The Night Of The Untraced

It was something he used to say to describe a man. Just as Seungjoo found it strange, Muheun let out a thin sigh, like air escaping.“I think I know who it is.”“Someone you know?”Maybe the word “team leader” had been a hint. As Seungjoo perked up, Muheun gave a vague expression, as if it was hard to explain.“Well… he’s not a bad guy.”It wasn’t a clear answer, but it was probably the best he could give. If he wasn’t a bad guy, he likely wasn’t dangerous. Besides, Seungjoo himself had never felt any sense of threat from him.“So, what did he ask for help with?”“Oh, I didn’t hear that part. I figured if I listened, I’d feel obligated to help.”Actually, as soon as the man finished talking, Jinwoo appeared. This time, the man had asked for Seungjoo’s number, but Seungjoo firmly refused, once again making it clear he didn’t plan to help, even if it might seem a bit cold to others.‘Even if that hyung is the real culprit, it’s none of my business.’Seungjoo didn’t understand the influence Gwimae had on humans. He had never witnessed its severity firsthand, nor did he feel the tremendous sense of duty that exorcists did. If Muheun thought it was important, there must be a reason. The trust he had built since birth played a part, too.“Good. Then, I’ll tell him not to seek you out anymore.”“Would he actually listen if you said that?”“Yeah, he would.”The reply was confident, without a hint of hesitation, and even a bit relaxed. He spoke in a gentle, calm voice.“And if he doesn’t listen, what can he do?”“…”Was it just him? It sounded like something a real jerk would say. Despite the gentle smile, there was an undeniable sense of authority.But still, the words Muheun directed at Seungjoo were warm.“You must have been annoyed, Seungjoo.”“…Well.”His exposed neck felt hot. Seungjoo awkwardly looked away and shoved his hands into his pockets. He instinctively grasped the edge of the charm, but he couldn’t feel any of the Yeongi he used to sense.“Things should be fine now.”“…”His spiritual sight must have closed. He realized it only now. He could still sense the Yeongi in the morning, but he couldn’t pinpoint when it had shut off.“What’s wrong?”“…Nothing.”He pulled his hand away awkwardly and started walking slowly. Not far ahead were two identical gates. It was clearly something he should be happy about, but an unexpected tightness gripped his chest.Seungjoo subtly glanced at Muheun. Muheun, who blinked slowly, covered his mouth with one hand and yawned deeply. As usual, his cool gaze still carried traces of fatigue.“…What I mentioned last time.”The words slipped out impulsively. He just looked very tired, and he felt oddly down. The itchy sensation in his throat, mixed with a strange sense of regret, surged up.“About whether I could help.”Muheun looked at Seungjoo with a relaxed gaze. The hint of a smile fading wasn’t just Seungjoo’s imagination.“That… it wasn’t as if I was saying I’d act as bait. I don’t like getting hurt, and besides, if I’m with hyung, it wouldn’t be that dangerous.”“And?”“So…”As he struggled to find the words, the gate drew closer with each step. Just a few more steps, and it’d be time to part ways with Muheun. One step, two steps closer to the gate, and Seungjoo suddenly stopped and murmured softly.“After kissing twice, what’s stopping us from a third?”“…”Muheun’s eyes narrowed. Although he habitually squinted, there was no smile on his lips this time. He merely asked in his usual slow tone.“So, you remembered.”There was no need to answer. Before Seungjoo could say anything, Muheun took a step closer. In the brief tension of their proximity, Muheun slowly reached out.“Who you decide to help is up to you, Seungjoo.”“…”He thought the hand would touch his face. Or maybe his arm, like last time.But the large hand landed on the gate behind him instead.“If I think you’re in danger, I won’t let anyone help you. Not even myself.”The sound of the gate creaking open echoed. Seungjoo belatedly looked up at Muheun. At some point, his dark eyes had grown unfocused. Blink, blink. After closing and opening his eyes a few times, Muheun finally gave a faint smile.“Get home safe.”“…”It wasn’t a “see you tomorrow.” The firm yet kind tone was the last farewell Seungjoo had always heard—one without promises, without regrets, one he’d grown all too familiar with.“…You be safe too, hyung.”That was all Seungjoo could say. The courage he’d mustered was weak enough to crumble at that single, indirect rejection. Muheun withdrew without a word, not saying anything until Seungjoo went through the gate.That walk home together—ended there.***When did he realize his feelings? In his childhood, he had thought of him as merely a friendly neighbor hyung. Though he was especially close to Muheun, that was simply because he knew instinctively that Muheun cared for him.It made sense; Muheun had been by Seungjoo’s side since birth. He cared for Seungjoo before his younger brother Muryeong and never got angry, no matter what Seungjoo did. If Seungjoo acted bothersome, he’d accept it fondly, and if he acted up even a little, he’d warmly embrace him.It was natural. Unlike Muheun, born on the lunar New Year as the eldest, Seungjoo, born in December, was the youngest in both families. When Muheun celebrated his twelfth birthday, Seungjoo was just barely fifty days old. How small and precious must Seungjoo have appeared in Muheun’s eyes?Of course, that didn’t mean Muheun indulged Seungjoo endlessly. Perhaps due to his affection and playfulness, Muheun teased him constantly as soon as he began to walk, whether by popping out from behind, lifting him up without warning, or telling him scary stories just for fun.It was a game that only ended when young Seungjoo finally burst into tears. His tears mixed with a sense of unfairness and frustration—more like resentment directed at Muheun. Getting teased was annoying, and he was embarrassed that he was the only one startled, unlike Kim Muryeong. When he couldn’t hold it back any longer, tears would start falling.“Muheun, did you make him cry again?”Of course, Kim Muheun would get scolded whenever this happened. After all, he had made his much younger sibling cry, and their aunt wouldn’t let it slide. Whenever she’d say that Seungjoo might not want to play with him anymore, Muheun would look at Seungjoo with a disappointed face and ask.“Seungjoo, you don’t want to play with Hyung anymore?”It was ridiculous—he was the one who kept teasing until Seungjoo cried. If Seungjoo sulked without answering, Muheun would approach with a gentle tone, coaxing him with apologies and sweet words. “Hyung was wrong. I’m sorry. Come on, Seungjoo, let me see you. Good boy.” He’d go on and on like that, wiping away Seungjoo’s tears and even giving him little kisses.“Stop crying, okay?”In reality, he hadn’t even cried that much. He’d just shed a few tears with an aggrieved look, stifling his emotions. It was a little embarrassing that Muryeong would hover nearby, anxiously checking on him as well.“Our Seungjoo felt so sad, didn’t he?”That voice, always soft and coaxing, with a tinge of laughter, was still so clear. It was filled with fondness, an amused apology as it coaxed him gently, and the hand that had patted his back as he lifted him into his arms was vivid in his memory.