The Long-Awaited Day
The Long-Awaited Day
I never knew there was such a desolate room in this house.
Huddled in an empty room that didn't even have a common lamp or a table to put it on, that thought crossed my mind.
I definitely wasn't huddled up because I was scared.
The family members were busy rummaging through the burnt main building, so I was just being considerate so I wouldn't get in their way.
...No.
Actually, I was hiding because I was scared.
The way people looked at me was so terrifying.
If they at least told me why they were looking at me like that, or even if they scolded me, it would be one thing.
None of my family said anything.
That was what was so scary.
I would have preferred it if they had scolded me.
I wished they had told me not to just stand there blankly and look for anything still usable, or asked if my injured arm was okay.
No one did that.
As if they had all made a pact, they just kept their distance and shot me terrifying looks.
At first, I thought it was just because everyone was out of their minds.
Because the house had caught fire, because the house everyone cherished had turned to ash.
I thought Appa, Omma, Oppa, and Eonni were all just shocked.
So, I thought it would be okay once some time passed.
"......Ugh."
But, it wasn't.
As time passed, people's gazes became even worse.
Even Omma, who used to call me her daughter, started avoiding me at some point.
"Ugh..."
I tucked my slightly protruding right hand back into my sleeve.
It was strange.
My right arm had turned into a lump of charcoal, but it didn't hurt at all.
My arm didn't feel like my arm at all.
It was pitch black, hard, and cracked like burnt tree bark rather than something belonging to a person.
I could even see red embers between the cracks, but for some reason, it wasn't even hot.
I showed this arm to the Physician, but the Physician only said that this was the first time in his life he had seen something like this.
I still remembered the look in Omma's eyes as she stared at the Physician and my arm.
Surprised, scared, and...
Like she was looking at a complete stranger, that kind of... look.
Could it be that I committed some kind of wrong?
Was it me who started that fire?
Did I do something I wasn't supposed to do while I wasn't remembering?
I wanted to ask anyone if that was really the case.
There were many other things I wanted to ask besides that.
Why do you look at me like that?
Why do you avoid me?
Why do you stop calling my name and shake your head?
But I couldn't go out the door.
Because there were people outside the door. If I went outside, everyone would see me.
And they would shoot me those terrifying looks.
I didn't have the confidence to endure that gaze at all.
...Until a few days ago, everyone was happy.
Why did it suddenly become like this?
Just when I felt like tears were about to well up, I heard someone's footsteps.
I was briefly happy, thinking they might have come to call me, but at the same time, I curled up.
I was afraid they had come to look at me like that again.
"...You saw her go in here?"
"Be quiet, what if she hears you."
"So what if she hears. Anyway..."
From then on, I couldn't hear it even if I wanted to.
"Watch your mouth. What if the Family Head hears you."
"You saw that, and now you're trying to take care of her?"
The footsteps moved away, but I trembled for a while even after their footsteps stopped.
Why, why do you call me like that?
I'm not a 'that' or a 'this'. I am Jeok Hwari.
I am Appa and Omma's daughter, Oppa's younger sister, and the youngest of the Eonnis.
But why... why does everyone look at me with those eyes?
"It's okay..."
I muttered quietly, afraid someone might hear.
My voice was trembling, but I tried to ignore it.
"It will be okay..."
Everyone is just out of their minds right now.
Because the house burned down.
Because people were hurt, things disappeared, and precious things turned to ash.
Because my arm suddenly became like this too.
So, everyone must just be shocked.
Not scared. It will be okay once a little more time passes.
If I stay a good girl, if I live like before, then they will call me like before again.
Hwari-ya, they will say.
I decided to believe that.
Because if I didn't believe it, I didn't think I could endure it at all.
Just then, it became noisy outside.
Did they drop and break something while moving it?
If that were the case, shouldn't I step up and help?
But it was getting noisier as time went on.
Footsteps could be heard from here and there, and I could hear someone urgently looking for Appa.
Did a fire break out?
If that were the case, I should run away quickly.
I went right up to the door, but I couldn't put my hand on the doorknob.
I just curled up in front of the door and listened.
"The Young Guild Leader of the Cheongun Merchant Guild is coming!"
"Now? Of all times?!"
"Yes, without any notice, suddenly... they say he is on his way."
Someone muttered a curse in a low, deep voice.
I had heard the name of the Cheongun Merchant Guild, but I didn't really know exactly what kind of place it was.
I didn't know who the Young Guild Leader was either.
