The Night Of The Untraced

Seungjoo didn’t even have time to be surprised. With those words, someone slowly emerged from behind the rock. The person, dressed entirely in black with a hat pulled down low, was none other than Gwangsik.“…What the.”How long had he been there? Seungjoo hadn’t sensed a single trace of him, yet his sudden appearance left him utterly bewildered. To make matters worse, the awkward atmosphere between him and Muheun made the situation even more embarrassing.“If you’re here, you should’ve said something.”Unlike Seungjoo, Muheun didn’t seem surprised at all. He naturally withdrew his hand from Seungjoo’s face and turned to look in Gwangsik’s direction as if it were the most normal thing in the world.“When did you… No, why are you here?”“……”Instead of answering, Gwangsik just stared at Seungjoo in silence. His mouth shut tight and his gaze fixed, as if he had something he wanted to say. This only made Seungjoo feel awkward, prompting him to frown and clear his throat.‘…Did he see?’He must have, right? Seungjoo hadn’t exactly intended to keep it a secret, but the thought made him feel embarrassed. If he had known Gwangsik was watching, he would’ve been more careful, but he had let his guard down, assuming no one was around.“Hyung called him.”As that thought crossed Seungjoo’s mind, Muheun casually explained. Naturally, Seungjoo looked at him incredulously.“Hyung called him?”“Yeah, I needed his help with something.”“…”So this guy knew Gwangsik was coming and still did all that? Feeling a mix of disbelief and confusion, Seungjoo raised his eyebrows. Muheun smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly. His expression almost seemed apologetic, suggesting he had kissed Seungjoo fully aware that Gwangsik was there.“I mean…”Was this shameless or just careless? Seungjoo wasn’t sure what Muheun was thinking, but he also couldn’t scold him for it. Instead, he just chuckled awkwardly and asked,“So, what exactly do you need his help with?”“He’s going to help lure out the Gwimae. Gwangsik’s specialty is summoning Gwimae.”Muheun went on to explain that Gwangsik was particularly skilled in capturing Gwimae near water, especially in wide-open areas, where he excelled compared to others. He also mentioned there was something he needed to receive from Gwangsik, but Seungjoo wasn’t particularly interested in that. What mattered more to him was the way Muheun casually beckoned Gwangsik over.“Come here, Gwangsik.”“…”At Muheun’s friendly call, Gwangsik flinched slightly. He’d been making that same face every time Muheun called him ‘Gwangsik’—a mix of awkwardness, frustration, and something else, though it wasn’t outright displeasure.“You brought it, right?”“Yes, I brought it, but…”As he approached slowly, Gwangsik kept glancing at Seungjoo out of the corner of his eye, as if hesitating about something. Seungjoo didn’t shy away from his gaze, meeting it confidently.“What are you looking at?”Still feeling a bit embarrassed, Seungjoo responded more sharply than intended. He hadn’t expected Gwangsik to ask so innocently in return,“Am I not allowed to look?”“…”The question was so sincere that it left Seungjoo momentarily speechless. Of course, there was nothing wrong with looking, but Seungjoo had only been acting petulantly. Being caught kissing had been embarrassing enough, but the way Gwangsik kept glancing at him made him even more self-conscious.“You should be looking at me, not Seungjoo.”At that moment, Muheun smoothly inserted himself between the two, subtly shielding Seungjoo behind his back and letting out a soft chuckle. Though Seungjoo couldn’t see his face, it didn’t seem like Muheun was in a particularly good mood.“It’s fine, just give it to me.”When Muheun extended his hand, Gwangsik finally pulled out the item he had been carrying in his pocket. It looked like a medicine container, both in shape and size.“How many are there?”“Fifteen.”“Good work.”With a light compliment, Muheun unscrewed the lid and examined the contents. Seungjoo glanced over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of translucent, faintly blue pills inside the bottle. They resembled common anti-inflammatory painkillers.“What kind of medicine is that?”“It’s condensed spirit energy.”It didn’t seem like a secret, so Seungjoo asked, and Muheun readily explained what the pills were. They seemed to be the item Muheun had previously mentioned—something the Association was researching to help exorcists recover their spiritual energy.Why would they need this all of a sudden? Seungjoo thought, but didn’t bother asking about the specific use of the pills. He figured it wouldn’t have much to do with him. Muheun quickly closed the lid and put the container into his pocket, then pointed up to the now darkening sky.“Now, we just need to wait until the sun sets.”***They couldn’t see the sunset because the sky was covered with dark clouds. They only vaguely realized the sun had set once dusk had settled. Since Muheun had already set up the barrier, there wasn’t much for Seungjoo to do except watch the sea absentmindedly.“When I asked the Association President to pair me with you, I honestly thought he’d say no.”Staring at the crashing waves, Seungjoo spoke up, sitting on the dry ground and looking up at Muheun, who was standing beside him.“If you stick with me, that’s a loss of manpower, right? Whether it’s me purifying or you sealing, honestly, you’re probably more efficient. Isn’t it a huge loss to assign you to me?”That was the thought that had nagged Seungjoo ever since their first negotiations with the Association President. He had expected the president to assign him one of the lower-ranked Gwimae hunters. So when he asked to be paired with Muheun, he was fully prepared to throw a tantrum if the president refused.“I’m not sure if it’s a gain, but… it’s definitely not a loss.”Muheun slowly responded, looking down at Seungjoo. His tone wasn’t particularly certain, but it didn’t seem like mere speculation either.