The Ghost's Servant (4)
Chapter 141: Wraith (4)
At the used bookstore, I prepared a lavish table with doenjang stew, pot rice, grilled pork belly, ssamjang, and lettuce wraps.
The three ate like starving beasts. Even Kang Hyun ate quickly this time.
"...Ah."
"...Hah."
"Hoo..."
All three collapsed onto the floor as soon as they finished eating. They seemed to have been through quite an ordeal getting here.
I gestured to Kang Hyun with my chin.
"Kang Hyun. Don't rest. We need to go right away."
"Ugh... Yes."
Kang Hyun forced himself up.
"Then we can just rest here?"
Lee Jun-ho asked from where he lay.
"Yeah. Ghosts can't get in here."
"Huh? Why?"
Lee Jun-ho's eyes widened.
"Later. Kang Hyun, take these."
I pointed to the pre-made 'devices.' At a glance, they looked like wooden sticks.
"Yes."
Kang Hyun tucked them all under his arm, and we stepped outside together.
"What do we need to do, hyung?"
"Infrastructure expansion."
No matter how long we waited, customers weren't coming—no, they couldn't come—so I intended to pave a way for them.
"The problem seems to be the bridge."
Wolyeong Bridge. This first hurdle is the real issue.
We descended to the embankment beneath Wolyeong Bridge.
"I'm going to make a ferry. Or maybe a rope ferry?"
"Ah. I know what that is."
"Good. Stick the poles in."
First, I had him plant long poles on the embankment facing the river. Then I hung thick ropes from them.
"Follow me."
"Yes."
Gripping the rope, I boarded the ferry.
I pointed to the center of the ferry.
"Put a pole here."
"Yes."
Clack, clack. After securing the pole with a ring using duct tape, I threaded the rope through the ring, like threading a needle.
I also hung a small lantern.
"Let's go."
The river was thick with fog. We crossed to the other side by ferry.
"Heuk heuk heuk..."
The familiar ghost reappeared. Kang Hyun's nape hairs stood on end.
"...Hyung. Can only I hear this?"
"I can hear it too. But this one's fine. Look. No eyes, right?"
I pointed to the ghost's eyes.
"......"
Kang Hyun looked at me with eyes that could see ghosts.
In the meantime, we arrived.
"Get off."
We disembarked onto the embankment and planted the same poles. Then we connected the ropes.
Pole ← Ferry → Pole
That's how it was connected.
"Now..."
I materialized magic power to create buttons on the poles.
Two buttons—red and blue.
Pressing the red button summons the ferry, and pressing the blue button sends it off.
"How about that? I shaped magic power like a machine."
I boasted a little.
This kind of magic power application technique, broadly speaking, originated from my life. After all, a soldier's friend is machinery.
Of course, I'm no engineer, but I've experienced far more practical application than they have.
For a ritualist's flame meditation, firsthand experience is more advantageous.
"That's amazing. Will it last long?"
"Yeah. It'll last long here. Once I put this on."
Slap. I attached a protective charm I got from the bookstore to the pole. Just in case ghosts try to tamper with it.
"Now let's go up. To put up signs."
"Yes."
We climbed up the embankment and planted a new sign next to Wolyeong Bridge's warning sign.
Take the boat, not the bridge
It's a real boat made by Seol Ha-un himself
Ghosts appear, but don't worry
"Now. Let's go put one up at the other bridge too."
There are two bridges in this shaman village.
"Yes."
As we walked across the field.
Jingle, jingle, jingle.
The sound of bells shaking rang out. Kang Hyun hid behind me. I turned to look. There was a sign in the forest.
│If you cross over, you must die│
Beyond the chilling words, a figure flickered.
A person, rippling like a bleak fog.
Dressed as a shaman, but with a knife embedded in her chest.
"...Where are you going?"
Her voice was firm. There was no room for the wind to slip through.
"Working on infrastructure. Since Wolyeong Bridge is so inconvenient."
"No matter how inconvenient, it can't be as inconvenient as your legs."
My facial muscles twitched.
"The village bridge is meant to be inconvenient. How could it be comfortable when the souls beneath your feet cling to your ankles? Also, if you really were construction workers, why do your footsteps reek of blood? Do you think I wouldn't recognize the scent of those who dig through people?"
"......"
One who digs through people.
In a way, that's correct.
I asked her.
"May I ask your name?"
"What use is the name of the one standing before you to you? A name is just a shell..."
The shaman, who had paused, stared intently at me.
"Do you serve a divine spirit?"
"No. I don't even know what a divine spirit is."
"How curious... Not a human's spirit..."
Jingle, jingle, jingle.
With that, the shaman shook her bells and turned away.
"Who was that, hyung?"
"I don't know. But I remembered her face."
No matter how inconvenient, it can't be as inconvenient as your legs.
I remembered those words as well.
Take the boat, not the bridge
It's a real boat made by Seol Ha-un himself
Ghosts appear, but don't worry
Arriving at the second bridge, we planted signs there as well.
