Chapter 17

For a moment, he thought a monster might be better than a human. What kind of twisted thought was that. As a military man, he wouldn’t have any excuse even if his head were cut off for thinking it.

“I don’t trust what a monster says. I need to see with my own eyes if you’re pulling some trick right in front of me, so don’t even think about disappearing.”

Don’t try anything clever.

Saying that, Hong Yeom-rang accused Hisa. His hand pressed harder over her eyes. She flinched slightly at the shoulders, then nodded obediently. Through the gaps between his fingers, her eyes blinked. Even the flutter of a butterfly caught in someone’s hand wouldn’t be this weak.

Hong Yeom-rang forgot that he had been letting a monster rest on his thigh for quite some time.

The sunlight was too warm, and the sound of the waterfall roared. Even that deafening noise was better than the selfish noise of people, so for the first time, Hong Yeom-rang found himself liking this place.

That didn’t mean he had given up on going down the mountain.

The day his servant was supposed to come had already passed. Not only did the man not show up, but when Hong Yeom-rang tried to leave and follow him at the expected time, all he found in front of the cave were bundles left behind. And out of the three bundles, one was completely empty.

By scent alone, he picked up traces of buckwheat jelly, pork, and sorghum rice cakes.

“These goblin bastards…”

They had definitely stolen what he had requested in his letter.

– Mr. Kim, thanks for the meal.

– Mr. Kim, that was a good meal.

The moment Hong Yeom-rang ground his teeth, giggling voices echoed from somewhere.

– From now on, we’ll pretend to be Mr. Kim and take it ourselves.

– From now on, we’ll pretend to be Mr. Kim and take it ourselves.

They weren’t even letting the servant come up here anymore. They planned to just take whatever food they liked for themselves. Hong Yeom-rang picked up only the dried jerky, books, and clothing bundles and went back into the cave. Hisa, who must have heard the noise outside, was already sitting up on the padded mat, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

She glanced at him cautiously.

“Looks like the goblins played a prank.”

He had also asked for simple snacks along with the jerky, but the tea leaves, tea set, and sweets were untouched. He handed the entire box of sweets to Hisa.

“Eat.”

Looking at her now, she wasn’t completely unable to eat human food. Especially sweet things, she liked them like a child. Hisa opened the box without much interest, then popped one into her mouth and smiled with satisfaction, her eyes curving.

“But why am I Mr. Kim?”

“They call everyone Mr. Kim.”

Hisa shrugged. To the goblins, everyone was Mr. Kim, and they even called each other that. Only the female goblins were called by name. Hisa quickly finished the sweets. Hong Yeom-rang curled his finger at her.

She had just eaten, yet she swallowed hard again.

He scooped water from the small pool inside the cave and lit a fire. He had set water to boil to brew tea. Hisa shuffled forward on her knees, but the moment she left the mat, she swallowed a groan. Seeing her forget her injured knees and move like that, Hong Yeom-rang clicked his tongue. Hisa stood up and approached him. Hong Yeom-rang was staring at the kettle, checking if the water was boiling too quickly. He looked like he didn’t care whether she came closer or not.

Even so, all his senses were focused on her approaching presence.

Her rough hand grabbed the front of his clothes. That way, he would bend down. As if reluctantly, he lowered his body, and her soft lips and a slow breath brushed against his ear. He had told her not to breathe, but after what happened, he had given up on that. The hair near his ear was tugged just enough not to hurt.

Her slightly parted lips took just one bite, without greed, and ate a small amount of his hair.

The hair melted and disappeared at her lips.

“Ha…”

A satisfied sound slipped out as her hunger eased for a moment. Even knowing he would hate it, she couldn’t stop that soft sigh. That satisfied breath. Her lips brushing away again. The hand that had held his clothes letting go. Everything was brief, fleeting. Before he could even ask if that was enough, Hisa had already stepped back.

“That was good. Thank you.”

The more he was aware of time, the shorter it felt. Hong Yeom-rang touched the spot where her lips had been. Her warm breath still lingered at his neck. It was sweet from the sweets she had eaten. Sweet enough to make him regret giving all of them to her instead of tasting one himself.

The goblins had taken what they wanted, but they had still brought the rest properly.

He didn’t enjoy tea much because of the faint bitter scent that clung to Hisa when she was near, yet he suddenly felt like having tea. Next, he might even start craving honey.

As Hong Yeom-rang absentmindedly rubbed his neck, Hisa picked up the water he had boiled and poured it into the teapot. Then she casually added white tea leaves.

“You know what you’re doing?”

Hisa looked up at him after letting the tea steep for a moment. She looked like she had no idea. Even though he didn’t particularly enjoy tea, Hong Yeom-rang was the type to do things perfectly once he started. He had been timing it. He looked at her as if measuring her.

Then, exactly at the right time, he strained the leaves and poured the tea into small cups. She must have planned to drink it too, because two cups were quickly filled.

“I don’t know. Maybe Bak-su taught me.”

White tea was far too expensive for Bak-su to drink. It was hard to imagine Hisa calmly enjoying tea with her. He brought the perfectly brewed tea to his lips. Hisa also lifted her cup, clearly pleased.

Without a sound, she wet her lips and quietly set the cup down on her knees.

The small writing desk was too far, so she had no choice but to place it on her lap. Someone must have taught her how to brew tea properly, yet she didn’t seem to remember. Just as she finished savoring the tea, a shadow fell at the entrance. It was still early, before full daylight.

Hong Yeom-rang extended an arm in front of Hisa, moving her behind him. His hand gripped the sword hilt.

– Kang.

A beast barked once. What entered the cave was a red fox. It didn’t come close, wary of Hong Yeom-rang, but barked at them. Hisa pushed his hand aside and stepped forward.

“You…”

– Kang kang.

The fox barked again at Hisa as if saying something. Hisa looked between the fox and Hong Yeom-rang. Her expression showed a kind of unease he had never seen before. Before he could grab her, she lightly ran out of the cave.

“Hey!”

It was still dark outside. And the damned forest closed the path the moment she ran into it. Hong Yeom-rang rushed out after her, calling sharply just as she stepped onto the forest path. She didn’t answer. She didn’t even look back.

Hisa disappeared.

The forest swallowed her.

Once again, Hong Yeom-rang was left alone.

Only the fox that slowly walked out of the cave passed by him.

– Mr. Kim, are you mad?

He stood there, staring at the dark forest before dawn, swallowing his frustration and anger at Hisa who had run off without a word. Then a playful voice echoed by his ear. It didn’t take long for him to draw his sword.

Whoosh.

– Oh my.

The blade cut through empty air.

The voice sounded startled, but nothing was struck.

“What are you.”

– I’m Mirang. A goblin. One with a name.

“Show yourself.”

Hong Yeom-rang said shortly. Killing intent surged the moment she revealed herself. Mirang clicked her tongue as she watched that faint blue killing aura ripple.

How was Hisa even staying with a man like this?

She tilted her head. If it was fun, that was fine, but this human was far too vicious. By goblin standards, she was still like a newborn, yet this level of killing intent. If it were refined further, he might become one of the most terrifying humans alive.

Most of all, even without knowing where her voice came from, he had struck the exact spot.

If Mirang hadn’t bent her body back just in time, it would’ve been dangerous.

Her heart pounded.

The other goblins were all busy hiding Hisa, so she alone had slipped away to see this impressive human man.

– Want me to take you to Hisa?