By Zephyria 
Ki Jae-eon looked down at the sobbing Shin Yoon for a moment, then quietly released the collar he had been holding. A life spent leaning on anger and revenge. A person who had never received any emotional education and had only spent his days trying to survive. Perhaps this man needed this time.
Time to cry, regret, and miss as much as he wanted.
“It’s okay.”
A white hand touched the man’s cheek.
Warmth was clearly transmitted from skin to skin.
“You can make up for it.”
“…….”
“Of course, the sin you committed is not light. You probably won’t be forgiven for the rest of your life.”
“…….”
“But if you don’t run away and take responsibility to the end, you will definitely have another chance. That’s when you live the life that ‘Shin Yoon’ wanted to give you.”
A thumb slowly rubbed his tearful cheek.
“Now is the time to take the best revenge on those who tormented you.”
Prepare to shed hatred and move forward one step.
If he could do that, the day would come when he would be freed from the curse of the past that had tormented him for so long.
When Ki Jae-eon finished speaking, Shin Yoon raised his wet eyelashes and met his gaze.
Hope flickered faintly in his eyes.
“But it’s too late now.”
“It’s not too late.”
“Gu Poison too…….”
“I said it was okay earlier.”
“What?”
Shin Yoon’s eyes widened as if he had stopped breathing.
That’s because, as mentioned earlier, once [Gu Poison] starts, it cannot be stopped. The only way to escape is for the last person to remain, or to forcibly break it and have the caster take on all the Evil Aura. However, the current caster, Shin Yoon, already has Divine Punishment engraved on his entire body. Even if he tried to escape by forcibly breaking it, there was no way his body could withstand it. Therefore, the ending is clear. Forced escape inevitably requires Shin Yoon’s sacrifice.
Ah, is there really no way?
Maybe he was holding onto vain hope.
‘As expected…… a sinner doesn’t get a chance.’
It was the moment when Shin Yoon tasted frustration once again.
Pine flower-colored talismans were scattered into the air.
The letters scribbled in red ink on thin Korean paper soared simultaneously in the windless darkness.
Whoosh! The soaring talismans were connected like golden threads. It was a truly beautiful and bizarre sight.
Whoosh!
Soon, the talismans that filled the subspace formed a huge energy by matching the texture of yin and yang, and at the moment when the scriptures embedded in each talisman echoed as if responding a beat late, spiritual power that purified negativity poured out like an explosion.
It was truly insane output.
Paaaat!
Justice, which was clear and sacred but did not allow a shred of mercy in the face of innate evil, swept away the specters crawling out of the shadows in an instant.
As the specters that had turned to ashes and the talismans containing embers mingled together, a rain of fire fell in the darkness. It was like watching a fireworks display.
It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful exorcism.
While Shin Yoon was blankly spacing out, Ki Jae-eon dusted off his shoulders and opened his mouth.
“It’s not that there’s no way.”
“What?”
“There’s no problem if you change the caster.”
There was a way for both of them to live? Shin Yoon’s eyes widened once again. But his expression twisted strangely at the answer he heard.
“Change the caster to what? Are you crazy? Do you think that’s possible?”
“It’s possible.”
Ki Jae-eon reached out and firmly grasped Shin Yoon’s hand as if interlocking his fingers. And without hesitation, he lowered his head and bit the back of his hand. As his white teeth dug into the firm skin, Shin Yoon frowned at the tingling pain.
It was right then.
Flash!
It wasn’t blood. It was light that burst out.
The seed of authority that had been sleeping deep inside was reacting. No, to be exact, it was forcibly awakened.
“Succession of Transformed Luck and Blessing.”
Ki Jae-eon recited in a low voice as he took his lips away.
Then, the pattern engraved on the caster turned as if recognizing a new owner.
Chiiik!
“Ugh!”
With the burning pain as the end, the seed of authority was transferred from Shin Yoon to Ki Jae-eon.
As soon as the mark on the back of Shin Yoon’s hand faded, the same mark appeared on the back of Ki Jae-eon’s hand.
