Chapter 2 - Act 1. The Land of Dokkaebi (2)

A broad plateau spread out in the heart of the Ulta Mountains.

In the last warm days of spring, Korean maples rose fresh and green beside the ridges, while azaleas and bush clover bloomed here and there on the low hillocks. Yet the peach blossoms stood out above them all. The spring growth blanketing the mountains whispered of green, as though showing off—even the newly sprouted shoots.

It was a spring mountain landscape truly worthy of being called spectacular.

But only this far.

Following the ridge upward, one eventually reached ground so level it was easy to forget these were mountains. A sacred rope and a sign barred the way where that ground began.

「Gwisu Temple. Land Forbidden to Humans. Turn Back Without Fail.」

A temple guarded by spirits, a land forbidden to humans. You must turn back.

Take a single step across the sacred rope despite that grim warning, and the scenery turned on its head. The green spring mountains vanished without a trace. In their place were blood-red waterways, ominous rotting sacred ropes, withered trees, and dead leaves swirling on a bleak wind.

True to its name, a temple guarded by spirits, this was the sacred home of the Dokkaebi, also known as the Dogwi.

"Spectacular, isn't it?"

Mongryeon grinned as she stepped into Gwisu Temple.

"How does it feel to set foot in Dokkaebi territory?"

"It's eerie."

"You're no fun."

"It's fascinating, too. Why is this place like this?"

"With so many beings giving off Demonic Energy, the surroundings simply can't withstand it. Once you leave, you won't be able to get back in on your own, so don't go beyond the sacred rope."

"I'll remember that."

On the way here, Mongryeon had told Yise that she was the Head of the Dokkaebi and in charge of all of Gwisu Temple.

Faced with an identity he had never imagined, Yise pondered with a blank expression. She had promised to help him hunt down and kill Demons, but wasn't she a kind of Demon herself?

Was this really all right?

"I know what you're thinking, but Dokkaebi aren't ordinary Demons. We're only classified as Demons because we're born able to wield Demonic Energy. Besides, we're humanity's strongest allies. Just think of us as a different race."

Mongryeon brushed aside his doubts almost mockingly. Yise nodded in silence.

After they had walked a little way over the sodden ground, a gate marked "Autumn Gate" opened.

CREAAAK.

Its groaning hinges heralded the sight within. The Dokkaebi, each bearing their own distinctive horns, turned to look at them. At first their faces showed delight, but the moment they noticed Yise beside her, their eyes turned red.

The sight of so many pairs of eyes reddening at once was grotesque enough to make his heart lurch.

"A human?"

"It's a human..."

Mongryeon barked out an announcement.

"He's our newest family member!"

That was enough to dispel their wariness. Their piercing gazes vanished, and time, which had seemed to stop, immediately began moving again.

Yise followed Mongryeon. Most of the Dokkaebi gradually lost interest, but the younger ones, particularly the boys, watched him with eyes full of suspicion and curiosity.

Mongryeon added a word of caution.

"You're at the age when fighting is part of growing up, but don't cause any serious trouble."

"I understand that I'm living on your generosity."

"That doesn't mean you have to walk on eggshells. It'll probably take them some time to accept you, so I'm telling you to bear with it. Once we've decided to take you in, well... you're as good as family."

"I'll keep that in mind."

At Yise's mature reply, Mongryeon clicked her tongue again. He was so grown-up it was uncanny. Almost as though he were a sage wearing a child's skin, or someone living his life for a second time.

'What am I thinking...'

While Mongryeon dismissed that foolish thought, Yise took in the layout of Gwisu Temple. It was something of an instinct, or a habit.

An enormous main hall stood inside the Autumn Gate, flanked by rows of tiled buildings with Dokkaebi passing to and fro. Open spaces of various sizes lay before them, apparently training grounds. Several more buildings stood higher up the mountain path to the right, though he could see no particular entrance.

"Right, this is where I leave you. I have to go back out on border patrol. I'll see you this evening."

"Head."

"Yes?"

"What should I do until you return?"

"For now, eat well and get plenty of rest."

"Pardon?"

"Not just today, either. Keep eating well and growing strong. If you're going to fight well, even another half a foot of reach will help. Right now, getting some nourishment into you is urgent. If you fail to grow properly at this age, you'll regret it for the rest of your life hunting Demons."

"... I'll take that to heart."

Mongryeon ruffled his hair, then called to a Dokkaebi girl standing some distance away, sneaking glances at them while pretending not to.

"Gong-ah. Come here a moment."

"Yes, Head!"

The Dokkaebi called Gong-ah practically sprang to Mongryeon's side. She was a mischievous-looking girl with round eyes and full lips.

Yise calmly smoothed his tousled hair and stole a quick glance at the girl, who looked about his age. Their eyes met. Gong-ah blinked and gave him a welcoming smile.

"Take him to the cook and tell her I've asked her to feed him. Then find him somewhere to stay."

"Yes!"

Gong-ah answered with gusto.

'She's a cheerful one.'

After Mongryeon left, Gong-ah looked Yise up and down with sparkling eyes. Then her eyes curved into smiling crescents.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Gong-ah. What's your name?"

"Yise."

"Yiseee. What an unusual name!"

Was it? When he said nothing, she circled him, studying him.

"How strange. You really don't have horns?"

"Of course not. I'm human."

"Do humans normally have such small ears and yellow skin?"

"Generally."

"Ooh."

