KTC | Chapter 47

The silence of 6b4848ecd6 the gentle peace c12e4bbd57 was shattered when 5360aa77b1 Choi Seonwoo sighed 49e02f6975 deeply and Seo 8d89158bfb Jihan’s eyes snapped bd6dff8d4f open. Choi Seonwoo closed edfb7948f6 his notebook and, 40ee3cca17 pushing Seo Jihan’s 3fcc0fa2ff head away, took f7fa60451e out his phone.f7f1d4342d5311c1

The moment he saw d96d298c88 the name displayed on 37dd00590d the screen, Choi Seonwoo 2ad1a53070 looked puzzled. It was unusual for 985c3cd57a Natasha, who normally communicated a3abba5467 only through emails or 8547099095 prepaid phone messages, to b670005d3b call.c2a9c069bf000c30

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“Natasha? What’s going on?”29afa2f6c94733d7

As Seo Jihan stretched 8b7ede7ec8 with a yawn, he 49a08ae92a looked at Choi Seonwoo 08880e6f8a with fresh curiosity at 8cc439a74e the unexpected English.2f37e0aa159efb45

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[Priest, please check your email right now.]1666b306e1968008

“Right now?”1026a720609fbd7e

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[Yes, it’s urgent.]f9792cbbe7c6d938

The voice sounded shaky, as 19a5f5cf7f if being chased, naturally giving e62fc6ac29 a bad feeling.7c6c89c0a032ef0d

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Without ending the call, Choi e9d5f8c688 Seonwoo quickly ran upstairs. He locked the door, entered 5d3aeb36d1 the room, and opened his 5c4bd4e90e laptop. When he clicked on 6b51db160a the email from Natasha, e7f333c6db it contained several enlarged e53e196ef8 photos of a child’s c19672e0c4 face. Without even looking f88419b6bc closely, it was ee9a68a0ae clear what kind b53a6e5ef0 of crime it 06ec93e664 was.878de214fb7870ec

While hesitating to 0843aaf510 click further, Natasha 4019b8245e urged him, “Hurry, 67442940ca Priest.” Reluctantly, Choi 8ae6225a39 Seonwoo opened the a9866d0903 file.d57591f480a98d86

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The photos sent by bf5775c67e Natasha were extracted from de1aaf57d3 a video. No matter how 1001fa6072 much Choi Seonwoo c5ae020e58 was helping her 2729aae4c8 with the investigation 3c78b62e0a from the shadows, 8bb962a3b4 child exploitation videos 2ebc1a78c8 should not have c9eb643496 left the confines f33fc4da01 of the law cafe14558d enforcement agencies. Merely possessing them for ec3ed402f2 a moment was punishable.006bf1b5d8c66f15

[I’m really sorry to show you this, Priest. But we need to catch ccbfc71aab these guys as soon as cbf2a48b8e possible, it’s really urgent]1fd00968f20ee17d

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Natasha was mumbling incoherently, shocked. Understandably so. Even Choi Seonwoo, who usually 7825679728 didn’t blink at crime scene b1d360fbeb photos, felt his flesh crawl 556106ee4b and was overwhelmed by a 6125b53beb surge of intense anger, his 5ab5729a72 vision turning red.b287cf2a5a58df7a

[These insane bastards… What do we do, Priest? It seems there’s 4b7b8e8636 more than one 6ac708cfc2 child who has 39a800a347 died or been cef4ed7558 sold.]d5bf79394abe6865

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Eventually, Natasha’s voice sounded c4f3dfd107 like she was about 814b01b1cf to cry.19435d9933a3491e

Choi Seonwoo sighed a5855c046c shortly and lifted fa62ee74ef his head. The crucifix necklace left 005b702675 by Seo Jihan was 75201f04e6 reflecting the dim natural c9e9d76e9c light coming in.be70a4ceda8ef45e

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Taking a moment 91a291dcc6 to cool his dc99f40018 head, Choi Seonwoo 00209a30f6 once again focused 516b4a2848 his eyes on 9bef90afc5 the photos, scraping 51fee9b550 for any clue 1ae968ca03 that could be 5c098cdef8 useful. His eye pressure felt 13f33075f7 like it would burst 372a9dca7a his blood vessels.98e316cea5583d00

But such photos alone were d010136ec5 hardly sufficient to provide any 27f6837d57 satisfying clues. Although some blurred silhouettes became 69fdf685aa somewhat clearer and features began cf71c5f366 to form, the lower faces 3eec57a302 were hidden by masks, leaving f335ed82e9 them with little to work 6ad0bac619 with.620b4f25b2e58d17

