Chapter 217

***

It’s already been three days since the vacation started.

I had plans for special training.

There’s a process I must go through to overcome my limits.

But with my younger siblings still around, it’s hard to find time for myself. In the face of love and family, Jin Hyuk’s personal plans had to take a backseat. Not that I’m complaining, though.

While folding paper cranes together, Yoo Jin asked, “Oppa, why don’t we have a tractor at home?”

“Hmm… because we don’t need one.”

It’s a basic farming tool that you can buy at a reasonable price, but Jin Hyuk’s house doesn’t have one. The one we did have was given to Kim Chun-sam when Dad started his business.

“But we have a tiller, right?”

“That’s for the garden. It doesn’t have a cargo area, so we can’t all ride on it.”

“True. Do you want to ride a tractor, Yoo Jin?”

“Not really. I was just curious after seeing Kim Ho-jin’s drawing of riding on the back of a tractor.”

Yoo Jin, you.

Your ability to express yourself has really improved.

“Let’s stop folding cranes and go out for some fresh air, okay?”

We may not have a tractor, but we have sturdy legs.

Whether it’s sweltering heat or freezing cold, staying cooped up in the house is a chore in itself.

Despite the stuffiness, stepping outside reveals a view that’s a feast for the eyes.

“Wait a minute! Let me put a hat on Jeong Won.”

Yoo Jin enjoys going outside more because Haengun-i comes to visit when we’re out.

Even though Jeong Won is still small, he’s starting to look more like a person and prefers exploring the outside world like a true country kid.

“Unnie~. Sky~. Fly~.”

Baby Son Jeong Won loves the sky.

He often spreads his arms like an airplane and pretends to fly, which is why he claps and gets excited every time Haengun-i lands on his sister’s shoulder.

It’s also admirable that he doesn’t try to catch Haengun-i before his sister puts him on his hand.

As an older brother, I should lift such a baby high into the sky.

“Up we go~. Our youngest has gotten so strong! My arms are sore. Let’s go~.”

“Let’s go~!”

“Two pa~!”

After enduring the heat for a while and stepping firmly on the hardened path, we reached a place perfect for the kids to play.

I took my siblings to our meditation spot for the first time in a while.

It’s a forest where you can see the sea, the reservoir, Gubong Mountain, and the village.

Even in the middle of summer, the wind there is cool enough to give you chills, making it as refreshing as the open view.

‘Sitting here makes me feel cold.’

Probably because of the memory of running away to avoid eating tonkatsu and then braving the winter wind bare-bodied.

“Jeong Won, look. Ants.”

“Ants~.”

“Don’t eat them~. No~.”

“Ants no no no.”

While the kids played under Jang Gun-i’s watch, Jin Hyuk leaned against a tree.

It’s no Bodhi tree, but it’s been a reliable backrest since childhood, soothing both body and mind with its pine scent.

The world has changed a lot.

The road has been expanded to two lanes, and the well-maintained sidewalk is now lined with cosmos flowers. As if to prove they’re annuals, they look different in spring and summer. Jin Hyuk has also grown up, different from before, just like the changing seasons.

Vroooom~.

The loud engine sound from the inner village disturbed the meditation, but I didn’t mind. Just as Jin Hyuk has grown and the seasons have changed, the world has shifted to one where every household has a car.

They say that humans must adapt to the changing world.

‘That’s what Cheon Gil-ryong said the other day when he showed up wearing sunglasses.’

Cheon Gil-ryong doesn’t seem to be a nobleman either.

“Hey~, Jin Hyuk~.”

From the back seat of Chairman Yoo Myung-sun’s slowly moving Benz, Cheon Gil-ryong waved his fedora. He was wearing brown sunglasses similar to Moon Seok-il’s.

Vroooom~.

And just like that, he was gone without a chance to greet him.

‘How did he know I was here? He’s a mysterious old man, after all.’

Even though it’s close to the road, the trees and bushes hide it well.

Jin Hyuk blankly watched the sedan’s rear disappear into the distance.

– “I’m going to Seoul for a bit, so keep an eye on the bamboo grove for me.”

That’s what Cheon Gil-ryong said when he visited the other day.

Did he hide a honey jar in the bamboo grove? It’s not like he asked me to watch the house, but the bamboo grove. He’s a strange old man, indeed.

Well, thanks to Cheon Gil-ryong, I found out that Hong Soo-jung won’t be coming down this vacation, so that’s one less disappointment. I was too shy to call and ask if the Seoul elementary school kid was coming, but it’s better than getting my hopes up for nothing.

‘But where was I in my thoughts?’

The meditation was interrupted.

‘Right. Dead point.’

I took a deep breath and immersed myself in my inner world again.

Who could I ask about how to release this mysterious energy?

‘There is one.’

Just one.

A being whose existence is uncertain, even in name.

A shadow more fitting to be called a death god.

Even with my eyes open.

Even if I close them briefly, the world seems to stand still.

