Sins of the Tongue, Part 1

The first child to approach Hyekyung, who had transferred from the city to a rural school, was a small, bright-spirited kid.

Hyekyung grew fond of the child who had made it easy to adjust to this unfamiliar countryside.

They were together during breaks, ate lunch together, and walked home together.

Unlike Hyekyung, who was quiet and reserved, the child couldn't stand silence.

During breaks, at lunch, on the walk home — the child always chattered on and on.

The child was such a gifted talker that Hyekyung mostly just listened.

But on the walk home, it was the opposite.

Because the child asked Hyekyung to tell old folk tales.

Hyekyung would share the tales her grandmother had told her,

and the child would listen quietly, eyes sparkling.

Only when listening to folk tales did the child walk in silence, not even making footsteps.

The moment a story ended, the child would immediately beg for another.

When they arrived at Hyekyung's house, the child would wave goodbye, face full of reluctance.

Hyekyung fell asleep each night reading folk tale books, so she could share them with the child.

Time passed, and Hyekyung befriended other children too.

As she spent more time with the others, she couldn't play with the small child as much as before.

The child's high-pitched chattering voice always lingered near Hyekyung,

but Hyekyung, now popular, spent her breaks and lunchtimes with the other kids.

She still walked home with the small child, but it wasn't as fun as before.

Hyekyung's folk tales became repetitive, and the child no longer sparkled with excitement.

Hyekyung no longer read folk tale books to share with the child.

"Why did you do it?"

Hyekyung asked the child, having heard something unbelievable.

The child clamped shut the mouth that had always chattered, and stared at Hyekyung with unreadable eyes.

A desolate wind swirled between them and passed.

Looking at the silent child, Hyekyung didn't know what to do with the emotions surging inside her.

She never wanted to see the child again.

"Don't ever speak to me again."

Hyekyung turned her back on the child and walked away.

Watching Hyekyung's retreating figure, the child barely managed to open their mouth.

"I'm sorry..."

The words from the child's mouth never reached Hyekyung — they were carried away by the wind.

Far away, at the end of where the wind traveled, a man in black clothes stood.

In one hand, he held open a black leather diary.

The wind-carried <I'm sorry> fell with a soft plop onto the open diary.

Thud.

The man closed the diary.

On the black leather cover, letters began to glow.

[Seeds of the Tongue Hell]

Sins of the tongue... jealousy and betrayal