Chapter 45.1

Chapter 45.1

Ara alternately looked between Cheong-seon’s smile and the pair of bean sprouts left on the table.

Could she do this? Even though she still didn’t know him well, could she dare comfort him? Was it okay to hope he’d be a bit more honest, to want to get closer?

Her contemplation was serious but brief.

“Bet on it, even if the odds are slim,” her grandmother’s lifelong motto still remained her most solid belief.

Instead of doubting whether she should, she would do what she could and wanted to do.

Ara made her decision, pulling her hand free from Cheong-seon and standing up.

“Lee Cheong-seon.”

“Yes?”

“You owe me a favor.”

“I do…?”

Cheong-seon looked confused.

“The cold noodle soup.”

Ara delivered the words like a secret code, her expression solemn.

This was about the dongchimi noodles she made on the day she first met Cheong-seon, the “goblin favor coupon” she’d been promised in return for making his song-inspired meal.

“Oh! Right. But why that bring up now?”

Pay it back now.”

“Now?”

Cheong-seon tilted his head again.

“What do you need? A top-tier lottery ticket? Are you asking me to repay ten billion on behalf of His Majesty? That’s not possible. The existing contract…”

“It’s not that. I don’t need money.”

Though she was essentially a housekeeper because of that damn ten billion, Ara boldly extended her hand to Cheong-seon. At least right now, there was something more urgent than money.

“Lend me the goblin cap for a day.”

***

“Oh my, who’s this? The young bride!”

As soon as Ara stepped through the fully opened store entrance, a familiar and cheerful voice greeted her.

“Grandmother. How have you been?”

Ara responded with a bright face. The sunglasses-shaped goblin cap on her head swayed slightly with her nod.

The place she had borrowed the goblin cap from Cheong-seon was the traditional market in Sinya Town. The very market she had visited with Seok-kyung in Seol-do’s place.

‘Baekseol. I’ll grill a tomahawk steak, medium rare. Please help me.’

After waking Baekseol from her nap and asking for navigation, Ara quickly descended from the mountain, crossing the shortcuts known only to Baekseol in the maze realm.

‘If we run into those loan sharks, I’ll wear the cap and secretly escape, then come back here. You’ll need to come and get me. Got it?’

Though she was a bit nervous about going back to the place where she had encountered the loan sharks before, Ara bravely jumped into the crowd, backed by the goblin cap and Baekseol’s escort.

They began shopping around the market. After buying meat as promised in exchange for help, urged by Baekseol, she also purchased various ingredients she had pre-written on her phone.

And the last place they stopped was here, the grandmother’s vegetable store.

“Hello. How are you doing? But why are you alone? Where’s your husband?”

“Oh, he’s a bit busy with work today. Couldn’t come with me. Instead, I brought this big dog…”

Ara naturally looked around the doorway.

Baekseol sat at the entrance in a dignified posture. Her mouth, firmly gripping the cart handle loaded with items, looked quite resolute.

“May I come in for a moment? She’s gentle and won’t bite or cause trouble.”

“Oh my, how well-behaved. Are you here to help your mom carry groceries since your dad’s not around?”

The grandmother praised Baekseol with an admiring glance.

“What’s the white dog’s name, young bride?”

“Baekseol.”

“What a nice name. Just like freshly steamed white rice cake? Come here, Baekseol. Sit right next to grandma.”

Tap, tap. Her wrinkled hand patted the spot beside her.

Baekseol rolled her black eyes, looking cautious, but when Ara nodded, she dragged the cart and entered the store.

“How strange. How can a dog understand people’s words so well?”

If only you knew she can not just understand, but also speak human language and eat human food…

Ara suppressed her desire to say this and looked around the store.

“I’d like to see some ginger. Where is it?”

“Ginger? See that red thing over there? It’s right behind it.”

The old lady, seemingly adoring Baekseol, continuously stroked her white fur while making a casual gesture.

Ara deliberately ignored Baekseol’s pleading eyes as she moved to find items.

Ginger is this much… I’ll need some color, so maybe pick up some pumpkin and carrots too…

Crouched before the mountain of vegetables, she was carefully estimating the quantities needed when—

“Well, look who it is. Isn’t this our doctor?”

“Grandma, have you been well?”

Hearing a new voice, Ara noticed Grandma warmly exchanging greetings with someone.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this dog. Did you just get her?”

“This pretty thing was brought by the young bride. Isn’t she cute? She came to help her mom carry market groceries.”

“Oh, is that so? Not just pretty, but seems very kind too.”

Nam Baekseol, without a doubt, is probably loving all this attention.

Ara chuckled inwardly as she imagined Baekseol basking in the compliments, but suddenly, she frowned and froze.

Something felt off. That man’s voice—it sounded strangely familiar, like she’d heard it somewhere before…

It was at the exact moment she thought that and stood up with the basket of vegetables she had carefully chosen.

“…Na Ara?”