The Night Of The Untraced

“Is that something to brag about…?”Seungjoo let out a dry laugh, giving Muryeong an incredulous look. Of course, Seungjoo knew full well that it wasn’t just empty talk.Back in high school, Muryeong often played the role of a fixer for his friends, helping them with paranormal phenomena that occurred at school. Sometimes, he even aided friends who were plagued by nightmares or stalkers. The only payment he accepted was small, old objects—he never took any money.About half of the incidents Muryeong dealt with were actually caused by spiritual reasons. He secretly visited Haeyeon High School at night to resolve these phenomena—helping spirits move on or searching the school for objects possessed by spirits. Seungjoo had often wondered how Muryeong got inside the locked school gates. It turned out that he had always just jumped over the wall.“It’s a wonder the teachers never caught you.”Since Muryeong spent most nights dealing with these issues, it was only natural that he lacked sleep. Seungjoo vividly remembered how he used to click his tongue at Muryeong, who would doze off during the day, saying, “That goody-goody is giving himself extra trouble for nothing.” If Muryeong was jumping over walls every time he was tired, it was no wonder he had gotten good at it.“This is basic stuff,” Muryeong said, grinning as if it were no big deal.It wasn’t exactly praise, but Muryeong smiled brightly, making light of the situation. His shamelessness was so disarming that Seungjoo found himself relaxing and smiling along. If anyone was second to none in cheekiness, it was Muryeong.“Anyway, there’s a camera over there, so we can’t go in that way. We’ll have to jump the wall at the back garden.”True to his confession, Muryeong showed the thoroughness of a seasoned sneak thief, choosing the blind spot carefully. With that, he began walking along the wall, likely heading toward the opposite side of the school where the second main building was located.“Why didn’t you tell me Muryeong was coming?” Seungjoo asked Muheun as they followed behind. It was strange that Muheun hadn’t mentioned his own brother’s arrival in advance. Normally, he would have at least hinted at it.“I guess you could call it a surprise…?” Muheun shrugged as he looked down at Seungjoo, a faint mischievous glint in his slightly curved eyes.“I thought you’d be happy to see him if you didn’t know beforehand.”In other words, Muheun had hoped that Seungjoo would be excited about Muryeong’s sudden appearance. Seungjoo was glad to see him, though his reaction hadn’t been that dramatic. Muheun glanced back and forth between Seungjoo and Muryeong, observing them both.“You seem happier than I expected. Has it been a while since you last saw each other?”“A month… no, not even a month, has it?” Seungjoo mused.“It hasn’t been a month yet,” Muryeong chimed in from the front. As expected of someone with good hearing, he had been listening to their conversation. After calculating the days in his head, Seungjoo realized it had only been about three weeks and nodded.“Yeah, it’s been a while.”“A month is a long time?” Muheun asked.“Well, we used to see each other every day….”Considering how they used to see each other constantly, a month felt like quite a long time. Muryeong seemed to agree, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, it has been a while.”“It’s been a while since you’ve seen Hwanyoung too, hasn’t it?” Muryeong added.“I don’t know. Hasn’t it been less than a month?” Seungjoo responded.“Has it?” Muryeong asked.“Yeah, he came with you when you went back to your parents’ house.”They soon fell into a casual, pointless conversation as they walked. Seungjoo, without thinking, draped an arm over Muryeong’s shoulder, and Muryeong instinctively grabbed Seungjoo’s wrist.“What’s Hwanyoung up to?” Seungjoo asked.“Resting at home. Should I have brought him along?” Muryeong replied.“For what? Let him rest.”“Why, do you miss him or something?” Muryeong teased.“Gross. Stop saying creepy things,” Seungjoo replied, clearly disgusted, but Muryeong didn’t care. With that same innocent face, he spouted nonsense that no one would believe.“Hwanyoung misses you.”“As if! Even Hwanyoung wouldn’t say that…” Seungjoo thought. If Hwanyoung had heard that, he probably wouldn’t curse but would definitely frown. They had only recently exchanged numbers after years, so there was no way he’d miss Seungjoo.“Here’s where we jump over the wall,” Muryeong said after walking for a while, pointing to a section of the wall. As Seungjoo absentmindedly examined the wall, Muryeong turned his attention to Muheun, who had been quietly following behind them.“You can manage to get over, right?” Muryeong asked. Muheun, who had his hands in his pockets, nodded. His gaze, however, was still fixed on Seungjoo’s back—more specifically, on the arm Seungjoo had draped over Muryeong’s shoulder.