Chapter 36: A Thousand Years of Waiting

Gold trickled from the cracked cup, drop by drop.

Yuae slowly exhaled into that cup.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the crack on the cup sealed itself once more.

“How fascinating.”

“That’s usually an impossible power, you know.”

The power of the moon has no relation to repairing broken cups.

I quietly watched the cup, then opened my mouth to speak.

“Is that why you can’t meet No-Rani?”

“That’s right. If I meet No-Rani, they’ll grow even faster. That would put everyone in danger.”

“You’re kind, Yuae.”

At my words, Yuae smiled faintly, tinged with loneliness.

“No, I just… I just don’t want anyone to be sad.”

“That’s what we humans call kindness.”

“…Is that so?”

“It is.”

I took out a Cookie I’d set aside yesterday.

I’d baked a batch for the two kids, saving one of Yuae’s bundles for this.

Handing a Cheese Cookie to Yuae, I spoke.

“I don’t know about Spirits, but among people, there are plenty who don’t care whether others are sad or not.”

There are many who will drive an awl into someone else’s heart just to seize their own happiness.

“Of course, that’s just a human perspective. It might be different for Spirits. Still, from what I see, your heart is warm and kind, Yuae.”

“…You sound just like Grandfather.”

“I am Grandfather’s child, after all.”

“That’s true. You are Grandfather’s child.”

“Eat up.”

Yuae picked up the Cheese Cookie and took a small bite.

Covering her mouth as she chewed, Yuae nodded.

“It’s delicious.”

“I saved it for you, Yuae.”

“You don’t have to go out of your way for me.”

“I want to. Just like I want to help with your request.”

Yuae was about to take another bite of the Cookie, but stopped and looked straight into my eyes, asking again.

“Will you really help?”

“Of course. I’m not cold-hearted enough to ignore a request after hearing it. And even if you didn’t ask, I think this problem needs to be solved.”

Not just No-Rani, but Naru, Siwoo, and Yuae could all be in danger.

I can’t just pretend I don’t know.

“Thank you.”

“But it might take some time.”

I’ve studied tea to some extent until now.

About six points out of ten.

That’s quite a bit, but my study so far has been one-sided.

I focused on developing abilities that enhance inherent qualities and grant special effects.

“A tea to suppress qualities… I don’t think that’s something you can master in a day or two.”

How, and to what degree, should I suppress the toxicity of the ingredients in Chachip?

Which direction should that suppression take?

Will there be any collateral damage as a result?

Should I make a tea that simply has drawbacks?

Or should I make a tea that becomes another kind of remedy?

All of this had to be considered in blending the ingredients.

“This really isn’t going to be easy.”

Just thinking about it is daunting.

Still, there’s one thing I’m sure of.

“I can do it.”

It’ll just take time, but it’s not impossible.

“Can you wait for me?”

Yuae brushed off the Cookie crumbs from her mouth.

Then she stood up and flipped her hood back over her head.

“Boss, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for someone like you?”

“Let’s see… Five years?”

Considering the time since Grandfather passed away, maybe about that long.

Yuae shook her head at my answer.

“Longer than that.”

“Did you ever ask Grandfather for help?”

“I did. But Grandfather said he couldn’t do it.”

“Grandfather?”

“There’s something even Grandfather couldn’t do?”

Now that’s really surprising.

“Yes. He said it was an extremely delicate process. So, he said he couldn’t do it himself.”

“I see…?”

Maybe it’s like how he couldn’t bake.

Thinking of it that way, it makes sense.

While I was coming to terms with that, Yuae spread her palms wide.

“So I waited this much. For someone like you, Boss.”

“How long is that? Ten years?”

= Even longer

“100 years?”

“Longer than that.”

“…1,000 years?”

“Now you’re getting close.”

A thousand years.

She looks like a seven-year-old child, yet it’s hard to believe she’s lived such a long time.

“Your body just can’t keep up with the years, Yuae.”

If you’re seven after living for a thousand years, how many more years will you keep living?

“I’ll probably live to see your grandson’s grandson’s grandson, and beyond.”

“That sounds… kind of sad, you know.”

“I’m used to farewells now.”

With those words, Yuae grabbed the doorknob, as if ready to return to the Spirit Realm.

“Yuae, if you go now, when will I see you again?”

With No-Rani and Naru around, she probably can’t visit often.

So I really have no idea when Yuae will come again.

“You remember the gift I gave you? Just hold it and call for me. I’ll come that day.”

“That jewel has that kind of power?”

“That’s not all. I put a lot of power into it.”

“How do I use that power?”

“Ask the other kids. Even if you don’t, Boss, you’ll probably figure it out quickly.”

Even so, I’m clueless when it comes to jewels.

Maybe sensing my expression, Yuae smiled and said,

“See you next time, Boss Chansung.”

Leaving those words, Yuae departed.

Now that Yuae, the Spirit of the Moon, was gone, the house seemed just a little darker.

“Is it just my imagination?”

People in the past used to rely on the moon shining in the night sky like a lantern.

These days, with so much light pollution, we forget how bright the moon really is.

“…If I want to see Yuae again, I’d better hurry and make that tea.”

Seems I’ll have to study hard.

***

“Aaaaah-choo.”

“Are you okay, mister?”

Naru asked worriedly as I let out a yawn I didn’t even realize was coming.

“You look really tired.”

“Mister, did you go to bed late last night?”

“How did you know?”

“Hehe, I know everything!”

