LFG 28

These days……

“Ugh- I’m gonna die.”

“Master Young is pushing us too hard these days.”

“It’s dawn training again tomorrow.”

“Ah, seriously, what’s wrong with him? Teacher, he’s weird!”

“This is the first time we’ve trained this hard since we were trainees.”

“Hwaaaaa- I want to rest! I want to watch dramas!”

There was a lot of whining from outside.

To summarize roughly, it seemed that the children’s training intensity had increased quite a bit.

And one more thing.

“……A, a spiritual pressure ritual?”

[“Ah- yes, that’s right. Ju-won doesn’t really have anyone to practice with.”]

Ki Jae-eon bit his lip while holding the phone tightly. He was stubbornly staring at the floor in a hunched posture. As an uncomfortable silence continued, Kim Yeong carefully asked back over the phone, [“Would it… be impossible?”]

To be honest, he wanted to refuse. He didn’t really want to go outside the room.

He wasn’t in a state where he could give active feedback or advice either.

Overall, he was close to failing as a ‘good practice partner’.

But.

[“The other kids are really worried about having their spiritual power sealed. Ju-won’s guardian spirit is so strong. Exorcist Ki Jae-eon is the only one at the main office who can handle that child…… It only needs to be done once.”]

He couldn’t easily say ‘no’ to the earnest request.

He had received quite a bit of help in the meantime…… and above all, he felt that his words were reasonable.

If a skilled person like Kim Ju-won grabbed any of the kids at the main office and performed a full-fledged ‘spiritual pressure ritual’, that child’s spiritual power would definitely be completely blocked. That was almost like one-sided violence. If they were unlucky, the guardian spirit they had received might get scared and go into hiding. Hmm, just imagining it made his head hurt.

As much as that, in this field where [talent] is a bigger area than effort, to be honest… other than ‘Kim Ju-won’, the other kids had very little potential for growth. It was cold but realistic. In the first place, the god they received wasn’t something they could raise like a game character.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that effort is completely devalued.

No matter how powerful a guardian spirit they receive, if the believer themselves is lazy, it’s all for naught. Of course. Spirituality is recognized by the believer’s virtue, sincerity, and faith.

Therefore, he had often seen cases where people neglected training while relying on their mediocre talent and failed to unleash all their power. But to Ki Jae-eon, they were all ‘weak’, so he didn’t think there was much difference.

Well, even so, if he had to pick a child who he could ‘at least’ expect to grow, it would be ‘Ahn Seo-myeong’, who survived for quite a long time in the distant future? Maybe he could have some hope for that child.

‘He would have lived longer if he hadn’t protected me.’

Just as he was about to fall into a deep swamp alone, he was able to snap out of it at Kim Yeong’s call, [“Exorcist?”]

“Ah, ah…… I, I’m sor…… sorry.”

[“No, I’m sorry for making an unreasonable request. But this time, I want to ask you to help, even if it’s rude. Ju-won is really working hard. I think this is a good opportunity for him to learn. Would you help him just once as a concept of assisting the Exorcist?”]

Kim Yeong was unusually persistent.

Considering his usual kind and considerate nature, it was quite a strange attitude. However, Ki Jae-eon was just swept away, going uh-uh-uh- at the endless stream of complaints.

[“Our Ju-won has never done a spiritual pressure ritual before.”]

[“If something like this happens in a real battle, sob sob!”]

[“I’m worried he’ll be ignored~!”]

[“How much of a wound will that be to his young heart……!!”]

“Ah, ah…… I, I…… I underst, stand. I, I’ll be……. a practice partner.”

[“Ah, ah…… I, I…… I underst, stand. I, I’ll be……. a practice partner.”]

I’ve been caught. What a catch!

“Oh my, will you really do that? Then I’ll be shameless and ask you for a favor.”

Kim Yeong pretended to wipe away tears in a hypocritical manner and said, “Yes, yes, then I’ll contact you again as soon as the date is set.” He seemed to be finishing quickly in case Ki Jae-eon changed his mind.

“Phew-.”

A smile gradually bloomed on Kim Yeong’s face.

It was right then.

“Who hasn’t done what before?”

A mocking voice was heard from the side.

It was Kim Ju-won, who was leaning back and constantly munching on snacks.

“I wondered what you were doing, calling a busy person over…….”

Bang! He slammed his fist on the pile of snack bags and twisted his lips.

“What I’m best at is chasing away those guys who come down from the sky to eat.”

That’s right. Kim Ju-won’s specialty was saving people who were suffering from spirit sickness, and stomping on guardian spirits who dared to challenge him.

“Ju-won, you have to be careful with your words. Your guardian spirit is listening.”

When Kim Yeong frowned, Kim Ju-won raised his eyebrows and pretended to listen with his hand to his ear. Then he soon showed off his extreme sass, saying, “He says I’m right?”

