Chapter 10
First Strange Tale
A Bolt from the Blue
Cheonyul’s words caused Suwon’s brows to furrow.
“You shouldn’t become a god.”
“Why not?”
“Even if you become a god for such selfish reasons, you won’t be able to fulfill the duties a god must bear. Seowangmo was right. You don’t know love.”
“Do you know love, then?”
“Of course I do, that’s why I’m a land deity.”
“Is that so? Then, could you teach me a thing or two?”
“This isn’t something you can just teach…”
“If you don’t know, then stay out of my business too.”
While Cheonyul spoke with Suwon, he stretched after finishing his meal completely.
“Full stomach, warm back… makes me sleepy.”
Siha placed the empty dishes on the sink and said bluntly,
“If you’re done eating, why don’t you leave?”
“I told you—I have nowhere to stay.”
“That’s not my problem.”
“Well, what a cold-hearted human. Try showing mercy and love, as Seowangmo said. Who knows? While you show me mercy and love, maybe I might learn something by watching.”
Cheonyul, still jabbering, suddenly widened his eyes and jumped to his feet.
“Right! That’ll do!”
He looked at Siha, eyes gleaming, and Siha felt an ominous premonition.
But Cheonyul, in a somewhat excited tone, continued,
“Since things have turned out this way, I want to experience the love of the century!”
“What?”
“Fated love! That overwhelming feeling that makes it seem as if you were born to love that person! That’s the emotion! They say when you love, everything in the world shines, and you can’t help but smile even when doing nothing. I’m curious what that’s like! Since I have to experience love anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go for that kind of love?”
“I see. I support your love.”
Siha responded flatly, as if watching a fire across the river, but Cheonyul stepped closer, and Siha backed away exactly as much as he approached.
“But there’s no one to love! You can’t do love by yourself!”
“Fated love doesn’t just appear easily. Look for it diligently.”
“I’ve lived for hundreds of years, you think I haven’t tried? It hasn’t appeared yet, so when will it? So… can I at least try with you first?”
“…Try what?”
“Love.”
Siha let out a deep sigh.
Is this guy really insane?
Suwon, next to him, tried to suppress his laughter but ended up panting with barely contained chuckles.
Siha, still expressionless, said calmly,
“If you really want to do that… why not try it with that Ye-hwa you liked?”
“I don’t want her.”
“Why?”
“She cries at every little thing I say. How am I supposed to do anything with someone like that?”
Judging by how she collapsed the last time, isn’t her personality obvious enough?
Cheonyul waved his hand dismissively.
“I hate troublesome, high-maintenance types. If I’m going to do this, I want someone like you.”
“Uh, love doesn’t just happen because you force it.”
“Oh? Then?”
Cheonyul blinked innocently and asked,
“Have you ever experienced love?”
“…I suppose if you count love for parents or family, then yes.”
“That’s not the kind of love I’m talking about! How can you declare anything when you’ve never truly experienced love?”
“Sewangmo’s definition of love isn’t limited to romantic relationships. She spoke of compassion and love. Parental love, friendship—those are included…”
“That’s true, but I don’t want that. I want the love of the century.”
Cheonyul was more stubborn than expected.
“And as you said, love comes in many forms. I know that much. So even if it’s not the right type at first, love can bloom later.”
Words weren’t getting through.
“So I’ve decided to start loving you from today!”
Cheonyul’s declaration made Siha regret letting him into the house.
Suwon, apparently giving up on restraint, laughed openly. He even lost control of his emotions for a moment, rolling on the floor laughing.
Hearing Suwon, Siha spoke in a troubled tone,
“Cheonyul, right? You’re overlooking something very important…”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t love you, nor do I intend to.”
Cheonyul smiled and waved his hand at Siha’s cold words.
“That’s fine. Consider it my unrequited love.”
“Ah, really!”
Siha showed irritation for the first time today.
This guy is completely unruly! He doesn’t listen and refuses to even try! I thought after feeding him, calming him, and sending him away, he’d leave, but he clings with strange claims.
“Please respect my wishes. You want to experience love, right? Then you need to know how to respect the other person. From the start, you jumped on my scooter without permission, followed me home, tried to sit wherever you wanted. Honestly, it’s a nuisance. I could have used a charm to chase you away, but I didn’t, so be grateful.”
