Snail Bride Request (2)
Snail Bride Request (2)
Yeong Hong-gae was an ordinary day laborer.
Like most people of this era, he didn't possess any outstanding talents.
He sustained his livelihood by going to the landowner's house and plowing fields. Today, too, he had finished plowing someone else's field, received his wages, and was on his way back.
When he returned to his dilapidated thatched house, a warm meal was laid out on the porch.
"...What's this?"
It wasn't just for one day.
Whenever Yeong Hong-gae finished work and came home, there was always a warm meal waiting.
And that was not all. The laundry was done. All the tedious housework had been neatly taken care of.
Yeong Hong-gae felt a chill run down his spine, but he couldn't afford to call an Exorcist. Hiring them once would cost as much as a month's wages from his labor.
Money was scarier than ghosts. Poor Yeong Hong-gae couldn't easily commission an Exorcist.
Yeah, so what if it's a ghost. I can handle it myself.
With that mindset, one day Yeong Hong-gae pretended to go to work and hid in his house.
He concealed himself in an unused shed, and then he heard clattering sounds from inside the house.
He cautiously traced the source of the noise and peeked out.
One Jar in the kitchen was slowly sliding open.
It was the Jar where he had recently stored the snails he obtained.
The lid grrrked open on its own, and from inside, a water-soaked Gwisin splashed and crawled out.
A woman with pale skin. Her damp hair carried the salty scent of the sea. She let down her long black hair and emerged grotesquely into the kitchen.
Tok tok tok.
The female Gwisin picked up the Kitchen Knife. Without Yeong Hong-gae's permission, she took out ingredients and began slicing them.
She put water in the pot and checked the seasoning. She added potatoes, salt, and such into the boiling water.
Yeong Hong-gae's eyes went wide. A real ghost.
Yeong Hong-gae swung the fire poker he had gripped in advance and bellowed loudly to chase away the Gwisin.
"You bastard! How dare you! Coming into a person's house and causing chaos!"
At that, the Gwisin jumped in fright. She turned her head toward Yeong Hong-gae, but her damp hair covered her face, making it invisible.
The Gwisin plopped down on the floor and said to Yeong Hong-gae.
"I have committed a grave sin. Seobang-nim."
"Se, Seobang-nim...?"
"I am a vengeful spirit who drowned. I couldn't even go to the afterlife and my soul was trapped in a snail's body. Since Seobang-nim saved and cared for me, you are my Seobang-nim."
The Gwisin suddenly lifted her head. Though she mimicked a human appearance, the discrepancy was huge. Her skin was bluish-pale, and drenched in water—she was clearly a minor Gwisin no matter how you looked at it.
The Gwisin stood up and politely clasped her hands. There was no hostility in her voice.
"In order to repay the grace received from Seobang-nim, I have been doing housework like this every day. This lowly girl can only do this much. If Seobang-nim permits, I will quietly serve by your side from now on."
Yeong Hong-gae pondered for a moment. The Gwisin didn't seem to have any intention of causing harm.
And besides, how was he supposed to perform an exorcism? To drive out that Gwisin anyway, he'd have to pay and hire an Exorcist.
She offered to handle the annoying housework. Honestly, wasn't that not so bad? Yeah, in old folktales, there were people who got along well with Yokai, right?
Yeong Hong-gae's deliberation was long.
"...If you truly have such sincerity, it's fine for you to stay in my house. But if I ever get sick of you, leave then."
"Yes. Thank you, Seobang-nim."
"You're going to call me that?"
"I must call Seobang-nim as Seobang-nim."
Honestly, it didn't feel bad. Even though her face wasn't visible, her slender figure was to Yeong Hong-gae's taste.
Even if she was a Gwisin, her form was close to that of a woman. Talking to what felt like a female made Yeong Hong-gae's heart flutter a bit.
No, snap out of it. The other party is a ghost.
Yeong Hong-gae suppressed his pitiful stray thoughts and said.
"What should I call you?"
"Please call me Snail Bride."
And so, the bizarre cohabitation with the Gwisin began.
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The Snail Bride usually stayed out of Yeong Hong-gae's sight. She only came out when he wasn't home and finished the housework.
Whenever he returned home, the meal and cleaned porch awaited him.
However, when Yeong Hong-gae called for the Snail Bride, she unfailingly emerged from the Jar.
"Did you call for me, Seobang-nim?"
"Ahem, it's nothing much. Since we live under one roof, shouldn't we see each other's faces sometimes? Draw some water."
"Yes, understood."
The Snail Bride was extremely obedient. She did whatever he asked.
She even tried to do things he hadn't requested.
"Seobang-nim. I washed your clothes."
"What? I've only worn them for a day..."
"No. They smelled dirty."
Sweat? Dirt? It was plausible since Yeong Hong-gae had come back from plowing fields.
The Snail Bride coldly held up the fabric. Somehow, the temperature inside the house seemed to drop.
"Seobang-nim. Are you perhaps meeting women outside?"
"What are you talking about... Ah, there is The Mistress who gives me work... but why?"
"No. I smell another female."
The Snail Bride quietly disappeared. The sound of the laundry bat striking echoed from the back yard.
Peok, peok- peok-
The sound rang out viciously.
Yeong Hong-gae didn't pay much attention and sat at the head of the table.
A warm noodle dish was laid out on the meal. Yeong Hong-gae picked up his chopsticks and lifted some noodles.
There was a long strand of hair between the noodles.
"...Must be a mistake."
