I know nothing.
I know nothing. “Oh, foolish child… If only you had torn off that talisman earlier, I wouldn’t have died so pointlessly. Your hesitation, your doubts, they created this very moment. So don’t blame me—blame yourself.” She clicked her tongue, playful and mocking.
The freedom she had finally reclaimed burned in her chest like wildfire. Before the risen freedom, she felt nothing but indignation. The death of the child who had granted her that freedom was a trifle. “Still… I won’t forget that you saved me. I’ll find the old man who killed you for his own sake, rip out his heart, and swallow it whole. That’ll ease at least a little of the injustice. Hahaha…” The woman laughed lightly, then turned and left the temple without a backward glance.
The promise to save him had been a lie from the start. For thousands of years she had walked this earth; how could she ever bargain with a mere inferior human? No. It was impossible. Yes. It was impossible. Yet she had granted her freedom, so at least she could repay vengeance. That would suffice. That was her thinking as she walked away from the hated temple with light, unhurried steps. At last… at last, the freedom she had dreamed of. She would finally stand proudly beneath the sky… The moment she stepped through the temple gate.
Then—“Kyaaaaak!”—a sudden scream tore the air, and unbearable agony slammed into her. Not only that. Two dokkaebi stood at the temple entrance, their cruel eyes fixed on her. Simultaneously, a brilliant blue flame burst from her body. “Kyaah! Kyak!” The woman shrieked in terror at the sudden fire. Rolling in agony on the filthy floor, she could not extinguish it no matter how hard she beat it with her hands. It scorched her breath and scarred her fair skin. “Aaaah! No!!” She was in agony unlike anything she had ever felt. Desperate, she forced her way back inside the temple.
To her astonishment, the blue flame vanished instantly. At the same time, the two dokkaebi at the entrance returned to their normal forms. As if nothing had happened. Her face sank into despair. She had no time to smooth her disheveled hair. She whipped her head around and glared at the Buddha statue again.
Crack… creak… Her teeth ground together of their own accord. “Enough! How long you’ve kept me locked away is enough! But why… why isn’t it working?! Why do this to me?! Thousands of years… an immeasurable time! I was trapped here! But… but… it still isn’t enough?!” Her voice cracked with raw sorrow. Tears poured down her cheeks. She had finally reclaimed her freedom after enduring endless suffering and breaking free from the rock. She had thought this moment—the first step into the world she had longed for—would come.
Yet… everything collapsed in a single instant. The hope that had swelled so high crashed down in an instant… and the despair that followed was even greater. So bitterly disappointed, it was the first time in a very long while that she screamed and roared. “Ugh… ugh… Enough! How much longer must you torment me before my heart is satisfied?! How much longer must you keep me locked up in this place?! Until when… until when… How much longer?! Stop! Please… please stop… Let me go.”
So unjust. This injustice had become a deep, festering wound. She was utterly enraged and heartbroken at the Buddha’s cruel treatment. Tears streamed down her face. The hope she had finally obtained crumbled within seconds, and the despair that followed could be compared to nothing. “Aaaaaah!!!” She roared in fury and emptied her soul.
She had been sobbing for a long time when her gaze finally fell on the dying—or rather, dead—child. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. Too late? Or was there still a chance? If she left him like this, even the final chance would vanish… Then how much more waiting would she have to endure? How many more years trapped in this hated place? She could not bear it. She no longer had the strength. She could no longer maintain her sanity. The woman began to grow frantic. If the child died right now, if the little one was gone, she would never have another chance. She might truly lose her mind. So, barely holding on, she rushed back to the child’s side.
She checked his breathing frantically. Very faint, but she could hear the tiniest sound of breath. A truly tough spirit—after all, the child had suffered as much as she had. That suffering had become an unbreakable curse that would not let him pass into death. It was so faint that it might vanish at any moment. She had to save him. She absolutely had to! But how? Unfortunately, she knew nothing of medicine… The woman bit her red lips until they bled. Her gaze returned to the Buddha statue. The statue now watched her with a smile, as if laughing at her. As if asking, “Are you really sure you can save him?”
Ah! How maddening it felt, mocking her. She snorted. “I’ll show you! I’ll show you! I will definitely… definitely reclaim my freedom!” She would save him. Save him, and escape this hated place by any means! The woman felt a spark of resolve she had never known before. “Absolutely… I will not let your will dictate this.” With fury blazing in her voice, she shouted. And finally, her expression hardened with determination.
The freedom she had finally reclaimed burned in her chest like wildfire. Before the risen freedom, she felt nothing but indignation. The death of the child who had granted her that freedom was a trifle. “Still… I won’t forget that you saved me. I’ll find the old man who killed you for his own sake, rip out his heart, and swallow it whole. That’ll ease at least a little of the injustice. Hahaha…” The woman laughed lightly, then turned and left the temple without a backward glance. The promise to save him had been a lie from the start. For thousands of years she had walked this earth; how could she ever bargain with a mere inferior human? No. It was impossible. Yes. It was impossible. Yet she had granted her freedom, so at least she could repay vengeance. That would suffice. That was her thinking as she walked away from the hated temple with light, unhurried steps. At last… at last, the freedom she had dreamed of. She would finally stand proudly beneath the sky… The moment she stepped through the temple gate.