“Seungjoo, I’ll carry you over,” Muryeong offered.“Huh? Me?”“Yeah, you won’t be able to get over this.”“…”Seungjoo couldn’t deny it. The wall was too high for him to reach, even if he stretched his arms. Plus, there was barbed wire about the same height as Muryeong’s head on top. It was definitely too high for him to jump over on his own.“I’ll carry you…,” Muryeong began.“I’ll carry him,” Muheun interrupted.“Huh?”Before Muryeong could react, Muheun had already approached and removed Seungjoo’s arm from around his brother’s shoulder. Seungjoo instinctively turned to look at Muheun, who tugged Seungjoo’s arm towards himself with a nod of his head.“I’ll carry him, so Muryeong, you go over first.”“Why?”While Seungjoo hesitated and stepped back, Muryeong blinked as if to ask if that was really necessary. He didn’t seem to care who carried Seungjoo, but Muheun’s insistence caught him off guard. Muryeong even pointed at Seungjoo with his index finger.“Seungjoo’s light, it’s fine.”“Hey… I weigh more than you.”Seungjoo reflexively protested at the word “light.” He couldn’t understand how these exorcists measured weight. Seungjoo was at least 10kg heavier, but Muryeong made it sound like it was no big deal.“I can carry Hwanyoung too.”With a confident look, Muryeong stated that, and since Hwanyoung was another 10kg heavier than Seungjoo, technically, Seungjoo was indeed lighter.But even so, Muheun didn’t back down.“I’ll carry him anyway.”“…Really?”“Yeah, come here, Seungjoo.”As Muheun spoke again, this time Muryeong’s expression became truly puzzled. Not just puzzled—more like suspicious. When those clear eyes turned toward him, Seungjoo found himself unconsciously parting his lips.“I’ll let Muryeong carry me.”“…”Both pairs of eyes now focused on Seungjoo—one belonging to Muryeong, with a questioning look, and the other to Muheun, who appeared genuinely surprised. Seungjoo awkwardly withdrew his arm from Muheun’s grip and avoided their gazes.“I mean… he said he’s good at jumping over walls.”“…”“And it’s probably your first time doing it, right?”“…”“Wouldn’t it be easier to go over by yourself?”Seungjoo mumbled excuses, but Muheun didn’t respond. Under Muheun’s steady gaze, Seungjoo felt his cheek grow warm. Clearing his throat with an exaggerated cough, Seungjoo quickly turned around and tugged on Muryeong’s arm.“Come on, let’s get this over with. We don’t have time.”“Oh? Uh, okay….”Still bewildered, Muryeong turned and offered his back to Seungjoo. As he looked at the back presented to him, Seungjoo secretly sighed. He couldn’t believe he was about to get a piggyback ride from Kim Muryeong. Life had taken some strange turns lately.I used to carry him around in high school…Just last year, Seungjoo had been the one giving Muryeong piggyback rides during lunch breaks. Not for any special reason—just because Muryeong would often sleep through lunch. Back then, Muryeong was at least a head shorter than Seungjoo, and though he wasn’t quite that small anymore, he was still on the shorter side. Of course, Muryeong had always been strong, but Seungjoo couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty.“Damn it, sorry,” Seungjoo muttered.“For what?”“Just… you know.”Without further explanation, Seungjoo climbed onto Muryeong’s back. He could still feel Muheun’s gaze from behind. When Seungjoo glanced over his shoulder, Muheun’s face seemed to carry a hint of betrayal, but then, a soft chuckle escaped him.Maybe I should’ve let Muheun carry me after all…If someone asked why, Seungjoo would just say he felt embarrassed. It wasn’t like his relationship with Muheun was a secret, but standing in front of an old friend made him feel awkward. Besides, even though Kim Muryeong was usually oblivious when it came to romance, Seungjoo felt like he might somehow see right through them with his rare sharp intuition.“Hold on tight so you don’t fall.”Thankfully, Muryeong didn’t seem to notice anything odd and adjusted Seungjoo on his back. He shifted Seungjoo’s weight, lifted him slightly, and reached out toward the top of the wall.Then, with a light jump.“…”Muryeong’s movements were quick and nimble, like a wild animal. No, more like a small creature—a squirrel or a rabbit, effortlessly hopping around.In one smooth motion, Muryeong climbed to the top of the wall and swiftly jumped over the barbed wire without pause. There was no place to step on top of the wire, so when they landed, they dropped from about three meters in the air.Honestly, it felt like riding a roller coaster, but Seungjoo remained silent. If he showed any sign of being startled, Muryeong would probably tease him, saying something like, “You’re as scared as my little brother.”Instead, Seungjoo clung tightly to Muryeong’s neck, bracing himself. Once they landed, Muryeong suddenly asked,“Are you dating Hyung?”