He continued eating. It felt petty to get angry over something like this with the one who prepared the meal. Even as a Gwisin, the Snail Bride was a grateful existence who took better care of Yeong Hong-gae than any human.
At that moment, the Snail Bride returned carrying the laundry.
She looked down at Yeong Hong-gae. In the Snail Bride's hand was a rag that had turned into a cleaning cloth.
"I'm sorry, Seobang-nim. I misjudged my strength."
"...Th, that can happen. You've been working hard every time."
The hair in the noodles wasn't just one strand.
Was it all a mistake?
Yeong Hong-gae's face turned pale as he ate.
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"You've worked hard. Take your wages."
The Mistress said, sitting at the edge of the porch. Her stockinged feet fidgeted. Though a married woman, she was young.
Not much different in age from Yeong Hong-gae. Whenever the refined-faced Mistress paid his wages, Yeong Hong-gae felt his field-weary body recover.
As he received the money, Yeong Hong-gae secretly glanced at The Mistress's face. Neat hair, white skin, proudly raised eyes under which was a sharp nose bridge.
Rolling around with a woman like this was his dream. But she was The Mistress of a wealthy house, someone Yeong Hong-gae could never meet no matter how hard he tried.
"Hm? Is there something on my face?"
The Mistress smiled playfully. Yeong Hong-gae's heart dropped.
"N, no!"
"Why so stiff? We're not seeing each other for the first or second time. When he's away, you and I are friends, friends."
The Mistress teased flirtatiously. Despite the clear superior-inferior relationship, Yeong Hong-gae felt needlessly excited.
Her playful taps felt lovely.
Maybe I can tell her?
Yeong Hong-gae poured out the worries he harbored. It was about the Snail Bride.
"Ma-nim, may I ask one thing? There's something I urgently want to consult about. If it's Ma-nim—"
"Oh ho. What could it be that you're consulting me? Come sit here. Let me hear our Hong-gae's story."
Yeong Hong-gae told her everything without hiding.
The circumstances of obtaining the snail, the encounter with the Snail Bride. Even the strange unease he'd felt recently.
After hearing his story, The Mistress's expression darkened.
"Hong-gae, it's best to exorcise even a minor Gwisin right away. From what I hear, that vengeful spirit seems obsessed with you. This is a woman's intuition. If you leave it be, you'll suffer great harm."
Then The Mistress took out a bundle of coins from her bosom and gave it to him. Suddenly receiving such a large sum left Yeong Hong-gae dumbfounded.
"You can repay it slowly later. How many years have you worked at our house? Don't worry about the money. Use this to put out the urgent fire first. Commission an Exorcist, and don't tell anyone about this money."
Though burdensome, gratitude welled up in Yeong Hong-gae's heart. The Mistress was as kind-hearted as she was beautiful.
Yeong Hong-gae held the bundle of money and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Ma-nim! I will never forget this grace!"
His steps home were light.
On the way, Yeong Hong-gae stopped by the market and posted a Public Notice in a busy alley.
This way, passing Exorcists would see it and come on their own.
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A few days later, an Exorcist came to find Yeong Hong-gae. A man in blue robes stood in front of the house. With a neat appearance and sharp, intelligent eyes, his tidy attire inspired trust.
"Nice to meet you. I saw the commission notice. I am the Exorcist Cheong-ui Gongja."
"Ah, Exorcist-nim. You've come."
Yeong Hong-gae greeted him with a reluctant face.
Because his mind had changed in those few days.
Since that day, the Snail Bride hadn't acted suspiciously. Cohabiting with the Snail Bride was convenient. No need to touch housework.
Did he really have to exorcise her? He knew he should in his head, but he hesitated to spend the big money. It was human nature to balk at spending a large sum.
"Um, Exorcist-nim. I'm truly sorry, but I'm in a hand-to-mouth situation. Is there no way to do it for a cheaper price?"
"Hmm, how much do you want?"
Yeong Hong-gae whispered shamelessly despite himself. Even he felt embarrassed by the price as he said it.
Hearing that, Cheong-ui Gongja glanced away awkwardly.
"That might be a bit difficult. From what I see, it's not a particularly dangerous Gwisin. A minor Gwisin that even an ordinary person could easily handle. If the commission fee is a burden, I can give you a Talisman."
"Ah, thank you. What kind of efficacious Talisman is it?"
"It's a Talisman that sticks to anything perfectly. It never falls off, clings on, and sucks out the Demonic Aura. Normally I'd charge for this too, but since you seem desperate, I'll give it for free."
Cheong-ui Gongja took a Talisman from his sleeve.
No, one might lead to mistakes by an ordinary person, so generously add one more.
He gave a whopping two Talismans.
"Never stick it on a person. Only use on Yokai. I gave you a slightly strong one that's easy even for ordinary people. The moment it's attached, no one can move, so use it with utmost caution."
Cheong-ui Gongja left in a good mood. For him, it was a huge act of charity. A donation of his talents, literally.
Yeong Hong-gae stood blankly holding the Talisman. Just attach this, and the Yokai would be exorcised on its own. An item that binds the limbs, making movement impossible.
He carefully folded the Talisman and tucked it into his bosom.
The Snail Bride stood in the kitchen, watching the entire scene.
The female Gwisin picked up the Kitchen Knife and crawled into the Jar.
"Seobang-nimwhydidyouSeobang-nimwouldneverbetraymewhohastakencareso wellofyoudoesntSeobang-nimlovemeahyesitsallthatwoman'sfaultthatbitchthatfilthybitchnoshe seducedSeobang-nimSeobang-nimwouldneverhate meitsallthatwoman'sscheme."