Spirit Realm and Human Realm (1)
Han Areum lay blankly on the sofa, watching the Spirit NewTuber's video. Han Deuri sprawled on the floor in the next room, listening to the audio.
“……”
Jang Gilsan, having finished his morning shift, fiddled blankly with his phone.
Han Areum stared blankly at the ended video screen before suddenly speaking up.
“Hyunwoo-sunbae must be doing okay, right?”
Jang Gilsan's finger, scrolling through a meaningless wiki page, stopped abruptly.
“……Of course. The guy who beat Niagara.”
It was meaningless worry met with meaningless reassurance, but Han Areum needed these exchanges just to stave off the anxiety.
A small sigh escaped her lips.
Niagara had been somewhat bearable—at least he'd been within sight. But now he'd vanished to a place beyond sight or word.
“……If I were a spirit user, I could've helped.”
As she murmured that for the umpteenth time—
“Uwaaaah!”
Han Deuri shot up from his seat with a guttural yell. Han Areum and Jang Gilsan looked at him in surprise.
“Let's do something!” Han Deuri shouted, his hair a mess.
“What's the point of just worrying and feeling anxious like this? I'll go bald from stress!”
“You are balding.”
“That's not the point! It's summer for once, we're in Samcheok for once—gonna keep moping like this?”
Everyone knew what he meant. They'd come all the way to this distant Samcheok just for Kang Hyunwoo, sure—but wasting time like zombies while he was away was pointless.
Han Deuri worried about Kang Hyunwoo too. But worry was worry, and daily life was daily life—that was his stance.
Maybe he was right. No, he was right.
Thinking so, Jang Gilsan let out an involuntary chuckle.
“Can't believe we're fretting this much over that one guy.”
Of course, Kang Hyunwoo and Aqua were remarkable. But Jang Gilsan, Han Areum, and Han Deuri weren't inferior by any means.
Beyond their A-rank status, Kang Hyunwoo was heir to a massive guild. Han Areum's phone buzzed nonstop with messages from friends and seniors just wanting to see her face. Han Deuri, ever reliable, fielded constant calls from bosses offering jobs.
“What a guy.”
Of course, the three gathered here knew why.
Kang Hyunwoo had a kind power that lifted moods and brought comfort just by being there. To workaholic Jang Gilsan and people-weary siblings, he was a soothing willow to lean on anytime.
Naturally, his absence bred worry.
“But he'll pull through again.”
“Yeah.”
“That's what I'm saying—no need to worry.”
Jang Gilsan and the siblings trusted Kang Hyunwoo. They trusted his tenacity and will.
Wasting time fretting might even insult that trust.
Han Deuri, impulsive as he was, hadn't thought that far—but they were all of one mind in the end.
“Wanna hit the golf course for old times' sake?”
“I should help out at Mom's guesthouse.”
“Me too—help with laundry or something. Oh, and I'm not balding. My hair's just a bit fine.”
“Ah, sure. Sure.”
As everyone started to rise—
Blub blub—
Bubbles suddenly surged in the middle of the living room. The familiar sight had the siblings jumping up fast.
The meter-high bubbles burst with a pop.
Kang Hyunwoo's face appeared there.
“You all doing okay?”
It was Aqua's Spirit Realm passage.
“Sunbae!”
Han Areum flung herself from the sofa toward the passage, beaming.
“Sunbae! Is Pompeii okay? No injuries? All done?”
Representing everyone's questions, words tumbled from her.
Kang Hyunwoo smiled. “All good. No injuries. Ended peacefully.”
The three sighed in collective relief. Grateful for the reaction, he gave a kind-eyed smile.
“So you're coming back now?”
“In a few days. After-party first.”
“After-party?”
Kang Hyunwoo grinned. “That's why—sorry, but grab my wallet and pick up some stuff. And Gilsan.”
He held out something. A comic book.
“Appraise this artifact for me.”
* * *
Uluru stood before the Giant Cave.
Just that drew all spirits' gazes, voices hushed.
With pride and a touch of sorrow, she gazed at them all and spoke.
[Today, we proved once more that we are good and peaceful beings.]
Spirits gathered before her, one by one. Shining eyes held breath, fixed on her.
[There were misunderstandings, but we understood each other. There was sorrow, but we comforted one another.]
Some stood on tiptoe, not missing a word.
[The world has many differences. We can have different thoughts, speak different words.]
Uluru's eyes softly caressed each spirit.
[But remember this one thing. We are all good beings. Believe in yourselves, believe in each other, talk it out—and no spirit is beyond understanding.]
Uluru wasn't blaming Pompeii. Nor defending him.
