HLFH | Chapter 10

– Ki Jaeeon the exorcist is coming to Bonryeong! An exchange meeting…? Something like that, they say.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Kim Juwon stormed into Bonryeong with angry strides. Ignoring the greetings from people around, he went straight to find Master Young. Teacher! His attitude was reckless, disregarding any formalities. However, Master Young greeted him calmly, as if expecting this. His relaxed gaze pointed to the chair in front of him, signaling him to sit.

‘That sly fox, he knew all along?’

His body trembled with betrayal.

“What do you mean by an exchange meeting? We’ve never had anything like that!”

Despite Kim Juwon’s outburst, Master Young remained calm. He sipped his tea with a slurp, savoring it. It was indeed a perfect tea for the afternoon, rich and mild.

Kim Young’s leisurely demeanor only fueled Kim Juwon’s fiery temper. Teacher, are you even listening to me?! His hand slammed the table roughly.

“Who do you think got Seomyeong hurt? Why is he coming here?!”

His shout was loud enough to burst eardrums, prompting Master Young to put down his teacup. He silently gazed at his student. Their eyes clashed as if in a standoff. But there was no need to ponder who had the stronger presence. Master Young was the only one who could make the spirited Kim Juwon tense.

“Kim Juwon.”

The low voice made the troublesome student flinch. In that moment of subtle tension, Master Young’s characteristic soft smile eased the atmosphere.

“Could you clean the next room, please~.”

“Ah, teacher!”

Kim Juwon’s lips pouted.

“I don’t want to.”

“You have no choice.”

It wasn’t a lie. Master Young really had no choice. This exchange meeting was a direct request from Cheonjiharang. He was certain there was pressure from the Ki family behind it.

‘…Anyway.’

Master Young chuckled awkwardly at Kim Juwon, who was muttering about disappointment and change. He expected reluctance, but not this much dislike.

“Whose side are you on, teacher?”

“One of your bad habits is always trying to take sides. Didn’t I tell you last time—”

While Master Young lectured him, he decided to keep the fact that this exchange meeting was a substitute for Kim Juwon’s punishment a secret. If he found out, who knows what reckless thing that bulldozer of a student might do.

‘He might run to the elders of Bonryeong and insist on being punished instead…’

Ugh, just imagining it is exhausting.

“You said we’d have to go to Cheonjiharang someday!”

Kim Juwon raised his chin and furrowed his brows. His voice was displeased.

The idea of Ki Jaeeon coming was terrible, but the thought of having to go to Incheon himself was equally dreadful.

‘Hmm, well. …It’s an unnecessary worry.’

Master Young closed his eyes with an ambiguous smile.

[Exchange Meeting]

Young exorcists from Cheonjiharang and Bonryeong would take turns staying in each other’s regions to hone their skills… or so it was said.

‘In reality, our kids probably won’t go to Cheonjiharang.’

This was just a superficial excuse made solely for Ki Jaeeon. So the things Kim Juwon worried about probably wouldn’t happen.

Master Young recalled the phone call from a few days ago as he watched Kim Juwon, who was causing a fuss like a chestnut bursting from a lightning strike.

-[Exactly six months. During that time, Exorcist Ki Jaeeon will stay at Bonryeong for training.]

-‘What? At our Bonryeong?’

-[Bonryeong is where Exorcist Ki Jaeeon recently regained his normal condition. This decision was made after considering various factors.]

-‘But it’s too sudden… I’m not sure if we can take good care of him.’

-[We won’t hold you accountable for the facial injury.]

It was practically a threat.

Bonryeong, already wary of the violent incident, had no choice but to comply with Cheonjiharang’s demands without a peep. Since they promised not to touch Kim Juwon, Master Young had no reason to refuse. Besides, he was worried about Ki Jaeeon’s condition.

‘At least here, he won’t be abused.’

Master Young planned to pour all his efforts into healing Ki Jaeeon’s wounds. He wanted to show him that there are good adults in the world.