“Hyung was mean, wasn’t he?”Muheun was indeed an expert at giving the medicine after causing the pain. Even if he hadn’t felt truly sad, hearing those words could make him feel sad right away. Muheun had also been young back then, yet he acted so maturely, which only made Seungjoo feel all the more annoyed.So, when did he start to like that frustrating Hyung?Looking back, there doesn’t seem to have been any clear reason. One day he just found himself watching Muheun, and before he knew it, he was waiting for him. There were times when, despite being closer than even his siblings or cousins, Muheun suddenly felt like a stranger, and it made Seungjoo feel lonely.It wasn’t like he’d carried out a long, unrequited love either. He’d had a typical middle school romance with a girlfriend, and the relationship ended for ordinary reasons without lasting long or being particularly serious. It was just a casual, fleeting feeling—not a grand resignation but rather a small, quiet acceptance. Seungjoo wasn’t the type to embrace change, and he valued a peaceful, steady life above all else.Even so, there were moments when resentment would bubble up unexpectedly.It was simple: if he was going to leave, he shouldn’t have been so kind. He shouldn’t have acted like he’d accept everything with open arms. Making Seungjoo feel precious, cherished, like the most important person in the world—it was unfair.Kim Muheun was dear to him, but the resentment came with it. Acting needlessly tender, then leaving without a second thought, behaving sweetly as if he’d give him everything, only to stop at the line.Of course, since Seungjoo had no intention of crossing that line either, they were even in a way.***Time flew by, and it was finally the day of the department retreat. They had gathered at a mountain-side pension, where the sociology students were all taking time to bond. After some obligatory group activities, the main event—grilled meat and drinks—finally kicked off.“To the future!”“To sociology!”Voices boomed in response to the group toast led by the department rep. Seungjoo only pretended to join in, setting down his cup afterward. In the wide space set up for the barbecue, students from the department sat around the tables lined up in rows.“Students who don’t drink don’t need to force themselves!”Unlike the welcoming party, there wasn’t any pressure to drink. Seungjoo, therefore, enjoyed his fill of grilled meat and held firm with his cola, drinking no alcohol. However, his decision drew unexpected complaints.“Wow, is Seungjoo really not going to drink?”“Never shows up at drinking events either!”“Can you even handle alcohol?”“He’s a heavy drinker, a real pro.”“Yeah, last time he was the only one still sober.”The ones voicing complaints, unfortunately, were his classmates. The seniors didn’t mind, but Jinwoo and the others were quick to start pestering him.“Ugh, you guys are a pain…”Seohyun, exasperated, was about to speak up when Seungjoo put down his cup and, without any fuss, responded.“Who said I wasn’t drinking?”“Huh?”Seohyun turned to look at him. Seungjoo picked up some meat from the grill for his plate and glanced around. His classmates were looking at him with eager eyes.“I’ll drink—after I fill up a bit.”It wasn’t that he was avoiding alcohol; he just wasn’t interested in drinking at first. He didn’t want to repeat the mistakes he’d made last time, and with his psychic sense open, he couldn’t be at any drinking gatherings.But now, maybe it didn’t matter as much.“Wow, really? What are you going to drink? Soju? Beer? Or both?”Jinwoo exclaimed excitedly, bringing a new paper cup and both a bottle of soju and beer before Seungjoo even had the chance to answer. Not planning to refuse, Seungjoo shrugged.“Just give me anything.”As he ate a piece of meat with chopsticks, his classmates eagerly prepared his drink. He wondered why they were so happy about it but didn’t bother to question it.***Perhaps because the department rep had set the tone, seniors weren’t pressuring freshmen to drink. They’d give them drinks if they were already drinking, but they didn’t bother anyone who wasn’t. The senior who’d pestered Seohyun at the last party didn’t seem to be at the retreat at all.“Wow, Seungjoo, you can really hold your liquor…”“You guys were just drinking too fast.”So Seungjoo drank at a moderate pace. He didn’t foolishly chug or make strong mixed drinks. As his classmates pushed past their limits, he continued eating and drinking in moderation.“Oh, right.”In a drowsy voice, Jinwoo looked at Seungjoo and suddenly remembered something. Seungjoo glanced over, and Jinwoo brought up a surprising topic.“That Hyung hasn’t shown up lately.”“…”Seungjoo paused with his cup halfway to his mouth. He didn’t even need to ask who “that Hyung” was—he knew immediately.“Well… he won’t be coming anymore.”“Take care.”After that day, Muheun no longer came to pick up Seungjoo, and even the mysterious exorcist stopped appearing. Seungjoo was able to return to his normal life, free of any oppressive feeling at home. The cold charms that used to feel weighty now seemed like just ordinary paper.“Did you take care of everything?”“Yeah, turns out it was nothing major.”It felt as if everything that had happened was just a dream. The brief moments of encountering spirits and Gwimae with Muheun’s help, and the simple exchanges and jokes they shared on the way to and from school—all of it seemed distant.“Good. I was worried it might be something serious.”“…Yeah.”Seungjoo took another sip of soju, furrowing his brow as he did. Every time he drank, he wondered what people enjoyed about it. The champagne Muheun had brought for New Year’s was far better in taste.“It’s a good thing.”His sight had closed, and the risk of encountering anything dangerous was gone. Since Muheun no longer waited at the school gate, there wouldn’t be any more stares on the way home.So why did the whole situation feel so hollow?‘…I told you I’d contact you when I was done.’It’s funny how feelings work; even the moments he once wanted to avoid became something to miss. What he thought was only a burden became something he tried not to get too used to, as if he knew it would vanish someday. He was definitely running away before he could get too attached, trying not to let it become a habit he couldn’t break.But, in the end, the emptiness set in. Damn it, Kim Muheun, he really had a way of defying expectations.***Seungjoo let out a sigh and took another bite of meat. His classmates were laughing, slurring their words as they teased about how well he could handle both soju and food. Only Seohyun, who had barely drunk anything, and Jinwoo, who had a strong tolerance, seemed relatively sober.“Hey, did you guys hear?”Suddenly, one of the seniors leaned in, speaking in a low, serious tone that drew the attention of everyone at the table.“There’s a story they tell every year when we have our MT here.”The senior’s gaze swept across the freshmen, pausing on each one with a dramatic gulp. It was clearly exaggerated, but that only made everyone lean in more.“They say there’s a ghost on the mountain behind us…”When he finally said it, the reactions were mixed: some rolled their eyes and took a drink, some looked intrigued, and others grimaced as if they wanted to cover their ears.Seungjoo’s expression fell into the last category.