The Night Of The Untraced

“Seriously….”Seungjoo let out a quiet sigh, swallowing hard. It should have been Muheun going to the infirmary, not him. He had known Muheun was hurt, but it was worse than he’d anticipated.“Hyung, were you just fooling around to keep me from seeing this?”No wonder he’d fully put on his T-shirt before coming out. All those silly antics were clearly a way to hide his injuries. He must’ve planned to shift the conversation and play it off like nothing happened.“Not all of it was a joke.”With a relaxed reply, Muheun glanced back over his shoulder. It seemed he was trying to keep things light, but Seungjoo’s expression remained serious, showing no signs of easing up.With a frustrated look, Seungjoo raised his eyebrows.“Do you have anything for bruises?”“No need to apply anything.”Muheun, who replied softly, turned to face Seungjoo. Just as Seungjoo was about to say something, Muheun cupped his cheeks and gave him a quick peck on his lips, then pressed his forehead against his, smiling with crinkled eyes.“If I blow on it, it’ll get better.”“Then blow on my hand and heal that too.”This is why people scold others. His words came out more curt than intended, fueled by his frustration. Even though his reply was blunt, Muheun didn’t seem to mind and kissed him again. After a few quick kisses, his intense gaze softened.“Really, I’m fine. It’ll be better by tomorrow.”Just because it would heal quickly didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Whenever Seungjoo got even the smallest scratch, he’d fuss about it, yet he didn’t care at all about his own injuries.“More importantly, Seungjoo.”Since Seungjoo didn’t respond, Muheun began gently. With his face still held in Muheun’s hands, Seungjoo just looked up at him.“How does Gwangsik know you have ointment?”“Gwangsik?”Why was he suddenly bringing up Gwangsik? Seungjoo furrowed his brows at the unexpected name but then remembered what had happened earlier.“Oh, that…”‘You’ve got ointment, don’t you?’Gwangsik had suggested he at least apply some ointment if he wasn’t going to the infirmary. It seemed Muheun had been curious about how Gwangsik knew about it.“I put it on him once. He’d been scratched by a cat… it kept bleeding.”It was back when they were preparing for the school festival. After snapping at Gwangsik for bothering him, he’d ended up treating him with ointment, like giving a cure after causing a problem.“You actually applied it for him?”“I didn’t plan to, but when I left him to it, he was doing a terrible job.”Gwangsik had dabbed it on clumsily, as if he’d never used ointment before. Now that he thought about it, maybe Gwangsik just ignored minor injuries.“It kind of reminded me of Kim Muryeong…”“Muryeong?”“Yes, Kim Muryeong always gets hurt. He doesn’t even apply anything afterward. I actually started carrying ointment because of him.”Habits are hard to break—Seungjoo still kept basic ointment and bandages in his bag. If he hadn’t been so upset, he would probably have had bruise cream on him too.“Thanks to that, I got good at wrapping bandages from doing it for Kim Muryeong all the time.”So he was about to tell Muheun that he’d apply ointment for him too, but the more he spoke, the more Muheun’s expression shifted into something unreadable. He was smiling, but his dark eyes seemed to sink deeper.Then his usual soft voice slipped out of his mouth.“Our Seungjoo is really considerate, isn’t he?”“…”What was this? His tone sounded like a compliment, but there was an odd edge to it—especially since his mouth was smiling, but his eyes weren’t at all.“…Hyung, are you jealous?”At Seungjoo’s blunt question, Muheun narrowed his eyes in a silent response, as if to ask how he’d figured it out. He didn’t try to deny it, either, not bothering to hide it.“I’ll apply the ointment if you bring it over. You’re jealous of the weirdest things.”“Will you blow on it too?”“No, are you a kid or something…”Despite his words, Seungjoo was willing to do it if it’d make Muheun feel better. After all, applying the ointment was more for his own peace of mind. But instead of getting up, Muheun pulled Seungjoo into his arms.“I’m fine. Let’s just stay like this.”Thump. Muheun sprawled on the sofa, pulling Seungjoo onto him. With no choice, Seungjoo ended up lying on top of him, instinctively lifting his upper body, worried about hurting Muheun’s back. But instead of letting him go, Muheun hugged him even tighter.“Just stay. You’re light, so it doesn’t hurt.”He always says Seungjoo’s not heavy, but he never considers how uncomfortable that makes him feel. Or maybe, he’s just pretending it’s okay to avoid making things awkward.