HLFH | Chapter 17

As the sun rose, the dorm was in an uproar.

Everyone was thrilled by Ahn Seomyeong’s surprise appearance.

The kids hugged him and jumped around excitedly. The dorm was buzzing with cheers. Even the aunt who helped with chores was so pleased that she prepared meat dishes for all three meals.

It was a festive atmosphere.

Cheonjiharang and Haeshin didn’t have the same warmth that Bonryeong did. A day or two passed, and by the third day, Ki Jaeeon, who had tossed and turned all night, woke up late and noticed the unusual quiet outside.

He cautiously opened the door.

A cold breeze brushed his skin. It seemed the heating had been off for quite some time.

Which meant everyone was out?

Ki Jaeeon carefully descended the stairs, observing his surroundings. The first floor was empty.

The dorm was eerily silent, with no sign of life. It had never been this empty before.

‘Isn’t today Saturday?’

His sense of time was blurred, so he wasn’t sure. Of course, as an exorcist, he had to move whenever a request came in, regardless of weekdays or weekends… but it was rare for everyone to vanish like this.

Were they off for another village purification? Probably not. Ki Jaeeon wondered as he headed to the kitchen. His stomach, empty from fasting all day yesterday, growled for food.

As usual, he picked up the black lunchbox left in the second compartment of the fridge. A short note on the cold container read [Heat before eating^^].

It was a thoughtful gesture from the aunt, considering Ki Jaeeon’s irregular eating habits.

He opened the container to find it packed with ribs. The savory and sweet aroma wafted up. But Ki Jaeeon didn’t look particularly pleased. In fact, he seemed a bit overwhelmed.

‘This is too much.’

He broke into a cold sweat at the sight of the generous portion, easily enough for two. Even the other side dishes were packed tightly… too much, really.

‘I’ll have to spread this out until tomorrow.’

Resigned to the thought, he approached the microwave to heat the lunchbox.

“Are you going to eat that?”

Gasp!

Startled by the sudden voice, Ki Jaeeon almost dropped the lunchbox. He tightened his grip and slowly turned around. He thought no one was there, but he was wrong. Ahn Seomyeong was there, tapping his shoulder with a massage stick like an old man. He nodded with his usual calm expression.

“Hello.”

Even in this situation, he was polite.

Caught off guard, Ki Jaeeon replied, “Ah, h-hi.”

“Are you eating?”

His eyes went straight to the ribs. It was unexpected. He didn’t seem like someone with an appetite. Maybe it was just his age?

‘Good. It was too much anyway.’

“…Huh? Oh, d-do you w-want some?”

But Ahn Seomyeong wasn’t interested in the ribs and declined Ki Jaeeon’s offer outright.

“No.”

Ahn Seomyeong glanced at the wall clock and spoke slowly.

“It’s already 3 o’clock. If you eat now, it’ll be awkward to have dinner, right?”

‘I’m not having dinner anyway, so it’s fine.’

Ki Jaeeon fiddled with the lunchbox instead of replying.

“Hmm…”

Ahn Seomyeong’s gaze moved from the wall clock to Ki Jaeeon’s thin stomach.

His stare was quite intense.

“Your stomach looks small.”

To whom… to whom?

Ki Jaeeon briefly considered whether he should point out that he was much bigger and taller. But thinking of Ahn Seomyeong growing up, he kept his mouth shut.

“They’re having a barbecue party outside later.”

Ahn Seomyeong suddenly mentioned.

Then, uncharacteristically, he continued talking. In short, they planned to gather and grill pork belly together starting at 6 PM.

“They said it was a surprise… but they announced it in the group chat I’m in, so I found out.”

Ahn Seomyeong muttered “Idiots” in a bland tone. But he didn’t seem to dislike it.

‘Ah, so that’s why the dorm was quiet?’

They were planning a proper discharge party.

It was nice to have that little mystery solved, but the problem came next.

“Come with us.”

It was an awkward invitation.

“What?”

“Not cold meat.”

Ahn Seomyeong gestured at the lunchbox Ki Jaeeon was holding.

“Freshly grilled is better. I’ll grill it for you.”

I’m good at grilling meat. Ahn Seomyeong’s black eyes sparkled as he mimed cutting meat. He seemed to take great pride in grilling. He looked eager to show off, which made Ki Jaeeon feel a bit sorry.

“Ah, I…”

Suddenly, he remembered what happened a few days ago.

The kid who poured out resentment in the rain. His heart sank heavily at the voice questioning why he wasn’t trying hard.

“I…”

Ki Jaeeon hesitated, then stammered his refusal.

“I-it’s o-okay… I d-don’t really l-like pork belly.”

Then he hurriedly turned away with the lunchbox, afraid Ahn Seomyeong would insist. He was so flustered he forgot he needed to heat it. He was halfway up the stairs when he heard a loud voice calling, “Hyung!”

Hyung?

Confused, Ki Jaeeon turned to see Ahn Seomyeong raising a hand, looking at him. His expression was still calm.

“This!”

Looking closely, he was holding something. It seemed like a cheap toy you could get from any vending machine.

“It’s my talisman. I have bad luck all day without it.”

He’d never seen him carry it around. But Ahn Seomyeong was adamant.

“I was just discharged. It’s making me anxious! I’ll keep it with me, but if you happen to see it! Please bring it to me!”

It’s a promise! He shouted loudly in the nearly empty dorm. Ki Jaeeon, unable to refuse the persistent request, reluctantly agreed.

Well… would there even be a chance to return it? He wondered.

Talisman or not, people usually kept them close.

But precisely at 7 PM.

When Ki Jaeeon was about to enjoy an early bath while no one was around, there it was in front of his door—a cursed doll.

…No, the cheap toy Ahn Seomyeong insisted was a ‘talisman.’

“…?”

Why is this here?

“Hey, why the East Wing? I thought we were eating outside.”

The East Wing was an old, unused annex in Bonryeong.

Kim Juwon brushed off the dust, frowning. But it was too late to find a new place, so he held back his annoyance by watching his excited younger siblings.

“Afraid the teachers will catch us.”

Lee Gyeonghak grinned, rummaging through his bag. He pulled out a bottle of shimmering liquid.

Is he crazy?

Drinking and partying were strictly forbidden in Bonryeong, and alcohol was only used for rituals. Of course, some would pair up and drink in the city on their days off… but Kim Juwon was different. Since becoming an exorcist, he’d cut off unnecessary pleasures.

“You’re dead.”

“Just a little.”

“I swear, you’re going to shorten my life, Gyeonghak.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll live long because you’re mean.”

“Want me to show you what being mean is?”

“Please be lenient.”

After a long tussle, Kim Juwon shook his head and pulled out his vibrating phone from his back pocket.

[East Wing?]

It was Ahn Seomyeong.

Kim Juwon lazily replied with [ㅇㅇ].

The response came in a minute.

[On my way]

[Don’t mix up front and back gates]

[ㅇ]

[ㅇㅇ]

After giving some quick instructions, he put his phone away.

Let’s just grill some meat.

“Oppa! I think we’re running out of ssamjang!”

Just as he picked up the tongs, he heard a voice from afar and replied, “Okay,” putting the tongs down. Of course, if it’s not enough, we have to buy more. He muttered like a sigh and grabbed his wallet from his coat.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Bring some chamoe!”

“I want a cone!”

“Okay.”

He stepped onto the creaky floorboards and headed downstairs. The lively noise faded, leaving only the gentle rustling of leaves. Just as he was about to turn the doorknob.

“Juwon, is that you?”

A voice came from outside the front door.

“Ssaem?”

It was Kim Young.