By Zephyria ‘Just a little more…….’
He was experiencing something like animal therapy in his own way.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation brushed past his sharp intuition. Ki Jae-eon’s expression changed as he felt the familiar unpleasantness. From a languid face covered in fatigue to a highly sensitive one.
‘Evil Aura?’
The sharp sense was directed at Ahn Seo-myeong.
“J-just, wait, a moment…….”
The sweet atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Ki Jae-eon hurriedly raised his upper body and checked Ahn Seo-myeong’s condition. His pale fingertips snatched the child’s nape in an instant. It was a fierce gesture, regardless of his stuttering. Hyung? Hyung! He didn’t stop even as he was being stopped in panic.
“Jae, ……Hyung!”
“St-stay, st-still…….”
Once he made up his mind and used his strength, it wasn’t difficult to subdue one Ahn Seo-myeong. It was just as his trembling large hand was about to touch the child’s lean abs.
“……!”
Inside the lifted t-shirt, a long, black mark was engraved.
The proof of the curse, reminiscent of a car tire track.
‘Evil Aura has risen.’
It was as expected.
‘But…… why?’
Ki Jae-eon’s eyes shook.
Was there a reason for Ahn Seo-myeong to be hit by Evil Aura now? No, there shouldn’t be.
This curse, collectively expressed as ‘hit by Evil Aura,’ usually appears in three cases.
First, when visiting a place with many ‘ghosts,’ like a funeral home, and it sticks to you. In colloquial terms, it’s said that bad luck has stuck to you.
Second, when someone maliciously sends ‘Evil Aura’ targeting a specific person. Curse dolls or talismans that often appear in the media can be taken as examples. Also, a significant number of those who come to the main office for Curse Unraveling fall into this category.
And finally, third, when someone casts a wrong curse towards others and is hit by it in reverse. In simple terms, it can be interpreted as a guardian spirit being angered by a foolish believer and giving them severe punishment.
Exorcists especially had the most cases of the third type.
‘But if that’s the case… it’s even stranger.’
Ki Jae-eon’s eyes narrowed. It was a valid question. In his judgment, all cases neatly bypassed Ahn Seo-myeong. From the first to the third. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a single part that applied. To explain it simply, Ahn Seo-myeong was neither the type to be hated by others nor the type to hate others. He was that much of a person with a personality without any rough edges.
‘He hasn’t been to a funeral recently either.’
As far as he knew, that was the case. In other words, there was no reason to be hit by Evil Aura.
‘Then where on earth did he get beaten up so badly?’
No matter how much he racked his brain, the answer was still in the fog.
‘Or maybe…….’
Just as he was lost in thought, Ahn Seo-myeong, who had been subjected to a sudden inspection, slowly reached out his hand.
The destination was naturally Ki Jae-eon.
The pretty hand with protruding knuckles grabbed the white, rough hand. Warmth was transmitted beyond the thin skin.
Shamelessly, even his body temperature followed his appearance.
Ahn Seo-myeong was as warm as spring, and Ki Jae-eon was as cold as winter.
‘Ah….’
Ki Jae-eon’s shoulders twitched.
He had often felt it before, but this kid was surprisingly open to skinship.
Ahn Seo-myeong, as if he liked the rough man’s hand, kept caressing it, and soon brought Ki Jae-eon’s hand to his cheek. There was no hesitation. It was as natural as if that was where it originally belonged.
Soft, soft.
It was clearly rough, but there wasn’t a hint of dislike. Rather, he kept rubbing his soft cheek as if acting cute. In between, the smooth tip of his nose and lips would brush against it. Ki Jae-eon twisted his shoulders for no reason at the sensation tickling his palm. I-it’s ticklish. He tried to pull his hand away timidly, but it was no use. Ahn Seo-myeong even closed his eyes as if savoring it.
It was so persistent and tenacious that it made the viewer feel embarrassed. Then, he slowly lifted his eyelids. The black and clear eyes under his eyelashes were directed at Ki Jae-eon without a gap.
“Hyung.”
As his lips parted, a clear voice flowed out. It was a calm tone without any emotional ups and downs, no matter when he heard it.
“The lessons given by pain are the most truthful teachings.”
His expression was indifferent, but Ki Jae-eon couldn’t know what was inside.
“Although I wasn’t understood by the divine spirit, it doesn’t matter. I followed my beliefs.”
