I Returned, and Now I See Strange Things-Chapter 21: Steaming
The voice I had been hearing thankfully didn’t seem to be a hallucination.
I picked up the empty makgeolli bottle he had tossed and put it in my bag, then moved toward the voice calling out to me so desperately.
Following the voice out of the cave, the first thing I saw was the blinding sunlight attacking my eyes.
...Just a moment ago, it had been pitch dark.
As the intense light beat down on me, my eyes—which had adapted to the darkness of the cave—screamed in protest.
Like a child of darkness huddled in a sunlit room with the curtains suddenly drawn, I squinted and let out a faint groan.
A voice I had never heard before spoke up.
“...Are you Ms. Bo Ayun?”
As I blinked and adjusted to the light, I saw people who looked like police officers. Their faces looked fairly worn out.
“...Yes, that’s me.” “We found her!”
As I answered, they radioed it in and began leading me down the mountain.
...As we slowly made our way down, I got the gist of things. It seemed Hyeyeon and Hyesung had reported me to the police.
More than that, though, what confused me was the fact that the sun was up.
When I entered the cave, it had clearly been the middle of the night.
...Is this what it feels like to be possessed?
Thinking that it had been a full day without me coming down, I figured it was understandable that they were worried.
That’s just normal here on Earth.
I stretched, and my joints popped.
The thought that I had stayed up the entire night hit me all at once, and a wave of exhaustion washed over me.
I let out an involuntary yawn, and one of the officers walking beside me opened his mouth.
“What were you doing up in the mountains at night, miss?”
Miss, huh.
It was a strange... bittersweet feeling.
Come to think of it, I guess we hadn’t explained why we went up the mountain.
...Strictly speaking, they wouldn’t know why I went up alone, so maybe it made sense they were confused.
I thought for a second.
If I said I came to see a ghost, I’d probably just get scolded for no reason.
So I came up with a more acceptable version of “I came to see a ghost.”
“It was, um... a courage test.”
That earned me a sigh and a bit of a lecture.
It was a little annoying, but I could feel that he was saying it out of genuine concern, so it didn’t feel all that bad.
More than that, though—what exactly was that guy I’d met earlier?
Based on what Hyeyeon had told me, he was probably that so-called White Tiger.
He liked alcohol... had long white fur...
A strange face, hard to tell if he was human or a tiger, and a huge body like a beast.
Just like the story.
The only difference was that he didn’t attack humans?
Though, honestly, that part’s a bit uncertain.
Maybe he didn’t attack me because I gave him alcohol.
He did stare real hard when I shook the makgeolli bottle.
Thinking back on that look, maybe he lured me in using that song only I could hear—just to get his hands on the booze.
If so, then the last thing he mumbled makes sense too.
He must’ve been apologizing for... peeking into my memories.
All that just to have a drink.
“...Bastard.”
“You listening to me, miss?”
“Ah... yeah. I’m listening. Just a little tired, that’s all...”
“...I see. Your friends are waiting for you at the bottom, so let’s hurry and get down.”
...I’m older than them, though.
Still, it seemed more convenient to let them keep misunderstanding, so I kept my mouth shut and followed quietly.
Once we got out of the forest, I saw Hyeyeon and Hyesung pacing anxiously.
I apologized to the two of them, who ran up in a panic, and since there hadn’t been any crime or accident, the police let me off with just a warning.
As I looked up at the sky—now clear as if the rain had never happened—I got into Hyesung’s car.
From the passenger seat, I asked them:
“You guys get any sleep?”
“...Not at all. We were worried.”
“...Sorry.”
“We’re glad you came back safe, but... why’d you go off like that?”
The guy who’d been grinning sheepishly asked with a serious expression, and it suddenly felt weighty.
Unlike the police, the two siblings trusted me to some extent, so I told them the truth.
“I went up there and met something like a White Tiger.”
“Eh?” “Excuse me?”
I unzipped my bag and showed them the makgeolli bottle.
“Look at this. He really liked makgeolli.”
When I showed them the empty bottle—missing its cap—they both looked doubtful.
“...You didn’t drink this up there, right?”
“Do I look drunk to you right now?”
“Ahaha... no, not really.”
“Oppa, be quiet. Just focus on driving.”
I left out the part about the song and gave them a slightly polished version of what had happened in the cave.
Hyesung looked skeptical, but seeing Hyeyeon’s fascinated face as she peppered me with questions, he must’ve decided to keep quiet.
As I was satisfying Hyeyeon’s curiosity...
My stomach growled loud enough for everyone to hear.
I saw the corners of Hyesung’s mouth twitch.
When our eyes met in the rearview mirror, he quickly opened his mouth.
“Y-you must be hungry? How about some gukbap before you sleep? I found a good place yesterday.”
“...Let’s go. Now.”
You don’t say no to gukbap.
***
A girl with silver hair tinged with violet hummed a little tune as she sat at the table.
On the table were a variety of side dishes.
Kimchi, including cubed radish, onion pickles, and chili paste, garlic, peppers, and more...
