Riding the Hot Air Balloon, Part 8
“...”
When Noel couldn't bring himself to speak, Yeong-hyeon gently grasped his shoulder.
“The day has simply come. That's all, right?”
Noel knew he should agree, but his eyes wavered as he looked at Yeong-hyeon.
“Noel.”
“...Yeah.”
“It's only right to go where I belong, isn't it?”
“...You're right.”
A ghost was a dead soul.
And the dead were not meant to linger among the living.
Noel slowly forced a smile.
“You should go where you belong.”
He knew all too well what a blessing it was for a spirit to pass on without any lingering regrets.
“Where are you going?” Kkamangi asked, blinking its eyes.
Yeong-hyeon pointed a finger toward the sky.
“Up there.”
Kkamangi looked up, tilting its head.
“What's up there?”
“I don't know either.”
Yeong-hyeon approached Kkamangi and stroked its head.
Kkamangi closed its eyes gently, enjoying the touch.
“Take your time coming up, Kkamangi.”
“He can come with me,” Noel chuckled softly.
Yeong-hyeon didn't seem to realize it, but weren't they bound by a contract?
“He says I can!” Kkamangi chirped excitedly.
It had no idea what passing on meant, or where they were even going.
But Noel figured as long as the little spirit was happy, that was enough.
“Let's go look at some furniture before we head home.”
Noel looked at Yeong-hyeon.
They had already made a promise, and passing on was what Yeong-hyeon wanted.
He had no intention of holding him back.
In fact, he knew he absolutely shouldn't.
“How does that sound?”
“I'd love that,” Yeong-hyeon smiled warmly.
Goodbyes were usually sudden, arriving without warning.
Yet, this time, they had time to prepare, time to feel the bittersweet ache of parting, and time to say their proper farewells.
Yeong-hyeon felt incredibly grateful for that.
“Let us empty our minds of all else and simply cherish this very moment,” Asin spoke.
“I wasn't thinking about anything anyway!”
At Kkamangi's reply, Asin let out a soft chuckle and patted its rear.
After stopping by the apartment, Noel headed back out with Yeong-hyeon.
He found an empty bench in a nearby park and sat down.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in warm hues.
“Ask me whatever you're curious about, Hyung. I promised, didn't I?” Noel spoke without looking at Yeong-hyeon.
“You did.”
“I told you I’d tell you everything before you pass on, Hyung. Don’t rush me. I keep my promises.”
Back then and even now, Noel remained remarkably consistent.
“Do you know how you ended up in my body?”
“I don't. Honestly, I want to know the reason too.”
Had his parents performed necromancy?
Or perhaps his older sister and brother?
He didn't know.
He didn't even know what had become of his family now.
Had he truly been the only one brought to this world?
He decided not to think any further.
If he did, the tightly suppressed yearning might suffocate him.
“So you don't know either. That must be so frustrating.”
“I just accept it.”
It had to be frustrating, yet Noel seemed entirely accustomed to the feeling.
“Was the place you lived in just some very distant foreign country, Noel?”
Yeong-hyeon stole a glance at Noel.
That was as far as his imagination could stretch.
“It was a different world. An entirely different world. There were countless ghosts there too, and I... I was an enemy of the Empire.”
“...What? You? Why you?”
Yeong-hyeon's surprise quickly gave way to indignation.
Watching him, Noel burst into laughter.
He had never seen anyone react like that before.
“Don't laugh, tell me! Why you? I'm seriously getting mad here!”
“Simply because I was born this way.”
“...What?”
“It's true. I became an enemy of the Empire just by being born. And it wasn't just me—everyone born with this power was treated the same way.”
“...”
Yeong-hyeon's anger vanished instantly, and he pressed his lips together.
He took a sharp, quiet breath before speaking.
“Were you... always on the run?”
Yeong-hyeon couldn't bring himself to voice the rest of his thoughts.
Had he gone hungry?
Had he been hurt?
An endless stream of worries threatened to unravel.
“I'm not running anymore. That's all that matters.”
“You're younger than me... You shouldn't talk like someone who's already lived a full life. You really shouldn't...!”
Yeong-hyeon's voice cracked with sudden emotion.
He truly meant it.
A young kid shouldn't have to speak with such weary resignation.
“I'm saying this because I'm genuinely happy right now. I used to curse and hate my power so much. But now, I can use it to make money and buy fried chicken. I couldn't be happier.”
Noel offered a bright, genuine smile.
He looked so truly content that Yeong-hyeon couldn't bring himself to pry any further.
It felt like picking at a raw wound.
He swallowed down all his remaining questions.
“Then, Noel.”
“Yeah. Ask whatever you want.”
