Jungjin's Counters

by Ines_Ivy

Summary:

In an attempt to gather more evidence against Shin Myung-Hwi, So Mun approaches his former bully and finds out a shocking secret from Hyeok-Woo. Soon after the major returns home and his son realizes that something is wrong with his father.

When the situation takes a turn for the worse, with nobody else to rely on, Hyeok-Woo asks for help from So Mun but will the young counter be enough to save Hyeok-Woo from his father and the absolute evil possessing him?

Chapter 1: 𝐵𝑒𝑔𝒾𝓃𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐸𝓃𝒹

Summary:

In an attempt to find more evidence against the major, So Mun tries to talk to Hyeok Woo but the meeting is filled with surprises for both of them.

Notes:

This is a story without any romantic elements (at least for now). Instead, it focuses on the friendships and bonds between characters, as they create a new family. There may be some instances where the characters act differently than what you're used to seeing in canon, sorry about that it's been a while since I saw the K-drama and webcomic is very different.

There was an undeniable irony to be found in this situation, but he didn't have the willpower to look into it deeper. Not while sitting in a dimly lit, foul-smelling alleyway in the heart of a city that is slowly but surely crying out for his blood. Blood of Shin family.

In the back of his head, he figured it made sense for them to hate and despise him. He had been a bully and is the son of a murderer who had deceived and poisoned them while maintaining a cheerful and compassionate façade. It was only natural for them to feel betrayed after being fooled by his father's kind mask. Hyeok-Woo knew the man behind the mask far too well, unlike the mayor who was more of a stranger—a figure he had encountered only during occasional public events when he was younger, there only to paint his father as a loving, devoted family man, despite his numerous responsibilities to the city. But, truthfully, he never spent much time with the mayor, not that would stop their hatred, given that Hyeok-Woo thrived on the dirty money amassed at the expense of those unaware. Hyeok-Woo found it more baffling that there were still people supporting his father, rather than seeing the truth 

He gazed up at the sky, far above the towering buildings, pondering how it would feel to escape from it all—to soar away from his current situation. But where would he go? He knew enough English to travel abroad, but living there alone would be completely different. Regardless, he couldn't remain where he was now. He couldn't stay and witness his father's release, allowing him to continue his cruel plans. Since Hyeok-Woo had failed to complete what he started at the hospital, he had no choice but to run. It was somewhat comical that he dreamt of flying when he was too weak to walk.

A part of him sneered at his own weakness. "Get up already! Are you an animal, sitting in the dirt? Why are you being so damn dramatic about this? You're fine, aren't you? Fine, then stay there, you worthless trash." It sounded like his father. Hyeok-Woo blinked at the thoughts and snorted, which triggered a series of coughs escaping his lungs. He winced when the sudden move made his bruised ribs burn. "Damn this smell."

   "Are you okay?" Startled by the familiar voice, he turned his head. There, around the corner of the street, stood a figure with curly hair and a face he knew all too well.

He closed his eyes and groaned. "Go away."

For a moment, the sound of footsteps echoed through the street, and Hyeok-Woo almost breathed a sigh of relief, but then the steps grew louder. He opened his eyes once more, only to find So Mun standing directly in front of him.

   "Didn't you hear me? What are you standing there for? Fuck off already," Hyeok-Woo muttered, getting up and preparing to leave.

   "Wait," So Mun snapped his hand up and grabbed him by the wrist.

   "Don't touch me!" Hyeok-Woo pulled his arm back, stepping away from So Mun, who stared at him with a frozen look of surprise. Hyeok-Woo raised an eyebrow at the dumbfounded expression. A moment passed before So Mun finally cleared his throat and lowered his arms, stuffing them into the pockets of his black jacket. "Can we talk?"

Hyeok-Woo swallowed, taken aback by So Mun's sudden meekness. It seemed insane for little Mr. Golden to be one feeling guilty between them, so he didn't know how to react to it. "What is there to talk about between us?" he retorted.

   "A lot, actually. It's important," So Mun insisted.

   "What’s got you to look so serious?" Hyeok-Woo scoffed.

Still, So Mun didn't back down. "I am serious. It's a matter of life and death. Please."

Hyeok-Woo squinted with a perplexed look, but after a while, he nodded slightly. "...Fine."

So Mun widened his eyes at Hyeok-Woo's retreating figure, about to reach out and grab him again. "Where are you going?"

The ginger-haired boy snorted and looked back. "Do you want to have your super serious talk in a dark, filthy alleyway that smells like something died and its corpse is still here?" He gestured for So Mun to follow him and began walking away. "Just walk, since now you finally can."

And so they did. In silence, they strode through the streets, as any attempt at small talk from So Mun was met with a scoff or a side-eye that was starting to grate on his nerves. Instead, he kept his thoughts to himself. He had a lot on his mind ever since he finally found his former bully.

   "Come on," Hyeok-Woo snapped his head back, gesturing with his thumb toward a spacious white building on their left. They both entered, with So Mun slightly trailing behind, taking in the wide hallway adorned with pretty lights and chic furniture. It wasn't as extravagant as the super fancy places he imagined rich assholes like Hyeok-Woo frequented. While modern and stylish, the place had a relaxed vibe with soft music playing—a new K-pop song that had been recently released—and distant chatter filling the air. As they walked, So Mun noticed that the music seemed to be coming from the reception desk, where a girl around their age sat. Wearing glasses and a black turtleneck, her long black hair was neatly braided. Her name tag read "Ha Yoon."

She glanced at them and rolled her chair closer to the desk, engrossing herself in the laptop in front of her.

   "Is my usual room empty?" Hyeok-Woo asked.

She nodded. "Hi, yeah, want me to send your favorite drinks up too?"

He shook his head. "No, just whatever today's specialty is," he glanced over his shoulder at So Mun, who forced his wandering gaze to meet Hyeok-Woo's. The other boy huffed and turned back, mumbling, "No alcohol."

The girl blinked, her gaze shifting to So Mun, who quickly bowed in greeting. She raised an eyebrow but returned the gesture. "Of course."

   "Alcohol?" So Mun mumbled. The girl smiled politely. "This is a karaoke bar but also a billiard club, so, of course, we have alcohol." Her grin turned mischievous. "Not that I would give any to minors, though. Sorry." Hyeok-Woo huffed, "Yeah, yeah, I remember." So Mun felt like there was a story behind their conversation that he didn't know. But speaking of which, wasn't Hyeok-Woo already celebrating his 19th birthday? So he was older than him, huh?

   "Anything else?"

