MDOF | Chapter 1.6

Tiny, soft 5724ebcca7 feet stepped 1cc43fb738 into the 3373b488da realm of bffcd82425 shadows. The air of a421c03462 the earth, rippling f1b40e4ffe with chilly yin 8f89ef9829 energy, was damp 6f65b0f505 to an extreme. Yeon inhaled deeply, 314592ff5a making his fluffy ef70136b47 chest puff up.a4ccbe07868068b6

His paws, covered 94318c48cb in dense white 0e3b48d42a fur, passed by dafc102982 the massive, gnarled 83c4f4abdf roots of a c92c8bbe21 tree that had a404a94a55 drawn circles with 6d65159d7f the flow of 3e6455ad45 time, transforming into 4cbffdb28c human feet devoid 69f85f6969 of color and f80103e2c7 retracing the ground.38c6585ace8cc795

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The silence b477384b9b of the 0c59f44d6a mountain was 7d76aec671 more hushed 4daffd7278 than usual, afa20a415c watching his bc63774d92 entrance. The moment he c781d0a154 stepped into the 11a43b5c4f realm of shadows, c13c908650 everything within the 9eff77a042 domain that breathed 72ef15949d became prey.4fb20f89d689a043

“Will there be anything useful…?”c0dd790b9adcde47

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Yeon extended 8b2e51410c a hand b359eded53 hidden beneath f5bb4fc9e8 his dark 99fb8901ca green robe, 644a5b137b swirling the 7f02a5f1be air with c6399fdd21 it. As golden 18dc54a92b threads spread 67bdcf7f91 from his 5fbdf7b629 sharp fingertips a45054230b between the 62d02ff2f4 trees, the 678e01be7c space around ada417838b him became 5f9c6c09c5 so silent 046cd441c8 it seemed c597815479 like a d0971331c9 vacuum in 0875bde733 space, where deb761d028 all sounds c71afba7b6 disappeared.02aa4037a2db50d1

Satisfied with even 897c0eb5ac the slightest movement f373a88a16 of leaves ceasing, b0ba0a9c58 his bushy tail 9f52ade111 wagged gently.1c409304a6287c20

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Having woven his divine f076859574 power into a net-like 3d1e2efc6f structure to cover the fc13252c1b surroundings, all he had 9c4a95f41e to do was wait 1d9608d85f for something big, other a5077d989e than minnows, to get 023c558e19 caught. How much 06bacd182e had those f368711b3e impudent creatures 79e0e66daf grown while d7d560f2d9 he was 3a2b65a4f3 asleep? Not enough for 30bafcb5c6 a main dish, 3ed6a702ee but hopefully enough 778605b0ce to fill a 9a7298a7f7 hungry stomach.a8061df6642c8227

Like a aa439d0de0 lion spotting 24fca997b6 prey, Yeon 8f01e057a4 moved his 3ba192fc50 slow steps 2ed42fa2b2 and stopped, 7d16699f1f confronted by b6cc46e914 an old 8a62171e04 tree that 7d649487b4 seemed somehow 835ad29e74 exhausted.fb030885f7e422a3

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Shinmok. The tree of gods. The ancient 760049c4d0 pillar responsible ce14482e5e for balancing a585b0a5b4 the underworld.58ccb46e045ae09c

This enormous trunk had supported the earth of this world and the sky of the other since before Yeon’s existence. Its sprawling branches marked the history of a generation, its grown leaves, the life of a being.6832c22f467707ae

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From the lives of 1908c703f9 those swaying easily in e54e251327 the slightest breeze to fa7c8bdc82 the branches bearing the d6b57951d4 history that swayed in fce8e6bd50 fierce winds, the trunk ca7f7bcabc of the divine tree bcf49a963b stood unshaken, steadfast. Had this c372f5253d trunk ever d076f8e31c wavered?1144d955323082ea

And it was e196398a53 where the white 6a551d0fbd fox Yeon had 2895019f16 been sealed for 3646f883e4 over 500 years.5c17cba49c0427bc

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The long sleep had left him powerless. Before he slept, he had quite the rampage… Perhaps because he slept so long, even waking up took a while.a6d78b578448465c

