“Of course. I’m alive, aren’t I? No living being can pass through walls. Right?”
-Yes.
The cat agreed.
“Then how can you do it?”
Noel asked again.
-I don’t know. I just could.
Was it because it was an animal?
Or was it something else?
He had never seen a case like this before.
-To put it simply, it is because it is a ghost, yet also an animal.
Ashin said as she stroked the cat.
“What’s different about that?”
-Have you perhaps heard of spiritual beasts?
‘I’ve heard of divine beasts.’
Separate from that thought, Noel shook his head.
“I haven’t.”
-White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise! Things like that?
When Yeong-hyeon spoke, Ashin immediately nodded.
-Correct. That is what it refers to. That side can be said to belong to a realm entirely different from humans. They are not people, but animals.
“So things are divided like that here?”
-Yes. It means their realms are divided. Still, there are times when humans protect animals, and there are times when animals protect humans, so it cannot be said that they have no influence on one another.
“And that’s why it can pass through buildings?”
Noel listened with considerable interest.
The world he had lived in had not been such a dense forest of buildings, so there had been no way to confirm it.
Forests, seas, and other parts of nature were not human territory, so any ghost could pass through them easily.
-That is so. To begin with, when animals die, 99.99% of them pass on without complaint, so there is no element that would become a problem. Even if 0.01% remain, they remain only out of curiosity. There is no possibility of them becoming evil spirits.
When Ashin patted the cat’s rear, its tail lightly brushed against her arm.
When it was this harmless, what problem could there be?
-However, looking at its forehead, it seems it received the holy relic’s power. I suspect that is because it has the vessel to become a spiritual beast.
“There must be such vessels, then?”
-There must certainly have been a cause that made it such a vessel.
‘In any case, it’s special enough for the holy relic to hand over its power, right?’
Perhaps it was right to see it as special even among animals.
Was it not what one might call being chosen?
“What are you good at?”
Noel asked the cat.
-I used to be good at sleeping, but now I don’t get sleepy. I don’t need to eat either.
“Then?”
-I’m good at wandering around.
“Ah, so you’re good at hearing information here and there?”
-Humans keep telling me stories. I don’t really want to listen.
“Do you remember all of it?”
-Yes. Because I’m smart.
The cat raised its tail straight up.
Its eyes looked somehow excited.
‘I needed a ghost to carry rumors for me. This worked out well.’
With those bright, round eyes, it would be able to approach anyone more easily and quickly than any other ghost.
“You said you wanted to meet the child?”
-Yes!
The cat walked right up to Noel and sat down on its haunches.
Its tail swept the ground as it looked only at Noel.
“Is there anything you can give me?”
-What humans like is money. But I don’t have money.
“If you promise to work for me, I’ll let you meet them.”
-Really···?
“Really. I keep my promises. See her over there?”
Noel pointed at Ashin.
The cat’s head turned.
“She’s the guardian spirit who called you out. She’s also my god. If I lie, I’ll be in serious trouble with that guardian spirit.”
At those words, the cat looked at Ashin, and Ashin smiled gently.
-It is true. A lie made over a promise is bound to receive Heaven’s punishment.
-Then I’ll promise.
“I’ll give you food from time to time too.”
-I couldn’t eat.
“I can give it to you.”
The cat’s eyes began to sparkle.
It smacked its lips for no reason.
“I’ll let you touch toys too.”
-I’ll promise! I’ll promise!
“What you have to do is listen to all sorts of information for me and bring it back. Simple, right?”
-Yes!
“Then the term is until I die. You only have to work for me. Do you agree?”
-I agree.
“Then tell me your name.”
-Kkamang! I’m Kkamang.
At the sight of it answering without the slightest hesitation, Noel crouched down and tapped it with his finger.
“I’m Noel Teurus.”
Once Noel said his name as well, black smoke rose around Kkamang, then quickly faded.
What he had just spoken was a simple contract.
Ashin was there to be the mediator of the promise, the contract terms had been spoken, they had both given their names, and both had agreed.
It was a flawless contract.
-Is it done?
“It’s done. Now, let’s see who that child is······.”
