TGHD Ch 8

Garim’s phone call had an impressive effect.

Although it was made in the early hours of the morning, she received a promise that they would arrive before noon. Despite being far from Hyojomyeon, it seemed they were driving over immediately.

The person Garim spoke with was Kwon Namil, the only son of the Kwon couple. While it was unfortunate that the couple couldn’t be summoned as they were overseas, Ryubeom decided to make the most of the opportunity. With the exorcism ceremony scheduled to begin at midnight the next day, they needed to find clues as soon as possible.

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From an hour before the meeting with Kwon Namil, Ryubeom busied himself with preparations. He pulled out items from the large bag he had brought from the family, items that would be useful for the task at hand. He wrapped a string engraved with spells around his arm and covered it with a sturdy arm guard to conceal the magical energy from the evil spirits.

Yeohwi watched Ryubeom’s preparations with curiosity.

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“What are all these?”

“They are pre-prepared charms. I’m actually not very good with spells…”

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Ryubeom had never passed the regular spell tests in the tiger family. He couldn’t handle spiritual energy properly, and the elders often clicked their tongues, saying he lacked spiritual power from the start. Even his cousins mocked him for his clumsy use of spells. Nevertheless, Ryubeom had brought various items from the family, collected over time during his activities despite not receiving any support for the current mission.

“If an urgent situation arises, I can use these without needing to set up a spell array. I just need to infuse them with spiritual energy. They used to be in the form of talismans, but our family modified them to be more versatile.”

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Ryubeom’s tone carried a subtle pride. Despite the oppression he faced within the family, he thought the tiger family and the tiger species were remarkable. This belief was partly due to the family’s education, but more so because of the stories his mother told him during his childhood.

Although he was an inadequate tiger, these items, created by his family, enabled him to step forward as a tiger beastkin.

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“The head of the family researched and developed these, and they were distributed to other beastkin families too.”

Ryubeom, who had been speaking excitedly, suddenly realized Yeohwi had been silent. Yeohwi was staring at the items spread on the ground, and after a while, he looked up at Ryubeom with a smile, a picturesque yet somewhat unfamiliar smile.

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“There are quite a variety of items.”

“Ah, yes. Would you like to take one for safety? If you wear this…”

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“No, thank you. I have this bracelet.”

Ryubeom awkwardly offered a ring, but Yeohwi smoothly declined, saying that the young master’s safety was most important. Seeing Yeohwi’s usual smile, Ryubeom dismissed the strange feeling he had earlier. He was surprised at how accustomed he had become to Yeohwi’s kindness, despite initially deciding not to grow used to it.

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Suppressing his fluttering emotions, Ryubeom finished his preparations. Just then, Garim called to say Kwon Namil was about to arrive.

The meeting place was a pavilion a bit distant from the white two-story house under the mountain. It was deemed too dangerous to take him directly to the haunted site.

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Walking through the alley, Ryubeom looked up at the sky. The sky was overcast with heavy clouds, devoid of sunlight, and the moisture-laden air pressed down heavily, creating an ominous atmosphere.

The presence of malevolent spirits seemed to fill the air, warning them not to do anything foolish now that they knew of the shaman’s presence. Moving in such conditions was risky, as the malevolent energy was stronger on rainy days, but there was no other opportunity. Ryubeom steeled his resolve and continued.

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Soon, he met Garim.

“Young master, young master! I heard more from my dad!”

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She ran towards Ryubeom, barely giving him a chance to greet her. She was so shocked by the information about the new beastkin lady she had heard from Ryubeom at dawn that she had a serious talk with her father and had new information to share.

“At first, they said there were no casualties in the villa fire.”

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“Yes, but you can speak slowly…”

“It’s too shocking. Anyway, at the time, Mrs. Nakyeong didn’t know her daughter had died in the villa. She thought the inexperienced child had gone missing in her bird form.”

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Garim caught her breath, but her voice remained fast due to her excitement.

“At that time, Mrs. Nakyeong went around the village asking everyone to help find her daughter. When it was revealed that the child had died in the fire, the wealthy couple were very sympathetic and gave her compensation money.”

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“Compensation?”

“Yes. They said the bird had accidentally knocked over a gas cylinder, causing the fire in the villa, but they didn’t blame her at all. They even gave her a few days off and sent her on a trip to relax.”

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Ryubeom’s expression grew more complex, but he continued to listen attentively. Garim, sensing his similar feelings, met his gaze.

