Yosu and gwi (鬼 – ghosts) are both wicked and negative existences, but if one had to rank them, yosu are above gwi. Most gwi find yosu like Shim Iyul uncomfortable and avoid them, while yosu look down on gwi and ignore them. Sometimes there are yosu who capture and control lesser ghosts, but Shim Iyul didn’t seem to be that type.
What on earth was he thinking, not only bringing a dongjagwi but taking care of it?
Thinking back to after Shim Iyul brought Lee Seungjin, he took care of him while complaining. Unbefitting of a yosu.
Having gotten into the parked Porsche, Eun Seonmyeong tapped the steering wheel while pondering, then pulled up Shim Iyul’s number. The name he’d saved for Shim Iyul in his phone was ‘Fire Fox.’
“Lewd fox bastard.”
Just looking at Shim Iyul’s phone number made him feel unpleasant, remembering how he’d written numbers on his nipples of all places. He felt an unnecessary tingling around his nipples and frowned just as Shim Iyul answered the phone.
— You abandoned me and left, so are you calling to apologize because you feel sorry? I prefer material apologies over words. I’ll forgive you if you get me lobster, that’s reasonable enough.
“You have a talent for saying nonsense seriously. Put away the bullshit—we found where the dongjagwi’s mother is.”
— Where?! I’m coming right now!
“…”
— Well, it’s not like I absolutely have to go, but I’m bored alone at home and all.
His voice, making excuses awkwardly after reacting so intensely, grew smaller toward the end.
“I’ll send you the address, so come or don’t.”
— I’ll see, and if I’m still bored I might go or something.
Shim Iyul answered indifferently and hung up first. Just as he was about to leave, another call came. Thinking it might be the fox, Eun Seonmyeong checked the screen and his face contorted. Eun Seonmyeong answered the phone with a reluctant expression.
“Yes.”
— Hahaha. CEO Eun, have you been well?
The person greeting him pretending to be friendly was Kim Intaek, the Police Commissioner. Ah, now he should say former Police Commissioner.
“Yes, I’ve been very well. Except for my neck hurting occasionally since that time several years ago when I had to bow my head deeply.”
— Oh my, this man! Are you still holding onto that? Your father was a magnanimous person.
“I’ve only heard since the moment I was born that I don’t resemble my father at all.”
— That matter back then, I’m sorry about it. I think I blamed you too harshly.
It could be said that losing the White Fox after making a guarantee was Eun Seonmyeong’s fault. So he paid back the money and gave a sincere apology. Yet Kim Intaek, who was the Police Commissioner at the time, blamed Eun Seonmyeong to the point of character assassination and hurled harsh insults. He wanted to fight him head-on, but held it in and turned away, resolving never to accept Kim Intaek’s requests again.
“What is this about?”
— What else would there be for calling an exorcist?
“Seeing how healthy your voice sounds, it’s not the Commissioner or your family, so it seems a ghost has attached itself to someone around you.”
— That’s right. It’s someone I’m close to, so if you could come…
“I’m busy.”
— Oh my, this man!
“If it’s a ghost, a shaman would be more suitable, so look into that. I’m busy. Even now I was about to go somewhere on urgent business, so I must hang up now.”
Eun Seonmyeong unilaterally hung up the phone, then blocked him altogether. He thought he’d blocked him three years ago, but must have forgotten.
Suddenly remembering the incident from three years ago, his mood soured as if thrown into a dustbin. Damn White Fox bastard. Just let him appear before my eyes and I’ll pay him back with interest. Having composed himself and departed, as soon as Eun Seonmyeong arrived at the destination, he unconsciously lifted the corners of his mouth. Through the front window, he could see Shim Iyul with his arms crossed, tapping the ground with his foot.
“Why are you only coming now?!”
“Looks like you were bored?”
Shim Iyul, who had run out even before hanging up the phone, flinched and muttered like an excuse while looking at distant mountains.
“Yeah. Very, extremely, considerably. I should buy a TV or something. There needs to be something to do at home.”