Noel turned his head.
Someone appeared with black smoke wrapped around her body.
Kkamang looked at her warily.
“My, my. So you were here.”
She was an underworld messenger, but she was not Jin-hon.
The woman looked at Kkamang with a smiling face, then turned her head and looked at Noel.
For a moment, she flinched.
“Hello.”
When Noel greeted her first, the messenger who had been staring at him quickly approached.
As if she had never flinched, she smiled brightly.
“So it’s true? You really can see us, just like the team leader said? How long has it been? These days, there are so many bastards who only run their mouths while claiming to be shamans, are there not? When was it? Around a hundred years ago? We drank together and everything, but lately, we simply never see any.”
“You must be the other person Messenger Jin-hon mentioned.”
At Noel’s question, the messenger nodded.
“Yes. I am the underworld messenger who will fill in when Team Leader Jin-hon is busy. But today, I did not come to see you, sir, so I will greet you formally the next time we meet. For now.”
The messenger’s head turned toward Kkamang.
“You are too late.”
“Yes···?”
“It has made a contract with me. Take it after I die.”
“What? A c-contract? How do you know such things? Did the tradition not get cut off and disappear?”
“I’m good at various things.”
Noel smiled.
If she asked further, he could simply say it was a trade secret.
“Human lives aren’t that long anyway, so unless you’re impatient, please come slowly.”
“···No, well, this cat.”
“Because it has the vessel to become a spiritual beast?”
“How did you know that too···?”
“My god is an honored one.”
At Noel’s answer, the messenger belatedly looked at Ashin.
She hiccupped in surprise and hurriedly lowered her head.
Ashin truly was an honored one.
A halo hung behind her to a degree that made it impossible to know how much virtue she had accumulated.
“My greeting··· came late.”
-It is fine. More importantly, may he keep this cat with him?
“Yes. Of course! As long as he keeps it safe!”
The messenger answered immediately without a moment of hesitation.
-Will you not have to wait a long time?
“If it has made a contract anyway, I cannot take it. Besides, I can send that person a heartfelt letter. Their sentimentality has deepened lately, so it will be all right!”
“Who is that person?”
“······To be honest, I do not know whether I may tell you or not.”
The messenger answered with a troubled face.
Was Noel not one of the living?
There were many gods beneath Heaven, and she was unsure whether she could speak of one specific god among them.
It would be a serious problem if he learned such information and divine punishment descended.
“···Team Leader told me over and over to treat you respectfully.”
She had wondered why he was acting like that toward a mere living person, but after meeting Noel, she felt there was something different about him.
He felt very familiar, yet there was also something of a different texture.
“I understand. If it puts you in such a difficult position, it’s better not to know.”
Noel folded away his curiosity.
He did not receive divine punishment, but was there any need to say that?
“You work hard. I feel as if I may have caused you needless trouble, so please accept this. It isn’t much.”
Noel took a chocolate from his pocket.
“······Huh?”
The messenger’s eyes changed at once.
She looked as if she might drool at any moment.
“That is chocolate, is it not? Right···?”
“Yes. Please eat it.”
“You’re really··· giving this to me?”
“Yes. When we meet next time, please greet me even more warmly.”
When Noel smiled, the messenger clutched the chocolate almost tearfully, thanked him again and again, and then disappeared.
‘I should get along well with the messengers. Of course.’
Had he not confirmed today that underworld messengers could not eat food from the living unless one of the living gave it to them first?
-Give me one too.
Kkamang already had its mouth open.
Noel placed a chocolate between its open jaws.
The moment it touched Kkamang’s tongue, the cat’s eyes widened.
More than the fact that a ghost could eat, the taste it experienced for the first time made it break down completely.
At that sight, Yeong-hyeon burst into laughter.
***
As soon as Noel got out of the taxi, he smelled a familiar scent.
Was this not the hospital where he had stayed for a while after entering Yeong-hyeon’s body?
‘Things came around like this?’
-This is the hospital you were in, isn’t it?
Yeong-hyeon also looked puzzled, as if he found it fascinating.
