'Oh, It Suits You So Well~'
"Oh, it suits you so perfectly~"
The sales clerk giggled lightly as she spoke. Jeong In-ah gazed at her reflection in the mirror, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
"I'll take this one too!"
"Sure thing~ Would you like to look around some more?"
"No! This is plenty."
Jeong In-ah shook her head firmly. She felt like she'd already bought more than enough.
"Alright, then. Let me ring these up for you."
The clerk gathered the clothes Jeong In-ah had picked and headed to the counter. Beep, beep—the scanner chimed repeatedly.
"That'll be 456,100 won total. Would you like to enroll in our points program?"
"No, no, I'm good."
"Receipt?"
"Just toss it!"
"Got it~"
The clerk packed the clothes into bags. Jeong In-ah took them, feeling the weight. For her, 450,000 won was a hefty sum, but she didn't regret it one bit. Every piece was a gift for her sister, who would soon return.
With shopping done, Jeong In-ah stepped out of the department store. Flower scents wafted everywhere, mingling with the fresh green smell of grass carried on the breeze. The streets buzzed with people: couples holding hands and gazing at each other with syrupy sweetness, families out for a day trip, groups of friends wandering in search of fun. Smiles lit every face.
Everyone looked so happy. Jeong In-ah couldn't help but grin foolishly, her own happiness bubbling up.
Ding-a-ling—
Next, Jeong In-ah headed to an ice cream shop. Her sister loved cake, especially ice cream cake.
"I'll have this one."
She pointed to the largest, most delicious-looking cake on display.
"Yes, one moment please."
While the clerk packaged it, Jeong In-ah fiddled with her phone. A few texts from Gu Jun-hyeok, some casual check-ins from other friends. Nothing from Do Seon-woo. She had no idea what he was up to, but he was always hard to reach on weekends.
"Your ice cream cake is ready."
She'd been mindlessly scrolling up and down, skimming her chat with Do Seon-woo, when the cake arrived. "Thank you," she murmured softly, leaving the shop.
Ding-a-ling.
The bell on the door chimed crisply.
Thus burdened with bags of clothes, cake, and assorted gifts, she waddled home. Her shoulders soon began to ache, so she decided to rest at a nearby park.
"Ugh."
Jeong In-ah plopped the bags on the ground and slumped onto a bench. She hadn't walked far, but sweat beaded on her skin. The weather had warmed up suddenly. The once-chilly wind now felt refreshing, and the sunlight was cozy. Spring had fully arrived.
She sat there for a while, letting the sun dry her off. Glancing up, she noticed the tightly closed buds shyly unfurling. Fresh pink leaves peeked from the gaps. Cherry blossoms would bloom soon.
Last year around this time came to mind. She'd gone to Seokchon Lake with her sister. The brilliant cherry blossoms in full bloom. Petals cascading like a pink blizzard with every gust. They'd eaten all sorts of things while wandering, though she couldn't recall exactly what. The vague memories made her chuckle. Back then, it hadn't felt that special, but looking back, it was pure bliss.
"I'm so glad."
Jeong In-ah whispered to herself. It was hard to put into words, but everything felt fortunate.
"Heh."
On the way home, she grinned for no reason. The clouds scattered across the blue sky like cute footprints. The familiar scenery felt strangely new, fun, and beautiful today.
Beyond the door stretched an endlessly long corridor shrouded in utter darkness. No light pierced it at all.
Kang Ji-a and I proceeded cautiously down it. Every so often, a faint ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling echoed through the silence, accompanied by rustling sounds—like insects or rats scurrying about. Each noise made Kang Ji-a flinch beside me.
"Cult Leader, perhaps we should go back for a flashlight or candle. Something to light the way."
Her voice trembled as she spoke. The corridor was dark, but not pitch-black.
"Let's just keep going. We're already here."
Turning back now felt like a hassle, and a waste of time above all. Kang Ji-a trailed me with reluctant steps, her shoulders quivering faintly.
"Um, how about using your phone's flashlight?"
She suggested after we'd walked some distance. I pulled out my phone. Battery at 2%.
"No juice left."
"Ah."
Kang Ji-a drooped in despair.
"Can't you use yours?"
"I left mine back there earlier..."
"Then let's just go."
