Season two, chapter eighty-three

"Storms make trees take
deeper roots"

THEA CAREFULLY LISTENED to the recording of Hwang Pil-gwang's voice, which was presented in a video by Lee Chung-Jae as crucial evidence for taking action against Mr. Hwang. She was aware of the difficulty in prosecuting him, but believed that confronting him directly would bring some relief and resolution to the situation. As the video on the computer screen came to an end, it signaled the conclusion of the evidence presentation.

"What a heinous devil" Ms. Chu expressed her disdain with a grave countenance, however, the discontent towards the situation was palpable on not only her face but also on the countenances of those present "Now that we have proof, we can put him behind bars"

"With this proof, he'll root in jail" Jeok-bong concurred as he knelt on the ground, his hands and chin resting on the table, his eyes unwaveringly fixated on the illuminated figure displayed on the computer monitor

"But once people find out about this video, they will also know that Hwang Pil-gwang was behind the fraud. Then Ma Ju-seok will go after him" Hana explained with a furrowed brow, arms folded, deep in thought about the possible consequences of the situation

"Then he will make Hwang Pil-gwang pay for deceiving him" Jun-seo concurred, inclining his head slightly as he comprehended Hana's intentions. Thea couldn't help but wonder if there was a supernatural bond between the two, as they appeared to be deeply connected, possibly sharing brain waves or some similar phenomenon

"This is a huge problem" Jangmul remarked gravely as he assessed the current circumstances "Ma Ju-seok is a ticking bomb right now"

"But we can't hide this forever" Mo-tak remarked softly, pondering deeply as he focused his gaze on the ground. He understood the volatile nature of Mr. Ma and the potential for significant consequences with any triggering event "We must summon him before the video goes public"

"We need someone..." Mun interjected, positioning himself against the boxing ring, sporting a serious yet resolute demeanor. All gazes swiftly shifted towards him, intrigued by his intended message "...who can bring him down the hill. What if we just try... to persuade him?" With a furrowed brow, he sauntered over to the assembled group at the table, hands concealed within the confines of his jacket pockets, cognizant that his proposal would likely be met with opposition, yet determined to explore the possibility

"Persuade him?" Mo-tak inquired incredulously, arching an eyebrow as he regarded Mun skeptically, evidently skeptical of the suggestion. Thea, on the other hand, remained noncommittal, her arms crossed, understanding that convincing Mr. Ma would require more than just persuasion

"I was able to wake up from my coma because you were all waiting for me and supporting me" Mun declared articulately and profoundly. Emphasizing the importance of this support, Mun asserted,"I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you all"

Thea let out a sigh and opened her mouth, yet no words escaped. She rubbed her forehead, avoiding eye contact with Mun, causing Jun-Seo to gently pat her shoulder as a sign of reassurance and solidarity.

"Mun," Ms. Chu interrupted in a composed manner with a grave expression, her tone cautioning against entertaining the proposal and exercising excessive leniency towards a malevolent individual like Ma Ju-seok

"Whats gotten into you this time?" Jangmul inquired, his brow furrowed in disbelief, as no one could comprehend Mun's true intentions through mere persuasion

"Maybe Ma Ju-seok is the one who's desperate to put an end to this" Mun conveyed with a hint of exasperation, momentarily shutting his eyes. It appeared that even his relatives were reluctant to heed his advice, let alone have faith in him. "If we can persuade him while he still has a will of his own—"

"Mun" Mo-tak interjected with a raise in volume, rising from his seat with a deep exhale, and shifting his focus towards Mun while pointing at him with his index finger. "Do you think the evil spirit is like you? Plus, how will we persuade him? There's no way to find him now, except to just wait for him to go after Lee Chung-jae"

In a brief moment of stillness, Mun found himself consumed by frustration, closing his eyes and bowing his head in contemplation. It was evident to all present that Mo-tak was correct, leaving them with no recourse. Mun was uncertain how to sway Mr. Ma's opinion, realizing that searching for him would prove fruitless. Conversely, Thea maintained unwavering confidence in Mun's abilities and the potential success of his strategy. Consequently, when a vague recollection concerning the territory emerged, she promptly divulged it without hesitation.

