If Silk Flowers Bloom by the Water’s Edge Chapter 22

The chukjangji was usually under the protection of the family, so major incidents were rare. If there were any, it would be something like an unexpected yogwi appearing in the chukjangji. While no yogwi could be entirely harmless, it was startling when an unfamiliar one appeared in a place where only identified yogwis were supposed to roam. Even if the family’s protection prevented truly evil beings from entering, the appearances of yogwis were quite grim, weren’t they?

However, for Chaehwa, who had practically mastered all there was to know about yogwis since she was five, it was a dull story. The chukjangji was like making an excellent swimmer swim 365 days a year in a sea that only came up to their knees. She had grown tired of the endlessly shallow depths.

Lying sprawled out on the sun-drenched wooden porch, Chaehwa flipped through a newspaper. The outside world was spewing out changes 24 hours a day, without giving any time to digest its unpredictability. War, economic crisis, people dying of starvation on the other side of the world, while on another, a festival where people threw food around was held in great success every year.

Chaehwa, who had practically memorized airplane safety instructions out of a longing for overseas travel, caressed the newspaper with today’s date. The old castles built of stone, the cathedral built by a world-renowned architect, the streets suffocating with the scent of coffee—the dream of a very young girl was still a dream, even now at eighteen.

For seventeen years, her grandmother had been expressing her love for her granddaughter by keeping the iron gate of Nanjubeol bolted shut. Patrolling the chukjangji village, a duty befitting a minor master, was forbidden to Chaehwa. Was it her twelfth birthday? A villager, manipulated by a maengmusa’s control technique, had attempted to assassinate her with a kitchen knife. There was also an incident where five taxis, instigated by Sarira, chased her while she was out on business.

Until she was sixteen, assassination attempts were an annual event. Her grandmother would fly into a rage each time, telling her not to even think of going out without Yeonrye or Old Lady Yomyung. Since outside business was conducted through Secretary Yoon, who had been employed for generations, Chaehwa’s movements were limited. She couldn’t even dream of walking the streets of Hongdae in broad daylight. At this rate, she couldn’t deny the stigma of being a minor master in name only.

“Time for lunch, Young Miss.”

“Just leave it there and go.”

Folding the newspaper and setting it aside, Chaehwa took a deep breath. The cold winter wind blew in, pressing down on her already aching stomach.

“You used to eat your meals on time, Young Miss. Has that damn ‘ennui phase’ of yours come again?”

“Just go. I can’t be bothered with anything. It’s all meaningless.”

“You have your phone. You can just play that Star’s Horn thing you like so much.”

“Leave it and go. That’s enough, that’s enough.”

She felt sorry for the worried Yeonrye, but she was getting tired of <Knight of the Stars> too. After clearing the 900th stage, there were no new patterns, and the story was just a rehashed stew of what she’d seen last week.

Even if a new game she was interested in came out, she had to wait a few months at a minimum. During those boring months, the difficulty of caring for the Young Miss would rise, so the household staff had coined the slang term ‘ennui phase’ among themselves.

The lunch tray left on the porch was growing cold in the winter wind, but Chaehwa paid it no mind. It was then that Yirok, the master of playing alone, caught her eye. The boy, holding a piece of toast that was his share, was reading a book, a tiresomely exemplary student.

He looked like he’d be a gum-chewing delinquent.

“Yirok.”

“…”

“Hey.”

Without looking, Yirok pointed a finger at Chaehwa, who was lying next to the meal tray.

“Chin.”

“Chin?”

“You have two.”

Lying down and looking down had made her chin fold into two. Chaehwa, filled with fighting spirit, rolled over and got up.

“You brat, Yirok, why do you keep teasing me these days? Huh? Just ignore me instead.”

“I think you think I’m docile because I talk nicely. I’m trying to become a proper bastard, just in time. You’ll join me, right? Thanks.”

Part of the reason <Knight of the Stars> had become boring was Yirok’s change in personality. Ever since the incident where he faked being sick, Yirok had been deliberately playing the ‘bastard’ role. Gone were the days he acted like the reincarnation of a stone statue; whenever the two of them were alone, he was relentless in tormenting Chaehwa.

“Ah… and you crossed the line while I wasn’t looking.”

