Chapter 95 - The Grandmother's Guardian (2)

Lee Kyung-bok alternated his gaze between the holographic map and the building in front of him.

'Is this the right place?'

If the address included in the message from Yang Gwiri was correct, this was the place.

The timing was also right, so when she suggested having lunch and talking, he had assumed it was a restaurant.

'It must be a very famous place.'

The spacious parking lot was filled only with foreign cars, and not just any cars, but those known to be quite expensive.

That in itself wasn't particularly surprising, but the fact that the owners of these cars were queuing up was a different story.

'Can I really just walk in?'

Lee Kyung-bok moved with a slightly awkward expression. He had come in casual clothes, not expecting such a place, and the people in the queue looked different.

Given his personality, he wasn't particularly bothered by the difference in attire.

'How did I not expect this?'

As he passed by people, he noticed their gazes and the negative emotions underlying them, which his spiritual sense picked up.

However, no one tried to stop him. They probably thought the staff would take care of it.

As expected, the staff member's expression hardened as soon as he saw Lee Kyung-bok approaching.

"Excuse me, but this place has a dress code..."

"Mr. Yang Gwiri made a reservation."

Lee Kyung-bok cut him off, having read the unpleasantness emanating from the staff member. The staff member's expression changed when he mentioned Yang Gwiri's name.

"Oh, I apologize. I'll guide you right away. Please follow me this way."

The reaction made the people in the queue open their eyes wide.

'He didn't even match the dress code, yet he was allowed in?'

'There's a reservation?'

Such special treatment was unprecedented, but no one was there to answer his questions.

'It's a bit better.'

The staff member led him to a reserved room, and the unpleasantness he felt in the crowded main hall subsided.

"Hey, you're here."

As soon as the door opened, a cheerful voice greeted him. Lee Kyung-bok turned his gaze in that direction.

A beauty, who looked to be in her late 30s, was waving at him.

She was Yang Hwabosal, Yang Gwiri. Lee Kyung-bok bowed slightly and greeted her.

"You still look young, Aunt."

She appeared to be in her 30s, but she was actually in her mid-40s.

She had a natural youthful appearance.

Her expression didn't change, and she smiled in response.

"Is that so? Wasn't it the first time since the memorial service for your grandmother last year?"

"Yes, that's right."

Lee Kyung-bok sat across from her. He then glanced around and asked.

"But is it okay to eat in a place like this?"

Lee Kyung-bok didn't hide his surprise. His grandmother, who was a deity, never touched Western food to avoid offending the body deity.

"That's because your grandmother was very strict. But today, I made a reservation here for you."

"Why for me?"

"I had a client who was doing well in the restaurant industry. She always said she wanted to treat me, but never had the chance."

Yang Gwiri sighed briefly.

"But as your grandmother said, I usually avoid Western food. I've always liked it but held back. Today, I thought it would be fine to come with you."

"What do you mean by 'fine'?"

"Kyung-bok, your innate spiritual power not only suppresses evil spirits but also the body deity. That's why we're here instead of at the shrine."

The implication was that he could enjoy Western food without worrying about the body deity. Lee Kyung-bok smiled awkwardly.

"Yes, that's fortunate."

"Still, just in case, I only ordered garlic alioli pasta and steak. It's strange, but she likes milk but avoids cheese and cream."

"Ahaha..."

"But these are the recommended dishes here, so they should be to your taste."

Shortly after, the ordered food was served, and the two of them filled their stomachs while sharing some casual conversation.

"Really? A broadcast?"

"Yes, I stream my gaming sessions."

"If it's just that, why did you lie?"

"It's not a bad thing."

"Is that so? Are you doing well?"

"Yes, better than I expected."

"Oh, that's great! Then did your grandmother call you to congratulate you?"

At the mention of his grandmother, Lee Kyung-bok straightened up. It was time to get to the main topic.

"Grandmother, what did she say in your dream?"

"I couldn't hear it clearly either."

"......What?"

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Lee Kyung-bok blinked. Yang Gwiri, on the other hand, calmly chewed and swallowed a piece of steak.

"Probably because revealing heavenly secrets is forbidden."

"Revealing heavenly secrets...?"

"Originally, any story from that side, no matter how trivial, is taboo. But in the dream, your grandmother's face was very pale. From the clothes she was wearing, I think she was with celestial maidens."

As she explained, Lee Kyung-bok smiled but then frowned.

"She never appeared in my dreams... neither my grandmother nor my parents."

He also had spiritual power, but his deceased parents and grandmother never visited him.

Yang Gwiri waved her hand.

"That's because of your spiritual power."

"......What?"

"I mentioned earlier, didn't I? Your spiritual power suppresses even the body deity. How could a spirit who has just crossed over to the afterlife find you?"

Lee Kyung-bok nodded in response.

"Instead, I took on that role. But this isn't a celebration for you. Your grandmother said she would come to help you because you are in trouble. Is that right? Do you have any worries now? You need to tell me about them."

At her words, Lee Kyung-bok paused for a moment. Then he explained his situation.

As he did, Yang Gwiri's attitude changed. She became a serious shaman, unlike the chatty person she had been a moment ago.

She listened to Lee Kyung-bok's story without saying a word, and then spoke.

"Kyung-bok, have you heard my story?"