"The territory" interjected Thea, shattering the extensive period of quiet. All heads instinctively turned towards her inquisitively. She proposed, "Why don't we use the territory?"

"The territory?"Jeok-bong inquired from his posture of kneeling on the ground, raising his head to make eye contact with Thea who confirmed with a nod while standing behind him

"He read it. Mun can summon it and talk to him" Thea elucidated, observing the perplexed expressions on the faces of those present, especially Mun, who cocked his head in curiosity, urging her to provide more detailed explanation."If he can accept the fact that summoning the evil spirit is his only way out..."

"Yes"

Thea noticed the exact instant when Mun's eyes ignited with optimism, and for reasons unknown, this gratified her as she was able to provide him with a spark of hope, even though she was also convinced that these hopes might ultimately prove to be baseless.

"We'll be able to summon him without getting anyone else hurt" Ms. Chu concurred optimistically, placing her faith in Thea's assurances, which offered a glimmer of hope in the dire circumstances "Plus, we are out of time and options"

"The human part of him is being swayed right now" Mun asserted with assurance, maintaining his stance"This could be our last chance to persuade him" he remarked, as all eyes shifted towards Mo-tak, who stood against the boxing ring with a downcast expression, contemplating his decision

Currently, all individuals were gathered in the hospital waiting area, maintaining a quiet atmosphere. Mun had engaged in a conversation with Mr. Ma through the territory, with the anticipation of his arrival at the hospital to be summoned. Thea held onto a glimmer of optimism that Ma Ju-seok retained a faint inclination to revert back to his previous self, acknowledging that even the slightest trigger could potentially sway his decision.

However, they faced significant challenges in persuading Mo-tak to have faith in Mun's strategy. Therefore, Thea earnestly desired a positive outcome, hoping for a successful resolution to all the difficulties they had encountered.

Seated in the hospital waiting room, Thea delicately grasped Mun's hand as he displayed a mix of impatience and apprehension. Uncertain of whether Mr. Ma would arrive as promised or if his pleas had truly impacted Mr. Ma's decision to confront his demons, Mun's emotions were evident in his expressions. Thea observed Mun closely, convinced that despite his unease, he remained confident in Mr. Ma's arrival.

Thea let out a sigh while tenderly comforting Mun by patting his back. Mun responded with a slight smile, subtle yet noticeable to Thea. Despite the circumstances, she had a consistently calming effect on him, causing his anxiety to diminish as he gently squeezed her hand in return.

"So...." Jeok-bong, while walking back and forth, uncomfortably cleared his throat in the solemn ambiance of the Counters group before inquiring, "Do you think Ma Ju-seok will come?"

"He will" Mun expressed his belief in Mr. Ma's eventual return with a determined demeanor, stating, "I know he will." Seeking affirmation from Thea, who sat next to him, Mun looked for reassurance to bolster his optimism

"He'll come" Thea gave a confirming nod, retaining her grip on Mun's hand as he released a brief sigh, seemingly placing his trust in Thea's words. Yet, both individuals harbored doubts regarding Mr. Ma's imminent arrival, as his delay caused uncertainty

Ms. Chu assented with a nod, positioned facing the couple "We were confident that Mun would wake up too. Let's believe that he'll come. He was someone we trusted" Mun acknowledged, feeling somewhat calmer due to Thea and Ms. Chu's reassurances

"He should be here by now if he was really persuaded" Hana murmured softly, dashing all expectations. Ms. Chu rose from her chair in exasperation upon learning of this news

"Yah..." Thea softly whispered to Hana, who was positioned next to her. In contrast, Hana adjusted herself upright in anticipation of Thea's forthcoming remarks. Yet, Jun-Seo acted swiftly by placing his hands on Hana's shoulders from behind her chair, instantly diffusing all of Hana's annoyance with a reassuring smile

Thea furrowed her brow as her eyes flitted between her brother standing behind Hana and Hana herself, who seemed to be more relaxed now. The unique interaction between the two individuals caught Thea's interest, although she was unsure why she was fascinated by it.

