TFN C62

Chapter 62

Cling, cling.

The rough rustling of leaves rubbing against one another in the wind faded away.

Even the sound of rushing water cascading down the distant mountainside vanished into stillness.

When the chime of the bell rose high enough to brush the heavens and then fell silent, Wonhyo opened his eyes.

Beneath the frost-blossomed tree, a shadow had appeared.

A faintly translucent form, reflecting its surroundings like glass, revealed its true nature.

A boy, his fingers red and shriveled as if frozen stiff, looked up at Wonhyo and moved them slightly.

“You’ve come.”

Wonhyo gave a small nod.

The quest window that had turned gray after exceeding the time limit flickered back to life.

So this was indeed the NPC from his quest—the one who had called him here.

He wasn’t sure what would happen since the system had already entered the transition to the third penalty stage, but the quest itself still seemed to be progressing.

The boy’s gaze fell to the bell in Wonhyo’s hand.

“So, you’re a Bakshi.” His voice carried a faint note of surprise. “I hadn’t expected that. The owner of that item was usually a Holemi.”

Clapping his hands together, the boy smiled brightly, almost admiringly.

Wonhyo’s brows knit slightly at the unfamiliar words.

He remembered hearing from his mother that Bakshi was a northern term—used in the Hamgyeong Province—to refer to a male shaman.

In contrast, Holemi was what they called a female shaman.

Those were words hardly ever used in the South.

“Do you… need a shaman?” he asked.

The boy laughed, a clear, bell-like sound.

“No. I just need someone willing to help me with a request. Will you help me?”

The boy met Wonhyo’s gaze directly, his eyes filled with the haunting calm of a spirit.

A ghostly NPC in the form of a human child—his appearance signaled the beginning of yet another quest.

Wonhyo glanced toward Cheongmun.

“Looks like I’ve got another quest to do.”

He had thought this would all end with reaching the seventh floor of the Tower, but apparently, it went further.

He looked at the quest window again.

Maybe that numbered “(2/??)” line earlier had been counting these steps.

Now, he saw that the number had changed from 2 to 4.

What had happened to 3, then?

In any case, he realized with a chill that if he’d come with anyone other than Cheongmun, things might have gone very badly.

He could easily have lost everything—his money, his reputation, even ended up in debt.

“I’ll accept it,” he said.

Cheongmun didn’t hesitate. “Of course. You’ll have to finish the quest to deal with the vengeful spirit anyway.”

That much was true.

With Cheongmun’s consent secured, Wonhyo turned back to the boy. “Alright. I’ll help you.”

“If you follow the path,” the boy said softly, “you’ll find a village.”

Behind the tree, there was nothing visible—but Wonhyo didn’t question it.

Ghosts often said whatever pleased them, and NPC ghosts within the Tower weren’t any different.

He’d once met a spirit who’d begged him to turn its tattered rags into silk robes, so this was actually tame in comparison.

The boy explained several details about the route before finally revealing his real request.

“As you walk along the path, you’ll come across a small pavilion. There, you’ll find a bundle I promised to deliver. Please take it to the bride who lives in the village.”

A delivery quest. That wasn’t bad at all.

If it had been something about fighting or exorcising, he would’ve hesitated—but this sounded simple enough.

Still, just to be safe, Wonhyo glanced toward Cheongmun, seeking silent confirmation.

Cheongmun, who had been listening quietly, gave a short nod.

“Understood.”

“Thank you,” said the boy with a smile. “There’s a time I promised to deliver it by—but I’ve already been delayed, so please hurry.”

『Quest updated.』

『

At the entrance of Ghostslayer Valley, you met a boy who asked you to deliver a mysterious bundle.

Carry the bundle to the village and give it to the bride. (5/??)』

Wonhyo blinked. A mysterious bundle?

Hadn’t it just said the boy’s bundle?

Why was it suddenly described as mysterious now?

He tried to ask, but his voice wouldn’t come out.

It was as if someone—or something—had sealed his mouth shut from above, just like before.

The boy smiled, twisting his lips into an eerie curve.

“Please deliver it safely.”

Wonhyo could only nod in silence.

The boy beamed and stretched out his arm.

Behind the tree, the empty space began to shimmer like heat haze, just like the entrance to a dungeon.

“It’s an instant dungeon,” Cheongmun identified immediately.

“Isn’t that… a bit much? Those take a long time to clear.”

Even though he’d accepted the quest, Wonhyo felt uneasy.

If it took too long, it would become a problem.

Besides, job quests were typically solo instances, which meant Cheongmun would have to wait outside until he returned.

Wonhyo didn’t have to worry about clocking into work—but Cheongmun did. Once his leave was over, he had to report back on time.

Cheongmun tilted his head slightly and looked at the boy.

Their gazes met, and the boy’s smile remained unchanged—calm, bright, unbothered.

“Can I accompany him?” Cheongmun asked.

“Together?” The boy blinked. “Hmm… I wonder if that’s allowed…”

He tilted his head, then suddenly clapped his hands.

“Well, it’s supposed to be a solo quest—but since the two of you share a bond, I’ll allow it. The bundle will be heavy, so it’s good to have another pair of hands.”

Wonhyo blinked in surprise. That was… unexpectedly generous.

But somehow, it also felt like things had just become more complicated.

Whether Cheongmun’s presence would turn out to be a blessing or a curse—he couldn’t yet tell.

“We should depart,” Cheongmun said firmly. “When an NPC in the Tower opens an instant dungeon, it doesn’t usually give you a second chance.”

