episode_0044

[Episode 044] The Easiest Thing

* * * *

“Do you see it?”

The one asking was a beautiful woman with ash-gray hair.

“…Yes.”

The man’s voice in response was calm, but a tremor could be felt in his voice, tightly containing emotions.

“…When will it end?”

At the woman’s question, as if devoid of emotion, the man’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“When this rotten world is turned upside down.”

Those burning eyes…

Those eyes, so red they seemed about to burst at any moment…

The woman stared into his eyes for a long time before asking,

“Do I have to wait?”

“……”

The man fell silent for a while.

“…No.”

The man’s figure casually moved away….

Even after the man disappeared into the distance, the woman’s eyes continued to chase after the spot where he had left.

* * * *

Every trap set was in vain.

Although a fox was caught in a snare trap,

it seemed like the thin and hungry creature had come out to hunt because it couldn’t store much meat.

Well, it’s not surprising since tigers pass by here.

Since there was no need to sell fur for a living, I just checked if it was injured, helped it with a cart, and let it go.

“Phew… now that all the traps are checked, it’s time to go meet the monk.”

Deciding to postpone visiting the place where the deer indicated by the mountain spirit grandfather appeared, I turned my steps towards the direction of the temple.

It’s closer to the lumberjack’s house, so it would take too long if I went from there.

The temple where the monk resides is deeper in the mountains than our house.

It’s small for a temple, more like a slightly larger house, but people call it a temple.

Well, where monks live is a temple.

I spent a few months there once.

It wasn’t bad; it was a bit bigger than our house with several rooms, but when the monk suggested I become a monk, I vehemently refused and chose to stay with my foster parents.

If I had stayed there, would I have really shaved my head and become a monk?

……

No way! I don’t want to shave my head; military service is enough for that. I like the temple, but… I don’t want to be a monk!

I had a terrible thought for a moment…

‘By the way, I wonder how the monk is doing?’

It’s been quite a while since I last saw the monk, and I felt a bit sorry.

I should have visited him more often…

It’s been a long time since I visited the temple.

I met him briefly when my mother passed away, but this time, it’s been about eight months since I last visited the temple, helping out the monk who came out during the funeral procedures in the village.

Before that, I was busy hunting and taking care of my sick mother.

…As I continued my thoughts, the small temple in the distance began to get closer.

I feel a bit excited for no reason.

Is it because there are memories of my childhood here?

The sound of flowing water, the unique scent of the temple, the small vegetable garden tended by the monk in front of the temple.

Memories of the time I spent here initially flooded back, and I quickened my pace in joy.

That warm place is where our monk lives.

“Monk! It’s me. Are you there?”

……

The temple seems strangely quiet?

Where did he go?

“Monk! Incheon Monk!”

I called out loudly to the monk, but there was no response.

Creak!

‘Is that noise coming from the kitchen..?’

Hearing a strange sound, I hurried to the kitchen.

Bang bang!

Something inside the kitchen seemed startled by my footsteps, and the wooden utensils falling made the quiet temple suddenly noisy.

Is there a thief? Or is it the monk? Various thoughts raced through my mind, and I became tense.

“Who’s there! Come out!”

If it’s a thief, I can’t afford to lose my momentum.

Ignoring my tension, I shouted loudly and forcefully pushed open the kitchen door.

Clang!

…An empty kitchen.

“…Huh? No one’s here? Monk! Monk!”

Thud! Shh shh shh!

In a loud voice, searching for the monk, a small shadow quickly darted out from the dim shadow and ran to the corner of the kitchen.

“Ah… Was it a rat? I was startled for no reason.”

As tension eased, a sigh escaped involuntarily.

Judging by its size, it didn’t seem like a mouse but more like a cat or a small dog.

Examining how it escaped from the blocked kitchen, a hole was found in the corner of the kitchen.

“It escaped through here… But when was this hole made?”

Surely that rascal must have drilled it to steal food, but I don’t know how it managed to pierce a sturdy place like this made of wood.

