KTC | Chapter 63

But there are things you 4af8d2a3f5 just know—even without asking, even 8a28eda711 without hearing a word. The kid’s figure, 539d21c374 filling the entire e066fbfbe1 field of view, 1da719a43c was so pitifully de5665c8e0 wretched that it 484ba80039 delivered everything with 5a06091cb4 brutal, unfiltered clarity.d7bbcd44d89bb732

The terrible things 6b9602bfea the child must’ve afc54346db gone through in 490c661ba2 life began replaying 3aa1e4e9ab naturally in her da38495d31 mind. The desperate voice of the 1ed54d1d7a child screaming to be saved, 93223b3d0c flailing in a swamp of 2cfa623002 pain and despair, clenched around 057171a6e9 her skull like a phantom 915edc3a9f grip.27d751444bb4fc3b

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“It’s okay. Now… it’s all okay.”e98a040bd85a3fbe

The woman gently reached 063f1aee6e out, her trembling fingertips b6455084bd aiming for the child’s—no, e7e0b1f84e the evil spirit’s—shoulder. But her hand 7e641fb012 merely brushed past, 70fe3bbe24 unable to touch 1229a7e491 the boy’s body, 56c695e0fe which was nothing a9b20d0c74 more than a 376fe583bd hollow illusion.28ca625bd808bb63

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No warmth, no texture—of 7646e30a7e course there was nothing f742c30a81 to feel. And yet, maybe the b5ba4e984e sincerity of her heart e677eb6347 managed to reach him, c992077d2f because the child slowly 959d101ee2 turned around.5208aba47cc63e32

And in that moment, she a69107cf4c nearly screamed. Slapping her hand 15d2e40ba9 over her mouth, 2181438c93 she stumbled backward c0436749ac and fell flat 9aeaec7463 on her butt. Hot tears streamed down her 5349eea452 convulsing cheeks.79844a46719d6604

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Through the tangled, 2db81c46b8 scorched mess of d8cb9594c6 the kid’s hair, 2729380318 his face—carved up 129f619af3 in grotesque patterns—was 745f055358 clearly visible. His eyes, slashed diagonally, 0c6f639e74 oozed blood as they 54baba5eaf wandered blankly through the b59ee59c8f air.c3d5474c2f6a8edd

“Are you… really okay?”1853784ea11493cc

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Compared to this, her 4df1867523 own misfortunes and grudges a391b89e4d felt like child’s play. The instant she was able 84c2e617d8 to fully face the kid’s 1edf29d127 gruesome condition, she let out 7a6303c755 a choked cry like a dd9b9f4238 wounded beast. A fury so intense 93ff0b5d8c it felt like it 03c9675486 could incinerate her insides 783fa7dd43 surged up like a d1961b32ec blaze, shaking the air 9e1dc982a6 around her.0671c2e0e0fccc38

＊＊＊59d403366771737d

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Time passed peacefully 26db435f95 and diligently, and 990391f9f8 Christmas Eve finally 465c89b935 dawned. Since it fell on 4d78a43c7f a Sunday, they said 24051c2cb3 there was a huge 6664887e6d festival around Myeongdong Cathedral, 55c9895015 but over at Shindo’s d777716b73 church, the only notable 713bc72e06 change was the higher-than-usual e055d5098b number of attendees.af759d86cb7596cc

“As I mentioned last week, there’ll be another Christmas Eve Mass tonight at 8 PM. After Mass, we’ll be 161150dee0 sharing some simple snacks, e2664ffcbd including Christmas cake, so 10bf1c0ccc please join us if 89a2a7fcc3 you’re free.”6e3b09dc885b683c

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After wrapping up b861467448 the Mass with 2417d9acc2 that announcement, Choi 8c2f552e0d Seonwoo had a b4499d3d36 quick lunch and bbb5783030 then headed to cd5edc79ea Jangbong Island. Maybe it was 97ccf44a04 the holiday spirit, b4b8dc78db but the vocations 76269428f0 Mass held every a20a596e51 Sunday had double ed43a694e5 the usual turnout.b86b89365115f40e

