The little ghost, as if scared of Eun Seonmyeong, trembled without even being able to look directly at his face before quickly hiding behind the fox. Then it clutched the fox’s clothes as if they were a lifeline.
“This lowly ghost kid! I told you you’re wrinkling my new clothes?!”
The fox brat snapped irritably and shook off the little ghost, but the kid just sniffled and didn’t let go of the fox.
“Fox-nim.”
“Hey, shut up. You’re noisy. I said get off me!”
Even while snapping in irritation, Eun Seonmyeong watched with a peculiar gaze as the fox ultimately stepped up onto the wooden veranda with the little ghost attached. When their eyes met, the fox brat said “What? Why?” while raising its chin, then sat down arbitrarily. The little ghost, who sat down as well, slipped behind the fox’s back to avoid Eun Seonmyeong’s gaze.
“I never gave permission for you to come up.”
Eun Seonmyeong, who had crossed his arms, looked down at the fox with an incredulous gaze.
What a truly shameless fox brat. Coming and going from the Hunter’s house as if it were the neighbor’s. Did it not even have fear of possibly dying? It didn’t seem to have shown such an easygoing attitude in their two previous encounters, yet for something that wasn’t even a rabbit, it seemed to be a fox that lived with its liver hanging outside its body.
“Every time I come here, the hospitality is so poor. Not even offering a cup of tea. Today I even brought a guest.”
“I only take requests from the living. I don’t take ghost clients.”
Eun Seonmyeong was a Hunter and an Exorcist. In other words, he was on the side of exterminating ghosts, not someone who took requests from ghosts to solve problems. Naturally, the little ghost was trembling as if about to piss itself. While continuing to hide behind the fox. To a mere lowly ghost, a yosu would be just as terrifying as a Hunter, yet the sight of it hiding behind the yosu fox was absurd. Did it mean the fox was better than the Hunter?
“Has a ghost entered?”
Han Seolju’s face contorted as he realized through Eun Seonmyeong and the fox’s conversation that a lowly ghost had entered the house. He said “Please wait a moment” and ran to the detached quarters, then came out with a wooden sword and goggles.
The wooden sword, made by carving a jujube tree struck by lightning and engraving the Chukgwimun (Demon-Expelling Script) on the blade to chase away lowly ghosts, dealt direct damage to evil things. And the lenses of the goggles were Gwiangyeong (Ghost-Seeing Mirror), made by processing mirrors that reflected ghosts, so when worn, even Han Seolju who had no spiritual energy could see evil beings like ghosts. Of course, conversation with ghosts also became possible.
Han Seolju, who gripped the wooden sword tightly, blamed himself for opening the gate without even checking whether it was human or an evil being. Then, just as he was about to wear the goggles to confirm what kind of ghost he had let in.
“It’s fine. Go out and buy a cup of coffee.”
Eun Seonmyeong waved his hand. If Han Seolju wore the goggles, he would learn not only the kid’s identity but also the fox’s true nature. Though he looked like that, he was quite hot-blooded and hated yosu just as much, so if he learned the fox’s identity, he would definitely attack without question.
“Are you alright alone?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a lowly ghost. A little ghost kid this big.”
Eun Seonmyeong indicated about his thigh level.
“I carelessly opened the door and defiled the inside of the house. I apologize.”
“I said it’s fine. Just buy coffee. A cold one.”
Though Han Seolju kept glancing suspiciously at the fox who had brought the ghost, he grabbed his wallet. The fox shouted toward Han Seolju’s back as he was about to leave through the gate.
“I want an Einspänner. Lots of cream.”
“I-I want a str-strawberry shake.”
Eun Seonmyeong let out a long sigh. The shameless fox had brought along a ghost just as shameless. When he looked incredulously, the little ghost who had been peeking its head out from behind the fox went “Hieek!” and collapsed. It looked ready to dissipate in fear from just a single glance.
Eun Seonmyeong waved his hand toward Han Seolju who was hesitating, sending him out. The gate closed with a sharp creaking sound.
“Einspänner.”
The fox kept going on about the Einspänner, unable to let go of its lingering attachment.
“Shut up.”
“Is this how you treat a guest?”
“If you want ritual water, I’ll serve you all you want.”
The fox’s mouth finally shut. Eun Seonmyeong sat across from the fox whose lips were twitching. While doing so, he examined the little ghost peeking its face out from behind the fox.
