The Price of the Forbidden (4)
“If King Yeomra intervenes, things will be noisy for a time. But do you report to the other Kings as well?”
Jinhon hesitated at Asin’s question.
“Probably… I believe so. Since my department belongs to that side, I am not sure how the other Ten Kings of Hell will react.”
“-I see. Thank you for informing me.”
If Asin is using honorifics, they must be incredibly high-ranking.
Noel simply found it intriguing as he spoke up.
If the scale of the investigation grew, it would be beneficial for uncovering the identity of the person who had handed over the purple sphere much faster.
As long as it doesn’t turn into something else.
For instance, if they decided his power was something dangerous that needed to be purged.
“You’ll keep me updated on the progress of the case, right?” Noel asked playfully.
“Yes, of course. You have accomplished a tremendous feat, after all.” Jinhon smiled brightly.
A god had almost killed their own child, the shaman. If Noel hadn’t stopped her, a deity would have turned into an evil spirit. A deity becoming an evil spirit was too horrific to even contemplate. If that wrath wasn’t extinguished, innocent living souls and spirits would have been sacrificed.
“Well, I shall take my leave…”
“-Wait a moment.”
The divine spirit quickly called out to Jinhon.
“Yes. Please, speak,” Jinhon replied, bowing his head slightly.
“-Is the one who is about to die… truly that creature’s child?”
“You already know we have visited this place multiple times.”
At Jinhon’s reply, which essentially questioned why she was asking what she already knew, the divine spirit bit her lip.
“-Even if I plead, is it impossible to overturn the decision of the Heavens?”
“It is impossible. Because of that woman, too many deaths have already been brought forward without authorization. Such simultaneous occurrences are not welcome news for us either.”
Noel let out a dry laugh at Jinhon’s response. It seemed she had done to multiple people what she had done to Jeong-in.
“Even though this calamity could have reached you, Great One, it did not. In my humble opinion, I believe the Heavens highly valued the grace you have bestowed upon the living over the years. I respectfully suggest that you do not intervene any further,” Jinhon politely offered his opinion.
“-He speaks the truth. That woman was your child. Though your failure to stop her is a great fault, her karma did not transfer to you. Perhaps it is because you already have two lives you must save.”
Asin reached out and gently patted the divine spirit’s shoulder.
There were two children who had to suffer as scapegoats. It felt as if their agony was echoing in her own ears.
“-...I understand. Then, while you go to retrieve the children, may I speak with that person?” The divine spirit asked, her voice losing its strength as she looked at Noel.
“Hold on a second.”
Noel looked around, found a notepad, and wrote down bank names and account numbers. One was his, the other was Jeong-in’s.
“Send twenty million won here, and thirty million won here. Send them separately.”
After instructing the shaman, Noel looked back at the divine spirit.
“Twenty million is the price for erasing the curse, and thirty million is for the life force she stole from someone. You can convince her, right? I said twenty million, but hey, you’re welcome to give me more.”
It was free money anyway, so receiving it felt great. He had plenty of places to spend it.
“-I also thank you for saving a life that was nearly extinguished due to what happened because I failed to stop her properly.”
Thirty million won was a massive sum to humans, but compared to a life, it was a pittance.
“-It may sound cruel, but that creature’s child is now destined to die. It is a punishment that can never be altered. I will direct my power toward the other children whose life and death can still be changed.”
The fate decreed by the Heavens could be changed. How flexible it was. Informing the living through her mouth was also a significant fate. But a punishment handed down by the Heavens could never be avoided. It was absolute.
“Then I’ll head out. Tell me where they are.”
Noel smiled warmly. Since she was cooperating to make sure he got paid, this was a piece of cake. Besides, hadn’t he already received an even greater reward—immunity to fire?
The location of the children who had become scapegoats was surprisingly close to the shaman’s shrine. It was barely a ten-minute walk.
Though the walk was short, it was more than enough distance to provoke a flood of thoughts. Why hadn’t she realized that turning her adopted children into scapegoats was a terrible sin, especially when they were so close by?
