The Night Of The Untraced

With skin so pale it seemed almost ghostly white, contrasting sharply with his jet-black hair, the man exuded a cool impression and a still, static atmosphere. This man, Hwanyeong, had attended the same high school as Seungjoo. Though they were in different majors, they were now at the same university and even living together with Muryeong.“…….”Why is he here?Seungjoo frowned deeply at the sight of Hwanyeong in front of him. On the day he finally returned to hunt Gwimae, an entirely unexpected person had joined the exorcists that Muheun had summoned. He knew he’d need help, but he hadn’t expected that it would come from Hwanyeong.“What are you doing here?”Hwanyeong’s expression soured at Seungjoo’s abrupt question, finding it rather absurd. He responded in a tone that suggested Seungjoo was talking nonsense.“To hunt Gwimae.”“No, I know that…”It wasn’t strange that Hwanyeong would be assisting. He was a talented spiritualist with an aura rivaling that of seasoned exorcists, someone who was destined to become one himself. Back in school, Muryeong often said, “I get an incredibly good feeling from Hwanyeong.”“But you’re an ordinary person.”Yet that was still in the future. Right now, Hwanyeong was just an ordinary person—a regular university student at Korea University, not yet part of any association. Seungjoo found it hard to understand why he would come to such a dangerous place.“I asked him to come with me.”Suddenly, someone else joined the conversation. Startled, Seungjoo looked over and saw Muryeong peeking out from behind Hwanyeong. Seeing the playful glint in Muryeong’s eyes, Seungjoo reflexively responded in defense.“I wasn’t surprised.”“Uh-huh.”Muryeong didn’t look convinced at all and just smiled knowingly as he pointed to Hwanyeong.“When my brother called, I asked Hwanyeong, and he said he’d come along. Last time, he was really worried about you.”“When did I ever…”Even Seungjoo found Muryeong’s statement hard to believe, but Hwanyeong quickly objected. Nonetheless, Muryeong kept looking at him with those innocent eyes.“You were worried when Seungjoo fainted, weren’t you? Didn’t you ask, ‘What if he faints again today?’”“That was because… you were worried.”“Really?”“Yeah.”“Uh-huh, sure.”Muryeong still didn’t seem convinced, but Hwanyeong didn’t press further and simply looked away.“Anyway, it’s vacation, so Hwanyeong came along. Seungjoo, you missed him, didn’t you?”“When did I…”Seungjoo was about to answer, but clicked his tongue in irritation, nearly giving the same answer as Hwanyeong. If he had, Muryeong would have smiled brightly and said, “You and Hwanyeong really are alike.”“What did Muheun say? Hunting Gwimae is dangerous.”“Didn’t say much.”“He wouldn’t assign anything dangerous to us kids, anyway.”This time, it was Muyeon who had been nearby, joining the conversation. Though Seungjoo was slightly startled, he turned to look at Muyeon without showing it. With her long hair tied back, Muyeon leaned her chin on Seungjoo’s shoulder.“We’ll probably just help with the minor stuff. That’s why he called us.”She pointed her thumb in a certain direction. Seungjoo, who had been hunched over, straightened up and followed her gaze. There, a bit farther away, Muheun was talking with Yunhee.“The important stuff will be handled by them.”It was as if they were practicing the saying, “Many hands make light work.” There were five more exorcists beside Muheun, including Gwangsik. They all stood silently with their hands behind their backs, like disciplined soldiers, listening to Muheun.“Who are those people? Are they part of Team Leader Yunhee’s team?”Muyeon tilted her head in curiosity, but Seungjoo knew who they were. When he had asked Muheun who he’d call, Muheun had answered:“I’ll call my team members first.”They were members of Team 0, which Muheun led. Known only to a few executives, Team 0 was a secret team tasked with background investigations for the head of the association, essential for enforcing the forced summoning rights.“If we want to prove that Gwimae appeared on the chairman’s territory, it’s best to have as many witnesses as possible.”Thus, some of the top exorcists had gathered. Including Seungjoo, there were a total of ten people, three of whom were team leaders: Team Leader Kim Muheun from Team 0, Team Leader Lee Yunhee from Team 1, and Team Leader Kim Muyeon from Team 4. Though it seemed Muyeon was still unaware of Team 0’s existence.