Chapter 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2
A sprawling plateau lay nestled deep within the Ulta Mountains.
As a warm spring drew to a close, vibrant baby maple trees lined the ridgeline, while royal azaleas and bush clovers dotted the low hummocks.
Yet, the undisputed star of the mountain was the peach blossom.
The lush spring greenery blanketing the slopes seemed to whisper, flaunting its splendor down to the newest sprouts. It was a spring landscape that truly deserved to be called breathtaking.
But only up to a certain point.
Following the ridge upward, the incline eventually gave way to ground so flat it made one forget they were on a mountain at all. Blocking the entrance to this plateau was a wooden sign, bound by a sacred straw rope.
「Ghost-Guarding Temple. Land Forbidden to Humans. You Must Return.」
A temple guarded by ghosts, a land forbidden to mortal men—turn back without fail.
Despite that grim warning, the moment one stepped across the straw rope, the world flipped upside down.
The lush, vibrant spring vanished without a trace. In its place flowed blood-red waterways, surrounded by ominously decaying ropes, withered trees, biting winds, and swirling dead leaves.
True to its name, this was a sanctuary where dokkaebi—the beings known as the Dogwi—dwelled.
“Breathtaking, isn't it?” Mongryeon grinned, taking a step into the Ghost-Guarding Temple. “How does it feel to step into the domain of the Dogwi?”
“It's eerie.”
“You're no fun.”
“Fascinating, too. Why does it look like this?”
“When a place is crawling with beings who naturally exude demonic energy, the surrounding environment can't hold up. Once you step back out, you won't be able to get back in with your own strength, so don't stray beyond the rope.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
On the journey here, Mongryeon had revealed her true identity to Ise: she was the leader of the Dogwi and the Chief of the Ghost-Guarding Temple.
At this unimaginable revelation, Ise had simply pondered the situation with a deadpan expression. She had promised to let him slaughter demon ghosts, yet wasn't she a type of demon ghost herself?
Was this really okay?
“I know what you're thinking, but the Dogwi aren't your typical demon ghosts. We're only classified as such because we're born with the innate ability to manipulate demonic energy. In reality, we're the strongest allies humans have. Just think of us as a completely different species.”
Mongryeon brushed off his lingering doubts as if she could read his mind.
Ise nodded silently.
Stepping across the soggy earth, they arrived at a set of doors inscribed with the words Tracking Gate. With a heavy creeeak of its hinges, the doors swung open, revealing the sanctuary's interior.
Instantly, the gazes of numerous Dogwi—each sporting horns on their heads—snapped toward them.
Their expressions were initially warm and welcoming, but the moment they noticed the human boy standing beside their Chief, their eyes flushed a brilliant, bloody red.
The sight of countless pairs of eyes turning crimson all at once was eerie enough to make Ise's heart sink.
A human?
It's a human...
Mongryeon barked out a shout.
“He's new family!”
That single sentence was enough to shatter the tension.
The sharp, hostile glares vanished without a trace, and time—which had felt entirely frozen—resumed its natural flow.
Ise walked quietly behind Mongryeon.
Most of the adult Dogwi quickly lost interest, but the younger ones—especially the young boy ghosts—cast glares filled with equal parts wariness and curiosity.
Mongryeon offered Ise a gentle warning.
“Kids that age grow up tussling with each other, but try not to cause any major trouble.”
“I understand my position as someone relying on your hospitality.”
“I don't mean you should walk on eggshells, either. It'll take time for them to accept you, so I just mean hold out until then. Once we decide to take someone in, well... you're basically family.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
Watching Ise reply with such composure, Mongryeon clicked her tongue.
He was unnaturally, excessively mature. To the point she wondered if he was an immortal wearing a child's skin, or perhaps living a second life.
What am I thinking...?
While Mongryeon brushed away her absurd thoughts, Ise was already mapping out the layout of the Ghost-Guarding Temple with his eyes.
It was, in a sense, an instinct—and a survival habit.