"Hey, Han-ul" spoke Mo-tak, who was positioned against the wall and holding the phone to his ear, drawing the focus of everyone present as his demeanor shifted to that of astonishment, exclaiming,"What?"

Mun, his eyebrows raised in curiosity, asked, "What is it?" as he stood up along with Thea, who echoed his questioning expression

"Okay, I'm on my way" Mo-tak replied with an inscrutable countenance, then lowered the phone from his ear to conclude the conversation "Damn it. Lee Chung-jae has disappeared"

"Was it Ma Ju-seok? Did he do something?" Mun asked decisively, experiencing a mixture of desperation and anxiety as he considered the possibility that his actions could have been disrupted. He couldn't help but wonder if Mo-tak's suspicions about Mr. Ma's changed nature were accurate, and if he had indeed turned to pure evil

Mo-tak expressed his frustration with a surprised tone, muttering "What is this? Damn it" while shutting his eyes. He then showed the screen of his phone, revealing Mr. Hwang navigating a prison corridor with a blood-stained cardboard box in his possession

Thea let out a frustrated sigh as she averted her eyes from Mo-tak's phone screen, finding it unbearable to continue looking at the disturbing photo of a bloodstained cardboard box, as she was aware of its contents.

"Hwang Pil-gwang" Mun uttered in a hushed tone, his breath quickening, as he found himself captivated by the photograph that revealed significant information, particularly implicating Hwang Pil-gwang in the murder of Chung-Jae. This revelation was likely to incite Mr. Ma's anger

"Stay here in case Ma Ju-seok comes" Mo-tak asserted, directing the team with authority. He then turned his attention to the younger team members, decisively stating,"The rest of you, let's go find Hwang"

"Okay"

Thea nodded resolutely, recognizing the importance of finding Pil-gwang without delay to prevent any errors or interference with the team's objectives.

"Mo-tak..." Ms. Chu, her breath catching in her chest, interjected with a sense of urgency, her attention firmly fixed on the television screen in the hospital waiting area, exclaiming "We found Hwang Pil-gwang"

All gazes shifted towards the direction that caught the attention of Ms. Chu, who was wide-eyed. Thea wrinkled her forehead in concern and guided Mun towards the television, eager to hear the words being spoken by the woman on the screen.

"This unidentified man claims he wants to reveal the truth about the Baekdu Housing fraud"

"Hwang Pil-gwang..."

"What's she saying?"

On television, Mr. Hwang appeared amidst a throng of media personnel and cameras, with small droplets of blood on his face and stained hands. Despite this, the focus remained on his words rather than his appearance. Thea sensed that his remarks were calculated to incite Mr. Ma without fully understanding his motives for not wanting him as an ally anymore.

"He voluntarily came to the press. Let's hear our reporter"

"Where should I begin?" Inquired Mr. Hwang in a calm manner, giving the impression that he had not committed a murder mere hours ago "I doubt you're interested in the deaths of nameless individuals. Then how about me killing Lee Chung-jae? Or, should I talk about how I'm the mastermind of the Baekdu housing fraud? If not, then how about... how I killed... Ma Ju-seok's wife?" Mr. Hwang taunted before bursting into laughter, gazing intently at the screen as if he were aware that Mr. Ma was observing him through it

Thea quietly uttered the words "Son of a bitch" her eyes filled with rage. It was truly shocking that the man had the audacity to admit to committing murder in front of a live audience

"That bastard" Mun expressed his fury, causing his breathing to accelerate and tears of anger to fill his eyes. He tightly balled his hands into fists, his chest heaving rapidly, compelling Thea to accept his need to vent his pent-up emotions

"It was in here, Ma Ju-seok. The truth behind your wife's death" Mr. Hwang declared, indicating towards his head with a mixture of amusement and madness evident in his laughter. Thea shifted her attention away from the television screen to avoid inadvertently damaging it with her telekinetic abilities and causing a scene

Regrettably, the heavy traffic posed a significant obstacle to their journey towards their intended destination. Despite the situation being a genuine emergency and their pressing desire to locate Pil-gwang swiftly to prevent Mr. Ma from harming him, they could not afford to let him succeed in his plans, as it would only enhance his power and make it more challenging for them to thwart him in the future. The prospect of an endless struggle seemed imminent if they failed in their mission, yet it appeared that fate had other intentions, evident in the pervasive traffic congestion that was impeding their progress regardless of their sense of urgency.