“Seungjoo.”“Yeah, tell me.”In the end, Seungjoo relaxed and let himself collapse on top of him. Although Muheun’s casted arm was slightly in the way, it wasn’t enough to cause discomfort. Muheun gently stroked the back of Seungjoo’s head and nuzzled his nose into his hair.“Do you remember the saying that saving someone’s life ties you to their fate?”“If you want to change someone’s fate, you have to either save them from serious harm or have them owe you their life.”That was what Muheun had said after Seungjoo almost fell into the lake and he happened to be there after having read his fortune. Seungjoo had often heard that if someone saved your life, fate would become indebted. He wondered why Muheun was bringing it up now, but he continued, his lips resting on Seungjoo’s head.“You saved that kid today.”Seungjoo knew who he meant. It had to be Gwangsik, the one he’d searched for through the flames earlier. Muheun, with his unique foresight, must have sensed that their fates had become intertwined.‘It’s not… jealousy, exactly.’Muheun wouldn’t hold it against him for saving someone. This was more a reflection of a deeper, unsettled feeling. Perhaps it was just a passing remark, but Seungjoo already knew what to say in response.“You’re the one who saved me, Hyung.”He said it casually, lifting his head a bit. As expected, Muheun was watching him with a calm gaze. Seungjoo placed his chin on Muheun’s chest, blinking slowly.“Aren’t our fates tied?”Muheun let out a quiet breath. He softened and kissed Seungjoo on the forehead.“Yeah, they’re tied—tightly.”After the light kiss, a gentle smile traced his lips. It seemed Seungjoo’s simple answer was the right one. Muheun’s face quickly relaxed into a pleased expression, and Seungjoo closed his eyes, letting out a small chuckle.“See? And yet here you are.”Despite his skepticism about superstition, Muheun sometimes acted like a fatalist. Maybe it was because of his almost supernatural abilities, unlike Seungjoo, who had no such gifts. Still, Seungjoo’s view on fate was different.“Well, I don’t believe in fate. No matter what my destiny is, the person I like is still you, Hyung.”Seungjoo’s feelings for Muheun weren’t just because they were “fated” to be together. If that were the case, he would’ve felt something similar for Muryeong long ago. Muheun was precious to him simply because he was “Kim Muheun.”“And what’s the point of being tied to Gwangsik? It’s not like he’s interested in me, anyway.”As Seungjoo muttered this to himself, Muheun chuckled with amusement. Though it was a pleasant smile, he didn’t seem to agree with Seungjoo’s words.“Well… we’ll just have to see about that.”Seungjoo didn’t think there was much to see. If anything, Gwangsik probably liked Hyung more than he did him.“Does your hand hurt?”“Something like this will heal with a little spit.”“Oh, really?”It was ironic how someone with a huge bruise on his back could be so concerned about others. So Seungjoo answered nonchalantly, and Muheun lifted his upper body slightly.“Let’s see if it heals with a bit of spit.”Smiling mischievously, Muheun took Seungjoo’s left hand, brushing his lips against the bandaged palm and pretending to suck on it gently. Tickled by the sensation, Seungjoo chuckled, then suddenly had an idea. He straightened up.“Hyung.”“Yeah?”As soon as Muheun responded, Seungjoo pushed him back down onto the sofa, leaning over him. Muheun blinked, momentarily surprised. Instead of explaining, Seungjoo pressed his lips gently against Muheun’s.The touch was as soft and warm as ever. Though surprised by the sudden kiss, Muheun parted his lips willingly. As Seungjoo slipped his tongue inside, Muheun’s hands cradled the back of his head, tilting his own head slightly to meet him.Breaths mingled, and the cool, tingling energy of Muheun’s essence filled Seungjoo’s body. Seungjoo welcomed this energy, mingling their breaths with a growing sense of exhilaration that crept down his spine.‘This should be enough…’Once he felt he’d absorbed enough of Muheun’s energy, Seungjoo focused and gathered it in his palm. Instinctively, the kiss began to slow. Muheun, perhaps irritated by the pace, furrowed his brow and tried to shift on top of him.But before he could, Seungjoo pressed him down firmly and broke the kiss. Muheun stared up at him with an intense gaze, his dark eyes swirling with excitement. Instead of leaning in for another kiss, Seungjoo simply offered his left hand to him.“Hyung, Hyung. Can you take off this bandage for me?”