NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45
Barge Man.
This is a story from long before the Japanese Occupation Period and even before the Korean War—a tale of horror born out of tragedy in a seaside village.
Back then, fishing was the main occupation in the seaside village, and it was normal for entire families to go out to sea together to sustain their livelihoods. It was an era without schools, so even young children were considered valuable laborers.
However, as fish catches increased, there arose a shortage of manpower. Thus, children suffering from the hardship of living—those sold or abandoned due to poverty—were chosen. Though unimaginable today, during that time, children were often victims of human trafficking, slavery, and forced labor.
“Captain, come here!”
The terrified voice of a college student was carried away by the wind. The air on the deck seemed to freeze instantly. The captain didn’t respond, focusing entirely on steering the ship.
Such practices weren’t limited to fishing but also occurred in agriculture and other industries nationwide, though this history has largely been forgotten.
Originally, the term “barge man” referred to a child whose role was to row the boat. However, kidnapped children were also made into barge men.
Their treatment gradually became inhumane. Children, seen merely as labor, worked tirelessly from morning till night without rest.
Children who tried to escape or rebel were subjected to horrible conditions. Many died, and the exact number of children sacrificed as barge men remains unknown, buried in the shadows of history.
After that era passed, rumors began circulating about sightings of barge men’s ghosts at sea.
The number of barge men seen on boats varied depending on the observer. Seeing more indicated a higher likelihood of imminent death. Rumors suggested that if someone saw four or more barge men, they would die within a week from unknown causes.
The number of visible barge men was closely tied to one’s social status. Those with high positions, such as executives, celebrities, or village leaders, reportedly saw more barge men.
“What is that…?”
My throat felt dry. I urgently asked Seohyunwoo,
“Hey, how many can you see?”
Seohyunwoo looked puzzled at my question.
“What? I only see the boat.”
I sighed in relief. Thankfully, unlike me who saw one barge man, Seohyunwoo, being a relatively low-status college student, didn’t see any.
However, some other students clearly saw something. Their faces were pale, and some were visibly trembling.
“There, there are people on that wooden boat…”
One student’s voice quivered in fear, pointing at the wooden vessel.
“Don’t look and sit down, everyone!”
The engine noise grew louder. The captain had undoubtedly increased the speed. Cold water splashed onto the deck.
Instinctively, I gripped my left arm tightly. If it were a C-grade or lower ghost story, I could have easily handled it.
But I wasn’t sure if the barge man legend was indeed C-grade or lower, so I hesitated to act.
Fortunately, land came into view just as the wooden boat disappeared from sight. Yet, the creaking sound of oars persisted in my ears.
“Guests, we need to stay at the temple tonight instead of our usual lodging,” the captain said upon reaching land. His tone was firm, lacking his usual warmth, and deep wrinkles lined his face.
“Everyone, follow me,” he commanded, leaving no room for refusal. Our footsteps echoed on the wet ground.
Seohyunwoo glanced at me curiously.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah… just feeling a bit dizzy.”
Even now, without the engine noise, the creaking sound of oars lingered in my ears—an ominous reminder of the barge men.
The path to the temple was dark and steep. Only moonlight illuminated our way as we ascended the winding mountain trail.
“Thank you for coming this far.”
Upon arrival, the captain informed the head monk,
“Master, the guests have seen the barge men.”
The head monk nodded gravely. Concern shadowed his weathered face.
One of the students asked anxiously,
“Barge…men? What are those?”
Another added, panic mixed with confusion in his voice,
“What exactly did we see earlier? And why do we need to be at the temple?”
The head monk served tea while explaining. Steam rose from the old teapot.
“Please sit. There’s much you need to understand.”
Only after sipping the tea did the monk begin speaking. His shadow stretched long under the lamp.
He recounted the story of barge men during the Japanese Occupation Period—the children who perished under forced labor and the vengeful spirits that became the basis of these ghost stories. As the monk spoke, the wind outside howled ominously.
The students’ faces turned pale, realizing what they had witnessed was no mere hallucination.
“So… does that mean we’re…”
His trembling voice betrayed his fear. His hand shook as he held the teacup.
The captain shook his head.
“Fortunately, you’re all college students, and this friend is a regular employee, so there’s not much to worry about. But as a precaution, we’ll spend the night at the temple.”
Back in my room, I pulled out my smartphone and messaged a local shaman.
– I saw the barge men.
Only after sending the message did I realize how reckless it was to visit a haunted sea during these times. But it was too late for regrets now.
A reply came quickly.
-What? Barge men? Aren’t you from Seoul? How did you end up seeing a ghost that appears only near the coast?
I paused, considering whether to lie but decided honesty was best with the shaman.
– I’m traveling in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk.
There was a brief silence.
-I can’t believe you’re traveling casually while the world is overrun with ghost stories.
I had no response. I just wanted to relieve some stress and fatigue from work.
– I took a vacation from work to clear my mind.
The shaman sent a hamster emoticon sighing, oddly cute yet emphasizing the situation’s gravity. She then asked,
-How many did you see?
-One.
-One is fine. Still, just in case, stay at a temple nearby if possible.
-I’m already doing that, as the captain advised.
With that, I ate the vegetable bibimbap offered by the temple. The simple aroma of herbs wafted through the air, but I had no appetite. My body was tired, but sleep eluded me.
The creaking sound of oars still echoed in my ears—an incessant, eerie noise that sounded almost like children crying.
Moonlight filtered through a corner window, distorting the shadows whenever clouds obscured the moon. The deeper the night grew, the heavier the silence became.
It wasn’t long after I lay down that it happened.
I woke suddenly in the middle of the night, unable to move—paralyzed by sleep paralysis.
A creaking sound came from nearby. At first, I thought it was the monk patrolling the hallways, but upon closer listening, it was unmistakably the sound of the barge men.
Though I strained my fingers, the paralysis wouldn’t release its grip. The sound grew closer, each creak echoing like the ticking of a clock.
Finally, the sound reached the door of my room. Just as I managed to break free from the paralysis, the door burst open.
Standing in the hallway was a child-sized mummy, its face pale and lifeless. Black voids marked where its eyes and mouth should be. Moonlight illuminated its skeletal frame. Drops of water fell from its soaked body onto the wooden floor.
My heart raced wildly.
Reflexively, I extended my left palm. A mouth slowly formed on my palm, stretching until it covered the entire surface.
The barge man instinctively stepped back. But it was too late. The mouth began sucking it in like a vacuum cleaner.
The barge man resisted fiercely, clinging to a pillar and baring its white teeth, but the mouth mercilessly consumed it.
Clack-clack.
The sound of bones clattering echoed as pieces of the mummy were sucked into the mouth. First the fingers, then the arms, shoulders, and finally the skull disappeared into the void.
With a loud snap, the mouth closed, breaking the silence.
At that moment, a message appeared on my smartphone.
[‘Barge Man’ ghost story successfully escaped.]
[Successfully sealed the ghost phenomenon completely.]
[Made very critical contributions to the sealing.]
[Received basic reward of 150,000 Dalants.]
+ 150,000D
[Received additional reward of 300,000 Dalants.]
+ 300,000D