Bride of the Water God chapter 80 appeared in the December 15, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. I suppose they treated the special/side issue in the December 1st issue as chapter 79. This chapter was interesting. The series may end soon. If you don’t want to know, don’t click.

So, the last chapter (within this storyline) saw Habaek flying off away from the Imperial lands leaving his mother there to deal with the emperor. This chapter starts with Soah doing some embroidery. ..in fact there is the title page, another page, and 2/3 of the page after that of her..doing embroidery. With no words. Just her. Doing embroidery.   Anyhow. Biryum comes up behind her and is watching her and remarks to himself (in his thoughts) how after she came back from her out-of-body experience she hasn’t asked once about going to see Habaek again. He wonders if she has gotten even somewhat accustomed to the lunar palace. She says, “Ah, Biryum! What good timing. Take a look at this.”  [she is holding out this... robe/cape thing.. heavily embroidered with patterns]  ”I’ve been working on this so I can give it to Habaek when he comes.” Biryum (in small text) is thinking to himself how it doesn’t suit Habaek’s tastes at all. Biryum prods a bit and asks her if she has no doubt Habaek will return. She asks him what’s up with that question since he’s the one who told her he’d be coming for her. He said, well I said that a while ago so who knows if something had come up, etc. She replies by saying no matter what happens, he will definitely come. He thinks to himself that she has changed from before.  Then she says she made something for him(Biryum) too…. and it turns out to be a handkerchief. He’s like, “uh.. thanks” But she asks what he really had come to say. So he says he came to talk about Mura. He is saying how he is apologizing [in her stead] for what happened with her and Mura about Habaek. And Biryum asks Soah to try and be understanding of Mura and how Mura had been interested in Habaek for a very long time and that Soah came in and so easily captured his heart, etc… but how Mura doesn’t actually hate Soah. Mura just wants [Soah] to not be by Habaek’s side and if she truly hated Soah, she would have killed her, instead, back at the Imperial country. Then he puts in the disclaimer that he’s not saying Mura was in the right, but rather, what she did was wrong, etc. Soah tells him it is all right and she understands and she[Soah] might have done the same if it had been her. Biryum thanks her for understanding. Soah remarks that he must really like/love Mura so why is  he staying here and not going to where Mura is. He says he cannot go since Mura doesn’t love him and rather.. from now on, she’ll hate him, instead.

Scene switch. Water country. Yohee calls out to Yookoh and asks why is the water country acting up/seems so strange. Yookoh (the old man/caretaker-who’s-been-with-Habaek-since-forever) says it’s because Habaek-nim has returned. Yohee is all smiles and says Habaek! You finally came back~! When did you get back? Habaek (in child form with his left eye still bandaged) says he got back just now. Then Yohee starts reprimanding him and asking why is he so late and doesn’t he know just how bored she was being alone and all and oh yeah why is his eye like that? Yookoh asks also where Soah is and did they not come back together. Habaek tells them she is on the moon. Yohee’s like, the moon? What are you talking about. Habaek says don’t worry, since I’ll go get her. And that is why I came here first [to the water country] to find you. Yohee says, “Me? Why?” He said in order to ask her how to get to the island (where Soah is). Yohee’s like, how to get there? and what makes you think I would know how to get there? She continues by saying even among the gods very few know the way. Habaek says yeah he knows, however ( !!!!!! )

Dun dun dun~~~  ”Because you are Shin Nong’s mother.” She looks at him and says, “Yes. As you said, I do know. However, even as I have done to this point, I do not wish to get dragged into the fight between those two brothers.” <– NOTE: it seems my first note that they were brothers was correct. I guess Yohee is Shin Nong’s mother and Shin Nong is Hun Won’s older brother? (It is unclear if Yohee is also Hunwon’s mother.) Then Yohee smiles and says, “However, since it has to do with Soah, I will make an exception since I like that girl.” (She has turned around and is starting to walk away from Habaek.)  ” All right, then. I will tell you how to get there.” She pauses to look back at Habaek. “However, that means this time you absolutely must bring her back! All right, Habaek?” Habaek says, “Thank you, Yohee.”

Scene change. Soah’s looking up at the sky and remarking how it always seems to be night in this place. She wonders how much longer she has to stay within this ‘night’ before Habaek comes to take her away. Then she wonders if Habaek’s curse will not affect him in this place where the day doesn’t seem to exist. Then she thinks she may end up missing the kid Habaek if that happens. But, in any case, day and night she’d [be able to be with] Habaek. Then she squeals like a little schoolgirl and is like oh my what am I saying, etc. She hears a noise behind her and realizes a little late that she may have wandered off a bit too far. Biryum had told her she absolutely must not wander off too far from the palace. Then she hears a sound. Then these two large bird claws (very very large) appear. She’s like oh my no way what could that be. Then you see a two-headed crow. A very large crow. Like the wing span could easily be 8-10 feet. She screams in response to its appearance. But then a body (whose hair you can easily tell is Mui’s) appears holding a sword. She’s like, “?” And the two-headed-very-large-crow flies away. The guy (Mui) says, “It’ll be all right now. That is a protector Biryum had made.” and explains it’s to ward off intruders, etc.  She thinks to herself, “That voice…could it be…”  Then he says that since she was able to let out such a powerful scream, she must be in good health. She has that water-eyed look and says, “…Mui?” His head is finally fully turned around (eye is still bandaged) and he says, “Have you been well, my bride?” She has that flushed-cheeks look and is silent. He holds out his hand and says, “All right, let’s go back together, now.” She is still there looking flushed and not saying anything. He says, “Soah…?” Then she starts playing hard to get by saying stuff like “So who did you come to find this time? Did you lose yet another wife?” He says, “…yes.” She says, “Because you don’t take care of them well, your wives keep running away. Finding her this time may be difficult, you know. Since she hates you and is hiding.” During that exchange she was standing a few paces away from him. Now he closes that gap and puts his face near hers and says, “No.” Then he picks her up (with her facing him) so his right arm is around her waist and his left arm is supporting her bottom. She squeals a little bit as she is lifted off the ground. She’s like what are you doing, let me down this instant! He is looking at her and says, “[Absolutely] not. Since I spent so much effort looking for you.” Then on the last page (where he doesn’t hold her up quite so high and brings her face closer to his) he says, “From now on, I am not going to lose you, again.” Next to the “To be continued” is “This time, you better not let her go~!” End of chapter.

Note…there’s still the battle between the brothers and the issue with his mother and the emperor and Shin Nong and his father, etc. left to be resolved. So, maybe this story will wrap up soon.

The Bride of the Water God chapter 78 appeared in the November 15, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. A lot of things happen in this chapter. So, if you really don’t want to know or think you want to wait until the climax hits, then don’t read this post.

Non-water god-related Wink Magazine’s series notes:

Please note that Goong did NOT appear in this issue. Girl Who Wears High Heels has become so melodramatic, it’s funny. Oh, and I like 춘앵전 and Lingerie, but no one seems to care about those series, either.