Wonhyo recalled what he’d read from someone who had failed a job quest before.

The worst outcome, they’d said, was the cancellation of one’s awakening.

Honestly, that didn’t sound too bad—whether awakened or not, his daily life wouldn’t change much.

But losing his inventory? That was serious.

And if the penalty strengthened any further, that might be even worse than losing his awakening entirely.

“…Alright. Let’s go.”

He exhaled slowly, steeling himself. If it comes to it, let it be cancelled.

Wonhyo stepped forward toward the entrance.

Together, he and Cheongmun walked hand in hand into the haze—

and in the blink of an eye, they emerged onto a mountainside covered in a sea of scarlet blossoms.

Wonhyo turned back in disbelief.

The black forest they had just left had vanished.

All that remained was a mountain path blanketed in petals, basking under a cloudless blue sky.

Looking ahead again, he spotted a hexagonal roof in the distance—a pavilion.

“Looks like that’s the place.”

As he pointed toward it, a system message appeared before his eyes.

『You’re late! The bride has grown very angry. Please hurry.』

『Due to the bride’s anger, the dungeon’s difficulty has increased.』

“What—hey! It’s not like I was trying to be late!”

True to his Korean instincts, Wonhyo protested out loud.

But, of course, the difficulty level didn’t revert.

He sighed.

He was just a production-type Awakener with no combat power to speak of.

He had stayed up countless nights—chanting, drawing talismans, saving every last coin like an ant—to even reach the seventh floor of the Tower.

He hadn’t even spent everything he’d earned.

And yet, after enduring all those humiliating penalties, this felt unfair.

They hadn’t even told him the exact location at first!

He rubbed his face with his palm, frustration mingling with guilt.

“I think… the dungeon’s difficulty increased because I was late,” he muttered.

“I’m aware. The same message appeared for me,” Cheongmun replied calmly.

“My job quest?”

Cheongmun tilted his head thoughtfully before replying.

“Probably because I was granted permission to accompany you earlier. It seems only quests taken within the instance are displayed.”

That made sense—sort of. A bit odd, but understandable.

Besides, as long as there was a quest window, there would be a reward at the end. It wouldn’t be a loss for Cheongmun either.

“We should move quickly. The longer we delay, the higher the difficulty might rise again.”

Together, they headed toward the pavilion.

Though tension prickled in the air, nothing appeared along the path. It was just a quiet, sloping trail through the mountain, not steep or treacherous at all.

Before long, they arrived near the pavilion—and saw someone sitting there.

An old man, dressed in a hanbok, lazily puffing on a long pipe.

Wonhyo blinked. Why would someone in a hanbok be inside the Tower?

But instead of asking, he glanced around, looking for the bundle.

Sure enough, a single cloth-wrapped pack sat beside the old man.

He hesitated, watching the man’s expression, then reached out toward it.

“Are you planning to take that?”

The unexpected voice made Wonhyo flinch.

He turned sharply. The old man spat out the pipe stem and wrinkled his nose.

“I asked,” he repeated slowly, “if you’re taking that.”

“Ah—yes. I was asked to deliver it to the village,” Wonhyo explained quickly, just to make clear he wasn’t stealing it.

Beside him, Cheongmun silently gripped his gun, though Wonhyo hadn’t even seen when he drew it.

The reason was simple—the old man’s body was partially transparent, just like the boy’s had been.

Cheongmun shot him a look, but Wonhyo gave a tiny shake of his head.

The old man didn’t seem to care what they did. He continued smoking, his expression calm, almost detached.

“I see… so you’ve finally come,” he said after a long moment.

Apparently, he already knew who the bundle was meant for.

Relieved, Wonhyo picked it up carefully and held it against his chest.

He was about to thank the man and hurry off when he suddenly found that his feet wouldn’t move.

He looked up—and met the old man’s gaze.

“Before you go, there’s something I must tell you.”

The man’s dark eyes glimmered faintly red—like the flowers blooming nearby.

Instinctively, Wonhyo tightened his hold on the bundle and reached into his chest pocket with his free hand, fingers brushing a talisman.

“Don’t be alarmed,” the old man said mildly. “I just have a few warnings to give you.”

“…Warnings?”

“Yes. On your way down to the village, if you find yourself thirsty, drink only clouded water, not clear.

If you grow hungry, eat no fruit from the forest.

And if rain begins to pour, do not seek shelter. Keep walking.”

Wonhyo tilted his head, bewildered.

“That sounds like—”

Shh!

The old man raised a hand, silencing him instantly.

Wonhyo shut his mouth and nodded quickly.

The man watched him a moment, then smiled faintly and waved a hand.

“Then go safely.”

Wonhyo bowed politely and walked away with Cheongmun.

Only after they had walked far enough that the pavilion was no longer in sight did Wonhyo finally stop and release a long, shaky breath.

“Wow… seriously.”

“Did you notice something?” Cheongmun asked.

Wonhyo looked up at him, then turned halfway toward the direction of the pavilion—

and opened his mouth to speak.

As expected—

no sound came out.

📝 Notes:

• Bakshi (박시) – a male shaman in the northern provinces of Korea, especially in Hamgyeong-do. Equivalent to Mudang (무당) but male. 
• Holemi (홀에미) – a female shaman (southern dialect form of “mudang”). 
• Gaksi (각시) – literally “bride” or “young woman”; in folklore, can also refer to a female ghost or spirit that died unmarried.