HIS & HER CIRCUMSTANCES

"BUT WHY would they offer me to the Grim Reaper that they serve, Auntie?" Yujin asked, confused. Then she gulped when she realized something worth worrying about as well. "And the Sweepers serve a Grim Reaper?"

"Every area on earth has a Grim Reaper assigned to them," Aunt Hayi explained. "Grim Reapers have a system similar to human governments, too. In Korea alone, there are several 'Afterlife Local Government' led by a high-ranking Grim Reaper. Naturally, Mir City– this town that we live in– falls under a Grim Reaper, too."

"Auntie, don't tell me that the Grim Reaper who governs Mir City is Mr. Nightmare?"

"Unfortunately, that's correct," her aunt said while shaking her head. "He's a jerk, but he's a powerful jerk."

She tilted her head to one side when she remembered how Sun Geun-wook, the real one, had kicked Mr. Nightmare so easily. "Is he now? But I remember Sun Geun-wook sent him flying with just one kick."

"Sun Geun-wook is special."

"How is he special, Auntie?" she asked curiously. "Plus, how did you know he is still alive?"

She was curious about that.

But since her aunt sent her to follow Wook earlier in a hurry, she didn't get the chance to ask how Aunt Hayi knew that Sun Geun-wook was still alive.

"I can tell that Sun Geun-wook is still alive because you still remember the real Sun Geun-wook," her aunt explained. "If the doppelganger had completely turned into a Changeling, then you wouldn't have remembered your childhood friend."

"Changeling?"

"That's what we call doppelgangers that succeeded in stealing the Original's place," Aunt Hayi said. "Once a doppelganger turns into a Changeling, they will also replace the memories of the people who know the Original."

"I see," she said, nodding. "So, Wookie isn't a Changeling yet. But he thinks he has become a full-fledged human already."

"It's impossible for him to know everything, since he has lived in the Duplicate World for a long time. He just probably heard stories from his fellow doppelgangers."

"Is 'Duplicate World' the world where the doppelganger lives?"

"That's right," her aunt confirmed. "Of course, we don't know what kind of world that is. The Changelings that we caught in the past were hard to talk to. They were either aggressive or didn't talk at all. Some of them were even liars."

Oh, right.

This conversation reminded her that her aunt once belonged to a group of modern shamans similar to the Sweepers.

[But my aunt… is now an outlaw.]

It was because her Aunt Hayi had to protect her after her mother died.

"Yujin-ah, the doppelganger that you call 'Wook' lost half of his superhuman powers when half of him became human," Aunt Hayi explained. "And the power that he lost went straight to Sun Geun-wook."

"Is that why Sun Geun-wook suddenly became super strong?"

Her aunt nodded. "Yes, that's correct. I'm sure that Sun Geun-wook could use that strength to survive in the Duplicate World."

"S-Survive?" she asked worriedly. "Is that a dangerous place for Sun Geun-wook, Auntie?"

"Of course, it is," her aunt said. "Like your Wook, Sun Geun-wook is also in a state where he is neither alive nor dead. Savages also exist in that world, and they would definitely hunt down Sun Geun-wook."

She gulped. "Auntie, we have to save Sun Geun-wook as fast as we could."

"Don't worry too much since Nightmare is with Sun Geun-wook," her aunt assured her. "That bastard won't let Sun Geun-wook die in the Duplicate World. After all, it's his responsibility to bring the soul of the departed to the Afterlife."

That didn't put her at ease at all.

"Auntie, does it mean Sun Geun-wook is really scheduled to die?"

Her aunt's silence sounded like a confirmation to her.

It broke her heart once again.

"Yujin-ah, we can worry about that later. But for now, we have to help Sun Geun-wook get out of the Duplicate World."

She agreed with her aunt.

[If I was able to escape death once, then I can help Sun Geun-wook escape his death, too. But before that, I must bring him back to the human world first.]

"What should we do, Auntie?"

"I'll tell you later once I came up with a solid plan," her aunt said. "For now, keep an eye on the doppelganger."

She didn't doubt her aunt.

After all, this was the person who helped her mother trick the Grim Reaper in order to save her life.