The last chapter left us with Nakbin having wounded Habaek’s left eye with a dagger (he is in his adult form). She tells him not to look at ‘that woman’ (Soah) the same way he had looked upon her (Nakbin). She has an angry look on her face when saying that. He’s just looking at her somewhat ..calmly? with his good eye and holding his left hand to his wounded left eye. Then she takes a hold of his sleeves/arms with her hands (facing him) and says, “It’s all because of you. You made me like this.” (he has a “…” expression now) She continues, “The sole reason for me wanting to continue living despite this wretched state is you.” Then she starts shrugging off her wrap/shawl-like thing from her shoulders (she has a sleeveless dress on) and says, “I’ll leave you alone now.” There’s a “!!” bubble from .. I guess it’s Habaek.. indicating surprise because on each of her arms you see a [magical] tattoo of a dragon with a symbol above it. She says, “Living by means of sorcery such as this is tedious. So, leave my body immediately.” The emperor interjects, “Nakbin, if you expel the dragon from your body, you know very well what will happen next, right? It does not matter to you that Habaek will see that unsightly form?” Nakbin says, “I’m already ugly enough, so it is fine.” Then you see some aura/light/energy being given off of her. The symbol on her arms start to fade and she starts to fall with the dragon tattoos gone from her arms. Habaek cries out, “Nakbin!?” and catches her falling body. She tells him, “I was waiting for you to let me go, first, but…. you couldn’t, after all.. even knowing my body is already dead. Nevertheless, I’ll forgive you for setting your eyes on something else.” At this point her cheek seems to have gashes in them. “Good bye, Habaek.” She reaches her hand out to touch his face and then… her body completely deteriorates into hair and a skeleton. Habaek is saying in his head (not aloud), “I am sorry, Nakbin… because I couldn’t let go of you faster… it seems I want to hold you even while you look like this… I beg you to forgive my… greed… and my egotistical mind…” Then her body fades away (looks like some leaves flying away now). He stands and looks at his bloody hands and gets up. He asks the emperor, “So, what else do you have left to hold me here? Soah is already in a place beyond your reach.” The emperor starts chuckling. “Seems like you have gotten over the shock of losing Nakbin rather easily. Is it because it was for the second time? Or is it because of that girl. I had thought she didn’t mean anything, but actually she meant everything to you. That’s right, as you said, she’s in a place beyond my reach. That is true.” If you had forgotten, Soah has been there the whole time in her spirit-form. She’s now “thinking” to herself, “Mui — this has happened because of me.” (She has a very sorrowful and apologetic expression on her ghostly/spiritual face) She continues ‘thinking’, “Because I did not believe you, this has happened. I am sorry, Mui…” (she is reaching for him ..despite her spiritual form) “From now on, I’ll believe you, no matter what happens.” She has her spiritual-form hands cupping his face now. “until you come to get me” Her spiritual lips are right about to touch his lips now. Then… her spiritual form isn’t there in the next panel. He says (out loud), “Soah…?” On the next page, his mother barges in (with a very quick introduction by one of the emperor’s attendants). Wang Mo sees him and says, “Mui…?” He says/thinks, “Mother…” She is understandably pretty upset at seeing him bloodied and wounded. She asks the emperor what in the world had happened and if he had forgotten the agreement and if he is thinking to not uphold the agreement any longer, then she won’t be holding back, either. The emperor tells her that he was not the cause of Habaek’s wound and their agreement is still valid and Habaek can leave any time he wishes. Wang Mo (Habaek’s mother) says, “Then, let us fulfill/follow through with/execute the agreement immedaitely.” The emperor says all right. The emperor is thinking to himself, “Rather than have both Suh Wang Mo and Habaek as enemies, this way will be more beneficial.” He says out loud, “Let us follow what was said in the promise between us.” He is thinking, “Since I will have some other opportunity to exploit Habaek’s weakness once I discover it.” Next panel has just Habaek and his mom standing on one of the imperial bridges.  She asks him (in formal language), why is he being so childish when he could have avoided it all. She asks him to forget about that child, Nakbin, from now on, and that this had been that child’s fate from the beginning. He apparently had his eye bandaged up (as in those cloth bandages, not those plastic sticky ones from our modern era). He asks, “Mother, what promise did you make with the emperor?” She tells him he does not need to know of that. And that before the emperor changes his mind, he [Habaek] should leave this place. He tells her she should go with him. She says she has something to do here still, so to go by himself. And … also.. not to wait for her. She does not know how much longer she will be. And where does he plan on going? Is he going back to the water country? Next panel shows him flying on a dragon and her watching him leave. She closes her eyes in a sorrowful expression.  Okay, the next thing he says is kinda strange.. because he calls Soah a coward. The background for the panel is a flashback to just a moment ago when Soah’s spiritual lips were close to kissing his lips. He is thinking to himself in this panel, “Since that [cowardly] girl risked danger to come meet me, this time I should be the one to go to her. Just wait a bit longer, since I’m coming to get you.” (just shows him flying off to the moon on the dragon) I guess there’s not really a “light” adjective that conveys the concept of cowardice without that negative connotation associated with it in English. I could put “scaredy-cat” but that is so…childish. The “To be continued” part says, “Habaek, hurry~!” End of chapter.

I reviewed volume 4 of Bride of the Water God for Manga Recon’s Manga Minis column this week. It was more of the same confusing story, and just as pretty as it’s always been.

Grade: C+

The Bride of the Water God chapter 77 (하백의 신부 제77회) appeared in the October 15, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. The next chapter won’t be until November 15th (hiatus for the November 1 issue). Spoiler ahead. If you don’t want to know, don’t read.

The beginning of the chapter still is set in the past in the water country with Soah in her spirit form. The previous chapter ended with Nakbin dying and Hooye carrying Habaek out from the burning flames to safety and with Tae-eul-jin-in showing up talking about the curse. So, Tae-eul-jin-in starts this chapter by asking if Habaek would even be all right with the possibility the humans may suffer from a misunderstanding and think of him as an evil god. and hate him. Habaek says it doesn’t matter it is, he’ll do it. Hooye protests a bit. Habaek says anything will be fine as long as he gets to see her again. But then he asks just how would he be able to know it’s her. Tae-eul-jin-in says he’ll put a (magic) circle around the water country so that any (human) woman who is not Nakbin would not be able to enter. And that way, the (human) bride who is able to live through the heavy seas and arrive at the water country would be none other than Nakbin reborn. Soah has a one-panel flashback of Tae-eul-jin-in telling her that Mui believes her to be Nakbin reborn. So she thinks, “So is that way Taeeuljinin-nim told me that at that time?” “Then how was I able to enter the water country?” (her memory flashback was only one panel so it’s done) Taeuljinin says (this is still in the historic past which Soah is visiting in spiritual form), “Then it’s settled. The cost of this agreement is….” but Soah cannot hear the rest.. she is thinking: “What? What is he saying? I can’t hear very well.. No. I can’t go back yet. Just a bit longer. Habaek…” she reaches her fading ghostly hand out to his face… and fades away. Habaek (in his long-haired child form in clothes much too big for him now) stares off and looks at the fading sound/place where she was. Hooye asks him if something is wrong. Habaek says no, nothing is wrong.

Scene switch. Soah regains consciousness in the lunar palace. Biryum asks her if she is all right and if she got to meet Mui. Soah asks if Dong Wang Gong had sent her to the past on purpose. And why. Dong Wang Gong says he did send her there on purpose and apologizes for not telling her beforehand but he thought she should learn of the past before going to see Habaek (in spiritual form) in the current timeline. He tells her she is the only one who knows what she saw back in the past. Then he asks her if she still wants to go see Habaek and learn the truth. She says she does want to know the truth. She says she was unable to believe him even though he said to believe him  no matter what. And if he was deceiving her she wants to know the reason for it. And this time, she wants to believe him. Dong Wang Gong says all right, I’ll send you to him for real this time. Next page shows Dong Wang Gong standing reflecting and holding half of an elaborate pendant in his left hand.

Scene switch and you see Suh Wang Mo (currently at the imperial country) holding the other half of the pendant in her own hand. Nakbin enters and asks Suh Wang Mo if she had called for her. She says it ha been a while since she saw the Golden Mother (another name for Suh Wang Mo). Suh Wang Mo says, Nakbin, your day of death has already passed, how are you here? Suh Wang  Mo says she and Habaek were simply friends who met by chance and spent a very short time together and to stop deceiving him. And that no matter how imperial she(Nakbin) is, she will not be able to avoid the attention of the 7 gods who preside over death and that he(emperor) is just using her and will toss her aside. And instead of responding, Nakbin simply comments that Suh Wang Mo is only holding half of that pendant and where is the other half and that the meaning of the pendant is for a happy marriage and if Dong Wang Gong has the other half. Then Nakbin starts her plea by talking about love and suffering and she would give her life for Habaek but not for any other reason, etc. Her actual plea goes like, “Please just close your eyes to this, [your majesty]. I beg of you….” Suh Wang Mo says she this is for her(Nakbin’s) sake, too, and if she continues to oppose reason, she could even end up not being able to be reincarnated.

Scene switch. Biryum says to Dong Wang Gong, “You were here?” Dong Wang Gong asks what is wrong. Biryum asks if this time Soah really went to Habaek. Dong Wang Gong is like of course. Dong Wang Gong starts to say, “Biryum…” and trails off. Biryum asks what’s wrong. Dong Wang Gong says nothing..just that today he’s feeling some regret. Soah is shown walking down an outdoor hall. Dong Wang Gong finishes saying he feels powerless and unable to do anything.

