By Zephyria After finishing his meal and returning to his room, he had three messages on his phone’s lock screen.
All from Ki Jae-ha, his brother.
He wondered if it was another gift certificate, but it was exactly half right and half wrong. Among the new messages, the first was a Korean beef gift set, and the next was a news article link.
“?”
When he clicked on it, he saw the headline [NN Deputy Director Resigns… “Employee Education… I’m Ashamed. I’ll Take All Responsibility and Leave.”]. And finally, his brother’s comment.
[lol Mom’s pissed]
To put it in context, it seemed that the deputy director had offended his mother, and as a result, the family had used their influence to drive him out. Honestly, it wasn’t surprising. He had seen this kind of thing often since he was young. Rather, he was just curious about the reason.
‘Mom?’
As he said, he had often witnessed the act of suppressing others, but his mother had rarely been at the end of it. She didn’t blame or trample on someone for just one mistake. Unless they crossed the line despite being warned, or if they interfered with her work.
‘I don’t know much about Mom, but.’
That’s how it was, at least as far as he knew.
Therefore, the conclusion was that some unpleasant incident had occurred between his mother and the deputy director.
“……”
Ki Jae-eon was about to ask Ki Jae-ha what had happened, but he stopped.
There was no reason to know in detail. So, he just sent a simple reply: [I hope she feels better]. Then, his phone immediately vibrated!
[The higher-ups have to take responsibility for not managing their subordinates]
[That bastard, hyung was going to take care of him, but he had already half-killed him?]
‘Who is that bastard….’
[I heard he collided with a nine-year-old kid’s bicycle and got 12 weeks of injuries lol He beat him up pretty well lol I felt like he would die if I touched him more, so I showed some mercy]
[Bastard lol He’ll lose his job and be hospitalized, it’ll be so spectacular]
[(laughing cat emoticon)]
An incomprehensible answer came back.
Ki Jae-eon wiped his dry eyes once and put down his phone. He wasn’t very curious about the target. He just thought lightly that he must have been someone his brother had been determined to get rid of.
Rather, he was interested in the fact that someone had collided with a bicycle and suffered 12 weeks of injuries. From the perspective of a longtime Exorcist… that, it seemed like he had been hit by Evil Aura.
‘I don’t know who it is, but he’s made a strong enemy.’
Ki Jae-eon came to a lukewarm conclusion and quickly lost interest.
*
Time passed, and finally, the 100th day arrived.
It was the day Kim Ju-won was coming back.
But a very small problem had arisen.
[(Congratulations) ※We Welcome the Return of Our Big Brother※ (Congratulations) -From All the Henchmen-]
In a situation where they had even hung up a self-made banner that they had all worked together to make to welcome Kim Ju-won… assignments were flooding in.
At first, one or two people left their seats, but soon everyone was rushing out of the dormitory. When he came to his senses, Ki Jae-eon was the only one left.
‘Hyung, you have to set off the fireworks!’
‘Don’t forget that we’re going to have a pork belly party tomorrow!’
‘When Ju-won oppa comes, the one in the fridge…. Ugh, I’m going to be late!’
There were even requests that each of the children had earnestly asked him to do. In other words, he had unintentionally taken on an important mission.
Ki Jae-eon sat upright, fiddling with the small firecrackers in his hand. His expression was very calm, but the inside story was different.
He was currently barely suppressing his emotional turmoil. Of course, you might think he was making a fuss over just setting off firecrackers… but as always, individual circumstances existed.
Of course, Ki Jae-eon was no exception.
So, what were his circumstances? Simple.
A loner.
Ki Jae-eon was a loner, made by half choice and half circumstance. From childhood to adolescence and until he came to the main office, he didn’t have any proper friends his age. So, welcome parties, let alone birthday parties, were unfamiliar cultures to him. In the first place, he wasn’t used to the concept of ‘a large number of people gathering to celebrate someone else’s private celebration.’
