The Night Of The Untraced

“No, really, you don’t need to…”Seungjoo turned away from the lake, following him. Then a thought suddenly crossed his mind, making him ask a question. He could remember the name of his cat, “Button,” but the important part had escaped him.“Uh… What’s your name, by the way?”* * *The senior’s name was Yoon Yejun. Hearing it, Seungjoo realized it didn’t stir any sense of familiarity, which meant he probably never knew it in the first place. They’d never formally introduced themselves—he’d only caught glimpses of his nametag in passing, so it would’ve been stranger if he did remember.“Muryeong talked about you a lot.”Yejun, on the other hand, already knew Seungjoo’s name. Apparently, Muryeong had told him Seungjoo liked cats too and suggested they should go see his together sometime.Seungjoo didn’t particularly like cats, though he did remember Muryeong mentioning they should go visit a few times. But he had no interest in visiting some stranger’s home just to see a cat.“Isn’t it strange? Two people from Korean University came out of our high school?”As they were eating, Yejun brought it up, and Seungjoo just nodded. He remembered the big banner they’d hung over the school gates when he and Hwanyeong got accepted to Korean University. For someone who preferred not to be in the spotlight, it was just an embarrassing memory.“Muryeong didn’t go to college, right?”“No, he never even considered it.”Ah, that’s right, this senior was top of his class. The memory came abruptly; Seungjoo recalled a random moment when Muryeong had stayed over at Yejun’s and suddenly asked him, “Seungjoo, were you really ranked 7th in the whole school?”What was it again? Muryeong had asked Yejun about his school ranking, and Yejun, being ranked first, had replied he was in Class 1. Seungjoo didn’t know how that conversation started, but he remembered Muryeong whispering to him afterward like he was sharing a big secret: “Gi Hwanyeong is ranked 3rd, so he’s in Class 3.” As for Seungjoo, he was 7th, so he was placed in Class 7—not surprising at all.* * *“Does Muryeong still do those things? Taking on cases and solving them?”“Something like that.”Seungjoo nodded; after all, the work he did for the association could still be seen as taking on cases, even if it was different from what he did in high school. Yejun let out a quiet laugh.“I remember being amazed when I first found out Muryeong had ‘mystic powers’…”Mystic powers? It seemed that whenever he received requests, Muryeong had given that kind of impression. He was no shaman, and Seungjoo found it funny. Technically, if anyone had some spiritual sense, it would’ve been Muheun, not Muryeong.“Did he tell you what I asked him for help with?”“No, Muryeong never shares things like that.”No matter how close they were, Muryeong wouldn’t talk about others’ private matters. Even if Seungjoo had asked, Muryeong would probably respond with a polite refusal, saying it was for the client’s privacy.“Ah… well, back in high school, I had sleepwalking episodes.”Out of nowhere, Yejun brought up his secret that Muryeong had kept. Just as Seungjoo was about to take another spoonful, he hesitated. Should I be hearing this? That thought crossed his mind, but Yejun didn’t stop talking.“At first, I thought it was a mental issue, so I went to the hospital, but nothing worked. That’s why I went to Muryeong.”It was as he had expected. If even the hospital couldn’t help, it was likely a possession. Half the people who thought they had sleepwalking issues were actually haunted because their spirits were weak. It was just that people with no spiritual sensitivity at all, like Seungjoo, were lucky enough to be unaffected.“Then, Muryeong told me it was a possession.”Indeed, Yejun’s words aligned with his guess. He had probably suffered a lot, showing up in strange places or doing odd things every night.“After I asked him for help… I was fine after that.”Yejun’s expression as he said this was truly relaxed. Whatever Muryeong did, he must have resolved it perfectly and even taken measures to prevent a recurrence.“Possession sounds unbelievable, but when it was fixed, I had to believe.”Yejun smiled faintly. Seungjoo just watched him silently, and Yejun gave an awkward little chuckle as he explained himself.“I know I suddenly brought up this random story… it’s just that I’ve had no one to talk to about it, and it was getting bottled up.”Yejun added gently that he wanted to share this strange experience with someone. Knowing Seungjoo was close to Muryeong probably made him feel more comfortable opening up. Bringing up mystic powers and cases was likely his way of building up to this.“Ever since that day, it still amazes me whenever I think about it. You must be used to things like this, being close to Muryeong, right?”“Well…”In a way, he was used to it, so it hadn’t made much impact. Even if they were exorcists, they seemed like normal people with nothing particularly unusual about them. They had sharp senses, sure, but in daily life, they were mostly ordinary. Plus, since it didn’t directly involve him, he wasn’t particularly curious.“I’m not completely used to it.”In fact, he likely didn’t know half of it. He didn’t feel disappointed by that, though—it just struck him differently. So, this is how exorcists appear to outsiders. Even realizing that felt slightly refreshing.