The weight of his words pressed down on Minsu's chest, but she forced herself to stay steady. Already being watched? The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine, but she refused to let fear take over.
Hyowon's expression darkened. "By who?"
The older man exhaled slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. "There are those who wanted your aunt gone. And now, they'll want you gone too."
Minsu's fingers clenched around the edge of her sleeve. "But why? What did she know?"
The woman beside him hesitated, then turned her gaze to Yi Sungho. "Have you told her about the records?"
Yi Sungho remained still. "Not yet."
The woman let out a sharp breath. "Then you've already put her at risk for something she doesn't even understand."
Minsu's patience snapped. "Enough. Stop talking around it. If I'm in danger, I deserve to know why."
A tense silence followed. Then, Yi Sungho stepped forward, unrolling the old scroll in his hands. He held it out for her to see.
The parchment was aged, the ink slightly faded but still readable. It wasn't a letter or a map. It was a list—names written in precise strokes. Some names had been crossed out, while others remained untouched.
Minsu's throat tightened. "What is this?"
The older man's gaze was heavy. "A record of those who have disappeared."
Her breath caught. She scanned the list, her eyes darting across unfamiliar names until—
Her hands trembled. Right there, near the middle of the list, was a name she knew.
Yoon Hayeon.
Her aunt.
The ink was dark and bold, but unlike many others on the list, it wasn't crossed out.
"She was looking for this," Yi Sungho said. "And whoever took her—whoever killed her—didn't want it found."
Minsu's mind reeled. "But why? What connects all these people?"
The woman's voice was quiet. "That's what we still don't know."
Hyowon, who had been silent, finally spoke. His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "Then we find out."
Minsu looked at him, surprised by the certainty in his voice.
The older man studied them for a long moment, then sighed. "If you're truly set on this path, there's no turning back."
Minsu straightened. The fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of her resolve, but she wouldn't stop now.
She looked down at her aunt's name on the list.
"I never planned to."
Yi Sungho rolled up the scroll carefully and tucked it away. "If you truly want to uncover the truth, you'll need to be careful. Whoever was behind your aunt's disappearance may still be watching."
Minsu swallowed hard. The weight of the moment settled deep in her chest, but she refused to back down.
Hyowon crossed his arms. "Where do we start?"
Yi Sungho exchanged glances with the woman beside him before answering. "Hayeon had a few close contacts in this village before she vanished. If we can find them, we might get some answers."
Minsu's brows furrowed. "Do you know any of their names?"
The older man hesitated before nodding. "One. A woman named Baek Suna. She used to run the village apothecary, but she disappeared around the same time as your aunt."
Minsu's pulse quickened. Another missing person?
"Then what do we do now?" she asked.
The woman beside Yi Sungho finally spoke again. "There's someone who might know where she went—her son, Baek Ilho."
Minsu repeated the name in her head. Baek Ilho.
Hyowon exhaled. "Where can we find him?"
Yi Sungho's expression darkened. "He still lives in the village. But he hasn't spoken about his mother in years."
Minsu squared her shoulders. "Then we'll make him talk."
Yi Sungho studied her, as if weighing her resolve. After a moment, he nodded. "Be careful."
With that, Minsu and Hyowon turned to leave. As they stepped outside, the crisp morning air filled Minsu's lungs, clearing some of the tension that had built up inside her.
Hyowon glanced at her. "Do you think he'll tell us anything?"
Minsu's gaze hardened. "We're about to find out."
With that, they set off toward Baek Ilho's home.