Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
⟨Chapter 8⟩
“Finished.”
Baek Ran folded the paper in half, then folded it again, and put it in the silk pouch. Chaeu accepted that and then handed it to the madam.
The madam first politely bowed deeply towards Baek Ran, before she took the talisman. Then she suddenly disappeared, as if she seeped into the corner of the study. In her place, a few silver scales remained, but they turned transparent and also gradually disappeared.
“If so, then excuse us for a moment…”
The twins quietly whispered and went out to wash the inkstone. After the door closed, Yu Dan opened his mouth.
“Ah, so, when I was crossing the overpass…”
“You don’t have to tell the story from the beginning.”
Baek Ran said.
“I heard everything when You said that the first time. There is only one thing to check, if I may.”
“What?”
“You said that the window was opened.”
Yu Dan nodded.
“Uh. It clearly looked like something came in and went out, but I have no idea what it was. When I looked with these eyes, only something like blurry footprints was left behind.”
“That’s strange, eh? Usually such beings would instinctively erase their traces. They couldn’t have thought of leaving a window open. But You’re saying that the window was opened….”
Baek Ran’s gaze headed in his direction. Because of the sunlight, his brown eyes seemed close to gold.
“This is a decisive clue. Why weren’t they able to close the window?”
“Because they forgot?”
“I don’t think basing our thinking on Your example will be particularly helpful. It must be the case where even though they wanted to close it, they couldn’t. The cause would be some kind of obstacle. I’m guessing it was because they couldn’t free their hands.”
“Why wouldn’t they be able to free their hands?”
“Because they were holding something in them. I can guess what they were holding and what was their identity. They didn’t consume or destroy that child’s soul. Instead, they put it into a wrapping cloth to steal it.”
“Wrapping cloth?”
“A soul wrapping cloth.”
Baek Ran took out a thick book from under the desk. It was 『Annals of Past and Present Bizarre Occurrences』, which was said to record all kinds of supernatural things up till now.
“A Soul Thief steals a soul from the body of a living person. And after putting it into the wrapping cloth, it flees.”
“Why?”
“I’m not a Soul Thief, how would I know? I can only guess they steal it because they want it.”
The fox soon found the part related to that, and stretched it out. Yu Dan examined the archaic illustration.
“Father and son?”
“Correct. After the monster stole the son’s soul, the doctor, whom I’m guessing was a person with expertise in Taoist Arts, gave a prescription to boil asters and feed it to him before the night passes. The asters that appeared here were different from the ordinary medical herbs of this world, they had true shamanistic power. They could help the stolen soul return.”
Baek Ran flipped the page.
“The father went to look for asters, but he couldn’t find them in the place where he saw them before. As the time passed fruitlessly and the dawn gradually grew closer, he became very anxious. Then the father met with a woman kneeling on the ground and hugging a bundle, and asked if she saw any asters. The woman directed him to the place where were asters, but when he went there, he found nothing.”
“She lied, huh?”
“Correct. The woman’s identity was of course the yokai. She snatched the child’s soul, put it into the soul wrapping cloth and fled, but knowing that the child’s father was coming after her quickly, she sat on the asters to hid them and pointed in an irrelevant direction.”
Yu Dan looked at the drawing of the woman. There was something eerie about how she bowed her head and was hugging tightly the wrapping clothes.
“Once something like Soul Thief puts their hands on a soul, they will never let go. Because they barely obtained the soul to steal, they were looking for a while, wandering over the whole world.”
“That means…”
“The Soul Thief was probably summoned by the girl’s sincere wish. She didn’t really mean it, but it wouldn’t be at all important for the Soul Thief.”
“The child, whose soul was stolen, he will die, right?”
“Even if he survives at the moment, if the thief escapes, his breath will be cut off.”
“I was right, huh?”
Yu Dan frowned deeply.
“Good. Then now that we know their identity, how should we solve it? Asters… Should I go look for asters? Where can I obtain them?”
“I have them.”
Baek Ran’s eyes turned towards the backyard for a moment.
