Honbul: Flame of the Soul

Even after they got off the bus and headed toward headquarters, Jaegyeom continued receiving romantic advice from Im Hyomun. Im Hyomun, who did not even know who the other person was, went on and on about how “that person” really did not seem all right, how Jaegyeom should stop meeting “that person,” and how he should ignore any messages from “that person,” laying out all sorts of nagging advice.

Unfortunately, it was all useless.

“I can’t do that. Whether I want to or not, I have to keep seeing him for the next two or three months... Anyway, I get what you’re saying, so stop worrying about it. And we’re almost at headquarters. You go your way.”

When they reached the lobby of headquarters, Jaegyeom sharply said goodbye. But Im Hyomun followed after him, endlessly nagging with questions like, “What? Why do you have to keep seeing her? Does she have something on you? Did you borrow money? Huh? It’s money, isn’t it? How much? Tell me. If it’s under three hundred thousand won, I’ll cover it for you.” At this rate, he seemed ready to follow Jaegyeom all the way to Team 1’s office. In the end, unable to endure it any longer, Jaegyeom snapped, “Get lost!” and only then did Im Hyomun reluctantly turn away and go his own way.

Jaegyeom had simply wanted to know how he was supposed to understand the kiss Yoon Taehee had given him. He had brought it up casually, thinking it would be fine because Im Hyomun knew nothing anyway, but the conversation had only grown harder and harder to follow, leaving his heart more troubled than before. It was like trying to get rid of one lump only to gain another.

And so, when Jaegyeom finally stood in front of the office, he hesitated for a long time.

All he had to do was open the door and go in, but for some reason, he could not muster the courage. The thought of facing Yoon Taehee filled him with a strange tension. His heart suddenly pounded, and he felt utterly overwhelmed. It was the first time in his life he had felt this awkward. Jaegyeom himself did not understand why he felt this way, and that only made him more frustrated.

With great effort, he swiped the access card key hanging around his neck and entered the office. The first place Jaegyeom looked was the chief’s office. The door to the chief’s office was wide open, just like the day before.

The office looked the same as usual.

At least, that was how it seemed to Jaegyeom. He did not notice that the team members exchanged glances the moment he came in, or that a few seconds of strange silence followed. From the instant he entered the office, all his attention was fixed on the chief’s office. The team members did not even register.

“Hey, the youngest is here?”

“Oh, you’re a little late today.”

Before the atmosphere could turn awkward, the team members quickly greeted him.

“Yes... Hello...”

Jaegyeom greeted the team members in return as he walked through the room. Because of the office layout, he had to pass in front of the chief’s office to reach his own seat. He pretended not to care and stole a sideways glance.

“...”

When he peered into the chief’s office with wide eyes, it was empty. Whether what he felt was relief or emptiness, the strength drained from him all at once. His legs gave out, and Jaegyeom flopped down into his chair.

“Our youngest...”

Just then, Go Junhyung, who was sitting beside Jaegyeom, glanced around and cautiously opened his mouth.

“The Chief stepped out for a moment, but even if he comes back, you don’t have to be intimidated, okay? I mean, life has its ups and downs, and getting scolded is part of it. So keep your head up, shoulders back...”

When Jaegyeom looked at Go Junhyung with a puzzled face, unable to understand what he was talking about, Kang Ibin suddenly popped her head over the partition across from them and glared fiercely at Go Junhyung.

Startled, Go Junhyung coughed awkwardly and shut his mouth.

“Ah. No, sorry. That was just... just nonsense.”

Go Junhyung smiled awkwardly, then hurriedly turned back to the monitor. Kang Ibin also returned to her original posture as if nothing had happened.

What was that...?

Jaegyeom scratched his forehead and glanced around at the team members. Team 1’s office, which was usually full of various conversations, was strangely quiet today. The team members were all busy typing at their keyboards with serious expressions, focused on their monitors.

Jaegyeom thought everyone must be busy with work, though he had no idea what kind.