"On that note, the doppelganger has to live with us in the meantime."

Her eyes went wide in shock. "Huh? Does he really have to? Auntie, I understand that Wookie's life is in danger. But you said you can erase his scent. If it's not enough, then how about putting a barrier in their apartment?"

"If those things are enough, I wouldn't have suggested that the doppelganger should live with us temporarily."

Oops.

"Yujin-ah, I know that it will be uncomfortable for you. But we have to keep an eye on him," her aunt said seriously. "Aside from the Savages, we also have to keep him safe from the Sweepers. Hence, it will be more convenient if he lived with us."

Her aunt had a point.

Moreover, living with the doppelganger was a small price to pay if it mean saving Sun Geun-wook.

[Aunt Hayi is here anyway, so I don't have to worry.]

"Okay, Auntie. I got it," Yujin said, nodding firmly. "But how do we deal with the Sweepers?"

Her aunt fell silent.

[And she looks awkward, too.]

That made her nervous.

"Auntie…?"

"Listen carefully, Yujin-ah," her aunt said, and she couldn't even meet her gaze. "Sweepers are sponsored by a huge company. Hence, they have the power to abuse their authority if they really want to push us into a corner. In order to fight them, we have to use money and power, too."

Her body went cold.

She already knew where this conversation was headed, so she clenched her hands tight.

"We're rich, but not as rich as the company behind the Sweepers," Aunt Hayi said carefully. "If we want to fight them on an equal foot, then we have to borrow your father's power."

[Ah, I knew it.]

"Aunt Hayi, I understand what you're saying, but…" Yujin paused for a moment, then she smiled "brightly" at her aunt. "I don't have a father, though?"

***

YUJIN, who came out of her bedroom after her aunt summoned her to the study, was surprised when she saw Wook standing in front of her door.

She wanted to scold him, but she got distracted while looking at his outfit.

Wook had changed into the pajamas that she lent him: a black pajama with little white skulls as a pattern.

Aunt Hayi's students were eccentric, and so was their fashion sense.

[But for some reason, those ridiculous pajamas make Wook look cute. Especially since his hair is still messy after washing.]

Omo?

Did she just think that the doppelganger was cute?

Yujin, disgusted by her own thoughts, slapped her face lightly. [You crazy pitch!]

"Yujinie, don't hurt yourself," Wook said with a worried look on her face. Then he gently grabbed her wrist and put her hand over his cheek. "If you're angry, vent out on me."

Hah.

It seemed like the doppelganger's vocabulary had expanded.

"Stop being cheesy," she said, pulling her hand away from his grasp. "Wookie, I'll let it slide for now because I know that you're still adapting to your new environment. However, I want you to know that I hate it when my personal space is invaded."

The doppelganger instantly took a step backward.

[Good.]

"And I also hate it when you touch me without permission."

Wook bowed his head right away. "I'm sorry, Yujinie. I won't do it again."

She let out a frustrated sigh.

[How can I get mad at him when he's being this cute– I mean, cooperative?]

She liked that the doppelganger listened to her well, so she couldn't really complain about him.

[I guess living with him wouldn't be as hard as I thought it would be.]

"Wookie, from now on, you'll be living with us temporarily."

The doppelganger raised his head, and his face obviously beamed. "Really?"

"That's what Aunt Hayi said, so I can't really argue with that," she said. "So, tomorrow, we'll go to your apartment and pick up your things. Your mother is on a business trip abroad, so it won't be a problem for now. But, once your mother returns, we have to come up with an excuse. Can you help me with that?"

Wook nodded his head eagerly. "Geun lied to his mother a lot in the past. I can copy that."

Argh.

She flinched after hearing that, but she couldn't defend her childhood friend.

[I mean, I know that Sun Geun-wook's mother is not a good mother. But I'm also aware that Sun Geun-wook is not the best son.]

Yujin just cleared her throat. "Follow me– Aunt Hayi wants to talk to us."

Wook smiled and nodded. "I'll follow you everywhere, Yujinie."

So cringey.

[No need to go that far.]

***

Please add SPOOKY SOULMATE to your library~