“In any case, don’t worry. If things go south, I’m here too.”Muyeon soon lost interest in them and tousled Seungjoo’s hair with her free hand. Although it was almost a headlock, Seungjoo quietly let her ruffle his hair without a fuss. It didn’t hurt, and he wasn’t picky about keeping his hair perfect.But before long, Muyeon’s hand awkwardly dropped away.“I told you not to bother Seungjoo.”Muheun had somehow come close and gently pulled Muyeon’s hand off Seungjoo. Muyeon blinked, caught off guard, while Muheun then wrapped his arm around Seungjoo’s shoulder, drawing him closer.“Seungjoo doesn’t like it.”“…Do I?”Not that he particularly remembered disliking it. He asked back, but Muheun nodded confidently, with such certainty that Muyeon, momentarily speechless, protested.“Wow… You’re the one who bothers him the most.”It was true. Technically, the one who teased Seungjoo the most, as well as cherished him the most, was Muheun.“We need to head out before it starts raining.”Muheun ignored Muyeon’s retort and pointed to the sky, which was covered in dark clouds. Since there was a forecast for rain starting that night, it was best to get moving as quickly as possible. Although they had all brought rain gear, visibility would still be compromised if it started raining.“Let’s go, Seungjoo.”Since Muheun hadn’t released his arm around Seungjoo, Seungjoo had no choice but to follow his lead. Muyeon watched the two with a peculiar look but didn’t bother to comment. Instead, he simply exchanged a glance with Muryeong and shrugged.At the entrance to the mountain path they were heading toward, there was a barrier that Muheun had set up. He and Seungjoo had prepared it the previous night, leaving one side open to allow for easy access. Muheun had explained that it worked by creating two separate focal points, but as an ordinary person, Seungjoo didn’t quite understand the mechanics of it.“Once we’re inside the barrier, we’ll start tracking Gwimae. We’ll begin by checking the area where it appeared a few days ago, though it might not be there anymore. If we can’t find it, Seungjoo, you’ll have to search.”Everyone except for Muheun listened intently as they stood in a circle around him. Muyeon, who already knew that Seungjoo could track Gwimae, showed no surprise at this part of the plan. However, Seungjoo, the only ordinary person in the group, looked puzzled and asked:“Wouldn’t it be faster if I just searched for it from the beginning?”Tracking Gwimae was no longer difficult for him. By focusing all his senses, he could easily follow the voice and locate the tiger-like Gwimae as he had done the previous day. There didn’t seem to be any need for the others to go through extra trouble.“It would definitely be quicker.”Surprisingly, Muheun agreed with Seungjoo in a calm tone, nodding a few times before continuing thoughtfully.“But if you get enchanted by Gwimae, it’ll be a disaster. The same thing that happened the other day might happen again.”He was referring to when Seungjoo had connected with Gwimae and burst into tears. It would indeed be problematic if he did that again. Besides the embarrassment of such a display in front of all these people, he had to submit evidence by the next day.“For now, try to avoid any direct contact with Gwimae. Muryeong and Hwanyoung will stay by your side during the operation.”It seemed Muheun intended to keep them somewhat removed from direct involvement in the hunt, assigning Muryeong and Hwanyoung to protect Seungjoo. It was a role that Hwanyoung could easily manage, given that he was not directly participating in the exorcism process.“Alright, let’s open it up.”With that, Muheun removed a talisman he had placed on the ground. The leaves had piled up over it, but he managed to locate and peel it off with one hand, impressively accurate even with it hidden from view.With a mysterious vibration, the transparent wall split in half in front of them. Although Muheun had said he would open a “door,” the resulting gap was more like a massive opening, wide enough for all eleven of them to enter. They quickly moved inside and closed the barrier behind them.A faint ringing sound made Seungjoo wince. He could feel an intense, almost tangible sensation as the space was sealed off. Unlike Seungjoo, most of the exorcists looked fine, but one of them wore an unusually tense expression.“……”Gwangsik seemed a bit off. While his face was still as stoic as ever, something about his demeanor was different. He seemed vacant, as though he were in a trance. It was clear to Seungjoo that whatever was affecting him wasn’t a good sign.