   "No, thanks." Hyeok-Woo walked further down the hallway. So Mun bowed again and quickly thanked Ha Yoon before rushing to catch up.

   "Hyeok-Woo," the girl called, but the boy merely stilled instead of turning back. "He seems like a sweetheart. Don't be too mean to him. No trouble in the club, remember?"

   "He could and did beat my ass," Hyeok-Woo retorted over his shoulder. "More than once." Mun grimaced, but only boisterous laughter answered them as they entered the elevator.

So Mun was taken aback when they entered the room at the end of the hallway and found drinks and plates of light food already waiting for them. "Wow, they made our restaurant seem like amateurs and we're the ones with super speed." Hyeok-Woo merely took a seat on one of the couches.

   "Talk. What do you want from me?" Hyeok-Woo demanded with crossed arms.

So Mun startled. "I... Well, I..."

   "If you came all the way here just to annoy me, the doors are that way," Hyeok-Woo interrupted, pointing towards the exit.

So Mun took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say what he had to. "When I was 5 years old, I got into a car accident. That's when I hurt my leg."

   "Are you here to tell me your tragic backstory? I have no interest—" Hyeok-Woo began coldly.

   "I survived, but my parents didn't," So Mun continued, cutting him off. The silence that followed was deafening.

   "The guy who caused the accident crossed a red light while driving drunk and took his own life out of guilt afterward. At least, that's the official story," So Mun revealed. "But I was conscious after the crash, and I overheard him. He told someone else that he finished the mission. The accident was set up by someone to kill my parents."

The words left no room for doubt, and yet it seemed like they both were caught off guard by the revelation. "They were both in the police force, and they were so busy that I had to stay with my grandparents most of the time. They would work until evening, and I barely saw them. That night, I called them and lied, saying that I forgot my homework, so they came to pick me up. The car crash happened on the way back, and I blamed myself for so long."

   "But then, I met Go Mo Tak. He was a detective working on the same case that got my parents killed and left me crippled. On the same day of the accident, he was stabbed multiple times and fell from a roof. He was in a coma for years and only recently regained his memory," So Mun explained, his voice filled with determination.

   "So what? Are you trying to make me feel guilty about what I did with this?" Hyeok-Woo responded coldly, reaching for a glass in front of him.

So Mun gritted his teeth, his anger rising at the older boy's callous words. "The case they were investigating was the murder of Kim Yeong-nim, the same case that Mayor Shin—no, your dad—was arrested for, Hyeok-Woo," he revealed. "The mayor was the one behind her murder and the one who ordered the hit on Ahjussi and my parents."

   "You- what the fuck are you saying?!" Hyeok-Woo slammed his glass onto the table, his white teeth bared for a moment before he sneered. "And do you even have any evidence? Spare me the bullshit, okay?! Do you think my dad is so easy to send to jail? He's already gaining public support again. People are even protesting in front of the police station, claiming 'harsh treatment' during his arrest. What's the point of sending him there when he'll just come back out when he wakes up?"

   "That's why I need your help!" So Mun growled and hissed.

   "Why would I help you?"

   "Don't you want him gone!?" The question hung in the air, an accusation that pierced through them both, leaving a deafening silence behind.

So Mun gritted his teeth, willing his temper not to flare up again. "Do you believe that he isn't capable of killing someone to achieve his goals?"

   “You think I don’t know how cruel he can be! If you came to me expecting me to be a witness against him then turn back immediately, you won’t even be able to open a case against him properly much less take him to court. You don’t have any evidence, do you?”

So Mun took a deep breath, considering the question carefully. "I believe there's a way," he replied with determination. “It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight, but if we're persistent and smart about it, we can expose his crimes."

The other boy rolled his eyes "Oh yes, we just need, let’s see-” he counted off his fingers “Gather evidence, connect the dots, and build a strong case against him. You think playing detectives is easy?”

   “I’m not playing!”

Hyeok-Woo scoffed "Even worse, that you’re being serious about it. How do you propose we do this? Do you think we can just walk into his office and find a folder labeled 'Evidence of My Crimes'?"

So Mun shook his head. "I know it won’t be that easy, but there has to be something that he didn’t destroy that we can use against him."

Hyeok-Woo turned to stare outside the window, eyes distant. "And what if we find something? What if we manage to gather evidence against him? You think the system will just take it from there and bring him to justice?"

He stared right ahead, locking eyes with his former bully. "Even if he manages to slither away again, I won't stop or back down. I will bring your dad down and make him pay for all the bad things he did, with or without your help. Even if I die trying." His voice spoke of conviction and relentless stubbornness. The hair on the back of Hyeok-Woo's neck lifted, and a quiver slithered in his stomach.

   "You might. He will kill anyone that stands in his way. Me, you, doesn't matter who," Hyeok-Woo retorted, his voice filled with a mixture of dread and resignation.

So Mun locked eyes with Hyeok-Woo, refusing to back down. "Hyeok-Woo, are you gonna stand by him even after hearing about all this? Just because he is your father?"

Something sparked in Hyeok-Woo's heart, a cold and dark emotion he despised. He snorted, the bitterness evident in his voice. "Like me being his son ever mattered to him."

Immediately after the words left his mouth, Hyeok-Woo's eyes widened, and then they turned sharp, resentment building up inside of them once again. "Leave, I don't want to spend any more time on you."

So Mun reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, writing down something. "This is my phone number. Think this through more and give me your answer then. I hope you'll do the right thing so all the victims can move on to the afterlife peacefully, at least."

   "...Whatever," Hyeok-Woo replied dismissively.

When Mun turned to leave, Hyeok Woo got up from his seat instinctively. "Wait," he said  "You said that your detective looked into this case."

Hyeok-Woo's arms visibly trembled, his anxiety palpable. So Mun's concern deepened at the sight. "Do you... Do you know why he killed her?" Hyeok-Woo forced out, his voice strained.

So Mun wasn't in much better shape either, he had to search carefully for the words. He took a deep breath, his mind filled with the images of the crime scene. "She used to be a part of his election campaign, but then she..." His voice cracked as he met eyes with the red-haired delinquent. "We believe she got pregnant with his child, and that's why he got rid of her."

A heavy silence fell in the room, the weight of the revelation sinking in. The tension between them seemed to have grown tenfold in a matter of seconds. 

So Mun looked at the boy who stood shell-shocked, his brows scrunched and pale face twisted with confusion and pain. Tension in his shoulders seemed to have frozen him before a small gasp for air left his mouth, small and shaky as if he had to fight his lungs so he could breathe. Suddenly, he slumped back on the floor, as if he were a marionette whose strings were cut off. So Mun instinctively moved to catch him but stilled when the other boy's eyes snapped to him, staring at him with unfiltered fear. Then, with great effort, he put his elbow on the seat behind him and the palm of his other hand on the floor, trying to pull himself back up, away from So Mun, even when his legs didn't want to cooperate. 

