Chapter 14
Second Tale
You Shouldn’t Take in an Animal You Can’t Raise (3)
Si-ha had only stuffed her feelings deep inside; she didn’t truly take Cheon-yul’s words to heart.
Glancing at the sunlight coming through the window, it seemed lower now. Checking the time, she realized it was almost time to leave.
As Si-ha began preparing to head out mid-conversation, Cheon-yul followed her.
“We’re in the middle of talking. Where are you going?”
“Part-time job.”
“The dusk hunting job? Then I’ll come along too.”
Su-won, looking confused, interjected into their conversation.
“Dusk hunting? But Kyung’s leg hasn’t fully healed yet. Are you planning to go alone? Did you find a substitute?”
“Uh… well…”
Si-ha scratched her cheek awkwardly at Su-won’s questioning.
“That’s why it’s too dangerous. Simple dusk spirits might be fine, but there’s also those nasty shadowy spirits. Don’t go alone until Kyung’s substitute is found.”
Si-ha quickly waved off Su-won’s scolding.
“No, no! I’m not going alone…”
Looking for an excuse, Si-ha glanced around and swiftly pulled Cheon-yul, who was just standing there blankly, to her side.
“Here! You’re Kyung unnie’s substitute!”
“Me?”
Si-ha pointed at Cheon-yul with her finger and looked at him triumphantly as he blinked in confusion.
Su-won, however, sounded incredulous.
“Cheon-yul?”
“Yes! Cheon-yul! Didn’t you say yesterday that you’d help me with the dusk hunting?”
“That’s right. I did say that.”
Cheon-yul nodded, and Si-ha brightened.
“Then it’s settled! Cheon-yul will go instead of Kyung unnie for the dusk hunt. Right, Su-won?”
“Uh…”
Su-won trailed off, looking reluctant.
Even though it was an impromptu solution, Si-ha was pleased with her decision.
“Since Cheon-yul said he’d help, let’s take him along as a test. If he turns out useless, we can act like it never happened. At least he’ll have earned the food I gave him yesterday. And since he claims we’re in love, he should be willing to do this much.”
Si-ha’s reasoning sounded convincing, and Cheon-yul looked at Su-won with a hopeful expression.
Su-won sighed in semi-resignation.
“You didn’t need to ask me. He’s going no matter what, isn’t he?”
“No, he’s not going blindly. Cheon-yul may be a demigod, but do you think I’d act like this without thinking?”
“All right, all right. I’ll trust you.”
Si-ha’s encouragement made Cheon-yul puff out his chest proudly.
“Then we better not be late. Let’s go, Cheon-yul!”
“Yeah.”
Cheon-yul happily ran ahead, and Si-ha followed, but turned back to give Su-won one last warning.
“Don’t tell Kyung unnie, got it?”
Su-won let out a small sigh as he watched Si-ha leave.
“All right… since it’s come to this…”
Si-ha started the scooter, now wearing a different expression as she looked at Cheon-yul.
Just a minute ago, she had been kind and trusting, but now her face was calm, almost cold.
She tossed Cheon-yul a helmet and quietly warned him.
“It’s fine to watch, but don’t interfere. Then I’ll take you along.”
“What? Your attitude changed. Earlier you just used me as an excuse for that land deity?”
Cheon-yul glared at Si-ha in disbelief.
Si-ha nodded.
“I’m still taking you. If you prove useful, I’ll keep taking you along. But don’t get in the way.”
“What do you take me for? I’ll help you more than you expect.”
Si-ha doubted that Cheon-yul could actually be that capable. Until yesterday, he had been running from the dusk spirits.
She decided not to hope for anything, fearing disappointment.
But Cheon-yul confidently pointed at himself with his thumb.
“Actually, I regained some of my strength last night. Anyway, if I prove useful, you’ll keep taking me along? If not, you can kick me out.”
Honestly, Si-ha thought this brainless one would probably never meet her standards.
But talking with Cheon-yul drained her energy, so she only nodded silently.
“All right! I promise you won’t regret it.”
