The Spirit Caller was busy organizing the study.

He pulled out each book individually, dusted it off, then placed it here and there—arranging # Nоvеlight # them in a way that no one else would care about, yet draining his spiritual energy in the process.

After finishing the book arrangement, he scattered sweet osmanthus flowers around the study and boiled water to make tea, just as Imhyang arrived.

“Master Seo.”

“Lady Im. Welcome. I haven’t tidied up properly, so it’s a mess.”

Though to anyone’s eyes it looked freshly cleaned and sparkling, Imhyang smiled and pretended not to notice.

“You have so many books.”

“There used to be more, but I cleaned quite a lot.”

“Even just these books alone are many. I didn’t realize you read so much.”

The Spirit Caller felt very pleased.

“This book here was written by the author himself. I received it right here in this room. And this one I went all the way to the library to get. If you want to learn about spirits, you should read this book. Shall I lend it to you?”

“Ah, ah. Yes, please.”

The Spirit Caller pulled out a book and handed it to her.

“It’s very interesting. Oh, and if you like this, then you should read this one too.”

“That’s alright.”

“This book here is…”

The Spirit Caller went on describing the books. Imhyang, excited as he was, didn’t stop him but just listened. When his explanation grew too long, she finally said,

“Shall we have some tea?”

“Oh, I’ll make it.”

The Spirit Caller was filled with a warmth like boiling water.

He could never forget the day he first saw her.

The Spirit Caller had attended a banquet held somewhere for the Retired Indexers, but he felt isolated even that day.

Not that they deliberately excluded him, but he felt a subtle disregard. The prejudice against the Spirit Gate was one thing, but fundamentally, the Spirit Caller wasn’t the type to easily mingle with others. Everyone seemed to have so much to say, so eager to boast.

When he stepped outside in frustration, there she was—Imhyang. He thought she was an extremely beautiful woman with an impressive aura, and she was the first to speak.

“Not great, right?”

The Spirit Caller was caught off guard. She was the first woman who had ever approached him at a banquet.

“I mean the banquet. The musicians today, the taste of the wine, the people gathered.”

It was unimaginable for the Spirit Caller that a stranger would speak so candidly.

“I am Imhyang of the Im Sword Clan.”

“I am Master Seo of the Spirit Gate.”

“Ah!”

In that moment, the Spirit Caller regretted revealing his sect. He wished he hadn’t, or at least that he had waited until after some more conversation.

But her reaction was unexpected—she showed interest.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Spirit Gate.”

“What have you heard?”

“That it is an incredibly mysterious sect.”

He wanted to talk more, but someone called Imhyang from inside.

“They’re calling me. I’ll see you later.”

Imhyang went inside first.

After a while, the Spirit Caller followed.

From afar, he saw Imhyang surrounded by several warriors talking. She was popular.

Imhyang recognized him and waved. Because of that, the eyes of those nearby gathered on him, but she smiled without concern.

That day, even after returning home, he kept thinking about her for a long time. For a while, he diligently attended banquets.

Bringing tea carefully brewed, the Spirit Caller smiled and said,

“If you want to read any book, feel free to borrow it.”

Iian, who was looking at the night sky from the window, spoke to me.

“Young master? Do you know what wish people make the most when they see a shooting star?”

“What is it?”

“Ah! Uh! Damn! That’s what they say.”

I laughed at her words.

“I have quick eyes and a quick mouth, so I never miss anything.”

“Is that so?”

“Wait and see.”

We both looked up at the night sky, determined never to miss our chance to make a wish. Then Iian suddenly said,

“I first brought up the topic of parents then.”

When talking with Imhyang at the inn, she mentioned her parents.

“I wanted to tell you once, and I thought it was a good time.”

“I figured as much.”

“Well then, comfort me.”

“Comfort? Honestly, I don’t know much about parent-child bonds. You know that. My mother died when I was young, and my father is a very blunt man. So I don’t know what to say to you.”

“Actually, I’m the same. When you were struggling because of the Sect Leader, I wanted to comfort you. But how can I comfort when I don’t understand? Instead, I’ve learned more from you than from my own parents.”

“We grew up with runny noses together. What could you possibly have taught me?”

“Still, you wiped my nose. I learned a lot from you and relied on you.”

I stopped myself from saying words of comfort and just stood silently, looking at the night sky with her.

“By the way, how is the plan going?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“It needs some excitement!”

“What kind of excitement?”

“How about kidnapping Lady Im and having Master Seo rescue her?”

“That’s a reckless stunt that will end badly.”

“There has to be something thrilling between a man and a woman!”

“Iian, think of the most thrilling moment in your life. Did it involve kidnapping or rescue?”

“...No.”

“Neither did anyone else.”

My thrills came from everyday life, mostly from words spoken to me.

Words from my father, from Iian, from Seo Daeryong, from Jang Ho, from the demon lords, from the Wind Sky Sect Leader and Gowol, and from myself…

Countless words piled up and changed my life. I don’t change easily, but my life was changing.

“That’s why I keep trying to tell him. To that person.”

At that moment, a shooting star streaked across the night sky.

Ah! Please… Darn it!

A few days later, I rented a charming estate and invited the Spirit Caller and Seo Jin. It was to repay them for inviting me to the banquet before.

The Spirit Caller already had increased affection for me, and Seo Jin also felt favorably toward Iian. So both readily accepted the invitation.

Though it was a modest banquet with only the four of us and delicious food prepared by a skilled cook, the Spirit Caller liked this kind of atmosphere more.

While Iian and Seo Jin chatted, I talked with the Spirit Caller.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

“You’re welcome.”

As we exchanged various stories, I casually brought up marriage.

