The Best Way to Use Someone
To use someone, I paused to think.
Based on everything I'd heard so far, and judging by Gwangjeong and Sujeong's descriptions of the "clumsy woman," she was paraded around like something precious on the surface—but in reality, she was just a plaything for the True Truth Cult's upper echelons. And she knew it. She desperately wanted to escape that hellhole, whether in life or death.
A call had come from Seomho Group, and it was making her extremely anxious. From the words she'd muttered in prayer, it seemed the cult leaders planned to offer her body as a bargaining chip in some deal with them. Selling a person—or more precisely, someone's sexuality—to get what they wanted.
That wasn't particularly surprising. Leaving aside their production of that low-grade concoction, everything happening in True Truth Village was straight out of the playbook for any damned cult: tormenting others to death for personal gain, nonsensical rules that made no sense, violence that kept victims from even looking at their abusers, grueling labor to crush any stray thoughts. And on top of that, drug-fueled control—plus pimping out other people's bodies to line their own pockets.
They say everyone's thoughts run along similar lines, and it seems the thoughts of rotten scum do too. Well, sure—once you discard conscience, pity, and sympathy, life gets a lot easier. You can deceive and torment others with minimal effort, suck them dry without breaking a sweat, and live comfortably.
In True Truth Village's case, beyond power and money from those low-grade mixtures, they seemed to have some other scheme cooking. For now, though, I'd dig up more info through the clumsy woman. And considering my deal with Han Myeong-rae, she might prove useful for snatching up any proselytizers or believers who threw themselves into the cult. If one of their loudmouth preachers just vanished, they'd get suspicious.
Oh, right—whatever happened to Han Myeong-rae's recipe? Hopefully it lived up to my efforts with an incredible flavor. I'd have to ask Mom and Bini when they came by later.
"Master?"
"I'm. Thinking. Hold on!"
I stopped my thoughts at Gwangjeong and Sujeong's words and replied.
[To use someone, the best way is to give them what they crave most desperately. From what you saw, what did that woman want more than anything?]
"She wanted. To leave. True Truth Village!"
"Freedom! She craved. Freedom!"
Gwangjeong and Sujeong chimed in eagerly. Spot on.
[Exactly. But you can't just hand over freedom she'll lose right away. She knows that too.]
"She'll lose it?"
[The ones using her sit at the top of the True Truth Cult. They'll chase her down and drag her back for sure. So for her to have true freedom, there can't be anyone left to chase her. How do you make that happen?]
"Ah! Destroy. True Truth Village!"
"Yes! Topple. The True Truth Cult!"
Realization dawned, and they shouted the answer, sparkling with enthusiasm as they gazed at me.
"So. How do we. Turn the clumsy woman. Into a top-notch spy?"
"How do we approach her. So she'll trust us. And do anything?"
I grinned and said,
[You two become the "mysterious beings" delivering the will of the "High One" she prays to.]
"Mysterious. Beings?"
[Yeah. Beings so overwhelming at first sight that she has no choice but to believe.]
Even stuck in that godforsaken place, the clumsy woman had her own faith, praying to the High One as her god. And everyone knew what messengers of divine will looked like. If Gwangjeong and Sujeong combined forces, they could pull off a dazzling, fantastical display.
"We can. Do that?"
[Of course.]
I'd praised them earlier, so now it was time to reward them with qi—plenty to execute my plan flawlessly.
"Whoa. Master. This qi. Even better than before!"
"How does it. Keep getting. More amazing? Incredible!"
Seeing them delighted, marveling and chuckling, I began explaining: what form to take, what to say.
* * *
Park Young-sook approached the cooking with even greater care.
She slicked a bit of oil into the earthenware pot and stir-fried minced garlic with pork. Overcook the meat, and the burnt flavor would ruin the cheonggukjang's taste, so a steady medium-low heat was key, simmering patiently. Once the pork was mostly cooked, in went the perfectly fermented kimchi—no raw bite, no over-sourness, just tangy enough. Shake off any visible red pepper flakes for better presentation. Sauté until the meat finished cooking through.
