Pr: K
Seok Juryeon narrowed her eyes and pondered over the words.
“Byeoksadan?”
Master Yeohye ministering to ghosts? If that were true, it was discomforting. However, for ghosts to form a group and even come up with a name? Aside from being unpleasant, it was something that should never have happened.
“This information is obtained through several shamans. It is said to be quite a famous talk among shamans. It seems to have already become established as fact, with information circulating secretly. However, we have not yet secured any solid witnesses or evidence.”
Seok Juryeon’s eyes became sharper. Yoon Taehee, who was sitting next to her, also straightened his back and adjusted his posture. Before he knew it, his lips were forming an arc as if he had heard a very amusing story.
“Because of this, a few days ago we called in Master Yeohye to investigate.”
The Secret Service Department had already called in Master Yeohye twice and completed the investigation. However, there were no significant results. The master expressed strong displeasure. Dismissing it as nonsense, he said this was the first time he had heard of this Byeoksadan. The investigation participants were all flustered due to his loud protests made despite his advanced age, “Are you saying that a person who serves a divine spirit can deal with unsavory ghosts?!”
Because there was no solid evidence, it was difficult in many ways.
However, it was also challenging to inquire recklessly. Although they usually regarded shamans with disdain, their opponent was Zen Master Yeohye. He was such that they couldn’t ignore his influence. Master Yeohye was someone with connections to many high-ranking figures.
“The Master says he has never heard of Byeoksadan before. There are many people who are jealous and covetous when it comes to his status, so there is a possibility that someone deliberately spread malicious rumors to tarnish Master Yeohye’s reputation…”
Yoon Taehee, who had been listening to him while twirling a pen, put down the ballpoint pen with a thud, as if cutting off Chief Choi’s words. Seok Juryeon’s gaze fell on Yoon Taehee.
“Do you really believe that?”
Yoon Taehee smiled and fiddled with the end of his eyebrows.
“…”
Chief Choi paused and looked at Yoon Taehee.
“Master Yeohye, of course, would say no even if it was true. Even if he tells the truth, there’s no benefit for him. In this case, rather than calling in Master Yeohye to investigate, isn’t it right to act on the premise that ‘Byeoksadan exists’ from the beginning?”
The lighthearted voice presented a cool-headed and rational solution.
“And, the ‘Byeoksadan’ probably really exists. To uncover the truth, it is better to interrogate the surrounding shamans and intelligent ghosts.”
After finishing his sentence, Yoon Taehee rummaged through his jacket pocket. Individually wrapped candies came out. The sound of him calmly unwrapping and eating the candy grated on Seok Juryeon’s nerves. Normally, she would have shot him a sharp glance, but today she decided to let it go. Yoon Taehee’s precise observation secretly satisfied her.
Seok Juryeon’s fingertips tapped the table.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Yes, Byeoksadan. Byeoksadan, huh…”
Glrwlrrlcu la jr wfgf gewbgr kjrc’a fcbeut. Pa ybatfgfv tfg atja cba bcis kjr la jc ecobecvfv gewbg, yea jirb atja atf ugbeq tjv vfajlifv lar cjwf. Ktf fzlrafcmf bo j ugbeq bo utbrar kjr j nfgs rfglber jcv vjcufgber lrref ogbw atf qblca bo nlfk bo Rjgsfmtfbcu.
Qtfc bcf yfmbwfr akb jcv akb yfmbwf atgff, atfs yfmbwf j ugbeq. C ugbeq yfmbwfr j obgmf, jcv j obgmf lcfnlajyis tjr lar ubjir.
“Assign someone to tail Master Yeohye. Monitor his every move. And dispatch all remaining personnel to the Undercover Department. Collect all information related to the Byeoksadan.”
It was right to nip the sinister bud from the beginning.
“We need to capture Byeoksadan.”
Seok Juryeon’s eyes shone sharply.
***
Yoon Taehee only left work in the night, well past midnight.
If he were an ordinary office worker, he would have suffered from terrible overtime, but in his case, it was the opposite. He was one of those who left work early. There were still more than half of the people left in the Team 1’s office. This was because, due to the nature of the job, there were more night shifts than day shifts.
On the third day of work, the apprentice ran away without permission, and the Chief left work early. Except for the two of them, the first team of the Exorcism Department was peaceful today as well.
The reason why Yoon Taehee left work earlier than usual was simple.
Because he just couldn’t do the work. That was the reason.
After leaving the main office, Yoon Taehee tilted his head and looked blankly at the night sky. The sky was clear, so the scattered starlight was clear. There was no one around Jongmyo Shrine as the visiting hours had long since ended, and it was dark.
After standing like that for a while, Yoon Taehee put his hand in the knot of his tie and loosened it. With his hands in his trouser pockets, he slowly walked towards the park. Today, there was no convenient place to park nearby, so he had parked his car a bit farther away. To get to where his car was parked, he had to pass through the large park connected to Jongmyo Shrine. When he went to work, it was crowded with people out and about taking a walk, but at night, the park was so secluded and quiet that it did not feel like the same place.
