By Zephyria After blowing air into him several times like that.
His tall body swayed and leaned to the side. ‘Ah, be careful.’ Ahn Seo-myeong supported his unconscious body and laid him on the blanket. His pale face had already regained its original color.
‘I sa……ved him.’
His legs gave way at the relief that he had protected him. ‘That was really thrilling.’ Ahn Seo-myeong slumped down and swept back his hair. His forehead was soaked in his hand. No, his whole body was covered in sweat.
Well, it would be strange not to tremble when the person you like is about to suffocate.
Ahn Seo-myeong wiped his face with his trembling hands. After washing his face, he was overcome with extreme fatigue. His eyelids were hot and his head was throbbing. That probably meant he had been very nervous.
“Haa…….”
He pressed his hot eyelids with the back of his hand. But instead of cooling down, it only stimulated them. Ahn Seo-myeong suppressed a sigh and took his hand away. As his vision, which had been blurred by the pressure, gradually became clearer, his parched lips opened.
“I hope.”
A stern voice echoed in the quiet room.
“I hope hyung lives a little more selfishly.”
Yes, this is also my selfish wish.
He opened his eyes the next day in the morning.
As he tried to come to his senses with his hazy head, he heard someone calling “Young Master-” from outside. He was about to listen quietly, thinking that they were going to tell him his daily schedule as usual, but the door suddenly opened.
“Young Master.”
An elderly servant respectfully placed a bowl of porridge. Ki Jae-eon stared silently at the steaming rice porridge. He thought he had told them not to bring him breakfast for a while?
The servant, reading his expression that was about to become sensitive, opened his mouth with a faint smile.
“The little guest from the main office asked me to. He asked me to make sure to give you a bowl of porridge when you wake up. This old man had a hard time stopping him from making it himself at first.”
Little guest. He knew who it was right away.
-‘I said I don’t need it!’
-‘……Hyung?’
It must be the owner of the eyes that widened in surprise.
‘Why, without any guile.’
Ki Jae-eon felt his mood sink even further. The servant, glancing at him, asked carefully, “Shall I take it away?” Seeing the wrinkled hand reaching for the bowl, he somehow became impatient. Ki Jae-eon swallowed hard and answered softly, “Le, leave it.”
“Yes, you have a schedule from the afternoon today, so please eat slowly. Young Master.”
“……Yes.”
After confirming that the servant had left, he reached for the bowl.
It was warm.
The warmth that spread beyond his palm to his whole body felt like that child’s kind concern, which made his heart heavy for no reason.
‘I have to apologize.’
But he didn’t have the courage. No, he knew it and wanted to avoid it.
Even though he had treated the person who was worried about him harshly, even though he felt sorry, even though he had reflected on it……. He was running away with the excuse that there were many other things to worry about.
‘I’m sorry. I’ll pretend not to know until hyung wakes up.’
I don’t have the time to rely on your kindness right now.
Ki Jae-eon muttered a pathetic excuse and barely emptied the bowl of porridge. It didn’t matter if his stomach was bloated.
But he still had no choice but to make a selfish choice.
He continued to handle the backlog of work from the afternoon.
He exorcised specters, purified negativity, and spent the day.
When he came to his senses, he was standing in the cold water.
The bathroom floor he stared blankly at was full of blood flowing from his thighs.
He didn’t feel any pain. It was as if the sense of feeling pain was paralyzed.
As he repeated this, a day, two days, three days, four days passed and a week became.
“Today, we’re going to the Purification Ritual of the southern mountain that we exorcised last time…….”
He nodded vaguely to the secretary who was reciting the schedule. His head, leaning against the car window, shook weakly in accordance with the rattling movement.
“I think Heavenly Land will be there to observe.”
“…….”
“Seriously, are they coming to monitor us or what? Jae-eon, if you’re uncomfortable-.”
“Is that re, related to work?”
“Huh? Ah-. It’s not.”
That meant don’t say unnecessary things and just say what you need to say. It was a very arrogant attitude, but the secretary who was originally in charge of Ki Jae-eon understood because he knew his murderous schedule. The secretary shrugged, muttering, “I guess so.” and then only recited the schedule as he was told, “Next-.” However, the fact that the children from the main office were also going to observe disappeared behind him.
Meanwhile, an excited tension was rapidly spreading among the Exorcists of Heavenly Land.
