7. Human or Good Man (2)
It was one night before the ‘Cheongshin Rite’ that Sister Gamwoo came to visit. It was around this time that I was wrestling with documents in my office.
It was no exaggeration to say that the ‘Cheongshin Ceremony’ was the biggest event in Liyue. It was an important event that announced the country’s future direction, and of course it had a huge impact on the Liyue commercial world. So, as the Cheongsin Ceremony approached, the headquarters of the upper divisions in various parts of Liyue used to become lights that guarded the night.
My top was no exception. Rather, since it was not a merchant with roots in Liyue, we had to prepare more thoroughly. Change has always been both a crisis and an opportunity. If you take a bit of risk and be proactive, you could seize a big opportunity. The caravans that had already established themselves in Liyue had a lot to lose, so they had no choice but to move forward passively, but my caravan was different. In the first place, in Liyue, Siwoo Sangdan was in the position of a clear challenger with roots in other places.
When the business became busier, my work as the owner of the business naturally increased. That was the reason why I was locked in my office late at night, holding on to documents. When I peeked out the window, I saw that it was already deep at night. The moon was rising pitifully in the dark night sky. After struggling with documents all day, I felt like my head was slowly turning. I felt like the rest of the work would have to be done tomorrow.
It was then. A knock was heard on the office door. The secretary had already left work, so I couldn’t tell who was outside the door. However, if he came to see me late at night, I could at least guess that he had some important business to do.
I shouted loud enough to be heard outside the door without taking my eyes off the desk to finish the document I was looking at.
“Please come in.”
Then the door was carefully opened. I looked away when I felt like I was being popular. There was an unexpected person there. A beautiful woman with impressive blue hair and a horn-shaped headdress that is a mixture of black and red.
As soon as I saw those mysterious purple eyes, I jumped up. He was an unexpected and welcome guest.
“Sister Kamwoo!”
When I called her name with joy, a faint smile appeared on Sister Kamu’s lips. As always, she greeted me in a quiet and gentle tone. And the way her head was carefully lowered was always a noble gesture. It was impeccable etiquette.
“…… Hello, little brother Siwoo.”
Gamwoo has always been like that. We are now confident that we are comfortable with each other, and we always say hello to each other politely every time we run into each other. That would be Gamwoo’s own rule. No matter how close you are, be respectful and careful. It was one of the reasons why I liked Kamwoo.
I greeted Sister Kamu face to face and immediately offered her a seat. In the needlessly luxurious upper office, there was also a fancy table for entertaining guests. There were plenty of places to sit.
Personally, it was a luxury I did not like. It was just that Mr. Jongryeo recommended it again, so I had no choice but to follow his advice. Liyue people value prestige and face, so they have to pay attention to their appearance, etc. I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard him talk about his ‘prestige’ and ‘prestige’ in Liyue. I was sick of it now.
But it was inevitable. I was just a stranger, and Liyue had its own laws. No matter how much I didn’t like it, in Liyue, it was enough as long as the people of Liyue liked it. Just now, Sister Gamwoo glanced around my office with her eyes, and then sat down without saying anything. The attitude was as if this was the place where the owner of the caravan resided.
Of course, it wasn’t something worth complaining about now. I was also somewhat accustomed to this splendid office by now. I sat across from Sister Kamu and looked at her expression.
Gamwoo looked tired. In fact, Sister Gamwoo has never been tired before, but today she felt a little different.
Feeling uneasy, I picked up the teapot without saying anything. It was an impressive tea with a refreshing scent. It was originally a tea I had prepared to drink while working all night, but since Gamwoo looked tired, I thought it was an appropriate choice.
As I poured tea into a luxurious teapot, Sister Gamwoo smiled faintly. Her soft voice reached my ears.
“Thank you, little brother Siwoo. It’s a sudden visit…….”
I was silent for a moment after hearing what Sister Kamu said. Now that I think about it, this was the first time that Sister Kamwoo visited me without an appointment. In fact, neither I nor Gamwoo were such leisurely people. These people are so busy that you have to make a schedule in advance to make time to meet them.
So today’s visit was a little unexpected. It was a sudden visit with no contact whatsoever. I could tell that it wasn’t the usual behavior of Gamwoo, and at that point I had a hunch. It seems like something happened to Gamwoo.
“Well, aren’t there days like that in life? And friends are what I look for when I have work to do… “What happened?”
