HLFH | Chapter 16

But the kids couldn’t believe it so easily.

No way.
The elders?
Those hard-to-meet elders?

“Come on… no way…”

“Nope, not lying. I saw it myself. They were all smiles, calling him Jaeeon~.”

“Crazy.”

“Wow.”

“Wow, that guy’s really something…”

“That’s why he could be so full of himself.”

The kids whispered among themselves.

“So, even after the elders asked him, he’s still acting like this? Unbelievable.”

“Maybe he thinks purification work is beneath him.”

“So high and mighty.”

“Then why did he come? Is he our supervisor or something?”

“It’s really too much. He knows it takes a long time… couldn’t he just help a bit? Honestly, Ki Jaeeon could purify the village by himself. He could just do it.”

“That’s not something Jaeeon-nim should do. That’s for the servants.”

“Servants, my ass.”

Just then.

“Hey, hey, enough. Stop talking and get to work.”

A kid who hadn’t been part of the conversation waved his hand to disperse the group. We’ll be here all night at this rate. The others agreed and returned to their spots. With time running out, gossiping about Ki Jaeeon was pointless. It only fueled unnecessary resentment.

“I’ll head over there.”

He waved lightly and headed toward the restroom near the open space.

But someone was already there. It was Ki Jaeeon.

He wouldn’t budge when needed?

Looking closely, he was just standing there awkwardly, peeking around, which instantly annoyed him.

‘In the past, I would’ve already…’

The kid watching him turned his head sharply.

‘Forget it. Just ignore him.’

His steps past Ki Jaeeon were brisk.

Step, step.

Stop.

He halted. It hadn’t even been a few seconds since he decided to ignore him.

“…”

After a brief hesitation, he moved again.

His tightly clenched fists and suppressed emotions stopped in front of the ghost-like man. The clear sky darkened with a rumble, and small raindrops began to fall.

“Excuse me.”

Once his lips opened, the rest was easy.

“Take it easy.”

He spoke harshly, looking directly at Ki Jaeeon’s pale, rain-soaked face.

“Ki Jaeeon, you might have been a king in Incheon, but it’s different here. This isn’t a place for a change of scenery.”

His tone grew rougher.

At that moment, Ki Jaeeon shed his skin in the kid’s mind.

Throwing off the pitiful, rain-soaked shell, he regained his former appearance. His shadowed eyes shone like they held the sun, and his thin frame seemed sturdy.

It was the Ki Jaeeon of those days.

First seen at fifteen.

—‘To the foolish who know no remorse.’

Sealing a demon in his school uniform, he seemed like an absolute god descended to earth.

Yeah, that’s Ki Jaeeon.

The kid blinked. The shimmering vision was truly romantic.

A wave of indescribable exhilaration rose with his gesture!

‘The reason I became an exorcist.’

It was solely because of Ki Jaeeon.

‘I want to be like that.’

His first dream.

Even if he couldn’t reach Ki Jaeeon, it was a goal he cherished.

He knew long ago that effort alone couldn’t catch up.

But it was okay. Just having the name exorcist engraved on his heart was enough.

But what was this?

“Why aren’t you trying hard?”

Could someone be so disappointing?

‘You ruined my dream!’

The kid glared at Ki Jaeeon with resentment. His words transformed into a thick sense of betrayal.

“Why did you change?”

His chest heaved.

Yeah, the real reason he was angry at Ki Jaeeon.

It probably wasn’t because Ki Jaeeon looked down on them or Bonryeong. That didn’t matter.

From the beginning to now, the one who led him to the path of an exorcist was Ki Jaeeon, not Bonryeong. That’s why he couldn’t forgive him.

‘Laziness is a sin.’

The kid looked at the idol committing a sin with sharp eyes.

Yes, let’s be honest.

The reason he really hated Ki Jaeeon.

“Are you tired of this?”

He could tell because he liked him so much. He’d always been watching.

<Ki Jaeeon hates being an exorcist>

He finds it dreadful and wants to escape. With that kind of rotten attitude.

Just then.

Ki Jaeeon suddenly frowned and brushed past the kid.

Without any excuses or conversation. As if it wasn’t worth discussing.

“…Ha.”

The kid, who had been curious about his true feelings, let out a bitter laugh as if he’d been struck. So, that’s your answer.

‘Ki Jaeeon is…’

No longer a hero.

“Ugh—blech, cough!”

Ki Jaeeon, who had run to the back of an empty lot, vomited thickly. His hunched back heaved for a long time, emptying his stomach until yellow bile came up. Haa, ha. Saliva mixed with rainwater sparkled as it dripped from his chapped lower lip. Hoo, his lips turned pale and trembled. It was cold. The rain pressing on his shoulders was freezing.

