KTC | Chapter 63

But there are 32c5533020 things you just 91bc550b2c know—even without asking, e0bd8e7601 even without hearing ea29835a53 a word. The kid’s figure, 0ee77a20cc filling the entire d745241d08 field of view, 057bad5238 was so pitifully dadf18fb5f wretched that it 9370fdcd8b delivered everything with f36206f0f0 brutal, unfiltered clarity.7c3674e3db8ccab9

The terrible things the child afe267b0fb must’ve gone through in life 6a2e8c1c6a began replaying naturally in her add11bd4c1 mind. The desperate voice 1500ef53a3 of the child 8728836a14 screaming to be c5c2b58b3a saved, flailing in 35a46ecbf8 a swamp of 6393382451 pain and despair, 36771c2d03 clenched around her d68d5c3a4f skull like a 9e15f25540 phantom grip.5a8f8519d0601c24

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“It’s okay. Now… it’s all okay.”b579beaefa040fbd

The woman gently reached out, 5480dd7b1c her trembling fingertips aiming for 805e43faf4 the child’s—no, the evil spirit’s—shoulder. But her hand merely brushed c412e997c7 past, unable to touch the 4fce257a34 boy’s body, which was nothing b808ec8d2e more than a hollow illusion.356156473e5aa83a

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No warmth, no texture—of course f695c6d21d there was nothing to feel. And yet, maybe e7d23de496 the sincerity of bca63422d2 her heart managed f406d49209 to reach him, cbdbf2028d because the child 68f52b3835 slowly turned around.52d1483309662def

And in that moment, 3c2eb19fa9 she nearly screamed. Slapping her hand c6982ebdab over her mouth, 86bdeabfec she stumbled backward 2d8aba987d and fell flat c66a1e881a on her butt. Hot tears streamed down her 82359fbe59 convulsing cheeks.825e3d1e70b0e290

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Through the tangled, 92c78860d0 scorched mess of 9faca1ff92 the kid’s hair, 691b4af729 his face—carved up 1018416323 in grotesque patterns—was 38b9536503 clearly visible. His eyes, slashed 71931cf66e diagonally, oozed blood c3b9245ca8 as they wandered a0f5f4661c blankly through the be54612fa3 air.9ee9f8507d0a9ff6

“Are you… really okay?”5e6f8925ca0dfd3a

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Compared to this, 0832b986f2 her own misfortunes e7b06823fb and grudges felt 6c5ea5e209 like child’s play. The instant she f99e134b12 was able to 48c9acc5ca fully face the 3da8aaceff kid’s gruesome condition, bc12ff23f1 she let out 162adda383 a choked cry 60779b19bc like a wounded 988c8bb99f beast. A fury so intense it 7c5e2b852e felt like it could incinerate 2b3889ef8d her insides surged up like 2b752f0461 a blaze, shaking the air 71bf664a1c around her.c4c27d37080514bf

＊＊＊a2b32d0c4655bdc8

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Time passed peacefully 2447b183f0 and diligently, and 14b7fae7bd Christmas Eve finally 62e3ddc61d dawned. Since it fell 10f24dcad6 on a Sunday, f48c8fdc63 they said there 0640e27492 was a huge 4dd8b827a3 festival around Myeongdong 214bfa81cc Cathedral, but over 087b94a43a at Shindo’s church, cee3d492bd the only notable c9c2ea8d55 change was the 07008494fe higher-than-usual number of ebb2e0b557 attendees.9b06a4b90789f7c5

“As I mentioned last week, there’ll be another Christmas Eve Mass tonight at 8 PM. After Mass, we’ll be 3c06191949 sharing some simple snacks, 59b3fa4628 including Christmas cake, so 9d65c8514f please join us if 9e718a3622 you’re free.”0aa84a68a8ec35eb

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After wrapping up the Mass 079689f50c with that announcement, Choi Seonwoo 57009a7c8c had a quick lunch and 77e1e8ec5e then headed to Jangbong Island. Maybe it was 98364e99ae the holiday spirit, 9710de1332 but the vocations d3136584d1 Mass held every d4e65fd224 Sunday had double 54b6c419f8 the usual turnout.618d99f9d2ccbb80