Originally, how could such a hole be drilled in a solid wall without the monk hearing the noise?

It’s not easy for animals to enter a human dwelling….

Thinking about this made me uneasy.

Only then did the surroundings come into focus.

Despite the mess left by the animal, it felt strangely desolate rather than dirty.

“Something… has changed… What could it be?”

With no warmth in the air, it felt as if this place was abandoned…

A strong sense of unease crept over me in this familiar place.

Houses where people live usually strive to maintain a fire in the hearth regardless of the season, but the completely burnt hearth remains were very eerie.

The strangest thing is… there is no cauldron in the hearth.

Living in such poverty?

No! That couldn’t be true. While the monk isn’t attached to material possessions, he wasn’t so destitute as to lack even one pot that everyone else has.

Even if he used a simple iron pot, he never lacked money… He received offerings generously, and being a respected figure, his meals were always served in abundance in brass bowls.

Come to think of it, I can’t see any of the brass utensils the monk used.

“This… what on earth…”

The feeling of cold sweat was stronger than when I thought a thief had entered.

Could it be that the monk has abandoned the temple? Or has he gone somewhere else?

All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.

I rushed to the room.

“What, what’s this? Where did all the locks go?”

Not a single lock or latch was visible in the temple doors.

With a foreboding heart, I flung open all the doors in the temple.

“Monk! Monk from Incheon! Are you there?”

Even calling out loudly for the monk, there was still no answer anywhere in the room.

Then… where… right! The storage room! Yes, I haven’t checked there.

Without catching my breath, I dashed towards the storage room.

Here too… there are no locks…

The person who always made sure to lock the barn securely….

My hand trembled as I opened the door.

I flung open the storage room.

“Monk! Monk! No, Monk! What on earth…!”

Inside the storage room, the monk lay collapsed.

Motionless and collapsed, I was shocked and approached the monk to see that his condition was quite bad.

Pale face, trembling hands, a faint expression.

It seemed like a severe hypoglycemic shock.

“This… this is not the time.”

Quickly, I threw all the food I had brought to offer the monk onto the floor and carefully sat him on the cart.

“Monk! Monk! Please don’t lose consciousness, hold on just a little longer! Monk!”

There was no response, but still, hoping to give some encouragement, I called out loudly to the monk, promising to save him somehow, and ran back home.

…

“Uh… cough!”

“Ah…”

“Thank goodness. Sir… Phew…”

The monk’s eyes opened, gradually focusing and regaining consciousness.

“Are you feeling better, Monk?”

“Uh…”

In response to my question, the monk writhed as if trying to get up, but due to dizziness or weakness, with a groan, he collapsed again.

My heart pounds again at that sight, and my mind races.

“Please stay as you are, Venerable. Honey, I’ll ask the Venerable for a moment and bring something for the Venerable to drink.”

“Yes, husband.”

I felt like my soul had left me.

I don’t even remember how I got home.

I just thought I had to get the Venerable home quickly somehow to save him.

Running around in a daze, I reached home,

and because I rushed in noisily, Heesun hurriedly limped from the kitchen, asking me what was wrong, then seeing the Venerable sitting on the carrying pole, she immediately opened the door, spread out the bedding, and prepared for the Venerable to lie down.

Only then did I come to my senses.

After that, I quickly ran to the millstone and shouted, “Bring some grape glucose candy!” and fed it to the Venerable,

About ten minutes passed? The Venerable opened his eyes.

“Bring me orange juice!”

Grind, grind, grind, grind.

Extracting sweet liquid with a millstone. There’s nothing like it for treating low blood sugar emergencies.

Liquid glucose is quickly absorbed.

I quickly poured orange juice into a bowl, supported the Venerable to sit down, and held the bowl to his mouth.

Gulp, gulp

The Venerable, after taking a sip, seemed a bit surprised but quickly emptied the bowl.

“Hehehe.. Even if I call you a heavenly healer… Is it okay for a mere mortal like me to drink this?”

This Venerable?

