BSA Ch 502

“Hello?”

Still silence.

“If you dialed the wrong number, I’m hanging up.”

It was the moment Gwanchang was about to set down the receiver. From the other end of the receiver, a low voice spoke.

— It’s me.

In an instant, Gwanchang doubted his ears. Though it was a voice he hadn’t heard in nearly 4 years, he recognized who it was right away. It was Jeung Yeolsaeng.

∞ ∞ ∞

June 12th, Sunday.

Gwanchang was driving his car across the plain. A week ago, Jeung Yeolsaeng had called him and said out of the blue:

―I’m unemployed. Please hire me.

That single phrase brought back the time 4 years ago when he had gone to beg at the church. A certain man swung a fist toward Gwanchang, and Jeung Yeolsaeng, who suddenly popped out, blocked the front and took the hit instead. When the startled Gwanchang asked why he came here, the answer came back cool as a cucumber.

I came to ask for a job. Since I’m unemployed these days.

Startled by the sudden call, surprise was only momentary; Gwanchang lowered his voice and asked a question.

―Have you quit drinking?

This was a matter that definitely needed confirmation. Jeung Yeolsaeng answered in a tone brimming with confidence.

―Yes.

Though completely unbelievable, Gwanchang gave the benefit of the doubt and answered.

―Alright. Let’s do an interview.

―Before that, I want to meet you in person. Sunday the 12th, do you have time? Ah, I’m telling you in advance, I don’t have the slightest intention of assassinating you.

―Tell me the location you want. Or shall I set one separately?

―There’s a tavern near the inn I’m staying at. That place is….

Gwanchang clicked his tongue while speeding up the car. Is this gentleman taking me for a fool? A gentleman who claims to have quit drinking sets an appointment at a tavern?

If you think of an alcoholic based on an ordinary person’s standard, you’ll be sorely mistaken. It probably meant he reduced it from the hundred glasses he usually drank down to ten glasses. Still, considering Jeung Yeolsaeng’s drinking capacity, reducing it to ten glasses was something to be grateful for, he thought.

The tavern was in a quiet spot on the outskirts near the capital. Surrounded by wild flowers in full bloom across the plain, the tavern was a wooden cabin exuding a rustic beauty. Gwanchang parked the car near the tavern and stepped out. He entered the tavern, but no customers were in sight.

“We aren’t open yet. My goodness… C-Could it be, Prince Gwanchang?”

The girl standing guard at the counter was startled. Gwanchang sat by the tavern window and said, “Just give me a cup of oolong tea, please.”

“I have an appointment with a friend. I’ll pay double, so please.”

The girl responded with a rapid “Yeees!” and dashed into the kitchen. Soon after, hot oolong tea and refreshments were placed before Gwanchang. Gwanchang brought the tea to his mouth. After emptying half the teacup, he checked his wristwatch. 2:00 PM.

The appointed time was 2:30 PM. Just as Gwanchang was about to sigh inwardly, wondering what to do while waiting alone for 30 minutes, he heard the creaking sound of the shop door opening behind him. All of a sudden, a strange premonition washed over him. The feeling as if all surroundings suddenly froze like a freeze-frame and only he was left alone. Somehow… a strange intuition that everything was about to flip in an instant. And a tremor spreading throughout his whole body. What could be the origin of this tremor? Excitement? Or fear?

Gwanchang unconsciously stared intently down at the table. White steam was rising from the oolong tea. Before he knew it, the sound of rhythmic footsteps approaching behind him. The faint scent of peppermint scattering around the surroundings…. The footsteps sounded familiar to his ears. The peppermint scent was similar to the smoke smell of cigarettes someone enjoyed smoking.

Gwanchang’s heart pounded so hard it was unbearable. Following that, his hands trembled violently, and his breathing grew rough. Premonition changes into intuition. Intuition turns into solid conviction. That the moment of the twist had finally arrived right before his eyes. The 365 years repeated three times, plus another 183 years of time, the long space walk that seemed like it would never end had finally come to an end, he clearly realized. The twist struck in an instant. The universe cleared away. Darkness filled up with light. The heavily draped silence filled up with the chirping of birds on the plain, and then, finally, a star approached and spoke.

“Yo.”

