seungjoo’s help was maddeningly painful. Although he had called it ‘stubbornness,’ he knew that the method Seungjoo had suggested was indeed the best option.‘Seungjoo, you… purified it.’Seungjoo could purify Gwimae, which was the most miraculous ability in the history of the exorcist association. Just as his younger brother Muryeong had the power to purify malevolent spirits, it was a talent that the association would keenly covet.‘Won’t the association find out about this?’He couldn’t respond to that, as he had a nagging feeling they might have already discovered it. Although he had blocked sound from a certain point, Seungjoo was still being monitored by the association president’s closest aides. He believed it would inevitably be revealed to the association in some form.‘Then I’d rather talk about it first.’Seungjoo had suggested various alternatives, but Muheun felt he couldn’t choose any of them. He couldn’t even share with Seungjoo the simple suspicion about the relationship between the association president and the new faction. The reason was straightforward: the more information he shared with him, the more entangled he felt in this matter.‘I don’t want to live under constant surveillance.’But did Seungjoo know how he felt when he said that? Each time he spoke those words, Muheun saw a future where Seungjoo was hurt. The image of him collapsing while coughing up blood shattered all of Muheun’s thoughts.‘…First, you should take your finals.’‘…’‘Let’s talk again after the exam.’It was the first time he felt that his mental strength might be lacking. Even as he barely managed to utter those words, he was consumed by the rising anxiety, feeling as though his heart was being gnawed away. In that moment, the last remnants of calm faded, leaving behind only the anxiety of possibly losing Seungjoo.Fortunately, Seungjoo simply replied that he understood, rather than pressing for more details. It seemed he could tell that Muheun wasn’t in a good state. However, once finals were over, he would undoubtedly bring it up again with precision.Muheun couldn’t blame Seungjoo. His stubbornness had likely been influenced by Muheun’s moments of silence in the past. Therefore, no matter what reason Muheun tried to provide this time, he wouldn’t be able to dissuade him.How many days had he spent in this precarious mental state? During the waiting period, Muheun had been seeing a similar future every day. It was even to the extent that Seungjoo appeared in his dreams, which clearly indicated how unstable he was.Honestly, he had reached his limit. The endless future that loomed ahead was gnawing at his mental strength. It felt as if a small butterfly’s wings had turned into a massive storm, and the hastily avoided future had returned as an irreversible reality.However, Muheun didn’t want to make the same mistake he did with Seunghee again. It was evident that Seungjoo was in danger, and he couldn’t just stand by idly. Knowing that Seungjoo would act in some way if left unchecked, he had to find a method to prevent it.‘…Should I just keep Seungjoo at home?’So, while Seungjoo was at school, he contacted Seungjoo’s parents and his own mother. He needed the adults’ help to execute his plan. Seungjoo might not know it, but Muheun had shared a considerable amount of information with his mother, both knowingly and unknowingly.‘Yes, I’ll resolve it before summer vacation ends.’If Seungjoo wouldn’t back down, Muheun had to at least pretend to listen to him. Just once, one last time. He wanted Seungjoo to purify Gwimae in front of him, but he was determined to make sure it would never happen again. If any issues arose during the purification process, Muheun was ready to kill Gwimae himself.‘Maybe the adults will listen to you.’Since the spirit vision would soon close, he just needed to make sure Seungjoo didn’t go outside. That way, there would be no chance of the spirit vision reopening or running into Gwimae. During that time, Muheun was confident he could dismantle the association from its roots.‘I think I might leave soon… so I’ll need you to look after Seungjoo for a while.’It was just a vague feeling, but he sensed that after this, he might not return home for a while. It was his intuition, and since it belonged to Muheun, it was more likely to be true than false.‘Seungjoo will be angry, though…’Seungjoo’s mother studied Muheun with a complicated expression. While she expressed concern for Seungjoo’s reaction, her true worry was for Muheun. It was the kind of concern that arose from knowing Muheun well enough to question whether he would be okay facing resentment from Seungjoo.Of course, Muheun already had his answer ready.