The Dokkaebi Waiting for the Moon

Chapter 36

“…!”

Eun-hwi desperately clung to him, wrapping his arms around his neck to prevent being pushed away carelessly. Suddenly, wide-open eyes filled the half-dokkaebi’s view.

The cool, bitter scent vibrating at the tip of his nose and the face that had lost its composure, tinged with embarrassment, were very impressive. It was a completely different sensation from earlier when he had worn the dokkaebi hat and could only feel the touch of their tongues meeting.

Eun-hwi, just as Yeo Moon-beom had done to him, pushed his way between his lips and slipped the immortality herb wrapped around his tongue into the gap. Yeo Moon-beom’s brows furrowed fiercely as their lips met, seemingly not too pleased with the bitter yet savory taste of the herb.

However, Eun-hwi paid no attention and firmly closed his upper and lower lips after pushing the immortality herb all the way in to prevent it from being spit out. Faced with this ironclad defense, Yeo Moon-beom began to chew reluctantly.

Finally reassured, Eun-hwi separated his lips and waited for Yeo Moon-beom to completely chew and swallow the herb. He was curious about the effects of the immortality herb and wanted the terrible pain that Yeo Moon-beom was enduring to disappear as quickly as possible.

“What on earth did you feed me?”

“Don’t worry, it’s not anything strange. It’s just an herb that’s good for your body.”

“It doesn’t taste like grass, more like hericium.”

“Mm-hmm. That’s because it’s the immortality herb.”

“…Immortality herb? The one that Qin Shi Huang was looking for?”

Not knowing who this person named Qin Shi Huang was, Eun-hwi blinked and asked back.

“Who’s Qin Shi Huang? Is he a Mr. Kim that Yeo Moon-beom knows?”

“He’s not an important person, so you don’t need to know who he is. So, you’re saying what I just ate is some kind of mysterious elixir like chocolate milk?”

“Yes! It’s precious, so make sure you chew and eat every bit of it. Yeo Moon-beom!”

He repeated the words Yeo Moon-beom often said at the dinner table, just changing the subject. Although it was simply a reversal of speaker and listener, Yeo Moon-beom chewed the immortality herb with an expression that seemed quite displeased.

Gulp.

Although it didn’t taste sweet and smooth like chocolate milk, it wasn’t inedible, as he swallowed it all without spitting it out. The prominent Adam’s apple in the middle of his long, thick neck bobbed up and down.

Eun-hwi immediately went behind Yeo Moon-beom and checked his back, which had been tattered and stained with blackened blood from severe injuries.

“…Huh? All the wounds have disappeared!”

Unbelievably, as if the mountain god had intervened, the deep gashes had healed instantly. The half-dokkaebi’s face, which had been anxiously watching the wounds on his back, lit up brightly.

The immortality herb, which grants immortality to mortal beings.

Although it was said to have no effect on ordinary humans without spiritual power, it was truly an extraordinary elixir. Even wild ginseng, which shows far superior medicinal effects compared to other herbs, was nothing but a mere root compared to the immortality herb.

It was indeed a good decision to feed it to him through a kiss. Otherwise, Yeo Moon-beom would have stubbornly refused to put the immortality herb in his mouth until the end.

“Did they really disappear?”

Yeo Moon-beom reached back with his hand and ran it over his back, which had been covered in wounds just moments ago. He let out a hollow laugh, his face half-drained of energy, as if he couldn’t believe the smooth skin he was touching through the tattered cloth that had become like rags.

“Yes. They’ve really all disappeared.”

Eun-hwi returned to his place with a relieved expression and closely examined the scar on his face that had been bothering him for a while.

“But why is the one on your face still there? That’s strange?”

He had thought that the three lines drawn on his face would disappear along with the wounds on his back that had left no trace. Although the sunken marks seemed slightly fainter than before, the beast-like scratches remained unchanged in the same place.

It would have been nice if they had disappeared together at this opportunity…

As Eun-hwi drooped his shoulders, becoming dejected, Yeo Moon-beom softly said while running his fingertips over his left cheek.

“That’s fortunate.”

“…Fortunate? Why is it fortunate?”

“It’s a scar I’d miss if it disappeared.”

It wasn’t just one line, but three. If he could erase those ugly lines, he could live with a much more pleasing appearance than now.

But unlike Eun-hwi, who had only wished for his horns to disappear, Yeo Moon-beom didn’t seem to dislike the scars that gave him a strong impression. In fact, he seemed to think it would be a shame if they disappeared.

It was fascinating.

Despite having an appearance unlike ordinary people, he didn’t feel ashamed of himself at all.

‘I should acknowledge that I’m different and live a special life.’

He recalled Yeo Moon-beom’s words, saying that instead of trying to force oneself to be ordinary, one should accept themselves as they are, not deny their differences, and live proudly.

Can I live like Yeo Moon-beom too?

Although he still didn’t like his horns and yellow eyes, he wanted to become human with a different attitude and mindset than before.

Like him now. While affirming himself.

“Now that you’re all healed, I’ll go get some clothes to change into. I’ll bring your clothes too, so come straight to the bathhouse.”

