It's Not Blackmail
Arin asked hesitantly.
“But Ms. Dan A-rin, you’re actually the victim here.”
“Being deceived isn't the crime; deceiving is.”
Noel corrected her.
“Ms. Dan A-rin.”
“Could you tell me where that colleague of yours lives?”
With a gentle tone, Noel left the choice to Arin.
“You have two options. Would you like to hear them?”
“First, you pay the entire amount yourself. Or, your share is reduced to about 1.5 million won, and I collect the rest from your colleague. Think about it and let me know. I'm fine either way.”
Noel waited for Arin's decision.
“...Yawn.”
As Noel stretched, Kkamang-i glared at him with narrowed, sullen eyes.
He was startled for a moment.
“...Wait, Kkamang-i. What's wrong with you this morning?”
Kkamang-i stared intently at him.
The intensity in its eyes flared.
“No, seriously, what is it? Did I thrash around in my sleep?”
Kkamang-i opened its mouth to say something spiteful, but then stopped.
“—Noel doesn't need to know!”
Suddenly, it whipped its head around and ran off.
Kkamang-i kept its mouth firmly shut.
"Kkamang-i. I'm sorry, but I have a favor to ask."
"Noel has nightmares often. When he does, holding his arm seems to calm him down. Kkamang-i, could you pat him for me from now on?"
And so I did it! But Noel pushed me!
He had kicked the spirit away in his sleep.
How shocking it had been!
Kkamang-i let out a huff, but when it heard the sound of approaching footsteps, its tail shot up and it spun around.
Noel scooped it up with one hand, placing it on his cast-covered arm, and began to stroke it.
Do you think I'll forgive you just for this?
Kkamang-i squirmed, but soon rolled over to show its belly, letting out a soft purr under Noel's fantastic hand movements.
Kkamang-i hesitated for a moment, but as the hand stroked it again, its eyes gently closed.
“My brother told me I have nightmares. I must have hit you because of one. You must have been startled, right? I'm sorry.”
At Noel's apology, Kkamang-i looked up at him.
“—Noel apologized... I didn't know Noel knew how to apologize.”
The tiny bean was running its mouth again.
Though Noel's eyes narrowed, he didn't raise his voice since he was indeed the one in the wrong.
“I know how to apologize. I just try not to do things that require one.”
“—Then I'll stay by Noel's side today too.”
Kkamang-i rubbed its head against Noel's body.
“Just to huff and run away like today?”
“—No. I'm fast. I can dodge well.”
Kkamang-i stretched out its front paws and clung to Noel's neck.
“Kkamang-i.”
“—Hmm?”
“I have some errands for you today. Two places in total. Can you do it?”
“—Really?”
Kkamang-i asked excitedly.
“Is investigating fun?”
“—Yes. Everyone thinks I'm pretty.”
Noel chuckled at Kkamang-i's well-founded confidence.
It was true, after all.
When Noel gave it the address, Kkamang-i immediately ran to the window and scratched at it with its front paws.
“—Hurry, hurry!”
Kkamang-i urged, leaving Noel dumbfounded.
“You can phase through it anyway. Why do you keep asking me to open it?”
“—It doesn't feel right otherwise.”
“...Ha.”
Noel decided not to overthink Kkamang-i's incomprehensible logic.
As soon as he opened the window, Kkamang-i vanished with a quick, “I'll be back!”
Its mood changed like the wind, but at least it got the job done.
Staring blankly at the sky, Noel let out a yawn and turned around.
“Good morning, Asin.”
“—Did you sleep well? I thought you were quarreling again.”
“Why would I fight with that tiny bean?”
At Noel's reply, Asin wore a dubious expression.
“—Did you not... quarrel yesterday as well?”
“No, that's because that little bean refused to get off my stomach. I had to wash up and get ready for bed, but it bared its claws and almost tore through my clothes.”
“—In such times, you need only ask to bathe together.”
“Why?”
“—Do cats not detest water? Surely that instinct remains within it.”
“I've heard there are very rare water-attribute cats. If that bean is one of them, wouldn't I have to take it with me to bathe from now on?”
“—Do not Kkamang-i and I simply phase through the water regardless?”
“That kid would stay till the very end, shouting, 'I love the sound of water!'”
Asin deeply agreed with Noel's serious tone.
“—Indeed, that sounds like something it would do.”
Asin nodded repeatedly, then looked at Noel.
His eyelids were slightly swollen.
“—Go wash up. Do you not have two tasks to attend to today?”
“Three.”
Noel pointed his finger at the plum blossom branch casually placed in a water cup.
“—Ah, the prayer beads?”
“Yes. I need to commission them.”
“—Why not ask Shin Jang-yul?”
At Asin's suggestion, Noel snapped his fingers.
