Little Pink Starfish

It seemed like they were heading down the mountain toward the abandoned house, but unexpectedly, Sa-eon walked right past it and kept going. Ebi thought he would take a break since they’d just finished hunting, but it looked like he was already heading back. Ebi figured it was time to return too and followed after him.

However, it didn’t seem like Sa-eon was trying to leave the bamboo forest. After walking for a while, he stopped and began rummaging through the grass. As Ebi peeked over his shoulder to see what he was doing, Sa-eon picked something up. It was a silver Buddha charm (eunbul).

“Wait—why is my silver Buddha here?!”

Ebi quickly took the charm and stuffed it into his bag. Sa-eon kept moving. From between rocks, underground, between branches, and even inside little burrows made by small animals—he smoothly retrieved more silver Buddhas. The last one was hidden under the floor of the abandoned house. Ebi hugged the bag tightly, overcome with emotion, and Sa-eon held out his hand.

“Give it to me for a moment. I’ll take care of them so they can’t escape again.”

They wouldn’t have been caught without Sa-eon anyway. Without suspicion, Ebi handed over the heavy bag of charms, and Sa-eon took out all seven silver Buddhas. The Buddha faces, which had been smiling, were now twisted like malicious demons. They were cursed charms.

“How do you keep them from running off again?”

Ebi was filled with anticipation, curious what mysterious thing Sa-eon would show him this time. From his sling bag—seriously, what didn’t he keep in there—Sa-eon pulled out a water bottle. At the site where they had made a campfire the day before, he opened the bottle and poured out its contents. It had an unpleasant smell—definitely not just water.

Then he lit a fire. Whatever the liquid was, it burned fiercely with a whoosh. Without delay, Sa-eon tossed the silver Buddhas into the flames one by one. Their already-distorted faces could no longer be mistaken for anything human.

When the fire went out, the silver charms had not only melted in places—they had fused into one solid lump. That would certainly stop them from escaping again. Ebi waited for the glowing mass to cool, then brushed off the ashes and packed it into his bag. But something puzzled him.

‘Wait… doesn’t silver melt at higher temperatures?’

What on earth had Sa-eon poured on it? But even if he asked, he probably wouldn’t get an answer. Ebi stared at the still-burning fire, trying to figure it out.

“You took the request, so now I want my payment,” Sa-eon said, gazing directly at him.

Ebi, suddenly remembering, fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the gold, now about the size of a cherry. He held it out and waited, but Sa-eon didn’t look like he was going to take it. Ebi awkwardly put it back in his pocket and asked with a pout,

“If not gold, then what do you want?”

What could be better than gold? Ebi didn’t get it. Sa-eon stepped forward without answering. One step. Then two. On the fourth, Ebi stepped back. Sa-eon lowered his head slightly and said,

“I want to suck your lips.”

Ebi couldn’t believe what he just heard. Did that hunter really say what he thought he said?

“…What?”

“Your lips…”

“I heard you. I was just making sure you really said that.”

Maybe he should just leave without paying. Isn’t that what they call it these days… a ghoster? But Sa-eon didn’t seem like the type to be okay with being ghosted. Still—what was up with kids these days being so forward? Ebi folded his arms defensively, narrowing his eyes as he looked Sa-eon up and down.

“Why do you want my lips?”

“I’m curious if they taste sweet. You’re a candy goblin, aren’t you?”

Technically, he was a goblin with a jar of candy—but Ebi thought seriously. Does my body really smell sweet? He had always assumed there was another reason for that scent… But regardless, this wasn’t polite. Just because someone smelled sweet didn’t mean you could go around sucking on them!

Ebi was getting worked up. Maybe even a little mad.

“You don’t just ask to suck someone’s lips like that.”

“Why not?”

Sa-eon tilted his head, looking completely innocent and clueless. He glanced at the bag full of silver Buddhas, then back at Ebi. His look said I caught those for you, so I deserve payment. Ebi felt like he was back to teaching little goblins again.

“That kind of physical closeness is something you do with someone you like.”

Ebi, being a kind goblin, didn’t get angry. He explained gently, like a gentleman. Where did this kid grow up that he doesn’t even know that? Then Sa-eon lowered his gaze for a moment and quietly said,

“Then… I guess I must like you.”

