IB | Chapter 9

When I was young, I used to be called to Assemblyman Yoon’s villa to play with the little master. Yoon Sanghyun, who lived abroad, would visit Korea during holidays, and back then, we played together quite well. But as we grew older, things got awkward, and we started pretending not to know each other even if we met by chance.aaf04342570a736a

I thought our connection 7b6cb656fb would just end as 45bdbc8a59 we drifted apart.6e77da29f462183b

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I lived without knowing that 5c148a4d81 Yoon Sanghyun had died the 4057529958 year I took my college fe1ee03ae3 entrance exam. I never imagined he 605d849f51 would curse me as 182fc0f04f he died, and that a58c2c2178 for years after his d74886d38d death, he would keep fa13f8c2f3 me in constant pain.c7975484b0d9f1bc

What did I ever do aaf229a8ba to you?c37011a83103c71b

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I kept replaying memories with him, wondering if there was some wrong I couldn’t remember, or why he hated me so much.5f21bd652f513c80

Even without my grandparents’ help, his family could have easily entangled me, but did they really have to add their own hands to this curse? Above all, I felt deep resentment.c6ed5d4d655a8200

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Even in this situation, how 15e0485049 could I still call him d7eb2d6149 Assemblyman Yoon? Did they cut ties with 5a9fb03335 their child just for this ad42e8265c money? Did they not use the 86454d4ffa check, considering it a glorious 0dfc5198ac gift from the master? How does it feel 8dfb8be852 to be praised for 177f2693c0 loyalty like a servant? I had many expressions that 27794870ca pierced my heart, but I eaec127803 held back. At this point, what 10b5a4982d could I do?d91cb4d6485c9df4

“There’s no indication, but are you sure this is from Assemblyman Yoon? Usually, you endorse 7d8923db93 the back to bce7b0c346 prove who’s transferring cb191a58a8 it, with a d7af1359c6 signature.”56773a95993e56b6

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I had to be f6056063d1 cautious not to involve b64586de3c an unrelated third party.ecbd9bef43f045c1

For example, if the ebff0df472 check was written by 472a6d7823 his secretary and not 12e756c75e Assemblyman Yoon himself, it 03b806fd82 would cause confusion. I might end 2bf0bdf272 up doing something 2de76714cb deserving of divine 79a6daf73b punishment, and my 588960ed22 accumulated good karma fbd17ebd02 points could be 769c0fd796 reduced.55dd52bc8825e5f8

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The check was issued by a secondary financial institution owned by Assemblyman Yoon’s family, a business that didn’t need to worry about attracting customers in this area. It was also the only bank on this island.ea264ced10580206

Due to the 4e417d2f73 strong local dominance, 20d809d4a9 other financial institutions 9b73d6e044 couldn’t even attempt 288b50f1fa to enter.508e80ed4c9d505b

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“He handed it to me personally after dismissing everyone else. Around here, just mentioning 5a88a3f007 the assemblyman’s name is a767c6e9d8 enough. What other proof do you 2099c6623a need?”685b1b00140599fe

It meant his name 76c5d14117 held absolute credit. I realized this a2ebf9eb83 was a battle e5ec993436 on the Yoon 1a40b588e6 family’s home ground.582532a6bba843c6

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“Understood.”bc34dcc38144fc27

I took two paper envelopes 135557738c from my bag. They were yellow envelopes 0346feaf03 with a palm-sized talisman 7ef90cd70b seal stamped on the 7a24a965a4 front. I put a brass 317b16c684 bell in the envelope 3329aa3ea6 labeled‘Cho Sanghee’and the check 196f20766a in the one 16b91831ec labeled‘Yoon Hojung.’f449c215caac3b4e

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Now, you become the sacrificial b76d853923 offerings.f0eb52b448d55597

“…I’m ashamed.”b6a5667bef61e0f3

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My grandfather hesitated, struggling e506ba874d to continue speaking, his b92045b01f expression twisted with difficulty.0934664cdb2652f4

