I said this a while ago, but my grandfather's house is a traditional Korean one. It seemed like this house went through remodeling to make it more comfortable for people to live in, but some things were strange. The hinged doors had traditional Korean paper on them, and the floors were likewise covered in traditional Korean paper. There were also hardwood floors. There was a traditional Korean furnace even though there was a gas range. And the bathroom in the courtyard that I was walking to had a flush toilet. …I'm curious about the mental state of the person who did the remodeling. It wasn't that the remodels were bad, but it was still strange. Anyways, I washed my hands and was walking across the courtyard where Baduk, in her original form, was sleeping, when I heard a strange sound come from the main gate. I sounded just like the weeping of a ghost. No, not Saehee. If she ever cries, then I'd have to plant an apology tree. Because the world would end the very next day.
Unable to overcome my curiosity, I walked to the main gate. And there I found Kkachi.
I had no idea what Kkachi went through, but she was covered in dirt, and her wet clothes were sticking to her body. She was shivering, and, for whatever reason, she was wiping at her red eyes with her hands. Oh. She was crying. But in an attempt to hide that fact, she acted like nothing was wrong.
"Wha-What are y-you doing?!"
Seeing her like that reminded me of me from long ago. When I was a kid, I went through something like that when I was sent to my aunt's house. Back then, perhaps because I missed my dad despite his never fulfilling his role as a parent, I snuck out at night for a few days, cried, then came back. Auntie knew everything, but pretended not to notice for my sake. And every time I came back, she'd hug me tight without a word.
I was that sad after barely leaving home. But that was probably nothing compared to Kkachi who thinks she'll never be able to meet her parents again. I should act like I didn't notice. I could understand why she wanted to keep her crying hidden. Because she probably didn't want to show such weakness to a stranger, let alone someone like me. So I decided to talk to Kkachi as if I didn't see anything.
"What're you doing here?"
"C-Can't you tell? I'm waiting here to kill you."
Was that an excuse? I decided to go along with what she said despite my disbelief.
"How?"
"Since you aren't a social recluse, I was waiting for you to go out for a walk so that I could kill you."
So late at night? Did you really think that made sense? Kkachi, unaware of the nonsensical reason she gave, flapped her arms that were in the form of bird wings. Ah geez, how scary. I'd better hold off on going on a moonlit walk.
"Then I guess I'd better not go out tonight."
I ostentatiously took a step back.
"How unfair! Hurry up and go outside!"
Would you go out if you were in my shoes?
"But I don't want to."
"Awooo!"
After emoting, she began shivering. It really was very cold. Brr. Even during summer, it's cold in the mountains. I'd better get back to the room.
"I'll be heading off first. You stop crying and come inside, too. You'll freeze to death if you stay out here like that."
"Wh-Who are you saying is crying?! I told you that I was waiting for you to come out!!"
Crap, I messed up. After hearing that, all she could do was stubbornly deny it, but the problem was my big mouth. But still, this shouldn't be a problem. Kkachi will come inside soon since it's cold out.
"Ah, okay. So that's what it was?"
"I wasn't crying!"
"I'm going to sleep in the master bedroom, so my room should be empty. You can sleep there."
"I told you I'm going to wait here until you come out!!"
"Okay, okay."
I turned around, leaving Kkachi to shiver at the hands of her own lies. I should leave kids that are unable to tell the truth alone and go to bed. She should come inside when it gets too cold. Because that's what I did back then.
Inside the master bedroom, an oil lamp was giving off light instead of a light bulb. It seemed like Saehee put it out for Rangii as she was sleeping. Saehee really did take good care of Rangii. Rangii was sleeping right in the middle of the blanket. To her left was Saehee with her hair loose. Maybe it was because I could see the usually covered soft lines of her shoulders, but I saw her differently now. She looked more adult-like than I did. But then I suddenly remembered something that Rangii told me.
[I was told that sleeping without any clothes on is good for your health.]
…No way. Yeah. Definitely not.
"What are you thinking?"
Someone who could say to her, "I was worried about if you were naked or not," come out right now.
"I'm turning off the light."
I ignored what Saehee said and put on the cover of the lamp, turning it off. I inched into the covers, and Rangii clung to me even while asleep. What a fascinating kid.
"Please have a good night. And for your information, I have nothing on."
I had something to say even before getting surprised by that worrying fact.
