As True as a Dream

“What?” 

Hongo, who was about to retreat, was confused as to why Yi Ho asked him to keep an eye on a taxi driver.

 “Because she is very bold.” “Bold…? That means… Ah! I see, I’ll make a note of it.” 

Hongo frowned for a moment, then realized the meaning of his words and solemnly replied,

“I’ll take care of it.”

 

There have been many cases in the past where people promised to pay their debts, only to run away as soon as their faces were turned.

 

“If you dare not pay for the damage you caused to the store today, I will certainly give you hell!”

 

Since it was about money, Hongo’s eyes flashed even more sharply.

 “Do you have anything else to say…?” “Nothing. Go away.” 

Hongo turned away from Yi Ho, who didn’t even look at him.

 

That was it. The curse of Song Yue Pavilion had its own rules.

 

Yi Ho hated to clutter his territory with unnecessary disturbances, and the dead were all idiots who believed in backgrounds and power and over-installed themselves.

 

Their every word annoyed and offended him.

 

No matter how cruel, heartless, and vicious Yi Ho was, he wasn’t a madman who would kill anyone on a whim.

 

Of course, Song Yue also sells alcohol, so it’s hard not to get into trouble.

 

In such a case, Hongo would use a cursed item to cause minor illnesses such as itching and diarrhea.

 

Then, with the curse on their back, he would rob the troublemakers of their wealth.

 

It’s hard to kill Yi Ho’s temper anyway, so rumors of the curse will continue to spread.

 

Sales would plummet.

 

I might as well use the damned rumors to make up for my losses!

 

Over the past twenty years, as Song Yue’s glorious name spread far and wide, so did the malicious rumors behind it.

 

It was a contradiction.

 *Cough* 

As Hongo crossed the garden in thought, he was interrupted by the sound of a cough.

 

He looked up to the roof where Yi Ho lay in peace.

 *Cough* 

Another short cough came from the roof.

 

In an instant, his attention shifted from Song Yue’s curse to Yi Ho’s health.

 

Over the past few years, Yi Ho’s health had definitely deteriorated.

 

This wouldn’t have happened if he was a nine-tailed gumiho. But Yi Ho is a five-and-a-half-tailed fox.

 

There has never been a case like this before or since. There is only Yi Ho.

 

So when Yi Ho’s body suddenly began to crumble, neither he nor Yi Ho knew where to run.

 

They could only tell from his increasingly pale complexion, his slow recovery and the blood that came up when he coughed that it was bad.

 “I need to find that painting quickly…”

Wu Hongo muttered absent-mindedly, a deep worry furrowing his brow.

 

***

 

The next morning.

 “It’s midnight, are you still sleeping? Open the door, Hae-Joo.” 

A cheerful voice echoed around the corner of an old wooden house tucked away in an alleyway in Iksun-jeong.

 

There was a side door at the back of the house, and it swung open.

 

Hae-Joo stepped out and ran a hand through her disheveled hair.

 “Eh? What’s wrong with your face? Did you not sleep?” 

Eun-sil, with her short hair and fluffy cheeks, stood in the doorway and asked.

 

Instead of answering, she looked at the plate in Eun-sil’s hand.

 “Did you cook too much?” “Yep. I made some and brought it for you to try.” “Aren’t you going to the mill today?” “I have the day off.” 

Hae-Joo turned and led Eun-Sil into the house.

 

The house was located in a safe and clean residential neighborhood, with running water in the yard.

 

It also had a cemented-in kitchen, a single room where she lived, and an attached attic.

 

It was a rented room, but it was a precious home after only a year of living in Gyeongseong.

 “I’ll eat well. Have you eaten?” 

She walked into the room and found a bowl of cold rice set aside in the kitchen, not caring about Eun-sil sitting down.

 “I ate.” 

Hae-joo scooped up a bowl of cold rice and sat down across the table.

 

She set the plate down on the floor and began to eat.

 “Why don’t you eat it properly?” “Dude, this is so good. What did your mom do to this? Be sure to tell her you ate well.” 

Eun-sil laughed as she watched Bob and Deuk disappear like crab eyes.

 “You look like you haven’t eaten for days. Eat slowly.” 

Eun-sil got up from her seat, crossed the threshold to the kitchen, poured a glass of water and handed it to Hae-Joo.

