Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 79

The Top Star Blessed by God 079. I Need You (3) (79/401)

079. I Need You (3)

2022.01.18.

‘I don’t know how difficult a curse entanglement is, since I’ve never experienced one before… Going back like this leaves a bitter taste…’ What kind of son of a bitch casts a curse on a child? There’s a code of ethics, even in this industry. ‘They should curse that man instead.’ Anyway, the children are innocent. Besides… ‘…I’m also curious about what new features are available.’ It’s like killing two birds with one stone. Yeon-woo finished rationalizing perfectly. “Anyway, let’s leave right away.”
“Right away? You mean now?”
“Yes. These things tend to evolve into more troublesome situations the longer they’re delayed.”
“I like your speed. Okay. Let’s leave right away.” Woo Do-gyeom took out his phone and started giving instructions to someone. “I should go too. I can’t let Yeon-woo go alone; I’m too worried.” Kwon Seong-hyun hurriedly grabbed Yeon-woo’s arm and said. ‘Hmm. I don’t think you should go. Surely, they won’t fight even while going?’ This is the first time Yeon-woo had seen Kwon Seong-hyun so on edge, as if he had 100 yellow cards [warning flags]. He looked like he would grab onto my pants if I refused, so Yeon-woo just nodded. Woo Do-gyeom didn’t react much to that sight. “Let’s go. The car is ready.” Thus, the three’s strange outing began.
***
Woo Do-gyeom’s house, located in downtown Seoul, was in a very secluded place. The modifiers ‘downtown’ and ‘secluded’ seem contradictory, but unfortunately, it was true. The detached house, surrounded by high walls that hid the inside completely, revealed an unexpected sight when the door was opened. Of course,
“Dad!”
“Dad!” The children who came running out like they were rolling were the biggest exception. The two children who ran out at high speed slammed their heads hard into Woo Do-gyeom’s waist. I’m sure I heard a loud thud, like a drum bursting, but Woo Do-gyeom didn’t budge. “…?”
I thought I saw black tangles of thread running towards me… ‘Where does it say that they can’t sleep, their bodies are wasting away, and their health is rapidly deteriorating?!’ No matter how I look at it, they just look like two beagles. No, more than that. If that’s really weakened… what are they usually like? If there’s anything unusual, it’s that thick, sticky curse tangles are wrapped all over their bodies. “Is there really a problem?”
“Yes. Didn’t you just see? These little ones don’t have the strength to stick to me properly.”
“…?” No. I think they just did a body attack properly… The two children, who were hugging Woo Do-gyeom’s waist tightly and hiding behind him, peeked out. “Dad. Who is it?”
“Who is it, Dad?” One was a girl and the other was a boy, and strangely, they looked very similar.