“…The bandage?”Despite his slightly breathless state, Muheun peeled off the bandage as Seungjoo asked. “Why, is it uncomfortable?” he asked, but after he removed the bandage completely, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.“This is…”His brow furrowed. Seungjoo looked down at his left hand, following Muheun’s gaze.Beneath the bandage, his palm was perfectly clean, without a single scratch—almost as if it had never been injured at all.Seungjoo let out a small laugh as he clenched and opened his now smooth palm.“Wow, it really healed.”He hadn’t expected it to work. Just a moment ago, there had been a lingering sting, but now there was no pain at all—as if he had never been injured in the first place.“What did you just…?”Muheun, unusually flustered, murmured in surprise. Seeing him so taken aback was a rare sight, and Seungjoo felt a small sense of pride as he showed Muheun his left palm again.“Hyung, I think when I absorb your Yeongi, my wounds heal.”“Heal?”Muheun gently held Seungjoo’s hand, his touch cautious even though there wasn’t a trace of a wound left. Seungjoo nodded, explaining further.“Remember? The doctor at the hospital said my arm was healing really fast.”At his last check-up, the doctor had marveled at Seungjoo’s incredible recovery. It seemed improbable that he’d be healing so quickly, even with good health; no ordinary person without some kind of spiritual power could recover this fast.“Honestly, I could probably take off the cast now.”There was still time left until the date the hospital had suggested, but sometimes Seungjoo felt like his arm was just being held in place for no reason. It was odd to feel no pain at all, even with the cast on.“So, I thought about it, and the only thing that makes sense is your Yeongi, Hyung.”Come to think of it, something similar had happened the first time he and Muheun had slept together. The bite mark Muheun had left on his chest had vanished within days. Seungjoo had been so busy he’d forgotten about it, but looking back, it was definitely unusual.“When we, uh… had sex that time…”“….”“…What?” Seungjoo trailed off, noticing Muheun staring at him intently. Muheun raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile on his face.“So, you kissed me to test that theory?”“…Is that not okay?”Had he overdone it? He thought it was the same as what they’d done to open his spiritual vision, after all.“Well, like you said, my ‘kiss’ healed it, didn’t it?”With a smile, Muheun let out a helpless chuckle. He hadn’t seemed annoyed to begin with, but now he looked at Seungjoo with a playful expression, scrunching his nose. Chuckling quietly, he leaned down to lick the spot on Seungjoo’s palm where the wound had been.“Yes, of course it’s okay.”Apparently, he even intended to give it a full ‘healing treatment,’ pressing his lips gently against the once-injured area. Seungjoo, unsure of the reaction, asked a little hesitantly.“So… aren’t you happy about it?”“Well… it’s great that your pain is gone.”Muheun, who usually hated seeing Seungjoo hurt, seemed like he’d be thrilled about this discovery. But then he gave a slight smile, his tone sharpening a bit.“I’m just a little worried our Seungjoo might start getting injured everywhere on purpose, thinking he’ll heal up right away.”“….”Wow. How did he know?As soon as Seungjoo realized Yeongi could heal him, his first thought had been, “Maybe it’s okay if I get hurt sometimes.” After all, he could heal before Muheun had a chance to worry. But somehow, Muheun had caught on right away and continued with a knowing smile.“That’s why exorcists are so reckless with their bodies. They heal fast, so they think nothing of getting hurt. That’s why Muryeong and I don’t use ointment, either.”So he was aware of his own carelessness, then. Although, Muheun lecturing him about injuries seemed a bit rich coming from someone with a wound as big as a door on his back, refusing to apply any medicine.“I don’t mind giving you as much Yeongi as you need, but don’t go hurting yourself.”Muheun emphasized his point by giving a gentle bite at the base of Seungjoo’s palm. It wasn’t hard enough to leave a mark, but Seungjoo saw it as Muheun’s way of being playfully stern. Even if he’d bitten him, he would still lick it afterward.“Then you should use ointment too, Hyung. I don’t want you getting hurt, either.”Seungjoo’s quiet protest made Muheun smile with his eyes. He then drew Seungjoo’s hand to his cheek, while his other hand circled the back of Seungjoo’s neck. In a soft voice, Muheun murmured into his ear.“Finish what you started.”There was no need to ask what he meant. Without giving Seungjoo a chance to respond, Muheun kissed him. Seungjoo, who had been thinking secretly that they should have gone to the bed earlier, squeezed his eyes shut.