Scene switches completely to Soah’s location. What I mean is you obviously can tell she’s finally at the imperial country (in spiritual form). I need to reiterate…this is now in the present time. The past history stuff has ended. We’re in the present now. Anyhow… Now it is Habaek (in Mui-adult-short-hair-form) talking with  the emperor. Habaek asks why the emperor has called him to the imperial country and it’s already that time for him to leave. The emperor’s like what’s the rush, Suh Wang Mo even came. And the emperor says you don’t even know if Nakbin wants to return to the water country or not and what would he do if she wants to stay here. Habaek says, “No, she will be returning with me. Isn’t that right, Nakbin?” Nakbin has shown up (she’s no longer with Suh Wang Mo, obviously). Habaek says, “come here” and holds out his hand. The emperor’s thinking to himself about how Nakbin’s body can’t survive outside the imperial country for even a day and that was the reason for using Yeowa like that and therefore Nakbin has no other choice and wonders what Habaek will do now. Habaek says, “Nakbin!” and she looks at him and finally takes his hand. She asks him, “Habaek, your bride is none other than me, right?” Habaek has his right arm around Nakbin (his left hand is holding her right hand with her facing him). He responds, “….I am sorry, Nakbin…it’s not you… I have a loved one with whom I wish to live the rest of my life… My heart already belongs to her. However, I won’t send you away, so don’t worry.” She has taken her right hand out of his hand because it’s now cradling his head a bit and her left arm is around his back. Soah has a heart-felt expression on her face. She is watching the two in her spiritual form. Soah thinks to herself, “Is this Mui’s true…?” She looks like she’s about to cry even though she’s in spiritual form. Nakbin is still holding him like that and says, “even if it would be a lie, you should have deceived me or something…” Next panel is a sound effect with blood splatters. Next panel has Habaek bloodied and looking down (you can’t see his face). And the next panel shows Nakbin with a long-hilt dagger with blood on it in her hands and blood on her clothes. The final page has Soah holding her hand to her face in an “oh no!” gesture and her ‘thinking’, “Mui–!” Nakbin is still in the same position and Habaek (still can’t see his face..his hair’s hiding it..) is still holding his hand to his face a bit with blood. Nakbin says, “Even in my next life if I’m born again, I’ll never undo your curse.” End of chapter. Reminder, next chapter is November 15th.

The Bride of the Water God chapter 76 (하백의 신부 제76회) appeared in the October 1, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. Spoilers follow in this summary. If you don’t want to know, don’t read. Also in this issue were the color pages which normally get bundled into the volumes.

As the preview showed, Soah-in-ghost-form is wondering what could have possibly happened. This is still in the “past” and in water country and at the end of the last chapter, Nakbin is shown lying dead on the floor and flames are everywhere. Hooye is telling child-form-Habaek-with-long-hair-and-now-huge-clothes that it’s dangerous there and they must leave immediately. Habaek knocks Hooye’s hand out of the way and is asking why he’s being like that. Hooye asks Habaek if he still doesn’t know — that Nakbin had orders from the emperor to kill him and that was her reason from the start for associating with him. Habaek says, “I’ve known.” And then he says to the lifeless Nakbin, “You had but to ask and I would have given you —  my life and anything else. This curse was unnecessary… you only had to ask me to die…” There’s a flashback now  (..within this reliving of the past..yes, I know..) to just before that scene. Nakbin is embracing a child-Habaek-with-long-hair-and-huge-clothes. She says, “Shall I tell you a secret, Habaek?” She continues, saying the spell she has placed on him is to make him weak during the day. So that way he would be of no use to the god of the sun, Yeom Jae, in the war that’s going on. And that way he’d be of no interest to the emperor. And that she’s tired of it all: of being used like this because of him. And so that is why…. (the bubble tails off and in the next panel shows her holding a knife with her left hand, cupping his face with her right hand, but the knife point is pointing ..sort of.. towards her but not really at her torso. It is hard to explain in writing, sorry. The bubble in this panel says, “Good bye.” On the next page is a panel of fire and that flashback-within-these-memories-of-the-past has ended because he is cradling her bloodied body. He tells Hooye he will not be going and tells Hooye for him to go alone. Hooye yells that he can’t do that: in his weakened state, even he(Habaek) would perish in the flames. Hooye then asks him, “Do you know what I have abandoned/thrown away because of you? My sister who allied herself with the emperor to save my life….  I cannot simply leave you, whom she gave up her life for, to die like this!” They are interrupted with the appearance of Tae-eul-jin-in. He says, “This is quite the tear-jerker.” Hooye at this point does not know who Tae-eul-jin-in is and yells, “And who are you?!” Tae-eul-jin-in simply say she’s the one who told Nakbin how to place the curse on Habaek. And also he came to say how to undo the curse. Soah-in-spirit-form hears this and thinks to herself, “There’s a way to undo the curse? Habaek can be free from the curse?” And Hooye says, “And just how would that work?” Tae-eul-jin-in says there is only one condition for undoing the curse: and that is the one who placed the curse has to be the one who undoes it. Hooye says, “What kind of nonsense is that! She already died! So what you are basically saying is it’s impossible!” Tae-eul-jin-in says, “And isn’t half of her human? When gods die, their bodies and spirits are taken to [the Heavens..whatever..], but humans are different from gods: they are repeatedly reborn. Habaek’s bride will be reborn amongst the humans later. And that reincarnated woman will come back some time in the future to water country. And if that happens, Habaek can meet the one he loved again and be released from the curse. In response to this, Soah-in-spirit-form is holding her spirit hands over her mouth, again, since she’s shocked at this revelation. That is, she thinks, “So, was the reason for the annual offering of a bride to Habaek was to wait for the rebirth of Nakbin? It’s an event that could take however many hundreds or thousands of years… yet, just for the sake of one person, [in that manner] ….” Then spirit-Soah looks at her spirit-hands and notices she’s fading. She’s wondering if her time there is coming to an end. She is highly displeased with that possibility (obviously) and says she still hasn’t found out how to release Habaek from the curse yet! Her last bubble says, “I don’t want to go! I can’t go! Not like this-!!” End of chapter.

As a side note: I think the author is losing track of details in her story. Nakbin had placed the curse on him before her death so she did see him in his child form before she died. Yet, when Nakbin sees him at the imperial palace (after Soah gets whisked away to the lunar palace but before she sees the past), she says she had always been wondering how he looked like as a child. So, that’s one inconsistency. *shrug*

The Bride of the Water God chapter 75 (하백의 신부 제75회) appeared in the September 15, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. Spoilers follow in this summary. If you don’t want to know, don’t read.

SPOILER NOW. Note, before I get into the summary, after the end of the chapter were a few panda pages. That usually means within the next 2 chapters, the end of what will be compiled as volume 10 is coming. Anyhow….

At the end of chapter 74, Soah’s physical body is still in the Lunar Palace on the moon (..where else would the lunar palace be..) but her “spirit” has followed the sound of water that was at the palace since it’s supposed to be connected to the water where Habaek is (according to Dong Wang Gong, Habaek’s father). She ends up in water country and his elderly attendant is with him..but it’s daylight..he’s in adult form..with very very long hair. She hears him say he feels there’s someone outside his door and the old man says that’s not possible since no one comes there. Now, starts chapter 75.

Soah (in spirit form) is looking at him. Note, if I say “Soah says” in this chapter, it’ll be the same as her thinking since she is in spirit form and no one can see her or touch her or hear her, etc. So, anyways. She says/thinks, “Mui?” (Panel of him up-close with his long hair) She continues thinking, “It’s daytime, so how is he appearing not as Habaek, but as Mui?” Next page. Continuing with her thought, “And also, that hair… no way, could that much time have passed since I left the imperial country?” Mui/Habaek-with-long-hair smiles. Her heart beats. Her hand is reaching out. And then Mui exclaims, “Hooye–!” And there stands Hooye who says, “Habaek-nim–” Mui says, “What happened for you to have returned so early?” Hooye says, “I finished early so I hurried back.” He continues, “Come to think of it, how did you know I had come back?” Mui replies, “I just had a feeling.” Soah watches them near each other and finally realizes……. but then her conclusion gets interrupted.

You still see Soah in the background (in her ghost/spirit form) when a new figure’s outline appears and says, “Habaek–”  Mui looks surprised and says, “Nakbin-!” She remarks that he’s with General Hooye at the moment and is she interrupting… Mui says, “There’s no way that could be possible….” He takes her hand, draws her close, and finishes what he says, “…my bride.” He cups her face with his palm. Next panel shows him holding her from behind (they’re facing the same way) and her hands are over his hands which are around her waist. Soah holds her hand to her mouth in a gesture and look indicating she’s about to start crying (if she was not a spirit, that is). She thinks, “This laughing and happy Habaek I have not seen before…   why in the world have I gone to the past? This is not what I wanted to see….so, why?!”