“Woo Sae-rim. Woo Sae-hyun. What did Dad say? You have to greet guests properly, right?” Surprisingly, Woo Do-gyeom seemed like a very ordinary father. Despite Woo Do-gyeom’s urging, the two children only peeked out and stared intently at Yeon-woo. Then, instead of greeting, they muttered strange words. “They’re so pretty.”
“Right, right? I thought they were pretty too.”
“…?” I almost choked for a moment. What did I just hear? What’s even more absurd is Woo Do-gyeom’s reaction. “That’s amazing.”
“…?”
“These kids have never liked any beauty I’ve brought home before. Hmm…?” Is that the only amazing thing! Whether Yeon-woo was dumbfounded or not, Woo Do-gyeom calmly introduced the children. “This is Woo Sae-rim. My daughter. This is Woo Sae-hyun. My son. They’re twins. They’re seven years old.” Each time their name was called, the children’s shoulders twitched. “They’re very weak and pitiful children. I hope you can help them.” “…I will.” Weak and pitiful… It seems quite different from the image I had in my head after hearing Woo Do-gyeom’s story. The illusion of overlapping with my past self disappears without a trace. “Um… will you live with us?” The child’s sudden words. And the other child next to them echoes those words. “I really wish you’d live with us…”
Sparkling. Twinkling. If I had to express that gaze, it would be like this. “Dad. Can’t we live with the pretty hyung [older brother]?”
“I want to live with the pretty oppa [older brother]. Please live with us!” “…It’s nice that you think so, but what’s with those titles… More than that, it’s a bit much to ask someone to live with you in a family home…” It was Woo Do-gyeom who answered that. “Ah. It’s just the three of us as a family. The children’s mother passed away five years ago. In an unfortunate accident.” “That’s… I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’m not trying to ruin the mood. Up until now, my children have always hated any woman I brought home. They hated the idea of letting anyone into the house. But for these kids to ask someone to live with us first is surprising.” At Woo Do-gyeom’s words, the twins nodded. “But they’re really pretty.”
“Right. The sparkling golden color is so pretty!”
“We’ve turned so dark.” What is it? This feels like a familiar story. Why does Kwon Seong-hyun’s story come to mind? [A golden haze surrounds the angel.] He even called me ‘angel’ at our first meeting. ‘…Do people with spiritual powers who meet me for the first time find some kind of fun in using golden colors and strange titles?’ But even so, Kang Yeo-sa or the other shamans who frequented Kang Yeo-sa’s shrine didn’t say such things? Something feels suspicious, but it’s not important right now. “Hey, can you see what’s surrounding you right now?”
***
Sizzle— The paper in my palm burns away without a sound. It was an Anmyeongbu [a talisman to enhance eyesight] to brighten the eyes. The twins widened their eyes as they watched the paper burn away without a flame, turning into ashes. “Wow! The paper burned!”
“I didn’t see a fire?!”
“Dad! Did you see it too?!”
“Yes. It’s amazing.” Not only the children but even Woo Do-gyeom seemed genuinely surprised. Kwon Seong-hyun was the only one maintaining composure. He shrugged his shoulders with a somewhat triumphant feeling. But as if disappointed that the three didn’t even glance in his direction, he soon drooped. “Gasp! They rubbed the ashes in their eyes!”
“That must hurt. It hurts when I get something in my eyes.” “…” Yeon-woo’s every action seemed amazing, and they chattered as if broadcasting to the whole neighborhood every time he did something. It was a bit overwhelming, but Yeon-woo silently moved his hands and rubbed his closed eyes. Swish— The black ashes disappear as if absorbed without leaving any color. And when I opened my eyes again. ‘It’s more serious than I thought?’ Anmyeongbu, which maximizes the power of spiritual sight. The children’s figures came into view in the field of vision where the things on the other side of reality became clearer. Certainly, the children were covered in black, looking like black threads. It was like that even before writing the talisman, but it was even worse now that my eyes were brighter. ‘The threads are wrapped even around their faces, which seemed relatively fine…’ It was the right choice to use Anmyeongbu without hesitation. ‘If I had been any later, they would have been completely sucked into the curse.’ If they were ordinary people, they would have already passed away before reaching this level. I don’t know how these young children have managed to hold on relatively well until now… Maybe it’s because of the spiritual power they possess. “If you don’t mind, could you tell me what you’re doing?” Woo Do-gyeom asked. He suddenly burned a piece of paper in a mysterious way, rubbed it on his eyes, and then just looked around without saying anything. He was staring intently at the children with seriousness on his face, so I guess he was curious. “Or is there something wrong with my children?”
“The problem is that it’s worse than expected.” “Serious?”
“Yes.” Just once. A curse target who was turned away from Kang Yeo-sa’s shrine and even showered with coarse salt. If it looks more serious than the person I saw back then, that says it all. “Please excuse me for a moment. Don’t talk to me while I’m talking again. It’s distracting.” “Okay.” Yeon-woo quietly focused spiritual power on his eyes. What he saw became even clearer. Each and every strand of the tangle that had just seemed like a lump began to be seen clearly. Yeon-woo began to grope for the end of it. ‘It must be connected.’ I haven’t received any special teachings. This is instinctive. It’s simple to think about. ‘To cast a curse, it has to be connected.’ The curse caster and the curse target have to be connected. A medium is needed to transmit the caster’s evil magic. Therefore, this thin thread is the curse itself and the medium of the curse. In fact, Kang Yeo-sa had a hint here. [That guy must have earned a lot of resentment.] When the human who was hit with salt and kicked out left, making a loud car noise, saying, ‘Damn it! I’ll just go somewhere else!’ Kang Yeo-sa muttered like that. Yeon-woo, who was seeing a proper curse spell for the first time in his life, didn’t miss the moment and asked. [Why?]
[Why what? Do you think cursing is something you can do so easily? The caster is also sacrificing their own life to curse! That’s how much they’re trying to torment the other person. It’s even better if they die.] Kang Yeo-sa answered calmly. [So, what I’m saying is, how bad is that guy? It means there’s someone he’s desperately cursing to the point of eating away at his own flesh.] That’s true. [Anyway, don’t go around making enemies recklessly. And never curse anyone. If the spell you cast is broken, the backlash is enormous. The one who cast the curse might die instead.] Hearing that, Yeon-woo thought. [Ah. I should never get involved in that.] But how can everything in the world go as you please? ‘It would be nice if I could just break it.’ The fact that it’s impossible makes my mouth bitter. The backlash from cutting off that level of malice in the middle would also be enormous. ‘What kind of dog’s death is it to die helping others?’ Some might think it’s a noble sacrifice. But at least Yeon-woo didn’t. If you ask why I’m bothering to come and suffer, I have nothing to say. But still, wouldn’t it be worth it if this self-inflicted hardship becomes someone’s salvation? Just like the young Yeon-woo desperately waited for someone’s help. Swish— Almost touching. Yeon-woo’s fingertips groped the thread. There is no such thing as a free lunch anywhere in the world. There is a price to pay for something as terrible as causing someone else’s death. So, all Yeon-woo has to do is gently unravel the tangled threads and follow the end. Then you’ll reach the target. But. [What’s wrong? Is something not working out?] The Dongja-ryeong [spirit child], who had slipped out of the hood, asked. “I can’t see anything. It’s too tangled.” Is there even an end to this? “…Are you talking to me now?”
“Since you’re not talking to me, please be quiet and don’t disturb Yeon-woo. This is why doing background checks is a useless task.” Kwon Seong-hyun’s voice, scolding quietly. Woo Do-gyeom closed his mouth as if he had nothing to say, but he couldn’t stop the children’s voices, who were startled by the sudden appearance of a sparrow. “Oh? A sparrow!”
“A colorful sparrow!” Fortunately, whether they did or not, Yeon-woo’s mind was entirely focused elsewhere. “Is it usually this difficult to track this?” [That’s right. Who would use curse magic if it were easy to track? If you’re not careful, the backlash will kill you.] “The direction is completely random. Is there any method or anything? Something you heard from Kang Yeo-sa.” Are you talking about my mother? A small voice muttered, Don’t show that you’ve committed an illegal act and shut up. A quiet rebuke followed, but Yeon-woo didn’t hear it. [Hmm. Well. As you know, Yeon-hwa doesn’t really like that kind of thing.] That’s true. [So, my memory is hazy… Ah. Come to think of it, I did hear something like this once.] “What?” [Curse casters make preparations to prepare for the backlash.] In other words, they may have set up scapegoats.