***As a result, Seungjoo didn’t end up applying medicine to Muheun’s wound. That night, he fell into a deep sleep, and by the time he woke up the next day, the bruise had vanished without a trace. Muheun shrugged as if it were nothing, and Seungjoo had no words of reproach for him.As Seungjoo had expected, Muheun’s Yeongi did help with healing the wound. At the hospital, the X-ray of Seungjoo’s right arm confirmed it. He had been surprised when his palm healed so quickly, but he hadn’t expected that he could even remove the cast on the spot.‘At this rate, I probably won’t need the hospital…’Seungjoo mumbled to himself while moving his right hand for the first time in a while, but he quickly turned his gaze away when he caught Muheun looking at him. Muheun didn’t say anything, but the meaning in his eyes was clear. He was probably still planning to take him to the hospital.At any rate, the wounds were all healed, and now they just needed to rebuild the burnt dorm. As expected, there had been no casualties, but it would take quite a while to rebuild the building because it had been deep in the mountains and moving the materials was tricky.‘…The fire was caused by a cigarette?’Ironically, the cause of the fire was a cigarette butt. The culprit was the man who had grabbed Muheun by the collar during the trial. Apparently, he had carelessly discarded his cigarette, which had led to the devastating fire. Had he reported it immediately, things might have been different, but the man cowardly fled into the mountains as soon as the fire spread.Seungjoo had been shocked to learn about the numerous CCTV cameras in the exorcist association, and when he learned the identity of the culprit, he couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded. He recalled the time when the man had yelled at him, “Do you think you’ll get away with this?” and he wondered if the man had been plotting some kind of revenge. But Muheun, who seemed to sense his doubts, shook his head firmly.‘He’s not the type to do something like that.’Muheun explained that the man was someone who always pretended to be tough but never followed through with anything. He had once even threatened an old lady with the association’s gift to her neighbor, insisting that they would both be in trouble if she didn’t accept it.‘Wow, that’s really pathetic…’‘That’s why Muyeon can’t stand him. He was briefly Muyeon’s team leader once.’The man would pay compensation for the financial damage, and it seemed like he would face legal punishment as well. Muheun had filed a report, and it was likely that the officials he had accused would be under strict surveillance for a while, especially since the man might attempt to cover up evidence.So, everything seemed to be on its way to being resolved…“…”In a spacious office, the figure sitting in the chair stared intently at the air in front of him with a serious expression. Occasionally, he would quietly touch his fingertips, his posture almost melancholic. The atmosphere made it difficult to approach him, but someone broke the silence without hesitation.“Gwangsik.”The unrefined name came from Seungjoo, standing next to him. He noticed that there was no response from Gwangsik, so he called his name again.“Gwangsik.”Once again, Gwangsik didn’t give him a glance. He didn’t even blink, ignoring Seungjoo entirely, almost as if he were invisible. Seungjoo, raising an eyebrow, raised his voice slightly.“Hey.”“…”“Are you there?”A deep sigh came from Gwangsik, who had been silent the whole time. Seungjoo was taken aback for a moment—now Gwangsik was even sighing. Seungjoo walked right up to him and bent down to get his attention.“Hey.”“…!”Gwangsik jumped, startled when Seungjoo suddenly leaned into his face. The chair rolled backward, but Seungjoo instinctively grabbed the backrest to stop himself from falling. The chair rotated back toward Seungjoo.“…When did you get here?”Gwangsik stood up awkwardly, his eyes wide. Seungjoo had been there for at least five minutes, but Gwangsik acted as if he had never noticed him. Seungjoo, used to Gwangsik’s reactions by now, frowned and tilted his head.“I’ve been here for a while.”Gwangsik’s behavior had been strange ever since the fire that had happened a few days ago. He had always been a little odd, but lately, he had been acting more like someone who had lost touch with reality.