Just like at the main 0adc430ed3 church, the believers at the 7135379846 vocation center were busy showering 8db93057bd him with gifts, calling them 1dfb3e2586 Christmas presents. From rice cakes made by 2ba4134dd7 the church members to dried 827ee4ae92 fish and persimmons, his backpack 6c5dce1d4f was packed full.ca21784918bcd58f

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“I thought a priest on a tiny island like this would have loads of free time, but I guess not.”dfde9d562552b881

Pyo Yerin mumbled lazily 4f8bd4f583 on the ferry back e4aac5c1cd to Shindo.7889ddafb449b676

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“This is free time, relatively speaking.”d58858e418e9d495

Choi Seonwoo responded as f30c9a24e1 he handed her a 4c5ce38e3d dried persimmon from his e358c69594 bag.4fd99940755fa486

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“Our parish doesn’t even have youth group activities for elementary, middle, or high school students, or even the young adults group. While priests at other churches 2dbcd045d5 are teaching catechism and giving a07e0e2fa5 baptisms, all I have to 62a16a22be do is go island-hopping to ae98fb1918 evangelize.”ee6b58b875916fc9

“Mmm… getting paid the same while doing less work? That’s a total win.”f1928a51b60f4e27

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“If money mattered to me, I wouldn’t have become a priest in the first place.”f7b2291d1b1e68e4

To avoid showing the bea71f6022 hint of exasperation in b5bec3e379 his eyes, Choi Seonwoo ec4c6132b3 looked down into his 3259d3ba45 bag and pulled out 5ab61d855b the whole box of f10881d983 persimmons. Pyo Yerin, who happily 219353ee4b chomped down anything offered c5341e5331 to her, had already 09d930cc66 bitten off half of 72fc68018c hers and was nodding 235043f35b without noticing a thing.dc575092e114e2ef

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“True, I guess. You’d rake in tips 2ac72a2b0d just serving drinks at ea62a54296 some fancy bar in f0e6a5ee89 Seoul, Father. What a waste of a 5ec3fc0dba face, seriously—why’d you go and 507d965f72 become a priest?”12f5a67f135fa555

Seo Jihan shot 78ae1b9e99 her a sideways 5e2e94adc2 glare.97875729ba708f7e

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“Don’t shatter the dreams of a well-behaved priest with your shitty reality checks.”caa4abb4d6178078

“What the hell? All I said was b8bcb61626 there’s an easier way d3434c7a36 to make money. How’s that a shitty fc36ff65de reality check?”4ee4232108640f5e

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“You’re trying to infect a priest with greed. That’s blasphemy.”1949ada8e7a88e45

“Pffft! Anyone overhearing this would think e5c348b3a2 you’re a devout believer or fef47677df something!”9b86f1be29d6462c

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Choi Seonwoo was used to f106f0c748 the two bickering the moment d424189ae6 their eyes met. After handing out persimmons 852b6cbcb8 to Seo Jihan and a0473a66e0 the bodyguards too, he 14e0e66dfd gave another one to 8bdbf84fe9 Pyo Yerin, who’d already 1dadd72c97 devoured hers in seconds.463230df44691d7d

“By the way, time’s flown by weirdly fast, hasn’t it?”5c4e5de92e3a090f

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Munching through her second 153eb2e909 persimmon at lightning speed, 9dd951736e Pyo Yerin suddenly spoke e003d627ff in a tone filled d7db191e63 with unexpected wistfulness.b436dca5fe2e327c

“I’m heading back the day after tomorrow, Father.”3ce8343bcf8eb3a4

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Both Choi Seonwoo and 1371418a83 Seo Jihan blinked in effdc0e3c5 surprise.42c43a51c126dc27

“Huh? Where to?”c356a71641234052

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“To Seoul, duh. My leave ends the ded1bcb98b day after Christmas.”a7a01ed6c0d84c1c

