“Anyway, never leave that somewhere.”
I looked at the pocket watch, then soon nodded and put it in my pocket.
A higher god. Come to think of it, she said it was a talisman that creates a connection with a god. Did the talisman change into a watch after I met that high god? Could that child I saw in my dream be…
Bihyeon who grabbed my arm while I was blank and headed to the dining room even sat me down in a chair. I lifted my head and made eye contact. His eyes said let’s eat first.
“You came! I received the recipe and everything.”
“Ah, Hyeonwoong-nim. Hello.”
“Why did you write so many recipes? Hurry up and take the yakgwa recipe!”
“Yes, I’ll take it today.”
I was blank, then looked at the bear and smiled slightly.
“I made a lot of food to give you, so take it all later. Hmm, it seems like it would be too heavy for you… Ask Bihyeon-nim to carry it for you!”
…You’re telling me to make him a porter? A god?
When my expression became serious, the bear laughed “Ahahahaha!” But the rest are serious…! No. Good is good. If you laugh, blessings come and it’s good. Yeah…
I frowned, then soon lost energy and sat in the chair. The tiger who was coming inside holding lots of bowls swayed his tail and looked at us.
“You came again?”
“Hello, Tiger-nim…”
“Call me Yeonho. Ah, right. The pudding was delicious.”
“Ah, that’s a relief. I’ll make more tomorrow. I put in just a little worried it might not suit your taste.”
“It was delicious. Haru said it was delicious too.”
Haru would mean… ah, it seems he’s talking about Fox-nim.
When I stood up from my seat to help the bear diligently setting the table, the tiger pressed my shoulder and sat me back down.
“Ah, right. The walnut pie…”
“I delivered it. He gulped it down right on the spot.”
“…Was that small too?”
“Probably.”
I don’t think the oven size would allow for bigger than that…
Should I make a lot of big ones? When I looked at him with serious eyes, he laughed haha.
“Eat and rest a bit. He said he’d come down from the mountain to see that one later.”
“Not ‘that one,’ Yoon Hansol.”
“Yes, to see you.”
Goodness. I thought we’d gotten close, but not at all… I guess I was the only one thinking that.
I sniffled and scooped up the soup the bear gave me with a spoon. I was going to wait until he ate first, but out of spite I put it in my mouth first. Even so, my conscience pricked me, so I glanced around nervously.
He who chuckled gestured as if to eat.
Oh, what? There’s clam meat. It’s delicious.
“So, are you coming to play at the festival too?”
“Aw… no matter what, that’s not it. I promised to watch the cafe then.”
I shook my head at the bear’s question.
“Why? If you wear Bihyeon-nim’s clothes and go, no one will know you’re human, right?”
“But, when is the festival?”
“Central starts this week. All festivals start from the day those people were born.”
Aha, I see. …Huh?
“What?”
I took another bite of soup, then turned my head sharply and made eye contact with Bihyeon.
“It’s your birthday?!”
“If you’re talking about the day I was born… right?”
“Why didn’t you tell me!”
I make cakes well too. No, it’s actually my main field!
When I frowned and spoke loudly, Bihyeon laughed keke. That was annoying too, but his expression seemed truly happy, so my chest tickled.
Fine, I’ll let you off because you’re smiling…
“Hyeonwoong-nim… I’ll make the cake, so absolutely don’t make it. Got it?”
“You can make things like that too?”
“Of course. It’s my specialty. I wrote it in the recipe too. At the very end.”
Since it’s what I’m good at, I got excited and even drew pictures while writing detailed explanations.
“I-is that so? That fancy thing was a cake. Well, something like that… Ahem. So you’re really not going to the festival? It’ll be fun.”
“No.”
At my firm answer, the bear smacked his lips tsk.
Then he soon even grilled yellow corvina, set the table, and gestured as if to hurry and eat. And he sat next to me and diligently removed fish bones to place the flesh on a plate.
The bear who smoothly pushed it to me, not toward Bihyeon, read his mood. And brought the fully grilled yellow corvina, removed the bones, and held it out to my side again.
Reading the mood together, I placed the steaming one toward Bihyeon. He who was eating soup laughed lowly and moved the plate back to my side as if to say it’s fine.
After a long time, I completely emptied a bowl of rice and gulped down water. To help with the dishes this time, I quickly stood up when suddenly my body was lifted by the tiger.
“…Are we doing this again…?”
The tiger who had been waiting and slung me over his shoulder as soon as I stood up, carried me outside the dining room and gently set me down on the floor.
“Tiger… Yeonho-nim?”
“Yeah. Go play.”
“I need to help with the dishes.”
“Keep Bihyeon-nim company.”
He pushed me away thud and walked back into the dining room on all fours again. In Bihyeon’s hand as he slowly came out of the dining room was a tray, and on it were rice snacks and tea.
Bihyeon who sat in the pavilion and placed it on the desk gestured to me. I stood in an awkward posture, then approached closer. He who held out tea to me smiled and tilted.
“…What is it?”
“Plum tea. Do kids these days not like it?”
