In the northern kingdom, the relentless slaughter of beasts and the spread of incurable diseases continue to plague the land, causing the population to dwindle rapidly.
When the time came that people had begun to accept their fate and lost all their ray of hope, a prophecy visited the temple, declaring that the oracle had been chosen. With this revelation, the little town that was meant to fall began to rise again, though no one knew what the prophesier had told the priest—he alone held the secret. Because of that, the townsfolk vowed their loyalty to their God, starting a tradition of offering him a gift every year.
"Whoa! The sun was unbelievably bright today!"
The girl exclaimed as she looked up at the sky, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Enjoying a delightful fieldfloric in the meadow after a trip of visit for her grandma who lives far from town.
"Ugh! I'm so tired... Let's rest here for a minute."
She then puts down the basket filled with the delicious baked goods her grandma had made.
As she relieved her fatigue, she was unaware that the enticing aroma of the freshly baked bread had already lure the beast in her direction.
*GROWL!*
Hearing the low growl of the beast behind her, her heart skipped a beat. The little girl froze, startled by the sound, her fear paralyzing her body as she trembled. With wide, terrified eyes, she dared not look back, feeling the presence of the beast loom even closer.
"He-help! *Hick!* Someone, please help me!"
The girl shouted, her voice trembling with fear. But no one came, because there was no one around to hear her desperate cries.
Tears began to stream down her face as she feared becoming the terrifying furry beast's next meal. But when she closes her eyes, the hungry growl of the beast faded into silence.
As she opened her eyes again, she was shocked to see a little boy—or rather, a strange-looking kid—covered in bandages.
Every time he touches the beast, they turn into ashes, and enters his body...
...She saw everything the kid did.
"...A-are you okay?"
The little boy asked.
She didn't answer, but tears welled up in her eyes. Though he longed to reach out his hand to comfort her, he knew he couldn't and that he will never be able to-not when he feared she might perish before his eyes.
"Plea-please don't cry!"
He panicked as she cried loudly.
"Wah~ so scared!"
He froze as he saw his reflection in the pond.
"I'm sorry…"
He mumbled and was about to walk away. But as he turned, he felt the girl reaching out to him which he quickly avoided.
"You- "
His eyes widened.
"Ah! Thank-thank you for saving me."
Stuttering, the girl who had been looking down finally lifted her gaze and smiled as the sun bathed her face in warm light. Her golden blonde hair glittered, creating a halo around her. In that moment, he felt as if he were facing an angel rather than a mere human, captivated by her luminous appearance and perfectly shaped lips.
"My-my name."
"Yes?"
"My name is Daisy."
She flushed as she introduced herself, which euonymously well suited her.
"And you are?"
He was startled. It was the first time someone had spoken to him, he could even feel the warmth of her words enveloping him like a gentle embrace.
"..."
"Uhmmm..."
Daisy looks at him without fear, even though he looks more terrifying than the beast she met earlier.
"Mu-mummie....that-that was my name."
He avoided her gaze as he was scratching the back of his head, as words were ineffable to describe the joy he was feeling.
"Then Mummie, from now on! We are friends! Best friends!"
With a galad smile on her face, Daisy reached out her hand and declared her friendship to the confused Mummie.
"…. Ye-yeah?"
Mummie felt moved because of Daisy's sincerity, but he couldn't touch her, so he just nodded.
It's the beginning of the demonic cursed Mummie and the sweet little Daisy's friendship. Their bond was pure and sincere, they always played and hung out at the pond where they first met. Sometimes Daisy watches Mummie hunt, like how Mummie guide Daisy to climb the mountain every day to visit her grandmother.
"Say, Daisy. Why would you always visit your grandma alone?"
Mummie asked curiously.
Its already been months since the two had become friends, but Mummie always wondered how Daisy visited her grandma alone every time, even knowing that the beast had resided in the mountain.
"That-that's because... I want to."
Daisy responds with a serious tone, but as always, she smiles after every word comes out of her mouth.
"Then what about you? Where are your parents?"
Mummie can't look into Daisy's eyes and is hesitant to answer her question.
"It's alright! You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
They were sitting side by side at a distance fearing that Mummie touch might hurt her.
"They-they're dead."
Daisy's smile fades away.
"It was a long time ago, I almost can't remember their faces, but the only thing I remember is that I was a sickly kid, and my so-called parents let me lay down at a marble table, saying that I would be cured as they started performing an orison. I fell asleep, but once I opened my eyes, I looked like this, and my parents... I don't know what happened to them after."
Mummie's response as Daisy listens.
"Did they want you dead?"
Her facial expression stayed serious as she played with the grass.
"I don't know."
He suddenly feels uncomfortable around Daisy for a second, before her face lit up brightly with a smile once again.
"Then....When will you let me touch you?"
Daisy quickly slides herself beside Mummie, creating a small distance as she stares at him in the face.
