Grandma's Blessing (2)
Lee Gyeongbok alternated glances between the hologram map and the building in front of him.
'Is this the right place?'
If it was the address that Yang Gyuri had sent in her ssage, then this was the place.
The ti matched as well, so when she suggested they talk over lunch, he figured it would be a restaurant.
'This must be a really famous spot.'
Only foreign luxury cars filled the wide parking lot, and not just any models, but those with considerable value.
Even that didn't surprise him too much. But if their owners were all lined up to get in, it was a different story.
'Am I really allowed to just go in?'
Lee Gyeongbok walked forward with a slightly awkward expression. He hadn't expected this sort of place and arrived in comfortable clothes, only to find that the people in line were dressed on a different level.
It wasn't his personality to be bothered by a difference in dress, though.
'Sohow, my expectations are never wrong.'
Every ti he passed by people, he felt their gazes. And beneath it all, his spiritual energy detected an undercurrent of negativity.
But no one ca forth to stop him. Maybe because they thought the staff would throw him out even if they didn't say anything.
As he anticipated, a staff mber's expression hardened even before Lee Gyeongbok approached.
"I'm sorry, but this place has a dress code..."
"It's reserved under the na Yang Gyuri."
Sensing the displeasure radiating from the staff, Lee Gyeongbok cut him off. At the ntion of Yang Gyuri's na, the staff's expression changed completely.
"Oh, my apologies. I'll show you in right away. This way, please."
People standing in line widened their eyes at this reaction.
'He can go in even though he's not dressed for the code?'
'He says it's reserved?'
No one had ever seen such special treatnt before. But there was no one to answer their question.
'That's better.'
The staff led him to a pre-reserved room. Away from the crowded main hall, the feeling of unpleasantness faded.
"Oh, you're here."
As soon as he opened the door, a cheery voice greeted him. Lee Gyeongbok turned his gaze in that direction.
A beautiful woman, appearing in her mid-to-late thirties, was waving at him.
She was Yanghwa Bosal, or Yang Gyuri herself. Lee Gyeongbok bowed his head and greeted her.
"You still look young, auntie."
She might look like she was in her thirties, but in reality, she was in her mid-forties.
She had always looked younger than her age.
Whether she minded his comnt or not, she answered with a laugh.
"Is that so? Haven't seen you since your late grandmother's morial last year, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
Lee Gyeongbok sat down across from her. He glanced around and spoke.
"But is it okay to eat at a place like this?"
He didn't bother hiding his curiosity. Grandmother was the Goddess she served, so she never even touched Western food, lest she offend the household deity.
"That's because your late grandmother was always strict about that. But today, I chose this place since you're coming."
"Why because of ?"
"I once gave a reading to the wife of a big na in the restaurant industry. She promised she'd treat soday but never got the chance."
Yang Gyuri let out a short sigh.
"But just like your grandmother said, I usually avoid certain foods too. Even if I like them, I've always held back. But I thought it'd be okay to co with you today."
"And why is that okay?"
"Gyeongbok, you know your spiritual energy can suppress not just evil spirits but even your own household deity. That's why I chose here instead of the shrine."
It ant she could have Western food without worrying about the household deity. Lee Gyeongbok smiled awkwardly at her explanation.
"Well, that's fortunate, I suppose."
"Still, just in case, I only pre-ordered garlic aglio e olio pasta and steak. She's oddly fine with milk but avoids cheese or cream."
"Haha..."
"But the nu is recomnded here, so it should suit your taste."
Soon, the ordered dishes were served, and the two caught up while eating.
"Huh? You're doing a broadcast?"
"Yes, I do ga broadcasts."
"Then it wasn't nothing special—why'd you lie about it?"
"It's not a bad thing."
"Is that so. Is it going well, then?"
"Yes. Better than I thought."
"Oh my, is that so. That's great! Did your grandmother call you to celebrate?"
ntion of his grandmother made Lee Gyeongbok adjust his posture. It was ti for the main topic.
"So, what did Grandma say in your dream?"
"Well, I didn't hear it all clearly either."
"... What?"
Lee Gyeongbok blinked at the unexpected reply. Yang Gyuri, on the other hand, calmly chewed her steak.
"Maybe it's because divulging secrets of heaven is forbidden."
"Secrets of heaven...?"
