Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 96

“There’s perfume in my pocket, the bottle…”

“Break it. That’s the start of this whole thing, the root of all evil.”

Hyun and Yoonhwa exchanged startled looks.

Hyun cautiously approached Rose and pulled a small perfume bottle from her pocket.

Yoonhwa examined the bottle in Hyun’s hand closely.

“Is this really it…”

Rose nodded and said, “If that breaks… Hyun will be freed from the magic… and he won’t like me anymore…”

Nomi looked at Hyun with curious eyes, wondering how this situation would unfold.

Hyun hesitated for a moment but then resolutely threw the perfume bottle to the floor.

As it hit the ground and shattered, a pink liquid splashed out, soaking the warehouse floor.

The air suddenly filled with a fragrant smell, stimulating everyone’s senses.

Rose began to laugh happily.

Her laughter echoed in the warehouse, making the space even more bizarre.

With the fragrance released from the broken bottle filling the warehouse, Hyun, Yoonhwa, and Nomi felt a sudden change.

As the pink liquid spread, the lovely scent enveloped them, and from that moment, their actions started to get strange.

Hyun’s face began to turn red, and his breathing quickened.

He found himself unconsciously shrugging his shoulders and moving his body subtly.

His gaze sparkled with excitement, and he seemed to struggle to keep his composure.

The situation became odd for Yoonhwa as well.

Her cheeks flushed, and her breath became shallow.

She clutched her chest, trying to steady herself.

There was a sense of instability and excitement in Yoonhwa’s movements.

Without realizing it, Yoonhwa released the magic she held.

Nomi was also affected by the scent of the perfume, but her reaction was slightly different.

She walked back and forth, confused by the strange feeling.

Nomi’s eyes darted around, reflecting her chaotic state.

Watching the whole situation unfold, Rose wore a thrilled and victorious smile.

She stood up, quickly gathering papers and photos scattered around the warehouse.

Her movements were swift and decisive.

“See you next time, my darlings♥..”

“You’re truly fantastic. To corner me like this…//”

“Isn’t this so exciting! ♥♥”

Rose said as she admired Hyun, Yoonhwa, and Nomi, intoxicated by the scent of the perfume.

Her voice was laced with triumph as she confidently left the warehouse.

As Rose burst out laughing and exited the warehouse, left behind, Hyun, Yoonhwa, and Nomi exchanged confused glances.

In particular, Yoonhwa, with her keen sense of smell, suffered more intensely from the strong scent of the perfume and fell into a strange state.

Yoonhwa’s face grew increasingly red, her breathing becoming more erratic.

She felt her body slipping out of her control due to the perfume’s effects, and her emotions heightened.

“We- we need to get out of here quickly…!”

Yoonhwa twisted her body, heading for the exit.

Her steps were unstable, and her desperation to find fresh air outside was evident.

Nomi, worried about Yoonhwa, followed her.

Though Nomi was also bewildered by the scent of the perfume, her heart ached to see Yoonhwa suffering more.

Hyun momentarily regained his focus and pursued the two girls.

He too was still befuddled by the perfume’s fragrance.

The three relied on each other as they exited the warehouse, greeted by fresh air.

Yoonhwa began to stabilize as she took deep breaths of fresh air.

Hyun and Nomi, emerging from the warehouse, gradually started to shake off the influence of the perfume.

As soon as they stepped out of the warehouse, the strange effects caused by the scent began to ebb, but their bodies still felt heated. Yoonhwa, especially, was feeling the strong effects due to her sensitive sense of smell and remained in an unstable condition.

“I’m so thirsty…”

Yoonhwa said desperately as she looked around.

Hyun stayed close to Yoonhwa, trying to help her regain her composure.

Nomi quickly scanned the area and spotted a water jug nearby.

“Here, here’s water!”

Nomi ran over with the jug. Hyun hurriedly took the water jug from Nomi and handed it to Yoonhwa.

Yoonhwa took the water jug and gulped down several large swigs, quenching her burning thirst. Hyun and Nomi followed suit, drinking as well.

As the cold water flowed down their throats, their bodies started to calm gradually.

As they began to regain their composure while drinking, Yoonhwa closed her eyes and took deep breaths.

“Ha-… Rose has run away…”

“What should we do now..?”

Yoonhwa’s voice was laced with fatigue and confusion.

Hyun wrapped his arms around Yoonhwa’s shoulders and offered comforting words.

“For now… let’s head home. Get some rest…”

“A lot has happened.”

Everyone agreed to Hyun’s suggestion and began heading home, but it was still raining outside.

Without umbrellas, the three had no way to avoid the rain.

As the rain fell, Yoonhwa and Nomi observed Hyun’s troubled expression.

Yoonhwa, with her youkai instincts, was undisturbed by the rain, while Nomi seemed to be accepting the situation positively.

“Let’s go while getting rained on! It feels refreshing..~”

Yoonhwa said as she embraced the downpour.

There was a hint of freedom in her voice.

Nomi nodded along in agreement.

“Right, it does!”

Nomi’s voice was bright and cheerful.

She seemed to have a joyful attitude towards the situation.

Hyun frowned for a moment but eventually agreed with Yoonhwa and Nomi’s opinions.

“Yeah.. yeah, what’s wrong with getting a bit wet.”

So, the three headed home, getting drenched in the rain.

