“Thanks to the illusion I bestowed, his vital energy will be completely drained, so he won’t be able to withstand the virgin ghost’s torment for long.”
“That would be troublesome. Gaju said to keep him alive for at least six months. He’s petty and vindictive as he looks, so it’ll be painful if I don’t obey.”
“I can see that too. Look at earlier. He absolutely left without me.”
“I said I’d take you with us.”
Ban Hanseong quickly spoke up and stuck his head out. As if asking to be petted. Shim Iyul smiled proudly and ruffled Ban Hanseong’s funky hair.
“Right, you seem like a human with manners. Anyway, to make him last six months, I’ll need to replenish his vital energy… Wait a minute.”
Shim Iyul, who had been deep in thought while rubbing his chin, took out his phone and called Old Man Kang.
— Hello there.
Old Man Kang answered right away.
“That wild ginseng I gave you. Did you find an owner?”
— Not yet. Do you have a suitable owner in mind?
“I do. His name is Choi Myeongwon, seems to be a direct descendant of some chaebol family called Seonjin or something. His vital energy is completely drained so he won’t last long, so if you say you’re selling wild ginseng, he’ll be thrilled.”
— Ho, Seonjin… I’ll have to go through a few connections, but I think I can put word in. By the way, you say his vital energy is drained… Was that your doing?
“I did it.”
Shim Iyul readily admitted it. There was no reason to deny it.
— Must have been a very bad fellow.
“…He was, but how did you know?”
— Why wouldn’t I know? How many years have I been watching you? You only punish evil humans, don’t you?
“When you put it that way, it sounds like I’m some kind of apostle of justice. I’m a fox, a Fire Fox. A Yosu. I have no such thing as justice, so instead of saying useless things, just sell the ginseng expensively. Rip him off big time.”
— Don’t worry. It was appraised at 200 million, but I’ll squeeze out 300 million. Of course, I’ll add 50 million more to your share.
“Do as you please with that. Oh, I need a new phone. The latest model.”
— Got it. I’ll get a new one activated and send it today. Where are you staying these days?
After telling him the hunter’s house address, Shim Iyul hung up. Ban Hanseong, who had been openly eavesdropping, asked.
“Is the plan to sell wild ginseng to Choi Myeongwon to replenish his vital energy, then send Noona Chwiweol to torment him every night?”
“That’s the plan.”
“As expected, Fox-nim is truly wicked. I’m impressed. If you have time, would you like to work with me to plan how to completely shake down Choi Myeongwon’s soul?”
Eun Seonmyeong, who had stopped by the shop after a long time to check if things were running well and returned, let out a hollow laugh. He saw Shim Iyul and Ban Hanseong sitting with their heads together on the main hall floor, enthusiastically plotting something.
“What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see? I’m discussing with Fox-nim. Don’t bother us and go away.”
Ban Hanseong waved his hand toward Eun Seonmyeong as if shooing away a fly. Eun Seonmyeong was dumbfounded and tilted his head with an expression that said, ‘Should I just kill him?’ He knew Ban Hanseong had liked ghosts more than humans since childhood, but he didn’t know that even ghosts weren’t enough and he’d go crazy over a Yosu too. Looking at Ban Hanseong’s expression now, it seemed like Shim Iyul was the Gaju, not Eun Seonmyeong.
“Hello.”
The small ghost that approached hesitantly bowed deeply enough for his forehead to touch the ground. Perhaps getting more familiar now, the little one would approach Eun Seonmyeong first. Eun Seonmyeong just nodded, then let out a sigh. Somehow there were more non-humans in the house than humans. There were only three humans including Ban Hanseong, but there were as many as four wicked things. The Fire Fox, the small ghost, and the two ghosts Ban Hanseong commanded.
“Good grief. Is this a hunter’s house or a ghost’s house?”
If the shop fails, I could make money with a ghost house experience and at least not starve.
At Eun Seonmyeong’s words full of sighs, Shim Iyul, who lifted his head and counted the number of humans and non-human beings with his fingers, burst into laughter. Including Han Seolju who wasn’t here, it was 3:4.
“At this rate, it’ll become a Eumtaek?”
If there are many yin beings, naturally the energy of the house also becomes yin. A hunter’s house becoming an Eumtaek—it’s hilarious. Laughter burst out unexpectedly and he couldn’t control it.
Eun Seonmyeong looked at Shim Iyul in disbelief as he laughed hysterically saying “An Eumtaek. A hunter’s house becoming an Eumtaek,” then turned his gaze to Ban Hanseong.
“Ban Hanseong.”
“Why are you calling me?! I said I’m busy! I need to plan my goddess’s revenge.”
“Look for that little one’s mother later, after whatever that plan is.”
So I can get rid of at least one from this house. The Fire Fox can’t be removed for the time being, and neither can the ghosts Ban Hanseong commands. Ban Hanseong thinks of the century-old Songgaksi and the 88-year-old Dongjagwi like family.
Ban Hanseong turned his head to look at the small ghost. The little one’s eyes widened with excitement, and when his gaze met Ban Hanseong’s, he immediately ran over.
“Mom, you’re going to find my mom?”
“Where is this child’s mother?”
“If I knew that, would I have told you to find her? Didn’t Seolju tell you?”