We even marked the approximate location of the ferry.
"At this point, I'm practically spoon-feeding them."
"Hyung. But why are you helping them?"
Kang Hyun asked, genuinely curious.
"So business goes well."
There's also a separate reason why business needs to go well.
'...Huh?'
Back when I got tired of waiting for customers, I was patrolling with my truck, going around the night market.
'Elder. This.'
A book being sold by an elder at a stall.
[Master's Handcraftsmanship]
■ Grade: Unique
■ Overview: Contains all kinds of handcraft know-how honed by a master craftsman over 60 years.
A Unique-grade mastery book.
With my recent interest in item crafting, what if I could get my hands on this book?
Perfect.
'50 coins.'
'50 coins?'
'50 coins.'
"No discount?"
'No. Only 50 coins.'
'...Got it.'
"And, everyone needs to spread out and gather evidence."
"Evidence?"
"Yeah."
The murderer is human. But I can't investigate all the villagers by myself. If I tried, either my knees would give out, or everyone would be dead by 10 o'clock.
So, I, as a human, will serve as the unshakable center.
Collecting the village's secrets is the job of the remaining explorers.
"Let's go back now."
"Yes."
* * *
The shaman village remained as bleak as ever.
"...Oh, please stop clinging to me, you crazy people!"
Yoon Hwa-rim had Ryu Yeon-hwa, Lee Shin-hye, and Lee Jong-su—three people clinging to her.
Yoon Hwa-rim was less scared than expected, while the other three were more scared than expected.
"This is ridiculous. Shin-hye unnie, you said you're a strong character."
"...When did I ever say that? That's just media hype..."
She lowered her eyes, pretending to be weak. Ryu Yeon-hwa and Lee Jong-su were even more absurd. Despite being as big as houses, they'd been whining like babies the whole time.
"Okay, stop clinging so much. We've found it."
The hint they discovered was the location of a powerful shaman. A house wrapped in layers of golden ropes. The four rolled inside like a slime.
"...!"
Inside the room sat a shaman. Her eyes were tightly shut.
"Excuse me... are you the powerful shaman?"
The shaman opened her eyes.
"You're wandering without even finding the path."
Creepy.
All four sat down before the shaman.
"Yes. Actually, we can't even guess where we should go from here..."
Jingle, jingle, jingle.
She shook her bells.
"There's a man blessed with a divine spirit. He's like a living guardian spirit—my word, did he devour an imugi in his past life? He's harder than any guardian spirit I've ever seen. A human like that is rare."
Jingle, jingle, jingle.
The shaman spoke, shaking her bells continuously.
"The ferry. Follow that man's path."
"The ferry...?"
"The bridge is the problem. But now there will be a ferry under the bridge. Take that to cross."
"Ah, yes! Thank you! Um, may I ask about the divination fee..."
"Not needed. You, stay here for a moment. You need to get some red beans..."
The four left the shaman's house and walked to the embankment under the bridge, as the shaman had instructed.
Yoon Hwa-rim's eyes widened.
"It's really here! Wow!"
"Holy shit, that's creepy."
A lantern dimly lit the foggy riverbank. A ferry was tied with thick ropes.
"There's a sign too."
A ferry made by Seol Ha-un himself.
Press the red button to summon the boat, press the blue button to send it.
"...Ah! It's really him!"
Yoon Hwa-rim clapped her hands. Lee Shin-hye pulled her back.
"Ah, we don't know yet. It could be a g-ghost pretending to be Seol Ha-un..."
"There's a signature here too, unnie."
Yoon Hwa-rim pointed to the edge of the sign.
mark
"He must have anticipated we'd be suspicious. Crazy."
Ryu Yeon-hwa's eyes also widened.
"Then, the man the shaman mentioned was Seol Ha-un... I see."
"Right."
What was it she said?
A human harder than a guardian spirit? Considering his track record, it's an apt description.
"Perfect. Because he's someone who never loses. Anyway, let's get on! Let's get out of here!"
Yoon Hwa-rim led them onto the ferry.
* * *
At the used bookstore.
I placed a blade fragment on the counter.
[ Sharp Blade Fragment ]
■Who... who... who could it be... why...
The murder weapon held by the river ghost.
The grandmother's axe, Kang Woo-hyuk's sashimi knife, the dagger embedded in the shaman's heart.
"......"
I spread out a map.
mark
Clippings of articles related to various locations on the map were pasted on the wall of the used bookstore.
First, Jeoldong Elementary School.
Five more missing at Jeoldong Elementary School... A mystery ongoing since last year. According to witnesses, they heard "a ringing phone from a public payphone on the school grounds." Police have decided to halt further searches.
Next, the temple.
Four hikers confirmed missing near the temple. Lost contact after visiting last full moon. Search teams found only burnt incense and empty shoes at the temple entrance. Residents cite an old taboo: "You must not climb the 108th step." This brings the total missing related to the temple to 13.
Finally, the abandoned hospital.
