Honbul: Flame of the Soul

The fourth day of the seventh lunar month.

Chilseok was just around the corner.

The intelligent ghosts were busy preparing to attack the Gongju branch before Chilseok. Early that morning, the Leader visited the pavilion to check on their condition and see how preparations were progressing.

“Leader, you’re here.”

As always, Paehyeon attached himself to the Leader like a shadow the moment he entered the pavilion.

Dressed in a gray hoodie and comfortable clothes, the Leader walked down the wooden corridor with Paehyeon attending him.

“Where are the children?”

“I called them a little while ago, so they should all be gathered by now.”

The room where the intelligent ghosts usually gathered was at the very end of the corridor.

The Leader slid the door open.

“Hello. Good morning.”

The Leader, who had opened the door without knocking, greeted them casually.

The first to welcome him was Yeonok.

Yeonok, who had been diligently tuning her six-string zither with fernlike hands, sprang to her feet.

“Leader!”

With a bright smile, Yeonok ran over and threw herself into the Leader’s arms.

The rest of the intelligent ghosts in the room greeted him in their own ways.

The Leader first asked Yeonok, who was still clinging to him,

“Is everyone preparing well?”

Yeonok tugged at the Leader’s hood and said,

“Yup! I even put new strings on my zither. Praise me!”

“You did? Good job. Hyeongwoon?”

“I’m dying from squeezing all those liquor dregs!”

“Right. Just a little more effort. Daga?”

Daga covered her mouth with the ribbon of her traditional dress and spoke demurely.

“I have oiled the executioner’s blade. I will slit all their throats...”

Despite the bloody content, which contrasted sharply with her gentle manner of speaking, the Leader smiled faintly.

“You don’t need to slit their throats. We’re only going to give them a proper scare.”

Just like the raid on the Gyeongju branch, a performance would be enough.

The attack on the Gyeongju branch had been a declaration of war against the Office of Narye.

This time, the attack on the Gongju branch was meant to solidify their position.

It was an intermediate step before storming headquarters. The plan was to announce that headquarters would be their next target, then strike and withdraw.

“Three days left.”

Since he still had not recovered his wooden tag, the Leader could not directly clash with the Naja.

Because he could not step forward himself, the intelligent ghosts were the only ones he could trust with this task.

Once this was over, he would retrieve the wooden tag on the last Saturday of the month and advance on headquarters.

After losing all its branches, headquarters would make thorough preparations to stop Byeoksadan.

While the intelligent ghosts turned the Office of Narye into a wasteland, the Leader planned to be inside headquarters, snuff out the director’s life, and steal the mask.

The plan had changed somewhat from the beginning, but the intelligent ghosts were obediently following his suddenly altered orders.

In fact, as though they were enjoying the unexpected turn of events, every one of the intelligent ghosts looked excited.

Their lively personalities made them difficult to handle, but they were preparing diligently, so there seemed to be nothing to worry about.

The Leader nodded to the intelligent ghosts.

“Then I’m counting on all of you again.”

As planned, Jaegyeom had become distinctly conscious of Byeoksadan.

The attack on the Gongju branch was meant to drive that point home.

Yoon Taehee’s revenge would end in failure, but the Leader’s plan would succeed.

“Now, make a spectacular mess of things.”

Fortunately, everything was going smoothly so far.

The fifth day of the seventh lunar month.

Two days before Chilseok.

The Office of Narye had completely suspended construction on the Gongju branch.

Personnel to be deployed near the site and personnel to remain stationed at headquarters in preparation for Byeoksadan’s attack had been summoned, and today, the final list was released.

The summons list was posted on the notice boards on each floor, and an announcement stated that those named would be contacted individually later.

As soon as they heard the broadcast, Jaegyeom and the members of Team 1 immediately went into the hallway to check the list.

Most of Team 1 was on it.

The only one excluded was Jaegyeom.

Jaegyeom could not be at headquarters on Chilseok.

An order to remain at home had been issued for minors, the elderly and infirm, apprentices, and probationary Naja in preparation for any contingency.

Since Jaegyeom was not yet a formal member, it was only natural that he had been excluded from a summons involving potential danger.

Though it was expected, Jaegyeom felt strangely conflicted.

He had come here to destroy the Office of Narye.