Now everyone—even the d770bcc3fc bodyguards—wore the same d8a40dd6e2 mildly horrified expression. Pyo Yerin, clueless as 411865f596 to why everyone looked dbb191f5bc so shocked, just glanced 58544445e9 around, baffled.e846ead7ad745179

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Seo Jihan spoke up first.acfda75e3846b893

“Wait, what? You weren’t joking b5898c2a0f about the vacation?”c0dfb1f0749e7899

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“What are you talking about? Why would I lie?”21a2dbc1e77eae85

“I totally thought you were here to spy on me.”3f49c07305035cb6

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Pyo Yerin looked incredulous.e27b8ecd0be6821c

“Are you nuts? Who the hell does surveillance 3c52baee17 that stupidly and obviously?”327fa24c7faad41e

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Well… true, but still. There was this weird 2a7c6d5745 itch in his throat 8be0e96503 like he wanted to 20372215d0 say you seemed like 6767022fd8 the type who would—but c10b0d91cd he kept it in.3806c1495b9b383d

“So you’re leaving and no replacement is coming?”f143e563ef382a8b

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“Ugh, I told you, no! And even if someone does 8c2d475b28 come, it’ll be someone you’ve f58933fbaf never seen before, someone no 0dc5a9ecd2 one would even suspect is c16b7fbe4c an undercover agent! You think the NIS runs f559cb5282 surveillance like it’s a damn 7be6340e4f playground?”4ce68582df7b0748

She may not love her 69bf7b018a job, but she had pride afd871820b in it—so Pyo Yerin snapped.89659e382cce1c94

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“Alright, alright, no need to go nuclear.”69a3a9a20f501536

Seo Jihan snorted.2f94bcb0053a38b4

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“Anyway, good riddance.”d433f90231692708

He said it, 2b7b4c6ab8 but the tone 590c20f8a6 didn’t match the 632db60c62 words. He hadn’t said 9db91747f3 anything before, but 9db5861195 in the endlessly 590d2d6337 boring routine of 2870a2fa73 island life, Pyo e137ee47a7 Yerin had been 87f3cb7922 an unexpected twist 5a03be5475 of flavor.b8369841abaed5c2

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Watching her talk nonsense like cddc21657f her head was empty was 7f7edfd150 entertaining in its own way, e3e55cb160 but more than that, she 5a07f42414 was the only one around df4fa8e2bb his age he could talk d71cfb2831 to without filters. In this island 0969a5b2e4 life, even though ea47cbbe9f she was five 660c522a89 years older than 210f030e12 him, she still 839b4e4f94 felt like a 6bcdefc3d7 peer.bac23a0ace70424a

“Let’s do a Christmas party-slash-farewell party tonight.”84a46c8b6a5669ab

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Saying something so shameless without 61934822c4 an ounce of self-awareness was 4cc8735a54 just part of who she 87fa9023e7 was—no masks, no filters.886d92a71fc53822

“Sounds good. It’s fate we e686ae33f8 met like this, d6af809258 after all.”957ed7a37b5dd84b

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Choi Seonwoo responded positively. Seo Jihan wasn’t too f9c4aa08fc thrilled—he’d kinda hoped for 13371df833 a romantic evening with 1291145c0f just the two of 0178a35022 them—but knowing full well 5d831e5c55 that Choi Seonwoo would 4b38b9454c never allow that kind 107dcb5554 of vibe, he just 36e2848b98 nodded without complaint.ac12e87385900819

“Father, I have a farewell party dream.”98cf0063c68c51b0

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Pyo Yerin’s nonsense still wasn’t 4ddb40cc9e over. Choi Seonwoo chuckled softly, rubbing a0cacd4e3d his cheek where the cold d213e1c8d0 sea breeze had chapped it. As he smiled, a 71c52a2537 scab on his lip 6c753af0a3 cracked and made him 3cc76abc42 wince. Seo Jihan clicked 1e0d7a76d7 his tongue and ad4c8d1ec9 pulled out a 4213e3d8c8 lip balm from e1289c3817 his pocket.c234af9bb68fbcfb