“But it’s no use. If You look at this part, isn’t there a condition that they have to be fed before the night passes? The Soul Thief is very fast. On the first night, they would cross the border of this world and flee to the monster’s world.”
“If they fled, we can capture them again, right? You can even summon that Road to Hell or something, so it should be nothing, isn’t it?”
“I can capture them. The problem is the child’s soul. Without a protective container, in other words, a body, the soul is very fragile. If in that state it comes into contact with a yokai like myself, it will be exposed to a powerful, wicked energy and be immediately changed. Even if the child returns to life, he will be a monster, who no longer can be called a human. Some people said they are okay with this and begged to bring it back, but naturally, there is no way it ended well, correct? So I can’t involve myself in this matter as much as possible.”
The fox yokai closed the book.
“That’s regretful. You came running to us with all Your might, no, You came by while on a walk around here, but you made a fruitless trip.”
“Wait a moment. Then you’re saying to just let it go? How come? We have to help by all means. The completely healthy child will suddenly die, you know? His breathing was already very weak.”
“I know. But what can I do when there is no way for me to help?”
Yu Dan thought about it for a moment.
“If the problem is that the soul will end up changing when exposed to wicked energy… then if not a yokai but a human like him would come after him, wouldn’t that be okay?”
“Theoretically it’s possible. But what kind of human would dare to enter the world of monsters? The moment it gets out that he is a human, every greedy monster will come running and no bone will be left in the blink of an eye. Can someone pull off such difficult and dangerous task of perfectly hide his identity in such a place, find the Soul Thief, and get back the stolen soul?”
“I don’t know, but…”
Yu Dan mumbled.
“Is there anyone besides me?”
“No.”
Baek Ran spoke firmly.
“Even without it, there are many eyes watching me. If something goes wrong, it will turn into extreme trouble. I sent a living human into the world of monsters, but he can’t even come back? How can I bear the karma of that? And You don’t even know that female student, and just met in the passing, didn’t You? She suddenly lost her dongsaeng without a reason overnight like this, so I pity the story of a bereaved, but…”
“Who the hell is bereaved?! Why did she become bereaved all of a sudden!?”
As he was to argue, he realized something.
“Then you’re saying that sending me on my own is possible, right? You’re just saying no, because it’s difficult?”
“At times like this, You’re getting sharp again, eh? Anyhow, no is no. Because it can’t be solved by begging like this.”
“What begging?! Do you think I want to go? I want to get out because of what I already know, but how can I pretend not to know? And I hate going to the place like the monster’s world or whatever, but I hate doing nothing, even more! I have to go there and somehow come back! Because I’m making a promise!”
“A promise? There is nothing less valuable than that in the world. If there is trust, there is no need for a promise. As You only have to make a promise if there is no trust, it has no value at all.”
“How the hell did you get so twisted?”
“Anyhow—“
The fox yokai shrugged.
“Fine. As You’re pleading like this, I can’t help it, eh? I’ll open a road.”
“When was I pleading…”
Yu Dan’s face crumpled. No matter how he thought about it, he felt as if he was possessed. He said that he can find the supernatural through that eye called Heavenly Eye to help the fox yokai, but from a certain moment it was him who was seeking help, right? Without him even knowing.
“But, You have to keep in mind that world is different from this one. From beginning to the end, everything is different. That’s the world of monsters, so what can the human do if he wants to not be found and move for as long as possible?”
“Hmm. Hide well?”
“It would be better if I didn’t ask.”
Baek Ran stood up and opened the built-in-wall drawer.
He didn’t see it wrongly last time. The drawers were obviously increasing infinitely. He was curious what kind of things were inside of them, but because of the strange shadows shimmering inside of them and bizarre sounds coming out, he didn’t think of daring to look inside.
“There is a principle. According to the example in the Jeju Island’s shamanistic myth ⟨Explanation on the Origin of the King of Heaven and Earth⟩[1], when it’s difficult to differentiate between humans and ghosts, because they’re similar, You can judge by weighing them. When you put them on scales, if they weigh a hundred gwan[2], they’re a human, if they weigh one gwan less, ninety-nine gwan, they’re a ghost. Using that principle, if a person losses gwan, they can be taken for a monster.”