So Mun watched.

His heart squeezed at the sight.

Somehow, during these few months as a counter, while he was investigating Major Shin and the death of Kim Yeong-nim, even when he found her body stuffed into a small yellow suitcase and heard of her pregnancy from Mo Tak after her autopsy, he never once thought about how closely related all of this is to his former bully, how that child would be Shin Hyeok-Woo's little sibling, had it been born. Had its father not decided to end the child's life before it could even begin, alongside its mother's.

He never imagined how Shin Hyeok-Woo would react to finding out about all of this or what would happen to him when his father's crimes were exposed.

So Mun eyed the bruises and split lip on the boy's face. A small part of him thought the redhead deserved it, as this wasn't even close to all that he did to the kids he used to bully. But much more than that, he felt bad seeing him injured for something his father did that he had nothing to do with. This wasn't the victims fighting back. His former friends - if those other bullies could even be called that - simply discarded him when his father's influence couldn't be of use to them any longer, and instead, they made him just another target to bully. Another victim.

It wasn't only students, nor only people in the school who grew wary of the surname Shin ever since the major's arrest a week ago. Their city, if not the whole of Korea, already knew about the arrest and the crimes the major was accused of.

And yet, from the brief memories he read, his son didn't agree with what the major did, nor did they have any sort of loving relationship like So Mun had with his parents before their deaths or the one he still has with his grandparents and even fellow Counters. Even his friendship with Woong-min and Ju-Yeon cannot be compared to the bullies who turned their backs on Kyeok-Woo the day his father was arrested.

Shin Hyeok-Woo was on his own against all of this.

"The police will probably approach you about it too. Insist on talking to a detective called Kang Han-wool when they do. He's one of the few who isn't under your dad's thumb, and he would be willing to hear you out properly," he said, but he knew it fell on deaf ears. The bully was paler, many shades lighter than a few minutes ago, and his eyes seemed vacant and fixated on the floor, as if unable to look up for fear of something. "Call me if you decide to testify against him or just need help again." He set a piece of paper on the table, with his number written on the other side, and left the room.

He could only hope Shin Hyeok-Woo would accept his help.

* * *

Even after So Mun left, Hyeok-Woo remained frozen on the floor of his usual room in the club. It was only when he noticed the sun was going down that he slowly came out, leaving almost untouched snacks and drinks on the table. After the discovery, he had no appetite nor strength to keep food in his stomach.

The walk home was normal, so normal that it didn't fit.

How could everything seem so fine after what he had just found out? It made no sense.

When he finally opened the doors of his house and stepped inside, he was surprised to see three extra pairs of shoes, two of which were in disarray. He frowned and looked around, but the living room seemed to be in the same state as when he left. "Looks like the police came to check the house again, and the housekeeper probably let them in before she left," he reasoned with himself. But at the same time, perhaps due to his encounter with the curly-haired hero wannabe from earlier, a deeply unsettling feeling settled in his gut.

The eerie silence was interrupted by low groaning and choking sounds coming from the left corridor, a place Hyeok-Woo usually never dared to venture. In an almost dazed state, he followed the noise until it led him to the doors of his father's office. He hesitated to go in and check if the police inside were the ones under his father's influence or the ones So Mun told him to seek out.

He didn't even need to, as the doors opened by themselves, causing him to flinch back. His father stood there, staring him down.

   "What do you want?" 

   “You-you're back, father.” Hyeok-Woo stammered, bowing his head while he also peered inside the room, head still bowed, and saw that everything appeared the same as always. He bowed even more deeply and turned to walk away to his room. Just before he left the hallway, the feeling in his gut intensified to the point of nausea. He could feel his father's gaze on his back, but when he looked back, it wasn't his father's eyes staring at him. Instead, pure ebony black eyes replaced them. But just as suddenly as it happened, they were gone. Hyeok-Woo saw them switch, confirming that a moment ago, they were different and yet he just couldn’t understand what he saw.

Terrified, his mind screamed at him to run, but his upbringing whispered that this was not how things were dealt with in this house. So, he turned back and walked away wordlessly, keeping his heart lodged in his throat as best as he could, eyes fixed on the floor, and mouth pressed shut until he finally entered his room, where he nearly collapsed against the door.

His legs felt weak.

But they nearly buckled when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching his door. Quickly, he locked it, the click of the lock ringing out loudly in the room. He cursed inwardly for not doing it immediately upon entering. 

There was a gasp on the other side. "No, don't touch him." Hyeok-Woo jolted at the sound of the doorknob rattling. "Still, we can't kill him yet. Now isn't the time. No, not yet." The rattling sound persisted, while on the other side, Hyeok-Woo gritted his teeth, desperately trying to stay silent while holding the door shut.

The rattling was so forceful that it felt like the door would break. Then, it abruptly stopped.

Silence.

After a few moments, he cautiously unlocked the door to check the hallway. When he saw it was safe, he locked the door again and collapsed against it, shaking and gasping for air.

   "Shit, what the fuck was that?"

He stayed up late into the night, afraid to close his eyes, knowing that something was still lurking in his house, waiting to kill him.

Notes:

The story's timeline is around episode 14 in canon when So Eun (a small child who got sick because of the dirty water) is kidnapped, for those who also struggle with keeping up with the events in canon and my story.

Chapter 2: 𝒟𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓈

Summary:

Hyeok Woo tries to investigate what happened last night, but the next one quickly turns even worse.

Notes:

This chapter took a bit longer than expected since I ended up not finishing it before my final exams for this half-year, but it's finally done and I hope it doesn't feel too rushed. Thank you all for waiting and I hope you enjoy it!

A new day dawned, and Hyeok-Woo stirred from his slumber exhausted, having slept only a few hours. All-nighters were not unfamiliar to him, whether due to gaming or clubbing. In the past, he had pulled them for the sake of studying, hoping to earn his father's praise by achieving top grades. But that recognition never came. Despite tutors and teachers applauding his advanced understanding of subjects beyond his years, Hyeok-Woo felt no sense of fulfillment when it came to his grades. He had allowed his grades to slip since the beginning of the school year, coinciding closely with when he first dyed his hair. It was a way of defying his father, playing a rebel when he turned 18. The fact that the teachers remained silent about his declining performance amused him. He had managed to maintain his grades at a mediocre level—not failing, but no longer the straight-A student and top-ranked he once was.