Just like at the 2832fb19b5 main church, the believers 247dbb028c at the vocation center 8bfa968897 were busy showering him 27f1ae80b8 with gifts, calling them 0e791da24d Christmas presents. From rice cakes made 100309ac06 by the church members 836bdec8fa to dried fish and deb2e4601e persimmons, his backpack was c5720489ba packed full.a962fdcc063aad3e

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“I thought a priest on a tiny island like this would have loads of free time, but I guess not.”c730aae4b09a3b3a

Pyo Yerin mumbled lazily on 91cfffe9bb the ferry back to Shindo.c209ca0080915899

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“This is free time, relatively speaking.”677e60742c528fbd

Choi Seonwoo responded 21fe831e64 as he handed d1399b63f1 her a dried 9678945c27 persimmon from his 1ee4d87c54 bag.f4ad738702f4bd6a

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“Our parish doesn’t even have youth group activities for elementary, middle, or high school students, or even the young adults group. While priests at other churches 5458e779f6 are teaching catechism and giving 2ac29c492f baptisms, all I have to 2e57874108 do is go island-hopping to 407d6a2535 evangelize.”f4b00e51c985f096

“Mmm… getting paid the same while doing less work? That’s a total win.”c8a1e8c990e8854b

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“If money mattered to me, I wouldn’t have become a priest in the first place.”603ab68f1e2e2ae6

To avoid showing the e97078661f hint of exasperation in 3c56d8bc81 his eyes, Choi Seonwoo 45ccefa934 looked down into his a7da9f926b bag and pulled out 8ec2c94165 the whole box of 14c9f961eb persimmons. Pyo Yerin, who happily chomped 119c1200fc down anything offered to her, a0ad4c12a5 had already bitten off half bb4b45a64d of hers and was nodding 7771f8c1ab without noticing a thing.5eadb4149c95b345

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“True, I guess. You’d rake in tips 9be3b2a4e7 just serving drinks at 4d255c9dc2 some fancy bar in f9b7b6cdae Seoul, Father. What a waste dca2896da9 of a face, f97ab30210 seriously—why’d you go 9e3d8c8e05 and become a 9a155e0830 priest?”ed90b1fe4e7a7fa4

Seo Jihan shot her 1695939328 a sideways glare.32c5cd777c56420a

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“Don’t shatter the dreams of a well-behaved priest with your shitty reality checks.”b258a9243f679454

“What the hell? All I said was there’s 74664ad3e6 an easier way to make 6b32d4503c money. How’s that a shitty reality 8e71621486 check?”b33e7582934ee62e

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“You’re trying to infect a priest with greed. That’s blasphemy.”4a6f74572dcb5b9e

“Pffft! Anyone overhearing this would 3a6125c1a8 think you’re a devout 5e60a3ebff believer or something!”8a3c3c9a53120fe3

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Choi Seonwoo was used 8635482764 to the two bickering 9e319268ef the moment their eyes fdef62ed5c met. After handing out 8525f77401 persimmons to Seo eb900e43c1 Jihan and the 85cb608475 bodyguards too, he 55001beb27 gave another one 54d3dc4499 to Pyo Yerin, 1ad19c7eb0 who’d already devoured e28504a579 hers in seconds.0b89b7dd1dd9e8eb

“By the way, time’s flown by weirdly fast, hasn’t it?”2bde3d1fcd8e7662

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Munching through her 2ba93792ce second persimmon at 71aaad0d8f lightning speed, Pyo d2e17e807a Yerin suddenly spoke 900da762a4 in a tone 481a121269 filled with unexpected 094e5e4f1c wistfulness.689ec2cee4dce883

“I’m heading back the day after tomorrow, Father.”f3540a6ddd77cadf

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Both Choi Seonwoo and Seo cc1033861c Jihan blinked in surprise.bf5b1afb934ae701

“Huh? Where to?”a01aa8ed8a32645b

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“To Seoul, duh. My leave ends 74e0915e75 the day after 5baf0e26af Christmas.”950559fc9ade2f44