“Really?”
“Then should I say it’s a lie?”
Baek Ran put his hand into the drawer.
“You can choose.”
“What…?”
He looked at Yu Dan with the eyes, as if judging something carefully, as he asked.
“Should I cut a hand? Or should I cut a foot? Which one would be better?”
“What are you saying?”
Yu Dan was startled.
“Wait a moment! A moment! What are you taking out?!”
The fox yokai spun around.
“That was a joke.”
In his hand was a small net, used when catching fish.
***
“I shouldn’t be the one to say it, but…”
Chaeseol’s face was full of anxiety.
“He is already a hundred grams lighter than an ordinary person, is it okay for him to lose another geun? There won’t be even one left like that.”
“I’m busy, can you hurry up?”
Heuk-yo was on a brink of exploding.
“Didn’t you leave the store empty?! I don’t care if you put your own life in danger, but I can’t forgive if our shop’s sales are put in danger!”
On the other side, Do-ssi stood with his two hands in pockets.
“There is nothing for me to do? Besides, these days my wrists were aching, because I was organizing the warehouse.”
“But the three of us can’t hold it. It’s been long since something like this happened, You know? We came together for fun.”
Chaeu carefully observed the mesh of fish net on Yu Dan’s head as he spoke.
“Ah, done. Uncle-ssi, please come here quickly.”
Do-ssi walked over while grumbling.
“One, two, three.”
At the same moment when Chaeu’s counting stopped on four, they raised the net. And various “Uuk!” “Keuk!” and “Ack!” screams erupted.
“As expected. Even just one geun is too heavy. That’s human’s mind.”
Do-ssi massaged his wrists as he spoke.
Yu Dan was just confused.
It wasn’t as he thought that they would take one geun from his body. They took it from his mind. They said that it was because it’s not his body, which is going to the monster’s world, but just a soul.
The fishnet was heavier now. Baek Ran put it into a gourd without letting him see it. Yu Dan tilted his head.
“I don’t feel different. What did you take from my mind?”
“….ity.”
“What did you say? I didn’t hear.”
“It’s normal that You didn’t hear. Because the ….ity is something that you have no idea about.”
Baek Ran tightly closed the gourd, put it on the bookshelf drawer and plastered a talisman on it. Something clattered inside and fell silent.
“I’ll give it back to You when You return.”
“It’s strange. What the fuck did you took?”
“Young master-nim, we will have to transform You into a monster now.”
Chaeu held out towards him something wrapped in a white cloth.
“You have to hide Your human face. I put my heart and soul into choosing something that would harmonize with You well.”
He unwrapped the cloth with a kind smile.
It was a red mask. Bulging eyes of a sickly patient were ripped, and it was full of rough bumps and white blotches. He was familiar with all kinds of horrible appearances of yokai, but it was undeniably the worst among them.
“What is that! It’s too hideous!”
“Naturally. It’s Yeokgwi’s mask.”
“By Yeokgwi, you mean the ghost that carries infectious diseases? The very thing you put your heart and soul into choosing so it harmonized well with me is that Yeokgwi?”
“You’re making a fuss. It’s not much different from your usual face.”
The serpent yokai cut in.
“Put it on! Why are You hesitating? Didn’t I say that this older sister is busy?! Stop holding back and take it! I’ll put it on You… oh my goodness, older brother! Isn’t it really like a true Yeokgwi? I saw numerous Yeokgwi during my life, but this punk is the first to give me goosebumps!”
“Don’t look too often. I think the disease spreads with just looking.”
“Scary. Such disease can’t be even healed by the child ginseng. The entire town will simply drop dead.”
“I told You. I chose something that harmonizes well with You.”
Listening to everyone’s whispers, Yu Dan was pissed to tears.
“That’s too much!”
“Why are You like this? That’s a good, matching choice.”
The fox yokai spoke with a smile.