‘I’m willing to be a little hated.’Isn’t it much better to be hated than to lose Seungjoo? Even if he declared he would never see Muheun again, it would be more bearable than disappearing from the world. The former still left room for opportunities, while the latter offered none.‘Being the older brother means I have to take that much.’The adults didn’t respond to his playful remark. They merely exchanged glances and nodded. And then, Seungjoo’s father kindly spoke to Muheun.‘You’re still a kid to us, Muheun.’He understood the intent behind those words. They meant not to bear the burden alone. No matter how much Muheun claimed to be the oldest, he was still a child in their eyes.At thirty years old, he still wasn’t quite an adult. Sometimes, he felt fortunate, while at other times, he felt dissatisfied. Moments when he deeply felt the truth that he couldn’t find a more mature way to handle things often struck him. For example, when he had resolved to be hated but still found himself lingering on Seungjoo’s every move.‘…I’m sorry.’On the day before Seungjoo’s finals, Yeonho, who had finished his work, came to see Muheun. Although he didn’t provide any detailed information, there was plenty of context to infer. Whether he suspected Muheun as the culprit, thought he had harmed Seungjoo, or even if he remembered the previous incident with Gwimae. Whatever the change in feelings was, it seemed his unique reasoning had reached some conclusion.‘Well… that’s good enough.’Should he tell Seungjoo to stop visiting? Muheun thought about this as he smiled and affectionately ruffled Yeonho’s hair. He assumed Yeonho wouldn’t be able to visit Seungjoo for a while anyway. Even though he often wore an uncomfortable expression, Yeonho didn’t shake Muheun’s hand away.To him, Muheun spoke lightly.‘Gwangsik.’‘….’‘Can you help me out?’The only preparation needed for Seungjoo to meet Gwimae was a talisman to sever their connection. He wasn’t sure how far the fusion range with Gwimae extended, but he believed separating their spaces would largely resolve it. If necessary, he could use Seungjoo’s body as a medium to activate the barrier, and he could handle the remaining Gwimae himself.‘I just finished my finals.’As expected, as soon as Seungjoo’s exam was over, he brought it up again. While suggesting they go after Gwimae, Muheun secretly had a small wish. He hoped Seungjoo wouldn’t be too angry when he learned the truth and wouldn’t feel betrayed thinking he was abandoned. Although waiting too long might hurt, he hoped he could wait just a little longer.‘I won’t bother you anymore.’Of course, at that time, Muheun was unaware of just how brave Seungjoo was. He didn’t realize that the younger brother he had always viewed as naive was no longer going to act according to his will.It was another few days before Seungjoo came to visit Muheun on the night of the full moon.***“…So cowardly.”Muheun’s fingertips lightly brushed against Seungjoo’s cheek. As Muheun recalled every moment they had shared, Seungjoo lay soundly asleep without stirring. His gently closed lips resembled those from his childhood, causing Muheun to involuntarily smile with a ticklish feeling.“He’s still a kid…”No, considering the huge trouble he had caused, he couldn’t really be called a kid anymore. In his childhood, he hadn’t caused any trouble at all, but now, as an adult, he was involved in a significantly larger incident. He wasn’t staying quietly at home and had jumped into an unknown person’s car, arriving at this association.‘…Do you think I don’t worry about you?’The words Seungjoo had exclaimed in frustration still lingered in Muheun’s heart. His intention to scold him while raising his voice dissipated the moment he saw that sorrowful expression. Even if he hadn’t done anything wrong, it was impossible not to feel guilty when Seungjoo spoke so pointedly.“I spoke with the president.”Although he had resolved his feelings with Seungjoo, there were still many issues left to address. Nevertheless, he felt at ease because Seungjoo had returned to his side. The boy who hadn’t come to see him before he left was now engaging in reckless behavior that wasn’t like him.“…But you still came back.”He was able to talk to him because Seungjoo was asleep. In truth, Muheun had missed Seungjoo too. Even though he had prepared to leave, it seemed he hadn’t fully prepared his heart for it. That was why, seeing Seungjoo before him, he felt grateful all over again.How could he not love him? If he were to summarize his entire life in one phrase, it would ultimately lead back to Seungjoo. Every time he had wanted to give up, it was only Seungjoo who had come forward to comfort him.Muheun felt a swell of overwhelming fulfillment and pressed his lips against Seungjoo’s forehead. After a soft kiss, he placed gentle kisses one after another on Seungjoo’s tightly shut eyes. Until just now, he had been satisfied with mere touches, but now he felt he could not bear it without kissing him.