KTC | Chapter 7

“How could you do this to me, brother? You can’t do this to me!”

Seo Jihan screamed as if vomiting blood, his body violently jerking. Choi Seonwoo held his wrists tightly.

The strength was immense. Luckily, his right arm and right leg were still chained, which made it manageable. But Jihan’s right hand, unchecked by both hands, moved toward his neck.

This won’t do. I have to save myself first…

“Brother, is it really you?”

A child-like voice burst from his throat, halting Choi Seonwoo’s thoughts momentarily. Trembling fingers clumsily caressed his exposed neck.

Jihan’s body, tightly curled up, slowly collapsed and he buried his face in Choi Seonwoo’s chest.

The towering figure, like a wounded beast, clung blindly, his tears and hot breath mingling like karma, soaking the front of Choi Seonwoo’s shirt.

“Brother, where did you go? Brother Seonwoo, I’m scared.”

Jihan burst into tears like a child.

Perhaps the evil spirit didn’t know it, but this was the only moment today that truly disturbed Choi Seonwoo.

Choi Seonwoo snapped back to reality. A panting breath popped like a water balloon in the heated air.

Ah, I was genuinely startled.

Choi Seonwoo quickly bit his thumb again and drew a cross on the nape of Jihan’s neck. He pushed the stiffening body back, reversing their positions. Holding Jihan’s blood-stained face tightly with both hands, Choi Seonwoo gently pressed their lips together.

Just as God had breathed life into Adam when he molded him from clay, Choi Seonwoo too breathed life into Jihan’s lips, borrowing mysterious powers.

“Are you going to abandon me? Am I to be abandoned again?”

Tears of blood endlessly flowed from Jihan’s eyes, which held only dark pupils. His face, filled with misery and sadness, looked convincingly genuine. While wiping his cheek with his thumb, Choi Seonwoo ruthlessly faced him, continuing mechanically.

“Recognize the spirit of truth and grace that refuses your trap and exposes your lies. Come forth from this person whom God has marked with His seal.”

As he began the laying-on of hands, Jihan’s demeanor shifted again. Abandoning the act of a child, his face now twisted with a deep malice.

Fortunately, there was no struggle. He just glared at Choi Seonwoo with blood-filled eyes, cursing him silently.

“By the holy sign of Christ’s cross, I command you to flee.”

At that moment, the evil spirit laughed loudly as if it had been waiting just for this.

“Hahaha! Yes, come out as much as you wish! That is exactly what I wanted!”

Is this really what you wanted?

“The Lord is alive and reigns forever and ever. Amen.”

“At last, liberation! It’s time to escape from this despicable vessel and the dreadful seal of the Ghost King!”

A scream like a wild beast’s roar filled the room.

“I will definitely return! The moment you face me again, your world will be dyed in hell!”

The evil spirit was truly elated, soaked in the thought of finally leaving the vessel that had been neither fully possessed nor liberated due to the Ghost King’s seal.

As Jihan’s chin quivered, dark smoke billowed from his lips.

“No, we shall not meet again.”

Choi Seonwoo reached out decisively toward the dispersing black smoke. As he clenched his fist, the spreading smoke swirled into his grasp.

“What, what…! No…! Save me…!”

The evil spirit, belatedly realizing what was happening, began to plead in panic.

“Even while wearing the guise of a priest, you do this and fear not your God, haahhh!”

Yes. I am not afraid of my God. That’s why it’s sad.

Choi Seonwoo, gripping the true essence of the evil spirit, his eyes gleamed ominously. Shreds of black flame torn and burned, scattering in the air.

The vengeful spirits that had been parasitizing the demon panicked and dispersed, and the various stray spirits roaming the area fled in terror.

Probably, these garrulous beings would roam everywhere, declaring that the nemesis of ghosts had appeared. He welcomed that.

The room filled with the pungent smell of brimstone.

The evil spirit’s screams finally ceased completely.