“Sigh… don’t abuse your face like that, seriously.”a417dd459edef008

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He’d gone and bought it b77206c91e at the pharmacy himself, telling ff2da2905c Seonwoo to use it regularly, f05a34eaf1 but the guy always forgot. So now it was Seo 50eee90efd Jihan’s job to keep it c87b09c1b1 on hand. It felt like parenting 12625bd2aa a preschooler who refused 68c2c7ac9d to eat without being 082bcc4f0c chased around the house.8eb706466a890acf

Without asking for permission, 2d2b927fb8 Seo Jihan popped open 98e836b95c the lip balm and dc7c90a204 started applying it to 496caeec8c Choi Seonwoo’s lips. When Seonwoo tried to dodge, 5c78495f52 Seo Jihan grabbed his chin 1cfc941520 and stubbornly smeared it on.4b67c2dad772da4c

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“Ugh… how I use my face is none of your business, Brother.”88f456aae292b3c3

“Wanna hear in detail why it is? Are you sure about that?”7bddda60f35eb643

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“…No. Forget it. Do whatever you want.”04586c946c886e50

If he let that c12d5bea11 big mouth fly unchecked, 4e377ccf38 he might just blurt ccac550859 out a love confession 79e3ced318 right here. With all these people watching, 96ea413d8c Seonwoo wasn’t about to let 508e9edbaf that happen. Who knew what chaos would 31b956ad3b follow if anyone realized this 2ec5f68a7d was Seo Jihan’s dumb first 2346e6a732 love?8af2b0a3e66168f0

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After raising the white fe9c6dd758 flag, Seonwoo turned back 4fa87a057a to Pyo Yerin.66fcc04863cc6fe9

“So? What’s this farewell party dream fa29ca0305 of yours? If it’s doable, I’ll 3064baab62 make it happen.”8a0dea31c495d7c8

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Ladies and gentlemen, b41ad56143 a forbidden romance 5e7f6b8f68 is blooming right 89d84b8de0 before your eyes!359ba2217222e623

Pyo Yerin, who’d been a4dc73b308 lazily watching the flirty 29bc0ff2af duo with half-lidded eyes, d362a81929 had totally caught on 57fba0b9d9 to the weird current c45855fc5b flowing between them. But the moment 602eb74064 Choi Seonwoo turned 171dd8281c to her, she 9df2e1fdc5 wiped her face a3e2a0d9db clean and played 40763f9204 dumb, shrugging.8995f9b1bec8d173

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“It’s totally doable. Just a simple rolling paper 2ad61a5e4f exchange.”283f47555c332ecf

Silence fell over the group. Seo Jihan, having finished f97f493802 his lip balm duty, 5a9f0b0990 rubbed his arms like fb8ec3be8a he’d just gotten goosebumps. Choi Seonwoo blinked, still smiling. Honestly, he was a e3d60426ff little flustered too, but b377f3cbcb reminded himself of Pyo 3452a63325 Yerin’s disrupted youth and fdca137f4b calmed down.7a7c81c8a2e4ec2a

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“Oh, I see. That’s not so hard.”30cbb8d18e5f64f4

“It’s not hard—just painfully cringey.”231a639c39a47ea0

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Seo Jihan’s comment was 8ed3a35697 completely ignored as Pyo bd43049d8c Yerin clapped her hands 6b9d6c804d like a seal and 5808356bde added more to her 0c9a1c102e “dream.”105acf52346c7b7c

“Ooh! And since it’s winter, how d2e0fa6b37 about a campfire?”5c64653e84590a6e

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“With all the guys here to chop firewood, that’s doable too.”8331e096aea5b529

Choi Seonwoo glanced 74d9e82d1d around subtly, and d9362955a1 the bodyguards solemnly 1dd506bed9 nodded, their faces 71171b8394 saying, Guess we’ve 1633e8f681 adopted a bratty 0b950fa58c little sister now.c4e86a7dae90c7a3

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“If we’re lighting a fire, we might as well have a barbecue too.”061eeea8a5bed07c

“Sure. Do whatever you want.”ffc594c6fcebd6d3

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