“What are you thinking? You didn’t even hear me call you. Are you feeling sick?”These were the kinds of things Seungjoo had noticed—Gwangsik spacing out, staring off into space like someone absent-minded, or completely tuning out the world around him as he got lost in his thoughts.And whenever they did make eye contact, it was always followed by:“…I wasn’t thinking about anything.”He would turn bright red and look away.Why was he acting like this? No matter how much Seungjoo thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out. At first, he wondered if Gwangsik had inhaled too much smoke during the fire, but the infirmary had assured him that Gwangsik was fine. There was no reason for him to be acting strange.“If you’re not feeling well, tell Muheun-hyung.”“…”When Seungjoo spoke out of concern, Gwangsik pursed his lips and turned away. This odd behavior of his was becoming obvious in moments like these. For some reason, whenever Muheun’s name came up, Gwangsik’s expression would darken. Maybe he still hadn’t gotten over the disbandment of the team. At times, he seemed like a stubborn child.‘They seemed to have talked it out, though.’The day after the dormitory fire, Muheun had visited the association and had a long conversation with Gwangsik as planned. Seungjoo didn’t know the specifics, but he could tell that Gwangsik seemed more at ease afterward. It seemed like their relationship had improved, so he couldn’t understand why Gwangsik was suddenly acting like this.“So?”“Huh?”Lost in thought, Seungjoo blinked as he looked back at Gwangsik, who glanced at him with a now neutral expression. Though even then, their eyes didn’t quite meet.“Why did you call me?”“Oh…”Seungjoo trailed off, his eyes shifting. He had called Gwangsik reflexively and didn’t actually have a reason. Well, he did have a reason, but it wasn’t something he could say out loud.“Do I need a reason? I called you because I saw you.”Gwangsik had part of the Gwimae within him. This was something Seungjoo had been certain of since he felt Gwangsik’s Yeongi amidst the flames, as he tracked Gwimae. But knowing that didn’t mean he could act on it. He couldn’t exactly grab Gwangsik and say, “Hey, you’ve got Gwimae in you. Let me purify it.” And silently trying to purify him would require physical contact, which was also complicated.Moreover, seeing Gwangsik’s innocent face, as if he knew nothing, made Seungjoo hesitate to bring it up. He felt that it might shock him to find out he had Gwimae inside him, especially since he was also a Gwimae hunter. Several times, Seungjoo had tried to start the conversation, but he remembered the pained look Gwangsik had worn in the meeting room, and he gave up.“If you haven’t eaten dinner yet, let’s eat together.”The conclusion he had come to was to at least check on him every day. He had to seize any opportunity until he found a way to handle this. Kind of like when Kim Muryeong befriended Gi Hwanyeong by eating lunch together every day a long time ago.“…Why are you eating with me instead of the team leader?”“Of course the team leader is joining us.”The answer came from behind, not from Seungjoo. Surprised by the unexpected voice, Seungjoo jumped and turned around. At some point, Muheun had entered the office, wrapping his arm around Seungjoo’s shoulders with a smile.“Were you planning to eat with Gwangsik without me?”His dark eyes turned to Gwangsik, who was frowning slightly as he looked at Seungjoo’s shoulder, or rather, at Muheun’s hand on it.“No… Of course you’re coming too. When did you get here, Hyung?”“Just now.”Muheun replied softly and pulled Seungjoo closer, resting his chin on the top of Seungjoo’s head with a soft chuckle.“Were you playing with Gwangsik while waiting for me?”“Well, just…”Seungjoo had only been chatting with Gwangsik while Muheun was reporting to the higher-ups. Since Muheun had escorted him to the office, it wasn’t like he had acted on his own. So why did he feel so self-conscious, like he’d done something he shouldn’t have?“I just thought we’d eat together since he was likely going to eat alone.”The reason Seungjoo was self-conscious was Muheun’s attitude over the past few days. After the fire, it wasn’t just Gwangsik who had started acting strangely. To be precise, Muheun seemed particularly defensive whenever Seungjoo was with Gwangsik.“…I’ll eat by myself.”“Really?”It was happening again. Muheun clearly knew why he’d approached Gwangsik, but he didn’t insist when Gwangsik refused. His hovering close to Seungjoo seemed almost like jealousy.“Yes, then I’ll take my leave…”As Gwangsik bowed slightly, Muheun gave a light hum, as though he, too, felt reluctant to let him go. Just as Seungjoo was about to try and stop Gwangsik, Muheun spoke slowly.“Gwangsik.”The soft call was enough to halt Gwangsik, who was about to walk away. He turned back to them with an awkward expression.Muheun’s voice was as steady as always.