 Kind Lady: Jen Che, we already talked about this. Besides, you haven't actually seen the spirit. There's no way to know for sure. Jen Che: But I do! I can just tell!- For their conversation, Ara was quickly able to figure out what was happening.
- This was a small nameless village at the bottom of a ridge of a mountain. There was a holy spirit that lived in the mountains for a long time, and the villagers lived peacefully, gathering herbs and cutting trees under its protection.
- You could say it's a symbiotic relationship, as wild animals and dokkaebies avoid areas where powerful holy beasts have settled.
- But one day, the holy beast just left.
 Ara: (A holy beast... the guardian spirit leaving their home... I didn't know something like that could happen...)- The villagers thought this could be an omen, but they couldn't leave their home. They continued to live on in uncertainty.
- This uneasy peace continued until a few days ago, when a traveler climbed the mountains and barely escaped from a monster that was residing in the shrine.
- Ara: So that's why you were carrying pitchforks. But you know, if what he saw was actually a monster, farming equipment won't do much.
- Jen Che was insistent. Ara contemplated for a moment, then spoke up.
- Ara: Since she is convinced... and I do not have time to go around the mountains, I could... check on the way?
- Jen Che didn't immediately disagree, but was looking at Ara with suspicion. Ara did not understand. Did I do something that caused this girl to be wary of me?
- ... ... ... ...
- It was a small mountain, so the climb was easy. Ara asked Eun as she followed the path paved by people passing by.
- Ara: I do not understand how the holy beast could have left. I thought guardian spirits settled in one place.
- Ara: Beings that live infinitely longer than humans, bringing peace and wealth to their lands... Am I wrong?
 Eun: Humans tend to put what they do not understand up on a pedestal. But you have to remember that these spirits are also living beings.- Eun: Trees, mountains, cliffs... These can't leave their place, but a beast may leave their home if they feel threatened.
- Ara: Threatened... So this is yet another suffering caused by demons.
- Ara: Humans were not the only ones suffering...
- ... Ara could see the shrine further down the path. Just like the village, it was small and quaint, with a badger symbol drawn on the sign.
- The closer she approached, the more she couldn't ignore the feeling that something was wrong. Ara stopped. She could sense an unnatural flow of air.
- Strong current of wind flowing on the ground. Almost like water.
- Ara quickly checked above her. The leaves and branches were still. Not a single hair on her head moved, and her forehead was still glistening with sweat.
- Eun: This must be that 'monster's ability. Be careful. Let me see what's going on.
- Ara: Alright. ... What do you think, Eun? Is it a demon?
- Eun: No. But... It's definitely not the original inhabitant of the shrine.
- Eun: ...! Duck!
- WHHHEE...!
- The wind turned sharp. Ara was barely able to dodge thanks to Eun's warning.
- ???: SHAA!
- A screeching sound made by some kind of a creature. Ara raised her guard and looked at where the sound was coming from. There...
- Ara: Oh... This is so...
- Ara: So... Adorable!
- Eun: Hmph, weasel. A young weasel at that.
- A very small white weasel spirit had his fur raised as it glared at Ara with guarded looks.
- Ara: Oh! It's really small! A young holy beast? This is the first time I'm seeing a baby holy beast.
- Ara: Hello, dear holy beast sir, calm down. I'm not here to hurt you.
- The white weasel approached, sticking his snout out, as it sniffed her extended hand, but Eun felt something else.
- Eun: Ara, be careful!
- Ara: Ouch!
- It happened so quickly that Ara didn't even have a chance to dodge. The white weasel scratched the extended hand and scurried back about 4 steps. The hand, swelled and turned red, the blood slowly welling from the wound.
- The wind started to pick up again. It was blowing past the trees, the boulders, and the pillars, while the narrow opening between valleys and buildings created a howling sound.
- Wun could instinctively feel that the white weasel's ability could potentially be dangerous to Ara.
- Eun: Know your place, foolish beast!
- White Weasel: GRRR!
- The white weasel flinched in response to Eun's threatening display of power and slowly stepped backwards, before it turned around and ran to the back of the shrine.
- Eun: I feel a strange aura from that young weasel. I'm not sure what it is.
- Ara: Is that so? In any case, did you notice how it was moving? I think it hurt its leg.
- Ara: For now... We should go back and inform the villagers that it's not a monster.
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Strange Beast and the Girl 1