No one said anything.

Instead of staying home with tutors to prepare for university lectures, Hyeok-Woo found himself spending time at arcades, watching movies in the cinema, or playing billiards. Rather than late-night study sessions, he was losing himself in gaming and listening to music in the quiet of his home.

Despite his brief sleep, he was roused by the school alarm on his phone. However, instead of rising from his bed, he lingered, waiting.

A while later, the sound of garage doors opening and a car engine rumbling reached his ears. Hyeok-Woo leaped out of bed and hurried to the window. To his relief, it was his father's car departing. "Right on schedule," he thought, wondering where his father could be going. "Is he really heading to his office so soon after being arrested?" Hyeok-Woo mused. "Well, his job and power were always more important to him than anything else. I'm sure journalists are already writing articles about his unwavering dedication."

Thoughts of his father brought back the terrifying images from the previous day. Something strange was undeniably happening, and Hyeok-Woo needed to know what.

He left his room, still clad in gray sweatpants, matching slippers, and a black shirt. Stealthily, he crept through the hallway until he stood before the office doors again.

   "There can't be any evidence here; otherwise, the police would have found it already. Not all of them are under Dad's influence. So Mun said the same," he reassured himself, recalling his conversation with the former cripple. The memory caused his face to contort, as he had neither agreed to work with So Mun nor had any incentive to turn against his father. He stood to lose everything he had ever known if he were to entertain such a notion.

   "I hope you make the right choice, so the victims can find peace in the afterlife," So Mun's words echoed in his mind.

   "She was pregnant. Dad... He killed her when he was about to become a mayor, so around seven years ago? I was twelve then, and Mom was still here. He cheated on her. Is that why she left? Is that why he killed that woman, just to cover up his affair?"

"Since yesterday, I've been prepared to lose everything when I entered his hospital room. I need to know what's going on," Hyeok-Woo resolved, taking a step into the room.

He was aware that the chances of finding anything were slim. The police would have confiscated any potential evidence, and if the entire team was corrupt, they would have likely disposed of it by now. Nevertheless, he meticulously searched the office, examining every nook and cranny. He felt somewhat foolish, looking for the hiding places he had seen in spy movies. Yet, he couldn't shake off the fear that he might be caught at any moment, unable to perform any daring acrobatics like those on the screen. The mere thought sent his heart racing, threatening to betray his presence.

*Ding-dong.*

Hyeok-Woo's legs gave way beneath him at the sudden sound, causing him to scramble away in alarm. Thankfully, it was not his heart that failed him. He cursed the piercing volume of the doorbell and attempted to regain his composure. Just as he was about to stand, he noticed a droplet of dried blood on the floor beneath the table. He froze, fixating on the bloodstain. It was unmistakably blood, and its hardened state suggested it had been there overnight. But that didn't necessarily mean anything, right? Perhaps his father had merely suffered a nosebleed. 

    "Damn it. Weren't there three sets of shoes yesterday? Then who were the other two? And why didn’t I hear them leave…" he pondered, recalling the conversation he overheard between his father and another person outside his door. He had only caught snippets, but it was just enough to have Hyeok-Woo's mind racing with questions and suspicions as he stared at the dried bloodstain. Who else had been in his father's office? And what had happened here? The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, revealing something darker that lurked beneath the surface.

   "He said not yet. Not yet, but in the future..."

But before Hyeok-Woo could delve deeper into his thoughts, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house once again, interrupting his investigation. 

With a last glance at the bloodstain, he reluctantly left the office, determined to return later and continue his search.

As he reached the doors, Hyeok-Woo took a deep breath to steady himself and then sighed when he saw who it was from the camera, but still let him enter the gates.

   "What are you doing here?" he asked the other boy when he got to the doors. In response, Mun tilted his head. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? Why didn't you come to school today?"

Hyeok-Woo had realized a while ago that common sense didn't seem to apply to this boy, and with each conversation, that realization was further backed up.

   "None of your business," Hyeok-Woo hissed. "Are you an idiot? Why would you come to your parents' murderer's house just because his son, who is your former bully, didn't come to school?"

So Mun grimaced at his words.  "Sorry,” Hyeok-Woo glared, wondering why he was apologizing to him. Mun glanced at the inside of the house "I heard your dad got released from the hospital yesterday. Is he back?" 

Hyeok-Woo's eye twitched at the mention of his father. "Yeah, but he isn't here right now."

So Mun stared at him, obviously wanting to say something. Hyeok-Woo glared back, raising an eyebrow.

   "Are you okay?" So Mun asked.

The question caught Hyeok-Woo by surprise. "Huh?" The whole situation felt so strange that he couldn’t even attempt to hide the sheer confusion in his voice.

 

   "Nothing, just... well, you didn't come to school after our talk, and your dad came back, so...!" So Mun hurried to explain how, when the red-haired boy didn't show up at school, he assumed the worst and ended up leaving early under the pretense of being sick to come and check up on him.

Hyeok-Woo could feel a headache building up behind his eyes and was not in the mood to listen to Mun's monologue any longer. "Do you want to come inside?"

Mun perked up. "Can I?"

Hyeok-Woo didn't understand why the other boy seemed okay with entering a potential murderer's house, but he suppressed the question and instead shrugged. "I'll have to delete the footage regardless."

   "Footage?" Mun questioned.

Hyeok-Woo gestured to his left, where a camera was installed on the wall. "The whole house is filled with them."

   "Did the Police check the recordings?" It would only make sense if they did, but the policemen who came here reassured him that his presence was not needed while they did their investigation, so he doesn't know. They kicked him to the curb and he was just too tired of everything that day to stay there with a bunch of strangers turning his house upside down. "I don't know, ask your detective."

   "Can you show me yesterday's video, when your dad returned?" Mun continued. 

Hyeok-Woo scowled, already feeling fed up with the endless unnecessary chatter so early in the morning which did nothing to help the dull throbbing in his head. "Why do you want to see it?"

   "I want to see if he was acting differently yesterday," The full-blown flinch that he did must've been a good enough answer because suddenly Mun's eyes changed, not in the way his fathers did the night before, but they lit up with something akin to desperation and anger, and they felt a lot more similar then they should be, because even while bullying Mun he didn't have a clash with him that many times. He remembers the boy well, but there just isn't anything to remember about him.

  "He was, right?" Mun insisted, and he certainly read the desperate part right.

   "Shut up, do you always talk so much? Just follow me, my laptop is in my room."

