Chapter 43
“Jae-gyeong…”
Kim Doyun’s mouth moved slightly. As he called Jang Jae-gyeong’s name and narrowed his eyes, I unknowingly tensed up. There were strangely times like this. When Jang Jae-gyeong did it, I just thought it was because he naturally looked fierce, but Kim Doyun… His expressions when smiling and when angry were so different. Especially when he had that look of glaring at something, it was just like a snake in water…
“Seongho-ssi?”
“Oh, yes, yes?”
As if it never happened, Kim Doyun was looking at me with a gentle smile. I hurriedly came to my senses and awkwardly tapped my head. I laughed and said that I’ve been spacing out a lot lately, and Kim Doyun worried that it must be because I’m tired. Then he carefully held my hand to keep me from hitting my head.
Ah… I thought my captured hand felt strangely hot, but it was red. I quietly pulled my hand away and rubbed my arms and legs like someone who was cold. What snake… This person is a gumiho, a gumiho. He’s no joke at bewitching people. I desperately tried to act normal as I opened my mouth.
“Ah, anyway. Ahem. I want to leave as soon as possible…”
Kim Doyun stared at me and then lowered his eyes slightly.
“I’m sorry. Please wait a little longer.”
I thought so, but still… I scratched my head while hiding my disappointed face.
“…Can’t be helped.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I also made you wait because of my circumstances.”
I waved my hands dismissively. But Kim Doyun’s troubled face didn’t change. He was silent for a moment before speaking.
“I just need to check something. Once I confirm it, we’ll leave this village.”
“You’re just going to check?”
“Yes.”
I tilted my head for a while, puzzled by his cryptic words. What could he be checking?
“By any chance, is this person they call ‘that person’ someone you know, Doyun-ssi?”
It makes me anxious to hear it’s someone he knows. I hope it won’t lead to a fight like with Jang Jae-gyeong. I looked at him anxiously. The corners of Kim Doyun’s mouth formed a distinct arc. I waited for the content that would pour out from his slightly parted lips, but he didn’t say anything.
“Time to eat.”
Bang bang bang.
Someone knocked on the door, calling for us. Hearing the familiar voice, I opened the door to find a familiar person standing there. Her short hair was pressed down to cover the scar on her forehead. It was that woman who had been telling me about the village’s situation.
Although the rain had weakened somewhat, it was still falling, and she too was wearing a raincoat patched with leaves. I wanted to greet her with a smile, but my face gradually hardened. This was because she was showing curiosity to the point of being burdensome. She stretched her neck to look inside the house and stared up at Kim Doyun, who had somehow approached from the side.
“He looks normal enough.”
The woman seemed to have lowered her voice, but unfortunately, I could hear her clearly. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“Um, but about the meal…?”
The woman’s gaze returned to me, and she examined me here and there with a face that seemed freshly interested. Eyes, nose, mouth, even my body. Her roaming gaze felt like she was appraising my appearance.
“I’m only bringing it today, so from now on, come and get it yourself.”
She held out three or four cans to us. The dented cans without lids were half-filled with porridge mixed with unidentifiable greens.
What should I say? Originally, I couldn’t even eat proper meals, so this might sound extremely ungrateful… I understand that with limited edible items and precious rice, it makes sense to boil it until the rice grains swell and become watery to make it last longer. But to increase the quantity, they put in an enormous amount of edible greens and fruits and boil it thoroughly, and the taste…
“Today it’s pear and acanthopanax leaves.”
“…There’s acanthopanax too? Wait, is that even edible?”
“Of course, acanthopanax shoots are so delicious. You can wrap them like ssam or season them as namul.”
“……”
So there’s acanthopanax too. Well, fruits grow out of season here, so of course there would be acanthopanax trees. As I stared blankly at the cans, the woman who had been explaining how delicious acanthopanax was closed her mouth and turned her head. It seemed her conscience couldn’t bear to call the bluish porridge, which smelled strongly of fruit and greens, delicious.
“We don’t have enough food for ourselves, but… anyway, people were thoughtful enough to give you extra, so eat it gratefully.”
She changed the subject instead. Her tone was brusque, but her curious eyes still lingered as she peered at the two of us.
