Episode 3
Three days had passed since Joon-wan brought home the earthworm, the likely cause of the earthquake.
The surreal events of that day had already begun to fade, making him question if he had imagined the whole thing.
However, the earthworm remained a tangible presence in his apartment. A new lifeform had entered his previously solitary dwelling.
“Are you still alive?”
He worried it might trigger another earthquake, but for three days, the earthworm lay curled up in the plastic cup filled with soil, seemingly lifeless.
“Huh?”
Occasionally, he would tap the outside of the cup and ask questions, but it remained motionless. Thinking it might be dead, he tried to nudge it with tweezers, and only then did it raise its head.
“…”
He couldn’t hear any sound even when he pressed his ear against the cup, but its annoyance was palpable.
‘Maybe it’s… lacking moisture?’
Joon-wan knew very little about earthworms. In fact, he knew nothing at all.
He set the cup down and sprayed water on the raised head of the earthworm using the spray bottle he used for ironing.
Ssssst!
He didn’t know for sure, but he figured it might die if its skin dried out.
Wiggle!
“Do you like that? Is that good? Do you like it?”
Whether it liked it or not, the earthworm wiggled briefly before curling back up.
‘Why am I even talking to it?’
Joon-wan sighed.
‘As if I believe it can actually understand me.’
He then grabbed the cup and left his apartment.
Whoosh!
He didn’t know if it was related to the incident, but it had been raining continuously since that day.
Joon-wan placed the plastic cup containing the earthworm in the cupholder of his car’s console, sat in the driver’s seat, and turned on the radio. News about the earthquake was still dominating the airwaves.
[Experts predict the possibility of aftershocks with a magnitude of up to 4 or higher for at least the next six months.]
The news unsettled him.
[While buildings directly and indirectly affected by the earthquake are facing delays in restoration, concerns are rising about secondary damage caused by the rain…]
He felt uneasy. The thought of being in the company of the potential cause of the earthquake filled him with anxiety.
[In particular, a massive sinkhole has been discovered on Toryong Mountain, the identified epicenter. Officials from the National Park urge the public to refrain from entering the mountain due to the risk of further landslides…]
Joon-wan glanced at the cupholder.
“Was it you?”
“…”
“You did that, didn’t you?”
“…”
“Are you going to do it again? Huh?”
Whether he spoke to it or not, the earthworm remained silent, curled up in its defensive posture.
***
In the human world, there is a fish called “dorumuk.” Its original name was “muk.” This fish was briefly known as “euneo” before reverting back to “dorumuk,” and there’s a story behind it.
Once upon a time, during a war, a king, while in refuge, was served “muk” presented by his people. He found it delicious.
“What is the name of this fish?”
Originally, this fish was so common in the land that it never graced the king’s table.
“It is called ‘muk,’ Your Majesty.”
“‘Muk’?”
The king, pleased with the taste, deemed the name “muk” unsuitable and bestowed upon it the elegant name “euneo.”
However, the human heart is not as steadfast as the mountains and the sea.
Upon returning from refuge, the king tasted the fish again in his palace, but to his now-restored palate, it no longer tasted as exquisite.
The king then declared,
“Having tasted it again, I find its flavor quite common. Let it be called ‘muk’ once more!”
Thus, the fish became “dorumuk” due to the king’s fickle taste. But whether it pleased the king’s palate or not, the fish remained the same.
Did its essence change simply because its name was altered? Not at all.
The same applies to me.
Although I was defiled by the ignorant utterance of “earthworm!” during my ascension, causing my body to shrink and fall from the sky, I am still the Jiryong, the earth dragon who governs the earth veins of these mountains and rivers.
A dragon, I say!
It has been three days since I was captured by this human.
‘How infuriating…’
For three long days, I have coiled myself atop the meager dwelling provided by this human, my body trembling with rage.
‘How frustrating…’
It couldn’t be helped.
‘Even if these ignorant beings have forgotten the principles of the world due to the passage of time… how dare they treat this deity, the mountain god of this land, in such a manner?’
Would you believe that in this short span of time, I have endured more hardships than I have in my entire existence?
‘How can he treat me like this after witnessing what happened that day?’
This humiliation was unprecedented.
Not only has this ignorant fool imprisoned me, but he occasionally sprays foul water on my head and even attempts to pierce me with sharp metal objects.
‘You scoundrel! Put that sharp object away! You scoundrel!’
Although my body has shrunk, my divine powers have not completely vanished. I could easily blind him with my venom or inflict him with ailments by emitting harmful energy.
However, that would defile me further.
I have already lost all the virtues I accumulated due to that incident, and taking a life now would be the end of me.
‘You… consider yourself extremely… fortunate. You are lucky that I was already a dragon. Had I been a lesser Imugi, a serpent yet to become a dragon, I would have unleashed storms and spread diseases throughout this entire village.’
That is why I am currently feigning to be a mere earthworm, coiled up in this pathetic vessel.
‘Tsk, tsk, tsk, what has become of this world…’
Although my ascension failed, it is not entirely hopeless. I can return to the earth veins, recover my divine powers, and choose an auspicious day to ascend once more.
‘To do that, I need to return to the mountain…’
In the past, I could have appeared in his dreams and pleaded for my release, but humans no longer believe in dragons, deities, or even the sun, moon, and stars.
And yet, they refuse to simply ignore what they cannot comprehend. Humans, with their limited understanding, insist on dissecting and analyzing anything that falls outside their narrow worldview.
‘Humans have long lost their ability to communicate with the divine.’
Thanks to the ability to hear even in slumber, I have a vague understanding of human behavior. That is why I am currently pretending to be an ordinary earthworm.
‘There is no point in reasoning with someone who cannot comprehend.’
I will simply bide my time, pretending to be an earthworm, and seize the opportunity to escape.
Of course, all my previous escape attempts have been unsuccessful.
I could easily tear through this transparent barrier and escape while this wicked creature slumbers, but for some reason, it hasn’t worked.
‘What is this barrier made of? It’s incredibly resilient.’
With my current strength, the best I can do is shake this container and topple it over.
After three days, the human finally took me somewhere. Honestly, the constant shaking and strange smells made me want to vomit.
‘Oh dear! Let me go! Let me go!’
What kind of torment is this?
After being jostled around in confinement, I was finally placed on top of something tall.
‘What is this?’
Thud.
I raised my head and saw a group of young, blood-red creatures staring at me with curious eyes.
‘What? What is this? What is going on?’
I turned my gaze towards the human who brought me here.
‘What is he planning to do with me?’
Where am I? What does he intend to do with me?
Gulp.
I swallowed nervously.