Yokai Come to the Countryside Café

Chapter 7: The Opening Ceremony Was a Mess (1)

This was, without a doubt, the first time I had ever poured that much oil into a pot and deep-fried something.

If it weren’t for the sincerity of my apology, I could never have attempted it.

Since I didn’t have any professional equipment, I was worried that the appearance or taste wouldn’t be up to par, but all of that turned out to be needless worry.

“This is what tonkatsu is! It looks exactly like what I saw before!”

“It really does. Pretty close, huh?”

Perfectly fried tonkatsus on a plate, finely shredded cabbage with dressing, and fluffy instant rice.

Even though I hadn’t actually made anything from scratch, it felt even more satisfying that way.

No matter how good homemade food was, it couldn’t compete with mass-produced products developed by PhDs to sell.

“But there’s a lot left.”

The raccoon dog smacked his lips as he looked at the leftover patties I had fried in advance, not knowing when I’d next go through the trouble of deep-frying again.

“Just put them in the fridge. Don’t eat too much or you might get an upset stomach. Got it? If you get sick, we’ll have to go to the vet again.”

“I’ll just eat this much!”

I didn’t mind giving him more, but even what was already on his plate seemed like a questionable amount for such a small body to finish.

Going to the vet twice in one day because of a stomachache was not something I wanted either. I was already under suspicion of illegally keeping a wild animal.

But really, what do I do with all this leftover food?

I rarely ate breakfast and often had dinner at work. Even if I put it in the fridge, it was highly likely to end up in the food waste bin three or four days later.

But that worry quickly became pointless.

– Ding.

The number of guests increased. To three.

“Huh? It’s the gumiho!”

“Ahem.”

Just as the raccoon dog said, standing at the entrance were the gumiho young man we met last time and his chauffeur, looking a bit sheepish.

In truth, I had expected they might show up soon.

If they had really given up that easily, they wouldn’t have sent the raccoon dog here in the first place.

Thanks to that raccoon dog, I hadn’t slept all night, then went to the vet in the morning and even fried tonkatsus. I was dying to say something, but held it in.

It would have taken quite a firm resolve to awkwardly cough and scratch one’s cheek, yet still come here uninvited—only to be coldly turned away.

“If you haven’t eaten, please join us. I made a lot.”

“Coffee is all I need.”

“I’ll make you coffee after you eat. Please have a seat.”

“Really?”

Worried that we’d just keep repeating the same exchange, I went into the kitchen without answering and brought out two more plates of tonkatsu.

And so, the four of us sat around a café table bathed in warm sunlight.

“Hooooo! This is delicious! This one’s sweet, this one’s savory! And this one tastes great with rice!”

“Okay, okay. Eat slowly.”

I took a big bite of tonkatsu and forced the raccoon dog—who kept standing up and down, enthusiastically sharing his thoughts—to stay seated.

“I knew it from the start, but your cooking skills are impressive.”

“I helped too!”

“You did?”

“It’s only natural to help humans, ahem!”

“Hmph, what’s so natural about that? Most others are so jaded by the world, you can’t even tell if they’re yokai or humans.”

“Sounds like there are more like him.”

“Of course! Back in the day…”

“Uh, Elder!”

“What? You think I’ve got something to hide from someone who left Shinan? Tsk tsk.”

“So that’s what you call Shinan.”

“Yeah. But with those sharp eyes, how are you living like this? You should’ve at least done government work like this guy, or run a business, or achieved something.”

“The world doesn’t like people like that.”

“That’s true. You’re quite perceptive.”

I had always had sharper instincts than most people. I just lived thinking that’s all it was.

Whenever I saw something, I would force my eyes to blur it out. And when I sensed something clearly, I dismissed it as déjà vu.

Only recently did I realize that it was the ability to see these supernatural beings.

‘How did you know that? Who told you? You’d better tell the truth.’

‘Don’t talk nonsense! What accident?’

‘Mr. Kim Jinseong, if you keep saying you don’t know anything, it’ll look bad in court. Now, let me ask again. Why did you try to start the fire?’

That’s why.

I had lived believing that normalcy was a virtue. Though that no longer really mattered.

“Are there any side effects? Like dying young, or going crazy in your old age?”

“Tsk tsk, first you treat me like a nuisance, and now you’re worried about that?”

“As you know, I had no one to ask.”

It’s true I was worried.

Just this morning, I took a yokai to an animal hospital.

From a normal person’s perspective, I’m not much different from a lunatic.

“Of course, there are side effects.”

“What are they?”

“Shinan is, quite literally, the eye opened by the gods. Just as everything in the world has its purpose, the one who opens the divine eye has their own destined path. In this land, there was one who wove the fate of Joseon, and before him, there was Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo.”

By “that person,” could he mean Sejong? And by Yeon from Goguryeo, does he mean Yeon Gaesomun?

“Tsk tsk, now it’s starting to feel real, isn’t it?”

No.

In fact, because the answer was so unreal, my mind cooled off.

These were people who had lived lives like fire, completely different from me.

I was someone who had lived simply, hoping to stay long at one company, receive a comfortable retirement payout, and enjoy life with a part-time job after retirement.

