Chapter 8: The Return of the Black Centipede

And most decisively.

There was one specific variety that had appeared like a comet and captured the hearts of the nation.

“See! That’s why I told you to do Shine Muscat. Hyung, you’re really going to starve to death at this rate! What are you going to do about this? Your ‘kids’ are all naked now; what’s the plan?”

Yunhwan replied in a calm tone.

“That one’s reputation isn’t so good lately, either.”

“What? It’s still better than Aronia.”

“…….”

“Fine, forget it. Shouldn’t we start by draining the water from the field first?”

As if predicting a grim future, Yunhwan’s Aronia field looked like it needed an urgent resuscitation procedure. It was a situation where he needed to roll up his sleeves and start restoration immediately, rather than worrying about the distant future.

“…I suppose so.”

However, to discuss the restoration of the field, Yunhwan’s own current state was far from normal.

Since he had rushed out the moment the rain stopped, his attire was even more disheveled than usual. Forget work clothes; he hadn’t even managed to put on boots, so his sneakers were already a mess of mud.

The deep-brimmed hat essential for hiding his well-defined features was nowhere to be found, and the scorching sunlight beat directly down on him. Unable to watch this any longer, Seong-pil pushed Yunhwan’s back, saying he would start draining the water himself and telling him to go home and at least put on a hat.

Ultimately, unable to withstand the prodding, Yunhwan turned back. On the way, his feet sank deep into the muddy ground, making even a short distance a struggle to walk.

Arriving at the front of his truck with feet that barely moved, he climbed straight in. As he started the engine and turned the wheel, the path he had traveled unfolded before him again.

Sanghui-ri, where Yunhwan had moved to farm, was a place where Gawangsan National Park and the nation’s largest ginseng cultivation complex spread out to the left and right. Looking at Sanghui-ri’s location on a map, it would seem like a strategic point primed for tourism benefits; unfortunately, a direct highway leading to the national park and the ginseng complex had been built long ago. Because of that, the village became isolated, earning it the nickname “the remote island of the mainland.”

Of course, this very point was why Yunhwan had chosen Sanghui-ri.

For a farmer who chose to hide from the world, this place was nothing short of perfect. It was as Yunhwan was staring ahead, letting the familiar, countless sights drift past.

‘…The cars.’

A look of bewilderment spread across his face as he watched the road.

The moment he discovered a procession of vehicles racing toward him like a black centipede, tail to tail, he couldn’t help but be flustered.

Yunhwan blinked his eyes rapidly.

‘What is all that?’

In this unremarkable countryside village, cars of all types—from sedans to SUVs—were entering in a long line. Yunhwan’s truck slowed down noticeably before the curve leading to his house. He wanted to avoid encountering that eerie procession if possible.

Just then, his phone rang.

Trr— rrr—

The moment he pressed his hands-free set, a familiar voice came through. It was Manager Hong.

—Yunhwan, where are you?

“Hyung? I stopped by the field for a second and—”

—What?

The words he hadn’t finished were cut off as clean as a sliced radish.

—What field in this heatwave? The field! Hey! Even a cow would collapse working in this weather!

Manager Hong shouted as if he’d heard something scandalous, and Yunhwan said he was actually just about to arrive home. In fact, he was just passing the curve.

However, the scene that unfolded before him after turning the wheel was…

—Ah, yeah, I see you. I see your car.

It was a procession of black vehicles stretching from the front gate of Yunhwan’s house—an impressive home with an orange slate roof—to a streetlamp some distance away.

And at the starting point of that line, Manager Hong and Manager Park, who had just stepped out of a car, were waiting for him.

A bizarre procession that looked like it belonged at a funeral home.

Yunhwan spoke with difficulty toward the grim reaper waiting for him at the head of it.

“…Hello, Manager.”

Manager Park frowned at Yunhwan with a dissatisfied expression. Instead of accepting the greeting, Manager Park took a seat on the wooden porch in the yard, just as he had on the first day he arrived. Beside him was Junseong, whom Yunhwan had seen in Seonghye’s hospital room.

Like a man accustomed to giving orders, he crooked his finger to call Yunhwan over.

“Manager Hong, two glasses of roasted grain powder drink. Mr. Kwon Yunhwan, you sit here.”

Unlike Manager Hong, who went inside to prepare the drinks, Yunhwan sat on the porch and kept his mouth shut.

