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Episode 33
I’ve seen strange things since I was a child.
“What? People?”
“Yeah, over there. Can’t you see it?”
“…What are you talking about, it’s just an empty lot.”
“… … .”
“Have you seen any monsters?”
“It’s not a monster….”
It sometimes took on a human-like form.
“… Sorry, I guess I misunderstood.”
“Are you sure it’s okay, oppa?”
“Is it because I’m not fully awake?”
Like a squirrel or a stray cat, its tail hangs long in the bushes, or it stands tall like a tree and emits a strange scent, or it seems to float leisurely high in the sky like a cloud… .
I knew it was something fundamentally different from any plant or animal I knew. At times it was quite similar, but at other times it was strangely crude.
“You might be overdoing it these days. Why don’t you take a break?”
“It’s still doable.”
Like most wild animals, they didn’t acknowledge me.
“You should do it while you can.”
So, Cha Eun-hyuk also pretended not to see it.
‘Can’t other people see it besides me?’
I’ve been thinking hard about their identity.
‘… Are they ghosts? But if they were ghosts, they would usually look like people, but they definitely look like animals. Sometimes they only imitate parts like ears or tails. So are they hallucinations? They leave traces, so it’s hard to call them hallucinations. Are they monsters? But monsters don’t usually show indifference to people like that.’
They sometimes danced, sang, admired flowers, or floated on the water. Cha Eun-hyeok had a feeling that as long as he didn’t touch them, they wouldn’t harm him.
But very occasionally, dangerous guys do show up.
“There was a fire at home.”
“Somehow, the lady of that house has been forgetting things a lot lately… .”
“The whole family burned to death in that house.”
The townspeople blamed a housewife with dementia for the fire. That may have been true, but Cha Eun-hyeok knew that there was something else at stake.
“… … .”
That thing used to follow the lady of that house around carrying a bundle.
‘Oh, I see.’
That must have killed the lady.
I don’t know exactly what that did, but since then, Cha Eun-hyeok has realized that there could be dangerous guys among them.
Although I didn’t sense any ill will towards them, their mere presence could be threatening to humans.
‘I wonder if it’s some kind of monster.’
Cha Eun-hyeok defined it like this.
“Brother, are you going to keep selling bungeoppang?”
“It sells pretty well.”
“What do city people say? In places like that, the discrimination between citizen classes is particularly severe….”
“Everyone is so friendly. I haven’t heard anyone say anything about being a third-class citizen yet.”
In fact, I didn’t have the time or energy to worry about monsters or anything of the unknown.
“Of course, there are people who are paying attention, but it’s time for the youngest to have his initiation ceremony too.”
“… … .”
“You have to buy a priest’s robe, pay for the dormitory, and give them some money to spend while living there.”
“…Why did he awaken as a priest?”
“I have two hunters at home, so it’s really nice and secure.”
His two younger brothers were both Awakened.
My younger sister was an F-rank, the lowest rank, so the only job she could do was as a porter. Not only was the pay not very good, but she also had to buy equipment that would increase her chances of survival when entering dungeons.
The youngest brother awakened as a ‘priest’, but it was a useless profession unless he made a contract with a god. However, it was said that it was nearly impossible to serve the god on his own, and that he could only receive grace with the help of the temple.
“But we were lucky. The youngest was called by the Sun Church in Seoul.”
“… … .”
“Our youngest will soon become a second-class citizen. What’s the point of me taking a break when you’re working too? I have to save face as the eldest son.”
“Well, I’m an Awakened One… and I have better stamina than you, right?”
“Okay, I get it, so don’t worry and just rest.”
“… Should I go to work with you? If the people in Seoul try to hack you, I can stop them… .”
“I need someone to look after the youngest at home.”
I was short on money.
“don’t worry.”
So there is no time to worry about unknown guys.
‘There’s no danger if you don’t keep it close anyway.’
Those guys probably had their own lives. Just as you don’t get hurt by a poisonous toad on the side of the road if you don’t touch it, those guys who were playing around on their own were harmless as long as you didn’t cause trouble.
‘It’s not like I can’t avoid them because I can’t see them, and there’s no way I’ll get into trouble since they’re all visible to me. It’s okay, so it’s okay.’
However, if there is a problem.
“… … .”
“… … .”
There comes a moment when avoidance is no longer enough.
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I didn’t know that it would be when I was trying to sell all the bungeoppang and close the store.
“… … .”
What should I do?
‘I’ve been looking at bungeoppang all this time.’
The ‘thing’ that came at an unexpected time was a man wearing a pitch-black cloak.
He was very tall, and the clothes he was wearing were luxurious. However, because he was all black, he looked like a guest at a funeral. The air around him became heavy and dead, sending a chill down my spine.