“You don’t believe me? It’s true!”Listening to ghost stories out here? Not exactly scary, but certainly not welcome. Seungjoo already heard enough about spirits from the “neighbors” back home.“The pension owner has a dog that barks at the mountain every night. They say dogs can see spirits, right?”As if dogs could actually see spirits. The only dog Seungjoo knew, Baek Seolgi from the exorcist family, couldn’t do anything like that even at fourteen years old. According to Kim Muryeong, even if a spirit passed right in front of her, she’d just grin without a clue (information Seungjoo would rather not know).“And when it happens, someone always ends up wandering off into the woods as if in a trance…”The senior’s story continued, detailing how those who went up the mountain always claimed the same thing: they’d follow a clear path but end up circling back, only to find themselves right at the mountain entrance again.“They were probably drunk.”“Some were completely sober, though.”Why anyone would go into the mountain at night was a mystery, but if they made it back to the entrance, that was a relief. After all, if someone had gone missing or worse, they wouldn’t still hold MT here year after year.“So don’t go hiking drunk—just stay here, alright?”‘…Sounds made up to me.’Seungjoo figured the senior was trying to spook the freshmen into behaving. It was probably just a scare tactic to prevent accidents. Judging by everyone’s amused reactions, though, it didn’t seem to be working.“Ah, I need a smoke.”“Oh? I’ll join you.”When the senior who had told the story stood up, Jinwoo and a few others followed. Seungjoo noticed Jinwoo had been glancing around anxiously earlier, probably wanting to smoke.“Jinwoo and his smoking, really…”Seungjoo clicked his tongue, pouring another shot of soju into his cup. He filled Seohyun’s glass with beer when he noticed it was empty. Seohyun looked at him curiously as he asked,“You don’t smoke? Most of the guys do.”Almost all the guys had just left to smoke. Some might smoke more than others, but almost everyone seemed to be a smoker.“I just don’t… see the point?”He glanced around the table and replied indifferently. Maybe it was because no one in either side of his family smoked, but he’d never had the chance to try, nor had he ever been curious enough to buy a pack himself. The smell didn’t appeal to him at all, so he’d never taken an interest.Besides, there was a minor barrier.“I don’t know how to use a lighter.”“Hey, there are plenty of easy lighters these days.”Seohyun laughed, thinking he was joking. Seungjoo just shrugged instead of correcting her. Even if he knew how to use a lighter, he doubted he’d smoke.***The others returned about ten minutes later, while Seungjoo was looking at pictures of Seohyun’s dog after chatting aimlessly. He murmured something about how “Baek Seolgi is twice the size” just as his classmates came back with a buzz of voices.“…Where’s Jinwoo?”Seungjoo noticed the absence of a familiar face and put down his cup. He thought maybe Jinwoo had stepped aside to take a call, so he asked, but the returning friends’ reactions were odd.“Huh?”“What?”They exchanged confused glances, each checking for Jinwoo, clearly clueless about his whereabouts.“…Wait, really?”“What’s going on? You went out together, right?”Choi Jinwoo wasn’t the type to be unnoticed. How drunk must he be to not even realize one person is missing? Whether Seungjoo was stunned or not, his classmates just sat down as if it didn’t matter.“Did he go to the bathroom?”“He’ll be back soon.”Up until then, Seungjoo had thought it was nothing. He wasn’t a child who couldn’t take care of himself, and he didn’t look that drunk. Surely, he would return on his own.But as they kept waiting, Jinwoo still didn’t come back.“Isn’t it… getting late?”When Seungjoo heard Seohyun say that, his face grew serious too. Even though he knew it was unlikely, the story the senior had told earlier came back to him. The one about how, at times like this, people would go up the back mountain as if possessed by something.“Is he just passed out somewhere?”“….”Seungjoo, unable to deny it, took out his phone. He looked mostly sober, but he couldn’t ignore the possibility that the alcohol had hit him suddenly. So, he called immediately, but sadly, Jinwoo didn’t pick up until the signal was lost.“Damn it… I’ll go look for him.”Reluctantly, he got up, messing with his hair. Seungjoo hated having to deal with annoying things, but he hated feeling uncomfortable even more.Just as he was about to go alone, Seohyun stood up and followed him.“I’ll go with you.”“…Huh? What? Where are you two going?”“What’s this? So suspicious.”To the teasing classmates, Seungjoo threw a crumpled piece of napkin in the air, signaling them to keep drinking. Despite the mocking, the group continued to laugh it off, still focused on their drinking games. They were quick to react to this, though, considering they had just lost someone.“Still no answer?”“Nope. And my battery’s running low…”The two left the barbecue area side by side. There was no sign of Jinwoo in the smoking area, and the guesthouse they checked had the same result. Wondering where he went, they looked around the yard, when the sound of a dog barking from a distance made them stop in their tracks.“…”“…”They both felt a chill down their spines. The echoing sound seemed unusually eerie in the dark. Neither Seungjoo nor Seohyun could speak, only exchanging a glance.“…I’ll try calling again.”Trying to shake off the eerie feeling, Seungjoo took out his phone and dialed Jinwoo’s number again. The dog couldn’t see ghosts, and even if there were any, they wouldn’t be visible to the dog either. As he repeated this fact in his mind, just as he pressed the call button, faint music started playing from somewhere.“…”The faint music came from the mountain path at the far end of the yard. Reflexively, Seungjoo began walking in that direction, with Seohyun following him silently. As they got closer to the mountain path, the music grew clearer.—The customer did not answer…The moment the call ended, the music stopped as well. The two looked at each other with even more serious expressions. Seohyun furrowed her brow and asked awkwardly.“Was that… Jinwoo’s ringtone?”“…Probably.”Seungjoo clicked his tongue, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding. What the hell was Jinwoo thinking, climbing a mountain path after drinking? The bizarre similarity to a ghost story reminded him of something Muyeon, his neighbor, had once said.“We even go investigate ghost stories we find online.”It wasn’t a coincidence. Every ghost story had its source, like how the famous highway ghost turned out to be the spirit of a traffic accident victim. Muyeon had once said the spirit was trying to warn people to slow down but ended up causing more accidents.“…”Maybe this time it was something like that. With this thought in mind, Seungjoo dialed Jinwoo’s number again. His steps naturally led him toward the direction where the ringtone had come from. Seohyun silently followed, without saying anything.“If your battery’s running low, should I call?”“It’s fine for now.”Thankful as it was, the mountain path didn’t seem too dangerous. The incline was gentle, and ropes were tied on either side, making it unlikely for anyone to get lost.“Watch your step. It’s dark.”