Perhaps because that voice was so gentle, my eyes became heavy and sleep poured over me. I thought it was somewhat fortunate. Because even though I had resolved to watch until the end, now that the house was burning before my eyes, I wanted to run away. I thought I hated myself like this, but just before falling completely into sleep, I shed tears at Bihyeon’s voice and lost consciousness.
“Right now you’re leaving forcibly because of me. So sleep with peace of mind.”
* * *
Perhaps because everything was over, when I woke up after two days, I had caught a severe cold. What was fortunate was that the reason my body hurt was nothing other than the price for sending off all those souls, so I was at least spared from an outing ban. Still, I was glad the evil god was caught right away. I was worried I’d have to dance with a dagger or something.
“What are you thinking about so seriously?”
Bihyeon, who was sitting beside me feeding me porridge, asked slowly. Since I got sick right after everything ended and couldn’t even ask what I wanted to ask, rather than feeling completely refreshed that everything was wrapped up, there was an unsettling feeling with questions remaining in a corner of my heart.
“I’m thinking it was resolved faster than expected. Maybe I should have gone earlier.”
“If you’d gone before that, you would have been dragged away by the dokkaebi while trying to summon him.”
“Is… is that so?”
“It only ended at this level because your body had recovered a lot.”
Bihyeon, who fed me another spoonful of porridge, spoke with sunken eyes.
“And if you hadn’t been stabbed with a knife back then, it would have ended more difficultly.”
Perhaps that time was a wound to Bihyeon, his eyes became anxious again. Well… after experiencing me being stabbed with a knife and trying to leave completely, I couldn’t even fathom how much of a wound it was to him. I blinked and raised my hand to grab Bihyeon’s arm.
“I… I want to drink water.”
Perhaps catching my intention at once, Bihyeon burst into a laugh “Pisik,” poured water, wrapped my back, and put the water in my mouth. After drinking some water, perhaps to finish the porridge, he picked up the spoon again.
“The house completely burned down. Seodam went to start working.”
“That…”
“You’ll ask after you’re fully recovered?”
It seemed he had no intention of telling me about the serious parts anymore. I received the porridge Bihyeon gave and chewed it, then nodded. Well, what could I do? Right now, whatever I heard would definitely cause stress and raise my fever again. Actually, even now my body doesn’t hurt, so I don’t really know how sick I am or to what degree. Aside from my body being heavy, it just felt like usual, which was a strange feeling.
“A visitor is here.”
“A visitor?”
“Since you woke up after a long time, I couldn’t just tell them to go… If you don’t want to, I’ll send them away.”
“Who… Ah. By any chance…”
“Mountain God.”
“But Bihyeon-nim.”
“Hm?”
“What is the Mountain God-nim’s name?”
I thought it might be too late to ask now, but I kept forgetting to ask… When I put my hand to my mouth and asked, Bihyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“Ask directly.”
Mm? His expression is strange. Something seemed bitter, so when I looked at him, Bihyeon smiled, stroked my head, and left the room. When the door opened, the Mountain God, smaller in size than when I last saw him, bent his body and entered the room. Still, perhaps because he rested and recovered, many branches had grown. Thinking it was fortunate, I exhaled “Huu” and bowed in greeting.
“Really… you’ve changed a lot since I last saw you.”
The Mountain God who entered the room and looked around came and sat beside me. A gentle smile turned toward me. I was about to say I was okay now but swallowed it and smiled following the Mountain God.
“Back then too… and now too, thank you.”
When he was a squirrel, and now when he’s a tree like this. The Mountain God who was listening to my words burst into a low laugh. Then he patted my head with a branch that had become a bit thinner.
“Yes, this is much better than an apology saying you’re sorry.”
“Mm, actually I was going to apologize too…”
“Will you? I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
“Then I won’t.”
I looked at the Mountain God who laughed saying that was very good, then opened my mouth.
“But um… Mountain God-nim. What is your name…?”
I was aware that I seemed to be asking too late, so I was extremely embarrassed. The Mountain God who was laughing at my reaction shook his head.
“I don’t have one.”
“…What?”
That’s not right, that mountain definitely had a name. It’s too far in the past so I don’t remember the name, but.
“That mountain completely burned and disappeared, so my name also disappeared.”
Ah…. I blinked and quickly bowed my head.
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
“What is there to be sorry about?”
There’s another being here who was wounded by that day’s events. I frowned, moved my lips, and pressed on my eyes. I really didn’t expect this…. I couldn’t dare say anything and was trembling, when the Mountain God rather patted my hand.
“Can’t you make a different name…?”
“Right now I’m staying on a god’s mountain, so no one would dare think to give me a name.”
“Does that mountain also not have a name now?”
I was touching my eyes when I looked at the Mountain God, who nodded.
“Who would dare give a name to the Creator God’s mountain?”
I see. As I thought, what I saw at the lake that day was definitely not the Mountain God but the Creator God. I fidgeted with my fingers and spoke very quietly.
“I’ll… try to get the god’s permission.”
