A soft, fluffy coat brushed against a fingertip. It felt stiffer than expected on the outside, yet far more velvety beneath. As the hand slowly swept from top to bottom, the long hairs wove themselves between the fingers.“Hey, pet it vigorously. Don’t tease it.”Noticing this, Seung-joo passed Seolgi over to Hwan‑young. Only then did Seolgi burrow his nose into Hwan‑young’s chest and begin sniffing. Where his moist nose made contact, a small, round mark appeared. Wanting more, Hwan‑young gently continued to caress Seolgi, who was practically pleading for attention.“It’s so incredibly warm…”The impassive expression on Hwan‑young’s face softened just a bit. His large hand slid slowly from the nape of his neck down along his back. The feel of the touch, Seolgi’s inquisitive sniffs, and even the occasional brush of his tail against the wrist were all surprisingly pleasant.“They say a dog’s body temperature is higher than a person’s.”At Mu‑ryeong’s remark, Seolgi suddenly lifted his head as if in response. Then, just as he had done with Seung‑joo, he rested his /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ chin and front paw on Hwan‑young’s shoulder. He looked ready to start licking his face any moment, but Hwan‑young simply scooped him into his arms and rubbed his cheek against Seolgi’s fur.It was a warm, cozy, and peaceful moment—an ambiance that could only be described by mixing every comforting expression imaginable. Even the steady thrum of a heartbeat, transmitted through a gentle touch, seemed to soothe the soul.“Look at how excited Seolgi is.”Just as if in agreement, Seolgi whimpered and wiggled his bottom. His long tail spun around like a little propeller, and every pant and breath exuded pure delight—as if being held was all the happiness in the world.“Cute, huh?”Mu‑ryeong, admiring the scene, asked with a proud smile—his slightly parted lips revealing neat front teeth. Hwan‑young, lowering his gaze as if entranced, replied softly,“...Yeah, he’s cute.”***They spent quite some time playing with Seolgi. First, they petted him to their heart’s content; then they had him obey commands like “sit” and “paw.” When Seolgi followed along admirably, they rewarded him with snacks they’d prepared beforehand. Clearly thrilled to be the center of attention for three people, Seolgi put on every charming trick in the book, soaking up affection from everyone around.After about thirty minutes of fun, Seolgi—who had been comfortably settled on Hwan‑young’s lap—suddenly leapt to his feet. He dashed to the front door, tail wagging wildly, and began barking with a resounding “Woof!” At that sound, Mu‑ryeong also rose from his seat.“Looks like Mom’s coming.”In an instant, Hwan‑young’s expression stiffened. The fact he’d been trying so hard to ignore suddenly reared its head—none other than the truth about Mu‑ryeong’s family.“…They said you’re from an exorcist family.”Seung‑joo had mentioned it before—the Kim Mu‑ryeong family was renowned as an exorcist lineage. Which meant that, whether he’d known it or not, Mu‑ryeong’s parents were exorcists too—fully certified ones, unlike the still‑in‑training Mu‑ryeong.Hwan‑young had never cared much for those labeled as exorcists. No matter how necessary they might be, they’d always brought nothing but trouble into his life. He had met one kind‑heart exorcist when he was little—but that was the one and only exception.So, under normal circumstances, he would have declined without hesitation when Mu‑ryeong suggested going to his house.“Seolgi, wait.”Clenching his fist, Hwan‑young watched Mu‑ryeong’s retreating figure—taking in the round shape of his head, the straight line of his neck, and shoulders that were neat yet still growing. His heart pounded fiercely, and his nape turned cold as if slick with sweat.Then, when Mu‑ryeong suddenly turned and met his eyes, Hwan‑young felt his tension melt away. The gentle, earnest look in Mu‑ryeong’s gaze conveyed nothing but reassurance.“My mom loves it when I bring friends.”Those round eyes were softer than any Hwan‑young had ever seen. He knew all too well how much trust such a gaze could inspire.And that was why—even as an instinctive revulsion churned within him—a small voice in his heart whispered that everything would be all right. That he had, without a second thought, followed Mu‑ryeong into the home of the exorcist family.“Right, and my mom is really nice too.”With Seung‑joo’s reassuring addition, the last remnants of his unease finally washed away. Soon after, the sound of a beeping key fob echoed as the front door swung open with a firm creak.“Who did you bring, Mu‑ryeong?”Though it was only a single sentence, the voice carried unmistakable authority. The slow, scrutinizing glance that followed was as piercing as that of a seasoned adult. Dressed in a modernized hanbok fashioned from trousers and with her hair neatly tied up, Mu‑ryeong’s mother let out a slow, measured sigh as soon as she spotted Hwan‑young.“This is...”There was a heartbeat of silence, but Hwan‑young instinctively knew: Mu‑ryeong’s mother had initially regarded him with suspicion, and she had immediately sensed the spiritual energy he carried.“This is the first friend you’ve brought, isn’t it?”But that tension was fleeting. His mother soon relaxed her expression into a warm smile. Mu‑ryeong had once remarked that she resembled his father—though, unlike Mu‑ryeong, her smile held none of the same easy charm.