But to do that, he had to convince this stubborn puppy…

Master Young slumped his shoulders and fiddled with the now-cold teacup.

“Juwon, you have no reason to hate that child.”

“And no reason to like him either.”

It seemed our Juwon had firmly made up his mind. Master Young sighed. His thoughtful gaze naturally lowered. Should he say it… or not? Talking about someone who’s not present wasn’t ideal, but he decided to make an exception this time.

‘Ki Jaeeon will have a hard time adapting to the dormitory without Juwon’s help.’

Especially since the teenagers and young adults at Bonryeong revolved around Kim Juwon, Ki Jaeeon would inevitably need his help to adapt. Of course, knowing Kim Juwon’s personality, he wouldn’t engage in any sneaky or organized bullying.

‘If he dislikes someone, he just ends it.’

But that was a problem in itself.

His indifference could lead others to follow suit, causing things to go in a bad direction.

“About Exorcist Ki Jaeeon, or rather Jaeeon…”

After much thought, Master Young decided to trust his student.

Though his nature was fiery, he was deep inside, so he decided to bring it up.

“That child seems to be in a very dangerous state.”

Master Young calmly explained that Ki Jaeeon wasn’t cursed, suggesting that he might have been subjected to long-term abuse.

“From what I see, it seems like a form of panic disorder. I can’t say for sure, but…”

Kim Juwon listened to Master Young’s words with a serious demeanor. However, just because his posture was upright didn’t mean his heart was. To him, Master Young’s words lacked persuasion.

Of course, there were some puzzling points. A few things felt off.

A skilled person like Ki Jaeeon unable to control his power?

Not resisting even when beaten to death?

Yeah, it was strange if you thought about it.

But abuse?

‘That’s too simplistic.’

Kim Juwon recalled Ki Jaeeon’s gloomy eyes. Contrary to the infamous rumors of a bratty young master… he gave off an unpleasant vibe as if something was missing. Honestly, he wasn’t someone you’d want to get close to.

But he was an unprecedented genius.

That fact couldn’t be denied.

Especially knowing Cheonjiharang’s pride in Ki Jaeeon.

Abusing and ruining a treasure they cherish? That seems too stupid.

‘It’s an excessive assumption.’

Kim Juwon concluded that Master Young, being too kind, had made a misguided assumption. He was affectionate towards his students, so Ki Jaeeon, being around the same age, probably caught his eye.

The idea of Ki Jaeeon being abused was… a ridiculous fantasy.

“I hope you take good care of Jaeeon when he comes here. Juwon, I’m asking you.”

Kim Juwon bit his lip as he looked at his teacher’s gentle smile.

There’s no point in saying more.

Ah, …I really hate this.

‘Why does it have to be the next room?’

Today was D-day. With an uncomfortable expression, Kim Juwon scratched his ear at the notification of the unwelcome guest’s arrival. His dislike was evident. He wanted to ignore it, but remembering his teacher’s request, he reluctantly got up.

He left his bed and slowly approached the dormitory entrance. Creak, as he opened the thick wooden door, there it was, that annoying… corpse-like face appeared. Wow—look at that face, it’s fierce. Even the bruises on his pale skin were still faintly visible.

‘Is he protesting for me to see?’

Kim Juwon scanned Ki Jaeeon from head to toe and gave a slight nod. His cold demeanor omitted even a simple greeting.

Rumble, rumble—Ki Jaeeon followed, dragging a moderately sized suitcase. An awkward air flowed between the two.

Was it because their first meeting was the worst? Or maybe they just didn’t match.

Kim Juwon really disliked the dark figure following him.

No, to be precise, he felt uncomfortable. He hated how he had hurt Seomyeong and then had the audacity to speak rudely. He also found it annoying how someone as tall as him acted pitiful with a dying face. It was hard to find anything likable about him.

Master Young had worried about him being an abused child… but to Kim Juwon, it just seemed like he was deliberately playing a role.