Beyond the haphazardly plastered talismans and around the stone wall stood a house with a flimsy iron gate. A place devoid of life—not just of the living but of the dead as well. It was abandoned, untouched by human hands, exuding a desolate stillness.
“Co in.”
Mu-ryeong found himself once again at Hwan-young’s house. As soon as school ended, he walked for two hours, only arriving at dusk. As always, there was no sign of life. The inside of the house was steeped in Hwan-young’s unique spiritual energy.
“It really feels great to be back…”
He had been exhausted all day, yet the mont he stepped inside, his head felt clear. The sticky fatigue clinging to him vanished as if it had never been there.
“I want to live here.”
“…”
He had spoken with complete sincerity, but as before, Hwan-young did not respond. Instead, he simply narrowed his eyes, staring at Mu-ryeong as though he were looking at sothing strange. Before Hwan-young could say anything, Mu-ryeong neatly took off his shoes and stepped inside.
The living room, with its old and worn-out furniture, was exactly the sa as last ti. Well, it had only been a month—how much could it have changed? Feeling an odd sense of déjà vu, Mu-ryeong glanced back at Hwan-young, who was still standing at the entrance.
“Is there sothing on my shoes?”
One pair of sneakers neatly placed side by side, and another still being worn by Hwan-young. Both were white, yet different in style. Mu-ryeong, always prioritizing practicality, wore Velcro sneakers to avoid the hassle of untied laces. Hwan-young’s shoes, on the other hand, were lace-ups—slightly worn, revealing their age.
“Should I put them in the shoe rack?”
“No… It’s fine.”
Just like last ti, Hwan-young quietly observed Mu-ryeong’s sneakers before shaking his head and finally slipping off his own shoes.
“Follow . I’ll give you sothing to change into, so wash up first.”
Mu-ryeong trailed after him into his room, this ti deliberately avoiding looking around too closely. The photographs were gone—perhaps put away sowhere. But strangely, the mont he stepped inside, he felt an energy different from Hwan-young’s.
—Huh?
It was familiar. Just like that one morning, when he had sensed his own spiritual energy lingering around Seung-joo. For so reason, Mu-ryeong’s presence was all over this room.
—But it’s been a month.
He had only spent a single night here, yet his energy remained thick in the space. That much ti had passed—it shouldn’t still be here.
Before Mu-ryeong could dwell on it further, Hwan-young handed him the sa gym clothes he had worn last ti.
“Stop staring and just go wash up.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Without asking anything, Mu-ryeong left the room. The mont he stepped out, Hwan-young closed the door behind him.
—Well, it’s probably nothing.
There was no danger in his energy lingering. If anything, it would make this place safer. There was no reason to think too much about it.
After washing up, they had dinner together, just like before. This ti, Mu-ryeong obediently sat at the table, waiting while Hwan-young set out the al. It was a convenience store bento, with seven different side dishes—including grilled short rib patties.
“If you finish it, I’ll make another one.”
He must have rembered that Mu-ryeong had eaten two last ti. Without refusing, Mu-ryeong simply nodded and picked up his chopsticks. The food was decent, but Hwan-young ate with the sa expression as before—one of dull obligation, as though he wasn’t enjoying a single bite.
About halfway through the al, Hwan-young got up, took a bottle of water from the fridge, and poured so into a cup for Mu-ryeong. As for himself, he drank straight from the bottle, downing the entire thing in one go. He let out a deep breath and lifted his gaze.
“So, you still want to continue the request?”
Their eyes t across the table. Mu-ryeong swallowed his food, took a sip of water, and only then noticed the subtle unease in Hwan-young’s expression.
“Yeah, let’s keep going.”
—Forget the request. Let’s just drop it.
That morning, Mu-ryeong had squatted down in front of Hwan-young’s house, waiting for an answer. Leaning his head against the stone wall, blinking sleepily from ti to ti. Hwan-young had only responded after a long silence, his tone filled with confusion.
—…Why?
It was a question, but it didn’t feel like he was truly asking. More like a stray thought that had slipped out.
—Have you forgotten how I treated you?
That made Mu-ryeong blink in surprise. He tilted his head, looking up at Hwan-young with genuine bewildernt.
—How did you treat ?
As far as Mu-ryeong could rember, Hwan-young had never been unkind to him. Sure, he had thrown away the talisman, but he had looked guilty about it. That was enough for Mu-ryeong to let it go. Aside from that? Well, things had been… relatively normal.
—The others say you’re nice to .
“…”
Hwan-young abruptly shut his mouth, as if realizing he had said too much. He turned his head to the side, covering his mouth with his hand—his palm was big enough to completely hide his expression.