[Sihyeon: Ah... Lead Naja Go...] 16:38

[Kang Ibin: Do you want to die, Junhyung? Stop butting in.] 16:38

And Go Junhyung was being thoroughly scolded through messenger.

*****

Last night, excluding the Chief and the youngest member, the members of Team 1 had created a group chat.

The team members had heatedly debated the incident of their youngest leaving the office without permission, speculating about what had happened between the two of them. Various opinions came and went, but the dominant conclusion was that “the Chief scolded the youngest, and the youngest, being at an age ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) full of defiance, got angry and stormed out.”

Of course, the team members knew Yoon Taehee as someone who never scolded team members or spoke harshly to them. But with both parties remaining silent, that was the most plausible guess.

As a result, the team members agreed not to ask the youngest anything and to treat him as usual. It was his first experience of adult working life, and it would be hard for him to adjust to the atmosphere right away.

Although the atmosphere was a little stiffer than usual, the team members were treating Jaegyeom relatively calmly, just as they had promised. Sometimes, excessive care could be harmful, and showing concern was not always the right answer. There were times when pretending not to know was a virtue. But Go Junhyung had poured cold water all over it.

[Kang Ibin: Junhyung, read the room.] 16:40

[Go Junhyung: I just thought the youngest seemed botheredㅠ] 16:40

[Kang Ibin: Right now, you’re the one bothering him the most.] 16:40

[Sihyeon: lolololololol] 16:40

[Kang Ibin: Just worry about yourselfㅡㅡ] 16:40

[Go Junhyung: Sorry;;] 16:41

Just then, someone burst through the automatic door, running in breathlessly. Jaegyeom was startled, wondering if it was Yoon Taehee. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was Pyo Jiho who entered the office, looking rushed. Panting hard, Pyo Jiho looked around at the team members.

“Everyone, the Exorcism Unit has called an emergency assembly!”

Caught off guard by the sudden announcement, the team members rose with wide eyes.

“All standby personnel, gather in the seminar room immediately.”

“Huh? Senior Naja Pyo, what happened?”

Pyo Jiho wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath.

“Byeoksadan posted a notice.”

*****

On the way to the seminar room, Kang Ibin briefly explained Byeoksadan to Jaegyeom. She seemed to assume he would not know about it because he had missed the monthly report. Jaegyeom had already heard about it from Im Hyomun, but he quietly listened to Kang Ibin’s explanation. It was absolutely not because he was overwhelmed by Kang Ibin and unable to say, “I already know.” He merely took it as a review.

By the time the explanation ended, they had arrived at the seminar room. Jaegyeom followed closely behind the team members. As soon as he entered, his eyes met someone else’s. Hair streaked with natural gray like scallion roots. Calm, sharp eyes. The woman, who had been standing with her arms crossed, stared intently at Jaegyeom. Jaegyeom met her gaze without avoiding it and stared right back. Then the woman narrowed her eyes in displeasure.

At that moment, Kang Ibin, who had been bowing in greeting, belatedly noticed that the youngest was standing there blankly and quickly reached out to press down the back of Jaegyeom’s head.

“Ah, this one here. He’s the new member of our team.”

After briefly introducing him, Kang Ibin urgently whispered to Jaegyeom.

“What are you doing, Jaegyeom! Greet her! She’s the head of our Exorcism Unit, Seok Juryeon!”

Yielding to Kang Ibin’s insistence, Jaegyeom lowered his head. Seok Juryeon, expressionless, scrutinized Jaegyeom carefully. Only after a long moment did she say, “All right,” accepting the greeting. Then she turned away and began speaking to the Naja beside her. Jaegyeom quietly stole another glance at Seok Juryeon from the corner of his eye.

This was the first time Jaegyeom had faced Seok Juryeon since becoming a Naja.

She was a person with the spirit of a tiger.

That was Jaegyeom’s first impression of Seok Juryeon.

The seminar room was about half the size of the office and somewhat cramped.

At the center of the seminar room stood a large rectangular table. The Naja of the Exorcism Unit who had arrived earlier were gathered around it, buzzing among themselves, almost like a fence encircling the table.

