HLFH | Chapter 12

The bright light made him open his eyes. It was a message from his dedicated secretary at Cheonjiharang.

Starting with [Jaeeon, how are you? It’s your uncle], the message continued with [How’s your health?], then [If you need anything, contact me], and ended with [I know it’ll be tough for a while, but…] and [Contact me as soon as you feel better].

Ki Jaeeon quickly caught the hidden meaning in the long message.

Demotion, exile, downgrade.

More precisely… a warning not to think about setting foot in Incheon until he’s back to normal.

Ki Jaeeon sluggishly got up and rubbed his stiff face. His dry lips and hands created a strange sensation as they rubbed against his skin.

Now he understood everything.

‘Why my brother took over all my duties….’

Before coming to Bonryeong, Ki Jaeeon had to hand over all his responsibilities to his older brother, Ki Jaeha, as per his father’s orders.

Of course, he couldn’t even do that properly, so someone else had to relay the message, but anyway.

Ki Jaeeon fully understood his situation.

In short, the roles had changed.

From ‘Ki Jaeeon’ leading the Ki Family to ‘Ki Jaeha.’

He didn’t particularly mind. What’s there to miss about a family that would eventually disappear like dust?

It was all meaningless. He just worried whether his brother, who wasn’t very passionate about exorcism, would struggle with the role he was forced to take on. Should he have talked to him before leaving?

But even if they talked, there wouldn’t be any sharp solutions.

Decisions were always the head of the household’s, and the subordinates had to follow, as always.

Even if they had a private conversation, they’d probably just awkwardly roll their eyes at each other.

Or maybe he’d hear complaints about what a mess things had become because of him.

‘Resentment?’

Ki Jaeeon smirked.

Yeah, it’s better to be hated.

‘Affection becomes poison as it accumulates.’

So that the person’s death would hurt a little less.

‘If you hate me a lot, ……will it be easier?’

How long did it take to forget his family and brother? Ki Jaeeon recalled the moments when he lost precious things one by one and collapsed back onto the bed. His weak head sank into the pillow.

Just as the room fell silent as if a mouse had died.

Bzzzz-!!

His phone vibrated again.

Wow, a lot of calls today.

Ki Jaeeon tried to ignore the vibration.

Thinking it was just a spam call, he didn’t lift his head, but the call persisted. Who was so persistent when they could just hang up if no one answered?

Reluctantly, he lifted his tired head to check the screen, and… it was an unknown number?

Bzz- Bzz- Bzz!

The unknown caller was urging him to pick up.

Bzz- Bzz- ……click.

As he hesitated whether to answer, it disconnected, only to ring again.

Bzzzzzzzz!!!!!!

Irritated, it rang once more.

“……I answered.”

Thinking it wasn’t just a meaningless spam call, he quickly pressed the call button and put it to his ear. Then, [Ah, Jaeeon-ssi?[ a rather gentle voice came through.

Jaeeon-ssi? The soft address made him feel itchy.

Not remembering who it was, he just blinked, and a short laugh came from the other side of the call.

[Don’t you remember? It’s me, Kim Young. We met at Bonryeong.[

“Ah…….”

Finally, a face came to mind.

Haesusa Kim Young.

But why call me? Ki Jaeeon, puzzled, clutched the phone tightly. It was just a call, but he kept swallowing nervously. At least he could endure because it wasn’t face-to-face.

[It’s nothing special, I just called to see if you arrived safely. I’d like to visit you, but I’m too busy.[

As if knowing Ki Jaeeon’s question, Kim Young smoothly continued.

[If you have any discomfort, difficulties, or suggestions while staying at Bonryeong, you can contact this number. Of course, it’s not mandatory. If there’s someone else you’d rather contact, that’s fine too. Whatever you’re comfortable with.[

“Ah, yes…….”

[Have you unpacked yet?[

“J-just about to…….”

Ki Jaeeon glanced at the suitcase he’d tossed on the floor. He probably wouldn’t bother to carefully unpack everything in there.

[Alright. Hmm- the kids will be back soon, how about having a beer together? They’re good at organizing these things. They’re probably excited to hear you’re coming. It’d be an honor if you joined them. Hahaha, was that too much?[

Finding it hard to respond to Kim Young’s suggestion, he fiddled with a hangnail.

Fiddle. Ouch.

Fiddle. Ouch.

He was so focused on the hangnail that he forgot he was on a call.

[Jaeeon-ssi.[

Startled by the low voice breaking the silence, Ki Jaeeon straightened up, adjusting his posture.

He knew they couldn’t see him, but he felt uneasy and quickly looked around. Did they catch him being distracted…….

Ki Jaeeon, sweating nervously, clutched the phone tightly. This was happening a lot lately. Like a deflated balloon, his thoughts drifted aimlessly, unable to focus on one thing.

Why did it happen again just now…….

“I’m l-listening.”

[They’re good people, so try to get along. As friends, not just colleagues.[

They’re all around your age. Fortunately, Kim Young didn’t seem to be expressing any displeasure, speaking with a light smile.

Friends around his age.

……Is it okay to have something like that?

‘No, it’s not.’

The resignation was quick. There was no reason to increase relationships that would leave bruises on his heart later.

‘That’s too foolish.’

Ki Jaeeon had no intention of forming close bonds with anyone here. Instead, he planned to draw lines and keep his distance.

Why? It’s simple.

Because they all die.

No matter how the place changes, even if his brother takes over the family, even if he meets young Kim Juwon, no matter what changes or how.

‘It’ will come, and you will die in vain.

Then I’ll fight, broken.

Running away will only bring me back to the same place, and in the end, someone has to do it.

I’ll win again, but…… it won’t be glorious.

That’s how it is. The tragedy of a world only I know.

A future no one believes.

A peace with an expiration date.

Is it really possible to maintain sanity?

So attachment is a luxury. Attachment will become a weakness and a knife that stabs me.

I already have my family and Ahn Seomyeong.

I’ve hurt a lot over their well-being. So that’s enough.

‘Hope with an expiration date…….’

Is not welcome here.

[And Jaeeon-ssi.[

“Ah, yes…….”

Startled by the voice calling him, Ki Jaeeon snapped back to reality.

[I hope you don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say. Um, how about visiting the hospital with me while you’re at Bonryeong? Hmm, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with you. It’s just that too much stress isn’t good. If you’re uneasy, maybe just a check-up? I’d like that.[

A hospital all of a sudden?

‘Ah……. Well.’

A Haesusa like Kim Young would’ve realized that his condition wasn’t due to a curse. But even so, a hospital? That’s ridiculous.

What would he say?

That he woke up 13 years in the past after committing suicide?

That he saw a future where humanity is massacred?

That you’ll die soon?

It’s the kind of nonsense that would get him locked up in a mental hospital.

Even if he did get treatment, it’d be a problem.

Let’s say his condition improves with therapy and medication.

Then what?

It’d be like breaking a barely healed bone again.

The pain then would be double, no, thousands of times worse.

Who’s going to take responsibility for that? It’s something he’d have to endure himself.

Sorry, but he didn’t have the confidence to withstand it. It’s a condition that’ll relapse when he faces ‘it’ again anyway.

“I can’t bring any more shame…… to the family.”

In the end, Ki Jaeeon used the excuse of not wanting to disgrace the family to refuse Kim Young’s suggestion.

There was silence on the other end.

Then soon [Shame?[ came a slightly cold response. A faint, incredulous laugh was heard.

Was it funny to mention the family now after causing all the shame already?

While Ki Jaeeon was biting his lip, [……Yes, but if you change your mind, contact me anytime. I’m on your side.[ came an inexplicable encouragement before the call ended.