Chapter 106

Park Aju’s face was deeply clouded with thought.

At a glance, she looked terrified.

At first, I wondered why she was acting like that, but after thinking about it, I could guess the reason.

‘Ah. Well, seeing a man destroy a tree would be shocking enough.’

Occasionally, you come across people like that.

People who get scared and frightened when they witness someone with superhuman strength they’ve never seen before in their lives.

She must be one of those people.

‘The way she’s looking at me is like she’s staring at a monster…’

Not only that.

I also destroyed a tree in her yard, so she must be a little angry too.

I thought about apologizing but decided against it.

After all, Park Aju secretly put some strange powder in my drink.

It felt fair to think of this as her just desserts.

Even if it was just some ordinary seasoning powder.

The fact that she sneaked it in while watching my reaction was already a crime in itself.

Well, I didn’t feel like digging deeper, so I let the suspicion go.

‘Am I rationalizing too much? Let’s stop thinking about that.’

After rationalizing to myself, I made eye contact with Park Aju and asked with a slightly cheeky attitude:

“Is there a problem?”

【Qkrnfl892】─Problem? What the hell. You destroyed someone’s tree and act all confident. LOL.

【Meng Yao】─That bitch is a failed rapist, so it doesn’t matter.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─For real, you should’ve smashed her face instead of the tree.

【Drifting AI】─I’ll say it. I agree with that thought.

When I asked nonchalantly, Park Aju waved her hands and answered in a trembling voice:

“Ah, no! No problem! I just found out for the first time that there’s a job like an exorcist… I’m sorry for suspecting you!”

Her attitude toward me completely changed.

It was almost like she was treating me like her superior, with a groveling demeanor.

“By the way, you said you’re here to exorcise that wicked monster, right? Let’s, let’s go quickly! Please take care of it, Exorcist-nim!”

Park Aju hurriedly ran to open the front gate of the house herself.

It seemed like she wanted to get me out of there as quickly as possible.

“…Alright, I’ll be going then.”

As I was stepping out of the gate, the murals painted on the wall caught my eye, and I paused for a moment before turning back to Park Aju.

“By the way, Ms. Aju.”

“Yes? What, what is it?”

“These murals… Did all the residents here paint them?”

“Ah… Yes, that’s right. It’s a collaborative effort between me and the other residents.”

I guess even creepy drawings like these can be considered art.

This village felt less like an artists’ village and more like a village of psychos.

I swallowed those thoughts and, out of politeness, complimented the murals.

“As expected of an artists’ village, these have a nice feel to them.”

“…Really? Mr. Se-hoon, you must have a good eye for art!”

Suddenly, Park Aju’s expression shifted from fear to joy.

Her voice was filled with excitement, clearly thrilled that their art was being acknowledged.

“I’m so happy that someone recognizes our artistic paintings! That’s right! Honestly, Mr. Se-hoon’s reaction is the normal one! Some people who visit our village don’t understand art and just call it creepy or say it gives them chills. What nonsense!”

She suddenly became very talkative.

Her eyes gleamed with what seemed like madness.

‘Is she really a psycho?’

Park Aju began proudly explaining their murals with a face full of joy.

【Yoho】─The world of art is truly profound.

【Drifting AI】─I’ll say it. That’s not art.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─That bitch got all excited just because Se-hoon complimented her.

【Handsome Licker】─She doesn’t even realize it was just a polite comment. Idiot. *spit*

【Maehwa Tree】─These days, everyone calls themselves an artist.

【Min Ji】─Exactly.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! I could be an artist too!

【Maid】─Wow! Art’s not a big deal!

Park Aju’s explanation of the murals went on for over twenty minutes.

It wasn’t a proper explanation.

More like rambling.

She was just spouting nonsense that made no sense.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─I want to sew her mouth shut. Gyesekkihoon, let’s punch that bitch in the face.

【Yoho】─Gyeongsaeng, why are you so violent?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─What the hell. You wanna fight?

【Yoho】─I’ll give you my address. Come at me.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─I’m busy right now.

【Yoho】─?

After listening to Park Aju’s mural explanation, I quickly said my goodbyes, fearing she might continue, and hurried toward the village entrance.

***

【Reverse Rape Mania】─Se-hoon. Is it true that the stay limit in Jeju is 30 days?

【Qkrnfl892】─Don’t push it.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Jeju is part of our country, you idiot.

【Reverse Rape Mania】─I looked it up on KnowledgeFuck… Guess it was wrong info.

I checked the chat window as I left the village.

The Eight-foot Monster was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed to have moved somewhere else.

“Where did that bastard go?”

【Min Ji】─Do you really need to find it? Let’s just run away.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Uung! Let’s run away!

【Min Ji】─Stop copying me.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Shut up.

【Min Ji】─ㅡㅡ

“I can’t just run away alone. The villagers are isolated because of the Eight-foot Monster.”