Past the Tracking Gate stood a massive main hall, flanked by tile-roofed buildings where dokkaebi came and went. In front lay open courtyards of various sizes that appeared to be training grounds. Higher up along the mountain path to the right, several other buildings were visible, though none had an obvious entrance.
“Alright, this is where I leave you,” Mongryeon said. “I have to head back out on border patrol. I'll see you this evening.”
“Chief.”
“Hmm?”
“What should I do until you return?”
“For now, eat well and get plenty of rest.”
“Pardon?”
“Not just today, but from now on: eat well and grow strong. If you want to fight properly, your limbs need to be at least half a foot longer than they are now. Getting proper nourishment is your top priority. If you fail to grow properly at your age, you'll regret it for the rest of your life when you're out doing ghost exorcism work.”
“…I will engrave it upon my heart.”
Mongryeon ruffled Ise's hair, then called out to a young female Dogwi who was hovering in the distance, pretending not to look.
“Gong Ah. Come here for a moment.”
“Yes, Chief!”
The Dogwi named Gong Ah darted over, practically bouncing to a halt in front of Mongryeon. She was a tomboyish girl with round eyes and full lips.
Ise calmly smoothed down his ruffled hair, then stole a quick glance at the girl who seemed to be about his age. Their eyes met.
Gong Ah offered a bright, dimpled smile and blinked at him.
“Take this kid to the kitchen maid. Tell her I asked for a meal for him, and arrange a place for him to stay.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Gong Ah answered with all her might.
She's a cheerful one, Ise thought.
After Mongryeon departed, Gong Ah scrutinized Ise from head to toe, her eyes sparkling and crinkling into crescent moons. “Nice to meet you! I'm Gong Ah. What's your name?”
“Ise.”
“Iseee. That's an unusual name!”
Is it? When Ise remained silent, Gong Ah spun around him to take a closer look.
“How strange! You really don't have horns?”
“Because I'm human.”
“Do humans usually have such small ears and yellowish skin?”
“More or less.”
“Whoa.”
After fussing around him in fascination for a while, Gong Ah asked with bright eyes, “Want me to give you a tour of the Ghost-Guarding Temple? Oh, or are you hungry?”
Ise shook his head.
“I'm fine. For now.”
“Great!” Gong Ah shouted, grabbing Ise by the hand and tugging him along.
“This building in the middle is the Central Main Hall. Basically, all the big and small matters of the Ghost-Guarding Temple are handled here. Most of the inside is strictly off-limits, so don't go wandering in without permission!”
The massive building in the center.
“The halls on both sides are quarters. There are plenty of empty rooms, so just pick whichever one you like best.”
The halls on either side.
“This here is the training ground, and over here is the pantry. Meal times are the hours of the Dragon, Horse, and Rooster—so don't be late! Don't worry if you don't know how to tell time, though; a bell rings whenever it's time to eat. Usually, entering the pantry outside of meal times is strictly forbidden... but since the Chief made a special request, it'll be fine!”
And the facilities scattered across the front yard.
“If you take the back trail up toward the hill, you'll find the graves of those who passed away, the altar to honor them, and stone statues of the past Chiefs. That place is 'sacred ground,' so you must never defile or damage it. Oh! And behind the Main Hall is our secret base, but I'll show you that later!”
After kindly explaining the layout he had been curious about, Gong Ah led him to the pantry.
She knocked on the heavy wooden door twice, and it creaked open to reveal an elderly female Dogwi.
“Auntie! This human child is named Ise. The Chief told us to give him something to eat!”
The pantry maid blinked in surprise, her eyes widening as she examined Ise, before breaking into a warm, genial smile.
“The Chief brought in new family, did she? My, it's been a long time since I've seen a human! Welcome, child. How old are you?”
“I am ten years old.”
“My goodness, aren't you a dignified little one?”
“What? But I'm twenty-two!” Gong Ah interjected, puffing out her chest.
Patting the head of the girl who was putting on airs, the older woman added, “Humans age twice as fast as dokkaebi, dear. So technically speaking, Gong Ah is only one year older than Ise.”
