After the break of dawn, as morning came, Naru and No-Rani set off for the Spirit Realm.
Left alone together, Siwoo and I found the Tea Shop unusually quiet.
Even though I hung up the sign, perhaps because of the rain, not a single customer had come in.
At times like this, the empty seat of Halmeoni felt even larger somehow.
Unable to just sit around doing nothing, I brought out the handmill and some coffee beans.
As I was getting ready to brew some coffee, Siwoo spoke up.
“There aren’t many customers today.”
“Yeah, it does seem that way today. Maybe it’s because of the rain?”
“……. I wonder, do people really dislike rain that much?”
“Well.”
I suppose it depends on the person.
There are those who find rainy days gloomy and dislike them, while there are others who enjoy the cool sound of falling rain.
Some people are glad for the rain because their crops need it.
Anyway, I like rain.
“I really enjoy reading while listening to the sound of rain on days like this. I also like watching the puddles form.”
As for the stuffiness that comes with the humidity, I can put up with it as much as I need to.
“So don’t worry about that sort of thing. Today’s just one of those days—everyone’s probably too busy to come.”
“What if it’s like this every day? If the Yangjibareun Tea House goes under, that’d be bad!”
“Heh.”
Such a kind kid.
Most part-timers would just be glad there’s nothing to do, but here she is worrying about me.
I’m just grateful.
“It’s all right, it’s all right.”
“It’s not all right! I’ve learned about this too. People need money to live. If customers keep not coming, you won’t earn anything, and you’ll have to close down the shop. Then I won’t be able to have Rain Drop again, and then…”
“The world would collapse, right?”
“Boss!”
“Haha, it’s fine. That’s not going to happen.”
I took a whiff of the coffee beans I’d ground with the handmill.
The blended beans carried both the sweet aroma of berries and the tangy freshness of citrus.
Maybe I should study up more about beans so I can broaden my brewing range.
Thinking such things, I reassured Siwoo once more.
“I’ve got plenty of money. You don’t have to worry about making a living. So, the only day I’ll close this Tea Shop is the day I leave this world. And that day is still far off.”
Even in my previous, reckless life, I made it to sixty in good health.
This time, I plan to take better care of myself, so I’ll probably live even longer—there’s no reason to think I’ll die early.
Of course, from the perspective of some Spirits, even that might seem like a short span.
Either way, the thing Siwoo’s worried about is a distant concern.
“Boss.”
“Siwoo, you should think of something you want to try besides Rain Drop and Biscuit. I’ll make plenty for you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Want to try this first?”
I poured a little of the freshly brewed drip coffee into a cup and set it down in front of Siwoo.
Siwoo hesitated as she eyed the pitch-black liquid.
“What… is this?”
“It’s coffee. Just think of it as another kind of tea. Want to try it?”
Siwoo hesitated, then took a sip.
And her eyes widened.
“It’s delicious.”
“Told you, right?”
I figured Siwoo would like it.
Taking a sip of what was left after giving her some, I could tell it was a well-brewed cup.
The moment it touched my tongue, there was a chocolate-like sweetness and a nutty flavor, followed by the tangy finish of citrus fruits at the tip of my tongue after swallowing.
The way the complex flavors layered themselves was the sign of a good bean.
“Mmm. Maybe it’s because Gihyeon recommended these beans—they’re great.”
When it comes to tracking down this kind of thing, Gihyeon is the best.
Come to think of it, Gihyeon said he’d stop by soon, but when will that be?
I hope he gives some warning before showing up.
“Siwoo, I thought you’d like it. Want some more?”
“Yes, please.”
Siwoo grinned and held out her cup, but then suddenly glanced toward the door.
She set her cup down and hurried over to open it.
“Welcome!”
“Oh my, how long has it been since I’ve felt rain like this… Hm?”
“Please leave your umbrella over here. I’ll show you to a seat inside.”
“Ah, uh… sure.”
Jang Geunseok, who lives nearby, seemed entranced as he followed Siwoo to his seat.
Siwoo stuck close to Geunseok and asked what kind of tea he’d like and what he wanted to have with it.
Less than a minute later, Siwoo returned to me.
But the sharp gaze from the old man following her was quite intense.
