Chapter 291

***

Ding-.

The cabin lights went out, and it was time for everyone to sleep.

Son Yoo-jin picked up her pencil to write in her diary, something she never missed a day of.

In just a month, she had already filled three diaries. Besides chatting with Hong Soo-jung every night, she also read books and practiced writing, which had significantly improved her Korean skills. It was all thanks to Hong Soo-jung, who cared for her more like an older sister than her actual sister.

Chop-.

She poked her tongue with the pencil to wet it with saliva—a fun little habit she couldn’t skip.

Even though she didn’t need to do this to write well, she had seen her mom do it while organizing the household accounts.

「I’ve eaten so much that my stomach is full, and I’ll probably remember this vividly even when I’m a grandmother.

When I look up at the sky, I’ll miss the starry night sky of Atlanta.

When I look ahead, I’ll be sad because I won’t see Soo-jung unnie’s sparkling eyes.

When I look down, I’ll be sad because I won’t see the kind shadow.

So I closed my eyes.

When I close my eyes, I can see everything.

Goodbye, Atlanta.

Good-by. AT… Atlanta.」

Hong Soo-jung deliberately didn’t teach her English.

She said that after mastering Korean, learning a foreign language would improve her expression. She had learned that from her father.

Still, Yoo-jin was a smart kid and knew how to write “goodbye.”

“Uncle Dugu?”

She whispered, but Dugu Elil didn’t appear.

「My dream is to become an engineer.

I will definitely become an engineer.

I want to build a spaceship and go on an adventure to find the goblin uncle.」

Dugu Elil had left.

He had appeared when Yoo-jin was a baby, explaining every night about how the sun, moon, and Earth came to be, where humans came from, and who lived in the far reaches of the universe where no one could see or go. The goblin uncle, who unraveled stories like a treasure chest, had left.

It was when the announcement came that they could unfasten their seatbelts after takeoff.

– 【Child, I hope you fully enjoy the joy of being human. This is the beginning of my departure.】

– “Don’t go. Play with me. I’ll eat lots of hamburgers. I can be happy eating only hamburgers for the rest of my life.”

As long as there’s cola, it doesn’t matter if it’s hamburgers or hot dogs.

She whispered desperately, but the goblin uncle was firm.

– 【This is for you. There’s a saying in your world: ‘Those who meet must part.’ Child, please don’t be sad.】

Dugu Elil left a faint blessing.

– 【May the light of Tulosso shine upon you, may the grace of Tulosso protect you, may the will of Tulosso guide you······. May you forget me in your future happiness.】

The goblin uncle, whose face she never saw and whose real name she never learned, erased his existence like that.

Yoo-jin wasn’t sad.

She had many family and friends to return to.

Even without Dugu Elil’s words, she vaguely understood.

The meaning behind his words that she could only become fully human if he left.

The power she inherited from her brother no longer filled her heart as it used to, but she could accept it because she had already prepared herself. It was also thanks to the persuasive power of her brother’s constant reminder to “live like a human.”

Her brother always emphasized that living like the ordinary, good-hearted majority was what it meant to live like a human.

So Yoo-jin wasn’t hurt.

‘Uncle, let’s meet again.’

She wrote in her diary so she wouldn’t forget.

Even if memories fade, the diary remains.

There was no time as joyful as now, when she could read and write.

「Those who meet must part. But Cheon Gil-ryong grandpa said that those who part will eventually return. If they don’t return, you can go and meet them.」

Yoo-jin was a smart kid, so she knew that too.

Tock-.

When she blinked, a drop of dew fell on her diary.

***

Whoosh- whoosh-.

Jin Hyuk, who had been dozing off, woke up.

It wasn’t just the cabin noise and dry air that bothered his sensitive senses more than the average person. He could have endured it if he tried.

Sniff-.

When Yoo-jin started sniffling in her sleep like a child having a sad dream, he opened his eyes. Concerned for his sister, he was about to check on her when a shadow appeared.

Thump-. With a force that squeezed his heart without mercy.

【I have fulfilled the contract.】

‘Turn on the lights before you come in······.’

You told me to live happily, but now you’re trying to burst my heart and kill me, huh?

Sniff- hoo- hoo-.

Jin Hyuk sat back down and gathered a bit of strength.

A direct flight to Seoul takes a whopping 15 hours.

There’s plenty of time to talk.

There’s nothing left to desperately wish for, so why wait for you to show up? I planned to resolve all my curiosities before you slither away like a loach.

‘I have a lot of questions.’

【Speak.】

The shadow, always with a flat tone, sounded calmer today.

Jin Hyuk first asked about the nature of the power.

*

‘Gilmodkeu?’

【Yes. It means divine power. Though the scale is different, the essence is the same as the power I possess.】

‘Why? How did it happen?’