“…….”The question left Seungjoo utterly speechless. He froze, unable to respond, even though it wasn’t a particularly difficult question. His mind went completely blank in an instant.“…Why?”“Hmm.”Muryeong let out a short hum and adjusted Seungjoo on his back. They’d already jumped the wall, so he could have let him down by now, but instead, Muryeong glanced back over his shoulder.“It just seemed that way.”“…….”Since when did he become so perceptive?Muryeong had always been intuitive, but when it came to relationships, he was notoriously clueless. So much so that if someone confessed their feelings for him by saying, “I like you,” he would cheerfully reply, “Yeah, I like you too,” completely oblivious to the romantic intent. Seungjoo had witnessed countless people get heartbroken by his dense responses.Just then, Muheun leaped over the wall, and Seungjoo, tapping Muryeong’s shoulder, gestured for him to let him down. Without a word, Muryeong crouched down and carefully lowered Seungjoo to the ground. Though his legs felt a bit shaky, Seungjoo managed to stand on his feet.“Hyung, what should we do now?”Muryeong didn’t seem to expect an answer to his earlier question, as he immediately directed his attention to Muheun. Muheun, who must have heard the question, gave Seungjoo a quick glance but didn’t react otherwise.“First, we need to set up a barrier. I’ll guide you through the directions, and Muryeong, you’ll go inside the building and put up some talismans.”There might not be anything inside, but in case a Gwimae showed up, they needed to minimize any damage outside. Just to be safe, it was best to set up the barrier.“Huh… I’m putting them up inside?”“Yeah, can you handle it?”Muryeong asked, looking slightly unsure, but Muheun nodded casually. At that, Seungjoo snapped out of his daze and started paying attention to their conversation. For some reason, Muryeong looked a bit flustered, but Muheun reassured him with a soft whisper.“It’s fine. The court people will follow me.”“…….”Muryeong’s gentle eyes lowered, as if relieved. He looked like he wanted to say something, but all that came out of his mouth was, “Okay.” While Seungjoo watched Muryeong curiously, Muheun spoke to him as well.“Seungjoo, you go with Muryeong. It’s safer inside.”“Why is it safer inside?”Wouldn’t it be the same inside or out? After all, the school was empty except for them.“Because the Gwimae might come out outside.”Muryeong answered in Muheun’s place, his calm gaze sweeping over the main building.“But inside, the worst you’ll find are a few souls. So it’s much safer.”“That sounds like a fancy way of saying there are ghosts inside…”It was a reasonable explanation, but to Seungjoo, it didn’t feel that way. Especially since Muryeong just smiled in response to his question without answering. Seungjoo shuddered, clearly displeased, but Muryeong reassured him.“It’s fine. They’re all just people anyway.”The problem was that they were dead people. But Muryeong, who had been seeing ghosts since birth, couldn’t really understand why that would scare most people.“Hyung, give me the talismans.”“Hold on.”Muheun handed over the talismans and briefly explained the directions. The main building 1, main building 2, the new building, the annex, and lastly, the gymnasium and auditorium. It was a large school, with plenty of buildings to cover, thanks to the generous chairman.“The exact locations can vary a bit, but the directions must be precise. East, west, south, and north—make sure to follow them, okay?”“Yeah, I’ve put up barriers at schools before, so I get it.”What on earth has he been doing that involves setting up barriers at schools? Seungjoo stared at him in disbelief, but Muryeong didn’t seem to care. He simply pocketed the talismans and pulled Seungjoo along.“Let’s go, Seungjoo.”* * *The first place they headed was the second main building, where the special classrooms were located. It was the closest to the back courtyard, and during their high school days, Seungjoo had often dragged a dozing Muryeong to this very building.Though they didn’t expect the door to be wide open, the glass door was tightly shut, secured with a long chain wrapped around the handle and locked with a padlock.“Got a key?”“Nope.”When Seungjoo asked just in case, Muryeong confidently replied. Despite the lack of a key, he didn’t look the least bit worried, prompting Seungjoo to blurt out the thought that had just crossed his mind.“Don’t tell me… you can pick locks?”Muryeong, who wasn’t particularly skilled with his hands, save for writing, seemed oddly capable after that wall-jumping stunt. Seungjoo wondered what kind of life he’d been living to make lock-picking seem plausible.“I can’t do that.”Fortunately, Muryeong denied it with the same confident expression. Seungjoo narrowed his eyes for a moment before nodding, realizing that brute strength suited Muryeong much better.Apparently, Muryeong thought so too, as he tapped the padlock with his finger.