“Haa, haa…”

Ki Jaeeon wiped his mouth with a weary face.

Even his angular shoulders drooped weakly.

‘I was in the middle of talking…’

He couldn’t hold it in.

‘Should I go back…’

But for what?

Ki Jaeeon quickly gave up. There was nothing he could do even if he went back.

He couldn’t help with the purification work, nor could he comfort the kid.

Ki Jaeeon slammed his forehead against the rough tree surface.

Thud.

<Why aren’t you trying hard?>

Thud.

<Why did you change?>

Thud.

<Are you tired of this?>

Something, whether rain or tears, pooled and slid down his chin. Boom—crash! The sky, flashing with thunder and lightning, was already murky. The loud sound of rain pounded his eardrums. Stray ghosts crawled up his wet pants, whispering curses in childish voices, ‘Die—die—.’

His wet lips moved silently.

He had a lot to say. But all that came out was a cold sigh.

Ki Jaeeon slowly closed his eyes.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

He dragged his wet body into the dorm room by 10 PM.

His limbs trembled with chills.

He wanted to soak in warm water immediately, but he couldn’t. The place was already crowded with kids.

After some thought, Ki Jaeeon reluctantly gave up on the bath and grabbed a dry towel. The best he could do was dry off and change clothes.

‘Do I have any cold medicine?’

His gaze landed on the suitcase in the corner. When would he open it and find it? Feeling lethargic, Ki Jaeeon quietly crawled into bed. But the chills wouldn’t go away. He curled up as much as possible, wiggling his cold toes. He looked like a round armadillo.

‘…Just a bit of rain, and I’m feverish.’

If his past self saw him, he’d probably click his tongue at his weakness.

Ki Jaeeon chuckled and set his phone alarm for 3 AM. By then, the bathhouse should be quiet. He’d probably be able to relax and warm up.

Maybe he’d sleep until then. His eyelids throbbed with heat.

Fortunately, sleep came quickly. He usually suffered from insomnia… he was lucky.

Ki Jaeeon blinked a few times, then let out a soft, excited breath.

“Hmm.”

The rustling of the blanket at his feet felt nice. The warmth enveloping him was comforting.

The gentle hand stroking his hair was also nice.

……

……?

‘Hair?’

“!!”

Ki Jaeeon jolted awake, startled.

The person he locked eyes with also seemed surprised, eyes widening. Their gazes intertwined. But the surprise was brief, and the other person casually greeted him.

“Hello.”

With a calm expression and tone.

It was Ahn Seomyeong.

What…?

‘Am I still dreaming?’

He was at a loss for words in the unexpected situation. Why was the kid who should be in the hospital here?

Ahn Seomyeong studied Ki Jaeeon’s dazed face, then seemed to realize something and raised an eyebrow with a bland sound. Then he lifted his hand and slowly pointed to the door. Ki Jaeeon’s gaze followed his well-organized fingertip.

“I was discharged.”

Ahn Seomyeong continued in a flat tone.

“The door wasn’t locked.”

Then he tapped Ki Jaeeon’s forehead.

“You had a slight fever.”

It was an explanation with many omissions.

But perhaps because of his calm voice, Ki Jaeeon accepted it with a ‘I see.’ He felt a strange sense of relief looking at Ahn Seomyeong’s peaceful face.

‘Thank goodness. Looks like he was discharged well.’

Then a question suddenly arose.

‘…Is there such a thing as a midnight discharge?’

Ki Jaeeon instinctively glanced at the window. The early morning darkness still lingered. Noticing his gaze, Ahn Seomyeong freely shared his personal circumstances without needing to explain.

“I was discharged yesterday. I just got here after visiting my grandmother.”

In other words, he came to Ki Jaeeon’s room first upon arriving at the dorm. Though it was uncertain if Ki Jaeeon thought that far.

“Aren’t you curious about anything else? Like… this.”

Tap.

A finger lightly tapped his forehead. This? Ki Jaeeon, as if entranced, touched his forehead. Something caught under his awkward fingers. He cautiously peeled it off, and what came into view was a children’s cool patch with cute characters.

Why is this on me…? Doesn’t it look out of place?

As Ki Jaeeon stared at the cool patch without reacting, a soft laugh came from beside him.

“It’s been a while, but nothing’s changed. Still slow…”

Ahn Seomyeong placed his wandering fingers back on Ki Jaeeon’s forehead. His delicate fingers playfully brushed through his wavy hair. Like a curious cat.

“And…”

His eyes curved into a round smile.

“Still not cautious.”

Ahn Seomyeong tilted his head with a gentle demeanor.

“Do you like being touched?”

A faint hint of mischief on his pale face.

“Seems you haven’t learned to scratch.”

So gentle. It was almost a murmured soliloquy.