“And a few days later, Mr. Kwon held a memorial service for the dead child. Mrs. Nakyeong attended and thanked them, but after that, she suddenly started acting strange.”

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“Acting strange? How?”

“Well, she started screaming and tearing down the shaman’s charms hanging on trees near the villa and even set fires there.”

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“Why did she suddenly do that?”

“I don’t know. Some villagers said she was possessed by a ghost after the memorial service, but my dad was too busy at the time to know the details. He just remembers that suddenly there was no more news about her…”

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Garim made a serious face as she concluded her story.

“Isn’t it strange? For a while, there was such an uproar, but suddenly there’s no news about her, and no one questioned it.”

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“What was the Kwon family’s reaction after that?”

Yeohwi, who had been silently listening, asked the question, and Garim sighed.

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“They left the village around that time. Both the head of the village and the residents were very disappointed, but due to the chaos of the events, they didn’t try to stop them. Ah, maybe the villagers’ focus on that incident led them to forget about her naturally…”

Garim’s suspicions seemed to dissolve as she let out a bitter laugh.

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However, Ryubeom did not readily agree or disagree. Instead, he calmly reflected on the story she had just told him. Considering it was about events from over ten years ago, the details might not be precise, and other incidents could have been mixed in.

“Thank you for finding out and sharing this information. I think it will be very helpful.”

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“Oh no, it’s nothing. I was curious too, so I looked into it.”

When Ryubeom bowed his head to express his gratitude, Garim was startled and waved her hands. Then, as if there was only one thing she wanted in return, she clasped her hands together and spoke earnestly.

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“Just keep your promise. Please.”

Promise. It was what Garim had repeatedly asked of him since early this morning. As Ryubeom nodded, the sound of an engine roared. It was a car exhaust sound rarely heard in Hyojomyeon. Ryubeom’s eyes turned to the source of the sound.

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A bright red sports car smoothly emerged from the narrow alley.

A man got out of the car, which had stopped in front of the pavilion. He looked around Hyojomyeon and clicked his tongue as if in disdain.

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“This place hasn’t changed at all. It’s just like it was in the old days.”

Kwon Namil, the only son of the Kwon family, had finally arrived.

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Even in a hurry, it seemed he had taken the time to style his hair, and the numerous piercings in his ears stood out. Despite the dark, overcast sky, his ears glinted. He had sharp, slanted eyes and raised his eyebrows when he spotted the three people in front of the pavilion. His overall demeanor was arrogant, with the habits of someone who had lived a privileged life.

He matched Garim’s previous description of a ‘nasty young master’ perfectly.

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However, even such a young master hesitated for a moment upon seeing Yeohwi, who glanced at him and then asked Ryubeom,

“How do you plan to interrogate him?”

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“Well, we’ll start with a conversation, of course.”

“He doesn’t look like he will answer easily…”

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“If not, well… I’ll just have to use what I learned from my family.”

Ryubeom shrugged nonchalantly. Although he was looked down upon in the main tiger family, he wasn’t entirely lacking compared to the collateral branches. Besides, their opponent now was just an ordinary human.

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Garim suddenly felt worried. Although she still didn’t know Ryubeom’s exact species, she had long suspected he was an extraordinary beastkin. Seeing Ryubeom mention his family and step forward made her feel uneasy, so she cautiously asked,

“Y-you’re not planning to torture him, right?”

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“…My family doesn’t teach torture methods.”

“Oh, that’s a relief…”

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“Unless it’s about hunting humans…”

Garim’s face turned pale at Ryubeom’s murmuring. By the time he looked up, Garim was trembling, and Yeohwi was smiling amusedly. Ryubeom, puzzled by their contrasting reactions, walked forward.

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It was time to have a conversation.

Kwon Namil raised an eyebrow as he watched Ryubeom approach. When he first saw the group gathered at the pavilion, his attention was initially drawn to the most flamboyantly dressed man, and he naturally viewed him as the primary threat. There was something oddly off-putting about the man in the black overcoat.

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However, the person approaching him now was slightly smaller and had a stern demeanor that wasn’t easy to read but seemed less intimidating than the flashy man. Above all, he was dressed plainly and didn’t wear any expensive watches or accessories. Kwon Namil, who was used to sizing up people by their appearances, quickly adopted a condescending look.

“Kwon Namil, I have a few questions…”

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“What is it? Hurry up and show me where the gold was found.”

“There’s something I need to know before we go. Do you remember a woman named Nakyung who used to work at your house?”

