By Zephyria 
Huff, someone inhaled sharply.
They didn’t know how to react, whether Ahn Seo-myeong’s words were true, etc. It was only natural. They were just becoming adults.
They lacked the knowledge, margin, and consideration to talk about someone’s extreme choice. They didn’t know if they could open their mouths carelessly.
Moreover, the ‘unlikely person’ who was the alpha male himself in their world had made such a choice? That was beyond shocking.
For example, is it like the feeling you get when you, ‘I,’ who is poor and lacking in many ways, hear the news that a billionaire who has everything committed suicide out of the blue due to pessimism? But what if it’s a familiar face?
The children looked confused.
“Why, why…”
“Ahn Seo-myeong, why are you telling us this now?”
“Do the Teachers know too?”
Innocent arrows were aimed at Ahn Seo-myeong.
In fact, it was understandable from the children’s point of view.
How had they treated Ki Jae-eon all this time?
Hadn’t they ignored him, criticized him, and recklessly badmouthed him!
Of course, the hatred wasn’t without reason. If you were to trace the cause, Ki Jae-eon had thrown the first punch. They were also in a position where they felt wronged.
But what if there was a reason for that problematic attitude? The story changes.
It’s like driving someone who is mentally cornered even further.
Regardless of right and wrong, it’s the compassion that humans can’t help but have.
To be honest, they were as dumbfounded as if they had been in a sudden traffic accident…
They had also chosen anger, ‘Why is he like that?’ instead of the question ‘Why?’ in response to Ki Jae-eon’s uncooperative attitude.
Yes, they hadn’t tried to understand the target either.
“But why…?”
“I don’t know. I just saved him because I thought he was going to die.”
Ahn Seo-myeong shrugged his shoulders and looked like he was curious too. Then the children were once again enveloped in silence.
Ahn Seo-myeong clicked his tongue as he looked at his colleagues who had become mute.
“Why are you all so surprised?”
“Of course…!”
“Didn’t you really know that Jae-eon hyung’s behavior was strange?”
Everyone was silent.
Ahn Seo-myeong checked each and every one of them before tilting his head back and falling into thought for a moment. Then he said with a sigh, “Okay.” He didn’t bother to explain each point in detail. He just took it lightly, thinking that’s how it was.
Why? Because it’s meaningless.
In fact, even with just a little attention, it’s easy to see that Ki Jae-eon’s attitude isn’t normal. For example, he stutters badly, can’t make eye contact, and shakes violently. Even if you just pick out a few simple things, it’s about this much.
But the fact that they didn’t know means…
‘That they weren’t interested enough, or they were only seeing what they wanted to see.’
No matter how much a third party shouts at those people, it’s meaningless.
If it looks like you’re taking sides, it could be poison.
It’s impossible to perfectly convey the words unless you’re the person involved.
So it’s important to hear, speak, and realize everything yourself.
“Why are you telling us such important things now?”
When someone sharply questioned him, Ahn Seo-myeong replied nonchalantly, “I told you it was a slip of the tongue.” He really didn’t seem to have any intention of mentioning the train incident.
“Why would I go around talking about things that Jae-eon hyung didn’t say?”
Then he frowned slightly and muttered in a sulky voice, “…Although, I did just talk about it.”
“Anyway, don’t tell Jae-eon hyung.”
“Who would tell him…”
Surprisingly, the child who was the representative of the
The child had his chin propped up and was making a very complex and subtle expression.
That’s because… everything was too much of a reversal.
Ki Jae-eon had saved him and his precious colleagues twice, and he couldn’t bow his head enough times to thank him. He knew that. But he wasn’t going to forgive him for ignoring the main office and treating them like air with that one act.
That was that, and this was this.
It was a distinctly different issue. Rather, he thought it was strange that the children had changed their attitudes like flipping their hands.
But if he had been harsh to someone who had no will to live, someone who was overwhelmed…
‘Then I’d feel too sorry.’
A shadow fell over the child’s eyes. That was the same for other people too. The degree may be different for each individual, but they were definitely feeling a common emotion.
Bewilderment, regret, and curiosity.
Silence descended on the living room.
Ahn Seo-myeong scratched his head.
‘It’s so obvious what they’re thinking.’
He didn’t mean to scold them.
