Chapter 41 : A Name Left in Moonlight

“ I didn’t know Grandfather had a side like this.”

The way he looked flustered by the words of someone named Metlen, and how he complained or sounded weak.

It was a side of him he had never shown me before.

Because of that, I even felt a slight doubt about whether it was the same Grandfather.

However, the consistently neat handwriting was definitely Grandfather’s.

‘ There’s still so much I don’t know about Grandfather .’

I gave a bitter smile and closed the Diary.

However, apart from the content, another question arose.

“ Why did this book come to me.”

Until now, Grandfather’s study had always provided ways to solve the concerns I held.

That meant this Diary was a key card that would be helpful to me now.

I opened the book again and read it thoroughly once more to see if there was anything I had missed.

I even tried reading it upside down, thinking there might be a code.

But there was no way anything would come out of doing that.

Grandfather was the type of person who spoke directly and straightforwardly if he had something to say.

“ I can’t even read the other books.”

The other books on the shelves were in a different language.

Just like the books in the teahouse basement.

Still, it wasn’t a total lack of progress.

“ Metlen. This means I need to look into this person.”

The person who helped lay the foundation for the < Sunny Teahouse >.

And someone who shared a deep connection with Grandfather.

I had to look into this person.

***

A few more days had passed since I visited Grandfather’s study.

I went back a few more times to see if I could get more information, but the only thing I could still read was that one Diary.

It was as if it was telling me this was the only answer.

Therefore, I focused on looking into the Metlen mentioned in the Diary.

But.

“Metlen?”

“Yes. Have you heard the name?”

Naru rested her chin on her hand and fell deep into thought.

And when she opened her mouth .

“No. It’s my first time hearing it too.”

“Really?”

“Do you know, Siwoo unnie?”

“I don’t know either”

The two children seemed to know absolutely nothing about it.

I hadn’t expected this.

“ I thought Naru and Siwoo would know…”

The two of them knew more about the news of the spirit world than I thought.

So I thought they might know.

But there was no information to be gained.

“How about asking Yuae unnie?”

“ Well, I was going to.”

I took the Fragment of the Moon from my pocket and touched it with the intent to call Yuae, but there was no reaction.

“It seems Yuae doesn’t want to come.“

Yuae’s plan, and the proposal I made.

The two children had also come to know all about these things.

Apparently, they had visited Yuae several times, getting angry and crying, having quite a lot of emotional exchange.

This story spread throughout the entire spirit world, and there were even follow-up stories about how Yuae suffered because of it.

“She did say she wouldn’t let it slide when the President visits later.”

” We’ll protect you, Mister .”

“Haha. That’s reassuring .”

I stroked the two children’s heads and tidied up my mind along with the kitchen.

‘ There’s no rush ‘

These are problems that can be solved soon.

So, for now, I just need to enjoy this time with the children.

It’s 3:30 now .

Today’s work is almost over.

“When do you think Norani will come today ?”

“It’ll probably take longer. Spirits from a bit farther away called.”

“ Might it not be able to come? It’s quite far. It takes me a whole day just to get there ?”

“That’s because you’re weak, Siwoo unnie. Norani is different .”

“Listening to this makes me curious about what the spirit world looks like. Could you perhaps draw a picture for me?”

Naru and Siwoo looked at each other and nodded.

“ We can draw it for you.”

“But, um, it might be hard to express it accurately.”

“ Just letting me know what it’s like is enough. Hold on.”

Excited by the thought of getting a glimpse of the spirit world I was curious about, I brought A4 paper and pens from the inner room.

When I set them down in front of the children, the two of them grabbed the pens and leaned in with interest.

“It’s amazing.”

“Can we use this?”

“Of course. Use as much as you like .”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

“ Naru, should we go over there?”

“Yeah”

The two children went to an empty table and took their seats.

Watching from a distance, I could see how the two children’s personalities differed.

“They’re both delicate, but their tendencies are different .’

Siwoo meticulously drew her picture using a single color.

On the other hand, Naru checked the colors of the pens one by one and mixed them to draw her picture

Watching that, I felt like I understood why drawings are used for psychological tests.

‘ Should I study a bit ‘

It might help in understanding the children later.

Even if spirits and humans are different, they share many similarities.

It was while I was thinking that.

Tinkle.

The door opened, and a face I hadn’t seen in a while came inside.

“Welcome.”

“Yeah. Have you been well .”

“Of course. How about you, Mister ??”

“Same as usual, what. Heave-ho .”

The person seated at the bar table in front of me was Dusik.

Since I hadn’t seen him since the flood, it had been a while.

“What brings you here.”

“What, am I not allowed to come?”

He still had that grumpy way of speaking.

I smiled softly and shook my head.

“ Of course not. I’d be grateful if you came by anytime. Shall I get you something to drink ?”

“What do you have.”

” There’s Makgeolli, soju, and Tea.”

“. Isn’t this a teahouse? Why is alcohol mentioned first.”

“ I thought you’d look for alcohol first, Mister. It’s customized service.”

“What a funny fellow.”

Dusik shook his head and pointed to the tea leaves piled in front of me.

“Just brew me a cup of Tea. Something you’re good at.”

“Mister”

“Yeah?”

“Is something wrong?”

Was my question strange?

Dusik burst into a laugh before scowling.

“What, am I an alcoholic? Am I supposed to drink every single day ?”

“ You’re not an alcoholic, but you are a lover of drink.”

Dusik likes alcohol.

Or rather, he likes that slightly tipsy state.