Scene switch. Biryum says to Dong Wang Gong (back at the lunar palace), “Will [it] be all right if we just wait, then?” Dong Wang Gong (who is playing with that panda) asks, “Hm? What will?” Biryum’s got those sweat marks coming out of him indicating he’s getting agitated. Biryum says, “I’m talking about Soah! Since she doesn’t know how to get back, of course I’m worried!” Dong Wang Gong says, “There is a time limit on how long one can be there, so it’ll be fine. When time is up, she’ll return automatically. But rather than that, I am wondering more about what type of conclusion she will reach. Will everything end happily from having sent her there?” Biryum’s like, -_-….  but Dong Wang Gong is really wondering if she could possibly reach a good conclusion.

Scene switch. Soah is wondering what type of misunderstanding could be cleared up by her seeing the memories of the past. And also, what could she possibly do there? (Yes, that means she realizes she is seeing the memories and was not sent back in time where she could alter timelines and create alternate histories a la Marvel and DC Comics characters.) She just wants to go back at this point. A loud noise like a slam or thud sounds out. She is wondering what that could be. She was sure she heard a sound from over there… (I guess she walks her ghostly self in that direction.) You see SFX of ..wind? Then you see wall panels on fire according to the sound effects. Then you see blood splatters on the wall/in the air and Hooye’s face. Soah (near the door’s entrance) is wondering what in the world happened… she spies Hooye standing, holding a sword, with blood splatters on his clothes, blood on his sword, and on the floor. Next page. First panel shows Nakbin lying on the floor with blood all over her (we’ve seen this view/scene of her before in flashbacks). There’s a torchiere with a candle on top on the ground (I guess that’s what’s causing the fire). This panel is from the other angle so now not only do we see Nakbin on the floor, Hooye several feet from her and standing, but we see Habaek, too. He is crying and looking at Nakbin and saying, “Nak…bin…? ..No.. this can’t be…” Soah is thinking, “Isn’t this the child-form of Habaek? Could it be…” (yes, he is in his child-form, but with the long hair he just had, and in the clothes he just had on so now he’s dwarfed by his clothes) Now, there is a single flashback panel of him with his short hair in the imperial country (just before she got whisked off to the lunar palace) telling her, “I have been cursed. A curse for not being able to save the one I loved…” (End of flashback: it was just that one panel) Soah’s spirit-form-heart is thumping fast. She is wondering, “Am I somehow…” (next page. this page shows the short-haired forms of both the adult Mui and child Habaek with their backs to each other, with the moon in the corner that Mui is facing and the earth in the corner that child-Habaek is facing) She finishes her thought with: “going to be able to discover the secret behind Habaek’s curse here?” End of chapter. (Then the panda pages follow.)

The Bride of the Water God chapter 74 (하백의 신부 제74회) appeared in the September 1st, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. If you don’t want to know what happens, don’t read.

SPOILER ahead

SPOILER starting now. This chapter was.. okay. I want to see what happens in the next chapter, at least. So, the last chapter ended with Soah still around the pool area in the moon palace because Biryum wanted to put here somewhere where Habaek could see her while he’s at the imperial palace. Biryum told her she could visit this area since it most resembles the earth and, in particular, resembles the water country. He did not tell her at that time that he was dragging here there at ~2-3am earth-time to have Habaek look at her, of course.

She is looking at/smelling one of the flowers and thinking to herself. She wonders how just far this place is from the water country and that it seems much too far. She wonders if she can meet Mui, Yohee, Judong and everyone else again. She wants to go back…back to the water country. Biryum is observing her. He remarks how she looks outwardly strong (collected, calm, etc.) but she must actually be very affected since she’s just a human, after all. Dong Wang Gong (eastern king) asks Biryum what he’s doing here. Biryum kneels immediately and greets Dong Wang Gong formally. Eastern king says it’s been a while since he saw him and what are the two of them, him and Habaek’s bride, doing here. Biryum tells him that Habaek had wanted to see her so he was simply giving Habaek the chance to see her briefly. Eastern king thinks that’s a bit unfair for only Habaek to be able to do the seeing. Biryum’s like, “Yeah, well, see…..” but Eastern king turns around and asks Soah if he should make it so she can go meet Habaek? She says, “Sorry? What are you talking about? Are you sending me back, then?” Eastern king says sending her back would be impossible, but just letting her see him for a bit would be possible…if she wants it, that is. She’s thinking, “I would be able to see…Habaek…?”

Scene switch. Imperial palace.  Nakbin is looking down at something. She is interrupted by Tae-eul-jin-in. He asks if she’s won him(Habaek) over yet and that it seems the emperor is waiting quite a bit for her (to accomplish her thing). Nakbin says, “Do you believe I will fail?” Tae-eul-jin-in says well let’s see… I don’t know much about you, per se, but I’ve been by his side for a while and I believe to know him rather well….  but you know this far better than I with regards to that girl, don’t you: that he loves Soah more than he values his own self. He continues on by saying, “However, right now, he’s chosen you. If that’s the case, between the two of you, which would Habaek choose to save?” Nakbin tells him, “Shut up. You dare compare me with that fake-ass bitch?” (well, okay. She says it in the formal and proper way like “Shut up. You dare compare me to that fake girl?” but “girl” tends to be slang for bitch.) Nakbin continues: “I met him first. I loved him first. And if we had not been separated, Habaek would have no reason to love a woman like her.” And Tae-eul-jin-in says, “Oh, but you two did separate and Habaek did fall in love with her.” Then he goes and adds salt to the wounds by saying, “Oh yeah, and how do you feel?” Next panel shows just what she was looking at. It seems like a pond with those flowers floating and it almost feels like it’s a mirror or at the least reflecting her image….but you notice it’s not the same pose as she’s sitting — the one in the water is shown with her eyes closed and lying down with her hands in front of her clasped. He continues, “How do you feel looking upon that dead body of yours? You cannot change what has come to pass. That body of yours now cannot leave this place and live. That means if you stay here, Habaek will not be able to leave. Which, would still achieve the emperor’s wishes.

Scene switch. Dong Wang Gong (Eastern King Lord) tells Soah that before he sends her, he has something to say first. He says, according to Biryum, she is under some misconception about Habaek. He tells her Habaek’s only pretended to lose memories of hers in order to deceive the emperor. Soah says, “You’re saying Habaek didn’t lose his memories? But that’s not possible, he really did seem like he forgot about me.” Biryum interjects by saying, “That’s not true. He really didn’t lose his memories. I don’t know the exact reason for him pretending to lose them, but it seems it’s an action he undertook to protect you. Since he asked me, as well, to look out for you. Then Biryum confesses he brought her to the pool area because Habaek had wanted to see her. So then Eastern king says, “So, going back to what we first said. The way you could meet him is by leaving your body here, but sending your spirit forth. But you would only be able to see him. You won’t be able to touch him or talk to him.” He tells her the water where they are is connected to the water in the earth. That way Habaek can use the water to look at whatever over here, and in turn, they could use the water to look at what they want. Dong Wang Gong says, “If you still can’t believe in Habaek, then why don’t you see for yourself, and then decide to clear up your misunderstanding or not. Of course, it’s not really an easy method. But, if you wish for it, I will help you. Soah says she’ll do it, she’ll go meet him. THEN Dong Wang Gong says that he, who wields fire, is unable to use it, but she, as Habaek’s bride, would do just fine. He tells her to get to Habaek she needs to listen to the water and follow it.  She listens to the water and starts to follow it. Biryum asks if this was really okay. Soah is lying down with her eyes closed because..her spirit is off somewhere else.. Biryum asks if this is something dangerous. Dong Wang Gong says, “She’ll be fine. Well, in this case, there’s a chance of dying, but,…” Biryum’s upset because that means it IS dangerous. Eastern King says it’ll be fine since it’s her. And if a human loves a god, she must be able to beat a trial such as this. Dong Wang says, “Oh, hm…now that I think of it…” Biryum’s thinking, “okay, here we go. so he did have something in mind.” Dong Wang says, “I told her how to come back, right?” Biryum is yelling inside his head, “No, you didn’t! You didn’t tell her!” He is thinking to himself that this time Habaek will really kill him. She has been following the sound of water and finds herself (her spirit, that is) at a familiar place. She believes it is water country. She wonders why it took her here since she thought Habaek was at the imperial lands. She wonders what will she do if Habaek’s not here since she wasn’t thinking about the water country. Then she hears someone call out, “Habaek-nim—” She tries to look through the slats of a door and realizes this is the room she first saw Habaek. The old guy Yuk-Oh is telling him he was looking for him(Habaek) for a long time.  And a voice says he had been preparing some stuff….but, wait a moment. There seems to be someone outside the door. The old guy says that’s in no way possible since no one comes to that location. The door is slid open quickly and out pops .. Habaek? with long hair that’s all down. Soah’s spirit is drawn with a little glowy aura around her to indicate she’s not in corporeal form. The “To be continued” part says, “Will they finally be able to meet?” End of chapter.

