The Last Imoogi

A Familiar Stranger

Inside Jo Sanggung's room, the old servant was fondly watching Ryung while he was eating. "Yah, did they starve you to death? What's with the rush?"

Ryung didn't retort but instead forced a smile. 

"Did anyone hurt you?"

Ryung shook his head.

"Then why are you so sullen?"

 "I am thankful for your kindness, old lady,"

Jo Sanggung felt her heart was being torn apart by the boy's words. Ever since that night when she discovered the boy's identity, Ryung would address her as such. "W-w-hy would you say that? Yah, little rascal, you must promise me that you're not going to do it anymore, alright? Stealing wouldn't do you anything good."

"Old lady… You know what I am. Why did you still save me?"

Jo Sanggung looked away uneasily. How could she tell the boy that he reminded her of someone? "Some secrets need to be kept secrets until the right time. I've grown this old and have kept a lot. Some I'd rather take with me until death."

Ryung pursed his lips to a subtle smile. He faced the old lady and looked her straight in the eye as if he was the same age and rank as her.

"Old lady, please let me meet Manim."

"Foolish kid! When will you learn to address Mama properly?" Jo Sanggung scolded but immediately softened upon seeing the boy was quite unshaken. "You come with me later like you used to. We'll prepare Her Highness' bath."

Ryung didn't retort and simply went on with his meal. How could he tell this old lady that today is his last day at Kwon Jiyong's estate?

Today is Chuseok, and he recalled how his master told him to meet him on this day. He was tasked by his former master to infiltrate Kwon Jiyong's estate and find a book from the Dragon Realm which contains the great grand elder dragon's prophecy about the last imoogi. However, he tried to break ties with him because he had been working for him for so long and yet it seems his former master had no plans in helping him find that one person, rather imoogi, he was searching for.

He thought that if he served someone powerful, he'd be powerful as well. However, all his efforts were left in vain. When he refused to do the task and declared cutting ties with him, he was almost beaten to death by his cruel master before he reminded him that by Chuseok, he should meet with him with positive results. It was fortunate that someone found him and treated him, but the trauma that his small body and the concussion on his head received resulted in amnesia. He wandered along the streets of Hanyang without nowhere to go, nothing to eat and no one to take care of him, until he met Sandara and followed her scent.

Funny how the celestials had a way of punishing him.

He used to be so strong, but now he's become a useless little fellow.

Perhaps, it's the celestials way of stopping him from further meddling with things he shouldn't have meddled with in the first place, because what really can a small six-year old child do?

But one thing that he didn't expect along his damned journey was meeting a woman who exactly looks like someone from the past, who eventually turned out to be Kwon Jiyong's wife.

What a twisted destiny it is!

But despite the physical resemblance, how come she's so different in virtues and character? How come it seems like she doesn't have any recollection about the past?

_______________________

Just like they used to, Jo Sanggung and Ryung prepared Sandara's bath and just like before, Sandara asked Ryung to accompany her for some snacks after. Inside Sandara's study, Ryung smiled bitterly as he watched Sandara who was reading a book for him.