He had tried to keep his distance from his teammates, thinking of them only as connections he had been forced to build for that purpose.

But now that the people he spent every day with were heading to a dangerous site, he found himself far more uneasy than he had expected.

And above all, the most troubling part was that Yoon Taehee’s name was also on the list.

His teammates looked surprised as well.

Of course, Yoon Taehee was a key force.

But he had recently been badly injured, and it was too soon to say he had fully recovered. Everyone had assumed he would be stationed at headquarters, not sent to the Gongju site.

Jaegyeom had thought the same.

He glanced up to study Yoon Taehee’s face.

But Yoon Taehee looked calm, as though he had expected this. He showed no particular reaction to seeing the list.

His expression was unreadable.

After returning to the office with his teammates, Jaegyeom sat at his desk, lost in thought for a while.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he rose.

Jaegyeom walked to the chief’s office where Yoon Taehee was.

Yoon Taehee appeared to be working on his computer, eyes fixed on the monitor as he clicked his mouse.

Jaegyeom stood blankly in front of the open door.

After a moment, Yoon Taehee spoke.

“You can come in.”

Jaegyeom entered the chief’s office and shut the door with a click.

“I want to go too.”

Still looking at the monitor, Yoon Taehee asked casually,

“Where?”

“Gongju.”

The clicking of the mouse stopped.

“......”

A strange light passed through Yoon Taehee’s eyes as he stared at the monitor, then vanished.

He lifted his head with a placid expression, looked at Jaegyeom, and asked lightly,

“Why?”

Because I’m worried you’ll get hurt.

Because I’m afraid something will happen to you.

Jaegyeom had had another nightmare today.

He had not shown it, but the moment he saw Yoon Taehee’s name on the list, anxiety had gripped his heart. He was afraid Taehee would go there and end up badly hurt.

But he could not say that.

No, even if he did, Yoon Taehee would obviously tell him not to worry and brush it off as nothing.

Fortunately, Jaegyeom had a fairly plausible excuse.

“You told me not to worry, but I’m still worried.”

“About what?”

“Byeoksadan.”

“......”

“So I need to go and see for myself what kind of people Byeoksadan are.”

Yoon Taehee’s expression went cold in an instant.

Fuck.

He knew Jaegyeom was concerned about Byeoksadan.

And he had wanted him to be.

But only enough to give him a sense of crisis. He had not wanted Jaegyeom to take this much initiative and dig into them more than necessary.

This was an unexpected turn.

He had never imagined Jaegyeom would say he wanted to come along.

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“There’s no harm in being prepared.”

“......”

After a brief silence, Yoon Taehee pushed his chair back and crossed his legs.

“I know you’re strong. I know you’re impressive.”

Yoon Taehee looked up at Jaegyeom with emotionless eyes.

“But that doesn’t mean you can recklessly interfere in everything. That would be a problem.”

“......”

“You should focus on your own task. If you’re that concerned, I’ll go and check things myself, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t step forward more than necessary. I’m already focused enough. I’m the one moving the plan forward.”

“......”

“And since we’re on the subject, I wish you’d fix that reckless habit of yours. What if you go there, get caught in danger, and your identity is exposed? As a probationary Naja, there’s nothing you can do even if you come along.”

“......”

It was a cool, rational response.

Every word he said was right.

And yet, for some reason, Jaegyeom was angry.

He wanted to tell him that the truth was he couldn’t stand worrying about him.

That he was afraid Taehee would get hurt.

That he was terrified something might happen to him.

It was a strange feeling—wanting Yoon Taehee not to know, yet being angry that he didn’t.

After saying he would leave him behind and go, saying he was worried about him would be cheating.

So he could not be honest.

And Jaegyeom himself was the one who had wanted this distance.

He was angry because he could not understand what he was so afraid of and so worried about.

Even he could tell this was too much to be mere concern for a colleague in the same boat.

“Fine. I get it.”

Jaegyeom turned and left, closing the door behind him.

The sixth day of the seventh lunar month.

The eve of Chilseok.

At eight in the evening, the Office of Narye restricted access to the main building and suspended all work.

Jaegyeom, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} who had been ordered to stay home, clocked out early and left the office.