"Matters from that side are taboo, no matter how trivial. Still, in the dream, your grandmother looked so pleased. Judging by her clothes, I think she was mingling with the fairy won."
Her explanation made Lee Gyeongbok smile, but he soon wrinkled his nose.
"She didn't co to my dreams though... Not my grandmother, not my parents."
He, too, had spiritual energy, but neither his late parents nor his grandmother ever visited.
Yang Gyuri waved her hand at that.
"That's all because of your spiritual energy, too."
"Pardon?"
"Didn't I say before? Your spiritual energy can even suppress the household deity. How could a spirit who's just barely set foot in the afterlife co to you?"
Lee Gyeongbok nodded instead of replying.
"So I'm the one entrusted with the role instead. But this isn't a ti for congratulations. Your grandmother said you're troubled and told to visit you. Am I right? You've got sothing on your mind, don't you? You have to talk about it."
He paused at her words, then soon explained his circumstances.
With that, Yang Gyuri's deanor changed. The chatterbox from before beca a solemn shaman in an instant.
She listened to everything Lee Gyeongbok said without a word, absorbing it all into her ears, and then finally spoke.
"Gyeongbok, have you ever heard my story?"
"No, not in detail..."
"I was a shaman even before I t your grandmother."
"What?"
Lee Gyeongbok's eyes widened in surprise. He was certain Yang Gyuri received her calling through his grandmother—how could she have been a shaman before that?
"Have you heard of fake possession?"
"Fake possession... that's a false god, isn't it?"
"That's right. Sotis, an evil spirit pretends to be the household deity and attaches itself to soone with spiritual energy."
"Don't tell , you too?"
Yang Gyuri nodded.
"These fake possessors are completely obsessed with desire. The ones possessed beco tools to satisfy those desires."
Until she t his grandmother, she lived solely to fulfill desires.
She ate like she was possessed, extorted money with no hesitation, even falling into deep sleep for days at a ti.
"But do you know what I realized after I received a real household deity? That true spirits never give 'pain.'"
"Pain?"
"Yes. The evil ones only care about their own desires—they don't care if humans suffer or not. But when you accept a true spirit, you're only made to know 'as much as you can handle.'"
"But what about spirit sickness?"
"You've experienced it, right? Spirit sickness happens because you can't use your spiritual energy properly, so your body suffers."
Lee Gyeongbok furrowed his glabella.
"So what do I do? Do I have to be initiated now?"
"Oh, don't. Don't you rember your grandmother's words? With your spiritual energy, you'll get devoured in no ti. You must never beco a shaman."
"Then what?"
"First, you need to realize your own limit."
Yang Gyuri took a sip of water and continued.
"Do you know what people misunderstand? They think they have a set fate."
"Really? But there are fortunes and destinies, right?"
Lee Gyeongbok couldn't understand. Didn't his grandmother change people's fortunes all the ti?
Surprisingly, Yang Gyuri nodded.
"Fate and destiny do exist. But their purpose is different."
"Purpose?"
"There's no set fate, but there is a wrong path. Shamans are there to correct distorted destinies."
With those words, she wrinkled her glabella.
"Do you know what fake shamans and spirit-possessed frauds like the old say? That as long as you listen, everything will go well. Gyeongbok, which do you prefer out of 'good luck, misfortune, happiness, or calamity?'"
"Well... good luck and happiness, I guess?"
"Right? Everyone is the sa. But that's not what matters. Even if you have luck and fortune, if misfortune and calamity co along, it's no use. Most important is to avoid misfortune and calamity first."
Yang Gyuri then suddenly asked a question.
"Gyeongbok, how do you feel now? Are you happy after quitting your job and starting broadcasting?"
"Yes."
"You want to keep going? You want to continue enjoying this happiness?"
"Of course."
"But you're worried your spiritual energy could collapse and take it all away, right?"
"... Yes."
With that exchange, Lee Gyeongbok realized what Yang Gyuri ant.
"Gyeongbok, if what you're doing makes you happy, then you're on the right path. But you're anxious because you don't know what misfortune or calamity might co. That's why you need to know your limits."
"Limit..."
Lee Gyeongbok's expression stiffened.
To give him ti to think, Yang Gyuri fell silent as well.
"Gyeongbok, don't take your grandmother's words so harshly."
"Sorry?"
"Do you truly understand what it ans to be devoured by a spirit?"
Lee Gyeongbok rolled his eyes.