“To be honest, I don’t even know how he helped you with your sleepwalking.”Seungjoo wasn’t especially curious by nature. Even in high school, he never bothered eavesdropping when Muryeong and Hwanyeong talked. He thought ignorance was beneficial, and it didn’t matter if he never learned certain things.“Seungjoo, don’t you have any mystic powers?”“Nope. I don’t even want any.”Seungjoo frowned as he answered right away. All he wanted was to live a peaceful, normal life. He simply didn’t have the sense of duty for that sort of thing.“Would you want them?”“Hmm… I mean…”His question was casual, but Yejun considered it seriously for quite a while, smiling faintly in a slightly somber way.“I sometimes thought it’d be nice if I could see spirits.”Seungjoo, who was usually perceptive, immediately understood why he’d say that. Wanting to see spirits or deceased people generally meant someone was deeply missed.“What would you do with that? Seeing someone who’s passed.”It seemed pointless. It wouldn’t bring them back to life, and holding on to lost souls would only leave wounds for everyone involved.“They also have to go to the sky.”“…”I wondered if I had spoken too coldly, but fortunately, Yejoon’s reaction wasn’t bad. He poked at a grain of rice with his chopsticks and replied, “Yeah, that’s true.” He even shrugged his shoulders and added, “Now I understand why you and Muryeong are friends.”It was a phrase I didn’t quite understand. I had heard it quite often in my life.After the conversation ended, there was no more talking until we had eaten for a while. It wasn’t awkward, though, because neither of them paid much attention to the silence.As we were nearly done eating, a sudden vibration was heard from somewhere.“Oh, wait a minute.”The source of the vibration was Yejoon’s phone in his pocket. He pulled it out, checked the screen, and asked Seungjoo for permission.“I’ll take a quick call.”With a cheerful tone, unlike his usual self, Yejoon answered the phone with a warm voice, asking things like how the person slept, whether they had eaten lunch, what kind of food they were having, and what their schedule was like. After telling them everything in detail, he smiled widely with a content expression.“Yeah, I miss you too.”It seemed like a girlfriend. Seungjoo concluded quickly and focused on his meal. He didn’t really care about other people’s love lives, and he didn’t particularly want to interfere either.However, once Yejoon hung up, he spoke gently while watching Seungjoo eat in silence.“…Sorry, I know it’s cheesy.”“Why apologize…?”Honestly, it was cheesy, but I didn’t really mind. More accurately, I wasn’t interested. What someone talks about with their significant other wasn’t really Seungjoo’s concern.“My friends would usually mock me if I called like this. But when I’m on the phone with my girlfriend, my voice just naturally comes out that way…”Yejoon awkwardly put his phone away, adding unnecessary excuses. It seemed he was still a little embarrassed. Seungjoo, without thinking too much, casually said one sentence.“If you like someone, it’s natural to act that way.”It wasn’t a meaningful comment, but as soon as he said it, Yejoon’s eyes widened. Then he suddenly threw a sharp question at him.“Do you have someone you like?”“…”Why was this topic coming up all of a sudden? Seungjoo should have immediately denied it, but for a moment, he was speechless. At that moment, Muheun’s face appeared clearly in his mind.“Someone you’re dating?”“…It’s not like that.”Seungjoo responded indifferently, but Yejoon didn’t seem to believe him. In fact, he seemed to have concluded that it was a one-sided crush. However, Yejoon didn’t press further, keeping his mouth shut, showing that he was surprisingly mature.“It’s not like that…”Seungjoo trailed off, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. He could just pretend not to care, but now that the other person had closed up, he felt the urge to talk. Even though he knew it might seem pathetic, he decided to open up a bit.“…I do like someone.”It was more like venting his feelings. He couldn’t tell Kim Muryeong or Gi Hwanyeong, and he didn’t want to tell Choi Jinwoo, either, as it might seem like he was overly concerned. Since Yejoon was someone who was appropriately distant yet experienced, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to open up.“I think I’ve liked them for so long… I feel like my personality is getting worse.”This was something he had been thinking about while staring at the calm surface of the lake earlier. When he zoned out, unnecessary irritation would suddenly rise. That’s why, in the morning in front of the main gate, instead of giving Muheun a proper answer, he ended up saying something he hadn’t planned.“The other person is just the same, but I get frustrated for no reason. Things I usually wouldn’t care about start to annoy me.”“Well, I’m not sure if your personality is getting worse, but…”Yejoon said this while looking at Seungjoo seriously, furrowing his brow and thinking deeply.Finally, with a sigh, Seungjoo said something he couldn’t deny.“I think I’ve become a smaller person.”* * *The class ended just after 5 p.m. Seungjoo declined Jinwoo’s invitation to dinner and headed toward the main gate alone. The sky was still blindingly blue, but Seungjoo’s mood remained far from good.When he arrived at the main gate, Muheun was there, just like he expected. Muheun must have seen him from a distance, as he didn’t take his eyes off Seungjoo until he got closer. Then, just a step away, Muheun smiled warmly.