Chapter 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Head in the Box (9)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What? I was trying to scare you.”
Those were the first words out of the Dokkaebi’s mouth. His tone carried a hint of disappointment, like the joke hadn’t landed.
“How’d you know?”
The Dokkaebi asked in a calm manner. He seemed genuinely bummed that his prank hadn’t worked. If he didn’t look like a hairy middle-aged guy, it might’ve sounded like a mischievous boy talking.
“Tell me next time so I can do better.”
“You were pretending to sleep like a human, so of course.”
Taeju said with a smile.
“If someone who wasn’t breathing suddenly starts mimicking breaths, anyone would notice.”
At some point, breathing sounds had started up out of nowhere, and his chest began moving like he was inhaling and exhaling.
“If you wanted to pretend to be asleep, you should’ve stayed still the whole time.”
“Humans breathe when they sleep, don’t they?”
The Dokkaebi said, as if that made no sense.
“But we already knew you weren’t human. It might’ve worked on an ordinary person.”
Woli wasn’t startled by the Dokkaebi opening his eyes and sitting up, either.
“I see. What a shame!”
The Dokkaebi let out a hollow laugh as he faced Taeju.
“Damn it, I thought I nailed the human act, but getting caught because of it? That’s too much! Anyway, what are you guys?”
Only then did the Dokkaebi ask about Taeju’s identity. It was so very Dokkaebi of him.
He was more curious about why his prank failed than who they were.
“You’re not surprised even knowing I’m a Dokkaebi, so it seems like you knew I was here and came anyway. How long have you been here?”
The Dokkaebi growled.
“We’ve been waiting since this afternoon. Waiting for you to wake up.”
“Waiting? For me?”
“Yes. Waking a sleeping... well, not human... but anyway, waking a sleeping Dokkaebi felt rude.”
“Hmph, you’ve got manners in the weirdest places. Overdoing it, even.”
The Dokkaebi said that, but he didn’t seem to dislike Taeju—his lips curved up. Though with his rough face, it looked more like a bandit in a good mood than anything gentle.
“But I don’t grant requests or wishes. I’ve got something I’m interested in right now.”
“No requests or wishes here.”
“Sounds like a lie. What human shows up in front of a Dokkaebi for no reason? Not the other way around, either.”
The Dokkaebi said with a suspicious look.
“There probably aren’t many bold humans who prank Dokkaebi.”
Taeju replied.
“I do have business, but what I said earlier wasn’t a lie. It’s just one piece of business, nothing to do with wishes.”
“Huh.”
The Dokkaebi sounded surprised.
“That doesn’t mean you’re here to catch me, right? There used to be guys like that back in the day. Talking about honor and such, saying they’d take me down.”
“These days, that’s not even honorable. And no money in it, of course.”
“Really? Then why’d you bring something like that?”
The Dokkaebi glanced at Woli as he spoke.
“Though if you were here to catch me, you would’ve done something while I was asleep. So what’s the business? Why are you here?”
“I have one thing to ask.”
“Hmm, just something to ask?”
The Dokkaebi sounded intrigued by Taeju’s words.
“But if it was just ordinary chit-chat, you wouldn’t have brought that along. What are you planning to say that you needed something like that?”
Woli’s eyes narrowed at being called “that” twice. But she knew she couldn’t snap now, so her face just hardened.
Taeju ignored the provocation and spoke.
“First, let me introduce myself. My name’s Taeju. I handle problems between people and beings like you.”
“Handle? Doesn’t sound like you’re here to help me.”
The Dokkaebi said suspiciously.
“You’re human, aren’t you? Isn’t helping humans your job?”
“Mostly, yeah.”
Taeju didn’t deny it.
“We usually end up siding with people. But that’s because the other side won’t talk it out.”
“So you’re saying you talk first if I’ll listen? You sure talk fancy.”
The Dokkaebi said with a weary expression.
“I get what you mean. No need to fight if we don’t have to, right?”
Taeju nodded. The fact that conversation was possible was reason enough not to fight.
“If you’re the type we can talk to, it’s much easier. We can clear up misunderstandings, too.”
Taeju emphasized “misunderstandings” meaningfully. The Dokkaebi seemed to find his wordplay amusing—his expression brightened a little.
“Something I’m misunderstanding? Haha! Let’s hear it. That misunderstanding-worthy thing.”
Things were going just as Taeju intended. He lowered his voice.
“A person died.”
Taeju’s goal was “no lies, but phrasing it to mislead.” So he chose each word carefully.
“What? What’s that out of nowhere?”
