By Zephyria 
His eyes opened automatically at the bright light. Casually checking, it was the dedicated secretary who managed his schedule at Heavenly Land.
The message, starting with [Jae-eon-ah, how are you? It’s Uncle], continued with [How’s your body?], then became [If you need anything, you can contact me from now on], and finally concluded with [I know it’ll be tough for a while……] to [Contact me as soon as your condition improves].
Ki Jae-eon immediately grasped the hidden meaning within this long message.
Relegation, exile, demotion.
To be precise…… it was a warning meaning ‘Don’t even think about setting foot in Incheon until you return to normal.’
Ki Jae-eon creakily raised his body and swept a hand over his stiff face. His palm, as dry as his lips, created friction against his skin, raising strange goosebumps.
Only now could he understand everything.
‘Why hyung took over all my work…….’
Before coming down to the main office, Ki Jae-eon had to follow his father’s orders and go through the handover process for all the work he had entrusted to his older brother, Ki Jae-ha.
Of course, he couldn’t even do that properly, so it ended up being done through someone else delivering it, but anyway.
Ki Jae-eon perfectly understood his situation.
In a word, the roles had changed.
From ‘Ki Jae-eon’ who would lead the Gi Clan to ‘Ki Jae-ha.’
He wasn’t particularly regretful. What is there to regret about a Family that will eventually disappear like dust in the distant future anyway?
It was all futile. He was just worried if his brother, who wasn’t very passionate about exorcism, would struggle with the role forced upon him. Should he have talked to him before leaving the house?
But even if they talked, there was no other clever solution.
The decision was always the Head of the family’s to make, and those below had to accept and follow, as always.
In fact, even if they were given a private moment, it was obvious they’d just awkwardly avoid each other’s eyes.
Or maybe he would have been blamed, ‘Look at this mess because of you.’
‘Blame?’
Ki Jae-eon snorted, raising the corner of his mouth.
Yeah, it’s better to be hated.
‘Because affection becomes poison the more it accumulates.’
So that person’s death would hurt a little less later.
‘If you hate me a lot, ……will it be easier?’
How long did it take to forget his family, his brother? Recalling the moments when he was losing precious things one by one, Ki Jae-eon flopped back onto the bed. His powerless head sank deep into the pillow.
Just around the time it became dead quiet.
Bzzzt-!!
His phone rang again.
Hmm, lots of contacts today.
Ki Jae-eon deliberately ignored the vibration.
Thinking it was just a promotional call, he didn’t lift his buried head, but what the? The call kept coming. If the other person doesn’t answer, they should just hang up after a while, who on earth is this persistent!
Having no choice, he lifted his tired head and checked the screen, ……and it’s even an unknown number?
Bzz- Bzz- Bzz!
The unknown person urged him to answer the phone immediately.
Bzz- Bzz- ……Click.
While he was hesitating whether to answer or not, it cut off, and soon.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!
It rang again as if throwing a tantrum.
“I answered the phone.”
Thinking it couldn’t be a meaningless promotional call at this point, he hurriedly pressed the call button and put it to his ear. Then, [“Ah, Jae-eon ssi?”] a rather affectionate tone came through.
Jae-eon ssi? It was a title so smooth it made his body itch.
He couldn’t remember who it was and just blinked, when a short laugh came from the other side of the phone.
[“Don’t you know? It’s me, Kim Yeong. We met at the main office.”]
“Ah…….”
Only then did the face come to mind.
Exorcist Kim Yeong.
But why to me? Bewildered, Ki Jae-eon gripped the phone tightly. It was just a call, but he kept gulping down saliva due to tension. At least he could hold on thanks to the non-face-to-face aspect.
[“It’s nothing major, I just called because I was curious if you arrived safely. I’d like to visit you directly, but I’m swamped with work so I can’t.”]
As if knowing Ki Jae-eon’s question, Kim Yeong smoothly opened his mouth.
[“If you have any inconveniences, difficulties, or suggestions you’d like to make while Jae-eon ssi is staying at the main office, you can contact this number. Ah, of course, it’s not forced. If you have someone else to contact, you can do that too. Do whatever is comfortable for Jae-eon ssi.”]
“Ah, yes…….”
[“Did you unpack all your luggage?”]
“I, I’m, starting to…….”
Ki Jae-eon glanced at the carrier bag thrown roughly on the floor. Would he ever meticulously unpack and organize each item inside?
