Chapter 45.3

The Place Where No One Dares To Go (3)

Sakgui Island was to the southwest of Jeju. After two hours of travel by car, we finally arrived at a pier. There, the motorboat that had been reserved by Chief Kim was preparing for departure.

Are you the ones?

The captain gave off the feeling of a weathered man of the sea. He had a scraggly beard and his shaggy hair was tied back into a ponytail. He called out to us while packing away a net.

Chief Kim returned his greeting with a handshake, Its nice to meet you, Captain.

Same here. Its been a while since Ive last seen someone brave enough to go to Sakgui Island.

While shaking hands with each of us, he helped us on board. The boat was named Love-ho. Unlike the captains image, it was a very cutesy name.

It was difficult to find any boats sailing to Sakgui Island, Chief Kim told the captain as he put on a lifejacket. It seemed to be an attempt to calm his nerves.

This will also be my first time sailing to Sakgui Island. Im only going because youre paying me. The air surrounding that island is extremely ominous.

Huh? What do you mean by that

Its all because of Sakgui Village. I heard this story from my father, right after he paid a visit to the islands sole village. This was a few years ago, before he passed away, so its been a while.

Vroom

With the roaring of the engine, the boat slowly started moving. Sitting in their chairs, the children enjoyed the sea breeze.

He said that every single one of the villages residents gave off an eerie feeling. There was something strange about them, like they had escaped from a mental asylum. Well, in any case, it might be easy to turn out strange like them when youre as isolated as they are.

Chief Kim groaned as he lost all feeling in his legs and collapsed onto his knees.

Now that we had left the city and entered the rural outskirts, we were definitely getting a fuller picture of the island.

Y-young master. Even now, we can still turn the boat around

Enough. All we need to do is go and check if Choi Sang-Ho is there or not. Captain, will you be okay with waiting for us until were ready to leave?

The Captain turned the rudder and replied indifferently, As long as I can. Ill anchor myself some distance from the shore and go fishing.

Was it about twenty minutes later? We saw a small island in the distance. Sharply hewn boulders stood out against the green forest. Along with the beautiful waters of the sea, it made for a picturesque scene.

Its more impressive than I thought it would be.

Yeah. Its looks are quite superb.

In any case, this place that was called Devil Island, I really got the feeling I had often heard its name from somewhere, but

The Love-ho returned to sea after dropping us off onto the island. He left after telling us that he would be back in around two hours.

Theres only one road.

We slowly walked up the path leading to the village. While we were immersed in the quiet atmosphere, my cellphone started ringing.

Buzzz- buzzz-

The call came from an unknown number.

Hello?

-Yes. Hello? Im calling because I got your number from Gyeong-Ja-unni.

Who is this?

-I used to run the Together Guesthouse.

Ah. So the taxi driver had made sure to pass on the message.

When we saw the entrance to the village in the distance, the children took off running towards it. They were running so fast it looked like they were flying.

With a smile on my face, I replied, Thank you for calling me. A few years ago you had a young man working for you named Choi Sang-Ho, do you remember him?

-Choi Sang-Ho Could you be talking about the one who came from Gyeonggi Province?

Yes. Hes probably the one Im looking for.

-Of course I remember him. He was quite the unusual lad.

Unusual, how so?

As he was running, Sang-Beom suddenly stopped in his tracks. The boys eyes were fixed on the entrance to the village.

-He was a sincere and polite young man, but after a certain point he started saying some strange things. Something about a past life or reincarnation? He also began praying in a strange posture. It got worse and worse as time went on, until eventually he quit his job and left.

With all his might, Sang-Beom resumed running down the last length of road. It seemed dangerous, as if he was about to fall at the slightest misstep, but the boy refused to reduce his speed.

Then finally he threw himself into a man, hugging him as he cried out, Hyung!

I slowly lowered the phone from my ear as I took in this scene. The sound of the womans voice projecting from my cellphone grew dimmer and dimmer.

Sang-Beom? How did you turn up here?

It was Choi Sang-Ho. The man that Sang-Beom had been looking for for so long was just casually working in a field. By all appearances, he seemed healthy and happy.

There was a sign erected on the side of the road, indicating that this was Sakgui Village. Okay. Now I definitely remembered everything.

I knew where I recognized this place from.

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