“No, no…!”

Last night, Yirok had picked up small pebbles and created a line between them. He left a warning, like a formal notice, that there would be a price to pay if she crossed it, by mistake or otherwise. And Yirok kept his word. There was no mercy. Yirok, who had put his book down, approached and swiftly pulled off Chaehwa’s furry sock.

“Hey!”

As soon as her left foot was bare, Chaehwa drew her legs together. Ignoring her protest, Yirok tossed the sock to the other side as if playing catch. Seeing the sock fly in a parabola, Chaehwa felt her mind go blank.

“You’re crazy…. You’re insane.”

“I’m trying not to go insane next to you. Trying not to go insane.”

Yirok’s new strategy these days was to say everything he had to say in a gentle voice. Sweet revenge was something you only saw in Westerns. Unable to even put up a weak resistance, Chaehwa, who had her sock stolen just like that, wiggled her toes as her left foot grew cold. Yirok, who had finished his toast like a leisurely scholar, now began to admire the scenery.

Lately, Yirok had been acting like a patrol officer, intensely watching anyone who opened the door to Chaehwa’s chambers, whether it was Yeonrye or the kitchen staff. He would sit with a “the time has come” expression on his face and stare holes into the person. His burdensome gaze was so intense that even Yeonrye would ask if he needed something.

Yirok, who had raised his guard to be watertight, would, however, stare at the scenery outside like someone who had given up on life once the person left. The only thing he showed any enthusiasm for was tormenting Chaehwa.

“Clean this up.”

Wanting to disturb his scenery-gazing, Chaehwa kicked the pebbles about, scattering them everywhere. It was a radical act of revenge. It was no different from destroying the truce Yirok had offered, yet he just watched Chaehwa’s tyranny with a blank expression. Chaehwa crossed over the pile of pebbles and put her hands on her hips.

“Go get my sock right now.”

“Our Young Miss sure has big dreams. Move. You’re blocking the sun.”

“Oh dear, Yirok, what will you do now that I’ve ruined the pebble line you worked so hard on? Are you going to strip me naked and throw me out?”

“Hah…”

“Go on, do it. Huh? Go on?”

“One.”

“O-one? Oh, I’ll shout the next one for you. Two!”

“Two.”

“I’m not your damn dog, do you know who I… Ack!”

Like someone with a split personality, he was either dopey or vicious. There was even a sense of mission about him as he went out on his morning exercise to collect pebbles. Everyone was dying to meet Chaehwa of Nanjubeol. Unaware that she was looking upon him with a heart as vast as the sea, Yirok committed yet another act of rudeness.

“Put this down! Put me down!”

“The pebbles. I told you not to cross.”

Yirok, who was ridiculously strong, easily lifted Chaehwa and proceeded with the abduction.

“I’ll count to three, put me down! I’m calling Yeonrye! You’ll get your calves whipped again!”

Chaehwa, who was getting a view of the high world thanks to Yirok’s tall stature, struggled timidly. Hadn’t she walked barefoot in a snowfield after poking the wrong beehive last time?

“Where are we going! Just tell me where we’re going….”

Yirok, carrying a person with one arm and walking in silence, was gradually becoming scary. Chaehwa, with tears in her eyes, looked around for someone to help, but Yirok’s steps only led them down a secluded path. His choice of back alleys with no sunlight and no people made Chaehwa’s voice grow smaller and smaller.

“Um… Yirok. Should I go pick up the pebbles again? Huh?”

“That was too weak.”

“Or maybe some twine or something…”

“Are you saying that the bond we’re tied with now isn’t enough, so we should add more?”

Her words bounced back like they’d hit a wall several times. Finally, having decided on a destination, Yirok gently set Chaehwa down. Chaehwa, who had left her phone, the newspaper, her lunch tray, and all the things she liked even a little, sat on a shabby bench with nothing but her body.

It was a garden located at the edge of the pond, a place now forsaken even by the two-headed magpies. Yirok gave the only bench to Chaehwa and sat on a rock near the pond’s edge himself. It was the maximum distance his arm, bound by the yeongju, could reach.

Unsure of his intentions, she just blinked. Chaehwa, who had been abducted without shoes, first hid her feet under her skirt.

“Um… I’d appreciate it if you could just get me my phone.”