It meant that the person responsible for handling the Evil Aura had changed.
“……Is this, possible?”
Shin Yoon muttered in a daze.
Of course, it was.
Even he, who prided himself on being versed in all kinds of magic, was seeing a technique that violated common sense for the first time. The gap between that recklessness and sophistication was sharply proving the talent of the being called Ki Jae-eon.
What kind of monstrous talent was this!
Shin Yoon stared at the scene with a shocked face and then belatedly let out a breath.
“You, what are you doing…….”
“Let’s get out of here now.”
“Wa, wait!”
Shin Yoon hurriedly stopped Ki Jae-eon from trying to break the Gu Poison.
“Don’t you know?! Even if you transfer the authority, you still bear the risk! The Evil Aura is-.”
“I know.”
“What?”
Shin Yoon was dumbfounded by the calm answer.
“……Are you, crazy?”
“It’s okay.”
Ki Jae-eon didn’t let go of his hand. Rather, he held it even tighter. The warm warmth transmitted beyond the skin. Neither hot nor cold, the warmth of a person. Shin Yoon looked down at his tightly clasped hand. Two guys holding hands was disgusting. But strangely, he didn’t hate it. Ki Jae-eon’s hand, which was big and rough but surprisingly soft, even brought a strange sense of stability. It’s okay, we’re going to get out of here. The pressure on his fingertips seemed to say that.
“It’s okay.”
“…….”
“There’s already a safety device.”
“What?”
“So it’s okay.”
“What, everything, you are…….”
When Ki Jae-eon soothed him once more, Shin Yoon finally shut his mouth.
‘What is this…….’
It was unfamiliar.
No, it was strange.
Just with one hand, he was so calmed down!
Was it because he hadn’t felt the warmth of a person in so long? Or was it because he had almost no memory of receiving a hand like this? An unfamiliar kind of peace soaked into his heart.
‘Yun-i…… yeah, it’s like Yun-i.’
Yes, just one person who held his hand and said it was okay.
It was like that child.
Shin Yoon’s shoulders unknowingly slumped.
Anxiety disappeared and stability permeated.
‘Someone to rely on.’
Shin Yoon tasted a feeling he had forgotten for a very long time.
‘Just with this…… you funny bastard.’
He didn’t let go of his hand even as he blamed himself. Rather, he put more strength into holding it. Then the other person added strength as well. As if he would never leave him behind, tightly!
An unknown sense of reliability rose up his hand.
Shin Yoon, Ki Jae-eon’s unique slow and gentle tone called out to him.
“I’ll show you first.”
Soon after, black eyes stared straight at him.
“That life isn’t all bad.”
At the same time as those words fell, a lotus flower bloomed in the darkness. As the light fragments falling from the huge petals opened a path and separated the negated thoughts, a small hole was created.
It was the path called ‘reality.’
“From then on, it’s the beginning.”
“…….”
“Accepting your sins head-on may be more painful and difficult than you think. Being criticized by others is quite embarrassing and shameful. No matter how prepared you are, there will be moments when you want to run away. I guarantee that the sins you committed will follow you even after you have paid for all your sins. There will be times when you feel wronged.”
“…….”
“But even so.”
“…….”
“Live. Live and do what you have to do. You have to show it to that child.”
In front of the hole that was gradually increasing in size, Ki Jae-eon gave a faint smile.
“I’ll say it again. Shin Yoon, your life isn’t over yet.”
Even if it’s hard and tiring, endure it.
Then one day, you will know that the sky in this world is beautiful.
“…….”
Instead of answering, Shin Yoon quietly moved his legs.
It was a very slow and sluggish step, but he seemed to have no more regrets.
Bright light enveloped the two.
As the closed world opened, a familiar wind blew.
A world with joys and sorrows, the smell of people living.
A lifetime.
“Over there!”
“Everyone, come this way!”
In the distance, someone’s footsteps, suppressed sobs, and the signs of dawn spread.
“Jae-eon-ah!”
At his father’s loudest call, Ki Jae-eon also gave a bright smile.
Their two hands were still clasped together.