Hearing this, Cheonyul thought for a moment and replied,
“I see. Even though I lack experience, you do seem to understand love better than I do. I’ll follow your lead for now.”
Cheonyul’s unexpected acquiescence seemed to reassure Siha.
But then Cheonyul added one last thing:
“I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“What?”
“They say when you love, you want to see them often. So I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Don’t come!”
Siha shouted before she realized it.
“But you said you have nowhere to stay. Where will you go?”
Suwon, worried, asked. Cheonyul pouted and feigned sorrow.
“You’re worried about me? Only a land deity would care.”
“No. I just need to know where you’re going, so you don’t cause trouble in my territory.”
“I won’t cause any trouble for now. That would be a waste of energy. After losing centuries of training in one day, I just want to hole up somewhere quiet and do nothing for a while.”
“Hmm…”
Suwon and Siha exchanged doubtful looks. Cheonyul tried one last time,
“I won’t do anything, so can you let me sleep here…?”
“Leave. Don’t come tomorrow either.”
Siha was harsher than he expected.
“Really? After feeding me today, you owe me that much.”
“No need, so don’t come.”
“Then see you tomorrow, my love.”
Before Siha could respond, Cheonyul opened the window and leapt out.
Siha screamed instinctively,
“Hey! You crazy idiot! This is the 10th floor…!”
Before she could finish speaking, thunder and lightning cracked loudly.
Siha ran to the window, craning her neck, but Cheonyul was nowhere to be seen.
“Is… is he okay?”
Suwon shrugged.
“Don’t worry too much. If he stays nearby, I’ll make sure nothing happens.”
“Thanks, Suwon.”
“No problem.”
“Really, he won’t come back tomorrow, right…?”
Siha muttered anxiously. Suwon blew his hand flute and, from afar, the sound of barking dogs could be heard.
“Then I’ll be going too.”
“Please take care.”
Siha waved as Suwon quietly disappeared.
Cheonyul, intending to dig a burrow to rest in, found it difficult because his body had shrunk and his claws had become too weak.
He dug a shallow hole just big enough for his head and, frustrated, gave up.
He wandered through a sparsely populated park and collapsed onto a bench.
“Ah… with most of my powers gone, I can’t do anything. Even digging a hole in the ground is this exhausting?”
“Is this the best place you could find? A hole to spend the night in?”
Cheonyul, face in his hands, lifted his head at the voice he had just heard.
Suwon was sitting beside him, accompanied by a sleek and handsome Doberman, panting and wagging its tail at Cheonyul.
“Wait, I told you not to follow me. Why are you here?”
Suwon answered as if it were obvious.
“I told you, I am the land deity of this area, and it’s my duty to protect the land from evil.”
“So, I’m ‘evil’?”
Suwon shrugged.
“And what’s with this mutt?”
“Jinjin isn’t just any dog. He’s a German-imported hellhound!”
Suwon’s anger made Jinjin show his teeth and growl at Cheonyul as a warning.
“The dog you raised? Why are you keeping a German-imported hellhound?”
“Jinjin was getting old and needed to retire from work. I’m taking care of him while figuring out where he should go. And as you know…”
Suwon smiled faintly and continued,
“As a land deity, some of the King of the Underworld’s authority is delegated to me. This is part of that.”
Cheonyul still looked skeptical.
Suwon was indeed a very unusual land deity in Cheonyul’s eyes.
“But why were you in that place? Your sacred tree barely looks two or three years old… Are you really a land deity?”
“My sacred tree? What’s wrong with it?”
“You’re older than you look. But your sacred tree barely seems two or three years old.”
Suwon crossed his arms and asked.
“Curious?”
“Just a little.”
“I suppose we’re in somewhat similar situations, so I’ll tell you.”
“Similar?”
Suwon scratched Jinjin’s chin and spoke in a slightly dark tone:
“I was once a land deity, but I fell from grace and was removed from my divine status.”
Cheonyul’s eyes widened in shock.
“What? How did that happen?”
Suwon gave a bitter smile and explained further.
“It’s not a happy story… I became obsessed with protecting my land, which became my downfall, and eventually I lost everything.”