“Yeah…”Seungjoo confirmed that Seohyun was following him and used his phone flashlight to light up the ground. He had already switched the call to speakerphone. Though his battery was running low, it didn’t matter much since Seohyun was with him.“…”“…”Their footsteps mixed together in a rhythmic pattern. The sound of dirt being stepped on grew louder, and so did the ringtone. But no matter how far they walked, Jinwoo’s figure didn’t appear.Where the hell did he go…? Just as that thought crossed Seungjoo’s mind, the call cut off again.— The customer did not answer, beep sound…There was no need to stop. Seungjoo hung up immediately and pressed the call button again. Since there was only one path leading up the mountain, they would meet Jinwoo soon enough.The problem was, even though the signal resumed, the ringtone was nowhere to be heard.“…What’s going on?”Seungjoo frowned as he stopped moving. The repeated beeping continued, but Jinwoo’s ringtone wasn’t there. Maybe the battery was dead, or there was no signal. As Seungjoo thought this, he suddenly realized something and turned around.“…”Seohyun was gone.“……Kim Seohyun?”When had she disappeared? He was sure he had heard her footsteps just a moment ago. Maybe she was walking faster, but if that were the case, she would have called out to him by now. Feeling confused, he flashed his light around, but all he could see was dirt and trees.— The customer did not answer…Just as the signal cut off, Seungjoo flinched, his shoulders jerking as he hung up the phone. He was so tense that the sound of the automated message alone made him jump. The dry, emotionless voice of the woman in the background felt eerily unsettling in the silence.Seungjoo decided to call Seohyun instead of Jinwoo. Since they had separated so suddenly, he felt like he should find Seohyun first. But just as he was about to make the call, his battery, which had been running low, finally gave out.“…Ah, damn.”The power went out at that moment. The phone, its screen now black, wouldn’t turn back on even if he pressed the buttons.“Crazy…”Seungjoo shoved his hands into his pockets with a grim face. Habitually, he fiddled with the talisman, but it didn’t ease his unease. His eyes, filled with anxiety, scanned the dark forest around him.“….”What should he do? If he waited like this, nothing would change, but if he turned back, the path seemed too dark to retrace. Had it really been this hard to see anything before? The thought crossed his mind, and his steps faltered.‘What should I do?’He knew. Even if a ghost appeared, it would never be visible to him. After all, ghosts were still human, and unless they turned into vengeful spirits, they wouldn’t harm anyone.But what he knew with his head and what he felt in his heart were two completely different things. Despite everything, Seungjoo, an ordinary person, had the typical amount of courage. Knowing the nature of ghosts did make him less afraid, but sometimes, it made him even more startled.So, losing his friend in this forest was enough to make him panic. Not just panic, but panic to the point where his heart was pounding loudly. No supernatural phenomenon could make a person disappear, so where the hell had Kim Seohyun gone?“…Kim Seohyun!”Helpless, Seungjoo called out her name loudly. In the silence, where not even the sound of insects could be heard, there was still no response. For a moment, he felt despair at the lack of an echo, but as he took a step forward, he called out again.“Kim…!”That’s when it happened.“Whack!”“…!”Someone grabbed Seungjoo’s shoulder. His heart dropped, and Seungjoo couldn’t even scream, swallowing a panicked yelp instead. Unable to shake off the hand or run away, he nearly collapsed, but the person behind him held him firmly.“…Huh?”The soft voice was familiar. The hand gripping his arm, the gesture of rubbing his chin against his hair, and even the warmth he felt—everything about it was familiar. The person holding him, still with a slight laugh mixed with an apologetic tone, murmured.“I didn’t think you’d be this scared…”“…”Only then did Seungjoo exhale sharply and look up. His heart was racing so fast, he thought it might actually burst.The person he saw, the one he never imagined would be here, was looking back at him.“Did I scare you a lot?”It was Kim Muheun.***The dark sky was filled with twinkling stars, as though someone had scattered paint across it. The mountain path, void of any sounds, was enveloped in a calmness that no longer seemed frightening. Seungjoo, glancing at the man beside him, gripped his phone, which was now useless without a battery.“Your friend went missing over there?”Muheun pointed down the path Seungjoo had come from, as if darkness didn’t hinder his sight at all. Even now, with the flashlight off, the only thing illuminating the path was the faint moonlight. Of course, for someone like him, whose night vision was sharp, this was nothing.“Yeah. We were together the whole time, but…”Not long ago, Muheun had startled Seungjoo, and in return, he had to wear an apologetic expression for quite a while. He had just suddenly appeared, but Seungjoo had been so startled that it was unlike anything he’d experienced.‘Ah, Hyung, seriously…’Without exaggeration, Seungjoo thought he might have fainted. He almost ended up tearing up embarrassingly. If he hadn’t managed to hold onto his composure, he might have started whining like a child toward Muheun.‘Sorry, Hyung, I messed up.’Muheun pulled Seungjoo into a hug, gently patting his back. Seungjoo couldn’t push away the comforting touch, as the fear still lingered.After a while, Seungjoo finally managed to calm his racing heart and asked Muheun.‘Why are you here, Hyung?’Muheun explained that there was a Gwimae whose seal had been broken in this mountain. It was a Gwimae that a Gwimae hunter had worked on a few years ago, but for some reason, the seal had started to break recently. He had been combing the mountain since early in the morning because tracking it down was difficult and its range was vast.Without having time to marvel at this odd coincidence, Muheun asked with some curiosity.“Are you done now? What about you, Seungjoo?”‘Ah, I…’Naturally, Seungjoo explained that he had been at a pension at the base of the mountain with friends, but one of them had gotten drunk and disappeared. He had come up the mountain to search for him, only to find that the friend who came with him had also vanished.Muheun calmly listened to Seungjoo’s story and quickly came to a conclusion.“It’s probably because of the barrier.”“The barrier?”“Yeah, the barrier.”Seungjoo had some idea of what that meant. Since he was born, his house had a barrier around it, stretching along the fence, blocking the inside from the outside and preventing intrusion if necessary.“I put a barrier around here for the work.”Muheun then gestured around them with his finger, indicating that a wide area was enclosed within the barrier.“The Gwimae moves around, and if it runs into a person, that could be troublesome. So we usually set up barriers at key points, to block sound and vision.”Unlike most exorcists, Gwimae hunters used talismans liberally. Gwimae moved around widely and could affect ordinary people, so it was first contained within a barrier and slowly pressured. It was a dangerous process, and they had to hide it from ordinary people.