Only the internal-duty personnel had gathered, so the number of Naja in the seminar room barely reached thirty. Compared to yesterday’s monthly report, it was quite modest. The only faces Jaegyeom recognized in this place were his team members—exactly four of them.

Some of the Naja, meeting Jaegyeom for the first time, seemed to realize he was the rumored newcomer and sent curious glances his way, but that was all. The atmosphere in the seminar room was too serious. It was not the time for idle chatter or private conversations.

Go Junhyung and Pyo Jiho went ahead into the inner part of the seminar room and found a spot. They gestured for him to come over. Then Kang Ibin firmly grabbed Jaegyeom’s hand and said, “Follow me, Jaegyeom.”

“Hello.”

Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind them. The “hello” was delivered so lazily, with the final sound stretched out, that it sounded far too casual for the atmosphere of the seminar room.

The moment Jaegyeom heard that voice, he knew instinctively. Even without seeing the face, he knew the number of familiar faces had increased by one. Jaegyeom’s heart throbbed like a live fish.

As the Naja in the seminar room, including Team 1’s members, turned to greet the newcomer, polite greetings came one after another.

“Chief Yoon, you’re here?”

Han Juyoung, Seok Juryeon’s assistant, also gave a light greeting.

“Oh, Senior Naja Han is here too.”

Jaegyeom, who had frozen in place, belatedly came to his senses. As soon as he slowly turned around, his eyes met Yoon Taehee’s. Today, Yoon Taehee was wearing a fitted charcoal-gray shirt.

Jaegyeom involuntarily dropped his gaze to the floor. For some reason, it was hard to look into his eyes. Yoon Taehee, who had shown up bare-faced today, wore his bangs down, and there was a small scab on his lip. It was the mark left by Jaegyeom’s slap yesterday. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Since there were many eyes around them, Jaegyeom decided he should at least pretend to greet him. He was awkwardly trying to bow when Yoon Taehee’s gaze slipped away.

Yoon Taehee’s eyes landed on Jaegyeom’s hand, which was still quietly caught in Kang Ibin’s grasp. Then he drew his gaze back as if nothing had happened and looked at Jaegyeom nonchalantly.

“Hello.”

After forming the brief greeting with only the shape of his mouth, Yoon Taehee walked past Jaegyeom.

“...”

Jaegyeom had been thinking about yesterday’s kiss from the moment he woke up that morning. Unlike him, however, Yoon Taehee appeared perfectly calm, as though nothing had happened. If not for the scab on his lip, Jaegyeom might have wondered, Ah, was yesterday just some bizarre dream I had? That was how composed Yoon Taehee looked. Was Jaegyeom the only one who had been turning it over in his head and feeling anxious?

The thought made Jaegyeom feel strangely irritated. After glaring fiercely at Yoon Taehee’s back, he followed where Kang Ibin led him.

Yoon Taehee was already standing beside Seok Juryeon.

“There was a notice from Byeoksadan.”

Seok Juryeon looked intently at Yoon Taehee beside her.

“Why does your face look like that?”

“I got hurt.”

“How?”

“Well...”

Yoon Taehee trailed off with an indifferent face, then added quietly,

“I got hit for kissing someone without permission.”

He muttered it while toying with the scab on his lip. Meanwhile, as Kang Ibin dragged him along, Jaegyeom’s feet tangled. He stumbled, nearly pitching forward and headbutting Kang Ibin in the back.

“...”

“...”

“...”

A tense silence fell over the seminar room.

Seok Juryeon looked at Yoon Taehee as if she were looking at a madman. The other Naja who were not particularly close to Yoon Taehee showed signs of discomfort, and even the team members who were close to him exchanged dumbfounded looks. Yoon Taehee often joked with them, but he had never made a joke like that.

He slid a hand into his trouser pocket.

“I thought it was a funny story. No one’s laughing.”

Is he screwing with me right now?

Before he knew it, Jaegyeom’s neck had flushed red.