Mental Realm (1)
Truth Research Society, huh. No clue what those guys were about, but it was a name I had zero interest in getting tangled with.
The letter promptly sank the cabin with it. I shoved the name out of my mind as best I could.
"I didn't see a thing."
The cabin was empty, and I hadn't found anything there. Self-hypnosis complete.
Before long, I reached what looked like a port.
"Location..."
I pulled out my smartphone to check. Somehow, I'd ended up in Gyeonggi Province—roughly three hours from Yeonhae City. No traffic jams on the ocean, so I could make it much faster.
"...."
With that, I manipulated the waves and headed north. I passed a few ships along the way, but the perception distortion magic kept anyone from noticing me.
[Screee?!]
"What the hell."
The distortion was so intense it nearly caused a collision with a seagull now and then, but I made it to the waters off Incheon without major issues. A glance at my watch showed 3 p.m. Considering it was a holiday, perfect timing to meet someone.
"Should I do it now?"
I had an appointment lined up anyway. I'd told them to let me know a spot when they had time, so meeting nearby worked fine.
"Does now work?"
[Of course. Where shall we meet?]
"I'll send the location."
I killed time at a cafe with a nice view until someone sat down next to me. Glancing over, I saw a guy in seriously sharp fashion.
"...You're pretty hip."
"Thank you."
Practical hanbok straight out of Gyeongbokgung Palace, topknot hairstyle, even a gat hat. The perception distortion magic was on point—no risk of going viral on SNS.
"So, what's this about?"
"Well..."
I was the top dog in this dynamic. No need to beat around the bush or play nice. Even without a four-legged friend vibe, I cut straight to it.
The man nodded like he got it and pulled a talisman from inside his overcoat, handing it over.
"A senior elder from the Daehan Mu-dang Association wishes to meet you, Jin-seok."
"Hm..."
A major elder, huh. I'd heard the term from Cheonggeom Nosabu before. Word was, it was Yu-hwa's grandmother?
"Do you know anything about my colleague?"
"You mean Yu-hwa?"
I probed a bit, and surprisingly, they seemed close. But agassi? Mu-dang Association execs called her grandmother "elder," and she got "young lady" treatment too. Made me think Yu-hwa might come from some prestigious family.
Why's a girl like that working at a company...? Oh, right—her parents opposed it. A grandmother who's a Mu-dang Association bigwig and regular folks against shamanism. Instinct told me Yu-hwa's family life wasn't all smooth sailing.
"Got it. I'll meet her."
"Tear the talisman, and it'll take you there."
For those reasons, I decided to see Yu-hwa's grandmother. I wanted to talk with her anyway. Plus, the Mu-dang Association meant seeing Yu-hwa. Sounded fine, but I wouldn't relax until I checked on her myself.
"I'll wait here. Go and come back."
"Yep."
With that, I took the talisman from the man and tore it in half. My whole body floated up at once. When I opened my eyes again, a hanok mansion loomed right in front of me.
"This place..."
A quick look around revealed I was in the garden—specifically, on the path connecting the main gate to the mansion. A pond sat right beside me, and across from it stood a massive pine tree.
"Sacred tree?"
No telling how many centuries it'd lived. It radiated faint mana—definitely sacred.
"Hm..."
I wanted to inspect it up close, but no dice. The entire garden, paths aside, was crammed with dense formations. My magic eyes picked them up clear as day. Step on three or more, and I'd drop dead on the spot.
[The door is open. Come in.]
"...."
As I stood there, a voice came from the mansion. No sense keeping the host waiting, so I headed inside.
"Whoa..."
The interior was serene. Every building felt ancient, like I'd time-slipped to the Joseon era.
[A guest? A guest!]
[Welcome, welcome!]
"Uh... nice to meet you?"
On the way, I ran into servants—dokkaebi, of all things. Topknotted dokkaebi sweeping with brooms and folding towels. I tensed, thinking enemies, but their cheerful greetings eased me up, and I returned the courtesy.
"Here we are."
Eventually, I reached the innermost building—the anchae, inner quarters.
"Hm..."
I extended my senses, but couldn't see inside. More formations, no doubt. Touching the door handle revealed a powerful barrier. Could I break it at full power? Probably not without Shin-nim's help.
[Come in.]
"Pardon the intrusion."
As a guest, no reason to smash anything. I slipped off my shoes at the entrance, opened the door, and stepped into the anchae.
The room had a dim vibe, lit softly by candles. In the back, a curtained bed.
"Nice to meet you, Jin-seok. I'm Sin Yu-seon, Yu-hwa's maternal grandmother."
"Hello."
