Baek Ilho's home was at the far end of the village, nestled between the forest and the last row of houses. As Minsu and Hyowon approached, the air seemed to grow heavier. The house itself was old but well-maintained, though the windows were shut tight, and the front yard was eerily silent.
Hyowon stepped forward first and knocked on the wooden door. The sound echoed through the still air.
Silence.
Minsu exchanged a glance with Hyowon before knocking again, this time firmer. "Baek Ilho-ssi? We just want to talk."
Still, no response.
Hyowon sighed. "Is he even home?"
Just as he spoke, there was a faint sound from inside—footsteps, hesitant and slow. The door creaked open slightly, revealing a man in his late thirties with tired eyes and a wary expression.
"What do you want?" Baek Ilho's voice was hoarse as if he hadn't spoken in a while.
Minsu stepped forward. "We need to ask about your mother, Baek Suna."
His entire body tensed. "She's gone."
"We know," Hyowon said carefully. "But we think her disappearance is connected to Yoon Hayeon's. Minsu's aunt."
Baek Ilho's grip on the door tightened. His eyes darted between them, filled with something unreadable—fear, anger, or maybe both. "I have nothing to say."
Minsu clenched her fists. "Please. If you know anything, even the smallest detail, it might help us understand what happened."
For a long moment, he didn't respond. Then, with a sigh, he muttered, "Come inside."
Minsu and Hyowon exchanged another glance before stepping in.
The interior of the house was dimly lit, the scent of old wood and herbal medicine lingering in the air. Baek Ilho led them to a small room and gestured for them to sit. He remained standing, his expression guarded.
"You shouldn't be digging into this," he finally said. "People who ask too many questions don't always get answers. Sometimes, they just… disappear."
Minsu's heart pounded. "Is that what happened to your mother?"
Baek Ilho exhaled sharply. "She used to tell me that some things in this village weren't right. She and Yoon Hayeon were looking into it together."
Minsu's breath hitched.
Hyowon leaned forward. "Looking into what, exactly?"
Baek Ilho hesitated. Then, in a low voice, he said, "The truth about this village's past."
Minsu's fingers curled against her lap. The truth about this village's past?
Hyowon shifted beside her. "What do you mean?"
Baek Ilho's jaw tightened. His gaze flickered to the door as if ensuring no one else was listening. Then, in a hushed voice, he said, "My mother and Yoon Hayeon believed that the village wasn't as peaceful as it seemed. There were things hidden beneath the surface—things that people didn't want to remember."
Minsu leaned in. "What kind of things?"
Baek Ilho hesitated before speaking. "People disappearing. Not just my mother and your aunt. There were others before them. Travelers. Outsiders. Even some villagers." His eyes darkened. "And no one ever talked about them again."
A shiver ran down Minsu's spine. "You're saying the village… covers it up?"
He nodded. "It's been happening for decades. Maybe longer."
Hyowon frowned. "But why? Who would be behind something like that?"
Baek Ilho exhaled, his fingers tapping against the wooden table. "That's what my mother and your aunt wanted to find out." His voice dropped even lower. "And it got them taken."
Minsu's throat tightened. Taken. Not just missing—taken.
She swallowed. "Do you know who's responsible?"
Baek Ilho shook his head. "I don't. But my mother left behind a journal. It's the only thing I have left of her." He stood up and walked toward a cabinet, unlocking a small wooden box. Inside, there was a worn-out leather notebook. He placed it on the table.
"This might have the answers you're looking for."
Minsu hesitated before reaching for the journal. The cover was scratched, the pages slightly yellowed with age. When she opened it, she saw messy handwriting filling every inch of the paper.
Her breath caught as she read the first line:
"If something happens to me, know that this village is not what it seems."