A Korean Odyssey
EP 01 - 1: SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL

"There's ghosts!" a boy shouted as a girl with two braided hair flashed by. Suddenly, all the children around noticed. A Primary School on the edge of the forest, crowded.

One by one the students of Elementary Grade 5 school came, crowding the girl while singing a song that was not pleasant to hear. "The ghost has arrived. The ghost has arrived.." so the lyrics, over and over again. And the song was finished when the class bell rang. All children—including girls it—waste into the classroom, sitting in an orderly manner.

Jin Sun Mi sat down bowed in her chair. He looked at his dirty desk, full of writings: 'Go you!', 'This is a school for humans!', 'Go there to ghost school!', and others. Sun Mi was not angry, but sad. He covered those writings with his study books.

"Good morning everyone!" said a woman as she stepped in and stood on the classroom podium. "...Welcome back to school. Let's all say hello! Stand up!" he said to all the children, then Jin Sun Mi stood up.

Instantly, the eyes of all the children were on him. Suspicious whispers and accusation are full of thought to throw at him. Only he stands in this class.

Sun Mi knew the answer. Teachers are not human.

He said, "The son who listens to my words, you're the only one who seems to." and his face rotted suddenly. Then in a shrill voice, the ghost praised: "You're a good boy." and his neck bent to the shoulder. The next instant, this ghost teacher stood tall right in front of Sun Mi.

Sun Mi did not move.

The ghost said in front of his face, "I have to give you a high score. Hihihihihi."

THE SRUAK! White round yellow umbrellas bloomed between them. "GO YOU!" sun Mi shouted with all the courage she had.

All the kids in the class were running scared to the door. While the ghost disappeared because of the spell written on Sun Mi's umbrella. Sun Mi didn't know that. She just sat there trembling behind her umbrella. "Go... Go there." he said, shrewdly.

Unlike other children, Sun Mi can see subtle creatures. He feared his friends, also excommunicated. No one wants to play, not even close to him. Because if you get close to him, anyone will get unlucky, he said. I don't know where those words came from.

Until the school is dissolved, Sun Mi continues to be alone. There were no friends on the way home by the lake, except for the yellow umbrella and the ghost of the teacher who had appeared in the classroom.

"Oy, where are you going? With yuk!" said the voice that made the neck hair stand up.

Having met him once, Sun Mi was not as scared as before. He rebuked the ghost and continued his footsteps without responding to his ridiculous remark.

The teacher's ghost whispered in the ear, "Let's learn from Master." Godanya.

"No way!" said Sun Mi, firmly. And he quickened his pace.

"Children should learn. Let's learn!" his tone of voice increasingly littered the back of the neck.

"Go there!" Sun Mi accelerated again her footsteps.

The teacher's ghost flew quickly in front of Sun Mi. He cursed, "Bad kid. You must be punished!" and he treaded the ground with a vengeance—so that the fallen leaves covering the ground were slightly flying.

Sun Mi unsheathed her yellow umbrella, but late—ghantu teacher was already holding the tip of the umbrella before Sun Mi managed to open it. They were involved in pushing each other. Sun Mi's little hand couldn't stand against her, she screamed loudly—tell the ghost away. BUT instead the ghost was more and more persistent urging him.

WUSH OFF! Shock waves from the back. The ghost bounced, bouncy and shrill, then disappeared. In a very short time, Sun Mi was fascinated by the events just now. And he felt something from behind.

The leaves flew down back to the ground. In the middle of it, a tall, moustached-haired man was stroking the edge of his black hat. He smiled at Sun Mi, then along with her black umbrella she and Sun Mi met in close proximity.

"Ajussi chased away the ghost huh?" sun Mi asked, enthusiastic.

"That's how it is." she replied, lazy.

"How is it?" Sun Mi wanted to know.

Without speaking, this mustachioed man lifted his umbrella and stomped the ground with his tip. The leaves fly away instantly. He showed off his little skills.

Sun Mi studied it, then she imitated the mustachioed man. But the foliage was not fluttered by the stomping of her umbrella. Sun Mi was disappointed. "Why can't my umbrella?" his weakness.

"Hm, is that it? But my umbrella can." said this mustachioed man as he raised his chin and swung his black umbrella.

Sun Mi concluded, "Ajussi isn't human?"

"Well, since you're not afraid, let's just say I'm a fairy." he suggested, arrogant.

"Ajussi is not scary. That ghost was scary." said Sun Mi, innocently.