"Are you really not able to read minds?!"
Saehee didn't give a reply.
It's heavy.
Something heavy was pressing against my chest. What the heck is it? I opened my sleep-heavy eyes, and I saw Rangii sleeping on top of me. What are you, a cat? If you're a tiger, then sleep in a manner befitting a tiger. I pushed Rangii softly to the side and laid her next to me.
"Uu—nya."
Shoot, did I wake her up? No, it seemed like she was just tossing a little bit in her sleep. I patted Rangii's head once and was about to close my eyes, but suddenly felt the need to relieve myself. Even though I went to the bathroom before I went to bed. Should I just ignore it? No, I should take care of it now. I quietly opened the door and left the room. The full moon made it feel as though something could transform after howling, "Awoooo." …Was I still half-asleep?
"Brr."
It was more than a little cold. I was amazed at how Baduk could sleep in the courtyard in this weather. Dog fur must be warm. I walked past Baduk, finished my business in the bathroom, and was walking back when I suddenly thought of Kkachi. Is she inside? I went quietly towards my room. Unsure of whether she still believed the misunderstanding, I silently cracked open the door and looked inside. No one was there. There wasn't even a sign that anyone had come in.
…Hey. Wait.
I ran as fast as I could to the front gate. Has that brat been out there since before? Even during the summer, nights in the mountains are cold. I'm saying that this isn't weather that someone can be in with wet, tattered clothes!
"Hey?!"
Kkachi was collapsed in front of the front gate. No way, did you freeze to death? I could see the headlines for an instant: "Young girl froze to death on a cold night due to country folk." No, now wasn't the time to joke around. I threw open the front gate and went outside.
"Got you!"
At that moment, Kkachi got up from the ground and ran at me, her wings swinging at me!!
This is bad! "Was this a trap?!" is what I thought at first, but Kkachi suddenly fell flat on her face. This strange situation left me wordless. But Kkachi, as if in complaint, said,
"A-Awoo. Wh-Why can't…I…"
She started shaking while on the ground, and,
"…Awoo."
After a final moan, her head lowered as well. It seemed like she was unconscious. She had no reason to act unconscious when she had this chance, so something really must have been wrong. I grabbed her arm, and I was shocked. Her arm was cold. Though her skin was red, it felt as cold as ice.
Wha-What am I supposed to do in times like this? What am I even asking?! I obviously need to take her somewhere warm! I carried Kkachi in my arms.
I always hated what happened to the Swallow in The Happy Prince. I cried so much after reading that fairy tale. Though she's a magpie. Anyway, the only one I could rely on in a situation like this was Saehee. I ran to the master bedroom. I opened the door with my foot and woke Saehee up.
"Sae…are you awake?"
Saehee was already out from under the blanket and was putting on her skirt. H-Hey! What about your underwear or you jeogori?! (tn: the shirt of the hanbok)
"If you are that loud, you will even wake up Baduk."
Saehee responded while wrapping a white cloth around her chest instead of a bra and putting on her jeogori. I know now isn't the time to say this, but Baduk and Rangii are both sleeping just fine, got it?
"Take a look at Kkachi."
Saehee touched Kkachi's cheek then wrist and said,
"It is hypothermia."
She said this calmly.
"If the Young Master requires an explanation about hypothermia, I will…"
"Start by telling me about treatment."
"The best method is to pass on your body heat by giving her a massage."
I was glad to hear it was so simple.
"Then you can…"
"I cannot, Young Master."
Saehee cut me off.
"I believe that you already know my body is not warm."
Come to think of it, Saehee's body was cold. I couldn't tell if it was because she was a ghost or because her body was just always cold, but I was leaning on the former.
"Then Rangii can…"
Saehee eyes shined at me.
"The Young Master is responsible for this life. The Young Master should do this."
"But I'm a man!"
"Does that truly matter when there is someone dying before you?"
…You're right. Now isn't the time to argue.
"Or are you worried that you will be overtaken by your carnal desire?"
I took off Kkachi's clothes in full view of Saehee.
"Oh my, you are quite skilled."
"Who is!?"
Who the heck are you calling skilled?! Can't you see what a difficult time I'm having?
"Then I shall prepare another treatment just in case."
"Okay."
