The Villain’s Recipe - Chapter 23.2
When problems arose between espers and guides, it was often because of the actions taken when they first met. When a person who had been hurting and sensitive all along finally met someone capable of healing them, naturally they should express gratitude and bow their heads.
If the degree of sensitivity went too far, there were also espers who forgot that part. They would pour the resentment of the pain they had suffered up to that point onto the guide. That was why Ma Jin-cheol guided Baek Seok-gyol with all his heart and soul.
‘Our leader can be sweet too!’
He probably could. He wanted to believe so.
❖ ❖ ❖
With Ma Jin-cheol’s help, Min-ha and Baek Seok-gyol arrived in Gamheung-ri with ease. Knowing that the Management Bureau had already been to Gamheung-ri, Ma Jin-cheol dropped them off a short distance away from the village entrance. From then on, since Min-ha knew the way well, it wouldn’t be difficult to find the house.
“I will look around the surroundings for a moment.”
Leaving behind words that he would come back when the time was right, Ma Jin-cheol concealed his presence. Thus, Min-ha walked step by step alongside Baek Seok-gyol, treading on the piled-up fallen leaves. Seeing that the weather was growing colder, snow would likely fall later on. The animals that were always together with them must have slowly begun preparing for winter too.
Thinking like that and walking for about ten minutes, the house came into view.
“Over there.”
Min-ha quickened his pace a little. And when he opened the closed bush clover gate and stepped into the courtyard, something rushed at him as if flying.
“Kiuung!”
Baek Seok-gyol swiftly snatched up the animal flying toward them.
“Kyaaak!”
It was a large cat that had gained some weight and somehow looked quite dignified. The cat struggled full of fury, but once Min-ha scooped it up into his arms, it grew docile.
“Kkyuung.”
It even switched its voice as if by magic, and its feigning of innocence was extraordinary. While Baek Seok-gyol stared at that sight as if it were baffling, other animals gradually revealed their presence.
A water deer, another cat slimmer than the one just before, a dog, a crow, a magpie, a weasel, and a Siberian chipmunk. Huddled together, they surrounded Min-ha.
“Aaaaaak!”
Right there, Baek Seok-gyol heard the cry of a water deer for the very first time. Its appearance was cute in its own way, but its cry was monstrous. It sounded somewhat like a young child crying, and also like a scream.
Min-ha stroked the animals one by one and looked around his surroundings. A few large bowls for food were placed in the courtyard, and they were filled about halfway with food. It seemed the other villagers must have filled them while Min-ha was away.
‘Something to be thankful for.’
Giving a polite bow, Min-ha entered the room with the cat cradled in his arms. Following along behind such a Min-ha, Baek Seok-gyol took off his shoes and stepped inside. In the not-so-large room, there was a wardrobe, a low set of drawers, and a display cabinet. On the ivory-colored rose wallpaper, a calendar was attached, though peculiarly it was a daily tear-away calendar. It was fixed on the day Min-ha had left.
“I’ll pack some clothes first.”
At Min-ha’s words, Baek Seok-gyol opened the bag he had brought in advance and neatly packed the clothes inside.
“After that, let’s go to the kitchen and bring some kimchi too.”
Saying that, Min-ha finally put the cat down and opened the drawer. Inside, there should have been a bankbook containing the money Grandfather had saved up for Min-ha, his personal seal, and an old snack tin where he kept precious things. However, the bankbook, the seal, and even the snack tin were entirely nowhere to be seen.
‘I figured this would happen.’
Would an uncle crazy about money leave a bankbook alone? Still, it was strange that the snack tin had vanished. Min-ha had grown up watching his grandmother and grandfather ever since he was little, so he followed the habits they practiced. Even if it looked like an ordinary snack tin on the outside, opening it would reveal a sewing kit, a few photographs, and old paper cranes.
Suddenly, when Mr. Jang had made the phone call, he remembered Kang Sa-hyeok taking over the receiver. The paper cranes were what Kang Sa-hyeok had given him when they were young. If so, had the snack tin been taken not by the uncle, but by Kang Sa-hyeok? But if that were the case, he should have just taken out the paper cranes.
