The Lingering Memory
Lee Hwan wished none of these memories were etched into his soul.
Miho shrugged her shoulders and let out a sly, lecherous smile.
At that reaction, Hwan's expression twisted once more.
He immediately seized the handle of the kitchen knife still buried in his shoulder and wrenched it free with a single motion.
"Hmm..."
A deep, pained groan escaped him as his body swayed, but he didn't collapse.
He drew in a deep breath, then hurled the knife to the floor.
Blood poured freely from the wound, yet it healed in seconds.
"A half-human, half-yokai... The kind of monsters you don't see every day."
Miho spoke with clear interest, her eyes darting restlessly as she scanned the room, clearly waiting for an opening.
"Did that fox girl create you? Or are you her husband? Kihihihi..."
Even as the mockery continued, Hwan remained utterly unmoved.
Instead, he only smeared his own blood across the golden cord in his grip.
"I don't know why you're tied to that fox, but you should be careful."
"Foxes... They're born deceitful, you see. Always arrogant, always scheming."
"She gave you power, but who knows what will happen later? Eventually, she'll devour your heart?"
"What... Maybe."
Hwan replied calmly.
Behind him, Miho simply smiled, amused, with no trace of unease.
That icy calm made Heejin harden her expression once more.
At that instant, Hwan began murmuring a quiet prayer while clutching the cord.
A faint light gathered at the tip, flickering with an eerie, ominous energy.
Heejin retreated a step, her face tightening with fresh dread.
"Since you're unable to answer, it seems you know nothing... Then I have no reason to spare you."
"Hah! Is that so? Even if I told you what I know of him?"
"Then tell me. What is the true nature of that anomaly that was revered as a god?"
"Hmph! How can I trust you? If I speak and you break your promise to kill me instead?"
Hwan let out a bitter laugh.
He pulled the cord taut with both hands several times, letting his blood drip from the end.
Heejin grew more vigilant, crouching low, then crawling back several more paces on all fours.
Kwarrung... Thunder cracked once more, accompanied by a sudden lightning strike.
Shwaaa... Rain poured outside as if a hole had torn in the sky.
The air between them hung heavy with silence, yet the tension was razor-sharp.
No one moved rashly.
Then, once again, thunder boomed.
Kwaaang!
Right beside them, lightning struck with terrifying force.
At the same moment, Hwan hurled the cord.
It lashed forward like a living serpent, coiling around Heejin as she tried to fly away.
She didn't stay still either, springing up and—
CRASH!
Shattering every remaining window in the living room, she launched herself into the yard.
Kung!
A heavy thud followed as she rolled across the ground.
"Kyaaak!"
A grotesque scream tore from her throat as she writhed and tumbled on the floor.
The cord had wrapped tightly around her left ankle.
"Kyaah!"
Pain wracked her body.
Smoke rose from her blackened ankle as if it were burning, the sound echoing her agony.
She crawled, wailed pathetically, over and over again.
Hwan stepped through the broken windows into the yard, approaching her slowly as she suffered.
"Kyaaak!"
She jerked her head up, glaring at him with undimmed ferocity.
Desperately stubborn. Just like every gwoeyi he had ever encountered.
They fought until forced to submit by strength.
Her face grew even harsher, losing more and more of its human shape.
He reached for the cord around her ankle with his nails, but it was too tightly knotted to loosen.
"Struggle as you might, it will never come off unless I release it. Until then, I will bring you endless torment for the rest of your life."
"Kyaaak! Let go! Let me go!!"
"Then answer me. What do you know? Tell me, and I'll let you go."
Hwan advanced.
A second talisman now dangled from his belt.
He clenched his teeth, body trembling violently with terror.
Yet still he said nothing.
Whether he couldn't or didn't know... Hwan had given up on answers.
"If you don't know, then there's nothing I can do."
Heejin jolted in panic, thrusting both hands out in a desperate shooing motion.
"No! No! I do know! I know everything! I'll tell you! I'll tell you! It... It's something like a mountain spirit from an ancient mountain, a mountain god to humans..."
"Then what's its true nature?"
"Its true nature? Well... Honestly, I don't know either. No one does! It's not just a benevolent being as people think... It's like a demon to us, and also similar to the fox youts with that girl..."
"Even the name?"
"I don't know! I only heard there are such things... But I never enter their territory."
"Why?"
"Of course! It's... It's like a god! What could happen if I went into their domain? I can never enter! So I never properly saw it either!"
"Then where is it? How do I find it?"
"Damn it! How am I supposed to know that?! I've told you everything I know! I told you exactly what you wanted, so now... please... please let go of this... Aaaah! My ankle feels like it's breaking! Please, please let me go! It hurts too much, I can't stand it!"
Her ankle, wrapped in the cord, was already blistered black.
Hwan watched it all with indifference.
Seeing him make no move, Heejin roared in fury once more.
"I told you! Please let me go!! Please!!"
He sneered.
Hwan clicked his tongue shortly, then finally reached her.
Grabbing the cord around her ankle, he was shocked when it came loose in seconds.
As if she had been waiting for exactly this moment, Heejin reached out with her delicate hand, seized his throat, and opened her mouth wide to bite down.
But then her actions froze mid-motion.
Huff... She lowered her head, and a new talisman had appeared stuck to her chest.
Next, she lifted the silver cross hanging around her neck.
Hwan slowly, leisurely pressed his lips to the cross, then pressed it to her forehead.
"Lord of our souls, Doctor Lord, Savior of those who seek You—
With Your hand raised high, arms spread wide, send forth the angel of peace and strength, protector of soul and flesh, to visit this servant and aid us.
So that all evil forces flee and the malice and wicked deeds of those who sow jealousy and destruction are shattered."
"H-Hold on! Aaaah!! Stop! Aaaah!!"
Heejin screamed in agony once more.
Creak... A bone-twisting sound echoed from her body.
Kwarrung! Thunder and lightning intensified in response to her wails, the rain lashing harder as if a typhoon raged.
"Lord who loves humanity, lift Your almighty hand high, spread Your strong arms wide, send the angel of peace and strength, protector of soul and flesh, to visit this servant and aid us.
So that all evil forces flee and the malice and wicked deeds of those who sow jealousy and destruction are shattered."
"S-Stop! Aaaah! Aaaah!!! Stop!! You said you'd let me go!! Liar!! You said you'd let me go! But you lied! You... Aaaah! You tricked me!"
"Yes, I let the cord go. So now, it's best you get off my body."
Heejin thrashed in pain, thick smoke beginning to rise from her skin as if she were burning.
"It was all a lie!!! You... You said you'd send me away!!!! You're no different from a fox!! Aaaah!!"
Her voice shifted repeatedly—womanly, then monstrous, then once more a desperate cry for her father.
"Daddy... Daddy!! Save me! These people... Aaaah! They're trying to kill me! Daddy!!! Daddy!!!"