By Zephyria Ki Jae-eon glanced at the bewildered group approaching him.
As they closed the distance, he sensed various levels of spiritual power. However, there didn’t seem to be anyone particularly dangerous. All just mediocre half-wits.
‘Faces I don’t recognize.’
Could they possibly be in league with this unidentified man?
His icy gaze quickly scanned below. The man was still unconscious.
‘Did a comrade remain? But they know my name.’
His right hand slipped inside his robes, cautiously gripping a talisman. He briefly considered striking first—but then hesitated.
‘Well, my name is known to anyone in this field, so I’ll let that slide…….’
His eyes narrowed.
‘Those dumpling-like faces.’
No matter how hard he racked his brain, he didn’t recognize them.
‘Perhaps they’re new recruits from Heavenly Land?’
That was the most likely possibility. But he quickly dismissed the thought.
If they were Exorcists belonging to Heavenly Land, they wouldn’t dare call him ‘hyung.’
Yes, even if they were idiots, they’d know that much.
‘Then, what the hell?’
There was no Evil Aura detected. Rather, he sensed goodwill.
‘Goodwill…….’
“Hyuuung!”
“Oppa-!”
Oppa? A term he was hearing for the first time in his life.
To me? Why? There was no reason. Ki Jae-eon tilted his head and said firmly, “Stop.”
“State your affiliation first.”
“Huh?”
“Eh.”
“What? Did we set up some kind of code?”
“Whoa, don’t stop so suddenly!”
“Aish, I face-planted!”
Oppa-! Hyungnim-! The kids who had been running excitedly came to a halt with a series of loud crashes. Some of them tripped over their own feet and became entangled in a chaotic mess. This was……. Hopeless. Ki Jae-eon’s expression grew even colder at the chaotic scene.
‘No class, no refinement.’
This confirmed it.
‘They must be Exorcists from some fly-by-night group.’
If they had no intention of attacking, fine. Ah, he had wasted his time for nothing. Ki Jae-eon immediately lost interest. He concluded that he could ignore them.
So, just as he was about to ask where this place was.
“You there—yes, the one with the glasses…….”
“Hey! I told you not to move on your own! Huh? Little Teacher!”
Someone with a level of spiritual power incomparable to these nobodies approached. His gaze naturally turned in that direction. He could sense the strong energy at a glance. No, not just the thug-like appearance. The contents were also reasonably substantial. A highly combative energy, one that would break rather than bend.
“Are you guys elementary schoolers? How come everyone except Ahn Seo-myeong doesn’t listen!”
The one spewing harsh language was tall and large.
His gaze was even slightly higher.
‘It’s rare for me to be physically outmatched except by my father and older brother.’
Perhaps it was a primal male instinct, but he felt a slight displeasure towards the seemingly superior specimen.
‘……Still.’
A crane among a flock of chickens.
‘This one seems quite useful.’
As Ki Jae-eon was sizing up his opponent, he suddenly tilted his head, sensing a strange energy from the side. A boy hidden behind that mountain of a man. With a youthful face that made it difficult to pinpoint his age, he was staring intently at him. He was used to being stared at for whatever reason, so he didn’t particularly care, but what bothered him more was—.
“You.”
Ki Jae-eon quickly closed the distance and extended his hand.
“You seem to have something interesting.”
His pale hand gestured dismissively. Give it to me. That was the meaning.
It was a very insolent gesture, but Ki Jae-eon seemed quite accustomed to it.
A commanding, overbearing attitude.
But the more astonishing part was that the nameless kid obediently followed the command. He took out the Cursed Womb Cave from his bag and handed it over. Ki Jae-eon scanned the Cursed Womb Cave on his palm, then glanced at the kid, rolling his eyes.
‘Doesn’t he know the value of the Cursed Womb Cave?’
Even if he asked for it, how could he hand over the Cursed Womb Cave so readily?
‘The Cursed Womb Cave isn’t a Mystical Instrument you can just get if you want it.’
He didn’t know how he got it…… but this was a complete waste. It was like casting pearls before swine. Meeting such a mediocre owner, it would only harbor insignificant Spirituality.