Whatever Cheon-yul planned to do, she could always ask Su-won to chase him if necessary. For now, she would just watch.
Even if he acted wildly, claiming love as an excuse made him reasonably compliant.
Si-ha comforted herself with that thought.
“Then, let’s go!”
Cheon-yul ran ahead excitedly, and Si-ha followed, feeling like the passenger.
Like yesterday, Cheon-yul sat on the back of the scooter, urging her to hurry by tapping her hand.
With Cheon-yul on her back, Si-ha drove the scooter off.
Cheon-yul had already explored the human world until morning, so he wasn’t as overly amazed or fussy as he had been yesterday.
Even though Kyung hadn’t given them the address for the request, it wasn’t hard for Si-ha to find it.
Since the request came through the Shaman Association, she could easily inquire and get the address.
She stopped the scooter in front of the old commercial-residential building.
One window in particular radiated a distinctly ominous aura.
“Looks like that’s the place.”
Cheon-yul whistled lightly, ready to lead the way again, but Si-ha raised her arm to block him.
“Stay behind me. I don’t know what kind of person we’re dealing with.”
A polite way to warn him not to act recklessly.
“But…”
Cheon-yul opened his mouth, then closed it after sensing Si-ha’s serious tone.
Si-ha, calm but sharp as a honed blade, gave nothing away, unlike her normally quiet demeanor.
Cheon-yul, realizing this, didn’t push it.
Si-ha began climbing the stairs first.
Even the sound of her footsteps gave off a gloomy vibe.
Though there were no evil spirits or harmful monsters, the energy alone was enough for dusk spirits to appear naturally.
And a person exuding such negative energy made a perfect host for them.
Si-ha understood why Kyung had warned her: the yin energy was too strong.
Unlike tense Si-ha, Cheon-yul seemed completely unbothered, casually looking around.
Si-ha pressed the doorbell of the building.
But it had long been broken, producing no sound.
Inside, there was no sign anyone had noticed them.
Si-ha knocked on the door with her fist, calling out.
“…Who is it?”
The recluse inside at least responded.
“A cleaning company.”
Si-ha muttered, glaring at Cheon-yul.
“Technically, it is cleaning.”
Before Cheon-yul could respond, they heard the sound of a lock turning inside.
A man with dark shadows under his eyes appeared, half his face visible through the security chain.
He looked like he hadn’t showered for days; his shirt was stained with instant noodle broth and stretched at the collar.
He seemed no older than his late twenties.
“Cleaning…?”
“Yes, I’m supposed to clean this building today.”
He glanced at his watch, suspicious.
“At this time…?”
“Something came up.”
The man looked doubtful.
“And what business do you have with it?”
“The water seems to be dripping to the lower unit. I just need to check the balcony, so please cooperate briefly.”
Si-ha was better at lying than Cheon-yul expected.
The man thought for a moment, then reluctantly unlocked the remaining chain with a clearly displeased expression.
Si-ha gave a light nod and stepped inside.
Cheon-yul followed, wrinkling his nose at the foul odor.
It wasn’t just the smell of a messy, unkempt home—it was something different.
Cheon-yul, with his divine brain, noticed it; ordinary humans wouldn’t detect such a stench.
“The balcony is that way…”
The man pointed, and an ominous aura flickered in his eyes.
Before Si-ha could even notice, Cheon-yul impatiently grabbed the man by the neck.
“Cheon-yul!”
Si-ha hurriedly grabbed his wrist, trying to stop him, but Cheon-yul’s strength was overwhelming.
As he struggled, a bag slung across his side fell and hit Si-ha’s foot, sliding toward the other side.
“What are you doing?”
“This one isn’t possessed by a simple dusk spirit.”
The man’s face twisted in a mix of confusion and fear. He seemed unable to comprehend the situation.
“Guh!”
Cheon-yul tightened his grip, and the veins in the man’s neck bulged.
Si-ha couldn’t just watch anymore. She infused her power into the red jade pendant around her neck.
The pendant burst into flames, transforming into a dagger beneath her hand.
Without hesitation, she aimed it at Cheon-yul’s neck.
