episode_0097

The first trial of the woodcutter was a game of hide-and-seek.

That night, the fairy secretly came and gently told the woodcutter how the Jade Emperor hid.

“Master, it is said that the Lord and Lady are disguised as roosters in the yard of the first house in the village.”

The next day, as the woodcutter wandered around the yard, he looked at the rooster pecking at the ground and said,

“Why are you eating dirt here, Your Majesty?”

Then, with a bang! The rooster transformed into the Jade Emperor.

– Story of overcoming celestial trials between the fairy and the woodcutter.

Knock knock knock

Lying on the bed absentmindedly, pondering about the trials to come tomorrow, I heard a noise from the window side.

When Eastern Sage locked the door and asked to leave the window open, I hesitated as I opened the window, as it was almost like a cliff outside, wondering if he had misspoken…

Seems like there was some solution after all.

Kikirururuk! Kikirururuk!

But why seagull sounds?

Quickly getting up and opening the large window, moonlight poured in, illuminating the dark room brightly,

Outside the window, Heeseon and Sari were smiling brighter than the moonlight, welcoming me.

“Master!”

“Heeseon! Sari is here too!”

“Woof!”

It had only been a short while since we parted ways, but I couldn’t help but smile as I greeted them, and Sari, in the form of a dog, leaped into my arms.

Kikirururuk! Kikirururuk!

“But what is that exactly, Heeseon?”

Lost in Heeseon and Sari, I didn’t notice for a moment, but suddenly I heard a cry from below, and when I glanced down, I was so startled to see an unfamiliar creature.

No matter how heavenly it may be… isn’t that beyond common sense?

Large wings, a long beak, red hair that seemed stained, and even thin legs holding onto the window sill.

A crane, tall enough to carry three people, was crying out kikiruk kikiruk, looking at me with its big black eyes, while Heeseon sat on the crane waving her hand, how alien the sight was…

Just as I wondered how they appeared at the window…

“Oh! This one? It’s the crane raised by Eastern Sage! Its name is Songhak. Cute, right? Hehe….”

“Uh… Uh. Indeed, it’s quite cute….”

Certainly, with its big innocent black eyes, it did look cute.

Kikirururuk!

So that’s how cranes sound….

But does that friend understand human speech? Why does it react so shyly to being called cute?

“Heeseon, please come in quickly. Oh! No, stay there, it might be dangerous. Can this, Songhak, come in? The window is large enough, but…”

Kikirururuk!

As if it were obvious, Songhak cried out, stepping its long legs into the window and entering the room.

The room, which I thought was too big for one person, suddenly felt crowded.

Hop!

Heeseon came down from Songhak’s back, approached me, and naturally hugged my neck.

With Sari and Heeseon both in my arms, my heart finally felt completely at ease.

Not even a day had passed since we parted, yet how much I missed them.

“Sigh.. I’m sorry, Master. I really didn’t expect the Lord and Lady not to listen to me once….”

“I’m fine, Heeseon. They probably couldn’t help it either. So don’t worry too much, it seems like the Lord and Lady have also been through a lot because of you.”

“Tsk.. I don’t know.. I just hate the Lord and Lady so much. They could have just accepted me as their daughter without any trials…. They’re the prince who saved me….”

Oh.. the master is in trouble too.. Heeseon is so upset that she puffs up her cheeks like that….

“Um… But if you overcome this trial, wouldn’t you definitely be recognized as your husband? And the process of proving that I am not dangerous was necessary… The fresh ones don’t know my abilities in detail, and how dangerous I might seem…”

“… Our husband is definitely not a dangerous person…”

“Haha, that’s why you’re taking the test to let them know, so don’t get mad at the Lord too much, Heesun. And, you’ve always missed your father so much… But it feels uncomfortable that things have soured because of me.”

“It’s not because of our husband! Oh, okay, I won’t be too angry with Abamama.”

“Well, that’s a relief.. Anyway, regardless, if the trial had ended, we could have met, so was there a reason for secretly coming like this? Maybe because I was worried?”

“Of course I was worried! And.. Hehe! Did you secretly come after hearing about the first trial?”

“What, what?”

What are you talking about, Heesun! You’re quite audacious! How did you hear that? If test papers are leaked in our hometown, it’s a big problem!

No, is it different here? There are bound to be cultural differences wherever you go… Is it really okay to bring the answer sheet like this even though it’s a trial?

“The first trial is hide-and-seek! It’s a very simple test where you find Abamama hiding in the village!”

“Oh.. Hide-and-seek? I thought it would be more grand, but since it’s hide-and-seek, it feels strange… But if you have to find Okhwang Sangje, does he hide himself? Isn’t there any hierarchy here? Why would a high-ranking person personally…?”

“I heard it’s the right thing to do. And because Abamama said she would take responsibility even if there were problems….”

“Oh, is that so…. But Heesun, is this really a simple test..? It’s not just child’s play, and since the Lord is hiding himself, it doesn’t seem like a simple method… ”

“Don’t worry, husband! Hehe.. There’s a reason I said it’s simple! I heard everything, from where to hide to how to hide.”

Wow.. Our Heesun has a knack for espionage.

But why did you riskily come back alone with intelligence, Heesun.. And no matter the cultural difference, it’s still a trial, so can you really bring back the answer sheet like this?

Zing!

Huh?

Suddenly, a premonition came to my mind.

