Shamans Assemble in Phnom Penh
"Did you hear?"
"Team Leader Nam Gyuho recruited another Special Grade shaman."
"For real?? So now we have three shamans on the special team?"
"They're joining the briefing today, apparently? Everyone's dying to know who it is."
"Master Kim looked off yesterday before heading home. Was that why?"
"I heard a 1st Grade shaman backed by police HQ is coming too. Rumor has it she's a woman."
"Female shamans are rare. Must be impressive."
The special team office buzzed with excitement from the morning.
As soon as Team Leader Nam Gyuho stepped in, everyone zipped their lips.
"Good morning!"
"Yes, good morning, Team Leader!"
Next came Master Kim, his white Taoist robe billowing, a traditional hat perched neatly on his head, an old wooden staff in one hand and his company access card in the other.
"Heh heh heh. Good day to you all. My, my, Officer Kim—your face is flushed with fiery energy. Didn't get much sleep last night, did you?"
"Ah, yeah... The kid had a fever."
"I figured as much."
Master Kim pulled a small blue envelope from his sleeve and handed it over.
"Use this."
"What's this?"
"Two convenience store pain relief patches and kids' fever medicine. I infused a bit of energy into the envelope on the way here, so the child should be better by tonight."
Officer Kim stared blankly as he took the envelope.
"How did you know... Th-thank you."
"Heh heh, no trouble at all."
"How'd Master Kim know Officer Kim's kid was sick?"
"He's the real deal! Our Master Kim."
"Heh heh heh. But who looks out for the special team more than I do? Heh heh heh."
Master Kim's robe fluttered again as he drew a small water bottle from his bosom. He muttered incantations nonstop while pouring the water into a white porcelain saucer. Once the yellow gardenia water nearly brimmed over, he pulled out a talisman, soaked it, and began sprinkling it on the door.
"Hum nay om mara, om ma da ra da."
Everyone watched quietly as he chanted the blessing with utmost sincerity.
That was when it happened.
A figure pushed through the door.
"This the special team~?"
A girl in a white Adidas tracksuit top and a ridiculously short miniskirt, a small bag slung over one shoulder, peeked in with a bright smile.
All eyes snapped to the door.
"Guess it is."
Master Kim's brow furrowed slightly at her mutter. He sensed the ominous spiritual energy radiating from her body—like a warning that said, I'm this strong, so don't mess with me.
"Namu Amida Butsu, Kwanseum Bosal."
As Master Kim clasped his hands in greeting, the other team members realized she was a shaman too.
The girl strode in like she owned the place, kicked out a chair from an empty desk, and plopped down. She crossed her legs, leaned back, and slapped her bag on the table.
"I'm Samada Miku~! 1st Grade certified and dispatched here. Nice to meet ya~!"
Shocked that she was a 1st Grade shaman, but charmed by her bubbly energy, the tough guys on the team couldn't help smirking.
"Nam Gyuho here."
"Ah, I've heard so much about you, Team Leader!"
She flashed a grin, hopped up for a quick handshake, then plopped back down.
"Quit smoking, huh? You're chewing that pen."
"Yeah. Last year."
"I just quit too. Smokers have no rights in Korea. Felt so unfair I had to stop. Even got these nicotine patches."
She suddenly yanked open her cleavage.
Her massive breasts strained against her bra. Every guy's eyes bulged.
Nam Gyuho turned away, embarrassed.
Right at the top of her breasts, where they swelled out, a nicotine patch was stuck firmly.
"Can't see it good?"
Helpfully, Miku stood and proudly showed off the patch to the other team members. Officer Lee Jun, sitting next to her, went beet red.
"Oh my. This big bro's shy. But being shy is my job! Hahaha!"
She twirled her skirt, flashing her white panties without a care.
Nam Gyuho's head throbbed, but he cleared the air and prepped for briefing.
"Alright, everyone gather up. Officer Park, fire up the projector."
The moment the beam projector lit up—
"Hello?"
A young man stepped in—barely college age, still boyish.
Nam Gyuho's eyes widened.
"Oh my god!! Who is this?!"
He kicked off his mushroom-shaped shoes and bolted to the door—a lightness no one had seen from the team's heavy hitter.
"Teacher Kang Suhu!! You made it! Thank you! Thank you!!"
Miku clocked that this was the Special Grade shaman everyone buzzed about—the one Nam Gyuho greeted with way more enthusiasm than her.
It stung a little.
"What? He's just a kid? That's the Special Grade shaman?"
"Namu Amida Butsu, Kwanseum Bosal."
Master Kim, stunned by the Special Grade shaman's identity, kept spinning his prayer beads and muttering.
The beaming Nam Gyuho ushered Kang Suhu to the front and began introductions.
"This is Kang Suhu, the Special Grade shaman who's joining our special team."
Miku found Nam Gyuho's proud proclamation annoying. She didn't like the spotlight shifting to this guy.
"He doesn't look Special Grade to me."
She whispered to Officer Lee Jun beside her. He nodded eagerly, thrilled she'd even spoken to him. She was too pretty.
"Yeah... doesn't seem like it."
"Tch. Not liking this. His spiritual power feels meh. Grandpa? What do you think of him?"
She asked her grandfather.
"Grandpa?"
Her ever-present guardian spirit was silent.
"Where'd you go, Grandpa? Summon Baekrang!"
Miku called her shikigami.
"Grrrrrr."
The massive white wolf's sudden appearance startled everyone. Human-sized, it was clearly her shikigami.