“Sealing isn’t a ‘solution.’”“Not a solution?”“Strictly speaking, it’s just a temporary fix. Once the seal breaks, the danger returns. Of course, it’s rare for a seal to break, but you never know with these things.”His words were vague. Didn’t Gwangsik once say that the success rate of the work was usually over 90%? Plus, the fact that they were even considering the possibility of a seal breaking seemed a bit contradictory.“Hmm, the duration of the seal depends on the spiritual power of the Gwimae hunter. If I do it, the seal lasts at least 100 years.”Perhaps sensing his explanation was lacking, Muheun added with a nod. One hundred years wasn’t an insufficient amount of time for nature to recover.“The stronger the hunter’s power, the longer the seal lasts, but the stronger the Gwimae, the shorter the duration. You can’t exactly predict when the seal will break. That’s why the Association has a Gwimae Countermeasure Committee.”It seemed the Gwimae were even more troublesome than Seungjoo had initially thought. As he nodded in understanding, Muheun smiled softly and crouched down beside him.“So, they probably want to test your abilities. See how capable you are.”“They want to resolve the Gwimae situation using my power?”“Yeah, they’re trying to find a way to help the Gwimae pass on peacefully.”At first glance, it didn’t sound like a bad thing. While it did require Seungjoo’s sacrifice, it was ultimately for the greater good. It wasn’t something to feel proud of, but it was a logical conclusion for someone in charge of an organization to make.“But… that’s just the public excuse.”Muheun chuckled, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His dark eyes, revealed under his now exposed forehead, seemed to have turned cold. His gaze shifted from Seungjoo to the sea.“Honestly, the president isn’t that responsible of a person…”As always, his tone was gentle, but for some reason, it sounded like he was disgusted. In short, he suspected that the real truth wasn’t as it seemed. Then, he looked back at Seungjoo and spoke with a firm tone.“Don’t trust the Association President too much.”“I don’t.”Seungjoo’s answer was just as firm. Without much thought, he added nonchalantly,“He looks pretty shady to me.”“He looks shady to you?”Muheun’s face lit up with a satisfied smile, his eyes crinkling with joy. He even reached out and patted Seungjoo on the back of the head.“As expected, our Seungjoo has a sharp eye.”The large hand that stroked his head was devoid of any ulterior motive this time, more like a gentle petting than the intimate touch from earlier. Even so, it tickled, making Seungjoo shrink his neck slightly, and Muheun withdrew his hand without protest.“In my opinion… there’s a close connection between the new faction and the Association President.”It was unexpected, but not surprising. The moment Seungjoo heard it, he had a vague sense that he’d suspected it all along. The only thing that bothered him was the presence of someone silently standing behind them.“…Are you sure it’s okay to say something like that in front of him?”“…”Gwangsik flinched when he was suddenly pointed out. His expression remained stiff like a robot, but his eyes were clearly trembling. Seungjoo, still pointing at him with his finger, spoke bluntly.“He’s the one who called you the culprit, you know.”Was that all? Gwangsik had also called him an informant for the higher-ups, and tried to sow discord by claiming he was only pretending to care about him. He had said plenty of unpleasant things. Even though Muheun had assured him, “He’s not a bad guy,” it seemed wise to remain cautious when you didn’t know where someone’s loyalties lay.“If you mention this to anyone…”“I won’t.”It was Gwangsik who cut in abruptly. He looked straight at Seungjoo and added firmly,“I don’t snitch.”His assertive, almost brazen, declaration even carried a faint sense of indignation. Seungjoo hadn’t exactly thought he would tattle, but that didn’t mean he trusted him completely either. As Seungjoo frowned slightly, Gwangsik spoke again.“I misunderstood back then.”“…Really?”Seungjoo was still skeptical, watching Gwangsik with distrustful eyes as his expression gradually changed. After a moment, he asked,“So, did you apologize?”“…I did.”Gwangsik’s response lacked confidence, so Seungjoo immediately turned to Muheun, seeking confirmation from the person in question.“Did you get an apology?”Muheun’s eyes softened, as if he found Seungjoo’s question endearing.“Yeah, he apologized.”“Oh, I see.”Satisfied with the answer, Seungjoo nodded in agreement. Since Muheun said so, there was no need for him to question it further.“Alright then. So, what were you saying?”“Well….”Muheun chuckled as if amused and then continued his previous point. He warned that there might be a connection between the Association President and a rising new faction, advising Seungjoo to be cautious. Nodding quietly, Seungjoo clicked his tongue in frustration.“I knew something was off… Even when I talked to him, he always felt shady. How does someone like that become the Association President?”To become the President, you first had to be nominated as a candidate and then win a majority of the votes. That meant he had plenty of supporters, but the results were just too terrible. It was hard to believe that the Exorcist Association was run so poorly, as if it were some back-alley business.“Well… just because most people support something doesn’t mean it’s the right choice.”Muheun let out a brief laugh and shrugged. Though he didn’t show it outwardly, it seemed like he too was tired of the situation. Understandably so—Muheun, working within the Association, probably had it tougher than Seungjoo, who was an outsider.“Also, the Association President is elected by the senior members. It’s inevitable that the established elites pick one of their own.”With that, Muheun stood up and stretched. His already tall frame looked like a giant wild animal stretching, preparing to hunt. Despite his size, his movements were agile, not clumsy.