“That path probably… If normal people had come through, they wouldn’t have been able to pass through it…”Muheun trailed off, narrowing his eyes. It was a habit he had when thinking or when something was unclear. He glanced around before explaining.“They weren’t supposed to come up here, so I made sure they’d take a detour and return to the entrance. Your friend probably ended up doing that too.”“…A detour? There wasn’t one.”Seungjoo frowned after hearing Muheun’s explanation. There was only one path he had walked on. If there had been a detour, wasn’t there a rope across the path?“Hyung made a detour. Temporarily.”“……”Seungjoo’s expression became ambiguous. He didn’t think Muheun was lying, but still, he found it hard to believe because he couldn’t see it with his own eyes. Also, if Muheun was right, Jinwoo and Seohyun seemed to have safely been blocked by the barrier, so why was he able to pass through it?“Uhm… Want to come this way?”Muheun grabbed Seungjoo’s wrist and led him down the straight mountain path. The ground was barely visible, but Seungjoo followed without hesitation. If it was a dangerous path, Muheun would warn him in advance anyway.“Here… Let’s take a look.”Muheun stopped suddenly at a certain point. To Seungjoo, it still seemed like an ordinary part of the path.“There’s a barrier here.”“…Huh?”“Huh…”Seungjoo repeated Muheun’s words, and Muheun smiled faintly. Seungjoo couldn’t understand what was so funny, but Muheun’s face was full of amusement. Letting go of Seungjoo’s wrist, he picked up a twig from the bushes nearby.“Look.”It was hard to see clearly because it was dark, but Seungjoo could make out the object. Muheun confirmed that Seungjoo was looking and threw the twig along the path. It seemed like a casual toss, but the twig flew a fair distance before falling to the ground.“Did you see?”“Did you mean you’re good at throwing twigs, Hyung?”“Ah, was it really good?”Muheun asked back with a laugh, his eyes narrowing. He seemed to be amused by Seungjoo’s reaction. Then he picked up a stone and handed it to Seungjoo.“Now, Hyung will put Yeongi in this.”There was no need to answer. Although Seungjoo couldn’t see it, Muheun must have placed Yeongi into the stone at that moment. Seungjoo stared hard at the stone, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t sense any energy.“…This is normal.”Yes, this was normal for Seungjoo. He couldn’t see or feel Yeongi, and even though he knew of its existence, he couldn’t perceive it. He had never imagined he would be able to sense the chill in a talisman.“Try again.”At that, Muheun threw the stone just as he did with the twig. This time, the stone flew through the air at a good speed, just like before.However, something incredible happened this time.“……”The stone hit an invisible wall and bounced back. It made a dull sound, as if it had hit something in midair. As Seungjoo widened his eyes in surprise, Muheun kicked the stone that had rolled toward his shoe and explained.“That’s the barrier.”***“……Wow.”It was an unbelievable sight. There was clearly nothing visible, yet the twig had flown without issue just moments ago.“How did you do that?”Seungjoo asked in an excited voice, and Muheun let out a faint laugh. He seemed to really enjoy Seungjoo’s genuine reaction.“Isn’t it amazing?”“Doesn’t it look amazing?”Of course, it did. This was something Seungjoo would never experience again. He couldn’t understand the principle behind it, but it was the fact that he couldn’t understand it that made it even more amazing.“Do you need Yeongi for the barrier to block it?”“Well… The barrier reacts mainly to souls. So it doesn’t affect objects, but when you infuse Yeongi into something, it acts like a soul.”Muheun explained briefly and picked up another stone. “So like this…” With that, he threw it ahead once again. The stone hit the invisible barrier and bounced back, just like the twig had.“See, it’s blocked by the barrier.”“Wow.”Until now, the strange occurrences had been purely frightening. But with this explanation, Seungjoo thought he could listen to it repeatedly without getting scared. He marveled again, and Muheun’s smile deepened. There was a proud look on his face, like a child showing off a toy.“Anyway… Seungjoo, it seems you passed through because you didn’t have Yeongi.”This time, it was easier to understand. If Seungjoo had a stone filled with Yeongi, he would have been blocked by the barrier, just like Jinwoo and Seohyun. Instead, he had passed through while they got stuck.“…Wait a minute.”Just as Seungjoo was about to accept this conclusion, he felt a sense of unease and narrowed his brows. There seemed to be an inconsistency in the otherwise perfect logic.“Does that mean the barrier doesn’t affect people without Yeongi?”Most people were born with Yeongi, but not everyone had it. There were certainly some like Seungjoo who were born without it. If the barrier didn’t work on all those people, there would be a problem.“No.”“……”“Usually, it works.”Without hesitation, Muheun immediately corrected Seungjoo’s assumption. He gazed at Seungjoo with a serious tone that seemed different from before.“You’re the first person to break through the barrier.”“……”Until just a moment ago, it had been amazing, but now it didn’t seem so. Instead, an inexplicable sense of unease swept over Seungjoo. From his brief experience of opening his spiritual eyes, he knew that being ‘the first’ meant that troublesome things were bound to follow.“But Seungjoo…”Just as Seungjoo was about to grow serious, Muheun spoke in a soft voice. Seungjoo instinctively knew that Muheun was trying to change the subject. He met his gaze, and Muheun’s lips curved slightly as if he were about to say something else.“Did you drink?”“Huh? Ah…”It wasn’t like he could hide it. He wasn’t drunk at all, nor had he drunk much. Could Muheun have smelled the alcohol from this distance? Seungjoo, not feeling the need to lie, admitted it honestly.“Just a little… Really just a little.”He added that last part as if to make an excuse, feeling guilty because he had already made mistakes under the influence of alcohol a couple of times.“……Why? I can have a drink.”“Hyung hasn’t said anything yet.”Muheun shrugged in response to the irritable tone. The fact that he used “yet” probably meant he was going to say something, though whether it would be scolding or teasing was unclear.“Well… now that you’re twenty, I guess it’s fine.”Muheun said this with a strange expression, a faint smile on his face. Occasionally, when he made such a face, it reminded Seungjoo of when he had first addressed Muheun politely a long time ago. It was a feeling that was hard to define—both a little hurt and a little regretful.“You need to go back to the pension, right?”“Yeah, I should.”“I’d like to take you, but… Hyung can’t leave the barrier until sunrise.”Muheun spoke with a genuinely troubled look on his face. He seemed to be torn between worrying about Seungjoo if he sent him alone or going with him, which didn’t seem possible. Since Seungjoo hadn’t intended to ask for a ride, he answered indifferently.“I can just go by myself.”He didn’t want to make Muheun do anything unnecessary. Earlier, the dark mountain path had made him uneasy, but after talking to Muheun, his fear had faded. Plus, now that he understood why Seohyun had disappeared, there was no reason to be scared.“The others definitely went back to the entrance, right?”