It didn’t feel like a grim reaper or something. It seemed like something much closer to nature than those soul-collecting beings with egos.
I could definitely tell it was ‘it’.
“… … .”
Should I bring this up or not?
‘I’ve never seen anything good come from meddling with these guys.’
But I was afraid that if I ignored it, it would have its own set of consequences, even though it was so obvious.
‘I miss the youngest.’
I tried to act calm, not wanting to provoke her, but cold sweat was running down my back.
Cha Eun-hyeok had guessed that these were some kind of monster. They were generally more docile than the ones he saw.
But sometimes, it was unsettling to see someone being harmed so carelessly and without any ill intentions.
‘… I just keep looking at the bungeoppang… .’
If I give this to you, will it disappear?
That was when.
“How much for one bag?”
“… … .”
Speak?
‘A monster?’
I was surprised, even though I didn’t show it.
We have seen creatures in human form many times. They often imitate human life, but their actions are not only ineffective, but there has never been a single one that actually speaks.
‘And you asked how much it was?’
Are you really trying to imitate a human being to this extent?
“ah….”
But I couldn’t ignore the question.
“Five thousand won for ten.”
“Do you only accept cash?”
“Cash would be nice, though.”
“… … .”
The black cloaked man, who had been silent while carrying his luggage on his back, put his hand inside his hood. I wondered what he was doing, but soon I saw that he was holding a jewel in his hand that was shining with a transparent light.
Even Cha Eun-hyeok, a local resident, knew that the beautifully crafted thing was worth more than ten bungeoppang.
“Is this not enough?”
“… … .”
It was scary to think that he was doing such an outrageous thing, as if he was imitating a human being quite convincingly. It was to the point where I began to resent him.
‘Who gives a jewel to someone who buys bungeoppang?’
Cha Eun-hyuk felt a chill down his spine.
It’s the same when you try to barter, and when you don’t know the conventional value of the item you want to get, and no matter how much the other person imitates a human, it just feels uncomfortable.
‘But I’m even more upset because I still think it’s definitely human.’
I barely managed to answer.
“… That’s too much.”
“There is no other item.”
“You don’t have a card…?”
“Is this a card?”
“Uh… yes.”
“okay.”
I was skeptical, but he really did hand me his card.
“… … .”
“… … .”
“… I was just cleaning up, so I need to bake some more. Is that okay?”
“it’s okay.”
“It will take some time.”
Eunhyuk Cha, who quickly gave up, started making bungeoppang.
‘There is no such thing as a disaster.’
Because business was so good today, I couldn’t get to the terminal until the last train left.
I got permission in advance so I don’t have to worry about getting caught. I was planning on sleeping out today, but then I got a new guest.
That too, an unidentified monster guest.
“… … .”
Dalgrak.
The hand that closed the fish-shaped bread mold shook a little.
‘… I don’t think he’ll kill me all of a sudden.’
As with most monsters, most of these guys seemed to have their own rules.
Open your eyes only when the sun is up, spend your whole life with a blind person, and walk only on white stones.
Many of these rules were childish, but some of them were threatening to humans.
‘But it’s the first time I’ve seen someone who can talk, so I can’t tell.’
This is the first time I’ve seen someone imitate a human so well.
The problem is that there is a sense of discomfort here and there, but aside from the strangely cold atmosphere, their speech and actions are quite similar to those of humans.
‘There’s even a card.’
Suddenly, Cha Eun-hyuk realized.
‘… If you didn’t steal it, then someone else must have lent it to you.’
Well then, isn’t there a guardian for this guy somewhere?
“… Are there any other people in your group?”
“It used to be there, but it’s not there anymore.”
“… … .”
“He must be asleep by now.”
I thought it meant he was killed for a moment.
‘This is the first time I’ve felt this resentful toward someone I don’t even know.’
In a world where you can’t even take a dog for a walk without a leash, how can you just let a dangerous creature like this, no matter how much it resembles a human, loose?
“… … .”
No, wait a minute.
‘If he gave me the card, I guess he thought I could use it.’
There was no way a monster that was invisible to other people could use a card.
So, is the opponent in front of you a human rather than a monster?
“… in Seoul… .”
Cha Eun-hyeok opened his mouth cautiously.
“Is this your first time?”
“It’s not the first time, but it’s true that I’m a tourist.”
“Oh, sightseeing. Did you go to Gyeongbokgung Palace?”
“Yes, it was fun because there was a variety of food.”
Although the conversation was a bit choppy, I got enough information.
‘Other people can see it too?’
So does that really mean he’s just an ordinary guy with a creepy vibe?
Or maybe it’s a humanoid monster that’s supposedly introduced in textbooks… .
“… … .”