“Did you do well in class?”“…”His smile was unnecessarily sweet. His eyes curved into crescents like a new moon.As Seungjoo gazed at that sweet smile, the words Yejoon had said earlier flashed through his mind like a panorama. The surprisingly calm words Yejoon had spoken, saying that he had become smaller.“I try to act nice to be seen well, and then I become sensitive, paying attention to every little thing. In the end, I feel like I’m becoming like a weakling… Is this what they mean by getting worse personality?”Half of it resonated, and half of it didn’t. Even after he started liking Muheun, he never paid attention to him out of a desire to be seen. Though he did care about the small things, he could ignore them if he consciously tried.“That’s why people say unrequited love gets tiring if it lasts too long.”“Didn’t you go with Hwanyeong today?”“…You said we’d go home together, Hyung.”Seungjoo replied nonchalantly and took the first step. Seeing Muheun looking relieved unnecessarily made him feel a little uneasy. He switched the bag to his other shoulder and clutched the charm in his pocket, but his mind was still in turmoil.‘Don’t you think about confessing?’‘Not really…’Confess? He had never thought about it. The mere thought of the word made him furrow his brow.‘I don’t want to date him.’Is there a need to break the current relationship? Honestly, it was hard to imagine. Since he had been around since they were so young, the thought of becoming lovers felt incredibly awkward. Just like how Yejoon acted earlier, the idea of having a warm conversation and looking at him lovingly seemed impossible.“Really? Usually, people are too scared to do it, though.”Yejoon seemed quite fascinated by Seungjoo’s reaction. He mumbled to himself and squinted his eyes, which gave it away.Then the words that followed were enough to leave Seungjoo momentarily speechless.“You don’t worry about being rejected, huh?”“….”He seemed rather quick to pick up on things.Although they hadn’t spoken much, Seungjoo felt like too many things had been revealed. Well, it didn’t matter too much since they probably wouldn’t run into each other again.Thanks to walking much faster than usual, the walk home felt surprisingly short. He occasionally thought about slowing down, but Seungjoo kept his focus, trying to steady his wavering emotions.As he neared the house and the front gate came into view, Seungjoo called out to Muheun casually.“Hyung.”“Yeah, what’s up?”Muheun’s soft voice responded gently. His gaze, as always, was tender. Seungjoo almost shook his head and wanted to dismiss the situation, but he made an effort to sound calm and said what he had been preparing to say.“I… my spiritual eyes is closed.”“…Huh?”It was only when the last class had ended that Seungjoo realized. He could no longer feel any Yeongi from the charm in his pocket. As soon as he realized, he thought about contacting Muheun right away, but he felt like he had to say this first.“I don’t need you to take me home anymore.”“…”Was it an unexpected statement? Muheun stared at Seungjoo for a moment without responding. His face looked calm, but for some reason, his eyes were more subdued. Then, as if about to speak, Seungjoo quickly interrupted.“You can send a bodyguard or something if you want, like you said before.”Wasn’t he talking about a new group targeting him? Maybe he was thinking of saying he’d come pick him up again.However, Seungjoo had no intention of going back on his previous words. He had decided to stick together until his spiritual eyes closed, and after that, there was no need. It had started as an emotional reaction but had slowly turned into a rational decision over time.“So, please don’t come anymore.”He felt it was time to stop. He didn’t like the feeling of becoming smaller, as Yejoon had mentioned. Muheun was only treating him normally, but he didn’t want to be swayed by his own emotions anymore.“I’ll go now.”The decision came quickly; it was already a settled issue, so there was no need to hesitate. Seungjoo turned his back on Muheun, who remained silent.Just as he grabbed the gate, a soft gasp came from behind.“…Ah.”Seungjoo flinched as his arm was suddenly grabbed. It wasn’t an aggressive grip, but there was enough force to stop him from pulling away. Feeling confused, he stopped walking, and Muheun gently tugged him back.“What’s this…?”His body spun around. Before Seungjoo could even look, Muheun cupped his face with both hands. With no hesitation, he pressed his lips to Seungjoo’s.And when their soft lips met perfectly, Muheun’s tongue suddenly pushed through the gap, invading his mouth.“Mmm…”Seungjoo instinctively tried to close his lips, but it was pointless. Muheun’s thumb pressed firmly under his chin, forcing his mouth open. Turning his head was also difficult, and when he tried to push Muheun away, the man stayed close, making it impossible to escape.“…Mmm, hhh.”The sensation of their tongues touching was shockingly vivid. Even when they had kissed in front of the gate before, it didn’t feel as intense as this. The heat of his breath filled his mouth, and the mingling saliva made it impossible to tell whose it was.“Stop, mmh…”Seungjoo wanted to tell him to stop, but all that came out was a muffled sound. As Muheun continued to kiss him aggressively, pressing his tongue deep, Seungjoo couldn’t even think of escaping. His tongue was being sucked and licked with such persistence.The coldness rising deep inside him contrasted with the warmth spreading through his face, making him feel a strange, conflicting sensation. It was only when he felt the clear, refreshing energy in Muheun’s hand on his cheek that he realized it was Yeongi.