“Never mind.”
Ki Jae-eon handed the Cursed Womb Cave back with a cynical gesture.
He was just curious, he never intended to take it in the first place.
Then, he let out a short sigh and opened his mouth.
“Since there doesn’t seem to be anyone around you who knows its value, I’ll give you a piece of advice. That Cursed Womb Cave will sell for a high price.”
“Yes?”
“Can’t you understand? Sell it. After all, it’ll only be wasted on you. Or send it to Heavenly Land and they’ll give you a fair price.”
Ki Jae-eon added that if he gave up early and sold it, he could at least make some money.
The atmosphere froze at his merciless remarks.
Especially the expression of the kid who handed over the Cursed Womb Cave was quite a sight. His eyes were wide with shock.
Was he someone who couldn’t self-assess? He was just telling the truth, why was he so hurt…….
If he was weak in the mind, it would be difficult to survive long in this profession.
“Hey, no……. Little Teacher.”
Is something wrong? The tall man reached out with an awkward smile.
Before his hand could even touch his shoulder.
Slap-!
“You.”
Ki Jae-eon, who had fiercely slapped away the approaching hand, said with a murderous expression.
“Don’t touch me carelessly.”
“Li, Little Teacher?”
“What are you talking about since earlier.”
“Huh?”
“Why am I ‘Little Teacher’?”
“……Ki Jae-eon?”
“Who are you? Why are you calling me by such a strange nickname.”
The voice and expression were…… truly unfamiliar and cold.
What’s wrong with Jae-eon oppa? I don’t know! The children exchanged glances, feeling a strange sense of alienation. Is hyungnim angry? I don’t know. Is he joking? A flurry of silent conversation ensued. Then, Lee Gyeong-hak was the first to step forward. He said playfully with an awkward laugh, “Hyungnim, it’s not April Fool’s Day today.”
But there was no response.
“Jae-eon hyung, don’t joke around…….”
“Oppa, are you mad at us……?”
“Hahaha, hyungnim, your acting is so good…….”
“……Jae, Jae-eon-ah?”
Some of the kids tried to lighten the mood, breaking through the awkward air, but it was no use.
Ki Jae-eon still replied in a cold tone.
“Jae-eon-ah? You’re even calling me by my name? What affiliation are you with.”
Who is your Teacher, and what is your seniority, to be so presumptuous.
At Ki Jae-eon’s shocking statement, one of the kids muttered with his mouth wide open.
“Oh my…….”
“Where is Teacher Ryu?”
“She’ll be arriving soon!”
“What on earth is going on!”
“It’s a mess, really!”
“Teacher Park, where is the Elder!”
“That’s……. He’s been missing since yesterday.”
“I’m going crazy! Where did that old man go in this emergency!”
“Finance Officer, please calm down.”
Noisy, noisy. The main office, which should have been quiet, was currently in chaos.
‘I was wondering why I’ve been so lucky lately……!’
Kim Yeong clutched his throbbing head and let out a deep sigh.
Yes, it wouldn’t be the main office if there weren’t any incidents. Yes, he knew. He knew it all too well!
But still, this was too much!
‘Amnesia, of all things!!’
And it had to be Jae-eon?
“Teacher Kim, Teacher Ryu has arrived!”
“Ah, yes!”
Kim Yeong forced down his resentment and quickly headed to the front gate. Creak-. As he opened the door, he saw Ryu Seong-hee, the mistress of the Gi Clan, who had come after receiving an urgent call. With a very different expression than usual, she skipped the greetings and asked Kim Yeong as soon as she saw him, “Where is Jae-eon?”
“Teacher Ryu, there’s something I need to tell you…….”
“Where is my son?”
“Ah, yes! Jae-eon is in the dormitory.”
“The Sea God?”
“Another Teacher will begin the interrogation tomorrow.”
“…….”
“But, um, that’s……. More importantly, Jae-eon is quite angry right now.”
“Please explain exactly.”
Kim Yeong groaned, looking troubled, and began to recount the events of a few hours ago in a disorganized manner.