“Stay like that until dinner is served.”

“Why, why, why. I won’t get close. I won’t go over. We can just make a promise.”

“If you come over, I’m going to jump into the water.”

“What?”

“Pebbles are weak. You’re too tough.”

“Hah…”

Of all the people who would threaten to throw themselves into the water, he had to pick him. As if she wouldn’t approach because she was afraid he’d fall into the pond.

But even while grumbling so, Chaehwa endured for 10 minutes like a gentle lamb. It was unusual for her to last 10 minutes without reading or playing with something. But, just as expected, after 10 minutes, Chaehwa’s lips started to itch.

“Yirok.”

Yirok, though he was no literary youth, was lost in admiration of the pond. Annoyed that he was pretending not to hear her, she made her arm movements bigger.

“Yirok.”

“…”

“Yirok.”

“…”

“I have something to give you. Just a second, just a second.”

“Ten minutes. Give me that much.”

“Actually, ten minutes have already passed.”

Chaehwa put on an innocent act with her big, round eyes, but Yirok only showed a hollow smile.

“So I’m asking for 10 more minutes.”

“No. Either give me my phone, or jump in the water.”

“Fine.”

“Huh? No, no, no… wait.”

The moment Yirok defiantly stepped into the pond, Chaehwa leaped up from the bench. She had stood on the cold bare ground with her sockless foot. Then she screamed and returned to the bench, covering her frigid foot with her hands.

“My foot is so cold. I’m not kidding.”

This time, it wasn’t an exaggeration; it was true. Yirok, with his ankles submerged in the pond, tilted his head back. He looked up at the sky with eyes that said he was sick and tired of it all. Feeling that she might have gone too far, her shoulders slumped, but this time there was a risk of frostbite.

“It’s true…”

Splash. Yirok, water streaming from his pant legs, walked over in the blink of an eye.

“But I don’t have any shoes to put on you instead. You can blame your own mouth for telling me to go into the pond.”

Though his words were cold, he cupped her foot under his hands and carefully warmed it. His hands, acting as a heater, were so cold that Chaehwa just swallowed. Then she noticed Yirok’s wet sneakers, fresh from the pond, were on the snowy ground. If left unaware, it would be Yirok who would get frostbite.

“Yirok. I’ll tell you some good news. I wasn’t going to tell you originally. Want to hear it?”

“I’ll drop you in the pond again, just say that instead.”

“Why are you always so cynical with me? Do you like me? No way? Are you attracted to me, is that why you’re being so cynical?”

The situation of using Yirok’s hands as a heater was extremely burdensome. And also extremely unsettling. Though she couldn’t pinpoint what was so unsettling. It felt like waiting before jumping naked into the winter sea, teeth chattering. Yirok looked at her foot, which was starting to turn pink. His gaze was very plain and simple.

“Chaehwa. Do you know?”

“…What.”

“Do you know how miserable that would make me?”

If he had thrashed about or been cynical, it would have been one thing. But with a gaze that seemed to be genuinely asking if she was going to drown him, Chaehwa felt she couldn’t bear it without finding another scapegoat.

“Um, ah… then I’ll give you that. I really called you over to give it to you.”

Caught in Chaehwa’s random finger-pointing was a flowerpot filled with soil. At Yirok’s non-reaction of a mere glance, Chaehwa’s finger curled inward. Yirok’s hands, which hadn’t moved even after roughly warming her freezing foot, were finally gone after a quiet mumble to himself.

“Then again. What big deal is my misery to you…”

Yirok, saying they should go, carried Chaehwa on his back politely this time, unlike when they came. Chaehwa, who had made him carry the flowerpot too, mulled over her unspoken words during his quiet, swaying steps.

Today is the last day we’ll be tied together by the yeongju. Grandmother summoned me for this evening.

Yirok, who couldn’t take a joke as a joke, ultimately didn’t get to hear the good news. Even though it was news he had been eagerly waiting for.

From what she had observed, Yirok’s strengths and weaknesses were the same. He couldn’t just pass by something pitiful. For better or for worse, she felt that Yirok was not suited to be a warrior.

Chaehwa’s eyes gradually darkened as she surreptitiously rested her cheek on Yirok’s black hair.