“Well then…”His voice flowed out smoothly as his gaze shifted to the sky, now darkening as if ink had been spilled across it. Narrowing his eyes as if measuring something, he then looked down at Seungjoo.“I’ll take a quick look around before closing the barrier. Stay here with Gwangsik.”“You’re checking if there are any people nearby?”“Yeah, if there are, I’ll adjust the barrier size.”Once the barrier is activated, no one inside can leave until it’s deactivated. So, it was important to make sure no one accidentally wandered into it beforehand. If they were in a remote mountain, it wouldn’t be an issue, but in a place like this, full of tourists, it was even more critical.“Gwangsik, keep an eye on Seungjoo.”“Yes.”Gwangsik responded in his usual stiff tone to Muheun’s playful comment. It wasn’t the first time Seungjoo had noticed, but Gwangsik seemed to act particularly formal around Muheun, almost like a subordinate with a superior—more like a junior officer in the military than a coworker.“I’ll be back.”With his usual habit, Muheun patted Seungjoo’s head before striding away. He walked quickly over the stony ground and even leapt over the uneven breakwater with little effort. Seungjoo thought maybe the reason he hadn’t been taken along was because the path was too rough.“….”“….”The sound of waves crashing softly mixed into the quiet atmosphere. As soon as Muheun left, the two of them were left in an odd silence. It wasn’t awkward, but they weren’t close enough to fill the space with small talk either.As Seungjoo pulled his phone out of his pocket, Gwangsik spoke first.“Aren’t you going to ask?”“What?”Seungjoo responded half-heartedly while checking his phone for missed messages. Messages from Jinwoo and Seohyun had come in one after another, asking what he was doing. He cleared the notifications from the group chat and replied to Jinwoo, “Just started my part-time job, so I’m busy.”Gwangsik, somewhat hesitant, continued speaking in a slow tone.“The reason I thought Kim Muheun… was the culprit.”“….”Seungjoo froze for a moment, raising an eyebrow as he leaned his head back. Since Gwangsik was standing behind him, he had to crane his neck up to see his face.“You said you don’t think he’s the culprit.”Is he going to start talking nonsense again as soon as Muheun leaves? Seungjoo asked with that thought in mind, but Gwangsik quickly shook his head.“I don’t think he’s the culprit. I just thought you’d ask why I thought that.”“Ah…”Gwangsik must have expected Seungjoo to demand an explanation for why he had doubted Muheun. If Seungjoo had wanted to ask, he would’ve done so earlier. To him, it was a rather trivial question.“I’m not curious about why you thought he was the culprit. I’m only curious about how you realized it was a misunderstanding.”Seungjoo was about to say that he didn’t intend to ask, but before he could add anything, Gwangsik spoke up again.“I didn’t really suspect him from the start.”It sounded like a clear excuse, but Seungjoo decided to listen for now. He ignored the new message from Jinwoo, who had replied, “You’re always busyㅠㅠㅠ,” and put his phone back in his pocket, turning his attention to Gwangsik again. Gwangsik, in turn, was staring down at Seungjoo’s head.“I know that Kim Muheun isn’t that kind of person.”Kim Muheun. For some reason, those three syllables sounded strangely disrespectful. Seungjoo also called him “Kim Muheun,” but hearing it from Gwangsik’s mouth left an odd feeling. Maybe it was because the younger guy called him by name so casually, which didn’t sit well with Seungjoo. Of course, Gwangsik had always addressed him that way, and Muheun didn’t seem to mind.“I didn’t think he was the type to do something so cowardly. I just assumed that since he usually follows orders from the higher-ups, he might have done the same this time. And I figured that if you told him not to, he wouldn’t go through with it.”Even though Seungjoo didn’t fully agree, there was some truth to what Gwangsik was saying—particularly the part about Muheun simply following orders from above. Muheun likely would have gone along with it, if only because it was less hassle that way.“When I said he was an informant, I said it that way because I thought it would make you more willing to help.”In other words, calling him an “informant” wasn’t something Gwangsik genuinely believed. Despite it being a clumsy attempt to manipulate him, there was still something Gwangsik misunderstood.“I wouldn’t stop him even if he did something bad.”Unless it was something truly dangerous… Seungjoo swallowed that part. Even he knew that this line of thought was a bit over the top.“He’s not the type of person to do bad things, and even if he did, he’d probably have his reasons. It’s not like he’s killing anyone or committing crimes. What difference would it make if he acted as an informant?”To be honest, even if Muheun committed murder, Seungjoo doubted he’d be able to push him away. He knew he could never justify it, but his first instinct would still be to ask why. And, likely, Muheun would treat Seungjoo the same way if the roles were reversed.“Anything else you want to say?”“…Kim Muheun really does care about you. It’s not just an act; he genuinely worries about you.”Seungjoo had only asked as a formality, not expecting Gwangsik to start making more confessions. But as soon as Seungjoo asked, Gwangsik began talking again. It seemed to be related to something he had said to Seungjoo previously.‘Who knows? I mean, me coming to find you has nothing to do with him. He could just be pretending to care about you and not actually give a damn.’“I’m sorry.”“…”Why did Seungjoo feel more guilt than this guy who had actually done something wrong? Was it because of that robotic, stiff face that now looked unusually downcast? Or maybe it was because he had half-ignored Gwangsik’s earlier words, making him feel guilty for brushing him off?