I was furious at his seemingly nonchalant joke as if he had just come back from the dead.

“No, Venerable! Are you joking now? It hasn’t been long since your mother passed away! Do I have to take care of you now?”

“Hehe, venerable… I’m not a monk but an ascetic…”

“Anyway!”

I was angry.

His yellowish and sallow face clearly indicated malnutrition, so why didn’t he take the money I offered for the funeral expenses, and why did he come down to the village and collapse without even asking for help or accepting food when he had helped me so much before? I almost couldn’t repay his kindness.

“Venerable, why were you making people worry over there?”

Even though I choked up while scolding him, the Venerable just smiled innocently.

“You look very dignified..”

Again.. Such useless words. As I was about to say something, Heesun stopped me.

“Honey, the Venerable needs to rest now. You said he’s precious to you, but aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”

Heesun gently redirected the conversation, allowing me to contain my overwhelmed emotions.

“…This way, let me introduce you to my wife, Heesun. We got married recently.”

“She’s called Miss Heesun. I heard she’s very important to you, Venerable.”

Upon hearing this, the Venerable smiled and nodded.

I usually liked the Venerable’s kind smile, but today it seemed a bit mocking.

“Hehehe.. You must be a beautiful Bodhisattva, a celestial nymph. I believe it. Hahaha”

…Is that so?

“Sigh.. Anyway, Venerable, it’s late now, so stay with us for a few days. Your body is too weak. I’ll prepare food and take care of you as before.”

“It’s okay. I’m breathing fine, so what could possibly be wrong? Thank you for your kindness. Haha.. I should go back up the mountain soon…”

I was about to get angry again at his words, but Heesun tactfully intercepted before I could react.

“Venerable, we’re fine, so please recover your health for a few days and then go back up. Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

Even with Heesun’s earnest plea, the Venerable shook his head, refusing to give in.

“I can’t do that. How can I burden others by being a monk but not following the precepts properly?”

He doesn’t care about his own health, and I’m worried sick, but the Venerable jokes, saying, “Hehe, isn’t becoming a Buddha a happy event?”…

My suppressed anger finally exploded.

Heesun couldn’t stop me this time.

“How can this be a favor? Monk! Have you forgotten helping me when I was young? You conducted the funeral without taking a penny. You said that helping someone with money is the easiest form of compassion!”

“……”

“So, it’s easy for us to do this much. Using money is the easiest, then taking time to share our hearts is difficult, and teaching the truth to others is the hardest! That’s what you said!”

“……”

“You say it’s nothing special to do easy things, so why won’t you accept this much! If not, at least live healthily. Or improve your situation! Is it such a big favor to take care of someone for a few days, even selling everything including the pot and the door handle, just to nurse them back to health? It’s all done with money anyway! It’s nothing special as you said!”

“……”

The monk closed his eyes and remained silent for a while… Then he chuckled and smiled.

“Haha.. I didn’t expect to receive teachings from my disciple…. Thanks to you, I have gained enlightenment….”

Oh, that naive and frustrating nobleman… What enlightenment…

Feeling disheartened by his smiling face, my anger dissipated.

“Well then. Even if you leave when you must, stay with us today. The sun will set soon, and you won’t see anything. Have breakfast with us, and I’ll take you in my car.”

“Haha.. But, disciple… There are things I must attend to at the temple. Due to karma, this old man has no choice but to go there.”

What could there possibly be to attend to in that empty temple…

I reluctantly agreed to the monk’s stubbornness.

“Then.. come with me. Let’s go together, and I’ll take care of you for a few days, prepare meals like before. Is that okay?”

“……”

After my earnest request, the monk remained silent for a while, then nodded.

“…… Alright.”

Phew,, a sigh escaped involuntarily.

At least he agreed after getting angry earlier. Looks like he would have stubbornly climbed up alone until the end if I hadn’t intervened.

Well.. this should be enough..

Hastily preparing to leave with the monk, as the sun was setting and the darkening mountain became dangerous, we needed to get out as quickly as possible.