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Despite the somewhat arrogant tone, the other person persistently asked his question. Kwon Namil tilted his head, thinking it was unexpected.

“Nakyung? I don’t remember.”

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“They say she lived with you as a new shaman with her daughter.”

“…A new shaman? Oh, right! That crow!”

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Ryubeom nodded at Kwon Namil’s outburst. But before he could ask further, Kwon Namil suddenly retorted sharply.

“Why are you asking about the girl who burned down the villa? I thought it was already determined to be an accident.”

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Ryubeom’s expression subtly changed. He hadn’t mentioned the villa fire at all, so why did the word “accident” come up first?

Kwon Namil glared sharply at Garim.

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“Did you call me here just to ask about this? Did you lie to me to get me here?”

“Th-that’s not…”

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“You made me cancel all my plans today because of the gold bars, and now this. Unbelievable.”

As Kwon Namil moved threateningly toward Garim, Ryubeom stepped in front of him, blocking his path and staring directly at him.

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He wasn’t entirely convinced that the Kwon family was responsible yet. It could be just an issue related to the location. He intended to ask calmly, but Kwon Namil’s odd behavior raised suspicions. His excessive reaction made him look even more suspicious.

“Kwon Namil, I’m sorry for calling you here like this, but I need to know. What happened to Ms. Nakyung over ten years ago? Why did she start acting strangely after the funeral and then suddenly disappear?”

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“It’s been years. How am I supposed to know that? And why are you asking now?”

“You’re aware of the strange phenomena in Hyojomyeon, right? It seems like the malevolent spirit causing them is Ms. Nakyung.”

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“What? A malevolent spirit? This is crazy…”

Kwon Namil laughed with his head tilted back, then abruptly stopped and stared at Ryubeom.

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“Why should I answer your questions?”

“…What?”

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“I was tricked into coming here because of your lies. Why should I answer you when I’m already at a loss? What’s in it for me?”

“…”

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“And a malevolent spirit? Ha, I don’t believe in that. This sounds like some kind of cult nonsense…”

Kwon Namil was pushing Ryubeom’s shoulder with his finger when he suddenly flinched. Yeohwi, who had been standing behind, approached and pressed down on his collarbone. She had moved so swiftly that he didn’t even notice her approach, and now she was pressing his neck firmly. It was a light touch, but his entire body stiffened.

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“If you don’t believe in malevolent spirits, why are you wearing that?”

A faint smile appeared on her beautiful face.

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Hearing Yeohwi’s comment, Ryubeom finally noticed the necklace Kwon Namil was wearing. At the center of the gold necklace was a small rectangular gold plate with densely inscribed Chinese characters. As he focused on it, he could sense a faint aura emanating from it.

It was a charm that concealed the wearer’s presence.

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Moreover, the charm seemed to have been used multiple times, and its power was nearly depleted. Now, it was faintly glowing as if using its last bit of strength. Ryubeom stared at it curiously before confirming with Yeohwi.

“That’s a charm to conceal one’s presence, right?”

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“Yes. It not only hides his presence but also confuses malevolent spirits.”

“I’ve heard that creating complex charms like that is extremely difficult, even in my family. He’s wearing something quite valuable.”

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Kwon Namil hurriedly covered the necklace with his hand, looking quite flustered. He hesitated, then sighed deeply and stared at Yeohwi and Ryubeom.

“What? Are you both beastkin?”

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He had figured it out from their conversation earlier. In this day and age, those who spoke about families were usually beastkin, and they had referred to him as ‘that human,’ indicating a different species. Seeing that they didn’t deny it, he was sure.

A sense of superiority filled Kwon Namil’s eyes.

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“I almost didn’t notice. You hide your beast forms quite well.”

Ryubeom was puzzled by his mocking remark. He wondered why this man’s attitude had changed so suddenly.

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While it wasn’t something taught or experienced in the tiger family, there were humans in society who looked down on beastkin. Some believed that beastkin lowered themselves and signed peace treaties just to blend into the advanced human society. They even thought that the act of beastkin assuming human forms proved who was superior.

These people didn’t dare to confront large, formidable predator-type beastkin but looked down on smaller or weaker herbivore-type animals. Commonly disrespected beastkin included small dogs, birds, sheep, and rabbits. While they might find them cute, they didn’t treat them as equals. If criticized, they would respond boldly, saying, “What’s the problem with being cute?” as if treating them like pets was a privilege.