“Our Seungjoo likes older guys.”“…”Seungjoo was at a loss for words—not Gwangsik, but Seungjoo, who was in Muheun’s arms. Not only was the sudden topic baffling, but it was also untrue.“…I like older people?”“Yeah, didn’t you know?”Seungjoo had never thought about such a preference in his life, but Muheun replied without a hint of shame, as if that was the reason Seungjoo liked him. Not that Seungjoo liked Muheun because he was older. He let out a frustrated laugh, but Gwangsik’s reaction was entirely different.“…”The usual blank look on his face had hardened a bit more, almost like he was deeply shocked. Seeing that, Seungjoo suddenly realized.‘No way…’It couldn’t be. There was no way, yet he felt a strange chill at the back of his neck. With this unexplainable feeling, Gwangsik looked straight at Muheun and spoke.“What… is your relationship with Seungjoo?”The question was out of the blue and a little surprising—not because he was asking about their relationship, but because he still didn’t know what it was. Before Seungjoo, who was stunned, could answer “We’re dating,” Muheun chuckled and said,“We’re… the kind of relationship where I peed on his face.”“Why would you talk about something from when I was a baby like that…?”In the car heading to Seungjoo’s place, Seungjoo sighed, holding onto the seatbelt in frustration. Beside him, Muheun, with a faint smile, calmly steered the wheel. He looked cool as ever, but his words couldn’t have been more irritating.“Well… it’s not untrue.”“Pee on his face?”When Muheun had said that earlier, Gwangsik’s innocence was even more impressive than expected. Despite Seungjoo’s shock, Gwangsik had only blinked in confusion, not understanding. So, Seungjoo had quickly clarified that it was something that happened when they were babies, and that, no, they were actually dating.“As long as it got the point across.”“It didn’t, and that’s the problem.”Luckily, Gwangsik didn’t know much, but if anyone else had heard it, wouldn’t they think it was suspicious? Even someone as straightforward as Seungjoo had been taken aback; anyone would’ve misunderstood.“You did pee on something, though.”“I didn’t—!”Seungjoo started to retort angrily, then stopped, clamping his mouth shut. He realized that getting defensive would only amuse Muheun. So all he could do was mutter a small defense.“…It wasn’t on his face.”Muheun chuckled. His eyes sparkled with mischief as they curved into crescents.“Want to give it a try?”“Oh, come on!”Seungjoo yelled and checked the dashboard camera. This was the kind of conversation that made him blush even though only the two of them were in the car.“Forget it… Anyway, why do you care so much about him?”Gathering himself, Seungjoo finally asked something he’d been curious about for a while. Lately, why was Muheun so concerned about Gwangsik? Why did he keep acting so guarded?Muheun kept his gaze forward as he slowly spoke.“Didn’t I tell you Gwangsik has Gwimae?”His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel. The eyes that had been laughing moments ago had turned cold, a dark glint flashing in them.“That Gwimae loved Lady Seo. And you, Seungjoo, are Lady Seo’s reincarnation.”“So what?”What did that have to do with anything? Whether it did or not didn’t concern him much.But Muheun seemed to think differently, glancing at Seungjoo as he spoke.“Can you guarantee he won’t be swept up in Gwimae’s feelings?”“…”It was a question that left Seungjoo speechless, his throat tightening. He wished he could confidently say no, but something held him back.“It’s not the only reason…”Muheun muttered just loud enough to hear, then slowly closed his eyes and opened them again. His gaze shifted with the light of passing street lamps.“We should cut it off before it grows.”Could such a tilted smile look so determined? Seungjoo frowned silently, and only then did Muheun soften his expression.“You shouldn’t hurt a kid.”“Hey…”It was as if he was suggesting that Seungjoo was leading Gwangsik on. Without a good retort, Seungjoo hesitated for a while, then finally spoke.“I’ve never treated him that well, you know.”He meant that there was no reason for Gwangsik to like him, but who knew how Muheun interpreted it. For a moment, his gaze grew distant, and the smile slipped from his lips.Seungjoo would find out that Muheun’s guess wasn’t entirely off the mark the next day, when Gwangsik came looking for him.As usual, Seungjoo got up early, had the breakfast prepared by his housekeeper, and waited for a call from Muheun. Once Muheun finished his work and had a quick nap, he planned to stop by Seungjoo’s house and then take him to the association.But as the sun rose high, an unexpected guest appeared at the gate.