Before calling someone wrong, understand and respect differences—that was her message.
'The exemplary mother of the Spirit Realm, content to observe all…… or so one spirit scholar said.'
Spirits were free and mischievous; at a glance chaotic disorder—but that was nature's way. Disorder over order. Chaos over rules was 'natural.'
'So maybe just observing without rules is the spirit way.'
I felt I understood Uluru—and the Spirit Realm—a bit more.
[Everyone got it, right?]
Uluru asked with a smile.
[Yes!]
All spirits roared back.
[Now it's my turn!]
Aqua popped out beside her like she'd been waiting.
[All settled—time for the after-party!]
She pointed to the spirits' rear—my side.
Spirits' eyes, fixed on Uluru, turned back.
I was just receiving snacks through the passage from Sia Clearwater, laying them out.
[What's that?]
[Sniff sniff! What's that smell?]
[Snacks!]
On the earthen table Terra made, spirit favorites piled high.
[Thanks for joining us! Eat up as thanks!]
[Waaah!]
[Looks yummy!]
No sooner had Aqua spoken than spirits charged the snacks.
Uluru hugged Aqua with a helpless look.
[Heeheehee!]
Aqua grinned brightly, grabbing Uluru's hand and dragging her to the snack table.
Nearly three hundred spirits stampeding—but so tiny, just adorable.
“Plenty of snacks—take it slow!”
Sia called worriedly, but they weren't listening.
Sylphs arrived first.
[Ooh! Fragrant!]
[Sniff! Potent!]
Their table held various teas—from every cafe at Samcheok Beach, dozens of cups ordered.
[Whoaaa!]
[What scent is this?]
[Flower aroma from hot water!]
Baby sylphs, never seen the human world, buzzed the table, shrieking joyfully.
[Hm……?]
A big sylph tilted his head.
[After-party, but no that?]
He exchanged glances with a few, then zipped into the woods.
Fetching something extra, probably.
Undines next.
Their table: assorted drinks. Main draw, spirits' fave—goat willow tea.
[What's this black water? Rotten?]
“It's cola.”
[Whoa! Fizzy!]
[Goat willow water too!]
Undines picked faves, sipping via spirit power.
[Yummy!]
[Try this!]
Giggling, they shared drinks. Transparent sky-blue bodies shifted hues with each sip.
[Goat willow tea…… been ages!]
Niagara joined Sia's side at the undine table.
[Let's share!]
Aqua too, of course.
[Have a cup!]
Aqua floated me goat willow tea via spirit power. I caught it in a Water Shield cup.
[Toast?]
Aqua's eyes rounded, then crinkled warmly.
[Of course! A toast, it is!]
She proffered squarely spirit-powered goat willow tea. I gently clinked my Water Shield.
[Heeheehee!]
Aqua beamed, thrilled just at that.
[Ah! Me too!]
[Aqua-nim! Toast with me!]
[Together!]
Undines mimicked, raising cups en masse. Classic undines—whatever Aqua does.
[Very well! Group toast!]
Aqua raised hers; undines clinked frantically against it.
[Toast!]
[Hehehe!]
Watching undines bliss out from toasting Aqua warmed my chest.
[Ahem…… Let's toast too, Sia.]
“Sure, cheers. You too, Hyunwoo-ssi.”
I toasted Niagara and Sia.
Sipping the bitter goat willow tea, I glanced at other tables.
Salamander table: Pompeii sniffled over ice cream.
[……Tasty.]
Tears glistening, he shoveled ice cream.
[Yum…… sniff.]
Sniffling or eating? Hard to tell.
Looked just a pure, young spirit.
[Sssit!]
[Shaaa…….]
Other salamanders ate ice cream, guarding Pompeii and babies.
Salamander bodies paled slightly from cold treats—temps dropping, slowing them.
'Makes 'em drowsy and mellow—perfect for a spent Pompeii.'
[Siii…….]
[S……sit.]
Newborn baby salamanders—hours old—dozed snoring after one bite.
Bigger ones licked babies mid-bite, busy.
'Instant big family.'
Over a hundred newborns from the recent clash.
'Nothing beats busy to beat the blues.'
Tending them would soothe Pompeii.
I eyed the gnomes.
Slowest walkers, last to arrive. But half-lidded eyes flipped 180° at chocolate.
[……Ooooh!]
Eyes wide, they stared at each other.
Earth spirits love nuts. Then coffee, chocolate.
Chocolate hit earth spirits hard.
'Gnomes go berserk on chocolate.'
Earth spirit users fondly called it the 'mysterious awakening state.'
Terra too.
[O……!]
Her eyes went wide.