The tall moustached man plus his hat was almost twice the height of Sun Mi. He bent almost 90 degrees, but remained slightly taller than this child. He watched her closely. "Oh, apparently you are a human who can see other than humans." he concluded, then he steadied back. "..Coincidentally. I'm looking for a special human like you. You're... ESCAPE!" throw it, while smashing fingers beautifully.

Sun Mi was happy to hear that. "Why did Ajussi look for me?" tanyakanya.

A low smile accompanies. "Because I need your help."

Sun Mi's eyes narrowed. "If I could help, we'd exchange umbrellas, would you?" bargain Sun Mi, thrust her yellow umbrella.

Now the low laughter that accompanies. "Oh, sure. So, that means we've agreed, huh?" the man in the mustache makes sure.

"Agreed!" sun Mi exclaimed, and she took out her small handcuff between them. He and the moustached man who claimed to be the elf shook hands in agreement.

Holding each umbrella, they walked along into the forest. The ground that was stepped on was getting thicker by the leaves, the trees around were getting lush, and the view was getting blurred by the fog. They arrived in front of a short tunnel.

The mustachioed man said, "If you pass through this tunnel and follow the path after, you will see a house at the end of the cliff. Get in there and get me the one thing I need."

"What's that?" ask Sun Mi, carefully.

It's a little hard to explain. "That thing is called the Iron Fan Princess. Well, you know that fire in the woods over there?" he said, pointing east. "..It has been more than a week since the fires have continued. I need that fan to put out the fire. If you manage to take it from that house, my umbrella could be yours."

Sun Mi's eyes were glued to the black umbrella. "But why did Ajussi ask me to help him take that thing?"

The mustachioed man replied, "The house is strange. It cannot be seen by the human eye, but can only be entered by humans. Only a special human like you can get into it."

Sun Mi was happy to hear that. A moment later, he smiled broadly. "Alright, then I'm leaving now."

"Oh, please." the mustachioed man opened his palm.

Sun Mi stepped towards the mouth of the tunnel. A few steps before arriving in the shade, the mustachioed man called out: "Hey son of man."

Sun Mi turned around.

"If you've found and taken that thing, you need to get out of that house. Whatever you see, whatever you hear, don't ever respond to it." The message, seriously.

"good. I'm very good at doing that" said Sun Mi, brilliantly. "I'm leaving!"

"Yes" said the mustachioed, arrogant man. And he returned the wave of the boy's hand before his whole body darkened in the shade of the tunnel. Looking at the small steps slowly moving away from him, the moustached man's eyes sharpened instantly.

After the tunnel, the fog blocking the view only grew thicker. The path that Sun Mi was walking on felt trembling. Wherever his eyes look, there is no life. And the metre later, he was shaded by rows of bald trees that stretched on both sides and met on the head of Sun Mi. Actually Sun Mi was afraid to go any further, but...

A row of stairs stretched out in front of him and right after that was a house at the end of a cliff. From where he stood, Sun Mi stared at how old and sinister the mirror-lined house was. And his existence at the end of the cliff had shaken the courage of Sun Mi. But if he managed to retrieve the thing, the black umbrella would belong to him and would be of great use. Sun Mi steadied herself and climbed this mossy staircase.

Sun Mi passed a row of statues posing warriors and climbed a wooden staircase leading to the entrance of the house. Doors and mirror walls make the house at first glance appear absent. Sun Mi grabbed the wooden handle on the mirror piece, pulled it, and looked at herself as soon as the door opened. Apparently almost the entire house is also coated by a mirror.

Right and now are not easy to distinguish. Sun Mi looked around and there were countless lit candles. His feet moved up the stairs and led him to the front of an iron-framed white-red fur fan that floated between the burning candles. It's not hard to find.

Pocketing the fan behind his coat, Sun Mi stepped down from the stairs. And something seemed to be felt by him from a room on the right. Sun Mi was curious, she forgot the message of the mustachioed man about getting out of the house as soon as he got his fan. Sun Mi instead stepped up following her instincts.

There is a large dining table with many chairs in the middle of the room. But instead of food, on it lay the blackened corpse of the tree, and at some ends of the branches stood five large greenish candles at its base. Sun Mi enjoyed this dark candlelight.

And PLAQUE! Sun Mi was struck by a blow that splashed fire from her—an object that resembled a flybeater but was made of gold. After the table, it hit the wall— keeping Sun Mi away from her sacred area, the corpse of a waxy tree.