Saehee went into the kitchen. I didn't even have the time to think that that was strange as I placed Kkachi under the blanket, and I took off my clothes. Shit, this was an emergency so I didn't have a choice. Dressed only in my underwear, I went under the blanket as well and hugged Kkachi tight to my chest.
Her body was cold. Enough to give me the chills. Because if Kkachi hadn't been shivering, then she might have died already. Wha-What should I do now? Saehee said to give her a massage, right? I moved my hand the moment I thought that. First, I put my left hand on her face and with my other hand massaged her sizable breasts, alternating from one to the other. I didn't have any wicked intentions; I had no choice because I had to give Kkachi a massage while I was hugging her. This wasn't the time to be embarrassed. But because I was touching her, I could tell that, despite being a kid, Kkachi had really big breasts. They were still small, but I could cup them in my hand. And not only were they smooth, but my fingers were sinking in—no, that's not it!
"Ah, awooo…"
Kkachi gasped as she said that. The massage seemed to be having an effect as her face relaxed from the heat from my hands. I continued to massage her breasts, and I moved my left hand lower to stroke her belly.
"Uu—uu."
I moved my right hand that was massaging her breasts to her belly, and moved my left hand even lower. Don't think anything weird. This is a massage. A massage.
This is a medical procedure.
But her thigh that I was touching was not only soft, but also resilient. It didn't feel like I was touching a child's body, so by accident, I… No, no! That really would make this a crime! And what's more, Rangii's sleeping right behind me! This isn't the time to have that reaction! I thought about what Narae would do if she saw me in this situation.
…She'd kill me. Great. My senses came back to me right away.
How many minutes did I spend like that? Kkachi had stopped shivering, and she started breathing calmly. Phew—. It looked like I could take a breather now. It was more difficult than I thought to massage Kkachi's body. Both physically and mentally. This just crossed my mind, but weren't the things I did after carrying Kkachi to this room, objectively speaking, really dangerous? A man in nothing but his underwear undressed an unconscious little girl, put her under a blanket, and rubbed down her entire body.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone reported me to the police.
"Did you enjoy yourself to the fullest?"
So don't say stuff like that.
"You sure got here quick."
"I arrived here quite a while ago, but because the excited Young Master was so engrossed in having your way with Kkachi-nim, I decided to stay away for a short while."
You have a way with words.
"Did you think I wanted to do this?! And also, what the heck's in your hand?!"
I raised my voice without realizing it because of my shock at seeing something so unexpected in Saehee's hand.
"…Unyaaa."
I might have woken up Rangii. I shut my mouth and patted Rangii's head as she was about to wake up.
"Hmnya…ah."
She wasn't a cranky sleeper.
I quietly but pointedly spoke to Saehee.
"Give me an explanation about what you're holding."
"It is a kitchen knife."
Even I could tell that.
"A longer one."
"It is a kitchen knife made from Master's claw."
You were serious when you told me that?!
"So?"
"You cannot grow by asking about everything you are curious about."
Are you telling me to figure it out on my own?
"But because I am so kind, I will explain."
What're you asking me to do?!
"Kind people don't usually say that."
Saehee ignored my valid opinion and continued to speak.
"While this kitchen knife which is made from one of master's claws can be used simply for cooking, this knife can also be used as a medicine to provide phantoms like me with strength."
So what you said about Rangii being an elixir wasn't a joke? I thought you were just trying to screw with me.
"But how do you use it?"
"Stab with it."
"What?"
"Stab her body with this kitchen knife."
This was giving me a headache. Saehee probably wasn't lying, but, besides me, who would believe something like that immediately?
"Are you telling me to believe that?"
"It is the truth. Although there is the possibility of there being an overflow of power, causing a phantom like Kkachi-nim to temporarily grow physically, that is currently a moot point. Because it seems the Young Master saved her life with your ero massage. Or would you like to test it now? Simply stick it directly into her body."
I had a lot of things to say to her, but I chose my words carefully.
"Go put that in the kitchen and come back."
Because the knife kept reflecting the moonlight into my eyes and it was annoying.
"I understand."
And as Saehee went to the kitchen,
"Haaa…"
Maybe it was because all the tension from earlier was gone, but I suddenly yawned. Because it was also pretty tiring to massage Kkachi. Ah, I have no idea. I should sleep for the time being. I didn't wait for Saehee to return and instead hugged Kkachi to my chest and closed my eyes.
Without thinking about what would happen afterwards.