“I'm still his big sister then!”
“You must be thrilled to have a younger brother. Take good care of him.”
“Yees, ma'am!”
Gong Ah offered a giggling smile, bowed her head politely, and scampered off.
A short while later, a lavish table was set before Ise. The sheer number of dishes was so overwhelming he wondered if the table legs might buckle under the weight.
“Isn't this... a bit too much?”
“Dear child, you are far too skinny for a ten-year-old. You must eat plenty while you're growing.”
“But I'm—”
He was a parasite here—a mere human relying on the charity of a completely different race. To put it bluntly, though he had been brought here as a guest, it wouldn't be surprising if he were kicked out at any moment should he disappoint Chief Mongryeon.
“Now, now. As long as you're inside the Ghost-Guarding Temple, I won't suffer seeing any child wither away—not over my dead body. It'll get cold. Go on, eat up.”
“…Thank you.”
Even so, the woman before him was kind.
Ise raised a spoon of the rich broth set before him and took a sip.
Warm.
The hot liquid glided down his throat, soothing his stomach before spreading a deep heat throughout his entire body.
Suddenly, the events of that morning came floating back to him.
The reason he had followed Mongryeon, the Dogwi Chief, without a single shred of suspicion.
It was simply...
Because the porridge inside the bamboo cylinder she had handed him had been warm.
A warmth that thawed a body dying under the icy indifference of the villagers.
That warmth had guided him here. Just like the kindness of the Dogwi woman sitting before him, watching him with a soft smile.
Ise kept moving his spoon until his stomach felt ready to burst, finishing every last drop of food placed before him.
* * *
Of course, warm hospitality was not all that awaited him.
“Hey, human!”
Ise looked up at the young Dogwi boys who had blocked his path while he was taking his time selecting a room. They were about his age, perhaps a year or two older.
They were likely the "us" Gong Ah had referred to when she mentioned "our secret base."
Ise calmly turned to face them and waited for them to speak next. In situations like this, discerning the other party's intentions came before carelessly spouting words.
“How dare a filthy human set foot inside the Ghost-Guarding Temple? Have you lost your mind?”
“And holding hands with a Dogwi? Arrogant brat.”
“He needs a good thrashing to learn his place.”
Children display malice far more easily than adults. And their motives were usually simple.
Jealousy.
The girl named Gong Ah, who had treated him with such kindness, was likely treated like a beloved princess among these kids. And these boys resented that she had shown him such favor.
“What, are you mute? Say something!”
Seeing them roll up their sleeves, it was obvious they intended to break his spirit right then and there.
Pondering how best to handle this, Ise slowly bowed his head.
He felt the prickling glares focused on the crown of his head gradually turn into bewildered stares. Lowering his head was simple. Besides, no matter how young these boy ghosts were, there was no reason to make unnecessary enemies.
This was a land where he was forced to rely on their grace.
“I apologize that a mere human has intruded upon the territory of the Dogwi Tribe. I shamelessly ask for your hospitality. My family was wiped out by demon ghosts, and having nowhere left to go, I followed Chief Mongryeon here.”
“What? N-No, wait...”
“Why are you being so intense...? Humans sure express themselves strongly...”
Ise raised his head slightly.
Untrained in dealing with such humble, unexpected responses, the boys were utterly thrown off and fumbled for words.
“Wait, this isn't how it was supposed to go—hey, what do we do now?”
“I look forward to living with you,” Ise added smoothly.
Right on cue, a clear, ringing voice echoed sharply from a distance.
“Il-chwi! Wol-jang! Goegeol! Why are you picking on our new family member? I'm telling the Chief!”
Gong Ah had appeared out of nowhere and immediately began laying into the three boys.
After flustering for a long moment, the boys scrambled away in a panic. Gong Ah turned to him with an apologetic, sympathetic look.
“I'm sorry, Ise. They're not bad kids... they're just not used to humans, so they were acting mean. I'll make sure they don't do it again.”
“It's fine. But what's going on?”
“The Chief is back. She's looking for you.”