Hometown Sea (3)
My parents, who loved greasy food and booze, were always fretting over gout. Not just for their own bodies, but because they worried I'd end up nursing them if it got bad.
Then they heard from a neighborhood friend that Ampelopsis berries were great for gout.
'Ever since, they pick a bunch every time they go hiking.'
Blanch the picked Ampelopsis berries in boiling water, dry them thoroughly, grind into powder, and you could eat it straight, brew it as tea, or even make it into liquor—tons of ways to enjoy it.
'Perfect timing.'
Ampelopsis tea was one of the water spirits' absolute favorite treats.
[Sniff sniff! What's that intriguing smell coming from?]
Aqua was picking up grilled pineapple from the bear-shaped plate with her fingers and sucking on it noisily while glancing around.
Water spirits could sense water energy. It didn't take long for her eyes, darting here and there, to zero in on my hand.
[What's that?]
Aqua tilted her head, unable to contain her curiosity.
"Ampelopsis tea."
[Oh! Ampelopsis!]
As far as I knew, Ampelopsis trees grew in the Spirit Realm too.
"Here, Aqua—cheers time."
[Cheers?]
"You clink glasses before drinking your beverage."
I filled Mom and Dad's glasses with Ampelopsis-infused liquor, then poured tea for mine and Aqua's.
Dad and Mom lifted their glasses with warm smiles.
"Son, glad you made it back safe for break. And welcome, Aqua."
"We're happy you're here, Aqua."
I raised my glass too.
"To your health—bottoms up."
We all turned to Aqua, glasses in hand. She looked back and forth between us, then flashed a cute grin and hoisted hers high.
[Pleased to meet you all! Let's get along!]
We clinked lightly. A clear ching rang out, and we brought our drinks to our lips.
The pale brown tea slid into my mouth. Its subtle, earthy aroma washed away the lingering grease from the meat.
'Mmm. Tasty.'
I checked on Aqua—she'd thrown her head back as far as it could go, pouring the tea straight down her throat. One shot.
[Delicious!]
Tongue out, she shook the empty cup desperately for more. She slurped up the few stray drops, then smacked her lips in regret.
[Why do all the good things disappear so fast...?]
Her cute lament, laced with some inexplicable pathos and philosophy, had even Mom and Dad cracking up—me too.
I pulled out a big PET bottle stuffed with Ampelopsis tea and set it on the table.
[Oh!]
Aqua's eyes went wide and sparkly.
[So much Ampelopsis brew!]
"Drink up, Aqua. There's more in the fridge."
[The human world truly is wonderful!]
Aqua beamed and held out her cup. I filled it to the brim.
[Hee hee hee!]
She grinned at me. I smiled back softly and stroked her cheek with a finger. It bounced with plump elasticity under my touch.
By the time we'd polished off a full grill of pork belly, Aqua had downed half the bottle.
Setting her cup down, she stared at her pale-brown-stained hands. Her upper body swayed a bit.
[Hee hee hee...!]
Aqua let out a goofy giggle.
"What's up? You tipsy or something?"
Mom asked, concerned. She eyed the glasses on the table, probably thinking Aqua had accidentally swigged booze.
"Nah, it's the Ampelopsis tea."
Water spirits loved it because the unique compounds in Ampelopsis made them blissfully buzzed.
[Ampelopsis brew hits the spot!]
Aqua covered her mouth with both hands and giggled.
[First time drinking this much!]
"First time? But Ampelopsis grows in the Spirit Realm too."
[Hard to find there! When we steeped it in water to share, I barely got a sip!]
Aqua tried to stand, laughing, but her legs gave out and she plopped back down.
[Nya?]
Like a toddler's failed first steps, butt-first flop. She looked around in surprise, then covered her mouth and burst out laughing.
[Hee hee hee hee!]
Her cuteness melted even Mom and Dad's faces into smiles.
Dad asked, "A water spirit, huh. Amazing. Mind if I touch you?"
He was fascinated by her watery form.
[Of course!]
Aqua extended her little hand. Dad smiled and took it gently.
"Whoa... incredible. Honey, come feel this."
