Back to Everyday Life (2)
[Terra? What are you doing?]
[Shh.]
Terra pressed a finger to her lips. I crouched down beside her, still cradling Aqua in my arms. Terra held the large jar close, her eyes half-closed as she breathed slowly and steadily. The jar was so big that "holding" might not be the right word—she was more like clinging to it. Her chest and belly rose and fell in a gentle rhythm.
Terra spoke up.
[It's breathing.]
She was talking about the jar. Aqua tilted her head.
[Isn't that you breathing?]
Terra shook her head.
[No. It's breathing.]
I reached out and stroked Terra's head.
"That's a jar. You put food ingredients inside, and like you said, it breathes to cook what's in there."
[Amazing.]
Terra's eyes sparkled faintly.
[Humans use earth like this, huh.]
As an earth spirit, Terra seemed delighted by the idea. I pulled my hand away from her head and asked,
"A guest is here. Want to come see?"
Terra slowly shook her head.
[I'll stay with it.]
"Got it. Take it easy."
Terra half-closed her eyes again and leaned her head against the jar. A small smile bloomed on her lips. I grinned back at her and turned to Aqua.
"Looks like it's just us two."
[Let's go!]
Aqua beamed, perfectly content as long as she was with me.
* * *
I carried Aqua into the kitchen. Our guesthouse didn't have a fancy reception room, so the mayor was waiting there.
"Hello, Mayor. I'm Kang Hyunwoo. You came to see me?"
At my greeting, the mayor stood and offered a handshake.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim, the mayor of Samcheok."
We shook hands. I exchanged greetings with the two people beside him too—they seemed to be his aides.
[Mm. Hello.]
Aqua greeted them as well. But her voice was unusually subdued. Wondering about that, I heard her continue in a voice strained with solemnity.
[I've heard you're the king who rules over the humans here. I too hold a throne as a king. Surely there'll be no shortfall or discomfort in how we treat each other.]
"……."
"……."
The mayor froze mid-handshake, staring blankly at Aqua. I was just as stunned. Aqua, working her jaw up and down with great dignity, finally noticed the mood.
[……Huh?]
Pfft—a laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
"Ahem, hmm."
The mayor cleared his throat, fighting back a smile. But his lips kept twitching upward. The aides behind him hid their faces behind their papers, chuckling.
[W-what? Why are you laughing?]
Aqua asked, flustered. I barely held it together and explained,
"Aqua, the mayor isn't a king."
[Isn't he the top among 70,000 humans?]
"It's just an administrative position. Humans got rid of kings a long time ago."
Aqua was still pretty new to the human world.
[Oh, really?]
Before the awkwardness could settle, the mayor quickly extended a hand to Aqua.
"Nice to meet you, Aqua. I hold the mayor's seat in Samcheok City. Not a king, but we're the same in working to make people's lives a bit more peaceful."
[Mm! Just like me!]
Aqua shook his hand. The mayor glanced down at his own hand, clearly surprised by the spirit's unique texture.
As we sat, my parents brought out tea and simple snacks.
"Coming without a reservation, and such hospitality—thank you."
The mayor bowed his head and took a refreshing sip of iced tea. I had no intention of debating him, so I cut straight to it.
"Mayor, may I ask why you've come to see me?"
He smiled and said,
"To ask you to be Samcheok City's promotional ambassador."
It was a proposal I hadn't seen coming at all.
"Promotional ambassador?"
"You may not know, but thanks to you two, Samcheok's image has improved, and tourist numbers are up."
At his words, his aides spread out documents for me to see. Graphs showed steep upward curves.
"The successor to the Water Spirit King... ah, now the Water Spirit King herself. We've concluded Aqua's presence makes Samcheok seem like a safer, cleaner summer destination."
Aqua's endorsement of Phoenix Resort's water park came with the title "chosen by the Water Spirit King." The same applied to Samcheok City now.
"But it's only been a short time since Aqua became Spirit King."
"And look at the rise already. It's drawn in vacationers who were hesitating, those without plans, and even people stopping by on the way to Gangneung or Donghae."
Samcheok was a great summer spot, but it lagged a bit behind other Gangwon beach cities.
Second-tier at best.
