By Zephyria The last night of the commission.
“It’s a, amazing.”
Shin Yoon, whether he knew that the main office children were suspecting him or not, was rather happy that there were so many people, saying that the exorcism was fast. With his appearance, the children’s distrust also gradually disappeared. He already had a likable face, and his personality was so easygoing that they couldn’t see him as an evil person.
‘Maybe everything is a misunderstanding and this person is just a good person.’
The children thought, ‘I’m glad I didn’t make unnecessary trouble,’ and vowed to devote themselves to the final exorcism.
“Are you doing it together today, Eon-i?”
At Shin Yoon’s question, Ki Jae-eon nodded. He decided to move directly, thinking of finishing quickly and returning.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then go to that old tunnel next to the hill over there.”
He said that it was presumed that the Yin Energy was the strongest there, and that many specters would gather there. Then, he began to assign places to the other children one by one, just like yesterday. You, let’s go around that market side yesterday. And you-. Ki Jae-eon folded his arms and quietly stared at Shin Yoon. The black eyes were filled with the man with the good impression. The man was laughing and chatting with the children with a harmless face.
‘Tunnel.’
To be honest, there was no particular suspicion.
If there are as many specters as there are troublesome, it’s right for me to go.
And I hope that such a thing doesn’t happen, but even if something unfortunate really happens… It doesn’t matter as long as the children aren’t involved.
“Then let’s finish eating and go quickly when the moon rises.”
Ki Jae-eon lightly brushed his bangs and quickly averted his gaze. He was only thinking of finishing up and going back to Seoul.
So, they ate dinner and scattered to their assigned places. Ki Jae-eon passed the dark hill and found an old tunnel. As Shin Yoon said, it seemed that people had stopped visiting a long time ago.
Ki Jae-eon went straight into the tunnel without hesitation. However, except for the echoing footsteps, it was quiet. It was just a spooky atmosphere, and no matter how much he looked around, there was no problem with the tunnel.
“……”
However, the energy felt beyond that was unusual.
Yeah, the real trouble is somewhere else.
‘There’s something over there.’
Ki Jae-eon moved his steps along the humid wind that blew softly. It was when he passed through the long tunnel and saw the sky again.
A large pine tree appeared that was overwhelming to see.
And in front of it, a blood-stained Executioner’s Blade was placed.
“This is……”
Just as he felt suspicious and took a step toward the Executioner’s Blade. The colorful cloths tied to the lush branches began to sway in the humid wind. Hmmm- hmm-. From somewhere, he heard an unpleasant singing voice that seemed to be calling out, vibrating his throat.
“……”
The owner of the Sea God walked out of the bushes like a ghost. Ki Jae-eon stared at the man with his unique expressionless face, without any sign of surprise. He wasn’t agitated that something he had somewhat expected had happened.
“—-.”
The old children’s song that kept being heard.
His outfit, which appeared while repeating only the sound without lyrics, was the same as the clothes the Jiangshi were wearing.
“Pretty, right?”
Shin Yoon tapped his clothes with his index finger and asked.
“It’s a uniform. Well… it’s something that was used a long time ago.”
Swaaa-. The sound of the tree crying, which could be mistaken for the sound of rain at first glance, passed between the two. Hmmm, Shin Yoon, who sighed briefly, slowly walked toward the tree. Bare feet that didn’t wear anything pressed down on the dirt. Ki Jae-eon’s gaze also rolled along the long footprints.
“Shall I tell you a fun story?”
Shin Yoon, who had already arrived under the tree, put his hand on the rough bark.
“There are people buried under here.”
“……”
“That’s my younger sibling.”
Shin Yoon leaned his forehead against the bark and slowly closed his eyes.
“We were twins.”
The cold breath flowing from his lips scattered into the air.
“Twins who bring misfortune.”
Shin Yoon began to tell a long story.
[There was a superstition passed down in the Sea God.
It was the absurd saying that [If twins are born, epidemics and droughts will occur].
