KMPEG 23

Chapter 23

I didn’t say anything. Right now, I just wanted to get out of this forest instead of arguing.

More importantly…

‘That tapping sound on the window hasn’t stopped.’

It was too loud to be just tree branches. If it were branches, they’d only hit for a second as we passed. But this was a steady tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Like someone tapping their fingernails on the glass.

And it was following us!

Just realizing that sent chills all over my body. My shoulders tensed and my breathing got faster.

“Haa…”

Frederick let out a small sigh.

“If you’re this scared, why did you even come?”

“To help you…”

I answered, but Frederick gave me a look like, “yeah right.”

He acts all sharp with me, but he’s a total pushover for Charlier.

“To get that 1000 lucre.”

Frederick leaned his head back and sighed deeply.

“You’re scared of the ghost outside, right? But I’m scared of you. It’s like a broke ghost who died from not making money is stuck to you.”

“Cough…”

I couldn’t even deny it. Delphine is the original body, and Seo Joo-hee possessed her. If you think of Seo Joo-hee as a ghost… yeah. She’s definitely a broke Korean ghost who died from not making enough money in her life.

‘Still…’

Joking around with this jerk helped ease my nerves a bit.

The tension in my body slowly faded. I thought I must’ve imagined things—until I heard the knocking again.

—Tap. Tap. Tap.

“…!”

Someone tapped the window next to where I was sitting.

Frederick, who had been leaning back in his seat, sat up straight. It was clear. This wasn’t just random noise. It was someone knocking. Like knuckles tapping glass. Clear and precise.

Frederick’s hand holding mine tightened.

‘…Even if he’s rude, I’m glad I’m not alone.’

For the first time, Frederick’s presence felt reassuring. Sure, it was his fault we were here, but what mattered now was getting through it safely.

“You heard that, right?” Frederick said, watching both windows closely.

“Yeah… What about the coachman? Is he okay?”

“He should be. They’re targeting us.”

“They… ‘they’?”

Huh?! I wanted to scream.

Why the hell would he say something that creepy so casually?

“What are they?”

“It’s nothing serious. They’re just warning us. They can’t actually do anything.”

Frederick spoke calmly. His voice was steady, and his eyes sharp.

He looked totally different. I’d only ever seen him acting lazy at home or panicking in town. But here, in the wild, he looked… focused. Almost glowing.

‘What the? Was he always like this? Is this how he acts when he’s working?’

Then he pulled something out of his pocket with his free hand.

“Put this on.”

It was a pearl necklace with a faint blue glow.

“A pearl necklace?”

“Yeah. It was my mom’s. It’s said to be blessed by the sea god. You wear it.”

“This is valuable…”

Normally I would’ve refused, but now wasn’t the time. I had to survive first.

My hands were shaking too much to put it on myself.

“Here, give it to me.”

Frederick took it, unlatched it, and carefully fastened it around my neck. When his arms wrapped around me to put it on, I caught a whiff of his scent—fresh and sweet, like pine trees in winter.

‘He smells kind of like a baby… or maybe winter woods?’

He clipped it on and checked it once more, his eyes serious and sharp.

‘He really looks like a different person when he’s focused.’

Maybe the sea god really was watching over me, because as soon as I wore it, I felt a bit more calm.

—Tap. Tap. Tap.

Then the knocking came again—but this time, from the window on Frederick’s side.

“It knocked on your side now? Maybe the necklace actually works. Thanks…”

Frederick pulled out a small glass bottle.

“What’s that?”

“Holy water. From the purest part of the sea. It’s used on trading ships to keep away evil spirits. Not sure if it’ll work here, but we’ll see.”

“…”

“I’m opening the window cover. Hold onto the necklace tight.”

Frederick carefully popped open the cork. Holding the bottle in one hand, he opened the window cover.

—Whoosh!

“A will-o’-the-wisp?!”

Outside the window floated a blue flame. At first glance it looked like a normal fireball, but if you looked closely, it had eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

“What… what is that?” I stammered.

“It’s a spirit flame.”

Frederick calmly tucked the holy water back in his pocket.

“A… spirit flame?”

Is that really like a ghost fire?

—Tap. Tap.

As it knocked again, I covered my mouth with both hands.

The flame had grown fingers and was tapping the glass.

“It has fingers!”

“A spirit flame is formed when several souls who died unjustly gather together.”

My lips and chin were trembling. I grabbed Frederick’s necklace.

“Please, sea god… sea king, dragon king… please protect me. That thing is way too scary.”

Seeing me praying with the necklace in both hands, Frederick snorted.

“Relax. The spirit flame just wants attention. It’s trying to scare you. Calm down.”

“Like it’s that easy! You think I want to be scared?! I’m terrified!”

Frederick spoke more seriously now.

“You have to calm down. The spirit flame attacks people who are scared. It senses fear and goes after the weakest person.”

“…”

Just then, the spirit flame outside Frederick’s window disappeared.

“Is it gone…?”

As he leaned closer to the window—

—BANG!

I nearly had a heart attack.

Something slammed into the window on my side.

“It’s back on my side, isn’t it?!”

My voice cracked like metal. It didn’t even sound like me.

I was gripping my hands so tightly that my nails left marks in my palms. I hate ghosts!!

“No choice.”

“…!”

Frederick sighed and suddenly pulled me into his arms.

Now my head was resting on his chest.

“I know I said friends shouldn’t do this, but this is an emergency. The spirit flame got triggered.”

He wrapped one arm around me and gently patted my back with the other.

“If you lose fear, it’ll leave. Just focus on my heartbeat. Count along with it.”

“One… two…”

—Thump! Thump! Thump!

“AAAAHHH!”

I screamed like a dinosaur. My body flinched, and Frederick held me tighter.

“…”

I was trapped in his arms. It felt awkward, but strangely comforting.

‘One. Two. Three. Four.’

His heartbeat was calm and steady.

‘Weird. He looks so clueless in town… but now he’s so cool.’

He seemed oddly experienced dealing with spirit flames.

—Tap. Tap. Tap.

The knocking came again, but softer this time.

“It’s going to leave soon. We’re almost out of the forest,” he whispered while hugging me tighter.

“Let me go. You said we’re almost there.”

“No. Not until we’re fully out. If you scream even once, the spirit flame will follow us to the village. People could get hurt.”

“I see…”

For some reason, being in his arms made me feel safe. Like nothing could hurt me here.

As my heart synced with his, he gently loosened his grip and let go.

“It’s gone now. We’re at the village.”

“Hey, thanks. But… how do you know so much about this?”

“I’ve seen it before.”

“What? You’ve seen spirit flames before? A lot?”

Frederick turned his head sharply and didn’t answer.

‘He’s ignoring me again. Back to being rude.’

“Anyway, since it’s gone…”

I reached to take off the necklace.

“Keep it on.”

“But it’s really precious to you…”

“The spirit flame might come back tonight. You’re a scaredy-cat.”

“Hey! Frederick!”

I yelled at him, but let my hands drop. I didn’t really want to take it off. At least not until this trip is over.

I was really scared earlier… almost peed myself. If that thing shows up when I’m alone at night, I’m doomed.

I looked at Frederick. His blank face gave nothing away.

He looked like a completely different person from when he faced the spirit flame.

Whatever. What was I expecting from this jerk?

‘But seriously… why has he seen spirit flames so many times?’

The carriage finally exited the Forest of Darkness. A little farther along, a small village came into view.

‘We made it…!’

I peeked through the window cover. The village lights in the distance looked like the most beautiful thing in the world.

—Clatter, clatter!

“Hyah!”

“Neigh!”