Chapter 17: Morning Set

“Ha ah.”

Hyeonseo let out a long breath.

Hyeonmungi had mentioned it, but it seemed Hyeonseo knew what had happened, too.

“What happened?”

“She kept waking up all night and couldn’t get any real sleep.”

“She seemed to be in a lot of pain.”

“Did she eat?”

“She did, but even so. From what I can tell, the problem isn’t with her leg.”

“I see.”

Why do ominous premonitions always prove true?

“Last night wasn’t the first time, was it?”

“Probably not.”

“It’s been a while, I think.”

“Yeah.”

No matter how much you try to hide pain, it can’t be concealed.

If even the usually oblivious Hyeon-ung noticed, then Halmeoni must truly be suffering.

Hyeon-ung patted my shoulder and said,

“Let’s take her to the hospital together later. We’ll bring the car.”

“She’ll hate it, you know?”

“We can’t just stand by after finding out she’s in pain. It’s not a matter of like or dislike. We have to take her to the hospital, no matter what.”

It was a forceful statement, but absolutely right.

Hyeonseo wiped at the corner of her eye and spoke.

“What if Halmeoni’s really not well?”

“Don’t worry too much.”

I turned my head and looked toward Sunyoung Halmeoni, sitting by the window.

Her eyes, gazing out at the darkness that had settled outside, seemed to be filled with that very darkness.

Perhaps—

Perhaps Sunyoung Halmeoni felt the end of life’s long journey drawing near.

That thought made my heart clench, but I soon shook it off and said,

“She’ll get better.”

Even if such thoughts cross Halmeoni’s mind now, it’ll only be for a little while.

After all, I have a hidden card up my sleeve.

“I’ll see you later.”

“I’ll finish up as quickly as I can and come back.”

“Don’t push yourself.”

After seeing the siblings off, I returned to the Yangjibareun Tea House.

With the two gone, silence settled over the tea house. I approached Sunyoung Halmeoni and began to speak.

“Halmeoni, are you hungry?”

“You don’t have to worry about me. My stomach’s been bloated lately, so I haven’t been able to eat at night.”

That’s a lie.

She’s been up since early morning; there’s no way she isn’t hungry.

She’s only saying that to spare me from worry.

So—

“Still, please try this. I made it to put out for sale soon.”

“What is it?”

“It’s called Soufflé.”

It’s soft and moist, just right for Halmeoni to eat.

“If you like it, I’m thinking of selling it from now on. Please give it a try.”

If I told her I made it just for her, she’d refuse, so I used that as my excuse.

Sunyoung Halmeoni seemed to notice, but she accepted my gesture and quietly took up her fork.

The fork, held without strength, slowly cut into the soufflé.

Because it was such a soft pancake, it cut easily without much force.

She took a bite.

Halmeoni chewed slowly.

As she slowly savored it, a gentle smile curved at the corners of her lips.

“It’s delicious.”

“Really.”

“Yes, very soft and nutty. And not too sweet, either.”

“I paid extra attention to it.”

“More than anything—”

Halmeoni gazed at me with warm eyes.

“I can really feel how much care you put into it.”

Her words warmed a corner of my heart.

I must have made more than five hundred soufflés through the night, if I exaggerate just a little.

To make a flavor that wouldn’t burden Halmeoni, and to add a special effect.

I put in as much care as I could.

As Halmeoni took another bite of the soufflé, I set down tea beside her.

“Please have this too. It’s called Shred Blue Tea, and I’m planning to serve it as part of the Morning Set with the soufflé.”

“It’s been a while since I saw this tea.”

Sunyoung Halmeoni sipped the tea and took another small spoonful of soufflé.

The tea, with its slightly wistful taste, paired well with the sweet and nutty soufflé.

It seemed to bring out the flavor of the soufflé even more.

With Grandfather’s Recipe Book, finding a tea like this wasn’t so difficult.

“They go together well. I think you make it even better than Grandfather.”

“That’s the best compliment I could hear. Are you sure you’re not just being nice?”

“Have you ever seen me lie?”

“You never have. There’s more, so let me know if you want more.”

“Of course, I will.”

Sunyoung Halmeoni slowly and gently savored the soufflé and tea.

The sight was as elegant and cozy as a scene from a movie.

It had only been about three minutes since Halmeoni started the Morning Set.

“It should start working soon.”

In the , there are herbs, flowers, and fruits you can’t find anywhere else on earth.

And each of those ingredients has its own special effects.

Some are medicine and poison at the same time; some, poison yet medicine.

Grandfather used these to make teas with special effects and recorded them all in the Recipe Book.

He left it for me to use.

“Yes, to use.”

The things Grandfather wrote in the Recipe Book are only guidelines.

I don’t think they’re everything.

That’s why, last night, I checked every property of every ingredient, one by one, following the Recipe Book.

And I tested what effects would come from which ratios and methods.

I checked and verified everything through the night, and thus created this Morning Set.

“The soufflé enhances stamina and aids musculoskeletal recovery, while the Shred Blue Tea is especially effective for anticancer purposes.”

Each one, on its own, is a dish or tea with special effects.

But if the two are eaten together?

Their effects multiply several times over.

I’m proof of that—I didn’t feel the slightest fatigue after staying up all night.

“Hmm?”

Halmeoni gently touched her chest with her hand, her head tilted in thought, and then spoke quietly.

“Is it because of the dessert Chunsung made? The pain’s gone.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Look at this.”

Halmeoni slowly stood up from her seat.

Yesterday, her steps had been awkward and she needed her cane.

But now, she walked smoothly even without it.

I could see from her expression that she wasn’t straining herself.

Her face was filled with comfort and amazement, rather than pain.

“The effect is definite.”

Though I had tested the effects on myself, there was still a little anxiety.