“There is nothing else we can do, correct? Because even if You disguise Yourself as a monster, Your acting will be plainly obvious. You can’t leave a trace that You’re human. So we have to make sure the other monsters won’t be able to look at You in detail. The Yeokgwi that You can’t help but divert Your gaze from straight away after seeing their face is the best choice.”
“Exactly. Like this, You won’t be found. Please don’t worry and go in peace.”
Chaeu smiled, while fixing the mask.
“It’ll be okay. You can take back the stolen soul from the Soul Thief and return to this world safely, correct? But young master-nim, what is the name of the store where You bought the cake?”
“Why are you asking this in this situation? Are you perhaps thinking I won’t be able to come back?”
“No. Uncle-ssi is often asking about it.”
“When did I?! I don’t want to lose the customer, who dealt with the bad stock. Please understand my heart. But just in case, can I keep your wallet as a keepsake?”
“Older brother. Isn’t that something I should keep? I have to pay postponed utility bills!”
“That’s terrible.”
Chaeseol mumbled sadly.
“Everyone is too terrible. The last conversation he will hear in this world is something like this. I at least should wish you happiness in the next life. Merciful Avalokitêsvara…”
“Don’t wish me a happy next life!”
Yu Dan was startled. Besides, since putting on the Yeokgwi’s mask, he had a truly strange feeling as if something was covering the skin over his body. It felt as if he himself was becoming a completely different being.
“I don’t want to hear any more ominous sounds. Let’s go quickly. You said that I just have to stick to the directions you will give, right?”
“While observing You just now, I changed my thoughts.”
Yu Dan rejoiced at the fox yokai’s words.
“Really? You think you can find it on your own?”
“The ordinary directions won’t do. It’s plainly obvious that You will lose the way in the fog of oblivion and wandering souls.”
“…”
“It is as I said before, considering my position, it’s very difficult, but I cannot help it but take You there personally, eh?”
Baek Ran took out a silk box. When the lid opened, the colorful feathers fully came into view.
“For a human, ‘Three thousand ri west[3]’ will be a long distance.”
He grabbed over ten feathers and scattered them in the air.
“If You step on the feathers of Depeng, which crosses boundless distance in a day, You will be able to get there in a moment.”
The five-color feathers rose into the air, creating dazzling stepping stones. The bridge pierced the corner of the study and stretched out into the dark space.
Baek Ran took the lead.
“You have to be careful. If You lose Your footing, even if You beg me to rescue You, I won’t be able to hear You.”
Yu Dan nervously stepped onto the feather.
*~*~*
[1] Explanation on the Origin of the King of Heaven and Earth — 천지왕본풀이 (天地王本풀이), it’s a song that has some shamanistic usage, which I won’t get into here. It’s also a creation myth, which has a lot of stuff going on, but the part that is important to us is this: During the chaotic times, when there were two suns and two moons, the King of Heaven and Earth (depending on the version, it can be either a Jade Emperor, one of the older shamanistic heavenly gods or some other god representing the highest authority) had two sons. Daebyeolwang (Great Star King) and Subyeolwang (Small Star King). The two of them were to rule the world of the living and the underworld, but couldn’t decide who should take which one. Finally, they decided to make a bet. The one, who makes the Seocheon Flowers (literally West Heaven Flowers or known as afterlife flowers) grow, will take the living world. The flowers of the Great Star King grew beautifully, but Small Star King’s flowers wilted. So Small Star King took the flowers of the Great Star King, when he slept, and replaced them with his own. Therefore, the Small Star King took the rule over the living world. But the world was still a mess (you know, the two suns, ghosts mixing with the living, speaking animals), so the brothers shot down the sun and moon, shut up the animals (that one is sad actually), and weighed the living and ghosts* to differentiate them. That was how the living world and afterlife were divided.
*Now, ghosts are a bit different from monsters in this novel, but in the legends it’s all the same jazz.
[2] geun — about 600 grams.
[3] Three thousand ri west — ‘ri’ is about 393 meters, so three thousand would be… 1179 km. And west, because Buddhist afterlife is said to be in the west.
Translator’s note: Well… Yu Dan, at least you were right about buying into their hearts with a cake (and money).
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