And so Mun did, quietly trailing behind him up the stairs to the second floor, where Hyeok Woo just yesterday night had to lock himself in fear for his own life. Mun couldn't have known any of that, and was instead glancing around with his pink lips slightly agape "So this is your room? It's nice." Simple "nice" didn't do justice to describe the spacious room filled with stylish foreign furniture and expensive electronics. 

That's how the only living son of the major Shin lived.

Hyeok Woo sat on his queen-size bed and flipped open his laptop to check the recordings. Mun seemed to have finished looking around in awe and sat down next to him, eagerly anticipating the playback, close but not close enough for the older boy to bother telling him off.

Hyeok-Woo cursed himself internally for not checking yesterday's recordings sooner. Finally, he met Mun's gaze with a sigh. "It's deleted. The recordings from yesterday up until an hour ago are gone."

   "He must've wanted to hide something," Mun said, gripping Hyeok-Woo's shoulder. "He left an hour ago, right? Whatever it was that he took with him to his car, he didn't want any evidence left of it. Did you see anything?"

Hyeok-Woo shrugged off Mun's hands and turned away. "I saw three pairs of shoes yesterday, but only he was in the house. And there is some blood in the office."

Mun immediately jumped up. "What!?"

   "Just a few drops," Hyeok-Woo clarified. "He might've just had a nosebleed after returning from the hospital. Call your detective, and tell him to bring a trustworthy policeman to check for more blood. If he didn't use any chemicals, any leftover blood would be visible under UV light."

Mun blinked in surprise. "You know a lot about the investigation process."

Hyeok-Woo didn't feel the need to explain himself further. He hated feeling like he needed to justify himself and now was no different. The only explanation was something as insignificant as him watching crime shows when he was younger.

   "Pack your bags, you can't stay here any longer. This might turn into a crime scene. Do you have any other family?" Hyeok-Woo's mom was living in America the last he heard about her, but almost a year had passed since his 18th birthday, and their last call, so he had no idea where she was at the moment.

   "... No," Hyeok-Woo answered, feeling the truth in his words.

   "Come to my house then," Mun offered without hesitation.

Hyeok-Woo immediately refused. "No way, I'll deal with it on my own." He crossed his arms stubbornly.

Mun nodded as he fished his phone out of his pocket before turning away in a pretense of privacy.

   "Ahjussi? I think I found something for Mr. Kang Han-wool about the major-"

   "What, So Eun is missing?! When-" Hyeok-Woo flinched at the loudness of his voice. "He must want to get rid of her to cover up his crimes. I'm on my way." Mun quickly left the room.

Hyeok-Woo followed after him. "What happened?"

   "A sick child who drank the water your dad filled with trash was kidnapped!"

   "Huh? Wait, the doors are on the other side," Hyeok-Woo said, but Mun didn't bother answering. Instead, he jumped from the nearby balcony. Hyeok-Woo stared with his mouth agape as Mun landed perfectly on the grass below and then easily jumped over the gates in his path as well.

   "How did he do that?" Hyeok-Woo wondered, slightly in awe.

* * *

Maybe it was due to So Mun's unwavering belief that the man was a monstrous killer who had murdered his parents and left him crippled as a child. Or perhaps it had started even before his father's arrest. Regardless, the moment Hyeok-Woo heard the familiar sound of a car engine entering the gates of his home, his heart began to pound loudly in his chest. He immediately jumped up from his bed, checked the security cameras, and simultaneously dialed So Mun's number.

He expected to see his father walking into his office or bedroom, providing him with the perfect opportunity to grab his jacket, loudly inform his "friend" on the phone that he was on his way, and swiftly make his way past his father into the garage where his motorcycle was. After all, he had planned to return later to retrieve his belongings, since it was clear by now that Mun had forgotten to call the police on his way to wherever he had gone.

However, what he witnessed surprised him. His father wasn't alone in the car, and from the passenger seat emerged the man who had been protesting in front of their house for the majority of the afternoon. Hyeok-Woo frowned. The police hadn't arrived yet, and now this stranger was inside his house. He had no idea what to do.

He hoped the man hadn't come to tamper with evidence for his father. Or worse, to get rid of him for his father.

With intense focus, he stared at the camera recordings.

He watched his father retrieve a tool for his motorcycle, approach the stranger from behind, and violently swing the heavy object downward. The man immediately collapsed, twitching once before going completely still.

Covered in blood, his father glanced up, making eye contact with his son through the screen.

"Hello?" the forgotten phone in Hyeok-Woo's hand called out.

Hyeok-Woo was transfixed. Blood was not unfamiliar to him. He had seen it numerous times in movies and real life. He had made others bleed on multiple occasions, and he had bled himself a few times as well.

But the pool of red beneath the man grew larger, the blood staining the floor in amounts far bigger than he had ever witnessed before.

The man continued to lay motionless, while the blood continued to flow.

When he looked back at his father, he saw him still staring into the camera, a wide and cruel smile stretching across his face.

   "Hyeok-Woo?"

   "Mun, call the police. He just killed someone."

Notes:

Please send me comments and your opinions down below, I get so excited when I read them and they are great at getting me inspiration to work on future chapters!

Chapter 3: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒯𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑒𝒹𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒾𝓃 𝐻𝓎𝑒𝑜𝓀 𝒲𝑜𝑜

Summary:

The boys suffer and the mayor challenges Ji Cheong-Sin's dad as the "worst dad of the franchise".

Notes:

TW: child abuse, canon-typical violence, near-death experience, cursing, suffocation, murder, attempted murder
Both Mun and SHW are having a bad time at this point of the story...

   "What?"

   "I said..." Hyeok-Woo took a breath, but panic still tinged his voice. "My dad, he-he killed someone."

There was some shuffling on the other side, followed by a curse from Mun.

   "Are you home?" Mun asked urgently. Hyeok-Woo swallowed and managed to rasp out a yes. The word hung heavy in the room, creating an unsettling silence. It felt as though he had shouted it instead, even though the other boy probably barely heard it. Every little sound now felt like a live grenade, waiting to explode, waiting for the inevitable. "I'm on my way, okay? I'll call the police too, but you need to leave."

   "What? Are you insane? Don't come here!" Hyeok-Woo flinched at the sound of his voice. For just a moment, his fear dissipated as he found the other boy's suggestion absurd. But in an instant, the fear returned, slithering through his body, and invading his bones and veins.

Old memories resurfaced. His own little rules for maintaining peace in this house of cards.

Stay quiet, do nothing, and keep away from it all.

And yet, just now, he had been loud.

His gaze shifted back to the surveillance recordings, searching for the mayor's eyes.