“No need to apologize…”Muheun had already accepted the apology; that should be enough. After all, Seungjoo and Gwangsik didn’t have the kind of relationship where this level of apology was necessary, nor did Gwangsik need to be so deflated about it. So, instead of saying more, Seungjoo just waved his hand dismissively.“As long as the misunderstanding’s cleared up, that’s all that matters. Also, stop standing around and sit down. You’re tall, and it’s giving me a stiff neck looking up at you.”Having been staring up for so long, Seungjoo’s neck had started to feel sore. As Seungjoo gestured to the spot beside him, Gwangsik hesitantly moved closer. Eventually, he crouched down next to Seungjoo, just as Muheun had done earlier.“He’s surprisingly obedient at times.”Seungjoo had thought Gwangsik was the unpredictable type, but now he could see that there was a compliant side to him as well. The way he awkwardly kept his distance and glanced around nervously was also kind of amusing.But the next question Gwangsik asked was anything but expected.“…By the way, what were you and Kim Muheun doing earlier?”“…….”Seungjoo almost choked for a moment and cleared his throat quietly. The mention of “earlier” made a scene flash through his mind. He had thought Gwangsik would pretend not to notice, but to his surprise, Gwangsik outright asked about it.“Seungjoo, I can really feel a lot of Muheun’s spiritual energy around you…….”As if that wasn’t enough, Gwangsik scrutinized Seungjoo closely, mumbling as if pondering something. Was he doing this on purpose? He looked so innocent that it made Seungjoo wonder. After a brief pause to choose his words, Seungjoo averted his gaze and mumbled a response.“What are you talking about…? You should know just by looking.”Why was he asking something they both knew? It wasn’t as if they were kids who didn’t understand what could happen at that kind of distance. They certainly weren’t playing around idly.“I mean, I do see it but…….”Fortunately, Gwangsik frowned instead of pressing further. It seemed he hadn’t really asked because he was curious about what happened. Just as Seungjoo was about to sigh in relief, Gwangsik asked an even harder question.“Why did you do it?”“…….”What could he even say? It felt like being asked, “Where do babies come from?” by a child who didn’t know any better. But Gwangsik wasn’t a child, and he probably wasn’t that clueless either.Oddly enough, Seungjoo recalled advice on how to deal with curious children. Give them the opportunity to think for themselves, like when they ask, “Why is the sky blue?” or “Why is this square?”“……What do you think the reason might be?”Only after saying it did Seungjoo realize he should’ve just ignored the question. He’d been swept up by Gwangsik’s clear gaze and ended up responding. The even more absurd part was that Gwangsik seemed to seriously start thinking about it.“Hmm…….”Gwangsik, deep in thought, looked incredibly serious. Under the brim of his cap, his long eyelashes cast shadows downward, giving him a strangely ethereal appearance, like a painting. If only he could keep his mouth shut, he’d look perfectly fine, Seungjoo thought. Just then, Gwangsik raised his head, having reached a conclusion.“……Is it because of your spiritual eye?”“…….”“You did it to open your spiritual eye, right?”He probably thought it was a plausible guess, looking at Seungjoo with unwavering confidence. In fact, there was even a hint of pride in Gwangsik’s gaze as he stared at him.‘What is wrong with this guy…….’Wouldn’t most people assume that kissing implied some sort of romantic relationship? If it had been anyone else, Seungjoo might have thought they were being sarcastic. But with Gwangsik, it genuinely seemed like he didn’t understand. The fact that he wasn’t even suspicious about Seungjoo’s relationship with Muheun was absurd, but at the same time, Gwangsik’s pure demeanor left Seungjoo at a loss for words.“……It’s something like that.”So, like before, Seungjoo mumbled a vague response. As soon as he did, Gwangsik nodded as if he finally understood.“Ah, that makes sense…….”‘Makes sense’ my foot. His guess was completely off. Well, he wasn’t wrong that his spiritual eye did open, but that wasn’t the point.“I did think it was strange. You’ve been carrying Muheun’s spiritual energy for a while. So, that’s how you opened your spiritual eye.”It reminded Seungjoo of the time Gwangsik had casually agreed when he jokingly said he could read faces. Was Gwangsik dumb or just a bit off? Either way, something about him definitely seemed out of place—especially his next question.“Then do you have to do that every time your spiritual eye closes?”“……Well, yeah.”At this point, Seungjoo decided to just let it be. Their relationship wasn’t exactly a secret, but he didn’t feel the need to correct Gwangsik either. It wasn’t like they were officially dating or anything, so there was no reason to clarify.But then Gwangsik took it a step further.“Next time, I’ll help too.”“……?”Seungjoo blinked, completely dumbfounded. For a moment, he didn’t understand what Gwangsik was offering to help with. But Gwangsik, with his usual calm expression, added in his composed tone:“If you need to keep your spiritual eye open to purify the malicious spirits, I can help with that.”It was a rational statement, delivered with an oddly determined air. Whether he interpreted Seungjoo’s silence as agreement or something else, Gwangsik spoke with even more confidence.“It’s similar to exorcising a possession, right? I know how to do that too.”There wasn’t anyone crazy enough to respond with, “Oh, sure, I’ll ask you next time.” Seungjoo scowled in disgust, his face twisting.“Are you insane? No way. I hate that idea.”“……Why?”Gwangsik seemed genuinely surprised by Seungjoo’s refusal. He could clearly see the question behind Gwangsik’s eyes: why reject an offer to help? Seungjoo found his response utterly baffling.