The first to greet Gi Jae-eon upon his return home was his older brother, Gi Jae-ha. Although his “Oh, you’re back now?” came with painfully awkward delivery.
Gi Jae-ha was six years older than Gi Jae-eon.
He was much taller and so bulky that people sometimes mistook him for a UFC or wrestling fighter. But Gi Jae-ha, too, was a bloodline bearer of the Gi family and could not defy his predetermined fate.
Because his younger brother was Gi Jae-eon, he was always subjected to unwanted comparisons. Still, Gi Jae-ha was a legitimate toemasa in his own right and not inferior to anyone.
People around called him “the unfortunate eldest son who lost the family head position,” but Gi Jae-ha didn’t care. Jealousy and envy? Those were just ignorant nonsense from people who didn’t know him. Gi Jae-ha held no inferiority toward Gi Jae-eon.
If anything, he felt pity.
Why? The reason was simple.
He couldn’t shake the thought that his younger brother bore the burden of both their shares.
Gi Jae-ha enjoyed many things that Gi Jae-eon never did.
For example, normal friendships and free romantic life?
Unlike Gi Jae-eon, who quit school after finishing compulsory education (middle school) at their father’s will and devoted himself solely to exorcism, Gi Jae-ha was able to attend university.
And that wasn’t all. He sometimes neglected training to spend time playing soccer with friends, once kissed a utility pole while drunk at a late-night drinking party, and even tried CC, which others forbade. His phone held many group chats and a packed photo album. Just as the Gi family had treated him coldly, he, too, didn’t hold the family in high regard.
Thus, he enjoyed youth and freedom as much as anyone.
Of course, that also meant he was mostly ignored by their father… but he didn’t care. He never sought his father’s affection in the first place.
But Gi Jae-eon was different.
The next family head called from birth, carrying that weight since childhood. For him, soccer, girlfriends, and travel were forbidden.
He had to train constantly. Even though he was in his growth years and supposedly needed care, if he failed to memorize jubeop, he was locked in the annex warehouse without dinner until he memorized everything, unable to see sunlight.
Gi Jae-ha remembered days he came home after playing soccer all day with friends, days he sulked after fighting with his girlfriend, days he came home drunk from evening drinking parties.
Maybe every day.
At dawn, he remembered his younger brother stumbling out of the annex. When their eyes accidentally met, the small boy politely nodded as if greeting a stranger. At that time, Gi Jae-eon’s eyes were reddened.
To be honest, in his foolish youth, Gi Jae-ha once briefly felt like his brother was a kind of talisman. Or more precisely, a shield.
“Keep sacrificing hard for my share like that.”
The freedom that could only be obtained because Gi Jae-eon existed.
A life exempt from burden and expectation.
Gi Jae-ha thought he was the one enjoying the privilege. And that was true.
Then one day he realized.
“When I laugh and joke with friends, what about Jae-eon?”
A lonely life with no friends to even share trivial chatter, let alone a romance.
That was all there was to the life of the genius called Gi Jae-eon.
The only company he had were evil spirits and yokai. Isn’t that ironic? Revered by all but living a painfully lonely daily life. To Gi Jae-ha, Gi Jae-eon’s life was abnormal.
But even so, there was nothing Gi Jae-ha could do.
It was awkward to give advice or counsel. Apart from being born of the same womb, they shared no similarities and were awkward with each other. Though labeled brothers in name, they never had proper conversations.
Above all, his brother chose this path himself. His perseverance enduring the harsh training was admirable. Watching that strong back grown tall filled a corner of Gi Jae-ha’s heart with pride. He even felt a silly vicarious satisfaction.
So he left it be.
“Who worries for whom?”
That was exactly how he thought.
A born genius dares to say anything to anyone? A talent he could never have no matter how many times he woke up.
Someone who had to succeed, who did well on their own, a talented younger brother.
That was what he believed.
But after the seizure, his brother changed. Refusing food was basic, he isolated himself in his room, and even stammered his speech. The Gi Jae-eon who was said to drop even birds dead was broken overnight. How could that be?
People babbled nonsense about curses and other annoying things, but Gi Jae-ha was different. He stood firm. A curse? My younger brother, called the world’s strongest? No way, he shook his head in disbelief.
It’s Gi Jae-eon after all, the one who “always succeeds.” He would be back soon. He’d get better. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.
