Chapter 82
“It’s done!”
As soon as Eun-hwi finished the last stroke, he put the brush down on the brush rest and checked the entire letter. Although controlling the amount of ink was difficult, he was very satisfied with writing it without a single mistake. While not matching the skill of the calligrapher Gabi, it seemed to be at least as good as a pinky nail’s worth.
He dried the rice paper by fanning it with both hands, then carefully folded it into a neat square shape. If he had more time, he would have picked evening primroses to make pressed flowers and attached them. He could only regret not being able to do so.
Instead, he sealed the letter with a gold thread and hung a small sachet on it to infuse it with a floral scent. The sweet yet subtle scent of roses was layered over the thin paper.
He hurriedly took the letter and headed to the main room. Yeo Moon-beom, holding a magic bag stuffed full of luggage and a light bundle, was waiting for Eun-hwi.
He opened the string and put the bundle on Eun-hwi’s shoulder, saying, “I only packed clothes for you to change into tomorrow.”
“Huh? Didn’t you say we’d be gone for a week?”
“We can buy the rest in Seoul.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Let’s go. Hurry.”
“Okay.”
He placed the letter on the small table so that Gabi would find it as soon as he entered the room. Although there was no promise of return as he hadn’t fulfilled his wish yet, it was with hope for the possibility.
“I’ll be going now.”
He greeted the empty house. Strangely, the silent echo of the unanswered greeting touched the half-dokkaebi’s heart.
“…”
Since leaving Baekdu Mountain and settling on Wolhwa Island, he had never once left the island. Eun-hwi sat on the wooden porch, paused while putting on his sneakers, and tightly grasped Yeo Moon-beom’s clothes standing in front of him.
“What’s wrong? Don’t want to go?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“…I’m nervous.”
Hearing it as a not-so-positive sound, he slightly narrowed his eyes and asked again.
“You’re nervous?”
“Yeah. My heart is pounding at the thought of going to Hanyang.”
He put his hand on his thumping heart and grinned widely. Moon-beom let out a light chuckle and gently pinched his cheek before letting go.
“You’re being cute.”
“It’s true. I’m even more nervous going with you, Yeo Moon-beom.”
He couldn’t express how happy he was that Moon-beom would be his guide to this unknown world.
He never dreamed that the vague longing he had been hoping would come true someday would become a reality so quickly.
Eun-hwi couldn’t hide his uncontrollably excited feelings and rubbed his cheek against Moon-beom’s clothes.
His round cheeks, flushed red like ripe plums, buried into the white shirt. The scent of dry sunlight from the newly changed clothes, along with a faint mint fragrance, seeped into his nose.
“Is there anything you want to do in Seoul?”
Moon-beom asked, bending down to kiss the small crown of his head. Feeling a tickle inside his heart, the half-dokkaebi wrinkled his nose bridge and answered.
“I want to go to the school.”
“School?”
“You know, the square in front of Korea University that Dr. Hong-salgwi mentioned. I want to go there.”
If possible, he wanted to learn some archaic language at the school, but due to time constraints, he just wanted to at least take a look.
“Ah. Then I guess I’ll have to buy you a baseball jacket when we get there.”
“Baseball, jacket?”
“It’s an outer garment that students wear.”
Can you wear something called a baseball jacket even if you’re not a student? As Eun-hwi tilted his head in confusion, Yeo Moon-beom, who had helped him put on his shoes completely, said in a voice tinged with laughter.
“I’m looking forward to it. The thought of going to school with Eun-hwi.”
“By the way, is Dr. Hong-salgwi coming to Hanyang with us?”
“Do you want him to come along?”
“Hmm…”
The half-dokkaebi recalled the time when the three of them went on a picnic together. It was indeed one of the most enjoyable times in his life.
Perhaps it felt more fun because it was a brief experience of just half a day.
“If he comes with us, do we have to be together all the time?”
He wanted to spend all day just with Yeo Moon-beom like this.
Swallowing the words he couldn’t add, he stared at him. Noticing the intention behind the question, Moon-beom burst into hearty laughter and neatly resolved Eun-hwi’s concern.
“I have something to receive in return for saving his life. Let’s call him only when we need him in Seoul.”
“…Is that okay?”
“It’s perfectly fine.”
His expression was nonchalant, as if suggesting that since he had appeared unexpectedly to interfere for his own needs even when not called, Eun-hwi could do the same.
Yeo Moon-beom checked the time on his wrist and gestured with his chin towards the main gate, suggesting they should set out. Dr. Hong was waiting outside.
Eun-hwi took one more look at the quiet tiled-roof house before following him out the door.
“Dr. Hong-salgwi, we’re here. Did anything happen while you were waiting?”
Dr. Hong, who had been leaning against the doorway rolling the beads of his dragon’s eye wooden rosary with his thumb, greeted the two with a welcoming face.