“Hey, if you were me…… No, wait. Do I even need a reason if I say I don’t want to?”“But you do it with Muheun.”“That’s because it’s Muheun.”“What’s so special about Muheun?”“…….”Once again, there was silence. Seeing that Gwangsik genuinely seemed clueless, Seungjoo let out a thin sigh and covered his eyes with one hand. Talking with him felt like it was driving him crazy.“…Muheun is someone I like, so it’s fine.”He ended up saying it. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but the admission still made him feel embarrassed.“It might feel like just mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to you, but I don’t want to be rubbing lips with someone I don’t like.”Just imagining it made his skin crawl. Were all exorcists like this? Sure, he knew that there were cases where kissing was used to lift possessions, but he couldn’t imagine handing over spiritual energy to just anyone with a clear head. He’d rather inhale that cigarette smoke again.“So, there’s no need for you to help. We’re done here, right?”Sighing again, Seungjoo removed the hand covering his eyes. Gwangsik was staring at him quietly, lips firmly shut but with a face full of things left unsaid.‘Should I call this innocence…?’Sometimes, Gwangsik really seemed like a child who knew nothing about the world. He was definitely an adult, being an exorcist registered with the Association, and even taller than Seungjoo. Yet his thinking seemed different, either lacking common sense or just wired differently than most people.“How old are you, anyway?”Seungjoo asked, but instead of answering, Gwangsik flinched. It was a subtle reaction, but Seungjoo, being so close, noticed it clearly. Undeterred, he scrutinized Gwangsik’s face closely.‘He looks young, though.’To be listed with the Association, you had to be at least 19 by January 1 of that year. (Seungjoo’s friend Muryeong had been registered since birth due to the immense spiritual energy he was born with, having been born during a leap month, but that was an exception.) So, Gwangsik was likely at least the same age as Seungjoo.“You’re 20, right? Or are you older?”When Gwangsik had first come looking for Seungjoo, it was only March. If he was 20, that meant he’d only been working with the Association for three months. But he already seemed to know a lot about Muheun, which didn’t add up. He was probably at least 21, or maybe even 22.“…Why?”“Ugh, seriously.”Seungjoo sighed in frustration, clicking his tongue at Gwangsik’s question. How long was he going to keep asking “why”? He never revealed anything—not his name, not his age. At first, Seungjoo had just let it slide because he wasn’t that interested, but now it was starting to get irritating.“I’m curious, okay? Can’t I just ask? What’s the big deal if you tell me?”“What are you so curious about?”Just then, a familiar voice interrupted. Seungjoo flinched, his shoulders jerking up in surprise. On the other hand, Gwangsik didn’t seem startled at all. He stood up quickly and bowed.“Welcome back.”“Yeah, I’m back.”The one who replied warmly was none other than Muheun. Seungjoo leaned his head back to look up at Muheun, who was standing behind him. As soon as he did, the back of his head bumped into Muheun’s thigh.“Oh, hyung… Please, make some noise when you walk around.”There was no need to move away. Seungjoo, still calming his surprised heart, leaned against Muheun’s leg. His heart was pounding so hard from the shock that it felt like Muheun could sense it. Muheun smiled thinly, reaching out to brush Seungjoo’s messy bangs.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”The familiar touch gently tidied Seungjoo’s hair. It was delicate, like handling a small animal. The sensation was ticklish, so Seungjoo shook his head, and Muheun pulled his hand back as he asked:“So, what were you curious about?”It was a simple question, but Seungjoo instinctively straightened up. Muheun’s usually soft voice seemed lower than usual. He was even smiling, but still.“I asked how old he is. I was wondering.”“His age?”Muheun repeated, glancing at Gwangsik, who remained silent. After observing Gwangsik for a while, Muheun smirked slightly and looked back at Seungjoo.“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”“Well, I just…”Seungjoo hesitated to answer, suddenly feeling like he was being interrogated. And Muheun’s eyes narrowing in amusement didn’t help.“You’re usually not interested in things like that.”It felt like déjà vu. When was it? It reminded Seungjoo of the time he asked Muheun which team Gwangsik belonged to. Even though Muheun was smiling, there was a subtle hint of displeasure beneath it.“It’s not like I’m that interested…”Seungjoo mumbled awkwardly. Back then, he thought Muheun was just acting moody, but now it seemed more like actual jealousy. It was hard to imagine the always mature Muheun caring that much about a simple question about someone’s age.“I just asked because he looks young. He acts like a kid too.”There was no need to explain exactly what made Gwangsik seem childish. Too many awkward things had happened in their conversation, and Seungjoo wasn’t about to recount all of them. Instead, he scowled slightly and gestured toward Gwangsik with a nod.“He never tells me anything. I don’t even know his name, his age, or which team he’s on.”It was an excuse, but the more he said it, the more unfair it felt. Sure, Seungjoo had never formally asked, but it seemed ridiculous how little he actually knew about Gwangsik. He hadn’t even known he was a gwimaejap until Muheun told him.“Yeah, seriously.”Even if he wasn’t particularly interested, at this point, anyone would be curious. It wasn’t just curiosity—it was frustrating. If Seungjoo hadn’t naturally been so indifferent, he would’ve gone crazy by now.“Hey.”Realizing this, Seungjoo suddenly turned to look at Gwangsik, who was standing there with his hands behind his back, watching Muheun carefully. He hadn’t even served in the military yet, but he was standing so stiffly like he was full of discipline.