Chương 44: S.04 Memory of the Clock 08(04)

Scene 07_04. Ji-young: Uh. Hmm. Ah. Hmm. The door flung open, and Gyeong-seo came in with a pile of garments in her arms. The earbuds in her ears had thrown her concentration off, and as Ji-young and Hee-jin turned to look, Gyeong-seo only then caught sight of Ji-young, stepped back with startled eyes, and tripped over the threshold, toppling backward. Gyeong-seo: Aigoo!! I thought the works were still in progress!! I mean!! I am certain there was nothing on the stepping stone!!

Hee-jin: Yeon-su must have tucked all the shoes away on her way out — Gyeong-seo righted herself from her fall and, in a flustered scramble, brought inside the newly made garments she had prepared for Ji-young. Gyeong-seo: Aigoo!! I am sorry. I really was not — I did not know you had already finished. With an abashed face, Gyeong-seo entered Ji-young's residence and, under Hee-jin's not-quite-glare, carefully stepped into the room and sat down.

Gyeong-seo removed the outer wrapping from the garments she had bundled up for Ji-young and drew out the cloth folded inside with care. The deep blue robe had a thin stripe of white along the collar. At the back of the garment, the central emblem of the 좌독기(Jwa-dok-gi_General Banner) was stitched finely in gold and silver thread. On the white band of the cuff's end, a pattern had been woven in thread the same color as the base of the robe.

It was a carving in 갑골문(Gap-gol-mun_Oracle Bone Script), bearing the meaning of the first human, the one who carried the deepest death. Ji-young looked the garment over end to end, and with the feeling of many things passing through her at once, she smiled thinly. Gyeong-seo: The basic frame was prepared in advance. I had heard something from Yeon-hui sis beforehand. Ji-young: It is rude to say this on a first meeting, but — mother, she used to scold you endlessly for being a slippery one.

She kept telling me to put you to work. Gyeong-seo: Aigoo. I. Truly. It is not like that. It is, The Oldest — Ji-young: Gyeong-seo, you are from a top-rank house as well, are you not. And yet you remain in a lower posting — that tells the whole story. Just how much you, like me, have hated working. Gyeong-seo brightened and looked at Ji-young with new color. Gyeong-seo: Yes!! That is correct!! I do love the life of a loafer! Ji-young, eyes glazed white, grinned and teased Gyeong-seo with a comically lunatic glint.

Ji-young: Which is why I know very well how to put you to work. I only have to look at myself. The color on Gyeong-seo's face turned from brightness to despair in very little time at all. Scene 07_05. Gyeong-seo, together with Hee-jin, was following Ji-young at half a pace behind her. Watching the ornaments strung at Ji-young's ears and the silver 곰방대(Gom-bang-dae_Slender Pipe Ornament) and tassels pinned through her hair, Gyeong-seo saw the shadow of Yi-sim in her.

Ji-young's embroidered slippers were of the same color as the robe. A lily-blossom ornament sat at the back of each shoe. Ji-young's white 버선(Beoseon_Korean Traditional socks) brushed against the hem of the 철릭(Cheollik_Traditional coat-dress) with every step. Having made one lap of the yard, Ji-young abruptly hoisted her foot up to inspect the shoe. Gyeong-seo: Do they perhaps not fit? Ji-young: Eh? No? No, these do not look like off-the-rack, and I was checking the sole, wondering when you managed to make them.

Watching Ji-young look the shoes over with an approval deeper than expected, and feeling pleased with herself, Gyeong-seo smiled at Ji-young. Gyeong-seo: So-hui si — no. The. The Guide gave a heads-up in advance. So I was able to prepare rubber soles on the pattern of Si-yeon's foot as well. As Gyeong-seo explained to Ji-young as she paced the yard, Hee-jin offered a quiet, measured tease to Gyeong-seo. Hee-jin: Now all that is left is the overtime, I suppose.

Gyeong-seo: Haaa — Gyeong-seo's sighs rolled out so deep and frequent they might have sunk the earth beneath her. Finding Gyeong-seo's reaction amusing, Ji-young briefly halted her step and looked back at her. Ji-young: Gyeong-seo. Gyeong-seo: Yes? What now. Ji-young: When Yeon-hui returns. Could I place you right under her? Gyeong-seo: No. No~o. That sis — no, that Director of Occult Affairs, she is really, trrruly a vicious one, absolutely not. I will hand in my resignation. Yes. I will most certainly walk out.