“….”Seungjoo barely managed to regain control, squeezing his eyes shut. His rationality was starting to fade, but he couldn’t just accept this.The struggle lasted for a while, but action came quicker. With a sharp bite to Muheun’s tongue, he froze. Seungjoo seized the opportunity, pushing hard on Muheun’s shoulder. With a thud, Muheun stepped back slightly.“…”“…”It was hard to tell whose breath it was that was heavy and labored. Seungjoo covered his mouth with one hand, glaring at Muheun with wide, flushed eyes. He inhaled, as if to say something, but the sight of Muheun’s lips twitching made him lose his words.“…You’ve opened your spiritual eyes again.”His mouth, red from the bite, spoke the words. His tongue had been bitten so hard that even with his powers, it was impossible for there to be no blood. He wasn’t sorry for that, but the words that came out next made him dumbfounded.“I guess you’ll need me now.”“…Hah.”The words “Are you crazy?” almost came out, but Seungjoo couldn’t say them. The question of “Why did you do that?” vanished before it could even leave his mouth. It wasn’t hard to guess why he had done it.So, when Seungjoo had said he no longer needed to be taken home, Muheun had made a reason to come and pick him up again.“Hyung, are you crazy?”“I’m sane.”Even at Seungjoo’s blunt accusation, Muheun didn’t flinch. After a moment, he swallowed the blood in his mouth and stretched out to open the gate. He grabbed Seungjoo by the shoulder and ushered him inside.“I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.”“What is this…?”Seungjoo had no time to question or stop him. The moment he was pushed inside, the gate slammed shut with a thud. Staring at the firmly closed gate, Seungjoo gritted his teeth and let out the fury that had welled up inside him.“Damn it, Kim Muheun!”The angry shout definitely reached the other side of the gate.Seungjoo, who was about to force the gate open, collapsed to the ground, crouching down as if he had been defeated. He buried his face between his knees and let out a hollow laugh, looking like a madman.“Seriously pissed off…”Even though he tried not to curse, he couldn’t help it. The hundreds of talismans on the walls seemed to be overwhelming him.Instinctively, Seungjoo felt that his spiritual sight wouldn’t close for at least a week.* * *Muheun was usually mature and composed, but once he became stubborn, he could be more troublesome than anyone else. When he believed something was right, he wouldn’t bend his opinion, and no one could make him give up. Despite all this, he didn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself, often causing others trouble.Once, there had been an incident. When Seungjoo was still young and babbling “Hyung,” Muheun had declared that he would write a talisman for him. He was too young to learn how to write talismans, and certainly not old enough to fast for 48 hours to do so.Still, Muheun insisted on studying how to write talismans. He would spread out the talismans his mother, an exorcist, had temporarily written, and copy the characters with ink, staying up late for several nights. When he could finally write decently, he immediately fasted for 48 hours, making a wound on his palm to draw blood.The talisman he made was nearly useless, just a piece of paper filled with Yeongi. It wasn’t something that could protect a young Seungjoo. Despite the achievement for his age, it was clear that Muheun wouldn’t stop there.From then on, Muheun wrote five talismans a day. Instead of using his own blood, he started practicing with chicken blood, as exorcists did. His parents tried to stop him, saying it was too early, but Muheun was the type of person who couldn’t leave things half done.It took exactly three months for him to produce almost perfect talismans.The talismans he wrote back then were kept somewhere in Muheun’s house. A few decent ones were placed on the wall of Seungjoo’s house, and one he carried around for a while before he even knew what a talisman was. After all the Yeongi had dissipated over time, it was burned according to tradition.When Seungjoo later heard the story, he only had one thought: Wow, what a stubborn Hyung. He understood Muheun’s concern, but in the end, it was just another form of stubbornness.Thankfully, the practice proved useful later when Muheun became a Gwimae. Muheun tried to offer him talismans again, but once Seungjoo realized that the red writing on them was “blood,” he refused with disgust. Muheun, sensing his true feelings, didn’t press further.Muheun was someone who, once he decided to do something, would carry it out no matter what. Whether it was determination or persistence, it was difficult to stop him once he set his mind on something.“…”Damn it, but still, this is just too much.