The Dokkaebi Waiting for the Moon

Chapter 31

“Why can’t I become ordinary?”

A short, simple answer rang out.

“Because you’re pretty.”

“I’m… pretty?”

“Yes, prettier than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Although Gabi had always doted on him, saying “Oh, my pretty child” almost daily, Eun-hwi had been constantly called ugly by the spirits, so he couldn’t take Moon-beom’s words at face value.

Moreover, to say he couldn’t be ordinary for that reason…

As Eun-hwi stood there dumbfounded in shock, Moon-beom added his reasoning:

“When a man is as delicately beautiful as you, Eun-hwi, people around him will never leave him alone.”

“…Really?”

“Men and women alike will swarm around and torment you. If they only try to use you for money, that would be fortunate. But they’ll cling to you like leeches and try to suck you dry to the bone. I’ve seen several people ruin their lives that way.”

Moon-beom’s expression was quite serious as he looked at Eun-hwi with concerned eyes. He seemed clearly worried that Eun-hwi might ruin his own life too.

“Th-then what should I do?”

Though he didn’t know what bone marrow was, the idea of being sucked dry was terrifying. A chilling shudder ran through his entire body.

Eun-hwi had vaguely believed that becoming human would solve all the worries that had plagued him until now. Having never thought concretely about his life afterwards, Eun-hwi looked at Moon-beom in confusion.

“You have to accept that you’re different from others and live a special life. As a human.”

His tone was calm, as if there was nothing difficult about it. Nevertheless, when Eun-hwi couldn’t hide his anxiety, Moon-beom placed both hands on his slender shoulders and continued confidently:

“I’ll teach you how to live from now on. If you just do as I say, you’ll be able to live comfortably without ruining your life.”

Eun-hwi had wanted to become human in order to live ordinarily like others. But now he was being told that even if he became human, he would have to accept the differences he had been unwilling to acknowledge until now.

Even in this contradictory and seemingly hopeless situation, he didn’t feel despair, probably because of the man before him trying his best to help as a friend.

It really seemed that if he trusted and followed Moon-beom, he could live as a special human just as he said.

“I’m glad you’re my friend, Moon-beom. If I had become human without knowing any of this, it could have been disastrous.”

“See? It’s good that you became friends with me, right?”

“Yes.”

“Even if it’s difficult right now, I’ll definitely find a way for you to become human and make it happen. I always keep my promises.”

As if making a solemn vow, Moon-beom held out his pinky finger and hooked it with Eun-hwi’s. The thick, rough knuckle pressed firmly against his, intertwining like a knot.

Eun-hwi’s heart pounded.

The two fingers, bound tightly as if they could not be severed by any blade, inspired strong trust.

Just as he had finally made a friend by never letting go of the torch of hope, it felt like if he waited calmly like this, his wish would come true someday. His large, innocent eyes brightened with a gentle light.

“By the way, what’s your wish, Moon-beom?”

Although he had won the bet somehow, Eun-hwi felt guilty since it didn’t seem like he had won entirely by his own power. If possible, he wanted to grant Moon-beom’s wish too.

“It’s a secret.”

Moon-beom brought his index finger to his lips and softly crinkled his eyes. It was a light smile tinged with playfulness, but there was an underlying firmness in his unwillingness to easily reveal his true feelings, which frustrated Eun-hwi.

Now that they were friends, he felt that if he knew Moon-beom’s wish, he could understand him better as a person. It would also increase what he could do for him.

Filled with rising curiosity, the half-dokkaebi grabbed Moon-beom’s shoulders and shook them vigorously, as if throwing a tantrum.

“Come on, tell me. Please?”

“You lost, didn’t you? If you lost, I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t you give me even a hint?”

“No. It wouldn’t be fun if you knew in advance.”

When Moon-beom firmly refused, Eun-hwi’s expression became somewhat dejected as he chewed on his lips. Moon-beom stared for a moment at those lips that looked moist and soft even though nothing had been applied to them, then deliberately averted his gaze and resumed walking.

The small white hand that had been gently gripping his shoulder, swaying up and down with the movement of the A-frame carrier, fell away helplessly. Unable to grab hold, Eun-hwi could only look on pitifully.

“Let’s play the word chain game again, Moon-beom,” Eun-hwi persisted, never one to give up.

“We already played once, why play again?”

“Still…”

“We should start gathering firewood soon. We can’t cook dinner without it, right?”

Moon-beom quickly realized why Eun-hwi was insisting on playing a new game instead of rejoicing or cheering about the promise to grant his wish, which should have made him excited.

It was probably due to his nature of always wanting to repay what he received.

Moon-beom deliberately quickened his pace and started climbing the mountain. He smiled slightly at the sight of Eun-hwi following behind with a face full of disappointment.

At first, he had suggested playing the word chain game with the intention of winning. It was a cunning ploy in case Eun-hwi showed discomfort with physical contact.

