Chapter 17
The Vampire Request
Bokbok Interior.
A single-story, traditional Korean-style building stood along a quiet roadside.
Through its glass walls, you could see warm lights illuminating the interior, and in the back of the shop was a large warehouse.
If you followed the narrow path behind it, you’d reach a small yard filled with flowers and trees — and beyond that, a grand, elegantly decorated hanok called the Inner Hall.
Around the Inner Hall was a powerful barrier — no ordinary human could enter. Only beings possessing divine or semi-divine power could pass through it.
Creeeak.
The door to the Inner Hall opened, and a woman in a sleek suit walked out, the sound of her heels echoing crisply.
It was Jang Chaewon.
“Hah… this is troublesome.”
She sighed, looking down at a neatly folded red envelope tucked into her notebook.
“I really don’t want to take this request.”
Closing the notebook, she drooped her shoulders.
“But I guess I can’t refuse — work’s been slow lately.”
Following the narrow path, Chaewon walked through the warehouse door and entered the Bokbok Interior shop.
Inside, under the bright lights, a burly man was mopping the floor. It was Cheonma.
“Oh, you’re back,” he said.
“What’s this? You’re actually cleaning?”
Cheonma leaned his mop against the wall. His eyes gleamed with a strange sense of dedication.
“Even simple tasks like cleaning bring in inner power, do they not?”
“Inner power? Oh… you mean divine energy?”
Chaewon clicked her tongue with disinterest.
He didn’t seem to notice — he kept mopping diligently, grunting as he pushed the mop with his massive frame. It was almost… cute.
“But what should I do about this,” she muttered, glancing again at the red envelope.
She opened a drawer under her desk. Once, it would have been full of red envelopes — now it was completely empty.
“Something happened?” Cheonma asked.
“Yeah. A divine request came in.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? Yesterday you were grumbling about not getting any.”
“It would be — if it weren’t this kind of request.”
Resting her chin on her hand, Chaewon stared at the envelope.
“I hate vampires.”
“Vampires?”
“You’d know them as bloodsuckers.”
At that, Cheonma’s eyes flashed sharply.
“You mean those lifeless corpses that wander around craving human blood?”
“Hmm… not exactly, but close.”
“So, a demon extermination request, is it? Excellent. Leave that to me.”
“It’s not that kind.”
Chaewon sighed and pointed at the big sign on the window: ‘Home Repair Specialists.’
“Try to remember what kind of business we actually run.”
“I thought divine requests could be anything?”
“They can, but most end up being renovation-related.”
Looking down at her notebook again, she took a deep breath.
“Well, whatever. Let’s get this over with.”
A Certain Old Apartment, 14th Floor
Staring at the gray-toned door wrapped in film, Chaewon slumped her shoulders.
“Ugh… now that I’m here, I’m really regretting this. I hate the smell already.”
“What smell?”
“Blood. I hate it.”
“If you hate it so much, return to the shop. I’ll handle this myself.”
Chaewon laughed weakly.
“That’d be nice, but you still haven’t learned plumbing yet, have you?”
“…True.”
“Then we don’t have a choice. Work is work, and divine requests are rare these days.”
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong!
“Bokbok Interior here!” she called brightly.
Click.
The door opened — and out stepped a large, shadowy figure.
It was… a bear.
A big, fluffy black bear wearing a short-sleeved shirt and glasses.
“Ah, I’ve been waiting for you,” the bear said politely.
Cheonma froze.
“…A bear?”
“Yes?”
“I see. A bear indeed.”
He nodded, but his brain refused to accept what his eyes saw.
“I had beef soup with the shop owner last night,” he murmured gravely. “But the meat in it was pork.”
“…Excuse me?”
Chaewon jabbed him in the ribs and hissed, “Shut up and stop babbling nonsense.”
“Please, come in,” said the black bear, gesturing with his short arm.
Cheonma’s gaze locked onto the paw.
‘Bear paw…’
He swallowed hard — bear paw stew was one of his favorite dishes.
Meanwhile, Chaewon had already stepped inside and taken off her shoes.
“Where’s the leak?”
“This way.”
In the kitchen, crimson liquid dripped down from the ceiling above the sink.
“Shop owner,” said Cheonma grimly, “that’s blood.”
“I know. Tear off the wallpaper up there.”
“The paper on the ceiling?”
“Yeah. It’s silk wallpaper — you’ll need to peel it a bit.”
Cheonma reached up — his 190cm height made the task easy.
Rip—
As he tore off the soaked wallpaper, dried blood stains became visible beneath it.
“Hmm. Not fully dried yet,” said Chaewon.
“What do you mean? It looks hardened to me.”
“There’s a concrete slab between floors. It takes time for moisture to seep all the way through. And since silk wallpaper has a vinyl coating, you’ve got to peel it off and let it dry properly.”
Cheonma nodded in awe.
“I see. I’ll remember that.”
“You must’ve been uncomfortable with the smell,” she said to the bear.
“Yes, it’s the mix of blood and mold,” he said, scratching his head.
“The position suggests the issue’s with the upstairs kitchen pipes. We’ll check it out.”
“Please do.”
15th Floor
Standing before the pitch-black door, Chaewon frowned.
Dark, ominous energy seeped from the cracks.
“Hmm.”
Ding-dong.
No answer.
“What? No one’s home? The client said they’d be here.”
Cheonma, staring at the door, suddenly furrowed his brow.
As he reached out, an unseen force pushed his hand away.
“This door… it’s protected by strange energy.”