“You said you don’t have a name or a birthday, right?”‘I don’t have a name or a birthday, so I can’t tell you.’That’s what Gwangsik had said once. At the time, Seungjoo just accepted it, but now that he thought about it, something felt off.“Then what does the Association call you?”Names exist to identify and distinguish individuals. Even if he didn’t have an official name, surely the Association had some sort of nickname or title for him. There were too many exorcists in the Association for everyone to just call him “hey you” or “that gwimaejap.”“They don’t all call you ‘hey,’ or ‘you,’ or ‘gwimaejap,’ do they?”“…”Even though Seungjoo asked the question with a hint of disbelief, Gwangsik didn’t answer. While silence can sometimes imply agreement, this silence didn’t feel like that. It was more like the weight of long hesitation.“What do you call him, hyung?”“…Hmm.”Seungjoo turned to Muheun for answers, but Muheun was just as hesitant. Seeing the awkward expression on Muheun’s face made Seungjoo even more confused.‘What is this, Voldemort or something?’Was Gwangsik cursed, so that speaking his name would invoke something bad? Or maybe it was a rule from the Association. Since even Muheun seemed reluctant to speak, there was clearly some backstory. But without understanding it, Seungjoo only felt more frustrated.“Is it that much of a secret?”“It’s not so much a secret as…”When Seungjoo pressed him again, Muheun averted his gaze and finally spoke. He glanced subtly at Gwangsik, then smiled faintly, as if out of habit.“I was going to explain later—”“…Yeonho.”A voice interrupted, and Muheun’s expression instantly changed. He turned, face frozen, toward the source of the voice. Seungjoo also turned, just in time to hear a clearer response this time.“They call me Yeonho.”The voice belonged to none other than Gwangsik. Seungjoo’s eyes widened, speechless for a moment. Standing upright, Gwangsik stared down at him and added in a tone full of frustration.“I really don’t know my birthday. I’m not lying.”“….”Finally getting the answer he had wanted, Seungjoo wasn’t sure why he didn’t feel relieved. Maybe it was because he’d forced Gwangsik to say something he wasn’t comfortable with, or maybe it was because something came to mind as soon as Gwangsik said his name. Or perhaps it was the shock on Muheun’s face as he looked at Gwangsik.‘Yeonho…’A scene flashed in Seungjoo’s mind. A photograph in front of a building that looked like a kindergarten, where the former head of the Association was shaking hands with someone. Below the picture was a caption.‘First Donation to Yeonho Orphanage.’“They really call you that at the Association?”It sounded like a pretty name, but Seungjoo couldn’t bring himself to say so. Before he could even voice his thoughts, a conversation with Muheun popped into his mind.‘There are survivors, though.’No way… Could they have actually named him that?“Oh… I see.”Seungjoo had no idea how to respond, so he just nodded. There had to be a reason why they hadn’t told him earlier, and now he regretted asking. If he’d just kept pretending not to know, things wouldn’t have gotten so awkward. But it was too late for that now.“…You two have gotten pretty close.”The final words came from Muheun, who had been silently watching the two. His voice was quiet, almost as if he was talking to himself. By the time Seungjoo looked at him, Muheun wasn’t looking back. Instead, he was gazing off into the distance, swallowing dryly as he stared at the sea.“I’ll close the barrier now.”It seemed like Muheun had swallowed his words, but before Seungjoo could point it out, Muheun placed a talisman, which would serve as the core of the barrier, onto the ground he was standing on. The moment he infused it with his spiritual energy, an odd sensation suddenly overcame them, as if the air itself had been cut off.“…”A high-pitched ringing echoed in Seungjoo’s ears. No matter how many times he experienced the sensation of being cut off from the outside world, he could never get used to it. He found it strange how Muheun and Gwangsik, on the other hand, looked around as if nothing had happened.“I’ve set the barrier along the coastline, from the breakwater you can see over there to the stone wall behind us. Once we lure the gwimae out of the water, I’ll take care of it,” Muheun explained, his long index finger pointing to the breakwater and stone wall. He quickly resumed his serious demeanor, as if the strange mood from earlier had never happened. After Gwangsik replied with a simple “Yes,” Muheun ran his hand through his messy hair while scanning the ocean.“Can you sense its location?”“No, not yet.”Gwangsik, who responded mechanically, closed his eyes. Seungjoo wasn’t sure what he was doing, but a heat haze-like shimmer slowly began to rise around him. The swirling spiritual energy was a sign that Gwangsik had sharpened his senses.It was similar to what Muheun had done before when they encountered the sparrow-like gwimae. Seungjoo had heard that when one focuses their spiritual power, all five senses become sharper than usual. Gwangsik was clearly concentrating on detecting the gwimae out in the sea.“…Still nothing.”When Gwangsik spoke again, Muheun nodded slightly. Since the gwimae had been unsealed, its energy was weak, making it difficult to track down.Was Muheun going to set the ocean on fire again like last time? Seungjoo, lost in thought, was suddenly snapped back to reality by Muheun’s voice.“Seungjoo, how about you?”“Me?”Seungjoo frowned, surprised that Muheun would ask him that. He hadn’t expected the question to be directed at him. He thought maybe Muheun was just asking out of politeness, but Muheun was looking at him with utmost seriousness.“Yeah, don’t you feel anything?”