Ebi was stunned speechless.

He had been confessed to countless times before—people saying they loved him, would do anything for him, even begging to serve as his slave. But this—why did this feel so much more shocking?

Trying to stay calm, Ebi asked,

“Let’s be clear… are you saying you like me, then want to kiss me? Or kiss first, then like me? I mean—we’ve only known each other a few days, you’re a hunter, I’m a goblin…”

It wasn’t going well.

Because this made no sense. They weren’t Romeo and Juliet—they hadn’t even known each other for a week. Falling for someone this fast was absurd. At least, in Ebi’s world, it was.

“Is that really an important reason not to like someone?”

Sa-eon looked up and took another step forward. Ebi stepped back—until the edge of the floorboard hit the back of his knees.

“I’ve never spared a monster before—and probably never will again. You’re the only one.”

Ebi bit his lip nervously. As Sa-eon closed the gap, Ebi collapsed onto the floor. Sa-eon’s face was far too close.

How can a person’s eyes be so dark and glossy?

Ebi’s heart pounded. As he instinctively scooted back, his back hit the wall. Sa-eon stepped up onto the old wooden floor, which creaked under his weight. Why are his eyes like that? Why is his voice so pleasant? Why is everything about him so… good?

It felt like Sa-eon was pulling in all of Ebi’s heart.

The creaking and rustling of the decrepit house and nearby plants faded. Sa-eon’s breath tickled Ebi’s ear. With a focused expression, Sa-eon slowly reached out.

The warmth of human touch traced down Ebi’s cheek, round and gentle. One finger became two, leaving faint traces of heat across his skin.

Humans were warm—that’s why Ebi liked them. Maybe that’s why Sa-eon’s touch felt so good. Sa-eon leaned forward again, his breath brushing Ebi’s cheek, warmer than skin.

Just as their lips were about to touch, a sudden gust of wind rattled the old door. The sound snapped Ebi back to his senses, and he pushed Sa-eon away—well, he tried to. The hunter didn’t budge. Ebi, flustered, remembered how effortlessly Sa-eon had destroyed that face-stealing tree spirit earlier and understood.

“…Why?”

Despite the lack of effect, Ebi’s attempt to push him made Sa-eon’s eyes turn cold. His expression turned openly displeased.

“Just to check something…”

Despite the frown on Sa-eon’s face, Ebi glared at him sharply, overtaken by a certain thought.

“You’re not… you don’t just go around sucking everyone’s lips and mine just happened to be included in the mix, right?”

A sly glint flashed in Ebi’s eyes. His deep brown irises shimmered with a bluish hue. Sa-eon was a man in his prime, and Ebi had seen enough human men at that age using “pent-up desire” as an excuse to get into trouble. Thinking Sa-eon might be one of those made him feel unpleasant.

Sa-eon didn’t seem to care whether Ebi’s eyes glowed or not. He looked slightly irritated. He grabbed Ebi’s hand from his shoulder and pressed it down. Ebi flinched.

“Ebi.”

“Yeah?”

“In my entire life, you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted to kiss.”

Before Ebi could ask Really?, something soft and warm touched his lips.

Unlike how rough and brutal Sa-eon had been when catching monsters, his kiss was gentle. But it wasn’t polite or refined, not even close. The moment their lips touched, he thrust his tongue inside. Warm and soft, it moved as it pleased.

He said he wanted to kiss, but he went straight for Ebi’s frozen tongue. Wrapping around it with his own, he pulled and sucked on it with pursed lips.

“Mmph… mm…”

Ebi let out an involuntary moan. It wasn’t his first kiss—he was a popular actor who had played countless male leads. He’d even done some pretty intense kissing scenes.

But kissing Sa-eon felt strange. His firm, tender mouth rubbed places Ebi didn’t expect, sending shivers down his spine. When Ebi tried to turn his head away, Sa-eon gripped his jaw tightly, almost painfully, and dove in again. Wet, slurping sounds echoed.

Like he was sucking on candy, Sa-eon suckled the root of Ebi’s tongue until it ached, then began tormenting his lips. He gently pulled in Ebi’s lower lip, slowly tracing the inside with his tongue.

It was a deep, intimate motion.

And an excessively long kiss.