Part 5 (1/2)
Kira withdrew, ready to leave.
”I heard you were here, but I didn't think I'd get to see you! Wa!” He stood entranced by the mere sight of her. ”I heard you killed a demon in Hansong market a few days ago. A live demon! They say he was as big as a bear with red eyes that could burn you from the inside. Is that true? Is that why you left the city? Are you on the hunt?” he asked.
Kira gazed at him blankly.
”Aish, Seung! I'm dying of thirst and this is really salty. Did you forget my tea again?” the baduk player cut in.
Seung smacked himself in the face. ”Forgive me, young master! I'll go right away!” With a quick bow to Kira, Seung dashed for the door.
”I'm sorry about that,” the baduk player said. ”He doesn't mean any harm.”
Kira smiled. ”It's all right. He didn't offend me,” she said.
”I'm relieved.” He smiled back. ”Although I'm surprised to find that you're not as fearsome as your reputation makes you out to be.”
Kira sniffed. ”Your eyesight is clearly lacking. I wondered why you weren't cowering in my presence.”
Jaewon laughed.
”Well, to be honest, I don't know what I was expecting! Maybe a two-headed monster that breathed fire or some other frightening creature. But all I see is a very pretty young girl-a very tall, but pretty young girl,” he said.
She reddened at his words. ”Eh, I knew your eyesight was bad.”
He shook his head, looking down at Jindo and scratching the dog's ears. ”No, just soft in the head. My grandfather used to say I had tofu for brains.”
”Ah,” she said. ”That explains everything!”
Although she knew she should return to the inn, she didn't want to leave. She'd never felt so comfortable with another person outside of her family and Brother Woojin.
”So where do you hail from?” she asked.
”Forgive me. I am Kim Jaewon of Geumgwan clan of Kaya,” he said. ”But my family is from a small mountain village. I guess my ancestors preferred farming to politics.”
Kira was surprised. Geumgwan was the ruling city-state of the Kaya confederacy, and a Geumgwan Kim would be descended from the n.o.bility. Why would a n.o.ble have to worry about sleeping in a stable?
”Did you leave because of the Yamato invasion?” she asked.
He shook his head. ”We left home four years ago, but I've heard many have had to evacuate.”
”So you're with your family?” she asked.
”No,” Jaewon answered, his face shuttered. Kira could sense pain and sadness behind his curt response. It made her curious to know more about him.
The stable door creaked open, and Seung hurried in with a tea tray. Placing the tray on a bench, he poured two cups of tea.
”Here you go, young master,” he said as he handed over the small brown teacup. He then brought over a cup of tea for Kira.
”Young mistress Kang, please let me offer you a cup of tea,” Seung said.
Pleased, Kira took the cup and sipped the hot barley tea. ”Thank you.”
”My pleasure,” he said with a broad smile. ”I'm so delighted to meet you. There is so much I would like to ask. For example, is it true that you're the only person in the world who can actually see demons?” he asked.
Jaewon let out a loud hiss. ”Seung! Don't bother her with your stupid questions!”
”It's not stupid! I really want to know! Everyone says she has unnatural powers and even killed a demon when she was only seven years old! They say she might even be a k.u.m-”
”Ya!” Jaewon rose to his feet and slapped Seung lightly on the head. ”Be quiet! Stop spouting nonsense and making people feel bad!”
Seung covered the top of his head with his hands and apologized. ”Sorry, sorry! Please forgive me. It's just that I was so excited to meet you is all,” he said.
Kira was more amused than offended at Seung's contrite expression.
”You know, some people think that I'm actually a demon. Aren't you afraid of me?” she asked.
Seung frowned, his eyebrows knitting together into a puzzled expression. ”No. You don't look like a demon.”
”Well, that would be the point. Demons can only exist in our world by taking possession of a human body. You wouldn't be able to tell if someone was possessed.”
Seung leaned forward excitedly. ”But you can, right?”
”I've always been able to sense them. Something about the way they smell and look. I don't know how to explain it.” Kira shrugged. ”It's a curse I have been blessed with.”
Seung's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline. ”How can you say that? It is not a curse. It is a gift from the G.o.ds, and you mustn't disrespect it.” He spoke with an earnestness that Kira found endearing. She had a feeling that he was the type of person who didn't speak ill of anyone.
”I'll let you in on a secret,” she said. ”You can kill an imp because it crosses over in its physical form. But you can't kill a full demon. You can only behead the body it possessed and send the demon back to the underworld. If you are ever attacked by one, aim for the neck-it's the only chance you'll have of surviving.”
”If I ever get attacked by a demon, I'd much rather have you by my side,” Seung said with a shudder.
Kira grinned. ”It probably would be safer for you.”
Seung tugged at Jaewon's sleeve. ”Perhaps we should go whichever way young mistress is going.”
”Just eat your dinner already.” Jaewon shook him off.
”I'm frightened now.”
”That's your own fault for being so nosy.”
Seung frowned and scratched his head. ”I don't see how it's all my fault. She's the one that's telling us about demons. So really it's her fault.”
Kira bit her lip, trying not to laugh. ”Why is it that you sound more like a South Seas man than Kim Jaewon?” she asked.
Seung's wistful smile transformed his plain face.
”Because I'm a country b.u.mpkin from Kaya and he's the chief's son!” Seung said. ”Oh, how I miss my home! Do you know that we are famous for our green tea, which grows wild all along our mountains? The finest in all the land, I daresay! In fact, merchants from Cathay cross the sea to purchase our teas.” He let out a deep sigh. ”But it has been more than four years since we've been home. I miss my mother's cold noodle soup and her steamed dumplings.”