“…Sigh.”Seungjoo gritted his teeth again, letting out a deep sigh. He could feel the heavy pressure that had been weighing down on him since the moment he woke up this morning. With his spiritual sight opened, it felt like the protective barriers he had set around his house were sticking to his skin.Once, Kim Muryeong had said, “It’s a bit scary to go into Seungjoo’s house. It feels like there’s a heavy presence there.” Because of that, he rarely went past the gate. It wasn’t just Muryeong; even the neighbors felt the same.He never thought he would experience that sensation himself. As Seungjoo complained while eating breakfast and again while changing into his outdoor clothes, it felt wrong to sense the presence of spirits at home. He didn’t want to feel like he could see ghosts while in his own house.The walk across the yard toward the gate felt like dragging lead. Muheun would definitely be out there, and he didn’t think he’d be able to say anything nice when he saw him. Actually, he wondered if he even had to say anything nice at all.“…”“…”As expected, Muheun was standing in front of the gate. Dressed in his usual black T-shirt, he stood leaning at an angle, watching Seungjoo. Seungjoo couldn’t bring himself to say anything like “hello” or “did you sleep well?” The usual greetings never came.Seungjoo also didn’t greet him. He simply walked past, not giving Muheun a glance. Muheun quietly followed behind him.“…”“…”It was the most suffocating walk to school yet. Seungjoo was usually calm and rarely angry, but this time, he couldn’t help it. The anger that had started the day before was still very much present.His concern was excessive by now. No, it wasn’t even concern anymore; it was just plain overprotectiveness. If it were just about Seungjoo’s safety, Muheun didn’t have to be the one to protect him.‘So it’s just stubbornness.’Seungjoo thought about asking why, but he decided against it. He knew that asking wouldn’t help. He understood Muheun’s obsessive need to protect him.If Muheun had apologized, Seungjoo might have been ready to explode, but the perceptive Muheun didn’t apologize. His silence seemed to suggest that he didn’t regret his actions, which only made Seungjoo angrier. Despite the turmoil, Seungjoo just held in his feelings and quickened his pace.They didn’t exchange a single word as they walked toward the main gate. Seungjoo didn’t feel like talking, and Muheun understood that.Normally, by now, Muheun would have said something like “Have a good class,” but this time, as Seungjoo tried to leave without a word, Muheun stopped him quietly.“Seungjoo.”“…”Seungjoo’s steps stopped, as if it was automatic, a habit he had formed with Muheun since childhood. Muheun, still standing behind Seungjoo, spoke.“Don’t hate me too much.”His voice, usually firm, had a pleading tone this time. Despite the usual calmness of Muheun’s soft voice, it sounded almost desperate.Seungjoo, with his hands in his pockets, glanced back at Muheun. The memory of the tongue he had bitten yesterday came back. He was still bothered by the bloodied inside of his mouth, but it was only a fleeting thought. He frowned slightly and responded, his tone flat as usual.“Then stop making me hate you.”Why the hell did he do that? Seungjoo wanted to ask, but he didn’t expect to get an answer that would make sense. He knew Muheun was obsessive and protective over him.“If you really want to make it up, do something nice, not this.”Muheun had clearly known Seungjoo would be angry, so why did he do it? If he had offered help without insisting, Seungjoo might have accepted.“I’ll go now.”Seungjoo glanced at the weary-looking Muheun and turned away. He wished Muheun would go home and get some proper rest.Half of him felt resentful, and the other half was concerned. Nothing was going as he wanted.Wednesday’s first class was a major that Seungjoo took with his peers. Since he arrived a little late, most of the students were already in the classroom. Seohyun, who was chatting with a friend in the front row, was startled when she saw Seungjoo sitting nearby.“…What’s with your face? Are you about to kill someone?”It seemed that without realizing it, his expression had become rather ominous. Rather than pretending to be fine, Seungjoo set down his bag and sat down. He didn’t forget to reply with a disinterested tone.“Uh, I almost did, but I held back.”“Phew, that was close.”His casual response made it sound almost playful, which, fortunately, worked out well for Seungjoo, who didn’t need to explain anything further.Just as the conversation seemed to end, Jinwoo, who was sitting next to him, spoke up.“Hey, Seungjoo.”“Yeah?”Jinwoo’s face was unusually serious. It seemed like he had smoked a cigarette earlier, as the faint smell lingered. Just as Seungjoo was about to frown, the next words that came out of Jinwoo’s mouth twisted his face even further.“I heard you had lunch with some guy you don’t even know while I wasn’t around.”“Are you out of your mind?”Seungjoo snapped, irritated by Jinwoo’s tone. Other classmates, having overheard, chimed in with teasing comments. “Did Seungjoo cheat on Jinwoo with another guy?” they asked, as Jinwoo laughed, adding to the fun.“Seungjoo’s so popular, you know? He’s got someone picking him up in the mornings and evenings, and he’s been getting numbers from two random guys. And now he’s having lunch with a senior from another department.”Anyone who heard that would assume Seungjoo was some kind of player. The way Jinwoo spoke made it even worse, as if he was impressed by it. The problem, though, was that all the people involved were men. Not that it mattered, since they weren’t actually close to Seungjoo in any real way.“Don’t want that kind of popularity. The guy I had lunch with yesterday was just a senior from my high school.”