HLFH | Chapter 20

Meanwhile, the kids who had witnessed the power of the Vermilion Bird firsthand couldn’t stop talking about “Exorcist Ki Jaeeon” all day.

Some had treated him like he was invisible, assuming he’d been ignoring Bonryeong and the rest of them. Others were already spreading rumors like, “Ki Jaeeon was badmouthing us on the phone.”

But now, things were different.

The lips that once spoke only negative words had done a 180, now praising Ki Jaeeon endlessly.

“I almost went to register my marriage, seriously.”

“He’s truly not just a random national representative of exorcists.”

“Why does the sun rise when Jaeeon hyung is here?”

Then, it happened.

A kid sitting quietly at the end, not participating in the conversation, seemed to make a decision. “Guys,” they started.

“…About Exorcist Ki Jaeeon.”

They mentioned “Ki Jaeeon,” of course.

The kids listened intently, their eyes shining.

It made sense—their respect for Ki Jaeeon was overflowing. At this point, even if someone said, “Ki Jaeeon is actually a fan of toe socks,” the others would nod and say, “Actually, I have a toe sock fetish too.”

In other words, they were filled to the brim with admiration.

The kids eagerly awaited new gossip.

However.

“If we apologize… would it be shameless?”

An unexpected statement came out.

The atmosphere turned quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

The kids exchanged glances, mumbling. No one was quick to speak. The excitement had vanished completely.

“Hey… you… what are you… saying…?”

One of the group who often badmouthed Ki Jaeeon spoke awkwardly, and someone next to them hesitantly supported, “Minji isn’t wrong.”

Silence again.

Except for the sound of someone smacking their lips, it was quiet.

“Honestly… it’s awkward.”

“Yeah.”

“I always believed in Jaeeon hyung.”

“Don’t lie.”

As the kids each added their piece, one kid, who was munching on snacks, frowned slightly and spoke up.

“But guys, saving us is one thing, and having a bad attitude is a fact. Why are we suddenly the bad guys? Can’t we just say thanks for what we’re thankful for and not for what we’re not?”

“Isn’t it natural to feel awkward if we suddenly thank him after ignoring him all this time?”

“No, what I’m saying is, why are we being made out to be the bad ones?”

“Who’s making it out to be~.”

The atmosphere gradually turned sharp.

The kids pointed fingers and raised their voices.

“Honestly, some people crossed the line.”

“Hey, did we openly bully him or something? We don’t have to force friendship!”

“Guys, don’t fight!”

“Can’t those who want to apologize just do it? Why create a forced atmosphere?”

Eventually, it turned into a chaotic mess.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

A few days after the Jimoetgwi incident.

Even though he summoned the Vermilion Bird through Ahn Seomyeong, the strain on his body was inevitable…

In the end, Ki Jaeeon, who was bedridden under Master Kim Young’s care, miraculously regained his strength on the second day.

And the first thought Ki Jaeeon had when he came to his senses was this:

“I’m hungry.”

Yeah, food.

Not porridge… food.

He wanted to eat rice.

Ki Jaeeon slowly got up, looking disheveled. His hungry stomach growled loudly.

—”If you get indigestion, there’s no answer. It’s porridge until the fever goes down!”

Master Kim Young, with a strict expression, had only fed him porridge, talking about digestion.

Thanks to that, Ki Jaeeon felt hunger for the first time since turning back time.

“Lunchbox…”

He smacked his lips, uncharacteristically.

As he always did, Ki Jaeeon waited until the dorm was quiet and then carefully descended the stairs.

“This is getting familiar.”

He chuckled to himself as he opened the fridge door with a clatter.

“Huh…?”

Around the black lunchbox were various snacks. From small candies to quite expensive brand cookie boxes, fruits, jellies, and more, the colorful assortment made the black lunchbox look beautifully decorated.

Ki Jaeeon, puzzled, examined the fridge.

The empty spaces were overflowing.

What is this…?

