By Zephyria 
Meanwhile, there were also those who were burning with anxiety.
“What should we do about this?”
Those sitting around the round table sighed in unison. They were all gray-haired old men.
Each time they moved their bodies, the black uniforms fluttered, and the tiger embroidery on the right chest wriggled as if it were alive. It was the Blue Tiger, the guardian spirit of the main office.
They were the elders of the council of elders, consisting of five members. In other words, they were the highest decision-makers, except for ‘Kim Ja-myeong,’ the owner of the main office.
Of course, as with any field, a generational change had taken place… but it was still quite unfair to be treated as old fogeys in the back room. Why? Because their achievements were truly great.
They were the ones who proudly survived under the pressure of Incheon (Heavenly Land), which is considered the root of the sorcerers, and Busan (Sea God), which is favored by the sea god, and established the main office. As such, they had a special attachment to the main office and were seasoned veterans who could easily hold and shake the childish younger generation… but.
Someone appeared who made them personally worry.
“This is absurd! It’s already been a month!”
Someone slammed the round table with his fist and was indignant. Then another old man sitting on the left raised his voice in agreement.
“Yes, that’s right! We don’t know when Heavenly Land will change its mind and take Exorcist Ki Jae-eon away, so to be so relaxed is unacceptable. That must not happen. Yes, that’s right!”
“Opportunities to monopolize the expensive Exorcist Ki Jae-eon are rare! We have to milk him for all he’s worth. It’s a golden opportunity that even Sea God (Busan) couldn’t get!”
“But I heard he hasn’t been completely freed from the curse yet? Even Teacher Kim Yeong couldn’t perform Curse Unraveling…”
“Ahem! What is this person?!”
A thunderous roar flew at someone’s concern.
“What curse! Have you already become forgetful? Have you already forgotten the miracle that covered the sky that day!”
The others nodded in agreement. Murmur, murmur. The conference room soon became noisy. It was all praise for ‘Ki Jae-eon.’
It was at that moment.
Someone who had been listening quietly said, “But,” and cautiously opened the conversation.
“I heard he doesn’t come out of his room at all, so what should we do…”
The room became quiet in an instant.
The person who poured cold water on the heavily sunken atmosphere also had an expression that was not very pleasing.
But he was right. It was a point that someone had to point out.
It had already been a month since Ki Jae-eon came to the main office.
And it had been a month since he had been holed up in his room.
It meant that the elders’ plan to raise the level of the main office through Ki Jae-eon was failing miserably every day.
The elders exchanged glances and fidgeted with their neat beards and collars for no reason.
“That friend is really… What’s the point of being skilled if he doesn’t know etiquette like this?”
“But his skills cover everything.”
Ahem, are you clueless? Someone muttered a curse as if clearing his throat.
That’s right. Although it was a sad situation where they had to be mindful of Heavenly Land and the Gi Clan because of that rascal Kim Ju-won… No matter what, if they came with the title of [Exchange Meeting], the other party should also show an attitude befitting it.
‘Isn’t it a bit too much to be holed up in his room for a whole month without moving?’
Aing, one of the elders sighed, stroking the wrinkles around his eyes.
“If only we could grab and shake him like that rascal Kim Ju-won. Tsk, tsk!”
But wishes were just wishes, and they couldn’t really treat him like Kim Ju-won.
Because… it was Ki Jae-eon.
If they carelessly touched that guy with Heavenly Land and the Gi Clan as his backers, something big would happen. If another accident happened this time, the ‘main’ of the main office might really be cut off.
“Ahem, this won’t do anymore!”
It was when everyone was silent with their mouths shut. The one who was said to be the oldest and wisest among the elders stood up and shouted. The others’ eyes sparkled at the firm determination that filled his wrinkled face. Ooh, it seems like you have a good idea. They gathered together and waited for the next words with anticipation.
“Where! Please tell us!”
Like baby birds waiting for their mother, those who were sending sparkling gazes at him, the one who had shouted spiritedly once again spoke in a thunderous voice.
“Let’s pray!”
“……”
“……”
“Hiccup!”
“……Yes?”
“I guess my ears aren’t working well these days.”