Across from him, he pulled out a chair with a swift tug and sat down. Gwanchang flinched and raised his head to look at him. Right in front of him, he was there. In his long, slanted eyes staring arrogantly at Gwanchang, a dizzying smile lingered. And a single phrase. While the astronaut drifted through space for a long time, a phrase he anxiously waited and waited for flew in casually. In a coolly composure and brazen tone.

“I’m back.”

∞ ∞ ∞

Jeung Yeolsaeng was walking across the plain with imposing strides. Every time the wind blew, the torn monk’s robes he wore fluttered wildly. The aspen wood staff held in his hand left deep marks each time it struck the ground.

The tavern revealed itself in the distance. Jeung Yeolsaeng firmly planted his staff into the ground and glared at the tavern with smoldering eyes.

You’ll be surprised when you see me, Gwanchang!

After that incident, Jeung Yeolsaeng sent an apology letter to Gwanchang and left for Dobakguk❨圖博國❩. The Seongseok where he once stayed to catch Ju Changwoo was close to Dobakguk, so monks from that country occasionally came to Seongseok, and their glimpses caught in his eyes had left a deep impression in Jeung Yeolsaeng’s memory. Fluttering red monk’s robes. A face detached from all worldly affairs. A reverent smile.

In a word, he shaved his head and left for Dobakguk to become a monk. Since he was a eunuch, he figured temple life wouldn’t be difficult. Dobakguk, the roof of the world. The country of souls. The hill of gods. Jeung Yeolsaeng spent a year performing five-point prostations together with pilgrims on the Ancient Tea Horse Road closest to the sky. Tarcho flags fluttered at every mountain pass. Old monks closed their eyes and endlessly chanted scriptures.

During that one year, Jeung Yeolsaeng drank precisely three bottles of alcohol a day. In the second year, the alcohol was reduced to three bottles a week. Around that time, Jeung Yeolsaeng’s body underwent an astonishing transformation. His scrawny body filled out nicely. His whole body was covered in moderate muscle like beautiful tattoos. His brown, tanned face exuded a sexy allure, and everywhere he went, women’s gazes showered down on him. In the third year of monk life, the alcohol was reduced to one glass a month.

Currently, it was his fifth month of total abstinence from alcohol. It was a new record. Though he had attempted quitting alcohol countless times in his life, there had never been a single time he passed a week. Jeung Yeolsaeng was convinced he was born anew as a different person. He no longer felt an inferiority complex about his ruined lower body either. Even when seeing alcohol, his mouth didn’t water. All of this was thanks to performing five-point prostations on the Ancient Tea Horse Road for 3 years while endlessly chanting Om Mani Padme Hum.

I have changed, Gwanchang. You undoubtedly sneered with conviction that I didn’t quit drinking, but merely reduced it. Hmph, look closely!

Now, he decided to run toward his dream again. Upon meeting Gwanchang, he intended to pour out scathing criticism first. He planned to nitpick every single piece of administrative ability he showed over the 3 years and throw sharp, direct advice. He also prepared words to decorate the grand climax. Gwanchang, I too was born with the fate of a king. Just like you, I am convinced that I too changed my fate. Moving forward, let us put on a fair competition together.

“Gwanchang―!”

He slammed open the tavern door and shouted thunderingly. The next moment, Jeung Yeolsaeng went “Eh?” and furrowed his brow. Inside the tavern, there was only a female employee. Looking at the clock on the tavern wall, it was 2:45. Jeung Yeolsaeng checked outside the tavern. A sleek, shiny black German luxury car was parked. Does this gentleman really have to go to the privy at a time like this, damn it.

“Eesh, what timing….”

Just as he was about to grumble, Jeung Yeolsaeng flinched and hesitated. Far away in the wide-open plain, a black motorbike speeding away was visible. The faces of the men riding side-by-side on the motorbike came clearly into view even from afar. Jeung Yeolsaeng gasped sharply.

L-Lee Hwa?! The person riding behind is Gwanchang?

Soon, Jeung Yeolsaeng ended up frozen in place. The fast-speeding motorbike tilted at some point and flew up… soaring straight into the sky and disappearing.

It was so absurd that Jeung Yeolsaeng couldn’t budge an inch. Only after a long time did the brain inside his head slowly begin to turn. Jeung Yeolsaeng thought blankly. I’m drunk. No, but how can I be drunk when I haven’t even had a drink?