Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Village Hospitality
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'Goodbye...'
At Daeun's greeting, smiles instantly bloomed across everyone's faces.
I hurriedly corrected her.
"Daeun, you should say 'hello.'"
"Oh! Hello!"
Daeun bowed politely, and Professor Kwon Woochul smiled as he returned the greeting.
"What good manners. How old are you?"
"Um, I'm Daeun, and I'm five!"
"Oh ho, five years old. Wow, she even knows her age—our Daeun is so smart."
Hearing that, Painter Son Jeongsun, who had been listening nearby, chimed in.
"Oh my, she's five? So bright and adorable. So, you're here to watch your daddy work today?"
Daeun shook her head vigorously at the question.
"Daeun came to draw pictures too!"
"What? Daeun draws?"
At Painter Son Jeongsun's surprised reaction, everyone's eyes turned to me.
I wouldn't have believed it either if a five-year-old said they were drawing.
Of course, I had no intention of bragging about Daeun's talent here.
"I brought her because she'd be home alone. She won't be in the way while we work."
Aram Go blinked and asked,
"Alone? What about your wife?"
Her sudden question caught me off guard.
'Well... it's a fair thing to ask.'
But I hadn't expected Hyorin's name to come up so abruptly.
How should I dodge this?
Making up some story might just leave a bad memory for Daeun.
The best approach was to tell the truth.
'Just without the sadness.'
"Oh, Daeun's mom had an accident and is away for a bit."
Aram Go looked mortified at my words.
"I, uh... th-that..."
I wished she'd brushed it off casually, but I knew that was just my selfish hope.
With Daeun watching Aram Go's flustered reaction, I tried to wrap up the conversation quickly.
But unexpected help came from someone else.
"Oh my, is that so?"
Painter Son Jeongsun, who had overheard everything, beamed brightly and drew Daeun's attention.
"Your mom went far away, so you must miss her, right? Don't you want to see her?"
She brought up mom casually, matching her eye level like it was no big deal.
I'd thought everyone would avoid such a sensitive topic, but Painter Son Jeongsun's warm response changed Daeun's expression in an instant.
"I wanna see Mommy. But they say I can't."
Painter Son Jeongsun's eyes widened at that.
"So that's why you're upset."
Nod.
"Yeah, I'm upset."
'What is this?'
Seeing Daeun chat openly with Painter Son Jeongsun about her sadness, like venting yesterday's woes, sent a strange tingle up my spine.
Why did this feel so unfamiliar?
"You're still so brave, Daeun! Not even crying because you miss her."
"Yeah! Mommy promised. Granny said if I don't cry, I can see her later."
So that's why she hadn't cried about missing mom—Daeun had been holding it in alone to keep the nun's promise.
"Impressive, so impressive. But Daeun, do you know...?"
"Know what?"
As she blinked curiously, Painter Son Jeongsun smiled kindly.
"Your mom was so beautiful she became an angel."
"Really?"
"Of course. She knows exactly how much you miss her. You didn't know, huh?"
"Yeah! I didn't know!"
Daeun lit up like her mom really was an angel, and even I couldn't help smiling as I watched.
"Then Mommy can see Daeun?"
"Of course! She's probably watching you from heaven right now."
"Wow! Mommy's watching!"
Listening to Painter Son Jeongsun and Daeun, I realized my thinking had been wrong.
I'd only known Daeun a few days, but I'd been deliberately avoiding talk of Hyorin.
'Of course... how could she erase memories of a lifetime with her mom?'
Even I couldn't forget the woman I'd loved my whole life—I was still painting her.
There was no need to erase mom from Daeun's memories.
It wouldn't work anyway.
It might hurt now, but that process would be precious to Daeun too.
'That's my job.'
To tell Daeun that every moment with Hyorin was a happy memory.
I'd make sure she could think of her mom with a smile someday.
Rustle.
Officer Kim Sucheol, who had been watching, smiled and spoke up.
"Well, now that introductions are done, shall we get started? The work areas are spread out, so we'll need to move quickly. Everyone, follow me."
Professor Kwon Woochul and Painter Son Jeongsun smiled.
"Alright, let's head out."
"Daeun, want to hold Grandma's hand?"
Daeun glanced at me.
At her silent question—Can I?—I nodded with a smile.
"Yeah!"
With permission granted, Daeun quickly took Painter Son Jeongsun's hand and followed. Aram Go, the unwitting cause, approached me apologetically.
"I'm sorry. It was my fault."
It had been awkward, but thanks to her, I'd realized my mistake.