‘It’s a silly word used when excited. Ryum ryum.’

But Eun-hwi, who had been afraid of the saying that the grim reaper would take you away if you lied, had even dared to add lies in his effort to win the bet.

To gain an opportunity to fulfill a wish that seemed unlikely to come true.

Since Eun-hwi hadn’t willingly become the stakes of the bet, Moon-beom had planned to reunite him with the pole dokkaebi he had been so desperately waiting for once his revenge was safely completed.

He intended to keep Eun-hwi by his side, reassuring him that he was alive and well, until his cylindrical body returned to human form. It was amusing to watch from the sidelines as Eun-hwi fidgeted, unable to suppress his desires.

Kindness was merely a means to achieve his goal, not his true intention, so there was no need to waste the opportunity he had gained on a personal whim.

But by taking one step back, he could take two steps forward and gain even more. If that could be achieved, he thought it might be okay to concede victory in this mere word game.

And.

One person who constantly lied at every opportunity was enough. Unless it was a situation where witnessing the ugly side of humanity would cause him to lose his humanity, Moon-beom was bothered by the idea of Eun-hwi’s purity being damaged for such a trivial reason.

‘My wish is… to become human.’

Amusingly, the half-dokkaebi’s wish had completely missed his expectations. It felt like he had been hit hard on the back of the head.

…That crafty old man.

If he were to absorb all of Eun-hwi’s dokkaebi divine power, Eun-hwi might indeed become human as he wished.

Although it was still just a tentative hypothesis, he seemed to vaguely understand the intention of the pole dokkaebi who had given up his son as the stakes of the bet.

Unlike Eun-hwi, whose insides were as transparent as a flawless crystal, the pole dokkaebi Kim Gabi was someone who never revealed any substance, as if wrapped in thick fog.

Perhaps, just as he himself had done now, Gabi had deliberately lost the bet to paint a bigger picture.

Moon-beom had a premonition that there must be some secret that had not yet been fully revealed.

I can’t just go along with this.

An unprecedented competitive spirit boiled up. Apart from revenge, a desire to uncover the true purpose of the bet and bring it to a conclusion rose like wildfire in his chest.

Moon-beom turned around to look at the half-dokkaebi with his rabbit-like gentle and white face. He looked so cute with his dejected expression from not being able to play the word chain game anymore. Moon-beom understood why the pole dokkaebi had raised him on this island, keeping him isolated from contact with humans.

He would definitely keep his promise.

After fulfilling his own long-awaited wish first.

“Eun-hwi.”

“Yes?”

“Shall we walk holding hands?”

As he held out his hand in front of the path they had just entered, Eun-hwi’s soft cheeks, covered in fine downy hair, puffed up roundly. Slender fingers interlaced with his own as Eun-hwi grasped his hand tightly. Soon, a plum-like blush tinged his cheeks.

“You’re just too cute.”

“…Huh?”

“Be cute only for me.”

“Only for Moon-beom?”

“Yes. We’re friends, after all. Only for me.”

“O-okay. I will.”

The half-dokkaebi nodded, caught off guard.

It seemed that becoming friends wasn’t the end of it. There was more to maintain for their relationship and for each other than he had thought.

Not knowing how to act cute only for Moon-beom, Eun-hwi fell into deep thought. It felt even more difficult because he didn’t know what acting cute meant in the first place.

I don’t look cute at all…

Would I look cute if I pounded rice cakes diligently like the cute Jade Rabbit?

That seemed right.

Determined to chop as much firewood as possible for his only friend Moon-beom, the half-dokkaebi scanned the area with wide eyes, looking for suitable dead trees.

“Moon-beom, over there!”

Through the dense foliage, Eun-hwi spotted a tree trunk split in two by lightning. He was overjoyed that they wouldn’t have to laboriously chop at the base with an axe.

Still holding hands, he dragged Moon-beom towards where the dead tree had fallen. The shape of the trunk that had split and toppled to the ground looked perfect for gathering firewood. It seemed they could quickly gather a load of wood without having to use the axe for long.

As soon as Moon-beom set down the A-frame carrier, Eun-hwi picked up the axe they had brought along. It was his attempt to look cute, like the Jade Rabbits vigorously pounding rice cakes with their pestles.

Gripping the heavy handle, he raised the axe high into the air. The well-sharpened blade glinted in the light.

“Hiyah!”

Thwack!

The sound of the forceful axe blow echoed throughout the mountain. Moon-beom, seeing with his own eyes how deeply the blade had sunk into the thick tree trunk, spoke in amazement:

“Our Eun-hwi is quite strong. You could enter a strongman competition instead of a gonggi tournament.”

“Yes, I’m strong! Am I cute?”

“Of course. You’re absolutely adorable. It makes me want to keep you under me and put you to work right away. You’re much better than those three good-for-nothings in the village below.”