Chapter 411 |
Chapter 411
"D-Dawon-ah…"
No matter how unique his dress…Even if he looked like a child… Dawon was still Dawon. Fortunately, Dawon raised his head and smiled naturally–my guess was correct. "Where did you go?"
"…I got lost…" Looking at Dawon's expression, I thought I made a mistake.
"You've been here for a few years, and… You got lost?"
"…Ah!" I flinched, a little flustered.
But, fortunately, Dawon didn't question me anymore. "Well, I suppose the palace is a bit complicated." He nodded like the determined child he was and soon held my hand tightly in his. Even though his grip was good for a child, it was a fragile strength that I could easily shake off if I wanted to. It felt quite different from when Dawon-ie had grasped my hand before.
"I brought flowers for Hyung-nim from the garden." And Dawon, without knowing how I felt, dragged me with his small steps, leading me deeper into the layers of drapery.
I couldn't hear anyone behind us, and, as the curtain came down, the light was gradually cut off as well. The surroundings became dark and tranquil. Furthermore, the pleasant scent of cut grass and wildflowers grew thicker.
Jingle, Jingle–!
Soon, a servant, who must have been waiting in the room's corner, appeared and brought us a bright, white flower bouquet. These were the flowers that Dawon had brought for me.
I carefully received the bouquet and held it in my arms, "Th-Thanks…"
"It smells good, right?"
"…You're right." Flowers still in my arms, I took a deep breath.
Seo Dawon smiled broadly as he looked up at me; then, he pulled me back, as if he wanted me to follow him. I ended up sitting on a huge bed–his bed?–with him.
‘…What on earth is this setting?'
Judging by the attendants and the luxurious surroundings, it seemed that Dawon and I were quite wealthy. However, the way that Dawon called me "Hyung-nim" and my long hair hinted at something I couldn't quite decipher.
‘Huh? Dawon's ears have… earrings too.'
In order to take in as much information as I could, I looked all around.
Of course, Dawon caught my attention the most. He looked like a child–about twelve years old. However, if it weren't for the baby fat that still clung to his cheekbones, he would look more mature. His features weren't particularly childlike.
‘And… He doesn't look like a normal kid.'
He was wearing luxurious, purple clothes; there was the way he commanded the silent attendants in a composed demeanor. And, like the original Dawon, he wore many accessories. He wore three jade rings and two gold rings on both hands. Even at first glance, the kid exuded an unmistakable, extraordinary aura.
In addition, his earrings matched mine. It was as if Dawon and I shared a single pair. I inadvertently stroked the earring in my ear with my hand.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"…What?"
"The earrings. You were in a lot of pain when you got them pierced."
At that moment, Dawon-ie looked back and asked. I awkwardly touched my earlobe, which still felt slightly warm, with my fingernail and then lowered my head. So, I had gotten it pierced recently…
"Y…Yeah. I'm alright now."
"I was startled–you were crying."
If Dawon was an adult, I might have thought he was teasing me, but I was so ashamed to see a child ask me that question with his innocent eyes wide open. Seeing that Dawon also had pierced ears, it meant that this child had endured the pain gracefully, but I had cried…
"…Don't worry about me," I smiled awkwardly and lowered my hand from my ear.
Dawon smiled bashfully. Then, he grabbed my hand and led me to a table in the room. "Wait a minute. I want to show you something."
"Alright…"
Dawon seated me in front of the table and then quickly ran off into another part of the room. I hesitated a bit at the table, which was much lower than I was used to, but it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I had expected. And, it was endearing to think that the table's height was set specifically for Dawon's young body.
Unaware of my quiet admiration, Dawon quickly returned with a small wooden box and opened it in front of me. The box was filled with beautiful jewel-like beads, and their colors shone brilliantly. Some of the gems had patterns like ammonite, but those patterns looked pleasing as well.
‘But, what on earth is this?'
I couldn't recklessly touch them, as I didn't know what their purpose was. Fortunately, Dawon didn't ask me to handle them; instead, he stood still, waiting with a few beads in his hand.