In front of Manager Park, whose face changed as rapidly as a broken traffic light, Yunhwan rubbed his cheek and then lowered his head. Truthfully, the moment he saw Manager Park, he thought of Seonghye immediately. But even though he wanted to ask about him and check his well-being, he didn’t dare. The man’s expression was far too lethal.

Fortunately, the uncomfortable atmosphere didn’t last long. Thanks to Manager Hong, who quickly brought out the drinks, Manager Park was able to wet his whistle, and Yunhwan, watching from the side, finally caught his breath.

That was, until a completely unexpected question was thrown at him.

“Are you still farming these days?”

Yunhwan blinked.

“…Excuse me?”

When he asked back in an unintentionally dull tone, Manager Park pushed him without giving him a moment to breathe.

“Then let’s put it aside for a bit. The farming.”

“…Suddenly, what do you mean…?”

Yunhwan looked up in shock just as Manager Park was taking a handkerchief from Junseong. He spread the handkerchief over his clean-shaven crown and continued speaking.

“Since Seonghye got hurt because of you, I’m saying you need to keep him here quietly until Min Seonghye is fully restored to his original state.”

Yunhwan frowned involuntarily at the incomprehensible talk. Not only did the man show up out of nowhere telling him to quit farming, but now he was telling him to take Seonghye back. Beyond the scope of understanding, these statements felt more like an ultimatum, and his expression darkened accordingly.

Junseong, who had been watching the two closely, finally couldn’t hold back and intervened.

“Telling a farmer to quit farming is like telling him to starve to death, Manager.”

Seeing the atmosphere harden due to someone’s lack of tact, he decided to step in himself.

“I’ll explain it to Yunhwan.”

Junseong, stepping between the two, moved to sit right next to Yunhwan. Manager Park on the left, Kim Junseong on the right. Junseong offered a friendly greeting to Yunhwan, who was suddenly sandwiched between them.

“Have you been well, Yunhwan? I heard a bit from Manager Hong on the way here—that you’ve been busy with farming lately.”

In response, Yunhwan simply nodded with an embarrassed face. He wasn’t so tactless as to tell someone he was only meeting for the second time that the typhoon had ruined his crop and he had to start restoration immediately.

However, Junseong looked at the reserved Yunhwan with an expression that said he already knew everything.

From the entrance of the village to Yunhwan’s house, just looking at the ruined state of the roads was enough to guess what had happened here over the past few days.

To tell such a person to suddenly quit farming—how barbaric. Junseong glared back at Manager Park, who was watching their conversation with an unappeased gaze. Then, when his eyes met Yunhwan’s, he offered a bright smile as if nothing were wrong.

“Act like you didn’t hear that bit about the farming. Instead, I have something urgent to discuss with you regarding Seonghye.”

At the mention of Seonghye’s name, Yunhwan’s hand, which had been rubbing his cheek, stopped instantly.

“You saw it yourself that day, so you know, but there was a problem with Seonghye’s memory. Right?”

At those words, Yunhwan looked at Junseong, doubting his ears.

“A problem… wait a second. That memory… surely….”

Faced with a reaction that didn’t deviate from his expectations, Junseong paused for a moment and then continued in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Do you remember what I said before? That once Seonghye stabilized, we would do a thorough examination.”

Yunhwan barely managed to nod.

“The results of that examination came out recently, and they aren’t very good.”

“…….”

“Memory isn’t the issue. A much bigger problem has arisen.”

The moment he finished speaking, Yunhwan’s face turned pale in an instant. His face went as blue as a mouse caught in a trap, to the point where Junseong had to ask if he was okay.

“If you’re this shocked already, how am I supposed to explain? Are you okay, Yunhwan? Don’t get worked up, just breathe. If you get agitated like that, your blood pressure will spike.”

Junseong grabbed Yunhwan’s shoulders with both hands and demonstrated taking deep breaths. But Yunhwan’s focus wasn’t on breathing techniques; it was on the story about Seonghye that Junseong had left unfinished.

When the hands on his shoulders were brushed off with a firm gesture, Junseong looked at Yunhwan with a peculiar expression.

A voice much harder than before came out of Yunhwan’s mouth.

“No, no. Please finish what you were saying. …You said a much bigger problem than memory had arisen for Seonghye. What is it? What happened that you’re telling me with such a serious face?”

His pupils, which had been shrunken in fear until a moment ago, had returned to their original size and were now locked onto Junseong. As Yunhwan stared straight at him, Junseong wasn’t the only one flustered. Manager Park, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, also glanced at Yunhwan with a look of slight surprise.