—…Either way, you don’t have to go this far.
—Do I need a reason?
To Mu-ryeong, searching for a reason was the most pointless thing in the world. No matter how much he tried to rationalize things, in the end, he would always act on what he felt.
—It’s my duty to deal with malicious spirits.
“…”
—And I treat everyone… the sa way.
He added that last part to lighten the weight of his words. To make it clear that Hwan-young wasn’t being given special treatnt—so he shouldn’t feel burdened by it.
For so reason, Hwan-young’s expression stiffened.
—If it really bothers you, then let’s do this.
—It’s not that it bothers …
Hwan-young trailed off.
“Then What?”
“…Forget it. Just keep talking.”
How boring. Mu-ryeong thought as much, his lips curling into an easy smile. Just a habit.
“You saved
during dodgeball, rember?”
“…”
“So, let’s just call this payback. How about that?”
It was a reasonable excuse. Others might not understand, but to Mu-ryeong, it made sense. Whether it was deflecting a ball or dealing with a vengeful spirit, both acts stemd from the sa instinct—to keep soone from getting hurt. The effort required might be different, but the intent was the sa.
“If you still don’t like it… just think about it until school’s over.”
By then, Mu-ryeong already knew that Hwan-young was close to giving in. He just needed ti to reach a decision. His mind was already leaning in one direction. That’s why Mu-ryeong didn’t push any further. Instead, he put on his most pitiful expression.
“Help
up.”
“…”
“My legs are asleep. I can’t stand.”
“Hah.”
Hwan-young sighed, looking at him like he was pathetic, but still extended his hand. Mu-ryeong imdiately grabbed it and sprang to his feet—way too quickly for soone with numb legs. If anything, he just gripped Hwan-young’s hand tighter.
“You’re getting better at holding my hand.”
Mu-ryeong distinctly rembered Hwan-young’s reaction. He had yanked his hand away like it was on fire and turned his head sharply in the opposite direction. It hadn’t been hard to notice how red his ears had gotten. Embarrassnt, plain and simple.
After that, as soon as school ended, Mu-ryeong made his way to Class 3, as usual. Hwan-young had been sitting there blankly, lost in thought. Without giving him a chance to refuse, Mu-ryeong had said, “Let’s talk about this at your place.”
And for whatever reason, Hwan-young hadn’t turned him down.
“It’s Just Easier This Way.”
“I told you before—hunting malevolent spirits is my duty. I have to do it whether or not it’s an official request, but it’s easier if we help each other out.”
It was a proposal of mutual benefit. Mu-ryeong would fulfill his duty as an exorcist, and Hwan-young would rid himself of a burden too heavy to carry alone. And while they were at it, they’d keep each other from getting killed.
But instead of agreeing, Hwan-young stayed silent for a long ti. Then, out of nowhere, he asked:
“…What are you?”
“Huh? I’m an exorcist…”
Mu-ryeong blinked, rolling his eyes slightly as he answered. He’d assud Hwan-young knew at least the basics about spiritual abilities, given that he possessed them himself. But… could it be that he knew nothing?
“…You do know what an exorcist is, right?”
For the first ti in the conversation, Mu-ryeong tensed. But Hwan-young answered imdiately, his voice colder than ever.
“I do.”
Oh, good. Wait—why didn’t he look relieved?
“You’re telling
you’re an exorcist?”
“Well… not officially.”
Technically, registering with the Association required being of legal age. Of course, Mu-ryeong was an exception—his na had been on the list since birth. But that wasn’t worth explaining, so he simply winked.
“So, you’re still in training?”
“…Yeah, sothing like that.”
For so reason, Hwan-young’s expression eased. He even muttered under his breath, “So you’re not one yet.”
“You’re just an exorcist hopeful, then?”
“Hopeful…?”
That wasn’t exactly right. It wasn’t sothing one aspired to—it was sothing one had to be born into. Saying he was an exorcist hopeful was like calling soone a “dolphin hopeful.” Ridiculous.
“Anyway… even if you refuse, I’m still going to hunt malevolent spirits. That’s not going to change.”
Mu-ryeong’s tone was firm, unshakable. This wasn’t negotiation—it was a fact.
Hwan-young lowered his gaze slightly, then asked in a quiet voice:
“What’s your price?”
Ah. He had been waiting for that question.
Ki Hwan-young looked for a reason in everything. Of course, he would wonder what the cost was. Mu-ryeong had already decided on his answer.
“Give
your na tag.”
Normally, he wouldn’t ask for anything in return. But with Hwan-young, he had to.
…And maybe, just maybe, Mu-ryeong had his own selfish reasons, too.
“The one I gave back to you—give it to
again.”
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