“I can break it.”“Are you seriously thinking of breaking it?”“Of course not.”“I figured…”If Muryeong had a habit of breaking padlocks, there would’ve been rumors about a “padlock killer” terrorizing the school. But since he wasn’t going to do that, Seungjoo had no idea what other solution there might be.After hesitating briefly, Muryeong looked up at Seungjoo.“This is a secret.”There wasn’t much time to dwell on the meaning behind those words. As he spoke, Muryeong extended his right hand toward the sky, palm up. Then, he lowered his gaze and pursed his lips, letting out a sharp whistle.“……?”It happened in the blink of an eye. As the high, clear sound echoed, flames flickered to life in the empty air. They resembled Muheun’s spiritual energy, trembling and swirling in place.“What… the…?”Seungjoo stared wide-eyed at the blue flame. Its flickering, burning shape was subtly different from Muheun’s spiritual energy, and the aura it gave off was definitely not human.“A goblin fire.”“A goblin?”“Yeah, a goblin,” Muryeong responded calmly, cupping the flame in his hands. To Seungjoo, it looked more like a “goblin fire” than an actual goblin. With a bewildered look, he asked, “Is this the one that grim reapers carry around?”Most people wouldn’t know, but as a descendant of the Seo family, Seungjoo was familiar with it. Goblins, the creatures that grim reapers supposedly carried, were said to consume the memories of souls before they crossed over to the afterlife.“This is that goblin?”When Seungjoo pointed at the flame with his finger, it puffed up, bouncing up and down as if it were annoyed. Muryeong offered an interpretation of its reaction.“It’s asking you to refer to it as ‘them,’ not ‘this.’ They don’t like being treated like objects.”The flame bobbed up and down in agreement, as though nodding instead of bouncing. Seungjoo had many questions, but for now, he obliged and rephrased his question.“Why are you carrying ‘them’ around?”“It just kind of happened.”Muryeong didn’t explain in detail, brushing off the question as he guided the flame toward the lock with a sheepish smile.“Technically, I’m not supposed to do this. That’s why I never told anyone… but I guess Hyung knew.”Following Muryeong’s gesture, the flame slowly circled around the lock. Before long, there was a ‘click,’ and the tightly wound chain loosened and fell.“Good job,” Muryeong said, pulling a small 10-won coin from his pocket and handing it to the flame. Seungjoo chuckled as the flame quickly swallowed up the coin.“Huh…”Muheun had mentioned earlier that Muryeong should attach talismans inside the buildings, confidently asking, “Can you do it?” So he must have known that Muryeong had a way to unlock the doors.“Seriously…”Muryeong, who was carrying a goblin, and Muheun, who knew about it without even being told. Neither of the brothers was even remotely normal. They kept many secrets, knew many things, and never seemed fazed when they were found out.“But is it okay to tell me this? You said it was a secret.”“Are you going to tell anyone?”“Of course not.”When Seungjoo replied in a nonchalant voice, Muryeong smiled, his eyes crinkling as if to say, “See?” The blue flame flickered and reflected in his crescent-shaped eyes.“Hwan-young already knows. I was planning to tell the family someday anyway, but I didn’t tell you because you couldn’t see.”It was something Seungjoo would never have known if he hadn’t gained spiritual sight. He wasn’t upset about it, but the realization made him feel strangely sentimental.“…Aren’t you going to ask?”So Seungjoo hinted, shifting uncomfortably. Muryeong looked at him with curious, innocent eyes.“Ask what?”“Why I gained spiritual sight, why I’m following Hyung around—stuff like that.”Since he’d carried Muheun on his back, Muryeong must’ve sensed Muheun’s spiritual energy and realized that Seungjoo had gained spiritual sight. Yet, Muryeong hadn’t asked him anything. That was typical of Muryeong, but today, Seungjoo felt like he wanted to bring it up.“Earlier, when you asked if I was dating Hyung, I didn’t answer.”“I didn’t answer why I’m carrying around a goblin either,” Muryeong shrugged. In his mind, it was the same thing, but Seungjoo thought it was a bit different.“Well… I kind of figured that out.”Goblins usually followed grim reapers around, and when a reaper faced trouble, the goblins remained, wandering the earth. Normally, they’d disappear, but it wasn’t surprising that this soft-hearted guy had taken in a few. Muryeong shrugged and gently tapped the flame.“I feel the same. If you want to tell me, you will. I’m not going to pry if it makes you uncomfortable.”Muryeong’s calm voice wrapped around Seungjoo like a gentle breeze. He often thought Muryeong’s voice had a way of putting people at ease. As Seungjoo softened his expression, Muryeong showed a rare sign of unease.