“Oh, wow, you’re right. Figures a vampire would put a ward on their front door.”
Chaewon sighed and looked at her phone.
“I’ll have to call the deity who requested this and ask for their number.”
“No need,” said Cheonma, crouching low.
His right fist twisted — and red flames flared around it.
“Wait, no, you can’t use fire! The ceiling here’s low!”
“Relax. I’m only breaking the barrier.”
His punch struck the door.
Crack—! Shatter!
The magical force shattered instantly.
“Who the hell are you?”
The door burst open, and a thin man stepped out — pale as flour, long eyes, black slacks, white shirt.
He looked exactly like what you’d picture if someone said “vampire.”
“Why did you destroy the enchantment on my door?” he hissed, eyes glowing purple.
Cheonma squinted at him.
“Hmm. Same height as me, but half the body mass. Pity.”
Chaewon quickly stepped between them.
“Ah, we’re here on behalf of Lord Cho Eunsin — about the water leak downstairs. You didn’t hear?”
“I heard.”
“Good. Then we’ll just take a quick look ins—”
“Stop.”
He blocked her path, eyes full of contempt.
“I don’t allow half-demons or humans in my home.”
Chaewon’s eyebrow twitched — but she forced a smile.
“What did you just—”
“The stench of swine is everywhere,” he sneered.
It was pure insult.
Chaewon’s shoulders trembled, head bowed.
The vampire smirked.
“Tell your employer to hire a shop run by purebloods next time.”
Bang! The door slammed shut.
Chaewon stood there, staring at the floor.
“Half-demon? What’s he talking about?” asked Cheonma.
No answer.
“Shop owner?”
After a pause, she laughed softly — but it wasn’t pleasant.
“Ahh… there’s always one. Some long-lived yokai who think they’re gods.”
Her eyes glowed an icy blue.
Behind her, it looked as though a flaming demon grinned, flicking its tongue.
“Shall we kill him?” Cheonma asked calmly.
Given how easily Chaewon could floor him with one punch, if she lost her temper, that scrawny vampire wouldn’t last a second.
But instead she smiled — a chilling, crooked smile.
“Kill him? No. We’ve got work to do.”
Her voice dropped low, metallic. She pointed to the door.
“Do what you’re best at. Hit it.”
Cheonma swallowed. “All right. Don’t regret it later.”
He crouched, energy surging.
“Fist Art: Rising Dragon!”
CRASH!
The front door folded in half and slammed to the floor.
“What the hell are you doing!” the vampire shouted, stepping out — but Chaewon ignored him and walked right in.
He reached to grab her shoulder — but Cheonma caught his wrist mid-air and twisted.
“Watch your hands.”
“You filthy human! How dare you touch me?”
The vampire tried to wrench free — but his face contorted in shock. Cheonma’s grip was like iron tongs.
“Ugh—”
Even as his wrist twisted, he yelled toward Chaewon, “You can’t come in without permission!”
Her head turned slightly, eyes glowing bright blue.
“A lowly vampire pretending to be a god?”
“W-what?”
“Even vampire lords wouldn’t dare talk down to me. What are you, one of Roav’s brood?”
At the name, the vampire blanched.
Roav — the head of the most powerful vampire family, said to be the strongest of all.
Chaewon leaned in, her blue eyes blazing.
“Or maybe you want to be divine? Shall I introduce you to Lord Woo-seon?”
Her once-youthful face now radiated dark, sensual power — even Cheonma found it unnerving.
“Or how about Original Spirit Won-Yo? You can use blood familiars and resurrection spells, right?”
“I… I…”
The man dropped his gaze.
“I made a mistake,” he murmured. “My apologies.”
Chaewon just stared, silent, her blue eyes shimmering.
“And… you’re welcome to come in,” he added weakly.
“Oh, thank you~.”
Instantly, her expression softened into a bright, innocent smile.
“Running a divine agency is so hard! Always cleaning up after the gods. Hohoho.”
The vampire finally realized what she was — someone who worked directly with the gods.
And that made her far more dangerous than any vampire.
“My apologies, miss. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s fine,” she said lightly. “Happens all the time.”
(Especially with vampires, she thought, but didn’t say.)
Turning, she waved at Cheonma.
“Cheonma, come pull out the bottom panel under the sink.”
“Understood.”
He removed the wooden board, revealing water pooled around the pipes.
“Yep, pipe’s blocked,” she said, turning on the faucet.
Instead of clear water, red liquid gushed out.
“Ugh. Hate this.”
The red water briefly drained before backing up again.
“It’s just clogged. We’ll clear the pipe — no major work needed.”
The vampire nodded obediently.
“I understand.”
“Oh, and the door repair fee will be added to your bill. It broke during work, so tell Lord Cho Eunsin to handle it~.”
“…Got it,” he said, resigned.
“Cheonma, grab a pipe auger from the shop later and come back to clear this.”
“I don’t know how to use it.”
“Then come back with me first. I’ll call the contractor and you can watch him do it.”
Cheonma nodded solemnly, then looked at the vampire.
“When I return, don’t pretend you’re not home. Open the door properly.”
The vampire snapped, “You broke it — there is no door!”
“True. Then wait quietly. And don’t bother bringing me a drink — I don’t drink beverages.”
As Cheonma rambled pompously, the vampire’s face reddened.
“Why are you talking down to me?”
“Talking down?”
“I’m a vampire!”
“So?”
“I’m over 120 years old!”
“And?”
Cheonma crossed his arms, unimpressed.
“Clean out your ears and listen well. I am Cheonma.”
