098 – The Goddess of Fortune is Full of Mistakes #2
Seugal returned home and punched her bed hard with her fists.
The cheap mattress creaked, sounding as if it might break at any moment, but Seugal didn’t hold back.
She sprawled out on the bed, flailing her arms and legs.
Pudada-dack!
“Ah, it’s so frustrating!”
It was due to what had just happened.
Seugal had challenged her love for the condition of expelling Baek Yeo-ul from the extermination team.
Given that Hanamjin had always professed his liking for her, it seemed impossible that he would refuse such a proposition.
Yet, Hanamjin had refused.
It was incomprehensible.
– Why!
When Seugal asked, Hanamjin exhibited an expression of frustration even on his own part.
– I don’t make promises I can’t keep!
In other words, the task of removing Baek Yeo-ul was something Hanamjin deemed unreasonable.
Or perhaps he had no intention of doing so.
Whish-.
Hanamjin placed his hand on Seugal’s shoulder and had said:
– And Bangdaengi is stronger than you think. Anyone can fail, but not everyone can keep failing. That’s what they can do.
Why did continuous failure signify strength?
Seugal didn’t like the attitude with which Hanamjin trusted Baek Yeo-ul.
“How could he reject someone who would date me?”
Seugal had been shocked by her first-ever confession getting rejected. What she had thought would be an easy victory ended in a complete blow to her pride.
Perhaps perceptive Hanamjin had figured out Seugal’s real intentions—to use their relationship to control him.
It might have been revealed, but her being rejected was embarrassing enough.
“sh*t! Ah! Aaaaah!”
Flail-flail-flail!
Seugal thrashing about.
Had she known she’d be rejected like this, she wouldn’t have bothered trying in the first place.
Nevertheless, ironically, after she experienced this deep sense of regret, Seugal began to vaguely understand what Hanamjin had tried to explain.
When he had said that Baek Yeo-ul was strong…
Failure is shameful and painful.
Once you experience failure, the heart tends to shrink from any further challenge.
Continual failure, that meant repeated attempts, signifying readiness to keep getting hurt. Perhaps that was indeed a form of strength.
Seugal was astonished by how accurate Hanamjin’s perspective was in looking at Baek Yeo-ul. She found a sense of partnership and trust between Hanamjin and Baek Yeo-ul.
“Judging by their use of nicknames for each other, they must’ve really gotten close. When did that happen while I was out of the picture?”
On one hand, a seed-like feeling she had never experienced before began to sprout within her.
Whether that bud would grow to be a flower capable of splitting an asteroid, or a thorny rose, would take some time to find out.
So, instead of sleeping, Seugal decided to wander the streets.
A park where one could see the entire night view of City D.
As Seugal approached the top of the long winding stairs, her eyes met those of a girl who seemed to have been waiting for her.
It was a girl with striking pink hair patterns.
“You’re late! And why did you call me? I was busy with my training!”
Baek Yeo-ul was angry.
“Did you want the «Hanamjin Album» again? No way! That’s mine!”
Baek Yeo-ul acted as though the «album» was some precious treasure. Although Seugal had no true interest in the «Hanamjin Album», seeing Baek Yeo-ul act this way made her want to snatch it from her all the more—it’s human nature to think someone else’s cake is bigger.
“Hand it over!”
Fwoosh!
As Seugal reached out, she snatched the album from Baek Yeo-ul’s hands. Baek Yeo-ul resisted but to no avail.
“Kyaaah!”
Under the bright moonlight, in a lonely park, Baek Yeo-ul’s scream spread desolately, reminiscent of the cries of those who had lost their country.
Seugal flipped through the photo album hastily.
Then, she found a picture.
A child with long hair, their face so feminine and pretty, making a V-sign at the camera. It was oddly familiar.
“I will keep this. Deals must be fair.”
“You wicked girl! I thought our training would improve our friendship, but no! Fall off a cliff already!”
Baek Yeo-ul cursed profusely.
Seugal ignored her words and made her way down the long staircase.
Baek Yeo-ul was upset.
Fair deal? She felt like she was the one who unilaterally got robbed!
At that moment, while sniffling and wiping her nose, she noticed something—a 50,000 won bill lying on the ground. Apparently, it had fallen out of Seugal’s pocket during their struggle earlier.
“Wow…!?”
Looking around and finding no one, Baek Yeo-ul quickly tucked the bill into her hand.
“Phewphewphew, that’s good luck! I’ll buy some tteokbokki and share it with my friends!”
Baek Yeo-ul thought good fortune had finally come her way.
Meanwhile, at a convenience store for cup noodles, Seugal frowned in irritation upon noticing the disappearance of the 50,000 won from her wallet.
Perhaps bad luck had moved its way over.
# # #
“Did I make a big mistake?”
After turning down Seugal’s confession, I was filled with regret and sighed deeply.
Maybe I should not have rejected what could have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“At least we should have tried kissing!”
To calm my heart, I picked a few summer field flowers blooming in the park; flowers seemed like the best thing to soothe a woman’s heart.
Who do I need to soothe?
Of course.
“Yeo-reum, I’m here.”
Even for someone like me, visiting Yu Yeo-reum required great determination and courage—it felt like putting your head into the gaping maw of a lion.
This place is the dark «Grocery Store».
It’s inside the Great Labyrinth, an area so pitch-black that not a sliver of light penetrates it.
I was shining my phone’s light around when suddenly, two lights blinked brightly in the darkness.
Sssss-.
It seemed those two lights were moving closer to me, and soon, they fully revealed themselves.
The gleaming lights were both Yu Yeo-reum’s eyes, and simultaneously, searing anger!
In the light of the moon, was I feeling like the rabbits who stared into the eyes of wild beasts?