“……Ah, really.”How long had he been doing that? Just as Muheun bit down on Seungjoo’s lower lip, Seungjoo twitched his eyebrows and moved his lips. In fact, Muheun had already noticed that he had woken up the moment he saw Seungjoo’s neck turning red.“What are you doing to someone who’s sleeping?”With half-opened eyes, Seungjoo asked this in a voice that was much more awake than before. It was probably after Muheun kissed his cheeks and ears that he had truly awakened. It looked like he had been struggling to pretend to be asleep, but it was clear he could no longer keep it up.“Don’t worry about it, just go back to sleep.”“You woke me up, so what are you talking about…?”Seungjoo, who had grumbled back, finally opened his eyelids completely. The gazes that met in the air awkwardly glanced away from each other after a moment. As he subtly shifted his body back, Muheun tightened his arms around him.However, Seungjoo scrunched his eyes in clear discomfort.“I want to go to the bathroom.”“…….”Wasn’t the mood good just a moment ago? Though Muheun didn’t expect him to cuddle up affectionately, he certainly didn’t think Seungjoo would try to escape his embrace so directly. He could have stayed lying down a bit longer, but the very first thing he said upon waking up was that he wanted to be let go. Muheun felt a twinge of disappointment but decided not to dwell on it. If he really needed to go to the bathroom, it wouldn’t be good to hold him back.Instead, Muheun asked in a teasing tone devoid of any playfulness.“Do you want me to help you?”“Ah, are you crazy?!”While Muheun hadn’t seen Seungjoo pee, he had seen plenty of other things last night. Seungjoo jumped up from the bed with a huff. He let out a brief gasp as he stumbled but then struggled to get his body upright again.“You really are something….”His cheeks were flushed bright red, a clear sign of someone who easily embarrassed. He shoved Muheun away with all his might and hurriedly left the bed. Where he found that superhuman strength, Muheun didn’t know, but Seungjoo quickly ran off to the bathroom, leaving Muheun behind.Only after the bathroom door slammed shut with a loud bang did Muheun let out a wry smile, his expression one of relief.“Wow… he can walk.”He really was sturdy. Though he had gone easy on him, Muheun hadn’t expected him to be able to walk around immediately. Although his steps toward the bathroom were wobbly, they were stable enough not to be a problem. Still, considering he had run off without his pants on, it seemed he was quite embarrassed.But he could have stayed lying down a bit longer.Perhaps he intended to wash his face, as water could soon be heard coming from the bathroom. As Muheun stared blankly at the closed bathroom door, he gently caressed the warm sheets of the bed. Although Seungjoo was just on the other side of the door, he couldn’t see him, which made him feel slightly uneasy.It was then that his phone, which was sitting on the bedside table, started ringing. It was a different model from the one he had used to talk to Seungjoo’s mother, and when he checked the screen, the caller ID read “Yeonho.” Muheun slowly got up from the bed and brought the phone to his ear.— Team Leader, it’s me.“Yeah, Gwangsik.”Even though the other person had called him Team Leader, Muheun didn’t mind at all. He simply replied as if it was nothing and stretched his body. Yeonho paused for a moment at the mention of “Gwangsik,” but soon continued speaking in his characteristic mechanical voice.— …The team members finished the work.“Really?”Hearing this good news brought a smile to Muheun’s face. He still held the phone to his ear as he headed to the wardrobe on the wall. He was looking for pants that would fit Seungjoo, but as soon as he opened the wardrobe door, he spotted a silk robe in the corner.“Good job. You did well.”The robe, embroidered with paulownia, was given only to the higher-ups of the Exorcist Association. Though he had never actually worn it, it had been several years since he had received the clothing. As he pulled out a suitable pair of pants, Muheun glanced at the back of the robe with a blank expression.There, in bright yellow thread, was the character ‘零’ stitched into it.The man in the mirror stared at himself with furrowed brows. Perhaps he had just washed his face, as water dripped from his bangs, and his eyelashes were slightly damp as well. Beneath them, his dark brown eyes were soaked not with moisture, but with a different kind of turmoil.