Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 20

Yoonhwa’s despairing cries filled the living room, echoing as if they sprung from a deep wound.

In that moment, her friends felt her pain and joined in her sorrow.

They tried to hold Yoonhwa tightly to let her know she wasn’t alone, but the despair resting deep in her heart was not something they could easily soothe.

The air in the living room was heavy with oppressive silence.

Only Yoonhwa’s cries resounded in the darkness.

The friends looked at each other.

After Eunho’s betrayal and the revelation of his intentions, shock and confusion filled their hearts.

Hyun turned on the living room light and spoke first.

“Everything… was planned by Eunho…”

“I can’t believe it. How could he fool all of us so easily?!”

Seojin spoke with a voice laced with anger and sorrow.

“He played with all of us.”

“And he hurt Yoonhwa so badly…! He took the Fox Orb…!!”

Kangtae clenched his fists tightly.

“What we need to do is find Eunho and get the Fox Orb back.”

“If we’re together, we can do it.”

Yoonhwa muttered, still in disbelief.

“Eunho… why… would he do this to me…!?”

“Everything… I can’t believe it…”

Feelings of betrayal and loss intertwined in her heart.

She reflected on their memories, unable to understand why he made such a choice.

Hyun spoke determinedly.

“We have to drop everything and get Yoonhwa’s Fox Orb back..!”

The friends surrounded Yoonhwa, trying to lend her strength.

Yoonhwa began to regain a little peace of mind from their warm gestures.

“Thank you… if it weren’t for you guys…”

“I wouldn’t have been able to endure this…”

They held each other tightly, pledging to overcome this trial together.

The bond of friendship deepened as they faced this difficult time.

The friends were contemplating how to deal with Eunho’s betrayal and its aftermath.

With no option to report to the police, they had to rely on each other’s strength.

Yoonhwa explained to her friends what Eunho had done to her, and they began to deduce who he was.

“Eunho… asked me a few questions…”

“He poked at the things I’m afraid of… gradually…!”

“Magnifying in the darkness…!”

Upon her words, the friends felt pity.

Seojin shouted as if something dawned on her.

“Wait… Darkness Demon…!”

Seojin ran to the desk and searched for a book titled ‘Monsters and Myths of Korea’ to find information on the Darkness Demon.

With trembling hands, her excitement grew as she began flipping through the pages.

“Here..! There was a section on the Darkness Demon..!!”

But contrary to her expectations, the important pages about the Darkness Demon were brutally torn out by someone.

“Who would do this…?”

Seojin’s voice trembled with anger and despair.

Kangtae approached Seojin and said.

“This has to be intentional… Eunho…”

“Trying to stop us from finding the clues about him..!!”

Hyun looked around the book with a serious expression.

“But what should we do now…”

“This was the only information we could find—.”

Yoonhwa wiped her tears and sat quietly on the sofa, lost in thought.

Seojin proposed something new.

“Let’s go to the bookstore. We might find more information there.”

Kangtae nodded.

“Alright, that’s the best we can do.”

“Let’s head to the library..!”

Hyun stood up and said.

“Then let’s go now. We don’t have time to lose.”

The friends huddled closely around Yoonhwa.

Through this trial, their friendship deepened, and they learned that they could overcome any hardship together.

The streets were warmly bathed in the morning sunlight.

In the peaceful atmosphere of the small town, Yoonhwa and her friends headed resolutely towards the bookstore.

Their steps were heavy, but they were filled with trust and unity towards one another.

As they made their way to the bookstore, Hyun quietly walked beside Yoonhwa, approaching her.

His face was filled with concern.

Gently glancing at Yoonhwa, Hyun cautiously asked.

“Yoonhwa, what happens if you don’t have the Fox Orb?”

Yoonhwa sighed and replied.

“If I don’t have the Fox Orb… I can’t use my powers properly.”

“The orb is the source of my strength.”

She paused for a moment and looked at the sky.

Her eyes glistened with moisture.

“And more seriously, without the orb, I… I could turn back into a fox…!!”