   "Don't worry about me, just run, Hyeok-Woo. You're not safe there!"

Mun's words only registered halfway as Hyeok-Woo watched the man leave the garage. "He's coming up," he realized, speaking the words aloud.

Hyeok-Woo disappointed him.

He had been loud.

And now he was coming.

He was going to kill him too.

With no time to think, the teenager urgently pushed the laptop off his lap and bolted out of his room.

The familiar hallways stretched out before him as he sprinted through them, his veins pulsating with adrenaline, urging him onward down the stairs. Shadows danced in his vision, growing larger and more menacing at the corners of his eyes.

He raced through the house, desperately trying to gather his scattered thoughts into some semblance of a plan.

The house had three potential exits: the back gates, the front gates, and gates near the garage on the opposite side of the house—where his father and the dead man were. Was the man truly dead? After the mayor had struck him, blood splattered across the room, painting everything red. The walls. The floor. The man. 

His father's face had been sprayed too, but he had only laughed. That same eerie, manic voice from yesterday echoed in Hyeok-Woo's mind. Perhaps this was "the time," the moment when his father would finally kill him.

Hyeok-Woo, he couldn't possibly survive this time, could he?

Nevertheless, he pressed forward.

As he flung open the doors leading to the back gates and potential safety, the sky had already darkened, and he nearly collided with the very person he was fleeing from. His father stood there, partially concealed by the shadows. A lone garden lamp nearby cast a dim light upon him. Hyeok-Woo shivered as their eyes locked.

The mayor took a step closer, and Hyeok-Woo instinctively retreated.

It made no sense for Myeong-Hwi to have appeared here when the camera had shown him on the other side of the property only moments ago.

But very little in Hyeok-Woo's life made sense at the moment.

"Dad, please, let me go. Spare me," he pleaded, inching slowly backward toward the house where only the shadows ever welcomed him back. "Please, I'm sorry. Please, just stop."

The mayor advanced another step. "I didn't want to do this so soon, but you've left me no choice," he replied, his words causing Hyeok-Woo's stomach to plummet.

Suddenly, a forceful arm yanked him forward, causing him to crash to the ground, the impact knocking the air out of his lungs. Sharp pain radiated from his shoulder, and he struggled to stifle a scream.

As he opened his eyes, the world spun around him, and he tasted the metallic tang of blood mixing with bile in his mouth. Shakingly, he rose to his knees and glanced back at his father, who was fixated on something in his hand.

   "My phone," he realized, the realization distant and detached. Myeong-Hwi locked eyes with him and let out a cold, unnervingly jubilant laugh. Hyeok-Woo's gaze fell downward. "You'd better hurry, or the boy will join your parents," Myeong-Hwi taunted, tossing the phone aside.

   "So, you're with them?" Myeong-Hwi asked, kneeling in front of his son. He roughly tugged on Hyeok-Woo's orange hair, forcing him to meet his gaze. "My own son turned against me. Since when?"

Hyeok-Woo remained silent.

    "No matter. Since you two already know each other, you've made my plan easier."

Through the tears clouding his eyes, Hyeok-Woo blinked back the tears and glared defiantly.

Pitch-black eyes stared back at him.

Gritting his teeth, Hyeok-Woo balled his right hand into a fist and swung. The punch landed, but the man didn't even flinch. Instead, he seized Hyeok-Woo's arm once again and slammed him against the ground.

Rough, icy arms wrapped around the teenager's neck, cutting off his breath.

His father giggled, low and eerie, as a strange black mist emanated from his mouth, slithering its way back into Hyeok-Woo's.

Hyeok-Woo gagged. He thrashed and clawed at the arms constricting him, tears streaming down his face, but the mist seared his lungs, and he was helpless to stop it.

It felt like drowning.

Dark spots danced at the edges of his vision, and his consciousness began to slip away. 

In the distance, he faintly heard thumping, followed by a voice.

   "Get away from him, you asshole!" A blur of red shot past him. His father was kicked aside, hurtling back into the wall, which cracked upon impact. Hyeok-Woo himself tumbled to the floor, gasping for air.

Strong arms enveloped him, pulling him upright.

   "Can you stand?" Mun asked, supporting his weight. Hyeok-Woo didn't manage to respond before Myeong-Hwi started to rise again.

   "Ah, you're here already? Ruining my plans again, you little bastard. But..." Myeong-Hwi scanned the surroundings theatrically, his grin transforming into a scowl. "Where are the rest? Did you come all alone?" He laughed once more.

   "No magic wands either. You're defenseless and yet you came. Why? Does his life mean that much to you?"

Slowly, Mun stepped away from Hyeok-Woo, positioning himself between the teenager and the embodiment of evil. Tension filled the air, and Hyeok-Woo sensed that Myeong-Hwi felt it too, as his maniacal grin gave way to a scowl.

   "Hyeok-Woo, run!" the red-haired boy urged, stepping back but hesitating, torn between the two. "Listen, I'll be fine, but you need to leave. Just go, get help!"

Hyeok-Woo's gaze shifted between the younger boy and the direction of the garage.

Finally, he nodded and turned away.

With a fierce yell, Mun lunged forward.

* * *

Despite their brief but intense fight, Mun and the evil spirit, Ji Cheong-Sin, were left exhausted and bruised. Cheong-Sin had weakened after switching hosts, and Mun had the advantage of a stronger body. However, the battle was still grueling.

Mun sat atop the mayor, pinning him down with his knees while gripping his hand tightly. He longed for it to be over, to be reunited with his parents, but he couldn't let his guard down. This spirit was pure evil and had escaped them multiple times before. 

As Mun prepared to perform the exorcism, a small light caught his attention. He looked up and saw a soul levitating above them.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his arm as something pierced his skin from behind. Blood stained his white shirt, dripping down his arm and forming a puddle on the floor. Mun cried out in agony, losing his concentration. Seizing the opportunity, Cheong-Sin roared and flung Mun across the room with an invisible force. Mun crashed into the wall, feeling intense pain in his leg and struggling to suppress his sobs.

He instinctively reached for his shoulder and discovered a knife lodged there. Shin Myeong-Hwi, wearing a twisted grin smeared with blood, slowly rose to his feet. Mun tried to stand, but his strength was fading, and even his territorial power wavered and dissipated.

Myeong-Hwi opened his mouth, and the small light trembled. "Stop, you bastard, stop!" Mun screamed, but it was too late. The soul was drawn into Myeong-Hwi, just as before, and Mun was powerless to prevent it.