“It would be better not to think about adding your stuff to my house.”
“Shut up, is it here?”
Shim Iyul pointed behind his shoulder with his thumb. Behind him was a shabby 3-story building with the name ‘Sunshine Motel,’ but only the sign said motel—it was worse than a third-rate inn. There were inns where poor people paid a month’s fee to live in monthly rooms, and this seemed to be that kind of place.
“That’s right.”
When they went inside, there was no one, only a bell. When he picked up and shook the dirty, grimy bell, a man who appeared to be in his 50s soon came out. The man with a bushy beard scratched his belly while alternately looking at Shim Iyul and Eun Seonmyeong, then grinned knowingly. Then asked, “Are you renting by the hour?”
“Is this woman staying here?”
Eun Seonmyeong held out his phone. Ban Hanseong had somehow found and sent even a photo of Kang Eunsuk, Lee Seungjin’s mother.
“Ah, that woman. She’s a long-term guest at our inn, but she’s not here now.”
“Where did she go?”
“How would I know? She probably went to earn money or is wandering around looking for her kid.”
The man’s gaze as he answered bluntly was directed at Shim Iyul. Shim Iyul frowned and asked back, “Looking for a kid?”
“She lost him. I don’t know if she doesn’t even have a phone that even kindergarteners carry these days, but she asks every day if anyone contacted her.”
“I see.”
Eun Seonmyeong and Shim Iyul hurriedly left the inn. They didn’t want to stay even a moment longer in a place where the floor was sticky, musty smells vibrated, and lesser ghosts swarmed.
“What’s that supposed to mean? She’s wandering around looking for the kid?”
Shim Iyul asked Eun Seonmyeong in a puzzled voice.
“A missing person report was filed.”
“She didn’t abandon him but lost him?”
Shim Iyul’s expression was confused. After hearing the old woman’s words, he’d been almost certain the child was abandoned.
“If the missing person report is true, then yes.”
“What about what the old woman said?”
“How should I know? The old woman must have lied.”
Shim Iyul, who had been frowning and glaring somewhere, gestured and a sparrow flew over. Shim Iyul pushed a bit of yokai energy into the brow of the sparrow that landed on his palm, then sent it flying into the air.
“You’ll have to become my eyes and ears for a while.”
The sparrow moved its small wings diligently and flew following Shim Iyul’s hand movements, and what the sparrow saw and heard was transmitted to Shim Iyul’s mind.
“You connected your mind with the sparrow?”
Eun Seonmyeong, who had guessed what Shim Iyul was doing, asked.
“Yeah. I can connect my mind to control small animals. It’s one of a Fire Fox’s abilities.”
“I see.”
“I’ll share what I see and hear from the sparrow.”
At Shim Iyul’s boastful words, Eun Seonmyeong snickered.
After flying for a while, the sparrow arrived at the multi-family house where Kang Eunsuk had lived. Then they saw the old woman from before. The old woman was loitering near the stairs going down from the first floor to the basement.
[“Mother!”]
A woman in her 40s carrying a shopping basket spotted the old woman and called out. She was the old woman’s daughter-in-law.
[“What are you doing there?”]
[“You’re only coming now?”]
[“Why are you out in the cold?”]
[“Earlier, two handsome young men came looking for the kid’s mom.”]
[“The kid’s mom?”]
[“Yes. Seungjin’s mother. Because the kid had leukemia and she suffered, I felt sorry and didn’t even collect the overdue rent. Do you know any news? Is the child alive?”]
At the old woman’s question, the daughter-in-law sighed with a frustrated expression.
[“Mother, you’re confused again. Seungjin didn’t get sick, he went missing. The sick child was Jeongsu who lived in 201. And after the kid’s mom begged you to please watch for him in case Seungjin came back, you unavoidably kicked her out…”]
[“What are you talking about?! Me kick someone out?! I never did that. And why is a young person like you having such poor memory? Seungjin was sick! I sometimes took care of him because he was sick and stayed home all the time, don’t you remember?”]
