HLFH | Chapter 8

The first to greet Ki Jaeeon upon his return home was his older brother, Ki Jaeha. Though it was with a rather awkward, “Oh, you’re back now?”

Ki Jaeha was six years older than Ki Jaeeon.

He was much taller and bigger, often mistaken for a UFC fighter or wrestler. But Ki Jaeha, too, was a member of the Ki Family, unable to escape his destined path.

Despite being constantly compared to his brother, ‘Ki Jaeeon,’ Ki Jaeha was a reputable exorcist in his own right.

Even when people around him called him the “unfortunate eldest son who lost the head position,” Ki Jaeha didn’t care. Jealousy and envy? Those were just ignorant nonsense from people who didn’t know him. Ki Jaeha held no inferiority towards Ki Jaeeon.

If anything, he felt a sense of pity.

Why? The reason was simple.

He couldn’t shake the thought that his brother was carrying his share of the burden too.

Ki Jaeha enjoyed many things that Ki Jaeeon couldn’t.

For example, normal friendships and a free love life?

Unlike Ki Jaeeon, who stopped schooling after middle school to focus solely on exorcism as per their father’s wishes, Ki Jaeha went to college.

Not only that, but he also slacked off in training, played soccer with friends, and even kissed a lamppost after a night of drinking. He even tried a campus couple relationship, which others advised against. Ki Jaeha’s phone was filled with group chats and a packed photo gallery. The Ki Family didn’t mean much to him, just as he didn’t mean much to them.

So, he enjoyed his youth and freedom like everyone else.

Of course, it also meant he was outside his father’s attention… but he didn’t care. He never sought his father’s approval in the first place.

But Ki Jaeeon was different.

Called the next head of the Ki Family, he bore that weight from a young age. He wasn’t allowed soccer, girlfriends, or travel.

He always had to train. Even during his growth period, if he couldn’t recite incantations, he was locked in the annex storage without dinner until he memorized everything.

On days when Ki Jaeha came home after playing soccer all day with friends, after a big fight with his girlfriend, or after a night out drinking.

Maybe every day.

At dawn.

He remembered his brother staggering out of the annex. If their eyes met by chance, the small boy would bow politely as if greeting a stranger. At that time, Ki Jaeeon’s eyes were red.

Honestly, during his immature years, he briefly saw his brother as a talisman. No, more like a shield.

<Keep sacrificing yourself for my share too.>

The freedom he gained because of Ki Jaeeon.

A life exempt from burdens and expectations.

Ki Jaeha thought he was the one enjoying the privilege. And he was right.

Then, at some point, he realized.

<While I’m laughing and chatting with friends, what about Jaeeon?>

A lonely life without even a friend to share trivial chats, let alone romance.

That was the entirety of Ki Jaeeon’s life, the one called a genius.

Surrounded only by evil spirits and demons. Isn’t it funny? Revered by everyone yet living a profoundly lonely life. To Ki Jaeha, Ki Jaeeon’s life seemed abnormal.

But even so, there was nothing Ki Jaeha could do.

Giving advice or counseling was awkward. Because aside from being born from the same womb, they had nothing in common. They were brothers in name only, never having a proper conversation.

Most importantly, his brother chose this path himself. The perseverance to endure the harsh training was admirable. Watching his grown, sturdy back filled him with pride. He even felt a strange sense of vicarious satisfaction.

So he left him be.

‘Who am I to worry about anyone?’

That was his thought.

How could someone born ordinary dare to speak to anyone? It was a talent he could never possess.

Someone who had to succeed, someone who did well on his own, his talented brother.

That’s what he believed…

But after his brother’s breakdown, everything changed. Refusing meals, isolating himself, stammering. The Ki Jaeeon who could bring down even the strongest seemed broken overnight. How could that be?

People babbled about curses and bad luck, causing a commotion, but Ki Jaeha was different. He was steadfast. A curse? On my brother, the world’s strongest? He shook his head, laughing it off.

Because it was Ki Jaeeon, right? The one who always ‘does well’ would return soon. He’d be fine again. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.

Thinking that way, he didn’t worry much.

It was arrogance.

Even after visiting Bonryeong, where the best haeju master was, Ki Jaeeon remained the same.

