HLFH | Chapter 21

Gasp, someone suddenly 59658864c3 took a sharp 073cdf0073 breath.11ef7a49b3e3bca1

They couldn’t figure out how to react or if Ahn Seomyeong was telling the truth. It was understandable. They were just kids who had barely become adults.24cc886cff1fe28c

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Talking about someone’s extreme choice was beyond their knowledge, patience, and consideration. They didn’t know if they should even open their mouths.a115633029ec7842

Especially when someone 467bc42060 like the alpha b937f32e19 male of their 72aa3eccea world made such 5e723af795 a choice? It was more than 81a7d24c42 just shocking.32aef842df481445

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Like hearing about a billionaire 7c32164226 suddenly committing suicide out of b9451d6f2d despair in a world where 3d56dd4eed even someone poor like‘me’is living. And if that b7f1a73ed4 person was someone 24926095e6 you knew?9ec008bcaa2da41e

The kids looked confused.51665855103f859c

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“Why, why…?”bf9e658f29e34c33

“Ahn Seomyeong, why are you telling us this now?”d8bc92920c78ea37

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“Do the teachers know?”5f1c5cb8bd7c2087

Unfair blame was ec945820cb directed at Ahn 8d81d4e72a Seomyeong.815d6caa87693072

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From their perspective, it 9053ee38b3 made sense.b14b50ffe2fac079

How had they treated 0049a30ad8 Ki Jaeeon all this f4a0ec26f5 time?f6b4143c5b51f028

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Ignoring, criticizing, and badmouthing him!f79c4d95bad169dc

Of course, it wasn’t without reason. Ki Jaeeon had started it, so they felt wronged too.50bd0e1c13a1b2f5

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But if there was 49e41d4d6f a reason for his e00926ff07 problematic behavior? The story changes.4afe94b556cd96ba

They were pushing 70bfecd3df someone who was 03a3a19766 already mentally cornered.9ab49e11817ce0c4

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Regardless of right or wrong, there’s a human empathy that can’t be ignored.6238390ee9d527f5

Honestly, it felt like being hit by a sudden car accident, leaving them dumbfounded…a7d936d2be20c79e

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They chose anger over questioning‘why?’ regarding Ki Jaeeon’s uncooperative attitude.b94ae8a1682b60df

Yeah, they didn’t try to understand him either.7760dd7af3c8f4c6

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“But why…?”aaf547739e97c098

“I don’t know. I just saved him because I thought he might die.”59e4d3283c6bf600

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Ahn Seomyeong shrugged, looking just 66aa663644 as curious. The kids fell silent again.b82c39af09275bc8

Ahn Seomyeong clicked his tongue, 21d75faf6e looking at his speechless peers.4aeacab19c484e9b

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“Why are you all so surprised?”6412b6afd5361783

“Of course…!”c2055adcb5c03740

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“Didn’t you notice Jaeeon hyung’s behavior was strange?”1bf7ef350df734ca

No one responded.bca5b344f1b08941

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Ahn Seomyeong checked each one of them and then leaned back, lost in thought. He soon sighed, “Yeah.” He didn’t bother explaining in detail. He just let it slide.0cac5cc362f92888

Why? Because it was meaningless.e663cbd885687cc9

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Anyone paying a little attention could see Ki Jaeeon’s behavior wasn’t normal. Stuttering severely, avoiding eye contact, trembling—just to name a few.1c3f404238392635

Yet they didn’t notice…79cbbdaf26aa3279

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‘It means they either didn’t care or only saw what they wanted to see.’d418ad0a5feb4054

No matter how much a third party talks, it’s meaningless to such people.b1d7dd706ed71b14

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If it seems like you’re taking sides, it could backfire.b7d8ab10e761abf4

It’s impossible to convey things perfectly unless you’re the person involved.bdc71ccb48a5c39c

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So it’s important to hear, speak, and realize things directly.b8d2d4472248c62f

“Why are you telling us such important stuff now?”8317d4fca3d85daa

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Someone asked sharply, and Ahn Seomyeong replied indifferently, “I told you, it was a slip of the tongue.” He really hadn’t intended to mention the train incident.fe3d22951f5edf05