Then—“Kyaaaaak!”—a sudden scream tore the air, and unbearable agony slammed into her. Not only that. Two dokkaebi stood at the temple entrance, their cruel eyes fixed on her. Simultaneously, a brilliant blue flame burst from her body. “Kyaah! Kyak!” The woman shrieked in terror at the sudden fire. Rolling in agony on the filthy floor, she could not extinguish it no matter how hard she beat it with her hands. It scorched her breath and scarred her fair skin. “Aaaah! No!!” She was in agony unlike anything she had ever felt. Desperate, she forced her way back inside the temple. To her astonishment, the blue flame vanished instantly. At the same time, the two dokkaebi at the entrance returned to their normal forms. As if nothing had happened. Her face sank into despair. She had no time to smooth her disheveled hair. She whipped her head around and glared at the Buddha statue again. Crack… creak… Her teeth ground together of their own accord. “Enough! How long you’ve kept me locked away is enough! But why… why isn’t it working?! Why do this to me?! Thousands of years… an immeasurable time! I was trapped here! But… but… it still isn’t enough?!” Her voice cracked with raw sorrow. Tears poured down her cheeks. She had finally reclaimed her freedom after enduring endless suffering and breaking free from the rock. She had thought this moment—the first step into the world she had longed for—would come. Yet… everything collapsed in a single instant. The hope that had swelled so high crashed down in an instant… and the despair that followed was even greater. So bitterly disappointed, it was the first time in a very long while that she screamed and roared. “Ugh… ugh… Enough! How much longer must you torment me before my heart is satisfied?! How much longer must you keep me locked up in this place?! Until when… until when… How much longer?! Stop! Please… please stop… Let me go.” So unjust. This injustice had become a deep, festering wound. She was utterly enraged and heartbroken at the Buddha’s cruel treatment. Tears streamed down her face. The hope she had finally obtained crumbled within seconds, and the despair that followed could be compared to nothing. “Aaaaaah!!!” She roared in fury and emptied her soul.
She had been sobbing for a long time when her gaze finally fell on the dying—or rather, dead—child. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. Too late? Or was there still a chance? If she left him like this, even the final chance would vanish… Then how much more waiting would she have to endure? How many more years trapped in this hated place? She could not bear it. She no longer had the strength. She could no longer maintain her sanity. The woman began to grow frantic. If the child died right now, if the little one was gone, she would never have another chance. She might truly lose her mind. So, barely holding on, she rushed back to the child’s side. She checked his breathing frantically. Very faint, but she could hear the tiniest sound of breath. A truly tough spirit—after all, the child had suffered as much as she had. That suffering had become an unbreakable curse that would not let him pass into death. It was so faint that it might vanish at any moment. She had to save him. She absolutely had to! But how? Unfortunately, she knew nothing of medicine… The woman bit her red lips until they bled. Her gaze returned to the Buddha statue. The statue now watched her with a smile, as if laughing at her. As if asking, “Are you really sure you can save him?” Ah! How maddening it felt, mocking her. She snorted. “I’ll show you! I’ll show you! I will definitely… definitely reclaim my freedom!” She would save him. Save him, and escape this hated place by any means! The woman felt a spark of resolve she had never known before. “Absolutely… I will not let your will dictate this.” With fury blazing in her voice, she shouted. And finally, her expression hardened with determination.
No. I knew nothing. I dreamed. Or perhaps it was a dream-like state. Hwan had been reflecting on his entire life. His father, a pastor, and his mother, just an ordinary housewife. They had met young, and he had been born early on. They had always been a loving couple. And they had lived in harmony. Of course, when Hwan entered adolescence, there had been a moment when things could have gone wrong, but each time the kind care of his understanding father and mother had saved him from that path. Time passed, and following his father, he prepared to attend seminary. In such a happy family, the greatest event and trial came when his mother suddenly moved the family to the countryside. Well, it was a decision of his father’s. Mother would always welcome it. It meant he trusted and loved his father deeply… Of course Hwan hated it. Besides, it was the most important time of his life, and now they were moving—without even consulting him—to the countryside instead of the city. His parents might not care, but Hwan preferred the city. In Seoul he could see his friends and enjoy plenty of fun. But suddenly countryside? Without any discussion? He had flatly refused. If they had to go, it should be just the two of them. But he was still a minor, and a middle-schooler who needed his parents’ help could not stay alone in Seoul. Well… if they were rich, maybe he could survive somehow. Get a room, live by himself. But they weren’t that well-off. Besides, Hwan had worked so hard because he wanted to enter university on scholarship. He didn’t want to burden his parents financially. In any case, only three years remained. His grades were still in the top range. If he kept working like this, he would get into the university he wanted. If he studied even harder, he might earn a scholarship. Then he could become a pastor like his father. But now they were moving to the countryside… Perhaps to build a private church. People said that building a church in a quiet countryside would be well-supported by the diocese. But more than anything else, his father had simply hated the complexity of city life. Like everyone else in the city, his father and mother had to fight fiercely, and perhaps they were finally tired of that endless battle. Still, Hwan hated it. He wanted to stay in the city… Unfortunately, Hwan had no say in the decision. In the end, his lips barely moving, he followed his parents down to the countryside. Still, what Hwan believed was that if he could somehow survive high school, he would get into university. Yes. He would enter a university in Seoul without fail. Then he could return to Seoul. There were only a few years left… He had no choice but to endure it… That countryside life, when he looked it up on the internet, was said to be difficult for young couples who had moved there. He had worried about it. But unlike what he had feared, the villagers welcomed the family kindly. Well… most were old, so that was the issue. At least they were kind. He did not realize there was something hidden behind that kindness.