HLFH | Chapter 21

Gasp, someone suddenly took 5b75ff7493 a sharp breath.f9a8fbb8ee6f896a

They couldn’t figure out how to react or if Ahn Seomyeong was telling the truth. It was understandable. They were just kids who had barely become adults.b7048df1e8793723

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Talking about someone’s extreme choice was beyond their knowledge, patience, and consideration. They didn’t know if they should even open their mouths.2e664f0ed67a2a5d

Especially when someone 8596117775 like the alpha eb4b6f51ba male of their 2efe815a82 world made such 9f49066ce6 a choice? It was more d3fc4839d1 than just shocking.84600bffc0d5cd26

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Like hearing about c228a9186b a billionaire suddenly 9344850fae committing suicide out 1b167bb4d8 of despair in 58fe3544f0 a world where 3767fdb463 even someone poor bdcf760bd5 like‘me’is living. And if that person was 16dc33fb22 someone you knew?8156b2c7f369364f

The kids looked confused.ddc923631d49c11d

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“Why, why…?”bd9aedf38e7d917d

“Ahn Seomyeong, why are you telling us this now?”899f4019ef79e112

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“Do the teachers know?”7a1755be358dc6f3

Unfair blame was directed at 6cdaac8532 Ahn Seomyeong.7820b143f34b53ae

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From their perspective, it 8f94621c4d made sense.ff5fa8dce7fc5ce1

How had they treated Ki e5adf5bd3b Jaeeon all this time?312146de6d42927f

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Ignoring, criticizing, and badmouthing him!65a34ba3f5267d0c

Of course, it wasn’t without reason. Ki Jaeeon had started it, so they felt wronged too.3c2af8cd1d60b7f4

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But if there a8fb0fcd66 was a reason 5dd325a128 for his problematic fd148dc955 behavior? The story changes.857f416cece17be2

They were pushing d0f34cfe27 someone who was 65dafe7490 already mentally cornered.94e8a7a0414e66cb

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Regardless of right or wrong, there’s a human empathy that can’t be ignored.3cdca46f09f38a7c

Honestly, it felt like being hit by a sudden car accident, leaving them dumbfounded…e7bad7d677c5a78d

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They chose anger over questioning‘why?’ regarding Ki Jaeeon’s uncooperative attitude.ffa44cddb71fafe1

Yeah, they didn’t try to understand him either.033c9676c25ebf5e

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“But why…?”d042d8bf86a17873

“I don’t know. I just saved him because I thought he might die.”123fa63f1f9add0b

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Ahn Seomyeong shrugged, looking 50253d27a1 just as curious. The kids fell silent again.95e42f99b6b10121

Ahn Seomyeong clicked his 54f73133c3 tongue, looking at his 92467b7d4b speechless peers.b345a0351ac3023d

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“Why are you all so surprised?”5afeec6af72b7463

“Of course…!”2419690fe864e752

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“Didn’t you notice Jaeeon hyung’s behavior was strange?”3a638bf52bd8cfb1

No one responded.c5bee8f5c3eccf78

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Ahn Seomyeong checked each one of them and then leaned back, lost in thought. He soon sighed, “Yeah.” He didn’t bother explaining in detail. He just let it slide.186331d2ec6ae799

Why? Because it was meaningless.a6c6abc35ea7e97a

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Anyone paying a little attention could see Ki Jaeeon’s behavior wasn’t normal. Stuttering severely, avoiding eye contact, trembling—just to name a few.f2ce119754b949cf

Yet they didn’t notice…31e21cd4b697c441

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‘It means they either didn’t care or only saw what they wanted to see.’e1ec70eb78e97b61

No matter how much a third party talks, it’s meaningless to such people.58181360cd8c1e12

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If it seems like you’re taking sides, it could backfire.4a113300a06b29ac

It’s impossible to convey things perfectly unless you’re the person involved.c5a6141343159786

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So it’s important to hear, speak, and realize things directly.3530bff8815f0d7d

“Why are you telling us such important stuff now?”d2f9e0668bd088bd

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Someone asked sharply, and Ahn Seomyeong replied indifferently, “I told you, it was a slip of the tongue.” He really hadn’t intended to mention the train incident.07e9188aca4bd14e

