The Year of 17th Century (The Handsome Demon)

The forest was cool and quiet, but footsteps walking in the forest could be heard amid the noises of birds and the river.

The man, in a neat but black hanbok, was the one walking, with his hands clasped behind his back as he moved through the forest, a slight devilish smile on his beautiful lips.

He was walking, looking for his prey - someone whose soul he could lure and claim. He was the demon.

As he made his way through the forest toward the village to search for his prey, he almost reached the forest's exit before a little girl ran into him. She looked so innocent, smiling sweetly as she stood in front of him.

The girl greeted him cheerfully, but the demon could only scoff and attempt to walk past her. However, the little girl stopped him by grabbing his hanbok and holding onto it. He stopped and raised his eyebrows coldly at the girl.

"Are you not afraid to be alone here?" he asked coldly, looking down at the little short girl, who shook her head and smiled.

"No, I'm not scared. Grandma told me this forest was dangerous, and that there were a lot of evil spirits walking around there. But do you think what grandma told me is true? Does an evil spirit exist in the forest?" the little girl boldly asked the handsome, cold demon, who smirked and turned to her.

"You should listen to your grandma because what she told you is true. I am the evil spirit and you should be scared to be alone in this forest," the handsome demon said coldly to the girl, whose eyes lit up immediately upon hearing he was the evil spirit.

"Really? But you look so handsome and do not look like you're an evil spirit. Are you an angel but angels dress in white?" the little girl said, furrowing her brow as she asked.

The girl looked so funny that if the demon were human, he would have burst out laughing at her. But the demon's expression remained as cold as ice as he glanced at her.

"Don't even compare me to those fools. Angels, my foot. I'm a demon and I'm dangerous. Go back to your grandma, you don't belong here," the demon said sternly, turning to leave. But the little girl grabbed his hand, which was still clasped behind him with his other hand, making him stop and turn to her coldly.

"Are you wishing for death?" he said coldly.

"If you're a demon, then why are you so handsome?" the little girl said innocently.

"You know nothing, little girl. Go back to your grandma and ask her about that," the demon said sternly, while the girl still held onto him.

"Tell me your name, I want to be your friend. You can call me Yoon Ari," the little girl said, causing the demon to look shocked at her boldness.

He looked down at the innocent girl, blinking her lashes innocently. The handsome demon smirked and snatched his hand from the little girl's, looking at her incredulously.

"You won't tell me your name? Okay, maybe you don't have one. But I will start calling you 'handsome demon' from now on," the little girl said, smiling happily and showing her white teeth.

The handsome demon was surprised to hear that the girl would start calling him that.

The girl smiled, shook her head, and turned to leave. "I should leave now, but I will come again to see you. I hope we meet again. Goodbye, handsome demon!" she called out and ran back to the village, leaving the demon shocked. He proceeded, walking further, exiting the forest, and heading toward the village.

"Hmmm, now I find my prey," the demon said as he walked further, approaching a man wearing a white and ash hanbok. The man looked unhappy, lost in thought.

"What makes you look so unhappy and not notice someone behind you?" the demon's soft voice jolted the man out of his thoughts. The man looked shocked and turned to the demon, whose lips formed a slight smile as his hands were clasped behind him.

"Wh...who are you?" the man stuttered.

"Do you care to know who I am, or do you want me to help you?" the demon said with a soft but cold voice.

The man looked up at the demon, taking in his appearance from head to toe. "He must be wealthy. With his looks and how well-dressed he is, he must come from a noble family," the man thought, putting on a more sorrowful expression to appear more pitiful.

"I'm so poor; my life is miserable. My wife is pregnant and will deliver soon, but I'm too poor to raise a child or provide for my wife's needs," the man said, tears in his eyes as he looked down, appearing pitiful.

"I can help you and make you rich," the handsome demon said with a serious expression, causing the man to look up immediately.

"What? How can you make me rich? I am a lowly, poor man. Do you think you can make me wealthy in a day, or when and how?" the man asked, bewildered.

The demon smirked, raising his hand, and an ancient Korean book appeared. "If you agree with me, I will make you rich until the day you die. But you will enjoy your wealth for only fifteen years," the demon said, with a slight smile.

The man was shocked, watching the demon's expression, as he opened his mouth to speak once more. "What...what do you mean by fifteen years?" the man stammered, fear in his voice.

"It means you will get rich and enjoy it for fifteen years, but when the deal expires, I will come to claim your soul," the demon explained, smiling.

"What? You must be crazy. Wh...what kind of deal is that?" the man exclaimed.

"It's a fair deal. It's better than remaining poor for the rest of your life. Imagine how long you could live in poverty. It would be a waste of time and a useless life if you die with nothing. If you make a deal with me, I will make you wealthy, powerful, and renowned, like a king in this village. Think wisely, poor man. Do you still want to reject this fair deal?" the demon said convincingly.

The man pondered the offer, his finger in his mouth as he thought, and then his face broke into a smile. "I...I will make the deal. I must be rich, powerful, and have authority like a leader in this village," the man said, happily agreeing to the deal, signing the ancient Korean book with his blood.

"Congratulations on becoming rich, leaving your life of poverty behind. We will meet again in fifteen years for your expiration date," the handsome demon said, presenting a large, locked wooden box full of gold and coins.

The poor man unlocked the box, his mouth agape at the riches inside. Gold and coins beyond what he could have imagined. He covered his mouth, happy tears in his eyes, looking up to see the cold demon was already gone.

The man was overjoyed, hugging the box tightly, ensuring the treasure was well hidden from prying eyes.

—————

"Where have you been, my little girl?" an old woman asked as Yoon Ari ran to her with a bright smile.

"Grandma, I'm sorry. I just went out to play, but I'm back now," the little girl said, pouting cutely, making the old woman smile and embrace her.

"Next time, you shouldn't wander far from the village, okay? It's dangerous for a child to be alone wandering," the grandma said, hugging the little girl.

The girl nodded, knowing she planned to go back to see the demon again but agreeing with her grandmother to ease her worry.

"Come here, the fruits are for you to enjoy," the grandma said, leading the girl to sit and enjoy the prepared fruits.

***———****

"Two preys lured today. Hmm, let's call it a successful day. I thought I was going to have ten souls today," the demon said to himself as he walked through the dark forest. Suddenly, he noticed a figure running and transforming into a gust of wind. He smirked, extending his hands, and the figure materialized before him, as he held the person's neck with a sly grin.

"Are you seeking death?" the demon said to the mysterious figure, not human either.

The man grinned and wrenched his neck from the grasp of the demon.

"You're so full of yourself. Don't assume you're powerful enough to intimidate me," the man stated.

"Your power is still insignificant compared to mine. Are you looking for trouble? I've already told you that I don't want to see you darting around like the wind in this forest," the demon said icily.

"And who are you to give me orders? Release my neck," the other man demanded, exerting his power to push the demon, causing the demon to release his grip on the man's neck. He then brushed off his hanbok and smirked haughtily at the attractive demon.

"You..." the demon started, gritting his teeth, but was interrupted by a familiar voice that sounded familiar to his ears.