Chapter 69
Chapter 69
- Walking Natural Disaster
Dang Jung was in a good mood the day after Paengrak arrived.
He hummed a tune while taking out various types of glasses, and then he began to carefully choose the drink he would have.
"Still, it would be good to start with takju, right?"Ah, whatever. Yes.
Dang Jung did not notice the strangeness in my soulless smile.
He placed a bowl split in half on the table and started rambling about alcohol.
"You probably won't have many chances to drink takju..." It will be different when I go out into the world. Since alcohol is made from grains, it is quite precious. It would be difficult to drink during the day unless you are in a big city."Have you eaten a lot?""Then." When this old man was young, he traveled all over the Central Plains for the Murim Alliance. The inn located in a remote countryside. When you ask for alcohol, they pour water over the leftover grains from the brewing process and serve it as takju. It's disgustingly tasteless."Dang Jung, who poured the takju into a wide bowl and placed it in front of me, grumbled."
"That Paengrak guy gulped it down as if it were alcohol, but who knows." If that is alcohol, then isn't boiled water from weeds also tea?"Isn't the boiled water too hot?"
If you boil barley, it's barley tea, and if you boil the bellflower root, it's bellflower tea.
It seems like you are really excited about that. It's the first time I've seen my grandfather tell an old story.
I awkwardly chimed in.
"Ahaha." That would be the case. Shall I bring some snacks?"Geun-myeong."Then, Dang Geunmyeong, who appeared out of nowhere, brought out a meat dish with broth and some dry snacks and disappeared.
Dang Jung served me a generous portion of lean meat and broth.
"Just taste the takju." It may not suit your taste."Yes."I quenched my thirst with the milky meat broth and tilted the bowl of takju. The alcohol with grain solids was bland and had almost no alcohol content.
...Is this alcohol? Isn't it just water with alcohol?
"You said it wouldn't suit your taste?"Dang Jung chuckled as if he knew I would make such a strange expression.
"Did Elder Paengrak drink this all at once?""That guy can even chew rocks." The taste still sometimes comes to mind.He cleared the traditional rice wine bowl and poured new wine into a small cup. A liquid with a color similar to whiskey shimmered.
"Hwangju should be eaten warm to enhance its flavor." You need to heat it up to fully appreciate the aroma."The explained Dang Jung lightly warmed the cup and handed it to me." The cup, with warm steam rising from it, had a scent that cleared the nose.
"Uh, grandfather. This is extremely sweet."That's because it's Hyangseolju." Try eating it with stir-fried vegetables."Where is the stir-fried vegetables..." Ah."I was startled and looked around with wide eyes, wondering what the sound was." Before I knew it, Dang Geunmyeong had cleared the soup side dish and brought out stir-fried vegetables and dried fruits.
Uncle Geun-myeong........ I'm sorry to say this to you, but honestly, I also want a secretary like you.
"It's better to drink beer at room temperature." Sometimes it's not bad to eat it cold."Dang Jung lightly poured the liquor into the glass after taking it out of the freezer." The drink with floating ice was delicious even when consumed as is.
Dang Jung, feeling good, opened the new wine barrel without resting. I also matched his rhythm, bending the cup again and again.
I had drunk a lot of strong alcohol, yet my mind was clear.
...Isn't it that you don't even take the antidote? What joy is there in living if you don't know the taste of alcohol?
I felt a little sad thinking that I had lost one of the joys of life, but the taste of alcohol was really good, so I couldn't resist drinking.
"You drink well.""It's delicious.""Alcohol is distilled liquor." Did you not see it last time? If Paengrak is in broad daylight, he can't even move a step.Dang Jung's cheeks, which were laughing quietly, were redder than usual.
...Did you withdraw?
The words that he should stop eating rose to the tip of my tongue, but I held it back.
I didn't want to break Dang Jung's excitement. It was the first time he showed such a relaxed appearance.
Dang Jung leaned back in the chair with a languid expression and slowly opened his mouth.
"When you reach the age of this old man." It seems that the end of life is somewhere in sight."Is it the end of life?""Okay." This body will keep moving for a while, I can guess. Old people often say, 'My knees are aching, so it seems like it will rain tomorrow.''Don't you do it?. He is said to be similar to that."Dang Jung said it was nothing special, but I wondered if it was the instinctive sense of a Martial Artist."
Like a beast sensing death and hiding away, one can feel the approaching death.
He put down his glass and patted my head.
"The grandfather has lived enough to..." It seems like it will be at least ten years. I wish I could take care of you for a longer time."Please don't say that." Live a long life so that you can see me get married and have children."Are you telling this old man to take care of your kids too?"Dang Jung chuckled, feeling both incredulous and not entirely displeased. The gaze looking at me was warm.
He gently stroked my cheek with his soft, relaxed eyes.
"Baby." You have boldly stepped into this lonely old man's life. I can't even imagine a life without you now."Unexpected words spread warmth in my heart."