   "Ahh, I feel so much better now," Cheong-Sin laughed mockingly. "Don't worry, he's joined your parents inside me. And soon, you will too." Mun roared and lunged forward, but his own body betrayed him. He was forced to his knees, his head slowly turning against his will. He fought against the compulsion, focusing on summoning his territorial power once again.

But he wasn't the only one with the idea. With each inch his head turned, the knife inside his shoulder twisted.

Mun screamed in pain, causing the sadistic spirit to burst into laughter. However, the laughter abruptly ceased, replaced by the sound of shattering glass. Mun fell forward, barely managing to catch himself before hitting the floor. He reached for the knife, wincing in pain as he pulled it out. Blood gushed from the wound, but he knew he couldn't leave it in. The spirit would use it against him.

As Mun turned his attention back to the spirit, he flinched. Hyeok-Woo had returned, his hands covered in blood up to his elbows, alongside most of his shirt but showing no visible injuries. The room was littered with shards of a broken vase, and the spirit exuded an even stronger thirst for blood. "I've had enough of you, Heyok-Woo," the spirit sneered. "I planned to use you, but not anymore. I'll kill you, reclaim what's mine, and devour your soul."

Mun shouted defiantly, "I won't let you!" The spirit scoffed, declaring that he would deal with Mun after. Then, he hurled Hyeok-Woo out of the doors with his telekinesis. Hyeok-Woo made no sound, only a choked gasp. The spirit followed, and Mun forced his battered and bloodied body to give chase.

When Mun reached the outside, he saw Hyeok-Woo suspended high in the air, tears streaming down his face. "You bastard, just fucking stop!" Mun pleaded, running toward them.

But he was too late. Hyeok-Woo's lifeless body crashed to the ground with a sickening thud, and Mun could only watch in horror.

Blood pooled, staining Hyeok-Woo's orange hair crimson. His head slumped to the side, and his eyes closed.

Mun screamed his name, but there was no response. Hyeok-Woo was gone.

Notes:

I didn't start season 2 yet so if you want to discuss it in the comments, please leave a warning at least. The story is also already planned ahead so any similarities with canon are coincidences :)

On another note, I've been so happy to see so many people interested in this story, Thank you all. Visit me on ivyines on Tumblr if you want to scream at me for a cliffhanger, or just put it in the comments under.

Chapter 4: 𝒢𝓇𝒾𝓂 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝓅𝑒𝓇

Summary:

The city and the country itself are in an uproar over this heinous crime the major committed. Hyek-woo is alive but is not waking up.
Mun is being eaten by his own guilt while the counters are just trying to help their youngest.
Nobody is having a good time.

Notes:

Tw: for minor character death (on screen) & some violence

   "Police are seeking Shin Myeong-Hwi in connection with the brutal murder and physical assault," the cold voice continued, sending a shiver down Mun's spine. He couldn't help but wonder if the reporter was also an evil spirit, wielding newfound power and feeding off his fear unnoticed by the others.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the other victim, the wife who lost her husband, and the children who lost their father," the voice continued. "We urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect to contact the authorities. The hospital has been secured, but updates on the condition of the young teenager, whose recovery is tragically uncertain, will be provided." the footage changed to show dozens upon dozens of reporters standing outside the hospital, ceaselessly running after any doctor coming out, in hopes of being the first one to get any news on the teen. 

The voice abruptly ceased, and when Mun turned around, he saw Ms. Chu holding the remote with a sheepish smile. But he was too weary to muster a response. "Come, Mun," Ms. Chu said gently. "Ha-na can take care of the shop. Are you hungry? Take some time to rest. I'll make you some noodles."

Mun simply shook his head. He grabbed a stack of dirty dishes from the counter and retreated to the back of the store where the kitchen was located. Though he noticed the concerned glances exchanged behind his back, he chose to ignore them.

As he loaded the dishwasher, Ha-Na entered the kitchen and handed him a few cups. "You know," she began softly, "they're just worried about you."

   "I know," Mun replied, his voice heavy with fatigue.

   "You were finally starting to rely on us more. Don't shut us out again," Ha-Na implored, her gaze fixed on the young man.

Mun clenched his fist, stubbornly refusing to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry,”

   "Ms. Chu said that we'll be closing the shop early today. Go home and rest. We'll meet up at the hospital later," Ha-Na informed him before leaving the kitchen, leaving Mun once again in solitude.

 

* * *

 

Inside the hospital, Mun stepped through the sterile corridors, his footsteps muffled against the polished linoleum floors. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, the urgency practically hanging in the air. The distant clamor of reporters echoed through the walls, their voices bouncing off one another of questions and speculation.

As he approached the critical care unit, the bustling activity intensified. Nurses hurried by, their faces etched with concern, while doctors conferred in hushed tones. The scent of antiseptic in the air combined with the suffocating aura present in the hospital that day, made Mun frown.

Mun caught snippets of conversations as he passed by. Whispers of the victim's name, Shin Hyeok-Woo, floated in the air, accompanied by murmurs about his grave condition. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Mun's shoulders, as he remembered the night the teen was first brought here.

Outside the hospital, the reporters' presence made itself known. Their voices, amplified through microphones, carried a sense of urgency and desperation. Their questions fired rapidly and without a moment of hesitation, created a constant buzz in the very background of the hospital.

Through the windows, Mun caught glimpses of the media frenzy unfolding. Cameras flashed, capturing images of distraught family members and hospital staff rushing through the entrance, hoping to capture anyone connected to the injured teen. Journalists, notebook in hand, the other gripping microphones, were in a position to pounce at any moment, their eyes hungry for any scrap of information that could be extracted.

It all added to the pressure and sense of overwhelming chaos, amplifying the weight of the situation.

Mun pressed on, navigating the labyrinthine corridors until he reached the door of the critical care unit. He steeled himself, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

   “Mun, over here,” called Mo Tak, waving him over. Detective Kang stood nearby, concern etched on his face “Are you feeling better?” Mun just shrugged in reply. He has healed a lot from his injuries, but he's still weak. Slow too. Too slow to catch the major, certainly. 

The detective's expression softened, his eyes conveying a depth of understanding and Mo Tak placed a comforting hand on Mun's shoulder, offering support. “He’ll bounce back in no time.”

As the room door swung open, a fatigued Ms. Chu came out, accompanied by Ha-Na. "I did my best," she said wearily. "He's recovering, but there's no guarantee he'll regain consciousness."

 

Mo Tak let out a sigh of frustration but shook it off. “You did your best, hopefully, that other guy has better luck with it.”

Mun blinked “What other guy?” he asked curiously. “Just a counter that’s coming from Hong Kong. He’s a healer too. We were informed he’s coming over for some business and we’re gonna go pick him up after this.” Mun slowly nodded. 

