Chapter 17: The Mermaid Tribe, Yoon
The sun rose above Mount Taeak, chasing away the night.
Mist floated in the air like smoke, glowing under the morning light.
Normally it would have been a beautiful sight.
But to Dan, struggling with each breath, it only felt like another obstacle.
Climbing Down the Mountain
“Huff… huff…”
“Brother Dan, you must be tired. Please put me down.”
“You’ve only lived in the water. Walking long like this is too much for you. And barefoot, you’d rip all the skin from your feet. Just hold on tight so you don’t fall.”
The mountain was steep and harsh, just like its name suggested.
Carrying a child on his back was no easy task.
Dan’s lungs burned, and he thought he might collapse before even reaching the bottom.
“I… I can’t. Let’s rest for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Through the trees, sunlight scattered like gold.
Warmth soaked into Dan’s tired body, making him want to close his eyes and sleep.
“Brother Dan? Brother Dan…?”
“Huh? Did I doze off? What is it, Yoon?”
“There’s… there’s a scary monster over there.”
Yoon’s lips trembled as she pointed to a bush.
Something was moving inside.
Dan sprang up, dagger in hand.
What if it’s a tiger? No… maybe a wild boar?
Dan could handle street fights, but beasts terrified him.
Still, he couldn’t just sit and wait.
Quickly, he drew a trap pattern into the dirt—a technique to create a pit without digging.
If only I had my jade stones, I could finish it properly…
Then—two long ears popped up from the bush.
Dan sighed in relief.
“A rabbit? That’s all?”
By the Campfire
That evening, meat sizzled over a fire.
Dan tore a roasted rabbit leg and handed it to Yoon.
“Hungry, right? Here, eat.”
She looked unsure, hesitant.
Dan exaggerated his own bites to reassure her.
Finally, Yoon tasted it—and her eyes widened.
“Wow… it’s delicious! I’ve never had anything like this before.”
“Told you so.”
After eating their fill, Yoon fell asleep.
Dan decided to let her rest a while before moving on.
When she woke, they continued down the mountain.
On the way, Yoon pointed at animals and asked questions.
“What does that monster taste like?”
“That’s a pheasant. Tastes like tough chicken.”
“What’s chicken?”
“It’s a bird that goes ‘cock-a-doodle-doo.’ Hard to explain… but it’s really tasty.”
“And Brother Dan, are you scared of the sea?”
“Probably. Everything would seem strange to me.”
“In the sea, natural disasters are the scariest. But predators too—great white sharks, killer whales…”
“Killer whales? But they look so cute.”
“Not at all! They hunt for fun, and bully other creatures. That’s why we call them the witch’s henchmen.”
“The witch?”
“Yes. Haven’t you heard the legend?”
Dan nodded. “My mother once told me. Something about mermaids splitting into land and sea tribes, all because of a witch.”
“That’s right. According to legend, a witch is born once every thousand years. Whoever gains her heart can make any wish. Because of this, humans hunted us for centuries. In the end, we weren’t wiped out, but enslaved.”
Dan sighed. “That’s a sad story. We’re all just people.”
Reunion
Night came quickly.
Dan grew anxious hearing wolves howl nearby.
Then he saw torchlight flickering.
“A father’s voice!”
“Dan!”
It was Yeomuk, his father, along with his friends Kang-a, Nobaek, and Madong.
Everyone had been searching frantically for Dan.
They scolded him, joking and complaining about the trouble he caused.
Dan admitted defeat and promised to buy them drinks.
Laughing and teasing followed as they walked down the mountain together.
Dan finally handed the sleeping Yoon to Madong, too tired to carry her any longer.
Back Home
Once they reached their post, Yeomuk finally asked about the mysterious child.
“Dan, who is this? He doesn’t look like a native.”
“Father, this child is from the mermaid tribe.”
“The mermaid tribe? He looks more like a Westerner to me.”
“That’s because he’s a sea mermaid. He may look like a boy, but he’s actually far older than us.”
“Older? How old?”
Dan grinned. “One hundred and thirty years old. His homeland is under the sea in the southwest, a kingdom called Cheongguk. He was caught in a net while searching for his sister.”
Yeomuk’s eyes widened. “A sea mermaid… incredible.”