[“I see. Hmm- It’ll soon be time for the kids to return, how about having a beer together? Our kids are good at taking care of that sort of thing. They’re probably already excited by the news of Jae-eon ssi coming. They’d consider it an honor if you joined them. Hahaha, was that too over the top?”]
Finding it difficult to respond to Kim Yeong’s words, he just kept tick-tick picking at an innocent hangnail.
Tick-tick. Ouch.
Tick-tick. Ouch.
Before he knew it, he had forgotten he was even on a call and was focused on the hangnail.
[“Jae-eon ssi.”]
Startled by the low voice breaking the silence, Ki Jae-eon sluggishly raised his upper body and straightened his posture.
Even though he knew the other couldn’t see, he felt uneasy and quickly scanned left and right. Did he get caught not paying attention…….
Sweating cold sweat, Ki Jae-eon gripped the phone tightly. He’s been like this often lately. Like an idiot, unable to focus on one thing, his thoughts flitted here and there like a deflated balloon.
Why did I just do that…….
“I’m lis, lis, tening.”
[“They’re good kids, so try to get along well. Hopefully as friends, not just colleagues.”]
They’re all the same age. Fortunately, Kim Yeong didn’t seem to be trying to express displeasure, as he spoke with a faint smile.
Same-age friends.
……Is it okay to have that?
‘No, it’s not.’
He gave up quickly. Because there’s no reason to extend with his own hands a relationship that will later remain as a bruise on his heart.
‘That’s just too stupid.’
Ki Jae-eon had absolutely no intention of building close bonds with anyone here. Rather, he would draw a line and keep his distance.
Reason? Simple.
Because everyone dies.
No matter how his residence changes, even if his brother inherits the Family, even if he meets the young Kim Ju-won, no matter what, or how things change.
‘That thing’ will come, and you will all die meaninglessly.
Then I’ll fight, broken.
Even if I run away, I’ll end up back where I started, and because it’s something someone has to do eventually.
I’ll ultimately win again…… but I won’t be able to feel glorious.
That’s how it is. The tragedy of the world that only I know.
A future no one believes.
A peace with little shelf life left.
Is it even possible to maintain sanity?
So affection is a luxury. Affection will become a weakness and a sword that stabs my body.
I already have my family and Ahn Seo-myeong.
I hurt a lot over their well-being. So that’s enough.
‘Hope that has an expiration date…….’
I decline it here.
[“And Jae-eon ssi.”]
“Ah, yes…….”
Ki Jae-eon snapped back to attention at the voice calling him.
[“I hope you’ll listen to what I’m about to say without misunderstanding. Hmm, you know? How about you and I visit the hospital together while you’re staying at the main office? Uhm, I’m not saying there’s a problem with Jae-eon ssi. It’s just that too much stress isn’t good, right? If it feels awkward, just get a check-up? I’d like that.”]
Suddenly, the hospital?
‘Ah……. Well.’
An Exorcist of Kim Yeong’s caliber would have noticed long ago that his condition wasn’t due to a curse. But even so, the hospital? That makes no sense.
What would I say if I went?
I tried to kill myself and woke up 13 years ago?
I saw a future where humanity is slaughtered?
You’ll die soon too?
Perfect nonsense to get locked up in a mental hospital.
Even if they try to treat me, it’s a problem.
Let’s say my condition improves through psychological counseling and medication.
Then what?
It would be like breaking a bone that had barely healed in two again.
The pain I’d experience then would be double, no, thousands of times worse.
Who’s going to take responsibility for that? In the end, it’s something I have to bear myself.
Sorry, but I have no confidence I can endure it. It’s a disease that will relapse anyway when I face ‘that thing.’
“I ca, cannot…… further disgrace the Family.”
In the end, Ki Jae-eon refused Kim Yeong’s proposal using the excuse that he couldn’t bring shame to the household.
Silence continued from the other side.
Then soon, [“Disgrace?”] came the reply in a somewhat cold tone. Ha, a laugh that sounded incredulous was also briefly heard.
After having already caused all the disgrace there is, bringing up the Family now is funny, I guess.
While Ki Jae-eon was grinding his teeth, [“……Yes, but if you change your mind, contact me anytime. Because I’m on Jae-eon ssi’s side.”] the call ended with an ultimately incomprehensible encouragement.