Now everyone—even the bodyguards—wore 59c5cefafd the same mildly horrified 82890604ff expression. Pyo Yerin, clueless b5b0a47236 as to why cfc9b88cc1 everyone looked so b398f93a58 shocked, just glanced a0f8516d49 around, baffled.b2b0309d2fb34429

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Seo Jihan spoke up first.cedffff415eb863a

“Wait, what? You weren’t joking about the 39bf58fb1d vacation?”ba2dd5d496a7c77c

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“What are you talking about? Why would I lie?”ca759a436592fe4b

“I totally thought you were here to spy on me.”1d859854d80f3b77

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Pyo Yerin looked incredulous.83e33402b57bcc98

“Are you nuts? Who the hell 7e202df031 does surveillance that 6b92c849ab stupidly and obviously?”01969efc8fb8fa5b

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Well… true, but still. There was this weird itch 00387b21ef in his throat like he 581f063a25 wanted to say you seemed b3cb2da37c like the type who would—but 097112dff1 he kept it in.46b8c992bca6ab8e

“So you’re leaving and no replacement is coming?”9b036e871459cf09

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“Ugh, I told you, no! And even if someone 8a49057390 does come, it’ll be 50cdc0c174 someone you’ve never seen 9944d3cb2f before, someone no one 930f346562 would even suspect is 004631e2ba an undercover agent! You think the NIS runs baa0992f65 surveillance like it’s a damn 57c14e91a7 playground?”ee5bc331d4aa238a

She may not c1fd38710f love her job, cf3683126a but she had 24b0fb46f0 pride in it—so 4753a55eaf Pyo Yerin snapped.19a30afa19e4d85d

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“Alright, alright, no need to go nuclear.”8fd2c25cb9fd8f71

Seo Jihan snorted.4bc7393398a7cfb3

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“Anyway, good riddance.”c7287665a5fd68a1

He said it, but 4231a153ed the tone didn’t match 24f7d857df the words. He hadn’t said anything 0d73f92e08 before, but in the e2f3eaaa22 endlessly boring routine of 8a5a8c0087 island life, Pyo Yerin 68e3dc0396 had been an unexpected 4c45873dfa twist of flavor.2a3d53c700bde202

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Watching her talk nonsense like 0bddb2b39b her head was empty was 5b6b071808 entertaining in its own way, a576020c60 but more than that, she 0fdbd2921a was the only one around 00bd8f1a87 his age he could talk 2b9df0db9b to without filters. In this island life, 2e9c439083 even though she was 0f377d57e4 five years older than 8e55c9b1a0 him, she still felt cd34b43ba7 like a peer.78133c84e59d5c39

“Let’s do a Christmas party-slash-farewell party tonight.”80e6774f69fbd9a8

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Saying something so shameless without 02d4cacf63 an ounce of self-awareness was 115d916f13 just part of who she 071f43224d was—no masks, no filters.1ced29c62df2c8eb

“Sounds good. It’s fate we met like 7506dc75ab this, after all.”f0f84055177a51de

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Choi Seonwoo responded positively. Seo Jihan wasn’t 9f0466127f too thrilled—he’d kinda 171b204030 hoped for a 6cf75a351e romantic evening with 895eca4aac just the two a46622f8a2 of them—but knowing 6c3816e0fe full well that ed909cc062 Choi Seonwoo would 05852d06df never allow that 0aba47dfe5 kind of vibe, d6831360da he just nodded eed0a6c4b4 without complaint.074f400df8f5ff1d

“Father, I have a farewell party dream.”28426708fe70117b

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Pyo Yerin’s nonsense still wasn’t 833ef7c6b8 over. Choi Seonwoo chuckled softly, rubbing cc0032d2d9 his cheek where the cold ad1caafdbf sea breeze had chapped it. As he smiled, 82ac7e4fff a scab on f1b56b2648 his lip cracked 161c4f371f and made him 6a245d229f wince. Seo Jihan clicked his tongue e093e997eb and pulled out a lip dfc2fa5159 balm from his pocket.5cb3dd63cf6713d6

