The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Waking with a determination to visit the Sea God’s palace, Mina informs a sleepy Shin of her intention, and he agrees to accompany her. They are joined by Namgi and Kirin, and the group travels through a heavy mist and an unnatural storm. During the journey, Kirin confronts Mina about her decision regarding the Red String of Fate. He accuses her of being indecisive and potentially disloyal to Shin. However, Namgi defends Mina; this leads to a heated exchange in which Kirin criticizes Namgi for abandoning his own kind. Namgi responds with a sense of resignation, suggesting that sometimes family is found in unexpected places.

As they reach the Sea God’s palace, Shin and Mina encounter the Sea God himself. Mina decides to tell the Sea God a story about a woodcutter and a heavenly maiden, which reflects the themes of love, sacrifice, and letting go. The story moves the Sea God, who suddenly feels a tug at his soul and rushes off into the rain. Mina follows but loses her way in the fog. She stumbles upon the Goddess of Moon and Memory, who confronts her with the threat of death. The goddess shows Mina two paper boats, one of which contains a memory tied to Mina’s soul. The goddess offers to trade the boat for something valuable, but Mina remains silent, indicating her willingness to give anything for her memory. The goddess then hands Mina the second boat, which belongs to someone Mina knows. The owner is revealed to be Shim Cheong, who approaches through the rain.

Shim Cheong, dressed as a bride, reveals to Mina that she was sacrificed to the Sea God. Because the storms restarted and were even more violent than before, the village elders believed that the Sea God was angered by Mina’s act of taking Cheong’s place as the sacrifice. Now, Cheong is deeply frightened, for she is convinced that the Sea God’s immense wrath cannot be appeased by a single life. She fears that the storm will annihilate everything. Mina is shocked and saddened by this revelation. She rushes to the Sea God’s palace, suspecting his involvement in the renewed storms. There, she finds the Sea God in pain, seemingly reliving a traumatic memory. Despite her anger and frustration, she comforts him, expressing her enduring love for him.

Mina emerges from the palace amidst a fierce storm to find Shin, Namgi, and Kirin waiting for her. She learns that Shim Cheong, who was recently sacrificed to the Sea God, is safe at Star House under Shiki’s care. As the group navigates through the flooded streets, they witness the severity of the storm and its impact on the city. At Lotus House, they join others seeking refuge on the second floor, and Mina reflects on the daunting challenge of stopping the storms. She reveals to the group her conversation with Lord Yu about lifting the curse on the Sea God by forming a true fate with him, an idea that generates excitement among the spirits. However, Shin dismissively asserts that Mina cannot love the Sea God and should not expect his love in return. Hurt by his words, Mina runs outside, where she faces the sudden attack of a weasel-like assassin. Despite her efforts to defend herself, she is wounded by a crossbow bolt. As she lies injured, she fears for Shin’s life due to their interconnected fates and reflects on her journey, her family, and her feelings for Shin.

Hovering in a liminal space between life and death, Mina observes her own body and those around her. She hears Kirin stating that he has done all he can for her, but she has lost a lot of blood and her pulse is weak. Namgi mentions the assassin who attacked her, suspecting Lord Yu’s involvement in a plot against Shin. As Mina’s spirit drifts outside, she sees a rainbow and hears Dai’s voice urging her not to go too far. As time passes, Mina’s spirit witnesses Namgi, Kirin, Dai, and others attending to her physical body. She experiences confusion and a sense of detachment from the physical world, with moments of consciousness interspersed with periods of darkness. She hears Shin confessing his feelings, regretting that the Red String of Fate has broken but feeling a profound connection to Mina that transcends it. He expresses despair at the thought of living without her.

Eventually, Mina is roused by her grandmother’s voice, which urges her to wake up. She opens her eyes to find herself surrounded by concerned friends. They react with relief and care, but when Mina asks about Shin, the room falls silent. Namgi explains that Shin was there until recently, having barely left her side. Despite assurances from Mask and others, Mina is left feeling unsettled. She notices the absence of the Red String of Fate and wonders about Shin’s whereabouts.

Confined to her room, Mina receives various visitors, but Shin never comes. She is troubled by his absence and speculates on the reasons behind it. Her thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Shim Cheong, who steps into the room in a simple blue and white dress, her hair styled like that of a married woman. Cheong expresses her concern for Mina and shares her admiration for the two women she respects the most: Mina’s grandmother, for her strength and support, and Mina herself, for the hope and courage that she represents. Cheong reveals that Mina’s act of taking her place as the Sea God’s bride inspired her with hope and made her believe in wonders. She expresses her gratitude and affection toward Mina, confessing that she considers her to be a sister.

Cheong then presents Mina with a beautiful dress gifted by Lady Hyeri. She helps Mina to put it on, tying the dress and braiding her hair. Cheong informs Mina about a festival happening in the city that night to celebrate the end of the storms. She encourages Mina to attend, mentioning that rumors in the city attribute the cessation of the storms to Mina’s influence. This revelation leaves Mina pondering the possibility of a change in the Sea God’s state.

The city is festive after the storms have ceased, with acrobats, food vendors, and children releasing carp with bells. Despite enjoying the festivities, she feels wistful due to Shin’s absence. Her presence as the Sea God’s bride draws attention, and a group of boys asks her to grant a wish, referencing the rumors that she is responsible for stopping the storms. Mina later joins Namgi and Nari at the festival, where her role as the Sea God’s bride continues to draw attention. Nari explains that people believe Mina is the one who influenced the Sea God to stop the storms. Despite the festivities, Mina ponders the Sea God’s absence and the broken Red String of Fate.

As the festival continues, Mina finds joy in riding a swing and interacting with the crowd. The joyful moment is interrupted when she notices Shin waiting for her. They retreat to a rowboat for privacy, and Shin shares that he visited the Sea God’s palace and consulted Mina’s ancestors for guidance. He reveals his willingness to tie his life to hers, offering a possibility for Mina to remain human. However, their conversation is abruptly cut short by the arrival of the Imugi, who are threatening the city.