“-Hey, Noel.”
Kkamang-i, who was cradled in Asin’s arms, asked with its tail in its mouth.
“Yeah?”
“-Does that human not feel sorry for the children?”
“Of course she does. She must.”
“-Then why does she make them hurt?”
Kkamang-i seemed displeased. Even now, the shaman was frequently visiting her biological child in the hospital.
“Exactly. She did it knowing full well how much they would suffer. In fact, she trampled over them even more cruelly.”
Because she was an adult, she was quick-witted. She knew exactly how to make someone suffer based on her experience.
“-Then, are all adult humans like that?”
“Probably not all of them, but almost all the adults I’ve known were scammers and swindlers.”
Noel spoke nonchalantly, but Asin, listening to their chatter, suddenly grew tense.
How could he say such things so casually? It was a heavy statement to gloss over so lightly.
“-Is Noel like that too?” Kkamang-i stared intently at Noel.
“I’m not. Have I ever promised you something and not given it to you?”
“-No. Noel gives me everything.”
“I even changed your box so it would be cozy, just like you kept crying out for.”
“-That’s right!”
“...Ah!”
Noel suddenly remembered something. While watching videos to learn more about cats, he recalled how enthusiastically Kkamang-i reacted whenever it saw a plush toy.
“Should I buy you a plushie before we go back? It’s really soft when you lie on it.”
“-Really...?”
“Of course. I just got paid, you think I can’t afford that?” Noel chuckled, then turned to Asin. “Is there anything you want, Asin? Should I buy you a plushie too?”
“-You would buy one for me as well?” Asin asked, trying to steady her fluttering heart.
“Naturally. Tell me anytime, even if it’s not right now. I can buy anything except for really expensive things like houses, buildings, or high-end luxury goods.”
Noel smirked proudly, and Asin smiled in return.
“-I shall think on it. For now, your kind thoughts alone warm my heart.” Asin patted Noel’s shoulder affectionately.
Her gaze drifted back toward the shrine. Though she had never imagined such a thing before, the word what if floated into her mind for the first time. She let out a long sigh.
What if.
The power of that phrase was immense. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over her.
The bond over there must have lasted much longer than the time Noel and I have spent together. How sorrowful their hearts must be.
“-By the way, what is a scapegoat?” Kkamang-i asked, as if only just remembering to do so.
Noel stared at it, dumbfounded. Shouldn’t it have asked that first?
“-It refers to taking on bad things in place of another. Usually, it is an object, but this time, it is the living.” Asin stroked Kkamang-i gently.
“-...Does it hurt to take on bad things?”
“-I, too, worry about that. I do not know what kind of calamity they are absorbing with their bodies. I fear... it must hurt terribly.”
“-That’s bad!”
“-Indeed. It is a very wicked deed.”
“-Then, is that fire-breathing human from earlier going to help them?”
“-Yes. I believe she will erase the bad things.”
“-Then she’s not a bad human!” Kkamang-i’s ears twitched.
Asin chuckled. “-Were you not afraid of her?”
“-Noel and Asin are strong! So I’m strong too.” Kkamang-i narrowed its eyes and unsheathed its claws. Did it honestly think it looked formidable right now?
“Sure, sure. You’re very strong.” Noel gave a half-hearted reply.
Even after watching cat videos, he still couldn’t understand their bizarre behavior, so it was easier to just accept it.
Noel checked his phone.
It should be around here.
The only distinctive building in sight was a kindergarten.
Ha. Noel clicked his tongue, letting out a dry laugh at the rush of emotion. A kindergarten. What on earth had she done to preschool children?
“-It is no wonder the Heavens are furious. Above all else, they despise those who harm children.”
Sensing Asin’s quiet rage, Noel looked toward the small playground in front of the kindergarten. While all the other children were running around energetically, only two stood out. They looked pale and listless, as if weighed down by something. Seeing how identical they looked, they were clearly twins.
