As True as a Dream

Even as he tried to figure out what the hell he was thinking, Yi Ho’s stern look at him kept him from venturing out.

 “Wow, what a…” 

He wasn’t sure how Yi Ho would react to the news.

 

‘Would he make a move himself or send someone to take care of it?’

 

Yi Ho’s behavior today would tell him something.

 

But Hongo had more pressing matters to take care of.

 

Whether Yi Ho made a move himself or not, he had to think of a way to bring her back safely, because she was the one Yi Ho needed right now.

 

Hongo quickly organized the situation in Sungin Town in his mind.

 

It was at times like this that the advantages of the Song Yue Pavilion became apparent.

 

It was a place for food, drink, performances, entertainment, private affairs, and even lodging.

 

People from all walks of life in Gyeongseong gathered here to tell their stories.

 

And the information they gathered, in addition to the

“curse”

of manners, helped them make Song Yue an

“inviolable zone”

.

 

After racking his brain for a while, he soon came up with a useful piece of information.

 

When Hongo saw that a lamp was on in the study on the second floor of Yi Ho’s house, he immediately turned into a crow and flew up.

 

He opened the door to the study from the veranda and entered, and Yi Ho, who was lying lazily in an armchair, opened his eyes to see him and then closed them again.

 

Opening the glass door and stepping inside, Hongo replied with an air of annoyance.

 “My lord, I have an urgent report to make.” “Go ahead.” “This afternoon, a body was found in a shantytown in Sungin Town.” 

Yi Ho’s brow furrowed and his reply was filled with annoyance.

“What does this have to do with me?” 

But Hongo remained silent then continued.

 “However, it seems that Ms. Hae-Joo has gotten herself into some trouble because of this.” 

Yi Ho’s closed eyes opened immediately. His upper body, which had been slumped in the chair, sat upright.

 “What do you mean?” “It says that Ms. Hae-Joo found a corpse and was taken to the headquarters of the Sung Yinzheng Order.” 

Hongo looked at Yi Ho, who frowned upon hearing his report, and felt a chill run through his body.

 

He hadn’t expected the old heart of a crow that had lived for five hundred years to be so unhesitatingly excited.

 

Just because of his master’s affection for a woman!

 

Hongo pursed his lips and explained to Yi Ho the details of what he had heard from Gu Eun-sil.

 

He added at the end.

“The head of the Sung Yinzheng Order is a pervert.” 

Hongo thought that he was really talented to come up with this information so quickly.

 “Four months ago, when he came to Song Yue, he must have had a favorite male employee. When he was drunk, he harassed him on his way home from work. I can take advantage of that. He has a wife and child at home, and she has no idea that her husband is a molester.” 

After Hongo finished speaking, he looked at Yi Ho, who remained silent, and suddenly realized something.

 

His face was paler than usual, and his gaze and gestures were very heavy and slow.

 

‘Is he not feeling well?’

 

Hongo rolled his eyes at Yi Ho’s behavior and asked cautiously.

 

In this state, Yi Ho didn’t even bother to look at him and was both calm and wild.

 

Him listening to this long, long story was already a surprise.

 “Do you want me to go get Ms. Hae-Joo?” 

Hongo was about to leave before he heard Yi Ho’s answer.

 

But at that moment, Yi Ho, who had been silent, rose from the chair.

 “That’s enough.” “You’re going to go yourself?” 

Hongo was incredulous.

 

Yi Ho looked at him in astonishment, then went straight to the bedroom to change.

 

As he stood there, Hongo’s chest gradually swelled with pleasure.

 

‘This is really too much!’

 

***

 

The room was beautiful.

 

The windowless room with cement walls on all sides was poorly ventilated and emitted an indescribable stench.

 

In the corner of the room were three wet wooden barrels, a whip, wet towels, and rope.

 

Hae-Joo looked at the objects, which had obvious purposes, and clasped her trembling hands together, trying to calm herself.

 

She had already told the officer what had happened in the village, but he hadn’t been impressed and had left the examination room without saying a word.

 

His indifference made her feel uneasy, but she kept thinking.