After all, maybe the effects were unique to me, and the anticancer effect couldn’t be confirmed.

Of course, Noryani and Naru assured me it wouldn’t be a problem, but I couldn’t help worrying a bit.

“I’m so glad.”

But now, seeing Halmeoni walk, all my worries melted away like snow.

Smiling, I went over to her side.

“Don’t overdo it. What if it starts to hurt again?”

“Don’t worry. I don’t feel any pain at all.”

“Really?”

“I told you so. Look.”

Halmeoni let go of my hand and walked around the First House.

There was energy in every step she took as she moved around the tea house.

The sight of her struggling with pain just a short while ago was nowhere to be found.

Even though I made it myself, the effect really is strong.

After a while, Halmeoni came back to her seat, breathing a bit heavily.

“The pain’s gone, but my stamina is still the same.”

“It’s not like you’ve rejuvenated, right?”

“Since you made something this miraculous, couldn’t you make something like that too?”

“Oh, Halmeoni.”

Though I joked, a strange thought occurred to me.

Maybe, just maybe.

“Could I really make something like the Rejuvenation Elixir?”

“I’ll have to try it someday.”

I haven’t tried yet, but I don’t think it’s impossible.

The more I learn, the more I realize just how limitless the potential of is.

It might not be long before Hyeon Goon is making headlines in the News.

Shaking off useless thoughts, I finally noticed Sunyoung Halmeoni’s gaze.

“Halmeoni?”

“Chunsung, you’re just like your grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“Will you sit beside me for a moment?”

She patted the empty chair next to her.

For a moment, I felt the urge to refuse.

I was a little guilty, after all.

But leaving now would look strange.

“I wonder what she wants to talk about…?”

When I sat down, Halmeoni turned her gaze toward the faintly brightening scene beyond the window.

The sun was slowly rising, driving away the darkness.

“There was a time, long ago, when something like this happened.”

“Huh?”

“My chest felt tight, I couldn’t breathe, and my stomach felt twisted.”

I was startled by her sudden story, but quickly focused and listened.

“I collapsed for a while. When I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital. Your grandfather somehow knew and brought me there.”

“That really happened? I had no idea.”

“I asked him not to tell anyone. I didn’t want people to know.”

“Halmeoni.”

“You haven’t changed at all.”

I bit back what I wanted to say and asked,

“What did the hospital say then?”

“They said it was cancer. I don’t remember what kind, but what I do remember is that they told me I didn’t have long.”

“Cancer…”

From the story, it seems Halmeoni was already in the final stage then.

Now I understood why she could face death so calmly.

“Did you get treatment?”

As expected, Halmeoni shook her head.

Even as time passes, she’s still herself.

She didn’t want to burden anyone, didn’t want to cause worry, so she kept silent.

“They said it was already too late, and I didn’t see the point in just living on a ventilator. I decided to go quietly.”

“You said the exact same thing to me. What did Grandfather say?”

“He said just one thing.”

Sunyoung Halmeoni turned to look at me.

“He told me, ‘Come to the tea house when the morning sun rises.’”

“…Really?”

“Doesn’t that sound just like what you said?”

“It does.”

If he said the same thing, it means he had the same thought.

Halmeoni looked at the soufflé and Shred Blue Tea in front of her.

“The next day, when I came to the tea house, he gave me this tea.”

That’s right. This wasn’t the first time Halmeoni had Shred Blue Tea.

Grandfather had already served it to her once before.

“That time too, after drinking this tea, my pain disappeared. It was amazing.”

“Did you go to the hospital again?”

“Do you know what they said? My fractures and cancer had all healed.”

“That much?”

I wanted to see how effective the anticancer property was—

But to think a single cup could cure cancer.

I was astonished by the tea’s power, but Halmeoni continued.

“It was surprising. I always knew your grandfather was special, but I never imagined he had that kind of power. And I never imagined you would have it too.”

It’s not my power, but the power of this tea house.

But to Halmeoni, who doesn’t know the truth, it might as well be the same thing.

So, how am I supposed to explain this?

Just as I was about to begin worrying—

“You don’t need to worry.”

“Yes?”

“I made a promise with your grandfather.”

“A promise?”

“That man said you would save my life one day. Now that I think about it, it’s as if he foresaw this very day.”

Her words tugged at my heart, but I didn’t show it on my face.

If anyone could say that, it would be Grandfather.

He’s the one who let me experience The Return, after all.

“Back then, I didn’t take it seriously, but now I’m amazed that this day has truly come.”

“Halmeoni.”

“He said not to ask or pry, no matter how amazing or mysterious it was.”

Halmeoni gently patted the back of my hand.

“If people learned about this power, you’d have a hard time. Maybe he wanted to spare you that trouble.”

“…Grandfather would say something like that, for sure.”

“So I won’t ask anything. I won’t be curious.”

Halmeoni brought her index finger to her lips playfully.

“Let’s keep this as our little secret.”

“Alright. But, I have two conditions.”

“Two, you say?”

“Yes. First, come to our tea house every morning. If you don’t, I’ll come find you.”

Two conditions?

Halmeoni nodded slowly.

“Alright. And the other?”

“Let me help with your work, Halmeoni.”

“Oh?”

It might not be forever, but at least for now, I’ll lighten her load a little.

Even if the tea and soufflé have great effects, they’re not perfect.

“How about it?”

“That’s a wonderful deal for me.”

“No, it’s fair.”

“How so?”

“I’ll get to keep seeing you, Halmeoni. That’s more than enough for me.”

Halmeoni smiled gently and took my hand in hers.

I took that to mean she accepted my proposal.

“After Grandfather, to have your help too. I’m truly grateful.”

Her quiet smile filled my heart with warmth.

“Really, thank you for staying alive.”

…Truly.