Took a while this time, and sorry for skipping a week 😦 Oh and you guys want to know something weird? I looked up a Korean word in the Naver dictionary and got back the word “riant.” Riant. I wrote it twice to show it’s not a typo. My computer thinks I misspelled the word. Google “riant” and be thoroughly surprised as it actually has a definition.
Later y’all! See you next week, hopefullly
There are a lot of things in this world that I don't know.
"Huff- huff- huff-."
"It would be best for you to exercise more, young master."
Don't you think that you two are the weird ones?
It's already been 40 minutes since Baduk and Saehee guided me where to go from the house. I'm not physically unfit. On a continuous uphill trek, the weird ones are Saehee who was easily climbing the uneven road, and Baduk who was animatedly climbing next to her feet.
"Young master. If you're tired shall I carry you?"
I shook my head from side to side at Baduk's words. Just look at yourself. How in the world could I ride on the back of someone with the appearance of a child.
"Just- huff- a little, let's- huff, -rest."
My back was already smeared with sweat, my legs were shaking, my breathing was ragged and my chin was rising and falling. Until now my male pride was keeping me going, but this is my limit. I can't go. I can't walk anymore.
"That won't do."
But Saehee cut off my words in one strike.
"Young master, you are walking slower than a turtle. We need to walk for 6 hours without rest to get there before the sun sets. If it becomes night this will only become more tiring."
Are you saying we need to walk for 6 more hours. I raised both my hands.
"I can't go. I said I can't go. Don't you know that I'm a normal human?"
"My normal human father was able to make it there okay in 3 hours without a rest."
What does that matter to me. I bet Grandfather could do that teleportation thing too, right?
Ah! Then, I thought of a solution that could end this situation. It's really embarassing, and I don't want to do it twice, but it's probably better to be embarrassed than have to walk for another 6 hours. No, it's definitely better.
"Say."
"Yes."
"That, can't you grab me and use teleportation magic to take me there?"
"Yes I can."
A cool reply.
"Do you really want to do that? Even though back then you said quite confidently that we should go up the mountain?
I just noticed. This woman hates me (tn: wow, no shit?).
"It'll be better than being so exhausted."
"Although this displeases me, if you'll excuse me."
Saehee hugged my waist and picked me up.
"Eh? Young master. Can't I carry you there?"
Baduk was next to me, incessantly shaking my leg. Saehee treating me like a parcel or getting on Baduk's back like a savage. There's nothing to worry over. Even if you were to change to your original form, I refuse.
A 6 hour hike for me is a 10 minute walk for Saehee. Looking at the one who nimbly climbed the mountain without sweating a drop even while carrying a person and at Baduk following with her tail wagging as if going on a walk, I could feel in my bones that these two weren't human. Suddenly curious, I asked Saehee a question.
"So what kind of phantom are you?"
"I am unable to answer your question."
What are you, an online system administrator? I gave up on asking any questions.
"We're here."
Saehee dropped me off at a huge cave entrance. At a glance, I could tell it was over three times my height and about 10 meters wide, and my jaw dropped. What in the world, was there such a big cave in Korea?
"Please enter."
Saehee went in first. I followed behind her and entered when……
"Wait. It's too dark."
Only travelling a bit, I had to stop. I entered the cave, but I couldn't even see me feet properly. So I couldn't properly walk anymore. Do I have to take out my cell phone? I stuck my hand in my pocket and, damn. I put it in my backpack and left it behind. Baduk came right up next to me and spoke as I was unable to do anything.
"Heh heh, then this time I'll help you."
Before I could even ask "how?" Baduk-
"Uwak?"
I was thrown to the sky. What is this all of a sudden?!
"Com~bine!"
Baduk lightly leaped underneath me and put my legs around her neck and landed on the ground.
Can I just die.
"Wait, you! This isn't right!!"
A little girl smaller than me is carrying me on her shoulders. Thinking about this objectively, this is a laughable situation, but by my perspective I was so embarrassed I could die.
"Eh? Then do you want to ride on my back instead so you can use your feet?"
"I hate that even more!"
Doesn't that make me a pervert?! No wait, this situation alone makes me a pervert! (translation fuzzy)
"Then I'll go like this."
Baduk turned her head from side to side as she tried to look at me.
"Hey! Hey!! Don't, don't move your neck!!"
"Hawuung?"
Baduk tilted her head indicating she didn't understand, but there was absolutely no way I could the reason to her! How am I supposed to explain the method to dealing with teenage boys!
"Just go like this!"
"Yes~!"
In the end, I just decided to give up.
I wonder how long Baduk was carrying me into the cave.
"The master's seal is set to break in a few years."
Saehee suddenly told me that. Suddenly hearing her voice so clearly surprised me, but what was even scarier was the meaning of what she said.
"What'd you say?"
Are you telling a man that a phantom who was dumped and had a huge tantrum is going to be freed?
"So much time has already passed that the seal is reaching its limit."
"Then if that seal were to break what would happen?"
"Master would probably eat you first?"
Baduk said such a scary thing with an innocent voice.
"Please don't worry. Our master does not eat food that will make her sick."
"And who's the food."
"Of course, our master wants to keep the promise so there is no reason for her to do so."
I was concerned about the promise ever since before. But,
"Can't you tell me what the promise is that I have to keep?"
"I am unable to tell you myself."
Saehee closed her mouth again.
A long time passed as I was unable to see a thing. Then I saw a soft light in front of me.
"We are almost there."
At Saehee's words, I tapped on Baduk's head and spoke to her.
"Let me down."
"I'll go just a bit more."
"No, I mean for the sake of my innocent sensitivity, please put me down."
"Hawuung?"
Baduk's body language showed she didn't understand, but she let me down anyway.
"Thank you."
For now, since Baduk succeeded in getting me here without injury, I should express my thanks.
"Heh heh~."
Baduk laughed happily and thrust her head towards me with her tail wagging. It's that, right? I petted Baduk's head.
"Hawuuuu."
Her ears were even pricking up.
Saehee's walking towards the light. And the light is slowly getting brighter, and I kept walking until I discovered what was in the middle of the light, at which point I stopped and my mouth hang loose, speechless.
A tiger the size of a mountain was sleeping.