Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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Walking down the narrow alley, a single fluorescent light flickered as if barely clinging to life.
Under that dim glow, Junseok and I stood side by side, staring down at the stairs leading underground.
The old concrete walls were damp with moisture, and the faded posters plastered haphazardly across them bore witness to the passage of time.
"...This the right place?"
"I-I think so?"
Junseok checked the address on his phone one more time before taking the lead down the stairs.
I followed quietly, unable to shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at me.
'For a first-time meeting spot outside, this feels way too unusual.'
The air grew heavier the further we descended.
The musty underground stench mixed with alcohol and stale cigarette smoke assaulted my nose.
I appreciated historic old bars with tradition as much as the next guy, but this was pushing it.
At the bottom of the stairs, a small, hazy neon sign blinked half-dead.
─LIVE & Sound of the Wind
Junseok pushed open the door, and rough laughter and music leaked out from behind the heavy metal barrier.
I let out a short sigh, tensed my body instinctively, and crossed the threshold.
'What the—!?'
The underground bar was busier and larger than I'd imagined.
Lights twinkled from the ceiling, and a hazy fog—cigarette smoke or incense, hard to tell—filled the entire space.
But what really caught my eye was the small stage set up in the center.
'So this is a live music bar.'
A decent-looking stage held a standing mic, a keyboard, and an acoustic guitar resting on a chair, all drawing the gaze.
The stage was empty for now, probably waiting for showtime.
"Just got a text from Sia. She's on her way."
"Wasn't she supposed to be here first?"
"Dunno. Something came up, so she had to swing by home first, I guess."
I slowly scanned the surroundings.
This was nothing like the live bars I'd pictured.
I'd assumed it'd be packed with young crowds, but most of the tables were occupied by middle-aged men and women.
Some clinked beer mugs with flushed, drunken faces, shouting cheers nonstop, puffing away on cigarettes despite no smoking booths.
"Shouldn't we report them smoking inside? That's gotta violate police regs."
"Let it go. Might be the house rules here."
"Rules my ass... The smoke's giving me a headache."
"Who'd think you've never smoked a day in your life?"
"Quit when I got married."
Junseok snickered as I bristled.
"Guess you owe Jua one for helping you out, huh?"
"Yeah. Anyway, this Sia's got peculiar taste. How'd she pick this spot?"
"Haha... She's got that vibe—nothing like regular girls, right?"
The unfamiliar scene felt alien yet oddly intriguing.
Not just a hangout for the young; it seemed like a place where people with their own stories came to lose themselves in booze and music.
That strange sentiment enveloped the whole space.
"Let's grab that table over there."
Junseok pointed to a spot near the back wall.
It was a bit away from the stage, with softer lighting.
"Heh, never thought I'd end up in a place like this."
I let out an incredulous laugh at the atmosphere I couldn't get used to, and Junseok took a deep breath.
"Ha... I'm nervous."
"Nervous about what?"
"First time drinking outside with Sia. Of course I'm jittery."
"Scared she's a ghost? Or excited?"
"Bit of both?"
I glanced around before continuing.
"She really said to meet here?"
"How many times you gonna ask?"
"Can't wrap my head around it."
"Everyone's got their tastes. Best to respect that."
"As long as she's human."
Junseok flipped through the menu with a grin.
"Ha! Hope she is."
"What about Jiwon?"
"Wh-what's she got to do with this! I just mean better a person than a ghost!"
"There's a reason, huh?"
I eyed him slyly, and he sighed shortly.
"This time, her looks scream ghost, okay?"
"Sure they do."
"Ugh... Too lazy to explain. You'll see for yourself when Sia gets here."
Right then, the gentle melody from the speakers faded out, leaving the bar in momentary silence.
Even the clinking glasses and laughter quieted down.
"Huh!?"
That's when Junseok's body jolted slightly.
"What?"
He didn't answer, just stared intently at the stage.
I slowly turned to follow his gaze.