Ji-young: For a family trade, what resignation. It would not even be accepted. Gyeong-seo: Since ancient times, that is what they have called a slave. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Ji-young: Every salaried worker is a slave to payday. Why act like this is something new. Gyeong-seo: Haaa — Hee-jin: The ground might just cave in. Gyeong-seo: I would rather the ground caved in.

Into Ji-young's residence, four staff members of the 수라간(Su-ra-gan_The Kitchens) came rushing in, breathless. Yeon-su, stepping in with a troubled face, rubbed at her ear and could not seem to settle herself. With expressions that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment, the staff of The Kitchens greeted Ji-young first. Hye-ju: The Oldest. I am Kim Hye-ju, Head Chef of The Kitchens.

I came because — because we have held The Kitchens as our family trade for all this long time, if you cast us out now, we will have nowhere to — Ji-young, whose greeting she had not even been able to properly receive, looked at Yeon-su with a baffled expression. Ji-young: Hey. Secret Agent? Yeon-su: Yes, yes??? Ji-young: How, exactly, did you explain it for them to now — to come flying in all together like this.

Yeon-su: Well, that is, I said The Kitchens would be closing soon, and before I could finish the rest they came running, so that is — Ji-young: Hah —. Head Chef. Hye-ju: Yes. Ji-young: I am not casting anyone out. My mother cared so much about everyone here, how could I, of all people, be the one to — that is not what this is. Hye-ju: Then — Ji-young: The Kitchens has come down through such long years. I just, I wanted to eat alongside the staff. That is when I can hear the gossip about the higher-ups.

My mother, she took a lot of trouble from the Head Chef to learn the cooking she wanted to make for us, but I have things I must put before cooking, and in greater number. That is why I asked this of you. It is not dismissal. It is a transfer. Yes. A transfer. Hye-ju: A lifetime of doing nothing but cooking as our family trade — what kind of transfer could we make. Ji-young: Raise the shared kitchen, the cooking, the in-house canteen to the level of The Kitchens.

Your positions will be raised from provisional rank to permanent rank. The Head Chef will move up to the Third Permanent. Hye-ju: Yes?? That is — Ji-young: Please start preparations today. During the preparation period — I do not know about the other top-ranking houses, but I will be eating in the canteen. I was one of those people, whether company lunches, school meals, or any meal line, always more at ease in a serving queue. After being handed things on a tray all of a sudden, I will absolutely get indigestion.

Yes. I get indigestion. Hye-ju: Hmm. Ji-young: Include expected prep period, timeline, and the final deadline for the transition. The Executive Secretary is not here at present, so you may report directly to me. Hye-ju: If that is truly so, The Oldest — may I make a single request of you. Ji-young: Yes. Hye-ju: While we served under provisional rank, our wages were not very high. As Head Chef, I raised this with the former Strategist every time, but the matter was rejected time and again over budget issues.

Hee-jin, hearing this for what seemed the first time, cast a brief glance at Ji-young. Hye-ju: So, if we move to permanent rank and are raised up, by any chance — Ji-young: Strategist. Hee-jin: Yes. Ji-young: As soon as the meal is finished, prepare the budget drafts of every department, the records of budget execution, the approvers of every disbursement, all of it.

Have the relevant materials gathered without exception and, as soon as they are prepared, instruct the relevant parties to bring them to the Grand Hall. Go now, together with my Secret Agent. Hee-jin: Understood. Facing the hardening of Ji-young's expression, Hye-ju stood nervous, unable to settle. As Hee-jin was about to take a step, Hye-ju seized Hee-jin's arm in a rush and, with a fretful, uneasy look, turned a troubled face toward Ji-young, Hee-jin, and Yeon-su.

Watching Hye-ju, Hee-jin lifted a corner of her mouth in a small, hidden smirk as though finding her cute. Hye-ju, her cheeks round, looked about ready to cry at any second, belatedly chiding her own loose mouth. Hye-ju: No, that was. I. I did not mean it in that way. Ji-young: Ah, it is not about the meal. This conversation will absolutely not leak outside, so please, Head Chef, just hear my request through. It will not even be raised. Understood? Hye-ju: Yes. Yes. Ji-young: Ah. Also, um. Hye-ju: Yes.