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Garim, who had been watching from behind, was shocked. She didn’t know what kind of beastkin Ryubeom was, but one of them was a highly regarded fox beastkin! Of course, there was a possibility that Kwon Namil would look down on foxes as well. Garim watched the three nervously.

Ryubeom’s expression remained unreadable as he quietly stared at him, making him appear even more intimidating.

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“If you’re going to live in human society, you should be more mindful.”

“……”

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“Hah, just like that brat from back then. I must not be compatible with beastkin…”

Kwon Namil, irritated, ruffled his hair and tried to push past Ryubeom. But suddenly, his wrist was seized with a force that felt like it might snap.

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“Stop dodging and answer properly.”

Ryubeom’s demeanor turned menacing. Startled by the change in atmosphere, Kwon Namil blinked in surprise.

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“What happened to that mother and daughter in the past?”

“Why should I answer…”

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“If you’re going to talk about compensation again, open your eyes and look around. Right now, I’m the one protecting you.”

Kwon Namil glanced around with a puzzled expression and flinched. A large number of crows had gathered around the pavilion. There were dozens, if not over a hundred, triggering an instinctual aversion.

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Caw, caw… 

The overlapping cries were eerie.

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And behind the crows, Ryubeom could see a writhing darkness. The intense grudge emanating from it was so unsettling that just looking at it gave him goosebumps.

The only reason the crows were staying around the pavilion was because Ryubeom had set up a barrier beforehand. If Kwon Namil was truly connected to the grudge in Hyojomyeon, something terrible might happen to him. That’s why they chose to meet far from the old mansion and had set up protective wards.

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However, the power of the wards was weakening. Even the strength of Kwon Namil’s necklace was gradually fading. This meant that the grudge from Hyojomyeon was targeting Kwon Namil.

It was now clear that something had indeed happened between the Kwon family, or rather, Kwon Namil and the girl Nakyung.

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As the power of the necklace waned, Ryubeom could see the dark presences circling around Kwon Namil. They were malevolent spirits that seemed to have been following him even before he arrived at Hyojomyeon. Ryubeom sighed, noticing the dark aura clinging to his sports car.

“What on earth have you been doing?”

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But Kwon Namil didn’t respond. He just seemed eager to leave, roughly shaking off Ryubeom’s hand.

“Damn it! No wonder my mom told me not to go to Hyojomyeon.”

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It was said that Kwon Namil’s parents were abroad for business reasons. They had left Hyojomyeon to start a successful business and expanded overseas, as Garim had heard. It had been quite some time, so why was Kwon Namil still in the country? Perhaps he couldn’t leave?

Judging by Kwon Namil’s behavior, the necklace was definitely provided by his parents. They probably spent a lot of money to get him this precious necklace while warning him not to go to Hyojomyeon.

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As Ryubeom’s suspicion solidified into certainty, Kwon Namil moved towards his sports car. He seemed to want to deny the surprise he felt when Ryubeom grabbed his wrist, deliberately shaking his hand excessively and glaring at Garim.

“Hey, real estate girl. I won’t forget what happened today…”

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“Wait, you can’t get in that car.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

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Ryubeom urgently warned him, but Kwon Namil sneered. A look of panic appeared on Ryubeom’s face. Could he not see the darkness gathering around his car?

Even Garim was freaking out behind him, saying, “Eek, something’s off…” She must have developed a forced sensitivity to spirits from her time in Hyojomyeon.

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Finally, Kwon Namil stepped out of the protective barrier. Ryubeom sighed and followed him. Despite his rudeness, Ryubeom felt that if Kwon Namil got in that car, he would die. The malevolent spirits had been clinging to him from the start. It was a wonder he had made it to Hyojomyeon alive.

But now that he was here, their energy had become even more erratic, and Ryubeom felt a slight sense of responsibility to calm them down, at least temporarily. Assuming the conversation could continue.

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However, Kwon Namil sneered at Ryubeom’s goodwill.

“Your threats don’t work on me… Ah, ah! What is this!”

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Before he could finish his sentence, a crow suddenly swooped down at him.

The crows that had been gathered around the pavilion swooped down in an instant. Kwon Namil flailed his arms in panic, but the crows were relentless. Suddenly, with a snapping sound, the necklace fell to the ground.

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One of the crows had cut the string.

“Heok…”

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Kwon Namil’s eyes became unfocused as he took a deep breath. His vision blurred, as if shrouded in mist, causing Ryubeom’s face to harden as he observed.

He was possessed by an evil spirit.