Even out-of-towners often confused it with Sokcho, which shared the same initial consonant.
"We expect tourist numbers to multiply tenfold by summer's end. Half will be foreigners."
Korea was a hunter powerhouse. Having quelled gates first, it led the world in economy and culture. Word of the Spirit King would draw even more crowds.
All spirit users will want to visit at least once.
To spirits, a Spirit King was that important.
[Hee hee hee! As expected of me!]
Aqua puffed up with pride, nose held high. Warm smiles spread across everyone's faces.
Promotional ambassador...
It was a huge honor. A chance to promote the hometown where I'd grown up—and my parents before me.
"Can I discuss it with my family first?"
I stepped back for now. My decisions affected more than just me.
"Of course. Here's my card—please reach out."
The mayor shook my hand one last time and left.
* * *
I gathered my parents, Aqua, and Mandu and explained why the mayor had visited.
"Promotional ambassador..."
Dad looked surprised, glancing between me and Aqua.
"I thought that was for celebrities."
"A Spirit King is bigger than any celebrity."
[Of course! I am the queen of the undines!]
Aqua thrust her chin up and crossed her arms.
"Hee hee hee..."
Mom gazed at her fondly, as if she were adorable.
Dad said,
"Sounds like a good gig. Unpaid is a hitch, but no real downside."
"I think so too, but do it if you want—or skip it if not."
They were on board.
"Won't it be tough for you two? More tourists means more work for you."
I helped in summer, but once I returned to the academy, it'd be just them.
Mom smiled.
"Don't worry about us. A bit of bustle keeps us spry in old age. Besides..."
She added,
"We'll enjoy it. Even when you're far away, guests will bring news of you."
I stared at her, stunned. Mom's wisdom always caught me off guard.
"It's noblesse oblige," Dad said.
"Having a famous son means parents endure a little fame too, right?"
Dad was more steadfast than Mom, but a lifetime as a fisherman had taught him the value of harmony with the world.
I nodded slowly, glimpsing their philosophy on life.
I looked down.
"What about you, Aqua?"
[Of course I want to!]
Aqua shouted without hesitation. Something new and fun—that was reason enough for her.
"Then it's decided. I'll call them."
I stroked Aqua's head.
[Hee hee hee!]
Her eyes sparkled beneath her tousled hair, brimming with anticipation.
* * *
After lunch, it was a lazy afternoon. I sat in my room, blankly watching Mandu preen his wings. Fresh from a neighborhood flight, he nibbled at them like he was shedding dead skin.
[Look at this!]
I turned at the voice. Aqua proudly set a box down in front of Terra.
[My box!]
It was Aqua's special box for her treasures. Inside were odds and ends: a coral fragment from scuba diving, a bottle cap she loved, even crayons from Han Deuri's apple gift—all carefully collected.
Crystals of memories between me and Aqua.
As if reading my mind, our eyes met.
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua grinned brightly, then showed Terra each item with glee.
[Mom gave me this!]
A half-used tube of sunscreen.
[A toy from a guesthouse guest!]
A transforming robot.
[Oh...]
Terra nodded along to Aqua's tales.
[Try this!]
After her brag-fest, Aqua pulled out a hat and plopped it on Terra's head. White and gold blended stylishly, with elegant "Spirit" calligraphy on the brim. One of the hats I'd bought her during a paid shopping trip for ads.
[Oh! Doesn't it suit you?]
Aqua nodded, pleased. Those hats were Aqua's top treasures. She cherished Terra just as much.
"Looks great."
They say fashion's ultimate accessory is the face. With a face that cute, what wouldn't suit her? She'd probably rock a roasted chestnut vendor hat in midwinter.
Aqua dug out her own hat and put it on—a black-and-mint one I'd bought her too.
[How about me?]
"Why ask? You're the best."
[Hee hee hee!]
I scooped up Aqua and Terra.
"Can't keep this cuteness to ourselves."
[Oh?]
"Wanna go for a walk?"
Terra had a quest for it too.
[Oh! Yes!]
[Chit!]
Mandu hopped onto my shoulder at "walk."
[Let's go!]
Aqua pointed out the window.
[Show Terra the human world!]
[Oh...]
Terra's first real human world tour. Excitement colored her voice.