“If that happens, I won’t be able to maintain my human form, and I’ll be… distanced from everything I love.”

Hyun’s heart ached at Yoonhwa’s words. He felt a more resolute determination.

“Then we absolutely must get the Fox Orb back.”

“We’ll do everything we can to help you.”

Yoonhwa smiled faintly at Hyun’s warm words. She felt comforted by her friends’ support and love.

“Thank you, Hyun… Just your presence gives me strength.”

“If we’re together, I’m sure we can do it.”

The two looked at each other and nodded.

During this difficult time, relying on each other, the friends continued their journey to reclaim Yoonhwa’s Fox Orb.

Seojin and Kangtae realized how crucial the Fox Orb was for Yoonhwa through her responses.

With eyes filled with understanding and compassion, they gazed at Yoonhwa.

Seojin stepped forward to lead the way.

Kangtae surveyed the surroundings, listening to the sounds of nature surrounding the village.

The friends exchanged light conversation occasionally, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts.

Upon entering the town center, they spotted the familiar sign of the bookstore.

The bookstore’s door was half-open, and warm light streamed out with the sound of a gentle song.

Seojin stepped forward and said.

“There it is, the bookstore we were looking for!”

“Maybe we can find a clue about Eunho there.”

The friends nodded at her words and headed towards the bookstore.

As they passed through the door, they were enveloped in a serene and serious atmosphere, accompanied by the scent of old books.

Yoonhwa took a deep breath and looked at her friends. Her gaze was a mix of fear and hope.

But buoyed by her friends’ support, she began to feel courage slowly return.

Holding hands together, they stepped into the bookstore.

The warm air of the bookstore wrapped around them, opening the door to new possibilities.

The town’s bookstore was small and old, but it was filled with a variety of books.

The books carried a unique ambiance, stained with time and countless hands.

In every corner of the bookstore, there were books on history, literature, science, and a few on myths, legends, and monsters.

When the friends arrived at the bookstore, they were greeted by the warm smile of an old man, the owner of the shop.

Noticing the urgency in their expressions, he asked with interest.

“Welcome~ What kind of book are you looking for?”

Seojin stepped forward to respond.

“Hello, we’re looking for books on myths and legends, especially concerning monsters.”

“Do you have anything like that here?-”

The old man’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh, we have a few books here. Follow me.”

They followed the old man to a corner of the bookstore.

There, several books on myths and legends were displayed. The old man carefully took a few books and handed them to the friends.

“These books might be helpful. The information you’re looking for might be contained within.”

The friends each took a book and eagerly began flipping through the pages.

There were a total of seven books related to monsters, each adorned with distinctive covers.

The four sat on chairs and quickly searched through their contents.

Many of the books were old and worn, and dust flew with each turned page.

Each cover was decorated with unique illustrations and writings, giving it a sense of having traveled through time.

Seojin rapidly flipped through the pages, exploring the traits and legends of the monsters.

Kangtae struggled to find if the Darkness Demon was mentioned in the table of contents.

Yoonhwa also examined the books anxiously, checking for any signs of the Darkness Demon.

Time passed, and the friends gradually grew weary.

They found no mention of the Darkness Demon.

The books were filled with fascinating monster stories and legends, but lacked the specific information they needed.

Finally, Hyun spoke with a disappointed tone.

“There’s nothing… These books don’t contain the information we need..!”

At that moment, the bookstore owner approached them and spoke cautiously.

“Everyone, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, how about visiting the big library in the next town?”

“You’ll likely find more resources there.”

Yoonhwa nodded listlessly.

“I guess so… Thank you…”

Kangtae looked at the other friends and said.

“Alright, let’s head to the next town.”

“If it’s a library, we might find more information.”

The friends organized the books and thanked the bookstore owner before stepping outside.

Once outside, the friends paused momentarily as the cold winter air hit them. Hyun glanced around and said.

“We have to walk a bit to the library in the next town. Is everyone okay?”

Seojin replied with a lively voice.

“We can walk as much as needed!”

“Of course, we have to go for Yoonhwa!”

Yoonhwa smiled lightly at her friends’ encouragement.

