CHAPTER 41………………………………….
To enjoy her rare free time, Chohee headed to the inn.
The place in the old town was the only space where she didn’t have to put on an act.
“Miss Gyeongseong!”
As soon as she entered, Bok-i, standing behind the counter, greeted her warmly. In front of him sat Park Jin, leaning far forward with his upper body tilted and lounging crookedly in his chair.
When Bok-i brightened at the sight of her, Park Jin also dipped his head slightly toward her like an aloof cat.
Seeing something strangely familiar in his eyes, Chohee smiled faintly.
“I came to thank Bok-i, and it turns out Park Jin is here too. Thanks to you, everything was resolved safely.”
She had once retold—slightly dramatized—what had happened with Madam Minamoto. Bok-i, who had been curious about the full story, clapped his hands in delight as if it were his own affair.
“That’s truly wonderful, Miss Gyeongseong! But there’s no need to thank us. Wasn’t it this rascal Park Jin who tore your clothes in the first place?”
“Didn’t I say that was an accident?”
Park Jin snapped back at Bok-i’s words.
Judging by his reaction, it seemed Bok-i had given him a proper scolding after Chohee left.
If he wants to win Bok-i over, he shouldn’t talk back like that.
Chohee shook her head inwardly.
Park Jin clearly had a long way to go.
The way he deliberately acted gruff so the girl he liked wouldn’t discover his feelings was both cute and pitiful.
“Of course, it would’ve been better if nothing had torn, but since everything worked out in the end, I came to say thank you.”
Chohee extended her hand to offer him a handshake. Instead of taking it, he tilted his head.
“Why are you holding out your hand?”
“A handshake of gratitude.”
When Chohee brought her hand closer to his, he jumped in surprise at the sudden contact.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“Have you never shaken hands before?”
Smiling at his reddened cheeks, she continued.
“In foreign countries, this is one way people express thanks.”
“What an embarrassing thing to do!”
“Embarrassing? It’s called manners.”
She took his right hand again and shook it up and down.
“When you meet other people later, try greeting them like this. If they’re familiar with Western culture, they’ll probably like it very much.”
“R-really?”
Park Jin, who had been eyeing her suspiciously, now looked intrigued.
Should I teach him a few more while I’m at it?
Chohee felt herself growing excited without realizing it.
He had jumped in alarm just moments ago, yet now showed curiosity about something new—exactly like a young man his age.
Perhaps it was because the children she had taught back in Gyeongseong were about this age.
Whenever she talked with Bok-i and Park Jin, she felt as though she had returned to her old self.
The teacher who once taught students.
That made her want to tease them—and teach them—at the same time.
The teacher’s heart she had forgotten seemed to stir again.
“Handshakes are usually American. Europeans sometimes express gratitude or greetings differently.”
“How so?”
Now fully turned toward her, Park Jin asked with shining eyes.
“In Europe, greetings go like this…”
Chohee turned Park Jin’s face toward Bok-i, and then made Bok-i lean toward Park Jin as well.
Forced to lock eyes by her instructions, the two reacted very differently.
“Must I really look at Park Jin like this, miss?” Bok-i pouted, frowning.
“Th-then is the greeting over?” Park Jin muttered bluntly, trying to suppress his embarrassment.
Holding back laughter, Chohee continued.
“Of course not. That was just preparation. Shall we try the real greeting now?”
“The real one? That wasn’t the end?” Bok-i asked in surprise.
“H-how do we do it?” Park Jin stammered, face red.
“First, go to the right.”
“Go where?”
“Toward each other’s cheeks. You just lightly press your lips to both cheeks.”
The moment she finished speaking, both of them shrieked.
“Eek! Miss Gyeongseong, you mean I have to touch Park Jin?”
“S-so shameless!”
“Park Jin, just you try coming near me! I’ll break your ribs!”
“I wasn’t even planning to come closer! Miss, we can’t possibly do such shameless greetings!”
At Bok-i’s indignant outburst, Park Jin exaggeratedly trembled.
Oh dear, did I tease them too much?
Their reaction was more intense than she expected, and Chohee nodded, laughing.
“It’s not shameless—it really is a European greeting.”
“It’s better not to do such things. What if someone sees?”
“Alright, alright. I was being mischievous.”
At her laughter, Bok-i and Park Jin finally laughed as well. The three of them burst into bright, ringing laughter.
After chatting away with them, losing track of time, Chohee left the inn feeling lighthearted.
As the sky turned red, she prepared to return home.
“Miss, wait a moment.”
As she headed toward a rickshaw, Park Jin hurried after her and stopped her.
“What is it?”
“Well… about tearing your clothes before. I truly am sorry. I misunderstood you.”
“Misunderstood?”
“I thought you were playing around with Bok-i, that girl. But now I know that’s not it. The two of you are already friends.”
