By Zephyria 
The Exorcist ‘Mook’ of Heavenly Land was in a good mood.
This was because the ‘Gi Clan’, which had been a thorn in his side, was on the road to ruin.
For reference, it was two days ago that he heard the news that the eldest grandson of that house was on his last legs.
Everything was going according to plan.
He had no guilt. Everything was for the sake of Heavenly Land.
‘Stagnant water is bound to rot, so it must be drained before that happens.’
It was a natural principle.
As expected, luck came as if he had been waiting for it.
“Thank you for your hard work at the Shinollim Festival today.”
They were able to share the village festival that the Gi Clan had monopolized every time.
“Of course.”
In this way, Mook was able to confirm once again that his choice was not wrong.
In particular, the
Of course, the person considered to be the representative of Incheon stood on the stage.
It was always Ki Jae-ha.
The Gi Clan had planted their own flag in place of Ki Jae-eon.
[Shinollim Festival is, Ki Jae-ha]
It was almost an unspoken rule.
But now it’s different.
Heavenly Land, not the Gi Clan, is leading the way.
The Exorcists of Heavenly Land, except for Mook, were also very excited. It was understandable. Even if they just went on stage and made a good impression, they would be somewhat successful in attracting customers. At this point, they had succeeded in securing their rice bowl, which they had been shouting about all along, so it was inevitable that smiles would bloom.
“Let’s do well together!”
“The Gi Clan must be in pain. Hahaha-!”
And before long, the promised 8 p.m. arrived.
Fluttering-!
The Exorcists of Heavenly Land flew onto the stage, fluttering their colorful robes.
They began to show off the dance moves that they had not been able to show off because they were pushed back by the Gi Clan.
But it was strange.
“……?”
The audience’s reaction was weak!
The response was clearly different from when they saw Ki Jae-ha.
“Is this the main performance?”
The enthusiastic cheers gradually faded, and those who had been holding cameras tilted their heads and lowered their arms. What’s wrong? Why is the quality so bad? There were quite a few people who openly expressed their disappointment.
In a word, ‘it was ruined.’
The most embarrassed were the Exorcists of Heavenly Land.
This was not the reaction they had expected.
What they wanted was the enthusiasm that was given to Ki Jae-ha.
They just coveted the same thing.
Why.
But in this unfortunate situation, the audience was not at fault at all. It was just that the Exorcists of Heavenly Land didn’t know.
What don’t they know? The answer is simple.
Self-objectification. In other words, meta-cognition.
They were making a huge misunderstanding.
Only ‘Ki Jae-eon’, only ‘Ki Jae-ha’, only ‘Gi Clan’!
The great illusion that if only that damn ‘Gi Clan’ disappeared, they would have a chance too.
It was a stupid misjudgment.
People didn’t cheer because it was the ‘Gi Clan’. Rather, because they were not related to this industry, they could send more objective responses. It was a really simple logic. Applause if they do well, jeers if they don’t.
So why was Ki Jae-ha able to excite people so much at every festival?
The reason is simple. It was purely skill. That’s all.
Yes, that’s right.
Ki Jae-ha was proving it with his skills. He had never obscured them.
Ki Jae-eon is the same.
He just shone alone.
The two brothers had not neglected their efforts in addition to their talents. Therefore, the Exorcists of Heavenly Land should have realized it long ago.
If someone is standing in the position I covet… that person must have a good reason.
In the first place, if someone’s job looks easy, it’s because that person is good at it, and the probability that the difficulty of the job is easy is very low.
“Ah, let’s just go. I’m sleepy.”
Just as people who couldn’t overcome their boredom were leaving the audience one by one.
Tring—–.
The sound of a bell rang.
As if organizing the chaotic current situation, someone slowly walked from afar.
The one dragging a bright red rope while wearing a black veil. In his left hand, he held a Muryeong made of dozens of bells tied together. Tring tring tring-. It was just a bell, but it awakened a strange sadness. People held their breath and stared blankly at the man, no, the person, who was creating a long shadow.
He took one step, one step, onto the stage where the people of Heavenly Land were standing.