Grandma had given strict warnings, but never a detailed explanation.
"It ans you beco so swept up by spiritual energy that you lose your own thoughts and judgnt. Of course, there's a difference between being taken by a fake one or a true one."
"A difference?"
"Fake ones want to control humans for their own desires. But not you. No fake spirit can handle your energy; the household deity will co for you instead. But your energy is so strong, you'll always be forced onto the 'right' path."
"That doesn't sound bad, does it?"
"It's not necessarily bad. The first is 'domination,' the second is 'obedience.' But in both, you lose your free will, isn't that the sa?"
Yang Gyuri gave him a once-over.
"Your grandmother only warned you harshly because you were so young and she worried you'd make a mistake. But now, you're not a child. You can look back and reflect, can't you?"
"I think I get it... But I still don't really get what you an by limits."
Lee Gyeongbok scratched his head.
Seeing this, Yang Gyuri chuckled softly.
"Goodness, Gyeongbok. How can you not know after seeing the best shaman up close?"
"Grandmother?"
"Exactly. Your grandmother was amazing, wasn't she? She could even see the future, read people's innermost thoughts. I saw it myself and was so shocked... Oh, right. You weren't there."
Recalling the past, Yang Gyuri clapped her hands in realization.
His grandmother had recognized his spiritual energy too, and never let him near the shrine during readings.
"So it's like having foresight or reading minds?"
"Of course, that much is given. But Gyeongbok, your energy is stronger than your grandmother's, so you can probably do more, can't you?"
"More than that..."
"I'm not at that level, so even if I wanted to teach you, I can't."
Lee Gyeongbok nodded.
Surely, the sensations he experienced when he used his spiritual energy in virtual reality were beyond what any ordinary shaman could fathom.
"Hmm... Still, talking with you puts my mind at ease."
"Does it?"
"Yes. I an, I'm not going to suddenly drop dead or anything, right?"
"Oh, please. That only happens when evil spirits abandon humans who are of no more use to them. You don't have to worry about that."
Lee Gyeongbok nodded, then rummaged in his pocket. Seeing this, Yang Gyuri watched as he put an envelope on the table.
"What's this?"
"It's a token of gratitude."
"A token? My, you really are doing well."
Yang Gyuri didn't refuse, but checked inside and smiled brightly.
"My, our Gyeongbok has beco a real grown-up."
"Grandma taught . It's not about the amount—it's about the sincerity and the heart."
"That's right, that's right. People who don't know gratitude are punished by the heavens. You learned well."
Even with the sa amount, it was different if it ca from soone poor rather than wealthy. Lee Gyeongbok rembered well the guests his grandmother had thrown out for being stingy.
"Gyeongbok, if you have worries like this in the future, always talk to , okay?"
"Is that just because you want Western food?"
Lee Gyeongbok joked, and Yang Gyuri's expression changed again.
"That's not it. You're family, aren't you?"
Her expression was warm and faintly longing.
"We may not be related by blood, but the woman who took in when I was at my worst—your grandmother—is my true family. That makes you, her grandson, family too. At least, that's what I think."
Even without spiritual energy, it was clear her words were sincere.
"Yes, I understand."
Lee Gyeongbok nodded at this.
"Thank you, auntie."
Sincerity answered with sincerity.
Lee Gyeongbok gave his thanks.
* * *
It was still early evening when he returned ho.
Lee Gyeongbok threw himself onto his bed.
"So, spirits don't wish for pain, huh..."
He mulled over Yang Gyuri's words anew.
'Does that an the backlash and spirit illness I experienced were a warning? Telling not to cross the line?'
Lee Gyeongbok slowly sat up and looked at the brain scan capsule in his room.
'The capsule's warning ssage must be the sa thing. If I exceed its computational limit, it'll overheat.'
A limit.
As long as he didn't cross it, he'd be safe. There was no need to be afraid before he reached it.
To use his spiritual energy more effectively, he needed to know his own limits.
As soon as he had that baseline, the vague anxiety he always felt faded away.
'My parents and grandmother must be watching over too.'
Thinking so put his heart at ease.
But soon, his attention was drawn elsewhere.
With a short woong of vibration, a ssage popped up.
['GENO' has started a broadcast.]
It was a notification about Geno's analysis broadcast.
---
New Nas, locations, skills and Techniques (
User Comments
0 comments from readers