The scenery remains unchanged, and the only moving things in my sight are my siblings and the dogs. And a bird, preening my pretty sister’s hair like it’s catching bugs.

The world never fails to amaze, beyond mere wonder, offering a profound sense of awe.

Deliberately lowering my hearing, the world became silent, and only the lively playing of the children proved that time was still passing.

Jin Hyuk felt a change within himself again.

To be more specific, it was a feeling of becoming more serious.

‘Come out.’

‘Help me.’

It felt too arrogant to use informal speech when asking for help.

‘Please help me.’

‘Tell me how to release my energy.’

‘Please.’

It felt earnest enough, but there was no response.

‘Hey, are you ignoring me?’

‘Damn it, let’s fight.’

I boldly provoked, but all I saw was the same scenery, and all I heard was the sound of the wind and the kids playing, like the noise after a silent movie.

“Sigh~. No matter how many times I try, it doesn’t show up.”

I guess it’s really gone.

I’ve tried calling out loud and in my mind before, but the nameless shadow never appeared.

‘I wonder what it’s up to. I need help.’

When have I ever begged for help? With a grumble to no one in particular, I moved to where Jeong Won was. There’s homework to do, but taking care of my siblings safely comes first.

Jeong Won was playing on a dirt mound without grass, and inside it was an anthill. If you accidentally disturb it, you could end up covered in ants. Something young Jin Hyuk experienced firsthand.

I carefully picked up my sibling so as not to startle them.

“Up we go~. This place is dangerous, Jeong Won. If you get bitten, it’ll hurt.”

“Ants~. Owie~. It hurts~.”

Looking where Jeong Won pointed, there was a red spot on his shin.

It seems he’s already been punished by the ants.

“Yoo Jin, can you take care of this?”

“Where? Oh no! Who did this?”

With Yoo Jin around, Jeong Won can grow up safely.

She fusses over even the smallest injuries, so who would dare harm Jeong Won?

For the past few days, Jin Hyuk has been practicing releasing energy with Yoo Jin.

It wasn’t anything special.

Swimming, running, weightlifting—when Jin Hyuk got tired, Yoo Jin would cheer him up. That way, Yoo Jin’s capacity would shrink, and she could draw energy from her brother.

The result was a complete failure.

Compared to four years ago, or even last year, Jin Hyuk’s stamina has improved so much, and Yoo Jin’s technique has become so efficient, that Yoo Jin’s energy hasn’t decreased at all. It’s not just Jin Hyuk who’s growing, after all.

Even if Yoo Jin managed to draw a little energy, Jin Hyuk would still end up exhausted.

Simply breathing would cause the energy to gather again.

‘It’s definitely that eerie energy that’s growing and making me tireless.’

If there’s anything else to suspect, it would be a problem in itself.

“Yoo Jin, should we go home now? Are you hungry?”

“I am hungry~. Hmm…”

Is it because she doesn’t want to leave Haengun-i alone outside?

Yoo Jin, trailing off, braided a clump of grass that had grown thick like human hair.

It’s the kind of grass used for making straw ropes, a plant that grows abundantly in the village mountains.

“I want to eat ramen…”

“Unnie. Ramen~.”

Hehe~.

Even though he’s clear in expressing himself, Jeong Won twists his body and struggles to say what Mom won’t allow. He imitates his sister by wriggling his waist like a child who needs to pee.

“Oppa will cook it. Let’s go.”

Yoo Jin gathered the braided grass into a circle, meeting the ends together. It resembled the hairstyle of an elf from a fantasy movie. While busily moving her hands, Yoo Jin kept moving her red lips, muttering softly.

“Mom will scold me. I’m scared of Mom.”

“Mom. Scary~.”

If you can’t even eat ramen because you’re scared of Mom, what kind of life is that?

Jin Hyuk cut a grapevine wrapped around a pine tree and placed it like a crown on Yoo Jin’s braided grass.

“Oppa will protect you.”

Hee~.

Yoo Jin, who had been squatting, stood up, brushing off an ant stuck to her calf.

Holding Jeong Won and Yoo Jin’s hand, Jin Hyuk didn’t forget to take care of the dog friends tormenting a centipede.

“Jang Gun-i, Hong Soo-jung. Don’t eat the centipede. Let’s go.”

“Geon-ma, centipedes are yucky~.”

Woof~!

Those dogs playing with that smelly creature are quite the troublemakers.

Dogs don’t suffer much even if bitten by a snake, and they aren’t scared of centipedes or toads, no matter how nasty they are. The rougher the countryside, the more resistant they become, tending to look down on other creatures.

In the lower village of Gubong Mountain, wild dogs hunted and ate roe deer and calves.

It’s better to be careful.

Even if they’re gentle and loyal, you never know when they might turn and attack a person.

That’s why I stop Jang Gun-i from tormenting weaker creatures.

It’s unlikely, but who knows if he might go mad and attack someone someday.

Hehehe~.

“Good job, you’re a good boy.”

Seeing obedient creatures like that eases my worries.