“I didn’t say that to make you feel guilty. I’m not going to argue about right and wrong either. Everyone has their own position.”
Ahn Seo-myeong massaged his neck lightly and continued.
“But regardless of what Jae-eon hyung’s condition is, put yourself in his shoes. We also went to Heavenly Land, but we’d be unhappy if we were treated like animals in a zoo. If you want to approach someone, you have to do it in the way that person wants. Trying to get close without consideration is just coercion, isn’t it?”
The children’s gazes turned to the refrigerator.
Instead of just shoving in snacks that they wouldn’t even eat…
The way Ki Jae-eon wants?
Meanwhile, there were others who were shocked in a different way.
“Can you take responsibility for what you just said? Master Young.”
“Yes, of course, Elder.”
It was Kim Yeong and the elders of the main office.
Kim Yeong wasn’t intimidated by the quietly pressing gazes. No, he was trying not to be intimidated. He was that desperate. He straightened his back and repeated what he had said.
“Exorcist Ki Jae-eon was clearly abused by the Gi Clan. Therefore, Exorcist Ki Jae-eon must be transferred to the main office instead of Heavenly Land. If we leave him as he is, we don’t know when the star that can be seen as the future of Exorcists will fall. You’re not just going to watch his downfall, are you?”
That’s right.
Kim Yeong was arguing to the elders of the main office that ‘Ki Jae-eon actually doesn’t have a curse, but has a mental disorder due to long-term abuse!’
Why did he, who had given up, thinking that ‘no one would listen even if I spoke,’ suddenly make this choice?
There was a clear reason.
That’s because the elders were looking for a ‘justification’ to keep Ki Jae-eon in the main office.
A strong justification to stand against Heavenly Land.
If Ki Jae-eon hadn’t summoned the vermilion bird, Kim Yeong wouldn’t have been able to bring up the ‘h’ in abuse. Why? Because the elders wouldn’t try to help.
But currently, they were blinded by the Four Guardian Deities!
Regardless of whether Ki Jae-eon was really abused or not, what was important was that they had a ‘justification’ to ‘protect’ Ki Jae-eon from Heavenly Land externally.
The main office wouldn’t easily hand over Ki Jae-eon, saying that they had to determine right and wrong.
This was an opportunity.
A holy divine revelation to take in and care for a poor young life!
‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to move the elders again.’
Kim Yeong was planning to help Ki Jae-eon take root in the main office this time.
“But there’s no direct evidence. The only thing we have is Master Young’s claim that he’s not cursed.”
“Exorcist Ki Jae-eon can testify himself. Give me time.”
Kim Yeong recalled Ki Jae-eon, who had refused to go to the hospital, saying that he ‘couldn’t disgrace his Family.’ How much pressure and gaslighting had he been subjected to to make him like that?
If he was given time… Kim Yeong was confident that he could persuade Ki Jae-eon.
No, he had to. Ignoring a young life that was falling into hellfire was a very painful thing.
‘I’ll make sure he asks me to help him this time.’
Ki Jae-eon had developed a new habit since receiving the thank-you letters.
From the moment he opened his eyes to the moment he closed them, he would read and reread the letters the children had sent him. He almost memorized them. He had handled them so much that the stiff corners of the paper had become limp.
Today was no different.
Ki Jae-eon, who had woken up late because he was suffering from insomnia, first groped for the letters he had placed on his bedside table.
He forced open his eyes, which wouldn’t open properly, and crammed the cheerful letters [To Exorcist Ki Jae-eon!] into his head.
There was no particular reason. He himself found it difficult to understand why he was so obsessed.
He had said that he didn’t want to be swayed by ‘affection’ anymore.
Even though he knew that warmth would return as a wound.
What was he going to do if he received comfort…?
Ki Jae-eon buried his face in the letters.
He shook his head gently as if acting spoiled, then took a deep breath. His chest swelled and subsided several times, and he even let out a laugh, wondering what was so funny.
Then, at some point, a part of the paper where he had buried his face slowly began to get wet.
Ha… Hah… Heuu…
A cry disguised as laughter echoed in the quiet room.
‘You’re definitely going to regret it later.’
He couldn’t let go of the letters even as he painfully pinched himself. Thank you, thank you. Those words felt like… you’ve worked hard all this time.