I became slightly suspicious. I wondered if the reason she brought the food, beating out others, was to confirm the rumors. The image of the woman who had been desperate to talk about things within the village naturally came to mind.
I received the cans and moved them as far away from Kim Doyun as possible. Kim Doyun, finding this strange, looked back at me a couple of times. But I had no choice but to ignore him. It was clear that if I acknowledged it, there would be trouble. I don’t mind for myself, but I don’t want Kim Doyun to suffer from rumors. Honestly, it seems a bit late for that…
“Doyun-ssi, are you hungry? Let’s eat quickly.”
Conscious of the woman’s eyes, I sat down by the fire first and ate the porridge. The bent spoon uncomfortably touched the inside of my mouth. The porridge was extremely bitter. The acanthopanax leaves, which had become mushy, tasted bitter, and the pears, which had melted to a pulpy consistency, were sweet.
The mess of porridge, despite having eaten it several times during my stay here, tasted worse with each serving. If I had seen this in the past, I would have gagged, calling it food waste. But now, I need to eat whatever I can to survive. Honestly, even this is something to be grateful for in the current situation…
Seeing me eating bit by bit, Kim Doyun sat down quietly beside me. His eyebrows twisted strangely after taking a mouthful of porridge.
“Ahem!”
I choked while glancing at Kim Doyun. It was strangely cute how he chewed with his eyebrows furrowed, perhaps finding it quite distasteful despite being someone who doesn’t usually express his likes and dislikes… No, I must be crazy, why would that be cute? As I was coughing heavily, Kim Doyun came over and patted my back.
“Seongho-ssi, are you okay? Should I get you some water?”
“I’m fine, cough!”
“My goodness, eat more carefully.”
As I was trying to control my coughing, tears streaming down my face, the woman who had been lurking outside the door spoke as if scolding me. I thought she would just deliver the food and leave, but she must have been quite curious.
But I felt something was off when I saw her lingering for a long time until we emptied the cans. It doesn’t seem like she’s waiting to take back the spoons… Just then, the woman, having made eye contact with me, pressed herself against the wall and gestured slightly.
Me? I pointed at myself with my index finger, and the woman’s head nodded up and down. Kim Doyun, busy organizing the empty cans and the bonfire behind me, didn’t see what she was doing. What should I do about this? After frantically moving my eyes between the woman and Kim Doyun, I made a decision. The only person I could hear about the situation in this village from was this woman. Since Kim Doyun still had business to attend to, it wouldn’t hurt to listen. It’s also an opportunity to ask questions.
“Doyun-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”
“Ah, go ahead.”
Fortunately, it seems I won’t have to lie too much. As I tried to move leisurely to avoid showing any signs, I noticed the woman’s expression was crumpled. Why is she like that? I turned my head to look behind me and saw Kim Doyun following closely.
“Doyun-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to the bathroom too, Doyun-ssi?”
“No.”
“…Then why are you following me?”
“I’m worried.”
The woman’s face crumpled even more than before, like a half-wiped rag. Flustered, I couldn’t continue speaking and pushed Kim Doyun’s back toward the house. But with his larger build and straight posture, he was quite heavy, so he didn’t budge even when I pushed.
“Ah, no, I’m not a child! It’s fine. I can go alone.”
“But there are strange people around… What if you get hurt?”
Kim Doyun looked at me somewhat glumly, with a face full of worry. I became flustered again at that expression. This person really… I don’t know how to react each time. My face burned, and my toes curled. Even as I continued to rub my feverish face, he kept staring only at me.
“…Well, it’s not like I’m going far, I’m just going nearby, so please don’t worry too much.”
“……”
Kim Doyun didn’t answer. Instead, he blinked a couple of times while looking at me, then glanced at the woman who was only poking her head out. The woman was startled and hid behind the door, but it was useless because of the leaf raincoat that stuck out. Kim Doyun looked at the leaves and gently grabbed my shoulders.
“Then… if there’s even a small problem, you must come running to me immediately.”
“It’s fine, it’s just right over there…”
“Understood? Make sure to come to me. Call my name loudly too.”
Despite my whole-body demonstration that there was no problem, it didn’t get through to Kim Doyun. With no choice, I nodded, and he gently stroked my shoulders with a very satisfied face. Then he lowered his head and whispered softly.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