Of course, it was a story that should have been laughed at and ignored, but the problem was that the adults of the Sea God believed in that rumor as if it were ironclad.
And the two sons born to the head of the Sea God.
Shin Yoon and [Name Unknown]
Among them, Shin Yoon was a so-called ‘Genius’. He was born with talent, and if you taught him one thing, he would learn ten, no, a hundred. He was truly a candidate for the next head.
What about [Name Unknown]?
Well, the child was locked in a shed and raised like livestock from birth, so no one knew whether he had any talent or not. He didn’t even learn to read, so he couldn’t even speak.
All [Name Unknown] did was scream out to the outside, Aaaah- Aah- until his voice was hoarse. Until the moon rose beyond the narrow bars.
Still, if he screamed all day long, someone would come. People from the main family would bring a bucket full of leftovers and mutter, “Poor thing, poor thing.” Even if [Name Unknown] didn’t understand, he probably knew that it was pity for him.
Ah, why didn’t they kill him right away?
They said they were afraid of incurring the wrath of the Sea God.
One of the evil customs was to kill the cursed twins and bury them in the deep sea. Even in the midst of it, it was taboo to take the life of a very young child, so they usually ‘executed’ them when they turned ten.
In other words, it was that child’s fate to live and die as an ‘non-existent person’ until he turned ten.
But as if a miracle happens only once to everyone.
For the first time, the hand of God touched [Name Unknown].
Shin Yoon found out about [Name Unknown]’s identity.
Whether it was an attraction to blood, or guilt for enjoying a comfortable life alone, Shin Yoon began to share his things with [Name Unknown] while avoiding the eyes of the adults.
Food, clothes, toys.
He didn’t spare anything.
He also took the time to teach him to read.
“Again-.”
“Agaain.”
“Meet.”
“Meheet.”
As they could communicate with each other, their relationship became even stronger.
That’s how [Name Unknown]’s age was approaching ten.
Shin Yoon realized that his other half would soon be killed by the adults and left the mansion together to save [Name Unknown].
“It’s okay.”
[Name Unknown], who came out for the first time, wet himself and was afraid, but Shin Yoon didn’t give up.
“Trust me.”
The two children ran to the oldest tree in the village, the Millennium Tree.
“Hyeon-mu will protect us.”
[Hyeon-mu], who is in charge of the water energy among the Four Gods.
Another name is the Sea God.
“If I can summon Hyeon-mu, Father and Mother… will allow us too. Yeah, they’ll say it’s okay to have you.”
Shin Yoon was a smart child.
So, from the beginning, he was aware that young himself could not completely escape from the hands of adults. So, the only way he could do was persuasion, persuasion, and proof.
“I’ve been training really hard. It’s possible.”
That’s how he came up with the idea of summoning [Hyeon-mu].
If he could show the miracle of being able to summon the Four Gods even with [Name Unknown].
[Name Unknown] would no longer be a child who brings misfortune.]
“……So, ta-da! It ended with a happy ending?”
Shin Yoon smirked.
“How nice would that be?”
He opened his eyes and muttered with a look of dismay.
“No matter how much of a Genius I am, I’m just ten years old. Do you know what happens if you perform the wrong ritual?”
The flesh rots and festers.
Like being struck by a sudden death, without any resistance.
“Ten years old.”
Ten years old. Ki Jae-eon realized the hidden meaning in his repeated words.
The end of a young child who was overconfident in his own abilities.
“……Do you know what’s even more fucked-up?”
Shin Yoon shook his head. He looked like he was so tired of it.
“Attitude that changes as quickly as flipping your palm.”
“……”
“They said they would replace the child, who had been raised like livestock for his whole life, with the successor? Isn’t it funny?”
While still saying that twins bring misfortune.
“They didn’t even try to save me.”
With this, I could know.
The fact that the man in front of me was not ‘Shin Yoon’ but the cursed twin [Name Unknown].