Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: New Moon Shadows 3
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According to the explanation, everyone inside the Flower Mugwort Tea House could remember this repeating night.
Just looking at tonight alone made it clear. Kang Areum, who had never even encountered the Ghost Bridge Society before, had come looking for them of her own accord. She said that memories she'd never experienced felt like dreams lodged in her head at some point.
The others were probably the same. Ibi herself remembered the events in detail, but they all felt faintly dreamlike.
It was limited to inside the Flower Mugwort Tea House, but the influence apparently reached a bit further. They retained vague memories up until the point when the group split into two. Including the scene where Kang Areum tore that shadow monster to shreds.
But only Ibi remembered what happened after that. Even she didn't know why there was such a difference. Of course, even before setting up that spell, she had been the only one who remembered the repeating nights.
In the end, Ibi had no choice but to explain everything that followed in detail.
She recounted walking with Nati through the bustling streets to Central Tower. She faithfully relayed their conversation along the way, omitting only the personal parts.
The explanation continued up to the point of climbing to the tower's rooftop. Describing her own death was a bit tricky. It wasn't like she'd almost died—it was the real deal, shattered to pieces. How do you even tell someone about an experience no one else in the world has had?
And to top it off, this wasn't even the first time Ibi had died in the past few months. Eaten by some man-eating box, decapitated on the spot... How had her life come to this? She felt like sighing in lament.
"...Anyway, that's how it went. That's everything."
Having finished her explanation, Ibi glanced at Mina and Kang Areum standing off to the side.
Of course, after they'd split up for separate reconnaissance, Ibi had no idea what happened to them. She hadn't even talked to them before dying, so she had nothing to report.
Nati had probably sent the two toward the river, right?
"What about us? What did we do?"
Mina sounded frustrated as she asked, but Ibi had no answer to give.
That's when Nati stepped in to respond.
"There probably wasn't much to report on that side either. If I sent them to the river, I can guess what I was thinking."
"Well, since it's you, sure."
Kang Areum, who had been listening silently until now, crossed her arms. Then she blurted out,
"You've been talking like you're the only one who knows what's going on. Quit beating around the bush and just spill it already."
Everyone there shot Nati the same expectant look, so he wouldn't wriggle out of it this time.
Nati gave an awkward smile.
"It's still just a hypothesis."
"Hypothesis or not, we'll judge for ourselves—just tell us."
Nati straightened up and nodded.
"Fine."
And then, as if it were no big deal, he continued,
"I think this whole mess is the work of the New Moon Shadows."
A murmur rippled through the group.
But Ibi was the only one who didn't know what "New Moon Shadows" meant, so she couldn't join in the reaction. Swallowing her slight embarrassment, she had no choice but to ask.
"Um... so... what are New Moon Shadows?"
Fortunately, no one scolded her, and she got an explanation.
"They're a type of shadow yokai. Some say they parasitize shadows, others that shadows themselves gain malice. I think both are right. And they're a hive mind. Countless individuals sharing a single consciousness."
"Having malice means... they're harmful?"
"Yeah. They eat people. You could call them evil spirits. But they're still part of the natural order, like all things in the world. It's hard to outright label them as purely evil. Of course... that doesn't mean we should understand them causing disasters like this."
"I'd like to hear more details."
Nati glanced at his watch and shrugged.
"As long as shadows exist, New Moon Shadows are everywhere. People often get the eerie feeling that someone's watching them even when they're alone. That's not just imagination. It's a sign that their shadow is separating from its owner... slowly developing its own ego."
Ibi flinched and looked down at her own shadow. Under the bright fluorescent lights, it was just there, plain as day.
"No way. Shadows are just what happens when light gets blocked. What's there to have an ego about?"
"You've heard ghosts don't cast shadows or reflect in mirrors? To be precise, spirits don't lack shadows—they don't need them. Everything is born with a shadow, even inanimate objects. Shadows aren't born from light's absence; light merely reveals the shadow that was always there, invisible otherwise. It's truly the other half of the soul, your second self."
It was a deeply unsettling explanation. Ibi, staring at her shadow, turned to Mina and Kang Areum. Did that mean they didn't need shadows?
"When that solitary feeling of being watched repeats, the shadow grows stronger until it devours its owner and seizes control of the soul. Those devoured... become New Moon Shadows."
"Inanimate objects too?"
"Yes, even them. Ever hear of people or things vanishing without a trace, even when you swore you left them right there? That's because they've become New Moon Shadows."
The thought of her beloved childhood teddy bear, which she'd never let out of her sight, now prowling around like Chucky eating people—it filled her with a strange melancholy.
"Okay... I get that much. But what does that have to do with this endless Halloween night? How are man-eating shadow yokai connected?"
Everyone else perked up their ears too—this was the part they'd all been wondering about.
"New Moon Shadows have an instinct to expand their territory. As I said, they're a hive mind, and each hive influences a vast area. Not exactly matching human districts, but shadows are tied to them, so there's overlap. Basically, one New Moon Shadows hive can swallow an entire city like Woncheon City."
"How does that relate to my question?"
"Think about it. Shadows are bigger and denser at night than during the day, right? Common knowledge."
"But earlier you said shadows are innate to each person."
"Sure, but their size definitely changes with time. One per person, but the volume is fluid. Connect that to their territorial expansion drive—what do you get?"
It wasn't a hard question. Ibi murmured in reply,
"An eternal night benefits the New Moon Shadows?"
Kang Areum, who had been sitting quietly listening, looked up. She still didn't seem convinced.
"That's just motive. An endless night is the dream of every New Moon Shadow. But the world is still divided into day and night, isn't it? If this is their doing, you need to explain the 'how.'"
"They have that power. Not enough to blanket the whole world in darkness, but within a hive's influence... a single city like this? Plenty."
"But there's never been any rumor of them succeeding before..."
"There has. We just can't recall it. No one remembers places erased by New Moon Shadows. If we don't resolve this, Woncheon City will end up the same."
Kang Areum fell deep into thought. Then she spoke.
"I acknowledge the possibility... but it's impossible in a city this size. Wouldn't there be a Domain Lord to stop the New Moon Shadows? Where's this city's Domain Lord?"
"......"
Nati fell silent for a moment. Then, realizing he couldn't dodge it, he raised his fan and pointed somewhere.
The fan pointed straight at Aerin.
"...What?"
This time, Kang Areum reacted with genuine shock, as if she couldn't believe it.
"No, she's just an ordinary human. No offense, I know you've got skills... but you being the Domain Lord? That's absurd."
"Yeah. It doesn't make sense."
Aerin herself looked grim as she said it.
"I'm just the acting Domain Lord."
"I've never even heard of that happening. Especially with a human."
"Well, this doesn't seem like the time for a full explanation."
She averted her eyes slightly, replying in a calm voice.
"In the end, all this mess is because I wasn't strong enough."