“What’s wrong with you?”Seungjoo, who happened to be nearby, immediately noticed something was off and asked Gwangsik right away. Gwangsik’s pale, almost transparent eyes slowly shifted toward Seungjoo, but he didn’t respond, so Seungjoo urged him again.“I’m asking, what’s wrong?”“…I feel sick.”“Sick?”Perhaps he had indigestion. Given his already pale complexion, it wouldn’t be strange. Pressing his hand against his chest, he bent over, indicating he wasn’t feeling well.“You feel sick?”Muheun, who had been listening, approached. He placed a hand on Gwangsik’s back, inspecting his face with a serious look, clearly showing concern.“Do you want to rest outside the barrier?”“No, I’m fine.”Gwangsik quickly shook his head and straightened up. His expression still didn’t look good, but it seemed he didn’t want to rest. Since he insisted, Muheun merely patted his back a couple of times.Leaving behind a slight unease, they began to climb the mountain path in a group. Muheun took the lead, with Seungjoo a bit behind him, followed by Yunhee, Muyeon, Muryeong, and Hwanyeong. The members of Team 0 walked at the very end, keeping a bit of distance.Since it had started raining halfway up, they didn’t forget to put on the raincoats they had brought before the rain intensified. Although the raincoats, pulled tightly over their heads, restricted their view, Seungjoo was the only one who seemed bothered by it.“The rain’s really coming down…”It was just their luck that it was the monsoon season. Their footing became soft, and they worried about slipping and falling badly.“Want a lift?”Noticing Seungjoo’s struggle, Muheun tilted his head and asked. Seungjoo intended to decline, but before he could answer, Muheun extended his hand.“Or we could just hold hands.”“….”To be honest, that might make things a bit easier. Even though he had good coordination, climbing the muddy path was challenging. Just the other day, when he had come down the mountain in tears, Muheun had helped him a lot.“I’m okay. I can manage on my own.”However, there were too many people watching them to just take Muheun’s hand. Muyeon had looked at him when Muheun offered to carry him, and Yunhee had glanced at Muheun when he suggested holding hands. If he actually took his hand, Team 0 members might also give them curious looks.Muheun looked a bit disappointed but didn’t insist on holding Seungjoo’s hand. He just walked ahead, occasionally glancing back at Seungjoo. Even with Muyeon and Yunhee on either side of him, Muheun seemed especially worried.“But… do we really need so many people to catch just one Gwimae?”Yunhee, who had been quietly following along, spoke up. Since her voice wasn’t loud and the rain was pouring down, Seungjoo had to strain his ears to hear her.“Just how strong is it that we’re going as a group?”“Yeah, I came because they asked for help, but….”Muyeon chimed in beside him, seeming to share the same curiosity. After all, exorcists usually worked alone. Although Gwimae hunters sometimes formed teams, it was rare to see such a large group.“Is it really necessary to bring me and Muryeong along?”Moreover, both of them from Team 4 were regular exorcists, not specialized Gwimae hunters. While they might be more skilled at dealing with evil spirits, it was clear they lacked the techniques to handle a Gwimae. Unless it was a special location like Haeyeon High School, there was usually no need to summon them.“Well, the Gwimae is strong….”Without looking back, Muheun pulled down his raincoat hood. His calm voice, half-drowned in the sound of rain, sounded rather ominous.“And there’s no harm in being careful.”It was a reasonable answer, yet it seemed like there might be more to it. It didn’t sound like he was just saying, “The Gwimae is strong, so let’s be cautious.”But before they could delve into his meaning, Muheun pointed ahead.“It’s up there.”Through the steadily falling rain, they saw the end of the forest. Although there was no moonlight like that night, once they passed through those trees, an open field would appear. And perhaps, a tiger-like Gwimae might be lurking there as well.“….”He shouldn’t cry today. The closer they got, the more he felt an inexplicable tension. He didn’t sense anything yet, but he couldn’t predict what might happen once they faced the Gwimae directly.