Mudoo - Chapter 19

“Kang Tae-shin. You can take your hand away now.”

Seula calmed her breath and braced herself. Tae-shin slowly lowered the hand that had been shielding her eyes.

She forced herself to focus only on her reflection in the mirror, trying her best to act like she didn’t see the luxury-bag-obsessed ghost hovering behind her.

The sales associate seemed puzzled by their strange behavior but kept her professional smile.

“I’ll take this one.”

It was the first time in her life she’d decided to buy something without even asking the price. She couldn’t afford to stand there worrying when her eyes kept darting back to the ghost in the mirror.

“Alright. I’ll just do a quick condition check to make sure there are no defects.”

The associate slipped on gloves and carefully checked the chain, the leather, and the inside zipper, then handed the bag to Seula to inspect for herself.

Seeing that Seula clearly had no idea what to look for, Tae-shin took it from her and checked it over thoroughly instead.

“Wrap it up, please.”

“Of course. It’ll just take a moment. Would you like sparkling water or still water while you wait?”

“Two waters, please.”

While Tae-shin handled the payment, Seula wandered over to Dong-gil, who was still busy browsing.

She crouched next to him and muttered quietly, “Dong-gil, I just saw another ghost.”

“Ghosts are everywhere, everywhere. At least you didn’t scream this time.”

“It wasn’t terrifying to look at, so I wasn’t as shocked.”

“Most ghosts can’t harm you anyway, can’t harm you anyway.”

Even so, after nearly being possessed by a vengeful spirit just last night, it was impossible not to be on guard.

“Do you want anything?”

Tae-shin suddenly appeared behind them, carrying the shopping bag with her new bag and the bottled water. He looked down at Dong-gil with mild annoyance.

Dong-gil elegantly raised a paw and started pointing out what he’d already picked out.

A padded dog jacket with a gold logo, a matching leash, and a luxury pet carrier. When Dong-gil finally pointed at the carrier, Tae-shin’s face twisted with clear disapproval.

“The jacket and leash are enough.”

“Why? I want to ride around in a fancy carrier too, fancy carrier too.”

“I’m the one who has to carry that thing. Flaunting it like that is not my style.”

“You should respect my style too, respect my style too!”

“You’ll look like a trust fund brat.”

Feeling thoroughly insulted, Dong-gil glared at Tae-shin with all his might — but, as always, Tae-shin didn’t budge an inch.

Even after they left the boutique, Seula kept running into moments that made her jump. At the car dealership, they stopped at next, at the café afterward, and finally at the big warehouse store where they picked up groceries before heading home. Every time she clung to Tae-shin’s arm like her life depended on it.

***

By the time they made it back to Cheonghaedong, the sun was setting. Climbing the slope painted with deep orange light, Seula was reminded of her first day here. She’d wandered for ages, unable to find Tae-shin’s house. The neighborhood had felt so empty that seeing Tae-shin and Dong-gil back then had been such a relief — and when she realized her destination had been right in front of her the whole time, it had been hilariously anticlimactic.

“How was today?” Tae-shin asked quietly as he walked beside her.

“Do you feel like you’ve toughened up a bit?”

It wasn’t realistic to think she could get used to seeing ghosts in just a few days — not when she’d never seen a single one before. But after facing so many harmless spirits today, she did feel a little braver. She thought it over and answered honestly.

“I just hope I get stronger from here.”

“Your resolve is impressive. Pretty soon, you’ll be punching ghosts with your bare hands.”

“Actually, Tae-shin… there’s something I’ve been wondering about for a while.”

Walking with his hands in his coat pockets, Tae-shin turned to look at her.

“Is it just you and Dong-gil living in Cheonghaedong? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else around.”

“Ah…”

Tae-shin stopped walking and glanced around them. Seula looked up at all the traditional houses with their blue-tiled roofs and couldn’t help but wonder why they all seemed empty.

Just then, Dong-gil — who was still bursting with energy — turned back and piped up.

“Who says it’s just us, just us? There’s the shaman doctor, Master Oh. There’s Gangnim the reaper. There’s that nine-tailed fox… who else, who else?”

