Chapter 33: Bewitched by the Rain

“Ba, Bamtol-ah, sorry, ugh, eub, eub, ugh!”

Slap! Slap! Smack! Smack!

A nimble paw struck my cheeks and mouth alternately, leaving me unable to speak.

Strangely, though, every time Bamtol hit me, it felt like my mind was clearing up—more than when Hayul hit me, even. No, it was much clearer than that.

‘Oh, and…What the heck is this?’

It felt like I was wrapped in layers of wet blankets, and now, one by one, they were finally being peeled off.

Slap! Slap! Smack! Smack! Thwack!

While I was experiencing Bamtol’s divine handiwork, I felt Jubiyeong’s gaze from outside the door.

Outside, Jubiyeong. Inside, the terrifying glares of my younger sibling and Kang Dojin.

“……..”

Jubiyeong was staring at me silently, Kang Dohee was glaring at me, and I could feel Hayul and Kang Dojin’s gazes too, though I was desperately trying to avoid them.

“Gueeerk.”

And in the midst of all this, even Gamja was watching me.

‘Why is everyone just standing there instead of sitting down or something…?’

I was losing my mind. What do I do?

As my senses returned, I vaguely began to understand what I’d done.

The “bewitched” that Jubiyeong mentioned probably meant I was possessed by a ghost—no, an evil spirit.

‘Guess evil spirits don’t show up on maps.’

I clearly remembered checking the map thoroughly before heading to the sunflower field.

I felt a faint, vulnerable light that I wanted to protect, so I approached it and found it there.

After that, things are a bit hazy, but I think I remember most of it.

It’s my memory, but it feels foggy—like waking up from anesthesia.

Like that groggy, disoriented state where you’re babbling nonsense, thinking you’re perfectly sane, only to realize you’re spilling your darkest secrets in front of people working diligently.

Ugh, why did I have to dig up those embarrassing memories? That’s driving me crazy in its own way.

“Hey… instead of just standing there, how about we sit down and talk?”

Truthfully, I didn’t want to talk, but it didn’t seem like they’d let me off the hook.

Just then, Jubiyeong strode into the room and sent everyone out except for me and Bamtol.

I don’t know what conversation happened while I was getting drenched in the rain, but even Hayul left the room surprisingly obediently.

Of course, he shot me a fierce look that screamed, “We’ll talk later,” but knowing it came from care and concern, I could only give a bitter smile.

The door closed, and Jubiyeong plopped down on the blanket.

I sat cross-legged across from her, a little distance away. Bamtol wiggled into the space between my legs, rolled over to show its belly, and pulled my hand with its front paws to rest on its stomach.

I diligently petted Bamtol, trying to hide my nervous expression, but—

“Hajeya. You probably guessed, but you were bewitched by a water ghost.”

“Cough, hack!”

I choked on my own spit, coughing violently. Jubiyeong waited quietly until I calmed down, then continued in a low voice.

“I’m naturally immune to being possessed by ghosts, and Grandma has never been bewitched thanks to Gamja, Bamtol, and Baram.

It tried a few times but stopped showing up for a while, so we thought it moved on to another place. But I guess a map is a ghost in its own way, huh? It sniffed out a perfect bait and came back like a real ghost.”

“………”

I had suspected as much, but hearing it was actually a ghost sent a chill down my spine.

But it was strange. I’m supposed to be the biggest coward in the area, yet this was the extent of my fear?

Aren’t ghosts supposed to make your whole body freeze, give you goosebumps, and terrify you?

The ghosts I knew were beings so frightening you’d never want to encounter them again.

Maybe I’ve been too influenced by media, but people who’ve experienced ghosts all describe the same symptoms—overwhelmed with fear.

Yet, I was only feeling a mild, manageable level of fear. At this rate, even if I encountered it again, I don’t think I’d be that scared…

“Hajeya.”

“Huh?”

“Stop daydreaming and listen to me.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m listening.”

With my hands on Bamtol and my ears on Jubiyeong, I nodded enthusiastically, showing I was paying attention.

“As you probably guessed, a water ghost mimics the person you miss the most.”

“…….”

Yeah, that’s probably why it came to me in Hayul’s form. Or maybe it could’ve been my parents.

“On rainy days like this, it used to come to me looking like my parents. When it realized it didn’t work on me, it started going to Grandma. In the form of her son—my dad or grandpa—people you miss so deeply but can never see again.”

“……..”

‘People you can never see again.’

Those words hit me hard.

“Hajeya. Why do you think I’m telling you this specifically?”

“……..”

Thud.

My heart dropped.

Not exaggerating—it felt like someone ripped my heart out and threw it on the floor.

Startled by my pounding, irregular heartbeat, Bamtol jumped up, whining and pawing at my chest.

I tried to act calm, stroking Bamtol’s back. My hands were trembling pathetically, but I’d been shivering from the cold this whole time, so it’s probably fine.

‘Stay calm.’

There’s got to be some way to explain this. Something…

Something…

‘Damn it. There’s nothing.’

Unfortunately, there’s no excuse to be found. My reaction probably already gave Jubiyeong the answer.