They were thrilled by the fact that they were observing the Purification Ritual led by Ki Jae-eon.
Even those who had criticized him were now vying to secure good spots. They were somewhat disappointed that they could no longer badmouth Ki Jae-eon, but what did it matter when they could hear his magnificent Blessing Prayer up close!
“I’m so excited. It’s been so long.”
“To be able to hear Exorcist Ki Jae-eon’s prayer so closely!”
“I feel like holiness will fill my heart.”
“Why did those people from the Muk Clan come without any shame?”
“Even you, Exorcist, called Teacher Ki Jae-eon washed-up…”
“Huh? When did I ever say that?! Ahem, watch your words!”
Since there was no evidence anyway, the people who had been gossiping behind his back were now wearing masks, pretending to be good people, and shamelessly claiming, “I always believed in Ki Jae-eon.”
It was then.
“Wow-.”
“Jae-eon oppa, are you reciting the prayer here today?”
“Mountain, heok- stop, I don’t want to ride anymore……”
“Gyeong-hak, is your stamina like a slime?”
Young voices squeezed through the gaps.
The Exorcists of Heavenly Land were bewildered by the “oppa?” and turned around. There, the fledgling Exorcists (from the main office) were entering with bright faces.
“Aren’t those from the main office?”
“What is this place to them!”
“They know what’s good. Tsk tsk……”
“Is it okay to let the main office observe?”
“The Gi Clan must have given permission. They say it’s currently during the Exchange Meeting.”
“Heo-! Even if they have ties……”
“It’s losing its dignity.”
“But is that Kim Ju-won over there?”
“His eyes are intense and show aggression, so it seems he is.”
“A tiger cub, indeed.”
“There are rumors that Kim Ja-myeong is his successor……”
“Even so, he won’t be able to follow in Exorcist Ki Jae-eon’s footsteps!”
People buzzed.
However, the murmuring subsided under the gaze of Kim Ju-won, the ‘tiger cub’ they were talking about, as if he was saying, ‘Just let me catch one of you.’
“Hey, line up. Don’t get Exorcist Ki Jae-eon in trouble. Use honorifics.”
Kim Ju-won quickly volunteered to play the villain, worried that the children might get hurt. Following his lead, the children lined up neatly.
“Yes.”
“Yep.”
“I want to see from the front!”
“I thought we came early, but it’s already full.”
“As expected, God Jae-eon……”
“Hey, hey, Ju-won hyung told you to line up.”
“Jae-eon o- I want to see Exorcist soon.”
“Aren’t they going to be really surprised to see us?”
“But Seo-myeong, why are you so unresponsive when you were the one who wanted to come?”
“Isn’t he always stoic? I admire him just for bringing it up.”
“That’s right. We might not have even known if it wasn’t for Seo-myeong!”
Some of the children giggled at Ahn Seo-myeong.
However, Ahn Seo-myeong, with his characteristic expressionless face, only stared intently at the platform where Ki Jae-eon would appear, without any particular reaction. In fact, that was true. He was the one who actively pushed for them to attend the ‘Purification Ritual’ under the guise of the Exchange Meeting, emphasizing learning. But if you asked if his purpose was purely ‘learning,’ that was not the case. Attendance was just an excuse.
He wanted something else entirely.
‘He’s not answering my calls.’
That’s right. He had come to see Ki Jae-eon, who had deliberately disappeared.
He had been racking his brain about what to do with him, as he refused even meetings, let alone calls, after collapsing. Then, by good timing, he overheard about the ‘Purification Ritual’ and came up with a plan. Although he was scolded by the divine spirit he served for his ‘impious attitude,’ he couldn’t help it.
‘What am I supposed to do when I’m worried?’
Fortunately, the process of getting here was also smooth.
The children were eager to learn and missed Ki Jae-eon, so it was easy to persuade them. Ahn Seo-myeong casually mentioned, ‘Can’t we see Jae-eon hyung if we go there?’ and they immediately jumped at the idea. Moreover, they hadn’t been able to go out and play because they were wary after the ‘Ki Jae-ha incident,’ so it was perfect.
‘I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.’
They were able to come thanks to everyone sticking together and persuading the Teachers.
Ahn Seo-myeong inwardly showered his friends with lavish praise for their usefulness.