 “This is so delicious; I wouldn’t mind dying from eating it. Everything is delicious except for my rice.” 

After scraping down every last spoonful, I felt like I hadn’t slept all night.

 

She walked back into Hae-Joo’s room, where she had thrown the dishes on the floor, and burrowed back under the covers.

 “Sister, did you hear the story?” “Heard what?” “There was a riot at Song Yue Pavilion yesterday. Someone died. The rumors are all over the streets.” 

Hae-Joo, who had been lazily crouching, stopped.

 “One of the police was killed, too, and there were blisters popping all over his body… Ugh…!” 

Hae-Joo’s mind flashed back to the image of the police who had gone berserk yesterday.

 “It must be a curse, right?” “What?” “The curse of Song Yue!”

Eun-sil said again, narrowing her eyes and leaning closer.

 “…How does that make sense, there’s no curse in the world, it’s bullshit.” 

Hae-Joo stretched the corners of her stiff mouth and ignored Eun-sil’s words.

 

No, she wanted to ignore it.

 

After barely making it home before curfew last night, she hadn’t slept all night.

 

When she closes her eyes, she sees flashes of that dawn, the devastating view of the vacant lot on the northern outskirts of the city, the piercing screams of the Japanese soldiers, and the beautiful man who sent chills down my spine.

 

Above all, the

“light”

that fell from the sky made her stomach turn.

 

She couldn’t sleep well.

 

She should have grabbed that cabbie yesterday and told him that this ‘light’ was all yours to bear, dammit!

 “It’s not bullshit. You’ve only been in Gyeongseong for a short time, so you don’t know, but that Song Yue Pavilion curse… Huh? What’s that bag? Where are you going?” 

Eun-sil pointed her finger at the corner of the room as she spoke.

 

It was a cheap escape bag, as if Hae-joo had been possessed by the new wall after a series of nightmares and fear of

“light”

.

 

She’d spent the night hardening herself to the idea that she would have to leave.

 “It’s… not going anywhere. I just put it out to dry because I thought it would get moldy in the bag.” 

Hae-joo blurted out, and Eun-sil stared at her with wide eyes.

 

She didn’t believe her at all.

 “…I’m going somewhere, but don’t tell her. It’s Seowoonha.

“

 

I tore my gaze away from the bag Eun-sil was holding.

 

Eun-sil, wearing an old cotton dress with frayed hems, bowed her head slightly, her mouth quacking like a duck.

 

Hae-Joo laughed, her smile thick with regret for her.

 

Eun-sil was the one who saved her from freezing to death on the road when she came to Gyeongseong and had no place to sleep.

 

Ever since then, this wild and wooly girl has always visited her, bringing her food and asking for her well-being.

 

At first, she thought,

“What kind of stupid girl is this?”

 

In a world where it’s hard to preserve my own life, I thought, why are you always looking out for others?

 

She has her own problems. But now I know.

 

Eun-sil was just that kind of girl.

 

Affectionate, cheerful, outgoing, big-hearted, and…

 

After her stepfather passed away, she never thought she would have someone so friendly again.

 “Of course, I’ll tell you where I’m going, and I’ll keep in touch with you somehow when I get settled in.” “Really?” “You’ve been living a lie.” 

Hae-Joo pushed Eun-sil’s forehead with her finger and laughed reproachfully.

 “I’m going to a memorial service for the people who died in the explosion at Namdaemun later, so I’m going to cover for you. Do you want to go?” “A memorial service?” “Yes. I’m going to see what kind of bullshit the Japanese are putting on to show that they care about their people. I’m going to see what these bastards are trying to brainwash us with this time.” 

Hae-Joo furrowed her brow at the frightening antipathy emanating from Eun-Sil.

 “The more I think about it, the more angry I get. I went to the north vacant lot after work yesterday, and those bastards came to find the body and beat me up for not keeping order… Ugh!” 

As Eun-sil’s voice got louder and louder, Hae-Joo reached out and twisted Eun-sil’s mouth.

 

Eun-sil’s eyes widened and she tried to slap her hand away.

 

But Hae-Joo tightened her fingers even more, and both eyes wide.

 “You don’t like me because I have a long life? Shut up. The walls are thin, what if someone hears you!” Visit my Ko-fi for discounted advance chapters!!