He thought so and didn’t care much.
It was arrogance.
Even after visiting Bonryeong with the best haejusa, Gi Jae-eon remained the same.
Bent back, blackened and servile gaze, nervously biting his lips.
His brother was weak.
A lie… is that really Gi Jae-eon? Since he thought his brother would live nobly for life, the shock was multiplied several times.
For the first time, Gi Jae-ha regretted.
He couldn’t forgive himself for neglecting his brother under the excuse of trusting him.
“Good job.”
As soon as Gi Tae-ho faced Gi Jae-eon, he poured out lavish praise. His raised chin showed great satisfaction.
“I heard you raised the prestige of Cheonjiharang.”
Gi Tae-ho said happily,
“As the Gi family, that’s how it should be!”
He looked proud as the second son who had dealt a big blow to ignorant fools trying to tarnish the Gi family’s reputation.
Gi Tae-ho thought of tomorrow’s meeting.
The old dogs of Cheonjiharang who had been poking at them, saying the Gi family’s glory was fading. He looked forward to seeing them quickly change their tune and say things like “From Bonryeong—,” “The great light—,” “Indeed the Gi family—,” all trying to read the mood.
A confident smile appeared on Gi Tae-ho’s face. It was like when he was the pinnacle of toemasa before Gi Jae-eon was born—arrogant and burning with strong vitality.
“Surely Incheon (Cheonjiharang) will realize nothing is possible without our Gi family.”
He felt his chest clear as if a blocked breath had been released. The breath tasted sweet. When his once healthy son became a cripple overnight, he experienced the sky turning blue.
But as expected!
Rather, one fall made the talent of the young genius shine even brighter. Truly the Gi family’s masterpiece.
“You’ve worked hard. Rest well until dinner.”
Gi Tae-ho gave a clean dismissal.
There were no other questions.
Not about the haejusa or the battered face.
“Master, the elders are calling.”
He quietly got up upon hearing that the meal was ready. He had no appetite and felt bloated, so dinner wasn’t really on his mind, but he forced himself to walk so they wouldn’t tell him to go back to Seoul.
His unsteady steps eventually reached a table set full.
The family was already seated and waiting.
“...I’m sorry.”
“Sit down.”
Normally he would have been scolded, but Gi Tae-ho didn’t want to spoil his good mood and showed considerable leniency. Ah... yes. Gi Jae-eon slumped into a chair. His mother, Ryu Seong-hee, caught his eyes but he quickly looked away.
“Frustrating.”
Gi Jae-eon nervously rolled his eyes, unsure where to look.
A strict father, an inscrutable mother, and an awkward older brother.
For Gi Jae-eon, his family was that image.
Close yet distant.
They lived forced to fulfill filial duty, but if asked simply whether he loved them enough to want to stay by their side, he’d answer vaguely, “...Hmm, maybe.”
“Eat before it gets cold.”
Everyone silently picked up their spoons and chopsticks except Gi Jae-eon, who froze. But he couldn’t bring himself to reach out.
“How do I eat rice again?”
He felt like a fool.
Biting the inside of his cheek, he urged himself. Hurry up. Eat something.
“Rice... hold the spoon...”
It was natural, so why was he confused?
Gi Jae-eon lowered his head and rolled his eyes repeatedly. Tense, he clenched and unclenched his hands several times.
How do I hold chopsticks? Right hand? Ah, first water...
Oh, right. First soup, then vegetables.
Recalling the rules—no smacking sounds, no frequent water drinking during meals—he continued eating awkwardly. One bite, two bites. Every time he chewed and swallowed, his hands and feet grew cold. It felt like choking. He suppressed the urge to vomit.
After eating about a third of his bowl, Gi Tae-ho suddenly spoke.
“Rest until tomorrow, and start moving again the day after. There’s a lot of backlog.”
Gi Jae-eon’s hand, which had just picked up side dishes, visibly stiffened.
“Work?”
He put down the chopsticks and hurriedly grabbed the water cup. Even swallowing a mouthful of cold water, the bitterness and sourness didn’t go away. A sharp pain burned inside his throat.
“Do I have to fight again?”
The image of bloodied, collapsed An Seo-myeong flashed in his mind.
His heart dropped heavily. Cold sweat formed on his hands and neck. Gi Jae-eon kept licking his dry lips, fighting the rising nausea.