In the end, Eun Seonmyeong bought snow crab. From the moment he completed the order, Shim Iyul, who had been pacing by the gate waiting for the delivery to arrive, snatched it away as soon as the snow crab arrived. The table was set on the daecheong. Though there was a kitchen, it was Shim Iyul who said they should eat on the daecheong with elegance since they’d already lit the stone lantern. And yet he kept sniffling because it was cold. For a fox to be sensitive to cold.
Eun Seonmyeong looked at Shim Iyul’s red cheeks as he rapidly ate the snow crab meat even though no one was stealing it, then stood up. Then when he came out with an electric heater, Shim Iyul looked up.
“I’m cold.”
Eun Seonmyeong, who said that, placed the heater close to his side.
“Let me share it. I’m cold too.”
Shim Iyul subtly sat close to Eun Seonmyeong’s side, following the heater’s warmth.
“Are you really a fox? Why is a fox sensitive to cold?”
“Is there a law that foxes can’t be sensitive to cold? Look at me. Don’t I look delicate at a glance?”
Shim Iyul thrust his face forward. When he stopped breathing for a moment at the body scent that wafted strongly, Shim Iyul sniffed.
“Did you shower? What body wash do you use? For an artificial scent humans made, it’s not bad?”
Eun Seonmyeong pulled his body back and pushed away Shim Iyul’s forehead with his index finger as he looked ready to bury his nose right in his nape.
“I told you not to act coy?”
This fox bastard keeps acting coy and making a fuss, disturbing people’s hearts at the drop of a hat.
“I’m not acting coy? Even without acting coy, humans fall for me?”
“Just eat the snow crab.”
Eun Seonmyeong picked up a leg and shoved it into Shim Iyul’s mouth. Shim Iyul, who wrinkled his nose bridge and chewed the snow crab meat diligently, hunched his shoulders. Even in front of the heater, it was still cold.
“It seems it’ll get colder.”
It had been continuously cold for the past few days, but the chill in the air was unusual as if it would get even colder.
“They said starting tomorrow will be the coldest this winter.”
The news had been making a fuss about the strongest cold wave or something. It would continue for about a week at most, and the wind chill would drop to minus 25, so be careful of water pipes or boiler freezing or something.
“I shouldn’t come out of the blankets. That’s the problem with traditional houses. They’re too cold in winter.”
Should he take refuge at the shaman’s place for a while? Shim Iyul, who had briefly considered it, dismissed the thought saying ‘Nah, never mind.’ If he took refuge at Ban Hanseong’s apartment, it would be warm, but there were also two ghosts, and there was Han Seolju who glared at him fiercely like looking at a robber come to steal a maiden whenever he saw him. And above all, if he went, the hunter would be left alone—wouldn’t that be pitiful? He was already pitiful for remaining a virgin at his age.
“Your eyes are insolent.”
Eun Seonmyeong, who felt Shim Iyul’s gaze looking at him pitifully, said while snapping off a snow crab leg. Shim Iyul, feeling like his own leg had snapped, hurriedly turned his gaze to the yard. What a needlessly sharp hunter. How did he know I was looking at him pitifully?
“What’s insolent about my eyes? I just looked. Just. I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“……”
“Really!”
Though Eun Seonmyeong didn’t say anything, Shim Iyul, who felt needlessly guilty, emphasized that it was really true. Seeing Eun Seonmyeong’s eyes narrow, Shim Iyul hurriedly changed the subject.
“But how did you end up with two curses on your body? I understand the Imugi, but how did you meet the White Fox? The White Fox isn’t an easy yosu to meet.”
“Three years ago, several corpses with missing hearts were found in Sangju. At that time, I received a request from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner and went down to Sangju, where I met the White Fox, but failed to catch him.”
Most thought it was the work of a sadistic serial killer, but a few noticed it was the work of a yosu, not a human. One of them was Kim Intaek, who was the Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner at the time. When the special investigation headquarters’ investigation dragged on for three months, Kim Intaek made a request to Eun Seonmyeong. Though it had happened in Sangju, so there was actually no reason for him to step in. He didn’t know what he was trying to gain behind the scenes in exchange for solving a case with high public interest. He could only guess it was something quite big, judging by how frighteningly angry he’d been.
It was fortunate, if anything, that he hadn’t spread it to the media saying ‘The Seoul Metropolitan Police will solve it.’
“The White Fox must have been quite strong?”
Shim Iyul asked cautiously, as if testing the waters.
“Honestly, he was stronger than expected.”
“……”
“But back then I was careless and got hit because I underestimated him. It wasn’t to the extent I couldn’t handle.”
At Eun Seonmyeong’s words added as if making an excuse, Shim Iyul’s eyes curved like half-moons. Shim Iyul tapped Eun Seonmyeong’s shoulder with a face full of mischief.
“You don’t have to make excuses. Your strength might be lacking. It’s okay, it’s okay. This time I’ll help you.”
“I said I don’t need your help…… Hah, forget it. What’s your grudge?”