“….”
Yu Yeo-reum looked at me without a word or change in expression, but it was clear she was angry.
Hence, it was even scarier!
I extended the flowers in my hand toward the emotionless woman.
“I haven’t been here for a while, right? I’ve had a lot to do. Here’s a present.”
“….”
Even when handed the flowers, Yu Yeo-reum remained expressionless. However, her hand came swiftly to grasp the flowers I offered and inserted the stems into a nearby vase.
There were a few other vases in this grocery store, each holding flowers that were already wilting.
Because no light enters this place.
This is exactly why Yu Yeo-reum is imprisoned here.
I discovered this pitch-black «Grocery Store» purely by chance.
I was searching the Great Labyrinth for a suitable place to keep Yu Yeo-reum and found this one, not far from the «Room of Flowers». Entry here also required my “ring.”
“How’s Yining been treating you?”
I inquired.
When Yu Yeo-reum was left alone, I had worried she might be bored, so I left Yining with her. Where had Yining gone?
Looking around the spacious Grocery Store, there was no sign of her.
Shush-.
Yu Yeo-reum pointed to a makeshift bed made of stacked odds and ends.
-Ying!
There it was, Yining, lying quietly on the bed in the dark corner—how delightful.
Just at that moment.
Fwoosh!
Yu Yeo-reum pounced on me, biting my shoulder!
Tchh-!
“Arrgh!”
I had thought giving her the flowers would have appeased her!
I somewhat felt like a mouse being torn apart alive by a large cat!
Fortunately, I must have tasted terrible, for Yu Yeo-reum let go of me on her own.
“Set me free!”
“If I do that, you’ll press charges, right?”
“No, I won’t.”
Yu Yeo-reum’s pupils were wavering left and right immensely. She’s different from Seugal; Yu Yeo-reum was exceptionally bad at lying. Probably as poor as that Baek Yeo-ul in the aspect of deception.
“Yeo-reum, think about it carefully. This place isn’t all that bad to stay in. There’s plenty of food here, and cute Yining’s around.”
The Grocery Store was filled with fairies’ honey, fruits, and magical breads that never spoiled, regardless of time.
It’s nothing less than the mystique of the fairy realm.
The fountain even provides crystal-clear water!
Could it be the difference in drinking water?
The tan skin of Yu Yeo-reum, who had always enjoyed photosynthesis under the sun, seemed to turn paler. It was natural for her complexion to grow smooth and white after becoming one with the darkness.
“Has everything been okay so far?”
“Fine.”
Yu Yeo-reum’s pupils were still swaying dramatically left and right.
She’s not a good liar.
There’s something amiss.
Something in this «Grocery Store» that makes Yu Yeo-reum resort to lies.
Of course, the exact nature of that thing has yet to be fully understood.
What really is this Great Labyrinth about, anyway?
Why is the Celestial Demon so intent on guarding this labyrinth?
There’s much to be curious about.
If I had enough time, I’d investigate and explore this Great Labyrinth slowly and methodically.
But right now, another pressing matter demands my attention.
The showdown with Yu Yeo-reum.
“Yeo-reum, I’m soon going to participate in the «Demon Extermination Squad». Based on my prediction, operations will commence within three days.”
“The Demon Extermination you mentioned—it’s the «Star» Demon, isn’t it?”
A glimmer of interest sparked in the initially indifferent eyes of Yu Yeo-reum.
She’d know how formidable the «Star» Demon was, having faced it before.
“So few people seem to cherish their lives.”
“Still, a completely hopeless fight isn’t a certainty. Things might turn out well. Actually, I see the issue of you being captured here as the bigger concern.”
In truth, Yu Yeo-reum had merely fallen victim to Seugal’s whims.
She was a pure victim.
I believed it was right to give an honest explanation to Yu Yeo-reum, who had been treated unjustly this way.
“Should something happen to me during this extermination operation and I fail to return, I intend to prepare a way for you to escape on your own. However, there is one thing you should keep in mind.”
“What is it?”
“It’s not a good idea to talk about me kidnapping you. The public only knows that it was Nam San-ho who abducted you. Remember?”
“I didn’t read it. I don’t like reading texts. Summarize it for me in three lines.”
Yu Yeo-reum was as obstinate as Seugal. If Seugal was a cunning fox-like trickster, then Yu Yeo-reum was like a fussy, moody, capricious cat.
She listens to only what she wants to hear and does only whatever she wants to do.
“The moment you step outside, you’ll reveal how bad I truly am. Everyone will be shocked to know how I betrayed their trust.”
“So don’t do it. Not for my sake but for your own. Besides, even if you told the truth, it would still be useless. The monstrous ones will cover everything up anyway.”
“Monstrous ones?”
Shush-.
I pulled out an old photograph from within my coat.
A figure in military uniform stood sternly.
“I thought this was your photo, but it’s not. Although the face and atmosphere are similar, it’s a different person.”
“Of course. I’ve never served in the military.”
“Is this a photo taken during leave from the military? I know this because I’ve taken some with my older brother. The rank is Private First Class. Two stripes.”
Yu Yeo-reum’s eyes moved to the name tag attached to the uniform on the photo.
And slowly read it out with her lips.
“Nam Han-ul.”
“Right, that’s my father’s name.”
“You’re Nam Han-jin. You two have different last names?”
“When Father severed all ties with his family, he changed his name to just ‘Heaven’. He never told anyone, and I only recently found out—about half a year ago?”
Jangjang-dong Chief had divulged this information while tipsy from the liquor he had rarely acquired. Until then, I had only known my father as an orphan.
But my grandfather did exist.
“My grandfather’s name is Nam Tae-geon, a monstrous individual.”