‘Maybe I should’ve just held his hand.’A wave of anxiety brought a childish thought to his mind. Holding hands might have helped calm him down, but now he couldn’t find any way to soothe himself. As he blankly looked down at Muheun’s hand, Muheun slowed his pace and gently took Seungjoo’s hand.“It’s slippery, so let’s go like this.”Their fingers naturally intertwined. Droplets from the raincoat sleeve rolled down the back of his hand. Even in the damp warmth, the coolness radiating from Muheun’s hand felt refreshing, lifting his spirits.“It’s not that slippery here.”Though he said that, Seungjoo didn’t let go. Instead, he tightened his grip, holding Muheun’s hand firmly. The comfort of that strong, steady hand had always been a constant source of reassurance since childhood.Their interlocked fingers didn’t part even as they passed through the trees. He briefly felt self-conscious about the people watching, but soon, he decided it didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if they were doing anything wrong. Besides, everyone at the association knew about Muheun’s tendency to be overprotective.Just as they finished walking through the dense woods and reached the open field…“….”In the wide, empty clearing, under the rainy sky, a lone tiger lay quietly.“…There it is.”The Gwimae was still there. In the middle of the vast field, it lay with its eyes closed, swishing its tail back and forth. Its steady breaths, undisturbed by the rain, made the grass sway gently.“Looks like we won’t have to go searching.”Though Muheun spoke calmly, the others didn’t share his composure. Despite the tranquil scene, the Gwimae’s sheer size and presence left everyone breathless. Hwanyeong, seeing it for the first time, was visibly in awe, as was Yunhee, who had likely seen it before but still couldn’t hold back a gasp.“This is….”Yunhee and Muheun exchanged glances, seeming to understand each other without words. Perhaps now they understood why so many of them had come.“Muryeong and Hwanyeong, stay by Seungjoo.”Taking a step forward, Muheun released Seungjoo’s hand, giving it one last reassuring squeeze before letting go. As Seungjoo felt the warmth linger on his skin, Muheun turned to speak to Muyeon.“Muyeon, keep your distance.”He didn’t need to give the other team members instructions. A single look from Muheun had them moving purposefully. Taking positions around the perimeter, they seemed to be forming a circle with the Gwimae at its center.“I’ll be back.”Muheun’s gentle voice, reserved only for Seungjoo, was warm and familiar. When Seungjoo nodded, Muheun instinctively reached out, then hesitated, likely intending to pat Seungjoo’s head but stopping due to the raincoat.“Let’s go, Yunhee.”Muheun turned and Yunhee followed him. Seungjoo thought Yunhee glanced back at him, but their eyes met only briefly before she looked away. Their raincoats flapped in the wind as they walked.The team members took their places at the clearing’s edge, with Yunhee and Muheun positioned closer in. Muyeon climbed onto a rock at a slight distance, likely aiming for a good vantage point since his primary weapon was a bow.“…Is that the Gwimae?”Hwanyeong, standing behind Seungjoo with Muryeong, whispered in a low voice. Seungjoo finally tore his gaze away from Muheun’s back and turned to look at them. Muryeong nodded, tilting his raincoat hood slightly back.“Yeah, that’s the Gwimae.”“It looks like a tiger.”Seungjoo couldn’t help but chuckle at the straightforward comment. Others might have thought the same, but Hwanyeong was the first to say it aloud. Regardless of its appearance, to Gwimae hunters, it was simply a “Gwimae,” so they didn’t really care what it looked like.“Are you really going to purify something that big?”After watching the Gwimae for a while, Hwanyeong looked down at Seungjoo, disbelief evident in his eyes. Standing a head taller than Seungjoo, Hwanyeong’s face was clear under the raincoat hood. Though Muheun had dark eyes too, Hwanyeong’s seemed even more intense.“Why, got a problem with that?”Feeling a bit embarrassed by the look, Seungjoo responded nonchalantly. Even though he knew Hwanyeong was just looking, this whole situation felt a bit awkward. It was almost like… showing a friend his work.“So, how do you purify it?”“It’s similar to what I do.”Muryeong answered on Seungjoo’s behalf. Although Seungjoo had never seen Muryeong perform a purification, he assumed it was done similarly. Muryeong would absorb the evil energy and filter it through his body before releasing it outside.