Cut the Nonsense!
Wow. Wowaaa. Wowaaaa!
The death spirit kept rubbing its head nonstop while letting out exclamations of awe.
Wow. Really, really? You can see me?
【And it can talk, too.】
Wowww!
At my words, the death spirit hopped into the air and clapped its hands.
Huge applause! So you're one of those super-rare psychic types, huh, mister? Wowww! Then, then, could you pass a message to my dad? Tell him to drop whatever the hell he's doing right now and go get Yuna— Ah, wait. No. Before that, uh... yeah! The notebook! Use that to screw over those bastard—
「You! Keep saying bad words!」
Eek! Ah, I'll be careful! I promise!
As Amjeong barked again and lunged forward like it was about to flick the spirit's forehead, the death spirit quickly shrank back like a startled turtle.
It glanced at Amjeong with frightened eyes, then covered its mouth with its hands and whispered to me.
Hey, is this okay to say? Anyway, what's the deal? Is it your subordinate or something? It looks super cute, but why's it so damn temperamental—
「You! I hear everything!」
Kyah!
【Notebook?】
When I asked about the word that caught my attention, the death spirit, who had been frantically waving its hands to push Amjeong away, pouted.
Yeah. A tiny little notebook. Just about the size of my palm, but that's got all the evidence, or at least I think so! It came from some super important guy's clothes!
【What evidence?】
Uh... well, you know! Help me out first, and I'll spill everything! Can't have you just swallowing the notebook whole, right? That thing's worth a ton of money! They were gonna blackmail someone with it and cash in big, but that could've gotten them killed... So selling it to someone trustworthy and getting paid—that's the way! And you gotta give some to my family too, 'cause Yuna needs money for stuff. How about 5-5? Or 6-4's fine! You take 6, I take 4!
I almost chuckled inwardly at how it jumped straight into haggling and profit splits.
「You. Want to ask. Master. For a favor?」
Uh... yeah, pretty much?
「Then. Pay upfront. First.」
Amjeong spoke sternly to the death spirit.
「Payment first. Job after. Your way. Job first. Payment later. No good.」
Uh... so, hand over the notebook first?
「Yes!」
Uh... but...
The death spirit hemmed and hawed, sneaking a glance at me.
「Master. Trustworthy. Many death spirits. Helped by Master. I know all. Master. Amazing.」
Ooh? For real? What kinda stuff have you been up to?
As the death spirit's eyes widened in curiosity, Amjeong replied in a slightly boastful tone.
Well, I'd always demanded payment from the death spirits at the nursing home, but this was about parents who'd outlived their kid. And from what it'd said so far, the notebook and "evidence" suggested a messy backstory to the death. If handing it over first didn't sit right, I was about to break my usual rule and offer to handle the job upfront.
Fine! Okay! Advance payment it is!
The death spirit clenched its fist and nodded firmly.
I don't have time to move the notebook myself yet, y'know? But there's a ghost there that can move stuff! Looks kinda scary, but it talks and treats me nice... So, uh, I'll go grab the notebook! But you better not take it and ghost me, okay? I'll haunt you forever, yapping nonstop so you can't sleep! Curse every damn thing you do!
【Other ghosts?】
Like me—ghosts buried there secretly! Quite a few!
Wait, what? Secretly buried? Quite a few?
I died falling off a cliff while running away, so mine was more accident than murder... But I heard some got silenced—whacked to shut 'em up. Not all in good shape, though. Anyway, I'll snag the notebook! That means you're helping me out, right? Okay?
The death spirit grinned wide.
No, "okay" my ass—this wasn't something to smile about so brightly.
Our country wasn't some lawless hellhole where kidnappings, shootouts, and murders happened in broad daylight on the streets. Running away and dying? Silenced? And quite a few?
So, where you headed now? I can't track yet after just seeing someone once. The ghost who taught me tips said I'd be able to after a bit. And way later, more powers... Anyway! Where you going?
I pondered amid the spirit's torrent of words.
I'd planned to figure out what happened to the girl, tell her parents where the body was, and call it done. But things had ballooned bigger than expected.
Oh. And helping me helps a buncha people! Some kids came to the lodge—super young ones! Those crazy bastards! So it's good deeds! You'll get good karma! If I go to heaven, I'll pray big-time for you!
【...Kids?】
Yeah. Kids. I died trying to run off with one!
What the... I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed a sigh.
No matter how long it took or how messy, I had to handle it. Uproot it completely.
【How long to go get it and come back?】
Lemme see... Five hours? Six? Something like that?
Then it'd be faster to have it come to the hospital.
【Come to Happiness Nursing Hospital. Grab anyone and say you're looking for the Mountain Spirit.】
Mountain Spirit? Wow! You're not a psychic—you're a mountain god? Thought those were just in fairy tales! Don't they have long white beards and robes? Or did you just become one recently? Do mountain gods follow trends now? And why the wheelchair? You're a mountain god!
I shot Amjeong a quick glance, and it instantly got the hint, charging at the death spirit.
「You! Too loud! Go now! Don't waste. Master's precious time!」
Ow, ow ow! I'm going! I said I'm going! You got issues!
Amjeong poked at the spirit's body all over like a shepherd prodding a goat's butt with a stick—poke poke poke!—and the death spirit, face twisted in misery, bolted outside.
Wait for meee!
I caught a glimpse of it scurrying off, then looked ahead again—
"Oppa. What're you thinking so hard about?"
Bin-i had turned from the passenger seat to look at me.
"Mm. Now that you're moving around more, you've got all sorts of thoughts, I bet... But for now—no, for a good while—you just focus on you. Getting healthy is top priority. Got it? Don't worry about money. I'll be earning decent soon, and Mom's restaurant'll boom."