Ugh, that thug. Kim Yeong shook his head and handed him a cup of warm green tea instead of a flick on the forehead.

“Drink it while you eat. You’ll get indigestion. And…….”

“If you say more, it’s nagging. Ah, don’t worry. I’ll succeed. How many times have I done a spiritual pressure ritual?”

“Yeah, you’re really good at intimidating people, if nothing else.”

“Why is there a bone in your words?”

“Because there is?”

“……Tch.”

Kim Ju-won glared at Kim Yeong with a sullen look, then sucked on his fingers, which were covered in snack crumbs.

“Um, but do the elders know about this? That Teacher is trying to seal that bastard’s spiritual power? If they know, there’ll be a riot.”

“Kim Ju-won.”

“I can’t even talk to a bastard younger than me-.”

“Ju-won, I don’t want to get angry. I don’t like raising my voice.”

“……Haa, yes. I understand. I’m sorry.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Kim Yeong reached out and ruffled Kim Ju-won’s hair. Kim Ju-won usually didn’t like anyone touching him, but he was weak to Kim Yeong. Like a cat that couldn’t refuse its owner, he wore a sulky expression and obediently accepted his touch.

Kim Yeong let out a sigh mixed with laughter as he looked at his disciple, who was complaining, “Ah- hair, ah…….”

In fact, that’s right. Kim Ju-won wasn’t wrong.

If the elders found out about this, it probably wouldn’t end with a light punishment. How did they get Ki Jae-eon, and how did they get the Vermilion Bird God? But that’s why they had to free that child from one-sided expectations. Even flowers die if they’re exposed to too much sunlight, don’t they? It’s the same with people. Everything has to be moderate.

Because they’re the same life.

Just as flowers need soil, water, fertilizer, and sunlight, people also need appropriate interest and indifference.

The same goes for emotions. Too little or too much is a problem.

But the current Ki Jae-eon was being crushed by too many ‘expectations from others’.

If they continued to push that child……

The human being Ki Jae-eon would soon tear himself to pieces and kill himself.

‘We have to save the kid.’

Even if they sealed his spiritual power, an Exorcist like Ki Jae-eon would naturally recover his strength in a month or two anyway. So no more, no less, just one month.

Yes, let’s just let the kid rest for a month.

‘He’ll go to the hospital diligently during that time.’

He made such a plan alone, following the advice of psychologist Park Ki-cheol.

But who would have known that this choice would cause a huge ripple effect.

On the day of the spiritual pressure ritual.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling—-!!

“Ju, Ju-won……?”

Less than an hour after Kim Ju-won, who had familiarly picked up the Mystical Instrument, started performing the ritual towards Ki Jae-eon. Just as he was about to suppress Ki Jae-eon’s spiritual power, the noisy sound of bells suddenly began to ring from all directions.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling—!!

“Ju-won, just a moment…….”

Ting-a-ling-a-ling—!!

A strong wind and fierce thunder even struck down with a bang.

“Good heavens, Kim Ju-won!”

Kim Yeong urgently called his name, sensing that the situation was going strangely…… but the deed had already been done. An ‘invisible force’ that flew in at a rapid speed pierced through Kim Ju-won’s heart. A terrible sensation of pushing the soul in and out once made him gasp for breath. Kim Ju-won knelt down, clutching his heart.

“Shit, Keuk!”

“Ju-won!”

That’s right.

Ki Jae-eon’s ‘great’ guardian spirit, who was too strong, was greatly angered and suppressed Kim Ju-won’s guardian spirit with pure power. Kim Ju-won’s guardian spirit, who was properly scolded, was intimidated and ran away.

“……!!”

Even Ki Jae-eon was surprised and got up, as if he didn’t expect this to happen.

He didn’t know that the guardian spirit, who was always kind and generous, would be so angry. That’s because the guardian spirit that Ki Jae-eon possessed was a gentle god who respected the believer more than anyone else, despite his powerful strength. That’s why he had just watched quietly, following his will not to do anything, even when Ki Jae-eon was suffering from petty ghosts.

But why this time?

What’s with getting so angry at what’s just a child’s play…….

But it was too late to do anything.

Kim Ju-won’s spiritual power had been completely blocked.

He was definitely angry.

Kim Yeong quickly gathered his disciple, whose eyes were rolling back, and gaped at the unbelievable reality.

There’s a limit to everything!

How can he be so ignorant and strong!

This was no longer something to be dismissed as ‘talent’. Kim Yeong thought as he looked at Ki Jae-eon, who was running over from afar with a pale face.

I really…… I don’t want to think this way either.

Is that child…….

‘Is he someone we can save?’

For the first time, Kim Yeong had a strong doubt about his beliefs and faith.