Ah, I am the same. Would I have been able to endure until now if it weren't for you?
I couldn't even imagine myself struggling alone in a strange world without Dang Jung.
He was my support and my guidepost.
I answered with a big smile.
"I feel the same way." Grandfather."...Ahem.""Feeling a bit awkward as if sobering up, Dang Jung cleared his throat and changed the subject."
"Is there anything you are curious about?" There must have been many things you wanted to say."In that moment, the curiosity that I usually couldn't express came out."
"There is." I have been curious about something!"Speak up.""Why haven't you gotten married?""Huh?""It was an unexpected question, and Dang Jung had a bewildered expression on his face."
"Why are you curious about that?" Let's just say Woon was bad. I missed the timing."That can't be true." There’s no way I would have left that face alone. Although my personality is a bit bad, if I had grown up with that face...
Was it a problem with my personality? Seeing that Dang Mu-hyeok is also one of the Madam / Lady of the House, it doesn't seem to be a personality issue.
I tilted my head and asked again.
"Then what about your first love, Grandpa?""...Huh?"Dang Jung, frowning, tilted his head slightly. It seemed like he was doubting whether he had heard it correctly.
I asked again, my eyes shining.
"I'm curious." I heard that you traveled a lot for the Murim Alliance when you were young. Have you ever had someone you fell in love with at first sight, or someone you met briefly?"There was one person I had in my heart.""Really?" What kind of person was he/she? Have you confessed? Did he also like the grandfather?"I died."”
“……Ah.”
“……."Uh, um.... I see.An awkward silence flowed.
I silently emptied my glass.
I was wrong. I should have looked for a place to lie down before stretching my legs.
Dang Jung, having set down the glass, slowly lowered his gaze.
"...was kind, thoughtful, and beautiful." I learned a lot from him."They must have been a good person.""Okay." He/She was a good person. So much that I will never be able to meet someone like that again."My heart sank at the voice filled with longing."
It's true that I missed the timing...
I had a feeling that asking about the story I could guess would bring up Dang Jung's sad memories and drive a nail into my heart.
I quietly filled Dang Jung's glass with alcohol.
Dang Jung, who was quietly gazing at the clinking glass, opened his mouth.
"Baby." I will make a promise with this old man."Yes." Grandfather."You are..." Do not leave before this old man.I was speechless at the dull whisper.
Suddenly, I thought that living a long life is not necessarily a good thing.
This person, left alone in a world without family, friends, or lovers, must have always felt lonely.
I understood why Dang Jung was obsessed with the well-being of the Tang Clan. What remains in his hands will be the family name.
I nodded slowly.
"...Yes." I will do that."Thank you."Dang Jung smiled with relief at my answer.
It was a boy's face without a single wrinkle, yet strangely felt like that of an old man worn by time.
Dang Jung, who changed his gaze at my disheveled expression, swept his hair back.
"Oh dear." The old man showed a disgraceful behavior. It's been a while since I've had alcohol, so I'm feeling a bit tipsy."Oh, it's okay." It's nice that you tell me old stories."Let's stop talking about boring things and talk about your fiancé instead." Gu said he wasn't satisfied. I heard there are guys who will inherit the post office and a guy who is a student of a volcano."Are you a student of the volcano?" Isn't the volcano a door? Can a person who is a surrogate get married?"How many proper shamans are there among the shamans?" A volcano can also marry its main disciple. Anyway, I hope grandpa doesn't go that far. Those who wield swords are all unlucky."You used to be like this before, and you really hate inspections."
"Then I will meet the person who will inherit the post office first.""I understand." Still, meet that guy Gu one more time. It's only polite to meet at least twice."Yes." I will do that."As I answered honestly, Dang Jung blinked in surprise."
"You made such a fuss about not wanting to get married, but now that it's happening, you're so calm?""There's nothing we can do." If you can't resist the waves coming at you, it's better to ride on top of them. I decided to just enjoy it.At that moment, Dang Jung's voice sank low.
"...Would you like to say that again?""What?" Is there nothing that can be done?"No, not that.""Are you saying that you ride on an unstoppable flow?""Okay."Dang Jung's dark blue eyes trembled slightly as he corrected his posture.
Did I say something strange? Why is that?
"Baby.""Yes." I am listening."There is a wall that this old man has not been able to cross for several decades." But now I see a clue to get over the wall."The murmuring Dang Jung suddenly stood up from his seat."
At that moment, a fierce wind swept through the hall. All the windows and doors of the building rattled roughly.
One door that could not withstand the wind suddenly fell and flew out of the building.
Is a typhoon coming? The weather was really nice earlier, wasn't it?
I felt something strange as I braced my legs to avoid being swept away by the wind.
The place where the wind blows in is not outside the pavilion.
It was inside the square.
To be precise, a whirlwind was raging around Dang Jung.