【Handsome Licker】─LOL. Acting like a hero. *lick*

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─If you see the Eight-foot Monster, just kill it, right?

“No. I can’t judge based on one side’s story, so I want to hear the Eight-foot Monster’s side too. I’m not sure if we can communicate, though.”

At first, I planned to exorcise the Eight-foot Monster to free the isolated villagers.

But after thinking it over, I realized the monster might have its own reasons.

It’s not certain, but from what I saw, it didn’t seem hostile.

【Maehwa Tree】─Why listen to a monster? It’s better to kill it on sight.

【Maid】─Wow…

【Maehwa Tree】─Maid, I won’t kill you. Don’t worry. I’ve mellowed out.

【Maid】─Wow!

“Killing it right away feels wrong. It might not be trying to eat humans. It could be like the Maid, a monster that doesn’t hate humans.”

【Maehwa Tree】─Hmm.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─You’re deep.

【Maid】─Wow! That could be true!

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! Maybe it’s a good monster!

【Qkrnfl892】─It’s definitely not a good monster. It trapped the villagers.

【Yoho】─If we ask why it trapped them, we’ll know.

【Min Ji】─Even if we hear the reason, I doubt it’ll change anything.

【Reverse Rape Mania】─Let’s just exorcise it. I want to see an exorcism.

“Of course, if it attacks first, I’ll exorcise it without hesitation. I’m just saying I’ll talk if there’s a chance.”

Using force is the easiest solution.

But if it can be resolved through conversation, I decided not to spill blood.

Like an adult.

***

While I was looking around the village, I saw a Dolharbang hopping toward me from the opposite side.

It made cute little sounds as it moved.

［Le bang le bang.］

That thing seemed like a monster too.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Huh? The Dolharbang is moving?

【Yoho】─Whoa. It’s talking too?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Seems like a monster.

【Maid】─Wow! The stone statue is a friend!

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! It’s so cute!

【Min Ji】─It showed up out of nowhere.

【Qkrnfl892】─Is this some kind of monster village? I’ve already run into two monsters.

【Meng Yao】─What, are there monsters everywhere you go?

【Maehwa Tree】─Jeju has a lot of monsters, but this is too frequent.

【Handsome Licker】─Are you a monster magnet? *lick*

Just as I spotted the Dolharbang, it noticed me too and stopped in its tracks to look at me.

But it didn’t seem too interested and soon looked away, continuing on its path.

【Maehwa Tree】─Be careful. That’s a Great Yokai.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─It looks weak as hell.

【Maehwa Tree】─It’s stronger than you.

【Handsome Licker】─Is there anything weaker than Guburi? *lick*

As the Dolharbang was about to pass by me, I waved and greeted it.

“Hello.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Stop casually greeting it, damn it.

【Handsome Licker】─What, is it your neighborhood friend? *lick*

【Qkrnfl892】─Se-hoon’s so chill.

【Min Ji】─Why are you greeting it?

The Dolharbang stopped again.

It looked up at me and replied.

［Nice to meet you, Le bang.］

【Yoho】─It’s so cute…

It was a monster that responded well to greetings.

It must be harmless, like the Maid.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Maehwa, is that really a Great Yokai?

【Maehwa Tree】─Yeah, don’t judge by its appearance.

【Big Girl】─Maehwa, didn’t you say that monsters active during the day are usually harmless? So, both the Eight-foot Monster and the Dolharbang might be harmless, right?

【Maehwa Tree】─I said the probability is high, not that they’re definitely harmless. And regardless, it’s better to be cautious around Great Yokai.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Maehwa, you said if a monster doesn’t give off a sense of fear, it’s harmless.

【Maehwa Tree】─I said the probability is high, you idiot.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Maehwa, you said if there’s no chill or foul smell, it’s not hostile.

【Maehwa Tree】─It’s different for each monster. Stop asking, you crazy bitch.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─You explain so nicely to others, but why do you curse at me, you damn bitch?

【Handsome Licker】─If you don’t know the real reason, go see a psychiatrist. *lick*

I crouched down to the Dolharbang’s eye level and asked about the Eight-foot Monster’s whereabouts. I thought it might know since it’s also a monster.

“Le bang, have you seen an Eight-foot Monster around here?”

［I have, Le bang.］

“Really? Do you know where it is now?”

［…Follow me, Le bang.］

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─It keeps saying Le bang. Should I kill it? LOL.

【Qkrnfl892】─Guburi, stop acting tough.

The Dolharbang turned and started hopping toward the forest on the hill.

It seemed like it was guiding me to the Eight-foot Monster.

I silently followed it.

***

Following the Dolharbang, I entered the forest.

After walking for about five minutes, I found the Eight-foot Monster leaning against a tree.

［Poo… Poo…］

【Qkrnfl892】─?? Why is it crying?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─It’s whining like a baby. Just die already.

【Maehwa Tree】─Ambush it now. Go.

The Eight-foot Monster was burying its face in its legs, sobbing bitterly.