Episode 12
“There are… no such distinctions between humans anymore.”
“Oh? So, there are no kings, nobles, or slaves in the human world now?”
“Technically… they exist somewhere in the world, but…”
“Hmm? Either they exist or they don’t… Your words are confusing.”
It was like talking to someone from a thousand years ago. They couldn’t understand each other.
‘This is annoying, should I just leave her be… No! I can’t!’
The thought of her parading around in that robe, with nothing underneath, made Joon-wan shudder.
‘I can’t let that happen!’
His tone became sharper.
“No one wears clothes like that anymore! No one!”
“…”
“You’ll be seen as a crazy person! Do you want people pointing fingers at you?”
His reaction seemed to get through to her. She flinched and pressed her lips together.
“Come with me. I won’t dress you strangely.”
“Hmm…”
She eyed him suspiciously but didn’t protest.
“Here.”
She seemed to have realized something after his earlier outburst. Joon-wan took her hand and led her to the dressing room.
‘There’s no way I have clothes that would fit her.’
His dressing room was unlikely to contain anything suitable for her petite frame. Even without measuring, there seemed to be a 30cm height difference between them.
“Try this on.”
He draped a black hoodie over her purple robe, the sleeves needing to be rolled up four times for her hands to emerge.
‘Whatever.’
He had no idea what to do about her lower half and didn’t want to touch it even if his life depended on it.
A black top, a purple skirt, and now shoes.
‘How did she even get here without shoes?’
He stared at her delicate, bare feet, then went to the entrance to confirm that there were indeed no shoes. He gave up trying to understand.
‘Whatever, she got here somehow.’
He managed to find a pair of backless slippers and put them on her feet before ushering her into the passenger seat of his car.
“What is this?”
She tried to refuse the seatbelt, so he had to fasten it for her.
“This is the most fascinating thing I’ve seen so far!”
The woman in the passenger seat chattered excitedly.
“An iron carriage that moves on its own without horses or oxen!”
She became even more delighted as the car started moving.
“Where are we going?”
“To buy you shoes.”
“Shoes? Why?”
“Humans… need shoes.”
‘Earthworms might not, though.’
He was thankful that he only had afternoon classes today.
“As I understand it, clothing reflects a person’s status, doesn’t it?”
She was a demanding woman.
He took her to a high-end boutique that sold everything from women’s clothing and shoes to accessories. He had found it through an online search.
‘This is my first time visiting a women’s clothing store…’
A saleswoman approached them with a smile, but he spoke coldly and firmly.
“We’ll browse on our own.”
His sharp tone and imposing presence made the saleswoman retreat hastily.
Joon-wan scanned the shoe display with a discerning eye.
‘What would be suitable?’
One might think he could just choose anything, but Joon-wan was not one to act carelessly, even in this situation.
He asked the woman in a low voice,
“What’s your shoe size?”
She replied in an equally hushed tone,
“What’s that?”
‘What am I even asking?’
He had expected that.
He looked at her feet in the slippers and picked up a pair of shoes from the display.
“Here, try these on.”
The woman didn’t move.
“…?”
Her expression suggested she didn’t know how to put them on.
‘Again, if this is an act, she’s an incredibly good actress.’
He wondered if she should be pursuing an acting career instead of con artistry. Despite his thoughts, Joon-wan unhesitatingly knelt down and bowed his head, as if he were her servant.
“You put them on like this.”
He explained, putting the shoes on her feet and fastening the straps. The burgundy Mary Jane shoes he had chosen fit her perfectly.
“Oh…”
She examined the shoes with a fascinated expression, while Joon-wan had already selected a matching tweed jacket, a T-shirt, and a knee-length green skirt, draping them over his arm.
‘This is what college students wear, right?’
He picked out several other outfits that might fit her.
While Joon-wan confidently browsed the women’s clothing section, the woman walked around in the new shoes, her eyes wide with wonder.
Click, click, click.
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.
Despite the low heels, she walked unsteadily, like a baby chick taking its first steps. Joon-wan grabbed her by the back of the neck before she could cause any damage among the expensive merchandise.
“Get dressed, quickly.”
He opened the door to a fitting room and pushed her inside.
However, there was a problem.
“But how do I put these on?”
Her clear voice, as melodic as the tinkling bells, echoed from the fitting room.
“…”
“What are these things? Where do I put this small thing? Are these even clothes?”
‘Oh, dear…’
He couldn’t ask the saleswoman for help… who knew what strange things she might say.
Joon-wan briefly closed his eyes in despair, his head tilted towards the ceiling. In the end, he rolled up his sleeves and entered the fitting room before the saleswoman could intervene.
And he managed… to dress her.
“Oh my, you look stunning!”
The saleswoman, seeing them emerge from the fitting room together, assumed they were a couple.
“Do you think so?”
The woman, unfazed by having exposed her naked body to a stranger, beamed at Joon-wan, her chest puffed out with pride.
“…”
Joon-wan looked at her, his expression unreadable. He grabbed a nearby hat and placed it on her head.
‘Let’s just get this over with…’
She did look good.
***
Unwilling to repeat the ordeal, Joon-wan bought her various shoes and outfits, using her measurements as a guide. His backseat and trunk were now filled with women’s clothing, shoes, and bags.
‘Undergarments… I’ll think about it later.’
Actually, he didn’t want to think about it ever.
He pushed the woman back into the car, got into the driver’s seat, ran a hand through his hair, and placed his hand on the steering wheel.
‘I’ll be late if I delay any longer.’
He glanced at his watch. It was time to head to the university, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave her alone.
‘What should I do?’
“Human clothes are so colorful and short these days, aren’t they?”
The woman in the passenger seat chuckled, seemingly enjoying herself. Dressed appropriately, she could pass for a college student, a young professional, or even a woman in her thirties. However, the moment she opened her mouth, disaster was imminent.
‘She’s not easy to handle… but she’s like a child wandering by the river.’
He couldn’t leave her at home, but bringing her along was also worrisome.
Joon-wan tapped the steering wheel with his slender fingers.
Tap, tap, tap.
It was a nervous gesture.
The woman glanced at him, and their eyes met.
“What’s your name?”
He suddenly realized he didn’t know her name.
“Name?”
“My name is Min Joon-wan. I’m a professor at Yongwon University and an advisor at the folklore research institute in this city.”
“…”
The woman, who claimed to be a “Jiryong” or a “Jirung,” a divine being of some sort, tilted her head and remained silent, ignoring his introduction.
He found her deep, clear eyes unsettling.
“What should I call you? Huh?”
“…”
“What should I address you as? ‘Dragon’ is your nature, not your name, right?”
“Hmm… name?”
She paused for a long moment.
“I have so many names… Let’s see, some call me Toryong (土龍) Seonin, others call me Geunin (螼蚓), Toseon (土蟺), Hanin (寒蚓)… and some call me Ganyeo (歌女) because I’m known for my long, mournful cries.”
“…”
“It’s true that I cry for a long time once I start. My cries are a kind of warning. Anyway, choose whichever name you prefer from those.”
As far as he knew, those were all names for “worms.”
“Sigh…”
She spoke with unwavering confidence.
‘She’s impressive.’
If she was trying to deceive him, she had done her homework. Joon-wan sighed.
***
- (Toryong) means “Earth Dragon” or “Dragon of the Earth”
- (Seonin) means “Divine Person” or “Holy Being”,
- (Geunin) means “Earthworm”
- (Toseon) means “Earthworm” or “Earth Maggot”, similar to Geunin.
- (Hanin) means “Cold Worm” or “Frost Worm”
- (Ganyeo) means “Song Maiden” or “Singing Girl”