BBS (28)

Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost

 
⟨Chapter 28⟩
 

Second story

⟨Soul Restaurant⟩

 

…. His mother’s body was like a stick, only her stomach bulging, while her throat was like a pinhole, so she couldn’t take even a sip of water. Even if she somehow grabbed rice, it would instantly turn into a ball of fire and burn hot. The mother, unable to endure the hunger squeezing her intestines, hurriedly swallowed the ball of fire.

At that wretched sight, Moggallana wailed bitterly. “Merciful and compassionate Buddha-nim! How could this happen?” The Buddha answered. “Your mother amassed too many sins during her life. For this, she became a hungry ghost, who forever suffers the pain of hunger, which can never be erased.”
 

『 Record of Moggallana 』
 
 

Warm sunlight poured down.

Even the wind smelled of sunlight. He closed his eyes, but they were still dazzled. Such a day strikes straight away when the spring comes.

Flower buds sprout out on the tall trees under the rays of sunlight. White and yellow daffodils bloomed at their base.

Yu Dan laid down on the grass.

Bright blue sky was visible between the branches. Birds flew around, chirping about something. He looked at it for a while, then because his eyes were blinded by light, he covered his face with his arm. The sky on the other side was bright blue just like before.

He gradually became drowsy.

He heard the sound of some small things quietly raising from the soft ground. As if curious, they leaned closer to him, someone gathered the courage to quickly touch his hair. Annoyed, he raised his hand, but…

It was annoying to chase them away, so he just put his hand down.

He heard the sound of whispers and footsteps from his hair. He lightly closed his eyes.

When he was about to try to fell asleep, the smartphone in his pocket rang.

Annoying…

He wanted to cut it off, but it rang again. He forced himself to stretch out his hand and take it out.

It was Na Mia.

“What?”

「 Just because, what?」

He felt a subtly dark note in her voice. What more, Mia never bothered to call just because.

“What happened?”

「Ah, nothing. Anyway, did you eat lunch? Let’s meet, I’m buying.」

“Are you trying to lie again? You call me with a secret plan to nag me, and never really buy anything.”

「No! Not this time!」

“Are you confirming that it was like this until now?”

「This time I have to start with buying a meal. It’s important. Starting with the meal for sure…」

“What are you mumbling to yourself?”

「Anyhow, come first. In front of my school. Italian pizza store.」

The call was abruptly cut off. He tried to call again, but she didn’t accept.

No matter how he thought about it, something must have happened.

I have no idea. Why is she suddenly like this? Will I know if I meet with her? Won’t I at least get to eat lunch?

Yu Dan stood up and dusted off his clothes. He left the park, pushed his way through the people coming for a picnic, and headed to the subway.

Speaking of the Italian restaurant in front of Mia’s school, he clearly remembered it.

The instant he entered, he remembered why this place left such a strong impression on him. A place with pure white wood interior, filled with all kinds of fake flowers. A place without male highschool students, or rather, without men at all. The moment he opened the door, some female university students glanced his way.

Should he leave?

“Where are you looking? Here! Here!”

He heard Mia’s voice. Occupying a six people table in the corner, he saw a female university student waving her hand and shouting.

No one sat around her. Even if someone were to unintentionally sit down there, they would be startled and go to another place.

They couldn’t be blamed.

Sharp eyes, like that of a cat, under black hair, almost pitch black, with a hint of blue. A face like that of a ghost and red lips. The gloomy energy that usually followed her around was a few times stronger today.

The people who saw Mia for the first time all said she looked familiar. Because such person could be seen as a nothing else but a virgin ghost from television.

Of course, she was very concerned about this. She tried to put her hair in ribbon pins, tie it into a ponytail, make it very curly, or bride all her hair, but no matter what, it would be immediately released or became loose.

The face was the same. Especially when she put on a darker make-up, it would be immediately erased. Her whole body refused her touching effort to look ordinary.

Today, the face of that maternal cousin noona was even paler. Yu Dan asked, as he sat down.

“Why did you lie? As expected, something happened, right?”

There was no answer. Mia mumbled with a blank face.

“Want to die…”

Yu Dan was startled.

“What?”

“Ah, right. We should start with ordering. Here! All pizzas, all pastas, and all five kinds of steaks, please.”

“Did you go crazy? As a suicide method, you decided to die by bursting your stomach?”

“That’s not it.”

Mia sighed.

“In fact, there is something I’m worried about.”

“It can’t be solved with noona’s violence?”

“Noisy. As you know, I can see ghosts just like you. Like you, I was harassed by them since I was young, then met people at the company, and barely adapted while doing this and that. I’m doing pretty well at my work. I was even awarded for chasing ghosts well.”