The raindrops soaked them, while the strange effects of the perfume gradually began to wane.

As the rainwater flowed down their faces and bodies, the heat and excitement felt in the warehouse slowly faded away.

Yoonhwa sighed with relief as she got soaked in the rain.

Her sharp sense of smell began to find stability again due to the fresh scent of the rain, and the intense perfume was no longer tormenting her.

Hyun also started to feel the effects of the perfume fade as he felt the rain dripping on him.

His gaze grew clearer, and his breath steadied.

The rain seemed to wash away the confusion and excitement inside him.

Hyun felt the tumultuous emotions he had been experiencing gradually dissipate.

Nomi laughed brightly as she enjoyed the rain.

To her, the rain felt like a new adventure, and escaping the strange state caused by the perfume was an exciting experience.

She danced about, welcoming the falling rain, and in the process, her inner chaos began to settle.

Namgil had been busy since morning, and by afternoon, he started peeling apples to feed his daughter.

His daughter was deeply engrossed in a cartoon book, lying face down on her blanket in her room.

She occasionally kicked her feet, lost in the fun and excitement of the story in the cartoon.

Her room was her little world, and the comic books were her escape from reality.

His wife was busily folding laundry in the living room.

She meticulously folded the clothes and placed them into the laundry basket.

Occasionally, she smiled at the laughter coming from her daughter’s room, taking for granted the peaceful time spent with family.

But suddenly, a bizarre phenomenon occurred in the kitchen.

Though his wife was enjoying a peaceful afternoon folding laundry, an entirely different situation was unfolding in the kitchen.

The space in front of Namgil began to ripple and twist unexpectedly.

Amid the rippling, a man who had introduced himself as Miryeong gradually revealed himself.

Namgil felt deep astonishment and fear at the sight before him.

His heart raced, and his breath became quick.

It was terror and bewilderment at the occurrence of such a surreal event.

As Miryeong’s visage became clearer, his gaze seemed to pierce through Namgil.

With a smile, he said to Namgil, “Are you having a happy time?”

As Miryeong’s figure slowly became apparent in the undulating space of the kitchen, Namgil’s eyes widened in surprise.

Miryeong’s face was filled with ambiguous features.

His appearance blurred the lines between male and female, and his skin had a mystical hue that couldn’t be defined by any one color.

Though his hair had previously appeared long, this time it seemed short, and his entire being exuded an otherworldly alienness.

Namgil strove to express gratitude through his fear as he gazed at Miryeong.

“You… back then— that, really, thank you…!!”

“Are you… a ghost..??”

To Namgil’s question, Miryeong smiled softly.

Yet, something hidden behind his smile left Namgil feeling even more anxious.

As Miryeong’s gaze suddenly turned sharp, his true intentions were revealed.

“Oh, wishes always come with a price.”

“I’ve given you precious time.”

“Now as payment, shouldn’t you give me your time…?”

Miryeong’s voice grew cold suddenly, and his words emanated a greedy aura.

His tone lost its previous softness and kindness, replaced by an intense craving for something.

Namgil felt as though he was suffocating from his words.

The joy of regaining his family swiftly transformed into fear and dread. He realized Miryeong’s true intentions.

“My- my time…?”

“What does that even mean? I’m still…”

Namgil’s voice trembled, confusion and fear flooding his heart.

He froze momentarily, grasping the meaning of Miryeong’s words.

His voice shook with desperation.

“L- my life, please don’t… how did I just get my family back…?!”

He pleaded with Miryeong with an almost begging demeanor.

Despairing tears welled in his eyes.

Hearing her husband’s desperate voice, his wife, in the living room folding laundry, sensed a threat looming over him.

With an anxious heart, she sprinted to the kitchen.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, she immediately sensed the tense atmosphere between Namgil and Miryeong.

Seeing the fear and desperation shadowing her husband’s face, she instinctively grasped the gravity of the situation.

“Who are you..?”

The moment she rushed into the kitchen, the tension in the air became almost palpable.

She positioned herself between the two, fixing her gaze on Miryeong as she tried to ascertain the threat looming over her husband.

Miryeong approached her slowly.

His movement was ghostly silent, and the air vibrated around him with each step he took.

He gently grasped the wife’s head, rendering her unconscious.

Her body fell limply to the floor.

She had fainted in an instant, and Namgil was aghast at the sight.

“What, w- what are you doing-?!”

“P- please, don’t harm my family…!!”

Namgil knelt beside his wife, scrutinizing her face.

He lightly patted her shoulder, trying to rouse her, but she was deep in slumber.

Miryeong regarded Namgil coolly, showing no sign of disturbance. It was as if all of this were just mundane to him.

“She merely fainted.”

Miryeong’s voice remained calm, yet a sinister energy lingered within.

His words only heightened Namgil’s anxiety.

Miryeong’s chilling voice filled the kitchen.

“Your life is of no need.”

“You just need to follow my words well.”

His tone held a commanding authority, his gaze fixed firmly on Namgil.

Feeling suffocating terror from Miryeong’s words, Namgil simultaneously realized a deal might be possible.

His eyes trembled with uncertainty as he struggled to make a decision, taking a deep breath before responding.

“Wh- what must I do??”

Miryeong’s voice resonated with authority, filling the space.

“You have one week. Earn a million won within that time.”