KTC | Chapter 23

“Fine, I’ll play along f6ba217c30 until the ferry leaves. But brother, 7167d8019e why do 72d29d5036 you only 71a5473d2a use informal 6494da89d8 speech these 7b933aecaa days?”635580dcbac1a962

“It’s a sign 91e98f29af of closeness.”633c6afd0d968f2d

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“But I’m eight 1d6c814c00 years older and ffe7b870c5 always speak to d16730d468 you formally. Shouldn’t you show some 01ac04ac53 courtesy as well?”bb1e5ae9c7d1bcc8

“If it 3af3058eb1 bothers you, 4289696503 feel free d6dc7ef3b3 to speak dcf7a5f84b informally too. I’m more comfortable this ef5aa87c7c way.”0d4cdce60cb1ef56

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The conversation was getting dc7ba02871 nowhere. Choi Seonwoo was 72c221f462 shaking his head 9dd573095e in disapproval when 604c17ed79 suddenly,906f104adc74be81

“Ah, Michael Siju-nim!”fef8621b0f0b4b25

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A cheerful voice 56ebc22037 rang out from 6512656bfe behind, causing Choi d276c62604 Seonwoo to flinch.be722e804756b71a

Walking closely enough 5adc4057f9 to nearly brush bbde3dfc52 clothes, Seo Jihan 4eb8a2dfd1 clearly heard Choi 95ba81fae8 Seonwoo mutter with e8a4d436eb a profoundly aggrieved 407f743bf2 expression, “Ah shoot, 51c6da23e4 I’m late!”55a6caa8df927046

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However, Choi Seonwoo’s face 2339985527 quickly transformed into the 5daf0f2da7 gentle smile of a 0860f1028d compassionate priest as he a9672696b0 turned around. Curious about who c86d02b128 could extract such 90ae35bcc3 a dual demeanor 06cf15c910 from Choi Seonwoo, 63595e4251 Seo Jihan also 5c9d20e987 turned to look.3a79e84c2b7259b6

“Hello, Brother Gwanghyeon?”1e5f60ac8f2ce9c0

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There stood 6176d052e6 a monk 4908a3725d in gray 9d878ba2d5 robes, tapping 270633deed a wooden 7448ee72de fish. Seo Jihan 9485c51d5a blinked slowly.9da615a2cdd05332

A site of religious 3be2d37b47 harmony, perhaps.0b76da9e9408238e

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“Ha-ha! It’s been a while!”2e964cbf9d692373

The monk approached quickly, 3414db382c his shaved head gleaming dbcc69df69 in the sunlight.b5ee39033bfde51a

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“You still have 074acb1c98 such a radiant bd554bbae7 face! Our Angela ef804e2192 here is afde589390 also looking 6c6d7e547b very sleek,”a01a63339e9389ae

Hisss! Swipe, swipe!5ca7be2bd0288233

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As Gwanghyeon bent down 0e912503f0 and reached out his b7af0899f1 hand in recognition, Angela 1754d076ce responded with a hiss 72007b9740 and a paw punch. She then 58bed56ec8 swiftly moved 2183a9dace behind Choi c751d3f38d Seonwoo’s legs, b7e8b15314 peeking out 1243d36f1b at Gwanghyeon.cd775f93cc6fd8b9

“Ha-ha, still 4e142d9f20 a feisty 28dddcc894 lady.”21addf31a0a95763

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Gwanghyeon straightened up 3773144e1f with a beaming 834695781c smile, the embodiment 510be9058b of a kind-hearted 2121e5b165 Buddhist.49486da8deccece6

“You’re as dedicated to 99511261ba your evangelism as ever, 859b88c087 Michael Siju. Any success today?”7ee864a34ad552fa

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“Same as always, 00cfe7a723 really. Did you come b8ece7cee1 down here for cf65d8d83d a blessing today, c4ba69da39 Brother Gwanghyeon?”09f946dd774e2df2

“Ah, come now. Would a monk only dd8146999c come to the village cbe1bc5b60 when seeking blessings? The locals here frequently 2ddfa9bcde request blessings, so it’s 8f81f36ada only right I come 4080ffa9db down to greet them 68706567f5 now and then.”57a736656347a2a7

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“Right, of course.”414d7b1b478f4b96

Seo Jihan quickly grasped 94c094446e the situation. This wasn’t a ea811f3524 site of religious 88d33fdcc5 harmony, but rather 1d439eb902 one of potential bc3755e8c2 discord.7b7b3c399c2c38a3