“You just need to get close and make contact.”“Then why don’t you sneak over and touch it while it’s asleep?”“Uh… well, it’d be fine if that worked.”It was a reasonable question, one Seungjoo had secretly thought about as well. But Muryeong gave a slightly troubled smile, squinting his eyes.“Even if it looks like it’s asleep now, there’s a chance it might wake up during the purification process. If that happens, Seungjoo could get hurt.”Even though Seungjoo knew how to purify the Gwimae, he was still an ordinary person. If anything went wrong, he could be taken down by a single attack from the Gwimae.“And besides… there’s always the chance it’s not really asleep.”Woooom. The ground vibrated. Just as Muryeong said that, they quickly turned their heads in alarm, only to see the Gwimae, now wide awake, standing tall in its spot.“See? Like that.”Just as Muryeong said, the Gwimae was now wide awake, its fiery red eyes scanning the surroundings. Though its movements were slow and deliberate, they felt all the more menacing because of it.“Gwimae are incredibly sensitive,” Muryeong continued.Even if it had been asleep, approaching this close would have woken it up. Seungjoo recalled how, when they had come a few days earlier, it had opened its eyes after only a few words. It was clear sneaking up to purify it was out of the question.Stepping back, Seungjoo took in the entire scene. Muheun and Yunhee appeared dwarfed in front of the massive Gwimae.In that tension-filled moment, the first to move was the Gwimae.Grrrr…The Gwimae lowered itself, raising its hackles as it growled. It was an unmistakable show of hostility, and Muheun raised his right hand in the air. With a whoosh, a brilliant blue flame burst forth and quickly took the familiar shape of his sword.At the same moment, the Gwimae lunged straight at Muheun.“…!”Boom!The massive creature slammed into Muheun head-on. Rather than dodging, Muheun raised his blade, gathering his energy to block the force of the impact.As the Gwimae bared its fangs, the teammates on the outskirts pressed their hands to the ground.They were performing a technique similar to what Muheun had once used when tracking a Gwimae. Their energy moved through the earth, converging on the tiger. Each of the four team members bound one of its legs, while Gwangsik’s gathered energy gripped its long tail and pinned it to the ground.Grrr…The Gwimae struggled, but Muheun moved faster. He kicked off the ground, leaping into the air, his sword held high. He shouted in a booming voice.“Yunhee, now!”At his signal, Yunhee swung her right hand wide. A whip-like force wrapped around the Gwimae’s neck, tightening like a leash and slamming its head down onto the ground.Kwoarrr!A blood-curdling roar echoed across the field. Seizing the moment, Muheun drove his sword deep into the Gwimae’s head. The creature writhed in agony but couldn’t escape, its limbs firmly bound.With a whoosh, blue flames erupted from Muheun’s sword, spreading across the Gwimae as though doused in oil. The massive black creature blazed instantly, creating a sight so overwhelming that even Seungjoo was left speechless.“So… this is how they capture a Gwimae,” Hwanyeong murmured, staring in awe. Although he’d trained as an exorcist under Muryeong, the real thing was entirely different. The sheer flood of energy pouring out was enough to startle even a seasoned spirit-user.Grrr…Next to Hwanyeong, Seungjoo frowned, pressing his lips tightly together. From this distance, he could clearly see the Gwimae’s blood-red eyes, which were leaking black, sticky tears. Seungjoo couldn’t shake the feeling that those tears were indeed sorrowful.‘…So pitiful.’He couldn’t help but feel sympathy. He knew this was necessary for everyone’s sake, even for the Gwimae itself. He understood from its memories that communication with it was no longer possible.‘It feels like we’re tormenting it…’Though he knew the creature wasn’t weak, at moments like this, it appeared so defenseless. He felt as if he would rather endure the pain in its place if he could.“Ugh…”Seungjoo’s face twisted in discomfort as he covered his mouth with one hand. With a thud in his chest, a wave of intense pain surged from deep within his abdomen. Staring unblinkingly at the Gwimae, he suddenly realized that its crimson eyes were now fixed on him.“…Ugh.”He doubled over, beginning to retch. His vision spun, and it became nearly impossible to remain standing. That piercing gaze, those blood-red eyes, felt like barbs stabbing into him from all sides.