“Why would I spread stories Jaeeon hyung hasn’t shared?”330b8618a39c8516

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Then he frowned slightly and muttered, “…Though I just did.”57f72c12d3d348fc

“Anyway, don’t tell Jaeeon hyung.”0beb7eb904400279

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“Who’s going to say anything…?”e0532c3b0a5ccbf4

Surprisingly, a kid representing the 31191573f6 faction sighed in response.c48f7a29a09b20c8

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The kid rested his c50f6c405e chin on his hand, 6706a15ab7 wearing a complex expression.f12d4a224f447aa5

It was understandable… everything was so unexpected.4f7f858aca0325fa

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Ki Jaeeon had saved him and his precious friends, and even bowing his head in gratitude multiple times wouldn’t be enough. He knew that. But he wasn’t ready to forgive the disregard for Bonryeong and treating them like air.9e132f35638e641e

That was that, ad26331854 and this was 5a0856a1d5 this.eadfd2a9aa717ce8

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They were entirely different issues. He found it strange that 3514b518c6 the kids changed their attitudes fab1d35444 so quickly.e0e6f70038198f55

But if they had yelled at someone who had no will to live…7e310fceb5193821

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‘Then I’d feel really sorry.’55e3976a470330dd

The kid’s eyes darkened. It was the same for others. The degree varied, but they shared common feelings.35c43b68efdb2729

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Confusion, guilt, and curiosity.1e86d0ea140143cd

Silence filled the living room.e2ef71d8bd360a51

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Ahn Seomyeong scratched his head.1c70ef11b33efa08

‘I can totally guess what they’re thinking.’5de2de1366802bb8

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He didn’t plan to scold them.51869e9574a85e18

“I didn’t say it to make you feel guilty. I’m not here to judge right or wrong. Everyone has their own perspective.”9064cb5cb1e9646f

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Ahn Seomyeong continued, lightly 01ab8b8775 massaging his neck.1cdbddce9b2935a5

“But regardless of Jaeeon hyung’s condition, if we went to Cheonjiharang and got treated like zoo monkeys, we’d be uncomfortable too. If you want to approach someone, do it in a way they want. Forcing friendship without consideration is just imposing, isn’t it?”965c93e439828add

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The kids’ eyes turned to the fridge.5a53299ee279a8e7

Instead of stuffing snacks he wouldn’t eat…5afa3a05731449d1

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What did Ki Jaeeon want?d2123da4ce2d71aa

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃8f302ec4134e67f1

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Meanwhile, others were also shocked.5361dabe1889ee91

“Can you take responsibility for what you just said, Master Kim Young?”72e9db871e8a9803

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“Yes, of course, Elder.”5fa1b01037d0251a

It was Kim Young 63bc134c6c and the elders of d60a218b14 Bonryeong.4e95375ff749f22c

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Kim Young didn’t back down from the pressing gazes. No, he tried not to. He was that desperate. He straightened his back and repeated what he had said.106900ee5e192686

“Ki Jaeeon the exorcist was clearly abused by the Ki Family. So, we must transfer him to Bonryeong instead of Cheonjiharang. If we leave him like this, who knows when a star, which could be the future of exorcists, might fall? You’re not just going to watch his downfall, are you?”ea7bca050e55ab89

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That’s right.cbb82e798a68255c

Kim Young was arguing to the elders of Bonryeong that “Ki Jaeeon isn’t cursed, but has a mental disorder due to long-term abuse.”dbc45324d7411467

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Why did he suddenly make this choice when he had resigned himself to “no one will listen anyway”?94931aa8a397178b

There was a clear reason.5f9dc67437d88770

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The elders were looking for some “justification” to keep Ki Jaeeon in Bonryeong.487d4e8d9124f2c8

A justification strong 70b6951fb1 enough to rival 99a9eb2800 Cheonjiharang.658fa4a0bbcf0d6b

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If Ki Jaeeon hadn’t summoned the Vermilion Bird, Kim Young wouldn’t have been able to mention even the ‘a’ of abuse. Why? Because the elders wouldn’t support him.e399cbc325e80971

