The Spirits' Trends Research Society Through Samguk Yusa Analysis (4)
We demolished eight servings of premium short ribs.
"Whoa... that was really good."
Han Areum and Han Deuri slumped in their chairs, faces half-melted in bliss. Han Areum stared blankly at the ceiling and murmured,
"So tender..."
Han Deuri, in the exact same pose, gazing up through half-lidded eyes, muttered back,
"It melted in my mouth..."
"The meat..."
"The sauce..."
"It was fantastic..."
"Heavenly, literally...!"
"What were all those other meats we've eaten up till now?"
"Budget-friendly pleb meat."
"I don't think I can stomach pork leg anymore."
"Me neither. My stomach's ruined—won't settle for anything but Hanwoo now."
The siblings let out deep sighs. Feeling a pang of sympathy, I topped off their glasses without thinking. As the deep red wine filled them, they straightened up and grabbed their glasses.
"This is good too."
"I feel ashamed of my past self who thought three-thousand-won wine from the mart was decent."
Jang Gilsan blinked in genuine shock at that.
"There's three-thousand-won wine? Three dollars?"
The commoners erupted in outrage at his expression.
"Grrr! Rich bastard!"
"You bourgeois scum!"
"We need pitchforks! Massive ones!"
"Trickle-down only works with pitchforks!"
But as sips of the wine—bought with Jang Gilsan's money—went down, everyone mellowed out.
"Still, you're a good bourgeois, boss, so we forgive you."
"Yeah. This dinner's the real trickle-down. Love you, boss!"
Jang Gilsan chuckled at the siblings' usual skit. Aqua, feeling floaty after her sikhye, watched them and murmured,
[Siblings are such a curious thing.]
Everyone turned to her—all except Mandu, who was sprawled out snoring after stuffing himself with meat.
[What does it feel like to have a family bound by blood?]
At Aqua's unexpectedly serious question, the siblings exchanged glances. Han Areum spoke first.
"Well... it's annoying as hell sometimes, gets on your nerves... but no matter what, you know you've got someone unconditionally on your side. Reliable? Yeah, like that."
"Plus, we got through tough times together. Exaggerating a bit, it's like having a clone."
"We went through elementary, middle, high school, even college together—always stuck at the hip."
"Back in elementary, we even went to the bathroom together, right?"
"Our orphanage had a unisex bathroom to begin with."
"Oh yeah. They only added separate ones in middle school."
The siblings reminisced about their shared past—a realm no one else could touch. Aqua watched with fascination.
I asked,
"Don't you feel that way with the undines?"
[I'm not sure.]
We were different species, after all—maybe we'd never fully understand each other.
Han Areum asked,
"What about the Water Spirit King? He called you his daughter, right?"
[That's just Niagara calling me that on his own. Spirits don't have family in the human sense.]
Spirits are born from the great nature of the Spirit Realm. They're all family, yet none are.
"Why does Niagara call you that?"
[I don't know.]
"Has he always?"
[No. Hmm... probably a few years ago.]
Han Areum asked cautiously,
"Can I ask a bit more about Niagara?"
[Of course.]
"Were you two close?"
[Naturally. I'm his successor.]
Aqua gazed into the distance, as if recalling the past.
[I learned so much from Niagara. Born as the Spirit King's heir, my first memory is his face.]
She spoke matter-of-factly.
[From wielding spirit power to riding unicorns, I learned almost everything from him—even the best hot springs in the Spirit Realm and where the sweetest spring water bubbles up.]
But beneath that calm tone, a faint, undeniable affection shone through. To Aqua, Niagara was no different from a father who'd raised her.
With a bittersweet twinge, I asked,
"Aqua. When did Niagara start turning exclusive toward humans?"
Aqua glanced at the sea before answering.
[After the Wind Spirit King died. Yes, definitely then.]
She nodded slightly.
[Niagara loved the human world more than anyone. When he returned to the Spirit Realm, he'd always tell me stories of it, of his travels with his spirit user.]
I gently patted the back of her hand.
[That's when I dreamed of going to the human world too, watching him. I wanted to meet a spirit user and live as joyfully as he did.]
Aqua's eyes held a rare loneliness.
[But Niagara grew weary bit by bit. Caring for spirits exiled back after their users died. Then, when the Wind Spirit King perished, he cut off the human world entirely.]