"You-you can't!"
Mummie's flushed as she avoided her.
"Then I'll just find a way to touch you. Uhm...maybe someday I will!"
Daisy stood up and looked at Mummie with confidence.
"The offerings will be tomorrow, I'll be turning 15 then. So now let's have fun!"
Daisy ran while Mummie rushed and followed her from behind.
With all the fun, Daisy began to feel tired and decided to rest under the big tree.
As they both sat down, Daisy suddenly fell asleep, her head lolling carelessly to the side. Mummie watched her smile even in her slumber. She just looked so innocent with a quiescent soul that made the cursed Mummie's heart begin to beat fast... that he tried questioning himself, that maybe they ran too fast earlier, or that what he feels is rather a genuine affection towards her.
Mummie heart grew heavy. He doesn't want to expect too much, as he was already content with being her friend.
While watching her sleep from a little distance, Mummie hears the footsteps of two people walking down the mountain. Judging by their appearance, they looked like hunters from the village.
" Who do you think is the offer this time?"
The bald guy asks.
He watched them from afar, but he could hear them.
"It's already been decided, it was a girl this year."
"Remember the orphan? Who always visits her grandma? She will turn 15 tomorrow."
Mumie hears everything but can't understand a thing.
He was about to follow the hunters, but then he stopped when Daisy had already woken up.
"What's the matter?"
Daisy's head tilted as she rubbed her eye off with a dozing face.
"Would you not attend tomorrow?"
"Why?"
She asked with a confused expression.
"Ah...I…."
Mummie can't seem to answer Daisy's question, as he is not so sure about everything.
Daisy chuckled.
"Of course, I would not if you don't want to."
"Is it okay?!"
Mummie smiled.
"Of course! silly, my parents don't care, so it's fine."
The bright Daisy once again forms a galad smile that already becomes the weakness of the cursed Mummie.
"Parents?"
He confusedly asked, she never told him about herself, so he still didn't know everything except that she climbed up to the mountain to visit her grandma every day.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Mummie nodded as Daisy told him about her gambler-addict father and an abusive stepmother.
He feels pity for Daisy, even though knowing that his life as a human was much more miserable when he remembers the day, he vomits blood every time he was still alive.
He was left in silence while Daisy stretched out.
Her eyes suddenly widened when she heard a group of people march in her direction.
"Mummie! Hide!"
Daisy shouted, fearing that the people would harm his friend.
He rushed to hide behind the bushes as the group of kids walked towards Daisy.
"So, you're hiding here, huh?!"
The chubby-looking kid pointed at her.
"Come on, Fitz! You're just here to pick on me, aren't you?!"
She fumed, though anxiety flickered in her eyes.
"So what?!"
Fitz shuot back, suddenly commanding his friends to hold her as she stumbled to the ground, forcing her to eat the insects from his hand.
"Freaks should eat this!"
He taunted while Mummie watched from a distance, gritting his teeth.
"Who were you playing with again, freak? Another freak?! Hahaha!!"
They laughed cruelly while trying to pry her mouth open, as Daisy struggled to fight back, pinned to the ground by two boys while Fitz forced the insects towards her.
'Stop...'
'Please....stop it!'
"I SAID STOP IT!"
Mummie was furious, he wished for the three to stop, but they didn't. It was already too late when the wind began to let out a strong breath, and Mummie furiously devoured the three in anger in front of her.
When Mummie looked behind him, he was startled as his eyes widened to see Daisy's expression, which was unable to describe whether what he saw was either fear or worry.
"Da-Daisy I-"
He stopped mid-sentence.
"Fitz! My boy, where are you?"
As they heard a call from another person, Mummie's eyes trembled.
"Go…."
Daisy's expression gloom, wiping her mouth as she avoided his gaze.
"But! But I was just protecting you from them!"
He insisted.
"Please, just go!"
Daisy begged, dusting herself off before she stood up to watched him disappear from her sight.
The celebration for the offering scheduled for the next day had been postponed due to the incident, and Mummie could neither hear nor see Daisy after that.
Weeks passed as Mummie hunted for a beast under the vast, full moon. The voices of people protesting and reciting an orison echoed in the night, and the glow of fire could be seen at the foot of the mountain nearby.
"Burn the witch!"
Many protested as Mummie watched Daisy tied to the stake, flames licking at her feet.
Panic surged within him as he hurried down the mountain, his eyes widening in disbelief at how the pure, innocent Daisy had become the center of their outrage.
As he raced down, dust swirled around him, and the leaves fell as the trees and flowers he passed withered.
Mummie felt an uncontrollable anger rising within him, a fierce desire to kill them all for Daisy. But each time he remembered her gentle expression, he hesitated, knowing he could never do anything to disappoint her.
The wind picked up, and the fire blazed larger. Mummie's heart raced as he looked at her, startled to see Daisy, who had been looking down just moments before, now smiling at him, reaching out her hand.
