Chapter 69
“What’s this? A pain relief patch…?”
Yeo Moon-beom stared at Eun-hwi, who was politely handing him the patch with both hands. On the yellow box, slightly larger than a banknote, was printed a muscular body with a patch on its back, along with the product name.
It was clearly an item he had never seen before, not something he had put in the first aid kit. Moon-beom’s casually smiling face suddenly froze. A thin line appeared between his neat brows.
“Where did you get this?”
As his voice suddenly lowered, Eun-hwi showed the sealed side of the package as if to prove he hadn’t touched it, and pleaded:
“Dr. Hong-salgwi gave it to me. It’s new, not used. Can’t you accept this as the fee?”
“Dr. Hong gave it to you? When?”
“Mm-hmm. Earlier today. He also gave books, condoms, and a water bottle for you to use, but I thought I should thank him, so I went out briefly…”
His sulfur-yellow eyes darted around as his voice trailed off. He fidgeted, lifting his bottom nervously, afraid of being scolded – just like a rabbit facing a predator.
Being weak to kindness, Eun-hwi probably couldn’t ignore Bang Ki-bong. No doubt he had persistently called for Eun-hwi outside.
Remaining silent but relaxing his tense facial muscles, Moon-beom looked at Eun-hwi, who rather boldly met his gaze and chattered:
“I told him I’d get scolded by you again if I snuck out without permission. So he just gave me this to put on where it hurts and left right away. Really.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Don’t scold Dr. Hong-salgwi too much for coming because he was worried about me. …Me neither.”
“I won’t scold anyone. I had no intention to.”
This was Bang Ki-bong, who had boasted about doing marine ecosystem research but never showed his face at the beach.
As it was somewhat expected, Moon-beom was now more curious about Bang’s motives for doing this, rather than being angry at him for risking his life to come here.
He wasn’t a servant devotedly serving a rich young master. To think he’d even bring a pain relief patch after just having sex once.
However…
‘What a terribly wicked thief!’
Dr. Hong’s sharp voice echoed in his ears. Somehow, Moon-beom felt momentarily displeased, as if he had become a terribly wicked man who abandoned his partner after carelessly having relations.
He might be a thief, but not a wicked one.
Suppressing his rising irritation, Moon-beom tossed the confiscated patch box behind his back. He had no intention of letting someone else’s item touch Eun-hwi’s body – he’d give a massage himself if needed.
Erasing the thought of severely scolding Eun-hwi with the baton, he handed Eun-hwi the precisely arranged bundles of money, providing an excuse to avoid any strange misunderstandings:
“You’re exempt from fees due to meeting preferential conditions, customer. Here’s your fresh 5 million won withdrawal from the magic bag today. Please take it.”
“Wow… Thank you.”
Moon-beom instructed the half-dokkaebi again as he reverently received the money with both hands:
“It’s a reward, so it’s all for you, Eun-hwi.”
“Huh? You’re giving me all this money?”
Eun-hwi’s mouth opened involuntarily in surprise. This was money Moon-beom had brought after even being pelted with eggs by the village men.
“Of course. You paid the fee, so I should give it to you. It’s not a huge amount, so take it. You’ll need it for studying numbers in the future.”
“Ah… So that’s why you’re giving it to me.”
Finally understanding the reason, Eun-hwi nodded and accepted the bundle of money. While he detested studying by poring over books, he welcomed learning through play.
“Wow… I really have money now…”
Even though he couldn’t actually spend it due to his circumstances, it was fine even if it wasn’t a large amount, as Moon-beom said.
Because it was another precious gift from him.
Just holding it made Eun-hwi feel like he was one step closer to the human world. He felt like he could soon become human and proudly stand beside Moon-beom.
When that day comes, could he use this money to buy candy as a gift for Moon-beom?
The half-dokkaebi grinned widely, imagining handing Moon-beom a large basket of candy bought from a candy seller.
It was good that he had worked hard to count the numbers correctly. While punishment could be received anytime once his body recovered, rewards weren’t so easily obtained, so not giving up until the end was the right answer.
“…Huh? Is the reward over now?”
“Why? Do you want more?”
“Mm-hmm…”
“What is it? Tell me. What reward do you want?”
“Can I ask for more even though I got money?”
“I told you earlier, didn’t I? The money is just for studying. I was planning to give a separate reward from the beginning.”
Moon-beom smiled gently as he stroked Eun-hwi’s head. The glossy hair, like silk threads, wrapped around his thick, long fingers before slipping away.
The half-dokkaebi closed his eyes languidly and let out a soft sigh at the caressing touch. The afternoon sunlight pouring through the paper doors tinted the inside of his eyelids red.
Moon-beom had said Eun-hwi could act on his desires as much as he wanted. But rather than prioritizing only himself, Eun-hwi wanted to cherish every moment spent together with Moon-beom like this.