The voice came not from the bed, but beside it. Turning, I saw Yu-hwa's grandmother seated on a cushion.
Elegant.
Her hair was silver-white, wrinkles evident. Yet her soft smile and youthful features made her age a mystery. Face value? Mid-50s, maybe...
"If you don't mind, how old are you?"
"A lady never reveals her age."
Even maxing out my magic eyes yielded nothing. No age, no power level. Beyond me entirely.
"Sit and have some tea. I just brewed it—nice aroma."
"Thank you."
I sat opposite Yu-seon grandmother and sipped. An inexplicable pressure weighed on me—not uncomfortable, more like awe in a sacred temple. You know you don't need to feel it, but you do anyway.
"Tastes good."
"It calms the mind. My personal blend."
One sip, and my heart eased right up. The tea seemed ordinary, but a glance showed anomalies on the teapot—imbued effects, what folks call spirits.
"First, my thanks. Jin-seok, truly grateful for saving my granddaughter."
"...."
We chatted over tea, and just as I geared up for real talk, Yu-seon grandmother knelt politely before me.
No need for that! My inner Confucian dragon was scorching my conscience.
"She's a precious colleague. No need to thank me this much..."
"No. Gratitude must be proper when due."
I tried lifting her, but she wouldn't budge, knees planted firm. I get saving her granddaughter, but I'm the one uncomfortable here, granny...
"And greetings to the great one as well."
[Ahem?]
Suddenly, she mentioned Shin-nim. My wife, lounging on my back observing, manifested her presence in reality. Familiar to me, but enough to crush a normal soul—yet Yu-seon grandmother held steady, unflinching.
"For aiding in her rescue. We owe you an immense debt."
[Empty words aren't my thing.]
"Pure sincerity, no lies. Believe me."
[....]
Shin-nim eyed her a moment, then chuckled and snuggled back into me. The pressure lifted. Only then did Yu-seon grandmother raise her head, smile intact.
You like her?
[A bit? She's got manners.]
Oh ho...
Shin-nim treated most humans worse than bugs, but drawing this much favor on first meet? Rare as hell. Old age means survival, or something?
"Thanks accepted—now let's talk. This position's killing me..."
"Ufufu. If my benefactor asks."
Only after did I escape the awkward spot. Now for normal conversation.
"She was a real troublemaker as a kid."
"Yu-hwa? For real?"
"Don't get me started. Climbing roofs, running off with the cauldron."
"Hahaha! That's hilarious!"
Smooth talks need common ground. We had Yu-hwa. Turns out, unlike her competent office self, kid Yu-hwa was a menace.
"So, why'd you call me? Spill it."
"You noticed, huh?"
"Summoning me to the anchae was suspicious enough."
I'd seen a parlor on the way—why here? Plus that curtained bed screamed shady. Something inside, for sure.
"This way."
"What's in the bed?"
As expected, she led me there and dispelled the curtain's barrier herself.
[Heavens, lift the veil.]
"...."
The ceiling ripped open—or felt like it. For a split second, sucked toward the sky. Magic eyes caught a glimpse: palace in the heavens. Heavenly palace and Yu-seon...
Not ordinary.
Looks like the spirit granting her power wasn't a ghost, but a true heavenly deity.
"Huh? Why's this kid here."
"Come in."
The veil vanished, revealing the person inside. And I froze.
Why the hell is she here? Yu-seon opened it first and went to the bedside, so I followed.
"Why's Yu-hwa here?"
"Well..."
Lying on the bed: Yu-hwa herself. In pajamas, utterly still. Breathing fine, magic eyes showed no major issues—but she wouldn't call me for nothing. Conclusion: my eyes were trash.
"Since that incident, she hasn't woken up."
"...The palace energy?"
Palace energy had entered her body. Tough as she was, just a regular person—Saga-level anomaly qi invading. No shock if it wrecked her mind from the disparity.
"Not certain. But she's locked her own heart away—that much is sure."
"Hmm."
Yu-seon took my hand, eyes earnest.
"One request."
"...."
"Enter Yu-hwa's mindscape and bring her out."
I pondered, then nodded.
"I'll do it."
"Ahh, thank you, Jin-seok!"
"Gotta handle the cleanup properly anyway."
I'd lost a finger saving her. If she didn't wake, I'd be in trouble. Needed her healthy, back at work, slaving away as my junior for eternity.
"So, how do we start?"
"Change clothes first, then lie on the bed."
"...Pardon?"
Resolved to save her, but the method felt off.
"Can I back out?"
"A true man doesn't go back on his word."
"...."
Wait, hold up. We didn't discuss this.