“And besides, I don’t really need to know about my brother’s love life…”Seungjoo felt like he could hear the unspoken part of that sentence—Muryeong really didn’t want to know more than he had to. He must’ve asked the question earlier purely out of reflex, not out of genuine curiosity.Seungjoo agreed with the sentiment. When Muryeong found someone to date, he also didn’t want to know all the details of a close friend’s love life. It wasn’t about a lack of interest but about not wanting to interfere in that part of their lives.“If you want to talk about it, feel free.”“…I’m good.”Seungjoo responded, then opened the glass door, now freed from the chains. The moment he pushed it halfway open, the flame darted inside. Seungjoo held the door so Muryeong could enter as well.“How much do you know?”“That your third eye has opened, and it’s because of my brother. You also have the ability to purify Gwimae spirits. That much?”Except for the fact that his third eye opened because of Muheun, the rest was already spreading around the Association. Muryeong must have figured out it was Muheun based on the spiritual energy he sensed from Seungjoo.“And I know my brother reported the chairman and needs to find evidence within two weeks. They say the chairman unsealed a Gwimae spirit and left it unattended.”“Is that a rumor at the Association?”“Yeah, rumors spread quickly in the Association. Everyone knows you came by at dawn, too. They’re all grumbling because they couldn’t get a look at you since my brother kept you hidden.”It seemed they were quite curious about the young heir of the Seo family. No wonder Muheun hadn’t taken him out of the dorm. Seungjoo hadn’t thought much of it since he didn’t plan to go out, but now he realized it was strange Muheun didn’t even ask if he wanted to dine out and just brought food back.“Well, I don’t think they suspect the two of you are dating…”At Muryeong’s passing remark, Seungjoo clicked his tongue to himself, still feeling a bit awkward that even this Kim Muryeong had figured it out.“Did you already know I liked him?”“You liked my brother?”Muryeong turned to Seungjoo with a surprised expression, contrary to what Seungjoo expected. His face briefly betrayed an “oops” moment before Muryeong’s mischievous smile crept back.“I’m kidding. I knew.”“…Since when?”“Hm… two years ago, maybe? You both were talking like usual, but something just felt off.”Muryeong couldn’t pinpoint an exact moment. He didn’t even remember the conversation but seemed to have an instinctive sense at the time. It was an impressive observation for someone like Muryeong, who then gave a teasing smile, wrinkling his nose.“I noticed because I was into someone myself.”It made sense. Two years ago was when Muryeong experienced his first crush. Once you’ve felt that way, you start noticing subtle things, like how Seungjoo acted differently around Muheun.“But I didn’t know my brother liked you. I mean, of course, he’d like you, but I didn’t think it was in that way.”How could he? To them, Muheun had always seemed like such an adult, and to Muheun, they must have seemed like mere kids, far from being romantic interests. That was why Seungjoo had also spent so much time confused about whether Muheun’s feelings were romantic.“He’s never told me he likes me.”Muryeong’s eyes widened at Seungjoo’s offhand comment. As they continued walking, following the flame, Seungjoo awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.“I don’t even know for sure if we’re actually dating…”That was the reason he hadn’t answered Muryeong’s question earlier. He didn’t want to define their relationship until they had a proper conversation. But Muryeong confidently responded anyway.“My Hyung likes you.”Seungjoo turned to look at Muryeong, feeling a bit flustered by the certainty in his eyes. He cleared his throat nervously, but Muryeong didn’t mind, tilting his head slightly.“You know that, right?”“I know.”It was impossible not to know. You’d have to be as clueless as Seungjoo used to be—or maybe even more oblivious than Muryeong had been. No, perhaps even as dense as that rice cake of a ghost.“Yeah, but even when you know, people can still feel insecure.”It wasn’t insecurity as much as curiosity. Muryeong nodded to himself, misinterpreting Seungjoo’s thoughts.“You should ask him to express it more.”“Express what?”Before Seungjoo could make a snarky comment, the flame suddenly floated in front of his face. It must have been listening to their conversation, as it scrunched into a heart shape, almost like it was agreeing with Muryeong.“Whoa, what the—? It can do that?”Seungjoo ignored Muryeong’s answer and widened his eyes in amazement. The flame seemed to hesitate for a moment before changing shape again, this time into a star, then a circle, and finally, a triangle.