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Kwon Namil started running somewhere. No, to be precise, he was being ‘dragged’ away. He was moving so fast that Ryubeom bit his lip and followed.

Cheon Ryubeom, being a tiger beastman, was certainly fast, but the possessed Kwon Namil moved even faster. It was bizarre, as if he were being pulled along by a string. Behind them, Garam followed in a panic, and Ryubeom shouted.

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“Stay back, it’s dangerous!”

“Huff! I dislike him, really hate him, he’s annoying, but… huff! He’s still a customer…!”

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Thinking that the list of modifiers was a bit long, Ryubeom eventually nodded. Garam had her own reasons too.

The place they arrived at was, as expected, a white mansion right in front of the mountain. It was the place where Kwon Namil used to live, where Nakyung and her child’s mother had worked.

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The mansion exuded a menacing aura, shrouded in darkness. Even though it was midday, the area around the building was as dark as night, with sticky, black liquid writhing around the structure.

“Why… why is the house like this…”

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Garam stepped back in horror upon seeing the scene. Ryubeom warned her not to come inside and then examined the house.

Kwon Namil had already been dragged inside.

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After taking a deep breath, Ryubeom passed through the front gate. But as he stepped inside, Yeohwi extended his arm. Despite the ominous aura flowing from the mansion, his face was unexpectedly calm. Looking down at Ryubeom, he spoke quietly.

“If you go in, it will be really dangerous. The evil spirit’s grudge is clearly targeted at Kwon Namil. If you delve any deeper, it could become very dangerous, even more so than yesterday.”

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Yeohwi’s gaze fell upon Ryubeom’s hand. The back of his hand, attacked by the evil spirit last night, was blackened and decayed. Only a day had passed, yet the wound had deepened and spread. Considering that tiger beastmen were usually resistant to such harm, the current situation was evidently perilous.

Compared to the strange occurrences in Hyojomyeon so far, this was certain. Dropping objects and stealing food now seemed like mere child’s play. The malevolence felt now was on a different level. The spirit had possessed a living person and filled the entire house with a killing intent. The grudge of the evil spirit grew stronger by the moment.

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But Ryubeom shook his head.

“I was prepared for this from the moment I decided to investigate.”

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Seeing someone being dragged inside, even if Kwon Namil deserved the grudge of the mother and child, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Regardless of whether Kwon Namil deserved his fate, it was Ryubeom who had called him here, so he had to take responsibility.

Cheon Ryubeom rushed inside the house. Eventually, Yeohwi followed, and the two began searching the large house with its vast garden. They had to find Kwon Namil first.

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The deeper they went inside the mansion, the darker it became.

It was hard to see ahead, and the spirits were restless. The evil spirits, gathered around their core, were agitated by the strong emotions of their core. Some flitted around the house, as if trying to escape the turmoil, forcing Ryubeom to dodge as he walked.

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Shrieeek!

Four evil spirits shot fiercely toward Cheon Ryubeom. He immediately dodged one with a light leap, kicked another, and grabbed one in mid-air, using it to strike another spirit. Despite their ferocity, they were not organized, making them easy to handle.

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After a smooth series of movements dealing with the spirits, Ryubeom suddenly flinched. One remaining spirit had headed towards Yeohwi.

“Yeo…!”

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Startled, Ryubeom turned to look at Yeohwi, but all he saw was the ashes of the spirit, burning away in the air. He watched in a daze as it vanished with a spark.

The black hem of Yeohwi’s robe fluttered peacefully, and Ryubeom realized that Yeohwi had dealt with it with a single gesture.

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“Shall we continue?”

Yeohwi dusted off his sleeves nonchalantly and smiled as he met Ryubeom’s gaze. Feeling relieved yet strangely uneasy, Ryubeom found Yeohwi’s calmness odd. While Ryubeom, a tiger beastman, was on high alert, Yeohwi’s composure seemed out of place.

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That tranquility felt alien.

Ryubeom checked Yeohwi’s wrist with a puzzled feeling. The bracelet he wore, made of connected wooden beads, had one bead glowing faintly red. Was it more powerful than he thought?

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But Ryubeom quickly shook his head. There was no time to dwell on sudden doubts. If Yeohwi had a useful safeguard, it was fortunate for them both, so he decided to think positively and moved forward.

“There’s a more sinister aura coming from inside the house…”

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They hadn’t even entered the building yet, just crossing the garden, but it was already challenging. It felt like waves of darkness were crashing around them.

