Osratida - Chapter 13

As Gyojin observed the expressions of each person, he lightened the atmosphere with small talk rather than business matters, with President Mishima and the translator sitting in front of him.

“The food is delicious. If you come to Korea again, I’d love to treat you to something great. I recently found a very good quality meat restaurant near our office, and it was quite nice. I’m sure someone with your renowned taste, President, would enjoy it as well.”

The conversation between Gyojin and President Mishima, which had started lightly with food, expanded into topics like society, sports, and now even culture and the arts. In the midst of it all, Secretary Park and Shinhee were in agony.

Secretary Park was worried that if this business trip didn’t result in a successful outcome, there might be some reprimands from above. Therefore, pleasing President Mishima, whether he liked it or not, was extremely important. He was smiling but his eyes were filled with worry as he glanced at Shinhee sitting beside him.

For Shinhee, however, it wasn’t about being in the wrong place, but rather the persistent gaze that had been following him since earlier. The translator, who was there to relay the conversation between Mishima and Gyojin, kept eyeing him during their exchange. It was more than simple curiosity or chance—it was persistent.

Shinhee felt more uncomfortable with the translator’s gaze than the idea of being in a place he shouldn’t be. His mind kept wanting to escape due to the constant insistence from the baby spirit beside him, but he held back the urge ten times over.

“Is the food not to your liking?”

“No, no.”

Gyojin, who had been maintaining a gentle smile throughout, asked kindly. Shinhee, startled by the sudden attention, quickly waved his hand with a nervous laugh. Just then, the door opened, and a woman dressed in a bright suit walked in. The translator translated Mishima’s introduction.

“This is President Mishima’s daughter, Yukie Mishima. She graduated from Waseda University and is currently interested in hotel management.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ha Gyojin, the director of Haimbell Hotel. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Yukie smiled shyly at the gentlemanly greeting. Her face flushed red as she stood before the handsome man, and the previously tense atmosphere in the room seemed to soften with her bright demeanor.

Yukie listened intently, matching her eyes with Gyojin’s no matter the topic, while he shared his interests on various matters. President Mishima appeared pleased with their interaction.

The only person in the room who remained silent was Shinhee. He had set down his chopsticks as soon as she entered and had been quietly observing.

[What is your name?]

Noticing Shinhee’s gaze, Yukie gently asked. Shinhee, not answering immediately, looked over at Gyojin.

“He’s a personal companion of mine. We’ve been in contact since my father’s time, and since this is his first trip to Japan, I brought him along.”

“Director Ha speaks highly of him, saying he’s a valuable connection to the Mishima family. I hope you’ll have a pleasant stay here.”

Shinhee bowed in gratitude, and Yukie smiled warmly at him. Beside her, the baby spirit fidgeted uncomfortably.

The meal ended around 8 PM with a simple drink, and Gyojin’s group was escorted by President Mishima to a hotel located on the outskirts of Tokyo. It was a 5-star hotel with an outdoor hot spring. The translator introduced it as one of the oldest and most traditional onsen in the Tokyo area.

The room was spacious, neat, and clean, though not overly extravagant. There were bamboo paintings adorning the walls, giving it a cozy yet elegant atmosphere. Shinhee, tired from the day’s events, immediately showered and collapsed onto the tatami mat. He disliked physical exertion, and this long day had been too much for him.

“Ugh… I’m dying.”

With a sigh, he lay down, and beside him, the baby spirit mirrored his sigh, lying down next to him. Shinhee patted the baby spirit’s round bottom. “You did well today, little one.”

At that moment, there was the sound of footsteps and the creak of wood outside his door. Shinhee immediately sat up, listening intently. The slow footsteps stopped right outside his door. He held his breath, gripping the beads tied to his wrist, and slowly moved toward the door. The hotel was old, and many spirits had appeared since he entered, but none seemed dangerous enough to cause harm, so they had stayed quiet. However, if someone came directly to his door, things would be different.

After counting to twenty, Shinhee opened the sliding door with a rough motion.

The door creaked open, revealing the translator standing with clothes in hand. Despite being tense, Shinhee was surprised to see the unexpected figure. Unable to speak, he watched as the translator chuckled and handed him the clothes.

“Why are you so surprised, Shinhee? Did you think I was a ghost? You’re more easily scared than I thought.”