At the same time, I secretly looked at Sister Gamwoo. Sister Gamwoo immediately smiled bitterly at my words. She asked back in a voice as bitter as tea leaves.
“Is it obvious like that?”
“Yes, a little.”
At my immediate answer, Sister Gamwoo sighed deeply. She slumped her shoulders, feeling downcast. It looked cute. Sister Kamwoo sometimes showed a cuteness that was inappropriate for her age. She was always an attractive person.
Sister Kamu hesitated with her eyes downcast, and then she opened her mouth again. It was a cautious voice.
“Actually, she made a mistake during the last Cheongshin ritual… As this time came again, my mind was complicated. But I don’t have anyone to confide in, and somehow it reminds me of Siwoo’s younger brother…….”
After hearing that, I nodded. It could have been so. No matter how capable a person is, there is no one who does not experience stress at work. However, the higher the position, the more stressful it becomes. Because standing on top of someone also means heading to a lonely position where you can’t even complain to someone.
But I was different. It was not a business relationship with her, nor was it a relationship with her that was intertwined with her interests. However, she had a close relationship with Sister Kamwoo, and since she had been working all her life, it would have been rare for her to have someone to whom she could confide in the stress of her work. That’s why Sister Gamwoo came to visit me today. I just wanted to complain.
I could understand it because it was a natural human instinct. It wasn’t difficult to go along with Gamwoo’s complaints. On the contrary, I felt a little proud of the fact that we had become close enough to Gamwoo to think of me when she was having a hard time. The only question was what mistake Kamwoo made.
Gamwoo’s sister was competent. This could be seen just by looking at her flawless handling of work. Although he often showed signs of clumsiness, he was at least clear when it came to work-related matters. The fact that she had made such a mistake during such an important event as ‘her rite of passage’ did not really form a good picture in her head.
I opened my mouth to Gamwoo, who was still downcast. It was a cautious voice.
“Well, what exactly do you mean by ‘mistake’?” … ?”
At my words, Sister Kamu lowered her head as if she was embarrassed. Her face got a little hot. Sister Kamwoo, who was hesitant, muttered in a low voice.
“Oh, because of the clothes…” ….”
I looked at Kamwoo without saying anything. Because of the clothes, so what’s the big deal? Sister Gamwoo finally took a deep breath as she looked at my questioning gaze. Soon she confessed in a voice full of shame.
“I was thinking about dressing differently than I did for the last Cheongsin Ceremony, but I ended up being late… I get nervous when I have something important to do…….”
I was silent for a moment. Sister Kamu’s face was as hot as it could get. As if that wasn’t enough, she covered her face with her sleeve while making an ‘Aww’ sound. However, the exposed ears were bright red, so it was not difficult to guess the expression behind them.
I tried to hold back, but I couldn’t. I finally burst out laughing. Seeing me giggling and laughing, Sister Kamu became even more upset. She lowered her sleeves and lowered her gaze helplessly. The blush still remained on her face, as if the embarrassment had not yet subsided.
“…… “W-Isn’t that funny too?”
Only then did I stop laughing. However, in a voice that was not yet full of laughter, I offered words of comfort to Sister Kamu.
“No, I just laughed because I thought Kamwoo was cute.”
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At my words, Kamu, who had been staring at the ground, raised her head. She looked at me blankly for a moment, but then she seemed to realize what I meant and her face blushed in surprise.
“Ears, cute…… ?!”
“Isn’t it cute? Although he is usually good at his work and thorough, there are times when he secretly makes mistakes. “It’s not just me, everyone probably thinks that way, right?”
Gamwoo’s face became even redder at the next words. She hastily lowered her gaze again. She hesitated and opened her mouth.
“…… “Is that so?”
I nodded her head vigorously, as if it was obvious. And then he continued speaking.
“Of course, and from what I heard from someone close to me, the King of Darkness is a benevolent god. Since Gamwoo usually does a good job, King Amwang must have thought there must be something going on. Of course, other people would have done the same.”
Sister Kamu seemed to have calmed down a little after my continued consolation, and she slowly raised her head. However, there was still some hesitation, so I joked.
“Isn’t that why you stay and work overtime every day? If you do things well on a daily basis, even if you make a mistake, you can smile and move on. So don’t worry too much. Even if you make another mistake, no one will care.”