No-Rani puffed out her chest proudly.

She looked so full of confidence, but it just made her all the more adorable.

As I was tousling No-Rani’s hair, Naru asked again.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing like that. I just did some studying.”

“Studying… tea studying?”

“That’s right.”

After seeing Yuae off yesterday, I took my recipe book and came home.

Though I’ve already memorized everything, I checked again, wondering if I’d missed anything, if there were other possibilities.

“I’ve put it all in the DB, but combining them for use is another problem entirely.”

That part requires deep analysis and imagination.

“Mister, you studied tea?”

“Yeah. I’m going to make a tea that’ll make No-Rani’s powers stronger.”

“Wow, then I’ll get to see Yuae unni too?”

“Hmm. I’ll help you, so you can meet Yuae.”

At my words, No-Rani became so excited, she swung her clasped hands even wider.

Watching her hum a little tune, I felt my motivation spark.

“I really have to work hard now.”

Chatting with the kids, we arrived at Chachip before I knew it.

I patted Udi, who came over to greet us, and opened the morning at Chachip.

As I busily moved my hands preparing breakfast, the Hyeon siblings walked in.

“Good morning.”

“Huh, good morning…? What’s up with you?”

“What do you mean, what’s up?”

“Why are you normal today?”

Today, Hyeon-ung’s outfit was perfectly normal.

If you had to describe it, he looked like a young, robust country farmer.

His clothes were comfortable but stylish.

“You’ve been dressing like a disaster every time you came here lately.”

“Hey, don’t call it a disaster. It’s called being a fashionista.”

“That ‘fashionista’ is dead. So why do you look so ordinary today?”

It’s not like he heard that Siwoo wasn’t coming.

The answer came from Hyeonseo.

“A rep from Yuhan Distribution is coming today. So I told him to behave.”

“Ah, that’s today?”

Gihyeon met with the Hyeon siblings and left just yesterday, so I didn’t expect the rep to come down in just two days.

“Gihyeon must’ve spoken well. Usually, these reviews don’t happen this fast.”

“It’s probably because we’re supplying watermelons. Watermelon season only lasts so long.”

It’s already my third week down here.

July will be over the day after tomorrow.

Once August passes, summer will really be over, and watermelon season ends with it.

“No matter how much you grow them in greenhouses, you can’t beat the taste of fruit in season. That’s probably why Yuhan Distribution wants to do the review quickly.”

“Right.”

“But the real distribution won’t happen until next year, will it? This year we still have to deal with that dump of a place.”

Hyeon-ung’s words bit into the air.

Looks like we’re still stuck with the company we grumbled about over drinks the other night.

“I told you, don’t sign big contracts.”

“Hey, they offered the best price at the time. Bundled up, I sold the stock faster.”

“Still, you should’ve been more careful. You saw yesterday—there were all sorts of oddballs.”

“How was I supposed to know?”

“Don’t fight here. Take it outside.”

These two never miss a chance to argue.

With a sigh, I brought out a tray with Red Peppermint Tea and another with the new tea I’d developed.

“Here, today’s tea.”

“Why two?”

“One per person?”

“No, share them. Both are good for you. And have some Cookie, too.”

Special service for a day like today.

The siblings cheered and took the Cookies as if they’d hit the jackpot.

“Something good happen? Why the generosity?”

“I just had some leftover ingredients. If you don’t want them, I’ll give them to my kids.”

“Don’t take back what you’ve already given.”

“Alright, we’re off. See you later.”

“Sure, let me know when you get the results.”

Hyeonseo left, and Hyeon-ung followed after her.

Before the door closed, Hyeon-ung looked back and asked,

“By the way, where’s Siwoo? Haven’t seen her today.”

“She’s got something to do, so she’ll probably be here tomorrow or the day after.”

“Really? That’s good.”

“What’s good about it?”

“I won’t have to see her in another bizarre outfit today.”

With a relieved sigh, Hyeon-ung spoke.

But honestly, today’s look is the most presentable.

Please… I wish he’d always dress like this.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud, so I just pressed my lips together.

“I’m off.”

After Hyeon-ung left, only the soft breaths of the two children napping in their chairs echoed through Chachip.

Listening to those breaths made me want to take a nap, too.

“But I need to get to work first.”

There’s a lot to do today.

I’m thinking of trying a new dessert: Croque Monsieur.

With an effect that softens the heart.

“To be honest, that’s probably the most unnecessary effect in the countryside.”

Even without such effects, everyone here has generous, bountiful hearts.

Still, I want to expand my recipes to apply various effects.

“I should do some tea research too.”

To fulfill Yuae’s request, I have to experiment.

Check the recipes, consider the ingredient blends, and confirm the tea-brewing methods.

Once I’ve made some progress, I’ll move on to the next plan.

With that in mind, I started moving, laying out the work to be done.

When I went into the storeroom and started taking out ingredients one by one—

Jingle.

The door to Chachip opened.

Since the Hyeon siblings just left, I already knew who the next visitor would be.

“Sunyeong Halmeoni, you’re here? Please wait a moment.”

I was heading out to the kitchen to greet Halmeoni, but seeing an unexpected visitor, I stopped in my tracks.

“Huh, huh?”

At this time, I thought for sure it would be Sunyeong Halmeoni, but I was wrong.

“Boss, could I get a cup of tea?”

Siwoo?

“Hehe, I’m back!”

Siwoo, who had left, has returned.