The Oath (Kingdom)

XVIII. Gifts

You look like you sleep as well as I was." Jae-Bong greets him with tired eyes. He didn't say anything and head behind the house to the barn where they took body of the dead man.

"I was awake all night, listening to every crack. I was worried that Miho will sneak inside the barn and see it."

Man was laid on the big table covered by old sheet. He started to stink and Jae-Bong needs all his strength to not throw up. Yeong shin experienced worse.

"Miho was running around our house again."

"If that's a problem..." big man spoke through piece of cloth pressed to his face.

"No. He is a good kid. Nilah really likes him."

Yeongshin was glad when he saw Jae-Bong's son in the morning. He knew that he will be the best companion for Nilah. She had bad, restless nigh and woke up pale and tired. But she smiled at him and let him go, even though he wanted to stay with her.

"I didn't noticed this, when we found him yesterday." For the first time, he was really sick.

"Oh no..." Jae-Bong growl and leave the barn with pale face.

Man on the table had cut off his manhood. His crotch was just bloody mess.

Yeong shin covered him again and followed Jae-Bong outside.

Leader of village was sitting on the ground, white as snow with cold sweat on his forehead.

"I never saw something like this." He mumbled and took little flask from his vest. It looked almost same like Byung Chul used to have. "Someone killed him and then violated the body?"

"No, I don't think so." Yeong shin sat down next to him and accepted the flask with alcohol. It was weaker than Byung Chul's. "Someone who did this wants his victim to suffer. He enjoyed the torture. He did this and then beheads him."

"But why? I don't understand..." Jae-Bong hides his face in palms.

"It looks like revenge." Yeong shin lay on his back with hands behind his head. "There is nothing we can do." He thought how such a beautiful day could have so terrible secret. There really was nothing to do. He wasn't investigator. He was best in tracking and there were no tracks. He search surrounding of that place, but only footprints were his or Jae-Bong's. It was almost unnatural how clean of track that place was. The murderer knows what to do and how to hide his presence.

"Yeong shin!! Father!" Miho's Scream stops his heart.

"Miho? What is it?"

Boy was running to them with wide eyes. He barely can catch his breath. His face red and hair damp with sweat.

"Some weird man is heading to your house!" he stuttered that few word with struggle.

Yeong shin's stomach drop and his blood froze.

He didn't wait, grab his rifle and run. He didn't care about Jae-Bong shouting behind him, or Minho trying to run with him. He was glad that kid can't keep up. If that weird man is 'that' weird man, it will be bloody fight and he didn't want him to see.

His lungs were burning when he run like insane. His muscles working with urge.

He run through the village, people were shouting and getting out of his way. But he didn't care. He was trying so desperately to behave from their first day here, and now he act like rogue. They will leave if they have to. He was ready to sacrifice their house and life here. He was ready to sacrifice everything, just not Nilah.