Chapter 47.1

Chapter 47.1

Yoon Suho watched Ara and Baekseol’s retreating figures for a moment, then slowly turned around and pulled out his phone from his pocket. Na, A, Ra. As he saved the number left as a missed call, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

In his hometown, where most of his childhood acquaintances had left, meeting someone with whom he could share memories was a rare stroke of luck.

Although that acquaintance’s circumstances seemed a bit, well, very complicated…

‘Also, please pretend you didn’t see me here. It would be difficult if word got out that I came down here.’

He was replaying the words that kept bothering him, even after hearing her explanation.

“Ah.”

Someone bumped into his shoulder hard.

Suho unknowingly took a step back and frowned, but quickly corrected his expression and turned to look.

Standing tall at the end of the alley was an old man. The old man, who looked to be in his seventies, had an ordinary face and physique that wouldn’t be out of place anywhere in this market.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

However, there was one unique thing.

Suho, even though it wasn’t his fault, apologized first and checked the man’s complexion.

The old man was staring intently at something far beyond Suho, not at Suho who was speaking to him right in front of him.

His two eyes, fixed in one place, looked different from those of ordinary humans. Like he was possessed by something, they were unfocused, yet they glowed fiercely like the eyes of a predator in front of its prey.

“Sir, are you alright?”

Suho carefully called out to the old man again. It was the moment he lightly grasped and pulled the upper arm area, enough to stimulate but not offend.

Grin.

The old man suddenly wore a chilling smile.

“Found it.”

Suho frowned with an ominous feeling. As he looked over his shoulder where the old man was staring, the market scene behind him was clearly etched in his eyes.

Stalls with various items, people stopping in front of them or passing by, and…

The back of a woman walking away with a white dog.

“Who are you?”

Suho grabbed the old man’s wrist tightly without hesitation.

This man is dangerous. He will definitely harm Ara. His intuition warned him.

“What’s your relationship with Ara? Don’t tell me you’re that Kim husband or something…”

“Ara?” The old man finally turned his eyes to Suho. His black pupils flashed sharply, making Suho’s hair stand on ends.

“It seems in this life, she’s called by such a wretched name.” The old man said.

“This life? What does that mean…”

Suho slowly closed his mouth, which had been pressing for answers. All sorts of assumptions swirled in his head like a storm, leaving only one plausible guess.

“Are you a member of a cult?”

Unable to understand the man’s words, Suho tapped the screen of his phone with an even more bewildered expression. 112. He decided it was time to call the police.

“In any case… thanks to you, things will be much easier.”

However, just before Suho’s finger pressed the call button, the old man grinned ominously and grabbed Suho’s wrist. It was a terrifying force that could never come from a rural old man, no matter how healthy.

“Since you’ve done something commendable, I’ll give you the chance to be used by me directly.”

“What does that…”

“Shhh. Don’t make any noise now. It’ll be troublesome if that watchdog smells it.”

The old man closed his mouth after saying that. Almost simultaneously, Suho stopped moving like someone who had seen Medusa’s face.

It was midday. The sun in the clear sky sewed a shadow for every being on the ground.

And the shadow was the only weapon that a vengeful ghost, who fed on darkness, could wield in the realm of light.

Following the cleverly tangled shadows, the sinister energy hidden within the old man’s body moved. From the old man’s shadow to Suho’s shadow, and from Suho’s shadow to deep inside Suho’s heart.

Only enough time to blink once had passed.

Except for a very small part, the world remained peaceful.

The old man, who had been holding Suho’s wrist, suddenly shuddered as if waking up from a dream. And he hurriedly released the wrist he was holding.

“Oh my, young man. I must have lost my mind. Why am I here?”

Suho also slowly closed and opened his eyes.

He ignored the embarrassed old man and slowly turned his body. And as if checking the fit of new clothes, he lightly bent and moved every joint in his body.

Hoo…

After exhaling a long breath, he lightly manipulated the phone in his hand.

“Na Ara…”

Slowly repeating the name written at the top of the call list, Suho smirked.

“Soon, you’ll know.”

The outward appearance and voice were no different from before.

“What your real name is.”

But the eyes that had shone with goodness, those eyes alone, had become clouded as if consumed by something.