And so, they came to the mountain.
Chairman Jang was firmly convinced that the shaman would have refused the request rather than falsely recommending someone. He decided to climb a bit further.
The arduous climb resumed. After climbing for a while longer, Chairman Jang, following Chief Kim, suddenly halted. He had heard a strange sound from somewhere. It was a humming sound, like someone softly singing. He wondered if it was coming from Chief Kim, who was ahead, and called out.
"Chief Kim."
The secretary, panting from the climb, turned around. Chairman Jang felt a chill down his spine. Chief Kim's lips were tightly shut, yet the faint humming still lingered around them. Looking around,
Chairman jang raised his hand to his ear and asked,
"Don't you hear that sound?"
Finally noticing the sound, Chief Kim's face showed confusion.
"Is someone there?"
He called out loudly, but no response came. Chief Kim, momentarily frozen, scanned the area to pinpoint the sound's origin. His gaze fixed on a particular spot. Chairman Jang signaled with his eyes.
Chief Kim swallowed hard and headed towards the source of the humming. As he pushed through the underbrush, the sound grew louder, and his throat tightened with tension.
If you climb that mountain, you might see things that aren't there and hear strange sounds. Just let it be. But if you do meet someone, check your feet. If there's a shadow, they're human. If not, they're a ghost.
Even if there's no shadow, don't be startled. Just pretend you didn't see anything and forget it.
The sound's source was now right in front of them. Like unveiling the final curtain, with trembling hands, Chief Kim carefully parted the dense foliage. The first thing he saw was someone's back. It was a tall man.
Chief Kim, with dry lips, scrutinized the man. The tall man was wearing a baseball cap pulled low and a navy tracksuit with three stripes down the shoulder line.
He involuntarily sighed with relief. He had worried it might not be a person, but thankfully, there was a solid shadow at his feet.
Moreover, his attire clearly marked him as human. Judging by the headset over his cap, he seemed to be listening to music. He was engrossed in picking something up, with a tattered black plastic bag in his hand. Chief Kim's face brightened slightly. Lost on the trail, he thought it fortunate to find someone to ask for directions.
"Excuse me."
Chief Kim approached and spoke to the man. But the man didn't seem to hear. As he got closer, faint music was audible from the headset. After a moment's hesitation, Chief Kim carefully tapped the man's shoulder. The man started, then turned around quickly, wide-eyed. He took off the headset and let it hang around his neck.
"What is it?"
Up close, he seemed to be a young man.
"Could I ask you something?"
The young man, looking bewildered, glanced between Chief Kim and Chairman Jang, then nodded.
"Sure, go ahead."
At that moment, Chairman Jang, who had been standing back, spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
It was suspicious to find a young man alone in the mountain, far from any village, on a weekday afternoon. He wondered if he was a spy from the press.
Despite the high-handed and rude tone, the young man didn't seem to mind. "Ah..." he murmured, then showed what he was holding.
"I'm collecting hazelnuts."
Hazelnuts? Chairman Jang exchanged glances with his secretary.
"I'm raising a squirrel, and it loves hazelnuts."
"Ah, I see. Raising a squirrel, that's unique..."
Chief Kim smiled and glanced at Chairman Jang.
"Your home must be nearby."
"Yes, it is."
The young man nodded readily, then suddenly asked,
"Where are you coming from? Are you hiking?"
In response to the young man's question, Chairman Jang instinctively pulled his hat down to hide his face. He was glad they were dressed in hiking gear. It would be problematic if rumors spread about a corporate chairman hiking in a secluded mountain.
"Yes, someone recommended this place for its fresh air."
Chief Kim shielded Chairman Jang and smiled brightly. Although he made a plausible excuse, the young man tilted his head with a puzzled expression and said, "Oh? Really? This is a mountain even the locals rarely visit... It's dangerous because the hiking trails haven't been developed. You need to be careful. If you get lost, it could be a big problem since there's no cell service here."
Annoyed by the young man's long-winded response, Chief Kim inwardly clicked his tongue.
"Oh, I see. Haha, thank you for the advice. We came here because we don't like crowded mountains, but it's definitely tough without proper trails. So, uh, by the way..."