Now…. that’s odd. I wonder if she is traveling through time, too. Because he really is in the imperial country.

The Bride of the Water God chapter 73 appeared in the August 15, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. If you don’t want to know what happens, don’t read.

SPOILER follows.

Western Queen Mother (Suh Wang Mo aka Habaek’s mom) shows up and says it looks like she’s late to the party. Emperor says it didn’t start that long ago so please don’t worry. He didn’t think she’d actually come this time since he always invites her but she never shows. But that she is joining them makes him very pleased. She apologizes and says it seems she’s the uninvited guest tonight. She asks for his audience and for him to send the others away. He says she must have something very important to say (or an emergency). He said, very well, it’s too bad about the party, but it’ll have to end early. So once he sends them away she asks him to just leave Habaek alone, that war does not suit Habaek. He says, “ah, so it is a rather burdensome question, after all.” She says, “Isn’t your goal to win this war?” He says, “And that’s why I need him more. Habaek has an important role to play in the war.” So she says, if she brings him something in return, will he let Habaek go. She says she’ll bring Flame Shin Nong (the previous emperor). The emperor is amused and says, “Ah… as the Western Queen Mother would…” She thinks he doesn’t believe she can do it. He says, no, no, he believes she could do anything for the sake of her son. But he says, “However, the problem is Habaek doesn’t wish to leave this place. If he, by his own volition, does not wish to leave this place, then who am I to say anything?” Habaek’s mom looks a bit surprised and displeased. The emperor continues by saying that Habaek came here out of his own will and desire and so him leaving will also be out of his own desire and by his own will. And so, he (the emperor) won’t be able to do the trade she wants because of that. Of course, in his own thought bubbles he knows Habaek won’t leave because of Nakbin since he can’t abandon/throw away the past when he loved her. And out of everyone, he (the emperor) knows that the best — that Habaek will not be able to let go of Nakbin first.

Scene switch.  Habaek in child form is sitting somewhere and wondering why his mother wants to speak with the emperor. He’s wondering if his mother has decided to stand on the emperor’s side, after all? And that it’s not an impossible thought since she originally hated humans. A voice comes out of nowhere saying, “Habaek–”  ”Habaek!” He’s like, “This voice….” A bird perches on his finger. He says, “Biryum?” Biryum says yes it’s him. He’s finally in a safe place after running for so long. He continues with, “You know I’m at [the moon palace], don’t you?” Habaek tells Biryum that he’s not the only one who knows that, but the emperor knows, as well. Biryum’s like, “Oh.. is that so? Well, I had hoped he wouldn’t find out. However, knowing how to get here is not exactly easy. So it should be okay for now. But since the power of flame and fire are stronger  [where he is ..where the earth is not..], they can’t easily move.  He asks Habaek, don’t you want to hear word of Soah? He asks when Habaek is thinking of finally taking her away since she’s not asking anything and is simply waiting.  Habaek says, “Didn’t you say getting to the moon palace is not exactly easy?” Biryum says, “I can just tell you.” Habaek says, “Isn’t that a dangerous thought? What if I was on the emperor’s side?” Biryum pauses for a second but then laughs out loud. He says, there’s no way you’d be on his side. Habaek asks what makes him believe that. Biryum says, “Since we have Soah hostage here.” He goes on, “Do you really not want to see her? Since it’s you, you could simply use water to look at her.” Habaek says, “No, I don’t want to.” Biryum asks why. Habaek responds, “Because if I see her, I’d want to touch her. And I know I wouldn’t be able to bear it and would leave to go meet her. I can’t let myself be affected by greed.” Biryum says, “Habaek..!” Then he insults him a bit. Biryum continues, “In any case, I’m going to take Soah to the pool at [1:30am-3:30am] It’s up to you if you want to see her or not.” Then the bird that was sitting on Habaek’s finger flies away. Habaek is left like, “…..”

Scene switches. Soah asks Biryum why they’re here. He says right now on earth it’s [1:30am-3:30am]. And that location is the place that looks most similar to earth. And that actually it looks a lot like water country, doesn’t she think? He tells her to come here when she feels like she misses earth. She picks up a flower and thinks to herself that it really does remind her of the water country. Scene switch. Mui (adult form now) is using a bowl of water to watch her. He says to himself, “Biryum, you bastard, you really do, do as you please.” He reaches his hand through the water’s surface (in the bowl he’s using) and calls her “ai ren….” (written in Korean using the Chinese pronunciation..also using the Chinese characters) The Korean note says it is what a husband calls his wife. Or it is what one uses to refer to the one person who’s most precious to oneself.  He says to himself, “Anyways, this may be the last time I can see you.” The “To be continued” part says, “And what is that supposed to mean?!” End of chapter.

Okay, I reread some chapters I had skimmed quickly. I’ll clarify some names and relationships.

SPOILER, do not read if you do not want to know.

• Habaek is his title. It means (basically) God of Water. His name used by his family when he was little is Mui.
• Western Queen Mother aka “Suh Wang Mo” is Habaek’s mother. She is the Goddess of Death and the moon on the Western side.
• Eastern King Lord aka “Dong Wang Gong” is Habaek’s father. He is the God of Life and the sun on the Eastern side.
• “Shin Nong” is the god’s title. It means God of Agriculture. His power is fire. He is also known as Flames. He wears some type of elk/bull’s head on top of his own head. He was the previous emperor.
• The current emperor is Hunwon. He didn’t take to wearing that mask until later. HE IS NOT directly related (not necessarily) to Shin Nong. They simply call each other brothers in the honorific sense. This is a correction to what I was typing in my summaries. I had failed to read the SOLE time Shin Nong also referred to Hunwon as “hyung”. It had mostly been Hunwon calling Shin Nong “hyung” so I thought maybe they were real brothers. They may still very well be. I don’t know. Anyhow, Hunwon has this big elaborate tattoo on his forehead. In the present timeline of the story, he wears a mask a lot. He is Hooye and Nakbin’s father. Nakbin is supposed to be part-human, so I assume her mother was human.
• Tae-eul-jin-in is the guy with the long long braid and spectacles.
• Joodong is the fire-wielding guy with goggles you meet in the first couple of chapters along with Mura and Yohee.
• I’ll update this list if people post with comments stating what they wish to have clarified.

The Bride of the Water God chapter 72 (하백의 신부 제72회) by Yoon Mi-kyung (윤미경) appeared in the August 1st, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. What follows is a summary and spoiler, so if you do not wish to know about it yet, then do not read the rest of this post.

The chapter’s title page has nothing to do with the actual contents of the chapter, by the way. (People could see the title page from the preview page on winklove.co.kr.) So, chapter 71 ended with Mura telling the emperor that Biryum can be found on the moon. The emperor says, “The moon, you say?” The next two panels switch scenes to show Soah looking outside where the Earth hangs in the sky. Then the scene switches back to the emperor. He says, “So, he hid himself on the moon, after all?” Mokrang asks him what does he wish to do, send soldiers there immediately to chase after him? The emperor says, “No, that’s not needed yet.” Mura asks, “And why aren’t you doing something about it right away? You don’t have much [leeway/breathing room].” The emperor responds, “And why should I believe you are not lying to me? There’s no guarantee Biryum has hidden himself there or the rebels have established a stronghold there.” So, Mura responds oh-so-clairvoyantly, “So what you are saying is you do not believe me now?” So, the emperor, being the smooth-talking guy he is, says, “I am not necessarily saying it’s you. Biryum could have also been using you to set a trap for me!” He continues on saying since the moon palace is close to the sun, the gods with the power of fire will have a stronger position there. It would be better for him to lure them to the earth and fight them than to fight them (at the moon palace). And that’s why he needs Habaek even more. Mura asks why he has such an obsession with [Habaek]. And if capturing Habaek is more important to the emperor than knowing the location of the rebels. Then she emphasizes this part: “Or perhaps… you want his power over water?!” He says, “Power over water? Well, naturally his power is strong, but he’s still a child/it’s still not fully developed.” He continues with, “The reason I want him is —- those with the power of fire would never touch Habaek.” He explains how because of a promise made a while ago by the prev. emperor god (the guy with that elk/bull skull on top of his head..with the power of fire..current emperor’s older brother), that no one with the power of fire can touch Habaek. And thus is the word of a god.. it’s a promise that can’t be broken. He finishes what he says with: “If I could only have him [that is, have power over him], then this tiresome battle will be over immediately. And also, “The war started by their predecessors will be finished by them.” <– in this page there is a picture of Hooye on the right with his bow, quiver with arrows, and a sword looking pretty serious. On the left is a picture of Habaek in serious battle-ready garb (like Hooye, but Habaek’s jacket is a dark color while Hooye’s is a light color). Habaek has a bow in his left hand, a sword in his right, and a short-sword hanging from his left hip. There’s a tiger drawn in between the two.

