𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄 , the uncanny counter

경이로운 소문 ── EPISODE THREE

The sun had set not that long ago, and the Counters were still driving to stop an evil spirit.

"Hyung, you're flickering," Mun whispered. Yang glanced at him in confusion, seeing the younger's wide eyes before looking down to see his body flicking from visible to invisible every few seconds. He muttered a curse word, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions and thoughts to stay visible.

"Does... does that happen often?" Mun asked quietly. Before Yang could answer, Mae-ok spoke to Mun.

"Mun, don't try to do anything on your own," Mae-ok instructed the newest Counter. "You may end up getting hurt and losing the host. Brace yourself. It's totally different from that kid's dad."

"Today is your field training," Mo-tak added.

"Don't do anything," Ha-na told him. "What did I tell you?"

Mun sighed quietly. "That once I get on the field, I may either end up dying or killing someone." Ha-na nodded. "But I practiced my control a lot."

"Listen to Ha-na." Mo-tak, Mae-ok and Yang said at the same time. Yang added a small 'noona' after saying Ha-na's name.

"Okay," Mun said quietly, leaning back in his seat.

Once the group arrived at the destination Ha-na had tracked the spirit to, they all climbed out of the car.

"This is it," Ha-na confirmed. Yang put his hands in the pockets of his trackpants, trying not to shiver from the cold wind. "He tread upon this territory."

"That means he's out of our territory now," Mo-tak told them. "How do we find him?"

"We have to, even if it means going through every house," Ha-na declared and Yang nodded in agreement.

"Of course, we should," Mae-ok agreed. "He ran after a kid with a weapon."

"I'm sure they were acquainted," Ha-na added. "And a close acquaintance. She wanted to eat dinner with him. She wasn't wary of him."

"The man is about 180 centimeters tall and he was wearing a checkered flannel," Yang spoke up, remembering the details from when he had vaguely sensed him. "The girl was wearing a Junior High uniform."

"Gyeongjin Junior High," Ha-na added and Yang nodded.

"Any other leads?" Mo-tak asked.

"No," Mae-ok answered. "We just know they went this way."

Mo-tak sighed. "Man, this is a huge area. We won't find them until tomorrow."

"What's the weapon that the evil spirit had?" Mun asked suddenly.

"A chisel," Yang answered.

"A chisel?" Mo-tak repeated.

"What's a chisel?" Mun asked and Yang almost laughed.

"It's used to break stones." Yang's eyes widened slightly as he realized what Mun was going to do, a wave of embarrassment washing over him for not thinking of it sooner. Yang moved to stand beside Mun as the younger pulled his phone out of his pocket, searching for Stonemasonries near them. The older Counters were yet to realize what they were doing.

"Siwang Stonemasonry," Mun read out from the results that popped up on the screen. "There's a stonemasonry company." The other three gathered around the youngest Counters to look at Mun's phone.

. . .

The Counters parked outside the Stonemasonry and they were all quick to get out.