Thumbs Up!
「Here. Humans. Strange.」
「Master. Said. Remember. Could. Be. Dangerous.」
Gwangjeong and Sujeong were following the vehicle from a safe distance, just as their master had instructed for caution.
The vehicle kept moving from one rundown house in a remote area to another. Every time it stopped and people got out briefly, they inhaled the scent of different herbs, their eyes growing increasingly glazed as they staggered, barely able to stand.
Some realized something was suspicious and dangerous, trying to escape, but the escorts—working in pairs or groups of four—watched with sharp eyes. They grabbed anyone attempting to flee and shoved them into rooms thick with even stronger herbal smoke. The people soon lost consciousness and collapsed.
「Makes. You. Dumb. Can't. Think. Properly. Drug.」
「Smell. Too. Long. Get. Weirder.」
Gwangjeong muttered, recalling the herbs used in the incense.
「Saw. Before. People. Who. Smelled. That. Incense. Long.」
「What. Happened?」
「Did. Whatever. Told. Even. Jump. Off. Cliff. Heard. It. And. Boing. Thud. Splat.」
「Don't. People. Die. Like. That?」
「Right. Died. Lots. Died. Jumping. Off. Like. That.」
Sujeong's expression turned grave at Gwangjeong's explanation.
「Be. More. Careful. Maybe. We. Could. Get. Fucked. Too.」
「If. One. Of. Us. Gets. Like. That. Other. Escapes. Tells. Master.」
「No. Together.」
「No. Together?」
Sujeong's eyes widened at the unexpected words.
「Go. Together. Comrades. Together.」
Sujeong's face lit up with emotion at Gwangjeong's words.
「You. First. Time. Like. You. More. Real. Comrade.」
「Real. Comrade. Protect. Each. Other. Live. Together.」
The two exchanged warm smiles as they trailed the vehicle for a while longer. Eventually, after passing through several tall, thick doors, the van stopped in a clearing beneath the forest—not dark or shadowy, but inherently ominous.
Other vans were parked in the clearing, filled with people staring blankly ahead with glazed eyes.
Gwangjeong and Sujeong tilted their heads at the drivers not opening the doors right away. Then they both looked toward the forest.
They sensed a highly unpleasant, filthy energy approaching.
The source emerged from a path between the trees: an old man with age spots covering his face and a goatee.
「Big. One.」
「Right. Big. One.」
Gwangjeong and Sujeong nodded immediately upon seeing the old man. By their master's classification—large, medium, small based on hand size—he was definitely a big one.
The number of resentful spirits and evil spirits clinging to him was enormous.
But the puzzling part was that, despite the vicious evil spirits—enough to overwhelm any normal person—none of them could harm him at all.
So the old man suffered neither external pain nor internal torment.
「Some. Method. Maybe. That. Fucked. Thing?」
「Agree. Like. Last. Time. Fucked. Thing. On. Human.」
Gwangjeong agreed with Sujeong's opinion, having seen something similar. Otherwise, no ordinary person could withstand those evil spirits.
Clap clap clap!
The old man raised his hands above his head, clapping vigorously three times before crossing them over his eyes.
At the signal, the van doors opened almost simultaneously as drivers and escorts got out.
“Alright, brothers and sisters, let's get out~”
“Get out, come on~”
The dazed people with slack eyes stumbled out of the vans one by one.
Some stood shakily on their own feet, but others collapsed to the ground.
Yet neither drivers nor escorts helped the fallen. They simply stared at the old man with eyes gleaming with strange fervor.
Clap clap clap!
The old man clapped above his head again, crossed his hands over his chest this time, and turned to walk away.
The drivers led the way, while escorts herded the people along.
Gwangjeong and Sujeong followed behind the shuffling crowd.
As they passed through the path, the two understood why the forest felt so ominous.
「No. Our. Kind. Here.」
「Should. Be. But. None.」
「Using. Them. Seems. Right.」
「Like. Last. Time. Save. Them.」
Gwangjeong's voice grew angry recalling their kin freed from delusion pouches, their minds restored, no longer shambling without will.
「Make. Weird. No. Pay. Make. Work?」
「Our. Master. Always. Pays. For. Work.」
No labor without compensation—that was their code. They'd admired their master's strictness, even taking full payment from wailing death spirits begging for help.
「Watch. More. First.」
「If. Trouble. Strategic. Retreat.」
They followed even more cautiously when—
“Oh my!”
“Gasp!”
Startled cries came from ahead. A woman had emerged from the forest—barefoot, leaning on a staff, with snow-white skin and waist-length white hair, like she'd been bleached. Her eyes were tightly shut.
“Miss!”
A man rushed up from behind, grabbing her. He had a thick belly and double chin that made his neck vanish.
“How can you come all the way here without a word! Everyone's been looking for you!”
The man frowned at her, then spotted the group on the path and looked apologetic.
“Sorry. She's been preparing the ritual all day and must feel stuffy... Anyway.”
He bowed briefly, then hooked his arm forcefully through hers, urging her along. As they walked, the woman opened her eyes—red eyes with visible blood vessels, crimson.
Gwangjeong and Sujeong tilted their heads.