Seula gave an awkward laugh and muttered under her breath, “So… basically, no normal neighbors at all…”

Hearing her, Tae-shin let out a soft chuckle.

“If you don’t want to go straight home, want to drop by a neighbor’s place for dinner?”

“Isn’t it rude to show up unannounced?”

“Rude? They don’t care about things like that.”

“I’m… not really ready for that yet…”

“Ready? Who are you trying to impress?”

“Shouldn’t we at least bring a little gift or something?”

“Ever heard of the saying ‘good neighbors are like family’? You don’t need formalities like that.”

He clearly meant to go through with it now that he’d brought it up — probably because he didn’t feel like cooking when they got home.

“Fox’s bibimbap, fox’s bibimbap is delicious,” Dong-gil chimed in, already trotting ahead as if he knew exactly where to go. His nose twitched as he smacked his lips in anticipation.

Holding Dong-gil’s leash, Seula trailed behind, suspiciously narrowing her eyes. “Wait… don’t tell me we’re going to… that nine-tailed fox?”

“If you call her a gumiho* to her face, she’ll blow her top,” Tae-shin warned.
TL/N: *It’s how Koreans call a nine-tailed fox.

“But she has nine tails, right? How is calling a gumiho a gumiho… not okay?”

“Technically, he is a gumiho, but calling him that to his face is like walking up to someone and calling them ‘a broke, unemployed bum.’”

“……”

At Kang Tae-shin’s perfectly blunt example, Seula opened her mouth to protest — then shut it again. Fine. She could accept that calling a gumiho ‘a gumiho’ came with a minimum standard of courtesy.

Weaving through the narrow maze of alleys, Dong-gil finally stopped in front of a big wooden gate. He stretched his body out long and pressed the doorbell with his front paw.

“Smells delicious, smells delicious!”

About to meet a gumiho for the first time in her life, Seula tensed up, waiting for whoever was inside to respond.

“Be careful. Don’t let yourself get charmed.”

Kang Tae-shin bent closer, whispering low into her ear. The second she heard it, a dozen questions popped into Seula’s head, but before she could say a word, click — the gate opened with a soft clatter.

“Such precious guests, at this hour?”

When the gumiho appeared through the open gate, Seula could only stare, mouth half-open in awe.

His skin was smooth and pale like porcelain, his features perfectly balanced, his platinum hair shifting lightly in the breeze, framing long, graceful eyes that could easily ensnare someone with a single glance.

She’d assumed, from old tales, that a gumiho would naturally be a woman — but there was no mistaking it. He was unmistakably a man.

He wore a silk night robe that draped loosely over his slender frame, the front gaping open to reveal a flat, immaculate chest.

Kang Tae-shin clicked his tongue in clear disapproval at the sight of his outfit.

“Look at you… honestly.”

“A sight most pleasing for a lady’s eyes, wouldn’t you say?”

The gumiho locked eyes with Seula and smiled faintly — a smile so effortlessly beautiful it made her smile back without even realizing it. She stammered a polite greeting.

“I-I appreciate it, but… aren’t you cold dressed like that?”

“Appreciate it? That look?”

Kang Tae-shin shot Seula a sharp glare, his tone edged enough to make her flinch.

Ignoring him, the gumiho gently took Dong-gil’s leash from Seula’s hand and gestured for them to come inside.

“The heated floor’s nice and warm, thanks to the fire. Come in, you’re just in time for dinner.”

Dong-gil trotted after him, tail wagging so hard it wagged his whole back end.

“Bibimbap, bibimbap, right?”

“Dong-gil, your nose never fails you.”

“I could smell the stir-fried veggies from the village entrance, from the village entrance!”

“But aren’t dogs supposed to avoid bibimbap?”

“I’m no ordinary dog, no ordinary dog — I’ll be fine.”

Seula was about to follow them in when Kang Tae-shin suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking the way.

“You’re not charmed already, are you?”

“His aura really is something else.”

“Didn’t know pretty-boy types were your thing.”

Kang Tae-shin turned his back on her with a pouty huff. Seula tugged lightly at the hem of his coat, pressing closer to his side as she answered.