The kind of full spread you’d get at any gukbap restaurant.
The girl—Ayun—was still humming, clearly looking forward to the gukbap that was about to come out.
Hyeyeon, sitting beside her, was furrowing her brow while tapping away on her phone.
She had written a post about the White Tiger based on what Ayun had told her, and now her comment section was flooded with pushback.
...Like, we literally have someone who experienced it firsthand?
You guys are on a whole different level of information resolution.
With bloodshot eyes from an all-nighter, Hyeyeon kept furiously typing.
Hyesung was yawning as he messaged their manager and friends.
...Also checked on the editing status while he was at it.
Their paychecks were on the line, so he figured they’d do their jobs—but a little pressure every now and then didn’t hurt.
So thought Hyesung.
Clack.
Ayun opened the lid on her bowl of rice.
Even /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the scent of the rice seemed fragrant as she sniffed.
‘...What is she, really?’
The views were good, and everything was playing out like he’d hoped.
It was a little spooky and scary, sure... but the audience loved it.
Still... he didn’t want to go through something like today again.
Having someone get hurt at a place you brought them to—no matter who it was—wasn’t the kind of experience anyone would want.
...Even if it wasn’t someone you were especially close to.
As Hyesung sighed, three black stone bowls were placed on the table.
Exactly three servings.
Steam rose steaming from the hot gukbap bowls.
“I gave you extra special portions. Enjoy!”
“Thank you.”
It was Ayun who replied.
She looked genuinely pleased at the mention of the generous serving.
Hearing her lively answer, the server gave an awkward smile.
“Aww... Your Korean’s really good! Are you visiting? I hope it suits your taste?”
“...I’m Korean.”
The woman’s eyes widened in genuine surprise and she clapped her hands.
“You’re Korean? My goodness... are you mixed?”
“P-pureblood, actually...”
The woman’s face went pale with shock.
She looked like she had a lot to say but soon bustled off to greet a new customer.
“...But honestly, it is hard to believe you’re Korean.”
“...”
Ayun said nothing to Hyesung’s muttered comment.
Because honestly... she kind of agreed.
Smiling bitterly, Ayun spoke softly.
“Let’s just eat.”
“Yup.”
Ayun lowered her gaze and looked into her bowl.
The broth wasn’t clear—it was thick and milky white. Visible inside were meat slices, offal bits, and finally... chives.
How long had it been since she’d had gukbap?
She sniffed the soup’s distinctive scent, and a wave of nostalgia hit her.
She’d worried her palate might’ve changed and she wouldn’t like it anymore—but that worry vanished.
Ayun picked up her spoon and took a sip.
Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.
A deep, umami-packed broth.
It was a little bland, so she added some salted shrimp.
After seasoning it to taste, she took another sip and exclaimed,
“Keh... this is it.”
The kind of line you'd expect someone to say with a shot of soju in hand.
“...You want some soju with that?”
Hyesung mumbled across from her.
Ayun hesitated, then shook her head.
“No thanks.”
“...Don’t regret it later.”
“I won’t.”
With her clear answer, Hyesung also picked up his spoon.
Ayun took another spoonful of the perfectly seasoned broth and let out a blissful expression.
Feeling the warmth spread through her stomach, she now scooped up a spoonful of meat and offal, added a slice of pickled onion on top, and took a bite.
Sweet, tangy crunch from the onion.
Warm, savory broth enveloping her tongue.
Springy, chewy offal.
The faint sharpness of chives rising up at the end.
It was a single, flawless bite.
Ayun smiled contentedly and opened the lid on her bowl of rice, then dumped it into the gukbap to make a porridge.
She waited a moment to let the broth soak in.
Then she dug her spoon deep, and scooped up a spoonful of soaked rice, meat, and broth.
As she bit down, the soup burst in her mouth like meat juice.
Soft rice, chewy meat.
Whenever the texture felt a bit heavy, she munched on the tangy, spicy radish kimchi that came with it.
Ayun felt full. And warm.
Hyesung glanced at her with a mixture of relief and pity, then turned to Hyeyeon—who hadn’t touched her gukbap at all.
“Hyeyeon, aren’t you eating?”
“...Just a sec.”
While Ayun had been devouring her bowl in delight, Hyeyeon hadn’t even lifted her spoon.
Her furrowed brow showed no signs of relaxing.
Just as Ayun was hurriedly gulping down the last of her soup—
Suddenly, Hyeyeon spoke.
“Ayun unni.”
“Slurp...”
“Unni!”
“Uh, yeah?”
Ayun set the bowl down with a dazed look.
Hyeyeon spoke to her, as Ayun stared longingly at the leftover broth.
“Can you come with me somewhere?”
“Huh? Out of nowhere? Where?”
“...To, uh, settle things. In person.”
“Eh?”
“What?”
As both pairs of eyes turned to her, Hyeyeon mumbled in embarrassment.
“T-that jerk keeps saying I’m lying...!”
Ayun blinked in confusion.