「Just. Looked. Our. Way?」
「Did. She? Then. Can. See. Type?」
「Rare. Nowadays. Precious.」
「Very. Precious. First. Saw. Master. Shocked. Big.」
“Can see” meant those who could truly see spirits. They'd seen plenty pretending, but none who actually could.
「If. Really. Saw. Us.」
「If. Can. See. Type.」
They huddled close.
「Watch. More. Report. To. Master.」
「Creepy. Old. Man. Seems. Can. See. Too. Watch. Woman.」
* * *
「All. Here.」
「Fast.」
Hwa-jeong and Pung-jeong muttered. Unlike last time when Gwangjeong vanished quickly, they stayed, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
And then—quietly, a small black dot appeared before his Spiritual Eye.
Amjeong had arrived.
Unlike Gwangjeong last time, the tiny shadow didn't rage about being summoned. It just scanned the surroundings—Hwa-jeong and Pung-jeong—then—
「Will. Work. Hard!」
「Please. Guide. Well!」
「Uh, uh, wha?」
「G-Got. It?」
The bewildered pair and Amjeong grinning between them.
Hm. Good at social stuff.
【Quick judgment of the situation.】
「Thanks!」
【Then you can handle a simple task?】
「Anything! Will work hard!」
I pondered briefly. Jeong Kyung-rok or that bastard? Which first? I decided on Jeong Kyung-rok.
Before Dr. Choi Du-cheon, who'd visited my room, changed his mind and stirred trouble, I needed to check if Jeong Kyung-rok was truly behind it or some underling acting on their own.
Then scout what the bastard was up to now. Thanks to the parrot fish, Bin-i's streams had gained viewers, and with my active spirit help, more attention was coming... Money scent would draw the bastard back to cause chaos.
Hm. Bastard's probably covered in resentful and evil spirits. Might handle without lifting a finger.
Once rotten, always rotten. First time's the hardest—for good or bad. Seen faithful husbands, but never one who cheats just once.
Just look at him grabbing Mom's hair at the hospital demanding money—clearly no happy family life anymore.
Needs clean handling.
【Then—】
Slide.
“Oppa! I'm gonna sign the contract!! With the fishing company!”
Oh?
“Look at this!”
Bin-i shoved a business card in my face. Ivory card, left side blue text: Yeonghu Fishing Gear. Below, a fishing rod and fish illustration. Right side: President Son Gi-tae.
Oho. Parrot fish effect, huh?
I glanced at Pung-jeong. It puffed up proudly, twitching in a dance.
Yeah. Credit to you and Sujeong.
“Parrot fish stream, right? They saw it and want to sponsor me! You know pro anglers? Life vests, hats, logos everywhere! They said per logo it's this much. Looked it up—big company! Top-tier in fishing gear! Exports overseas—even Japan! People still say Japanese stuff's best, look down on ours, but exporting to Japan? Huge! Ah, anyway, not the point! What do you think, oppa? Mom'll ask too. Do it? Skip? Met the guy with Il-sik uncle—seems legit. Didn't tell you and Mom first 'cause wanted success first. Not hiding. Promise. Sign, and president comes right down to seal the deal—"
“Stamp? What?”
Mom appeared behind Bin-i's back, closing the door as she spoke, breathless from her rush.
“Contract, right? Just now.”
Mom's face clouded slightly. Understandable. The bastard's schemes had worn her down. “Contract” or “business” probably dropped her heart.
I'd felt the same before.
“Yes! Fishing company! Top-tier there!”
“Fishing? Oh, right. Parrot fish stream?”
Mom relaxed a bit, but shadows lingered.
“...Not like, promise debut then scam and overwork, right?”
“Debut...?”
Bin-i's eyes widened, then burst laughing.
“Ahahahaha! Mom! Fishing company—what debut? Not idol! They want me using their gear on streams. Like golfers? Logos on hats, chest, shoulders. That!”
“Ah. Oh, that?”
Mom shook off the last worries at the explanation.
“Got it. Head logo this much, chest that much?”
“Yes!”
“Mostly fishing streams then? Tough... Ye lady said boat work's brutal. Her husband's skin-and-bones after night shifts.”
“Not full boat work. Mix streams. One-trick ponies starve now!”
“Bin-i. No dying talk.”
“Ack. Yes...”
“They provide gear, boat? Safe?”
“Probably?”
“Hm... Then...”
Mom pondered, then smiled.
“You wanted sea fishing. Perfect!”
“Right?!”
Mom and Bin-i grinned at each other.
Yeah. When things click, it feels great.
Time for the finishing touch?
I moved my right arm slowly, very slowly.
Shame Mom and Bin-i were on my right. Could grab 'em for extra scare...
Anyway. At the perfect moment, I snapped my right arm high.
Impossible for excited Mom and Bin-i to miss.
And—
“Oh my, ohmyohmyohmy?!!!”
“Wha-wha-wha-wha?!!!”
Seeing my raised arm, they screamed a beat late, jumping up to grab it.
“Heavens! San-a! Heavens!!”
“Woooow?! Oppa what?! What?!!”
Before their teary, cheering eyes, I slowly folded index to pinky—
And thrust my thumb up strong.
Our family. Let's walk the flower path from now on.