By Zephyria 
“Hyung.”
“……”
“Jae-eon hyung.”
“……”
“Aren’t you thirsty? Should I get you something to drink?”
“……”
“Have more of mine.”
Ki Jae-eon treated Ahn Seo-myeong, who was fidgeting next to him like a puppy who needed to pee, as a semi-transparent person and just chewed on the dry whole wheat bread that came out for breakfast. It’s embarrassing to say, but my whole body still tingled. Especially my armpits, chest, butt, and genitals. They were swollen in places, causing a stinging pain even with the slightest touch.
‘I told him to stop.’
Ki Jae-eon unknowingly recalled last night.
Ahn Seo-myeong, who had been sucking on his body over and over again. Thanks to that, it seemed like all the moisture had been drained. Perhaps his body was drier than the dry whole wheat bread he had in his mouth.
‘Embarrassing.’
Ki Jae-eon sniffled without anyone knowing and vowed not to provoke him recklessly again.
“Hyuuung…”
Nevertheless, the reason why his heart was slowly softening was probably because he remembered Ahn Seo-myeong’s face, who was desperately clinging to him.
The happiness that people desire is ultimately the recognition of their meaning of existence.
Well, he’s also cute.
‘This level of rest in a battlefield where I always have to be on edge may have a positive effect on my mental health…’
Ki Jae-eon accepted the barley tea that Ahn Seo-myeong handed him, making crazy self-rationalizations. At the quiet reconciliation, the complexion of the younger man, who had been so subdued, brightened up.
Hyung, I’m sorry. Thank you. He doesn’t forget to stick to me and act cute.
“I’ll be careful next time.”
“There is no… next time.”
“Huh?”
*
Thanks to the solid prior preparation, this disaster was more bearable than expected. Knowing the future was a big help. Above all, unlike in his previous life, Ki Jae-eon had maximized the skills of other Exorcists, so the overall level had grown to an incomparable extent.
The Barrier was strong, and the ranks were not disrupted.
Ki Jae-eon led the people based on all the experience and knowledge he had.
Eventually, they became one and stood on the battlefield.
Was that why? He dared to imagine hope.
Whether they could subdue the Fatal Spirit without suffering numerous sacrifices, whether they could regain the lost peace.
He constantly imagined and recalled it.
In the virtual mock battle, they repeated both victory and defeat.
Thousands of possibilities floated around in his head.
But in both comedy and tragedy, there was no giving up in the end. Of course. Because if you don’t give up, the future will surely follow.
However, even in the midst of a difficult battle, there was some stability.
Ahn Seo-myeong’s kindness, which felt particularly warm on a cold winter night.
‘Good night.’
A gentle greeting and a hand pulling up the blanket, eyes playfully curving. Looking at that lovely figure, Ki Jae-eon put down his heavy heart and let out a sweet breath.
To that extent, Ahn Seo-myeong’s existence was the only sweet dream in a day like thin ice.
That’s how he dreamed of a miracle.
But misfortune, as it usually does, struck in an instant. As if mocking people’s wishes, or like a hand waiting for hope to fill up and then ruthlessly crushing it.
Misfortune loves happiness, as they say.
Somehow, it keeps following me relentlessly.
“Injured people this way!”
“Are there any more bandages?”
“We need holy water, as much as possible!”
“Stay awake. Don’t lose consciousness here!”
A horrific scene where screams and groans were mixed together.
Cracks finally began to appear in the solid ranks.
It was the Fatal Spirit’s last struggle.
It wasn’t just this side that was adapting to the changed future.
The Fatal Spirit also changed.
The cunning and sly guy abandoned his old methods and crushed the world in extraordinary ways. It was a variation that even Ki Jae-eon was encountering for the first time. Like the boss of a dying game evolving into a more powerful form with his last health remaining. He threw away his familiar appearance and created a completely new system.
The disgust intensified twofold, and he poured out fierce attacks.
The small flame of hope rapidly subsided in the face of that wind.
The Exorcists fell helplessly.
A colleague who had been breathing side by side until just now rolled his eyes and spat blood. There were also those who were hallucinating and screaming for help.
In other words, the Fatal Spirit’s curse.
It was a sight that was hard to watch with a clear mind. Even the Curse Unraveling Exorcists who had gathered to undo their terrible curses were in short supply.
A fear that could be understood without explanation spread throughout the entire camp.
Ki Jae-eon had to sternly rebuke himself for having foolish expectations as he watched those who were suffering.
That’s how time passed again.
As stubbornly as quickly.
The snowstorm intensified, and laughter disappeared.
The blessing of oblivion protected the weary hearts.
Before they knew it, people had forgotten their ordinary lives and were adapting to refugee life. School, work, weekend dates, casual greetings. The pieces of everyday life, which may have even been tedious, had somehow become part of a dream.
The children didn’t cry even when their cheeks were red from the cold, and the adults became accustomed to long periods of starvation, giving their share of food to their children.
That’s what refugees were like.
Instead, they learned new things.
How to avoid the wind by standing back to back.
How to fall asleep with your knees up.
How not to covet tomorrow.
And how to slowly accept death.
How to let go of hope that they thought they could never let go of.
Yes, like that.
They gradually became accustomed to it.
“The White Tiger is…”
That was the same for those on the front lines.
Four Guardian Deities.
The worst news that those they called spirits were disappearing one by one was reported one after another.
Now, only the master of the east, the Azure Dragon, remains.
If even that side collapses, the maximum defense line will be broken.
If that happens, many people’s lives will be in danger, just like in the previous life. No, the word ‘danger’ is not enough.
Even those who are lucky enough to survive will wake up every night haunted by nightmares. Unable to forget their loved ones, they may end up walking into a choice they shouldn’t make.
Just like Ki Jae-eon in those days.
Please, he wanted to prevent that at least.
There were even already ominous signs.
Kim Ju-won mentioned the taboo for the purpose of mutual destruction, just like in his previous life. The person who said not to worry, saying that he wouldn’t repeat the tragedy, was eventually driven into a corner and tried to make the same choice.
For the sake of everyone, sacrificing himself.
A very terrible choice.
Of course, he didn’t allow it.
‘Stop talking nonsense!’
He raised his voice for the first time in his life, grabbed his collar, and fought to stop him.
‘There’s no alternative!’
‘That alternative doesn’t have to be you!’
‘Jae-eon, I won’t fail. Unlike last time, I’ve looked into it carefully-.’
‘Shut up!’
‘Ki Jae-eon…’
‘It doesn’t matter if you fail or not. Don’t even dream of doing that. Hyung, I won’t say it twice.’
But Ki Jae-eon also knew.
If this misfortune continued, Kim Ju-won would surely achieve his goal.
Yes, Kim Ju-won is that kind of man.
That’s why he had to find another way.
‘I can’t lose it.’
No more, I hate it.
‘I have to find another, another way.’
He had to find a more certain possibility that everyone could agree on.
If he rashly came up with a countermeasure, those who didn’t want to lose their ‘loved ones’ would voluntarily walk to their deaths.
That’s why this time, he had to prevent people from saying that they would sacrifice themselves… He had to solve it before those words came out of their lips.
I don’t want to be alone.
I don’t want to survive alone.
I need a way for everyone to live.
“Please, please, please… Think, think.”
Ki Jae-eon muttered, biting his nails.