“-...Ah. The Heavens have aided them.” Asin let out a sigh of relief as she looked at the children.
Despite the shaman committing such a forbidden act, the karma that had descended upon the children was remarkably light. This meant someone had blocked it. With even their guardian deity bound, who else could have blocked it? It could only be the Heavens.
“-I shall assist them for a moment.”
“-I want to go with Asin too.”
“Sure. I’ll go talk to the teacher over there.”
Asin nodded and approached the children with Kkamang-i.
The karma accumulated from acting as scapegoats seemed to weigh heavily on their chests, making their breathing shallow and wheezy. Dark patches were visible on their legs, fingers, and eyes. If the karma accumulated any further, those areas could suffer permanent damage.
“-They shouldn’t be in pain.” Kkamang-i paced anxiously around the children.
“-It is fine now. You will suffer no longer.” Asin gently brushed her hand over the children’s backs, and Kkamang-i, who had been pacing around, approached and tapped them with its front paw.
At their touch, both children began to cough almost simultaneously. As they coughed repeatedly, a thick, dark substance was expelled from their mouths, startling Kkamang-i.
“-...Is that the bad stuff?”
“-Yes. Having absorbed the malice directly as scapegoats, their bodies must have been filled with it. We must purge these impurities.”
“Hayul, Hayun, are you okay?” Startled by the children’s sudden, violent coughing, the teacher rushed over.
Only then did the two children manage to lift their heads. As Asin withdrew her hand, the coughing stopped.
Phew. The teacher let out a sigh of relief and smiled warmly.
“Let’s go inside, get some water, and get ready to go home.”
“Why...?”
“Your mommy says she misses Hayul and Hayun so much. Let’s go.” The teacher smiled brightly and held out her hands. At the mention of their mother, the two children beamed.
Upon seeing Noel, the children hid behind the teacher. He was a stranger.
“You’re not Mommy.”
“Yeah, you’re not Mommy.”
“I’m just an errand boy. I’ve already spoken with your mother. Right, teacher?” Noel looked at the teacher.
“That’s right. Your mommy is very busy right now, so this nice hyung is going to take you to where she works.”
“See? I might look a bit suspicious, but I’m really not. What could I possibly do with a broken arm?” Noel put on a pitiful expression to elicit sympathy.
The children stared at Noel with wide, curious eyes.
“Look, my head hurts too. Do I look like someone who would do bad things?” As Noel maintained his sad face, the children shook their heads and stepped out from behind the teacher.
“You know it’s not a long walk to your mom’s shop from here, right?”
“We know.”
“Then let’s go.” Noel extended his good hand. He only had one arm free.
“We can do this.” The child who grabbed Noel’s arm held the other child’s hand. They were remarkably brave.
“Hyung, why is your arm hurt? Hayul got hurt recently too. I hurt my eye too.”
“I fell. My arm went snap, so they said I have to keep it fixed like this for a long time. This is a secret between us, but they actually put screws inside.”
“Really...? There are screws inside?” Hayul looked at him with keen interest.
“Yep. It’s a shame I can’t show you.” Noel smiled warmly at the children.
Asin had brushed away the erosion accumulated on the children, but that alone wasn't enough. Their legs, fingers, and eyes were still nearly consumed by erosion. While spirits turned into evil spirits when consumed by erosion, the living suffered repeated accidents or sudden, permanent physical damage.
It looks like something is engraved on their bodies, but I can't see it through their clothes.
Fortunately, there was no scent of death on the two children. How on earth had they endured the erosion? They possessed neither anyone's blessing nor spiritual sensitivity. Was this what they called a miracle?
“Hey.” As he spoke, Noel conjured a purple flame on his cast-bound arm. Might as well purify them while they walked instead of doing nothing.
“Yes?”
“Did your mommy engrave something on your bodies?”
“...How did you know?” The two children gasped in surprise almost simultaneously.
“Your mommy told me. But I don't know why she did it.”
“She said... Noona is sick. So we had to get it engraved.”