A time as infinitely warm and soft as the spring breeze swelling the buds at the tips of branches.
“Later this evening.”
“Mm-hmm. Later this evening?”
“Let’s go outside instead of watching TV. I’ll show you a secret place no one else knows.”
A secret place no one else knows.
It was a special place known only to Gabi and himself, where neither ghosts nor village men set foot.
“Ah…”
The hand caressing his head suddenly stopped. Seeing Moon-beom exhale faintly, Eun-hwi stared at him, wondering if he had asked for too much. Moon-beom muttered while ruffling his own hair:
“…I really am a terribly wicked bastard.”
“Hmm?”
“Lie down. I’ll massage your waist. It’ll feel much better than applying a patch.”
Moon-beom picked up Eun-hwi and laid him on the blanket with long strides.
Soon, he began pressing on the knotted muscles, applying force with the thick part connecting his palm to his wrist. A low moan escaped through Eun-hwi’s moist lips.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Tell me if it hurts. I’ll do it gently.”
“It’s okay even if you don’t do it gently…”
“It’s okay?”
“I’m sleepy.”
“Take a nap while getting the massage. I’ll come back for dinner.”
“But…”
Eun-hwi wanted to help Moon-beom even a little, as he couldn’t do any housework. However, he couldn’t bring himself to ask Moon-beom to stop, enjoying the warmth of the crisp palms moving along his skin.
“Close your eyes. Let’s sleep.”
“Mm-hmm…”
Although he had slept for so long, drowsiness quickly set in under the gentle touch soothing his body. His vision gradually narrowed.
“Sleep well, Eun-hwi.”
In his fading consciousness, Eun-hwi recalled the path to the secret place before finally drifting off to sleep.
It was warm. The familiar, warm body temperature seeping into his back was everything to Eun-hwi at that moment.
* * *
After a deep nap and a hearty bowl of chicken soup, Eun-hwi’s heavy body felt much lighter.
As usual, instead of settling in front of the TV, Eun-hwi sat on the porch and watched Moon-beom tightly tying his shoelaces so they wouldn’t come undone.
He was fascinated by the thick hair covering Moon-beom’s scalp. It was an amount that would make the bald village man envious.
Without realizing it, Eun-hwi reached out to tickle the black crown. Moon-beom, who had just finished tying a knot, raised his head and met Eun-hwi’s gaze as if asking if he had something to say.
“Moon-beom, even your hair is handsome.”
“Eun-hwi, even your hair is delicious.”
It was a sincere compliment, but Moon-beom seemed to take it as a joke. With a chuckle, he stood up and licked the top of Eun-hwi’s head.
“Ah, mm…”
Even though it wasn’t his horn that was touched, Eun-hwi’s spine trembled and heat rushed to his lower abdomen. It felt as if his entire head had become an erogenous zone.
“See? It’s fucking delicious.”
Finding Eun-hwi’s honest reactions amusing, Moon-beom lightly bared his teeth and gently bit the center of Eun-hwi’s head.
“…Hah!”
The secret place was on a peak opposite the mountain god’s domain. They had a long way to go and needed to climb the mountain quickly. Eun-hwi wanted to dawdle and prolong the playful moment.
Eun-hwi managed to push away Moon-beom’s clothes that he had been holding onto and said:
“We need to, uh, go quickly, Moon-beom. If we’re late, mm, we won’t see it.”
“What won’t we see?”
“The good thing.”
“I wonder what this good thing is. I’m very curious. What could it be?”
Moon-beom finally withdrew his tongue and helped Eun-hwi up. Then he shouldered a bundle containing Eun-hwi’s dokkaebi hat and some potato chips.
“Hand.”
Was it because his hair sparkled as if sprinkled with stardust? Even though the moon was hidden by clouds and the surroundings were dark, Moon-beom accurately met Eun-hwi’s gaze and held out his hand.
Eun-hwi stared for a moment at the hand that looked rough with protruding knuckles but had neatly trimmed nails, then interlaced their fingers. The familiar warmth seeped into his skin.
“Be careful, Moon-beom. The path is more treacherous at night.”
“You be careful too, Eun-hwi. Don’t fall and cry like last time.”
“I won’t fall!”
“If you fall, I was going to comfort you again. That’s a shame.”
Eun-hwi couldn’t tell if Moon-beom wanted him to fall or not. He glared with a displeased face. Moon-beom burst into laughter, poking Eun-hwi’s puffed-up cheek with his index finger.
“Let’s go. To receive your reward.”
“Mm-hmm.”
They crossed the yard and went out the gate. The night breeze, carrying a fresh scent, gently caressed their cheeks.
Eun-hwi quietly walked alongside Moon-beom, who shortened his stride for Eun-hwi’s sake.
Unaware that a black figure with long white hair reaching its waist was watching them from a distance where its presence couldn’t be sensed.