Next, half-moon slices of zucchini, chopped onions, diagonally cut green onions, minced cheongyang peppers, shiitake mushrooms—all tumbled in. Then the rice-washing water. For a pork-free version, anchovy stock would do. When it boiled vigorously, add the cheonggukjang and tofu. Break up any clumps thoroughly. Simmer four to five minutes, and done.
"Whoa..."
The heavenly aroma of the cheonggukjang jjigae—potent enough to halt passersby in their tracks—had Kang Seol-bin gulping down saliva pooling in her mouth.
Gurgle.
She'd scarfed down a hearty bowl of soupy rice earlier upon arriving, but now the bubbling stew's scent mingled with the glossy fresh-steamed rice, and her stomach growled anew.
The four men at the table, who'd cleared it and waited patiently, felt it too.
"Ahem, hmm!"
"Mm..."
"..."
"That smell... haa..."
Nam Young-hu, president of a company used to fancy feasts; An Seong-hwan, section chief at the National Maritime Cultural Heritage Research Institute, no slouch in fine dining; Kim Dong-won, eyes previously gleaming over Toyotomi gold coins; even Gak Il-sik, bulking on premium protein off-season—all swallowed hard, staring at their empty bowls while stealing glances at the kitchen.
And finally—
"Food's ready!"
Clunk!
Six bubbling pots of cheonggukjang jjigae and six heaping bowls of rice. Gak Il-sik jumped up first, whisking the trays to their spots. They gazed reverently at the still-boiling pots and rice.
"Enjoy, everyone."
At Park Young-sook's words, four pairs of eyes swiveled to her, bowed deeply, then spoons rose. One scoop of the devilishly aromatic stew.
Slurp. Slurrrp. Gulp.
Chomp.
The moment the well-boiled stew hit their tongues—pure repetition followed. Spoon of jjigae. Spoon of rice. Side dishes like kimchi and pickled radish sat ignored—no chopsticks touched them. No time for sides amid the trance. Silently, politely, voraciously devouring without seeming greedy.
Park Young-sook beamed at the sight of noses buried in pots and bowls.
"Whoa... epic...!"
Kang Seol-bin, inhaling her own bowl, flashed Park Young-sook a thumbs-up.
"Oppa’s recipe is insane!"
"Wait, your brother's recipe? So this jjigae came from Kang San—"
"Yep!"
Gak Il-sik's surprise drew a proud grin from Kang Seol-bin.
"Mom and I were brainstorming new menu items, so he jotted it on my tablet. Said it was an old family recipe."
"Ooh..."
Gak Il-sik whistled in awe. Waking after eleven years was miracle enough—yet he recognized everyone, memories intact, right arm functional, and now this killer recipe?
"I thought you were versatile, Seol-bin, but your brother too."
"Haha, right? Rehab starts soon. Once he can sit up, wheelchair adventures everywhere!"
"Family trips. The best."
Gak Il-sik nodded vigorously, spoons flying anew until pots and bowls shone empty. The others too.
"Hoo! Delicious—thanks!"
"Seriously, amazing."
"How long since cheonggukjang this good..."
"Could eat 'til we burst and not regret it."
Not flashy or pricey, but the satisfaction dwarfed it. Tension melted, bodies relaxed.
"Coffee after?"
"Nah, we'll handle it."
An Seong-hwan waved it off, standing.
"Let's clear the table first."
"Sure, sure."
"I'll wash—"
"No way!"
Park Young-sook refused firmly; table cleared with dishes to the sink. Sipping sweet instant coffee, faces relaxed and smiling, they geared up to discuss promotions, contracts, bonuses, rewards—
Knock knock.
"Who is it? Kyung-hee unni?"
Wondering if Cha Kyung-hee smelled the jjigae and came begging another bowl, Park Young-sook called out—
Jingle.
"Hello..."
Not Cha Kyung-hee. A college girl in rumpled department sweats, brows drooping pitifully.
"Uh?"
She blinked at the men around the table, then relaxed seeing Park Young-sook and Kang Seol-bin.
"Dinner? Now?"