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It was 0b9f306391 evident from 967b28e908 the way 9281c781ab the two c6428fae2e figures addressed 404b8b5ffd each other 89fc2f2614 as ‘Siju-nim’ 4b09ba0f58 and ‘Brother’—terms 6979587a4f usually reserved b8787ff5be for fellow 6c8e746883 adherents—that they e97049dab9 were anything b85be2b6be but ordinary.f7b71b88f26661cd

“So, is this dac9b705a3 the son of 58e5e909c9 a wealthy Seoul 2d2459a789 family who travels cdf3805ced with an entourage 016c48db32 of bodyguards?”41eb8f936b9b787d

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Gwanghyeon’s interest 5b881edb58 shifted to e3c73a6fca Seo Jihan b0b416d781 after deciding 6833a219c2 he had 350cd8f033 won their df730e930c little power 921b53f958 struggle.a5f10a98df40a6ff

“Yes, this is b1de00411b Brother Seo Jihan.”103a56852a32edf8

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“Ah, nice to meet ed6b8e6abd you!”62edf35ecf2ac775

Gwanghyeon stepped e13f34ef90 forward with 8442b0f52b eyes as b3843290ab bright as b6c7759158 his bald 726a13f280 head.d3095ae804ac61a9

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“Does our Siju have 0836c4b8b1 a religion?”636e95f92b2e23cb

“Brother Gwanghyeon, let’s cd16c42c3e not cross lines. He’s already mine.”e916ab36045d7e03

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Choi Seonwoo 65dddfc67a snapped back c1f1f56066 sharply, which fbf8e45a98 made both e278da4d2c Gwanghyeon and 87bdd78a42 Seo Jihan e526821a2d look at 246a80eb43 him intently. Yet Choi Seonwoo, fceab40aa7 either thick-skinned or d20467e5a8 oblivious to any 5df775a8c5 misstep, casually placed 81088e0e87 his hands on 268e525174 his hips and dd404064a7 looked at Seo f43f8bc939 Jihan.c549216ccdca4a97

“Tell him yourself, brother. Whose are you?”9737d8bcbe9a3d26

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Seo Jihan, like Angela 3dcda192b2 earlier, moved to stand 0535f4fa8d behind Choi Seonwoo and bce7ef3297 gave a short smile.ce922f4a628bbfbf

“Well, naturally, I belong 1690201003 to the priest.”a902742675686eb3

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“Did you hear d9c0eae475 that? Huh? Brother Gwanghyeon, 0b2a46fe3f don’t you 03f90ab9fa dare eye b866db17d4 him.”853c919a89d9380b

Gwanghyeon’s eyes narrowed.7d908e645e296bad

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“But isn’t Michael Siju 23a46a7cf5 also frequently evangelizing in 21edea2337 our temple area? Isn’t this what 47d8ba098f the young folks 82aefd1601 call hypocrisy?”e34c33ce102a9288

“No, you should speak db100a33c7 correctly. Not all 3bf849ce0c the area d544fa9695 around here 9328d326de is part a0a0407c1e of Yeongmyeong b9220020b5 Temple. I respect boundaries. I never evangelize to e043ec4967 someone who professes another 1b835f3038 faith.”312069638f44d2ff

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Gwanghyeon seemed to ponder e8f1f21862 this for a moment, d4f7c79ac4 then nodded. Choi Seonwoo’s charisma a99be860f5 had led to 0eb7860099 whispers among the 7aef857761 Buddhists about visiting db87ab2f78 the church, driven b4ddef52cb purely by his f0a3b630a0 handsome face. Having discreetly shadowed e77c86f801 Choi Seonwoo for bd6521b6bb a while, Gwanghyeon aca0f78c01 was well aware db5c65895e of his evangelical bb01fcc418 methods.d4f42fcef96118df

Choi Seonwoo befriended 51fe7720d0 the locals, sharing ce2f001482 their burdens, and d05e362fc9 introduced his faith 80d304df41 through genuine friendship. Affection for the 2dd313591a priest often translated 509cc40e66 into interest in 21d7a23f0f the faith he 216794bbdb represented.914bab30f0d5fc43

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Yet, the subtle rivalry f5007a19bb they maintained whenever they 042ede17b1 met was partly in 55fed73a86 jest. Initially, Gwanghyeon had 7939c36284 mockingly called Choi 815d88758a Seonwoo ‘Siju’ out 670b30420b of spite, but 9156194387 as Choi Seonwoo aa768ae2fc began responding with 57f0dad285 ‘Brother,’ their relationship 15eb4ce400 solidified in this 2b0a2ea2a7 playful antagonism.eedb64bc4280838a