A hunched back, eyes darkened with defeat, lips chewing nervously.

His brother had become weak.

Impossible… Is that really Ki Jaeeon? The shock was several times, no, tens of times greater because he thought his brother would live nobly forever.

For the first time, Ki Jaeha regretted it.

He couldn’t forgive himself for neglecting his brother under the guise of trust.

“Well done.”

Ki Taeho showered Ki Jaeeon with praise as soon as he saw him. His raised chin showed how pleased he was.

“I heard you elevated Cheonjiharang’s prestige.”

Ki Taeho continued, delighted.

“As expected of the Ki Family!”

He looked like he was thrilled to have his second son, who had given a blow to those ignorant fools trying to tarnish the Ki Family’s reputation.

Ki Taeho thought of the meeting tomorrow.

The old dogs of Cheonjiharang, who had been provoking him, saying it was time for the Ki Family to fade. He looked forward to seeing them change their tune, talking about ‘Bonryeong,’ ‘great light,’ and ‘as expected of the Ki Family,’ while watching for his reaction.

A confident smile appeared on Ki Taeho’s face. It was like the time before Ki Jaeeon was born when he was called the pinnacle of exorcists. His face burned with arrogance and vitality.

“They’ll realize that Incheon (Cheonjiharang) is nothing without our Ki Family.”

Ki Taeho felt a sense of relief. The air was sweet. When his perfectly fine son became half-disabled overnight, he had experienced a dark time.

But as expected!

A single fall only made the young genius’s talent shine brighter. Truly the Ki Family’s masterpiece.

“You’ve worked hard. Rest well until dinner.”

Ki Taeho dismissed him neatly.

There were no other questions.

Nothing about the haeju, nothing about his battered face.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

“Young Master, the master is calling you.”

At the announcement that dinner was ready, he slowly got up. He had no appetite, and his stomach felt heavy, so he wasn’t particularly interested in dinner, but he forced himself to move, fearing he might be sent back to Seoul if he refused.

His unsteady steps eventually led him to a table filled with food.

The family was already seated, waiting.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sit.”

Normally, he would have been scolded, but Ki Taeho seemed unwilling to ruin his good mood and was quite lenient. Ah, …yes. Ki Jaeeon sat down, still hunched over. He briefly made eye contact with his mother, Ryu Seonghee, but quickly looked away.

‘Frustrating.’

Ki Jaeeon anxiously rolled his eyes, unsure where to look.

A strict father, an inscrutable mother, and an awkward brother.

To Ki Jaeeon, his family was such an image.

Close yet distant.

He lived to fulfill his duty, but if asked if he simply loved them and wanted to stay by their side, the answer would be ‘…um, maybe not.‘ Such was their ambiguous relationship.

“Eat before it gets cold.”

Everyone quietly picked up their utensils, but Ki Jaeeon remained still. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to move.

‘How do you eat again?’

He felt like a fool.

Ki Jaeeon bit the inside of his cheek, urging himself. Move quickly. Eat something.

‘Rice… hold the spoon…’

It was obvious, so why was he confused?

Ki Jaeeon kept his head down, eyes rolling. His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly in nervous tension.

How did I hold chopsticks? Was it the right hand? Oh, water first…

Oh, right. Start with soup, then eat the vegetables.

‘Don’t make slurping sounds, and don’t drink water too often during meals.’

Recalling the rules, he continued his meal awkwardly. One bite, two bites. As he chewed and swallowed, his hands and feet grew cold. It felt like it would come back up. He suppressed the urge to vomit.

After eating about a third of his rice, Ki Taeho suddenly spoke.

“Rest until tomorrow, and start again the day after. There’s a lot of work piled up.”

Ki Jaeeon’s hand, reaching for a side dish, visibly froze.

‘Work?’

He put down his chopsticks and hurriedly grabbed his water cup. Even after gulping down cold water, the bitterness and sourness wouldn’t go away. A sharp pain was felt in his throat.

‘Do I have to fight again?’

The image of Ahn Seomyeong, bloodied and collapsed, flashed in his mind.

His heart sank with a thud. Cold sweat began to bead on his hands and the back of his neck. Ki Jaeeon licked his dry lips repeatedly, suppressing the rising nausea.