ARWFF 04

Chapter 4

It was the sort of work normally done by a maid like Seol-a, a common girl serving a young master. Yet Ye-hyeon moved with such natural ease that it was as if he had always done such things.

Seol-a straightened her disheveled hair and clothes before taking a sip of tea. Her body still felt frozen, but the warmth of the tea melted her, even if only slightly.

Why did I go out at night?

She regretted it once more. Old Man Kang had warned her that the nights of the new moon were dangerous. When she thought back, she had seen more of those things on nights when the moon was faint and barely visible than on nights of complete darkness.

Seol-a sighed, full of regret. Her sister’s birthday was only a few days away, and she had meant to bring her a branch of plum blossoms as a gift. Instead, she could barely sit upright, trembling all over.

It had been the first time she faced their attack. It felt as if all strength had drained from her body. Though she tried to appear calm, her heart kept quivering.

If I can’t go, Sister will worry.

Suddenly, her sister’s face came to mind. It had been so long since she last saw her—since the previous year—and that only deepened her anxiety.

Her sister, Baek Seol-hye, loved wild plum blossoms. As a younger sister, Seol-a wanted to give her something her sister would cherish most.

Seol-hye had been like a willow branch—graceful and pure. Because she played the zither well and sang beautifully, she had caught the eye of a young nobleman and married into a house down the mountain.

That had been a year ago, and this was the first birthday since her sister’s marriage.

Seol-a’s family was poor, so she had nothing suitable to give. That was why she had thought of cutting a plum branch at least.

I should have come in the morning. Why did I go out in the dead of night?

Baek Seol-a sank into gloom. She wanted to go home immediately, but there might still be shadows of the new-moon night wandering outside. The thought frightened her, so she hugged her knees tightly.

Returning before morning was impossible. With her leg in this condition, she didn’t even know if she could walk back. On top of that, her body felt terribly unwell. Cold sweat continued to drip, leaving her clothes damp.

Meanwhile, Ye-hyeon returned from the kitchen and sat on the small chair opposite the bed. He brought a brazier and placed it in the center of the room, lighting it. Gradually, warmth spread through the air.

In the awkward silence, Seol-a studied Ye-hyeon’s face. Even in her anxious, chilled state, his expression seemed composed and steady—almost languid.

He was strangely calm.

It felt odd.

Seol-a had always encountered strange things in her life. People around her often disliked and feared her because of it.

Even in her sister Baek Seol-hye’s in-laws, Seol-a’s presence had been unwelcome, and after the previous year she hadn’t even been able to see her sister.

In the village, only a few neighbors approached and befriended her. Since childhood, it had always been that way—others avoided her and rarely offered help.

On the night of the new moon, when she had suddenly encountered those strange things—and the man before her…

Ye-hyeon was an unusually calm man.

Seol-a had known only one close male acquaintance, Wang Jeong, a neighbor. She had also occasionally dealt with men who flirted with her, and she had overheard some women talking about such men.

Ye-hyeon was different. Though he had been considerate, he also seemed indifferent.

After a moment, she asked:

“Um… I’m sorry, but what family are you from, sir?”

“….”

“I’m just a common woman from a small mountain village.”

She added, fearing he might misunderstand:

“I would like to repay this kindness once I return to the village, so I am asking.”

Ye-hyeon narrowed his eyes and looked at her. His slightly drooping eyelids gave him a somewhat cool, distant air.

He was clearly an unusual man. Even in the earlier tense situation, he had remained composed.

At first, she had thought he might be a land caretaker, but that couldn’t be right. He wore fine clothing and was skilled in martial arts—perhaps the child of a noble family trained in the martial way.

This shabby hut didn’t suit him, but perhaps he used it as a place for training. It might even be his private property.

“I am….”

Ye-hyeon tilted his head as if thinking. His long hair shifted with the movement—black strands that seemed to swallow even the light.

His face looked elegant and languid, and Seol-a found her gaze drawn to it.

After considering his words, Ye-hyeon smiled slightly. But unlike before, it was a smile tinged with coldness.

“I am… well. Let’s say I am a shaman.”

“A shaman?”

Startled, Seol-a opened her mouth.

A shaman?

Shamans were among the lowest of commoners. Though priests who presided over rituals held high status, village shamans who exorcised spirits or performed rites were regarded as the most lowly.

Because of his appearance and clothing, he hardly looked like a shaman. Shamans usually lived deep in the mountains, in places like this hut.

Given his looks, he seemed more suited to being a priest.

“A shaman… you mean someone who lives near a shrine…?”

“That is correct. I am a shaman who lives near a shrine, wrapped in colorful flags. One who sees spirits, drives them away, and sometimes lives alongside them.”

“….”

“That is why I built this hut in the mountains—living in close contact with spirits.”

He spoke gently and nodded. A cold aura seemed to linger around him.

“I… I see.”

Seol-a blinked for a moment, then sighed and shook her head.

Whether he was a shaman or a nobleman’s son made no difference. Ye-hyeon had saved her, and she must repay his kindness. Rank or status did not matter.

She had been surprised, but she still felt grateful.

After gazing at him for a moment, she looked away. In truth, who he was did not matter. She only felt ashamed for burdening him and causing trouble.

After steadying her breath, she spoke:

“I will return early tomorrow morning. I am sorry to have troubled you.”

“Tomorrow morning….”

Ye-hyeon trailed off. He stared at the brazier before turning his gaze back to her.

“You probably won’t be able to return tomorrow morning.”

“Pardon?”

“The nights of the new moon do not end in a single day. This time, the night will continue for another day.”

“An… another night?”

Seol-a’s eyes widened. A night lasting two days? It seemed impossible. She had never heard such a thing.

“While the new-moon night continues, those things will roam outside. Going out would be dangerous.”

“But a night cannot last two days. That is impossible.”

She strongly denied it, thinking it absurd. Yet Ye-hyeon replied with an expressionless face:

“That may be true outside… but since you entered this place, it cannot be helped.”

“This place?”

“This is the territory of night. A place where night can become unusually long.”

Seol-a felt confused. She had heard many old tales, including stories of lands where night lasted long, but they had always been just stories.

“You said you built a hut deep in the mountains to live here.”

“….”

“And you also said this was land one must not enter.”

As she fell silent, Ye-hyeon shrugged.

“The moment you leave this hut, the shadows of the new moon will descend upon you.”

His voice was calm, yet strangely unsettling. It felt as if he were speaking from very close by—and yet from far away. Unable to judge, Seol-a froze and looked up at him.

Soon, Ye-hyeon smiled faintly.

“….”

“Don’t worry. After another night, morning will come.”

Seol-a, who had fallen asleep and then awakened, blinked. A sound like raindrops tapping on the wooden window continued from outside.

The window and door were firmly closed, so she could not see out. The lamplight still burned, faintly illuminating the room. It seemed as though there were fewer lamps than before.

I feel terrible.

That was her first thought. Sweat still clung to her body, making her clothes stick uncomfortably. Fortunately, the chill she had felt earlier had lessened.

In the dim light, she saw Ye-hyeon’s silhouette sitting on the other side of the room. He remained motionless, like a statue.

“Are you awake?”

Ye-hyeon spoke without even turning toward her. Seol-a, still groggy, nodded slightly. Her head felt hazy. He went to the kitchen and returned after a short while.

Despite her daze, Seol-a forced herself to sit up.