"We can't wait" Mun expressed a sense of urgency as he quickly moved to open the car door in search of Pil-gwang, conveying his impatience

"It disappeared" Jeok-bong commented with perplexity, causing Mun to pause before getting out of the car. Everyone turned to him, puzzled, anticipating a more detailed clarification

"What?"

"What disappeared? His smell?" Hana questioned with a sense of urgency, watching Jeok-bong sniff the air intently in a fervent attempt to locate the vanished aroma

"I swear I smelled two different evil spirits" Jeok-bong remarked with a look of intense urgency and exasperation. "Hwang Pil-gwang... No. Ma Ju-seok... wait. They both disappeared—" he abruptly closed the window with a shout, overcome by the foul smell "This smell..." he struggled to speak coherently, feeling nauseous

"Jeok-bong, are you okay?" Ms. Chu asked with a sense of concern while noticing Jeok-bong's persistent shouting and his urgent attempt to block the unpleasant odor from entering his nostrils

"I can't breathe!" cried Jeok-bong frantically, as Jun-Seo offered him a cloth to shield his nose, with Mun hastily exiting the vehicle and Thea following suit, both rushing towards the edifice housing their intended subjects

Regrettably, when they arrived, they were greeted with a crowd of journalists and ambulances at the entrance, where the deceased were being removed on stretchers. Among them was Mr. Hwang, whose face was obscured by a white sheet that was briefly uncovered by the wind. Thea stood still, her mouth agape, unable to speak as she witnessed the motionless form of Pil-gwang on the stretcher.

"Ma Ju-seok killed Hwang Pil-gwang after all" Thea gasped, her breath quickening. She barely noticed the cool breeze shifting her bangs away from her face as she spoke, paying little heed to her own appearance

"That evil spirit. That bastard provoked Mr. Ma" Mun seethed, his eyes ablaze with fury, his jaw clenched and fists tightly clenched as he observed with fervor Pil-gwang being ushered into the ambulance

"Hwang Pil-gwang?" Thea asked, her eyebrows raised in curiosity, observing as the ambulance door closed with Mr. Hwang inside. "Why did he want Mr. Ma to kill him?" Thea questioned, perplexed and seeking clarification from Mun. However, all Mun could do was tighten his jaw in frustration

Gathered at the pristine white table in Yung, Thea seemed agitated, her leg anxiously bouncing as she looked for reassurance from those in attendance. She yearned to ease her apprehension over the turmoil sparked by Pil-gwang's death at the hands of Mr. Ma, who had now gained even greater influence.

"Hwang Pil-gwang didn't die" Wi-gen revealed solemnly, eliciting a contemplative response from Thea, who lifted her lowered head to stare at the woman with a look of astonishment in her eyes "He sacrificed his body to enter Ma Ju-seok's. He took control of Ma Ju-seok's power"

"And what about Ma Ju-seok?" Mun asked, maintaining intense eye contact with the woman and displaying a similar level of gravity as her, unfazed by the revelation that Pil-gwang was not deceased

"Ma Ju-seok's soul has been consumed by Hwang Pil-gwang's evil spirit" Wi-gen announced solemnly, her hands resting on the table as a palpable sense of discomfort permeated the room among those in attendance

Hana scoffed, cocking her head to the side in a manner that suggested disbelief in the woman's words. "So he has the body of Ma Ju-seok but the soul of Hwang Pil-gwang. That's what the Yung people call—"

"A complete evil spirit" solemnly interjected Gi-ran, completing Hana's statement with a confirming nod "That's what he has become now"

"Hold on" Mo-tak expressed his frustration and disbelief as he closed his eyes and raised his hands in exasperation, inquiring, "What exactly is a complete evil spirit? How strong is he exactly?"