“Crunch.”
Cha Eun-hyuk was startled.
‘bird?’
It was because a faintly glowing bird jumped out from between the hood of the black cloak.
“Honey, come in.”
“Gurrung… .”
“I’ll give it to you later, so stay inside.”
“Kkukkung.”
“okay.”
The sight of him giving orders to a small monster was the image of a ‘trainer’ commonly known to the world, but strangely, Eunhyuk Cha did not think that the black cloak and the bird in front of him were a pair of a human and a monster.
The feeling of strangeness became more evident the moment the bird’s eyes met mine.
“… … .”
“Gulp.”
“… … .”
Cha Eun-hyuk lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze.
‘… It’s dangerous.’
My hands and feet felt cold, to the point where I was sweating profusely.
‘That guy is really dangerous.’
The bird, with its sweet color and dainty body, would be considered pretty and cute by anyone who saw it. However, to Cha Eun-hyeok, who could vaguely sense its true nature, it was no different from a ridiculous deception.
Perhaps it was the name given by the owner, but the nature of the bird called ‘Honey’ was like a storm-like wave. It was spontaneous, rough, and strong. But the reason it took on that fragile form was probably because the owner wanted it to.
“… … .”
So then, what kind of being is the master, Black Cloak?
‘Damn, I didn’t know it would turn out like this.’
Among the guys that only Cha Eun-hyeok could see, there were definitely some who were interested in human food. They savored the rice that the townspeople had left for the ghosts to eat, and even stole side dishes from the restaurant one by one.
But none of them were so blatant in ordering food. Most of them were just imitating everyday life in human form, and they didn’t really try to interact with humans like this.
‘I let my guard down.’
I should have been more careful.
‘That bird doesn’t even seem to like me that much… .’
The bird watching me from deep within the hood of my black cloak was intimidating.
“…Here, there are 10 bungeoppang.”
“thank you.”
The black cloak that received the bungeoppang paused for a moment.
“… … .”
“It’s a gift.”
“yes?”
“Thank you for your hard work this morning.”
“No, wait a minute… .”
Black Cloak continued speaking to Cha Eun-hyeok, who was trying to refuse.
“I’m sorry if I scared you. I came here because it smelled like bungeoppang, but I stopped cleaning up and made a mess again, so I want to apologize and thank you.”
“It’s okay.”
“Thank you.”
He leisurely disappeared, leaving behind one of the blue gems he had just seen.
“… … .”
Cha Eun-hyeok, who had been staring at the black cloak until its back was out of sight, soon collapsed when even the end of the cloak could not be seen.
“…ha ha ha….”
What the fu*k.
Lived.
‘I thought I was going to die.’
From the moment I discovered that I could see things that others could not, I had a feeling that this would be the end. I would die in such a strange way that others would not even be able to guess the cause of death. That was what I had thought.
But even so, I won’t die selling bungeoppang.
“and….”
Cha Eun-hyeok wiped his face with both hands.
“I was so shocked.”
The identity of the black cloak is still unknown.
If others can see it, is it a person? But its essence is too distant and vicious to be that. Then is it the same kind as the ones I usually see? But the communication is too smooth to be that. Humanoid monster? There is no dungeon nearby.
If it’s neither this nor that, then maybe it’s some kind of monster I don’t know about.
“… … .”
And either way it was horrible.
‘Can you survive after meeting a humanoid monster?’
That’s when I thought so.
“Crunch?”
“… … .”
I heard that before.
“Crunch… .”
“… … .”
“Gulp, gurgle, gurgle gurgle gurgle.”
“…uh….”
“Cur.”
When I raised my head, I saw a large beak. I could see a lot of teeth beyond the Adam’s apple. I could see a pitch-black tongue.
“Kung.”
A beak as hard as metal half-swallowed Cha Eun-hyeok’s head.
“… … .”
Knock, knock.
He pretends to bite it a few times and then spits it out.
“Kkurung.”
“… What, what…”
“Kkuk.”
When I regained my sight, ‘Honey’ was the same compact figure I had seen before.
“… … .”
That seemed like such a disgusting, disgusting pretense.
“What the heck?”
The bird flew away.
“What the heck was it…?”
I really don’t know anything, but one thing I know for sure is that I almost died just now.
The bird, sweet as honey in color, seemed to be saying this.
‘This much is okay.’
Said.
“… … .”
It seemed like he was saying, “I passed.”
I got goosebumps.
“… I have to move tomorrow… .”
I hope we never meet again.
* * *
And then at 2pm the next day.
“Do you sell bungeoppang?”
Cha Eun-hyeok met the ghostly black cloak again.
“…yes….”
“Please give me 10.”
“All right.”
What should we do if the world is this small?