KTC | Chapter 16

“I too am destined to live a life untangling my karma, so I understand what that pain feels like.”

Choi Seonwoo said gently, patting Seo Jihan’s back.

“It might feel overwhelming and frightening now, but as you train your mind and body, even if the path is thorny, you’ll begin to see the way.”

Seo Jihan bit his lip so hard it almost bled. The comfort of Choi Seonwoo’s not-so-wide embrace was embarrassingly reassuring, but he desperately clung to it, listening to his voice. He had a feeling that this was the only way to escape the endless hell of his cycle.

“Do you also have a spirit clinging to you, like I do?”

With a gesture too childlike for his large frame, his voice huskily low from exhaustion, there was a seductive lilt in his tone. This discordance was a testament to how many times he had been broken and mended.

“Truly, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t bear at least one spirit. I carry burdens not less than yours, perhaps even greater.”

“How come you look so normal then? I… I hardly have a day without nightmares. I’ve been fighting this battle almost every day. I’m scared to sleep because it just makes my physical condition worse, and then I start seeing things more, which just perpetuates the vicious cycle.”

“Dreams are manifestations of the subconscious, but remember, you can change them if you set your mind to it. You are the master of your dreams.”

While Seo Jihan pondered the meaning of these words, Choi Seonwoo gently pushed him away from his chest where he had clung in fright. The moment Seo Jihan tried to cling again, Choi Seonwoo snapped his fingers right by his ear.

“Brother, focus and look into my eyes.”

Under the yellow light of the mood lamp, Choi Seonwoo’s eyes sparkled more golden than ever. Mesmerized by the pure wetness within those sensuous eyes, Seo Jihan’s mind started to cloud—snap! The sound of fingers snapping brought him back.

“Nightmares are just tricks by spirits to stir up your inner demons. Don’t let yourself be swept away by them. If you’re determined, you can shake them off.”

“I can really win against them?”

“Of course. Trust me.”

Only then did a sense of relief slowly wash over Seo Jihan’s tear-stained face. The gates of his heart that he had firmly shut melted away like snow in spring, and his true feelings inadvertently slipped through his wet lips.

“I may not trust your God, but I can trust you.”

Having never been completely honest since childhood, he felt a delayed embarrassment, but fortunately, Choi Seonwoo didn’t give him time to dwell on it.

As Choi Seonwoo pushed gently, Seo Jihan obediently moved back to the bed. The damp sheets and pillows were uncomfortable, but the warmth spreading from the white hand resting on his chest seemed to drive all the crappy things away.

“Don’t be afraid to sleep deeply. I’ll pray for little angels to dwell in your dreams tonight.”

Though it sounded like something a shady cultist would say, oddly enough, Seo Jihan couldn’t shake the feeling that it would become a reality.

After enduring countless sleepless nights, his exhausted body was swept into a slumber as soon as he closed his eyes.

Sleep tight, my baby, my dear little one…

It wasn’t long before he was enveloped in a cozy lullaby.

However, as usual, the hellish vision where he became a monster tearing apart much larger humans came to him. Unlike before, the seven-year-old Seo Jihan, who usually just waited for faceless angels, vividly remembered Choi Seonwoo’s golden eyes this time and screamed out with all his might.

Brother Seonwoo!

Miraculously, a ray of light descended into the dark, blood-scented hell. It was as if honey had been dried into powder, brightly illuminating the surroundings, and in the center of that light was a music box scattering a lullaby. Inside it, a sparkling little angel chased away the nightmare and rescued him.

A desperate child ran into its embrace, and the moment he leaped, the little angel transformed into Choi Seonwoo, who tenderly held him back.

The next day, Seo Jihan woke up only when the sun was high in the sky. And before he could fully recall the night’s events, he was wrapped in absurdity.

His lower body was uncomfortably wet.

It seemed men think of that act as long as they can hold a spoon.