"He didn't want any more spirits dying or getting hurt?"
[Exactly.]
Finishing her story, Aqua sipped her sikhye. Her eyes looked more drained than ever.
Han Areum stared silently into her wine. Han Deuri did the same. Niagara's position made sense to them too.
"Niagara made the call as a king."
Jang Gilsan spoke up.
"If new joys from outside harm your people, a true king knows when to cut them off."
That was a king's duty. But it was neglect too.
"Stagnant water rots."
I looked at Aqua.
"A society cut off from the outside out of fear doesn't grow. A king must know how to help his people evolve."
In a way, what Niagara and Aqua faced was just a generational clash. The old king clinging to tradition, the heir embracing the new.
"Aqua. What matters is what you think. What's your take?"
Aqua smiled.
[You know my thoughts well enough.]
"Yeah, true. Dumb question."
Aqua had already decided—rebelling against Niagara and leaving the Spirit Realm proved it.
[Coming to the human world was the best decision of my life!]
With a radiant smile, she clung to my hand.
[I met you.]
A grin spread across my face. I pulled her into a tight hug. Mandu swiftly wedged himself between us.
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua chuckled softly and continued from my arms.
[I believe other undines deserve this feeling too—the freedom to feel it.]
"Even if it means suffering, like Niagara says?"
[If fear of pain stops you, even insects couldn't hatch from eggs.]
True enough. Niagara had abandoned evolution out of fear.
"Let's win this, Aqua. For you and me. For the other undines."
[Of course!]
We nodded at each other. Our friends watched us warmly.
* * *
I was heading back from the bathroom. Han Areum stood by the room door, leaning against it like she was waiting for someone. Spotting me, she smiled and straightened up.
"Sunbae!"
"What're you doing out here?"
"Just thought I'd take a quick walk. Stomach's all bloated from eating too much. Wanna come?"
"Sure."
I retraced my steps down the hall. Han Areum kept rubbing her belly.
"That bloated, huh?"
"Might need some digestive meds."
"You did pack it away."
She grinned sheepishly, happily.
"But it was so good, you couldn't help it! Totally delicious!"
She smacked her lips, clearly craving more despite just eating. The siblings lived frugally. They worked part-time jobs year-round, but poured most of it into the orphanage kids.
'Goal's to buy out the orphanage someday.'
They could do it. Both A-rank awakeners like Jang Gilsan. Once they graduated the Academy, guilds would come calling.
'Probably join Gilsan's guild.'
He wasn't scheming to recruit them with these jobs. But they were the type to honor any debt, even a free meal.
We chatted idly as we reached the hall's end, where a balcony opened up.
"Whoa, nice view."
From the balcony, Samcheok Beach stretched out below. White foam crashed under the bright full moon. If Aqua saw it, she'd probably yell, [Cola sea!]
The sea never gets old.
Over twenty years by the coast, and its beauty never bored me.
We took in the view quietly. Glancing over, Han Areum was propped on the railing, watching me. Our eyes met, and she jumped in like she'd been waiting.
"But sunbae, you're holding up better than I thought."
"Gilsan said I looked rough?"
"No, just our guess. Losing a spirit you finally contracted after wanting it so bad... figured it'd wreck you."
I chuckled softly, turning to the sea. I'd met Aqua by the sea too.
"I've got Aqua."
A spirit user had a duty to keep their spirit happy and safe. Worrying them was failure.
"If I shake, she shakes too."
A sea breeze tousled Han Areum's hair. She smoothed it with one hand and asked,
"So inside, you're rotting away?"
"Came close, but you guys healed me up."
I smiled at her.
"Thanks for coming."
She snorted.
"We came for pure business reasons. Gonna milk Gilsan-sunbae for that paycheck."
"Fair. I'll buy dinner after it's all done."
"Beef's covered, so chicken's fine."
"Sashimi. Gotta have it here in Samcheok."
"With Aqua around?"
I chuckled.
"I'll have her catch it for us."
"Aqua catches fish too?"
"Yep. She's the all-purpose spirit."
I looked up. The full moon gazed down.
"I'll make sure you get some. Sashimi fresh-caught by Aqua."
Me too. With Aqua.
A cool night breeze swept my hair, carrying the sea's scent. Han Areum, who'd gone quiet, poked my side.
"This isn't a death flag, right?"
"Hey, don't jinx it."
I laughed softly.