-Ah, you said you were indebted to a hospital for a short time. Is this the place?
At Ashin’s question, Yeong-hyeon nodded repeatedly.
-This is it.
-Then I shall take the lead.
Ashin drew her sword.
If her thoughts were correct, Noel would be extremely popular here.
-Kkamang, tell us the direction.
-Okay.
Kkamang raised its tail and gently swayed it as it walked forward.
‘It seems to be enjoying this. But I’m the one who has to open the doors.’
Pretending not to know, Noel followed Kkamang.
The child had not been its owner, but before Kkamang died, the child seemed to have taken care of it.
~There was a fire. It was bright red. I wanted to save the child. So I jumped in, woke the child, woke the child’s parents, and shouted!
It had said that its determination to save the child was so strong that it had not noticed its own body burning.
That was how Kkamang had burned to death on the spot.
Yet it did not know it had died and had continued hovering near the child. Only when no one looked at it did it finally realize the truth.
‘Gods do seem to like sacrifice.’
He did not know why.
It seemed that side found such things quite moving.
-···Noel. Please open the door.
At Ashin’s creeping voice, Noel laughed lightly.
He had made it so she could open doors at home, but not in places like this.
Except for Kkamang, who passed through doors without hesitation, everyone had to go through doors properly.
When a person opened a door, they simply had to enter with them, so looking at other ghosts, they would excitedly go in and out among themselves repeatedly, would they not?
‘Still, let’s not meet their eyes.’
Noel opened the door.
At his gesture telling her to enter, Ashin stepped inside with her head slightly lowered.
-···This is not a home, so it is quite inconvenient.
“That makes sense.”
Noel chuckled.
When else would he get to tease Ashin?
Kkamang belatedly turned its head and stared at them.
-Should I keep going?
-Go.
After answering, Ashin said “Oh” and looked at the ghosts approaching shamelessly.
They immediately lowered their eyes and stopped right where they were.
Their faces showed confusion.
Where had such a being suddenly come from?
-Do not speak to us, and do not approach.
Ashin clearly warned the ghosts.
In a situation where he almost wanted to clap, Noel smiled broadly and walked down the hospital corridor.
They took the elevator and crossed over to the pediatric ward.
The closer they grew, the more longing and affection appeared on Kkamang’s face, and Noel grew even more tense.
In terms of purity, children were no less than animals.
Usually they left, but Noel could not help being on guard against the possibility of a child ghost.
They were the most difficult beings.
‘Are there none···? Is there really none?’
-Hey, Noel.
“What?”
Kkamang walked forward, then hesitated, and only after peeking around did Noel look at it.
-The child cried a lot.
“I imagine so.”
Whether from pain or sorrow.
Either way, how could the child not cry?
-The child kept crying because I wasn’t there.
Kkamang looked forward again.
One step, then another. Its steps slowly grew slower.
-What if the child cries even after seeing me?
“If they’re crying because they’re happy, what’s there to do about it?”
-You can cry because you’re happy···?
Kkamang tilted its head.
“Apparently.”
-Really?
Kkamang’s eyes slowly closed.
Then it led the way again with lighter steps and stopped in front of one hospital room.
Kkamang slipped its head inside, pulled it back out, and nodded.
-The child is here. The child is playing with toys.
“Is that so?”
Before knocking, Noel had something to ask Kkamang.
***
“Hello.”
Noel stood before the slightly open hospital room door and smiled gently.
When the woman saw he was not a nurse, she looked at him warily.
“···Who are you?”
“Do you know a cat named Kkamang, whom your son named himself?”
“Kkamang?”
The answer to Noel’s question came from farther inside.
It was a child’s voice.
At that clear sound, the woman let out a slight breath and asked Noel,
“Who are you?”
“I’m a shaman.”
As he spoke, Noel slipped his foot lightly into the gap of the door.
When she tried to close it and something caught, the woman flinched in surprise.
“I won’t ask for money. This isn’t one of those ‘Do you believe in the Way?’ things either. I’m only here because I have a message to deliver.”
“I’m sorry, but······.”
“You’re looking for the culprit who started the fire, aren’t you?”