“Why are you suddenly writing a biography?”

“These days, I ended up reflecting on my life. I had serious doubts. I expected things to be okay if it was me, but if it’s a matter that can’t be solved at all even with my abilities…”

At that moment, Mia’s phone, which was laying on the table, rang loudly. She hastily accepted the call.

“Ah, Eunbi-ah! You came? Here, here!”

Yu Dan looked back. And was startled.

Because of the enormous shadow blocking the cafeteria entrance, the interior turned darker for a second.

The owner of that shadow was a female university student in a flowery one-piece dress. She was three or four times bigger than an average person. The fat didn’t shake even when she walked, and was heavy like a stone.

However, he wasn’t startled because of her build.

The female student ate without stopping, while walking towards them. The chocolate bar was disappearing in her mouth so quickly he couldn’t believe it.

“Sorry for being late. I was too hungry on the way and…”

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

The female university student called Eunbi sat down on the opposite side. The sofa sunk. Yu Dan came back to his senses.

“Who… is this?”

“My friend.”

“What?”

That was something most shocking.

Na Mia’s friend? There existed such a being in this world? When he stared at her with such expression, she also hesitantly looked at him.

“That kid…”

“Yep. My maternal cousin dongsaeng I told you about. That kid also can see ghosts. Speaking about it, he sees them much better than I.”

“Is that so, huh…?”

The atmosphere was very strange. What is it? Why are you like this?

At that moment a cart approached.

All dishes Mia ordered were served all at once. Several plates of pizza on huge cutting boards, all kinds of pastas and stakes… The wide table was filled in an instant.

Eunbi’s face went blank. She stared at the numerous plates as if possessed.

At that moment, he heard a strange sound.

「 Hungry. Hungry. Hungry.」

Numerous voices shouted at the same time.

Hearing that sound, his insides churned. His vision twisted, and several things overlapped with Eunbi’s figure.

Something supernatural?

“Hungry…”

Eunbi hurriedly stretched out her hand towards the plates.

Amazing sight unfolded. Two or three pieces of pizza were pressed into one. Whole plates of pasta. Stakes cut in the middle to swallow in one gulp. It was the first time in his life he saw someone eat so well.

「Hungry. Hungry.」

Even though she ate, he kept hearing shouts. Behind Eunbi’s back, pitch black things poured out, and competed with her, stretching out their hands. The plates were completely emptied in an instant.

“What the hell…”

Yu Dan couldn’t continue to speak.

Mia drew the curtains and blocked the table. She opened her bag, and took out a bell hanging on a strap. After she shook the bell, it let out a clear sound. Other people didn’t hear it, but it was extremely loud in Yu Dan’s ears.

“Great Gods of Heavens, Great Gods of Earth, Great Gods of Five Directions, Great Gods of Four Seas…”

Mixed with the mumbled under the nose Buddhist scriptures, he heard a thunder-like sound. Each phrase contained extreme power.

The ghosts attached to Eunbi began to shake. Some ghosts outside covered their ears and screamed.

At that moment.

Chink!

Eunbi dropped her fork.

“Can’t. Stop. I was wrong. I can’t do it at all.”

She suddenly stretched out her hand to grab the bell. Mia couldn’t shake it any longer and stopped.

“Eunbi-ah…”

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m sorry, madam. Everyone is hungry, correct?”

She pushed food into her mouth again. Tears dripped from her bowed head.

Yu Dan stared at Mia.

“What the hell is this situation?”

“Exactly like you see. Hungry ghosts stuck to Eunbi. They followed her since she was young, and because they were so pitiful, she gave them her body. Stuck like this, they can eat together. But there is no way to erase the hunger of hungry ghosts.”

Mia exhaled deeply.

“If ghosts’ cold penetrates a human, they become weak. Even though Eunbi looks so strong, she is on the verge of collapsing. To feed numerous hungry ghosts, she sucked up all her energy and reached her limits.”

Indeed, Eunbi’s face was shrouded in a dark shadow. It was a fortune, which if a passing great monk saw it, they would click their tongue and say ‘tsk tsk, there is not much life left, eh?’.

“I tried to exorcise them a few times, but everything failed. Those hungry ghosts became too accustomed to possessing human’s body as they like and eating to their hearts’ content. They don’t want to let go at all.”

“I can’t do it at all. Everyone is too pitiful.”

“Eunbi-ah. You can’t think like this. If we don’t chase those ghosts away, you will die. Don’t die. It’s you who is really pitiful. So let’s try one more time. Ok? We promised, didn’t we? Leave this one time to my dongsaeng.”