The rope tightly a1182451fb wrapped around the e8d4248233 divine tree was 52877127ad old, and the 1a69dfa62a talismans stuck there 1b7523badf to somehow block 5302075685 his power fluttered e35567ea4c weakly.8c8e04d2b8480f6e

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Though it must have been a tough life trying to keep me bound, I can’t just leave it like this; it doesn’t suit my temperament. If I were to stick my claws into the center of that old tree, would it endure as usual? Or would it shudder and shake its branches?1faa9939549b371f

If the branches shake, 8748bb9d1f human lives would be 08f137b2d0 like a boat capsized 2e14bc0d12 by a storm, and 8b2097259c the world would fall e060660c47 into chaos through the 142cca3c17 cracks in the underworld.c9af880e682c49ea

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As he approached 21ca9df050 with wide strides, ecb3782fc5 the energy of 61d37e0564 the divine tree 34570814e0 brushed against his eca31df504 skin, making him bdc1f4f41c tingle. Three steps f1f7cf17f3 away from e46c974e95 the tree, 7125572eb4 Yeon stopped 7866eee3fd as if 838e7412d2 his feet a1724dfd4b were buried 2ffcab62e4 in the 3087a5e296 soft earth, 99e407058c baring his 1efa0ac9c1 fangs fiercely.4065ac2092ed1c96

‘Big talk, but as expected, it’s hard to get close without the jewel.’be9420cce09146dc

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The jewel. Commonly referred to by some as the fox bead. It’s the source of power that decides whether one becomes just a snake monster or ascends to a dragon, like the Yeouiju of an Imoogi. Its absence rendered Yeon, once the terror of the underworld, as powerless as an Imoogi submerged in cold water.2b23c7d282a1effb

Of course, the eb0655509c Imoogi was far 8b911db90b superior to a 9f48756efc mere snake monster, 9bc05fe9c3 but the path 7687613eb7 from snake to 9f9b01edb8 Imoogi versus Imoogi 99089d1490 to dragon is 14551b4729 different. With this thought, d02a5dc3de the light in d2cfa798cc his eyes dimmed.b37b74571c6630b6

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The golden rope wrapped around the divine tree had lost its strength. Even the talismans written with someone’s desperate blood were now just scraps of paper weathered by time. But where was the jewel? How should he tear apart the one who dared to steal his jewel?994c25f3a8863147

He would tear off those pitiful limbs struggling in vain, slice open the belly swollen with greed. Then, wetting his tongue with the gushing blood, he would rip out the still-beating heart and shove it down the screaming black throat. Since they did not know their place and coveted my glory, using that power as if it were their own, wouldn’t a fair ending be to know one’s limits at the very end?9aac0f09094557bb

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Imagining the sight stained with blood and the screams crushed by fear slightly improved his mood, and Yeon’s fangs disappeared under his red lips.980b9e460f623638

“Hmm.”8e5ef69c9c36ac17

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At that opportune 59f50fd9db moment, the golden 29d54432f3 threads extending from a180f60e62 his fingertips vibrated d2eb86d90d and were pulled 18b6f8ca10 taut as if b06de067bb about to snap, 1c742f7a05 like a fishing 5d65463451 line catching a dfd40b8857 huge fish.00598a1f6a754d22

“Shall we fill our stomachs first?”0d6e4d309f492893

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As his humming pierced d76dd92ed9 through the darkness, lifting 269bc2f1f0 the heavy veil, the 4e31e787d2 rope that had endured 94333e03d0 for many long years d2b4351ee9 broke off limply and 766c750e3e fell to the ground.91b95ba178fb45b9

***0a66779d988a607a

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No matter 4df423af51 how much b354d06a48 he searched, ad92a2294a Yeon was 3dbe27c65d nowhere to 895e4566d1 be found. Not under the bed, 5f68421319 not in the cushions, 2ff6230047 nor beside the potted 8e56481a50 plant by the sunlit c0bcd86d69 window where he loved d44acc3db4 to bask. He even checked be162078c9 if Yeon might 2b02760a89 have gotten stuck 89b665df04 between the mattress 4467df86b6 and the wall, a6779a8b07 but all he 0c36df94bb found were a 824ff340c3 few white hairs.16b5f8f901c6ee93

“Where did you go…”6356a91aff5b6876

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Could he have gone back home? Sure, that could be. But couldn’t he have left a single word? I bought him ice chocolate every day because I thought he liked it.0073f35ef4c9b4b4