However, seeing the family members moving busily to prepare, I knew he must be an important person.
It was more chaotic than when the house caught fire, so is he a more dangerous person than the fire?
I hope it's not a big problem.
———
Just looking at the main gate of the Jujak Family, one could see how severe the fire that struck the family was.
When I saw it in my past life, it had a certain beauty to it, but now it was charred black and unsightly.
It might be because I was wearing black glasses, making everything look black overall, but even considering that, it was a bit of a sight.
The courtyard beyond the main gate had become a mud-like substance soaked in water, and a smoky smell still filled every corner of the house.
It was a tragedy that was hard to believe for a family that inherited the blood of the Vermilion Bird, which is said to be at the level of controlling fire among the Four Divine Beasts.
Of course, it was none of my business.
If anything, it could be considered a good opportunity.
Usually, a merchant's luck starts from someone else's misfortune.
As I was leisurely taking in the scenery inside the wall, a servant who was clearly nervous approached me stealthily.
"I greet the Young Guild Leader of the Cheongun Merchant Guild."
I didn't feel the need to respond, so I just watched him, and he seemed to understand what I wanted and immediately got to the point.
"...I will escort you to where the Family Head is waiting."
The reception hall I was led to by the servant was filled with people from the Jujak Family.
The current Family Head, his wife, and their children.
The elders, who were not bowing directly to me but were watching my every move.
Hwari was nowhere to be seen.
Where is she?
I was suspicious, but I didn't rush.
I had asserted that she hadn't suffered physical abuse. There was no need to panic.
"I apologize for visiting at such a time."
I said that, but I had no intention of showing any real remorse.
Because I didn't come to apologize.
Those who heard my words all couldn't hide their fatigue and displeasure.
They didn't welcome me at all.
Since I was their biggest creditor, I certainly wouldn't be a welcome face.
They probably didn't like the fact that, as nobles, they had to bow to a merchant of commoner origin.
"I didn't know the Young Guild Leader of Cheongun would come to see such a shabby sight."
The Family Head, the man who was Hwari's father, said.
The red hair that resembled her told me that he was indeed her father.
His voice was polite, but he didn't bother to hide the blade he had hidden inside.
Let him be.
"It is truly a regrettable matter. To think that the main building of the historic Jujak Family has become such a sight, my heart aches as well."
I tried to leisurely bring up the topic, following the etiquette that nobles like and are obsessed with.
However, seeing his eyebrows twitch, it seemed he took it a bit differently.
He's probably thinking I came to mock them, I suppose.
"If you have something to say, say it directly. Given the situation, we are not in a position to entertain guests for long."
The Family Head said that, suppressing his discomfort.
"I suppose so. Even to my eyes, there are one or two places that need fixing."
"......"
"The pillars will need to be re-erected, and the roof will need to be redone. A considerable amount of money will be consumed in taking care of the injured, and it will cost quite a bit of money to bring in new items to replace the ones that burned down. It will cost even more money to maintain the family's honor."
After pausing for a moment to observe his reaction, I smiled as if it were nothing and asked casually.
"You must need a lot of money. Don't you?"
The Family Head frowned as if it were annoying to fathom my intentions and urged me to get to the point.
"Did you come all this way just to say that?"
"Haha, how could that be?"
So impatient.
"What I mean is, our guild is willing to help your family."
I lowered my glasses slightly and made eye contact with him.
He looked at me, then immediately looked at the elders and his own family members.
They were exchanging intense glances with each other, but it wasn't difficult to read the intention contained within them.
Distrust and wariness. And a faint expectation.
They must be quite cornered. To think they would try to grab hold even while knowing it's a noose.
Well, I was the one who drove them to that situation, though.
"I speak on behalf of the Cheongun Merchant Guild. We are willing to help with the reconstruction of the Jujak Family. Lumber, stone, craftsmen, medicinal herbs, food. If you need anything, just call. We can provide everything. If you need emergency funds, we can provide them within today."
"...There must be a condition."
"Yes, that is a matter of course. There is no such thing as free goodwill."
"What are you trying to take away this time."
Fatigue seeped into the Family Head's voice.
It was better that he was tired than angry.
Anger brings about foolish stubbornness, but fatigue makes people try to wrap up the situation somehow.
I deliberately looked around the room and brought it up as if I had just remembered.
"Come to think of it, I believe you had one more daughter. She's... about ten years old now, isn't she?"
As soon as I brought that up, the way everyone looked at me changed completely.