Sun Mi flinched when she saw his form. He looked like a young man with thin elongated curls on the back of his neck. And on his neck is a black picture— difficult to explain. He's this weird house arrest.

Carrying his golden staff, the prisoner said, "I think flies, it turns out to be humans." staring intently at Sun Mi. Then he drew a golden stick on the boy, "Hey boy, how did you get in here?" he interrogated.

Sun Mi recalled the message of the man with the mustache: she must not respond to the seen and heard. So Sun Mi turned around and walked away.

But his backpack was captured by this prisoner. Sun Mi hung easily on one hand and was asked again, "You're visiting empty-handed apparently? YOU DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING? DRINKS, LIKE?"

No matter how loud the creature spoke, Sun Mi did not respond. He simply hung on willingly while secretly trying to break away from his grasp.

Prisoner sighing. "Ah, dear I can't drink." he murmured, "when there is fresh blood coming alone here."

The prisoner complained. "Well, there's no way a human child can see and hear what I'm saying." and he took Sun Mi down. The trick began when he accidentally dropped Sun Mi's umbrella tucking neatly into his backpack, he exclaimed, "Oy, your umbrella fell down!"

Sun Mi reacted. He crouched down, and as fast as lightning picked up his yellow umbrella. But before he went far enough away from the prisoner, Sun Mi was caught by him.

"Can you hear me?" said.

Sun Mi tried to restrain herself, but without answering the prisoner already knew the answer.

This prisoner walked leisurely in front of the lowered-down Sun Mi— avoiding eye contact with her. "You can hear me, just confess. Why are you here?" her tan, and her sharp eyes found the answer behind Sun Mi's coat. "Why did you take this thing from the house?"

"I was asked for help" said Sun Mi, without looking at the prisoner. "Ajussi Peri asked me to take this fan."

"God?" thought the prisoner, then a creature came to mind. "Is he tall and mustachioed? That thing claims to be a fairy?"

"You know each other?" Sun Mi looked up to him.

"of course. I know him very well." said the prisoner, showing off. "But how can a human child like you be the messenger of that creature." he muttered with a certain intent.

"I'm not a errand boy. We made a deal." Sun Mi explained.

Prisoner's lips are flat. "Deal? You guys made a contract?" tanyanya, full of tricks.

"Contract?" Sun Mi was astonished.

"No make?" said prisoner, dengar.

Sun Mi shook her head.

"Well, you can be serious" said the prisoner, with experience.

"Why?" Sun Mi panicked.

Prisoners bowed so they could look near this human child. "After you get out of here, you can't know what's going to happen. That deceitful creature might just attack you wildly."

Sun Mi flinched.

Prisoner smiling cunningly. "Ah, dangerous. Let's go out with Oppa. Oppa will protect you."

Sun Mi was silent.

"Well, since I'm going out, I have to change clothes first. While waiting, you turn off the candles" he said, wisely. Then he casually stepped towards without direction while secretly trying to glance at Sun Mi who became a good child by grabbing the bell-shaped fire extinguisher made of silver. He was waiting for the candles on the table to go out.

Being stared at so tightly, Sun Mi was suspicious. The silver bell that was already very close to the candle stick pulled it back away. Sun Mi thrust the object at the prisoner. "Oppa Peri just turn off the candle itself" said Sun Mi.

Prisoners laughing. "Oh, why? Turn it off" he said.

Sun Mi smiled knowing. "Can't ya? Only I can turn off the candle? Oppa is actually asking for my help, right?"

Then the two prisoners' hands met respectfully in front of Sun Mi. He bent down, "You're right, son of man. Helpme. If you turn off the candles, I can get out of this weird house."

"Is that harmless?" guess Sun Mi.

"Oh, no, no!" shouted the prisoner. "The five candles are representatives of the Marble Mountain. They're holding me like this. Look." he showed me his wrists, ankles, and neck that were circled by a spell-bound binding symbol. "If you turn that candle off and get me out of this house, I'll protect you out there. Okay?"

Sun Mi was not easily fooled. "Contract?" billiard.

"Ah, this brat is smart too. All right, what do you want?" ask, by widening the ears.

Sun Mi told me. "Please protect me. I can see creepy creatures."

The prisoner was silent for a moment. "You can see the devil apparently." he muttered, and asserted by Sun Mi. "Life is hard, isn't it?" he said, and he got a quick nod. "What's your name?" tanyanya, mature.