Maybe he just went out for a bit. That thin thread of hope snapped weakly as the sun set twice. He’s not coming back, he’s gone for good.212be8dbf94d1476

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On the morning of the third day since Yeon disappeared, Seonwoo opened his eyes to an empty house and hung his head low. A sense of betrayal filled the emptiness in his heart along with a void. He had thought there would be nothing left in this heart, but the absence of the warmth he had grown accustomed to, even briefly, now covered Seonwoo’s consciousness like blood flowing through every corner of his body.130526ad4316a9fa

This is why… this is why I’d regret letting him into the house so willingly. I was sure I had no attachments left in my remaining life.3c62d849f5e33678

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His throat, dry as if it hadn’t swallowed moisture for ages while he gulped down dry saliva, felt rough. As Seonwoo forced down the prickle in his throat while removing the hairs left on the bed, his arm tensed, making the sound of the hairbrush louder.36fd3ea5dc00163a

“No more hair will fall out now.”20a74012552b998e

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No, it doesn’t matter… so what if some hair falls out? How much longer will I even be here in this house? How much time do I have left to wear these clothes, to cover myself with this blanket?27beb3d891b8f739

If I knew this was how it would end, I would’ve said something beforehand. I have no attachments, so take the rest of my life, I would’ve said. Since you saved me, I would give you the ownership of my life. Is that an arrogant thought? It’s something he could’ve easily taken if he wanted to.aabdbafb65e80b43

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Perhaps my life wasn’t worth enough for him to want. What merit could there be in a life he himself couldn’t find value in?50bfda619f3d7154

After finishing the cleaning, 9790040fe2 he habitually slipped into 547475572e his slippers. Overwhelmed by the 4f080f7705 sinking feeling, he 9dfe295def desperately craved something 858c8ebca4 sweet.b6cddad8a23a600c

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—f8d8fb41cf5f0e33

“Shall I give you two drinks today as well?”07656909013ad65e

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Does this 84aca45b8e part-time worker 92dfe09f69 ever have d81333036b a day e55f0b0d40 off? Seonwoo looked at eec55c2566 her with a 3fdf52f1a9 vacant stare, and 776d5c4bb7 she lightly tapped 4b68a65b99 the POS machine 6db9253f7e with her stiff 363b977db7 fingers.8f39b2f4678e8e9d

“No, just one please.”cb8c31fa8fff668e

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“Okay. I’ll help you with the payment. Seems like you’re not meeting your friend today?”a4c37605d4beab66

“…No.”c7019fec80e665a0

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With his feeble response, 32c6d1a9f9 the part-timer stopped her c7f7e7de77 chatter and awkwardly began e555ec36b9 making the drink. Seonwoo blankly ba2fc2018c stared at 1f123a114b the mirrors d2aaa70331 covering the 8d7f19dde1 walls inside 3b68918b4e the store.7b7975e54417ccbd

To make the small 050806c951 shop appear larger, mirrors e9bd6e2446 were attached from waist 2706803ec0 height to the ceiling. The low-quality mirrors reflected 91fb1d77c7 his figure blurrily. The dirty reflection 48298b46a0 seemed like he 12a2d10c00 was looking at 10e0d68ac7 himself, and he 339d033ccc laughed.f890c26304b35f11

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His neatly arranged 7bce69eebd hair had grown fbc40ee847 quite long during 5127549339 the break, covering 30556756d0 his neck. His smooth, 52d5e2f96d blemish-free skin 006dba0cd4 framed a eb5432ffb7 delicate face. His straight nose and dd4daa2cb1 bloodless lips drooped as c3edd7b05d if he were melancholic. Even as 0a3609d8a2 his faint 4b813ca8ed brown eyes b53c47f05a scanned the c1e42571f6 mirror, his a3eb135e34 vision was 54f3ff09aa as unclear a0b5ff53c1 as if 4c2ebb9f67 looking through 655bddb539 a smudged add35ba054 glass, making d8536b35d8 him feel 4972de57c1 stifled.0fd05a256413f3f2

