Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 026
Chapter Title: Can You Protect Me? (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘I thought hedgehogs thought their own babies were cute, but apparently not?’
Being able to read someone’s mind was an incredible advantage. Of course, Yeonwoo had his status window that let him gauge emotions, but it came with a slight condition: physical contact. Intent Discernment had its weaknesses too.
[When used through non-text media, the ability’s effectiveness decreases.]
‘That part’s a bit regrettable….’
The child’s specialty must have been tuned toward reading books. He wasn’t sure how precise Intent Discernment would be without text, but being able to glimpse someone’s thoughts in any form was a huge boon. For example, when signing a contract, he could instantly tell if the other party had sneaky intentions without reading every line.
‘Pair it with the status window, and most things should be covered.’
The cross-verification made it incredibly useful.
[Planning to make a proper one after so long?]
“Yeah.”
[What about the materials?]
“That’s why I’m heading out to get them now.”
Yeonwoo’s destination was none other than Insadong. If Kwon Seonghyeon hadn’t swallowed his regrets and lent him the car and manager, it would’ve been a real hassle.
Ding!
The old bell chimed crisply as he opened the door. The middle-aged man at the counter pushed up his glasses and greeted him.
“Oh, who’s this? It’s been ages since I last saw your face.”
“Yeah, well… long time no see.”
“I thought you’d cut ties completely.”
Me too.
Yeonwoo thought as he addressed the man in the modified hanbok.
“Give me some high-quality Mirror Ink, and if you have any Lightning-Struck Jujube Tree pieces, those too.”
In a narrow alley of the winding Insadong streets sat an old brush shop. It stocked everything from regular brushes to occult tools that ordinary folks wouldn’t glance at. It was a favorite of his mother, Lady Kang—a luxury shop in this world, with top-notch quality and rare ingredients.
“The Mirror Ink is made by steaming soil from a sacred Chinese mountain, blessed for a hundred days, then grinding it. And the jujube wood is splintered pieces from a 200-year-old tree that got struck by lightning. Want those?”
“This is why I love this place. You always have exactly the good stuff.”
“Tsk tsk. You sure you want them? Something big going on?”
“Not big, just personal. Need to put some care into it.”
“If you’re putting in that much effort, it must be serious. Something up with Lady Kang?”
“Why would Mom come up here?”
“Just saying, haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Mom…?”
He’d gone home only to get dragged into inheriting the family business, so he’d run away—er, left the order—but he had no intention of cutting ties with his mother. He was just laying low for a bit. He wasn’t worried about her. Lady Kang was more capable than he was.
But.
“Is something wrong with Mom?”
“Aigoo, how would I know? Not like Lady Kang would have issues. Not that powerhouse.”
“…Right?”
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow slightly.
“You… run away from home or something? Not going back?”
“Got my reasons.”
“Life’s tough once you leave home. Gotta be good to your one and only mom.”
“…Just give me the stuff quick.”
Brushing off the nagging, Yeonwoo hurried out of Insadong.
‘No way something’s really up with Lady Kang, right?’
The thought crossed his mind in the manager-driven car. But he shook it off. First things first—handle what was right in front of him.
***
“Man, it’s been so long, my hands feel rusty.”
It wasn’t for nothing he’d been doodling on promotional sticky notes. Grumbling aside, Yeonwoo’s hands moved steadily.
Scrape, scrape!
He carved the Lightning-Struck Jujube Tree, grinding the blessed Mirror Ink, mixing it with blood to form ink. He wove letters and patterns, infusing spiritual power to seal it tight, preventing any leakage.
[Whoa. You really went all out, Kang Yeonwoo. Even I, stuck in this body, feel the zap. How much power did you pack in? No trivial ghost or Obsessive Thought could get near it.]
“Dunno. Gotta do it justice for what I got in return.”
[Not just ’cause you pity the kid?]
“Well, yeah, that too.”
[Sigh. This is why I like you, Yeonwoo.]
“Not exactly flattered.”
He hadn’t poured this much care into anything in the past year. The finished talisman didn’t look like the typical “talisman”—more like a necklace.
[Made it like a necklace on purpose?]
“Yeah. So it’s not weird wearing it daily.”
[Protective Exorcism Amulet from lightning-struck wood. Super luxurious. With your blood in it, the higher-ups would pay millions if they knew.]
“Why sell to those trash?]
The child’s wish was for the writer to stay safe from Obsessive Thoughts even without him. Yeonwoo’s Protection Talisman fit perfectly. No one would bat an eye at a 24/7 necklace.
‘They’ll just think it’s an unusual design.’
Spot on, as it turned out.
“Writer Min? Got a sec?”
“Oh, Yeonwoo. Of course. What’s up?”
