By Zephyria Ki Jae-eon was deeply shocked as he looked at the children of the main office surrounding him.
It was the first time in his life he had seen such a collective Evil Aura outbreak. His pale face turned several shades whiter at the unbelievable reality. Even his forehead, which had been flushed from being teased, had long lost its color.
Honestly, if it were the Ki Jae-eon of the past, he wouldn’t have tolerated it. He would have made a disgusted expression and said things like, “How stupid do you have to be to end up like this? Don’t waste your lifespan for nothing, find another job. With that level of intelligence, you’re destined to die young anyway, so write your will and enjoy what little life you have left,” without hesitation.
Whether they knew it or not, the children should be grateful to the current Ki Jae-eon.
Even more absurd was that none of the children seemed uncomfortable, and they were all smiling brightly.
‘…It must hurt a lot.’
Ki Jae-eon was the only one fidgeting among the excited children. In fact, it was a very difficult situation for him to empathize with. Being hit by Evil Aura was, in a way, a very basic mistake. Just as he was about to move his lips to ask what had happened, the children standing on either side of Ki Jae-eon’s bed exchanged secretive glances. Then, as if unable to resist, they giggled, their shoulders shaking, and revealed their white teeth. Soon after, the children, having timed it perfectly, raised their hands into the air.
“Surprise-!”
A light pink firecracker exploded. Or rather, it was flower petals.
The gently falling petals piled up on Ki Jae-eon’s head.
It was like flower snow. One of them slid down Ki Jae-eon’s nose like a slide.
‘…Peach blossoms?’
The flowers of the peach tree, commonly known as the peach tree.
Before he could even question it, the children burst into bright laughter as they looked at Ki Jae-eon covered in flowers. Cheerful voices echoed sweetly in his ears.
“Surprise!”
“Pretty, right?!”
“We’re going to purify you!”
“We only picked the freshest ones, hyung-nim!”
Ki Jae-eon blinked slowly.
Purify?
……Ah, right. Purification.
Peach blossoms have the power to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, they were often used in rituals to purify negativity. Or given to Exorcists whose energy had weakened as a wish for a speedy recovery.
‘So, that means… this is also……’
Ki Jae-eon’s gaze lingered on the petals. Only then did he understand the meaning.
‘So, the children, they’re doing this……’
A subtle crack appeared on his gloomy, lifeless expression.
It was only natural. He didn’t deserve to receive such flowers.
‘What did I do so well?’
To Ki Jae-eon, encouragement was almost a concept of reward. It couldn’t be obtained simply by wanting it, but only given for doing something well. Therefore, it was completely out of the question based on the current situation.
Why? Because he had messed up the job.
He couldn’t even handle a simple task that only required a few words. It wasn’t intentional, but the responsibility clearly lay with him. He wasn’t being self-deprecating, but stating an objective fact. But to give flowers to someone like that instead of criticizing them? To not blame anyone? Was that even possible? No, it shouldn’t be.
‘……It shouldn’t be, but it is.’
Ki Jae-eon’s lips trembled slightly. He felt like his life was being denied. His lips, which had been moving to find words, eventually chose silence. Instead, his inner thoughts were busy.
‘Why aren’t they blaming me?’
He almost asked the children outright.
‘It’s difficult.’
His gaze, unable to find its bearings, wavered back and forth. He looked like he didn’t know what to do. It was only natural, as it was so different from the world he had experienced.
But on the other hand, he also felt a longing he had never experienced before. It was as if an unknown someone was gently stroking a corner of his heart. Ki Jae-eon slowly breathed and touched his chest. ……The inside feels tight. Whether it was from being intoxicated by the scent of the flowers, even the bridge of his nose had turned reddish.
‘Why….’
He swallowed hard repeatedly.
‘Why, me….’
In the end, heat rushed to his eyelids.
“Uh, hyung… are you angry?”
It was then.
One of the children, misinterpreting Ki Jae-eon’s silence, asked cautiously. His unpleasant impression caused a new misunderstanding. Ki Jae-eon was the one who was surprised. He raised his hot eyelids and looked at the children.
However, the children, seeing the gloomy gaze in his shaded eyes beneath his curly black hair, had already wiped away their smiles and were cautiously looking around.
“Um, oppa.”
Jo Eun-ha, who had been nervously stretching her sleeves, opened her mouth hesitantly. Her fidgeting made it seem like she had something to hide.
“You know, um, that’s…”
And what followed was enough to surprise Ki Jae-eon. It was roughly the story of ‘all the children of the main office’ having unleashed Evil Aura on Kim Young-ho. Frankly, it was out of the blue. Why? Was there a reason for them to harbor such deep resentment towards Kim Young-ho?
The question was resolved by the subsequent excuses.
“We’re already regretting it. We got scolded by Young Teacher until we cried.”
“We thought he hit that bastard… no, that jerk hyung-nim……”
“That’s right. That ajusshi started it by talking rudely and acting rough. He even took pictures when oppa collapsed!”
“We’re not bad kids. That ajusshi is the bad one.”
“But Young Teacher said… we have to tell hyung the truth….”
The children seemed anxious that Ki Jae-eon might be disappointed.
They knew it themselves. How shameful it was for an Exorcist to be punished by the guardian spirit they served. They probably wanted to hide it forever if possible.
Anyway, as the clumsy self-justification continued, one child suddenly raised his hand and shouted.
“Hyung-nim, do you happen to know any good lawyer Teachers!”
A brief silence fell.
Faced with a more somber reaction than expected, the child, who had even raised his hand energetically, trailed off with a dejected expression, “Well, because we might get sued….”
Soon after, a loud booing erupted.
“Are you trying to say that to a patient, you idiot?”
“That’s right. Jae-eon oppa just woke up, you know?”
“Boo- Gyeong-hak is worse than Gyeong-hak.”
“Attacking when he’s just standing there?”
Despite the numerous criticisms, the child remained steadfast.
“I’m being realistic! What if they ask us to pay for the camera? Do you guys have a lot of money? And what are we going to say if they sue us! We have to prepare in advance! Honestly, who else among us is likely to have connections with a lawyer besides hyung-nim?”
“Th, that’s…!”
“What is it. Is he reading books these days?”
The serious atmosphere had turned into an everyday squabble. The room became noisy again.
But only one person couldn’t laugh.
‘Did they unleash Evil Aura because of me?’
It was Ki Jae-eon. He was completely dazed. His expression was the epitome of bleakness.
‘No way….’
It was beyond absurd.
Just because of him, these many children tried to harm someone else?
And not only that, but they were even punished for it?
What kind of creative nonsense was this?
Ki Jae-eon stiffly turned his head and looked at Ahn Seo-myeong. His hollow eyes were several times darker and trembling. The gloomy gaze within asked, ‘Is this true?’ Please, say it isn’t.
As if to mock Ki Jae-eon’s desperate prayer, Ahn Seo-myeong simply shrugged and smiled. His clear face and the curve of his lips, which felt somehow hateful, seemed to be asking Ki Jae-eon, ‘What’s the problem?’
In other words, the situation was close to the truth.
“U-um, um, um….”
Before Ki Jae-eon, who was in a panic, could react in any way.
“And!”
Was there one more bomb left?
‘Again?’
His heart sank. He might faint if this continued.
Whether they knew it or not, the children took a deep breath, puffing out their chests. What were they going to say? He became nervous for no reason at their determined preparation.
However, what he actually heard was something he could never have imagined… something very unexpected.
“We’re sorry!”