Bright light naturally opened his eyes. After a quick check, it was the dedicated secretary who managed schedules at Cheonjiharang.
The message started with, “[Jae-eon, how are you? It’s uncle],” continued with, “[How’s your body?],” then, “[If you need anything, just contact me],” and ended with, “[I know things will be tough for a while…but when your condition improves, contact me immediately].”
Gi Jae-eon instantly caught the hidden meaning behind this long message.
Demotion, exile, banishment.
More precisely… it was a warning: “Don’t think about setting foot in Incheon until you’re back to normal.”
Gi Jae-eon sluggishly got up and wiped his stiff face. His palm, dry as his lips, rubbed against his skin, sending a strange chill through him.
Only now did he fully understand everything.
‘Why my brother took over all my duties…’
Before coming down to Bonryeong, Gi Jae-eon had to go through handover procedures with his older brother, Gi Jae-ha, following their father’s orders.
Of course, he had failed to handle it properly, so someone else ended up delivering the message anyway, but still.
Gi Jae-eon fully understood his position.
In short, the roles had switched.
From ‘Gi Jae-eon’ leading the Gi family to ‘Gi Jae-ha.’
He didn’t feel particularly disappointed. What was there to regret about a family that would vanish like dust in the distant future?
Everything was meaningless. He only worried that his older brother, who wasn’t very passionate about exorcism, might struggle with the role he’d been forced to take on. Should he have talked before leaving home?
But even if they talked, there wouldn’t be any sharp solution.
Decisions were always the head of the family’s, and the underlings had no choice but to accept and follow.
Even if they arranged a private meeting, they’d probably just awkwardly roll their eyes at each other.
Or maybe Gi Jae-ha would resent him, blaming him for how things turned out.
‘Resentment?’
Gi Jae-eon smirked slightly.
Yeah, better to be hated.
‘Affection only poisons when it builds up.’
So that person’s death might hurt a little less someday.
‘If you hate me a lot… would that make it easier?’
How long did it take to forget family, to forget his brother? Gi Jae-eon recalled the moments when he lost one precious thing after another and collapsed back onto the bed. His weak head buried deep in the pillow.
Just as it grew completely quiet.
Brrriiing-!!
His phone rang again.
Hmm, lots of calls today.
Gi Jae-eon deliberately ignored the vibration.
Thinking it was just a spam call, he kept his head down. But the calls kept coming. If the other side didn’t pick up, they’d probably stop, but who was so persistent?
Reluctantly, he raised his tired head and checked the screen… it was even an unknown number?
Brrr- brrr- brrr!
The unknown caller insisted he answer immediately.
Brrr- brrr- …Click.
Just as he hesitated whether to pick up, the call disconnected and soon rang again.
Brrr!!!!!!!!!!
Annoyed, the call came back.
“...I’m answering.”
Thinking this wasn’t a meaningless spam call, he hurriedly pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear. Then came a gentle voice.
“Ah, Jae-eon?”
“Jae-eon?” The tone was soft enough to make his skin itch.
Not remembering who it was, he blinked. A short chuckle came from the other end.
“Don’t remember? It’s me, Kim Young. We met at Bonryeong.”
“Ah…”
Only then did his face come to mind.
Haejusa Kim Young.
But why was he calling? Gi Jae-eon clutched the phone, confused. It was just a call, but his throat kept swallowing nervously. At least it was remote, so he could hold on.
“It’s nothing special, I just wanted to check if you arrived safely. I’d like to visit in person, but work’s piled up.”
As if knowing Gi Jae-eon’s doubts, Kim Young spoke smoothly.
“If you have any discomfort, difficulties, or suggestions while staying at Bonryeong, just contact this number. Oh, of course, no pressure. If you have someone else to contact, that’s fine too. Whatever is comfortable for you.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Have you unpacked yet?”
“Uh, slowly…”
Gi Jae-eon gestured toward the suitcase thrown carelessly on the floor. Probably no careful unpacking happening anytime soon.
“Okay. Hmm—soon the others will be back, how about having a beer together? Our kids are good at organizing that kind of thing. They must be excited hearing you arrived. They’d consider it an honor if you joined. Haha, was that too much?”
At Kim Young’s words, Gi Jae-eon had no reply, so he fiddled nervously with his fingernails.
Tick tick. Sharp.
Tick tick. Sharp.
Focused on his fingertips, he forgot he was still on the call.
“Jae-eon.”
Startled by the low voice breaking the silence, Gi Jae-eon sluggishly sat up and straightened his posture.
Though he knew no one could see him, he quickly glanced left and right, feeling anxious. Had he been caught slacking off?
Sweating cold, he gripped the phone tightly. Lately, this often happened—like a deflated balloon, his thoughts fluttered everywhere.
Why was that just now...?
“I’m li-listening.”
“They’re good people, so get along well. At least as friends, not just colleagues.”
They were peers. Luckily, Kim Young didn’t sound annoyed but smiled lightly.
Peers.
…Could he have such a thing?
‘No, he couldn’t.’
He gave up quickly. He had no reason to deepen relationships that would leave scars on his heart later.
‘That’s too stupid.’
Gi Jae-eon had no intention of building close bonds here. Instead, he’d draw a line and keep his distance.
Why? Simple.
They all die.
No matter where he stayed, even if his brother inherited the family, even if he met young Kim Joo-won, no matter what changed.
‘“That” will come, and you’ll all die pointlessly.’
Then he’d fight broken.
Running away would lead nowhere; someone had to do it.
He’d eventually win again… but he wouldn’t feel proud.
That was the tragedy of the world only he knew.
A future no one believed.
Peace with an expiration date.
Was it even possible to stay sane?
So affection was a luxury. Affection would become a weakness, a blade stabbing his own body.
He already had family and An Seo-myeong.
He’d grieved their safety enough. That was enough.
‘Hope with an expiration date…’
He refused it.
“And Jae-eon.”
“Ah, yes…”
Gi Jae-eon snapped to attention at the voice calling him.
“I hope you won’t misunderstand what I’m about to say. Um, how about we go to the hospital together sometimes while you’re staying at Bonryeong? Hmm, I’m not saying there’s a problem with you. It’s just that too much stress isn’t good. If you feel uneasy, just get checked once? That’s what I think.”
Hospital, all of a sudden?
‘Ah… well.’
Someone like Kim Young would have noticed long ago that his condition wasn’t caused by a curse. But still, a hospital? That was absurd.
What would he say there?
“I killed myself and woke up thirteen years ago?”
“I saw a future where humanity was slaughtered?”
“You’re going to die soon, too?”
Perfect nonsense to get locked up in a mental hospital.
Even if he got treatment, that was a problem.
Suppose counseling and medicine improved his condition.
Then what?
It’d be like breaking his barely healed bones again.
The pain then would be double, no, thousands of times worse.
Who’d take responsibility for that? It’d be on him again.
Sorry, but he didn’t have the strength to endure it. He’d just relapse once facing “that” again.
“I can’t… further disgrace my family.”
Eventually, Gi Jae-eon rejected Kim Young’s suggestion, using the excuse that he couldn’t bring shame to his family.
Silence followed on the other side.
Then came a slightly cold reply, “[Disgrace?]” He heard a bitter laugh too.
He’d already disgraced his family enough, and now it was funny that he was bringing it up?
As Gi Jae-eon bit his lip, the voice continued, “[…Yes, but if you change your mind, contact me anytime. I’m on your side.]” Then the call ended, leaving an inexplicable message of encouragement.