【I don’t know. I don’t know the path or the reason.】

‘That’s absurd. Are you saying I got this power because of some delivery accident?’

【The only clear fact is that I didn’t give it to you. Even Tulosso doesn’t know.】

‘Then who gave it to me?’

【As far as I know, no one did. It just engraved itself on your soul.】

‘By itself? So it just appeared out of nowhere? Spontaneously?’

【Perhaps.】

He asked a being higher than Dugu Elil, but all he got was that no one intervened.

Jin Hyuk felt that the shadow wasn’t lying.

Or maybe it was too naive to lie.

Anyway, it was the type to say it didn’t know what it didn’t know.

There’s no reason to lie after revealing its identity.

‘You said you oversee the universe, but it seems there are things you don’t know.’

【When I say I don’t know, it means I can’t prove the causality. That means-.】

‘It just means you don’t know the cause. The result is what we already know—that Gilmodkeu or whatever is lurking, trying to consume me.’

【You’re indeed sharp.】

Sharp, my foot… Anyone with half a brain could list those facts, man!

【If God intended everything, all beings would live begging for blessings from God without any effort. They call it prayer. But the truth is that results come from one’s own efforts.】

He’s making it sound grand that even God doesn’t know everything and doesn’t grant all wishes.

【Don’t worry. As long as you don’t fill it completely, it won’t grow, and even if you use it a little, you’ll be able to control it.】

‘What about my sister? She seems to be gathering it bit by bit, following me.’

【Her nature is different.】

It might be a misconception, but the shadow seemed to shake its head.

‘Are you saying it’s safe because it’s a power of creation or life?’

【And the vessel you and the child possess is different. The power she can hold poses no threat. Even if she grows it over a lifetime.】

‘But it might grow bigger. Like mine.’

【She doesn’t have the talent to grow it as vast as yours.】

‘What are you talking about? Our Yoo-jin is so smart.’

Jin Hyuk clenched his fist, feeling like Yoo-jin was being dismissed.

【Humans have teachers because they can’t grow on their own. Isn’t that so? And even with teachers, most hit their limits. There’s a difference between you and the child. The memories engraved in the soul and the talent discovered by chance can’t be the same. Most humans lose their discovered talents without nurturing them.】

It sounded like Jin Hyuk grew on his own, while Yoo-jin maintained her transferred ability with her brother’s help.

‘Anyway, about Gilmodkeu or divine power. So you’re in a bad state because you’re being consumed by this power? Since it’s the same essence?’

Are you a senior who got consumed?

In the dark cabin, the shadow, darker than the darkness, trembled like a leaf at Jin Hyuk’s feet.

Did I hit the bone too hard?

But it’s true, isn’t it?

The voice is powerful, but the shadow’s tone and way of speaking resemble a less intelligent person pretending to be smart. It reminds me of Kim Eun-jung, the know-it-all from elementary school. Even though she’s improved a lot now, it’s still like that.

【That’s a question I’m not obligated to answer.】

Look at this, look at this. Dodging the answer.

Right, right.

You got consumed, didn’t you?

Feeling sorry for the gloomy shadow, Jin Hyuk changed the subject.

‘I heard from my sister. Thanks for taking care of her.’

【It was a contract.】

‘I hope you enjoyed it.’

【It was a sufficiently satisfying contract.】

The shadow said it stayed by Son Yoo-jin’s side and felt sensations and emotions it hadn’t felt in a long time. It even tasted a happiness it might have forgotten in the distant past.

‘It’d be nice if you checked on her from time to time.’

The shadow hesitated.

‘We all have our own lives, so you can’t stay with my sister forever. Please.’

【That’s impossible.】

‘Why?’

【I feel the connection between you and me weakening. You, as a human, are the conduit through which I interact with this world. If the connection breaks, it’s over. I can observe from afar, but I can’t intervene.】

Jin Hyuk didn’t miss the shadow’s words and grabbed onto the thread.

‘Breaking?’

He pulled up clues from his memory like tweezers.

The end of Hong Ki-jun’s contract would mean the end of the connection between the shadow and Jin Hyuk.

So, it means Hong Ki-jun’s contract is also nearing its end.

‘Does it end if I say I’ve achieved everything?’

Hong Ki-jun isn’t one to talk nonsense.

Even when joking with his dad, who treats him like family, his words carry weight.

That man had asked Jin Hyuk.

Would one call to the Olympic Committee or one event fulfill your wish?

【You’ve figured out a lot.】

Look at this. He can’t lie.

As Jin Hyuk nodded inwardly, a somewhat angry voice returned.

【Did the old man tell you? Or did you ask him?】

‘I didn’t dig into anything because I was worried it might endanger him.’

