KTC | Chapter 18

Choi Seonwoo’s daily routine was mundane. He devoted his mornings and evenings to church-related activities and enjoyed relatively more freedom in the afternoons. He spent this time preparing sermons, studying theology, or evangelizing around the village, where residents seemed to think of him as a communal worker and roped him into various tasks.

“Don’t people know that too much favor can be mistaken for a right?”

One day, frustrated by this, he spoke up, only to receive this reply:

“Brother, I am serving the village as a priest of the Lord. It’s not just a simple favor.”

Sure, let’s say he was serving, but it seemed shameless for people to ask him to handle store tasks, farm work, or even home repairs that should be managed by hiring professionals.

There was even an old man who came to the church asking for help with wallpapering. It was utterly ridiculous.

“In a small island community like this, mutual help is quite natural. Even if you wanted to hire someone with money, there isn’t enough workforce available.”

“But this isn’t mutual help. You only give, and then you threaten me with ‘do it or die.’ It’s totally unfair.”

“Your view may be somewhat distorted, but I’ll let it pass. But, Brother John, are you still upset about being assigned as the accompanist?”

“Mad? I was angry, not sulky!”

“Okay, okay. I understand.”

As infuriating as he was, Choi Seonwoo was living the life of a sincerely devoted clergyman. Caught by him, Seo Jihan also gradually learned his role as the church choir’s accompanist.

It was the same during the Wednesday 10 AM mass, attended by only about fifteen parishioners.

“The Lord be with you.”

When Choi Seonwoo stood at the altar, his image transformed. Watching him lead the mass dressed in liturgical vestments, it was easy to understand why he appeared as an angel in his dreams.

If only his hair curled a bit, he’d perfectly match the image of a beautiful angel from a storybook. That angel, unfortunately, turned lascivious in the end… Ah, damn it.

Seo Jihan, startled, quickly banished his wandering thoughts.

“And also with your spirit.”

The congregation’s response filled the small church with a solemn echo. Although Seo Jihan had a good memory and quickly memorized the order of the mass and the exchanges between the priest and the congregation, he never once spoke up.

Sitting next to Sister Catherine Jung Yoonyoung at the organ, Seo Jihan spent the entire time staring down at Choi Seonwoo. It was as if he was searching for any weakness in his enemy with persistent scrutiny.

Despite the various ways Choi Seonwoo was helping him, curiosity—or rather suspicion—was suspicion. Throughout his illness, his grandfather had invited countless shamans and religious figures, yet few had brought tangible healing. None had truly seen into him. Those who did bring him momentary relief had done so more by luck than skill.

But Choi Seonwoo was undeniably different from these mediocrities. The more he reflected on the exorcism, the more undeniable it was that it was genuine, and yet, he was also certain Choi Seonwoo was a fake exorcist priest.

“Hello, Brother John. I am Father Choi Seonwoo Michael.”

When he had first spoken to him, the evil spirit infesting his body had stirred tumultuously. It was an emotion so tangled and profound that he felt it swell monstrously more than ever before.

Now, in retrospect, it seemed like a bluff. No, it was definitely a bluff.

Even the evil spirit, capable of deceiving most, had been cowed without a fight under the gaze of a priest with an eerily attractive face. It was as if it had encountered its natural predator, and that primal fear had been vividly transmitted to him as well.

After completely entering a trance, his memory blanked out, but he vividly recalled the moment the demon was extracted from his body, mercilessly torn to pieces and obliterated in the ether.

That was no ordinary exorcism. If he had to put a word to it, it was closer to annihilation. It wasn’t a power that a mere priest could wield.

“Mass has ended, let’s go and spread the Gospel.”

“God be praised.”

As Sister Catherine Jung Yoonyoung began playing the recessional hymn, Seo Jihan quickly descended to the first floor to avoid being caught up in idle chit-chat with the choir members.

Today was the communal lunch for all parishioners. As soon as mass ended, Choi Seonwoo, having changed out of his vestments into a cassock that reached his ankles, headed straight for the parish hall. Someone caught his attention on the way.

“Father Choi Seonwoo.”

As Choi Seonwoo instinctively turned around, Seo Jihan also looked in the same direction and immediately sensed the palpable awkwardness radiating from Lee Juhee, meticulously scanning her from head to toe.

“Yes, I am Father Choi Seonwoo.”

Choi Seonwoo naturally maneuvered Seo Jihan behind him by the elbow. Being pulled along by his touch, Seo Jihan had no choice but to divert his gaze from Lee Juhee.

Choi Seonwoo looked intently into Lee Juhee’s eyes, which sparkled with countless rings of light. Lee Juhee lacked the leisure to analyze each of his subtle movements. She immediately approached him after confirming his identity.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am someone like this.”

Lee Juhee presented a business card indicating her position as CEO of an internet security system design company. Choi Seonwoo alternated his gaze between the card and Lee Juhee’s face, then politely nodded.

“Ah, I see. I’m quite busy right now, so please come back later.”

Caught off guard by his standard reply, Lee Juhee was taken aback. She had expected at least a question like ‘Excuse me, who are you?’ or ‘Yes, what can I do for you?’ But Choi Seonwoo did not even take the card and promptly left.

“Father!”

Lee Juhee quickly stepped in front of Choi Seonwoo, effectively blocking his path. He seemed unphased, but the skinny man beside him—Seo Jihan—looked increasingly fierce as if he had encountered a rival.

“I was just at the Incheon Diocese. The bishop said he would contact you in advance; did you not receive the message?”

Choi Seonwoo looked at her with a weary expression. At that moment, Lee Juhee realized, somewhat shocked, that she could read nothing from his eyes.

What… I can’t read it?

Throughout her life, very few minds had been inscrutable to her, and those few belonged to powerful shamans whom even evil spirits dared not touch. She blinked rapidly, her dismay not apparent on her face but evident in the speed of her blinking.

What’s with these people?

“Well, I did receive the message. Do you have a baptismal name?”

Choi Seonwoo’s question snapped her out of her slight panic. Lee Juhee hid her agitation and shook her head.

“No, I’m an atheist.”

She regretted her answer as soon as it left her lips. To a Catholic priest like Choi Seonwoo, such a response would surely be a negative factor. She would have been better off saying she had no connection to religion.

But contrary to her regret, the response she received remained indifferent.

“Then I should address you as CEO Lee. I’m quite pressed for time this afternoon, so I can only spare a moment to speak with you.”

Choi Seonwoo gestured lightly to the business card and flashed a rueful smile.

“The bishop mentioned that someone from a government agency would be visiting, but who exactly are you, Ms. CEO?”

“Ah, that’s because—”

“In an exorcism, the exorcist sees into the most hidden and shameful parts of the possessed. It’s not optional; it’s mandatory. So if you have anything to hide, you shouldn’t have sought me out. Please leave.”

Holding the ungiven business card, Lee Juhee stood frozen as Choi Seonwoo turned his back on her and walked toward the rectory.

There was a mass at 2 PM on Sangbongdo Island, and he was indeed busy. After lunch, he needed to head straight to the pier.

“Father, about that woman…”

Seo Jihan, his gaze sharp, continuously looked back as they moved far enough from Lee Juhee. He leaned in to whisper something to Choi Seonwoo when Choi placed a hand over his mouth.

“Shh.”