Daldal: Main story

Chapter 59

The horse, exhausted from the night's journey, ascended the steep path slowly. With each step, its drooping head swayed from side to side. Eun-oh managed to stay in the saddle solely due to Chae Yoon-sa behind him.

Every time he breathes, a weak frost appears and disappears repeatedly. There was a sweet smell of alcohol on his breath. Although spring had arrived, the nights were still cold, as if there was still a lingering feeling of winter.

Eun-oh pretended to be asleep. No, he was desperately pretending to be asleep.

Why?

Because he couldn't face Chae Yoon-sa after hearing about the Yokai.

To maintain composure became challenging. So, Eun-oh mindlessly drank, hoping to lose himself in the alcohol. However, to his surprise, even after finishing a bottle, he remained sober. He hadn't realized until now, but the alcohol was quite strong.

Despite drinking and drinking, Eun-oh found himself not getting drunk. Frustrated, he suddenly slammed his head on the table, pretending to be asleep.

While the act of feigning unconsciousness was uncomfortably painful, the outcome was successful. He could now avoid any eye contact or conversation with Chae Yoon-sa.

Yokai...

Creatures that possess human soul and intoxicate their bodies.

The Yokai mask with horns and yellow eyes.

And Chae Yoon-sa, who openly revealed his hatred to these creatures.

Reflecting on it only made Eun-oh feel more suffocate.

Eun-oh remained entirely oblivious to the existence of Yokai, creatures branded as such due to their distinctive horns and yellow eyes. The revelation of their reputation as harmful and dangerous beings left him grappling with newfound awareness. It would have been better if he had continued to remain ignorant.

Perhaps that was why his mother had chosen to settle in the mountain hut, warning him not to live among people until the day he died. Therefore, Eun-oh realized once again that he must eventually return to the mountain. It was what he needed to do. Of course, even if there were no such reasons, he wanted to go back.

That was the plan. Then why did he feel so suffocating? It felt as if something heavy was placed on his chest, and the weight seemed to increase.

Haah- Eun-oh, unable to bear the stuffiness, sighed deeply, trembling his lips as he sighed. After letting it out, he startled himself, opening one eye sneakily to gauge Chae Yoon-sa's reaction. What caught Eun-oh's gaze was the moon, hanging alone in the sky.

"Oh, it rose beautifully."

Perhaps due to the cloudless sky, the crescent moon looked exceptionally clean and vivid. Eun-oh pointed his finger at the sky, tracing the shape of the moon. It was a habit he developed when living in the mountains. On sleepless nights, when there was nothing else to do, he would count the number of stars or draw the shape of the moon.

"Is the pretending-to-be-drunk act over?"

Startled, Eun-oh closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to pretend to sleep again. However, he soon realized it was a useless effort.

Chae Yoon-sa had asked if the act of pretending to be drunk was over, implying that he knew from the beginning that Eun-oh was not actually asleep.

Eun-oh, opening his eyes discreetly, glanced at Chae Yoon-sa with his head propped up. However, the lack of light prevented him from seeing anything. It was perhaps for the better.

"I didn't pretend to be drunk. I... I walked a lot. Suddenly, I'm tired. My legs hurt too."

"So, are you pretending even more?"

Why?

Why does my heart pound again?

Eun-oh furrowed his brow at the rapidly beating heart beneath his chest.

"Young Master, I think I might be sick."

"Sick all of a sudden."

"I don't know the name of the illness. But my heart is beating unexpectedly."

"It usually beats."

"Ah, that's true."

Damn fool. I've uttered another foolish comment. Eun-oh self-blamed, emitting a groan of distress.

"But it's not just beating; it's beating intensely. Sometimes it feels like it might burst at any moment."

"Tell me when it does."

"If it bursts, I'll die."

"I'm saying this because it won't explode."

"Ah, I see."

I'm serious, but Young Master remains nonchalant, as if it's nothing. So, Eun-oh secretly felt relieved.

"Young Master, you're really scary. Sometimes I forget that."

"What nonsense is that?"

"Generally, you were scary, but now it's not scary"

When talking about Yokai, he was scary. But now, it's not scary again. Is it simply because the expression is not visible?

No, that's not it. It's because he's affectionate. Affectionate Young Master. It was so unbelievable that I could almost burst into laughter. But it felt that way.

"It's an honor, Young Master."

In his throwing voice, there was a faint hint of laughter. It was the usual act. Mentally picturing the unseen expression of
Chae Yoon-sa, Eun-oh muttered softly

"I hope I won't continue to be scared"

Suddenly, words come to a halt. Chae Yoon-sa pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a stop. For a while, he just silently stared down at Eun-oh

Then suddenly.

"...!"

Eun-oh's eyes shot open. Something soft had touched his lips. It took him a moment to realize that it was Chae Yoon-sa's lips.

The next moment, a hot lump intruded between slightly parted lips. It lightly scraped against the roof of Eun-oh's mouth, then rubbed against his tongue.

"Mmm!"

The muffled sound came from Eun-oh. Startled by the unfamiliar contact, he unconsciously gripped Chae Yoon-sa's hair.

The hot lump, licking the inside of his mouth as if plundering, withdrew as unexpectedly as it had come.

Eun-oh gasped for air, his chest heaving. His head and vision were dizzy.

"Y-Young M-Master. Just now...?"

He tried to ask what it was, but along with the question, their lips sealed again.

This time, their lips met from a different angle. Uh...a muffled moan, suppressed, echoed within his throat.

The sensation was strange. What should he call this feeling? It was like his body was floating, and feathers tickled his chest.

Eun-oh slowly closed his eyes. He released the hand that had clenched Chae Yoon-sa's hair and delicately wrapped his neck.

For now, he decided to put aside understanding the meaning of this action.

For now, he wanted to immerse himself in the unknown ecstasy.