He had seemed like a prim cat before, but when he smiled, he looked like a puppy. Park Jin gave a slight smile and extended his right hand.
Chohee stared at it for a moment before accepting the handshake.
A complicated emotion stirred within her.
“By the way, about that fellow who came last time. The one you said was your ‘student.’”
Ah—he meant Dowoon.
Chohee remembered that Dowoon and Park Jin had clashed before.
“I clearly saw that fellow at a gisaeng house. I don’t know what lie he might’ve told you, miss, but I saw him with my own eyes.”
“Park Jin, that—”
“So wouldn’t it be better to keep your distance from him?”
Though he didn’t show it openly, concern dripped from Park Jin’s tone.
Oh dear, where do I even begin clearing up this misunderstanding?
“He had his reasons for going there. He’s not a bad person, so please don’t misunderstand him, Park Jin.”
“Did he say that? And you believe him?”
“Of course. I trust him.”
In the past, Chohee herself might have misunderstood. But now she believed Dowoon.
He was someone who lied smoothly, someone who always wore a false smile.
And yet she believed him.
Because she felt she now understood, at least a little, what kind of person he truly was.
“Thank you, Park Jin. You said that because you were worried about me, right? But really, he’s not someone who would do anything strange.”
“…I understand. If you say so, miss, then that must be how it is.”
After exchanging farewells again, Chohee climbed into the rickshaw.
She should have felt happy after meeting the two of them, but instead, it felt as though a heavy weight had been tied to her heart, pulling it downward.
Why is that?
Every time she looked at Park Jin, it felt like she was on the verge of remembering something.
Her unsteady feelings swayed like rough waves.
***
At the same time, at Iryung Trading Company.
Dowoon looked around at his comrades. They were all agents affiliated with the Provisional Government, responsible for gathering intelligence and delivering it to key leadership.
“Minamoto has been frequently visiting the Yuha County area.”
At his words, the agents stirred.
“Isn’t that one of our suspected candidate locations?”
“That’s true, but many of our compatriots live there. It wouldn’t be suitable for a railway to pass through.”
Amid the murmurs, Yosep nodded.
“Statistically, the possibility of Yuha County is low. But shouldn’t we verify it nonetheless?”
At his words, the comrades nodded and glanced toward Dowoon.
Usually, he would step forward and lay out the plan, but strangely, he was quieter than usual today.
Noticing this, Yosep began outlining the plan himself.
“For now, those here should check not only Yuha County but the surrounding areas as well. Let’s see—we have six people in total. How about pairing up in twos?”
The other agents agreed, nodding. But Dowoon remained still, deep in thought.
Seeing this, Yosep nudged him with his elbow.
“Mikael? You’ll be going too, won’t you?”
“Ah.”
Dowoon started to nod, then stopped.
The suggestion to investigate Yuha County had come from information Chohee had obtained from Madam Minamoto. Going there wouldn’t be difficult—it wasn’t far from Sinuiju.
But considering travel time, scouting, and recruiting contacts, the mission would take at least five days.
The opera house opening… was it in three days?
If so, he wouldn’t be able to attend.
Chohee had earnestly insisted that she must go. If he went on this reconnaissance mission, she would have to attend alone.
He couldn’t let her go alone.
What if she became entangled in something troublesome again, like at city hall?
She was unpredictable; he always needed to stay by her side.
Even if that meant missing the mission.
For now, being beside Chohee took priority.
Because…
Protecting Chohee is the more urgent mission right now.
She might uncover even higher-level information.
Yes—this wasn’t about wanting to be with her. It was for the mission.
From a long-term perspective, staying here was the rational choice.
Having neatly rationalized his reasons for remaining behind, Dowoon spoke.
“I’ll sit this reconnaissance out.”
He said it as though it were obvious. Since he had never missed such an operation before, the others reacted strongly.
“You, Mikael?”
“You’re skipping out? You can’t just give us the information and duck out!”
But Dowoon had already made up his mind.
Going to the opera house opening with Chohee—that was important.
As he listened, one of Yosep’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
Still, without saying much, he nodded in acceptance.
Though he would not accompany them, Dowoon took the lead in organizing the plan, outlining what needed to be done over the five days.
With a clearer plan in place, the agents left, satisfied.
As Dowoon prepared to leave as well, Yosep stopped him.
“Mikael, is something going on?”
“Something?”
“It’s just… you’re not quite yourself. I wondered if there’s been some change of heart.”
“A change of heart? Why would there be?”
Pushing aside thoughts of Chohee, Dowoon answered firmly.
Yet Yosep seemed unconvinced and studied him.
Then, as if something had just occurred to him, Yosep added:
“By the way, the woman who said she would help our cause… what was her name again? Bokhee, was it?”
At the probing tone, Dowoon’s eyes narrowed.