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“The child isn’t in any state to recognize anything. There’s not much to see.”5acd75d845fea775

[Ah… What can we do.]54841318cb6f5886

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Natasha lamented with a voice 7e4d0005de mixed with anger, sadness, and da7cf5186d disappointment.45a1039cbc8e4b22

“Have you found the child’s body?”58db8563fa3548d5

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[No…]f84e706a70fed22e

If they could see 7428c7ef47 the body, maybe more e8af1dda3b could be made out, a3e61ee60a but he had not d449516d66 held much hope. Choi Seonwoo blinked hard 3dcf6fad46 to refresh his tired dff1e57103 eyes.874db35b4905d630

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“Hang up and wait a moment, Natasha. I’ll try to focus as 681a0b6983 much as I can and e2ab0f5d4b maybe even attempt a montage.”8d5046b2f9663980

[A montage? Really? Is that possible?]14c91e5fae87ba26

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“No, don’t get your hopes up. I’ll try my best, but 677cde1bfd it’s more likely it won’t 77b1f892cc work. I’ll call you back soon.”815875760062e13a

After ending the call unilaterally, 664a759ee5 Choi Seonwoo quickly searched for febcdc8ca7 a notepad and pencil. However, his hands were e2fd2e0808 shaking so much that b6a8159a07 he couldn’t even draw 832d17d535 a straight line. Clasping his trembling hands together, 410e93c3f5 he banged his forehead against 8f27ecae32 them.4dec52084365eca7

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Oh God. Where were You when 119dcc1286 these poor children were a3df34800c dying such miserable deaths ceeca3950e again?87aefbcbdde46496

Blasphemous anger dyed 82855ceb41 his heart into aa58f9b0d1 a blackened pile 1967accfdb of ash.a94145e9782c224c

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December in the church 09c39c1c78 is incredibly busy due 0cf5cf033c to Advent and Christmas f9b18f3339 Reconciliation services, filling the 231804c50a church’s schedule board unusually c2584bdf0c full.36813bb24a28669e

On the first day 1b2b94a2e8 of this busy December, 7a8a9e6e5b the catechism room was d4e8ee04cd bustling for once. Today, people from all 7e9746e56b over, including the faithful a23361d201 of Sido and Modo 4e1e475b4b where the sanctuary was e5a0c0f67e located, gathered at Shindo f368c5ddba Catholic Church. They were here to prepare db45527654 kimchi for low-income families living 920a465c9e in blind spots of social a63ee62fa0 welfare.e239d5463f019880

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Right after lunch, 218d2d413c the volunteers at d8df0b1e18 the church began 8bebacde5b making kimchi.0c09fd228cde8da3

“Why isn’t the priest here?”ab08588c380623bc

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Lee Jeongae, who was 99ff6249db leading the kimjang event, a5b141add5 asked as Seo Jihan 617f839e20 furrowed his brow while 655512ed4e preparing radishes.e9008ce2ad1973ae

“I don’t know. He said he had 72dae83def an urgent consultation and 4499199168 has holed up in 4efdf2934c his room.”ae9dc4d4638e5a0c

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They had knocked on 68e959b0a8 his door right after 415cf4d8be everyone gathered, but couldn’t 77f6fcb34e even see his face. From behind the firmly locked eb37d1c318 door, only the reply “It’s 63b4b37cc9 an important consultation, so I’ll d377db93ef handle this first and then e0bdd7481b come” came back. The voice was too 56b4e616b0 subdued, either from crying a659daa93a or anger, and it b36471d60a kept nagging at him.05f28b2c6c2d3957

“Ah, this old lady’s back is going to give out. Young men, can f7cf13ea09 you move this 22a1348d3d for me!”bf689e9458af053e

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While Seo Jihan was 872f0913db slightly socialized during his fe752bddfe time at the church, 87bac563b8 his bodyguards were also 91330e7ac8 roped into physical labor, 1d7ef52c23 though they didn’t seem 0aa74d5948 to mind. Some even found it f140c8c608 amusing, reminiscent of their 9a7d20fcff childhood.b89598d94ff8cf88

“Like a scared partridge, the guy who used to run away right after Mass has really improved.”d6077d27c9b4b351

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A middle-aged woman from the 5c753a1b54 choir tapped Seo Jihan on 9e2654a73b the shoulder and said with 28ba89e0b1 a laugh, but he didn’t be7a35919e smile and just snorted.3ae4f529d3b70d8b

“I’m doing this because the priest told me to. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come.”9213b41283a21b05