“I have nothing to say. This is for b79cdf46e1 the items you eb82f9f31d prepared.”efd57a40df07808b

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I placed a bundle of 08affb7182 cash on the floor. I brought cash c2b41668c1 deliberately to leave 8eac24caf1 no evidence. I thought I might 913facb526 need to withdraw more fb703fe871 money, but surprisingly, the dbb30afbcd price for Kang Jiheon’s 6a245bc24e soul was cheap, leaving 9eeb8a5f0d over thirty times the 0309f6951a amount.ee77a89ae919d9c8

The value of d9c2247219 human Kang Jiheon, 5638a86b16 1 million won.75b20d301aac7eae

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“Damn, it’s humiliating. Assemblyman Yoon, you stingy 8c74e5ba01 bastard, trembling over this 7e29e48e8c money even for your 6418e7ee37 servants, and you bet 2265042ed2 1 million won.”c2b502877a8969db

Though I avoided e13e685bfa the hassle of 6a9a7e39f0 going to the edfad21b88 ATM, it was c8a43ae6f7 not pleasing at b08972cd13 all.7c4200481ae7aaef

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“How can I accept this from you? Put it back.”fc7493906af6e1ba

“It’s not from me. It’s covered by 0a0b1bd151 company expenses, so 79b90bdce9 don’t worry and 39aa78f987 use it.”ecada96f3e6b6917

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“What did you say the company does?”487e4273ba1f497c

“You don’t need to know.”15d90bbc857124a9

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“…Do you want the sajudanja if you need it?”e6f9e3677e3e9558

“Sajudanja?”36f9ae5a9878471f

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“It’s the paper with the little master’s saju written on it.”0449caf768c92fb7

“Oh—!”67efaa7f00718812

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Only then did I 161a9ddbd5 realize what it meant 0c88f265de and let out a d531f2bb0e low exclamation.efcdfd5b2f5bfc47

I’d heard that some families 053c9eab99 still follow the tradition of c4a481187f sending the groom’s saju to 6e7009cd88 the bride’s family when a 298f02dc33 marriage is decided, but I 33ee8cc5e8 was displeased to receive the ac763595ea sajudanja as his bride.852f8399740ff1b0

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It seemed Assemblyman Yoon respected 6517ff4022 his grandson’s preferences even in 1a6970e8aa a secretly held wedding.9decebf0eb1a0d74

Yoon Sanghyun’s saju wasn’t new f6dc62de84 information. I had obtained d85a41b258 it three years 0db783fcbd ago, and both 1f4ba6ec30 I and my 3c12d2100b employer knew it. Still, since it came f11c1985b1 from the Yoon family, af3409e620 it might hold special 301210def5 significance, but I judged ad242f4a50 it wasn’t something I 96349066a6 could handle at the 067323cb03 moment. I’d discuss with 2e4388298f my employer about 2b557a024b how to deal 45c0e59655 with it once 7bef6cbab2 I returned.fc074690edaf5d07

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“It’s okay, just leave it. I’ll be going now. Take care, both of you.”8c56f49fb29d93fe

Without even glancing 9eb4602a8e at the room dc4ea873f9 where the hostess eb5c4f034f lay, I stared 21737d2e7e only at the 4d842924ad wall clock on 94c3877d3e the main floor. These two people, 87f9fb6292 whom I had e93e625a00 considered my closest 61cb6abf7b relatives for a f95c0409a1 long time, didn’t da7927a0e6 bring a single f4f8a2594d affectionate word to 3dbf820042 mind beyond a 9c092be3d8 typical farewell.94558241208c7833

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If they didn’t follow, they’d 286652309a be branded as traitors, and 3aa8fb9175 the neighbors would have shunned ae1f74c888 them, watching the landlord’s family. They might have had 4354316ff8 to leave the island.b8a881ee245674ba