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
“—Go wash up first.”
“Hold on.”
Noel was about to head to the bathroom when he saw the fan.
Tenacious. It's still burning.
Though the fan was enveloped in purple flames, they had yet to die down.
A god was definitely residing within it.
“Asin. You think a god is sealed in here too, right?”
“—Indeed. Likely 'one who was once a god.'”
“Why the past tense?”
“—Since there are no longer any believers, how could it maintain its form as a deity?”
“Will it listen to me once it's purified?”
“—I shall judge once I see the entity within.”
“Are you going to brand it like you did that centuries-old evil spirit?”
“—I see no reason why I cannot.”
Noel nodded at Asin's words.
I could leash it myself, but Asin might find it distasteful.
Since Asin was there to handle the leashing of spirits, he didn't need to step forward himself.
Noel walked away with slow, yawning steps, while Asin stared at the fan.
A faint whimpering sound could be heard.
“—You are likely listening from within, but you cannot defeat me. If you attempt any foolish tricks, I will not stand idly by.”
Her expression turned cold as she stared at the fan.
Noel exited the subway station and followed the directions Arin had given him.
A piece of wood poked out from the gap in his backpack.
He had debated where to go first, but the mirror was the most urgent matter.
The family under the Mountain God's protection can just hold out on signing the contract for now, but I need to see if what's dwelling in the mirror is actually a curse.
And I'm supposed to meet Mr. Shin Jang-yul later.
They would probably have lunch together.
He had hinted at something like that.
Since Kkamang-i isn't back yet, it's best to stop by here first.
How could Kkamang-i, who had gone so far away, know his location and return?
It was due to one very simple fact.
The contract.
Since they were bound to faithfully uphold the contract, Noel could easily tell where Kkamang-i was even when it went far away.
~I know where Noel is, but Noel doesn't know where I am, right?~
Kkamang-i had once proudly boasted about this, so Noel had kept his mouth shut.
A cat could be a little silly. As long as its round eyes were pretty, that was all that mattered.
After walking for a while, Noel lowered his phone.
“...Looks like they bought themselves quite a grudge.”
The air immediately grew cold, as if his skin had touched ice.
Noel rubbed his arms and instinctively headed toward the colder area.
“—It is indeed a curse.”
Asin voiced the answer Noel had already figured out.
Impurity swarmed around the mirror.
“—No wonder Jebi urgently requested your aid.”
“Jebi?”
Noel looked up at the sky.
Not a single bird was in sight.
“—Did you not see the guardian deity protecting Dan A-rin?”
“Uh...?”
“—She takes the form of an old woman, but she is a bird.”
“What...? She was polymorphed?”
Noel was genuinely surprised.
To think such a thing was possible.
“—Once one ascends to the rank of a guardian deity, form no longer matters, so what does it signify? From what I know, that appearance belongs to the human Jebi loved most. It seems she cared for Jebi since she was a hatchling.”
“So... she started as a spiritual beast and then became a guardian deity?”
“—Indeed.”
“Asin, were you an animal too, by any chance?”
At Noel's question, Asin burst into laughter.
She swept back her long hair, still smiling.
“—I was not. I remain exactly as I was before my death. This is my will, and my own promise.”
Asin looked to be in her mid-twenties at most.
In other words, she had died at a young age.
“—Noel. Do not forget that I have existed far longer than you in terms of years.”
Before Noel could say anything, Asin cut him off and pointed to the mirror.
That was the priority right now, after all.
Noel nodded and stood in front of the mirror placed next to the security office.
It looked like a full-length wooden mirror.
It seemed to have built-in lights, making it look quite neat as an interior piece.
But in Noel's eyes, words written in blood were visible.
I curse you.
It was a very concise, sticky curse.
Had they written it with their own blood before dying?
This wasn't a curse cast by a corrupt shaman using dark magic.
This was the power born from a truly deep grudge, cast as someone cursed another with their dying breath.
What kind of grudge could cause this?
“—It seems the one who cast the curse is no longer in this world.”
At Asin's words, Noel looked at her.
“Because there's no trace connecting them to the curse?”
“—Correct. Even if faint, a trace should remain.”
“Did someone force them over? It's hard to cross over to the afterlife without the curse being resolved.”
“—It appears they temporarily appeased the spirit with an exorcism ritual before sending it off, but the spirit continues to curse them even from the afterlife.”
“Then this can only be resolved by destroying the curse itself.”
Noel tapped the mirror lightly.
“—Indeed.”
A curse could usually be resolved in two ways.
By dealing with the evil spirit that cast it, or by destroying the curse itself.
If he broke this mirror right now, the curse wouldn't vanish; it would undoubtedly seek out its original target.
“—Do you intend to break the mirror and seize the unleashed curse?”
