Chapter 16
The moment the tainted spirit clung tightly to me, whispering in my ear, while Pung-jeong and Hwa-jeong stuck to me as if refusing to lose out.
Rattle.
"Aigoo! How could I forget this? Me of all people!"
Lee Pil-nyeo burst into the hospital room, panting heavily, and quickly brought her phone right in front of my eyes.
I checked again just in case, but the ominous shadow that had loomed over her face was gone without a trace, as if it had never been there. In its place sat a clear benefactor's mark, signaling a deep and lasting connection.
Wonder who it is. I'm curious.
"Kang San, you must've been looking forward to this broadcast too. That was close!"
Apologizing sheepishly, Lee Pil-nyeo pulled up Bin-i's channel on the screen.
She had mentioned doing a dotdom dismantling show and mukbang today. Even without her, I could've watched the live stream thanks to the refined spirits' help, but her thoughtfulness warmed my heart. Plus, with her out of breath and sweat beading on her forehead, it looked like she'd rushed over the moment she remembered.
"The sashimi place is packed, she said. Even my son went there on Bin-i's invitation for a meal, but something happened on the way and someone helped him out. Turns out that guy was also a viewer invited by Bin-i to the sashimi joint! Isn't that amazing? What a coincidence! She was so grateful."
Something happened? Then that benefactor's mark probably belongs to him.
"Kang San, enjoy the show."
I nodded my thanks with my eyes.
Lee Pil-nyeo left, and moments later—
[Hello everyone! It's Coronodon, aiming for broadcasts that are always comfy and fun to watch!]
Standing in front of Barojaba Fish House, Bin-i waved both hands energetically, beaming brightly. She wore a purple waterproof apron, her hair neatly tied back with a headscarf.
[Today, as I mentioned last time, we'll do the dotdom dismantling show and mukbang! Of course, I'm not eating this huge dotdom all by myself— we'll share it with everyone here!]
Behind her, smiling or laughing heartily people craned their necks like meerkats, staring at the camera.
Let's see... Hmm. No resentful spirits or evil spirits on any of them. Good people. Mom's gotten a lot of help from them. Right now it's dotdom, but later I should repay with something better. What would be good... Ah, right. With herbs and refined spirits around, I could make medicine. Immortal pills might be tough due to material issues, and too much for regular humans anyway. A potent tonic should do nicely.
Where's Gongjeong-ryeong gotten to, though? I told him to scout thoroughly, but... Hm. Hope nothing's wrong.
Kang Seol-bin greeted energetically, but the chat was a sea of tears.
Lately her luck had been weirdly good...
"Ahaha... For those who couldn't make it, look forward to next time. Who knows! I might catch another dotdom!"
"Ah, for the new viewers on my channel, quick explanation. Last time, I actually! Caught a! Dotdom! From a land breakwater! Today, we're sharing it with market vendors who've helped my mom a ton, and lucky drawn viewers from my channel."
As she carried the camera inside, rectangular tables covered in white plastic typical of sashimi joints appeared, along with neatly arranged side dishes.
"Ah, they usually serve generous gyeotdeuri anju, but since dotdom's the star today, sides are minimal. Now, introducing the man lending us the space and handling the cooking—Barojaba Fish House owner, Hwang Beom-yong!"
At Kang Seol-bin's intro, Hwang Beom-yong—the guy from the live fish truck last time—stepped forward with a grin.
"Howdy, folks. Thanks to Coronodon for letting me dismantle this dotdom today. And I'll be handling it myself!"
"Ah, I'm a bit old-school. Sorry 'bout that. But my skills ain't outdated!"
Hwang Beom-yong chuckled awkwardly at the chat, bowed his head, then continued boisterously.
"Let's get to it! Coronodon! Come on over!"
"Yes!"
Kang Seol-bin shouted back energetically and headed to the kitchen, where the dotdom on the floor was gaping its gills.
"First things first: bleed the dotdom. Then scales off, guts out, filleting. That's the process. Oh, and we eat the guts and skin too. Nothing wasted on this fish."
"Ah, dotdom fact time."
Kang Seol-bin raised her hand high.
"Dotdom liver's packed with vitamin A, so too much can cause issues. Called vitamin A excess."
"Yes, exactly. Vitamin A accumulates, excess causes problems. Symptoms: headaches, vomiting, fever, peeling skin... even hair loss!"
"A piece is fine, but better not overdo it even if it's tasty, right?"
While Kang Seol-bin spoke, Hwang Beom-yong and a staffer dismantled the dotdom like pros. With strength and skill, two handled what'd take three or four normals.
"Boss, how long for scales?"
"'Bout 30 minutes."
"Ah, while you do that, I'll chat with the guests."
As Kang Seol-bin headed out, the camera panned and caught someone— she lit up.
"Hyun-jun! Here! Here!"
"Noona!"
Oh Hyun-jun waved happily back, entering with a burly guy blocking the doorway. The chat exploded for a different reason.
"Physics Fairy?"
"Ooh... super famous guy. Sorry, I'm clueless about that stuff..."
Scratching her head, Kang Seol-bin approached.
"Hyun-jun, hi! And hello!"
She bowed; Gak Il-sik stiffened tensely and bowed stiffly back.
"Ah, hello. Yes. I'm, uh, Gak Il-sik. Nice to meet you."
"Hello! Heard you're a super famous athlete. Sorry I didn't recognize you!"
Kang Seol-bin bowed again; Gak Il-sik waved it off frantically.
"No, no. You wouldn't know. Yes. Totally normal not to. It's fine."
"I really don't know sports at all. Sorry."
"Aigoo, no. I don't know knitting either. Yes. And I'm not that famous everyone knows. Yes."
"But you're on TV—"
"Ah, that. Happened by chance. Yes. Total fluke. Haha. Yes. Hahaha!"
Gak Il-sik froze like a glitching robot, nodding "yes yes," until his phone buzzed in his chest pocket. He jolted, remembering his priority.
"S-sorry to be blunt! Got something to ask Coronodon!"
"Uh... yes?"
Startled by the sudden shout, he bit his lip, then rushed on.
"My lil bro's a reporter. Wants to write about you—asked permission first."
"About me? What?"
"The dotdom catch. Some—er, people—suspect rigging."
"Ah..."
Kang Seol-bin knew. Viewers surged post-dotdom, but searches showed opportunists stirring drama.
"Hm..."
Kang Seol-bin eyed the flood of messages, Gak Il-sik too, then she decided quick.
"Please do!"
She bowed; Gak Il-sik thumped his chest.
"Yessir! Told him stake his life!"
"Ah, no need for that!"
"Ha, haha! Joke! Joke!"
Gongjeong-ryeong trailed the man, tilting curiously. From overhearing the man and woman, the man ranked higher, so he followed.
"Tain-ted. Thing. Mixed. Thing. Long. Time. No. See."
Tainted. Mixed. Not kin but kin-like, slithering near the man.
Word was, long ago when humans and nature were closer, tainted ones like this existed. Too close to humans, soaked in their energy without distance, they spoiled. Hence the musty scent and aura.
"Hear. Me? Hear?"
Gongjeong-ryeong called, no reply. Just dazed orbiting the man.
"Own. Will? Choice. Or. Forced?"
Gongjeong-ryeong neared. Peering deep... something inside. Long thin black string-like. Parasite-ish. Writhing solo, churning the tainted one's insides.
Gongjeong-ryeong stared, unease rising.
"This. Problem?"
Poke—
Splurt!
"Gah?!"
The black thing burst out, engulfing Gongjeong-ryeong!