“Hah… hah…”Even while struggling to catch his breath, Muheun’s concern came to Seungjoo’s mind first. He couldn’t just stop because he was in pain. If only the sound of rain could drown out everything. If only Muheun wouldn’t worry about him.Then suddenly, he felt something pressed firmly against his forehead.“…?”In an instant, all his pain vanished as if washed away. As he slowly opened his eyes, tears began to stream down his face. Through his half-blurred vision, he saw a pair of gentle, round hazel eyes.“Are you okay?”The voice was kind, and it was Muryeong, right in front of him. His eyes, gentle without a hint of double eyelids, gazed steadily at Seungjoo. Seungjoo instinctively reached up to his forehead, feeling a paper talisman there, and his eyes widened.“Hyung gave it to me. Told me to stick it on your forehead if anything happened.”“Ah…”It was a talisman—the same one Muheun had once placed on his forehead to break the link with the Gwimae. Fixed in place with energy, it clung tightly and, positioned on his forehead, almost made him look like a hopping ghost from folklore.“You’re connected to the Gwimae, right?”Muryeong’s concerned question only earned a nod from Seungjoo. Though the pain had subsided, his mind still felt foggy. As he blinked, he suddenly met Hwanyeong’s eyes and froze.“…”Wow, he really does make expressions like that.Though Seungjoo was used to receiving concern, it was different coming from Gi Hwanyeong. Unlike the warm Muryeong, Hwanyeong was usually blunt and expressionless. Their relationship was distant enough that Seungjoo felt awkward showing vulnerability.“What are you looking at?”“What are you looking at?”Snapping back with a curt tone, Hwanyeong responded in his usual calm voice. He didn’t seem keen to prolong the sappy atmosphere, either. Only Muryeong chuckled softly, saying they were both so similar.Seungjoo looked back at the Gwimae with a calmer expression than before. Its movements had slowed considerably, likely due to exhaustion, but it still hadn’t given up resisting.Kwoarrr!As it thrashed, the energy threads Gwangsik held snapped. Just then, Muyeon, who had been waiting at a distance, shot an arrow at the Gwimae’s swinging tail, shattering into sparks upon impact. Quickly regaining his stance, Muyeon shot another arrow straight at the creature.‘Just so you know… Hyung’s not that good at it,’ Seungjoo recalled Muheun once saying when handling a bow. He now understood that Muheun wasn’t bad at archery—there was just someone else around who was exceptionally skilled. Even Seungjoo could tell that Muyeon’s arrows were sharp and precise, with no wasted movement.“Can’t you just keep your eyes closed?”Muryeong seemed uneasy watching Seungjoo, asking the same question that Muheun might have asked.“I’m fine now.”Seungjoo replied calmly, touching his forehead again. Muheun was meticulous, that was certain. They’d been together all day, yet he’d prepared this talisman at some point. His attention to detail was impressive.Soon, with a loud thud, the Gwimae collapsed sideways. This happened after Muheun struck its neck one last time. Dust rose but was quickly washed away by the falling rain.“…Is it over?”Hwanyeong mumbled, not expecting an answer, but Muheun, having slightly lifted the hood of his raincoat, looked in their direction and called out.“Seungjoo.”Drawn by the voice, Seungjoo took slow, deliberate steps forward. Muheun’s voice, though quiet, cut through the rain with surprising clarity, perhaps because Seungjoo had been so focused on him—or simply because it was Muheun.With each step across the wet ground, the others silently watched as Seungjoo approached. Muheun waited until Seungjoo came close, then gently reached out his hand.“Looks like you’ve been crying.”“…Yeah.”Instead of touching his eyes, Muheun removed the talisman from Seungjoo’s forehead, his hand withdrawing as if mindful of the soot still on it. Seungjoo briefly lowered his eyebrows in disappointment, then looked back at the Gwimae, pretending it didn’t bother him.“….”The Gwimae lay limp, breathing shallowly. Though the connection was broken, guilt remained—a persistent feeling he’d experienced every time he faced a Gwimae.