"Y-yes. I was passing by, and the smell was so good. Markets are closed, stomach's killing me... Thought you were done for the night, but... sorry to beg, could I grab a meal? I'll eat fast! Please? Worked a week on convenience store kimbap and lunchboxes. Craving hot rice... Almost done, heading home, but I'll crash and sleep hungry otherwise? But I'm so starved I'd wake up anyway, so..."
"Mm..."
Park Young-sook's heart twinged at the endless plea and bows. Past closing time normally, but after hearing about junk food and seeing her drained—
Glancing at her guests, all nodded okay. To the girl:
"It'll take time. Still good?"
"Yes! I'll wait!"
"We have one bowl of rice left—just need to boil jjigae—"
"Um, I have friends actually. Not many!"
"Friends?"
"Yes! One sec!"
She waved behind; eight more college kids piled in, faces screaming starvation. One clutched his belly dramatically, hunching.
"'Not many' my ass... nine total,"
Kang Seol-bin whispered. Park Young-sook poked her side, smiling.
"Come in, sit. It'll take a bit, like I said."
"Yes!"
"Thank you!"
"Thanks!"
"Life savers!"
Grateful chaos erupted.
* * *
Found it.
Amjeong located the target and smiled inwardly.
Master trusts me. Repaying that trust is only right.
Amjeong had always worked diligently for its master, but witnessing Earth Spirit lately fired it up more. Sure, Earth Spirit was so dense it deserved a solid smack—or a few—but a spirit was a spirit. Far stronger than a mere guardian like itself.
Thus, Amjeong yearned to clash with Earth Spirit, to gauge the realm gap, all because master believed in it.
Spirits are great. Even if Earth Spirit's slow. Makes sense, living in a dump like that.
Nodding, Amjeong fixed on the target: the "bastard."
"Buuuurp."
Staggering after a massive belch, somehow not toppling. Front view: face beet-red from booze, twisted lips spewing curses at no one. Amusingly, silent around tall, burly men passing by—but unleashing on shorter, slighter women, men, or hunched elders.
Now, a woman glued to her phone brushes past, oblivious—
"Hey, you fucking bitch!!!"
"Kyaa!!"
She startles, phone clattering, screen cracking—face frozen in terror.
"You mocking me too, bitch?! Fucking!!"
"N-no? No no!"
She snatches it up, shakes her head frantically, flees—legs buckling, she tumbles.
"Heh heh heh..."
The bastard smirks like he'd conquered the world, trudging on.
"Buuuurp."
Sluggish, swaying to steep, endless stairs—no handrail, dizzying height.
"Hah..."
Sighs up at them, hand on wall, climbs one by one.
"Fucking bitch... men, y'know? Big deals happen... right? Nag nag nag..."
Pauses mid-climb, panting—
"Me... fucking hell, not the type for this shit neighborhood... all that bitch's fault... if I'd just gotten the money then—"
Sighs, curses, resents—
"To do anything... yeah, gotta visit once more... still in that hospital? Ha. Kid. Better off dead... cancer. Gulping my precious cash... if push comes... yeah, heaven-sent hubby she tosses like trash... but kids are her world's treasure..."
Face twists uglily, scheming.
Spot on, master. You saw right through.
Amjeong nodded at the greed-distorted visage. Knew his next move; time to dispose.
Drunken stumble. Fatal fall. Perfect.
Recalled master's words: Sins best repaid in long, living torment.
Checked status. You're trashed, bastard.
Amjeong neared his nape.
"Hngh, heuk... urk, bleeech—"
Watched ragged breaths turn to dry heaves. Nearly at the top.
"Ptoo!"
Spits after heaving, wipes mouth on sleeve, straightens to climb—
Thud.
Amjeong gripped his nape—
Whoosh.
—yanked back.
"—?!"
Bastard's eyes bulge. Even one step's drop hurts with his height—but here, steep incline, great height.
"Wha—"
Body lifts airborne, crashes down. Heaviest part—head—led, guided by Amjeong to stair's sharp edge—
Crack!
Occiput caves. Eyes pop wide, roll back white, body slides limp. Sprawled askew, convulsing.
Crotch darkens, piss stench as urine mixes with flowing blood, pooling trails.
Amjeong watched it all, then acted to fulfill master's command precisely.
I'll ensure you never bother master or family again.
Amjeong gathered its energy.