“They should have. You can call them to check.”“Ah… my battery’s dead.”Seungjoo took his phone from his pocket and showed it to Muheun. If the phone hadn’t died, he would have contacted Seohyun or turned on the flashlight to retrace his steps.Muheun looked at Seungjoo’s phone with a serious expression.“Do you think you can make it? It’ll be really dark.”“What else can I do? I can’t just wait until it gets light.”If he waited until morning, a missing persons report would probably be filed. From Seohyun’s perspective, Seungjoo had suddenly disappeared and hadn’t shown up all night without any contact. If he had met Jinwoo, it would have been fine, but if he was still alone, that would be worrying.“Can you charge it with Yeongi or something?”“…That’s an interesting perspective.”Muheun chuckled lightly at Seungjoo’s suggestion. Seungjoo didn’t really think it would work, of course. He was just joking, but Muheun gave him a playful grin.“Want to give it a try?”“No, thanks.”Seungjoo quickly retorted and put his phone back in his pocket. He didn’t want to risk the phone being ejected by the barrier just because he foolishly infused it with Yeongi. He didn’t know how long Yeongi stayed in objects, but he guessed it wouldn’t be a short time.“…Did you get some sleep?”Instead of walking away, Seungjoo casually asked Muheun. He tried to keep his face neutral and his tone blunt, so it didn’t sound like he was overly concerned.“Yeah, I’m fine.”Muheun’s kind reply wasn’t exactly reassuring. It was clear that he hadn’t slept well. Seungjoo could tell quickly, even though he couldn’t properly examine his face in the darkness.“……”“……”The conversation seemed to have ended, but neither of them moved. Seungjoo stared at Muheun, who appeared to be deep in thought. With his head lowered and eyes distant, Muheun seemed unusually clear in the dark forest.‘As expected of a exorcist…’Kim Muheun fit the night, very much so.His pale skin, never touched by sunlight, was a common feature of exorcists. At least Kim Muryeong liked to roam around, so his skin color changed with the seasons, but Muheun rarely went outside during the day. His skin was white, and his hair was black, giving him a cold look even on days that weren’t particularly chilly.“When we were younger.”Despite knowing they should be heading back, Seungjoo suddenly brought up an old memory. He wasn’t sure why, but he found himself recalling it, leaving the important things unsaid.“You made me cry at the playground.”Muheun looked at Seungjoo with an intrigued expression. Normally, it would have been Muheun bringing up old memories or embarrassing moments, not Seungjoo.“Hmm… I don’t remember exactly, but you must’ve cried more than once.”“……”Seungjoo frowned at that. It was true, after all. He had cried because of Muheun more than once when he was young. It had usually been something that was worth crying over, so he didn’t feel embarrassed about it—well, not too much.“Wait, was it when I was seven? We went to the playground and the swing was moving by itself, and you teased me, saying there was a ghost.”This memory was from 13 years ago, when Seungjoo was seven and Muheun was seventeen. Seungjoo didn’t remember why, but he and Muheun had gone to the playground alone, without any of the other older boys. It had been in the afternoon, and the sunset glow bathed the quiet playground.Seungjoo couldn’t remember much, but he would never forget the moment when Muheun grabbed him just as he was heading for the swing.“Seungjoo, should we ride the swing next time?”“Why? I want to ride it now.”The sound of the swing creaking still echoed in his mind. It was just the wind making it move, and of course, Seungjoo wasn’t the kind of kid to be scared of that.But Muheun whispered with a troubled look on his face.“There’s someone sitting there.”“Ah… that time.”Muheun seemed to remember the moment, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. His lips curled into a mischievous smile, and his eyes narrowed in a half-amused, half-mysterious expression. He then chuckled and added quickly:“I wasn’t teasing you, though.”“……”Seungjoo froze, his expression hardening. Even seeing Seungjoo’s reaction, Muheun only smiled sweetly, almost too innocently.“Hyung doesn’t lie about ghosts.”***The words Muheun had said earlier echoed in Seungjoo’s mind. Not just about the playground incident, but countless similar situations in different places. Moments that Seungjoo had brushed off as just mischievous pranks at the time.“…Crazy.”Ah… he had learned something he didn’t want to know. Seungjoo regretted bringing it up and turned toward the direction he needed to go.The dark mountain path, which had already seemed dark before, now felt even darker.When Seungjoo came down the mountain path, he saw Seohyun and Jinwoo by the entrance. He let out a sigh of relief upon spotting them as he had been using his phone’s flashlight to light the path.Both of them had safely returned.Just as he was thinking this, Seohyun, who had been pacing in place, turned to look at him.“Seungjoo!”Seohyun called out loudly and rushed over. Despite the distance, it was clear how surprised he was.Seohyun quickly reached Seungjoo and grabbed his arm.“Where have you been? I was so scared when you suddenly disappeared!”Seungjoo hesitated for a moment as Seohyun shook him with urgency. His face was pale from worry. Since he couldn’t tell him the truth, Seungjoo could only respond with something like this.“I was just as surprised when you disappeared. Weren’t you following me?”As he had been coming down the mountain path, Seungjoo had thought that if he asked what happened, he would just act confused and turn the question back on Seohyun, pretending not to know. It seemed better than coming up with half-baked excuses.“No, I was following you, but then you just disappeared. There’s only one path, where did you go?”Seohyun looked completely confused. Since Seungjoo knew the truth, he understood Seohyun’s reaction, so he just furrowed his brows. It was then that Jinwoo, who had been quietly standing by, caught his attention.“Jinwoo, what happened? Why did you go up the mountain?”“Huh? Uh, well…”Jinwoo seemed to be avoiding the question, which looked strange to Seungjoo. “What’s wrong with him?” Seungjoo thought. Just as he was about to say something, a group of upperclassmen approached from the pension.“Oh? The first-years are here?”“Wow, you came down?”As soon as the seniors saw Seungjoo, they hurried over, their faces a mix of relief and surprise. Some of them even sat down on the spot, visibly relieved.“Wow, we almost had to call 119… I was just about to borrow a flashlight to go look for you.”“…Did you already tell the seniors?”Hearing this, Seungjoo lowered his voice and asked Seohyun, wondering if the news had already spread, even though it hadn’t been that long. Seohyun, still standing beside him, finally let go of his arm and let out a deep sigh.“Ugh, don’t even get me started. I didn’t call them…”Seohyun’s explanation was enough to make Seungjoo scowl. The more his expression twisted, the more awkward Jinwoo looked.After hearing Seohyun’s explanation, Seungjoo couldn’t help but ask in disbelief.“…This was all a setup?”In short, it was. This was a prank they did every year. They’d start with a ghost story, secretly take one freshman away, and then deceive the others who came looking for him. It was a nasty joke.