Aigoo. Bin-i. I've got a stash of gold and gems tucked away already. Plus, with the delusion pouches Pungjeong brought, circling the country based on the memories they spit out'll pile up more. Gotta figure out how to cash that in.
"So, let's get you healthy quick!"
As she squeezed my hand tight, I gripped back with equal force.
You bet. Healthy it is.
Screech.
"We're here."
With Gak Il-sik's words, the car stopped.
With help, I got out and smiled at the sleek building and its sign.
The exact sign from when Mom first opened shop. Green background, white letters: Mom's Taste Restaurant.
The fresh building clashed with the weathered sign, sure—but I loved it. I remembered Mom's beaming face hanging it up.
"Told her to change the sign when moving, but she wouldn't. Said vintage and retro are trending, so she'd keep it no matter what. No choice—sign stayed."
Bin-i sighed dramatically and shook her head.
As Gak Il-sik grabbed my wheelchair—
Jingle jangle.
The shop door opened, revealing a bustling interior. An auntie picking her teeth with a toothpick spotted us, startled, and yelled inside.
"Park lady! Park lady! The kids are here! The kids!"
And—
"San-a! Bin-i!"
Mom rushed out in a fluster. Strands of hair peeked from under her sweat-damp headscarf. Hwajeong stuck right to her side.
「Master! No trouble!」
I raised both arms with a big grin, and Mom hugged me gently, patting my back.
"How's it look, San-a? Pretty cool, right? The sign too?"
I naturally gave a thumbs-up—
"Hey, everyone! Park lady's son is here! The one who woke up after 11 years! Come say hi!"
"Aigoo, you—!"
Mom startled and waved her off frantically—but
"What? For real? Lemme see!"
"San's here? Saw him once ages ago!"
"Where? I got pocket money for—"
Patrons poured out joyfully already.
Haha.
"Hoo—"
The man in sunglasses stood before the large door, catching his breath.
No reason to be winded getting here, but prepping for whatever fallout after reporting inside.
Right before entering, he pulled out a mirror to check his look.
He'd gotten rare permission to come here. Always on guard against slacking into his usual sloppy work getup.
Thanks to that, his deliberate polish now screamed elite corporate type—sharp suit, neat everything.
Heh. Who'd peg this as the runaway fam boss?
Satisfied, he steadied his breath, raised a hand to the door.
Knock knock.
He entered, stopped at a proper distance.
The man eyed the back of the middle-aged exec called "Won Manager" at Gold Forest Group, facing away.
After waiting silently a while—
"Byeon Team Leader. Heard Jeong Kyung-rok's useless now?"
"Yes."
"Shame. Put real effort in."
Won Manager clicked his tongue, stood, and turned.
"With this mess, Chairman's grand plan delays again."
"I'm sorry."
Byeon bowed at ninety degrees.
"No. Not your fault. Was one possible outcome. That punk wrecking himself or someone—tying up loose ends. Didn't expect blindness, though."
Won shook his head and continued.
"The Mountain Lodge still running smooth?"
"Yes. As you know, minor hiccup last time, but cleaned up. Missing girl's dad's posting flyers, but cops see it as runaway—no big interest. Time'll bury it."
"Good. Has to."
Won smirked, pleased with the crisp reply.
"All key assets for Gold Forest Group. I trust you."
"Yes."
"Let's see... Been five years since you took that gig?"
"Yes."
"Still up for it?"
"Yes."
"Time you ditched 'team leader' and moved up. Smooth handover to someone reliable first. Last guy did okay?"
"Yes."
Byeon smiled outwardly fine, but inside fought rising panic at "Mountain Lodge."
No way they know. Wouldn't call me if they did.
He'd never hidden anything from Won before, but now desperately concealing one thing: losing the vital notebook.
Kept in a safe usually, carried to the lodge only—names of VIPs enjoying every vice and feast, dates, services logged.
If not for that damn bitch...!
The idiot girl who'd fled with a worthless brat, plummeting to a frozen ravine. Hauled up her blue corpse, searched every inch—no notebook.
Had to be hidden en route, but still unfound.
Coded, so no one deciphers... but
If cracked and leaked? Catastrophic for all. Providing unspeakable pleasures and delicacies, leashing elite offspring from politics and business. Mutual blackmail held them—attack one, all crumble. So absolute secrecy bound them.
Find that notebook fast.
After report, Byeon bowed politely and left.
Drove far to an empty spot, got out, scanned surroundings, pulled a burner phone, jabbed shortcut angrily. As soon as it connected—
"You worthless shits! Cut the ghost bullshit! Gave you talismans or whatever—find it and bring it to me ASAP! Tear the whole mountain apart if you have to!"
Ignoring their excuses, he spat orders and hung, panting in rage.
All excuses—ghosts? As if!
Ghosts sighted, scary, won't enter woods, bad vibes... Utter crap. Wanted to snap their necks, but they knew too much—had to keep them.
All that bitch's fault!!
Grinding his teeth—
"Urk!"
Byeon curled shrimp-like, shuddering.
Ice water dumped over him—whole body chilled, shoulders stabbed by massive blades in agony.
"Urghh—"
Bit back the scream, fumbled a small wooden box from his pocket.
Trembling hands from pain opened it, popped a red capsule, swallowed.
Gulp.
Fishy blood scent slid down, pain vanished instantly.
"Hoo..."
Still hunched, he wiped sweat-beaded brow, sighed relief.
Without these pills...
Hospitals couldn't diagnose the chills and pain, but red capsules worked wonders. Byeon now truly grateful to True Truth Cult he'd dismissed as scam.
Three days' worth left... Gotta resupply. Annoying rituals and prayers each time.
But worth dodging this pain. Byeon hurried off.
Notebook found, smooth sailing again... Money and power in my grasp.
For that, he'd kill or use anyone—like always.