And I couldn't shield Daeun from Hyorin talk forever anyway.
I smiled at Aram Go.
"It's fine. I learned a lot because of you."
"You... learned? What do you mean?"
I grinned.
"So no need to apologize. If anything, it's all thanks to you, Aram. Shall we go?"
I walked off, and Aram Go hurried after me.
"What do you mean, thanks to me? Hey! Tell me! Is Daeun okay? Answer me!"
Grin.
Her questions continued for quite a while after, but I just answered with smiles.
A bit up from our meeting spot, a long alley stretched out.
Just wide enough for two people side by side, and as we followed it, house walls came into view.
Some had white base coats here and there.
"I've scouted walls easy for cleaning and base sketches in advance. They're marked, so they won't be hard to find. And here..."
Officer Kim Sucheol handed out maps as he spoke.
"The maps mark your individual walls. Follow them and paint whatever you like."
Aram Go, listening quietly, raised her hand.
"Um, so any theme is fine?"
"Yes, I was about to mention—no fixed themes. Just avoid sad, eerie, or destructive ones. You know what I mean."
This mural project could really brighten the neighborhood vibe.
But grotesque or destructive art would just anger the locals.
Rustle.
Painter Son Jeongsun raised her hand.
"The map shows one wall per person. What if we finish early in under a week?"
"Don't worry about the schedule. The week's a buffer—if you finish early, you still get full pay. Of course, it has to meet a certain quality."
The murals needed to pass Officer Kim Sucheol's approval.
Matching personal standards wouldn't be easy.
Hence the generous week...
"Anyway, that's the business side!"
Officer Kim Sucheol seemed tougher than expected.
"If we were that strict, we wouldn't have gathered you like this. You've all proven your skills, so I trust you. Express your talents freely—that's the main goal of this project."
It could seem like mere urban cleanup.
But even a small village was full of life and warmth.
Some elders were peeking out doors at us now.
The biggest attention went to...
"Oh my, look at that cutie. What's your name?"
Daeun.
"Where'd such a pretty baby come from?"
The cutest in the world.
"Daddy! It's grannies!"
At Daeun's words, the onlookers started emerging into the alley.
"Is that what the mayor mentioned?"
Officer Kim Sucheol grinned.
"Yes! Folks! We're starting the village mural project for a week! You all heard, right?"
He practically shouted, and the grannies nodded with smiles.
"Yeah, we heard. Gonna make the village pretty."
"Yes! We won't be too noisy—don't worry!"
"Ah, a little noise is fine. Take it easy."
"Thank you!"
Was this granny kindness?
As I smiled at their thoughtfulness...
Rustle.
One granny pulled something from her fridge pants pocket.
"Eat this before painting."
She offered an apple.
Officer Kim Sucheol chuckled.
"Ah, we can eat that later..."
But the grannies' follow-up cut him off.
Rustle.
"Good timing. I brought chocolate—for the baby."
"Oh dear, sis, babies like milk. Baby, want strawberry milk from granny?"
"No, have you all eaten? I made extra rice just in case—eat first?"
"Oh, good thinking."
"That sounds good. I made japchae yesterday—I'll bring some..."
The grannies gathered, and the mood flipped 180 degrees.
It hadn't been like this before.
Officer Kim Sucheol looked flustered and turned to us.
"Uh... what do we do? Looks like we eat first... Everyone okay with that?"
Impossible to refuse the grannies.
"S-sure."
"Wow! Daeun gets strawberry milk and snacks!"
"No choice."
The village turned into Chuseok festivities in seconds.
An hour later, we finally reached our assigned walls.
What a long prep time.
Daeun and I collapsed against the opposite wall, too stuffed to even think of painting.
'Whew, burned white...'
Panting beside me, Daeun gasped,
"Daddy... Daeun's tummy's gonna pop like a balloon..."
Same for me.
"Daddy too..."
"Daeun can't move..."
"Rest a bit first?"
Nod.
Rubbing her bloated belly, Daeun stared at the blank white wall.
It sparked ideas—what theme would fit the village?
Any was fine, but something matching would be nice. That's when I wondered what Daeun wanted.
Still breathing heavily, I asked,
"Daeun, got a picture you wanna paint on the wall?"
She turned slowly.
"Yeah."
"Yeah? What?"
"Yeah, there's something Daeun wants to paint."
Curious, I pressed.
"What is it?"
Daeun beamed happily.
"The angel Mommy."
It was answer enough to warm my heart, but her reason made me laugh.
"To brag that Mommy's watching."