“Oh, Jinwoo didn’t pick up his phone on purpose.”Jinwoo had been the bait in this whole thing. While smoking a cigarette, Jinwoo had been called out and waited with the seniors halfway up the mountain path. Seohyun explained that when he had lost Seungjoo and started to panic, Jinwoo had shown up with a perfectly calm face.“Crazy bastard.”Seungjoo openly criticized Jinwoo. He couldn’t believe he had gone through all that trouble just to find Jinwoo in the middle of the night. Whether it was the seniors who gave him this task or Jinwoo himself, he was annoyed because he knew Jinwoo had eagerly accepted it thinking it would be fun.“Sorry… I just thought it was some sort of courage test.”Jinwoo probably figured there was only one path and it wasn’t far, so nothing dangerous would happen. Plus, since it was a tradition that had never caused any issues before, he assumed it was fine.Seungjoo had a lot of things he wanted to say, but before he could, the seniors gathered around and began to check on him.“Thank goodness. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”“You’re alright, right? But where did you go?”“We were about to call 119 if you were even 5 minutes later.”“Hey, 119 for a small mountain? Seriously?”“It’s night. The mountain is dangerous.”“That’s why I’ve been saying we should stop doing this…”They started off by talking to Seungjoo, but soon they were too busy murmuring among themselves. It seemed like the prank was already a point of contention. Seungjoo could see some seniors looking seriously at the situation.‘They won’t do this next year.’Instead of interrupting, Seungjoo just quietly slipped away from the group. Now the seniors were discussing how the entrance looked different than usual. “It wasn’t like this last year,” they said. “This time, we could finally see the entrance once we came to our senses.”“By the way, have we ever come back like this before?”“I think we just walked straight ahead…”Whether they were getting creeped out or not, Seungjoo didn’t care. If he didn’t know the cause, he might have been surprised too, but unlike the others, he knew exactly why.‘The path was blocked, so they must have detoured a bit and then come back to the entrance.’This was probably where the story of the ghost rumors came from. Back when they were working on Gwimae, the person doing it, like Muheun, must have set up a barrier, causing the students who happened to go up the mountain to get lost.“Hey, didn’t the dog stop barking earlier?”“…What the hell, that was so scary.”The dog? It probably just barked. Seungjoo couldn’t help but think, but again, Seolgi never saw ghosts. Ghosts, those were things that only the neighbors saw.“Seungjoo, are you really okay?”When Seohyun asked, Seungjoo just nodded. Jinwoo also subtly approached and put his arm around Seungjoo’s shoulder.“Seungjoo… I’m really sorry.”“It’s fine, just move.”“It wasn’t on purpose, okay?”Honestly, Seungjoo wasn’t that angry. To be honest, he even thought it was fortunate that they went up the mountain path. He had experienced something strange, seen the barrier indirectly, and… he had seen Muheun too.“But what’s that?”Only now did Seohyun seem to notice Seungjoo’s belongings and pointed at the phone he had been holding as he came down the mountain path, using the flashlight.“Couldn’t get through, was the battery dead?”“Oh, this…”Seungjoo belatedly shoved his phone into his pocket. Luckily, the jumper pocket was big enough. The pocket, which contained the already powered-off phone, bulged out.“I guess there was no signal. The power didn’t go out.”‘Hyung, take the phone.’Just before Seungjoo came down the mountain, Muheun had given him his phone, just as Seungjoo was scared. The reason Seungjoo was scared was because of the ghost story Muheun had told him earlier (though technically, it was Seungjoo who started the conversation). Muheun, as always, smiled gently and reassured him.‘Don’t worry. There’s no spirit around here.’That was such a kind thing to say. The act of unlocking the phone and turning on the flash to comfort him in the dark was also considerate. Seungjoo didn’t quite understand why the password was ‘123456,’ but that didn’t matter much.‘If you give this to me, what about Hyung?’Today, Seungjoo learned that Muheun had two phones. Apparently, in addition to the one with the number Seungjoo knew, Muheun had a separate work phone. Did a ghost hunter need that? Seungjoo wondered, but he didn’t voice his thoughts.“Good thing. If the phone had turned off too… oh, just imagining it is terrifying.”Seungjoo gave a half-hearted response to Seohyun, who was trembling as she spoke. When Jinwoo apologized again, Seungjoo told him it was fine but also added a reminder to quit smoking. He didn’t like the smell of cigarette smoke that was covering up the scent of the wind when he had been with Muheun.“Alright, let’s go inside. Tell the others at the barbecue to clean up.”The group quickly shifted from the ghost stories back to normal life. Seungjoo’s disappearance and the strange path were nothing more than a story for the night.“Are you going to drink more inside?”“I don’t know. You drink if you want.”Seungjoo replied briefly while glancing behind him at Jinwoo, who had his arm draped around Seungjoo’s shoulders. His hand in his pocket was tightly gripping the phone Muheun had given him. The two phones clinked together as they knocked against each other.‘How do I return this?’‘Oh, that.’Muheun, who had been smiling when he said this, was probably still up on the mountain. He had said the work was done, so he would likely return home once the barrier was lifted. Seungjoo hoped he would get a good night’s sleep, though he had no way of knowing whether that wish would come true.‘Hyung, I’ll come to get it.’“….”Was it kind of him not to ask Seungjoo to return the phone, or should Seungjoo feel frustrated by the indefinite promise?One thing was certain—at least the fact that there was a ‘next’ wasn’t something he disliked.***The man stood still in the dark mountain, staring down the trail. The smooth, well-worn hiking path was deserted, and the only traces left were a few fresh footprints.“…”The man, Muheun, stood motionless, his left hand raised to touch the back of his neck. A watercolor-like design began behind his ear, trailing down his pale neck and extending to the inside of his shoulder, covered by his clothing. The same orchid-like pattern appeared on his wrist as his sleeve slipped down.Muheun hadn’t moved since Seungjoo left. He stood there, eyes fixed on the spot where Seungjoo had disappeared, with a meaningful, far-off gaze.He only moved when someone called his name.“Kim Muheun.”Turning around, he saw a woman in a hat, her steps sure and without hesitation, even in the dark. She closed the distance and pointed to the place where Muheun had been looking.“Has the young master left?”It was Yoonhee, the leader of the first team of the Exorcist Association. She often worked with Muheun, and they had become familiar through their years of service. Tonight, they had been working together to set up barriers and track down a Gwimae in a large area.“Yeah, I sent him off earlier.”“Good job.”Yoonhee fixed her hat and replied in a flat tone. She didn’t seem particularly concerned with whether Seungjoo had left or not, but her next words were different.