“How is the wedding preparation going?”

“It’s going well, thanks to your concern.”

“Sometimes I envy married couples.”

“What do you envy?”

“That they know each other so well. Just by looking in each other’s eyes, they understand what the other is thinking. Oh, in this situation, that person would judge and act like this. Having someone like that in life would be wonderful.”

I had to bring the Spirit Caller back down to earth. Right now, he was floating around in the clouds. He needed to plant both feet on the ground and calmly look at the woman in front of him.

“When you look at Lady Im, do you have a sense of what she’s thinking?”

The Spirit Caller seemed to ponder briefly, then shook his head.

“To be honest, I don’t know yet.”

I said nothing, letting him think about it for a moment.

I didn’t rush.

I ended the marriage topic there and gained his favor by talking about spirit arts. Having studied the space-time shifting technique, I also had a deep understanding of secret arts, so the conversation about spirit arts flowed well. With the added charm technique, the Spirit Caller was deeply engaged in our conversation.

Since that day, I tried to meet him whenever possible.

Though busy, he didn’t need long meetings. A brief tea time was enough.

Sometimes I waited for him at his house’s guest hall while practicing Heavenly Demon Tiger Skill circulation.

When meeting the Spirit Caller, we talked about various things, often returning to marriage and women.

The more I visited, the more he gradually enjoyed talking with me. He had never had a lifelong friend before.

Though the start was deliberate, I gradually began to enjoy our conversations. The charm technique became less necessary.

“My senior sister said you shouldn’t treat women too well.”

“Why?”

“Because if you’re kind ten times but fail once, the heart is hurt.”

“Then just be kind all ten times.”

“Don’t you think hearts change over time?”

“I won’t change.”

“Master Seo is human too. He will change.”

“I’m different! I absolutely won’t change!”

When he stubbornly insisted, I wanted to shout at him.

You’ve changed! You really have! Ah, never mind, never mind. Just tear it all apart.

“Don’t be too good. Bad men are popular in the marketplace.”

“Ah! I’ve noticed that too. At the banquet, I often wondered why anyone liked those kinds.”

“So don’t be too good. If you sometimes fail but then do well once in a while, it’s touching, right? People can’t always be perfect.”

“Fair point.”

In his later years, the Spirit Caller had wanted to talk with me so much. Back then, he would drink one glass and then leave to gather ingredients.

Now we talked endlessly.

Though time passed, I met him frequently, like rats coming and going through an old attic, having conversations.

“You said the date to gather the important materials for spirit arts coincides with Lady Im’s birthday?”

“That’s right. Which would you choose?”

“Obviously, I’d celebrate Lady Im’s birthday.”

“Even though it’s an important material? If we miss it this time, we have to wait three years.”

“Still, there’s no comparison.”

If something similar happens again, Spirit Caller, remember what you said today! There’s definitely a difference between words never said and words once spoken.

I tried hard.

I pretended not to notice, I persuaded, I provoked, I gave courage, I hinted, I provided information.

The Spirit Caller had betrayed me, who had gathered materials for the Grand Regression Art his entire life, trying to escape to the past by himself. Yet I was grateful for him, for bringing us here, and I kept trying until the end.

Finally, the day before the wedding, I met him one last time.

“To think I’d see you again today.”

With that, the Spirit Caller revealed his honest feelings.

“To be honest, I still don’t understand why you treat me so well.”

It was a question he had held back for a long time, proof that we had grown close.

“Didn’t you say you liked Lady Im from the first time you saw her? I felt the same. Watching Master Seo, you seemed like an older brother, a friend, and I felt good emotions. No other intentions. I just met you so often because after tomorrow’s wedding, I plan to leave again and don’t know when I’ll see you next.”

The Spirit Caller still looked doubtful.

I raised my hand to the sky.

“I swear to heaven. If my words are lies, may I be dragged away by the Heavenly Demon!”

The Spirit Caller waved his hand.

“Stop it! No need for such a terrible oath! I believe you. If it’s an oath like that, I must believe.”

He reached out his hand.

“Thank you.”

“Congratulations on the wedding.”

We shook hands. Come to think of it, this was the first time I held his hand, both before and after regression.

The next day, the wedding was held.

Iian was excited, saying it was her first time seeing a wedding. It was splendid and full of spectacles befitting a noble family’s ceremony. Iian carefully observed everything and asked the ceremony officials when she didn’t understand something.

Of course, she was not to be the protagonist today, so she wore a bamboo hat with a veil and clothing that concealed her figure.

As the ceremony ended, I said to Iian,

“Now, let’s return to the sect.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Did you enjoy this trip?”

“I will never forget it for the rest of my life.”

She even kept records in a book, so it was clear how much she enjoyed it.

Iian and Seo Jin said a reluctant farewell. They seemed to have grown quite close. When I met the Spirit Caller, Iian had spent much time with Seo Jin. I had basically entrusted Seo Jin’s fate to Iian.

From afar, I made eye contact with the Spirit Caller, greeting him with a wave. He smiled and waved back.

Whether this was the end of our connection, or whether we would meet again, I could not know. Nor could I know what kind of life he would lead.

I only hoped that the conversations we shared would change his life, and that those changes would accumulate to alter his fate.

I do not know what lies beyond the door you opened today. Whether it is only regrets, or a companion who understands you just by looking in your eyes.

But there is one thing I ask of you. No matter how hard life gets, never give up. Just as you waited for me your whole life, never give up on your life until the very end.

Beyond the door you opened for me, I too have not given up and continue to move forward. I hope you will do the same, Spirit Caller. May you be happy.

I left the Spirit Gate together with Iian.

“Alright, let’s go home now, Iian!”