Hungry, he carefully took out only the lunchbox. But perhaps because there was so much packed in, paper scraps fell to the floor with a rustle.

He picked up one that had fallen at his feet. Before he could even shiver at the cold touch of the paper, his eyes caught the densely written words.

“…Thank you for saving us…?”

Ki Jaeeon’s eyes widened.

It was, surprisingly, a letter. A letter of thanks to Ki Jaeeon.

Slowly, he noticed the colorful papers that had just come into view.

Ki Jaeeon carefully unfolded each piece of paper.

[Jaeeon hyung!]

[To Exorcist Ki Jaeeon…]

[Jaeeon oppa!]

[Mr. Ki Jaeeon]

[Excuse me.]

[Can I call you Jaeeon-ah? lol]

…and many more letters calling Ki Jaeeon by various titles.

But they all carried the same message.

[Thank you.]

Indeed.

That was… the reason he endured, even in the pain where he wished for death.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

“I got scolded by my aunt for piling too much in the fridge.”

“It never seems to decrease.”

A week after expressing their feelings through letters.

The kids looked at the untouched snacks with gloom.

Their relationship remained unchanged.

At least it seemed like the letters had been collected… but they couldn’t expect a reply.

“Do you think he read them?”

“Byunggyun hyung even wrote his social media ID.”

“Crossing the line again?”

As the kids murmured, it happened.

“It’s probably hard for him to forgive us easily. Honestly, we changed our attitude too quickly.”

“It’s just his personality, you know? Look, having a bad attitude is a fact.”

Opinions about Ki Jaeeon were divided once again.

Unable to hold back, a member of the faction spoke up, their expression twisted in frustration.

“Okay, fine. We’ll just get along among ourselves. Why do you keep picking fights? If you don’t want to be friends, then back off!” they snapped.

In response, the faction pushed back strongly.

“Then create a respectful atmosphere! Look at yourselves—you’re making us look like the bad guys. It’s uncomfortable. Are we supposed to apologize now? Don’t force it.”

“Okay, got it.”

“No, look. Why is this even a fight?”

“Who’s nitpicking when I said I got it?”

“Is your tone the same as usual?”

The atmosphere turned cold.

Tension filled the air, as if a fight would break out at any moment if someone opened their mouth.

From afar, Ahn Seomyeong yawned widely and walked over sluggishly.

He looked like a cat that had just woken up, with his messy hair.

His white, soft cheeks seemed like they’d smell like warm sunlight if you bit them… he looked cozy.

Ahn Seomyeong ignored the bickering older kids and leisurely drank a glass of water.

Gulp, gulp.

After finishing the water, Ahn Seomyeong placed the mug on the table and spoke calmly.

“He just seems awkward.”

All eyes turned to Ahn Seomyeong. But he continued speaking slowly, with his usual indifferent expression.

“It might be overwhelming for him. He was someone who even tried to jump in front of a train… Ah, forget I said that. Anyway, he doesn’t seem mentally strong, so everyone be careful-.”

“What? Hey, what did you just say?”

Clatter.

One kid stood up abruptly, interrupting Ahn Seomyeong.

Their face showed they had heard something they shouldn’t have, and the other kids blinked repeatedly.

“…It might be overwhelming?”

“No! Before that!”

Ahn Seomyeong seemed to think for a moment, trying to understand what the others wanted to hear.

The kids exchanged uneasy glances, unable to endure the short silence. Their eyes seemed to ask, Did you hear that too? Some wore expressions of disbelief.

But for some reason, they were all anxious.

Ahn Seomyeong scanned the tense group and gave a slight shrug.

“That he tried to jump in front of a train?” he asked, as if confirming whether that was really what they wanted to know.

—Tried to jump in front of a train?!

They hadn’t misheard.

“What are you talking about?”

“Y-yeah… What kind of unlucky joke is that…?”

But Ahn Seomyeong didn’t answer.

Sometimes, silence means affirmation. And this was one of those times.

“…Is it true?”