Chapter 16 – Ghost Turmoil (12)

Translator: Yonnee

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[ You’re here again? ]

Julia’s eyes opened gradually as she heard the raspy voice. She was in a large plain, and a cool breeze blew her hair behind her. Julia was back in Korea.

She gently swept her fluttering black hair with the back of her hand, then looked at the woman standing in front of her.

Unlike the raspy voice and old tone, the woman’s appearance was very beautiful. Other than that, her hair was white.

[ You do this every time you see me, but you shouldn’t have that blank expression on you anymore, now should you? ]

“…Crone.”

[ Yes. Do you remember now? ]

“I died again?”

[ This punk! You always ask me if you’re dead whenever you see me. Do you think I’m the boatman of death’s river? ]

“Then why are you here, Crone?”

At Julia’s question, Crone’s expression became sour, then she sank down. No, to be more exact, a chair naturally appeared where she sank and Crone just sat on it.

[ If you channeled me then ask me why I’m here right after, what should I say? ]

“Ah… Right.”

[ What did you do while channeling my power? ]

“I got angry.”

[ Angry? ]

“Yes. There’s this bastard who controlled souls however he wanted and preyed on them as if they’re beneath him. That’s why I got mad.”

[ If you’re that angry with that bastard, won’t you accidentally kill him with that personality of yours? ]

“Wasn’t it you who raised me like this, Crone?”

[ You wench, even after twenty more years of living, you’ll still have that smart mouth on you until the day you die, huh? ]

Crone frowned, but Julia just grinned at her rough scolding.

[ Why are you smiling now?! ]

“Just because. I’m happy to see you after a long time. It’s nice to hear your voice.”

[ Happy to see… ]

Crone muttered as she bowed her head. Julia stared at her, then quietly spoke.

“If this time passes, will I not be able to see you again?”

[ There’s nothing good about seeing me again. Why would you want to see me? By the time you’ve been led to the next world, I’ll see you there myself. Just enjoy the life I gave you. ]

Julia pouted and put a hand on her waist. Her expression was a bit distorted.

“If you gave me a life I’m meant to enjoy, couldn’t you have sent me to a rich and powerful family? What can I do with this life?”

[ All you need is a roof over your head where you can eat well. What more do you want? Human beings are meant to shape their own lives… ]

“This fellow… Don’t you know what’ll happen to a human body that you reside in? If that body dies helplessly, it’ll be Crone who’ll suffer the losses!”

[ …This wench just can’t shut her mouth!! ]

Crone stared fiercely at Julia, who just smiled and stepped back. At the same time, Crone got up from her seat.

[ As you mentioned, a god’s vessel that has a weak body like yours isn’t good. Even if you’re a shaman serving a god, if the bowl breaks, it’ll be of no use. It won’t be enough to fill that bowl with water again to get more power, it’ll just affect your body adversely. That’s why… ]

“So you want me to be more careful?”

[ That’s right. Don’t waste your energy by shaving off years from your life. Just try leaning on others. Don’t struggle and insist that it’s your job—you’ll just die early like last time. Stop being so stubborn! ]

Julia had always been self-reliant since it became a habit from living alone, so she wasn’t exactly used to relying on others.

As a result, she often overworked herself, and every word Crone said was due to her concern over Julia’s safety. However, as Julia looked at Crone, she just smiled and shook her head.

“Once I die, Crone will be the one to pick me up anyway. We can go together to paradise.”

[ Aigoo, this kid. You said you didn’t get the chance to do more things, so you wanted to live more to experience more! That’s why I saved you, but now you’re talking like an old man who’s about to die tomorrow?! ]

“……”

Julia lightly licked her lips and raised her head, a lonely smile on her face.

“I just feel that way these days. It would have been better if I didn’t know what was going on around me, but it seems there’s a lot that I still have to do. I thought this life would be different, but it’s still similar to the one I had before, so it’s a little exhausting and difficult.”

[ …… ]

Crone stared at Julia as she expressed her grievances. It was unbearable to hear the woes of a human being, but it was even more intolerable to listen to the sighs of the dead.

Even if she didn’t want to, anyone in Julia’s position would feel bitter or even lose their senses after being subjected to the screams and lamentations of the dead just ringing in her ears constantly. Those were the grudges that humans took with them that could shake even the deepest core of any person.

Julia was a shaman, true, but it was no different than torture to hear such sounds for more than forty years.

It wasn’t like Crone didn’t know what went on in Julia’s mind as she said that she’d like to die. Crone approached Julia, who was standing still, and patted her head.

“Crone?”

[ I thought you were all grown up, but you’re still such a kid. ]

“…What are you talking about?”

Crone smiled faintly at Julia’s sulky expression, then outstretched her arms, motioning for a hug.

Julia naturally reached back and embraced Crone. Julia laughed under this warmth.

[ …Cheer up, child. Even if it’s painful, strive to think about living more. ]

“Just what painful thing are you talking about now?”

[ Are you planning to take your own life? ]

“Well, I won’t, but…”

[ I’m sure it’s hard to live while suffering, but you have to endure. Everyone lives like that—you’re not the only one having a hard time. Humans, all living beings, really. They all do everything in their power to survive. So… endure, and try not to be discouraged because it all has a reason. Isn’t that the virtue of those who serve the great Crone? ]

“That’s a bit much to say about yourself.”

Julia smirked and stepped back from Crone’s arms. As she gazed upon Crone’s beautiful features, Julia bowed for the final time.

With soft eyes, Crone looked at Julia’s respectful bowing form, not just bending down for politeness, but the most courteous greeting that one could offer to a god.