 

She didn’t come to this station because she did something wrong, but to tell the truth about how she found the body in the village.

 

So nothing will happen to her.

 

She’ll get out of here safely and in two days she’ll go to her village with Yi Ho as promised.

 

She doesn’t know anything! Ugh!

 

Taking a deep breath, Hae-Joo’s breath caught in her throat at the painful, evil screams coming from somewhere far away.

 “Aahhhhh! I don’t know! Kill me, you sons of bitches, you lowly rats!” 

Hae-Joo squeezed her eyes shut.

 

The pitiful screams from beyond the wall slowly faded.

 

Instead, a memory of something that had happened so long ago flashed before her eyes.

 “Hae-Joo! Hide in here! Don’t come out. Your mother will definitely come for you! Do you understand?” 

Her father, whom she had never met, was named Mr. Lee.

 

So she was called Lee Hae-joo until she was seven years old.

 

Shortly after her mother was taken away by the Japanese, she followed her mother’s orders and hid in a mantle (basket) in a back alley in the center of the city.

 

It was a large basket carried on the back by rag pickers (people who rummage through garbage cans to pick up discarded items).

 

The next day, a ragpicker with a spotted face came to carry the cloak.

 

But when he saw her in it, he went back without saying a word.

 

The next day the ragpicker came again.

 

She was still there.

 

Sighing, he gave her two potatoes that were about to go moldy and went back.

 

On the third day, the ragpicker asked her,

“What are you doing?” 

She said she was waiting for her mother.

 

The ragpicker laughed at her and said,

“If you’re still here tomorrow, I’ll sell you to the oil fields.” 

Fortunately, her mother returned at dawn on the fourth day.

 

Her face was blue and swollen from the beating, and her forehead was torn and bleeding.

 

Her hair was disheveled, and her barely gathered apron looked as if it would expose her breasts if she let go.

 

Her skin, visible through her blood-soaked clothes, was covered in cuts and bruises.

 “Hae-Joo! Get out! We have to run!” 

Dazed, she followed her mother, who stole a set of clothes from a private house and changed into them.

 

She wrapped a cloth around her swollen face and tugged at her hand with one hand.

 

She and her mother were lucky that day.

 

They made it through the gate without much effort.

 

Then they walked on.

 

Along the way, her mother lost several claws, and the soles of her feet were blistered, torn, and peeling.

 

On her mother’s back, she just hugged her tightly around her neck and held her breath.

 

She felt that if she let go of her arms, her mother would disappear.

 

Sometimes, if they met a kind-hearted person, they would get a ride in a cart or a few coins.

 

On the way south, her mother made a deal with someone to let her keep the clothes they threw at her.

 

She also put all the money she had strapped to her young body before the Japanese took her away.

 

Then they put it in her arms and told her to protect it no matter what.

 

She was getting thinner by the day.

 

She didn’t eat properly and didn’t get medical attention in time.

 

The cuts on her thighs, arms, stomach, and the burns on her back showed no signs of healing.

 

At night, she would stare at her mother’s face for hours.

 

Fearing that she would never open her eyes again, she would call out to her mother.

 “Mom, are you there?” “Yes.” “Mom, don’t leave me.” “Yes.” 

She believed her because she always came back.

 

But on the way, she never came back.

 “Please… Hey…. I’m sorry…. Mommy… can’t… pick me up… anymore…” 

Hae-Joo’s eyes squeezed shut and her face contorted.

 

It felt like someone was clawing at the inside of her chest.

 

The past she thought was behind her was still there, scratching at her heart with a wound the same size.

 BANG! 

Suddenly, the door to the examination room slammed open.

 

She blinked, and her mother’s face, the one she’d tried so hard to forget, receded into the distance of her memory.

 

The officer who had taken her to the station had returned.

 “[Start over.]” 

He put paper and pencil on the table, sat down across from her and stared at her coldly.

 “[Sergeant, I’ve told you everything I saw, please let me go].” “[Are you sure you didn’t kill him? Why did you cut off his ankle?]” 

Hae-Joo clenched her fists in her lap.

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