Not a good one.. A very bad direction.

“As soon as you arrive in the village tomorrow—”

“Oh! Wait! Heesun, wait. Don’t tell me that.”

“Yes? Then how do you plan to pass the trial?”

“I don’t think you should listen. Or else it might become useless.”

“Do you sense something? Then what should we do, husband? You have to find Okhwang Sangje! Unless you’re a master brewer, you’ll never find Abamama… I can guarantee that it will be a difficult trial even for the fresh ones. Moreover, our husband is still inexperienced in brewing…”

“But we have no choice. Just knowing that the trial is hide-and-seek is enough, Heesun. What kind of trial would it be if you already knew all the details?”

“But…! I haven’t been caught until now, right..? I heard everything too. They said it’s about us. If something were to go wrong, shouldn’t I have been caught by now? I also feel somewhat of my destiny. So, helping our husband felt like the right thing to do….”

Seeing Heesun looking dejected and on the verge of tears made me feel sorry for her.

I quickly hugged Heesun tightly, patting her back to comfort her.

Pat, pat.

“Sob…”

Sigh.. All day with Sangje and Heesun… My hands are busy consoling the ladies…?

Heesun might be right. If this is a story predetermined by fate, then even Heesun telling me the answers could be part of the natural order.

However, a strong conviction that this method wouldn’t work came to mind.

Moreover, since my abilities are unique, it’s clear they will differ significantly from the original story, so there’s no need to strictly adhere to logic.

Hmm… I should find a way for Heeseon to help me. Seeing her shoulders slump like that makes my heart ache; it can’t go on like this.

Isn’t there a way to get help without a sense of impending danger..?

Comforting a distressed Heeseon, the worries persist.

Hide and seek….

“Heeseon, if it’s hide and seek, could you make your body transparent with some kind of ability to hide or something like that?”

“Make my body transparent? Hmm.. that’s probably in the realm of unique abilities, so it won’t work. Even the divine men who possess such abilities haven’t seen it.”

“Oh really? Then maybe hiding in a discreet place or disguising oneself as something else to hide would be the way to go… It’s not possible to keep changing forms to avoid Lord Okhwang, right?”

“Goodness gracious! Oh no! I should answer first. Probably avoiding Lord Okhwang like that won’t work! Once you hide, you have to stay there… By the way, how did you know about that? I didn’t tell you anything… As expected of my man..!”

“Huh?”

Why is Heeseon suddenly looking at me so brightly..?

Ah! Perhaps my guess was correct!

But this is not a big deal, really.

I’ve seen how the game of hide and seek can evolve in my hometown games.

But even knowing this information, there’s nothing I can do about it.

I’m not familiar with using divination, so I don’t have the ability to find Lord Okhwang.

I need to find my own way….

Hmm.. I might really need a little help from Heeseon?

Is this approach okay?

“Heeseon.”

“Yes! My lord.”

“Could you help me with something?”

“Of course. I’ll do anything! How about I tell you everything about what Abamama might do now? Yes? Yes?”

Uh… Seeing Heeseon firmly on my side like this, I feel sorry for my master for no reason.

Is that why they say raising children is useless?

And it’s not like we’re some prince and princess; it feels like I’m betraying my master by using Heeseon like this…

.. But that’s not important right now.

In case someone overhears, I lean in close to Heeseon’s ear and whisper softly.

“Well… there… this… and… even if it gets erased…”

“Yes.. yes? Is it really okay to just do that much? Like learning divination as an attribute… There’s nothing like that? Of course, that wouldn’t help either, but wouldn’t it be better than this method? Just wiping it off doesn’t seem very useful, right? Oh! Could that be considered a magical act?”

“No, it’s not like that. Um.. huh? Heeseon! It seems difficult to explain right now, doesn’t it? Songhak suddenly seemed so flustered… Could something be wrong?”

Kkiruruk! Kkiruk! Kkiruk!

Songhak, who had been quietly dozing in a corner of the room, suddenly opened his eyes wide and began to whimper as if warning of something.

Then he approached Heeseon with long strides, grabbed her arm, and urged her to leave.

“Oh! Something seems to be wrong in my room! I sneaked out without anyone noticing..! Uh.. My lord! Please tell me quickly what you need. I think I should go now.”

“Uh…. Okay…!”

Hastily retrieving the key to overcoming the trial from the luggage, I handed it to Heeseon.

Kkiruk! Kkiruk!

Songhak still seemed anxious and unable to contain himself.

“I, I’ll go! I shouldn’t be caught! Make sure to pass the trial tomorrow. My lord! I’m rooting for you.”

“Thank you, Heeseon! I’ll make sure to pass and be recognized as your husband.”

Swish!

Hee-sun’s eyes were filled with tears even at the brief parting, she kissed me and climbed onto Song-hak’s back.

Thud!

Rustle!

As the window closed, Hak’s crying voice faded away, and silence lingered in the room.

Ah… I’m alone again…

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t it, Sari? Are you feeling lonely now that you’re alone too? Family should always be together…”

“Hmm!”

Huh? Something feels strange…?

Somehow… I don’t feel alone?

What did I just say?

The situation itself feels like I’m missing something….

Come to think of it, this embrace feels solid and warm… as if Sari is still in my arms…?

Huh?

Huh huh?

“Sari!? Sari!?!?!?”

“Mmmyam!?!?!?”

Hey! Sari! Why are you here?