[ The next time I see you, if it’s possible, will be after you die. ]

“Until we meet again.”

[ Yes, whenever that shall be. ]

Crone burst into laughter. Then, as she raised her hand, Julia’s body floated into the air. Used to the sensation, Julia waved her hand as well in goodbye.

Before long, Julia closed her eyes to the feeling of rising higher towards the sky. The surrounding atmosphere darkened in an instant, shrouding her eyelids.

As she surrendered herself to the force that lifted her up, the next moment light seeped into Julia’s eyes, her befuddled mind instantly became clear.

Then, that bright light shone over her eyes.

*

“Goodness…! Have you woken up?!”

“Where…”

As her maid, Elisa, excitedly greeted her, Julia sat up on the bed and looked around blankly.

“It’s exactly as you’ve said, Miss! You opened your eyes in exactly three days!”

Elisa’s ringing voice was too much for Julia, and when she frowned, the maid covered her lips and immediately bowed down.

“I apologize, I didn’t notice…”

“It’s fi…ne.”

Julia pressed down on her temples while Elisa handed over a glass of water and immediately went out of the room.

Staring dazedly as Elisa exited out through the door, Julia was left flustered. She drank water from the glass in her hands, then got up from her seat and headed in front of the mirror.

Her hair and her eyes had both turned back to red, but as she inspected herself, her gaze stopped at one point. She found a few strands of white hair that stood out.

Julia smiled bitterly and grabbed those strands, stretching them out and staring at them for a long time.

Then, she went to look for something at the dressing table and at her luggage, but as she stood blankly, the door suddenly opened. Leo came in.

“Julia!!”

“Huh?!”

He came in without even knocking, so Julia was surprised by his sudden appearance. Leo looked worriedly at Julia as she just stared vacantly at him.

“Are you feeling better? What happened? Was three days enough? What’s wrong?”

“Wa, wait a minute.”

As Leo grabbed her by the shoulders and inspected her condition, his explosive energy was too much for her to handle right now.

He stepped back slightly when Julia pushed him back a little, and as he felt her relief as he moved away, he looked apologetic.

“One by one. Can you ask one by one?”

Julia pressed down on her forehead and spoke with a small frown, then Leo replied in a softer tone.

“Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine. Maybe it’s just because I woke up, but I’m fine for the most part, except for a headache.”

“Is there something wrong, or…”

“That’s not it. If that’s what you wanted, then I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“No, of course not. But…”

Leo, who stepped back to examine Julia’s condition, spoke again as he looked at the strands of white hair.

“…What happened to your hair?”

“I told you last time—this is how it’s supposed to be. It’s a price I must pay for channeling.”

“Channeling?”

“Yes.”

Julia stepped closer to the mirror and fixed her hair.

“The god I serve has white hair, that’s why I have to pay for channeling her power. In return, I sacrifice my hair color for three days. Simple, isn’t it?”

She looked at Leo’s reaction through the mirror, who in turn observed her as well. Julia reached behind her.

“If you happen to have a knife on you, can I borrow it? A small one if possible.”

“What do you need it for?”

“I need to cut my hair. It looks awkward seeing white hair like this amidst red.”

Hearing Julia’s words, Leo hesitated, carefully holding the white hair that had fallen forward, then sweeping it back over her shoulder. Then, he picked up the hair tie on the dressing table and tied her hair up. He stepped back with a look of satisfaction.

“What did you just do?”

“It’s a shame to cut it, so I tied it up instead. It looks good on you.”

Julia shook her head and smiled, however, as Leo stared at her, he spoke softly.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

She looked up suddenly at his unexpected apology. As she saw his reflection, she could clearly see his sturdy frame, which contrasted herself drastically. When Julia tilted her head to the side, Leo had a bitter smile on his lips.

“It’s because of me. I shouldn’t have asked you to do something about it.”

Julia gazed at him as though he was saying something pitiful while talking about himself in that way.

“You flatter yourself too much.”

“Huh?”

Leo’s eyes widened, but Julia placed a hand over her waist and narrowed her eyes.

“Even though I did as you asked, at the end of the day, I did all that because I simply didn’t like what that bastard had done. Even if you, the Duke of Epesia, hadn’t asked me to, the moment I found out what that guy had been doing, I would still have come forward to solve everything. That’s what a shaman who connects nature and humans does. Don’t you know?”

Leo looked flustered at her bold words, but he smiled nonetheless. Julia eyed her tied up hair, then sighed.

“If I get more white hair, I might become a grandma.”

Leo was relieved to hear Julia’s joking tone, then smiled gently as he stroked her head.

Startled by his sudden actions, Julia turned around again, only to see that his eyes were curved like crescent moons.

“I think you’ll still be pretty though.”

“……”

Why was this man acting so kindly to her? He was someone who once suddenly asked to marry her, but here he was, being all gentle and worried. It was making her feel flustered.

However, over time, Leo would just express himself as though he was showing his real intentions. It was only complicating Julia’s mind further.

Blue eyes stared into her red eyes. Silence followed as they gazed at each other, his hand still stroking Julia’s head.

It wasn’t an uncomfortable atmosphere, but… Julia looked up at him like a cat, then said curtly.

“Are grandmothers your type? And I haven’t washed my hair. Is that to your taste as well?”

“Huh?”

“Hm? You just said yes? Oh, what a pervert.”

“……”

His smile froze and even his hand stopped moving.

Yep, that’s it.

A happy expression flashed over her grinning face.

—End of Arc 1.