Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 23

Seojin was grilling the meat while giving a wink to Yoonhwa.

“Yoonhwa, have you ever seen such deliciously grilled meat?!”

“Usually, it’s Hyun’s job, but I’m specially grilling it for you, sis~”

While the meat was cooking, Yoonhwa watched Seojin’s hands with eager eyes, drooling in anticipation.

“Wow… it looks so tasty…”

As soon as the meat was cooked, Seojin carefully placed a piece on a lettuce leaf.

Her movements were meticulous and purposeful.

She added a sharp slice of garlic and savory ssamjang to create the perfect bite-sized wrap.

Seojin handed the wrap to Yoonhwa and gently said, “Yoonhwa, open your mouth wide!”

“This is a lovingly made wrap from me!”

Seojin popped the wrap into Yoonhwa’s mouth.

The juices from the meat spread throughout her mouth, while the fresh, sharp flavors of the lettuce and garlic enhanced the meat’s taste.

The sweet and salty flavor of the ssamjang harmonized all the tastes together, captivating Yoonhwa’s palate.

“Wow, this is amazing! It feels like the meat is melting in my mouth.”

Yoonhwa was amazed by Seojin’s skills and enjoyed the wrap in one big bite. The tenderness of the meat and the freshness of the vegetables created a perfect balance, stimulating Yoonhwa’s taste buds.

Every time she chewed the wrap, the rich juices mingled with each ingredient, offering a new flavor experience.

“No way! I was eating such delicious pork raw…”

Yoonhwa smiled joyfully and thanked Seojin. Seojin beamed at Yoonhwa’s reaction while grilling another piece of meat.

As the meal continued, Hyun sweetly said to Seojin, “Seojin, since you’re grilling the meat, I’ll wrap it for you.”

Hyun carefully picked the meat off the grill and placed it on a lettuce leaf.

He added a slice of garlic and some spicy ssamjang to complete the perfect wrap.

“What do you think? Doesn’t it look delicious? You should try it.”

Receiving the wrap from Hyun, Seojin smiled and took a big bite.

The harmony of the meat’s juices, lettuce, garlic, and ssamjang filled her mouth, bringing a satisfied expression to her face.

“Wow, this is really good…”

Kangtae said in a slightly jealous tone, “Make me one too. Don’t just take care of Seojin!”

Hyun laughed and grilled more meat, starting to wrap it for Kangtae as well. Knowing Kangtae’s tastes, he added extra ssamjang.

“Here, open wide.”

Kangtae tasted the wrap handed by Hyun and opened his eyes wide.

“Wow, this is really delicious. The seasoning is just perfect!”

Seojin smiled happily watching Hyun and Kangtae.

“Can you wrap well, too?”

“Perfect except for your stamina—”

Seojin proudly held up the piece of grilled meat she made and handed it to Yoonhwa, who enjoyed it and marveled.

“This is so tasty…!”

Yoonhwa was mesmerized by the deep flavor of the kimchi stew, taking a big spoonful and feeling refreshed by the spicy taste.

“The kimchi stew is the best! After eating this, my appetite comes back.”

“But my mouth kinda hurts..!!”

Yoonhwa, completely captivated by the kimchi stew’s deep flavor, took a large spoonful of the broth.

As the spicy broth filled her mouth, her face radiated energy.

Her friends laughed at how happy Yoonhwa looked despite the spiciness.

Hyun enjoyed the meat wrapped in lettuce and perilla leaves, topped with garlic and peppers, savoring the variety of flavors.

Hyun’s skills even made for a mouthwatering sight for everyone watching.

In the middle of the meal, Seojin playfully smiled at Kangtae and popped a piece of meat into his mouth.

Caught off guard by the playful action, Kangtae eventually burst into laughter, brightening the atmosphere even more.

In this cheerful mood, Yoonhwa and her friends temporarily forgot about the Fox Orb and fully focused on their happiness at the moment.

Yoonhwa savored this moment, realizing how precious the time with her friends was.

“I.. am gaining courage. I’m definitely going to catch Eunho!”

Her friends nodded at Yoonhwa’s words, cherishing the happiness of the moment together.

After the meal, Yoonhwa and her friends headed to the cashier. Hyun confidently stepped forward and said, “I’ll pay this time~”

“I made some money thanks to Yoonhwa during the performance, after all~”

However, upon reaching the cashier and hearing the total, confusion was clear on Hyun’s face.

“Wait… 70,000 won?!”

Surprise colored his voice. Seojin chuckled at Hyun’s bewildered expression.

Hyun awkwardly took out cash to pay at the register.

“Oh, no. It’s fine. I said I’d pay…”

Seojin continued teasing him, “Next time, let’s go to a more expensive place~ Hyun will treat us!”

After the payment was completed, Hyun put his wallet back in his pocket with a sheepish smile.

“Next time… it’s your turn, Seojin. –.. Money-rich Seojin~.”

As they left the restaurant, laughter filled the air among the friends. Yoonhwa expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you so much, friends… I had such a great time.”

The friends exited the restaurant, strolling under the cool afternoon breeze.

