Bokchae for a Life
Park Su-hwan looked at Han Seung-ju, who was staring back at him in silence. From the young man's expression, he could roughly guess what was going through his head.
He doesn't believe me.
Even after Su-hwan had rattled off his personal details without missing a beat, Han Seung-ju still seemed to suspect him of being some kind of cultist. If anything, his wariness had only sharpened.
"…Who are you? Are you an acquaintance of my parents? Or have we met somewhere before?"
Han Seung-ju narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Su-hwan. It was hard to blame him, really.
A complete stranger had just poured out his private information without the slightest hesitation.
"I already told you. I'm a shaman."
Su-hwan thought to himself that it was truly tragic for a young man to have his life cut short—not by his own will, but through a company's negligence.
And all because proper equipment had never been issued. Han Seung-ju had repeatedly raised the issue.
That was right. The one suffering from a complete lack of safety awareness was not Han Seung-ju. It was the company he worked for—the same company that had not changed even after fingers were lost and arms left paralyzed.
"Ordinarily, leaking heavenly secrets is a celestial punishment that shortens one's allotted lifespan… But Han Seung-ju's life looks so wretched that I'm making a special exception to tell you this."
"…"
Su-hwan calmly studied the lingering doubt on the young man's face.
"Name, job, boss, and even that miserable work environment. I've gotten every single detail right, and if you still can't believe me, there's nothing I can do about it. I'll be on my way."
He did not force belief on him. The choice belonged entirely to Han Seung-ju—the choice of whether or not to accept the cruel fate that would soon arrive if he refused to believe.
Su-hwan began pulling his cart away. The young man who had kept his mouth tightly shut suddenly called out in panic.
"W-wait a second!"
Su-hwan pretended not to hear and casually kept walking. The goal was to heighten the other man's anxiety until he moved of his own accord.
There were times when a single silence proved more effective than a hundred words. As someone who made his living off his mouth, Su-hwan understood that principle better than anyone.
"Wait!"
Han Seung-ju rushed over and blocked his path.
"You're saying I'm really going to die?"
Su-hwan let out a heavy sigh.
"Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you. I only told you what I saw."
"…"
"If it's true, then it's true. If it isn't, then it isn't. Right?"
"You said a week from now?"
"Precisely next Tuesday, around 1:51 p.m. During work, a worn-out belt will snap. That will be the cause that severs Han Seung-ju's life thread."
Han Seung-ju fell silent for a moment as he looked at the young man who spoke of his death with such absolute certainty.
"…"
With a tone that confident, there was no way not to believe him. The truth was, Han Seung-ju himself had lived in constant anxiety. He was doing dangerous work without ever receiving proper gear. The accident this man described was entirely plausible.
"Han Seung-ju."
"…Yes?"
"I'm just curious—is it normal for you to climb the utility poles yourselves to do the work?"
Su-hwan asked about the question that had bothered him while viewing the young man's future in the world of the ledger.
"Ah, no. We usually work from a live-line truck. It's dangerous otherwise. Climbing the poles yourself—what we call pole-climbing work—is something only the skilled veterans handle."
"Then what about you? Have you ever done it yourself?"
"I know how it's done, but I've never actually done it. You need a separate certification for that. So I've only helped out a few times."
"Ha…"
Su-hwan let out a short, incredulous laugh.
Now it all made sense. That was why Han Seung-ju had looked so terrified when he climbed the pole.
They just shoved a dangerous job he'd never properly done onto him. Because they were busy.
He could still picture the team leader's back as the man snapped about the backlog of work and hurried him along.
That's basically telling him to go die. What a worthless human being that team leader is.
"Honestly, I don't think that company is a place worth sticking around. 'Everyone does it this way. Just be careful and nothing will happen.' You've heard that a lot from your team leader, haven't you?"
"…"
Han Seung-ju nodded quietly, his expression dark.
"Is there anything more irresponsible you can say to an unskilled worker?"
"I was already planning to quit anyway. The moment this month's paycheck comes in properly. Honestly, it's just too much."
"You were going to quit this month?"
What vicious timing.
That meant Han Seung-ju was fated to cross the Samdocheon a mere three days before payday.
Su-hwan unconsciously bit down hard on his lip. If he hadn't run into Han Seung-ju at the supermarket today…
This precious young life would have ended, right on the verge of escaping that hellish job site, high up on a cold utility pole.
"How is it even acceptable to send people onto dangerous sites without giving them a single piece of proper equipment? That's no different from grinding human lives to keep the company running."
Han Seung-ju seemed to have a great deal bottled up from his time on the job.
So he began pouring out everything he had only ever thought to himself, to the man who actually understood how he felt.