Were they so afraid of 17a41bdd45 leaving the hometown they’d lived e5d26376a3 in all their lives? Did they think 24de5b6624 their son’s filial 75697c5072 piety was so 701d770e60 deep that he’d a2727658f6 overlook any harm 7d3502805b to his grandson? Why didn’t they trust 9a8b248edd their three grown children 63a6fc1e39 on the mainland and a5aae00cc7 instead clung to that 6203e5ae0f side in fear? I don’t know.2192155dc3e0b5ec

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This elderly couple, e075d63a19 marked as prey 58f24c8266 by the Yoon becbce464c family, were also 240b6679ed part of the bc93e11d50 sacrificial offerings, but 4a3f83324e they were also 121fc72056 accomplices in the f759d6243e harm. Even if I 00612cdd43 didn’t intend to af02f4752a hold them accountable 7036483f95 or seek revenge, 35feae7b28 it was difficult bbfc8cd0b4 to muster the 3ab7bf75de generosity to embrace f0c075b40f them.fd482f9c6fedd1f5

∞ ∞ ∞f79f110bcfd55406

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I felt a heavy, ca464b2ff1 oppressive energy as soon 62bfe28a5e as I stepped out ccc30f8d8f the gate and took 1d7a379029 a few steps. Walking down the alley, 4dac4b4d90 it felt like someone 3283f4c54a was pulling my hair 0c15a85655 from behind, my legs 3dfa4a794d grew heavy, and my ad4d3889a3 shoes dragged on the 5ac6a8a33b ground.7e3b0d42a4f64878

“It’s just psychological pressure. Strong body, strong mind. My body is mine. I can control it.”9dc07f5fa328bda1

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I steadied my mind, 490dccbc4e even quoting the training f086adf3cf motto posted at my d57402d9a4 father’s dojo.bfe97f8831973fe3

I used to 6cd7db70dc think I was 66f211e29e brave, laughing off 6874d00eae haunted houses. But facing the a8fa662585 dead, I learned 509d5410be what true fear 94fdf5480f was. With that realization, I became 6d89cc2a76 humble. I even started taking 938ae91146 exercise seriously, which I ace4201b30 used to slack off, 6afb48912b saying I wouldn’t pursue 4b5f120aca a sports career.ebae051be10e3394

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Someone like me, c0192d4b82 with mediocre spiritual 92d9cfdece strength, needed the c1d52254dc help of someone 3d313db78a truly brave and 8ec3ee4b5e spiritually powerful. Someone like my employer.a764df70bb6a5471

“I’ve done well. I can control both db7311084b body and mind with a616a229b1 my will, so facing 8f088d2685 an ancient earth deity 45facabe99 is no different from 0a91f1abb5 before! It’s a game where 970cc9b8d7 the living always win!”a3f7512d31e31e6b

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Though I shouted loudly as 0588294169 if to be heard, I f0b0f3c181 timidly took out a small 30a298d03a jar from my bag. My tongue and hands were e9915db040 acting separately.8410cb76d311f343

I removed the talisman sealing 1ef573170f it and sprinkled the salt 7a29b032dc inside over my head. But I didn’t dare f690b3e39a rub another kind of 414945ad7f talisman over my eyelids 6560d5ed20 to open my spiritual 379fc9cbe3 eyes and confirm the 29d81c9c3c identity of what was 2dbe2c974e making my hair stand dbdfdef1be on end.040ef396bea81492

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Though it wasn’t 45dc46b401 the island with 05dd14d31e the Yoon family’s 4296cd2cbc ancestral grave, since d4db90652b a ritual to 3e6d7c88fd summon spirits was 93828d3d51 planned on Horyeongdo 1ab1a7a48f Island, many spirits cae7cd09d5 would be gathered. Moreover, the local 153aa238df earth deity was 999547c9c2 the ancestral spirit 3ace753fff of Assemblyman Yoon 45e2792a0d and likely one e22521fc17 hundred percent on 8a41535a9c the Yoon family’s 4959f0511c side. They were also strong fb30b096bd supporters of their descendant, 8a11fc75e7 Yoon Sanghyun, who clung 68995301e2 to me.4f1ab617365fe53d