He didn’t enjoy expensive liquor like Hyeonung; he enjoyed drinking cheap soju.

Such a man looking for something other than alcohol?

I couldn’t help but wonder.

“Do I look like such an inconsiderate guy. Stop that and just give me some Tea .”

“Alright. Please have this first.”

“What’s this.”

“It’s called chiffon cake. It’s sweet and quite good.”

“I’m not fond of sweet things .”

“ Just try a taste.“

Dusik grumbled lightly before taking a bite.

Then he had a second piece, and a third piece in succession.

It seemed he liked it because it wasn’t too sweet.

While he ate the cake, I stepped back half a pace and watched him.

‘ It seems like he has something on his mind ‘

Dusik was someone who hid his emotions and inner thoughts well.

By maintaining a grumbling attitude, he swallowed his hardships and discomfort.

Drinking frequently was, in a way, a process of dissolving everything he had suppressed inside.

“What kind of problem could it be”

Out of concern, I briefly stroked Woody and straightened my back from leaning against the table.

It would be great to serve a Tea that could solve his concerns, but since he hadn’t spoken about them…

First, it would be best to make a Tea that makes him talk about his worries.

I went to the storage, gathered the necessary ingredients in one place, measured them, and began blending.

I put the blended ingredients into a teapot and took out the Fragment of the Moon from my pocket.

After tapping it to break it into small pieces, I crushed some of the broken fragments even smaller with a mortar.

Then I added the completely powdered fragments into the teapot.

‘ It should help with stress relief and mental health .’

The Moon had been a source of comfort and solace for people of old during long nights.

That very effect would dwell in this Tea.

As I slowly poured in the water heated to 89 degrees, the Tea began to steep gently.

The color of the steeped Tea was somewhere between green and blue.

I poured the fully steeped Tea into Woody and waited for a moment.

I transferred the finished Tea into another teacup and set it down in front of Dusik.

“Here is a cup of Moon’s Rest.”

“What’s with a name like that for Tea.”

“It’s up to the person who makes it, what. Please, try it.”

Dusik gave a smirk, picked up the teacup, and downed it in one gulp.

He looked so hearty that one might mistake him for drinking Makgeolli instead of Tea.

“ Isn’t it hot ?”

“This isn’t even hot. Could it be hotter than the front of a furnace ?”

” That’s not something you should compare it to.”

“The Tea is tasty. There’s a reason everyone comes here these days.”

He set the teacup down and looked around the teahouse.

His gaze was somehow wistful, as if he were seeing the < Sunny Teahouse > of the past rather than the < Sunny Teahouse > of the present.

“.…. It feels different yet the same.”

“Maybe it’s because I resemble Grandfather.”

“Could be.”

“So, Mister. Are you not going to tell me?”

“What”

” The reason you came all the way here .”

When I said that, Siwoo and Naru quietly went into the room to give us some space.

Dusik stared at me silently.

The weight in his eyes was the same as before.

But was it thanks to the effect of the Tea?

It felt like the distance between our hearts had narrowed slightly.

After watching me for a few seconds, he let out a long sigh.

“Yeah, it would be ridiculous to come all the way here and hold out without saying anything.”

After a short mutter, he got to the main point.

“This year’s farming is ruined.”

“ What? Suddenly ?”

“ Not suddenly, it’s been a while.”

He fiddled with the cup in his hand.

“ Pests and diseases have been frequent since last year, but for some reason, it’s even worse this year. More than half of the Rice Paddy is blighted now.”

“My goodness.

“ What can you do about what heaven has decided? Ruined is ruined.”

“.…. What does Mister Sanghyun say? Doesn’t he know a lot about countermeasures ?”

“ He thinks spraying chemicals might make it okay, but even that’s not certain. The disease going around lately is quite potent.”

Dusik took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

“The kids are here.”

“ Always nagging. I won’t light it, so don’t worry. If I don’t at least bite on this lately, I feel like my spirit will leave me.”

The end of the cigarette was completely mangled, showing how much he had been biting it.

After doing that for a while, he let out another sigh.

“.…. Sigh. I wasn’t going to say this much, but did you put drugs in the Tea ?”

“Oh, come on. Why would I do that?”

“Then I don’t know why these words are coming out so easily.”

“There are times like that.”

I took the teacup in front of him and poured a little more Tea.

It had become lukewarm, so it would be at a more comfortable temperature to drink than before.

“They say you shouldn’t show a weak side, but there are days when you want to lean on someone.”

“Sometimes you talk like someone who’s lived through everything. Even more than Sanghyun hyung-nim.”

“Oh, no way.”

“Yes way.”

Dusik took another sip of the Tea.

It seemed his worries were gradually easing as he drank the Tea.

“Anyway, my head’s been aching because of that lately. I came out to get some air, and since I happened to see this place, I stopped by.

“I’m glad you did .”

“Glad my foot. Showing a weak side to a young kid, it’s shameful.”

Dusik spat out the words self-deprecatingly while grumbling.

Seeing a weak side of Dusik that I had never seen before, my mouth moved before my heart.

“Mister, can I go take a look at the Rice Paddy?”

“You can, but what for. There’s nothing to see.”

“I might learn something if I see it.”

“ Even Sanghyun hyung-nim and I, who have been farming for years, don’t know anything.”

“It’s true that I don’t know anything about farming.”

I said as I cleared the empty plate and the Tea.

“ But I feel like Grandfather would have helped somehow. And I feel the same way.”

New concerns are always welcome.

It’s my turn to give back as much as I’ve received.