episode_0400

***

“Do you not eat it?”

“Eat a lot, everyone.”

Watching Bangja wake up with a lighter body and gulping down the meat side dish that he couldn’t eat, I felt like all my worries from last night were a waste.

Bangja was rubbing his stinging eyes and not even paying attention to me as he yawned.

This bastard only calls himself a master in words, but it doesn’t seem like he takes care of himself as a master.

“Is there really no problem with your body?”

When Bangja asked, suppressing the urge to hit Bangja’s neck as he was eating cabbage kimchi, tearing it lengthwise, he politely nodded.

“I feel more energized.”

My face definitely looks more straightened than when I climbed the hill yesterday. It seems that among the effects of Geumancho, there is recovery from fatigue.

I thought about asking the owner to give me tea at Geumancho, but I swallowed my words because I thought I shouldn’t cause any more trouble.

“Let’s get up when we finish eating. Staying still is also a nuisance to the landlord.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll just eat this and get up.”

It was only after Bangja scraped the barley rice out of the bowl with his spoon and put it in his mouth that he got up.

As Bangja went out carrying the prize, the wife of the woodcutter who was sweeping the yard accepted the prize.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

Although she had wrinkles here and there from her hard life, Bangja and I nodded at the words of the woman who, considering her youth, must have been quite likable.

“Be treated well.”

When I bowed my head in greeting, the wife bowed in astonishment.

It seems like greeting a nobleman is a burden. I understand that feeling because I have lived in both a high and low social status.

“My husband went out early to cut wood. I asked you to tell me that I am truly sorry for not being able to see you off.”

He probably didn’t sleep well, but the woodcutter seemed to be out to make a living.

“It’s small, but take this.”

I took out a bundle of coins from my purse and handed it to my wife.

“I already received it last night.”

The wife bowed further and waved her hand.

“I’m saying that because I’m grateful. If it weren’t for your husband, my guide would have died. It’s less than the price of your life, so take it.”

“Ah, child… Thank you.”

When I forcefully held it in my hand, the wife turned her head to the side out of embarrassment.

“Then I will go.”

“Let’s go.”

As I stood in front of the sarimun gate and said hello, the woman who was following me greeted me awkwardly.

Those who left and those who stayed were separated by the Ssarimun gate.

“You must visit the clinic.”

The wife looked at Bangja and said.

“There is a map, so be sure to find it.”

He held up a crudely drawn map and laughed.

It was the woodcutter’s consideration that took care of us even while he was out cutting wood.

“It’s really okay. There’s nothing strange about it at all. If you go astray and are delayed, the elder will be worried.”

Bangja said not to go astray, but checking on Bangja’s health was a priority.

“Are you even a member of the National Assembly? It’s a distance you can cover in one day, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a little late.”

“Okay.”

“There is a tavern in the next village, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get some help there.”

In the end, Bangja accepted his wife’s offer, and we set off on our way to our destination.

***

The next village was quite close. After walking for about 3 hours, it didn’t feel much different from the previous village.

Actually, I wonder how different it was from the Joseon Dynasty village.

After passing the jangseung signifying the entrance to the village, we were able to easily find a steaming tavern.

While I was massaging my legs and catching up on the sleep I lacked, Bangja ordered an early lunch and went looking for someone to deliver news to Namwon.

“Fortunately, a merchant heading in a similar direction said he would take the letter.”

Bangja, who returned to his seat, pointed to the merchant on the other side.

The merchant who made eye contact with me stood up and bowed.

“Give me an example.”

“Okay. Would you like to write a letter to your house yourself?”

“You use it.”

By coming this far, I had just confirmed that Bangja could read and write.

“Yes? Am I doing it?”

“I guess the shock of being bitten by a tiger was so great that I don’t even remember what I wrote.”

As he muttered while looking at the distant mountain, Bangja opened his eyes round.

“I think it’s you, not me, who is upset by the congressman.”

“Stop talking nonsense and write a letter and send it. Something came up and I think I’ll be late.”

“Okay. …ah! Master, that…”

Bangja, who was taking out a piece of paper from his purse, looked at me.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Can I use one more copy?”

“Who are you sending it to?”

“I would like to send it to Hyangdan. Heehee….”

I put the spoon I had lifted back into the soup. The sight of the dark guy blushing made the food taste bad.

“Hyangdan?”

“Child, why are you so embarrassed?”

“Speak without blushing. Who is Hyangdan?”

“Oh… you don’t remember Hyangdan either?”

“I don’t remember, so I’ll ask. Don’t make me ask twice.”

As I spoke, stirring the soup with a spoon, Bangja touched his face and cleared his throat.

“Well, that’s… Lady Chunhyang’s servant. He and I are exchanging love letters.”

“Jeongin?”

“Ay! Jeongin, such a manly thing to say! I mean, we haven’t even held hands yet.”

Bangja, who jumped up like a startled cat, raised his index finger and lowered his voice.

“Yes, that’s right. You can use it for the child who is doing the incense altar or something. What’s the big deal about using one or two more sheets of paper?”

“Hihi, thank you. Master.”

Bangja took out a pencil with a smiling face, wrote a few words on a piece of paper, and then raised his face again.

“But you, master?”

“What.”

“Maybe you don’t remember Lady Chunhyang, right?”

“…….”

“Could it be…?”

As I slowly averted my gaze, Bangja looked at me in disbelief.

“How could you forget?”

“If the mental shock is severe, you may forget.”

“No, but we still meet like that every night! He sneaks out of the house every night to watch Lady Chunhyang on the swing! Let’s go to the water mill and have a chat together! What about before going to Hanyang? What about that?”

As Bangja raised his voice, the ears of the people in the tavern could be seen gathering in this direction.

“Keep your mouth shut. Shut up.”

He personally lifted the fool’s chin with his hand and prevented him from speaking any more.

Bangja struggled and dabbed my arm.

***

After the mayhem at the tavern, we walked for another half a day before we arrived at the doctor’s office.

The congressman, who was leisurely basking in the sun, looked curiously at the two men trudging in. After listening to me, he examined Bangja.

“Hmm… The Mac is normal, and it looks like there’s no problem. It seems that first aid with Geumancho was quite effective.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m healthy.”

He showed off his health by showing off his biceps.

“The way to cross a stone bridge is by tapping.”

I spoke in principle and threw a very weak hand strike at the top of the defendant’s head.

After completing the meaningless examination, we retraced the way we came and returned to the tavern.

It would be too late to get on the road to Namwon.

We ate dinner early, went to our room, packed up our bags, and lay down.

I felt that my legs, which had been overworked for two days in a row, were swollen.

As I stare blankly at the ceiling, I am reminded of a person named Chunhyang whom Bangja had mentioned at lunch.

Bangja, Hyangdan and Chunhyang. Even though I try to ignore it, Chunhyangjeon comes to mind.

Moreover, since the place he returns to is Namwon, it would be reasonable to think that he is possessed by the world in which Chunhyangjeon is realized.

In that case, Chunhyang would already have some kind of relationship with ‘me’.

A relationship created before I am possessed is bound to create variables.

If you cut it off hastily, things may go wrong, and if you continue, you may encounter unexpected ambushes.

What choice would the original owner have made?

My worries deepen.

“Ah, master.”

Bangja lay down and called to me.

Rude guy.

“Why are you doing that?”

“You know the letter from earlier.”

“Uh.”

“I also wrote a letter to Lady Chunhyang.”

“What did you send it to?”

“Young Master forgot Lady Chunhyang.”

“Just that?”

“Yes.”

“이 개새끼가.”

Why raise the difficulty level and damn it?