At thirteen, he had his first wet dream, and none since until today. Moreover, it was utterly ridiculous that Choi Seonwoo had pushed him into an erotic dream instead of a nightmare.

Changing his clothes and stripping the sheets, Seo Jihan felt his mood plummet. Even though he had felt like Choi Seonwoo was an angel sent from heaven last night, his heart flip-flopped, and now he felt suspicious and displeased with him.

It’s because the priest is so pretty that such disasters happen. It wasn’t his fault at all.

How could Choi Seonwoo so easily break the vicious cycle of nightmares that he had been unable to drive away despite all his struggles?

As suspicions about last night began to creep into his mind, it was inevitable that more doubts would follow.

Choi Seonwoo was certainly no ordinary priest. Well, the title of exorcist priest was extraordinary in itself, but even among those, he was distinctly outstanding and different.

Accepting help was one thing, but he had to be sure of Choi Seonwoo’s true identity. Now that he thought about it, his ease in accepting him seemed suspicious. Once one thing seemed off, everything else appeared so in a chain reaction.

Lost in thought as he loaded the laundry and sprinkled detergent, Lee Jeongae hurried over. Seeing her worried face, he quickly started the washing machine before he could entrust her with his semen-soaked laundry.

“I slept well for a change, so don’t worry. But why didn’t you wake me?”

“Oh, the priest said to let you sleep since you were resting well. Should I have woken you?”

“No, you did well.”

He had slept so soundly for the first time in ages that his head felt a bit heavy.

“I’m going to make lunch now. Come out quickly after you wash up.”

“Okay.”

Seo Jihan grabbed fresh underwear and headed to the bathroom. Even as he showered, the various deeds he and Choi Seonwoo had performed in his dream kept intruding on his mind, causing him considerable trouble.

The skeletal hips below his prominent genitals were hideously annoying now. They used to be quite proud, supported by thick, firm thighs.

Only after dousing himself in cold water enough to freeze his body could he tear away the sacrilegious scenes.

When he emerged from the shower, Choi Seonwoo and the bodyguards were gathered in the living room.

“Did you sleep well, Brother?”

Choi Seonwoo was the same as yesterday, his face lightly bearing a calm and composed smile. Feeling a pang in his heart, Seo Jihan could only reply brusquely, “Yes.”

“Let’s eat lunch and then go for organ practice. Sister Catherine will teach you.”

…Ah, he had forgotten about that damn accompaniment.

Remembering the semi-forced volunteer position he had taken on nearly made him hot under the collar, but he decided to think of it as payment for the baby angel music box that had driven away the demon. Then he nearly panicked as the baby angel tried to morph into Choi Seonwoo’s face again, hastily erasing the thought.

After lunch, Seo Jihan received organ lessons from Sister Catherine Jung Yoonyoung, which proved to be quite challenging.

He had thought it would just be like playing the piano, but there was much more to learn, especially using his feet simultaneously with his hands, which was extremely difficult. The situation of revealing his ineptitude struck at the pride of a seventeen-year-old boy, causing his frustration to build.

After the organ lessons, he followed Choi Seonwoo around the village. They spent nearly an hour at the village chief’s fish farm, but since Seo Jihan’s strength hadn’t fully returned yet, he couldn’t even take on the task of feeding the fish. Watching the village chief make full use of Choi Seonwoo, his irritation grew.

After completing their evangelism, they returned and had a doctrinal education session with the parishioners. Being dragged around and unexpectedly sitting in on the session, evening came before he knew it.

Upon returning to the priory, Seo Jihan immediately called Chairman Seo for a video chat while waiting for dinner. Worried like someone sending a child to the water’s edge, Chairman Seo had instructed him to video call every two days. In truth, even if that hadn’t been the case, Seo Jihan had no friends and needed to vent the severe stress accumulated throughout the day to his grandfather.

“Grandfather, do you know what I ended up doing?”

[Hmm, what did you end up doing?]

“Playing the accompaniment for the choir.”