“An earth-bound ghost, huh.”
He could see a cord tied to the little ghost’s ankle. It meant it had been bound somewhere. It seemed the fox had forcibly severed it and brought it here.
“I picked it up while shopping at the department store. It clung to me saying it wanted to see its mom and wouldn’t let go.”
“Hmm.”
“You find this kid’s mom.”
The fox grabbed the little ghost’s wrist and forcibly dragged it out. The kid struggled at first, not wanting to be dragged, but a young lowly ghost couldn’t possibly withstand a yosu’s strength. The little ghost that was ultimately dragged out prostrated itself flat and pleaded.
“Please find my mom. I want to see Mom.”
Eun Seonmyeong looked down with an indifferent gaze at the little ghost trembling while prostrate. When a human dies, their soul crosses to the afterlife guided by a death messenger. However, if they die with strong won (resentment) and nyeom (obsession), they refuse the death messenger’s guidance or flee to avoid the messenger, remaining in this world and becoming a ghost.
As time passes, ghosts lose their memories from when they were human, wandering this world while preserving only the won and nyeom from the moment of their death. This kid’s nyeom must be its mother.
“What’s your name?”
The little ghost raised its head slightly.
“Ch-Chick class, Lee, Lee Seungjin!”
Though it looked ready to piss itself in fear, its voice was booming as it stated its name.
“What’s your mom’s name?”
“Mom’s name is…… Mom?”
“Where’s your home?”
“Home is…… home is in Seoul……”
Tears welled up in the kid’s eyes as it tried hard to recall the address. The kid became confused, repeating only “It’s in Seoul, it’s in Seoul.” As if it was strange and scary that it couldn’t remember the address.
“Looks like it’s been at least half a year.”
Since that kid ended its short life. Eun Seonmyeong clicked his tongue at the kid who was still muttering “Home is in Seoul.”
“Was it bound at the department store?”
Eun Seonmyeong turned his gaze to the fox who was grumbling, “Not even buying a single cup of coffee, how petty.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Looks like it burned to death there.”
The fox glanced at the burn marks left here and there on the little ghost’s body. Whether it burned to death, died from toxic gas, or had some other cause, it was clear it had died in connection with a fire.
“F-Fox-nim. I can’t remember home. It’s strange. I-I’m scared. M-Mom.”
After a while, the little ghost raised its head, looking haggard. Fear dwelt in its tear-filled eyes.
“That’s natural. Because you’re dead. When you become a ghost, you gradually lose your memories from when you were alive, and eventually only won and nyeom remain. Even while forgetting what that won and nyeom even was.”
The fox lowered its eyes and explained coldly. The little ghost whimpered.
“Th-then I’ll f-forget Mom too?”
“Yes.”
“M-Mom……”
“Before that happens, meet your mom, resolve your nyeom, and get lost to the afterlife. Don’t even think about clinging to me.”
At the fox’s ice-cold words, the little ghost looked at Eun Seonmyeong. Though trembling in fear, the little ghost earnestly pleaded, “Please find my mom.” Eun Seonmyeong stared at such a kid for a long while. Though scared and letting out “Uu” groans, the kid didn’t avoid Eun Seonmyeong’s gaze.
“Fine. I’ll find her.”
As soon as Eun Seonmyeong’s words ended, the little ghost said “R-right now?” and sprang up.
“Not now, later.”
But at the words that it wasn’t now, it hung its head and sat back down, curling up its legs in a pitiful manner.
“I want to see Mom. I want to eat strawberry ice cream again.”
Eun Seonmyeong turned his gaze away from the little ghost muttering with its face buried in its knees and looked at the fox. Dealing with matters with the fox came before the little ghost’s earnestness. Above all, the curse that had subsided briefly earlier was beginning to blaze. He couldn’t move until this bout of the curse completely settled.
The fox’s gaze touched Eun Seonmyeong’s lower abdomen. Eun Seonmyeong frowned toward the grinning fox and asked.
“What did you do to me?”
“I removed the White Fox’s yokai energy that was stimulating the curse. Though it was a very, very small amount. But you must have been much more comfortable?”
“……”
He had been much more comfortable. Enough to sleep soundly until morning. The fox, who took Eun Seonmyeong’s silence as affirmation, grinned again.
“Have you decided to form an alliance?”
“What business do you have with the White Fox?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
The fox tilted its head and retorted primly.