“Well then… I’ll start the purification.”Apologizing silently, Seungjoo knelt on one knee before the Gwimae. He extended both arms toward it, letting his rain-soaked hood fall back. As the rain seeped into his hair, he felt no need to cover himself again.Maybe it was the chill of the falling rain, but his fingertips felt unusually cold. With a rush of déjà vu, Seungjoo embraced the Gwimae and closed his eyes.At that moment, the limp Gwimae gave a sudden shudder.“…?”Something felt off. The thought was fleeting, though. The Gwimae, which had been lying helplessly still, suddenly wrapped its forelegs around Seungjoo as if trying to shield something precious. Then, with blood-red eyes, it looked directly at Muheun.“…Ah.”Muheun’s gasp was lost as a powerful surge of energy burst forth, cloaking them like a wall. In an instant, this energy formed a dome around Seungjoo. Alarmed by the swirling air, Muheun reached out to Seungjoo.“No!”But just as his hand was about to touch, a fierce current repelled him, sparking like electricity. Coughing roughly, Muheun clenched his teeth and stepped forward again.“…Seungjoo!”It all happened in an instant. Perhaps it was because the rain-soaked ground was too soft. What he thought was solid ground suddenly gave way beneath him.And in the next moment, Seungjoo, along with the massive tiger, plunged deep into the earth.I heard there were beasts roaming the mountains, taking people away.The story came from a woman who climbed the sacred mountain daily to share news of humans. Though no one else was around to listen, the woman never missed a day.“Hello.”The first day the woman visited the mountain, there was no one on the vast plains. Yet, she greeted the empty space without hesitation and sat right down on the ground. Anyone watching might think she’d gone mad, but she didn’t care. She added another comment.“You should respond when someone says hello.”I remember the gentle way she stroked the grass. Her soft-spoken words stung more than a dozen harsh scoldings. She chatted for a while, and only as dusk fell did she leave the mountain.What seemed like a chance encounter continued for quite a while after that. The next day, and the day after, she returned to the same spot. The woman would sit in the grass, her skirt billowing, and greet the emptiness in a bright voice.“Hello, how have you been?”One day, “it” asked why she always started with a greeting. The question hadn’t been intended to reach her, almost a muttered thought. But, somehow understanding, she smiled warmly and replied,“When you meet someone, you start with a greeting.”That’s when it began. “It” started to respond to her greetings eagerly, rustling the grass, making the ground hum in reply.The mountain creatures had been “its” only companions. With the woman, a new delight filled its days. Humans were more intelligent than beasts, so her stories were endlessly fascinating.“Not in a good mood today?”Amazingly, the woman could read its emotions. She seemed to know its condition, what might have happened, how much it hurt. When sorrow welled up beyond its control, she even cried for it, shedding the tears it couldn’t.“Shall I sing for you?”She asked this with a mischievous smile, admitting she wasn’t a good singer. Then she picked a blade of grass, folded it gently, pressed it to her lips, and played a tune.Who would have thought that the sound of her grass-whistle could bring such comfort? The turmoil in its heart eased, soothed by the melody.She played the grass-whistle until the unfamiliar song became familiar. Finally, she pulled it from her lips and said,“I can do this with my hands, too.”Excited, she set down the blade of grass and clasped her hands together. She mumbled instructions, as if going over a new trick she’d learned.“Shape your hands like you’re holding a ball. Make the inner space as wide as you can, keep your fingers close…”Then, moving her hands to her lips, she took a deep breath and blew. A deep, muffled sound emerged, less clear than the grass-whistle but still comforting.“Don’t be too sad.”How did she know its heart so well? Her words were like a gentle warmth, and it began to wonder if her initial greeting had been her way of reaching out. The thought lingered in its mind.“You know, I’ve made a friend…”One day, she began speaking about a new presence. She told stories of a friend who seemed to cry every day, another who needed comfort. With her kind and gentle nature, the woman was trying to make her friend smile, just as she had for it.“Maybe they’ll like azaleas.”Her rosy cheeks resembled the flowers, and it struck it that she could show this expression too. Her voice was as gentle as always, yet now carried a trace of unfamiliar excitement.