“No, I like it…”
Him saying “kids these days” with that face made me feel quite strange.
I received the tea and sat next to him, sipping. A refreshing and sweet plum scent spread throughout my mouth.
Phew, I exhaled small breaths because I was full and looked at the sky. Then making chirp cheep— sounds, the birds I saw back then flew close.
The bird that sat on my lap tilted its head and looked at me. It was a beautiful purple-glowing bird. While thinking it’s like a purple jewel, I froze in that posture drinking tea because I felt like it would be startled if I moved. I moved only my eyes while trembling my arm slightly in the air. Bihyeon laughed next to me, “Haha.”
“The baby is startled, so don’t make loud noises…”
When I gritted my teeth and spoke quietly, Bihyeon reached out his hand.
When he moved his finger, the bird that was on my lap climbed onto his hand.
Huuuh. When I moved limply and soundlessly, this time the bird flew flutter and landed on my shoulder.
When I put my finger out, it climbed onto my hand and tilted its head. Chirp cheep. Making a pleased sound, it came to my cheek and rubbed against it.
I was blank, then because it tickled, I laughed haha and gently stroked its head with my finger.
As I was absorbed in petting the small bird for a while, a rice snack popped into my mouth. I reflexively chewed and ate it.
“Do you want to go to the festival?”
“I said I have to work part-time.”
“You can go after it ends.”
“Does it go that late?”
“On the day of my actual birthday, we’ll do it all day.”
Oh, then I’m a bit attracted. I thought it might be okay to just stop by and look around, then shook my head. I felt like the boss would be troubled if I went and they found out I’m human.
“You said there are beings who dislike humans. I don’t want to go.”
“Wear my clothes. And if you stick right next to me, they won’t know even without wearing clothes.”
“Do you want to go with me?”
Is he asking continuously because he has no one to go with…?
While thinking that can’t be, when I asked playfully, Bihyeon lifted the corners of his mouth and nodded.
“Yeah, I have no friends to go with.”
…What? I thought he’d deny it.
“…Th-then should we just look around together briefly?”
I’ll let you off because it’s your birthday. Strangely my mood improved, so I nodded my head small. Bihyeon who stared at me soon made a satisfied smile.
What’s this about? When you don’t even think of me familiarly enough to call my name.
I finished drinking all the plum tea and picked up one more rice snack. Then the bird approached and pecked at it peck peck.
“Eek, wait. Can this one eat this? Can it?”
“It’s fine. Since Hyeonwoong made it.”
Is that so…? That’s a relief. I lowered my arm that had been flailing in surprise and held it out for easy eating.
Creeak— At that moment, the door opened and a slightly large bird came inside. The bird that came carrying a beautiful flower approached Bihyeon and dropped it thud.
Then it turned its head and looked at me. The beautiful white bird that tilted its head approached me and put its face close. A crane? It seems like a crane… as if I’ve seen cranes up close.
Cheep?
“Our guest.”
Cheep!
“Yes, tell him I’ll go.”
Cheep.
When that bird spread its wings, creeak, the door opened wide.
What? Can’t it get out over the wall?
“Hm? Can’t this one fly high?”
“No. This place, without the door’s permission, generally can’t be entered. Except for baby ones like this.”
Bihyeon reached out his hand and stroked the head of the small bird diligently eating rice snacks on my shoulder.
I watched the bird going back out through the door, then made eye contact with him.
“That flower… isn’t it Mountain God-nim’s?”
“That’s right. He’s inviting you to the lake, want to go?”
“The lake?”
“Yes. It’s at the top of this mountain.”
“Oh, I want to go!”
I’m curious. A lake at the mountain top…
When I sparkled my eyes, Bihyeon laughed lowly.
“Haru. Bring the durumagi.”
“Yes.”
The fox who appeared behind at some point nodded and went into a room, bringing out a black durumagi. Dragon embroidery was stitched in gold.
He who draped it over my shoulder grabbed my hand and stood up.
I relaxed and slowly walked as he led. When I crossed through the open door, a warm wind blew. The sight of all the trees in the mountain swaying seemed like they were welcoming me, so I felt strange.
“Hold this.”
I received the flower the bird had brought. I could tell by looking at the string tied to the flower’s end. This is definitely what Mountain God-nim sent. Because the bookmark string I gifted back then was tied to it. I smiled slightly and hugged it tightly to my chest. It’s strangely a flower of a similar color to my bookmark string.
When I held the flower, the tree blocking the path moved its branches aside and opened the way. I slowly walked that way following Bihyeon. We were still holding hands.
“Ah, right. I’m telling you in advance, when we go up, my appearance will change too. Don’t be surprised.”
“What?”
“The top is a sacred place, so appearances can’t be maintained. It’ll change again when we enter the lake though…”
The fog gradually thickened, so my ears felt stuffy.
I heard half, but didn’t hear the other half well. I frowned and gripped the clasped hand even tighter.
“Wha, what did you say, Bihyeon-nim? I can’t hear well…”
Huh?
The moment I thought I let go of his hand, my body touched something and gently floated up.