“How did he break the barrier?”“…”This was exactly what Muheun had been thinking. Seungjoo had broken through the barrier that had been carefully set up by two Gwimae hunters, a perfect setup designed to keep out even ants.‘…Something got inside.’While working on the Gwimae earlier, Muheun had realized that something had entered the barrier he had set up.The barrier, made by attaching talismans at each direction, became an unknown space once it was energized. Once inside, it was hard for the caster to enter again unless they removed the core talisman or waited until the barrier lost its effect at dawn. The only other option was to destroy part of it with great force, something only a particularly reckless person would try.‘Let me check.’But the talismans hadn’t been removed, the sun wasn’t close enough to rise, and there was no visible damage to the barrier—yet Muheun felt an unmistakable presence. This had never happened before, so he quickly left Yoonhee to watch the back and descended the mountain trail.There, he encountered someone he never expected to see.‘…Seungjoo?’It was Seungjoo. The young master of the Seo family, Seungjoo, who had lived next door since childhood. He was the younger sibling of Seungjoo’s friend and had always been a cautious type, never wandering around at night and certainly never venturing into a mountain like this.Despite the situation, Muheun felt strangely happy to see him. He hadn’t slept, used up quite a bit of spiritual power, and was feeling run-down, but just seeing Seungjoo here made him forget everything else for a moment.Muheun didn’t hesitate and approached him, just like he always did, ready to surprise him. It was always a fresh delight to see Seungjoo’s reactions among the exorcists who usually didn’t get startled. Whether he got annoyed or reacted with an expression of disgust, Muheun enjoyed it all.‘…Huh?’There were two things Muheun didn’t expect. The first was that Seungjoo trembled and couldn’t calm down even after recognizing Muheun, and the second was that, after a long time, Seungjoo willingly came into his arms.‘Didn’t expect you to be this surprised…’Anyway, he gets scared so easily. Seungjoo would be angry if he heard this, but Muheun thought so anyway. He didn’t intend to scare him this much, so he felt a little guilty and sorry.Fortunately, Seungjoo, as usual, recovered quickly. He said he came here for a trip with friends and had just gotten separated from them, which made Muheun understand why he had reacted so strongly.“Anyway… Seungjoo, you probably passed by because you didn’t have Yeongi.”Muheun said that, but there was a huge contradiction in that. A barrier reacts to “spirits,” so even if Yeongi wasn’t present, the barrier should have still worked. The only things that could pass through would be objects or corpses.If the barrier was weak enough to allow passage without Yeongi, it would have been a big problem by now.“…”So… how did Seungjoo pass through?‘…Then I’ll go take a look.’As Seungjoo started walking down the path, Muheun squinted and watched him. Seungjoo, with his flashlight shining on the ground, walked down the mountain path as though the barrier didn’t exist at all. When Muheun faced a wall he couldn’t pass through, he simply disappeared out of sight.“I’m not sure, but…”He had a guess. He saw with his own eyes how Seungjoo passed through.“It’s likely his constitution.”Seungjoo seemed to absorb the Yeongi the barrier contained. Just like Muheun had absorbed his own Yeongi into his body, Seungjoo seemed to have absorbed the empty barrier, making it his own. Of course, such Yeongi in a barrier wouldn’t cause any physical changes in the body.“Constitution?”“Just, it’s possible.”Instead of explaining in detail, Muheun just shrugged. He was about to move ahead of Yunhee but turned back to look at the place where Seungjoo had disappeared. He spoke in a way that indicated Yunhee would understand.“It must be bothering you. Sending the young master off alone.”“Well…”It wasn’t just that reason, but Muheun hadn’t been able to move ahead anyway. Rather than confirm it, he trailed off. Of course, he couldn’t stop the smile that followed.“He’s really scared.”‘Hyung doesn’t lie about ghosts.’He remembered Seungjoo’s startled expression at those words. What was so scary about ghosts? After all, they were the end of a living person. Muheun thought death was the same either way, but he knew Seungjoo would have been horrified if he had heard that.‘There’s someone sitting over there.’The spirit that had been sitting on the swing that day appeared to be a child, around Seungjoo’s age. Muheun didn’t know the full story, but he could tell that the spirit was waiting for someone. The spirit had been sent to the afterlife by his father, but Seungjoo didn’t know any of that.“Why are you so scared of something you can’t even see?”It was actually a bit cute, and sometimes even fascinating. Many people were afraid of ghosts, but that was more about fear of the unknown. It was different from Muheun, who could boldly act once he knew something was harmless.“Right, his spiritual eyes must have been closed again.”“…”When Yunhee said that, Muheun briefly fell silent. He looked at Yunhee, but he didn’t notice Muheun’s gaze as she walked into the bushes, clicking her tongue at some trash on the ground.Watching Yunhee, Muheun chuckled. His expression slightly hardened, though it was such a subtle change that no one else would have noticed. Slowly walking, Muheun called out to Yunhee in a soft voice.“By the way, Yunhee.”Yunhee turned to look at Muheun. Muheun, still smiling, asked the question.“How did you know that Seungjoo was the one who came earlier?”Muheun had gone alone to find Seungjoo, and Yunhee had only come down from the mountain after he had left. Yet, Yunhee’s first words were, “Has the young master left?” as if she already knew it was Seungjoo.“What are you talking about? Of course, I was watching from afar.”Yunhee replied without a change in expression. It wasn’t too strange of an answer. Those with strong spiritual abilities could see well even in the dark. Yunhee probably had been watching from a distance to confirm the intruder that broke through the barrier. And anyone in the exorcist association would know Seungjoo.However, there was something that still bothered Muheun: the comment Yunhee had made earlier.“Right, his spiritual eyes must have been closed again.”“…So how did you know his spiritual eyes were opened?”To say they had closed meant she knew they had once opened. Seungjoo’s spiritual eyes being opened was something only Muheun and Seungjoo’s family knew. How did Yunhee, an outsider, know about it?“…”This time, Yunhee didn’t answer and closed her mouth. Her face remained expressionless, but Muheun could tell she was flustered.Muheun slowly approached Yunhee and stared at the face that was visible under her hat.“Since it’s just the two of us here…”Muheun’s eyes narrowed. His dark pupils momentarily blurred. In this remote mountain, in a space sealed off by a barrier, with the Gwimae sealed, no one could interrupt their conversation.“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”“…”Yunhee sighed quietly at Muheun’s calm question. The expression on her face showed a hint of frustration and resignation. 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~