There was a time when everything in this world related to the man felt lovely. Once, the man was Jaegyeom’s world itself. But too much time had passed. A lot had happened and a lot had changed in that long time. The current Jaegyeom hated all traces that reminded him of the man.
“No, you both look the same to me.”
If he couldn’t forget, he wanted to turn away. But the man standing in front of him kept smudging him. Yoon Taehee made him look back at the past he did not want to face. Yoon Taehee was an exorcist like the man, and as the man did, he hid his identity and approached him. Likewise, to use him.
“As in the past and now, exorcists have not changed. You bunch are scum who do sly tricks behind others’ backs. You must think you can do anything. You are humans as good as miscellaneous ghosts.”
Even after hearing the harsh criticism aimed at him, Yoon Taehee did not appear particularly displeased.
“A filthy swindler from birth, a scum who engages in insidious tricks…”
The man was the culprit who ruined Jaegyeom’s life. For Jaegyeom, becoming an exorcist meant belonging to the same place as his enemies. But he wanted him to become an exorcist? Jaegyeom found it so absurd that he almost burst out laughing.
“I didn’t know you hated exorcists that much.”
At that time, Yoon Taehee, who had been rubbing his chin, opened his mouth.
“If you hate exorcists that much, as you said, it doesn’t seem like you’ll become an exorcist even if you wake up after dying. We might have been good friends and I’m very sorry it turned out this way.”
Yoon Taehee shrugged and said.
“I understand what you mean. I don’t want to force it. There are many gwijaes besides you.”
Jaegyeom narrowed his eyes. He thought he would cling persistently, but unexpectedly, Yoon Taehee backed off meekly. He muttered as he pressed his hat down.
“Of course, I won’t like anyone as much as you. I guess I picked the wrong person. It’s unfortunate and a pity, but it can’t be helped. I have no choice but to find someone else…”
As Yoon Taehee smiled, Jaegyeom silently glared at the dimple that had formed on only one cheek. It was a respectful attitude of stepping back, but somehow it felt impure.
“Then, how about Cho Youngwoo?”
The small voice that whispered was soft. It was a really odd name. Jaegyeom, who had his eyes fixed on Yoon Taehee, blinked slowly. A smile appeared on his face, which had been expressionless. Then Yoon Taehee smiled as well. It looked like they were exchanging jokes with each other.
“Hey.”
Jaegyeom opened his mouth after a long time.
“Are you threatening me right now?”
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.
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“Ugh…”
As soon as he got rid of the annoying obstacle, Jaegyeom suddenly kicked Yoon Taehee. He was lucky he had a bag on his back. Yoon Taehee grimaced and groaned as the hat he was wearing flew off somewhere. Just when he, who had been kicked by his foot and thrown into a corner, tried to raise his body,
His body rose on its own.
“I should have just taught you a lesson yesterday.”
Muttering, Jaegyeom grabbed Yoon Taehee by the collar and lifted him up like a piece of luggage. And so the two faced each other.
Pushed against the wall, Yoon Taehee let out a small cough. His hair was disheveled, and his black collared tee was pulled up in the other’s grip. From the inside of the jacket, a solid stomach was exposed by about a span of hand.
“It hurts…”
The spiritual energy that came crashing into the skin was terrifying.
“Say it again.”
He didn’t know how to get rid of the tight grip. The boy’s face was frighteningly bloody. Aside from the fact that his chest hurt from being kicked, if left as it was, even his neck would choke.
“People are watching.”
Not only those who remained inside the bookstore, but also passers-by who were hanging around the broken windows outside the store were all staring at the two and murmuring ‘What is it? What happened?’. Jaegyeom, who glanced at his surroundings, replied in an indifferent voice.
“It’s none of my business.”
Since before, Yoon Taehee took the ordinary people’s attention hostage and acted as he pleased. Come to think of it, it’s you who should be careful, not me. If he didn’t want to create a situation like this, he shouldn’t run your mouth like that. It’s okay if Jaegyeom left this place anyway. He had no intention of matching the rhythm as Yoon Taehee led him any longer.
“How long have you known him, are you so worried about Cho Youngwoo?”
“Yeah, keep being impudent like that if you want to die.”
The strength of the hand holding the collar grew stronger. Jaegyeom raised his cold eyes.
“You should look at the person while making foolish threats.”
“It’s not a threat, it’s not like that.”
“Then what the hell are you trying to do?”
Yoon Taehee grabbed Jaegyeom’s wrist with strong force.