“Hey, this thing’s smarter than that rice cake!”Somehow understanding the rice cake comparison, the flame transformed into a tiny, adorable puppy. It wagged its tail, bounding around in the air, which made Seungjoo burst into laughter.“Well done, well done. You’re amazing.”It seemed so cute that Seungjoo couldn’t help but praise it, just like he did with that rice cake ghost. The way the flame happily zoomed around only made it more endearing. He even had the sudden urge to pat it on the head, but his hand passed right through the flame instead.“Ah… I guess I can’t touch it.”That reminded Seungjoo of the time he had seen a ghost. He hadn’t been able to touch them either. The only thing he could touch was the Gwimae spirit. As the realization hit him, Seungjoo raised an eyebrow. The flame, which had been eagerly waiting for his hand, flickered sadly.“There’s a reason the rice cake likes you.”Muryeong stroked the flame instead. It looked like he was infusing it with spiritual energy, and the flame flared up, almost instantly recovering from its previous disappointment.“The rice cake likes everyone, though.”“Didn’t you say the same thing to me?”“You and the rice cake are alike.”As they continued chatting, they arrived at the classroom where they needed to place the talisman. Once again, the flame opened the door for them, and Muryeong tossed it a coin from his pocket.“That explains why you collected all that junk in high school, huh?”Seungjoo didn’t say it aloud, but Muryeong’s odd habits from high school finally made sense now. He used to wonder why Muryeong accepted small, old objects in return for favors. Turns out, they were probably used as offerings for the flame.“Raising something like this isn’t easy…”Muryeong chuckled softly at Seungjoo’s murmured comment, then added in a pleased tone, as if recalling something amusing.“Hwanyoung said something similar.”The flame twirled happily in the air, seemingly unaware that it was being talked about. If only Seungjoo could touch it—it was the first time he truly felt that kind of regret since his third eye had opened.Seungjoo and Muryeong finished placing the talisman in the first classroom and quickly moved to the next location. They needed to place five talismans in total, each in a different classroom, which turned out to be a bit of a hassle. Seungjoo, just in case, asked if they would need to retrieve the talismans later, but Muryeong reassured him, saying, “Since my brother made them, they’ll burn up and disappear on their own.”“This is the last one we need to place,” Muryeong said.Their final stop was an annex building where the library was located. The entrance of the library, marked with the sign “[The Dream of Haeyeon],” was easily opened by the flame Muryeong had summoned. Once again, Seungjoo watched the flame consume a coin, shaking his head in amazement.“That thing sure eats a lot.”It was no surprise, considering the flame was connected to Kim Muryeong’s goblin. Its appetite was impressive. At least it consumed small coins; if it had eaten bills, they’d have gone bankrupt.“If you had another one, wouldn’t it drain your finances?” Seungjoo asked.Muryeong didn’t reply, only giving a playful wink and exchanging a glance with the flame. It felt like there was some hidden meaning behind the look, but Seungjoo couldn’t quite figure it out.Muryeong soon wandered to the corner of the library to place the talisman, while Seungjoo stood at the entrance, idly looking around. It hadn’t even been half a year since they’d graduated, so the library hadn’t changed much. He remembered how Muryeong had once spent all night organizing books here. All those memories felt distant now.‘At least there were no Gwimae back then…’What exactly was the association president trying to achieve? Why would someone of his position do something so dangerous in a place full of students? As an adult with such authority, he should be protecting them, not putting them at risk.Feeling a bit bitter, Seungjoo walked over to the window and opened it slightly. A warm breeze rushed in, carrying a faint scent of rain as the monsoon season approached.“Has my brother finished placing the talismans yet…?”Seungjoo closed his eyes, focusing on the breeze. Once the barrier was safely closed, it would likely be his job to locate the Gwimae. Muheun wouldn’t ask him to do it, but Seungjoo knew he could sense things his brother couldn’t.Like the faint, sweet smell that just brushed past his nose…“…”Slowly, Seungjoo opened his eyes. He stared in one direction with a blank expression, parting his lips slightly.“…Hey, Muryeong.”“Yeah?” Muryeong answered loudly from behind the bookshelves, despite Seungjoo’s quiet whisper.How could someone with such sharp senses not notice what was right in front of him? Before he could question it, Seungjoo swallowed hard and spoke again.