He quickly changed the subject, trying to sound casual, "Is there any place around here where we could take a short break? Like a mineral spring or something?"
"Oh, a mineral spring? Yes, there is one."
The young man immediately pointed in a direction.
"Follow that slope up, and you'll find it soon."
Grateful for the information, Chief Kim repeatedly bowed his head in thanks. As they turned towards the indicated direction, the young man called out.
"Wait, excuse me..."
The two of them froze in their tracks.
"Are you, by any chance, Chairman Jang Pilyoung of Segang Enterprises?"
"..."
"..."
Chief Kim slowly turned back, suppressing his irritation.
"You look familiar. I thought you might be."
"You've mistaken him."
Chief Kim cut off the young man's words with a forced smile.
"Oh? Really? You look like someone I saw on TV...
"Yes, you must have been mistaken."
At that moment, Chairman Jang stepped forward. "Chief Kim." Understanding the cue to step back, the secretary bit his lip and held his tongue. Chairman Jang approached the young man, took a wallet from Chief Kim's back pocket, and pulled out some cash.
"Now that I think about it, just a verbal thank you isn't enough."
The young man's eyes widened at the thick wad of cash.
"Huh? Oh, you didn't have to..."
"Young people these days work so hard."
Chairman Jang thrust the cash into the young man's hand despite his refusal, gripping it tightly.
"It's tough with the job market and all. Use it as pocket money."
Holding the cash, he gripped the young man's hand firmly
"And it's best not to talk carelessly."
The young man, staring at his captured hand, slowly raised his head, looking dazed. Chairman Jang's stern eyes bore into him. Even someone oblivious couldn't miss the warning.
"..."
Despite his age, Chairman Jang's grip was formidable. A brief silence swept through the mountains. When he released his grip, the young man's hand slipped away.
"Then, we'll be on our way."
The young man nodded slowly, still in shock.
"Yes, take care..."
***
The two men headed in the direction indicated by the young man. It wasn't long before they reached an old, abandoned spring, just as he had described.
There should be a rusted well behind the spring. And indeed, there was a rusted well.
If you find the well, you've arrived. Pick up a suitable pine cone, wrap it tightly with this charm, and throw it into the well. If you hear the sound of it falling, clap your hands together and recite this incantation.
Recalling the shaman's words, Chief Kim clapped his hands together.
"Guide our steps, as no wanderer's feet have touched this path."
Then, someone will come to meet you.
Although they had done everything the shaman had instructed, nothing happened. Just as Chairman Jang and Chief Kim were peering into the well, wondering if they had done it correctly, a voice sounded behind them.
"Hello?"
Startled, they turned to see a child in a colorful hanbok sitting on an old iron bar. Chief Kim instinctively glanced at the child's feet and paled.
'No shadow. It's not human.'
The child smiled brightly.
"Please follow me."
The child jumped down from the bar and beckoned them to follow.
Chairman Jang and Chief Kim exchanged bewildered looks, finding it hard to believe even as they saw it with their own eyes.
"The path will be rough. Do not let your gaze wander."
After this clear instruction, the child began walking briskly. Despite being a child, the pace was incredibly fast. Chairman Jang and Chief Kim could barely catch their breath as they hurried after the child.
The terrain grew increasingly rugged. Though it was just an unnamed, remote mountain, the summit had seemed within reach from the base, and it hadn't appeared so high. Yet, the terrain was steep and the climb arduous.
"We've arrived."
The child stopped suddenly. They stood before a large rock wall.
Chief Kim blinked in disbelief. This was it? The child turned and looked at them.
"Look into my eyes."
As if hypnotized, Chairman Jang and Chief Kim obeyed. The child blinked three times deliberately, as if stamping something.
"What do you see now?"
Their faces turned ashen. Where there had been a rock wall, a large, traditional house now stood, looking ancient.
"Knock on the door, and someone will answer. It was nice meeting you. Take care."
The child bowed deeply and then ran off. The direction the child ran led to a cliff.
"Hey! Wait.."
The child leaped off the cliff before their eyes. Chief Kim clamped a hand over his mouth, unable to speak.
"..."
"..."
Despite enduring the strenuous climb, his legs finally gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
This can't be real... Is this truly the same world I live in?