Five filming crew members missing at the abandoned hospital... The only footage recovered from cameras found inside shows an unknown morgue. "Police absolutely prohibit entry to the abandoned hospital," they reiterated. There have been 11 missing persons at this location this year alone.
As such, all spaces in Wolyeong Village are connected to this case.
In my opinion—
"A trap."
Wolyeong Village is a trap.
Someone set a trap to catch the culprit.
...Ah, right. This is a broadcast.
"Wolyeong Village is a trap. Someone set a trap to catch the culprit."
A monologue for the viewers.
I thought about the culprit.
"Skin Mask."
That's the only possibility. The missing count has already reached 66.
A madman who nearly single-handedly wiped out an entire village—but the world isn't stupid, and detectives are smart.
The way he's managed not to get caught despite committing such a massacre—
"The type who forgets themselves."
A villain who doesn't just wear another person's skin and pretend to 'act' like them, but who can actually 'become' that person.
While wearing the skin, he completely forgets his original self.
"Haah..."
I exhaled cigarette smoke and stood up, facing the wall of the bookstore.
Though it looked empty, I drew a diagram visible only to me through the sequence.
Suspect Candidates
1. Kang Woo-hyuk
Youth neighborhood watch captain, 20s. Squinty eyes. Kind impression.
2. Grandmother
Estimated 70s–80s. Owner of the used bookstore. Permed hair. Wrinkled smoker. Considering retirement.
3. Shaman
Estimated 60s–70s. Broad face with sharp features.
If the Skin Mask assumption is correct, everyone you meet in this village is a suspect.
"Ugh... hyung?"
Just then, Im Hae-joon woke up. His face looked like he'd been having nightmares.
"Oh. Finally awake, huh."
"Whoa, hyung... I really went through so much."
He sniffled like a baby hippo that got sprayed with water.
"You only did it to yourself."
"Only did it to myself..."
Knock, knock. A knock on the glass window right next to where Im Hae-joon lay.
KABOOOOM!
At that moment, lightning flashed. A human figure stood outside.
Bizarrely shadowed eyes met Im Hae-joon's exactly.
"─KYAAAA─AH─AAACK─AAAH──*cough*."
Im Hae-joon clutched the back of his neck like someone having a stroke and passed out on the spot.
I opened the bookstore door.
"Who are you?"
"This is it... this is the place!"
Yoon Hwa-rim, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Lee Shin-hye, and Lee Jong-su. The faces of the four who had found me brightened.
"Ha-un hyung-nim!!"
"Seol Ha-un... it's really good to see you..."
"Seol Ha-un! Seol Ha-un! Seol Ha-un!"
Lee Jong-su and Ryu Yeon-hwa were moved to tears, while Yoon Hwa-rim chanted his name and shoved her feet through the door.
I blocked them.
"4 coins."
"...Excuse me?"
"Pay up first."
* * *
Cool... cool...
Around the time Yoon Hwa-rim's party ate and fell asleep, I opened the Wolyeong Horror Stories.
│Jeoldong Elementary School│
◇ The elementary school in Wolyeong Village. The classroom conditions are strange, and occasionally, the public payphone in the hallway rings.
◇ Danger Level: ★★★★★
◇ Countermeasure: Just don't go in, but...
Lee Jun-ho had given this to me. It's much more efficient for me to have read it in advance and tell them than for them to read it on the spot and figure out countermeasures.
"The evidence is probably inside this elementary school."
'Evidence' that will narrow down the culprit's range.
I focused my senses on the truck.
"Is everyone ready?"
─Is everyone ready?
"Ah, that startled me."
At the entrance of Jeoldong Elementary School, it was creepy by anyone's standards, exuding a clear 'if you enter, you die' atmosphere.
Kang Hyun, Lee Jun-ho, and Kate hesitated in front of it.
─Follow me.
The truck entered first. The three followed belatedly.
They entered through the central entrance, and—flash!
A flashlight beam hit them.
"Who's there?"
All three froze.
The truck answered smoothly.
─We're here to investigate. Are you a security guard?
"Yes. I'm the caretaker, Seo Jong-myeong. Nice to meet you."
A man in his mid-40s, wearing a cap and security uniform.
Kang Hyun and Lee Jun-ho stared at his hands uneasily.
"The caretaker is holding a bat..."
Ominous. Usually, in horror games, the caretaker beats up the players.
The truck said.
─We're looking into a case.
"A case?"
─We heard there was a murder at Jeoldong Elementary.
The caretaker's face hardened.
"...It's not a murder, but a disappearance. Are you from the police?"
─Yes.
"I knew it."
"Excuse me? You knew?"
Lee Jun-ho thought the situation was strange. No wait, 'you knew' what? A toy truck is talking to you. How does a truck become a cop?
"Is it just me, or is this weird?"
─Shh.
The truck flashed its headlights intensely. Lee Jun-ho squinted, and Seo Jong-myeong sighed and nodded.
"...Alright. But it's an old case, so I'm not sure anything remains. Follow me. I'll guide you..."