“Was there always a tree there?”In the middle of the schoolyard stood a massive tree. It had been an empty space just moments before, but now, looking at the enormous trunk, Seungjoo felt an intense sense of déjà vu.It was the same tree they had cut down in the past to build the new building.The two people who left the library headed straight to the field where the tree could be seen. On the way, they called Muheun, who also seemed to have discovered the tree growing in the field belatedly. Since he had already placed the talismans, they decided to meet Muheun in front of the command post.The goblin Muryeong had summoned disappeared after locking all the building doors. Before vanishing, it playfully clung to Seungjoo, making him chuckle despite his previously serious expression.“Hyung!”As soon as they arrived at the field, Muryeong called out loudly to Muheun, who was waiting in front of the command post. Muheun was holding a talisman in his left hand, which appeared to be the final item needed to form the barrier.“Hyung, that tree…”“It’s Gwimae,” Muheun confirmed, looking at the tree before Muryeong could finish. The towering tree seemed tall enough to touch the sky. Perhaps it was just their imagination, but it appeared to have grown even larger than when they had seen it from inside the building.“The energy is faint, though…”Muheun held the talisman between his fingers and narrowed his eyes. From the wavering spiritual energy, it was clear he was fully alert, but even so, he seemed to struggle sensing Gwimae’s presence.“Seungjoo, can you feel it?”“…Seungjoo can feel that?”It was Muryeong who asked the next question. Watching the tree intently, Muryeong looked surprised to hear that Seungjoo could sense Gwimae’s energy, as he had never seen Seungjoo’s abilities before and found it hard to believe.“I can feel it. I can even smell it, faintly.”“Smell…?”Muryeong sniffed the air with a confused expression, but, still not sensing anything, he frowned deeply in frustration.“It’s there. Something sweetish.”“You can smell Gwimae?”“Apparently. The scent is noticeable…”Since it was an unwanted ability, Seungjoo’s response came out in a resigned tone, and Muryeong’s gaze softened with sympathy. He knew all too well how much Seungjoo longed for a normal life.“I’ll close the barrier first.”With that, Muheun knelt on one knee and pressed the talisman against the base of the command post wall, close to the ground. Infusing it with spiritual energy, he firmly pressed the talisman against the wall, where it stuck.The spiritual energy extending from the talisman gathered in the sky, forming a web-like barrier, just as it had done over the university lake. A piercing ringing echoed in their ears as the threads of energy intertwined.At that moment, Seungjoo winced.“…!”Muheun, still crouched, suddenly pulled Seungjoo’s arm. Without warning, Seungjoo fell into Muheun’s arms, who wrapped himself around Seungjoo, shielding his head. Muryeong stepped in front of them.Kiiik!A sharp screech sounded from the tree in the distance. Through the swirling dust, Muryeong reached out and held something firmly. The force was so strong that it pushed him backward, causing his sneakers to drag along the ground.Seungjoo, eyes wide, watched Muryeong’s back. With Muheun shielding his head, his view was partially obstructed, making it hard to grasp the situation. When Seungjoo finally looked up, he saw a thick tree branch right in front of him.“What… is this?”The writhing branch extended from the distant tree trunk. Although he had thought it was still, it seemed to have snuck close right under their noses without them noticing. Despite his own sensitivity to energy, it was Muheun and Muryeong who had first detected the movement.“That was close,” Muheun sighed softly, touching the back of Seungjoo’s head, not so much to comfort him as to ensure he was unharmed. Meanwhile, with the tree branch having retracted, Muryeong dusted off his hands and looked back at them.“Are you okay, Seungjoo?”“Uh… I’m fine…”One of them had shielded him without hesitation, and the other had blocked the attack before he could even react. With two people protecting him, it would have been strange if he hadn’t been okay. What unsettled him was simply that the previously still tree had suddenly attacked.“Why did it act up all of a sudden…?”“That’s just how Gwimae is.”Muheun replied nonchalantly, helping Seungjoo to his feet. He brushed off Seungjoo’s clothes and added a firm warning.“That’s why it’s dangerous.”It was the same gentle tone as usual, yet somehow, it sounded more intimidating, especially after witnessing the tree’s sudden attack.“Muryeong, is your hand okay?”“Yeah, I’m fine.”“Good. But next time, don’t block it bare-handed.”Even as he said this, Muheun kept his gaze fixed on the tree, his dark eyes unwavering as he watched Gwimae. Muryeong, stepping back subtly, came to Seungjoo’s side while Muheun took a step toward the tree.