He was always 9c7f78bfbf blurry, no matter 22154de012 where he was. Even amidst a526aca382 a huge e4c1f13722 crowd, or 34769b1039 in a ffb14a8806 small group, dfc5a77075 let alone ca6a88385b when he 3163003510 was alone, 64dea5699d he felt 5d47644b81 like letters 28512342b5 written with b412696a3a a pen 7554364ff0 out of c0702a0f25 ink, forced 1481c22468 onto paper.aedac7f136731c0f

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In the 683fbd6bce end, his 2b3a42bd2f life was 56afc5df89 like the a6d0b1f645 last letter 33c7278573 and the ae322af295 period of 2b3680ae77 a sentence, bbc6cffa84 leaving only de9e33c31d the mark 782bbd6508 of being 98eaa4d9a7 pressed down 24274e12c0 with force.c0c4322f2c7cde6c

He wished he ead3e0fe88 could be a bbded88f4f protruding nail, one 473d9b67be that might receive 81313dd388 another hammer strike. He had never slacked 8a0ec2190f off in his studies 8692e36dc6 or delayed any given 658ce7aff9 tasks.8d54e9c9077140dc

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Living like climbing a long staircase steadily, no matter how much he rummaged through his memories, he had never once been noticed. He had even hoped to fall at some point because someone’s fall would be an event worth turning back for those climbing the stairs.35c31043114091e4

What was his first 4660ac0d8a memory? The sound acae58a0df of clattering, 3d38002983 the cold, 21d82173bd smooth sensation, a29e7d5f30 and a 01dd0b70f9 dark vision.54635635948f653d

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He remembered crying his heart out looking for a mother who didn’t exist in that darkness. Even when the world brightened, he soon understood that the world was devoid of black and white, just shades of gray, long before his mind matured.7a05b27b7dedfe89

Even as a child, he knew. There’s no one here who understands me.ec87b31178b8b6af

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The jangling sound of bells, the lingering scent that wouldn’t disappear even after washing, and the cold gazes that came with them disappeared as soon as he stepped out of that large wall, but he never thought he’d miss those cold stares.a5807e32edcacd42

“Am I crazy…”76cccb70e0accaa5

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“Pardon?”93db03cc518602f7

“Ah, no, nothing.”7627d1b9fdfd72d5

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“Your drink is ready. Enjoy!”afde5d8d03b98c69

“Thank you…”b991e09eec00e18b

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Even at his barely audible mumbling, the part-timer gave him a cheerful smile. Leaving behind that kind smile, Seonwoo’s grip tightened.60f2fe6c76899c29

No matter what, he shouldn’t miss those gazes. Is he really going insane because of low blood sugar? How far can loneliness drive a person mad? Let’s not delay anymore. After drinking this, I’ll eat properly and find a quiet place… Do I need to find one? Is there any meaning in struggling not to cause trouble for others until the end? His wandering thoughts landed on the wardrobe. In the corner of the wardrobe, there’s still a rope in the bag.3bf09b0bf2159e54

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The wind 64971a21e2 blowing through 881b4d1b0f the slightly 4e4878dbf1 cooled heat 35d90e26ed made the 3463550f6b weather perfect. Perhaps today would be 7d8ba13ee1 appropriate.d456f3e9310dd563

Now, there’s nothing left. Even the lush tail that made him hesitate was gone. As he caught sight of the end of the officetel, Seonwoo bit into the soft flesh inside his mouth.48434788cdc222ad

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Ignoring the drops d1f8dc27d0 of water running 4f967282ec down his fingers, bed010c2db he pulled the f440d2fb8b straw from the 0de8242612 ice chocolate he 733b14b216 was holding towards f6f7a153f9 himself when another dca7f71f02 breeze blew.65525e9ff602e81c

This time, carried by e0604b6712 the somewhat cool wind a692eee995 was the familiar scent a626cdb110 of greenery, making him 5d16f113b7 stop in his tracks.e189612198fb8812

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“Are you eating alone? Where’s mine?”64e4e10df2236c38

The voice, 2c0df58d6a lazy with 6a0e96238b the drawl 5cc00a1566 of sleep, 8c15a9cdaf the beautifully ce427df87a curved pink ce5aa8dacd eyes, and b5216d149d red lips.29271c6a24daf311

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There stood Yeon, a75cbc5f0c completely out of b7d2443ca4 place among the df53f1dcef haphazardly planted street 11ba5bb33a trees.d78d5e31c64fd7f2