As he entered the park, the streetlights standing at regular intervals were sparsely illuminating the dark park. As he walked along the flower bed, he smelled damp grass.
Chirp, chirp…
The sound of crickets softly followed Yoon Taehee’s steps. He didn’t particularly dislike taking a nighttime walk on his way home from work. While walking slowly through the dark park, he took out a cigarette from his pocket. Although there were signs posted throughout the park indicating that smoking, drinking, and loitering in public places were prohibited, Yoon Taehee wasn’t particularly steadfast in his law-abiding spirit.
As he was about to light his cigarette, he briefly looked around, checking to see if anyone was passing by nearby. Fortunately, the only person visible was someone sleeping on a bench far away. Yoon Taehee took out a lighter. Holding the lighter as if shielding it with one hand, he was about to strike the flint when,
He froze.
“…”
Yoon Taehee, who had paused, suddenly raised his head. His gaze focused on a certain spot. He looked again at the person sleeping on the bench he had seen earlier. Yoon Taehee’s eyes widened as his lips slowly parted, and the cigarette he was holding fell out. The sight of the figure curled up as he slept felt oddly familiar.
The homeless person was none other than Jaegyeom.
***
In the middle of the night, the park was immersed in darkness.
The only sounds were occasional car passing noises from outside the park and the faint sound of insects crying. Jaegyeom, who was curled up on the bench, was fast asleep, wrapped in the dim glow of the orange streetlight. Suddenly, a loud phone ringing sound rang.
Jaegyeom stayed in his lying position and fumbled with his hand to take out his cell phone.
[Yoon Taehee]
A name that he had entered clumsily a few days ago came to mind. Jaegyeom, who was quietly staring at the screen, put his phone back indifferently. He wasn’t particularly surprised. He had already contacted Jeongju and told him that he would not be able to come back today due to a lot of delays at work. Excluding Jeongju, there was only one person who would call. As expected, it was the phone call he least wanted to receive.
Ring, ring…
Jaegyeom tried to ignore the loud ringing sound of his cell phone, crossing his arms and closing his eyes again. Then, at some point, he suddenly felt a strange feeling. His eyes snapped open. When he opened his eyes, there was a long shadow cast over him. In other words, someone was standing behind him, blocking the light of the streetlight.
Jaegyeom turned his head abruptly in surprise.
“…”
His eyes widened, and this time he was a little surprised. Standing behind him was Yoon Taehee, looking down at him with one hand in his pants pocket.
Ring, ring…
Yoon Tae-hee, who had been standing silently, finally took the phone held against his ear away. Only then did the ringing stop abruptly. Jaegyeom pushed himself up slowly, touching his side where he had been lying.
“…”
“…”
Their gazes collided in the air, as a rather long silence ensued.
“Hi.”
It was Yoon Taehee who spoke first.
“Why aren’t you answering the phone?”
He stared at Jaegyeom blankly. The latter turned his head, avoiding the gaze. After a moment of silence, Jaegyeom responded in an indifferent tone.
“Because I don’t want to receive it.”
“Why?”
“You didn’t receive mine either.”
“…”
Well, that’s true, but… Yoon Taehee somehow found himself at a loss for words. Jaegyeom looked up at him with a slightly disdainful glance. Yoon Taehee kept his mouth shut for a while, then he looked around the park and asked.
“What are you doing here?”
“And what are you doing here?”
“Just passing by.”
“Is that so? Then you can just keep passing by.”
The words that came out of Jaegyeom’s mouth were cold and indifferent. Although they were having a conversation, it didn’t feel like one. He was talking back to every word Yoon Taehee was saying. It felt like they had gone back to their old student-teacher relationship.
“…”
In the end, Yoon Taehee let out a small sigh. It was around early evening when Jaegyeom left the main office. It was clear that he had been wandering outside ever since. The reason was obvious, but… He had no idea that he would be sleeping on a park bench.
“It’s late.”
Yoon Taehee closed his eyes tightly and opened them, as if he was trying to compose himself, and then he spoke again.
“Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride.”
He lowered his hand onto Jaegyeom’s shoulder.
“Don’t touch me.”
As soon as his hand touched his shoulder, Jaegyeom roughly slapped his hand away with a loud sound. It was a sharp reaction. The rejected hand hung in the air motionless.
“When did I ask you to give me a ride?”
Finally, Jaegyeom raised the corners of his eyes and glared at Yoon Taehee.
“Get lost. Mind your own business and go your own way. I’ll manage on my own. Don’t ever offer me a ride again. So don’t bother giving me one now, and don’t even think about coming to pick me up.”
At his coldly drawn words, Yoon Taehee’s face became expressionless in an instant.
Ta ehee reminding him that he’s only doing this to die rly struck a nerve eh. It’s true tho n sad for mesani n jeungju. Tyfc Misa. Hope ur doin well.
I can’t define precisely how cute and adorable they are, really 😭❤❤❤
Thank you for your hard workkk ❤❤
haha I really like to picture the scene he realizes it is Jaegyom on the bench.
YT try harder! jaecyom is such a hurt soul.
Thank you! This novel is still the one I most look foward to reading a new chapter.
Poor Jaegyeom 😢