The black SUV slowly entered the village road.
Se-Jun leaned against the window quietly…
…and froze.
"…Wait."
The old village was gone.
Well—
not gone gone.
But upgraded.
Beautifully upgraded.
New roads stretched across the village.
A small hospital stood near the entrance.
Children in uniforms ran out of a newly built school, laughing loudly.
Tiny grocery shops lined the streets.
Food stalls filled the air with delicious smells.
Even the old farming areas looked cleaner and brighter.
Se-Jun blinked slowly.
"…Whoa."
Hye-jin smirked proudly beside him.
"Told you Grandpa wasn't joking."
The car stopped near the house.
But even THAT looked different now.
The old traditional home had been renovated beautifully.
Still traditional.
Still warm.
But polished.
Elegant.
Expensive enough to make Seoul architects cry.
Before they could even step out—
Hyuk rushed outside immediately.
"AYYYY!"
He opened his arms dramatically.
"Our superstar is here!"
Se-Jun laughed awkwardly.
"Uncle, please…"
Too late.
Hyuk already grabbed him proudly like he personally raised him from childhood.
Inside—
Hye-jin's aunt walked out carrying vegetables.
The moment she saw Se-Jun—
"Aigoooooo!"
She shoved a cauliflower into his hands dramatically.
"The BEST ACTOR AWARD goes to—!"
Se-Jun stared at the cauliflower silently.
"…Thank you?"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Hye-jin walked toward the kitchen, shaking her head.
"You encouraged them too much."
Se-Jun smiled and looked around the house quietly.
Then—
His eyes stopped.
A framed black-and-white photo hung near the living room wall.
An old man.
Traditional robes.
Sharp eyes.
Strangely familiar.
Se-Jun slowly stepped closer.
"…Who's this?"
Hye-jin looked over from the kitchen.
"Oh."
She wiped her hands casually.
"That's my great-grandfather."
"Gwang-choon."
"He was a real shaman."
Se-Jun froze slightly.
"That's why Grandpa believed in shamans so much."
The room suddenly felt colder.
Se-Jun stared at the photo carefully.
Then—
His face slowly lost color.
The dream.
That stormy night.
The candlelight.
The man sitting behind the table.
The calm smile.
Those strange eyes.
"…No way."
Se-Jun swallowed hard.
"…That was him."
At that exact moment—
The frame tilted slightly.
And—
Gwang-choon in the picture…
winked.
Se-Jun's soul immediately left his body.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—"
THE END.