episode_0094

[094화] Durebak

[Hahaha.. It’s been a while.. Oh my! You brought this precious yanggang again in such abundance…! You could have come empty-handed..!]

Despite his words, the corners of the mountain spirit grandfather’s mouth did not show any sign of coming down as he offered the yanggang.

[Thank you.. Thank you.. Ah, right, the two ladies next to you, didn’t you mention them before..?]

“Yes, grandfather. These two are my wives. This is the fairy Huisun, and this is Sarira.”

Sarira quickly introduces the two women to the grandfather to bring them back as humans.

I’ve wanted to show the two women to the mountain spirit grandfather for a long time, but since entering the village, there has been a lot of work and it was a bit difficult, but the timing was good.

Huisun and Sarira shyly greet the mountain spirit grandfather, who also accepts their greetings with a kind demeanor.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, grandfather. I am the wife of your son-in-law, the fairy Huisun.”

“… Oh, hello, grandfather.. I.. I am Sarira.. I am also your son-in-law’s wife….”

[Your son-in-law? Hahaha…! What a pleasant thing to hear!]

“I always heard that I resemble your father’s kindness…. Hehe.”

[Is that so.. Then, will the fairy and the immortal become granddaughters-in-law? Good! Good!]

Seeing Huisun’s gentle attitude, the mountain spirit grandfather smiles warmly.

I felt proud for no reason.

The title of “grandfather” contained my desire to truly make a family for the mountain spirit grandfather.

Although he always smiled kindly, there was loneliness in one side of his face, and I wanted to remove that part.

I was fortunate that he liked it.

“Haha, Huisun! I’ll talk to grandfather for a moment. Will you play by the lake with Sarira?”

“Yes, husband! Hehe. Grandfather! We will visit you often with our husband in the future!”

“…We will definitely visit you….”

“Oh~ How patient my grandchildren-in-law are.. You are truly blessed….”

“That’s right, grandfather? Haha.”

While Huisun greeted the mountain spirit grandfather affectionately, playing coy, Sarira, still unfamiliar and shy, bows her head slightly and greets the grandfather with a small voice before heading to the lakeside with Huisun.

Even her shy appearance seemed cute to the mountain spirit grandfather, who smiled approvingly.

My gaze turns towards the wives walking towards the lake.

Dipping their feet naturally into the lake, whispering to each other joyfully, laughing and chatting, how beautiful it was.

Oh, right now is not the time! I need to tell the grandfather about what happened….

“Grandfather, I caught that guy a while ago.”

“What! That guy, the deer? Are you saying you finally caught that deer! Tell me more details.”

Upon hearing that I caught the deer, the grandfather quickly urges me on.

How much I predicted and worried about the guy’s whereabouts every time I visited the mountain spirit grandfather.

It seemed like it would be a long story, so I cleared my throat and began speaking.

The tiger and the woodcutter who entered the house with the deer’s trick.

My power that brought Sarira back to life.

The monk’s words about redemption.

The trap set by the grandfather.

After the wedding ceremony, the deer that was caught.

It seemed inevitable that something related to me, the deer, and the incident had unfolded, so I even shared my personal thoughts with the grandfather.

When I mentioned that the guy was punished for entering the forbidden library in heaven, the grandfather trembled with anger, his beard shaking, and at that time, he showed anger similar to Huisun’s anger.

It seems that the sin of entering that library was a much bigger sin than I thought.

But how on earth could he enter such a place?

Hmm… this part seems like something that should be heard in heaven.

After that, there was a constant intuition about the trap he set as if foreseeing something.

Worrying whether it was wrong to navigate through the deer trap with that intuition or to wake up the sleeping story.

The deer became prey in due course, but as I gradually told Grandfather about the fact that there are still some stories left behind by him, Grandfather closed his eyes, stroked his beard, and fell into deep thought.

[Well… I can’t deny that you have a power similar to theirs. However, if the conditions are met, it is natural for dormant stories in the world to awaken. Even if there were stories of deer and hunters somewhere, it wouldn’t be strange. Moreover, didn’t I say that it was your story? If you did your best in the given situation, that is fate. So don’t worry too much.]

“…Yes.”

[Are you still worried about your abilities?]

“…Yes. Well… I asked Heeseon or the monk before, but they couldn’t give a definite answer. The monk seems to know something more… It’s quite confusing. Just like how he twisted the story and made things difficult for Heeseon. Maybe saving Heeseon or reviving the dead is not so different from him… That’s why I’m thinking.”

[……]

“I already knew that distorting stories is a serious sin, but this was the first time I actually felt the weight of it. Going to see Okhwang Sangje makes me even more nervous, partly because he is a master, but also because it weighs heavily on my mind….”

[Hmm… yes, that could undermine causality and cause confusion in the world… In fact, even I don’t know much about your abilities. But one thing is certain, you are definitely different from him. I didn’t feel any unpleasant aura from you. I don’t know how Sangje will perceive you, but at least from my perspective and intuition, your stories… looked very beautiful.]

In the warm words of Grandfather, my heart felt a little relieved.

Still… well… Grandfather has always looked kindly upon me since we first met, so maybe this time he won’t just look kindly upon me…?