Eunbi wiped her tears and nodded. Mia looked at Yu Dan.

“Please take off at least one. Should I talk about it with mom or work seniors? You’re the only person I trust.”

“Got it.”

Yu Dan stretched out his hand.

Mia shook the bell again. After hearing that sound, he put strength into his hand, as energy shot up. He was able to easily grab one ghost that was yelling outside.

“Caught!”

But just as he was about to tear it off, his hand exploded into flames.

“Ack!”

With a scream, he let go.

The hungry ghosts, which was about to be dragged out, was swiftly drawn back. It was an amazing power.

“What? It’s impossible even with your power?”

Yu Dan massaged his throbbing hand.

The hungry ghosts were yelling. Eunbi was on a verge of tears again.

“As expected, it won’t do. Mia-ah, I just don’t want to do it anymore. Everyone is saying they’re dying from hunger. How can I chase away such pitiful souls. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, everyone. I’ll let You eat until you’re satisfied.”

“Eunbi-ah! Please don’t do that!”

Mia couldn’t endure it any longer and snatched pasta from Eunbi’s hands.

Eunbi begged for food while crying. The hungry ghosts at her back yelled and kicked up a fuss.

For goodness’ sake.

Yu Dan shuddered.

Hungry ghosts. Hungry ghosts… He surely heard that before.

“Right. Hungry ghosts torment humans, because they’re starving, if they’re fed sweet water, hunger will disappear.”

Mia suddenly raised her head.

“How do you know that? Sweet water to wash away a hungry ghost’s hunger. But where can we get such a thing? It only exists in legends.”

“Is it such a precious thing? That fox yokai just gave it. I saw it before. Customers said that a child ghost often steals and eats food, and received sweet water.”

And because it was also a time when he received a lesson from a freaking werewolf, the events of that day left a deep impression on him.

“That’s right, huh….”

Mia looked at Yu Dan with a blank face.

“Why haven’t I thought of that? Master Baek-nim! Even if I can’t go, you can!”

As if she had a sudden realization, she all of the sudden grabbed the arm of her friend, who tried to scrape off the remains of sauce from the plate.

“Eunbi-ah. There is a way to make those hungry ghosts comfortable. Not by chasing them away, but sending them to a good place by washing away their hunger with sweet water.”

But Eunbi wasn’t listening to her.

“I decided to stop. I was really wrong.”

She even blocked her ears and shook her head. She looked soft and kind, but she had a very headstrong attitude.

What to do?

Yu Dan looked at his maternal cousin noona.

Mia shrugged.

“Good. Let’s stop. By the way. Do you want to go to a traditional store? There is a really good tea shop out there…”

***

A few butterflies entered through the first floor’s window. They flapped their wings around and then sat on the furniture engraved with five colored butterflies.

Classical music was flowing out from an old radio standing on it. Occasionally, a scratchy noise mixed in.

“It was sudden, sorry.”

“When has it not been sudden? Please don’t worry. All disasters are originally like this. I’m controlling my mind very well.”

The only one conversing with Yu Dan was the fox yokai. The rest was crowded in the other corner. Everyone stared at Eunbi, who took one table and hugging a brass bowl was devouring bibimbap[1] like a wolf, with their mouths wide open.

Perhaps thanks to the blind on that side, the hungry ghosts attached to Eunbi were much more clearly revealed. He already roughly saw it, but it was a scene beyond his imagination.

The hungry ghosts’ necks were thin like straws. Their limbs bony, and only their bellies were bulging as if they were pregnant. They looked like strange spiders. Dozens of those ghosts stuck together, and they pushed each other up and down to just eat a little bit more. He came to understand how the saying ‘hungry ghost fight’ came to be.

「Hungry. Hungry. Hungry…」

Heuk-yo shook her head in resignation, while she put more food in brass bowl.

“I’m sorry the side dishes are lacking.”

“No! It’s truly delicious!”

Eunbi shouted. The face with a grain of rice stuck to a cheek was bright.

“It’s a really good place like Mia said. The heaviness in my chest and dizziness completely disappeared, and I feel very refreshed.”

The brass bowl was emptied in the instant, and she glanced towards Yu Dan and Baek Ran.

“But those things on Your head… fox ears perhaps?”

She suddenly stood up and stretched out her hand to touch.

Baek Ran stepped back in embarrassment.
 

*~*~*
 
[1] bibimbap — rice mixed with various ingredients.
 

Translator’s note: Yu Dan sick/hurt because of supernatural count: 3? And goes hungry because of supernatural count: 1??? And this story is five chapters long.
 

 

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