Hyun checked his watch and said, “It’s already past 3 o’clock.”

“Are you going to look for the Darkness Demon in this town?”

Yoonhwa nodded and looked around.

“That would be good. Since Eunho knows this village…”

Kangtae suggested, scanning the area, “Let’s find a good inn in this neighborhood.”

Yoonhwa curiously asked, “What’s an inn?”

Seojin kindly explained to Yoonhwa, “An inn is a small lodging where travelers can stay for a while. It usually has just a few rooms, and it’s mostly run by families.”

“It’s not as big and glamorous as a hotel, but it has a cozy and warm atmosphere.”

“It could provide us with the comfortable rest we need.”

Yoonhwa’s eyes sparkled as she listened to Seojin’s explanation.

“Oh, I see! A cozy place for travelers sounds really nice. Let’s experience it ourselves!”

Kangtae, looking around, suggested, “I heard there’s a good inn in this area. Let’s go find it.”

Yoonhwa said excitedly, “Great! A night at the inn sounds like a new experience.”

“That’s where we’ll call out Eunho!”

After consulting with her friends, Seojin approached a passerby nearby.

Yoonhwa’s voice was filled with uncertain anticipation. “Um… is there an inn around here?”

At her question, the passerby paused and looked at the friends.

When his gaze lingered on Yoonhwa, a hint of surprise flashed across his face.

Probably startled by Yoonhwa’s unique appearance and vibe.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon regained his friendly smile and replied.

“Ah, yes… if you go a little farther, there’s a place called Silver Inn.”

“It’s small but very cozy, and the owners are really kind.”

His voice was warm, and there was a sincere intent to help Yoonhwa and her friends.

He raised a hand to point in the direction of ‘Silver Inn.’

“Go into the alley with the big tree over there.”

“And at the first fork, turn right, then just go straight a little bit, and you’ll find a cozy-looking inn on your left.”

“The building with a small garden and a red roof is the Silver Inn.”

His explanation was detailed and his tone carried warmth.

Seojin listened carefully to his directions and passed it on to her friends accurately.

“Thank you! That was really helpful!”

As they followed the passerby’s directions into the alley with the big tree, a tranquil atmosphere welcomed them.

The alley was made of old stones and bricks, echoing softly with each step they took.

When they reached the first fork and turned right, the alley narrowed even more, surrounded by cozy homes and small shops.

Kangtae led the way, saying, “This atmosphere is really nice. It feels like we’re in an old fairy tale.”

All the friends nodded, relishing the charm of the alley.

As they walked further, a small garden began to come into view, lined with well-kept flowers and lush green plants.

Yoonhwa inhaled the floral fragrance and said cheerfully, “It’s really beautiful here…”

“It feels peaceful, just like the forest I used to live in!”

“I’m looking forward to spending a day in such a place.”

Her voice was filled with joy and excitement.

Soon, the Silver Inn with its red roof appeared before their eyes.

The inn blended traditional beauty with modern comfort, and a small sign announcing its name hung out front.

Seojin looked at the inn and said, “This is the place we were looking for. It’s really nice here…”

As they opened the door to Silver Inn, they were greeted warmly by the owner couple with friendly smiles.

The man had a sturdy build, similar in height to Yoonhwa, with a friendly face, while the woman greeted them with gentle eyes and a soft voice.

“Welcome, to the Silver Inn.”

“We’re the owners of this establishment,” said the innkeeper’s wife kindly.

Her voice felt warm and snug, like welcoming an old friend.

“I hope you can rest comfortably here.”

“Our inn is quiet and peaceful, which many people appreciate.”

“This man beside me is my husband.”

The husband began introducing the inn’s interior to them.

“Nice to meet you. If you come this way, there’s a communal living room.”

“In the evenings, you can sip tea and chat here.”

“The convenience store has light snacks, drinks, and necessary supplies available for purchase.”

He also introduced the inn’s small garden, saying, “The garden blooms with diverse flowers each season, and in the evening, stargazing in the garden is lovely.”

The man guided his friends to each of the rooms, kindly providing explanations.

“Your rooms are prepared on the second floor.”

“Will you be staying separately?”

Though each had their own room, they decided to share one large room since they wanted to enjoy the night together.

“It’ll be more fun if we’re together. Let’s stay in one room!”

Yoonhwa suggested, and the other friends agreed immediately.

Hearing the friends’ decision, the innkeeper smiled and said, “Then I’ll prepare a large room for you.”

“This room has a lovely view of the village from the window, and the starlight is beautiful at night.”

As they entered the room, a spacious, comfortable atmosphere greeted the friends.

Five neatly made beds were arranged, with a large table and comfortable chairs in the center.

The friends explored each other’s rooms. Inside, the warm wood floors and soft lighting created a harmonious ambiance.

“This place is really nice. We’ll have a great time here tonight.”

Seojin said with a satisfied expression.

The couple reminded the friends to let them know if they needed anything and wished them a comfortable night.

“Rest well. If you need anything, just let us know via that telephone over there.”

The friends thanked them for their kindness.

The couple left the friends in their room and stepped out.