“Ah? I guess only good-looking people go there.”Was that senior good-looking? Seungjoo frowned, thinking of Yejoon’s delicate features. He was definitely above average, but because there were so many handsome people around him, it made his sense of aesthetics a bit numb.“Jinwoo, you’re going to the PC bang later, right? Ranked games?”“Of course. Today’s the day we climb.”Bored with the conversation, Jinwoo quickly switched to talking about video games. He kept discussing their plans to level up or how they slipped in promotion matches yesterday. Then, out of the blue, he turned to Seungjoo and asked:“Do you wanna go to the PC bang today?”It was more out of politeness than anything, as Seungjoo hadn’t been to one since the semester started. Normally, Seungjoo would refuse without hesitation, but today, unexpectedly, he replied without much thought.“Yeah, I’ll go.”* * *If someone asked what he was thinking, Seungjoo would have wanted to say that it was more like a protest. He knew Muheun would come to pick him up after school, but he didn’t want to just go out and obediently follow him as soon as he showed up. However, since he couldn’t do anything extreme, all he could do was stop by the PC bang near the back gate.“Damn, Seungjoo’s pretty good, huh?”“Why didn’t we play together until now?”The classmates, who had always seen Seungjoo as a bit of a loner, were surprised to find that he actually had some unexpected skills. They thought he didn’t even have an account, but they were impressed every time he won a match, exclaiming in amazement.“Dude, take the placement test quickly and play ranked with us.”“No thanks, too much trouble.”Seungjoo thought to himself that maybe he wasn’t so good, but they were just bad. He replied indifferently. Though he wasn’t particularly fond of games, he had played a few during his middle and high school years with friends. However, Seungjoo preferred activities like playing catch with Muheun over these computer games.“Come on, play one more round.”One of his friends hit the match button, and Seungjoo checked his phone, which he had left by his side. When he tapped the screen, an unread message popped up. The sender was none other than Muheun.Kim Muheun Hyung: [What’s the name of the PC bang?] “…”If he was going to protest, he should’ve done it properly.Seungjoo had dutifully left a message saying he was going to the PC bang with his friends, just in case Muheun thought something was wrong. But, when Muheun asked which PC bang, he didn’t answer.“Ah, got matched.”“Seungjoo, what are you doing? Pick already!”“Got it, give me a sec.”Seungjoo, after hearing Jinwoo’s urging, flipped his phone over and chose a character wielding a large shield. It was already past five o’clock, and there were no other messages from Muheun. Seungjoo figured that even if he was late, Muheun wouldn’t push him too hard—probably just a little nagging about playing for too long, not about making him wait.‘He’s not my dad…’Seungjoo’s mind was tangled with mixed feelings, a sense of anxiety, like someone who’d forgotten their homework—even though he had never actually forgotten his homework in his life.“Hey, I need backup!”“Damn, they’re really good.”The noise around him didn’t clear his mind. Seungjoo tried to focus on the game, moving the mouse quickly. His phone, still flipped over, remained silent as the game went on.* * *The next day, after class, Seungjoo didn’t go straight to Muheun. Instead, he sat in the classroom until the very last moment, killing time. It wasn’t until the professor spoke to him that he had to hurriedly leave, almost as if escaping.What was he doing? The thought crossed his mind, but there was no other way. His spiritual sight still wouldn’t close, and every time he looked at Kim Muheun, he felt an irrational surge of anger.His personality really had soured. The best thing he could do was swallow his sharp words, thinking that way.Just like yesterday, Muheun didn’t get angry at Seungjoo for keeping him waiting. Instead, he observed Seungjoo with a persistence that was unusual for him, and when Seungjoo avoided his gaze, he let out a quiet chuckle. After dropping him off in front of his house, he spoke with an unchanged expression.“If you’re planning to go anywhere over the weekend, let me know.”There was no need to ask why. He added in a gentle tone.“Hyung will come to pick you up.”“…….”Did he intend to act as a lackey? It was hard to tell if Muheun was genuinely kind or if he was daring Seungjoo to try something. It probably wasn’t the latter, yet Seungjoo didn’t want to admit it was the former either. To call someone “kind,” they’d have to be at least at Kim Muryeong’s level. Muheun, his hyung, was a bit too twisted to be seen as a benevolent person.In any case, Seungjoo didn’t contact Muheun over the weekend that followed. He hadn’t even gone out in the first place, only briefly stopping by next door for lunch. He didn’t think it was necessary to mention it, but somehow, when Muheun showed up on Monday, he knew. Seungjoo could only guess that Muryeong, who’d coincidentally visited home, had mentioned it.The same pattern repeated the following week. Knowing full well that Muheun was waiting, Seungjoo wandered aimlessly around campus. He’d sit on a bench with a coffee for no reason, claim he was doing assignments in the library, or play basketball with a few classmates.It was a petty act. His range of activity was limited to the university area, and he never stayed out past six. Since Muheun had to start his shift after sundown, he at least wanted to avoid inconveniencing him too much.Even though he knew this level of defiance was pointless. He was fully aware of how foolish it looked, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop.“…….”Today as well, after his last class, Seungjoo strolled around campus without any particular destination. He was holding a canned drink he’d bought from a vending machine, walking slowly without any clear purpose.He didn’t feel like going to a PC bang anymore, and it didn’t seem quite right to go for drinks. It was a rare day with no assignments, so he didn’t want to bury himself in the library, and he didn’t have any friends to play basketball with today either. If he wasn’t going to put on a one-man show, a quiet walk seemed like a better choice.“I want to go home….”It would be easier just to go home with Muheun. He was starting to get tired of this charade. He never had much patience to begin with, and he’d already held out quite a while.In any case, if they both kept this up, it was clear who’d win in the end. Muheun had never once lost to him in all the years they’d known each other.“But what am I supposed to do about this stupid anger?”His emotions were all over the place. He was lashing out because he felt upset, but it wasn’t bringing him any relief. If he knew exactly what he wanted, he could at least try demanding it, but he had no idea what it would take to ease this feeling.Did he want an apology? Or maybe he wanted Muheun to regret his decisions? If Muheun thought it would be better to assign a bodyguard and stopped coming to see him, would that finally make this feeling go away?“…….”Seungjoo clicked his tongue and walked closer to the railing. He’d been wandering aimlessly and had ended up at the lake within the campus. The artificial lake reflected the blue sky like a mirror.A while ago, cherry blossoms had been in bloom around the lake, but now only fresh green leaves adorned the trees. Soon enough, when finals were over and summer vacation started, the lush greenery would take over completely.Leaning against the railing, Seungjoo blankly stared at the surface of the water. With no wind blowing, the wide surface was calm and still. It was a view he usually observed without feeling much, yet today, he found himself envying its tranquility.“Maybe… I don’t need to contact him.”The first day, he’d told Muheun he was going to a PC bang, but after that, he hadn’t sent any messages. Even so, Muheun continued waiting for him at the front gate without a word of complaint, as if he knew that Seungjoo would return eventually.That figure waiting quietly wasn’t unfamiliar. Although he didn’t want to admit it, that kind of waiting resembled his own when he’d waited at the gate for Muheun to come back—when seasons changed, during holidays, whenever he found himself standing there.Why had he waited so long back then? And why had he felt so disappointed?It was almost laughable—Seungjoo knew that Muheun would never truly leave. Their bond was too deeply tied to be severed so easily. From the beginning, he’d been certain that Muheun would return, so shouldn’t he have avoided feeling betrayed when he left?“……huh.”Lost in thought, Seungjoo suddenly saw a shadow leap up from the surface of the lake in the distance. Although it was far, the shape and the movement made it clear what it was.“That goldfish from last time.”Of course, there was no way it was the only fish in the lake. It could just be one that looked similar, but he couldn’t help feeling it was the same one. The small, jet-black goldfish had to be the one he’d seen before.With another leap, the goldfish broke the surface. Its graceful movement was undoubtedly that of a fish, but Seungjoo felt an inexplicable sense of unease as he squinted at it. Regardless, the fish swam toward him, wriggling under the surface.“…What is this?”Was it just his imagination? There was something strange about it. Come to think of it, did goldfish even jump above the water like that?Just as he thought this, the fish leaped again, appearing briefly above the surface.“…….”Seungjoo realized what felt off. He opened his eyes wide, his expression stiffening. Though the shadow beneath the water continued to approach, a jolt of shock rooted him to the spot.The water wasn’t splashing.There should have been ripples as the fish moved, but the surface remained still and quiet. It was like watching a paused scene, with only the shadow moving.* * *Realizing this, Seungjoo quickly pulled away from the railing. Although it was still some distance away, he couldn’t ignore the possibility that it might approach him. There was no telling what that harmless-looking fish might do.But he couldn’t immediately turn around and run. Just as he steadied himself, the goldfish swam up to the railing, its snout poking out. The sight of it made him freeze in place, watching as the small snout opened and closed.“……What?”It looked almost like it was trying to talk. Anyone else watching would have thought he was crazy, but Seungjoo, without realizing it, asked again and stepped closer to the fence. Placing both hands on the railing and squinting, he could see the goldfish’s mouth moving a little more clearly.“……?”It was definitely saying something, but it was too far away to understand. Even as he leaned in, hoping to catch a sound, all he could hear was the faint rustling of leaves.So Seungjoo moved in a bit closer to narrow the distance. It wouldn’t make a meaningful difference, but it felt better than staying far away. Like someone under a spell, he stretched his upper body forward, focusing all his attention.