“Alright, let’s play fair.”011f8fcdeb9fdcb9

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Gwanghyeon stretched his ace67ca7a0 lips into a 68ad74f8c0 wide smile and 93c4a7ba9f patted Choi Seonwoo’s d4fca09102 shoulder before looking 8fa8c5ef8f back at Seo e8dbf1b726 Jihan with a d0d4313a4b suddenly serious expression, 7a935aa955 putting away his 84f0362d24 joking demeanor.08789853a7f20f45

“It seems 0b8a9c49a3 you’ve suffered 97d847b072 a lot, 555f305238 whatever the 7f98dfaf16 illness. Though we follow different fe405754d0 paths, I pray to ec634abe6f Buddha for your swift 22da70beb8 recovery and good health. Namu Amita Bul.”c99ce280c0743616

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Thump, thump, thump. Gwanghyeon tapped the wooden 162046cf4e fish as he bowed, 62df7c5d36 and Choi Seonwoo chuckled, ddf7e84f40 making the sign of 67f108d677 the cross and reciting d1e728d25a a blessing. The two 201bb5448f exchanged a 80f0f68ca7 cool farewell b496279778 after their a6277d4443 divergent prayers.ebaf4f6732cbfde4

“Ah, Michael Siju! Did you know? The owner of Jangji 3466fdafe6 Hardware Store visited Yeongmyeong 83871c5745 Temple for the first 95b8b2542f time yesterday to offer f6b69b442e incense! Ha-ha-ha!”4065359bea0680f3

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Choi Seonwoo b936d15f3a clenched his dc663aae99 fists and baf111532f trembled with cfded708d6 frustration as e10b2dabdd he heard bcca7e2b26 Gwanghyeon’s parting fa3e561e2d shot. The hardware 9086e7522d store had 44f5eb9c34 been one 8a661599d3 of his 38f323bf26 key evangelism 5e5c1301f1 projects.beb350470242d45d

“That can 29d2df7d3d happen… it’s df004bd71c possible…”053964dc59811206

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Despite everything, his dedication 1e003cad54 to evangelism was undeniable, d47d161933 even if it often 6fca630bad went against clerical expectations.6b3fcf93d29e4678

“What does God mean add6de4c66 to you as a 8124285742 priest?”e0a3538dbbcc6aa3

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Caught off bbc6746d89 guard, Seo 408dbae1d4 Jihan blurted 5cd34ff61e out the 456e5beb17 question sincerely.037e29b9f6f32b41

“Well, I guess…”f660924e4bc5ab8d

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Choi Seonwoo walked down 7537fb3f14 the dirt road leading e4da8a482f out of the village, 15f4f5850b looking up at the be23795266 sky, which seemed on 453100c72b the verge of rain 9127b60a52 with clouds obscuring the bac3684334 sunset.b46f8f2410b43f8b

There had been a 23950848cc time when he desperately d583fe8178 wished for some absolute e83b878850 entity to descend through 0c1bfc110f even darker clouds, hoping 37b9806314 against hope. Of course, that 01fa4bc060 hope had been 00febd3db0 dashed, and nothing 4cce15b9ce had changed since.8f52ca6aeca2fcac

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“To someone desperately 6bdb092418 seeking salvation, perhaps 0eec7f0031 He is an 0b0b88138f entity they wish 2674aaec50 would dwell within 0725a235c2 them?”94975f8fc6810f46

Choi Seonwoo’s answer was 45a55fabb1 vague, yet Seo Jihan ec7200a470 felt he understood. He remained silent, his c298c09de9 gaze lowered.ac65e692850bbb2e

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Choi Seonwoo must d63663597e have recognized him b397b27da6 from the beginning ba2877f50f but pretended not 6c9975b2c3 to; bringing up da196f35b3 past memories was 932573f799 likely as unwelcome 6bd5628101 for him as 821abb4ded for Seo Jihan. Maybe, like Seo 4a1f2acb7d Jihan, Choi Seonwoo daa51bf2b4 had clung to 31c9de491d religion as a 4d4c0f3a5d lifeline after surviving 580cca868a endless despair.ca9bdb913e1f3d3e