The translator walked into the room and glanced around casually, speaking in a light tone.

“Wow, Shinhee, your room seems bigger than mine.”

“…How did you know my name?”

“You told me your name earlier, didn’t you? I heard it then. Oh, you don’t know mine yet, right?”

The translator flashed a friendly smile and introduced himself.

“My name is Jang Hyunwoo. It’s a small world, so let’s be friends. How old are you, Shinhee?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“Really? I would’ve guessed you were around twenty-two. You look younger than your age. Ah, I’m two years younger, so I’ll call you ‘hyung,’ okay?”

“Why are you here?”

Shinhee remained cautious, and the translator chuckled, pointing to the clothes he had handed over.

“I brought you sleepwear. If you’re in Japan, you have to enjoy the onsen. The outdoor hot spring here is pretty famous. You must be exhausted from today, so relax and soak. That way, you’ll be ready for tomorrow’s busy schedule.”

Hyunwoo winked mischievously. Shinhee was considering just handing the clothes back and telling him to leave, but the baby spirit beside him, hearing about the onsen, brightened up.

The little spirit was eager to join. Shinhee sighed as he looked at the baby and the sleepwear. With a heavy sigh, he finally spoke. If sighing too much would shorten his life, he thought he might not live past fifty.

“Can you please leave? I need to change.”

“It’s no big deal. We’re both guys, no need for formality.”

Hyunwoo sat down casually. Shinhee felt uncomfortable, but as he said, they were both men, and it seemed odd to ask him to leave just because he had to change. Shinhee pulled off his T-shirt and was about to take off his pants when Hyunwoo, watching his bare back, spoke again.

“Your skin is really nice. Do you have a secret?”

“Eat tripe three times a month.”

“Hahaha. I thought you were quiet, but you’ve got a good sense of humor.”

“I’ve never heard that before.”

Shinhee felt deeply uncomfortable around Hyunwoo. From staring at him during dinner to showing up at this hour just to give him sleepwear, it was strange. And now, he was watching him change. Shinhee, who could see spirits but not discriminate against people, didn’t trust this man and couldn’t find any kind words to say.

“Have you ever had a boyfriend?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I was just wondering. You’re so delicate, I was curious if you’ve had any experience.”

“We should go.”

Shinhee, feeling insulted by the unexpected comment, hurriedly grabbed the baby spirit’s hand and moved to another area. The best response was to ignore him. Alone in the room, Hyunwoo grinned as he sat back, clearly enjoying the moment.

The outdoor hot spring was dimly lit by lanterns, but it was bright enough to give a peaceful ambiance. Avoiding Hyunwoo, Shinhee changed his pants in the bathroom and stepped out, leaving his towel behind. Just as he was about to enter the water, a familiar, handsome face caught his eye.

He was already in the water, staring at Shinhee with an astonished expression.

“Ah, Director.”

“Was that a monologue, or are you really with someone?”

“It’s the latter.”

Instead of answering directly, Shinhee smiled awkwardly and remained silent. There were four other spirits in the hot spring, quietly soaking. This old onsen seemed quite special if it attracted so many spirits, making it almost as sacred as the nearby stream.

Recalling the second clause of the contract, Shinhee made sure to sit at least one meter away from Gyojin. Despite the hotel being large, it felt like they had the whole outdoor hot spring to themselves.

“Are you really a shaman?”

“…Something like that.”

“Not a shaman, then? A priest?”

“Definitely not a Western one.”

Scratching his head, Shinhee replied, and Gyojin chuckled. The warmth that had once seemed artificial was now replaced by a cold smile, but Shinhee wasn’t scared. He thought Gyojin seemed like someone who didn’t fit with pretense or artificiality.

“What’s your name? We still haven’t properly introduced ourselves.”

“Ah, I’m sorry for the late introduction. My name is Go Shinhee.”

“I’m sure you already know me, but I’m Ha Gyojin.”

His voice sounded disinterested, even though

Shinhee, noticing Gyojin’s aloofness, realized that while Gyojin might be rich, tall, and handsome, he lacked warmth. Nonetheless, Shinhee found that he could understand him better this way.

As he relaxed in the bath, the baby played happily in the water, causing the ghosts around them to gradually move away.

“Are you really a shaman?” Gyojin asked once more.

“…Sort of.”

The night was peaceful, but the atmosphere around them remained full of unspoken tension.