The next day on set, Min Suji didn’t look great. Dark circles, weary face. But that wasn’t why Yeonwoo called her out.
[Big bro!]
It was her anxious son, calling out.
With departure to the afterlife looming, the boy had been waiting eagerly. He bolted over when Yeonwoo arrived.
“Did you talk to her?”
[Yeah.]
“…No wonder she looks like that.”
Min Suji followed, asking.
“Huh? Yeonwoo, did you say something?”
“Nope.”
He deflected and led her to a secluded spot.
“Why drag me to such a dark corner? Gonna confess? I’d be fine with it, but Yerin might get mad.”
“Huh?”
“Seonghyeon might too? Man, being popular is tough.”
She joked awkwardly. Fragile, like she’d spill everything with a nudge. Holding something back.
Yeonwoo silently held out the item.
She took it absentmindedly and gasped.
“Oh my. What’s this? A necklace? Such a pretty color, like coral. But the pattern’s unique… What is it, Yeonwoo?”
“A talisman. To protect you, Writer Min.”
“Talisman…”
Murmuring the word blankly, a tear dropped from her eye like a bursting peony bud.
“What? Why am I—?”
She wiped her cheek in flustered panic. But more tears followed, unstoppable.
“It’s… so it wasn’t a dream?”
“…”
“Last night, I dreamed of my boy who went on a trip far away first. He said he’d had fun with me so far but it’d be hard from now on. So he asked a strong big brother to look after Mom. Thought it was just a dream from missing him so much. But…”
She fiddled with the Protective Exorcism Amulet.
“Now I get it. You’re that ‘strong big brother,’ right, Yeonwoo? This is… what my boy asked for.”
“Yes.”
Tears now poured in streams.
“So he really was by my side all this time? Right up to now?”
Instead of answering, Yeonwoo looked elsewhere.
[Mom… don’t cry. Okay? Don’t cry…]
The boy clung to her waist, sniffling.
“Back when you did that acupressure, it felt so good. But actually… that wasn’t the first time. Sometimes I’d be exhausted, and suddenly it’d all vanish. Thought it was just recovery from fatigue, but…”
It wasn’t.
Smiling sadly despite her words, she looked forlorn.
“He’s leaving soon. Show him a smile, not tears.”
“Right. Yeah. Didn’t know he was still here… I showed such an ugly side.”
She dabbed her wet eyes.
[Mom, no. I loved being with you. For real.]
The boy at her waist chattered on, knowing she couldn’t hear.
He couldn’t stop because he had to.
Sometimes you just follow your heart, no reason needed. And for Yeonwoo, now was that time.
“Gaon-ah…”
Her faint whisper barely registered as he turned away.
***
[You put extra power into that Protection Talisman on purpose, didn’t you?]
“What’re you talking about?”
[You know you shouldn’t show the dead to the living lightly. Except trash like that non-ghost-worshipping jerk.]
“Didn’t hear a thing.”
[Jeez, you’re weak to that stuff, Yeonwoo! I’m just worried! Don’t do it. Got it? I don’t care about resolving karma, but don’t pile it up!]
“Yeah, yeah.”
[I know you’re not listening!]
Zzt!
The feral hamster twitched its whiskers angrily.
As the Child Spirit predicted, Yeonwoo wasn’t listening at all. Because:
-Ding!
[You have perfectly fulfilled the deceased’s request!]
[Congratulations! You have acquired additional acquirable ability points as a reward.]
[Reward: Intent Discernment [B+]]
The notification for completing the young soul’s request.
‘First request with just extra ability points.’
Not solely because he was “weak to that stuff,” as the Child Spirit claimed. But a little service for bonus stats? Sure.
Back on set, someone greeted him.
“You weren’t here yesterday.”
“Huh?”
“Gone all day.”
Min Yerin chewed her plump lips, displeased.
“Personal business. Had to go to Seoul.”
“…You went to Seoul?”
“Problem?”
“…”
What? Why the resentful glare?
Yeonwoo was baffled.
‘What did I even do?’
The answer came quick.
“So you didn’t see my acting?”
“Well… yeah.”
His obvious reply drew even sharper resentment.
“Tell me next time before you go.”
She spun away primly.
“…?”
What? Why tell her?
‘Souvenirs from Seoul? But when did we get close enough?’
No clue. As he headed to his van, puzzled, a tougher foe than Min Yerin appeared.
“You went out with Writer Min…”
Kwon Seonghyeon approached with a smile.
***
“My manager said you picked up a necklace?”
Yeonwoo glanced over; the manager averted his eyes, fumbling with his phone like it was ringing.
“Got a thing for Writer Min?”
“What? Don’t jinx it.”
Actors sure had wild imaginations, tossing out scary lines casually.
“No, it’s personal. Not exactly a necklace…”
[It’s a talisman, actor!]