"Jin Sun Mi." replied Sun Mi.

"Jin Sun Mi." he repeated. And he said, "I am the Great God of heaven, Son Oh Gong. If you call my name when in trouble, fear, and danger, I'll be there and protect you." And he gave his palm to the boy.

Sun Mi was satisfied to hear it. "Then, this is a contract huh?" Sun Mi stroked that palm and a beam of light appeared from there.

"Well, now you turn off the candles and we come out of this miserable house" he said, sighing.

Sun Mi nodded obediently. The first candle removes the mantra on the right ankle, the second candle for the left ankle, then the right hand, the left hand, and finally the neck. The loss of spells was as sharp as the spark of iron friction, and the smoke of the rest of the fire blew away for the last time. Son Oh Gong achieved this freedom he so desperately wanted. "Wahahahahaha." he laughed in a blunt manner, greeted by Sun Mi's happy smile.

Then the mirrors left. Wall by wall disappeared like smoke of fire. And all around them turned into a field of weeds without a dark sky.

Son Oh Gong has changed his appearance. Her hair was no longer curly and long, but neat. His clothes were no longer thin, but complete with a warm fur coat. He jumped up and down in excitement as he looked at the thatch field and the vast sky. "I'M FREE!!" he shouted, with all his heart.

While Sun Mi stood in wonder. "Home disappeared!" yells.

"Yes." Oh Gong said. "The stifling prison has disappeared. Very good, Jin Sun Mi. Now I'm free and I'd love to have a drink, but I can't possibly take you. So—"

"Where are you going?" Sun Mi held her arm. "From now on, Oppa Elf must protect me. That's the contract."

"Oh, right." sighed Oh Gong.

Sun Mi charged. "Now, take me somewhere safe. I live alone with my grandmother. He's a very nice guy. I'll introduce Oppa to her."

"Attent." Oh Gong took off Sun Mi's hand. "Let me think" he said.

Sun Mi pouted. "Why? Oppa Peri wants to break the contract, right?"

Oh Gong. "Jin Sun Mi, you're a smart kid, so you know what a prison is. Tell me, who lives in it?" he patronizes.

"Bad man." replied Sun Mi.

"Then what I've been locked up in it?" Oh Gong decorated.

Sun Mi thought, "The bad guy?"

"YES, THAT'S RIGHT. INTRODUCE, I'M A VERY, VERY, VERY EVIL CREATURE." SHE EXPLAINED, PROUD.

Sun Mi pouted, "Then, that contract will be breached?"

"Well, despite my wishes, the contract with humans is sacred to creatures like me. And according to the contract, I'll protect you if you call my name. Well, Jin Sun Mi, do you remember my name?" tanyanya, sneaky.

"of course. Oppa Peri's name is—"

CLICK. Oh Gong's fingers flicked at Sun Mi's temple, then from there came a glowing yellow ball containing Sun Mi's memory of Son Oh Gong's name. He ejected.

Sun Mi was starting to cry. "Oppa Peri's name is... whose name is?"

"You won't remember. I already took it out." Oh Gong said as he clasped the memory at his fingertips. Then he took her up straight and blew on her like a dandelion flower.

No matter how much Sun Mi jumped up and down to grab it, the wind had carried her too high.

"Aigoo, your memory is blown by the wind." Oh Gong commented, with a proud voice.

"Evil!" exclaim Sun Mi.

"Indeed. I told you, I'm so mean." Oh Gong shrugged, liking that fact. "And there's one more piece of bad news for you. You, for releasing this very evil me from prison, may be punished by the heavens."

"Punished what?" Sun Mi was worried.

"Calm down, I pray you're okay." Oh Gong patted Sun Mi on the shoulder as a pretext to snatch the pretty iron fan from her.

"I'm going ya." said Oh Gong later.

Sun Mi hung on him, "Oppa Fairy, don't go." she pleaded.

Oh Gong turned to fake hospitality to this child. "When you call my name, I'll come to protect you. Of course, if you can remember my name." easily, Oh Gong unleashed a defense as powerful as Sun Mi. "And you need to know, I'm not a fairy. I'm.. well, as always stay!" he said as he fanned and disappeared along with the typhoon and black clouds.

In an instant, the mountain that was roaring with flames became quiet. While Sun Mi felt very uneasy. He was chanting, trying to say his name, but... Sun Mi can't remember it— at all.