"@#$@"
Daisy had whispered something, but Mummie couldn't hear her from a distance. It was already too late when the flames engulfed her. Yet, her luciform smile and locked gaze remained fix on him reaching out her hands from Mummie... She dies without looking at anyone except for him.
He has lost himself to see the person he cherishes lose her breath before he can do something. Because of his range, Mummie's hatred ate up the whole of him, feeling his throat closing up.
As he felt an overwhelming power running through him.
Mummie covered his ears as if he had lost his mind before he let out a deafening scream with his sonorous voice, echoing through the night.
The caligo of smoke and the massive dust covered up the wind and devoured all the villagers and houses in a pit of murklins. It was the darkest night and the beginning of people's nightmares.
The seemingly long night ended with the cries and screams of people, visiting Mummie in a daylight knowing that he wouldn't be able to see Daisy's bright smile forever.
He walked towards the scene where Daisy was tied up and burned. Her body wasn't there anymore instead, it was just ash that followed the air when it blew a breath.
His heart tightens as he gently picks up Daisy's fragments from the ground, showering it with his warmth.
Back then, he didn't know everything that had happened. He couldn't think about anything but Daisy's bright smile. He was in range for weeks as the only ray of his hope would never be back, and before everything could have gone worse, Mummie was completely sealed by a brave holy knight without knowing that the day he would wake up, a nightmare would come to hunt him.
'Back then, I didn't know what was behind those words.'
Mummie's memory of Daisy flashed right before his eyes.
"Then I'll just find a way to touch you."
Every time he thinks about Daisy's words, the more he feels the pain in his chest.
"But now I know..."
Remembering what has happened so far, Daisy's grandma has decided to let the beast eat Daisy as she chooses to kill her granddaughter from the beast instead of being people's sacrifice.
Daisy's last words popped out of his mind, and he started to feel regret.
"Come…"
That was the last word Daisy had said. He regretted the time Daisy wished for the two of them to be together.
'Then I'll just find a way to touch you. Maybe someday! '
Daisy, who seeks his salvation, only sees her as a bright kid without knowing that she has known everything from the start.
Her grandma's plan, knowing that she was the next offering, that she would become a sacrifice and that her parents doesn't care at all.
The day Daisy met Mummie, she was sure to die in his hands. She would rather die with Mummie than become a sheep sacrifice for the crazy people in the village who were blinded by the priestess's words.
"Her smile was always filled with warmth, which became the reason for my dull world...the day she was gone."
He affirmed it in the elegiac tone of his voice like a broken poet.
And the image of the smiling Daisy that was reaching out her hands for him hunts him every time.
He had a chance to hold her, but then why didn't he do it? Mummie's eyes watered. Is it because he was scared, or is it because he doesn't want to see Daisy vanish from his hands?
He let out a sigh with a teary eye.
"Back then, I couldn't reach her hand."
Mummie has storytell about everything to the man who was standing in front of him.
They're facing each other at a great distance.
It was when Lee Hyun stared at him blankly as he listened for an hour. The cursed mummy that had devoured him earlier was now standing in front of him with a child of a human body, a doll-faced noble kid with a cat-looking face. He looks like an adorable kid that everyone wants to have.
"It was the second time someone wanted to hold me."
Mummie continued to speak as he looked him straight in the eye.
"Everyone who does that seeks for my salvation."
Remembering the smile of the girl he once loved and forever be his last, being scared of facing reality, he chooses the latter instead.
"Thank you, mister."
Mummie has bowed down with a hint of grace.
"Why me?!"
Lee Hyun shouted at Mummie, which made him look straight at him with a mocking face.
He then replied.
"Because Mister is a kind person?"
He playfully stated as he touches his lip with his index finger.
"HA! Don't make me laugh!"
He gave an interjected response with a hostile glare in his eyes.
"Lee Hyun."
He flinched, no one knew his real name, and he hadn't talked about it to anyone since the day he possessed Khalid's body.
Out of curiosity, Lee Hyun asked the little boy.
With a nonchalant expression, he asked.
"How?! How did you know?!"
But Mummie's following answer left him speechless.
"Because mister's life was too pitiful."
He chuckled and left a smile as if it were mockery or a smile made out of pity.
Lee Hyun didn't say a word and left unspoken because everything he heard from him was clear enough to understand everything.
He who has freed the demonic Mummie became the substitute for his misfortune. With that, the light illuminated Lee Hyun as he watched the two kids holding hands with one another, gazing into each other's eyes before they slowly fade from his sight.
Who could have imagined that even a demon could find someone who could gave him warmth that was so sweet until it turned into a venom that no one could survive?
In that moment, Lee Hyun once again woke up from a terrifying dream to experience the harsher nightmare of reality, where he...wouldn't be able to wake up.