Daldal: Main story

Chapter 133

"Finish your meal by tomorrow's lunch and get lost."

It was an unexpected announcement that interrupted Eun-oh during his meal. Frozen in the posture of reaching for a side dish, Eun-oh widened his eyes. It was too sudden. Of course, he hadn't expected to be allowed to stay here for a lifetime. But did it have to be so abrupt? Where could he even go?

"Why the long face?"

"I didn't expect to hear that while eating."

"Whether you hear it while eating or after eating, what's the big deal?"

"...Hearing it while eating feels like I might choke."

"Quit with the nonsense and leave by tomorrow. I said it."

"Well... My legs are still a bit..."

Eun-oh vaguely used his legs as an excuse, probably because straightforwardly asking to stay still bothered his conscience.

"You walk perfectly fine. Don't make excuses. It won't work."

Unfortunately, it didn't work. The shaman waved her hands as if to dismiss any arguments.

A disheartened Eun-oh tried a more sincere approach this time.

"Shaman, truth is, I have nowhere else to go."

"That's your problem. Figure it out yourself."

This attempt also failed. No matter what excuse he gave, it didn't seem to work. Eun-oh slumped his shoulders in disappointment.

"Alright. I'll leave tomorrow."

Well, what can i do? When the landlady says to leave, i leave.

It wasn't something to be too upset about. After all, the landlady had taken care of him, provided him with food and shelter. Instead of feeling disappointed, Eun-oh tried to console himself.

The quiet meal resumed. On the small dining table, there was grilled deodeok and seasoned bracken. The shaman didn't consume meat; he stuck to foraged greens and rice.

The shaman, having finished her meal first, lowered her head and observed Eun-oh chewing on the bracken with little energy.

He seemed to lose his appetite completely...

The shaman suddenly felt like she might understand why this boy caught Yaksha's eye. There was an inexplicable charm about him that made it hard to ignore.

"Try reciting your birth fortune."

"My birth fortune?"

"When and at what time were you born?"

Eun-oh furrowed his brow, trying to remember. He had heard about it from his mother before, but now, when he tried to remember, the details eluded him.

"On the twelfth day of the lunar month, I think..."

"What time were you born?"

"I'm not sure."

"You don't know if it was morning or evening?"

"Well... I heard it was in the morning."

"Your name is Eun-oh without a surname."

"Yes. My father wasn't around, so I didn't inherit a family name."

The shaman closed her eyes and silently recited the fortune Eun-oh had shared. Without a spirit present, she had to interpret the horoscope based on experience and knowledge, ascertaining the nature of this fortune without the immediate insight of a divine entity.