“Your smile is lovely.”She herself was more beautiful than anything seen before. Draped in silk resembling a seashell, she appeared as precious and radiant as nature’s finest treasures.“I’ll introduce you next time.”Did “introducing” even make sense for a formless being like itself? It was curious about her friend but had no desire to engage in conversation, as it had done with her. She was the first to recognize its existence, and most humans would never notice it.Her visits became less frequent, and the endless hours spent waiting grew unbearably long. Left alone, it could only watch the clouds drift by. As dusk approached, its four-legged friends would gather, but even they couldn’t fill her absence.If it had a form, perhaps it wouldn’t have to wait. If it had sturdy legs like those of the creatures roaming the forest, it wouldn’t feel so lonely. Instead of waiting, it could go find her and spend time with her.“Come this way.”“Are the dogwoods blooming on the mountain?”One day, a distant voice revealed the presence of the friend she’d spoken of so fondly. Her friend, with a strikingly beautiful appearance, radiated an unfamiliar, powerful aura—a presence that might intimidate others. But its first impression of her friend wasn’t unpleasant.“This is a beautiful place.”The friend’s gentle smile resembled hers, so it decided not to intrude on their time together. While they sat in the grass, chatting happily, it didn’t feel lonely. Simply watching over them and providing a sanctuary brought it peace.“Crops are…”But that peace shattered too soon, disrupted by an unexpected drought. The rains were due in just three days, but the humans, already tense and frustrated, directed their anger at her friend, the one with the vibrant, bluish aura. Her friend, who had smiled so warmly at the sight of flowers, now faced the brunt of their fury.“I’ve done nothing wrong. Offering me as a sacrifice won’t…”“Silence!”It didn’t understand human ways, nor why they were so furious. Why torment an innocent being? Why force him to his knees, silence him, and bring weapons to the sacred mountain?“If the drought doesn’t end…”In three days, the drought would end, and even thirst would disappear. Wherever she stayed, the sky would bless her with rain; there was no need for such impatience.She tried to stop them, knowing this truth, but her efforts were futile against the wrath of the humans.“Just three days. That’s all we need…”“Three days? Are you planning to escape with him in the meantime?”When a man threw her to the ground, it grew furious on her behalf. The gust of wind that arose must have startled the humans, as they hastened to prepare a sacrifice.“No, no…”It knew her despair better than anyone else. She wept openly, showing a face it had never seen before, her tears falling one by one.“…I’m sorry.”That whispered apology was directed toward someone—it only understood too late. She wiped her tears with scraped hands and, stumbling, ran off somewhere. When she returned, she was still crying, but now she held a strange torch in her hand.“I’m sorry…”There was no time to understand her apology. The torch fell from her hand, igniting the grasslands and spreading rapidly in all directions. The fierce flames brought excruciating pain it had never felt before.“I’m sorry, it’s just… I loved him too much…”How could it describe that feeling? It hadn’t even known it could feel until this moment, yet here was the one who’d introduced it to emotions, now betraying it. After a long wait, the only response it received was a human’s selfishness, sacrificing another human to save themselves.“Fire, there’s a fire!”Perhaps they would never realize the true meaning of this fire, set with such determination. The woman who had once empathized with its sorrow betrayed it, sacrificing her love for the friend she adored.Affection quickly turned to hatred, longing to resentment. That day, as its entire being was scorched black and reduced to ash, the compassionate sky finally brought down a rainstorm.At that moment, it gained a form and was born into the world.The chapters have been revised, edited, and compressed, and the complete main story has been released for free, as I’m concerned it might be taken down or worse. I didn’t want to disappoint the readers, so I apologize for any inconvenience, and I hope you enjoy reading the complete story! The side stories will be coming soon, so don't worry~