“He didn’t.”
Only then did he remember Han Seolju, who had been fuming about not being able to connect with Ban Hanseong.
“It was an earth-bound spirit tied to a department store. That Fire Fox brought him. He says he wants to see his mother, so find her.”
Ban Hanseong looked at the little one with pitying eyes and asked.
“What’s your name?”
“Lee Seungjin!”
The little one shouted his name loudly in an attention stance.
“Right, right. Our Seungjin. Do you remember your mother’s name? You don’t know where you lived, do you?”
When the little one became gloomy because he couldn’t remember, Ban Hanseong approached and hugged him tightly.
“This hyung will find her for you. This hyung is really capable. I’ll find her in half a day.”
“Really? Really, really? Right now?”
“Of course. I’ll find her right now… I can’t. I don’t have my work tools.”
He left his laptop at home. Ban Hanseong smiled awkwardly at the small ghost who had become gloomy as if he’d never been excited and jumping around. Then he tried his best to console him.
“Hyung will definitely find her tomorrow. Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Hyung will buy you everything. Ice cream? Chocolate?”
“Strawberry ice cream.”
“Okay, I’ll buy it. What else? Say everything. Everything.”
“More? Can I say more?”
The little one glanced at Eun Seonmyeong, then fidgeted with his fingers and mumbled. Eun Seonmyeong nodded slightly.
“Tteok, tteokbokki…”
“Tteokbokki?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll buy it. And what else? Actually, let’s just go out together, hyung and you. We’ll go out and buy ice cream and tteokbokki, and I’ll buy you other things too. Just say it.”
Ban Hanseong, who grabbed his wallet, held out his hand. The little one smiled brightly and took that hand. The Dongjagwi, who had been watching quietly, hesitantly approached and held the other hand.
“Did our Taeho want to hold hands too?”
The Dongjagwi nodded slightly.
“Okay, you hold hands too and come along.”
Shim Iyul called out to Ban Hanseong’s back as he left the house, vigorously swinging his hands clasped with the two small ghosts.
“Buy sundae too! Lots of liver!!!”
Sundae tastes best with liver. He was delighted at the thought of eating liver after a long time, when he heard a brief laugh. He furrowed his brow and turned his gaze to see the always cold hunter.
“Did you laugh?”
“I didn’t laugh.”
“I think you laughed.”
Eun Seonmyeong kept a straight face, but Shim Iyul couldn’t erase his suspicion. Eun Seonmyeong ignored Shim Iyul, who looked at him with narrowed eyes asking suspiciously “You laughed, right? You laughed, didn’t you?” as if obsessed, and stepped up to the main hall floor.
“I didn’t laugh.”
“I definitely heard laughter? Who else is here besides you for you to deny it?”
Since Ban Hanseong had taken all the ghosts out, only Shim Iyul and Eun Seonmyeong were in the house.
“You must have heard wrong, you fox bastard.”
“My ears are so sensitive. I never hear wrong. You definitely laughed.”
Eun Seonmyeong denied he laughed, and Shim Iyul insisted he admit he laughed and followed behind him, then staggered.
“D-damn it.”
His blood grew hot and only the sensation in his lower body came vividly alive and raged. Heat.
“Could you pick a time and place?”
Of all times, going into heat right in front of the hunter’s room. He tried to move, thinking he should return to the annex, but instead strength drained from his legs and he ended up sitting down. An unbearable desire surged up. Shim Iyul grabbed between his legs.
“Fox bastard, what are you doing in front of someone else’s room…”
The moment Eun Seonmyeong irritably opened the door, a silent scream of ‘No!’ burst out. At the same time, pheromones rose strongly from his body. It was the scent of a Fire Fox in heat seducing a partner.
“Don’t put out that strange smell…”
Eun Seonmyeong, who was about to get angry with furrowed brows at the smell irritating his nose, paused. It was definitely the fox’s body scent. But it was different from the usual body scent. Much richer… and more sensual. It was a scent that stimulated instinct. He tried to cover his nose belatedly, but it was already too late. The rich body scent penetrated through the fingers covering his face. The fox’s body scent grew increasingly thick and came unbearably stimulating. It felt like all his senses were sharply on edge.
“You… this smell… Stop it right now.”
“If I could control it… would I be like this here?!”
Shim Iyul answered Eun Seonmyeong’s demand while panting. The thread-like remaining reason was about to snap. When he was alone, he could endure it. Though it was painful not being able to satisfy his instinct, since there was no partner, he could somehow endure it. But now the situation was different. There was a human right in front of him. The fact that this human was a hunter didn’t matter. Every cell that made up his body was crying out with instinct to mate with the human in front of him right now.
Shim Iyul, who staggered to his feet, smiled. His pupils were clouded with desire, and a bewitching smile full of seduction hung on his lips. The Fire Fox’s pheromones, more powerful than any stimulant or aphrodisiac made by humans, seduced Eun Seonmyeong.
“Shi, shit.”
Eun Seonmyeong’s lower body bulged as he cursed. Shim Iyul licked his lips looking at the large center clearly visible even over his clothes. At the gesture full of coquetry, Eun Seonmyeong cursed roughly once more, “Fuck…!” then pulled Shim Iyul’s waist into his arms. Then he pulled him into the room and closed the door.
