SMFC | Chapter 18

It was a strange feeling. Suppressing a laugh, Lee Soo cautiously glanced around before speaking as if seeking confirmation.

“Um, let’s make it a pinky promise.”

It was a declarative statement, but it felt like a question. Lee Soo, who always made sure to speak before taking someone’s hand, was endearingly careful—cute, even? Yoo Haeon was startled by his own thoughts, his eyes widening as he felt Lee Soo’s fingers gently curl around his.

If his heart and mind were properly connected, then it was correct to think Lee Soo was adorable, and his mind agreed.

He was crazy. Definitely crazy.

Revisiting this thought multiple times, Yoo Haeon slowly shook the fingers that Lee Soo held firmly. Everything was moving as he intended, yet something felt awkward.

“We’ve made a promise.”

Yoo Haeon had been staring at Lee Soo as if spellbound before the brief exchange, and then he nodded hurriedly in visible surprise.

Lee Soo was lying comfortably in bed. While his peaceful exterior, basking in sunlight, reminded one of a sunbathing fox, his mind was in turmoil.

Inside, it was like a group of mini-Lee Soos were arguing heatedly. Mini Lee Soo 1 would jump up to shout something, only for Mini Lee Soo 2 to sarcastically counter him. As they almost came to blows, Mini Lee Soos 3 and 4 would each grab someone to break it up. It felt like there were a hundred Lee Soos inside him.

He was one person, yet his thoughts fragmented into dozens, making Lee Soo sigh. He pondered why Yoo Haeon insisted on using his own life energy for treatments that could be powered by surrounding life forces. For some reason, Ryu Leesoo’s body rejected all life forces except for Yoo Haeon’s. Yoo Haeon was adamant that he had to use his own life force, and he intended to use quite a bit of it.

Yoo Haeon confidently claimed he could extend something by six months, which seemed like a good solution that wouldn’t harm him—until he audaciously proposed cutting his life force in half, which was both amusing and not. Considering Yoo Haeon, Lee Soo abruptly stopped laughing and pursed his lips in displeasure.

Having suggested a method that strained his own body, Yoo Haeon seemed to have asked Lee Soo about it several times internally. And each time, the imaginary Lee Soo in his mind had apparently agreed, because Yoo Haeon showed no hesitation.

Honestly, if it were anyone but Yoo Haeon, Lee Soo would have readily agreed too. But it was Yoo Haeon, someone he desperately wanted to keep alive. He didn’t want to reduce such a person’s life force by half.

After repeatedly saying no, Yoo Haeon left only a piece of paper with his phone number on it and avoided Lee Soo. He seemed determined not to show even a strand of hair until Lee Soo agreed.

The neatly written eleven digits on the paper were memorized so well by Lee Soo that he could recite them without looking. Regrettably, he had also memorized the almost threatening sentence written below it. He groaned helplessly as the sentence came to mind without needing to look at the note.

Uncomfortably cradling his body, Lee Soo mumbled, and the floating spirits around him approached. They’d been singing out of boredom, and now their only task seemed to be nagging Lee Soo.

[Jin: Foolish Lee Soo.]

[Joo: Right, he’s a fool.]

[Jin: Such a fool, such a fool.]

[Joo: I was once human too, but… Lee Soo’s thoughts are hard to understand.]

As the spirits sang their playful banter, Lee Soo bit his lip then let go. “Someone’s saying it’s okay for them to cut their life in half for me.” His voice was gloomy yet tinged with a thrill, causing the spirits to scoff.

[Jin: Lee Soo, you fool.]

[Yoo: The fool isn’t far, but right here in front of us.]

[On: Healer, remember. A healer’s life energy recovers quickly. Half in a week? I’d stake my bones on it.]

Though there were no bones left to stake, Lee Soo grumbled and curled up even more. His already small frame seemed to shrink instantly. Known for his flexibility, he folded as neatly as origami, though this brought him no comfort.

Lee Soo touched his eyes several times before uncurling his body. A spirit floated near, shyly settling on his lips.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

Calling the softly glowing brown spirit by name, Mu blinked as if affirming.

[Mu: That healer, Haeon. Do you like him?]

“Me? Yes, I like him.”

Lee Soo’s straightforward answer prompted Mu to continue.

[Mu: If you like him… Try listening to what he wants for once. Haeon is doing this because he likes you too. On is right, a healer’s life force will replenish in a week. If it seems it will take longer, we can pull up life energy. We’re responsible for your thread looking like this… We can at least do this much.]

Listening to the slowly unfolding words, Lee Soo’s eyes sparkled. He was surprised to hear the spirits think this way, but more so, it was fascinating to hear another—though a spirit—say that Haeon’s actions were out of affection for him.

Watching Lee Soo’s nuanced expression, Mu quickly changed her appearance from a glowing orb to that of a human.

Her hair flowed down to her waist, and she hovered above Lee Soo, looking like a young woman fresh from a historical drama set with her long, braided hair.

“Why are you in your true form today?”

Lee Soo reached out to touch Mu’s hair, feeling something faintly tangible at his fingertips, a curious sensation of something between existence and void. He didn’t lower his hand, fascinated by the experience.

Mu, not minding the touch, illuminated her transparent hand with light, creating a peculiar sight as the light passed right through.

After a glance at her transparent skin, Lee Soo relaxed and watched Mu adjust her robe in mid-air. Except for a large burn mark from her neck to just below her chin, there was nothing particularly striking about her.

As Mu fiddled with her robe tie, she spoke quietly.

[Mu: You can tell when you live long enough. You can see how someone feels about another. Haeon likes you, Lee Soo.]

Her voice, quiet as if lamenting, carried a lingering sorrow that seemed inevitable for someone deceased. Cold yet warm, like snow under sunlight, Lee Soo closed his eyes.

“I like him too, so I can’t give up.”

[Mu: I understand. But sometimes, giving up because you care is also part of living.]

Lee Soo exhaled as if sighing, his laugh soft and wobbly. If it had been a living person saying it, he might have dismissed it. But coming from someone already gone, he couldn’t just ignore it.

Knowing what Lee Soo was thinking, Mu smiled beautifully but maturely. Habitually tracing her neck with her finger, Mu spoke a bit sternly.

[Mu: Ahem, I’ve lived several centuries longer than you, Lee Soo. Just listen this once. I usually let you do as you wish, don’t I?]

Lee Soo chuckled awkwardly, reminded that although Mu looked young now, she was actually a woman who had seen her grandchildren grow up. Like all spirits, Mu appeared as she did at the peak of her life and seemed disinclined to change her stance.

Knowing Lee Soo’s heart was complex, Mu didn’t press further. Instead, she sat beside him and hummed a tune, patting his stomach.

Initially, the other spirits giggled at the scene, but soon they gathered one by one, humming along. To an ordinary person, this scene would seem bizarre enough to prevent sleep, but Lee Soo laughed and drifted off to a peaceful slumber.

Watching his breathing slow, Mu turned slightly to address the other spirits. She gestured for them to focus, signaling she had something important to say.

[Mu: Lee Soo has… lost the token of promise and with it, the ability to start everything. The absence of the token complicates things since it’s needed to begin. But he isn’t one to just watch. He’ll give it back eventually. It might be okay to leave things as they are for now… What do you think? Speak up.]

The spirits, used to Mu’s authority, reverted to their true forms, chattering in response.

[Yoo: Perhaps it’s better to retrieve it before giving it back. If the token is missing, Lee Soo’s soul might lose its way.]