He seemed a bit displeased about unintentionally becoming indebted to the mountain god, but Eun-hwi was satisfied that he could quickly heal his wounds. With a smile spread across his face, Eun-hwi turned away from him to prepare for the bath.

“Wait.”

Suddenly, Yeo Moon-beom grabbed his arm and turned him around. Thinking he might have something more to say, Eun-hwi looked up at him blankly and said, “Hm?” Yeo Moon-beom asked with a somewhat fierce expression, as if interrogating.

“What on earth were you thinking, doing such a reckless thing, you cunning dokkaebi?”

“What thing? I didn’t do anything.”

“You suddenly smashed your lips against mine.”

“That’s because you wouldn’t eat the immortality herb. You kissed me earlier too, Yeo Moon-beom. I just did the same thing.”

Unable to find words to refute, he bit his lower lip and remained silent for a moment. Eun-hwi, sensing the atmosphere, quickly added a reason.

“I did it to make you feel better quickly. Because I was worried. Really.”

“…I told you to act cute, and you’re really being cute.”

His narrowed eyes curved gracefully into an arch. Bewildered by the sudden change in expression, Eun-hwi was caught off guard when Yeo Moon-beom grabbed one of his cheeks and said playfully.

“I was going to let you off because you’re cute… but it’s unfair if I’m the only one on the receiving end.”

“Huh? …Mmph!”

He crashed his reddened, wet lips against Eun-hwi’s again, swallowing them whole, and then sucked hard with a smacking sound. As the sensation of his lower lip became numb, creating a gap as his strength gave way, Yeo Moon-beom pushed his tongue into the parted lips as if to exact revenge for earlier.

“Mmph…!”

He wrapped his tongue around strongly, pulling it, then rubbed the bumpy part of the roof of his mouth with his tongue, causing Eun-hwi’s mind to go blank. Every corner of his mouth became slick with Yeo Moon-beom’s saliva.

Not knowing how to breathe, he struggled and then exhaled with a “Hmph” sound, as if blowing his nose. The exhale must have been too strong, as a laughing vibration occurred inside where their mouths met.

For some reason, Eun-hwi’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. As he tugged at Yeo Moon-beom’s clothes unnecessarily, Yeo Moon-beom slightly separated his lips and whispered quietly.

“Close your eyes. You’re supposed to close them at times like this.”

Eun-hwi obediently closed his eyelids as instructed. As his vision was cut off, his senses became more acute. With the continuous rush of stimulation, his nape involuntarily shrank, and the inside of his lower abdomen began to tingle, making him want to scratch it. An indescribable, strange feeling came over his entire body.

“Yeo Moon-beom… my stomach keeps… itching…”

He brought his knees together, rubbing his legs, and then, unable to bear it any longer, pressed his stomach against Yeo Moon-beom’s leg and rubbed up and down.

“Nng…”

However, it didn’t feel as refreshing as directly scratching his skin. Eun-hwi instinctively put strength into his hips as they moved backward and rubbed his lower abdomen and groin.

“You’re doing cute things again.”

“…Huh?”

“Knowing how to do bung-ga-bung-ga on your own. You’re not a baby dokkaebi anymore? You’ve grown up.”

“What’s bung-ga-bung-ga?”

“Mounting.”

“Moun… nngh.”

There wasn’t even time to reconfirm the meaning of these incomprehensible words. A tingling sensation ran down his spine.

“Down there, ngh, it’s itchy.”

“Enjoy it. That feeling.”

Yeo Moon-beom slightly changed the angle of his leg and pushed between Eun-hwi’s thighs. Feeling the firmness of the thigh against his stomach, Eun-hwi indulged in relieving the itchiness while accepting Yeo Moon-beom’s tongue and lips.

“Mm… mmm.”

There was no reason to protect him from danger, nor any reason to feed him an herb he didn’t want to eat, but Yeo Moon-beom continued to shower him with kisses.

Every time their hot tongues intertwined, Eun-hwi’s tension melted away as if he had entered water, and his whole body became languid. His damp jacket no longer felt cold.

“Hah…”

How much time had passed like this? After kissing him several times with smacking sounds, Yeo Moon-beom finally released his lips after gently biting and pulling on the tip of his chin.

Regretting the departing warmth, Eun-hwi unconsciously bit Yeo Moon-beom’s lower lip and held onto him. Through his half-open eyelids, he could vaguely see the face calmly looking back at him.

“Is it over now…?”

The slurred pronunciation flowed through his teeth. Seeing Eun-hwi’s reluctance to part, as if disappointed, Yeo Moon-beom tightly embraced his waist to reassure him and whispered.

“Want me to do more?”

“Mm-hmm… I like kisses. Do more.”

“You’re more of a spoiled child than you look, Eun-hwi.”

Yeo Moon-beom curled the corners of his lips and smiled softly. Feeling ticklish for no reason, Eun-hwi smiled back, and Yeo Moon-beom stamped his lips on his forehead, the bridge of his nose, cheeks, and chin in order, then came back up and repeated it several more times.

“Why aren’t you doing it on my lips?”

“I won’t do that part.”

“…Why?”