But now they were obsessed 8d3967cfdd with the divine beast!d1329af21b4c6733

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Whether Ki Jaeeon was really abused or not didn’t matter; what mattered was that they had a public “justification” to “protect” Ki Jaeeon from Cheonjiharang.caf0363c3f9ef060

Bonryeong wouldn’t easily hand him over, claiming they needed to determine right from wrong.83297b70fa732ff3

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This was an opportunity.8e9276090fdb6f81

A holy command to e516a54b5c take in and care ac9c144786 for a poor young 59e326617a life!51e897dd33477321

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‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to move the elders again.’c50f80145439fedd

Kim Young planned to help 0ea03f98af Ki Jaeeon take root in ff5715083c Bonryeong this time.34d1aab3ffeff8b1

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“But there’s no direct evidence. All we have is Master Kim Young’s claim that he’s not cursed.”69db4db844ff1bb8

“Ki Jaeeon the exorcist can testify himself. Just give me time.”e0111de071b57a22

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Kim Young recalled b3546cc1ba Ki Jaeeon, who eb2c8c0a57 had refused to 77b32c04a1 go to the 0c998d2248 hospital, saying it b4e80c52a1 would bring shame beaf6d4125 to his family. How pressured and gaslighted 73248c6bc2 must he have been a4f7d2fae5 to feel that way?a5bfadd3639e4f45

If given time… Kim Young was confident he could persuade Ki Jaeeon.dad14e5591ea051d

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No, he had to. Ignoring a young 5d48a16f72 life trapped in b2788c4828 hellfire was too fc4f76c164 painful.1604e0729c41968e

‘This time, I’ll make sure to ask for help.’13354e8f87410175

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𓂃 ོ☼𓂃3f28406c798f3ad7

After receiving a thank-you 3edc9815c7 letter, Ki Jaeeon developed 25e8d1e6ba a new habit.b0ed289fdfb10a66

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From the moment c706a0b9e2 he opened his 3a18f5bc85 eyes to the 5ab40037ae moment he closed 40367a71d3 them, he read 0c14dac411 and reread the 937e1ebde4 letters the kids dc077fbde3 sent. He almost memorized them. How much had he fiddled daf5235d46 with them for the stiff d08331f079 paper edges to become soft b6458c0f48 and worn?add6867b330e718c

Today was no different.9471833189b98abb

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Suffering from insomnia, Ki Jaeeon 8adaf6c53f woke up late and the 3f8fe03156 first thing he did was 05abc7a7fd fumble for the letter on 0e097abfc0 his bedside.dbfc74c51d7c27ed

Forcing his barely opening 74acb7a8cc eyes, he crammed the dce2c73e3f cheerful writing[To Ki Jaeeon the Exorcist!] into his mind.efe784b618911e27

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There was no particular reason. Even he found it 8c135a1ef9 hard to understand why 818be103d5 he was so obsessed.cac1a84e6c6f8ca0

He had said he didn’t want to be swayed by ‘affection’ anymore.74a34225d2e2892b

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He knew that warmth would 043938ffd1 return as pain.ba6dedc9fbc9e019

If he accepted comfort… then what?c53b80c24dcc18f5

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Ki Jaeeon buried his 41659f8463 head in the letter.67942f37936c8b7e

Like a child seeking attention, he gently shook his head and then took a deep breath. His chest rose and fell several times, and then he couldn’t help but laugh.94c5412d14337636

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At some point, the part 56c80dfc7a of the paper where he 72393fcd62 buried his head began to cc0bed4385 slowly soak.6b1d4f0f5d472cfd

Ha… Hahe… Heuh…a034e119f20b2e32

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Laughter disguised as abb57fda5e sobs echoed in bf54f89346 the quiet room.09f503a650100401

‘You’ll regret this later.’55924d9c0a29ad78

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Even as he painfully pinched himself, he couldn’t let go of the letter. Thank you, I’m grateful. Those words sounded like… you’ve been through a lot. That’s how they felt.06c5b1660f955273