Seo Jihan wanted 82718ed1d3 to ask who 3753e3ef56 had comforted him b8f109d4b1 in the past db869afcde and to tell ef19c09c5d him that he e2e50d06e8 had always worried 514e8e78f5 and longed for 8efd8f2152 him even in 0757b0f24d his subconscious. But he kept silent, 300bcacf33 for as long as 317aa6f37a Choi Seonwoo didn’t bring 36d908bb35 up that day, Seo ad58d4bbc4 Jihan had no right 8f8d90eef5 to seek answers about 0eb4584bc6 it.e1197293a81b67d0

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“Why did you become 19d6f83c09 a priest if you’re e4b125b7fc not even sure God e81334f20d exists?”045495b1d7f009c2

“Ultimately, I became a 781ccdb5ca priest to seek that eb34a64ab4 confirmation.”3652a76c8878c81b

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“And have 4729f2cfd7 you found f7b03df854 your answer?”f7199f08635d5f2f

“No, not yet. But I don’t think 8fef031f56 it’s been a meaningless e63f7be69e journey. I’ve seen many f9d15e38d9 people who firmly d597c45b72 believe in God c1a26505c3 and try to 95ba16ec77 follow His teachings. Sometimes, that fragile ff5ee10106 faith serves as 99f608e6da a crutch to 396ecdd73d help them shake dbbe3cfee5 off despair and 4174d28455 stand up again. If religion 325779b366 helps people b5941a03f5 live rightly 638b9bbf42 and sometimes 88f3e75c8f gives them d9b127d255 the strength 5c4846b17e to keep 28f2e6cb6b going, then 736b363a03 it’s fulfilling dd13f1ec8b its role. That’s enough 0d6d669e93 for me b690df81e7 now.”6e5bba6b1f557ecb

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The sunset deepened. The two walked b7e178e028 silently down the 6e0bd3b34e hill, their path 7dd0e2fc52 echoing the guards 335bb94dd6 who, for the 35d667e5ea first time, seriously b2fdfdb6ac pondered the meaning e65805b3fc of God.45028a60e5097831

While Choi Seonwoo 76d52f8e73 might not have 84a7573df3 been a perfect d44864d3e6 priest, he was 266c5b3712 undoubtedly an effective 3c6f9698d0 evangelist. His honest 3af3356c8e revelations about 4890bebfb1 the proximity 3093bf8660 to an 889f51e5dd unknown absolute a60559a16e made even 2e7790578e atheists consider 0b9ba65b5e not the 5f3c6b6149 existence of cbc3e6223c God, but 0d01596639 the necessity 6b911f1a8d of such e713427ce1 a belief.3563b906e3009195

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When they reached the 939c184ce6 church, the sun had 8fc0a79a77 completely set. The living room 77db975f75 of the rectory 286398dadd was brightly lit 6caea97d23 with open windows. Having informed them 9112304a32 he’d eat dinner 46906e3867 late, the aroma 46a287fcd6 of food wafted 5980fc9e77 through.4bfaa8b47658b998

“Hey, Priest Choi!”dfb0c749ca070780

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As they entered, a 057784fd10 man who looked like 366d2200c2 the owner of the 3b40012d1f house sat on the f365848602 living room sofa, dressed ad5758b7e1 in a mouse-colored suit dd4b41e7b5 and white shirt, a ab32810bd4 man in his fifties. Choi Seonwoo approached 0dc1257aa1 him with a beb09919cf warm smile and 7885577f6e bowed slightly.00a7137515f9fdbd

“You’re here, d3e5e49121 Pastor Kim?”d52d30d35cf5b7ce

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…A pastor now?a16c1c805f276883

It seemed 3aad10115a that today 5e1e5fe4c9 was destined ad33457eb2 to witness ba16190e09 religious discord fbcfad3e57 in full. Seo Jihan 3d051254c6 chuckled dryly 296aeded4a and glanced 39cc04e92c towards the 0b949038e5 kitchen. Lee Jeongae, busy b7ff851ca8 preparing dinner, shook 2e9f692912 her head as 15719f448c their eyes met, 37f522c988 though the meaning 92f265ae56 behind it was 613112a817 unclear.187a5103c986110c

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“What brings you to 838996d2e1 the church?”3503e526039de2d9

“I figured we’d 1c38ee5b7e have a drink 5c4fb395fe before I get 49a8d24818 busy in October.”ce530d6b2d920348

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Pastor Kim 590566ce4a smiled as 766adc62a4 he pointed a01e5837f4 to a a5b6216351 paper bag 6411d118a7 on the 75832b3e69 table. Choi Seonwoo sighed, 34510a0e82 almost like a ab1e29fce5 smile.34e876d97a5d0c5a