‘So clear.’
The flow Gi Jae-eon possessed was normal.
No, it was even better than normal. Simply by facing each other… he was, in fact, being purified in return.
Surprisingly so.
Kim Young quietly chuckled to himself. He had never seen such power before. Now he understood why everyone praised “Gi Jae-eon! Gi Jae-eon!” in unison. If he had a person like this beside him, he too would be unable not to look up to him.
But it was also strange that there was no curse.
‘Then why?’
As he put down the prayer beads, a vacant gaze met his eyes.
Gray eyes filled with anxiety, as if checking for signs.
Eyes soaked in gloom, but carrying the prediction of “I knew this would happen.”
At that moment, Kim Young realized.
‘Does this kid know he’s not cursed?’
There was no need for a haejusa.
‘This kid…’
Kim Young took a bitter breath.
This was never an area he could heal.
Though the exact story was unknown, Gi Jae-eon needed to go to a hospital immediately.
What he needed was a doctor, not a haejusa. At least from Kim Young’s perspective.
This boy was in bad shape.
Mentally overwhelmed, severely so.
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.”
Without much reply, Gi Jae-eon nodded slightly. It felt like he knew Kim Young couldn’t help him. Moving slowly, he got up from his seat. Could a person look so fragile? It was as if only his surroundings were colorless. From head to toe, no sign of vitality was visible.
‘Pitiful.’
Kim Young was a haejusa, not a counselor. Not a psychiatrist either. But from years of training disciples, he learned one thing: even when trying to save children, there is a golden time. If missed, the child lives forever with a hole in their heart. No comfort can fill that hole then. Of course, mental wounds don’t heal easily. Even geniuses aren’t exempt.
Kim Young couldn’t even imagine the consequences if that signal was ignored.
Suddenly, he thought of his disciples, including Kim Joo-won.
Not a single child was without troubles… but it didn’t mean their pain should be taken lightly with “Everyone suffers.” There was definitely hope for improvement.
Also, it was the duty of adults.
‘How did they manage to drive him to this state?’
Kim Young frowned at the bitter taste in his mouth.
‘Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember hearing the Gi family’s training is brutal.’
Especially for a child with this much talent, it was clear how much they pushed him without even watching.
‘Should I report this to the association? Would anyone listen to me?’
Kim Young’s heart grew heavy knowing his counterpart was the Gi family. If it was just meddling on his part, the consequences later would be terrible. They were known to repay grudges twentyfold. Would they spare him for treating their beloved Gi Jae-eon like a madman? A man who tarnished the “genius” title?
‘Maybe it’s all my imagination…’
But the boy before him was living proof.
‘…Clear signs of abuse.’
“I-I, I-I’ll check, all of it.”
Gi Jae-eon shivered and headed to the door. His dry, exhausted voice was worrisome. Kim Young made a decision: just one last check. That was it.
“Exorcist Gi Jae-eon.”
“...?”
“How have you been lately? Are you managing work? Taking breaks properly?”
Gi Jae-eon seemed to hesitate at Kim Young’s questions, then quickly averted his gaze, stammering. Exorcism. Work. Gi Jae-eon’s complexion changed. Dark and gloomy, he began showing signs of restlessness.
Weak but similar to a seizure.
Kim Young immediately apologized, “I’m sorry.”
But Gi Jae-eon’s symptoms did not improve. Eventually, in a voice smaller than an ant’s, he muttered, “I-I don’t really know.” Then he grabbed the doorknob. Kim Young hurriedly stood up, but it was difficult to catch the rapidly fleeing Gi Jae-eon.
“Hah, hah… ugh!”
The world spun around him. Gi Jae-eon’s jaw trembled, and he curled up in a corner of the corridor as much as his large frame would allow. Did it hide him? Of course not.
But he couldn’t fuss over details. Gi Jae-eon was simply trying to calm himself by blocking his vision like a frightened animal.
“How have you been lately? Are you managing work? Taking breaks properly?”
Just a casual greeting.
He knew. He did. But…
It reminded him of words he once heard, stirring rejection.
—Gi Jae-eon, you have to hold on. Hold on tight.
—If you give up, we’re all dead.
—We gathered some food for those rescued to give you. Eat this and gain strength!
—Please save me… please, please. Save me.
—The exorcist is doing well, right? Can we trust him?
—Sir, can we survive...?
Gi Jae-eon’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. After a few dry heaves, he finally gasped. His body cooled down as his temperature dropped. Leaning his forehead against the wall, his eyes trembled.
This can’t be. How did I end like this?
“Please, please, please, stop. Please… I was wrong, I was wrong.”
I’m sorry. God, please. Gi Jae-eon muttered tirelessly in a worn-out voice, lips cracked and dry moving desperately.
Then it happened.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Someone spoke to Gi Jae-eon. Startled by the sudden voice, he inhaled sharply. But despite his exaggerated movements, the other person seemed calm. Maybe deliberately so to avoid provoking panic, or naturally impassive; there was no change in expression.
“Do you feel sick?”
The voice was clear and refreshing.
It sounded like the boundary between boy and man.
“You can’t rest here. This is near the infirmary. I’ll help you.”
“Hah… ha.”
“I’m going to touch your shoulder.”
The boy who warned gently reached out and carefully held Gi Jae-eon’s shoulder. His hands were surprisingly large and firm.
“Lean on me. You can put weight on me.”
Gi Jae-eon’s weak body moved as led. He looked blankly at the small boy whose height barely reached his shoulder. Then he flinched and stiffened.
Having only seen the grown version, he was slow to realize.
Gi Jae-eon knew this small boy.
Back when the boundaries of Seoul (Bonryeong)–Incheon (Cheonjiharang)–Busan (Haeshin) had collapsed and all exorcists joined forces to exorcise ‘it,’ this boy stood by Gi Jae-eon’s side, serving him for a long time and ultimately dying in his place.
[An Seo-myeong]
‘It’s him.’
Back then he was taller and bigger than now, but his face… was the same.
‘He was this small.’
Staring blankly at the clear face, Gi Jae-eon suddenly remembered that day and bent over quickly. An Seo-myeong, split apart as if his upper and lower halves were torn, had left without a scream. The vivid sensation of that death twisted his insides.
—If I die, it’s because I’m weak, not because of you, exorcist. So please live.
“Ugh! Hngh, ugh—!”
—Forget those who have left. The human brain has limits; trying to remember everything breaks it. That’s why we’re animals of forgetfulness. So, exorcist, live remembering only the coming world of peace. Forget the pain little by little. That’s how you survive. You deserve it, Gi Jae-eon.
‘I couldn’t protect...’
“Do you feel like you’re about to vomit? It’s okay, just let it out.”
An Seo-myeong glanced around, then calmly gestured to the floor. “I’ll clean it up.” His tone was blunt and cold but contained kindness that Gi Jae-eon understood.
That’s why you died protecting me.
“No, it’s okay... ah…”
They couldn’t stay together. The complicated emotions ended with guilt.
Gi Jae-eon shook off An Seo-myeong’s hold and staggered out into the corridor.