Chapter 19
Do-young let out a sigh.
"I told you I won't talk about the tribe."
Once an outsider enters, they're never let go again.
That was the tribe's rule - to keep their existence secret. Though Do-young tried convincing them he had no interest in the tribe and no reason to tell others, his words fell on deaf ears. Neither Ga-mal nor Tora seemed willing to release him easily.
Now there were two vampires trying to keep him on the island. What started as an attempt to uncover the island's secrets had plunged him into deeper trouble.
"Well, it's not like I'll be wandering around for just a day or two..."
As Tora spoke, a tribal woman suddenly pounced on him from behind. Tora burst out laughing and pulled her onto his lap. The woman seemed to be pouting about being ignored earlier. Tora held her close and whispered sweet nothings that sounded affectionate even without understanding the words. The woman finally looked satisfied.
Then Tora tapped Do-young's knee with his back. Do-young slightly furrowed his brow but didn't otherwise react. Ga-mal also remained silent, making the atmosphere between the four people sitting together as different as fire and ice.
The awkwardness between Do-young and Ga-mal lingered from their earlier confrontation. Though Ga-mal wasn't glaring at him for pushing her off the cliff, she was unusually quiet and wore a thoughtful expression.
After more public displays of affection, Tora suddenly scooped up the woman and left without even a proper goodbye, disappearing toward the houses.
Silence fell between the remaining two. At some point, Do-young turned and asked:
"What about you?"
Startled by the sudden question, Ga-mal flinched before turning to look.
"Me?"
"Aren't you going outside?"
"Ah..."
Ga-mal shook her head.
"I don't leave the island."
The same answer as always. Do-young muttered in a resigned tone:
"Right. I don't know anymore anyway. They say trying to force a reclusive loner out just makes them withdraw further."
After more silence, Do-young brushed peanut-like shells off himself and stood up.
"Let's get some sleep."
The middle-aged tribal woman had gestured earlier that they could sleep in the right house adjacent to the terrace. But Ga-mal didn't follow. Puzzled, Do-young looked back to see her staring at the bonfire before briefly meeting his gaze with pale eyes. The way she looked away made it seem like she wanted him to insist she join him. He simply turned and went inside alone.
After waiting briefly with no sign of Ga-mal coming, Do-young was dumbfounded.
'Since when does she have her own people?'
Just yesterday she'd been cute enough when pretending to be a pig wanting affection.
For some reason, it angered him. Apparently she had people who worshipped her as a god and clients too. In the end, he was just entertainment - peanuts to pass the time while they decided if he could be trusted.
'Why am I even angry?'
This realization made him even more exasperated. Whatever strange atmosphere had developed between them was probably just them getting swept up in deserted island vibes - artificially created ones at that.
Do-young firmly closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
A small hand groped his stomach.
The touch carried clear intent. Half-asleep, Do-young almost smiled - this mischievous girl coming late to poke his side.
But not willing to make it easy, he spoke while turning:
"Ga-mal, do you know what time..."
Then he startled - because it wasn't Ga-mal but a young tribal woman he'd seen earlier leaning over him with a sweet smile, trying to kiss him. Do-young quickly pushed her away and sat up.
"What are you doing?"
The woman said something and tried kissing him again.
Seeing communication was impossible, Do-young stood and headed for the door past her grabbing hands. Then nearly collided with another woman waiting outside.
"What the..."
Do-young was flabbergasted - women were lined up outside like at a popular restaurant!
They chirped like birds while swarming him with incomprehensible chatter until he spotted Ga-mal still sitting by the extinguished bonfire on the terrace.
"Ga-mal!"
Do-young gestured at the women asking what was happening, but Ga-mal simply stared.
Do-young pushed through the crowd to the terrace. The women made dissatisfied noises but didn't follow.
"Why are they like this?" he asked, turning to look at the women.
Ga-mal answered without particular embarrassment:
"Because you're from outside."
"So?"
"Outside guests are precious. They help bear healthy children."
Do-young was truly dumbfounded.
"Don't tell me this is why..."
This was why she hadn't followed him to sleep.
Ga-mal stared at the dying bonfire without answering. Do-young gazed intently at her.
"Do you know that outside, this is called sexual harassment without the person's consent?"
Ga-mal hugged her knees.
"The tribe always does this."
He realized why this supposedly indigenous tribe had so many mixed bloodlines. In this closed island environment, it must be an inevitable choice for genetic diversity.
With Ga-mal nearby, the women only whispered from afar without approaching. They soon dispersed to their homes, having apparently given up.
