The village records keeper, an elderly man named Master Yoo, lived in a secluded part of the village, near the old shrine. Minsu and Hyowon made their way there, the atmosphere growing quieter with each step. The further they walked, the more distant the sounds of the bustling market and daily life became.
When they arrived, they found the records house—a small, weathered building with wooden beams darkened by age. Minsu knocked on the door, glancing at Hyowon. "Do you think he'll even let us see the records?"
Hyowon shrugged. "Only one way to find out."
The door creaked open a few moments later, revealing Master Yoo. His sharp eyes, sunken yet piercing, studied them for a long moment before he spoke. "Visitors at this hour? What do you want?"
Minsu straightened. "Master Yoo, I was hoping to look at some old village records."
The old man snorted. "And why would a young lady like you need those?"
She hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I'm looking for information about my parents… and my aunt."
At the mention of her aunt, Master Yoo's expression shifted. It was brief—just a flicker of something in his eyes—but Minsu caught it.
He knew something.
The old man turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder as if considering something. Then, with a sigh, he stepped aside. "Come in."
Minsu and Hyowon exchanged glances before stepping inside.
The air smelled of ink and old parchment. Shelves lined with scrolls and bound books covered the walls. It was dimly lit, the glow of a single lantern casting long shadows.
Master Yoo moved toward one of the shelves, his fingers brushing against the spines of old records. "What exactly are you looking for?"
Minsu took a deep breath. "Records from the year my parents died… and anything about my aunt."
The old man paused. His hand hovered over a scroll before he pulled it out carefully. "You're looking in dangerous places, child."
He laid the scroll on the table and unrolled it slowly. The faded ink revealed names, dates, and events recorded from years ago.
Minsu's heart pounded as she scanned the names—
And then, she saw something that made her breath catch.
Her parents' names… listed under 'Deceased' on the same day.
But beside their names, written in smaller ink, was a note.
Cause of death: Unknown.
Minsu's hands clenched. "I thought they died in an accident… why doesn't it say that here?"
Master Yoo's face darkened. "Because it wasn't an accident."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Minsu swallowed. "Then what was it?"
Master Yoo looked at her, his gaze unreadable. "Something your aunt tried to protect you from."
Hyowon stiffened. "Then that means she knew the truth."
The old man nodded. "Yes… and if she disappeared without a word, then she wasn't just running away."
Minsu's breath felt shallow. "She was being hunted."
Minsu's hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the table. The ink on the scroll seemed to blur in her vision, but the words remained burned into her mind.
Her parents hadn't died in an accident. And her aunt… she hadn't abandoned her. She had been running for her life.
Hyowon was the first to break the silence. "Who would want to harm them?" His voice was calm, but Minsu could tell he was just as unsettled as she was.
Master Yoo sighed, rolling the scroll back up. "Some truths are better left buried, child."
Minsu clenched her fists. "That's not for you to decide."
The old man gave her a long look, then slowly walked toward another set of shelves. He traced his fingers along the spines of old records, pulling out a much older book. He placed it before them and flipped through brittle pages, stopping at a section marked with a red ink stain.
Minsu and Hyowon leaned in.
The page contained a list of names. Some were crossed out, some had notes beside them. Her parents' names were there—so was her aunt's.
And beneath them, one name stood out.
Kim Hyowon.
Minsu's breath caught as she turned to him. "Your name is here."
Hyowon frowned, staring at the page. "That's impossible. I've never seen this before."
Master Yoo's expression was grave. "Perhaps not, but your family's history is tangled with this mystery more than you realize."
Minsu's mind raced. Could it be a coincidence? Or had Hyowon's connection to all of this been deeper than even he knew?
She turned back to Master Yoo. "What does this list mean?"
The old man exhaled. "It's a record of those involved in something long buried. Something dangerous. Your parents… your aunt… and now you, young lady, have stepped onto the same path."
Minsu's chest tightened. The past wasn't just a tragedy—it was a warning.
And someone was making sure she never uncovered the full truth.