The summoned Naja had been deployed to the site since yesterday, and because so many personnel had gone to Gongju, headquarters was quieter and emptier than usual.

When he stepped out of the main building, the street was bustling despite the late hour.

It was completely different from the desolate, warlike silence inside headquarters.

It felt as though he had entered another world.

Jaegyeom headed toward the crosswalk leading to the bus stop across the street.

After their conversation yesterday, which had nearly become an argument, Yoon Taehee had left for Gongju with the team.

Jaegyeom wanted desperately to go with them, but after what Taehee had said, there was nothing more he could say.

He had considered asking the others to take him, but there was no way they would bring a probationary Naja into a dangerous situation.

If he knew the site’s location, he might have been able to follow them secretly, but Jaegyeom did not even know where it was.

In the end, all Jaegyeom could do was go home.

“......”

Standing at the crosswalk and waiting for the light to change, Jaegyeom took out his phone.

He could not understand why his chest felt so heavy and tight.

After hesitating for a while, he typed a message with uncertain fingers.

[Actually. Im worried about you]

Jaegyeom looked down at the message he had typed and shook his head.

[If anyhting happens. contactm e.]

He deleted it and tried again, but that did not seem right either.

[Takecare of yuorself.]

Only after changing the message one more time did he feel somewhat settled.

Since I’ve decided to die and leave Yoon Taehee behind, I shouldn’t be acting like this.

“......”

Jaegyeom roughly mussed his hair and scowled.

His chest had felt tight for days.

Ever since they had grown distant, he had not contacted Yoon Taehee once.

In the end, Jaegyeom could not bring himself to send the message and put his phone away.

He had to get a grip on this churning heart.

“Seventy-Seven!”

At the voice flying toward him from somewhere, Jaegyeom turned his head.

“Im Hyomun...?”

Im Hyomun was staring at Jaegyeom with an extremely startled expression.

It was the first time Jaegyeom had seen him in almost a month.

During the two weeks Jaegyeom had shut himself away after returning to the island, Hyomun had called him repeatedly.

But when Jaegyeom never answered his calls or replied to his messages, Hyomun had eventually stopped contacting him.

“Seventy-Seven, you’re alive?!”

Im Hyomun rushed over like a shot, panting as he asked how Jaegyeom had been.

“You bastard, I thought you’d ghosted the Office and quit...!”

“It’s been a while. You’ve been well?”

“Of course I’ve been well, you punk! Why the hell didn’t you contact me...!”

Im Hyomun looked like he was on the verge of tears as he grabbed Jaegyeom and shook him back and forth.

Just then, a ringtone sounded.

Hyomun flinched and frantically fumbled through his jacket pocket.

It seemed he had a call.

“Gasp, hold on. I have to take this.”

Still worked up from their emotional reunion, Im Hyomun struggled to steady his breathing.

“Hello? Ah, yes, yes. Yes. I’m in front of the main building. Yes, understood. Yes!”

“Who’s calling that you’re groveling like that?” Jaegyeom asked indifferently.

But Im Hyomun had already started looking left and right like someone in a hurry.

He had so much to say to Seventy-Seven, but of all times to run into him, he had no time now. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

“Ah, sorry. I have to go now! Huh? Is that the car?”

Im Hyomun craned his neck and looked toward the road.

“What’s going on? Something happen?”

“Ah, a senior from my team said they’d come pick me up.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have to go down to Gongju.”

What?

Jaegyeom froze and stared at Im Hyomun.

“Gongju? Why you? Probationary Naja are excluded.”

“Normally, yeah, but the Chief said this would be good experience, so he’s taking me too. We’ll just be on rear support, so it won’t be that dangerous... I mean, I’m only a probationary Naja, but still... Oh! That’s the car. It’s here!”

A black Carnival was approaching in the distance.

Spotting the car, Im Hyomun jumped up and down, waving his hands, then grabbed Jaegyeom by the shoulder and whispered quickly,

“I’ll text you later. Okay? Bye!”

“Huh? Hey, wait... hold on!”

Without thinking, Jaegyeom grabbed Im Hyomun’s arm.

Hyomun turned back to him with wide eyes.

After a moment of hesitation, Jaegyeom glanced around, then whispered in a low voice,

“Can’t... can’t I come with you?”