Scene switch. Still at the emperor’s place. It’s later, though. Guy says, “Your Majesty. The banquet is ready.” The emperor acknowledges. Hooye says, “Tonight is the last night of the full moon. How do you plan on capturing them?” The emperor says, “If Soah had managed to get Habaek’s name out of him, it would make things easier, but, I already made contingencies for her failure, so it is all right.” Hooye says, “Did you… really think she would be able to find out his name?” The emperor says, “And what do you think?” Hooye says, “Nakbin had failed, so.” The emperor says, “She did indeed fail. And that’s why I made this back-up plan and commanded you to watch over her. So, how is it that they managed so easily to take her away? When the rebels were attacking, just where were you?  Don’t tell me… you purposely let her go, Hooye?  If there is something you want to have, you can have it. But know this truth: if I am unable to have it, then I will break it so no one can have it! Even Suh-wang-mo, who is rushing over here knows to save her son’s life, on whose side she must stand.” The next two pages have the banquet festivities going on. The emperor’s going on how it’s  a great night with the full moon for the banquet, etc. Habaek asks for the emperor to finally tell him why the emperor had called for him and surely he did not forget this is the last day he had promised. Emperor brushes it off and saying like the moon’s so bright, etc. why are you bothering with that now, etc. Then he segues into, “Come to think of it… someone had told me Biryum is at [the moon]. Of course, I’m sure you already knew that.” Habaek’s surprised. The emperor says, “Habaek, if you think Shin-Nong [the previous emperor with the elk skull on his head...the current one's older brother] is on your side, then you’d be sadly mistaken. He, like myself, needs you and is simply using you. Take me hand. Then we can take/conquer the heavens. Then, you can have anything you want. What is it you wish for, Habaek?” <– the emperor is reaching out his hand to Habaek’s face. They are interrupted by, “Stop right there!” The emperor is shown pausing. Habaek is looking as if he’s wondering who that is. And even Nakbin is shown looking pretty…poker-faced. The next and last page of the chapter shows in the doorway: Habaek’s mother, Suh-wang-mo (the queen mother). She has wings, too, but they’re not like angel wings. Rather than curving up and and swooping down like angels’ wings, hers seem to emanate from her shoulder blades in about a 120 degree arc. I like her outfit. End of chapter.

Chapter 71 of The Bride of the Water God (하백의 신부 제71회) by Yoon Mi-kyung appeared in the July 15, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine published by Seoul Munhwasa (서울문화사). This post is a summary of the chapter and it contains spoilers. Do not read it if you do not want to know what happens.

Soah heard someone playing the flute in the palace of the moon and she spies someone who looks a whole lot like Mui but is not him. This chapter opens with her asking how he knows who Mui is. He responds with his full name, “부상대제(扶桑大帝) 동왕공(東王公)”. 부상 is a name of sorts (the characters means “aid/help” and “mulberry” if you’re curious) and 대제 is a title like “Your Majesty” or “Great Emperor” (but he’s not the emperor) and 동왕 is Eastern King and 공 is like “lord”. So it’s a rather long and convoluted title. You can try to write his name and title out like, “His Majesty Busang, the Eastern King” or something. She asks what that’s supposed to be and he’s surprised and says, “You’re saying you don’t know who I am?” and she says “No, I don’t know.” Their whole conversation this chapter is a bit strange, by the way. She asks how he knows Mui and she’ll tell him who she is.

He says, of course it’s natural for him to know who Mui is since that child is his son. She asks just how is she supposed to believe that since she hasn’t heard about Mui’s father even once. And if he is Mui’s father, why isn’t he living together with him and is so far apart? There’s a panel with Mui’s father looking a bit somber and he says, “That’s understandable. That child believes me to be dead.   But… I am wondering something — are you a man or a woman?”  She looks dumbfounded as lightning effects are drawn above her striking her with a “boom-boom” SFX. He explains that he finds it difficult to classify humans since he hasn’t really encountered them that much. In the back of her mind, Soah’s thinking, “This person can not possibly be Mui’s father. He just looks like him.” Most of the panels drawn of him show his wings (they’re white and upraised like angels’ wings). He asks her what her name is. She says her name is Soah. He says Soah… meaning beautiful person. He tells her Mui is Habek’s childhood name and that he seems to have told her that name must mean she must mean a lot to him. She says, “I… am Habaek’s bride. And they told me to wait here until they could bring him here.” Mui’s dad looks shocked and says, “Does that mean Mui is coming here to the moon palace?!” She says that she wasn’t promised that directly, but that is what she understands. He says, “Oh no, I didn’t think I’d meet him again so soon…. I guess he’s grown a lot, hasn’t he? If we meet, will he know who I am?” She’s thinking to herself, “It seems they haven’t seen each other in a long time… what kind of relationship do they have?” She asks how to get to this place and he says when Venus, the Sun, and the Earth are aligned, then the path to this place opens up. She asks when that will happen. He says, “mmmm… maybe in 120 years?”  She responds with, “What did you say?!” He says, “Well, that’s not that long a time at all, so why are you so shocked?!  Since [I/you]‘ve waited this long, [I/you] can wait that long again.” She asks if he knows how old he is in human years. And he says, “Hm. Maybe 300 years?”  (In my opinion, that’s not long at all. Shouldn’t gods be eons old?) She tells him she can’t wait that long. He says there are many other possible ways so don’t worry. And this is where the chapter gets weird… he says, “Oh, by the way, there is an animal living here at the moon palace whom you resemble. I was wondering why it felt like I knew you…” “Oh, looks like it’s nearby.” She’s wondering what animal it could be…maybe a rabbit? But it ends up being a panda. She’s wondering how a panda is living there. And the panda looks evil/naughty. And how the heck do they even look alike?! He says since it’ll be a while since Mui will arrive, she should just relax. She’s wondering if Mui is over there and will he really come here to get her. And she wonders what he’s thinking right now. Next page is a shot of Mui (in adult form now) looking off somewhere with the (huge) moon in the background in the sky. Page after that is Soah looking up to the sky with the earth in the background. Next page’s first panel is Mui smiling. Then he’s interrupted with a, “Habaek–”

It’s Nakbin asking him, “What are you thinking of looking at the moon like that? Her name was Soah, wasn’t it…? Are you, by chance, thinking of that girl?” Note: Nakbin is drawn with a little design/tattoo on her forehead. It’s small. It’s a cluster of 6 hearts forming a circle with the heart’s points in the center. He doesn’t answer her. She continues with, “Habaek. You still haven’t responded to what I said earlier: that, if you want it, we can return to the way we were before….  You know where Soah and Biyum went , don’t you?” He replies with, “…yes.” In spite she replies with, “If you choose to go to that woman, then I won’t teach you how to return to your original body.” He pauses. She’s behind him with her left hand and face on his back. He says, “What are you worrying about?” (Now her right arm is around him, too.)  He says, “I am not going anywhere.” The next panel has her looking worried/sad on his back. Then the next panel has her pushing her face off his back with hair covering her eyes looking a bit evil. Next page. She has her eyes almost closed in an inset panel. Then she says, “So. You are not saying you are not leaving because you love me, I see.” Next panel has him looking at her. Scene switches.

The emperor’s attendants are trying to deny Mura audience with the emperor. The emperor asks to speak later since they’re busy and to come back when he calls for her later. Mura says, “So, that is your way of telling me you have no use for me anymore?” Blblah talking about Biryum coming and interfering. The long-braid dude with the crazy glasses shows his face next to the emperor, too. Mura says, “It is about that Biryum I have come to talk to you about. I know something you wish to know. On the next page is her flashing back to the past with him. She is thinking, “Biryum… did you get close to me in order to get access to the emperor’s land?” Next page. She trails her thought off with, “If that’s the case, then…” She says out loud, “He is currently at 한섬(寒蟾:달)” <– meaning he’s at the moon. Final panel is the rest of her thought, “from now on, I won’t believe anyone.”