We pressed on. Kang Ji-a stuck close to my back like glue. We'd walked quite a ways, but the corridor showed no end. My legs were starting to ache.
"Cult Leader, like I said before, wouldn't it be better to fetch a light and come back?"
Soon enough, she spoke up again.
"I can still see fine in the dark. No need."
"It's still too dark. Could be dangerous."
Her voice shook as she said it.
"Are you scared?"
"No."
"Be honest. We can turn back if you are."
"It's not fear. Just... concern for the danger—"
Clank!
"Eek...!"
A large, dry sound erupted from the darkness ahead. It echoed chillingly through the corridor. Kang Ji-a collapsed to the floor without even screaming, tears glinting at the corners of her eyes in the gloom.
"You are scared."
"...No."
She denied it to the end, but it was obvious. With no choice, I channeled Voodoo magic into the air, drawing a spell circle. From it rose flickering purple candles.
Low-grade recreation spell: Ritual Candle.
As a low-grade spell, the light wasn't strong, but better than nothing. I picked up a candle and trudged forward. Kang Ji-a stared at me from the floor, dumbfounded.
"Why didn't you use it from the start...?"
"Your reactions were funny. Sorry."
"......"
She opened her mouth as if to retort, then sighed in resignation and followed.
"You really take after Master, Cult Leader."
"First I've heard that. How so?"
"You both love pranks."
"Nah, I'm tame compared to Uncle."
"No... From what I see, you're just the same."
We bantered idly as we strode along. With light, walking was much easier. Soon, we reached the end: a heavy iron door with three barred locks, each secured by padlocks.
"I'll open it."
Clink.
Kang Ji-a pulled a bundle of keys from her pocket and methodically unlocked them. I held the candle to illuminate.
Click.
All unlocked. Heart pounding, I gripped the handle and pulled.
Grraaak.
The stiff door ground open like scraping stone. Beyond lay a vast room, pitch-black like the corridor. The mysterious ding-a-ling and clanking persisted. A sour stench filled the air—filth and sweat mingled. Occasional rustles hinted at presences, but whose, I couldn't tell.
"Be careful. There might be magic beasts."
Kang Ji-a warned. I scanned the corners with candlelight, moving slowly. First thing I spotted: a massive, sturdy safe. Kang Ji-a hurried over, assessed it, and cracked it open in under three minutes.
Clunk!
It swung open with a cheerful sound. Inside: stacks of 50,000-won bills, gold bars, jewels. Offerings from worship, no doubt. Too much to even estimate.
"Take it all."
Kang Ji-a said. I channeled divine power into Baal's maw. Crack— the entrance yawned open. She stuffed in the cash, gold, and gems. She looked just like a bank robber. Definitely Uncle's disciple.
"Now let's head b—"
Clank.
"Haaaaah! Haaah!"
"Kyaaah!"
Something tripped Kang Ji-a as she stood to leave. Iron bars rattled, and an unidentified creature unleashed a maddened screech. Kang Ji-a screamed in terror.
"Guhhh, uh... Huh? ...Huh?"
After shrieking and trembling, she let out a puzzled sigh. For the first time, emotion cracked her stoic face—confusion, fear, disgust.
"Cult Leader. This."
She pointed beyond the bars. I approached, shining the candle her way. Purple light pierced the iron cage.
"Haaaaah! Haaah!"
The 'thing' screeched wildly again at the light. It didn't stop, even as its voice hoarsened and cracked. Reason utterly lost.
I stared slowly at the figure. Curly brown hair, emaciated limbs. Pale skin peeked through torn clothes, mottled with blue veins and bruises. Brownish eyes, unfocused like the hair.
A zombie.
"Haaah! Haa—!"
Clank. Clank-clank-clank.
It gripped and shook the bars. Its screams grated like nails on metal. Drool dripped from its gaping maw. A collar with a bell and name tag jingled.
Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling-ding, ding-a-ling.
Dry, parched sounds from its frenzy. The tag bore a name. Reading it, I let out an incredulous chuckle.
"Found her..."
I stared blankly at the name, slumping down and laughing like a madman. Each laugh churned nausea in my gut, my stomach twisting like severed intestines.
"But why here of all places..."
Jeong In-ah's missing sister, Jeong Yun-ah. Right before me. Zombified, caged behind bars.