Scratch, scratch.
The old man who had brought up the story pouted his lips at the cold reactions, making a walnut chin.
“What~ Can’t you hear or what? I said let’s pray! Go right up to that damn door and beg! Please, just come out.”
Then, he casually put his toothpick-thin legs on the chair and smiled, raising his cheekbones. The corners of his mouth twitched.
“If old folks with aching knees go all the way there and plead, and they don’t come out, are they even human? They’re sons of bitches!”
The old man chuckled and raised his thumb. Ah, it really works, doesn’t it? He had long since abandoned any sense of dignity. He confidently persuaded the others.
He knew it was a bit despicable… but so what! Wisdom sometimes loses its elegance.
“Alright, let’s go!”
To them, the main office and the future talents who would lead it were more precious than their pride.
Surprisingly, their method worked directly on Ki Jae-eon. Was Jae-eon there! As if he were a relative, he laughed heartily and knocked on the door without hesitation, and the firmly closed door couldn’t withstand it and creaked open. It was indeed a country of Confucianism.
Anyway, the greeting that started with [Our Jae-eon! Are you doing well^^] continued for about an hour or two, ending with a conversation that resembled a corporate pressure interview.
Ki Jae-eon, completely drained, finally agreed to participate in the ‘Village Purification Pilgrimage’ next week. Jae-eon is finally coming out! The elders, who had secured the promise, rejoiced, shaking their shoulders.
However, there was one fact that the elders didn’t know: the reason Ki Jae-eon came out after a whole month wasn’t because of them.
To be exact, it was because of Kim Ju-won, because of the ‘meal expenses’ he had mentioned.
He wasn’t paying money or helping with cleaning… but it bothered him that he was just eating food without doing anything. Of course, he only ate one meal a day.
Nevertheless, it bothered him quite a bit.
‘It’s not like I have to do exorcism, and purification is…’
Could it be possible? Ki Jae-eon swallowed hard. His tightly clasped hands trembled pathetically.
“The four-way intersection is done!”
“Ugh, I’m completely drained. I want to go and rest quickly.”
The work that started at 10 a.m. continued until 6 p.m. The children all stretched and loosened their stiff bodies. It’s going to rain in the afternoon, so let’s finish quickly, someone shouted, and here and there, insipid answers like “Yeah, let’s go-” and “Fighting-” came back.
“Haaam- I’m so sleepy.”
The children looked noticeably tired.
Some were rotating their shoulders, and others were yawning widely.
Even though it was a relatively easy task of simply purifying impure energy, it still consumed spiritual power, so the accumulation of fatigue was inevitable.
Except for one person.
“Now only here is left…”
As someone trailed off, the eyes of the gathered children naturally converged on one place.
Ki Jae-eon was there.
Wearing an oversized black hoodie and loose sweatpants, he stood in the corner with a particularly pale complexion, chewing only on his lips. Then, he flinched at the gathering gazes, even avoiding eye contact. He had a gloomy atmosphere, like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
One of the children, as if expecting it, sighed, “Hmph.” The atmosphere became strange. The other children shrugged their shoulders and turned their heads. They soon gathered among themselves and began dividing the area. You take that, I’ll do this side. Uh-huh, good luck. Guys, let’s hurry up and go!
The children quickly decided their places and scattered.
Only Ki Jae-eon, left alone, was like an invisible man. No one even spoke to him.
There was no invitation to go together, no concern that his complexion wasn’t good.
It was a natural conclusion. To them, Ki Jae-eon was no longer a ‘respected Genius.’ He was just a ‘bad-mannered stranger.’
“Why did he even come if he’s going to be like that?”
One of the children grumbled. No one didn’t know who the sharp criticism was directed at. Just then, Lee Gyeong-hak, who was next to him, pushed up his glasses and started to chatter.
“Hmm? Didn’t you know? The elders came down themselves and asked him.”
“What?”
At Lee Gyeong-hak’s words, several of the children stopped what they were doing and approached with wide eyes. Is that real? Everyone’s faces were shocked, and their mouths were wide open. Was it such a surprising thing? Lee Gyeong-hak chuckled and nodded his head.
“Yeah, all five of them.”