Surely they hadn’t killed Kwon Namil already, had they? A sudden worry struck him, but he shook his head. If killing him were the goal, they could have done so when the spirit first possessed him. There were many ways: throwing him off a cliff, smashing him into the ground, breaking his limbs, and so on.

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Since they had brought him here, there had to be a reason for it.

And Ryubeom’s assumption proved correct.

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[What should I do? Hm…?]

When they finally entered the house, Ryubeom heard someone’s voice from the second floor. The cracked voice was tinged with sobbing. He quickly approached the stairs and looked up, seeing ‘them.’

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Kwon Namil was hanging limp like a broken puppet, and next to him was a black figure. It resembled the crow beastman Ryubeom had encountered in the mountains last night. This was the core of the evil spirit, Nakyung’s mother.

And in front of them was… a very small presence.

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And in front of the two of them… there was a very small presence.

Typically, vengeful spirits appeared in the form they had at the moment of their death or their usual appearance. Over time, or when affected by other evil spirits, they could become grotesque. But this spirit was different from both cases. Its form was so indistinct that it was almost like smoke, barely recognizable. It looked like it could disappear at any moment.

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The woman looked at it and spoke desperately.

[My baby, Mommy has brought this man. Do as you wish…]

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…Is that Nakyung?

As Ryubeom wondered this and carefully placed one foot on the stairs, the woman’s head snapped around. Her pitch-black eyes, devoid of any whites, stared directly at Ryubeom, filled with clear suspicion.

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Shwoooosh!

A wave of darkness began pouring down the stairs. It gushed down like a flood, making it impossible to ascend. Moreover, the darkness that spilled onto the first floor rapidly filled the space.

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“…Ugh…!”

Ryubeom was engulfed by the darkness. It was as if he were submerged in water, making it hard to breathe. Not only that, but the moment his vision was swallowed by darkness, he lost his sense of direction. He had been able to see the structure of the house’s first floor just moments ago, but now he saw nothing.

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It felt like he had been abruptly dropped into a completely different place.

The intense grudge clouded his thoughts. At some point, his surroundings began to feel like a maze. It was as if he were trapped in a labyrinth with no exit. This dark and cold space filled him with endless resentment. He felt wronged by being in this situation, sorrowful for not being able to find a way out, and angry.

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His body ached. It felt like it was burning, and at other times, it felt as if he were being trampled mercilessly. The constant waves of pain threatened to make him lose his mind.

“Ugh…”

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But Cheon Ryubeom barely managed to hold onto his sanity. Was this pain possibly ‘theirs’? Had they felt this kind of suffering? The darkness, which had seemed like a labyrinth trapping him, now felt like a fishbowl holding their sorrow. Endlessly wandering in the dark, unable to leave.

Even though they knew that all that remained between them was pain, why couldn’t they let go, knowing that staying only meant repeating the torment? What had caused them so much pain and resentment… to the point where the woman chose to become an evil spirit?

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He felt a need to find out.

A desire to understand blossomed.

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Eventually, this desire bloomed like a faint flower in the darkness. The eyes of Cheon Ryubeom, looking at it, sparkled. It was a different kind of energy, a silvery light. His eyes, softly glowing as if bathed in moonlight, gazed ahead.

“A path…”

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One by one, white flowers began to bloom, forming a path. Ryubeom slowly walked along it. Nothing could be seen in the darkness except for the flowers, and he couldn’t tell what was beneath his feet, but Ryubeom moved forward without hesitation, even if there might be a cliff at the end.

Finally, Ryubeom reached the end of the path and cautiously extended his hand towards the darkness. At the end of the gesture, as if opening a door…

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A memory, opened.

15 years ago, a mother and daughter, both crow-beast people, moved to Hyojomyeon.

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Although a peace treaty between humans and beast people had been established, leading to a time when they began to gradually live together, beast people were still a rare presence in a rural village. However, because it was a place named “Hyojo” due to the abundance of crows, the residents were interested since the newcomers were crow-beast people, not any other species.

Additionally, the mother and daughter had a sad story. The husband was also a crow-beast person, but he overexerted himself working as a deliveryman and was hit by a truck in bad weather, passing away. Afterward, they lost all their savings while being chased by debt collectors and fled to Hyojomyeon. People sympathized with the mother who was looking for a job while holding her five-year-old daughter.

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Not everyone was entirely welcoming, but the mother tried to adapt somehow. Mr. Kwon, an influential figure in the village, offered her a job as a housekeeper. Moreover, he generously allowed her to stay in a vacant building attached to his house like a storage room. That day, the mother hugged her daughter and burst into tears of relief.

