107. Earth's Jo-ryeokja #2
Hwang Mi-reu's mother's sudden change in attitude. Seo Dan-bi, who found it suspicious, suddenly recalled one of Ha Yu-mi's hypotheses from moments ago.
"In my opinion, there might be monsters with possession or parasitism abilities that have crossed over to Earth right now. And they're taking over the bodies of high-ranking officials or media figures to suppress public opinion."
A chill ran down her spine. She could feel the hairs on her body standing on end. Seo Dan-bi, covered in goosebumps, swallowed dryly and stared intently at Ha Yu-mi's face.
'No way... really...?'
At first, she'd dismissed it as nonsense. Ha Yu-mi had just thrown it out there as a joke, not seriously proposing it as a theory. But now, her thinking had changed. Ha Yu-mi's hypothesis suddenly gained credibility. Hwang Mi-reu's mother's transformation was just too hard to accept otherwise.
Especially for Seo Dan-bi, who had endured all sorts of humiliations every time she'd faced her. 'Father even said just now that her personality had changed. This doesn't make any sense, does it? How could two people flip a complete 180 overnight?'
It was more than enough reason to suspect foul play. Hwang Mi-reu's parents were chaebol heirs. If parasitic monsters truly existed, they'd be prime targets—tempting prey indeed.
Seo Dan-bi glanced furtively at the other four, then cautiously parted her lips.
"Hey, about that parasite thing you mentioned earlier—"
"Ppururu."
The dimensional mage, Sage Lunaris, called out to Seo Dan-bi, cutting her off. She pulled a notepad and pen from her pocket, flipped it open, and held it out to her.
"You said Ppururu has a knack for drawing, right? Is this how you draw it? I'd like to consult an expert."
"Huh? What out of the blue...?"
Seo Dan-bi stopped herself this time. Sage Lunaris was moving the pen across the notepad—but she wasn't drawing a picture. Instead, with clumsy strokes like a child just learning Hangul, she was scrawling words.
─ Mi-reu-ssi’s mother is watching us from inside the mansion.
─ It’s not just Mi-reu-ssi’s mother. Ever since she went in, the gazes watching us from the 2nd and 3rd floors have increased.
─ As you know, I haven’t been learning Hangul for long, so please forgive the poor word choice and handwriting.
The Jo-ryeokja all clamped their mouths shut in unison, as if by prior agreement. Seo Dan-bi shot a quick glance toward the mansion, then took the pen from Sage and began scribbling on the notepad.
─ Everyone in the mansion is secretly watching us? For real?
─ Yes. Something’s definitely off. One person, maybe—but the entire household surveilling us? That’s weird. And stop glancing at the mansion; it’s obvious.
─ Holy crap, insane goosebumps. What if it’s those parasitic monsters Yu-mi mentioned taking over Mi-reu’s parents? I didn’t buy the theory at first, but seeing her mom’s personality flip... something’s wrong.
─ From what I’ve observed of the people inside, they seem like ordinary humans. But that doesn’t rule out parasites entirely. They could be hiding their power so perfectly I can’t detect it.
Seo Dan-bi and Sage passed the pen back and forth, continuing their conversation through scribbles on the notepad. Centered on the hypothesis of parasitic monsters possessing human bodies.
Beside them, Shin So-mang and Ha Yu-mi were having their own exchange on a separate notepad.
─ Yu-mi Dung. Isn’t there some mental illness that makes people suddenly nice?
─ There are similar conditions, but this isn’t one. The symptoms don’t match, and it’s unlikely for a perfectly healthy person to suddenly develop such a rare disorder. Plus, multiple people at once? Near zero chance.
─ So the parasitic monster really took over Mi-reu’s mom?
─ No idea.
─ Got it. But this note-passing is awkward. Can’t we just group chat?
─ No. If my hypothesis is right, chat apps could be monitored. Now that we know we’re being watched, we have to be super discreet!
Watching them, Hwang Mi-reu crossed her arms and fidgeted with her fingers in silence.
"......"
Her parents' sudden change. Hwang Mi-reu, who had been trying to stay optimistic about it—good things are good, right?—actually harbored her own suspicions deep down. But she didn't want to entertain negative thoughts. She really didn't want to accept even a sliver of Ha Yu-mi's hypothesis. Unpleasant as it was, these were her parents. Her family, who'd been with her her whole life.
Hwang Mi-reu let out a deep sigh, carefully snatched Ppururu's pen, and began writing on the notepad.
─ Honestly, I’ve thought my parents were acting weird too. And when I heard Yu-mi unnie’s hypothesis, I flinched in shock. No way our parents were taken by parasites? It made me anxious.