“Uh…”Although Seungjoo had sensed gwimae a few times before, he was still just an ordinary person who didn’t know much. It’s not like asking him would change anything. But since Muheun had asked, Seungjoo squinted and stared out at the ocean, pretending to focus.“Well… not really…”The sea, black under the equally black sky, stretched before him. He couldn’t see much in the darkness, but he could hear the waves crashing against the shore, giving him a rough idea of the distance.The humid air carried by the wind, the faint fishy smell brushing his nose, and then, faintly, he heard…Seungjoo-ya.“….”Startled, Seungjoo blinked, his eyes twitching. His name, which had come from afar, was unmistakably like the sound made by the gwimae he had encountered before. It wasn’t exactly a voice—it was something he “felt” rather than heard, the kind of calling that gwimae did.After recognizing that voice, a new scent began to mix with the salty sea breeze. It was a sweet, fragrant smell, similar to the scent that Venus flytraps supposedly release to attract insects. Though Seungjoo had never smelled it himself, he imagined this is how people must feel when they’re lured in without realizing it.‘If I just get a little closer…’Almost instinctively, Seungjoo began to slowly walk toward the sea. But unlike before, his mind wasn’t in a daze. He simply wanted to listen more closely to the gwimae’s call. He could stop anytime he wanted, but before he could, Muheun grabbed him firmly by the arm.“Gwangsik.”At Muheun’s command, Gwangsik raised his hand. Both of them were now focused on the direction Seungjoo had been walking. Gwangsik brought both hands together, forming a small gap near his mouth, and blew a long, high-pitched breath through it.Squeeeeeak.The sound sent chills down Seungjoo’s spine. No, perhaps it was more like a thrill. The thin, high-pitched noise pierced his ears, echoing across the wide ocean, carried along by the crashing waves. Even after Gwangsik had stopped blowing, the sound lingered like a faint ringing.‘…Danso?’It was at that moment that Muheun stepped closer to Seungjoo, pulling him back behind him. Standing protectively in front of him, Muheun continued to gaze out at the pitch-black ocean with a calm, monotonous voice.“Well done.”In Muheun’s once-empty hand, a glowing blue bow formed, created from his spiritual energy. Seungjoo, his eyes wide in amazement, peered over Muheun’s shoulder, staring out at the ocean.Breaking the surface of the still water, a barnacle-covered turtle slowly emerged.“…Wow.”The short exclamation was filled with Seungjoo’s astonishment. In an instant, a massive Gwimae appeared from the space where there had been nothing, slowly approaching them as if in a trance.“What the…”How did they do that? Seungjoo had never heard of calling a Gwimae with just a hand flute.“Seungjoo.”Muheun stepped in front of Seungjoo again, lowering the hand that had been gripping his wrist. He interlocked his fingers with Seungjoo’s for a moment, squeezing tightly before letting go. That brief contact conveyed Muheun’s concern for Seungjoo in a raw, undeniable way.“Stay behind me.”“…”There was no need to reply. With those words, Muheun pulled a talisman from his pocket, holding it between his fingers. Holding the spiritual bow with his left hand extended forward, he nocked the talisman onto the bowstring. With a whoosh, flames burst from his fingertips, transforming into a long arrow aimed directly at the Gwimae.It was a breathtaking sight, no matter how many times Seungjoo saw it. As wind swirled around Muheun, the blue flames flickered, leaving an afterimage in Seungjoo’s vision. Even the ashes scattering in the wind glowed blue, making everything surrounding Muheun look less like reality and more like some ethereal, otherworldly scene.‘…I’m lucky.’It was one of the few times Seungjoo felt grateful for having developed spiritual sight. Without it, he would never have been able to witness this. Despite thinking he knew everything about Muheun, he had come to learn so much more in recent months.“Gwangsik, one more time.”At Muheun’s call, Gwangsik took another deep breath. As he blew through his cupped hands, the high-pitched flute sound echoed once more. The moment the Gwimae raised its head in response, Muheun let the arrow fly without hesitation.Thwip—The arrow cut through the air, flying not at the Gwimae, but at the empty space behind it. It paused in midair for a moment, then burst like fireworks, scattering in all directions. Where the arrow fragments rained down, small fires began to spread, just as they had once done at the lake.“Keep calling it.”“Yes.”The only person awestruck by the sight seemed to be Seungjoo. Muheun calmly gave orders to Gwangsik, who obeyed without hesitation, producing the flute sound once again with his hands.Seungjoo, speechless, looked back and forth between the two of them.“…”Would it be strange to say he felt a bit jealous? It was the first time he had seen Muheun working with someone else, and their seamless cooperation without even speaking felt unfamiliar. Now that he thought about it, Muheun and Gwangsik seemed to know each other quite well.“What did you just do?” Seungjoo asked, quickly shaking off his negative thoughts. After all, it was only natural for them to work well together. In fact, it was a good thing they did. There was no point in getting distracted by useless thoughts.“I blocked its escape route. Gwangsik’s doing a good job calling it out, but you never know which way Gwimae will try to run.”Muheun explained in his usual gentle tone. The spiritual bow in his hand disappeared the moment he gave his left hand a shake. Seungjoo, nodding briefly, pointed at Gwangsik and asked again.“Can you do that too?”“I can imitate it, roughly.”With a playful wink, Muheun brought his hands together like Gwangsik and blew through them. The sound was similar but subtly different—it was more like a whistle than a flute. Seungjoo, curious how he did it, grabbed Muheun’s wrist to stop him, and Muheun showed his hands without pulling them away.