“Ha….”Seungjoo let out a long sigh, tightly closing his eyes before opening them again. The water that had gathered on his eyelashes rolled down his cheek. As if bothered by it, he wiped his face with the back of his hand and took another deep breath while looking into the mirror.“…This is insane.”His murmuring voice was full of concern. This was also evident in the way he gently bit his lower lip. Gripping the sink, Seungjoo hung his head low, and before he knew it, his neck was flushed red as he let out a groan.“I’m really self-conscious about this…”The reason he felt this way traced back to the time spent lying next to Muheun in bed last night. In the pitch-dark room, when Muheun had sweetly asked him with a breathless voice.“How do you feel?”“…”“Do you think you’ll regret doing this with me?”The act that began with those words didn’t stop until Seungjoo had exhausted all his energy. He thought the advice to slap him to bring him to his senses was just a joke, but he realized far too late that it wasn’t. It was only after squeezing everything out of him that Seungjoo could bite Muheun’s shoulder hard enough to draw blood.“Isn’t this monstrous…?”How could a person have such stamina? Even now, his legs were trembling uncontrollably. To be honest, he feared that if he relaxed his tense body, he would collapse helplessly. He kept pushing himself to walk, thinking that it would be incredibly embarrassing if he didn’t.“…Should we stop now?”By the time Muheun said that, the sun was already rising outside. Seungjoo, whose throat was hoarse from moaning, could only nod eagerly without uttering a word. It felt good; it really did, but it was also exhausting.“Okay, I’ll stop.”With that, Muheun withdrew, gently caressing Seungjoo’s chest as if to say “you did well.” The kisses all over his face felt like a bonus; after receiving so many throughout the night, he didn’t even care about them anymore. All he wanted was to lie down comfortably and fall asleep.“You must be really sleepy.”However, Muheun didn’t just let Seungjoo go to bed right away. He lifted Seungjoo’s legs onto his shoulders and reached into the hole that had been deep inside him just moments before. It still felt as if it was open, and Muheun pushed two fingers into the glistening entrance.“What are you doing…!”Without a doubt, at that moment, Seungjoo thought Muheun had truly lost his mind. After everything that had happened, was he really going to keep going? He thought about tearing his hair out, convinced he could no longer endure it, but Muheun, noticing Seungjoo’s distress, explained with an apologetic expression.“If you don’t take it out, you’ll have a stomachache later.”There was no need to ask what he meant by “take out.” The moment he spread his index and middle fingers apart, something rushed out from inside him. The fluid that flowed down his backside was none other than Muheun’s semen.“So this is what you meant by ‘cleaning up.’”Realizing that fact, Seungjoo hurriedly grabbed Muheun’s wrist. The sensation flowing below was strange, but more than that, the way Muheun was looking at him was far too embarrassing.“I’ll just do it myself…”“I’ll do it for you.”The claim to do it himself was dismissed before it could even come out of his mouth. Despite Seungjoo holding his wrist, Muheun continued to move his fingers without a care. After spreading the entrance, the sensitive area was stimulated, which was unavoidable.“Ugh…!”This wasn’t the first time they had explored the insides so thoroughly. After feeling it so much, he was at a point where he couldn’t even tell what his erogenous zones were anymore, yet Muheun was touching those areas again with his fingers.“Do I really have to… do it like this?”He asked, curling his toes, but Muheun didn’t answer. His gaze remained dark and focused. Given the long duration of their actions, the amount Muheun released was substantial, and it kept flowing endlessly from the gaping entrance.“Ugh, damn…”Seungjoo had never experienced such humiliation in his life. He wanted to lower his legs, but his exhausted body wouldn’t obey his wishes. The only thing he could do was to let Muheun’s semen flow out while lying with his legs spread.“Done.”Whether he knew Seungjoo was embarrassed or not, Muheun quickly finished the “cleaning up.” He grimaced a few times during the process, especially when Seungjoo couldn’t help but squeeze his lower body tightly at times. Or when he let out suppressed moans that echoed in his throat.“…Next time, we should use a condom.”Due to the excessive embarrassment of the process, Seungjoo couldn’t hear Muheun’s murmured words properly. He simply exhaled a sigh of relief as soon as Muheun’s fingers slipped out and closed his eyes. After that, he fell asleep almost instantly, and when he opened his eyes again, he was in a remarkably refreshed state.