But the problem is, the first impression Sangje will probably have of me…

A lowly hunter who secretly impregnated his pretty daughter and forced her to conceive…!

Oh no…! I’m getting nervous again…!

[Haha. You! No matter how friendly you are, do you think I’m just a real neighborhood grandfather! I am a mountain spirit who has protected this mountain for many years and practiced virtue! If such a person looks at you beautifully, it must be true beauty. Perhaps Sangje will also see your stories beautifully… So stand tall and proud! You’re not just anyone!]

“Uh! Yes, Grandfather!”

Startled by Grandfather’s encouraging words, I replied like a private who suddenly stood at attention.

Yet, how comforting that warm encouragement was.

[Hmm… By the way, the remaining stories you saw through his vision… above all, that is what worries this old man the most… Hmm….]

“Yes. I’m anxious about that too. Probably because it might be tough without using my abilities.”

[Yes, yes. Just be confident always. Your stories are beautiful enough! Those stories can never be unjust.! If you’re worried, listen to all your stories and believe the words of this old man who has been watching and listening to your stories all along! Who is this old man?]

“Hahaha. A mountain spirit who has protected this mountain for many years and practiced virtue!”

[Hahaha. Yes, yes.]

For a while, we continued our conversation, blooming with laughter.

The tense and anxious heart that had been bothering me suddenly flew far away and no longer tormented me.

Thank you. Grandfather.

Before we knew it, the bright night of the full moon arrived.

The unusually large full moon shone on our family as if it were midday.

We looked up at the sky, waiting for something destined to happen.

Slowly, a huge durebak began descending from high above in the sky.

“Master..! What’s coming down there..!”

Sari seemed fascinated by the falling durebak, pointing at it with her finger and holding onto my arm tightly as she started hopping around.

“Haha, that’s right, Sari. I was a bit anxious about it not coming down, but thankfully it did. Right?”

“Yeah.. Master.. But I… I’m getting nervous for no reason…”

She thought she was just excited, but now that she was actually going to heaven, it seemed Sari was getting nervous too.

Hmm… Is it similar to the nervousness a child feels when flying for the first time?

To reassure Sari, I hugged her slightly and comforted her.

Sari still seemed uneasy, whimpering and throwing a tantrum, but then suddenly transformed into a puppy and nestled snugly inside my wide coat, letting out a contented whimper from within.

By the way, Heeseon has suddenly become quiet, hasn’t she?

“Heeseon? Are you nervous too?”

“Oh! Sir! I’m sorry. I was lost in thought, wasn’t I? Hehe.. Nervous? No, I wasn’t nervous. We’re just going home. However….”

Heeseon paused for a moment.

Feeling a slight change in Heeseon’s tone, I waited for her to gather her thoughts.

“…I didn’t think so, but I guess I really missed it. Heaven… the people… Mom and Dad… our home. And… If it weren’t for you, I probably would have longed for all those things here for a long time.”

“Heeseon….”

How could I not understand Heeseon’s feelings?

I couldn’t hide my occasional longing for my hometown either.

I felt sorry and pitied Heeseon, who had hidden her feelings for me all this time.

“Hehe.. We can go back soon, but I was feeling down without any reason, right? I’ve been thinking a lot about you, sir. When we go up, let’s find a way to visit your hometown together. Mom and Dad might know. I miss home too….”

Heeseon leaned on my shoulder, wrapping her arm around mine.

Her caring thoughts made me feel touched as well.

For a moment, I was immersed in homesickness….

Will the day come when I see my mother, sister, brother-in-law, and our Hyunkyung again?

Suddenly, the durebak descended onto the lake and began scooping up the water.

“Oh, by the way, to ride the durebak, we have to cross the water, right?”

“Oh! I didn’t think of that. Looks like our clothes will get wet..!”

“What…!?”

In the sudden situation of falling into the water, all three of us were momentarily flustered.

What did we do as soon as we got here! Wasn’t Heeseon supposed to change into the clothes she made as soon as we arrived!

We had dressed up so much in anticipation of meeting my father-in-law, but now we had become soaked like this….

Well… There’s nothing we can do. We have to make sure Heeseon and Sari don’t get wet.

I handed Sari over to Heeseon, swiftly lifted Heeseon, and prepared to fall into the water.

As I put my foot into the lake….

Embrace?

Huh? Why am I walking on water?

[Hahaha. Can’t you see anything, you rascal? Just walk all the way to the durebak. You’ll meet the king soon, so your clothes need to get wet]

“Oh, grandfather..!”

“Grandfather..!”

“What?!”

Alright, be careful and have a safe trip! Don’t forget this request from Grandpa! Come visit us again sometime!

Bubbling, bubbling, bubbling.

The mountain spirit grandfather waves his hand with a kind face and disappears beneath the lake.

I walk on the water step by step, holding onto the rope tied to the boat with one hand.

In case Heeseon or Sari fall, I firmly hold them in my arms with my remaining hand, securing them tightly, and greet Grandpa loudly.

“Grandpa! I’ll be back! After I return, I’ll tell you what happened!”

Slowly, the boat begins to rise…

Heeseon and I look at each other, nodding slightly.

Finally… we ascend to heaven.