The Dokkaebi looked puzzled. The sudden topic seemed to startle him.
“Related to the homeowner going to the funeral parlor? Guess someone died then.”
“Separate issue. The death I’m talking about is someone who made a promise with you. Or rather, I suspect the dead person is the one who promised you.”
Taeju said.
“That’s why I’m here.”
Taeju skipped the details and went straight to the conclusion. One shocking line would hit harder than any explanation.
“What do you mean? Died?”
The Dokkaebi’s face stiffened as he spoke. Taeju shrugged once.
“Why would a perfectly healthy person...?”
“Word is, it was illness. Sudden thing. But isn’t that how it always is with humans? They drop dead out of nowhere.”
“Even so, they looked fine last time I saw them.”
The Dokkaebi said hollowly. Then he growled.
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“Why would I lie? What’s in it for me?”
“Maybe that guy hired you. To make it okay if he didn’t keep the promise.”
The Dokkaebi’s demeanor turned menacing. Woli naturally stepped forward.
Taeju placed a hand on her shoulder, signaling her not to go further.
It wasn’t time to fight yet, at least.
“If that were the case, we would’ve done something while you slept.”
The Dokkaebi seemed to accept that logic and didn’t press further.
“Guess leaving him alone assuming he’d keep his word was the mistake. Should’ve checked when he fainted...”
The Dokkaebi was clearly assuming it was Jeonghan who’d made the promise.
Taeju said nothing about it. He’d deliberately let the misunderstanding stand—talking too much might give it away.
“Anyway, I came to tell you the news. And to ask a few questions about it.”
“I’m pissed, sure, but yelling at you won’t help, so I won’t.”
The Dokkaebi’s face twisted into a fierce scowl as he spoke.
“Fine, what’re these questions?”
“Are you involved in his death in any way?”
Taeju asked casually, like it was no big deal. The content was weightier than his tone suggested.
“You suspect me? No! I didn’t kill him. Why would I kill the guy who was gonna keep his promise?”
The Dokkaebi protested strongly, sounding absurdly wronged.
“I even waited like a gentleman, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Yes, I’ll believe that. I know Dokkaebi don’t lie much, either.”
Taeju nodded, as if taking the Dokkaebi at his word.
“Honestly, I think it was just coincidence, too. But I heard the homeowner’s been hearing demands to keep a promise lately.”
“Yeah. I tell him every day.”
“Had to ask just in case. But if you say no, I believe you.”
Taeju spoke as if he’d never suspected the Dokkaebi of murder. Which was true—he hadn’t—so it was like taking credit with one line.
“You know a thing or two about Dokkaebi, huh?”
The Dokkaebi grinned wide, pleased at being trusted.
“Yes. Someone mediating has to know at least that much about Dokkaebi.”
Taeju smiled back. But the Dokkaebi’s face hardened again.
“Problem is, what happens to the promise now?”
“Obviously, it can’t be kept like this.”
The Dokkaebi stared straight at Taeju.
“You said you mediate, so I figure you’re here about that, too.”
Taeju nodded at the sharp question.
“Of course. I know promises mean a lot to you. So I figured you’d try to make sure it gets kept somehow.”
That’s why he’d expected this reaction.
“You could go after family or friends. Maybe think they have to pay it off instead.”
“You get it.”
The Dokkaebi said, frowning.
“And you wouldn’t like that, right?”
“As a human, I don’t think it’s ideal. But I know about Dokkaebi. I get that you can’t help it.”
Taeju paused before continuing.
“We don’t want to fight you to the death, either. So if it’s not some grave promise, we might try keeping it for him.”
“Good. I like that you’re not promising blindly to keep it.”
“So let’s confirm what the promise was.”
“What? You don’t even know what it is?”
“No. The deceased didn’t explain it properly.”
The Dokkaebi clicked his tongue at Taeju’s words.
“Don’t wanna badmouth the dead, but that’s irresponsible.”
Well, can’t be helped. Taeju just shrugged and asked again.
“What was the original promise?”
Taeju asked, a bit tense.
The answer would determine how hard things got next.
“Simple promise. When he grew up and dug up the box again, he’d show me something valuable.”
That’s what the Dokkaebi said. Taeju tilted his head.
“Something valuable?”
“Yeah. So he’s obligated to show me something valuable.”
Taeju asked, puzzled.
“What is it?”
“No idea. He just promised to show it. I don’t know what it is.”
The Dokkaebi declared proudly.
“He promised to show me something valuable. Hasn’t told me what yet.”