“Why would I spread stories Jaeeon hyung hasn’t shared?”2cd0fd04cc347872

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Then he frowned slightly and muttered, “…Though I just did.”48ca4d72e6e14567

“Anyway, don’t tell Jaeeon hyung.”6c821222529e4fa8

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“Who’s going to say anything…?”e1dbc284291a40df

Surprisingly, a kid representing the 2f89456d66 faction sighed in response.df3f6facdbf7e36c

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The kid rested fe7012ef98 his chin on c827b39abf his hand, wearing 2eea8be51b a complex expression.e9dc6f58196b66f9

It was understandable… everything was so unexpected.4a01ecc7d74513a0

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Ki Jaeeon had saved him and his precious friends, and even bowing his head in gratitude multiple times wouldn’t be enough. He knew that. But he wasn’t ready to forgive the disregard for Bonryeong and treating them like air.0b2fb86f875762ae

That was that, and this 9e0b6d3818 was this.496302766c7010d7

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They were entirely different issues. He found it 999a30b91c strange that the 967970ba88 kids changed their ba96ff286d attitudes so quickly.cb3024e46848fa05

But if they had yelled at someone who had no will to live…adcf99e9c8f052a8

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‘Then I’d feel really sorry.’33d2a7d6f6431221

The kid’s eyes darkened. It was the same for others. The degree varied, but they shared common feelings.deaa27a97f994641

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Confusion, guilt, and curiosity.7235bb877a63e67f

Silence filled the living room.0542663e71ea75e4

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Ahn Seomyeong scratched his head.88bd510dc51966f8

‘I can totally guess what they’re thinking.’b6872284ce849e60

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He didn’t plan to scold them.4a00cdab07a25102

“I didn’t say it to make you feel guilty. I’m not here to judge right or wrong. Everyone has their own perspective.”b744b66e7601bde6

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Ahn Seomyeong continued, lightly massaging e1b94a0a46 his neck.a4d4056e5e79b280

“But regardless of Jaeeon hyung’s condition, if we went to Cheonjiharang and got treated like zoo monkeys, we’d be uncomfortable too. If you want to approach someone, do it in a way they want. Forcing friendship without consideration is just imposing, isn’t it?”5e32b72b2b34f5d3

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The kids’ eyes turned to the fridge.d55f085475c10efd

Instead of stuffing snacks he wouldn’t eat…82c389163bc0fef7

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What did Ki Jaeeon want?d3333bbc132fa12d

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃942dc8fa51cd1e9b

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Meanwhile, others were also shocked.c404113322570fb1

“Can you take responsibility for what you just said, Master Kim Young?”dd027ccdf3952c99

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“Yes, of course, Elder.”cddd794c20c45bae

It was Kim Young ccbee6bb1e and the elders of 88195f8a11 Bonryeong.c4cb89c68930776b

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Kim Young didn’t back down from the pressing gazes. No, he tried not to. He was that desperate. He straightened his back and repeated what he had said.cd27b8d9d30f9f1e

“Ki Jaeeon the exorcist was clearly abused by the Ki Family. So, we must transfer him to Bonryeong instead of Cheonjiharang. If we leave him like this, who knows when a star, which could be the future of exorcists, might fall? You’re not just going to watch his downfall, are you?”62186f00a475c152

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That’s right.3f25365a4db64062

Kim Young was arguing to the elders of Bonryeong that “Ki Jaeeon isn’t cursed, but has a mental disorder due to long-term abuse.”d0df185fdd8b5fa4

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Why did he suddenly make this choice when he had resigned himself to “no one will listen anyway”?975f918881a84ffa

There was a clear reason.706e7b8c0cbfde43

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The elders were looking for some “justification” to keep Ki Jaeeon in Bonryeong.8ee4a471e2a610db

A justification strong a9703b445d enough to rival 74e3378791 Cheonjiharang.167371401b95c5b6

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If Ki Jaeeon hadn’t summoned the Vermilion Bird, Kim Young wouldn’t have been able to mention even the ‘a’ of abuse. Why? Because the elders wouldn’t support him.3b019fd426fe9b60