“Our noona is really nice. I hope she doesn't hurt anymore.” Hayul and Hayun took turns expressing their sadness. They must have been very close to their older sister.
“When she engraved this, Mommy cried. When Mommy cries, I feel sad too.” Hayul sniffled, and Hayun reached over to pat Hayul's head.
“Mommy said if we engrave this, Noona won't be sick anymore. So even though it hurt when she engraved it, I held it in.” Hayul grinned, revealing a missing tooth.
Even Noel could tell these children had received a lot of love. Why? It was so contradictory.
“Aren't you mad at your mommy? She made you do something that hurts.” Noel's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I love Mommy so, so much!”
“Me too! I love her super, super, super much!”
Hearing the children's innocent declarations, Asin let out a long sigh.
“-...How tragic. How utterly tragic.”
A single choice had brought about so many consequences.
Perhaps this is why the Heavens protected these two children.
Because the Heavens knew the shaman truly loved the children, though her sin was grave, they did not strip everything away from her. Yet, the fact that they had met the worst possible outcome remained unchanged. It would leave an indelible scar on everyone.
The shaman burst into tears the moment she saw the two children. Whether it was guilt or apology did not matter. She would never be happy again.
The divine spirit erased the spell engraved on the children's bodies. Though the children coughed repeatedly until the erosion was completely purged, their complexion actually improved.
I got some free money.
After confirming the deposit, Noel cleansed the curse that had seeped into the shaman, then left the shrine with the divine spirit.
“Is it really okay to leave the children with her like that?” How to deal with the shaman was the divine spirit's choice, not his, but Noel couldn't help but ask out of a lingering sense of unease. As a third party, he couldn't intervene any further. Practically speaking, how could he take away children adopted by that shaman? That would be kidnapping. Above all, hadn't they just seen how much the children loved their mother?
“-If I could, I would separate them, but their bond is too strong for me to sever. As you saw, the children love that creature dearly.”
“I saw. They smiled so brightly just at the mention of their mother. They said they love their sister and their mother.”
“-Right now, that creature is the children's entire world. Do not worry about their safety. She will never be able to harm them again. If they were to return to the orphanage like this, the memory of being abandoned would haunt them for the rest of their lives. It would be an event significant enough to alter their destinies—for the worse. I chose the path that leans more toward the children's happiness.”
The divine spirit looked back. She wore a deeply sorrowful expression. Why wouldn't she want to separate them?
“-Living the rest of her life in atonement to the children will be her remaining calling. Once the children are fully independent, she will be dragged to the hells of the underworld, regardless of her repentance. When she dies, I will erase some of the children's memories of her. So they will not grieve. So they will not pray for her soul. That is the punishment I bestow upon her.”
Raising the children with all her heart, yet being completely forgotten by them in the end. What punishment could be more cruel for a mother?
“Fate, bonds... I really don't get it. Why are they bound by such a connection?”
“-Since it is decreed by the Heavens, I do not know either. Regardless, nothing of the sort will ever happen to the children again. They are destined to enjoy happiness for a long, long time before closing their eyes in peaceful sleep.”
“Well, I guess I'll have to believe you.” Noel nodded lightly. If this was the best outcome, what else could he do?
“-Once again, I offer you my gratitude.” The divine spirit bowed to Noel.
Noel stopped in his tracks.
“-My name is Hwaran. If you ever need assistance, call my name. Now that my spirit is unbound by anything, I will hasten to your side without hesitation.” Hwaran smiled warmly, her wrinkled face lighting up. Meeting this youth was surely a connection granted by the Heavens as well.
Knead, knead.
Kkamang-i was happily kneading a fish plushie.
“Do you like it?”
“-Yes!”
“That much?”
“-Yes! Yes!”
Lying limply on the sofa, Noel chuckled. He hadn't expected it to ask for a fish plushie larger than its own body.
Bzzzz.
At the vibration of his phone, Noel checked the screen.
Great. Now that I've made some money, it's time to spend it.
Noel swiped his thumb across the screen.