The “To be continued” part says, “Mura, no, don’t do it–!!”

Mi-Kyung Yun – Dark Horse – 2009 – 9+ volumes – Korean

Honestly, I didn’t think this volume would ever come out, but I’m absolutely tickled that it did.  I like this series despite the fact that the majority of the small details were lost on me in the first two volumes.  And it is very, very pretty.

My problems with not really knowing who the side characters were and the bad sense of place and time mostly didn’t apply to this volume.  I was a little worried after not reading the series for so long that any plot details I may have once known would have left me and absolutely nothing would make sense, but the plot takes a turn and narrows quite a bit in this volume, and I wound up getting a lot more out of it than I did from the first two combined.  Part of this is because the setting completely changes after the first third of the book, and it’s easier for me to understand who the characters are and what is happening to Soah here than it was among the Gods, who all look kind of similar, speak with carefully veiled speech, and who have hidden intentions.

The plot also becomes a lot more about the melodrama between Soah and Mui/Habaek and less abut Soah fitting in.  In fact, Habaek’s feelings towards Soah become a little more apparent, and there are some touching displays of fondness and loyalty from him.  There’s a misunderstanding between the two at the beginning of the book, but Soah’s memory is wiped, so I wonder if it’ll have an impact on the later plot.

I’m happy to see that Dark Horse decided to continue this series, though.  It’s quite pretty, and it looks like things are just starting to get good.

If you guys are looking for some interesting manga or manhwa to read check these out:

Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando

Yakitate!! Japan by Takashi Hashiguchi

Bride of the Water God by Yoon Min Kyung (윤민경)

Angel Diary by Lee Yoon Hee (이윤희)

They’re all fun reads!

Soah finally comes to in her new location. Habaek’s mother takes action. Soah meets ??? near the end of the chapter.

The Bride of the Water God ch70 (하백의 신부) was in the July 1st issue of Wink Magazine. There was also an author close-up with Yoon Mi-kyung in this issue. In the close-up she says her favorite character is Suh Wang Mo (서왕모) aka Mui’s mother since her personality/character is nice and she’s fun to draw. She says the thing that take the longest to draw is Nakbin’s curly/wavy hair (takes an incredibly long time). Then she confesses what things actually take longer are the tiger and panther. She also says that in the stories/myths/legends that Soah was actually the name of Hooye’s wife. But anyhow. She also says starting in the next chapter there should be a whole lot of activity going on in the series. Back to chapter 70.

SPOILER from here to the end

Chapter 70 starts with Biryum kneeling in front of the previous emperor (guy with the bull’s skull for a helmet — it covers his eyes) and apologizing for failing to bring Habaek with him. And the old emperor asks Biryum who the girl is. Scene switches to Soah lying down in some bed. She smells some fragrance and wakes suddenly. Biryum asks if she’s finally awake. Soah is pretty upset at him for effectively kidnapping her and wants to be returned to where she was. And she opens the door to the bedroom she is in while he says that she would not be able to leave this place by  herself. She pauses while looking out and asks where this place is. He responds, “This is the island above the road leading to the sun. Welcome to the ‘Moon Palace’, Soah.” (Here you see various pictures of the Earth in the sky.) Scene switches to see a moon in the sky. Suh Wang Mo (서왕모) has a bird perched on her finger via which the prev. emperor with the bull skull helmet is apologizing for failing to bring Habaek as she had requested. She says he must be up to something if it was of his own volition. They discuss the danger and trickery with the (current) emperor. She says there is only way to save him and that’s for her to go get him, herself (Suh Wang Mo). Scene switches to the emperor asking Habaek in his child-form if he knows anything about the rebels who managed to infiltrate his palace. He denies knowing anything. Once Habaek leaves his presence, Mokrang asks the emperor if he really believes Habaek. She says he’s friends with Biryum and he should definitely know where Biryum and the others fled to. The emperor says that’s not important and there is more than one way to find that out, anyhow. Mokrang objects saying not much time is left before Habaek returns to the water country. And the emperor scoffs and says, but his love, Nakbin is here, isn’t she? The emperor believes Habaek must be intensely curious as to how Nakbin has been revived. And he says, “Don’t you think so, Tae-eun-jin-in?” The guy with the long braid and scientist-like/nerdy glasses shows up. The emperor continues by saying, “Thanks to you, I’ll soon have Habaek.” The scene switches back to the moon palace where Biryum is telling Soah that while she is there, she should feel free to look around…since she can’t exactly leave that place, herself. He encourages her to wait until they can bring Habaek here and reminds her no human can leave the place him or herself. And he leaves her after telling her the place will quickly grow on her. Biryum’s gone at this point. She looks up and around and wonders (while looking at the Earth in the sky) if this place could possibly really be the Moon Palace. She wonders if this place is in perpetual night. Then she hears a flute sound. She really thought she was by herself in that place so is wondering who could possibly be there and making the music. She opens some door and there is a guy playing a flute. She’s a-taken back because she thinks it’s Mui. She says out-loud, “Mu … i…?”  He stops and looks up. She thinks to herself, “No. He looks like Mui, but is not him.” And the guy (beautiful beautiful man with white wings…) says, “For you to know of Mui, who may you be?” The chapter ends here.

If title seems confusing let me explain: I don’t hate the end of the school yeat, because summer is coming. I love summer. What I hate is the other thing that comes with the end of the school year….

…Projects and exams.

Here is a short list of why they’re might being even less blogging in the next week or two, then there has been in the last few weeks.

• I have three final projects due over the next three weeks.
• Other important school related projects (history seminor background to collect and read)
• My grandmother is visiting all this week. I haven’t seen her since I was in grade eight.
• Doing fun activies with friends (like volunteering) before graduation, since we probably won’t see each other much afterwards, since we’re all going in different directions.

Needless to say anime/blogging is at the bottom of my list.

Catching Up On Spring Shows

Because of school related problems, low attention span and just plain laziness I’m behind all the shows I’m watching except for Hetalia and Shugo Chara. I’m hoping to at least be caught up with most of them by the 30th of May. I’m really want to stay caught up with Eden of the East, FMA:B, and 07-Ghost. Everything else can wait. I’ll get caught up with everything between when exams end in June and graduation.

Shojo Manga Selection

Bride of The Water God: Acutally a manhwa. It’s about a girl who’s gets sacrficed to the water god so it will rain in her villiage, only to find out she’s actually his bride and that he’s a bratty kid. The art’s really goregous, and the characters and story development are good so far too. It’s the type of historical romance I wish SHK was, rather then what it’s turning out to be( it’s still okay, but more in a typical historical shojo way like the orignal FY). It’s worthy looking into just for the art.

07-Ghost 17-25: The manga is awesomeness. The anime is okay, but I would suggest reading the manga as well if you’re not already. All the characters are cooler and the plot moves at a much faster pace. Also, Hakuren Oak is probably my third favorite character now (a lot of competion for that spot though in this series lol). Teito really needs him to be able to get over his fear of making friends after Mikage’s death (outside the three bishops I guess which are techinquely his friends, but aren’t really in the same age group).

Published Manga Vs. Scanalations: I love scanlaters and apperaciate all they do for the manga fandom. However, published manga… it’s just so cool. You can take it anywhere, don’t have to lean in too much to read it off a screen and there’s just something more magical about reading a physical volume of something rather then just reading it off the web.

 Random Non-Anime Obcession of the Week: 1800s  and early 1900s Children’s Literature.

Recently I’ve been re-reading some of my favorite children’s books for fun. It’s really enjoyable. They’re alot better written then a lot of books for kids written today, and don’t seem to talk down to the audience as much. The heroines in some of these books might seem like mary sues to some, but they’re not that difference from most shojo manga heroines (at least the good ones). There also tends to be a lot of shipping in these novels. That can be a bad thing at times though. I always feel like throwing the book verison of Peter Pan aganist the wall after reading the end. (the disney movie does not do justice to the cute Wendy/Peter moments in the book). It’s kind of werid actually, since some of the best manga I’ve read has also been written for younger kids.