“Seungjoo, keep yourself safe.”Before Muryeong could respond, Muheun launched himself forward, slashing through the air with his hand clenched. The energy burst into flames, forming a sharp blue sword.Screech!The piercing scream echoed again—a sign that the tree was preparing to attack once more. The massive trunk, writhing like a snake, sensed Muheun’s approach and swung forcefully in his direction.The sheer size of the trunk would overwhelm any human, but Muheun, fearless, raised his sword. The blade, leaving a blue trail, slashed the approaching branch clean in half. The severed limb crashed to the ground, disintegrating into a dark, dripping residue.“Seungjoo, come here.”Muryeong guided the dazed Seungjoo to a sheltered spot under the bleachers. It wasn’t far, but at least it offered some safety. Meanwhile, Muheun sliced through a few more branches, covering the area in a dark liquid.‘…It looks like blood.’Seungjoo thought he’d only feel pity seeing Gwimae in animal forms, but the sight of this tree-like Gwimae stirred a similar sympathy. Despite the fact that the tree had attacked them, seeing it thrash around in agony was unsettling.“Aren’t all Gwimae supposed to look like animals?”“I’ve never seen one like this myself, but apparently, sometimes they can take other forms—like trees, or even stones.”Muryeong’s calm, gentle voice was reassuring, but Seungjoo still felt uneasy.“…This tree looks like the one from our school, right?”The tree screamed again. Muheun, who had approached closely, slashed at the base of the trunk with his sword. Though it didn’t cut through, a gush of dark liquid oozed out from the wound.“It looks like it. The shape is similar.”Muryeong nodded, his gaze heavy with contemplation as he examined the tree, his voice as somber as Seungjoo’s.“To be precise… it’s probably the spirit of that tree.”Back when Seungjoo and Muryeong were in high school, a rundown building on campus was torn down to make way for a new one, and a nearby tree was cut down as well. That tree resembled the Gwimae before them now—the thick trunk, the twisted branches, the dense foliage. The main difference was that the original tree was green, whereas this one was pitch black.“The real question is… why is it coming after us now?”Muryeong rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and Seungjoo let out a quiet sigh. He’d hoped it wasn’t the case, but at this point, there was only one possibility.“The Association Leader must have broken the seal.”“Ah…”Realization dawned on Muryeong’s face, along with a flash of frustration and anger. Although he knew of the Association Leader’s misdeeds, he hadn’t expected him to go this far here.“Then I guess we’ll have to find evidence of that now.”“Yeah, that’s the plan.”“Do you have a way to find it?”Seungjoo shrugged instead of answering. Revealing his ability to view memories was risky, considering there was likely someone else watching them—a member of the Tribunal, observing from an unseen vantage point.“I’ll tell you later.”Fortunately, Muryeong didn’t press further. Instead, he turned his gaze to Muheun, who was now driving his sword into the center of the tree trunk. While they had looked away, Muheun had tightly bound the tree’s branches and trunk with threads of spiritual energy.“Looks like it’s almost over.”With the situation seemingly under control, Seungjoo turned to leave the bleacher area. However, just as he took a step, Muryeong grabbed his wrist.“Why?”“…Are you really going to purify it?”The question surprised him. Was Muryeong doubting him? But then he saw Muryeong lower his gaze, his expression tinged with worry.“No… It’s just dangerous.”Seungjoo understood. Muryeong wasn’t familiar with Seungjoo’s abilities, so his concern was natural. Muheun, too, had struggled to trust Seungjoo initially.“Hey, don’t worry about it.”He brushed it off lightly, slipping his wrist from Muryeong’s grip. The urge to protect Seungjoo wasn’t exclusive to Muheun; Muryeong shared that same sense of duty. When Seungjoo once broke his wrist in an accident, Muryeong had even gone two days without food, relying on talismans to aid in his recovery.“With Muheun around, what’s there to worry about?”When Seungjoo pointed at Muheun with his thumb, Muryeong’s expression shifted to one of mixed surprise and admiration. Without stopping, Seungjoo reached into his pocket and pulled out something he always carried.“And I’ve still got that talisman you made for me.”The charm, imbued with refreshing spiritual energy, was a talisman Muryeong had crafted back in high school. Since receiving it, Seungjoo had never once left it behind. It’d only been two years, so it should still hold power.But when Muryeong saw the talisman, his eyes widened in disbelief.“…That talisman’s power wore off ages ago.”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~