“No. I kept my eyes wide open guarding the entrance, and not even an ant passed by. But Dokkaebi-nim, where are you going?”
Dr. Hong glanced at the bundle on Eun-hwi’s back and the magic bag Yeo Moon-beom was holding.
“We’re going to Hanyang.”
“…Pardon? You’re going to Seoul?”
“Yes.”
“Then, as someone who knows Seoul geography as well as a taxi driver with 30 years of experience, I, Dr. Hong-salgwi, will accompany you and guide you!”
“Hmm? We were planning to go together from the start?”
“Really?”
Blinking his small eyes vigorously as if he couldn’t believe it, Dr. Hong looked at Yeo Moon-beom with a determined expression, as if he needed to hear a definite answer. In response to that silent outcry, Yeo Moon-beom replied in a cool tone.
“Just for the journey.”
“Just for the journey? …What about Gyeongbokgung Palace? The National Museum of Korea? Namdaemun? Namsan Tower? Cheonggyecheon? Dongdaemun Market? Han River Park? 63 Building? The aquarium? Are we not going to these places together?”
“Do you think we’re taking a foreign tourist around?”
It wasn’t an unexpected reaction, but his ears hurt from the chatter listing tourist spots one after another. Yeo Moon-beom drew a clear line to prevent Bang Ki-bong from talking any further.
“I’ll take care of those things myself, so please don’t worry about it.”
His round shoulders, plump with flesh, drooped. Though he wanted to retort as usual, he seemed unable to do so, and his purplish lips merely twitched helplessly.
Yeo Moon-beom gave him a silent look with his deeply set eyes and then checked a message that had just arrived.
Park Jeongbae
The boat is ready
11:52 PM
While Eun-hwi was writing the letter, he had called Park Jeongbae and urgently asked him to prepare for departure. He had added a bonus on top of the usual fuel cost.
Yeo Moon-beom took out the dokkaebi hat from the sports bag and spoke to Bang Ki-bong in a calm tone.
“I’ve had a boat prepared at the dock. It’s the one with ‘Seokgu-ho’ written on the side, so please take Eun-hwi there without being seen by anyone. I’ll meet with the village head and come back.”
“Are you going to overturn the gut ritual after all?”
“Why? Are you afraid someone might end up having a funeral?”
“Ah, no. It’s not that. It’s just that the old folks seem to be really gearing up for it…”
Bang Ki-bong mumbled his response, trailing off at the end.
“What good does it do them to gear up? Against an opponent they can’t even reach.”
“I know, I know. Who could beat Manager Yeo, who even defeated Eodukseoni, the most evil spirit in the world? Still, don’t come back too late. Dokkaebi-nim will be waiting.”
“I’ll just confirm the facts and come right back. I’m counting on you until then.”
The village head was planning to hold a gut ritual under the grand pretext of defeating the dokkaebi, but the true purpose was to solidify his own power through the unity and solidarity of the villagers. It was obvious that he was using some unknown con artist shaman to work his tricks.
The best way to deal with a con artist was to counter with another con. But this time, he intended to face them with only the truth.
That way, he could protect Eun-hwi comfortably in the future.
Yeo Moon-beom sternly instructed him not to act rashly and put the dokkaebi hat on Eun-hwi’s head.
“It never hurts to be careful. Wear this from now on as you go down. Don’t take it off no matter what happens until I return. Understood?”
“Yeah.”
“Promise me. Don’t act recklessly like before.”
“I got it. I promise.”
As Yeo Moon-beom’s hand holding the hat fell away, the small figure gradually disappeared, blending into the darkness of the night. Although it wasn’t the first time he had seen the dokkaebi hat, Bang Ki-bong was startled and reached out into the air, feeling for where the half-dokkaebi had been.
“I’m still here, Dr. Hong-salgwi.”
Eun-hwi slightly lifted the dokkaebi hat and removed Bang Ki-bong’s hand that was feeling his back.
Was it because someone else’s touch had reached the delicate body?
For a moment, irritation welled up. His eyes narrowed in displeasure. However, seeing Eun-hwi immediately push away the arm, Yeo Moon-beom’s anger subsided somewhat. He cleared his throat and adjusted the strap of the sports bag.
Clang, clang clang!
The loud sound of a kkwaenggwari (small gong) and the sharp tinkling of bells filled the mountains and fields. Yeo Moon-beom felt a hand gently grabbing his arm and whispered to where the ear would probably be.
“If you go down safely and get on the boat, I’ll give you a reward. Anything you want, just ask.”
“Anything?”
“Even if you ask for a kiss in the middle of the square in front of Korea University, I’ll do it.”
He meant that he would gladly do any impossible thing, and it seemed that those words were particularly pleasing.
The small hand holding his arm tightened slightly before gently letting go.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
