Prologue: Fishing Up My Monster Wife
My hobby is fishing. As a kid, I went out a few times with my dad. It hit me right in the tastes, and it stuck as a hobby ever since. Modern life is complicated and hectic, but when I was fishing, I could forget everything and just focus on that. It was great.
"Alright! Let's do this!"
The spot I'd come to fish today was the Yellow Sea. I live in Incheon right now, so it was my go-to fishing spot. Of course, today was a little different from usual. I'd rented a boat to head out farther and try my luck.
"Flounders, rockfish—all wiped out."
Having just gotten my boat license, I leisurely steered out to the middle of the sea. I anchored roughly, pulled out my rod, and cast it into the depths. The float sank with a drrip drrip, and then it was just waiting. I killed time staring blankly at the ocean.
"Hm? Oh?"
How long had it been? The rod started shaking hard, like something had hooked on. I grabbed the handle quick and reeled like mad.
"Heavy. This a monster catch?"
The feel through the rod was no joke. It had real weight—definitely something special. Heart pounding, I yanked hard and hauled it out of the water.
"Jackpot! ...Not?"
It wasn't the monster fish I'd pictured. Hell, it wasn't even a fish. Some unidentified stone slab? A round slate made of rock, dangling from the float.
"What the hell. Looks kinda special."
If it'd been ocean trash, I'd be pissed, but this slab felt different. Maybe an ancient relic. Something with archaeological value. I'd get it appraised when I got back.
"Anyway, back to fishing."
That was for later. Right now, fishing mattered more than some slab. I'd dragged this boat out here—had to catch at least ten!
"Arrrgh!"
But cocky as I restarted, I shockingly didn't land a single fish that day. Damn. Felt like a good day too. Bucket empty except for the slab, I trudged home.
A month passed since that sea fishing trip, and my daily life looked the same on the surface. Even my closest acquaintances probably wouldn't notice. But I knew deep down something was off.
"Something's weird."
The stuff happening lately had a creepy edge. Like dreaming every night of sinking into water. Or hearing an unknown voice when it rained. That kind of thing kept piling up. Sure, I could chalk it up to stress—nightmares from work, hallucinations. But this on the back of my hand? No explaining it.
"Why the hell scales?"
Looking down, there they were: dark blue scales sprouting on my skin. A few days ago, I woke up and bam—they were there. Scales on a human hand. I scoured the internet for diseases, but nothing like this in Korea.
"..."
All the weird signs from the last month. I had a prime suspect, holed up in my storage right now. Half suspicious, half worried, I plunked the culprit slab on the kitchen table.
"What the hell are you?"
The slab I'd fished up looked the same as when it came out—dried off, sure, but no ominous vibes. Just a stone slate with a fish drawn on it. Poorly drawn, sure—looked like a monster—but that was it.
"Cursed or something?"
Who knows right now. Movies and novels love cursed slabs, but this is reality. Hard to buy actual curses. Still...
"Creeps me out."
Whatever. I'd grabbed it thinking I'd sell it anyway. Better ditch it quick for my sanity.
"Pawnshop it is."
Sorry to the pawnbroker, but survival first. I looked up a nearby shop, showered roughly, and crashed. Next morning, I headed there early and showed him the slab. He inspected it closely, poked and prodded with tools, then nodded satisfied.
"Decent demand on this. 300,000 won sound good?"
"Deal!"
He liked it—offered a solid price. I'd figured 50k tops. Unexpected pocket money.
"...Jackpot?"
Suffered a month for it, but 300k? Worth it. Might fish up another. Random thoughts like that as I headed to work. Bonus cash meant chicken and beer on the way home, good mood.
"La la la~"
Beep beep beep. Ding~ Home, punched the code, opened the door casual. Same old scene... not.
"What the fuck?"
House flooded, slab sprawled in the living room middle.
Something was seriously wrong. House trashed from the flood—furniture soaked, even the flooring squelching. No clue how to fix. But crazier: something more urgent.
"What the actual?"
Slab in the living room center. Identical to the one I'd pawned that morning. Almost thought it was the same at first glance!
It's the same slab...
Deny reality all I want, it was the exact one I'd sold. Pawnbroker didn't bring it back. Supernatural bullshit—beyond reason. Spine chilling, even if not summer yet.
"Clean first."
Slab bugged me bad, but house first. No harm yet, but delay and I'd rip up the floors.
"Ocean indoors."
Mops, old rags—all out, but water wouldn't quit. Coulda come quiet. What the drama?
"Done-ish."
Hour later, stretched my back, finally rest. Glanced over—the slab on the table, eyes met.
"..."
[....]
No eyes on a slab, but felt like staring contest. Me crazy? Nah—slab half-alive confirmed. Swept in supernatural crap, better play along than smash or exorcise.
"Hear me? If yes, move."
[...]
"Can't move? Listen then."
I kept talking. Can you move? Understand me? Want something? Wrote, gestured—full try. Felt pathetic, but options limited. Be friendly, beg no harm.
"Chicken?"
[....]
"Yeah. Too much even for me."
After that circus, day done. Quick wash, bed prep.
"Gonna sleep?"
[....]
"Please stay put while I sleep. Please."
Scared it'd mess me up asleep, but month passed fine. No grudge over pawnshop? Prayed not.
That night, I dreamed. The sinking-in-water one I got often lately. But tonight, deeper. Past sparkling surface, through dark blue mid-depths, into pitch-black abyss.
What the.
Usually dream-foggy, but aware now. How to take this? Nothing to do but sink.
...
Sank forever into void. No light, no ripples—ultra-deep sea, cosmic cold empty.
[Glub glub]
Just my oxygen bubbles rising—only difference from space.
How long?
Slab culprit likely. Some intent—get on with it. Scary hanging here.
Then, faint vibration.
Hm?
Leaf fall, butterfly land—missable if focused. Idle me caught it, turned.
And faced a god.
.....
[.....]
Our eyes met. Or not—hers dwarfed me. Veins bigger than me. I was dust to her. No human locks eyes with dust.
[Unintelligible Roar]
Eek...
But she spoke. Beastly roar at first, then soft, girly—little girl's voice in my ear.
Um. This your language. Right?
'Yes. Korean, yeah.'
God chatting girl-voice? Cute twist. God cute? I'm off too. Dream numbing fear? Or...
You. Misunderstanding. Me. No harm you.
'Really? Safe?'
Totes.
Safe confirmed. No doubt—why lie to me? Lies for equals. Bugs? No need.
'Phew... Relax and chat then.'
Good attitude.
'So... Shin-nim? Why'd you call me? Okay to ask?'
Straight—no beating around. Gods impatient. No clue why me. Nothing to offer her.
No panic. Listen.
'Got it, Shin-nim.'
So...
Paused, tension ease, then:
You. Be. My. Husband.
'Pardon?'
What. Ears broken? Doubled-check, but god-logic beyond me.
Just said yes. No take-backs.
'Wait—'
Sending home. See ya hubby.
'Shin-nim? Shin-nim?!'
She said it, and I rocketed up from abyss like ejected. Burst through surface, out of water.
"Gasp!"
I jolted awake in bed.