“Hm?”
“He appears in my dreams often. At that time, can I try to get permission to give Mountain God-nim a name again?”
Because it’s too sad to keep not having a name. When I spoke with serious eyes, this time the Mountain God burst into loud laughter. Many emotions were contained in his eyes. Grateful, joyful, and also anticipation for a name to be given after a long time….
“What if he doesn’t give permission and scolds you instead?”
“I don’t think he will…. I think the god has been continuously concerned about Mountain God-nim’s name too. He’s an extremely gentle person.”
I know just from seeing him talk to me. What a gentle and warm being he is. When I spoke with a smile, the Mountain God agreed and hit his knee. To think that as soon as I wake up after experiencing a serious matter, what I do is the grand mission of getting permission to name… It was quite a heavy responsibility, but somehow I had a strange belief that I could easily get permission.
“Right, a name… If I can make one, I’d be happy if you gave it to me.”
“Me, me?”
The mission of getting permission and even naming is too heavy, isn’t it…? When I opened my eyes wide in surprise, the Mountain God smiled gently and looked at me intently.
“Um… I don’t really know the mountain’s name. I’ll search hard for it.”
“It doesn’t have to be the mountain’s name. Any name you want to give me is fine.”
It’s heavy. So heavy I feel like I’ll throw up. But I wanted the Mountain God to regain a name that much. It was a mountain that disappeared because of us. All because of humans. I clenched my fist tightly and nodded my head greatly. Of course, everything would be possible only if I get permission from the god. Whew, I sighed and made eye contact with the Mountain God. Then I felt something strange and blinked. Mountain God-nim… your pupils have increased a lot…?
“Creator God-nim?”
“Now you recognize me at once.”
“Did I collapse again?”
“No, it’s reality. Since the only way I can directly interfere in this world is through you and this child, I stopped by for a moment.”
It was really the first time in a long while seeing him in reality so the feeling was new, but now wasn’t the time to be immersed in sentiment. I tightly held the hand of the god who had become the Mountain God and asked with serious eyes.
“God-nim, I have a favor to ask.”
Seeing him smiling silently, it seemed he already knew what I would say, but I still resolutely said what I had to say.
“Mountain God-nim… can I give him back the name he lost back then?”
“Do so.”
I knew I’d get permission, but I didn’t know I’d get it this quickly. Since I had ten persuasive arguments prepared, I was about to open my mouth but inadvertently nodded.
“Yes, I, I will.”
“What, did you think I’d say no?”
“No, I knew you’d permit it. But um… me giving the name directly…”
“Do that too.”
“As expected it won’t work… What?”
“You give it. This child directly asked, didn’t he? He’ll be very happy.”
Bursting into laughter as if pleased, the god stroked my head. Is it okay to decide like this so casually? I’m just a human. Perhaps because I became serious, the god tilted his head, then smiled and tapped my arm.
“It’s time for me to go now. I entrust this child to you.”
“What? God-nim, wait a moment. Please help me a little…”
The pupils disappeared from the Mountain God’s body as he smiled brightly and closed his eyes. How can you leave like that! I thought you’d help me at least a little. It’s too difficult a task for me to decide alone…. When I made a tearful face, the Mountain God opened his eyes, looked around, then looked at me and moved his hands as if flustered.
“Um… I got permission.”
“Hm?”
The Mountain God, who was about to say something with somewhat pained eyes, opened his eyes wide in an uncharacteristically flustered manner.
“That person came?”
“Yes. Just now. I asked for help, but it seems he intends to leave everything to me.”
“…You really are….”
The Mountain God, who laughed lowly as if amazed and also convinced, stood up from his seat.
“Then I’ll look forward to it. Since it would be burdensome, I won’t come until you say you’ve decided everything, so don’t worry.”
I waved my hand seeing off the Mountain God, and as soon as the Mountain God left, I made eye contact with Bihyeon who came in right away. Perhaps having heard everything from outside, his eyes held a bit of mischief.
“Don’t tease me.”
“You did well. I was also continuously concerned about it since that time.”
“Haha,” Bihyeon who burst into low laughter came to my side and sat at the bedside.
“Sleep now. Don’t think about it now when your fever will rise, do it after you’re all better.”
“I think I’ll keep being concerned though….”
I pulled at my hair and lay down on the bed. Right, right now my brain capacity is exceeded. I couldn’t feel that I was sick, but I seemed to know my head was getting hot, so I raised my hand and touched my forehead. Mm, it was definitely hotter than before.
“Oh no….”
Bihyeon, who followed me and put his hand on his forehead, frowned and got up to open the door.
“Malgeum.”
I blinked my eyes blankly while looking at the ceiling, then closed my eyes. A name, a name…. How on earth do you name a mountain? Even if not that, the names that immediately came to mind were things like ‘Squirrel,’ ‘Daram.’ That was because the squirrel appearance I first met was so intense that it still remained in my memory. But if I name him this way, won’t I really receive Heavenly Punishment for blasphemy…?