*

I took my siblings to the earthen house.

It’s the perfect place to secretly push forward with something.

Pouring water into the cauldron with a dipper and emptying it again, I mulled over a strange word.

‘Dugu Elil…’

It’s a name I saw in Yoo Jin’s school assignment, “Introducing Our Family,” earlier this spring.

At the time, I thought it was the name of a doll or a Disney character and didn’t pay much attention, but why am I muttering that name now? Like when you unconsciously hum a song you heard by chance, the name suddenly popped up and kept circling in my mouth.

‘It’s on the tip of my tongue.’

It’s like the stress of drinking cola and not being able to burp comfortably.

“Play with Jeong Won on the porch.”

“Okay~.”

I wiped the porch with a wet cloth so the kids could rest comfortably.

Since we haven’t done much living in the newly built house, the wood of the porch is still fresh, and the texture remains intact. The old porch is smooth and nice.

‘If I cook ramen in the cauldron, Mom won’t notice, right?’

She’ll just think her son is steaming corn.

Jin Hyuk doesn’t interfere with whatever I do in the earthen house.

But how many should I cook?

Four should be enough.

Even though I’ve lived alone for a long time, I still fail at adjusting the water for ramen every time. So, I’ve settled on one bowl of water per ramen. It’s a lesson learned after many failures. Since I need to add other ingredients, I poured an extra bowl of water.

As soon as I lit the fire in the hearth, I added the noodles, vegetable packet, and powder soup.

Sometime in the future, some physicist or doctor made a big announcement that adding everything from the start makes ramen taste better. It’s still awkward to talk about the future in the past tense, but anyway.

‘Pathetic people.’

I couldn’t help but marvel at the people who responded so enthusiastically. In a bad way.

A man living alone throws everything in from the start.

‘Because it’s bothersome.’

I figured they must be people who’ve never lived alone or were raised delicately.

Those who got excited as if they’d made a new discovery by saying they cook ramen in cold water.

Now it’s time for Jin Hyuk’s personal know-how.

This is a method I adopted after pondering why I started disliking a ramen I used to love.

‘Green onions, minced garlic, red pepper powder, tofu, bean sprouts…’

A bit of tuna, what else should I add?

I threw in a handful of dried pollack and cracked an egg in.

Everything within reach goes in.

A half tablespoon of soy sauce in case it’s too bland.

‘This way, the artificial seasoning flavor is significantly reduced, I think.’

Among the materials Yoo Se-ra gave me, there’s nutritional information for young athletes in their growth period, including how to cook ramen into a nutritious meal. Jin Hyuk is using that recipe as a reference, utilizing available ingredients.

The hearth is amazing.

Even though it’s traditional, the heat is better than a gas stove. Or is it the cauldron that’s good?

“Ugh~, smells good~.”

As it started boiling, a delicious smell began to spread.

Ramen cooked in a cauldron definitely has a mesmerizing aroma.

‘It reminds me of the ramen Mom used to cook in the cauldron.’

I spread a round dining table on the porch and set up chopsticks for Yoo Jin and a fork for the independent Jeong Won.

I also put washed and unwashed kimchi on the table.

“Whew~, I’m sweating.”

“Oppa, do you need help?”

“No, I’m done.”

I transferred all the ramen to a small pot.

My body was hot from being near the fire. I turned on the wall-mounted fan for the first time in a while.

I took care of Jeong Won first, who had clumsily put his palms together in a ‘please’ gesture. I gave him a moderate amount of noodles washed in cold water, then served Yoo Jin a hearty bowl.

“Hehe~. Thank you for the food~.”

Whoosh~.

To cool the hot ramen, I puffed out my cheeks and blew, then put the ramen back in. Watching Yoo Jin eat is always heartwarming, making anyone watching crave food too.

Jeong Won, like a baby, slurps the noodles, and as the noodles disappear into his mouth, the water on them drips down, which is also amusing. It’s like he’s licking off the moisture with his lips.

“Aww~! So cute!”

Whether his brother pinches his cheeks or not, Jeong Won, rolling his big black eyes, glanced at his brother and pointed at the pot.

“Unga~ ramen~ food~.”

“Okay~.”

Even though he must be hungry too, taking care of his brother, such a young kid is so admirable.

‘I should eat too.’

Whoosh~.

Anticipating a bite of hot ramen on a hot day, I blew a long breath.

It’s about expelling all the air from my lungs, stomach, and wherever else in my body.

Now, I can slurp the ramen.

Slurp~.

As the hot steam filled the emptied space, I choked~!

Hiccup!

‘Huh?’

The sound of my siblings’ laughter echoed from afar.

I was completely immersed in a suddenly vivid thought.

With the ramen in my mouth, I jerked my head up.

I looked like Jang Gun-i eating ramen like meat.

‘I remember.’

It’s both welcoming and self-deprecating.

Fictional protagonists encounter great opportunities or go through impressive thought processes to gain enlightenment.

‘How lame.’

To have it come to me while hiccuping over ramen.