Jingle, Jingle–!
Then, two servants who were quietly lying in wait brought out a fish tank that was the appropriate size to place atop the table. The fishbowl was half-filled with water, and, as soon as it was placed on the table, Dawon began to drop the beads he was holding into the water. Plop, plop–!
Flasssh–!
Then, something amazing happened.
The gems that touched the water initially seemed to sink quickly, but soon they began to shimmer beautifully and wriggle like fish. They emitted a soft glow, rose to the surface momentarily, and then slowly unfurled their curled tails! After that, the jewels transformed into long fish, swimming leisurely in the fish tank.
Of course, if one looked closely, one could see that they didn't turn into real, living fish. The fishes’ heads were made of smooth, round stone. However, the sight of each fish spinning around the tank without bumping into each other was so dazzling and beautiful, that I began to doubt my eyes.
"What… What is this?" I asked.
Dawon looked incredibly proud at my reaction. When our eyes met, he smiled and said, "I tried to make a shikigami." 1
"Shi…Shikigami?" I asked, flustered at the unfamiliar term.
Fortunately, without paying much attention to my reaction, Dawon chattered on, "I was going to give them to you as a gift, but it's a little boring to just hand them out."
"……"
"Also, Hyung-nim likes fish."
This was the first time I heard that I liked fish, but Dawon’s blushing face as he handed me the gem was too cute to refuse.
I eventually received the gifted jewel and placed it inside the fish tank. Then, as Dawon had shown just earlier, the jeweled bead became a fish swimming around the narrow fish tank. Unlike the long fish Da-won had created, mine stayed round and resembled ornamental koi.
"If you want to gather them back up again, all you need to do is clap."
Clap–!
With that said, Dawon clapped his hands; immediately, all fish, except for the one I placed inside the tank, rolled their tails around themselves, became round again, and floated to the surface. Dawon-ie scooped them out with his hand as if he were using a net.
‘These are…. Shikigami?'
I had a hunch that these would become an important factor in this [Vengeful Ghost Memory].
"Are there…. other Shikigamis?" I asked, hoping that I wouldn't cast suspicion on myself.
Fortunately, Dawon interpreted my question generously–he must have thought I was asking if he made anything else.
Dawon wriggled his fingers a bit hesitantly–somewhat troubled–and then whispered in a slightly quieter voice, "It's a bit more crude than these, but… Do you still want to see?"
"Mmm…" Dawon returned the box of gems and, this time, brought back what seemed to be a toy pony doll in his arms. Unlike with the fish-gems, he didn't immediately move to show it off; instead, he looked at me with a cautious expression.
"This was the first birthday present I received from Hyung-nim… I'm sorry I messed with it without permission…"
‘I gave him that doll as a present?'
Again, I couldn't really understand everything, but I had no choice but to accept this fact. After all, this was the setting created by the [Vengeful Ghost Memory]. Moreover, Dawon, who was hugging a doll that was half the size of his body, honestly looked incredibly cute.
I nodded to indicate that it was okay. Only then did Dawon's face brighten a bit, and he placed the toy on the floor.
Clip-clop–! Clip-clop–!
The doll, which was more solid and firm than it looked–started moving stiffly back and forth, circling the table. As I watched it, I wondered if making a ‘shikigami' was akin to making inanimate objects move like living beings.
"It's super cute. It moves so well." I said.
Dawon nodded joyfully, "…I like this one the most."
His face held a clear look of admiration as he spoke; his expression made my cheeks flush.
‘Since he calls me ‘Hyung-nim,' Dawon-ie is probably feeling familial love towards me…'
Unable to resist any more, I stroked Dawon's head.
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TL: Would I like bejewelled fish? Yes Please.
Also, I'll be in Alaska (with sketchy internet) for two weeks starting July 3rd. Just a warning guys. Afterwards, I should be DONE with travelling for the summer.
- 식신 could either mean a hungry ghost, food god, or a buddhist shikigami. I'm assuming Dawon means shikigami here.