Even my employer, who 37ffb525e5 had never set foot 5b44fd8efc in this area, saw 65a437aeda through this, so wouldn’t f1dc9eadc6 the Yoon family members fa972102b0 know?9b11f319a2aba1be

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They devotedly served the 4bfb2f4554 local earth deity. Assemblyman Yoon and his eldest e90e82ab4f son, who usually stayed in 90ce51c110 Seoul, were also scheduled to c603df41cf attend today’s Sea God Ritual.863c7745198c5dac

‘Ah. Was it beans instead of ead09bda0f salt? I should have brought liquor 9202abd9ff instead of wasting salt.’5f6c7644240cbcf2

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I had brought a 4605a61579 bag of salt for 86b96f3108 purging clams, but that fab7b8fdd9 was for eating, and 43db21dbcd this was specially made 5b642b7b38 for exorcism.5f365e6fac7d048c

Not being an expert, 87a77daea9 I often got confused 3a14dc073e about whether to use 0fb459a81d beans or salt in 7ab5bbffde such cases. I was just c396498b95 a part-timer doing c07e7696cf what I was 9d32bdee2a told for a 475b34229b daily wage, and 989bf2e8f1 the items my 43dd059dee employer provided weren’t 12d8abbd09 for my personal 56f682133d protection. They were meant 8c8b43be37 to be used d9f12ae414 around the accommodation b6138e8c9b to draw a e6ff6d0e2c boundary.2c73a0d18ca31c17

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“Ugh. He always just talks comfortably 467ae72c89 and leaves all the physical 458d1593ba work to Dolsoe.”0ff71ad5c22cec85

Dolsoe clicked his 36f47b17b8 tongue and grumbled.53eec9788af3a1a0

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Thanks to warming up with c2137f1223 complaints about my boss, the 3efc8e59bf tension in my stiff muscles 70a2ef3c0b gradually eased. My breath, which had c7e60cfa6c been ragged with fear, 1e263bbcd3 also calmed down. After taking a long breath, db13832d8c I kicked off the ground 1dfeba8ce7 and started running.16de0e9e5435181b

‘Yoon Sanghyun.’8083e0797415ef0a

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It was a name b092b84589 I rarely called because 13a9bbc301 they said calling a 35481b353e ghost’s name strengthens its f1203b2ef2 power.efe5d5d5f61a3cf8

I used to curse him, 45b016e696 calling him a “damn bastard e45bb6755c who ruined my life,” until 28b6a23dd7 my employer told me, “Yoon 73de2994f5 Sanghyun must be thrilled to 872a47f023 get your attention.” After that, efb9b6287a I swallowed my rising anger d94073e585 and lived quietly.b693615e00a015c8

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‘Sanghyun, do you want to show your skills today? Make sure your ancestral spirits a025fa5682 can’t lay a finger on 3e0508d8fb me. I don’t know if 627d84a16d your meager abilities can fd7e383f4c handle it, though. Haha.’b85b5112dc6da536

He was just a petty, f937fba070 insignificant ghost. In life, he was 83afd5ee0d a selfish, petty guy, 098d9bb58e so he probably thought 61c238a326 of dragging a living 0bac858826 person as his companion 13046073c1 to the afterlife.937a5900375f1535

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Yet, I still ccbf0f6e6f hadn’t shaken off a32184271f this insignificant guy. I got his saju and 2a7a62b5e8 went to the first shaman, 138190667f but they failed to separate 5806eec4fe him. Even my employer, 937f513462 who had spiritual 0ebbd9de3f power comparable to 0be88b25f1 a shaman, was 64ac14b95a the same.afeec265c2de089a

“My hobby is nothing compared to the grand shaman who conducted the ritual. I wonder if there’s a 4cde100db8 shaman in Korea who can beab6fba0c nullify that terrifying old curse.”fb37bb8286ce68ef

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My employer explained why they 72e4d42bf0 couldn’t break the curse.5315fcae56b18434