“That bastard killed the one most precious to me.”
When the White Fox came, the young Shim Iyul didn’t know anything and was just glad. It was the first fox he’d seen besides his mother and himself. He didn’t think of him as an enemy at all. That’s why he made the mistake of personally guiding to his mother the one who approached with malice hidden beneath a kind smile. Of course, even if he hadn’t guided him, the White Fox would have found his mother. His mother, who had already sensed the White Fox’s presence, was running over.
Still, the guilt remained for a long time. He’d also thought whether, if he’d been wary of the White Fox, both his mother and himself could have escaped. Guilt and anger combined, and it seemed he’d vowed to definitely take revenge.
‘I was a fox with no eye for people.’
He’d misjudged the White Fox, and misjudged Mr. Park. Because of his useless eyes, he lost his precious mother and was betrayed by Mr. Park. And he vowed to no longer trust anyone or give his heart to anyone.
Chewing the snow crab as if chewing an enemy and swallowing it, the generously ordered snow crab ran out. Shim Iyul came over to the annex holding his full belly. After washing up roughly, he went to bed early, but perhaps because it was cold, sleep didn’t come easily. Shim Iyul, who wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, muttered “It’s cold.”
After suffering all night from the cold wind that made the floor hot but his nose tip cold, Shim Iyul woke up early in the morning and headed to the main building. Then he saw a snowman with funky hair in the yard—no, it was Ban Hanseong. Ban Hanseong, who appeared having become twice his usual size from wearing who knows how many layers of clothes, came waddling over saying “Fox-nim!”
“Why did you come?”
“The gaju called me, so I came.”
“Drink coffee.”
Han Seolju appeared from the kitchen.
“You came too?”
When Shim Iyul asked curtly toward Han Seolju, the door opened and Eun Seonmyeong came out.
“You’re noisy.”
“Gaju, why did you call me?”
“Why did you come so early?”
It was only 7 in the morning.
“Isn’t it a bongshin’s duty to come promptly when the gaju calls?”
“Says the guy who usually showed his reluctance first when called to come?”
“Forget the past. What did you call me for?”
“Come in first. Seolju, me too, coffee.”
“Yes.”
Han Seolju headed to the kitchen to make Eun Seonmyeong’s coffee. Ban Hanseong waddled and followed Eun Seonmyeong into the room. Shim Iyul, who had been rolling his pupils, also subtly followed along. He was curious what Eun Seonmyeong had called the two bongshin for.
“Why are you coming in?”
“What does it matter? Is there something you can’t say in front of Fox-nim?”
“It’s about Lee Seonghun.”
“……Then it’s fine for Fox-nim to listen too.”
Ban Hanseong’s lips trembled slightly as he shrugged as if it didn’t matter at all. Eun Seonmyeong deliberately watched Ban Hanseong, who grinned even more and pretended to be fine as he took off his clothes. After taking off the long padding and two lightweight paddings he wore underneath, Ban Hanseong, who returned to his usual size, asked “What about Lee Seonghun……” At that moment, Han Seolju came in with coffee. Han Seolju frowned seeing Shim Iyul sitting naturally as if he should obviously be included, but only sighed and said nothing.
“Yesterday Lee Seonghun’s father came to find me.”
Eun Seonmyeong, who received the coffee Han Seolju handed him and took a sip, opened his mouth.
“What did he come for? Don’t tell me because of the past?”
“Not that. He didn’t recognize me. It seems Lee Seonghun is infected with Goljinchung.”
“Goljinchung, is that true?”
Ban Hanseong asked with wide eyes.
“It’s still just a guess, but I’m almost certain.”
“A troublesome bastard got infected with a troublesome thing. That’s…… serves him right.”
Ban Hanseong smiled, quickly erasing the expression that had been startled as if falling into a mud pit. When Eun Seonmyeong was forcibly expelled after beating Lee Seonghun nearly to death, he’d come and reproached him saying ‘Why did you do that? I’m fine.’ as if he’d done something unnecessary. It seemed he did have resentment in his heart after all. Seeing how he was pleased saying it served him right.
Well. He’d become the entire school’s outcast and been bullied because of that bastard, and even had the thrilling experience of being pushed off the rooftop, so it would be a lie to say he had no resentment. Even if Ban Hanseong was stupidly kind. He just hadn’t shown it outwardly.
“I think even if that bastard writhes in pain and dies after getting caught by something more vicious, it would be deserved, but since it’s unfortunately Goljinchung, I think I’ll have to eliminate it.”
At Eun Seonmyeong’s words, Ban Hanseong nodded.
“I know. It would be troublesome if the Goljinchung becomes an adult and lays eggs on innocent people. Unlike the past, the population is large now, so who knows how big the damage could get if left alone.”
It might not end at dozens or hundreds. There was also a high possibility that thousands or tens of thousands could be infected. The population had increased incomparably to the past, but Eun Seonmyeong was the only exorcist, so if Goljinchung spread, the worst could happen.