“You’ll soon be doing that kind of work too.”

“My lineage is far too unimpressive for that, don’t you think? I’m not a crown prince or a noble.”

“Hmph, do you think their bloodlines are anything special? Even if you trace their fathers back for tens of generations, they were just people who herded sheep or farmed the fields. Don’t mind that. Just live according to the flow. Aren’t you already doing that? You’ve become the owner of this café, after all.”

“I bought this place because I wanted to.”

“And that’s why we’ve come as well.”

“Everything returns to justice, then.”

“Truly clever, tsk tsk.”

Sahpilguijeong (事必歸正).

Everything eventually returns to its rightful place.

That I bought the café with a “For Sale” sign like I was possessed, and that these yokai came because of it—he meant it was all destined.

All my efforts to live a normal life by going along with the world ended up like this anyway? And the divine eye was something granted simply for being of use?

What nonsense.

“Well, take it that way. Since we’ve all eaten, bring us some coffee. As for the future, you can discuss with the one doing government work…”

“No, thank you.”

“Hmm?”

“I didn’t ask for what you call the divine eye. And now you’re saying I should follow the flow because the price has already been paid—do you expect me to just go along with it?”

“No, it’s not about following. It’s just that Mago Granny already decided that it would be that way…”

“If you’ll just open the café, I’ll give you ten million won a month. How about it? Even if it’s open just one hour a day, that’s fine.”

The gumiho, who was said to be involved in government work, cut off the middle-aged man and suddenly offered an incredible deal, handing over a business card.

It was a card with only a name and phone number printed on it.

No company address or email, making it resemble one of those shady cards you find on the street at dawn.

But what followed more than made up for the sparse business card.

“I’m Baek Mahyeon, Director of the Counterintelligence Division at the National Intelligence Service. The NIS guarantees your payment.”

I had assumed, seeing him accompanied by a yokai, that he held a high rank, but I never imagined he was a director.

And he was offering ten million won a month.

These guys—looks like they already knew I’d refuse. They probably wouldn’t have offered the money if I had agreed easily.

Once my thoughts reached that point, my mental calculator began to run at full speed.

If I couldn’t decide what to take and what to yield at this moment, I’d end up with nothing.

“Forty million. Since there’s no guarantee you’ll stay in that position, I’ll need at least that much.”

“We have budget procedures and limits, so more than thirty million a month might be difficult.”

“…Then I’ll take thirty million.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Let’s go with that.”

I shook the hand he extended and sealed the sudden deal.

There was no need to say, “Give me time to think.”

If everything that must happen will happen, then no matter what I do, I’ll end up opening the café as the gumiho wishes.

Should I resist the flow? Or go along with the wishes of these lofty beings and secure my share?

Naturally, I chose the latter.

From what I remember, it’s rare for heads of government agencies to serve out their full terms.

At most, two years until the next presidential election.

And if something major happens in the political world during that time, it’s the role of a high-ranking official to submit their resignation in acknowledgment of responsibility.

There’s no way a newly appointed rival in a different faction would let money continue to flow—thirty million won a month to a place that earns nothing.

So I plan to milk it for all it’s worth and then gracefully bow out with the excuse, “There’s no more money, so I’m quitting.”

I’ll play along. If this great current is beyond my control.

But there is an expiration date. And that expiration date isn’t set by the destiny of Shinan—it’s determined by me.

The two men and the raccoon dog only left the café and got in the car once the shadows had shortened at noon.

“Honestly, I don’t know why Mago Granny keeps giving the divine eye to such difficult people. She should give it to someone more obedient. Tsk tsk.”

“At least now you can drink all the coffee you want, right?”

“Is that something to say? That guy threatened to stop if I didn’t behave—how can I drink freely now!”

“Haha, I guess that’s true. But how did he know the deal would end if I resigned?”

“He’s wise enough to rival a sage without even using the divine eye. He probably figured it out from the context. Be sure to prepare a contingency plan.”

“You’re being ridiculous again.”

“Ridiculous? That’s your job!”

“They’re fools. They don’t know I just gave him a leaf, so I don’t know why they’re worried.”

From the passenger seat, the raccoon dog, patting his full belly, suddenly spoke with a haughty expression after silently listening to their conversation.

“A leaf?”

“As payment for the coffee, I gave him a leaf.”

“Y-You little… Don’t tell me you gave him a leaf from the Divine Tree?!”

“That’s right. There’s thiiiis many leaves, so he can drink thiiiis much coffee. But I won’t drink any. It tastes good, but it kept me up so much I almost died.”

The gumiho’s pupils quivered violently, lost and shaken, as he listened to the raccoon dog’s nonsensical answer and saw the raccoon dog gesture with his front paws to indicate a ridiculous amount.

“This is bad. Turn the car around! Quickly!”

– Screeech.

The black sedan heading toward Gyeryongsan swerved sharply.

“Uwaagh! I’m dizzy! I think I’m going to throw up! Uuugh!”

“Elder, please stop him! Car wash fees can’t be reimbursed with receipts!”

“Is that what matters right now? I said step on it!”