[“Yes yes, let’s go with that. Seungjin was sick. He couldn’t go to kindergarten not because there was no money but because he was sick. Let’s go in. You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”]
The daughter-in-law led the old woman up the stairs. The sparrow followed all the way up to the third floor. As he said, Shim Iyul continuously relayed what he saw and heard to Eun Seonmyeong.
[“What’s with this sparrow… Shoo! Shoo!”]
The daughter-in-law, who was opening the door, spotted the sparrow and waved her arms, then closed the door. With a bang, the yokai energy inside the sparrow scattered and the connection was cut.
Shim Iyul, who swayed for a moment, grabbed onto Eun Seonmyeong’s clothes.
“Shit, I’m dizzy.”
Controlling beasts requires concentration and is difficult. He felt dizzy and nauseous. Having composed himself briefly and raised his head, Shim Iyul smiled awkwardly and stepped back. Only then did he realize he’d grabbed onto Eun Seonmyeong’s clothes. He’d grabbed so hard the clothes were stretched out.
“Ha… hahaha, they’re stretched. You should wear better quality clothes.”
“…”
Eun Seonmyeong’s eyes glaring at Shim Iyul were sharp. Shim Iyul still smiled awkwardly while brushing off the clothes with his hand, then went “Hmm?” and groped Eun Seonmyeong’s chest. Though he’d seen him naked often, this seemed to be the first time touching him, or more precisely, the first time touching him while sober, and it was much firmer than he’d estimated from looking.
“Total rock, it’s a rock.”
If you threw a stone, the stone would probably shatter hitting Eun Seonmyeong’s chest.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
Eun Seonmyeong raised his index finger and pushed away the forehead of Shim Iyul, who widened his eyes as if not knowing what he was asking. Then he brushed off the area Shim Iyul’s hand had touched as if dusting off dirt. Seeing that, Shim Iyul’s mood soured and he pouted.
Am I an infectious disease? Will I wear it down if I touch?! Why brush it off?! Anyway…
“Why are you a virgin with that body?”
Not using it this way and that way. Really curious.
“There didn’t seem to be… any problems with function.”
Shim Iyul’s gaze swept over Eun Seonmyeong’s lower body. It definitely stood up well and was quite robust. Sexual desire is a basic human need. He’d seen several humans who even sold their souls to sexual desire. But why was he a virgin with a perfectly fine body? There’s no way he lacked the desire that all humans have.
“Psychological factors…”
Shim Iyul, who stopped speaking, raised both arms above his head in a surrender pose. Before he knew it, a gun barrel was pressed right against his forehead.
“Know this saying?”
Eun Seonmyeong spoke coldly.
“You always carry a gun around?”
“Curiosity killed the fox.”
“That’s a cat… Fine. I won’t call you a virgin.”
Eun Seonmyeong’s index finger rested on the trigger.
“…”
“I won’t call you v-word either.”
Having lowered the gun, Eun Seonmyeong tucked it at his waist. Then he smiled faintly while watching Shim Iyul curse, “Bad hunter bastard. I almost pissed myself.” Sometimes quite an amusing fox.
“It was an empty gun.”
He’d habitually brought the gun, but had removed the bullets. If he fired a gun in the city center where there were people’s eyes everywhere, it would become troublesome. Even though it was a licensed gun and used exorcism bullets that were harmless to the human body.
Moreover, these days it was an era where everyone from children to the elderly carried phones and took pictures. If he got caught on camera, the aftermath would be really annoying. If he got caught wrong and his license got canceled, finding a new weapon that fit his hand would also be bothersome.
“…What? An empty gun?!”
Shim Iyul jumped. He almost pissed himself and it was an empty gun?! A hunter dared to toy with me? Just wait and see, he was grinding his teeth when:
“There she comes. The dongjagwi’s mother.”
Eun Seonmyeong pointed behind Shim Iyul. Looking back, Kang Eunsuk was approaching with a haggard face, trudging along while looking down at the ground.