If he recalled his memories, all he did was politely greet his parents on their birthdays. No, even that was done through someone else because he was busy with work.
Therefore, setting off firecrackers while acting so excited was… really, a first for him.
‘I’m doing all sorts of things for the first time in my life.’
But just because he couldn’t get along with anyone didn’t mean he was lonely. Though it was hardly a replacement, his side was always overflowing with various Evil Spirits and specters, so he had no time to feel lonely. Such emotions were a luxury. If there was any time to indulge in useless sentimentality, it was far more beneficial to catch even a moment of sleep.
‘The firecrackers need to go off well.’
Ki Jae-eon calmed himself, trying to be composed.
‘I should avoid the face, shouldn’t I? Aim higher…’
Just as he was finishing his final mental check, a pure energy was sensed from afar.
‘Kim Ju-won?’
Ki Jae-eon shot up from his seat.
The approaching energy was so outstanding that even Ki Jae-eon was impressed. The spiritual power, clear and pure without a single impurity, was an undeniable perfection.
‘Looks like he’s been working hard.’
Frankly speaking, he was more excellent than any Exorcist he had seen so far. He must have honed himself with all his strength, with all his heart.
…For some reason, he even felt a little proud.
‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’
Ki Jae-eon hurriedly approached the front door, repeating “Firecrackers, greeting, cake, firecrackers, greeting, cake.” And he turned around to check if the banner was hung properly.
[(Wel)※Welcome Home, Big Bro!※(come) -From All the Goons-]
No problem.
Now, all that’s left is for Kim Ju-won to arrive, he thought, when suddenly, click! The sound of the front door opening came.
Ki Jae-eon clumsily set off the firecrackers towards the air. Holding the limp white string attached to the end of the firecrackers, he pulled—!
Pulled…?
‘It, it’s supposed to make a sound?’
It was strangely quiet. Glancing at it, the firecrackers were still in his hand, looking exactly as they did before, the string having snapped off.
Unfortunately, it was defective.
“What is it?”
And then came a nonchalant voice.
Ki Jae-eon flinched and looked ahead.
Standing in front of him was Kim Ju-won, his hands stuck in his pockets. As always, his loose cargo pants and navy blue sukajan with tiger embroidery stood out.
“Why are you blocking the way? Move.”
Kim Ju-won said gruffly. The accessories he wore sparkled with every movement.
But suddenly, he noticed something strange.
Among the silver accessories, the only antique object was occupying the side of his pelvis. Looking closely, it was a flute made of bamboo. It exuded a subtle energy, and it seemed that it was not really made for playing… It seemed that its purpose was a Mystical Instrument.
“Got a new one.”
As expected, Kim Ju-won said, slightly tilting his pelvis. It was an tone that meant not to pay attention.
“…Mystical Instruments need to be, ta, tamed well…”
“I know, you bastard. Don’t try to teach me.”
Kim Ju-won retorted with a look that said he knew that much.
Nevertheless, Ki Jae-eon kept glancing at the flute.
‘It doesn’t seem ordinary…’
Sometimes, if not tamed well, there are Mystical Instruments that try to wield the believer like a wild horse. In the first place, [Mystical Instrument] is an object imbued with the energy or the very essence of those who deserve to be worshiped, such as deities, fairies, and spirits. Therefore, depending on how the believer handles it, it can become sacred or ominous.
‘Because there are spirits that sometimes act mischievously.’
There were also Mystical Instruments that looked down on believers weaker than themselves and rebelled in a way that said, ‘How dare you try to handle me?’
But.
‘Kim Ju-won should be fine…’
Ki Jae-eon nodded, suppressing his worries.
However, there was another problem.
For some reason, their gazes were subtly misaligned.
‘He’s… ta, taller?’
It had only been a little over three months, but there was a clear difference, as if he had grown during that short absence. Well, a man’s growth continues until his mid-twenties, so it wasn’t that surprising. It was just that Ki Jae-eon, who had little experience looking up at others, couldn’t help but hesitate a little.