Mom approached at his call. Aqua offered her empty hand. Mom hesitated a second, then grasped it.
"...Oh my."
Soon hooked on the texture, Mom kneaded Aqua's hand with both of hers.
"Oh dear, oh dear."
Dad grinned at her. "Like those jelly toys from when you were a kid, right?"
"The ones filled with little toys inside? Heh heh heh..."
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua squirmed and laughed, tickled by the fiddling.
A sweltering summer night. Beautiful sea view, faint mosquito-repellent haze. Juicy grilled meat and tasty drinks. Adorable Aqua and my parents doting on her.
'Wish I could capture this moment in a photo forever.'
A smile bloomed on my face unbidden—a perfect summer night of pure happiness.
Right as the barbecue wrapped up, the message I'd been waiting for pinged.
"Gonna take this call real quick."
Aqua and my parents had grown thick as thieves, chatting away. Even they wore gentle smiles.
I headed downstairs to the hallway and dialed.
It connected before the first ring.
"Hyunwoo?"
It was my academy classmate and closest buddy, Jang Gilsan.
"Yeah. You said you could talk?"
"One sec."
His voice faded a bit.
"We'll finish after the call."
As heir to a major guild, he was probably still working.
"What's up? Why the call?"
I cut straight to it.
"Can you sell me some magic stones?"
"...Magic stones?"
He sounded puzzled for a beat, then replied.
"Got 'em. How many?"
"You can? Really?"
I was shocked. Easier than diving gates myself, sure, but guilds treated magic stones special. No way it'd be this straightforward.
"You need 'em, right?"
Casual tone, like what can't I do for a friend? Hard to tell if it was guild-heir ease or just him looking out for me.
'Either way, good guy.'
Jang Gilsan was my best friend—club co-founders, no need to spell out how tight we were.
Gauging Aqua's Healing Water grade, I asked, "How much for top-grade Healing Water per bottle?"
"Top-grade? That a thing?"
Right—Aqua was self-proclaimed supreme spirit, or the first ever.
"Uh... sell three bottles of high-grade, then."
"Cool. Got a trip to Samcheok next week anyway—deal then."
"Here in Samcheok? For what?"
"Resort there? Guild harmony event."
"Ah. See you next week."
"Yeah. Bring the Healing Water seller. Hanging up."
Click.
'Healing Water seller?'
He figured I was reselling for another spirit user.
'Fair. Up to the club end-of-term party, I had no spirit.'
Wonder what he'd say when he learned about Aqua. We'd been glued since sophomore year—nearly three years. He knew how bad I'd wanted a spirit.
He'd be thrilled, like it was his own win.
Human World Tour
📍 Show your first-time-in-the-human-world spirit around the human world.
🎁 Reward: Spirit user's growth. Foundation for spirit growth.
The next day.
I eyed the uncompleted quest.
'Neighborhood stroll won't cut it.'
Yeah—if it did, it'd be called "Block Tour," not "Human World Tour."
So I decided to take Aqua on a jaunt into downtown Samcheok.
Not just for the quest. Quest aside, I wanted her to see the city.
'It's where I was born and raised.'
Completion was secondary.
'No need to slack, but no rush either.'
I wanted to savor every moment with her.
"Alright, let's go."
[A outing!]
I piggybacked Aqua to the shed. My scooter, oiled and tuned all morning, waited.
I lifted her into the front basket—Dad had installed it for Mom's market runs.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua peered around the basket in wonder.
[Spirit seat?]
"Haha, yeah, kinda."
I grabbed two helmets—one for me, a pink kid-sized one for her.
[Huh? What's this?]
Aqua poked at it. As a being of nature, wearing stuff might feel weird to her.
"For accidents—just in case."
I buckled it under her chin. My hand wandered to my phone.
"Aqua, wanna materialize?"
[Mm? Sure.]
Materialized spirits could be photographed.
I snapped a pic. Click!
Basket-bound, helmeted Aqua—head huge compared to her body, now comically bigger. The ultimate tiny tot.
Big-headed Aqua. Unbelievably cute.
'Keeper.'
Feeling my inner photographer awaken, I snapped away nonstop.