"And buying the gear out of my own pocket doesn't make sense either, does it? I came here to earn money, and now I'm supposed to buy all that expensive equipment myself?"
It was an entirely reasonable question. Yet his coworkers had kept their mouths shut. Worse, they had treated Han Seung-ju like some kind of weirdo. Because of that, he had almost started to wonder if he was the one in the wrong.
Even though this was a relatively quiet automotive supplies aisle in the supermarket, there were still one or two people around.
They glanced over curiously, but Han Seung-ju paid them no mind.
"…You know what's even funnier? The equipment they do hand out is all completely worn out, and they make us share it on top of that."
He was so furious at the company that the people around him had completely faded from his awareness.
Su-hwan offered the onlookers a smile that said nothing serious was going on, then let out a long sigh.
"If you asked them to at least replace the belts, would the company listen?"
"I don't know. Probably… The team leader would refuse and say they're still perfectly usable. He always has."
Then there was only one option left: Han Seung-ju spending his own money to replace the gear. But if he was quitting anyway, there was no reason to spend the cash.
"Then just take that day off."
On the day of the accident, an unusual flood of work had apparently forced Han Seung-ju into an exceptionally dangerous site. If he simply avoided that single day, he should be fine.
"Take the day off? The team leader would never allow that…"
He was more worried about the team leader's wrath than about losing a day's wages. They were already short-handed. If he suddenly announced he wasn't coming in, it was obvious how the team leader would react.
"Who said anything about permission? You just need a good excuse."
How could anyone force a man who claimed he was in so much pain he could barely move to go work?
"Right? If you think your life is more valuable, that is."
Su-hwan murmured in a low voice and gave a crooked little smile.
"…"
"Not going to answer?"
"…Understood."
"Ah. Still, keep pushing hard for them to replace the equipment. Someone else might end up taking your place."
If the company still insisted on using the worn-out gear and an accident happened after that, it would no longer be Su-hwan's concern. He had already given the best warning he could through Han Seung-ju.
Good. That should be enough for him to listen.
Just then, a loud voice blasted from the speakers hanging from the supermarket ceiling.
Fifteen minutes left until lunchtime sale ends! Hurry!!
Su-hwan's mind snapped fully awake. He had been so focused on stopping Han Seung-ju's tragic fate that he had completely forgotten why he came to the supermarket in the first place.
Oh no! My beef!
"We need to go. Now."
Su-hwan clapped the still-dazed Han Seung-ju on the shoulder and took off running. Startled by the sudden change, the young man hurried after him.
"Wh-where are you—!"
Just moments ago this man had been speaking with a grave face about his death. Now he looked like any ordinary person.
"The beef! The sale's about to end! Hurry!"
No one loved meat more than Park Su-hwan. And when it came to beef in particular, he was completely helpless. Missing a deep discount was absolutely unforgivable.
Ugh… Only fifteen minutes left already!
That was when he spotted a display selling yakgwa and brightly colored okchun-dang. Without a moment's hesitation, Su-hwan grabbed some and tossed them into Han Seung-ju's cart.
"…!"
"Bokchae! You have to pay the price."
Su-hwan never forgot the compensation required after leaking heavenly secrets.
At that price, it wouldn't be much of a burden on Han Seung-ju. In other words, it hadn't been a completely thoughtless impulse.
"Out of the way! Just one for me! No—two!"
Before the flustered Han Seung-ju could even respond, Su-hwan had already vanished into the crowd heading for the beef section.
"It's all mine! I said it's mine!"
"Upsy-daisy."
Park Su-hwan was walking along, struggling under a shopping bag that had grown considerably heavier than expected.
The carefully planned shopping list he had made before coming to the supermarket had been thrown out the window thanks to the unexpected expense of the yakgwa and okchun-dang. Add the bokchae he had received from Han Seung-ju on top of that…
Of course the bag was heavy. Yet his expression wasn't entirely gloomy.
He had gotten lucky on the event roulette the supermarket was running and scored a discount coupon. Thanks to that, he had been able to buy things cheaper…
That was close.
And he had managed to snatch the very last pack of beef by a hair's breadth, weaving through the aunties!
He looked down with satisfaction at the lustrous, rosy-red beef sitting in his bag and muttered to himself.
Still, it's a shame. I could've bought more… Tsk.
If only that one auntie hadn't snatched the beef out of his cart in the chaos.
How could she do that?
He had only been planning to put the beef in his cart. He never imagined someone would just take what another person had already put in.
For a moment he wondered whether what that auntie had done would be judged as theft down in hell.
Hmm… She hadn't paid yet, so maybe it's not a crime. Strictly speaking, it wasn't even mine yet.