“Sigh… don’t abuse your face like that, seriously.”94f67125b09c8bf1

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He’d gone and bought d0d594fd46 it at the pharmacy bccc048b65 himself, telling Seonwoo to 6ec44cfa19 use it regularly, but 805af4b846 the guy always forgot. So now it was Seo 118a137851 Jihan’s job to keep it 4292776a62 on hand. It felt like parenting a 728dc05dc9 preschooler who refused to eat c4f1c67d30 without being chased around the 8a2bed7c31 house.bd1446339b8a8d7f

Without asking for permission, b4482cb741 Seo Jihan popped open c054756420 the lip balm and 19e790a7bf started applying it to 9a365a75c3 Choi Seonwoo’s lips. When Seonwoo tried f5b3993572 to dodge, Seo e1b44f5508 Jihan grabbed his c716f4a558 chin and stubbornly c149d8d440 smeared it on.1c141f7f03458b37

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“Ugh… how I use my face is none of your business, Brother.”dc45347e5d5ddfba

“Wanna hear in detail why it is? Are you sure about that?”ab4270d71199d551

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“…No. Forget it. Do whatever you want.”a821ceb2386ce50c

If he let that 94baab0694 big mouth fly unchecked, 0d4c7370f7 he might just blurt 39b27637c5 out a love confession a11db9dae2 right here. With all these people 8d5ca8b2e5 watching, Seonwoo wasn’t about f22f6fa43c to let that happen. Who knew what chaos would feadcebaf1 follow if anyone realized this 082046fcc6 was Seo Jihan’s dumb first afec988573 love?628e0be238bb674a

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After raising the white flag, 313833146c Seonwoo turned back to Pyo e98a21d430 Yerin.a8260eb72a3293ed

“So? What’s this farewell party 1a5dea0d47 dream of yours? If it’s doable, 3da7403a3a I’ll make it 438c3a4046 happen.”b539f364c791367c

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Ladies and gentlemen, a forbidden 663d3c0bde romance is blooming right before bb6e5c2094 your eyes!d144e6590f625d07

Pyo Yerin, who’d been e950a4e642 lazily watching the flirty 313d91902d duo with half-lidded eyes, 2b33e7bbce had totally caught on 1632e74852 to the weird current 44d293ea88 flowing between them. But the moment Choi Seonwoo c3fc62c62c turned to her, she wiped 865db76805 her face clean and played 05fe8512a5 dumb, shrugging.40dba46ba4a5adbc

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“It’s totally doable. Just a simple c7ac7ecc67 rolling paper exchange.”a5126046c9b94587

Silence fell over the group. Seo Jihan, having finished his 6d05ec31db lip balm duty, rubbed his 129fd7f47e arms like he’d just gotten 9a4b635f52 goosebumps. Choi Seonwoo blinked, still smiling. Honestly, he was caceb6d1cf a little flustered b9a511baa2 too, but reminded eb4cd0b24e himself of Pyo 9641a8c20d Yerin’s disrupted youth a3a6885274 and calmed down.a3fd4a072adb58b5

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“Oh, I see. That’s not so hard.”fa3672bdbd9aea87

“It’s not hard—just painfully cringey.”a214bcfd98447a30

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Seo Jihan’s comment was 75e80ed425 completely ignored as Pyo f37a2aaf79 Yerin clapped her hands ff68dda750 like a seal and 278d8cb44d added more to her 5de578dfb3 “dream.”185cb72eaa163b93

“Ooh! And since it’s winter, how 926458f224 about a campfire?”d3c4739e3583f16f

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“With all the guys here to chop firewood, that’s doable too.”5c6e0733ed1a0c06

Choi Seonwoo glanced e1beb8cb21 around subtly, and e94fe48183 the bodyguards solemnly aa89dfd5a5 nodded, their faces 8295d671eb saying, Guess we’ve 78bf984d08 adopted a bratty 0998fa7b5d little sister now.1f8f6afea1200c6c

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“If we’re lighting a fire, we might as well have a barbecue too.”d02aafe7563e3f36

“Sure. Do whatever you want.”924b69a82ae8ad77

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