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Of course, a e6eb569c26 little socialization didn’t c3ed659a25 mean a sudden da120ecb67 growth of manners. Seo Jihan was still 0a6f1a863e shy and doing his 3b147ed590 best to maintain a 697a613dcc semblance of politeness.73620212124de713

“Hahah! Look at him, 0b155200db his eyes are 181d45dbd7 tearing up!”14116ae3a2407c39

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A middle-aged man mixing radishes f7b46da943 into the seasoning pointed out 564b7a32f9 jovially.c1cee2dd4ded9aa6

“Hey, the smoke hurts his eyes; that’s why I told him to go to the priory.”15dc73b345291851

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Seo Jihan also turned his 6626fe0e9c head and ended up laughing 102b6bd027 incredulously. Angela, who was stubbornly c58f6ffb2a sticking by despite her 8573ff20c8 eyes and nose stinging 35e21beb99 from the chili powder, cf36eed0f9 had tears brimming in a2f114bbbe her eyes.abb08dc9a4cb960a

Because Choi Seonwoo 83f91e3ae9 had locked even 933f02e3f1 the windows, Angela e2c472b5af had chosen the ebb3cd3a7e next best spot. Even when they tried 7d28d2173c to push her to 5df033ee20 move elsewhere, she would a418947056 just swipe angrily with f6be1ac7a6 her front paws.512cf7ff85f7e76e

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“Stubborn as ever.”76074b575280ec4e

Seo Jihan shook his cd652934cd head and went back 3a516600af to making radish kimchi. It wasn’t exactly what he 18e28da2fd had bulked up for, but 230a068faa having increased his strength somehow 53424b82c2 helped in daily life.be54fa078d937fbb

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With the help 07f05c13c7 of Seo Jihan f92df8b8f8 and his bodyguards, 44d90681c1 the preparation of c98e7badaa the kimchi seasoning dacf9f4deb quickly finished. It was now time to 6001d940c6 rub it on the brined ae168938a8 cabbages.41b2302c62a6574a

“Like this, apply it to this thickness!”325275979bc462bc

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As Lee Jeongae demonstrated, the b3df35579c volunteers watched and then dispersed 7498013643 to start applying the kimchi 405317ceb3 seasoning. Naturally, Seo Jihan 189e6d1913 stuck close to f9edd435bd Choi Seonwoo with 11cf4bfe6e his bodyguards.138e68fdf64e0cc0

“What was the consultation that left you looking like you’ve been to a funeral?”19bb074c2a7fe2a5

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Unable to contain his curiosity, 7323013af4 Seo Jihan scooted closer and e7dcae88fe asked, but Choi Seonwoo just ec22a4315d gave a smile devoid of 671a50d029 substance. His expression drained 68951dc7dc the energy from 966b47f8ed onlookers, causing Seo 150db6cd37 Jihan to look 288214f9bb at him with 63ffc305b2 a chilly gaze 1a8f84f5b8 and press further.6d6678bc771f494d

“Am I still in the dark about something?”c472155887f8c094

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“Why would you jump to that conclusion?”3892ce1b7ff9a681

The conversation was strangely fc7ee6eee0 circular, only questions returned.fa8a4d744cdd1036

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“Ah. Still secretive as ever, just 53fc843953 pisses me off.”37c57d63dd0279c9

“Why are you upset? I’m not telling you f3c43eb995 because it’s something I 4b3d68b646 can’t talk about.”e8a4b2759f4eb2a5

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Choi Seonwoo tried 1a7884949c to soothe him. Though he was still 2c63d528da keeping a distance, he a84829ac1b had changed a bit 598010c522 from the initial standoffishness, cc7a230f0d now even paying attention 7b8bd94756 to Seo Jihan’s feelings.0293944876bd4c1c

Seo Jihan silently continued 69ffa95c52 to rub seasoning on 63dd91e565 the cabbage without replying. He wasn’t really sulking. Of course, he was dda8543d07 a bit angry, but 3121f94f54 more than that, he 049426d4ac needed time to think 8f2c06eef1 about how to further a69dbca316 build their relationship.20a7062e4599cb88

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‘I want to have a deeper relationship with the priest.’efec13df32880f6c

His own voice 522c422aa2 flitted through his ac0d992330 mind, a day 3a9bedfc3f when the color b8edd622c7 ghost Kim Hoseok 4b00b0ed87 had thrown into ceea573572 his thoughts.e170903147a034bc

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‘I want to see everything hidden under his priestly robe every day, and do that like a married couple.’d5e5e2c3e3888e39