"Oh! Master?"
He was walking along, lost in these completely useless thoughts, when someone cheerfully waved at him.
"Jung Jin-hyuk?"
Su-hwan's eyes widened and he stopped in his tracks.
Firefighter Jung Jin-hyuk. He hadn't expected to run into him here.
"Are you on your way back from the supermarket?"
The man hurried over and glanced at the shopping bag in Su-hwan's hand. Feeling oddly embarrassed, Su-hwan shifted the bag behind his back.
"Ah… Yes. Looks like you're on duty, Jung Jin-hyuk?"
"Yes. We were removing a beehive from a roadside tree and we're almost finished. It's really good to see you here."
"You're working hard on a hot day like this."
Su-hwan said, looking at the sweat pouring off the man.
"It's my job. It's fine. More importantly, I should have come to visit you much sooner, but there have been so many accidents lately that I just couldn't find the time. I'm sorry."
"No, there's no need to apologize. More importantly, hold on a second."
Su-hwan rummaged through his shopping bag. He wanted to give something—anything—to a man working this hard.
The beef was obviously out of the question…
He pulled out a glossy pack of yakgwa.
"I wish I had a cold drink to offer you, but this is all I've got."
Originally it was meant as an offering for the General's altar, but he had another pack anyway, so it didn't matter.
"Ah, no. I'm fine."
Jung Jin-hyuk waved his hands and firmly refused, but Su-hwan stubbornly pressed the yakgwa into his hand.
"I feel bad accepting this…"
The man who had saved his life by revealing the future deserved to be treated a hundred times over. Receiving something from him instead felt improper.
"More importantly, how has your sister been doing at work lately?"
A fact he had nearly forgotten suddenly came back to him. Come to think of it, both siblings had benefited from him.
Jung Jin-hyuk had kept his life, and Jung Jin-ah had avoided an unnecessary job change. In a way, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Park Su-hwan had changed both of their lives.
"She's doing really well. Just like you said, once that thorn in her side disappeared, she says work has become enjoyable again."
Jung Jin-hyuk shook his head with a pleasant smile.
"That's why she's still going crazy about wanting to see you again. She says she wants to repay the favor and still has a lot of questions."
Wait. Favor?
Su-hwan remembered the message Jung Jin-hyuk had sent before. Was he talking about that?
"Yes. Jin-ah says she really wants to take you back to that meat restaurant we went to last time. She insists she'll treat you properly this time."
Nice. Bingo.
"…!"
Su-hwan's eyes sparkled.
The chance had come around again. Another opportunity to go to an expensive meat restaurant.
In the past, Jung Jin-hyuk had refused his sister's request out of consideration for Su-hwan. Just thinking about that moment still made him want to pound the ground in regret.
"She's busy, and you're—"
"I can make the time."
Su-hwan hastily cut him off and answered.
"Actually, I've been curious how her work life has been going after my advice. And I should also check what else might still be bothering your sister."
The words flowed like a mountain stream. Anyone listening would have thought he was genuinely concerned about her situation.
Beef, beef!
But Jung Jin-hyuk, completely unaware of the drool practically dripping from Su-hwan's true intentions, looked deeply moved.
"Master, you really are… such a good person."
Jung Jin-hyuk spoke in a voice thick with emotion, looking at Su-hwan with the kind of eyes usually reserved for saints—eyes that made Su-hwan feel extremely burdened.
"Aigoo. Not at all. Let's set something up soon."
And as soon as possible!
He had no divination appointments scheduled for tomorrow. He wanted to say he could meet right away. But acting too eager might look cheap, so he held himself back.
He noticed Jung Jin-hyuk's firefighter colleagues glancing his way. It seemed their work was done and they were looking for him.
"I think you need to get going now."
"Ah… You're right. Thank you."
"Yes. Be sure to contact me."
Su-hwan put special emphasis on the word "be sure" before walking away.
Jackpot!
The moment Jung Jin-hyuk disappeared from view, he clenched his fist and let out a silent cheer.
My eating luck—no, my meat luck—just exploded!
Knowing Jung Jin-hyuk's upright personality, he had no doubt the man would get in touch.
He had debated whether to take the bus because of all the bags, but deciding to walk home for the exercise had been the right call.
Thanks to that, he had stumbled into this unexpected stroke of luck.
Wow. Things are really going my way today. This is a total lucky day…
"I'm certain the ledger is somewhere in this neighborhood."
"…!"
A woman's rough voice struck his ears like a thunderbolt. It was a voice he could never forget, no matter what happened.
The Woljikchasa who had swung that massive curved blade around, radiating killing intent. It was her.
"Only the life threads of the people around here have been changing, after all."