   “I’m gonna go check on him before we leave.” he gestured to the doors.

   “Yeah, go ahead.” the detective nodded.

As Mun entered the room, a somber silence enveloped him. Shin Hyeok-Woo lay motionless in the hospital bed, his face pale and bruised, connected to an array of medical equipment. The room felt heavy, filled only by the steady beeping of monitors, and nobody from his family anywhere close to offer any support or comfort to the teen on the bed. 

Mun pulled up a chair beside the bed, grasping Hyeok-Woo's hand.

Flashes of Hyeok-Woo's life, intertwined with moments of trauma inflicted by his father, played out before him like a videotape.

Mun saw the fear and pain etched on Hyeok-Woo's face as he endured the abuse and the scars both visible and hidden that were left behind after it. The weight of it all threatened to consume Mun, but he held on, not allowing himself to let go of his hand yet.

The room seemed to grow colder as the echoes of Hyeok-Woo's pain went through Mun’s mind.

With a heavy heart, Mun released Hyeok-Woo's hand. The connection was severed, but the impact of those brief moments lingered. Mun sighed and leaned to rest his head on the bed. Hyeok-Woo’s pain and Mun’s empathy left the young counter mentally drained. He felt sadness for his former bully. 

In the dimly lit hospital room, Mun sat beside Hyeok-Woo's bed, his gaze fixed on the unconscious ginger-haired boy. Only the steady beep of the heart monitor broke the hushed atmosphere.

But suddenly, Mun's focus wavered, and his surroundings blurred, and a disorienting haze fell all around him. As if peering through someone else’s eyes, his mind was transported to a scene outside the hospital.

In the distance, Mun spotted a young girl walking alone, her steps slow and deliberate. But as Mun's gaze lingered on her, unease prickled at his skin. He sensed a darkness swirling within her, an evil spirit masquerading as a human.

A chill crawled up Mun's spine as he realized the girl's true nature, and he gulped.

Then, to Mun's horror, he noticed a man walking behind her.

Mun’s heart beat with urgency as the vision stopped and he was left standing at the hospital once again.

Mun bolted out of Hyeok-Woo's room, his heart pounding in his chest, knowing the man in his vision was in great danger at that same moment. 

Every corner he turns, every hallway he traverses, feels like an eternity as time slips through his fingers. With each passing step, Mun's muscles burn with exhaustion, but he pushes through the pain, driven by a steadfast resolve to rescue the man from the clutches of the malevolent spirit.

The counters join him by the time they are out of the hospital and they all share a look as they get in a car. 

   “Everyone, be careful! Mun, you especially. You’re still healing” Ms. Chu added. “I will be, don't worry.” Mun nodded back.

Finally, the Counters reach the street where the man was shown to be. They all hurry out, splitting up to cover more ground.

As he scans the area, panic begins to claw at Mun's chest. The street he is at seems empty, devoid of any immediate danger. He walks through it hurriedly, searching for the place the street showed. But just as he contemplates turning back, a faint cry for help reverberates through the air.

Mun's heart leaps with renewed hope as he follows the sound, his footsteps echoing loudly through the empty place. He rounds a corner and freezes in his tracks. There, before him, stands the man he saw in his vision, locked in a desperate struggle with the evil spirit.

Time seems to slow as Mun's eyes take in the harrowing scene. The spirit, a girl from his vision, looks up and their eyes meet. The man is under her, tightly held by her otherworldly grip, his face contorted in pain and terror, and his choked gasps for breath echoing through the corridor.

   “Stop!” 

Mun's every instinct screams at him to intervene, to save the man from his incoming death. But as he sprints forward, his battered body rebels against him. The exhaustion and injuries acquired from his previous battle make his movements sluggish and uncoordinated. The Spirit takes immediate notice of that, and lunges forward, lashing out on him any chance she can get. 

He summons the territory which gives him just enough edge over the spirit, and he finally wrestles her under. He grabs her arm and puts it on her chest, determined to get rid of the spirit. 

When Mo Tak arrived at the location, the spirit had already been exorcised.

His eyes scanned the surroundings and immediately moved to help the victim, dropping to his knees. But when he flipped the man over, he stilled. Mo Tak's heart sank as he recognized the familiar silhouette of Oh Jeong-Gu. A healer counter from another city that they requested help from. 

   "Jeong-Gu," Mo Tak barked, his voice laced with concern and determination. "What the hell happened here? Don't you dare give up!" Mu looked up from the women, surprise and worry showing in his eyes as he rushed over to help Mo Tak.

Red blood stained Jeong-Gu's clothes, and his breathing was shallow and labored.

   "No, Jeong-Gu," Mo Tak insisted, his voice trembling with a mix of worry and frustration. "Stay awake. You’re healer, why can’t you heal yourself."

Jeong-Gu weakly shook his head, a faint smile crossing his face. "That’s… not how… that works."

Mo Tak gritted his teeth, his gaze filled with stubborn defiance. "You're not giving up, you punk. Look, the territory is up. Ms. Chu can save you, just stay awake."

Jeong-Gu blinked “The territory… It was true. He can… open it. You might-” his words were cut off by a cough. Then with the next cough, blood sprayed all over Mo-Tak.

   “I feel sorry for Dong-Pal. You were right, huh.”

Grief fell on Mo Tak's face as he tightly gripped Jeong-Gu's hand, his voice hoarse as he murmured. “You were a great counter. I was a fool.”

Jeong-Gu's eyes flickered with gratitude and pain. With his last ounce of strength, he whispered, "Goodbye, Mo Tak." before his hand went limp, and his gaze turned vacant.

A warm ball of light came out of his chest, and Mun stared at it, shocked. For a second, the ball didn't know where to go and just floated there. The next moment, it zipped past Mun in the direction Mo-Tak came from.

Notes:

I apologize for the long wait. I've been very busy lately. It's (hopefully) my last year in school and I'm preparing to graduate which means applying for jobs and training and deciding on my career path. But that aside, I've also found myself stuck writing this story because I felt like I could do much better than what I wrote up till now.
My IRL friend offered to beta-read this chapter and really came in clutch with her tips. So much so that I decided to go back and rewrite some scenes from previous chapters too! No worries, as of now, I don't plan to make any big changes so no need to reread it all (unless you want to!)
But yeah, keep an eye out for that. Next chapter might be slightly delayed because of that but probably not as much as this one was.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, even tho it was sad. I really like Yeong-Gu too, but it was for the plot.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Counters Guide to hunting Evil Spirits