“I should, but I'll have to meet her after she gets off work.”
Dan A-rin had said she was a high school teacher.
Which meant her colleague was also a high school teacher.
He couldn't just barge in right now.
Noel reached out his hand.
Black smoke swirled around the mirror.
The ping is set. I can detonate it when we meet.
Noel pulled out his phone.
10:42 AM.
It was still a bit early for lunch.
I should go to the shaman who took the prayer beads and forced her to start a business.
Seeing how Arin's colleague had passed the curse onto Arin, she had undoubtedly met another shaman.
Since she had seen actual results, she would blindly believe in that shaman. He had to shatter that belief first.
In that case, it would be better to have another shaman on my side, wouldn't it?
In a two-on-one fight, the side with two would obviously win.
Before contacting Jang-yul, Noel turned his head.
“—Noeeel!”
Kkamang-i came running at full speed.
When Noel stepped slightly to the side, Kkamang-i quickly pivoted on its hind legs and lunged at his face.
Since it had no physical weight, it was just a sensation.
“—Kkamang-i.”
“—Noel said it didn't hurt.”
At Asin's deepened voice, Kkamang-i hurriedly clung to Noel's face.
“—Come here.”
As Asin reached out her hand, Kkamang-i cautiously approached her while glancing back at Noel.
“—...It didn't hurt, right?”
Seeing its desperate gaze, the corners of Noel's mouth curled up.
Sensing danger, Kkamang-i's pupils dilated.
Asin was wonderful, but when she got angry, she was terrifying.
Tell her it didn't hurt, Noel!
“It hurt, actually.”
“—...!”
Kkamang-i froze.
“Just kidding, it didn't hurt.”
As Noel chuckled, Kkamang-i cried, “—No fair!” and snuggled into Asin's arms.
“My business here is done, so let's go.”
“—Where are we going?”
Kkamang-i asked, turning its head.
“I need to commission those prayer beads.”
Noel pulled out his phone and called Jang-yul.
He always felt this, but Jang-yul picked up incredibly fast.
And he always greeted him with immense warmth.
Even though there were no more benefits to be gained from him.
“Are you busy with work right now?”
“I hope I'm not disturbing you.”
“—That man always shows you great respect. The more I see of him, the more I like him.”
Asin smiled warmly.
I'm still a bit suspicious, though.
Noel couldn't bring himself to say that out loud.
He was on the phone, after all.
Above all, words carried weight.
Once spoken, they couldn't be taken back.
It was best not to bring it up unless he was certain.
“Ah, you don't have to do that. I know you're busy.”
After a polite refusal, Noel immediately gave him the address.
“—You turned him down, so why did you give him the address?”
When Kkamang-i tilted its head and asked, Noel hung up and poked its forehead.
“That's just how it works. It's called a polite refusal.”
“—Why refuse out of politeness? I never refuse when Noel gives me Churu.”
Kkamang-i's eyes were filled with determination.
“I'll give you some when we get home. You did well today.”
“—Yay!”
With Kkamang-i's cheer, Noel moved along.
“Excuse me, young man.”
Hearing a voice from behind, Noel turned around.
It was the security guard.
“Yes?”
“That mirror has been sitting here for the past few days. Did you happen to take it and then put it back?”
At that question, Noel knew for sure that the situation he had described to Arin was actually happening.
Even if thrown away, it would return to the same spot, meaning it had marked Arin.
“No. I only came here today for some business. I don't even live here.”
“I didn't mean to accuse you, so I'm sorry if I offended you. ...It's just that they definitely hauled that mirror away, so it's very strange.”
It had to be strange.
Since the mirror had returned.
Even if they threw it away in the future, it would keep returning to that spot until Arin took it.
“Well, I have to get going.”
“Yes, yes. Sorry about earlier.”
“It's fine. Have a nice day.”
Noel smiled brightly and walked toward the street.
As soon as Noel got into the car, Jang-yul told him about the person he was commissioning for the prayer beads.
To sum it up, he was a true master who had spent over forty years making nothing but prayer beads.
His work was so flawless that it was hard to find any fault.
“Mr. Shin Jang-yul.”
“Yes. Please, go ahead.”
“Before you met me, you encountered a lot of fake shamans, didn't you?”
Of all the people Noel knew, he had never seen anyone swindled by fake shamans as much as Jang-yul.
In a way, he's an expert. Yeah.
He probably knew exactly how they approached people.
“Indeed. I met so many I grew utterly sick of them. The money they swindled out of me is close to the price of a house.”
Jang-yul's expression didn't change.
However, his eyes grew slightly cold.
“But, Teacher. May I ask why you are inquiring about that?”
Jang-yul's eyebrows raised slightly.
Why would a genuine shaman like Noel bother mentioning fakes?