“Did you... die?”
At Yeong-hyeon's question, Noel sniffled idly.
“I was probably on the verge of death. No, actually, I must have just died.”
After all, the necromancy required to transfer a soul into another's body could only be performed immediately after death.
It was by no means an easy feat.
“Did it hurt?”
“Did it hurt for you, Hyung?”
“I don't remember.”
“Same here. But how did you know? Wow, you've got sharp instincts.”
“When you sleep, you scream. You tell them to stay away, and you swear a lot.”
“...Ah, really? So that's how you knew.”
Noel awkwardly toyed with his hair.
He hadn't realized he was having nightmares.
“Hyung. Don't let that become a lingering regret. My past and my nightmares are my own burdens to carry.”
It might have sounded like he was drawing a line, but it wasn't that at all.
He was simply looking out for the person who worried about him more than anyone else.
Telling him to move on peacefully.
Telling him to have a safe journey.
He was far too kind.
It was almost worrying.
“I know. You're worried I'll get too attached and won't be able to leave, right?”
“You know me well.”
Noel chuckled.
“You can't forget the things I taught you, okay?”
“I won't. Look who taught me.”
“That bankbook in the safe—spend it however you want. The same goes for the apartment. Live wherever you want.”
“It's already mine, though?”
At Noel's cheeky response, Yeong-hyeon let out a chuckle this time.
“Right, it's yours.”
Noel had ensured he wasn't lonely even after death.
He had kept him from being consumed by grief.
How incredibly grateful he was.
“Don't worry about Uncle. Physically speaking, we're blood relatives anyway, right?”
“What kind of logic is that?”
Yeong-hyeon laughed out loud as he retorted.
It was true, but somehow hilarious.
“He's a good man.”
“He is, isn't he? So, keep our secret until the day you die.”
“Of course. I promise.”
“Then, Noel.”
“Yeah?”
“Just this once, could you lend me your body?”
“Anytime.”
Noel turned his gaze back to the sunset.
He had always hated the sunset, as the night brought far more dangerous things than the day.
Even when running, the day was better; the night was always the worst.
But now, it was fine.
It's beautiful.
He was slowly beginning to understand why people loved sunsets.
“...*Yawn*.”
Noel let out a yawn.
Today was the day.
They finally reached out.
This was a great opportunity to get on the good side of the Guardian Deity Asin was so fond of. Besides, it was always beneficial to be on friendly terms with a powerful spirit.
And receiving the Guardian Deity's blessing like last time wouldn't hurt either.
It was basically free power.
Even putting that aside, helping a Guardian Deity was an excellent way to accumulate the "merit" Asin was always preaching about.
In his original world, his relationship with the guides of death had been one of mutual, one-sided hatred, making communication impossible. Thus, he couldn't be sure if the system here worked the same way.
However, in his past life, gods did bestow power upon their priests, enabling miraculous healing. In that sense, one's relationship with the divine was of paramount importance.
Perhaps in this world, where such overt divine powers were absent, "merit" served as the ultimate virtue instead.
When Noel stepped outside, Yeong-hyeon and Kkamangi were spinning around, playing together.
“Have you rested well?”
Asin greeted Noel while polishing her sword.
Yeong-hyeon and Kkamangi stopped at the same time.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Hi!”
Noel greeted them back and called out to Kkamangi.
“Kkamangi.”
“Yeah?”
“You know today is the day Hyung leaves, right?”
“I know. He's going up there.”
“Do you know what that means?”
“I know!” Kkamangi tapped its tail against the floor. “He's going on a happy journey.”
“A... happy journey?”
As Yeong-hyeon asked hesitantly, Kkamangi tilted its head.
“Yeah. Everyone looked really happy before they left. The ghost human who played with me near the hospital told me so too. They said it's a happy journey.”
At those words, Yeong-hyeon scooped Kkamangi into his arms.
“You're absolutely right.”
“Yep! I'm right.”
“Hyung, don't spoil him too much. You'll ruin his manners.”
“I'm allowed to be spoiled!”
Kkamangi snuggled against Yeong-hyeon, wagging its tail. As it purred, Yeong-hyeon gazed down at it with pure adoration.
Honestly, it was an unfair level of cuteness.
“...Well, is it not fine for the little one to be spoiled just a tad?”
Even Asin subtly took its side. When Noel stared at her, she let out an awkward cough.
“...Whew. *Exhale*.”
Shin Hyeon placed a hand on his chest, taking deep, ragged breaths.
They were in a vast, open field, and even the wind was remarkably calm. The weather was absolutely perfect, yet Shin Hyeon was a bundle of nerves.
“Are you nervous?”