However, as long as she stayed there, the mother had to take on all the household chores. Even though there were four or five other servants besides her, the house was vast, and there were so many visitors that they were extremely busy. Naturally, the time she could spend taking care of her daughter, Nakyung, gradually decreased.

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Nakyung always played in the backyard of the mansion. The front garden was a place where many people came and went, and the Kwon couple warned the mother several times not to let the child roam there. So, Nakyung wandered alone in the open space of the backyard. The room was too small to stay in all the time, and the child’s curiosity was vast.

Kwon Namil, Mr. Kwon’s seven-year-old son, showed interest in Nakyung as she roamed around. He was fascinated by seeing a beast person for the first time. When Nakyung’s short black hair fluttered in the wind, feathers inside her head were visible, and sometimes the bird-like wings were seen through her collar. Her inability to fully transform into a human meant that her avian features were more pronounced.

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“Hey. Can you do magic?”

Kwon Namil approached her boldly. The beast people he saw on TV displayed amazing abilities like spiritual powers and magic. He poked Nakyung, urging her to show him.

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However, not all beast people had the spiritual power to perform magic. Beast people who could use magic were rare and uncommon.

At first, Nakyung was cautious, but she couldn’t defy him once she learned he was the only son of the house owners. Even at her young age, she understood the hierarchy of the house.

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As Nakyung remained obedient, Kwon Namil’s pranks became increasingly cruel. He would deliberately trip her or spill drinks on her clothes, playing pranks severe enough to make people frown, but no one could stop the master’s son. Afraid of making Nakyung’s mother worry, the servants hushed and kept their conversations secret. They thought that over time, the boy’s curiosity would naturally subside, but it was merely a hope.

One day, Kwon Namil said,

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“What’s this? You’re a beast person, yet you can’t do magic. How lame.”

“……”

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“Then can you transform? I’ve seen beast people transform into animal forms, so why don’t you try turning into a bird?”

Even that day, Nakyung sat quietly with a sullen face. Worried about what torment she might face that day, she gloomily sat when a hand suddenly reached out in front of her.

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“If you transform, I’ll give you this.”

In Kwon Namil’s palm was a pretty glass marble.

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The marble sparkled beautifully in the sunlight. Nakyung couldn’t take her eyes off the glass marble and eventually accepted Kwon Namil’s proposal. Even with little spiritual power, taking on an animal form was not difficult.

Seeing Nakyung transformed into a crow, Kwon Namil’s eyes lit up.

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And that day was the beginning.

Every day without fail, Kwon Namil demanded Nakyung transform into a bird. At first, he seemed to gently pet her head and wings, but at some point, his touch became violent. He poked her with a sharp awl and grabbed her wings as if trying to tear them off. He laughed, finding it amusing how she struggled to escape from his grip.

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When adults accidentally discovered this, he answered with an innocent face,

“I thought it was just a crow.”

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Since there were many crows in Hyojomyeon, he claimed he thought it was just a bird that flew into the mansion. He even apologized tearfully, pretending he had no idea it was Nakyung. In the end, the adults could only give him a simple warning and let it pass.

Animal abuse had long been something for which there was no appropriate punishment, and such loopholes allowed harmful practices to exist in peculiar ways even in societies where beast people lived.

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With the unavoidable negligence of the servants, Kwon Namil eventually used toy bows and BB guns. When Nakyung flew in her bird form, Kwon Namil would pretend to be a hunter and shoot at her. Day by day, Nakyung accumulated more wounds.

Yet, Nakyung continued to indulge Kwon Namil’s pranks. Even while covered in wounds, she smiled brightly, happy to receive the glass marbles. They all went into Nakyung’s jewelry box.

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After a few weeks, Nakyung had collected enough glass marbles to fill her jewelry box. Seeing her delightfully hugging the box, Kwon Namil suddenly became spiteful.

“Gi-give it back…!”

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“Let’s play in the mountains today. I want to feel like a real hunter.”

“No, I won’t do it anymore…”

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“If you play with me, I’ll give you back the jewelry box and give you this. What do you say?”

Holding Nakyung’s jewelry box, Kwon Namil held out a ring set with opal. Nakyung didn’t know what the gem was, but she was captivated by the opal’s colorful light under the sun. In the end, the child hesitantly followed him up to the villa in the mountains, and Kwon Namil was elated.

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That day was truly the best day for Kwon Namil. He laughed while shooting the BB gun, hiding in the bushes around the villa, and rolling on the ground.