“······Pardon?”
“I know what they looked like.”
Kkamang had seen everything.
All the way to the culprit running away.
“They say your son was saved by a black cat with yellow eyes. Is that correct?”
“It’s Kkamang!”
“······.”
Unlike the child’s bright words, the woman froze where she stood.
Goosebumps rose on her skin, and a fear she could not put into words struck her.
“How··· do you know that?”
“First, may I meet the child for a moment? If you find me suspicious, you can watch.”
The woman looked Noel over from head to toe.
She was wary, but she could not bear the unpleasant feeling.
“···Come in.”
When she opened the door, Noel thanked her and came inside.
The child’s expression crumpled when he saw Noel.
“······Where’s Kkamang?”
Kkamang had protected him with its own life, but the child had burns on his arm and shoulder.
Kkamang ran over and familiarly licked him with its tongue.
“Kkamang is dead.”
“No! Kkamang is······.”
“This older brother will deliver Kkamang’s words from now on. Listen carefully. Kkamang is very, very worried about you.”
“······Kkamang is?”
“Kkamang is licking the places where you were hurt.”
The child turned his head, but no one was there.
“Why can’t I see Kkamang?”
“Because this older brother is a special person. If you listen carefully, I’ll show you Kkamang.”
Noel spoke softly and smiled.
The child quickly nodded.
-Can I talk?
At Kkamang’s words, Noel nodded.
-I died. But I’ll come see you sometimes.
“I died, but I’ll still come see you sometimes.”
“···Really?”
The child’s eyes widened.
-Don’t cry. Don’t hurt.
“Okay. I won’t cry. I won’t hurt.”
The child wiped his eyes on his sleeve.
-And run around with all your strength again.
At those words, the child suddenly laughed.
It was Kkamang.
It really was Kkamang.
-Goodbye.
Noel delivered those calm words.
Though brief, they lacked nothing in feeling.
Noel did not know whether the child felt Kkamang’s sincerity, but he turned his head and looked at the child’s mother.
“Could you step outside for thirty seconds? Just thirty seconds will do.”
The woman looked at the tearful child, then reluctantly went out.
When the door closed, Noel snapped his fingers.
When something appeared beside his face, the child said “Oh” and turned his head.
The child and Kkamang met each other’s eyes.
As if the tears he had held back and held back had finally burst, rain fell from the child’s large eyes.
“Kkamang···!”
The child hugged Kkamang tightly.
It was cold.
So cold that the child made a crying sound and buried his face in Kkamang’s body.
Kkamang stretched out a front paw and pressed down on the child’s head.
-I told you not to cry.
It touched the child’s face with its tail.
Noel stood up and went outside just like that.
How could he disturb their brief meeting?
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Inside······.”
“Shh. It’s a trade secret.”
Noel smiled gently.
Even if the child later said he had met Kkamang, would that not be the words of a child?
“Now I’ll tell you the culprit’s description.”
“Who told you?”
“Kkamang.”
She probably would not believe him.
He knew that, but Noel told her the culprit’s appearance as Kkamang had described it.
Once this was all over, he planned to warn the ghosts who had made Kkamang do that kind of thing, too.
***
[Seo Si-hoon: Yeong-hyeon.]
[Seo Si-hoon: Father asked me to tell you again that he is very grateful.]
[Seo Si-hoon: Father will probably contact you separately later.]
[Seo Si-hoon: I’m grateful too, Yeong-hyeon.]
[Seo Si-hoon: But, you know. Is that thing really a holy relic?]
Noel replied to the message.
[Look at it through faith. If you really want to know, it won’t be free.]
He put the cell phone into his pocket.
After returning the holy relic to the priest and briefly telling him he would wait for contact, Noel had immediately headed to the hospital to grant Kkamang’s request.
That had been yesterday.
‘That was fast.’
Who would have known that the priest sponsoring Si-hoon was someone connected to the exorcist side?
Noel stopped walking for a moment as he headed toward the shop.
Someone hurriedly came downstairs.
After smoothing his disheveled hair back into place, Jang-yul bowed politely to Noel.
“Welcome, sir.”