─ But so what? I don’t want to believe they were eaten by monsters. I just want to believe it’s not true. Want to think positively as much as possible.
After adding those words, Sage shook her head slowly, snatched the notepad back, and scrawled deliberately.
─ Of course, I understand Mi-reu-ssi’s feelings.
─ It’s human nature to hope nothing bad happens to your family. Perfectly normal thinking.
─ But Mi-reu-ssi, that’s not positivity.
─ It’s just complacency and a lack of realism.
─ People must always assume the worst and act accordingly.
─ The more you ignore the truth because you don’t want to face it, the worse the future you’ll meet.
─ If you truly care for your family, don’t cover your eyes from the sun. Don’t let personal emotions cloud your judgment—view the world objectively. Face reality.
─ If your parents really have been possessed, thinking and acting like this is no different from abandoning them. It means doing nothing in the end. When you should be trying everything to save them.
Silence hung over the terrace. It had been quiet before, but now an even deeper hush settled in. Hwang Mi-reu bowed her head. Then, slowly, she took the pen again and wrote.
─ Sorry... I guess I wasn’t thinking straight.
─ No need to apologize. You’re just an ordinary human, Mi-reu-ssi. It’s natural not to know how to handle this. And staying calm instead of panicking is already commendable.
─ Anyway. It’s not certain yet, but if your parents are parasitized... I’ll try to remove the monster without harming the host.
─ Of course, as I said, I can’t be sure, so we’ll need some background investigation to confirm possession. I’ll start a full probe today. Just trust me.
As she wrote, Sage thought to herself. Even if Hwang Mi-reu's mother had been taken over, as long as it wasn't a doppelganger or some new monster type, it should be fine. Possession or parasitic monsters didn't kill their hosts. Doppelgangers, however, killed the original and impersonated them.
'As long as it’s not a new type I don’t know or a doppelganger. Then I can save Mi-reu-ssi’s mother.'
She prayed fervently inside. Then, Sage gathered the Jo-ryeokja.
"Everyone, gather up. I’ll renew the protection spells I cast earlier. With all these eyes on us, I’ll do it discreetly so no one notices."
After applying the protection magic, Seo Dan-bi, Ha Yu-mi, Shin So-mang, Hwang Mi-reu, and Sage Lunaris—the five women—finished their meeting and headed out of the mansion.
"Mi-reu, leaving already?"
Hwang Mi-reu's mother approached silently. Hwang Mi-reu flinched, shoulders trembling, and looked at her mother.
"Y-yeah... I'll come again next time, Mom."
"You could stay longer. If it's okay, sleep over with your friends... Ah... no, wait. Sleeping over might be a bit much."
For a split second, Hwang Mi-reu's mother stammered. She shot an awkward glance at Sage. Suspicious, plain as day.
"Well, take care, see you next time."
As Hwang Mi-reu's mother saw them off, Hwang Mi-reu and the other four bowed quickly and hurried out of the mansion.
She looked completely like an ordinary human no matter how many times she checked. But subtly... a little off somehow. Super ambiguous, really.
Sage Lunaris organized her thoughts, then turned back toward the mansion.
Inside the mansion, Hwang Mi-reu's mother stammered upon seeing Sage.
"Uh, y-yes? Mi-reu's friend? Did you forget something...?"
"...Yes. I did."
Suddenly, Sage's eyes glinted faintly. She'd cast a quick scan spell. The least noticeable one when used right in front of someone.
'No other lifeforms inside her body. Not a parasitic monster, at least.'
One suspect down. Remaining possibilities: possession-type monsters. Or doppelganger.
Of course, it wasn't narrowed to just those two. There could be new monster types Sage didn't know about.
"What did you forget? I'll help you look."
"No, it's fine. I already found it."
"Pardon...?"
"Then I'll be going now. Hope to see you again."
Sage left those words, turned her back without bowing this time, and exited the mansion.
Watching her retreating figure until she was gone, Hwang Mi-reu's mother stepped back inside. Then, to the man waiting within—Hwang Mi-reu's father—she sent a telepathic probe.
Hwang Mi-reu's father scowled and clicked his tongue. Irritation surged at his wife for exposing herself so blatantly to someone without gauging her level.
Hwang Mi-reu's father sighed deeply. Sipping his wine, he gazed out the window and muttered internally to himself.
His judgment was spot-on. Sage Lunaris. In Elemen시아, she was called a dimensional mage and also bore the title of "Sage." Her threat level: a solid S-grade. A being whose power rivaled heroes, Demon Kings, or even Archdemons.
Of course, not at the moment.