"No, not in detail..."

"I was a shaman even before I met your grandmother, the deity."

"......What?"

Lee Kyung-bok's eyes widened. He was sure Yang Gwiri had received her spiritual power through his grandmother, so how could she have been a shaman before?

"Have you heard of a false deity?"

"False deity... isn't that a fake deity?"

"Yes. It's when a malevolent spirit pretends to be a body deity and attaches itself to someone with spiritual power."

"You mean, Aunt...?"

Yang Gwiri nodded.

"This false deity is completely driven by desire. The person it possesses becomes a tool to fulfill that desire."

Before meeting the deity, she lived to satisfy all kinds of desires. She ate like a possessed person, ruthlessly took away fortunes, and sometimes fell into a deep sleep for days.

"But what did I realize after receiving the true body deity? That deities do not cause suffering."

"Suffering?"

"Yes. Malevolent spirits don't care if humans suffer as long as their desires are met. But when a true deity is received, the shaman only knows what they need to know."

"But what about the divine illness?"

"Kyung-bok, you know from experience, don't you? The divine illness is when the body suffers because the spiritual power can't be properly used."

Lee Kyung-bok frowned.

"Then what should I do? Should I receive a deity now?"

"Oh, don't be silly. Don't you remember what your grandmother said? Your spiritual power would be quickly consumed. You must never become a shaman."

"Then what should I do?"

"First, you need to understand your limits."

Yang Gwiri took a sip of water and continued.

"What do people misunderstand? They believe they have a predetermined fate."

"......But don't we have our destiny and fortune?"

Lee Kyung-bok was confused. His grandmother had changed many people's fortunes, hadn't she?

Surprisingly, Yang Gwiri nodded.

"It's not that destiny and fortune are wrong. But their uses are different."

"Uses?"

"There is no predetermined fate, but there is a wrong fate. A shaman's job is to correct such wrong fates."

She frowned as she said this.

"Do you know what cults and false deity-possessed shamans say? They try to persuade people that everything will be fine if they just listen to them. Kyung-bok, among 'good fortune and misfortune,' which do you prefer?"

"Of course... good fortune and blessings."

"Right? Everyone is the same. But the important thing is that even with good fortune and blessings, if misfortune and calamity follow, it's useless. The priority should be to avoid misfortune and calamity."

Yang Gwiri suddenly asked.

"Kyung-bok, how are you now? Are you happy since you quit your job and started streaming?"

"Yes."

"Then do you want to continue? Do you want to enjoy this happiness?"

"Yes."

"But are you worried that your spiritual power might collapse and disappear?"

"......Yes."

Through this question and answer, Lee Kyung-bok understood what Yang Gwiri meant.

"Kyung-bok, if what you're doing makes you happy, then it's the right path. But because you don't know about misfortune and calamity, you're worried. That's why you need to understand your limits."

"Limits..."

Lee Kyung-bok's expression hardened.

Yang Gwiri closed her mouth, as if giving him time to think.

"Kyung-bok, don't take your grandmother's words too seriously."

"......What?"

"Do you understand what it means to be consumed by a deity?"

Lee Kyung-bok rolled his eyes.

His grandmother had given a stern warning but no additional explanation.

"It means being controlled by your spiritual power, losing your own thoughts and judgment. Of course, there's a difference between being consumed by a false deity and a true deity."

"What difference?"

"A false deity manipulates humans for its desires. But you are not like that. A false deity can't even handle your spiritual power, so a true body deity will come. But because your spiritual power is too strong, it always leads you in the 'right' direction."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"It's not bad. Think of the former as 'theft' and the latter as 'submission.' But both result in the loss of free will, don't they?"

Yang Gwiri looked him up and down and said.

"Your grandmother warned you strongly because she was afraid you might make the wrong choice at a young age. But now you're grown up. Can't you reflect on yourself?"

"I think I understand... but I don't really understand what you mean by 'limits.'"

Lee Kyung-bok scratched his head.

Yang Gwiri chuckled.

"Oh, Kyung-bok. You've seen the best shaman, so how can you not know?"

"Grandmother?"

"Yes. How powerful was your grandmother? She could predict the future and read people's minds. I was amazed just watching her from the side... Oh, right. You weren't there."

Yang Gwiri clapped her hands, realizing her mistake.

His grandmother, who could recognize spiritual power, had prevented Lee Kyung-bok from approaching the shrine when she read fortunes.

"Then do you mean clairvoyance or mind reading?"

"Of course, you can do that. Your spiritual power is stronger than your grandmother's, so you can do even more."

"Even more...?"

"I can't tell you because I don't have that level of power."

Lee Kyung-bok nodded.

Indeed, the sensations he felt when using his spiritual power in virtual reality were something no shaman could easily understand.

"Well... talking with you has put my mind at ease."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I mean, I'm not going to die suddenly, right?"

"Of course not. That only happens when malevolent spirits leave a body that has no more value to them. You have nothing to worry about."

Lee Kyung-bok nodded and then rummaged through his pocket. When Yang Gwiri noticed, he placed an envelope on the table.

"What's this?"

"A fortune."

"Fortune? Oh, you really are doing well."

Yang Gwiri checked the contents without hesitation and smiled brightly.

"Really, Kyung-bok, you've grown up