Something tells me that if I don’t explain things clearly later, there’ll be trouble.
“He’d like a cup of Today’s Tea and a Cheese Cookie. Oh, and he said some others will be coming soon, too.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’d better prepare a few more cups in advance.”
Most customers opt for Today’s Tea.
I took some tea leaves I’d already set aside in the storage and packed them into tea bags as I asked Siwoo,
“How did you know Geunseok would be coming?”
“Because it’s raining. I could feel someone approaching. Just like how Naru can talk to plants and sense their feelings, I can do that too.”
“What a fascinating ability.”
The more I learn about Spirits, the more wondrous they seem.
Thinking so, I placed the tea in a teapot and the cookie on a plate.
But just as Siwoo tried to take the tray over, I remembered the look in Geunseok’s eyes and stopped her with a hand.
“Wait a moment. I’ll bring this over myself.”
“Huh? But…”
“Just this once. I want to show you how it’s done.”
“Ah, you’re right! I shouldn’t just do it on my own. I’ll watch carefully and learn.”
“Good, good.”
Siwoo is so eager.
Honestly, I wasn’t really worried that Siwoo would make any mistakes serving it.
Who could possibly dislike that bright smile of hers?
But even so, the reason I went over myself was—
“Geunseok Halabeoji.”
“So, is that young lady your girlfriend?”
“No, she isn’t.”
I just wanted to nip the rumors before they started to balloon.
But Geunseok Halabeoji clearly didn’t believe me.
“Come on, just be honest with me. Those kids here are the ones you had with that young lady, aren’t they?”
“I told you, that’s not it. If you keep saying stuff like that, I won’t sell you any tea.”
As I moved to take away his tea, the old man hastily grabbed my hand.
“No need to get worked up. Without your tea and desserts, things just wouldn’t be the same.”
“Then stop spreading those weird rumors.”
“Changseong, back in my day, a guy your age already had three kids!”
“That was back in your time, Halabeoji. It’s different now.”
If I had three kids at twenty-nine, it’d make headlines.
They’d call me a patriot.
“Anyway, enough nonsense, and when the others get here, please explain things to them too. Okay?”
“You talk too much, kid. Fine, fine. Trust me.”
“Trust me” is the least trustworthy phrase of all.
To erase any remaining suspicion, I added what I’d prepared in advance.
“That girl’s name is Siwoo. She’s also got a special bond with you, just like No-Rani and Naru.”
“Your grandfather, honestly, I don’t know where he went and picked up all these ties.”
“It’s you, Halabeoji. Even if you were friends with the President, you’d be the same, wouldn’t you?”
“That’s true.”
He really was a unique person.
“You probably won’t see her much. She’s just here to help out at the Tea Shop for a bit.”
“That’s a shame. With that young lady here, this place would be packed every day. What’s that thing, Esthenes? That thing the young folks use.”
“SNS, Halabeoji?”
“Yes, yes, that. If you did that, people would come from all over. She’s so pretty.”
“I suppose so. But I don’t plan on doing that.”
No matter how much money it might make, there’s no point in making money off the kids’ faces.
And I don’t want the place to get too famous and busy.
“If it gets too busy and there’s a wait of an hour and a half, you won’t be able to have your tea, Halabeoji.”
“That’d be a bit disappointing, I guess. Still, Changseong, don’t worry so much. If you run a shop, you have to believe it’ll do well. Everyone’s worried because you’re opening a tea house in this out-of-the-way place.”
I know.
The fact that the elders take the time to visit is because they’re worried about me.
“I know. But I’m not just being considerate—I really mean it.”
“That’s good, then.”
Geunseok Halabeoji didn’t say anything more on the topic.
Instead, he took a sip of tea and a bite of the cookie.
“Tastes as good as ever. Don’t know how I got by before you came.”
“Please keep coming. The more you visit and buy, the better.”
“Then make lots of tasty things for us.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
I’m already developing several menu items, considering the tastes and preferences of the elders.
That’s the best way I know to repay the kindness they’ve shown me.
“The elders really do look out for me.”
Running a tea house in the countryside is, generally speaking, a tough business.
There aren’t many people passing by, so profits are low, but I can’t cut back on ingredient costs.