“I do need to know. Because if you and that White Fox brat join hands, I’ll be in trouble.”
“That will absolutely never happen. I’d rather align my body with you than join hands with the White Fox.”
For a moment, strong hostility bloomed from the fox’s body before disappearing.
‘Does it have a grudge or something?’
Just because they were the same yosu didn’t mean they were all on the same side, so it wouldn’t be particularly strange if the Fire Fox held a grudge against the White Fox. It wasn’t uncommon for yosu to devour yosu. However, it was difficult to completely shake off the doubt.
Thinking of last night when he’d been comfortable, he wanted to accept the Fire Fox’s proposal. It was as if his body, which had been tormented by the curse, was demanding ‘Accept it quickly.’ Enough that when the curse had squirmed, he’d unconsciously recalled the Fire Fox’s phone number and impulsively grabbed his phone.
“……”
“Is that your answer?”
“……”
Eun Seonmyeong, unable to make up his mind, remained silent. The fox, with an attitude of having nothing to lose, stood up and gathered its shopping bags. Now that he looked, there were several shopping bags, all stamped with luxury brand logos. It seemed to be quite an extravagant fox.
“If you don’t contact me by tonight, the alliance is off.”
The fox, who spoke arrogantly, stepped down from the wooden veranda. Then it wagged its index finger at the little ghost who was trying to follow while cautiously watching.
“You stay here. The one who’ll find your mom is that Hunter.”
“Wh-what about Fox-nim?”
“I’m going to buy an ‘Einspänner piled high with cream’ and go to the hotel.”
At the fox’s manner of speech that particularly emphasized the cream-piled-high Einspänner, Eun Seonmyeong unconsciously let out a laugh before straightening his face.
“You hold grudges long.”
“You’re a cheapskate.”
When Eun Seonmyeong frowned, the fox, who sneered, flounced out. The little ghost paced anxiously in front of the gate. Thanks to being together for a few hours today, it wanted to follow the fox who at least wasn’t scary, but it seemed worried that if it crossed the gate, it wouldn’t be able to enter this house again. Earlier it had easily entered because Han Seolju had opened the door due to the fox pretending to be human, but for a young and weak little ghost alone, crossing the gate with talismans attached was impossible.
The little ghost, who had alternately looked at the gate and Eun Seonmyeong several times in agitation, ultimately gave up on chasing the fox and trudged back to the wooden veranda. Then it went to a corner to avoid Eun Seonmyeong’s energy and curled up.
Just then, Han Seolju returned with iced coffee.
“It seems the client has left?”
Eun Seonmyeong, who hurriedly received the coffee, gulped down the ice-filled coffee in one go. His insides were getting increasingly hot, so he desperately needed something cold.
“Yes. Left.”
“Did the ghost leave together?”
“The kid is over there.”
Eun Seonmyeong pointed to where the little ghost was. Han Seolju, who wore the goggles and looked that way, shuddered. Though he’d braced himself since it was a kid, he was surprised that it was a smaller boy than he’d thought. Han Seolju’s face, who was particularly weak before young things, weak things, and cute things, filled with pity. When Han Seolju, unable to overcome his sympathy, approached, the little ghost was horrified. Already big in build with a fierce-looking face making him scary, and with the Chukgwimun brazenly carved on the wooden sword he carried, it was utterly terrified.
“There’s nothing to be scared of. Uncle isn’t a scary person.”
Han Seolju, who tried to make a smile on his fierce face, put down the wooden sword.
“Look into whether there was a fire at a department store within the last six months.”
“Yes.”
Han Seolju answered without even looking back at Eun Seonmyeong’s words.
“……Kid, want some ice cream?”
“Do you have…… strawberry flavor?”
The little ghost, tempted by ice cream, asked in a barely audible small voice. Han Seolju smiled benevolently.
“Of course I do. I’ll give you some.”
Eun Seonmyeong asked toward Han Seolju’s back as he headed to the kitchen.
“Why do you have strawberry flavored ice cream?”
“……I bought it to treat little guests.”
Han Seolju, who flinched, answered nonchalantly and continued walking. Eun Seonmyeong’s eyes narrowed. What little guest would have reason to visit this house? Though suspicious, he didn’t particularly press the matter. He didn’t have the leisure to. Eun Seonmyeong, who hurriedly chewed ice, became drenched in sweat all over his body in an instant.