It seemed they'd realized Do-young had no intention of sleeping with anyone tonight. Fortunately, they didn't seem to practice the Amazon tribe's custom of tying people up to use as breeding stock like in novels.
Do-young couldn't grasp whether he should be angry.
"I'm so absurdly... wide awake now."
He sat down as he spoke.
Ga-mal fidgeted with her fingers. She'd wanted to stop him when he went to sleep earlier. But she couldn't break tribal rules. Especially knowing how long everyone had waited for this day.
Actually, not all the rustling sounds Do-young had heard from beyond the bushes before were from Tora.
Despite prohibitions, curious girls had secretly crossed the island to see Do-young. It seemed Tora had answered "Very handsome" when the girls asked about this guest.
From Ga-mal's long observation, young people's interest in beautiful counterparts couldn't be stopped even by ancestral intervention.
The children had secretly watched Do-young from beyond the bushes. They'd been utterly captivated by his gray-blue eyes, the coexistence of civilized sophistication and tribal wildness, clamoring to be introduced to him.
Though Ga-mal soon recognized Do-young as trustworthy, she didn't want to introduce him to the tribe. She knew this would happen.
While lost in these thoughts, she locked eyes with Do-young who was massuring his neck.
Ah-!
At that moment, a strange sound came from afar. Faintly resembling a woman's scream... yet distinctly different...
The moment suspicion formed, Do-young recognized the sound's nature, realizing Ga-mal had too. Ga-mal awkwardly said:
"Tora."
Do-young snorted.
"Don't pretend you don't know."
Since male Ruas can be with female Ruas or human women.
At this rate, he almost thought evolutionary disadvantages for females explained why vampire species had fewer women - enough to joke about "male baths".
Male Ruas have two options while females only have one.
Though since they're not a species born through male-female union, that couldn't be entirely true.
"Do-young can choose anyone. Even Akira."
Ga-mal suddenly said.
"Akira?"
He didn't remember who that was. Ga-mal pointed toward the ongoing sounds.
"Wasn't she pretty?"
Upon reflection, she was quite beautiful, but having seen Ga-mal so much, his standards must have warped. But more importantly...
"Isn't she that guy's wife?"
When Do-young asked incredulously, Ga-mal shook her head.
"Tora doesn't keep wives. They're current lovers. It always changes. The children consider it honorable to be Tora's lover even once. He's the tribe's guardian deity."
Do-young decided this was his own fault. His damned civilized world sensibilities kept interfering with accepting different cultures without prejudice.
But this "choose anyone" privilege - who granted such slave-market rights? He didn't know where to start pointing out the wrongness.
However tribal their rules, Do-young had basic human rights sensibilities.
Suddenly struck by a thought, Do-young stared intently at Ga-mal:
"Choose anyone? Then you too?"
Ga-mal's mouth clamped shut as if pricked. She lowered her gaze and mumbled:
"I can't bear children."
"I'm just asking if you can be chosen."
"If it's not for bearing children... there's no need to choose."
Do-young stared at her.
"So it's allowed? Choosing someone."
Ga-mal only fidgeted without answering. Do-young exhaled a breath that wasn't quite a sigh but felt like one, then stood.
"Going back to sleep."
He walked to the house. No sound of Ga-mal following.
But as he opened the door, Ga-mal suddenly grabbed his wrist from behind.
"I..."
In that moment, Do-young pulled her inside and pushed her against the wall.
Thud.
The door closed.
Ga-mal leaned against the wall, shoulders pressed, breathing rapidly. In the darkness, Do-young whispered low:
"Speak."
Knowing her desire to monopolize Do-young despite being infertile was selfish, Ga-mal had no choice. Clutching the hand on her shoulder, she whispered tearfully:
"Don't choose anyone."
When their lips met, Ga-mal was filled with euphoria. This feeling could only be called rapture.
Do-young slightly pulled back from the meltingly hot lips and whispered:
"Ga-mal, do as you want. Don't overthink."
Sometimes he felt Ga-mal didn't clearly state her desires, especially when seeming considerate of others.
Though this might be kindness, Do-young disliked it. With such a personality, she couldn't have survived three thousand years if not living on this island.
Do-young gazed deeply into her eyes:
"So say what you want."
"Kiss me more."
Ga-mal spoke as if entranced. Do-young smiled faintly in approval.
Ga-mal felt her heart plummet.
As she stared dazedly, Do-young kissed her again. His hanging bangs tickled her face as he bent down.
With her head tilted back, Ga-mal resisted the urge to desperately cling to him, instead stroking his back.
She couldn't define this feeling. The dizzy head, seething euphoria, churning chest - this unfamiliar sensation.