What do I do? If this gets to Hayul’s ears—

“Hajeya. Breathe. Slowly.”

Ha, haa…

I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath.

When I slowly looked up, Jubiyeong’s expression was complex.

At first, I couldn’t tell what it meant, but as I steadied my breathing and looked closer, I saw deep pity in her eyes.

“Won’t you ask?”

As the saying goes, it’s better to take the first hit. Slightly out of breath, I barely manage to ask, “What?”

Hearing my question, Jubiyeong, who had maintained a calm tone ever since entering the room, replied, “What? You want me to ask why you saw your younger sibling through the water ghost?”

“……..”

That wasn’t it. But I had to explain myself.

What should I do? How could I possibly keep this from reaching Hayul’s ears?

Should I confess the truth to Jubiyeong, at least?

Or…

“Hajeya.”

“……..”

It was a cautious call. I slowly lifted my bowed head and met Jubiyeong’s gaze.

She continued, still not bothering to hide the pity in her eyes.

“I won’t ask.”

“……..”

“Honestly, I’m curious. I don’t quite understand what’s going on right now.”

Of course. That’s only natural. If she said she understood, that’d be even more suspicious.

“I don’t understand, but I don’t want to pry if you don’t want me to. Also, Baram is making a fuss next to me, saying not to bother you with something that’s not urgent.”

“…Baram?”

“Yeah. Earlier, Baram was the first to rush in. You probably didn’t see it.”

“Oh… I see.”

Right. There was a being called Baram, wasn’t there?

I can’t see or hear Baram, who I assume is a spirit, but I felt the breeze that cleared my foggy mind earlier.

My guess is that the breeze brushing past my ears back then was probably Baram, the spirit.

‘Guess I owe Baram another thanks.’

I forced a smile. Jubiyeong smiled back and shifted the topic slightly, starting to talk about ghosts—their nature and essence.

“When it rains like this, the water ghost’s territory expands. Normally, it’s not the type to lure people so strongly, but during heavy rain like now, it seems to gain a bit more power.”

I listened intently, cradling Bamtol’s body.

According to Jubiyeong, water ghosts weren’t much different from what I’d seen and heard about in media.

They’re beings that lure people to the water to drown them.

But I learned something new, too.

The reason why a coward like me wasn’t that afraid of the water ghost.

“You’re still under its spell.”

“……..”

“You said earlier that the rain felt painful while you were getting wet, right?”

“I said that?”

“Yeah. You kept crying, saying it hurt, that you didn’t want to be hit anymore.”

“I didn’t cry.”

“Fine, I’ll let it slide. Anyway, Baram said that feeling so much pain from the rain while under the water ghost’s spell is a good sign. It means the rain falling on this world hasn’t given up on purification.”

“Hmm. I don’t really get it, but since it’s a good thing, I’ll take it as that.”

It seemed related to what the elder once said about some energy in the world weakening, but I let it pass without digging deeper.

I couldn’t ignore what came next, even if I wanted to ask more.

“It’ll probably keep coming for you until the rain stops. A water ghost needs to lure someone into the water and drown them to escape its place.”

“…I don’t know much about ghosts, but is it like a vengeful spirit?”

“A bit different. Vengeful spirits rarely harm people, but they’re obsessed with their place and don’t give it up.

Water ghosts, on the other hand, are bound to their territory and need a scapegoat to escape, so they persistently try to drag someone in.”

“Hmm.”

‘Maybe because they were once human, ghosts don’t feel all that different from people.’

In modern society, there are plenty of humans who try to escape by sacrificing others, too.

It really hit me that ghosts were once human. Meanwhile, Jubiyeong’s explanation continued.

“Anyway, don’t go beyond the rope set up outside the front yard fence. The bottles tied to the rope contain Baram’s energy, acting like a sort of barrier.”

“Oh…”

Right. I thought it was too flimsy to keep monsters out, maybe just to signal something approaching, but that’s what it was for. Now it makes sense.

“If you have to go out, take Bamtol or Gamja with you—no, scratch that. Just don’t go out. Stay within the fence, and you’ll be fine. Don’t leave the house. If you need fresh air, open the door and sit by it, but don’t go to the rooftop.”

“Uh, yeah. Got it.”

Even in that moment, I could feel it clearly—I was definitely bewitched by the ghost.

Because, right now, it wasn’t fear I felt. Instead, there was a slight, very slight urge to go out and see it again.

To be precise, I wanted to see my younger sibling.

I know in my head that it’s not my sibling. And my real sibling is right here with me…

“Whine. Yowl.”

“Oh, Bamtol, sorry, sorry.”

I hurriedly resumed moving my hand, which had paused.

Jubiyeong’s explanation continued.

Bamtol and Gamja were indeed close to spiritual beings, so staying with them would drive away malicious energy and purify a mind bewitched by a ghost.

And as I’d often heard in stories, it was true that ghosts cling to people with weak energy.

Which meant, among our group, I was the only one with weak energy.

Maybe I’m the group’s biggest burden—the “sweet pats” that readers often complain about.

‘I really need to stay quietly at home from now on.’

I’ll volunteer to do all the laundry and show I’m doing something diligently.