Chapter 0. Prologue

Translator: Lili

Weekly Chapter 1/5

The dokkaebis were originally also called Imae (魑魅)—a term that, when examined closely, described them as beautiful specters.

Each of them possessed an object known as a bangmangi (club), but never had anyone truly recognized what their clubs were.

“The bangmangi is the source of power.”

Deep within a dark cave, a young dokkaebi listened intently to the words of his master and nodded.

“And yet, yours has been taken from you…”

The dokkaebi had always found his master’s voice pleasant to hear.

Much like a newborn chick instinctively imprinting on the first living being it sees as its mother, the dokkaebi had long since come to see his master as his protector. And so, even when he was being scolded, he never felt upset.

His master’s sighs were warm, and the golden mark running across his smooth forehead—he just wanted to rub his cheek against it and smooth it out.

“From now on, let’s play a game of tag.”

It was a night beneath the full moon.

“If you manage to find me, I will return your bangmangi. So, starting now, count to the number I tell you, and then come find me.”

The dokkaebi’s heart pounded with excitement. For the first time in their games of tag, he was the one who would be ‘it’.

“Count all the way to a hundred before you come looking for me.”

The dokkaebi nodded eagerly, promising to obey.

But it wasn’t until his master disappeared that he realized he could only count to ten.

He didn’t want to break the rules and upset his master by failing to count properly. For a long time, he struggled to recall the numbers beyond ten, but no matter how hard he tried, nothing came to mind.

So, he did the only thing he could—he counted from one to ten. Over and over again, for what felt like an eternity, until even his master would have deemed it long enough.

He watched as cicada larvae crawled up from the earth and made their way out of the cave dozens of times. He fed on the flesh and blood of beasts that had sought shelter from storms. Yet, through it all, he never once stepped outside the cave—remaining true to his promise.

His once neatly trimmed hair had grown long enough to cover his entire body. His form had transformed into that of a fully grown man.

One to ten.

By the time those were the only words that still held meaning, the dokkaebi slowly uncurled his body. Like an insect larva instinctively drawn to the light, he began walking toward the glow beyond the cave.

“Ready or not, here I come… Ready or not, here I come.”

Behind his master, Imae was coming.

Beneath his tangled mane, the only thing visible was the gleam of his burning red eyes.

[TL/N]

Dokkaebi: a mythical goblin-like creature in Korean folklore, known for its supernatural abilities and mischief.

Bangmangi: A magical club that grants wishes or causes mischief, often wielded by dokkaebi.