After finishing speaking, I picked up the tea cup and sipped the tea. Sister Gamwoo remained silent for a moment, as if lost in thought. Then, her lips formed an attractive line. It was a faint smile, but it was a smile that showed that her mind had become much lighter.
Sister Kamu closed her eyes and placed her hand on her chest with her smile on her face. It was Gamwoo’s habit when she expressed her gratitude.
“Little brother Siwoo is amazing. Even when I’m worried, when I listen to Siwoo’s words, it always feels like it’s no big deal. “Is that why he’s so popular with women?”
At those words, my hand holding the teacup stopped. I looked at Kamwoo as if asking what she was talking about.
“…… “You’re popular with women?”
Gamwoo looked at me as if I was surprised at what I said. She tilted her head and asked me.
“Didn’t you hear? Siwoo’s younger brother is called ‘Golden Prince’ these days… ….”
“…… “Stop it!”
I had no choice but to shout that out loud at that ridiculous nickname. My hands trembled, and the teacup was roughly thrown onto the table. A rattling sound echoed through the quiet office. Sister Kamu seemed a little surprised by my sudden reaction.
But I couldn’t bear it. ‘Golden Prince’, why am I the only one who has been given such a cheesy nickname? There are so many neat nicknames, such as ‘noble person’ like Tartaglia, or ‘pediatrician’ like palm seed.
Sister Kamwoo just blinked and looked at me in pain. Her mysterious purple eyes were shining on me. I finally came to my senses when I saw her beautiful eyes.
“Isn’t that too much?!”
However, the resentment did not subside. At the first line of my earnest appeal, Sister Kamu just tilted her head as if she didn’t understand what was going on.
“…… What?”
“That nickname, ‘Golden Prince’ or something… I don’t know how much I’ve heard that sound over the past few days. To be honest, it’s a burden!”
As I continued to express my feelings, Sister Kamu made a short sound like “Ah,” As if she finally understood what I meant. And then a soft smile appeared.
“hehehe, Siwoo’s younger brother still has a childlike side to him… Standing in a high position in Liyue also means attracting the attention of the public. “Young brother Siwoo will soon get used to it.”
You’ll soon get used to it, so does that mean you’ll introduce yourself later by saying, ‘Hello, I’m Geumrangongja.’ I grumbled to myself, but in fact, what Sister Kamu said wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t say anything.
She just picked up the teacup that she had put down, smelled the tea scent, and calmed her mind. Only then did I feel my heart calm down a little, and I grumbled one last time.
“Well, are you saying that because I’m so great? I’m just saying he’s a bit handsome. Actually, compared to palm seeds or tartaglia, it’s not that good-looking…….”
Gamwoo’s eyes widened again at my complaint. Then he blinked a few times and began to look at my face closely.
Uhmmm, the sound continued. Sister Gamwoo looked at me this way and that, and eventually straightened her upper body again. I couldn’t figure out what Gamwoo’s intention was, so I just stared blankly.
The words that came out of Sister Gamwoo’s mouth after a while were enough to hurt me.
“…… “What makes you handsome?”
That sentiment was so innocent that it actually hurt even more. Even though I was confident that I wasn’t ugly, a hurt voice came straight out of my mouth.
“No… “Isn’t that too much?”
After hearing what I said, Sister Kamu looked at me blankly again as if asking what I was talking about. And after a while, she seemed to realize something and gasped in surprise. She immediately threw up her hands and began stuttering as if to deny what she had just said.
“Well, well, I didn’t mean it that way…” ….”
“It’s okay, I’m hurt.”
I said that bluntly, snorted and looked away. It was only half a joke, but Sister Kamu was even more embarrassed. She began to give her hasty explanation.
“Well, so…” After watching humans for such a long time, I don’t really understand their criteria for being ‘good looking.’ It may be said that their sensibilities are completely different, but in terms of artistic standards, Siwoo’s younger brother is also handsome…….”
I tilted my head at the subsequent explanation. It was because there was something strange about Sister Gamwoo’s tone.
“…… “Why do you speak as if Sister Kamu is not human?”
Gamwoo took a deep breath at my innocent question. The words “Humans” Made her feel as if she was not a human being.
Gamwoo’s eyes opened the widest I’ve ever seen. That alone was enough to make me feel how embarrassed she was. She began muttering in her stuttering voice, which was almost pathetic.