"That smell..." Jeok-bong interjected, his head lowered and gaze fixed on the pristine table. He shut his eyes and shook his head in recollection of the overpowering stench that nearly induced nausea "That was... how do I put it? The smell was so strong I couldn't even breathe"

"Not only can the evil spirit use the power of the territory, but it can also hide itself in it" U-sik solemnly elaborated. His words instilled a sense of contemplation in the group, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. It was evident to all present that with Mr. Ma's increased strength, they would need to redouble their efforts to overcome him

Hana inquired, "Does that mean we can't catch it with the territory?" as she leaned in with a expression of terror on her face, eager for a response that contradicted her current belief

"What's even more dangerous is that a complete evil spirit can find the Counters through the territory" Ji-Hye observed, causing a hush to fall over the group. Thea gazed at her mother with astonishment, her mouth slightly agape, although she was unable to articulate any thoughts

"That means... they're no longer the ones who need to avoid the territory" Ms. Chu exclaimed with a look of astonishment in her eyes. "It's us," she stated with a tremor in her voice, pointing to herself as she struggled to grasp the fact that the territory was no longer beneficial to them

"Unless you're truly prepared, the territory is now dangerous" SuHo conveyed to the group, his demeanor marked by a mix of apprehension and compassion towards the Counters, whom he holds in high regard, particularly his beloved mother

"If we can't use the territory, is there another way?" Mun inquired, expressing optimism that a resolution could be discovered to deal with the persistent crisis, while acknowledging that a swift remedy is unlikely. He suggested, "There must be another way to summon it"

"Summoning it... is meaningless now" declared Hyeon-jun with determination and gravity, his hands placed on the table as his eyes scrutinized each individual in the group, ultimately fixing his gaze on Mun as he was aware that the proposed resolution would not be to his liking

"What do you mean?" Mun asked for clarification, blinking in confusion as his father-in-law stated that summoning Mr. Ma at this time would serve no purpose

"For the Yung, there's only one rule regarding a complete evil spirit. He should be... eliminated on sight" Wi-gen somberly stated. Thea, in a state of shock, comprehended the importance of Mr. Ma to Mun and understood that he would not be willing to carry out the elimination as instructed by the Yung

"Eliminated? You want us to kill him? Wi-gen!" Mun exclaimed with horror, standing up in disbelief. All members of the team were equally taken aback, as Mr. Ma had been widely admired for his kindness

"Now that a complete evil spirit has emerged..." Hyun-ki declared with a grave expression as he stood up, his gaze fixed on Mun in a cautionary manner,"...things have changed completely. The Yung is not ordering you to summon the complete evil spirit. Your order is to eliminate him"

Thea experienced a sensation akin to being drenched with icy water, causing a shiver to run down her back. It was clear that when Yung issued an order, it must be executed without fail, as disobedience would result in severe repercussions for violating the regulations. Thea understood that none of the team members were enthusiastic about undertaking the task, but it was essential in order to put an end to the turmoil and attain a period of peace, albeit temporary, until new malevolent entities appeared to disrupt their serenity.

Ultimately, evil will persist in the world indefinitely, despite efforts to eradicate it. The Counters, however, will persist in their mission to confront and overcome malevolent forces, ensuring that evil does not prevail.

However, Thea found herself pondering whether the circumstances surrounding her were a stroke of luck or a burden that she carried. She was convinced that at times, it felt like she was trapped in a terrifying dream.

Author's note;

Hello! I am back! I apologize for being absent for a long time and returning as if nothing happened, but I have been lacking motivation to write. However, this does not mean I will not finish this book because I truly want to complete this story, as it was my first story to receive a lot of support. 💗

Question of the day: Are you already on summer vacation? ☀️

It has been precisely 20 days since I began my summer vacation, and during this entire time, I have done nothing but bore myself. 😹 Let's catch up in the next chapter! 💜