“I came to this school to find a gwijae who will be my successor. And you said you wouldn’t be an exorcist. There are two more gwijaes besides you at this school. One of them is Cho Youngwoo. I understand you hate exorcists. But ordinary gwijaes are rather eager to become exorcists.”
Yoon Taehee relaxed the hand that was holding Jaegyeom’s wrist slightly.
“Whether or not to invite Cho Youngwoo to become an exorcist is my freedom, and what Cho Youngwoo chooses is up to him. No matter where you look, it is not your concern… Besides, since that friend is also a gwijae, isn’t it natural for me to keep him in mind? That’s all. What’s the problem?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What is that if not a threat?”
Yoon Taehee’s words certainly sounded plausible. At first glance, it was understandable, but at the same time, they were words that put a strange pressure on Jaegyeom. This must have been Yoon Taehee’s intention. There was no way that he, who had dug into the past, was unaware that Cho Youngwoo was the only person with whom Jaegyeom had an affinity for in this school. Not only that, he knew the ill feelings Jaegyeom had for exorcists. However, in this situation, his intention to mention Cho Youngwoo’s name was really clear.
“No, this is not a threat. You don’t know what a threat is.”
Yoon Taehee, who was muttering as if he were talking to himself, suddenly had a strange and inexplicable look on his face. He looked at the hand holding his collar once more, then he raised his head again and stared at Jaegyeom.
“When I received the personal information, it was perfect from the birth report. How did you do it?”
“… What?
It was a question out of the blue, the corner of Jaegyeom’s eyes narrowed. As if anyone was listening, Yoon Taehee lowered his voice slightly.
“The family relationship listed in the document is, of course, fake, so what is your relationship with that celebrity uncle? His name might have been Jeongju…”
“…”
Jaegyeom’s face hardened.
“Well, sometimes I disguise my identity for work, but… still, it has its own procedure. No matter how influential a celebrity is, it is difficult to forge official documents and tamper with personal information. Since he came to school and acts as a guardian, he seems to be looking after you. Is he also a gwijae? No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like an ordinary person…”
Yoon Taehee tilted his head and continued his words calmly.
“…”
“Anyway, tell him to be careful.”
“…”
Yoon Taehee, who finished his words with kind regards, raised the corners of his mouth. Jaegyeom’s breathing became more and more rough, and the hand that gripped his collar began to tremble. He exerted so much strength that his bones were protruding from the back of his hand and his face had turned white now.
“… You.”
The blow that was different from when he heard the name Cho Youngwoo hit Jaegyeom in the back of the head. Yoon Taehee said that only he knew him. It was only now that Jaegyeom realized what those words truly meant. Why, why didn’t he think of it? Yeah, he was up to something. There’s no way he was going to leave so nicely. Suddenly, he had the illusion that the words a man said a long time ago lingered in his ears.
‘They will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.’
‘They are ruthless and cruel.’
‘If you meet an exorcist, you must run away.’
It was as if someone had drilled into his head. At that time, he was a child who knew nothing. He didn’t even know that the man was an exorcist. That’s why he was so foolish. Everything was in the palm of the man’s hand. But not now. The reason he didn’t run away even after seeing Yoon Taehee was because he thought he had nothing more to lose. And now Yoon Taehee was asking him if he really thought so, if he really had nothing to lose there.
Jaegyeom’s eyes shook in despair. Yoon Taehee, who had been silently staring at Jaegyeom, finally tightened his grip on his hand. It was a strong force, distinctly different from the one earlier. His hand, which was gripping his collar, came off easily. Jaegyeom, who had been standing there blankly, gritted his teeth belatedly.
Smack—!
Jaegyeom punched Yoon Taehee like yesterday. The latter’s head turned violently with a dull sound. But there was no shock like yesterday; there was no spiritual energy in his fist. He didn’t know if it wasn’t loaded or not, but it was quite exhilarating even though it was bare-fisted.
“I’ve felt it before… Your hands are rough.”
Muttering softly, Yoon Taehee stroked his slightly swollen cheek.
“Don’t you dare… fool around, I will really kill you.”
His voice cracked slightly as he spat out. Jaegyeom murderously glared at Yoon Taehee. Anger surged like a wave the size of a house.
“This is called a threat, Jaegyeom-ah. Alright?”
Certainly, it was different.
at this point in the narratives (of the flashbacks of his past), he did not know his master was an exorcist until much later. he actually did not know much/anything about Naryecheong at all. (do note that gwijae and exorcists are two different things, exorcists specifically only refers to people working in Naryecheong)
this is normal…sweats nervously
😟😰