“...A-A little?”
“You were so excited earlier,” Noel grinned.
Just a while ago, while they were driving, hadn't he been singing along to the music, completely thrilled? He had been in such a spectacular mood that it was hard to tell if he was just happy not to be working or simply genuinely excited. He had chattered so much that Noel hadn't even been able to catch a nap.
“I know, right?” Yeong-hyeon chimed in, giggling.
“No, it's just... now that we're actually about to get on, my stomach is starting to do flips.”
Shin Hyeon stared at the hot air balloons floating in the distance. From afar, they had looked like tiny dots, but seeing one up close as it prepared to ascend, its sheer, massive scale hit him all at once. That sudden realization of its size seemed to be the source of his vertigo.
“Don't you find it fascinating, Uncle?” Noel asked, watching a balloon rise into the sky.
“I really want to ride a hot air balloon.”
That had been one of Yeong-hyeon's wishes. Noel didn't know why Yeong-hyeon had wanted to ride one so badly, but standing here, his own heart began to flutter with anticipation. Though, he supposed he wouldn't truly know until they actually went up.
“Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“There's a ghost here who really, really wants to ride this hot air balloon. So please don't mind if I start talking to myself.”
“A ghost wants to ride a hot air balloon?” Shin Hyeon tilted his head in confusion. Why would a ghost want that? The thought kept spinning in his mind. “...Uh, don't take this the wrong way, but can't they just... float up on their own?”
Since they were spirits, shouldn't that be easy?
Yeong-hyeon burst into laughter at his uncle's practical question. It was such a classic Uncle thing to say.
“Of course we can, but the feeling is completely different.”
Naturally, as soon as he had become a ghost, he had tried floating up. At first, it was pure novelty. He had felt a sense of pride and excitement at doing something he had only ever imagined. But as he kept rising higher and higher into the empty void, the very first emotion that gripped him was terror. It had faintly reminded him of the moment he stood on the apartment rooftop.
“The feeling is different. Floating up aimlessly is one thing, but rising together with everyone to enjoy the view is a completely different experience.”
As Noel answered smoothly on his behalf, Shin Hyeon finally let out an “Ah” and smiled warmly.
“Ah, like how instant ramen eaten at home tastes different from ramen eaten outside in the freezing cold after playing all day?”
“Exactly. That's it.”
As Yeong-hyeon answered, Noel nodded along in agreement. It was a taste Noel himself had never experienced.
Is it really that different?
“Go ahead, do whatever you need to do. I've seen it all anyway, haven't I? Thanks to that ghost back then, I got to renegotiate my contract and even got my rent lowered. It was great,” Shin Hyeon replied cheerfully, taking slow, steady steps forward.
After receiving a brief safety briefing, they boarded the hot air balloon. Shin Hyeon was still outside taking deep breaths. Aside from the pilot, it was just Noel and Shin Hyeon.
“Noel. Do you know why I wanted to ride a hot air balloon?”
At Yeong-hyeon's question, Noel shook his head while keeping his eyes on Shin Hyeon.
“There's a book I really love, and there's a scene where they ride a hot air balloon. In that book's world, the sky belongs to the powerful, and airships—including hot air balloons—symbolize the pinnacle of authority. The protagonist, who had everything stolen by those in power, made it his goal to ride a hot air balloon. He wanted to stick it to those high-and-mighty rulers.”
Whoosh!
As the burner flared with a roar, Kkamangi bounced backward like a spring, while Yeong-hyeon watched with wide, fascinated eyes.
“It was always so close, but I never got to go. Because of studying. Because of my parents' affairs. For so many other reasons. I spent my whole life putting off the things I wanted to do, day after day.”
They had driven for about two hours. It was a mere two hours away. The things he had wanted to do had been so close all along.
“That's why I wanted to ride it. I wanted to face the dream I had lost when I was young.”
As Yeong-hyeon smiled, Noel found himself smiling too. He felt like he understood the sentiment.
As Shin Hyeon climbed into the basket, Yeong-hyeon spoke to Noel.
“Could you lend me your body?”
“Anytime.”
Noel closed his eyes.
When he slowly opened them, Yeong-hyeon had to confront several sensations at once.
The body still ached. It was a pain he himself had inflicted. Yet Noel had never complained, not even once. A wave of gratitude and guilt surged up his throat.
But those feelings could wait.
“Uncle.”
He called out the name he had missed so dearly.
Shin Hyeon, now standing inside the basket, turned to face Yeong-hyeon.
“...”
For a moment, Shin Hyeon was speechless. What could he even say? It felt exactly like looking at the Yeong-hyeon from before the accident. An strange, overwhelming emotion swelled in his chest.