“…Why are you here?”Standing in front of the large wooden gate, Seungjoo looked surprised as he spoke to Gwangsik, who was waiting there. He’d only come outside because he sensed something unusual while pacing around the yard, but to his surprise, he found Gwangsik lingering there, hesitating in front of the intercom as if he hadn’t just been passing by.“Did you come to my house?”“…”Instead of answering, Gwangsik looked a bit flustered, glancing back and forth between Seungjoo and the intercom before cautiously asking, “How did you know I was here?”“I just… had a feeling.”Seungjoo trailed off, frowning. He thought of asking how Gwangsik knew where he lived, but then realized that exorcists affiliated with the association likely had access to his address. So he changed his line of questioning.“If you’re going to show up at someone’s house, you should let them know first. It’s not polite to just drop by unannounced.”Even if he had called ahead, Seungjoo still would’ve found it surprising, so appearing like this without warning was even more bewildering. It didn’t upset him, but he was taken aback by Gwangsik’s boldness.But Gwangsik replied hesitantly, “…I didn’t have your number.”“…Oh.”Now that he thought about it, that was true. When Gwangsik had asked for his number, Seungjoo had brushed him off, thinking it was nonsense. Back then, he’d been trying to avoid Gwangsik, and recently, he figured there was no point since they met at the association anyway.“Give me your phone.”Gwangsik silently handed over his phone, and Seungjoo punched in the eleven-digit number he hadn’t shared for three months. Returning the phone, he asked, “So, why did you come here?”Gwangsik’s lips twitched as he struggled to respond. The boldness he’d shown in coming all the way here seemed to have vanished, and it took him a long moment to finally say, “I… have something to talk about.”“Alright, well… come in, then.”“…Come in?”Gwangsik blinked in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected Seungjoo to agree so easily. Maybe Gwangsik didn’t realize it, but Seungjoo had plenty he wanted to discuss, too. In fact, he’d been planning to go to the association to see him today.“It’s hot outside; we’re not going to talk standing here.”With that, Seungjoo opened the gate and nodded for him to enter. For some reason, though, Gwangsik hesitated and didn’t step forward.Wondering why, Seungjoo looked inside the gate and clicked his tongue when he saw the charms plastered on the wall.“Let’s go to the neighbor’s place.”***At the neighbor’s house, there was an ajumma and Seolgi. The ajumma, who was tidying up the yard, didn’t seem fazed by Seungjoo’s sudden visit and readily offered them the guesthouse. She didn’t know the full details, but when she saw “Yeonho,” who had followed Seungjoo, she seemed to sense something.Before entering the guesthouse, Seungjoo left a quick message for Muheun. He explained that Gwangsik had come over and that they’d be chatting at his neighbor’s place, where the ajumma would be around, so he didn’t need to worry. Although Seungjoo assumed he was still sleeping, Muheun called back immediately after receiving the message.“Hello?”“Yeah, Seungjoo… Can you put Gwangsik on the phone?”His voice was a bit husky, as though he’d just woken up. He was probably getting ready to head over to Seungjoo’s house. “He wants to talk to you.” Handing the phone over, Seungjoo saw Gwangsik tense up as he accepted it.“Yes, sir.”Seungjoo couldn’t hear the conversation, so while they talked, he squatted down and petted Seolgi.Seolgi, who had followed them to the guesthouse, was now playfully rolling over at Gwangsik’s feet, showing his belly for attention. They say even a dog can learn wisdom after three years, yet their Baek Seolgi seemed oblivious to Gwimae’s presence and only acted happily toward this unfamiliar guest.“…Yes, I’ll see you later.”After a short while, their conversation seemed to wrap up, and Gwangsik returned Seungjoo’s phone. Muheun sounded fine on the call, so Seungjoo just told him to take his time coming over and then hung up.“Baek Seolgi, you should go back home too. It’s hot out.”Woof! With a big bark, Seolgi bounded back toward the main house. He was probably headed to the ajumma, but at times like these, it really seemed like he could understand human words. Then again, at fourteen, he could practically be a middle schooler.