“I never knew our Mu‑ryeong had such a handsome friend.”At those words, Hwan‑young finally exhaled deeply, unclenching the fist he’d held so tightly. He’d been so nervous that sweat had dampened his palms. Seung‑joo greeted him with a nostalgic “Long time no see,” and his older brother, Mu‑heun, inquired when he would arrive—but Hwan‑young couldn’t catch their words over the pounding in his ears.“He’s not just any exorcist.”Just by looking at him, Hwan‑young felt his legs go weak. The clear, sharp aura emanating from him was so chilling it could jolt anyone awake. No exorcist Hwan‑young had ever met had possessed such an overwhelming spiritual energy.“So, what’s your friend’s name?”“...Ki Hwan‑young.”Hwan‑young managed to state his name nonchalantly. When their eyes met again, that earlier chill along his neck had vanished. His mother offered a soft laugh as she placed a hand on his shoulder.“Oh dear, what a cool name you have. I’m Mu‑ryeong’s mom—just call me ‘Mom.’”“…….”A gentle hand patted his broad shoulders—a natural, practiced gesture that seemed to say, “Don’t be nervous.” The aura emanating from her touch no longer felt as intimidating as it had moments before.“Make sure you get along well with Mu‑ryeong and come visit often. I’ll cook you plenty of delicious food, alright?”It was just a simple greeting—a customary remark that would normally be met with a casual “yes” and then forgotten. Yet somehow, that tender word left him momentarily choked.“Mu‑ryeong, if you’ve got such a handsome friend, you really should’ve brought him along sooner.”His mother withdrew her hand and stepped back into the house, not forgetting to give Seolgi—a little bundle of energy scampering at her feet—a couple of affectionate pats. Seung‑joo trailed after her, teasingly grumbling,“You always favor the handsome ones.”“Yeah, that’s why you’re so fond of Seung‑joo too.”“Wow, you just say that?”Mu‑ryeong then stepped quietly toward Hwan‑young, who was still in a daze, and looked up at him with a proud half-smile.“See? I told you Mom loves it when I bring friends.”He couldn’t help but think that this was all so new to him—visiting someone else’s home, being welcomed as a ‘friend,’ and meeting an adult outside of school for the very first time.“...Yeah.”Hwan‑young parted his lips slowly. Clutching the shoulder that Mu‑ryeong’s mother had so gently patted, he lowered his eyes, as if still feeling the lingering warmth from her touch.“Indeed.”“In a little while, my older brother’s coming too. He’s a kind soul, so don’t worry.”Where her hand had brushed his skin, he now sensed a warmth distinct from his own—a benign, careful energy that seemed to seep deep into him, as if to protect him.***After changing her clothes, Mu‑ryeong’s mother headed into the yard to set up a proper barbecue. She hauled out a table, unfurled a parasol, and began stoking the charcoal fire with practiced ease—her gloved hands moving with the confidence of someone well experienced.“But why isn’t your brother here? Don’t we need him for the meat?”“Yeah… We can only have meat when my brother comes.”Hwan‑young watched the scene with a slight unease. He even tried to help lift the table, but was playfully shot down with a, “We don’t order that from our guests.” When he was told to simply entertain Seolgi if he got bored, the little dog happily scampered around at his feet.“Mom, when is my brother going to bring the meat?”“He said he was nearby earlier. Mu‑ryeong, why don’t you give him a call? He’s already stoked the fire—and what if the meat ends up being the last thing to arrive?”It seemed that what they were really waiting for wasn’t Mu‑heun himself, but the meat. Mu‑ryeong made a call immediately, but after a moment he shook his head and put his phone away.“He’s not picking up.”“That’s odd. He’s just not answering your call.”Seung‑joo furrowed his brows in puzzlement. Then, settling into a chair at the table, he loosened his school uniform tie. Even as the sun was setting, perhaps thanks to the summer heat, the air still felt unusually warm.“I’m hungry.”Hwan‑young silently agreed, and as everyone remained quiet a sudden presence was felt. Lifting his head, he noticed that Seolgi—who had been dozing on the grass—had perked up his ears and leaped to his feet. In fact, it seemed everyone except Seung‑joo had sensed something.“When on earth is Mu‑heun coming…?”In that moment, someone placed a hand on Seung‑joo’s shoulder. Just as Seung‑joo was furrowing his brow, a loud voice suddenly boomed in his ear.“Whack!”“…!”Seung‑joo was so startled he fell backward. With no backrest on his chair, he might have tumbled onto the grass—but before he could fall too far, a man behind him caught him, steadying him like a makeshift backrest.“You need to be careful.”The voice was mature and calm, and even the soft chuckle that followed was low and pleasing. The first thing Hwan‑young noticed was the array of piercings adorning one ear.“I told you, you get startled so easily.”There was no mistaking it—this was Mu‑ryeong’s older brother. Not only did he resemble Mu‑ryeong, but he also bore an uncanny likeness to their mother. From the slight arch in his eyes to the refreshing smile on his lips and his cool, piercing gaze, everything about him spoke of that familiar grace.

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