“Well, so…” That, that, that… ….”
“…… Aha.”
I saw Sister Gamwoo panicking and she let out an exclamation as if she realized it. Sister Kamwoo’s movements stopped. Sister Gamwoo looked at me with a mixture of nervousness and fear in her eyes. That look of hers was also quite cute, so I decided to keep it in her memory.
“Gamwoo, you seem to have a more self-conscious personality than I thought.”
At my confident tone, Sister Kamu’s gaze suddenly became stupid. She looked at me blankly, but I paid no attention and continued her story.
“If you have a strong sense of self, there are times when you try to differentiate yourself from others and sometimes even separate yourself. Unconsciously, this is revealed through speaking habits… Aside from her self-esteem, Gamwoo was a person with strong self-consciousness. That’s usually the case with people who become successful at a young age…….”
As my words continued, Sister Gamwoo’s gaze began to shift. And when I was about to finish her sentence, Sister Gamwoo sighed deeply. She shook her head.
“…… “I lost money by worrying.”
I protested those words as if I was a little offended, but Sister Kamu didn’t even listen to me. We just sipped our tea cups and chatted about different topics.
It was some time later that Gamwoo stood up. Now it was past midnight and around dawn. As I was talking with Gamwoo, I didn’t even notice the passage of time.
Now it was time to leave. I poured the last of the tea left in the teapot into the teacup. After Gamwoo left, I also planned to have a cup of tea and head to my dorm.
Before Gamwoo left my office, she placed her hand on her chest and quietly lowered her head. Her greeting was both a farewell and a thank you.
“I had fun today, little brother Siwoo. Thank you for your hospitality even though it was a sudden visit. If that wasn’t enough, I listened to their complaints, and…….”
As I was sipping her tea, her sister-in-law seemed to have something to say, so I glanced at her. It was a signal to hurry up if she had anything to say. Sister Gamwoo was quietly looking at my eyes, and then she smiled faintly as if she couldn’t stop me.
“…… “Thank you for pretending not to know.”
Because those words were a little surprising, I looked at Gamwoo without saying anything for a moment. In the end, I put down the teacup with a sigh. A slightly resentful voice came out of my mouth.
“If you say that, then who am I to tell nonsense on purpose…? ….”
“I will become Siwoo’s younger brother. “My kind brother-in-law, as always.”
Gamwoo’s voice when she said those words was filled with pure goodwill, so I cleared my throat and tried to soothe my feeling of shame. When Gamwoo saw me like that, she chuckled and burst into laughter.
“If not, think of it as punishment for making fun of your sister for being ‘cute.'”
“…… “It’s true that it’s cute.”
Gamwoo took a deep breath at the words I suddenly said. And then, with a slightly red face, he glared at me. I burst out laughing when I saw that. They say that part is cute, but it seems like Kamwoo doesn’t know.
Before leaving, Sister Gamwoo asked me.
“Now that I think about it… There is a story going around that a traveler is helping the people of Liyue.”
I was silent for a moment at those words. ‘Traveler’, the name she received as the main character of this world. It was a fitting name for a loner from another world who was always on the move. However, as you walk that path, stories will continue and someday, relationships will also connect.
From what I hear these days, it seems like she is steadily walking down that path. If it’s good enough to even reach Sister Kamwoo’s ears.
“…… I said this before, right? “I have a precious colleague.”
That was enough. Sister Gamwoo smiled as if she already knew. It was a smile filled with complex emotions. She looked bitter and relieved.
“I see.”
At the same time, Sister Kamu turned her steps. She left with one last word.
“…… “I’m a little jealous.”
That voice felt somewhat lonely, so it remained in my heart for a while. Is Gamwoo feeling lonely too? A loneliness that she cannot reveal to anyone and cannot be fully understood.
Gamwoo’s sister left, and my office became lonely again. When I packed my bags and arrived at the hotel, no one was awake. Since it was a rented place, Lumine, I, and Paimon were the only ones staying there, so it was worth it.
Lumine, I remembered her name. She did this until she climbed the stairs and laid her tired body on the bed. My eyelids closed, and soon my consciousness blacked out.
‘Precious colleague’, D. My sunken memories were digging somewhere in the past.
Yes, it was that time. The day I felt awkward with Lumine. I had a dream that day. A dream of the day I came to Liyue with Lumine.