This picture is from the cover of a volume of the manwha, Bride of the Water God. I really really like this series that I ended up reading the  58 chapters (released so far) in two days (okay, I know some of the chapters are around 20 pages only) and reread it again the next day. I’m not into manwha before this. Because it is recommended by a member of Manga Updates in a comment in Red River (you all know how I love that series..^_^), I was intrigued and gave it a try. Anyway, whoever it is who recommended this series, I owe you a lot. ^_^

This is almost the same as Red River, just remove the ecchi part. The story (btw, I’ve also made a proper summary for this) is about a girl sacrificed by the village people to be the bride of the Water God. In return, the Water God (Habaek) will let the rain fall on their village.  Upon her arrival in the Water Kingdom, she met her groom. To her surprise, Habaek is just a kid.

One night, while wondering where Habaek go, she met Habaek’s “cousin”, Mui (Mooee, Muhee, whatever.. ). Along the story, she also have some attraction on him without knowing that Mui and Habaek is the same person. On the other hand, Habaek might also be thinking that Soah (the bride) is the reincarnation of his first wife.

The similarity of this from Red River is the two heroines were both summoned to an unknown world and both stories have a connection with water. I love the two stories.! In Bride of the Water God, the art is gorgeously done. From the characters appearances to the setting, all are drawn elaborately.

It may be (for some, I think) a bit slow progress despite the number of chapters already released and the inconsistencies of Habaek’s personality. I can’t deny the fact that this is really good to read. I hope the next chapter will come out already since the latest chapter (and all the chapters of this manwha) is a cliffhanger.

I’ll give you more MuixSoah moments.

Other than Mui, there is another one who likes Soah. The aid of Habaek, Hoo-ye. He is also the brother of the first wife of Habaek. I like him more (though Mui is hotter) than Mui because he cares for Soah and is really gentle. Here he is:

Title: The Bride of the Water God

Mangaka: Yoon Mi-kyung

Genre: Shoujo, Supernatural, Romance, Fantasy, Historical

The town has long been in drought. In order to please the water God, Sooah become the sacrifice as a bride. She arrived in the Water Kingdom thinking that the Water God is a monster who eats humans. It was a surprised for her when the God Habaek is a kid. She also met Habaek’s older cousin Muhee and started to harbor some feelings for him. What she do not know is that Habaek and Muhee are the same person.

Click here to read!

Looking back…

The plot of leading Hooye away from Nakbin had been quite a cinch! All the townspeople conspired against them but under whose orders? It couldn’t possibly have been Habaek’s?!

This Chapter…

Nakbin had been thrown in prison and was made to believe that the Water God ordered for her ill fate!  Meanwhile, Hooye sensed something different while on the way to where the errand’s supposed to be, so he turned his way back home.

Ju Dong and Habaek had a few exchanges and it revealed a little something of why the Emperor wanted him so bad!  He is the the sole God to determine who will go victorious in the fight against Shin Nong.  He’s interested in his powers and was willing to woo him at his side but the Water God isn’t just up to it and playing neutral.

Hooye however came a little too late.  Nakbin has already been taken and he knew who’s really behind the farce!  There was the Emperor admitting to his crimes and offered help? And what’s this? He was their father? oO.Oo

Random Babblings…

Habaek’s easy-going ways probably had been the very reason why he was put into the current situation he was in.  He might have had declined the Emeperor or anyone else and stick to his decision, therefore, no one if according to the prophecies had been declared the winner.

I’m not a bit surprised if the Emperor is Hooyee and Nakbin’s father the hints had been dropped piece by piece as the volume went. And I am constantly  to the opinion that Nakbin is not just an ordinary human. Probably she might have had felings for Habaek before the incident happened and the false rumor might have had ignited her fury against him and chose to plot with the Emperor and Hooye.

Poor Habaek! T~T

Click here to read!

Looking back…

Nakbin must perish!  But why?

This Chapter…

Mura came to the Emperor for her own selfish whims!  She has betrayed Habaek to the enemy and Nakbin’s gonna be a medium to that!

Believing in the prophecy she saw in a dream, Mok Rang told the people of the revelation.  Skeptic as they were of such an inhuman prophecy but with just a life to give up for the sake of the many in the village, they soon conceded.

Hooyee came home wounded worrying Nakbin.  But somebody came asking Hooyee a favor again hunting down some ack soo in some place.  He went granting the request but it was a trick to get him away from Nakbin.  The townspeople secured her behind bars.

She learned of the divine revelation that which only her death would suffice to elude the scary fate that would befall the majority and guess from whom would that be?  She was told it was Habaek’s!

Random Babblings…

Poor Habaek, he doesn’t have anything to do with this!  It was the emperor who messed up with Mok Rang’s dream!  The black feathers are evidence enough!

I think Nakbin isn’t that kind of bitch afterall, it’s just that she was triggered to execute her revenge for Habaek because of heresay; a victim of a situation, that is.  Let just see how the story goes from hereon.

Click here to read!

Previously…

A young girl named Mok Rang managed to meet the Water God in a dream.  He told her some top secret which could put many lives at stake!

This Chapter…

Growing into a fine young woman, Miss Mok-Rang, had been trusted with prophecies dealing with water having saved the whole village  from devastation a few years back. She hadn’t seen Habaek too since then and how she wanted to see him again.

Meanwhile, Suh Wang Mo visits the Water country to see Habaek. An utterly stunning revelation has been made!  She isn’t Habaek’s real mother! He told Wang Mo about some human who’s going to be his bride, the thing which Mura overheard!

On the other hand, Mok Rang encountered the siblings Nakbin and Hooyee which were rumored to be born from a father that isn’t human.  She recognized Nakbin as Habaek’s favored one.  However,  she received a divine revelation afterwards… that woman should be killed!

Random Babblings…

Had this on draft a few days ago but I’m quite lazy to publish it. 

So, Wang Mo isn’t Habaek’s mom so another question arises this time… ” Who really is Habaek?”  Things really are getting more complicated that we thought it already was!

Click here to read!

Looking back….

The Water God Habaek, grew really fond of the earthling Nakbin or so he thought she was and he’s determined to claim her for himself!

This Chapter…

This is the story of a girl named Mok Rang whose father is a fisherman.  She had been visited by rare dreams yet she cannot recall after she awakens.

She had been acting really weird, that aside from the strange dreams she was always talking about.  Her parents were very much worried as if she had incurred some kind of sickness or was possessed by some spirits.  Who in her right mind would climb a tree and forgot about how she got there?

In her dream opens a door leading to the water realm and meeting the Water God himself takes an exceptional ability befitting a shaman and Mok Rang has that. Habaek told her a secret she probably won’t forget all her life!  A storm is coming and her father is out there fishing in the open sea!

Random Babblings…

A shaman who has the control over waters…Mok Rang sure is exeptional.  What role would she play in the story?  Could her ability spare his father’s life?  What would be her significance in Habaek’s life?

Habaek seemed to have the idea that human should all look like Nakbin.  That’s why he found Soah quite plain and fussed about the most beautiful girl the village has to offer as a sacrifice before.

Nakbin, a human? I doubt it!

Click here to read!

Previously…

A slight touch on the tip of Nakbin’s hair caused an arrow flying through the air… and it was Hooye’s!

This Chapter…

Carrying on, Nakbin made Hooyee reluctantly apolozige to Habaek for his instinctively rude behavior.

Hooye seemed to know him and at the sound of his name, Nakbin went to him and confessed why she wasn’t afraid of him.  She said that it’s because beautiful gods like Habaek could never be evil.

Fool Habaek, he was enamoured by her even more that he sent one of his dragons with her to keep her safe within the forest bounds!

Suh Wang Mo as I suspected was greeted by the Emperor but in her very image!  The guy seemed to be expert in transformation magic that he even made his pass unnoticed into the Water Country.

Wang Mo wasn’t pleased at his flattery and said she wished to speak to the very face of the Emperor.  His request is too great to have him call her like that…to surrender Habaek to him!

Back at the Water Country, Mura greeted Habaek home and discovered that he didn’t go to the Imperial country as planned and instead he wandered about in the human world.

He didn’t heed her warnings of how troublesome could the humans be as he is determined to possess something which held his interest…Nakbin!

Babbles…

I’m really grateful to Kay-chan once again for the update!  I wouldn’t have found this earlier!

Remember Bi Ryeom, the god of the West-side forest?  It was the Emperor in disguise and I also suspect that Tae El Jin guy, it also might be him.  He’s so scheming for a god! Curse him!

What does he really want with Habaek? Does this have to do with the severed communication that followed between the water deity and his mother?  And Habaek’s curse?