"Baekrang. Think you could take that guy?"
At her command, Baekrang glared and growled at the man.
Then it happened.
The man's gaze turned to Baekrang.
"Grr...?"
Baekrang's head whipped around. Now it was growling at Officer Lee Jun beside Miku—as if he'd been the target all along.
"Eek! S-scary... Miss Miku. I... I hate dogs."
"Baekrang? What's up?"
She yanked the "leash," trying to force it back toward the man, but it kept baring teeth at Lee Jun.
"Baekrang... I asked if you could beat that guy."
Then the man approached slowly and petted Baekrang's head.
The wolf no one but her could touch!
Miku's eyes bulged.
"Don't scare the team members too much, okay? Good boy?"
At his voice, Baekrang started wagging its tail.
Miku gawked at her shikigami for a good while. She'd never seen it wag for anyone else—a freak occurrence.
"Hey, why're you bossing my Baekrang around?"
As she protested, she hallucinated a massive spider over his head.
She rubbed her eyes and looked again.
Must've seen wrong.
"Sorry. We're teammates now, so let's get along. I'm Kang Suhu."
"Samada Miku."
She took his outstretched hand on reflex.
As they shook, an ominous feeling nagged at her.
Where the hell's Grandpa? I wanna know what this guy's deal is.
That bad feeling lingered even after landing in Cambodia.
Grandpa never showed.
The plane door opened.
Whoosh—Cambodia's heat slammed into my face.
Nothing like Korea's spring. The air itself was thick, like sinking into a heavy, damp quilt.
Cambodia never gets easier, no matter how many times I come.
Phnom Penh International Airport. More modern than expected, but the vibe shifted the second we stepped out.
Exhaust and dust mingled in the air. Horns blared nonstop on the roads. Tuk-tuk drivers waved through the windows.
"Bus is waiting. All gear's been shipped via transport plane, so we head straight to the FOB."
Nam Gyuho was always polite to me.
I didn't mind.
After enduring his wife's cooking boasts the whole flight, I was starving.
A seventeen-year-old wife... What a thief.
Never pegged him for it.
I could tell Miku and Master Kim were keeping their distance from me. Even with my spiritual power suppressed, they sensed something and seemed wary. Hard to approach first.
Mongshili, you... you haven't been threatening the shamans behind my back, have you?
...No.
The bus with the full team headed to a small hotel near the Korean embassy. Big enough for over 30 personnel.
"We rented out the whole hotel. It's our forward operating base. Picked the comfiest spot since you're here, Teacher. Verifying intel on-site will take about two days, so actual ops start in three."
Not jumping straight into action upon arrival.
Two days for acclimation and conditioning under the guise of training.
For me, basically free time.
"Got some personal business. Mind if I go off on my own for a bit?"
"Once you're settled in your room, feel free. Just back by nightfall?"
"Yeah, of course."
The hotel was embassy-adjacent.
After room assignment, I dropped my bags and headed out.
Blazing sun scorched the asphalt, heat haze rising.
That Miku girl's tailing me.
I knew that much.
......
You thought, 'Telling him is bullshit.'
Yeah.
I'd once searched Phnom Penh Hospital for traces of my late father.
No leads back then, but now I knew.
The Chinese nurse there.
Just take her down.
Master, target's moving.
Hospital main entrance.
The Chinese nurse emerged, white coat off, in civilian clothes.
Mid-40s. Short bob. Tired face, but sharp eyes.
Survivor's gaze.
I grabbed a tuk-tuk and kept loose distance.
Phnom Penh rush hour was pure chaos. Motorbikes, tuk-tuks, cars tangled in a symphony of horns. Street vendors stir-fried greasy food. Exhaust and spices choked the air.
Nurse: one bus, twenty-minute walk. Stopped at a rundown apartment complex.
Miku?
3 o'clock. 50 meters.
Glanced back.
Samada Miku in Adidas tracksuit and miniskirt, picking mangoes at a stall.
Change clothes if you're tailing, at least.
Our eyes met.
Miku bit into a mango and smirked.
I shook my head.
Warning: back off.
I took a seat at a café across from her apartment.
Ordered an iced Americano. Waited.
About two hours later, she emerged. No bag this time. Convenience store run, probably.
Now.
I stood casually, matched her pace.
Inside the store. Next to her at the fridge picking drinks, I spoke softly in Chinese.
"Liu Xiaoyan."
Her hand froze.
"Don't be startled."
She turned slowly. Fear flashed in her eyes, then faded.
Reaction of someone long in hiding.
"...Who are you."
"There was a Korean patient who died in a triad-linked medical accident recently. I need info on the Korean who came to see him. Tell me, and I'll leave quietly."
Her lips quivered faintly.
She knew.
"I'm that patient's son."
Long silence.
Liu Xiaoyan grabbed a drink, paid, and muttered low as we exited.
"...Follow me."
Five-story villa stairs. On the second-floor landing, under dim light, she turned.
"How'd you find me?"
"Not important."
"...Right. I remember that patient. A bit odd. Turned into a completely different person at night. Forgot everything he did during the day."
No way... half-human shikigami?
She glanced at the ceiling briefly.
"He talked about his son until the end."
I stayed silent.
Rage stabbed like an awl near my heart.
"A famous Korean chairman came to see him too. With a male secretary."
"Chairman Kang Rokgi?"
"Yes. Kang Rokgi."
Then—
"Gah!!"
A short scream, followed by a grotesque grrrrrrind.
Her body began to twist.