After an exorcism, one always feels completely drained. Though Choi Seonwoo typically only warmed up slightly even in the height of summer, at these times, he was always drenched in sweat.

Looking down at his grandson, who lay sleeping like an angel, Chairman Seo finally teared up. It had been too long since he had seen him unchained and peacefully asleep. Although he might be possessed by evil spirits again, for now, the boy was at peace, which was a relief.

Chairman Seo treated Choi Seonwoo with great respect. Fresh out of the shower, he was summoned to the dining hall for a lavish meal. Used to living a life where he managed with whatever food was available outside church events or in the church itself, he had to chew thoroughly for fear of indigestion.

“What, what did you say?”

While planning to spend a night at the Myeongdong Cathedral’s rectory to see Bishop Lee Yoonseok, Choi Seonwoo nearly choked on his food at the end of the meal. After swallowing the food stuck in his throat with water, he looked incredulously at Chairman Seo.

“I’m making an outrageous request, Priest Choi. I will fulfill whatever you want, so please consider it.”

Choi Seonwoo blinked blankly before letting out a laugh.

“So… I just want to make sure I heard you correctly. Could you repeat that?”

“I asked if you could take care of our Jihan.”

Wow, my hearing is fine. That’s a relief.

“Brother? Do you think the rectory is a daycare?”

“I did some research while you were washing up. Large cathedrals have staff like lay brothers to make life easier for priests, but that’s not something one can expect in a small parish church. I can provide whatever staff is needed at my own expense, and if it’s necessary to build a new church, I’ll do that too. I could even give you a small building to ensure you have no financial worries for the rest of your life, even if you leave the priesthood.”

Choi Seonwoo set down his spoon and laughed heartily. It was the first time he’d ever heard someone from a church ask him to take care of a child.

“Although I may not be as devout as some priests, I have not fallen so far as to seek personal gain through my priestly duties.”

“I apologize if I’ve offended you. I was just trying to express how desperate I am.”

…Well, it’s not as if he could be anything but desperate.

Choi Seonwoo understood that well enough to dismiss any talk of compensation.

“Still, what can’t be done, can’t be done.”

“What if I personally get permission from the Bishop of Incheon?”

“That doesn’t matter. As the priest in charge of the parish, it’s up to me to decide who I care for in the rectory. If your grandson’s situation were something that could be resolved quickly, I wouldn’t mind helping. But that’s not the case, is it?”

The only way to truly manage vengeful spirits without incident is to lead a long, virtuous life, helping and saving others to accrue merit. However, in Seo Jihan’s case, each vengeful spirit is as potent as an evil spirit, and their numbers are vast, making even that path nearly impossible.

To silently accrue virtue while warding off countless temptations requires a robust mental barrier, a path not even easy for an ordinary person free of vengeful spirits. For Jihan, laden with such spirits, it was almost insurmountable.

That’s why Choi Seonwoo had said today’s exorcism wouldn’t mean much. He had explained all this thoroughly to Chairman Seo.

“Have you truly understood everything I’ve said so far?”

“I have. That’s exactly why I’m making an unreasonable request.”

It seemed he wasn’t senile after all. Choi Seonwoo frowned slightly but nodded for him to continue. Chairman Seo, uncharacteristically embarrassed, continued.

“Jihan has never caused trouble, but he’s used to living as he pleases without distinguishing between good and evil. And I’m the one who raised him to live as if he’s above the clouds.”

“You’re not exactly a model guardian.”

“That’s right. I know no other way. As long as he grows up under my care, Jihan won’t change.”

…That makes sense.

Choi Seonwoo conceded.

“Let it be for as long as you feel appropriate, Priest. A year is fine, or even a month. I only ask that you help our boy at least until you feel he has the awareness to recognize the traps of the vengeful spirits. After that, even if he is possessed again, I promise never to seek your help.”

Choi Seonwoo sighed, understanding the desperation yet knowing the depth of the challenge that lay ahead.