“Thank you so much..!”

“If there’s anything about the Darkness Demon in the library…?”

Kangtae stepped forward to lead the way.

“Go this way—there’s a small bridge. We’ll cross it, and we’ll be right next door.”

The friends encouraged each other as they walked towards the bridge.

The trees along the road swayed with the winter breeze, as if celebrating their journey.

Yoonhwa curiously asked Hyun, looking at the old wristwatch he was wearing.

“Hyun… why do you wear that watch every day?”

“It looks worn out..”

Hyun momentarily looked surprised at Yoonhwa.

He smiled gently at her innocent question.

“Oh, it’s not a bracelet, Yoonhwa.”

“It’s a wristwatch.”

“It tells the time.”

Yoonhwa’s eyes widened in surprise at Hyun’s explanation.

She wasn’t well-acquainted with modern gadgets.

“Oh.. it tells the time… I didn’t know that…!”

Hyun smiled warmly at Yoonhwa’s innocent reaction.

“This watch is very special to me.”

“The reason I wear it every day is…”

“…it’s the only gift left to me by my late parents.”

Hyun’s voice carried a hint of sadness, but his gaze reflected warm affection for his parents.

Yoonhwa, hearing Hyun’s words, looked at him silently for a moment.

A glow of understanding and empathy shone in her eyes.

“So that’s why… you keep wearing that watch..”

“I’m sorry, I must have asked too lightly..!”

Hyun waved his hand at Yoonhwa’s apology with a soft reply.

“No—no! It’s okay.”

In that moment, Seojin lightly laughed, trying to shift the mood.

“Hyun, do you really have to bring up such sad things in a situation like this?”

“Are you trying to make it more depressing~!?”

At Seojin’s words, the friends burst into laughter for a brief moment.

Hyun also chuckled and replied.

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to dampen the mood. Haha…”

Hyun walked a little further, rubbing his legs.

“But after walking, my legs hurt a bit…”

“Kangtae, how much longer do we have…?”

Kangtae responded to Hyun’s complaint with a grin.

“Hyun, you need to build up some stamina.”

“How can you be this tired over just this much~”

Hyun smirked at Kangtae’s joke.

“Anyway, I only play the cello…”

“What’s the big deal…!?”

“Just another 10 minutes more to walk.”

Hyun’s eyes widened as he shouted at Kangtae’s words.

“What? We still have 10 more minutes?!”

His voice carried a hint of exaggeration, but beneath it lay genuine fatigue.

Yoonhwa stifled a laugh at Hyun’s whiny reaction.

“C’mon, Hyun, let’s push a bit more.”

“Together, we’ll get there soon…”

Seojin felt good seeing the enjoyable atmosphere flowing among her friends.

“Seeing you all smiling like this makes me feel so relaxed.”

“Yoonhwa really looks pretty when she smiles!”

Hyun, boosted by Yoonhwa’s encouragement, began to walk again.

“Yeah, then let’s push a bit more..”

“With everyone together, it won’t take long.”

As time passed, the friends were almost arriving.

“I hope the library in the next town has the answers we need… May everything be revealed..!”

Their steps quickened, and by the time they reached the next town, they were slightly out of breath.

As they stood at the town’s main gate, Kangtae sighed and said.

“Finally made it..!”

“Here, we should be able to find the information we need..”

“We must find it..”

They began to step into the town.

The friends’ hearts were filled with hope and determination.

At last, they arrived in the neighboring town.

This place looked much larger and more developed than their original village.

Bustling streets, many stores, and the busy movement of people welcomed the four.

Seojin, admiring the beauty of this town, exclaimed.

“Wow, this place feels nothing like our village.”

“Everything seems new and vibrant!”

Hyun looked around and added.

“Really… if we’re here, I feel we can find the information we need.”

Yoonhwa, full of curiosity in the new environment, looked around.

“There are so many diverse things here. Where could the library be?”

Kangtae confidently shrugged and said.

“Don’t worry. I know this place well.”

“The library is in this direction.”

Following Kangtae, the friends stepped towards the library.