“You infuse the sound with spiritual energy to call the Gwimae. They respond to a specific range of frequencies.”He added, almost nonchalantly, “I’m not that good at it.” Though Muheun claimed he wasn’t skilled, it was clear he could still do it. It was a modest answer.“Even just making a sound like that is amazing…”To Seungjoo, who couldn’t even whistle, both Gwangsik and Muheun seemed incredible. He could roughly mimic their hand movements, but producing the sound seemed impossible. He hadn’t been good at playing the danso (Korean bamboo flute) as a kid, so pulling off something like this felt far out of reach.While Seungjoo was busy trying to imitate their hand gestures, the Gwimae had nearly reached the shore, slowly at first but then quickly swimming toward them. Muheun, who had been watching Seungjoo with a playful smile, turned serious as he looked back toward the Gwimae.“Gwangsik, that’s enough.”Muheun spoke quietly as he strode toward the railing. Beyond the low barrier, a breakwater was tightly packed. Muheun narrowed his eyes as if gauging something, then turned to Seungjoo and left him with a single instruction.“Stay here until I call for you.”Then, with a quick leap, he vaulted over the railing and landed on the rocky ground below. It was a height that would have injured any normal person, but Muheun landed lightly, unharmed. It wasn’t even flat ground—it was uneven with breakwater rocks everywhere.“Why would he jump when there are perfectly good stairs…”Seungjoo recalled something Kim Muryeong had once joked about—how Muheun and their sister would sometimes jump down from heights of two or three stories instead of using stairs. Back then, Seungjoo had found it ridiculous, but seeing it in person, it didn’t seem dangerous at all.Watching Muheun effortlessly jump over the breakwater, Seungjoo stood there with a dumbfounded expression. His movements were so agile that it felt almost surreal. Sometimes, Kim Muryeong would jump like that too. Seungjoo understood it for someone small and light like him, but seeing someone as large as Muheun appear so weightless was bizarre.‘Exorcists are really something.’Seungjoo, lost in thought, glanced at Gwangsik without meaning to. Gwangsik, as he had been earlier, was watching Muheun with indifferent eyes. Sensing Seungjoo’s gaze, Gwangsik turned slightly and responded.“What are you looking at?”“…”Did he just copy my line? Seungjoo thought about retorting with, “Am I not allowed to look?” but instead, he just shrugged.“I was looking because it’s impressive.”“…Impressive?”“Yeah, just amazed by everything.”Before, when Gwangsik was being silly, he didn’t seem trustworthy, but after seeing him work, Seungjoo realized he was skilled at hunting Gwimae. Skilled enough that even Kim Muheun praised him as being good at it.“You’re like the Pied Piper,” Seungjoo joked, his words half in jest. He chuckled as he said it, but Gwangsik tilted his head, looking puzzled.“Who’s that?”“You don’t know the Pied Piper?”“No, never heard of it.”How could he not know that famous fairy tale? Seungjoo had always thought Gwangsik lacked some common knowledge, but to not know even this—it was a bit startling.“It’s a fairy tale from Germany… Basically, there’s a man who lures all the rats out of town with the sound of his flute and drives them away.”“Why would he chase the rats away?”“Because there were too many rats in the town, and the king offered a reward to whoever could get rid of them.”Seungjoo had read the story as a child. Actually, it was Muheun who had read it to him from a picture book, not just the Pied Piper but many other fairy tales as well.“So, does he get the reward?”“No, the adults break their promise, so he doesn’t get it.”When Seungjoo answered with an indifferent tone, Gwangsik raised his eyebrows. Even without words, it was clear that he thought the adults were being unfair. His face remained expressionless, but his feelings were easy to read.“What did the man do then?”“…In a fit of anger, he took the children away. By playing the flute.”That part had shocked Seungjoo the most when he was younger. When Muheun had read the story, he had even made eerie whistling sounds to set the mood, making it even more frightening. Seeing that Gwangsik seemed equally disturbed, Seungjoo quickly wrapped up the story.“It’s just a fairy tale teaching you to keep your promises.”There were stories that claimed it was based on real events, but Seungjoo didn’t mention that. Nor did he tell Gwangsik that some versions interpreted the children as willingly following the Pied Piper.However, even after hearing that it was a fairy tale, Gwangsik asked with a serious face.“What happened to the children?”“Well… no one really knows. It doesn’t usually say.”Some versions claimed they died, while others said they moved to a new place and started a new life. Seungjoo considered telling him the latter, but before he could, Gwangsik spoke in a grave tone.“The children weren’t at fault.”He wasn’t wrong. Seungjoo had said something similar to Muheun before, telling him that the children were the true victims. But seeing Gwangsik look so deeply troubled about it struck Seungjoo in a different way.“The man was wrong. The children shouldn’t have had to pay for the adults’ mistakes.”“Well… yeah, that’s true.”It was an unusually clear statement from Gwangsik, and Seungjoo nodded in agreement. It reminded him of something Muheun would say from time to time. Muheun had often remarked that children shouldn’t be dragged into the affairs of adults, especially when they were dealing with spirits.“Of course, the people of the town were also wrong…”Gwangsik trailed off, lowering his gaze thoughtfully. At first, Seungjoo thought he was being overly serious about a simple fairy tale. But then Gwangsik’s next words sent chills down his spine.“The children who were taken… one day, they’ll get their revenge on that man.” 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~