A deflated Hye-ju, her face half-convinced, was stealing glances around her when a rumbling sound again rolled out of Ji-young's belly. Hye-ju looked Ji-young squarely in the face, and the deflated look left her in an instant. Ji-young: It is just, our Strategist is really, very hungry. So perhaps a little something right now — Hee-jin: That, is an excuse. The sound just now was plainly from The Oldest — Ji-young: A moment ago it was the Strategist, was it not.

Hee-jin: The one in the greatest straits was The Oldest. Ji-young: Ah, anyway. Could I ask just one more time. Please. At Ji-young's gentle request, Hye-ju's fretful look fell away all at once, and she smiled broadly and bent deep at the waist. Hye-ju: Understood. Allow us to serve you the last and the first meal of The Kitchens. One moment, please. All the others left the place in brisk order. Ji-young examined the cuff-end of her robe briefly and looked her garments over at length.

With the thought that mother, too, had worn this color often, Ji-young glanced at the garment and at her own body from one side to the other. Ji-young: Mother was so beautiful in this. Scene 08. It was so quiet one could scarcely believe this was the place that had delivered a scene from hell to the three of them earlier. Every black current had subsided, and the wide earthen yard of Su-jeong's house held nothing upon it, only a chill breeze. Even the sound of wind was absent.

Only drifting motes of dust passed now and then into view. Just then, half of Su-jeong's vacant gaze began to stain with black. Su-jeong, without alarm, sent her voice to the presence that had claimed one side of her. Su-jeong: When it was I speaking, you would not even hear me out — why, then, do you call me now. At the calm, acrid reproach, a meaning was delivered into Su-jeong's head. No sound leaked outside, but within Su-jeong's head her own voice echoed in a small, rebounding ring.

Su-jeong (Contrition): The end is already decided. Su-jeong: No one said as much to me. Not even you, who have leeched onto my body. Su-jeong (Contrition): What you have accomplished, what you will accomplish — there is nothing. At the voice inside her head, stripped of all feeling, Su-jeong let out a sneer that curled like mockery. Su-jeong: So what — am I to go and hide myself somewhere. Su-jeong (Contrition): I will hand over what was set aside to be handed over. Su-jeong: What is that.

Su-jeong (Contrition): Do you not wonder why I came first of all. Su-jeong: No. I am no longer even curious. You have missed every one of your several chances. With Kang Ji-young right in front of you. With Lee Si-yeon. With Jo So-hui. Even with Doe Yeon-hui, a mere human of no account, not once could you crush any of them. If you were so great, a thing that manages the River of the Dead, a thing that manages death—at the very least, you should have crushed those humans.

Whatever is inside, whatever it holds—you should have done it. Su-jeong (Contrition): Humans always lay the blame that way. Su-jeong's mouth stopped as it was. Pausing the running monologue-like exchange, Su-jeong lowered her gaze to her own hand, which was piece by piece coming back to its original form, and looked down at it blankly, without strength. Su-jeong (Contrition): They turn away from their own incapacity and their own lack, piling other reasons on top.

Anything to prove, somehow, that they were not short of what was needed. And so I exist. And so I sit here, as the other half. Su-jeong:... 번뇌 (Beon-noe_Klesha). Su-jeong (Contrition): I. I gnaw at every reason. And in the end I crush the lingering will of those who try to cross over. That is the form of the afterlife I have been given. That is the single will pressing down upon every death that resides within my domain. Su-jeong: But they all failed. You were not the only one dragging them into your domain.

Su-jeong (Contrition): Failure is a covenant. Su-jeong: I do not understand what that means. Su-jeong (Contrition): Covenanted failure is the only way to stand against the victor. Su-jeong: Then what on earth have I been drawing breath for, all this while. Su-jeong (Contrition): Thrashing against becoming a thing of Contrition — that was your only reason. Every thrashing of denial and of blame-laying, that was your only reason. As though facing her own abyss, Su-jeong froze where she stood and spoke no further.

It was quiet. Even the voices that had been delivered into her head seemed to have faded away. Su-jeong's two eyes had returned to their original shape. Su-jeong drew a great sigh and straightened her back. Every part of her body that had been grotesquely disfigured, rippling in black water, had returned to its original form. Rising slowly from her place, Su-jeong cast a black current from beneath her feet and, letting her body burst into that black water, dispersed herself from the spot.