Ahn Seo-myeong continued to speak in a dry tone as if he were talking about someone else’s story.
“But I’m still curious. Why were you angry? I just gave an immature person a chance to gain enlightenment. I admit that the method was somewhat rough… but isn’t there no set path to the path to truth?”
Ahn Seo-myeong added that trials promote human growth.
If translated directly, it was the same as confessing, ‘Yes, I cursed someone.’
Not only that, but there was no remorse. With that kind of attitude, the guardian spirit must have given him such a severe Evil Aura as a meaning to repent.
But honestly… it was unexpected.
Ahn Seo-myeong cursing someone.
‘He’s not the type to do that.’
Ki Jae-eon kept defending Ahn Seo-myeong.
It couldn’t be helped since it was Ahn Seo-myeong, not someone else.
Of course, when living as an Exorcist, there are often moments when you have to send ‘Evil Aura’ against your will. Because fundamentally, they were workers who were paid to do their job, and that didn’t change.
However, as with any other job, there were rules that had to be followed for safety reasons. To explain, all Exorcists had to send Evil Aura only within the limits allowed by the guardian spirit they served. In summary, the restrictions on cursing others differed for each individual.
They must not ignore the morals they have set.
For example, Ki Jae-eon.
Because the spiritual power he had from the beginning was too strong, he was completely prohibited from slandering others. He could do Curse Unraveling, but he couldn’t cast curses. Even if he was given billions of dollars, even if he was offered all the delicacies of the world, his guardian spirit would not allow it.
Why? Because even a simple curse wouldn’t end simply.
If he resented one person, the three generations of that family would be ruined.
If he prayed for one leg to be broken, he would surely take their life.
That was Ki Jae-eon. His slander would surely become a seed that would bring destruction. Therefore, his guardian spirit was taking precautions in advance, and Ki Jae-eon’s main specialty was exorcising Evil Spirits and specters. It was also the reason why those who received the blessing of God had to be virtuous in a similar context.
[A believer who serves God must not harbor malice towards harmless people.]
That was the same as an absolute rule that those who walked this path had to follow.
If violated, the believer would be punished. It was a natural principle.
Um, Ki Jae-eon pondered for a moment.
He knew too well how Ahn Seo-myeong would grow up as an Exorcist in the future, so it was difficult to give advice carelessly. Because he didn’t know what kind of impact his words would have now. It might even be a hindrance.
‘But harming the body is still something to refrain from…….’
In the end, as he was hesitating without being able to do either, Ahn Seo-myeong, who saw the sight, lowered his eyebrows. Even his rebellious eyes quickly became docile. He was like a puppy that had been severely scolded. A baby puppy that whimpered and plopped down, only looking at its owner’s face.
“Still…”
Ahn Seo-myeong’s lips quivered, his voice sounding strangely dejected.
“If hyung is going to scold me…”
His head tilted slowly.
“I guess I deserve to be scolded, right?”
As his tousled hair brushed against the back of Ki Jae-eon’s hand, Ki Jae-eon’s fingers recoiled inward like a frightened hermit crab. However, Ahn Seo-myeong didn’t seem inclined to let go.
“Jae-eon hyung.”
Black eyes gazed up at him, seizing the moment.
“Are you going to scold me?”
A hint of mischief flickered in his innocent question, his aegyo-sal plumped up, and the corners of his lips quietly lifted.
Finally, a soft chuckle burst out.
Everything clicked into place, and a flower bloomed on his usually stern face.
Ki Jae-eon’s breath caught for a moment at the sight of his clear expression.
And soon after, he realized that Ahn Seo-myeong was teasing him.
“Y-you’re, t-teasing, m-me…”
Ki Jae-eon stammered, his face flushing red. He would rather be cursed at than be subjected to this kind of teasing, to which he had absolutely no resistance.
It was then.
The door creaked open, and a chorus of boisterous voices poured in.
“Oh, he’s awake!”
“Wow… oppa!”
“Guys, Jae-eon hyung is up!”
The room quickly filled with children’s shouts. The bustling scene resembled a busy neighborhood market. The children surrounded Ki Jae-eon, chattering among themselves. Some expressed concern, while others chided him for being too weak. However, there were too many of them to respond to individually, and more importantly, something else was bothering Ki Jae-eon.
‘What on earth did he do… to cause a group Evil Aura outbreak?’
Indeed. All the children had as much Evil Aura as Ahn Seo-myeong.
It was truly maddening.