After fussing about him curiously for some time, Gong-ah asked, her eyes shining,

"Want me to show you around Gwisu Temple? Oh, are you hungry?"

Yise shook his head.

"I'm fine. For now."

"Good!" she cried, taking his hand and beginning to drag him from place to place.

"That building in the middle is the central main hall. Pretty much everything important at Gwisu Temple happens there, big or small. Most places inside have restrictions on where and when you can enter, so don't just wander in."

First came the enormous building in the center.

"The halls on either side are the living quarters. There are plenty of empty rooms, so pick whichever one you like."

Then the halls flanking it.

"Here's the training ground, and this is the kitchen. Meals are served during the hours of the Dragon, Horse, and Rooster, so don't be late! Don't worry if you can't tell the time. A bell will ring when it's time to eat. Normally you're not allowed into the kitchen outside mealtimes... but the Head made a special request, so it should be fine!"

And finally, the facilities in front of the garden.

"If you take the little path out back and go up the hill, you'll find the burial mounds of those who've passed away, an altar honoring them, and stone statues of all the past Heads. It's sacred ground, so you must never damage anything there. Oh, and we have a secret base behind the main hall. I'll show you that later!"

After kindly explaining the layout he had been curious about, Gong-ah led him to the kitchen. A couple of knocks on its wooden door brought out an elderly-looking Dokkaebi woman.

"Auntie! This is a human named Yise. The Head asked you to feed him!"

The kitchen Dokkaebi looked Yise over with eyes briefly rounded in surprise, then gave him a kindly smile.

"The Head must have taken in a new member of the family. It's been such a long time since I've seen a human! Welcome, child. How old are you?"

"I'm ten this year."

"My, what a well-mannered boy."

"What? I'm twenty-two!"

The woman stroked Gong-ah's head as the girl put on an air of importance.

"Humans age twice as fast as Dokkaebi. So, when you work it out, you're only a year older than Yise."

"I'm still his big sister!"

"You must be happy to have a new little brother. Take good care of him."

"I will."

Gong-ah smiled, gave a little bow, and left.

A short while later, an extravagant meal was set before Yise. There were so many side dishes that he wondered whether the table's legs might break under the weight.

"Isn't this... too much?"

"Child, you're far too thin for a ten-year-old. You need to eat plenty while you're growing."

"But I'm—"

He was a dependent. Worse, a human of a different race who could offer nothing but another burden. To put it bluntly, invited or not, he could be thrown out at any time if he disappointed Head Mongryeon.

"Now, now. Once a child comes into Gwisu Temple, I won't let them waste away—not until I'm dead and buried. It'll get cold. Go on, eat."

"... Thank... you."

And yet the woman before him was kind.

Yise slowly lifted a spoonful of the rich broth to his mouth.

Warm.

The warm broth slipped down his throat, warmed his stomach, and spread through his whole body. Suddenly, he remembered what had happened that morning. The reason he had followed Mongryeon, Head of the Dokkaebi, without the slightest wariness.

It was simply...

Because the porridge in the bamboo container she had given him was warm.

That warmth had reached his dying body amid the villagers' cold indifference. It was that warmth that had led him here.

A warmth like the heart of the Dokkaebi woman sitting before him, watching him with a smile.

Yise kept eating until his stomach was fit to burst, determinedly finishing every last dish.

* * *

Of course, not every welcome was warm.

"Hey, human!"

Yise looked at the Dokkaebi boys who had blocked his way while he was leisurely choosing a room. They looked a year or two older than him. These were probably the others Gong-ah had meant when she said "our secret base."

He calmly turned toward them and waited for what came next. In situations like this, understanding the other person's intentions came before opening his mouth rashly.

"How dare a mere human set foot in Gwisu Temple? Are you out of your mind?"

"And holding a Dokkaebi's hand, too? The nerve."

"You need a good lesson to knock some sense into you."

Children showed malice more readily than one might think. And most of the time, the reason was simple.

'Jealousy.'

Gong-ah, the girl who had been so friendly to him, apparently enjoyed the position of a popular little princess here. They resented the kindness she had shown him.

"Are you mute? Why don't you say something?"

Judging by the way they had even rolled up their sleeves, they meant to put him in his place.

After briefly considering how to handle them, Yise slowly bowed his head. He could feel the prickling gazes fixed on the crown of his head gradually turn bewildered.

Bowing was easy. Even if they were only young Dokkaebi boys, there was no need to make unnecessary enemies.

This was the land whose hospitality he needed to survive.

"I'm sorry that a mere human has intruded on Dokkaebi territory. I know it's shameless of me, but I'll be relying on your hospitality. A Demon slaughtered my entire family, and I had nowhere to go, so I followed Head Mongryeon here."

"What? N-no..."

"Why would you put it like that...? Humans sure use harsh words..."

He raised his head a little. The boys had never learned how to handle a response that defied their expectations, and they stood flustered, at a loss.

"Wait, this isn't how it was supposed to—hey, what do we do now?"

"I hope we'll get along."

Just then, a clear, powerful voice rang out from the distance.

"Ilchwi! Woljang! Goegeol! Why are you picking on our newest family member? I'm telling the Head!"

Gong-ah had appeared and begun taking the three boys to task. After a good while of squirming, they left. She turned to Yise with a look of sympathy and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Yise. They're not bad kids... They're just being a little mean because they're not used to humans. I won't let them do it again."

"It's fine. What brings you here, though?"

"The Head is back. She's looking for you."