Early in the morning, the mayor had come to the mansion to speak with his parents, and all the servants were focused on the guests, leaving him very bored. Besides, he had successfully lured Nakyung by finding the ring his mother had lost the day before. After giving it to Nakyung, he planned to tell his mother, “The crow stole it because it likes shiny things.” He thought it would be amusing to see the mother and daughter’s reaction.

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But then, an accident happened suddenly.

Nakyung, fleeing desperately, ran into the villa. Chasing after her excitedly, Kwon Namil tripped over a wire and rolled down the hill. Rolling far away, Kwon Namil stood up nervously and saw the villa catching fire. The wire he had tripped over was a gas canister hose, and the gas canister he collided with had fallen and exploded, taking down the neighboring ones.

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Bang! His eyes widened at the enormous roar.

“Oh, oh, oh…”

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The seven-year-old child was terrified and ran away from the villa back to the mansion.

* * *

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The mother was devastated.

Since the day when the mayor visited the mansion a few days ago, and the villa explosion accident occurred in the afternoon, Nakyung had not been seen. Recently, the grandmother in the kitchen had subtly mentioned that “the child often stays in bird form…” so it was assumed that the child’s curiosity had taken her far away. It was thought she flew around here and there because she was bored without anyone to play with, losing her way in the process.

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However, days passed, and the child did not return, and at some point, strange phenomena began to occur in the mansion. The drawers rattled and wouldn’t open, and the doors creaked open and closed repeatedly. Moreover, these phenomena spread to other nearby mansions. At that time, the mother was too frantic looking for Nakyung to pay attention to the strange occurrences.

If it hadn’t been for the words of the shaman called by the master couple:

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“A fire broke out here recently, didn’t it? There’s a child who died in the fire.”

“That child hasn’t been able to go to the afterlife and is wandering here, trying to become an evil spirit.”

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Only then was the investigation reopened, and as the true identity of the bird carcass found at the villa was revealed… the mother was devastated. The consolation money given by Mr. Kwon didn’t even register in her eyes.

The child only had her.

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And she only had the child.

She was the only one who could take responsibility for the child, so she worked hard, but in the meantime, the child died. She couldn’t even know why she went to the villa. The mother wept for days.

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Then one day, the master couple announced that they would hold a memorial service. They said they would comfort the soul of the tragically deceased child and pray for her to go to the afterlife in peace. The mother knelt before them and thanked them. She felt guilty for being too distraught to properly send off her child.

But that night, the mother saw the fragments of talismans scattered at the villa and realized. This wasn’t a memorial service or a requiem.

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It was a ritual for exorcism.

The master couple claimed to comfort the child’s soul, but their true intention was to eliminate the evil spirit causing problems in Hyojomyeon, so their business preparations could proceed smoothly.

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The mother screamed madly, tore the spirit banners hung on the tree in front of the villa, and even set the tree on fire. But she already felt that the child’s soul had faded. The residents of Hyojomyeon called it an evil spirit, but to the mother, it was the last path to feel her child.

After causing such a commotion and sitting down in a daze, the grandmother from the mansion’s kitchen approached her. She claimed to have seen something “that day”…

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“The truth is, that day, I saw the young master taking Nakyung up to the villa… I’m sorry for only telling you now, truly sorry. The master threatened not to leave me alone if I reported it…”

Blood flowed from the mother’s eyes.

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* * *

The mother tried to reveal the truth. She ran to the town office, shouting, and yelled in the streets. But rumors spread faster, branding her as a crazy woman babbling nonsense. It was obvious that the master couple had intervened.

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She went to the mansion to ask the servants she worked with for help. But then, she saw it. People averted their gaze awkwardly and pretended not to see, turning their heads away. From that reaction, the mother realized the hidden truth.

They all already knew that her daughter was being bullied by the master’s son but remained silent. With the absurd reason that beast people recover quickly because of their spiritual power…

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“My child…”

Due to the exorcism, only half of Nakyung’s soul remained. To protect that child, more resentment was needed. Darker, stronger. Something shocking enough to instill fear in everyone. Rumors have power. They amplify fear.

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“Mom will protect you…”

On a peaceful day with warm sunlight. When all the servants were out cleaning the garden, and the master family was enjoying their leisure on the second floor, the mother entered the house in bird form and executed her plan without hesitation.

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The breeze felt cool in the middle of the living room.

How light it felt to step into the air, relying only on a single rope.

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