Knowing this, the elders visit as often as they can to support the shop, even on rainy days like this.
“Welcome!”
“Huh? What’s this, did the owner change?”
“Oh my, what a lovely girl. Where did such a fine young lady come from?”
“Looks better than Changseong’s mug, I’d say.”
“If you say that, I’ll get my feelings hurt.”
I tossed a quick joke back at the elders’ banter and set my hands to work.
And so, starting with Geunseok Halabeoji, the usual peaceful scene filled the Tea Shop again.
The only difference was that with Siwoo around, it was a little livelier than usual.
***
“I really enjoyed today’s tea.”
“Thank you for coming, especially with the rain.”
“But, are you really not involved at all?”
“No, we’re not.”
“Well, good luck then.”
…Thanks for the encouragement, Halmeoni.
Serving tea while easing the elders’ curiosity, before I knew it, it was lunchtime.
“You worked hard.”
At that, Siwoo rolled up her sleeves and flexed her arm to show off her biceps.
“It was nothing. Meeting new people is fun, too.”
“You didn’t meet anyone new when your grandfather was around, did you?”
“No. I was pretty young then. And among the Spirits, there was a lot of talk that we should be careful around humans.”
“I think I heard the same thing from Naru.”
Humans are evil beings who destroy nature.
That sort of idea seems to pervade the Spirit Realm.
Meeting Halabeoji must have changed the perspective for some of them.
“If you told an ant to see a human as a friend, could it do that in a single day?”
It wouldn’t be easy.
Which is why, even though Naru spread the word about the Tea Shop in the Spirit Realm, Siwoo is the only Spirit who’s come.
Still, I’m not worried.
In time, they’ll come to understand.
That the Tea Shop and I are thinking about the Spirits’ happiness, too.
“All right, let’s have lunch. Since it’s raining, how about I make some jeon?”
“Jeon? What’s that?”
“It’s food you have to eat on a rainy day. Come, sit over there.”
“Oh, but I don’t need to eat. Spirits…”
“You don’t need to eat? I know. But it’s really tasty—aren’t you curious to try?”
At my words, Siwoo swallowed hard.
Judging by her reaction, she was definitely interested in food.
She’s always eager to try new teas and is fascinated by desserts, so of course she’d be curious about other dishes.
“Well… then… just a little?”
“Sure. Try a bit first, and if you like it, you can have more.”
I took out the pancake batter I’d stored in the fridge ahead of time.
There was quite a lot.
I’d prepared extra, thinking Naru or No-Rani might come for lunch as well.
If it wasn’t enough after the first batch, I could always make more.
“Is it good?”
“It’s delicious. Really, really! You could sell this!”
“Right?”
Siwoo devoured the kimchi jeon I cooked for her with great enthusiasm.
She liked it so much I had to use up all the batter I’d prepared.
“How many servings was this?”
I’d made enough for about fifteen, considering the kids might eat, too.
I only ate about half a serving myself.
The rest all went straight into Siwoo’s stomach…
Smiling, I looked at the now-scraped-clean batter bowl.
“Are all Spirits big eaters?”
If she started a mukbang channel, it’d be all over the internet.
People would say a super-sized god had appeared.
“Uh… did I eat too much?”
Siwoo bit the chopsticks with an apologetic look.
Seems she also realized she’d eaten quite a bit.
Still—
“It was good, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s all that matters.”
Such a rascal.
I can make it as many times as needed.
It’s not like we’re short on money or ingredients at the Tea Shop.
As long as there’s someone to enjoy what I cook, that’s enough for me.
Siwoo gave me a warm smile at my words.
When that gentle atmosphere settled between us, the door opened.
Ding.
“Ahjussi! We’re hungry!”
“We want lunch!”
“Okay.”
No-Rani and Naru, back from playing, headed straight for food.
No-Rani was rubbing her stomach, clearly starving.
Seeing that, Siwoo and I both let out short laughs.
“Could you wait just a bit?”
Maybe because there are more people to cook for, my happiness seems to multiply.
Truly, I’m a blessed person.
“Ahjussi, food! Hurry!”
“When can we eat?”
…Well, should I get started on another batch of batter?