But now they f4bdfff1f3 were obsessed with b09a0eedce the divine beast!eb47c6e79831e4e1

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Whether Ki Jaeeon was really abused or not didn’t matter; what mattered was that they had a public “justification” to “protect” Ki Jaeeon from Cheonjiharang.9510388d334dcdd6

Bonryeong wouldn’t easily hand him over, claiming they needed to determine right from wrong.30d2d2a2ec61091f

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This was an opportunity.5fcaa7d541a81ca5

A holy command to c3165545de take in and care 96b4377f3f for a poor young e35187ffe2 life!4fabe04b12a9548b

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‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to move the elders again.’a6ab5694d5a092be

Kim Young planned e62677bc41 to help Ki ae585da85d Jaeeon take root 31238e71ff in Bonryeong this 966d739d46 time.b3d56a6e4187c29b

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“But there’s no direct evidence. All we have is Master Kim Young’s claim that he’s not cursed.”05e56fa5f6dcffdc

“Ki Jaeeon the exorcist can testify himself. Just give me time.”c71b9bdc774f9c8d

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Kim Young recalled Ki 5c6f7c4898 Jaeeon, who had refused 9b6a651d78 to go to the 245842308a hospital, saying it would 756e7d44ca bring shame to his f106aa8a3a family. How pressured and gaslighted 8d1777f5d9 must he have been 32c1c429ac to feel that way?638b213f394079e1

If given time… Kim Young was confident he could persuade Ki Jaeeon.38a08874fe8325f6

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No, he had to. Ignoring a young life trapped 838d91e763 in hellfire was too painful.9cbcbfa9d401c93b

‘This time, I’ll make sure to ask for help.’4adf860c952cd61b

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𓂃 ོ☼𓂃41d6cbae43ac81dc

After receiving a thank-you letter, 373d908a98 Ki Jaeeon developed a new d3f0cc6d0f habit.51030169dbc49cad

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From the moment 5993f2d6c1 he opened his e274f9c9cb eyes to the 5bebc5938b moment he closed 5e39f1972f them, he read 8df8eaa9e2 and reread the b477ceea30 letters the kids 7b636fa7d1 sent. He almost memorized them. How much had b5fffc7e4d he fiddled with 08a8fa01bf them for the fd71d0839b stiff paper edges 01f56ab9b1 to become soft 593e3a0ef1 and worn?c7e9e239ef60a91b

Today was no different.494f46069ab29640

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Suffering from insomnia, Ki Jaeeon ff9af6e185 woke up late and the d812d4a717 first thing he did was cd6ced6fe8 fumble for the letter on 493c65ab83 his bedside.ff9ef4a8b8d92280

Forcing his barely opening eyes, 33fd3e29b6 he crammed the cheerful writing[To Ki Jaeeon the Exorcist!] into his mind.9f55efcf01c9fecb

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There was no particular reason. Even he found 629abead6b it hard to c0f8f3c19f understand why he 1c335fd2eb was so obsessed.e016421cd589b459

He had said he didn’t want to be swayed by ‘affection’ anymore.ddaeaff1bfe2c7dd

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He knew that warmth would 614f6fbd3d return as pain.137ec7db74d3c185

If he accepted comfort… then what?9154896faa30b1c9

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Ki Jaeeon buried cca491f3fc his head in cd3a4511aa the letter.fb2e9d03b3aeab9f

Like a child seeking attention, he gently shook his head and then took a deep breath. His chest rose and fell several times, and then he couldn’t help but laugh.28766910e4ba6f73

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At some point, the part e6222ab2d7 of the paper where he c7651e310c buried his head began to 1092201415 slowly soak.440851c71e3cc09d

Ha… Hahe… Heuh…7c17de892fb0f8c3

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Laughter disguised as 607fc8da28 sobs echoed in 8f02a8fe2e the quiet room.e4e2ed8119b16d80

‘You’ll regret this later.’2743fa2f077a2b0c

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Even as he painfully pinched himself, he couldn’t let go of the letter. Thank you, I’m grateful. Those words sounded like… you’ve been through a lot. That’s how they felt.247a77e27991806c