“Let’s go inside and talk.”Seungjoo went in first, with Gwangsik following behind. The guesthouse, identical in layout to Seungjoo’s place, was usually used by the neighbors for training. It was a simple square room with no furniture and a small window up high to let in light.Sitting cross-legged in the center of the guesthouse, Seungjoo got straight to the point.“So, what do you want to talk about?”Gwangsik, who had been standing awkwardly, knelt down across from him. Seungjoo thought about telling him to sit comfortably, but since he didn’t look particularly uncomfortable, he let it be.With his hands resting on his thighs, Gwangsik looked at Seungjoo with a resolute expression and addressed him.“Seo Seungjoo.”It was the same way he always said his name, yet somehow, it rubbed him the wrong way this time.“Call me hyung.”“…Hyung?”Gwangsik blinked, surprised, and Seungjoo revealed a bit of information he’d only recently found out.“You’re eighteen, right?”It was a little late to point it out, but it dawned on him that this kid had been acting all casual while being two years younger. Realizing it, the way Gwangsik had been calling him “Seo Seungjoo” suddenly felt a bit too bold.“Call me hyung. Seungjoo hyung.”“….”Though it wasn’t a difficult request, Gwangsik hesitated, deep in thought. He even lowered his head, like he was pondering something serious.His response, when it finally came, was surprisingly uncooperative.“No.”“….”Seungjoo hadn’t been entirely serious, but that blunt reply irked him. He felt a petty urge to argue, but instead, he just let out a small laugh and shook his head.“Fine, do what you want. So, what’s your reason for coming here?”“Well…”Gwangsik cleared his throat and swallowed nervously. He usually kept his emotions in check, but today, his unease was obvious. It wasn’t a subtle expression buried under a calm face; his eyes visibly wavered.“Seo Seungjoo, you…”What’s he trying to say? Seungjoo waited patiently, knowing that if he pushed, it would only make Gwangsik more nervous. Better to sit back and act like he didn’t care.“Your name… Seung (勝) for ‘win,’ and joo (晝) for ‘daylight.’ But why ‘win over daylight’ and not ‘night’? Isn’t nighttime more dangerous?”It was a natural-sounding question, even if it felt a bit spontaneous, like he’d genuinely wondered about it for a long time. Tilting his head slightly, Seungjoo began to answer slowly.“Well, because evil spirits come out in the daylight too…”Powerful evil spirits can appear even during the day. Every exorcist knew that, but the reason Seungjoo’s name was Seungjoo (勝晝) went beyond that.“People can die during the day too.”Being fated for a short life didn’t only mean death by evil spirits. He’d heard that some of his ancestors had died in unfortunate accidents unrelated to the supernatural. While his older sister and older brother had lost their lives to evil spirits, others hadn’t.“And besides, I already overcame the night.”Born on an auspicious day to avoid the gaze of vengeful spirits, Seungjoo had escaped the influence of the unseen. He’d “overcome the night,” so all he had to do now was conquer the “day” — the time of human activity.“That’s why I’m Seungjoo (勝晝). Get it?”“….”Gwangsik nodded. “So that’s what it means.” He murmured as if a weight had been lifted from his mind. Seungjoo thought he’d just been making small talk, but apparently, he’d genuinely been curious about the meaning behind his name.“Did you come all this way just to ask that?”“No.”This time, his answer came more directly. It seemed that listening to Seungjoo had helped him steady his nerves, and his unease from earlier was gone. Clenching his fists, Gwangsik looked Seungjoo straight in the eyes.“Seo Seungjoo.”“Go on.”Seungjoo thought, He’s going to wear out my name at this rate. But he didn’t say it out loud, not wanting to disrupt Gwangsik as he finally began to speak his mind.With a slight furrow in his brows, Gwangsik spoke slowly.“When I look at you… my heart starts beating weirdly.”“…?”Seungjoo’s face went blank. What… heart? He just blinked in confusion, and Gwangsik looked down, adding another comment.“It feels strange. Like it hurts.”“…”“Sometimes I even feel feverish…”What on earth was he talking about? The more Gwangsik spoke, the more bewildered Seungjoo felt. It wasn’t that his words were complicated, but they sounded like a foreign language.“There was that time you showed up in my dream, but… no, no, that’s not it.”“Wh…”What wasn’t it? Seungjoo almost asked reflexively but swallowed the question. He had a feeling he’d regret knowing what kind of dream it was.Instead, Seungjoo replied in a tone of uncertainty.“…Could it be arrhythmia?”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~