The lights shifted gradually, illuminating the stage as a woman stepped into the beam.
Click-clack—click-clack—
Her heels tapped rhythmically across the small stage.
She walked calmly to the chair in the center and slung the guitar over her shoulder.
'Holy shit...'
I sucked in a breath without thinking.
Bathed in the spotlight, she was unreal.
As she sat, gazing down at the guitar, her long hair cascaded softly over her shoulders, catching the light.
'That's human beauty...?'
Her sharp features felt natural, not exaggerated.
Especially her long eyes, deep sockets, and porcelain-smooth skin—they left me speechless.
And when the light hit her eyes, they sparkled with a delicate, hazy allure that was hard to pin down.
"...That's Sia."
I'd already pegged her as Isia before Junseok spoke.
I didn't reply, just focused on her every move.
Smooth.
Isia rested the guitar on her knee and quietly plucked the strings to tune it.
No glittering nails, no flashy accessories—yet she owned the stage in seconds.
'Could be a fairy...'
This wasn't baseless suspicion.
The fairies I'd met outshone humans not just in looks.
They always had that subtle otherworldliness.
An aura unlike ordinary folk.
Isia gave off the same vibe.
'...Not certain yet.'
Cha Seola was human but matched fairies in beauty, after all.
Isia might be the same.
I adjusted my posture to observe her calmly.
-Today, I'll sing something a bit old. Please relax and enjoy.
Her voice was low and steady.
Yet it pulled you in inexplicably, like it tugged at some deep chord in your soul.
Junseok swallowed hard beside me.
"...See what I mean? No way that's human."
"Looks insane, yeah."
"Looks? Her body's killer too, under those clothes."
"And how would you know?"
"She came to cooking class once in something tight-fitting."
"Perfect figure on top of everything..."
I crossed my arms tightly, and Junseok leaned forward.
"Ghost?"
"Too soon to tell."
"...Huh?"
Last incident, I'd brushed off the Sowol fairy to Junseok as a ghost since I couldn't explain fairies.
But Isia wasn't a ghost.
No human besides me would've seen her if she were.
'But if she's a fairy, that's a different story.'
Then Isia began to sing.
Her voice rode the guitar gently, lingering on every note.
♪ No one ♪
♪ I can trust ♪
♪ Exists in this world yet ♪
♪ Even so ♪
♪ I keep waiting ♪
♪ For something special ♪
♪ To approach like a whisper ♪
♪ In my life ♪
It felt light yet profound; familiar lyrics sounded strangely new.
Less like "singing" and more like "summoning memories."
♪ Endlessly ♪
♪ If I wait and wait ♪
♪ It will come ♪
♪ My destiny, back to me ♪
Arms still crossed, I glanced around.
The other patrons listened in hushed awe, no cheers—just immersion.
Overwhelming atmosphere.
'Can't ignore the odds she's from the fairy realm.'
Still.
How to confirm she's a fairy?
Doesn't match the A Yun fairy from Lee Hyun-seok's photos...
Maybe some other fairy we don't know?
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
As the song ended, applause rippled through the bar.
The lively buzz returned.
"Oh, she's coming!"
Junseok's excitement made me turn—Isia was packing up her guitar and stepping off stage quietly.
She walked toward our table amid the patrons' heated stares.
"You can't confirm she's a ghost yet, right?"
"Not yet."
"Then chatting might reveal it?"
"Yeah. So stay sharp—no getting wasted."
As Isia neared, Junseok fidgeted and stood.
"Wow... I had no idea you sang like that, Sia."
"Thanks for coming, Junseok."
He nodded eagerly.
"Loved the song. Is this your workplace?"
"Not exactly work—just a hobby, standing in sometimes."
"You could go pro with that voice..."
"Nah, not that good."
"Oh, and this is the friend I mentioned..."
At his words, Isia finally turned to me.
"...Hello."
Now to figure out if she's a fairy.
I stood with a practiced smile, chuckling softly.
"Hello. Han Haeseong, Junseok's friend."