“Who’s…….”But was it just his imagination? The more he focused, the more he felt like he could read its lips. The scent of dampness and a faintly sweet smell mingled, making his mind feel hazy. His eyelids drooped as if sleep were overtaking him, yet the goldfish’s words grew even clearer.“Help…….”……me?And then—“……!”Suddenly, his hand, braced against the fence, slipped forward. Had he concentrated too hard? By the time he realized it, he was leaning halfway over the lake. His upper body tilted forward, and his weight shifted, quickly throwing him off balance.‘I’m done for.’They say the heaviest part of the human body is the head. Even in that moment, he thought of that. Recently, he’d found himself in one too many life-threatening situations, and the creeping sense of danger was undeniable. Actually, maybe this was too late for warnings, given that it was already happening.‘Well, there’s water below…….’Strangely, Seungjoo even felt grateful that he knew how to swim. At least he wasn’t going to hit solid ground, so he figured he wouldn’t die. The only thing he worried about was what he’d say to Kim Muheun.But just then, someone grabbed his arm with an iron grip.“……!”The strength of that hold, almost crushing his arm, pulled him backward in one swift motion. Gasping in surprise, Seungjoo was yanked backward, and he fell clumsily onto the ground with a heavy thud, knocking the air out of him.“……ha.”He was alive. That was his first thought. Then came the question, ‘How did he know to come?’ Because Seungjoo naturally assumed it was Kim Muheun. Whenever he found himself in danger, it was always Muheun who reached him first.“…….”But when he looked up, what he saw wasn’t a concerned expression but cold, somber eyes. Beneath a shadowed cap, the face looking down at him was nothing like he expected.A face as expressionless as a robot’s, with a faint look of surprise.“……What exactly were you doing?”It was the exorcist who had said he wanted to become friends with Seungjoo.* * *“…….”“…….”An awkward silence settled between them. Not a word passed, and even breathing felt conspicuous. Seungjoo sat on the bench, while the other stood in front of him. Finally, the other man broke the silence.“If you were trying to kill yourself…….”“Are you insane? It wasn’t that,” Seungjoo snapped, quickly denying it. The man looked down at him with a doubtful expression, as if he were assessing a suicidal person with a fragile mind.“I’m telling you, it wasn’t.”Frustrated, Seungjoo frowned and denied it again. But as if he still didn’t believe him, Seungjoo ruffled his hair and added one more thing. It was the truth, yet it sounded like an excuse.“There was a strange fish there, and I slipped while looking at it.”‘Are you crazy? If you’d fallen from there, you’d be dead.’After pulling Seungjoo back, the man had spoken in a grave tone. Still in a daze from realizing it wasn’t Muheun, Seungjoo had blurted out without thinking.‘No, look…… You wouldn’t die just from falling there.’He appreciated the rescue, but that was all he could say in his shock. The man, who had suddenly appeared and was now scolding him with a rare show of temper, kept a hard expression and spoke in a dry voice, yet it could only be taken as anger.‘No, you would.’‘…….’It was hard to tell if he was saying you’d die if you fell, or that you should die. His tone was so flat that it was confusing. Right, he did talk like a machine, Seungjoo thought. Then, the man dropped a more chilling truth.‘There’s a large rock beneath the water. An ordinary person would die instantly from hitting their head on it.’At that point, Seungjoo couldn’t help but feel a chill. The problem wasn’t how well he could swim; it was that he might not get the chance to swim at all if his head smashed open.‘……Damn, if it weren’t for you, I would’ve been dead.’With an awkward expression, Seungjoo thanked him. “Thanks.” In response, the man looked down at Seungjoo with a strange expression.It would have been nice if they’d parted on that note, but just as Seungjoo tried to stand, a problem arose.‘…….’He must have twisted his ankle, because his leg had no strength. To make matters worse, his forearm, where the man had grabbed him, began to throb. Did human strength really have to be this ridiculously strong? It gave him a new appreciation for how carefully Muheun usually held onto him.So, with the man’s help, Seungjoo made his way to a nearby bench. He hadn’t intended to ask for help, but when he failed to stand, the man extended a hand without hesitation, his eyes gleaming as if he were seizing an opportunity. As he accepted the man’s support, Seungjoo firmly stated,‘I appreciate the help, but I’m still not giving you my number.’‘…….’The faint look of disappointment was unmistakable.He almost thought the man would leave him behind then and there, but thankfully, he led Seungjoo to the bench without any issues. And now, standing before the seated Seungjoo, he asked in a blunt voice,“Are you seriously telling me that a grown man nearly fell off a fence while watching a fish?”“…….”When he put it that way, it sounded truly pathetic. And the worst part was, he couldn’t deny it, because that was exactly what happened. Well, more accurately, he ‘almost’ fell.“……Right. Now that I think about it, you’re an exorcist, aren’t you?”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~