The thick braided rope followed the man like a tail.
Tring tring tring-.
“Heok!”
“……!!”
At his appearance, the Exorcists of Heavenly Land turned pale and stepped back. Thump thump!* Some even fell down the stairs while hurriedly trying to escape.
And then came the silence.
The man put down the Muryeong and drew the Sinkal he had on his waist.
In that way, the moment the sword cut through the air.
“……Wow!”
The flow of air changed.
The white durumagi fluttering according to the man’s gestures.
The blade moving precariously.
It was a movement that focused people’s attention without a single song.
He, who had already taken over the stage, gradually wielded the sword with complicated movements. The dance gradually escalated, and the swords collided, creating a chilling noise that rang in the ears.
For some reason, it was an appearance that they couldn’t take their eyes off of.
People stared blankly at the man.
The stage, which could have been boring, was not at all.
Even without music.
Even without people supporting him.
The man was enough.
He was playing accurately.
[Shinmyeongnada] If interpreted differently, [God comes in]
The Sinkal collided, showing off a eerie beauty.
And one more surprising thing was that the man’s white durumagi began to turn red as time passed. People exclaimed with screams, wondering what kind of device it was. That’s because the unrealistic effect that suddenly popped out in the restrained performance was bound to give a unique pleasure. In particular, the fantasy mixed with the classics had a clear charm.
“Grandma! That mister is really cool!”
A child who had been touching his smartphone all along grabbed his grandmother’s skirt and sparkled his eyes. However, her impressions, who turned eighty this year, were different. She couldn’t simply enjoy the stage as an audience member like other people.
Because the dance was ‘Nakheo’.
The dance of Nakheo was not one befitting a festival.
Although it pleased those who watched, its hidden meaning was different.
It was a dance mainly performed during Exorcism of evil things like evil spirits, or when resolving grudges.
‘To dance Nakheo so beautifully…….’
She gathered her hands near her chest.
Why on earth would he dance Nakheo of all things?
‘On such a joyful day, such sorrowful movements…….’
Whoosh-!
The blade thrown into the air spun around before landing in the man’s hand.
At the same time, the man’s whole body turned red.
As if thoroughly soaked in blood.
“Waaaaaaaah-!!”
“Awesome!”
A roar like thunder erupted, and people whistled, showering him with generous applause. Their cheers seemed to say, ‘Yes, that’s it!’
However.
‘Crazy, you crazy bastard……!’
Having watched the entire situation, Mook-ssi was looking at the man, no, Ki Jae-eon, with eyes filled with terror.
His expression was in perfect contrast to the people in the audience.
It certainly wasn’t just Mook-ssi.
All the Exorcists of Heavenly Land were also completely stunned.
Why? Because [Jomagu] had been executed right before their eyes.
Jomagu had been tied to the red rope that Ki Jae-eon had been holding when he appeared. He had been dragged along, covered in talismans to prevent those without Spiritual Sight from seeing him. Moreover, Jomagu was in a horrific state, his eyeballs gouged out and his skin torn to shreds. The red rope that people saw was not merely colored, but Jomagu’s blood.
The white durumagi that had become increasingly dark red over time could also be explained in a similar vein. That’s right. It was Jomagu’s blood.
Because Ki Jae-eon had butchered the specter on stage.
He danced while covered in the specter’s blood.
It was truly a public execution.
Mook-ssi let out a trembling breath.
Far away, the man stood, receiving the cheers of the people.
The blue spirit reaching out from within the black veil.
It was only at this point that Mook-ssi realized.
‘I made a mistake!’
This was a kind of warning to those who had touched Ki Jae-ha, who had touched the Gi Clan.
And one more thing.
A stage announcing the flamboyant comeback of Exorcist Ki Jae-eon.
That was what he was saying.
He had proven once again before everyone that he was an unyielding sun.
Recognition, yes. There was no choice but to acknowledge it.
Mook-ssi slowly knelt down on both knees.
The other Exorcists, terrified, followed Mook-ssi and prostrated themselves.
As the Mountain Lord emerged, the foxes had to tuck their tails.