【Is that so······. I don’t sense any lies.】

‘I also thought about the warden of the great prison.’

The shadow listened silently.

It’s hard to predict what this human will say.

‘A warden and a prisoner at the same time? Did you imprison yourself? In my shadow?’

【Wrong-.】

Don’t make weird sounds with that cave-like solemn voice!

Ah, never mind.

Embarrassed, Jin Hyuk scratched his head. The longer the conversation with the shadow went on, the hotter his upper dantian felt, as if steam was rising.

‘Then let’s think of it this way. The universe is a prison. You’re the warden managing it, and humans are the prisoners. How about that?’

【Oh-.】

‘Right?’

【Close. But the proposition that humans are prisoners is wrong. Sometimes, prisoners are imprisoned in human bodies. But that’s just one way higher beings use lower beings.】

‘Nasty guys. Then who are the prisoners you manage?’

【Prisoners are just prisoners.】

‘You······, you call yourself a warden, but you don’t have any prisoners, do you? That’s why you’re just hanging around here, right?’

The shadow couldn’t answer immediately.

Guess I’m right. This guy’s unemployed. As Jin Hyuk thought that, the shadow’s voice echoed.

【There is one prisoner.】

‘Who? Someone I know? Or me?’

【It’s not an Earth human. He’s also a human from a reversed time. Do you want to hear more? It’s probably not important to you.】

It sounded like the shadow was saying it was a waste of time, so Jin Hyuk stepped back.

‘I guess so. It’s hard enough to focus on this life, so it’s better to read about such things in storybooks.’

Even with plenty of time, focusing on important issues and gossiping are clearly different in terms of the value of time.

【Storybooks, huh? That’s a good method.】

The shadow, being equally eccentric, seemed to find interest in strange places. Jin Hyuk was just making a passing remark.

‘You said it’s goodwill, but you’re also being punished, right?’

【Hmm······. Sharp.】

‘Don’t sigh without a body. It’s making my brain itch.’

【Correct. I’m receiving the same punishment as the old man’s contract.】

‘For reversing time.’

【Also correct.】

‘Is it harsh?’

【Not really. It’s just the mental effort of plucking a single hair.】

Guess he’s not bald.

【Lord Tulosso is generous and cares for me.】

He’s subtly boasting about himself.

You’re giving off a similar vibe to Uncle Hong Ki-jun now.

‘Was there a condition to be kind to me?’

In a way, that was the most puzzling point.

For such a serious being, one who oversees the universe and all, he’s quite the flatterer.

【That’s precisely my goodwill.】

‘Thanks for the kindness. I’m grateful you’re helping me even while receiving punishment you don’t have to.’

【It’s more about taking responsibility than punishment. The old man’s contract isn’t exactly punishment either. A contract is just a contract.】

‘I’m satisfied now. I’m happy, so you can go find your freedom. Release the old man.’

【That’s not the truth.】

‘I’m really happy.’

【It’s not that your happiness is false. You haven’t achieved everything. If you could end the contract with words, the causality of the universe would have no meaning. Your heart and will must support it.】

‘What’s left?’

【I don’t know the lump in your heart. But the fact that the connection remains proves it. You have unfinished business.】

So, it’s Park Woo-jung after all.

It sounded like to free Hong Ki-jun, he had to resolve everything he held in his heart.

Hoo-, a sigh escaped.

But it’s not like he could commit murder.

【Unfinished business can appear and disappear. I don’t know what it is. Humans are such beings. Endless desires. When desires disappear, they die. In the end, you and I might have to endure punishment together until you die. It’s a pity for the old man. He naively expects the contract to end with a single word. That cunning old man might even guide the answer.】

He had already experienced it.

Hong Ki-jun’s leading questions.

For Jin Hyuk, it’s not a bad punishment.

He only needs to call when absolutely necessary.

After all, even when called, he doesn’t help with things he can do alone, right?

He didn’t feel like it would interfere with his life.

Anyway, for Hong Ki-jun’s sake, he had to resolve all the lingering resentment and regrets in his heart.

Jin Hyuk thought it was best to solve the immediate questions first.

‘I have another question. You’ll know, right?’

【If it’s about the past, I’ve told you before. You won’t understand.】

‘Lately, I’ve been having strange dreams every day, and it’s definitely not Earth. The people, animals, plants, and trees are all unfamiliar. But it’s too vivid to be a dream.’

The shadow stopped breathing.

Its presence faded to the point of being faint.

‘At first, I couldn’t remember. But the dreams kept continuing. When I dream the next day, the previous day’s dream comes back.’

The shadow was silent.

More precisely, it was sparing its words. It felt like it was crouching in the dark, rolling its eyes.

Sensing Dugu Elil’s change, Jin Hyuk pressed on.

‘Is that my past?’

【Tell me in detail.】