“…Did I get washed?”Judging by his smooth skin, it seemed he had been cleaned, but he had somehow slept deeply without waking even once. Of course, considering how much energy he had expended, waking up in between would probably have been more challenging.“Ha…”Anyway, this was why Seungjoo was feeling this way. The answer was very simple. Sure, having had sex was one thing, but waking up in the same bed was something he wasn’t prepared for emotionally.Just waking up in each other’s arms was something Seungjoo could handle. That was a familiar situation that felt odd to consciously recognize. However, the gentle touches, sweet kisses, or the skin that was touching felt unfamiliar.“Why didn’t you put on pants…?”Now that his rationality had returned after a nap, he didn’t have the courage to face Muheun. He thought he wasn’t the type to get this flustered, but he never anticipated it would feel this embarrassing the day after sex. His face kept turning red, and he felt a strong urge to scratch his chest, which felt itchy.Moreover, to be honest, it was a bit of a blow to his pride that Muheun seemed unfazed by it all. He kept saying things like “Don’t worry about it, just sleep more,” or offering to help him go to the bathroom, which was just nonsense.“…So you’re not embarrassed at all.”Anyway, it’s infuriating. Seungjoo tried to collect his thoughts and shook his head vigorously. Then, he pulled up the T-shirt he was wearing to his chest. On his exposed skin, there were faint bite marks centered around his nipples.“Damn….”If Muheun saw this, he would be super worried. A person who hated causing harm to others wouldn’t be pleased with the marks they left behind. Rather, he might even feel guilty seeing such a trivial mark.This needs to be a secret. Thinking this, Seungjoo lowered the hem of his shirt again. He had washed his face and taken a moment to reflect; unless he was going to take a shower, he should head out of the bathroom soon. Of course, he wasn’t in a good enough state to shower anyway.He dried his face with a towel from the cupboard and dragged his feet in the bathroom slippers toward the door. He made sure to take a deep breath before turning the doorknob. Thankfully, he had regained his composure compared to earlier, so he was able to open the door without dragging it out too long.“Did you wash your face?”When he stepped out of the bathroom, Muheun was sitting on the bed, looking at his phone. Unlike Seungjoo, he was bare-chested, with red scabs on his shoulder from the bites. It was the spot Seungjoo had bitten like a distress signal just a few hours ago.“Yes, I washed my face.”It was ridiculous that despite having more wounds than him, Muheun’s neck and shoulder were marred with spots while he had to hide just one mark on his chest. Honestly, it was just too much. Seungjoo thought to himself as he averted his gaze and ran his fingers through the back of his hair.“…You should wash your face too, hyung.”Why was the short distance between them so awkward? He couldn’t bring himself to approach Muheun. Especially since he was wearing nothing beneath his T-shirt. If he was going to wear something, he might as well have put on a full outfit; he didn’t understand the taste in stripping down to just underwear.“Yeah, I should wash my face too.”Muheun answered readily, but Seungjoo thought he probably hadn’t slept a wink. Unlike Seungjoo, who looked disheveled, Muheun appeared perfectly tidy without even a hint of sleepiness. When Seungjoo still didn’t move, Muheun raised the corner of his mouth with a smirk.“Are you just going to stand there?”“…”If it were up to him, he would want to stay like that. Or he hoped Muheun would get up from the bed and come into the bathroom. He felt a bit hesitant about approaching him to sit on the bed together, given the various factors holding him back.Well, it didn’t seem like Muheun had any intention of acting according to Seungjoo’s wishes.“Seungjoo, come here.”“No, why are you calling me like you call Baek Seolgi…”Grumbling, Seungjoo slowly approached him. Muheun was still sitting on the bed, looking at Seungjoo. With a smile on his face, he exuded a pleasant atmosphere that brought an unexpected question to mind.So what exactly are we?The question that had come to him long ago remained unresolved. They had confessed, reconciled, and slept together, yet they still hadn’t said they were dating. Moreover, there was one important thing he hadn’t heard.“…Hyung.”Why doesn’t he say he likes me? 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~