In fact, that was the case. He had never consciously lived that way, but… except for his older brother, who was a giant, he had never really felt inferior, so his instinctive pride was slightly touched.
Anyway, whether Ki Jae-eon was spacing out or not, Kim Ju-won twisted his broad shoulders and strode into the dormitory. Then, he went straight to the living room instead of his room. As if he had anticipated the children’s surprise event in advance, he approached the banner without hesitation.
[(Wel)※Welcome Home, Big Bro!※(come) -From All the Goons-]
“How funny.”
Kim Ju-won muttered even “From All the Goons” and then twisted the corners of his lips with a smirk. A hand with a silver ring took out the phone he had put in his back pocket and snapped a picture of the banner. After a simple operating sound, the mutterings of “idiots” followed. However, unlike his rough expression, he looked quite pleased. A bland smile slowly spread across his face.
“Did the kids make it?”
“Ah, uh… yeah.”
“Let’s have a pork belly party tomorrow night?”
He hadn’t even said it yet, but he suddenly guessed everything correctly. Did he have a premonition before coming? Or did he come after fortune-telling? As Ki Jae-eon answered vaguely, Kim Ju-won raised his eyebrows with an air that he knew it.
“We can all eat the cake together tomorrow.”
…Did he really come after fortune-telling?
“Has it only been a day or two?”
Kim Ju-won gave an answer in an insincere voice, as if he knew what he was thinking. However, when he saw his warm gaze fixed on the banner, Ki Jae-eon’s pupils widened slightly. Then, as if realizing something, he moved his lips.
‘…Ah, that’s what it was.’
The reason why Kim Ju-won knew everything.
It was by no means a premonition or fortune-telling. It was a strong bond that no one could dare to define.
In other words, a bond.
‘A relationship built on trust.’
That’s right. The main office was such a place.
Ki Jae-eon recalled something his father had once told him. Unlike his father, who was stingy with praise, he had mentioned the potential of the main office.
‘Be careful. Someday, the one who threatens your position may not be the Sea God, but the main office. For a bunch of rootless bastards, their solidarity is amazing. They’re not easy opponents. Tsk, those cunning bastards…’
[Solidarity]
He had a hard time understanding it back then, but now he seemed to understand it vaguely.
‘If only that hadn’t appeared…’
As his father said, the main office might have suddenly surpassed Heavenly Land and the Sea God one day and stood proudly at the top.
Because they would fight for others, not themselves, when difficult moments came. A group that pursues coexistence rather than each living for themselves. Ah, how altruistic!
‘The reason why the main office had the most survivors was also because of this…’
Ki Jae-eon stared blankly at Kim Ju-won.
A great man who burned himself to achieve many salvations in order to save those who were brutally massacred after it appeared. Kim Ju-won.
He was good, so he had no choice but to die young.
‘He’s a smart kid, so he wouldn’t have recklessly used forbidden Art of Magic…’
Too strong an enemy.
Precious people collapsing helplessly.
In the end, considering the various intertwined circumstances in a situation where someone had no choice but to see blood, he must have chosen the least damaging option of [mutual destruction].
Even if it led to a terrible result of self-sacrifice… In fact, Kim Ju-won would have had no other choice. It was a situation where he didn’t have time to worry any longer.
To maximize salvation with minimal sacrifice.
In summary, he made the decision to [abandon one to protect the many]. Unfortunately, the target was himself.
That’s how it can be neatly summarized.
‘The worst part is that Kim Ju-won must have known that that moment would be his last.’
He accepted it willingly, even knowing it.
With the determination to protect his precious people, he was prepared to die.
‘It must have been scary and difficult.’
What a wonderful person. Ki Jae-eon praised Kim Ju-won and then smiled quietly.
Well, a world where good people aren’t wonderful… wouldn’t it be hell?