Taesu pressed the walkie-talkie, mentally reviewing Park Hinam's condition.
Click.
"His fever still hasn't broken?"
— Click. The drop is stepwise.
"The antibiotics might not be appropriate."
When Taesu suggested the possibility, Jeong Minsu immediately agreed.
— Click. I was just looking over what antibiotics we have again.
"Look for narrow spectrum antibiotics instead of broad-spectrum antibiotics."
— Click. Ah... Yeah. I think I found one. I'll contact you with a status report after administration.
"Alright. Good work."
Swish.
Taesu finished the radio call and slightly lowered the walkie-talkie.
On the other side, the villagers were watching Taesu.
Representing the village were Elder Wang, Gang Yeonghun, and Jo Jeongmin.
Along with them was the current village representative, Village Chief Jeon Nosik.
As could be guessed from the surname, he was Elder Jeon's son.
He had a similarly stubborn impression, but his personality was slightly more open.
And right now.
Kim Hyeokgwon was in conversation with the village representatives.
It was a meeting to inform them of the current situation and discuss what to do going forward.
For matters like this, Kim Hyeokgwon was the right man for the job no matter what anyone said.
Taesu stepped back a pace and listened.
It seemed the conversation was roughly wrapping up.
Kim Hyeokgwon glanced over what he had written in his notebook and said,
"The village is centered on communal living."
"That's correct."
Jo Jeongmin answered immediately.
Kim Hyeokgwon naturally recited the next summarized point.
"You pool resources through communal farming or communal gathering, distribute by household, and there are slight differences depending on effort."
"That's the only way to avoid complaints."
"You said the winter provisions are stored to some extent, in a cave somewhere on that mountain."
"Yes."
"But approximately how much is there?"
Kim Hyeokgwon, who had been conversing casually, struck at the heart of the matter.
Watching him, Taesu applauded inwardly.
'He's really digging deep.'
As expected, Kim Hyeokgwon was perfect for this kind of task.
However, among the village representatives was someone with a disposition similar to Kim Hyeokgwon's.
That person was Village Chief Jeon Nosik.
He offered a suggestion rather than an answer.
"How about going to see it directly instead of just talking?"
"Are you saying you'll open the communal storage?"
"You folks have everything open, while telling us to keep ours closed. That would be ridiculous."
"Hoo."
Kim Hyeokgwon's expression changed to one of intrigue.
He glanced at Taesu, asking for his opinion with his eyes.
At times like this, Taesu had one consistent action.
He shrugged.
His shoulders rose and fell.
Namely, Operation Feigned Ignorance.
It meant he had left it to Kim Hyeokgwon, so Kim Hyeokgwon should handle it as he saw fit.
Kim Hyeokgwon seemed to find that response sufficient.
He looked back at Village Chief Jeon Nosik and said,
"Very well. Seeing it with our own eyes will make it easier for us to talk."
"Then let's get up. It's better to go before the sun sets."
"Is it far?"
Kim Hyeokgwon stood up and asked with a troubled face.
Fatigue from the long surgery was prominent on his face.
Village Chief Jeon Nosik, watching that appearance clearly, smiled gently.
"It's not very far."
"That's the best news I've heard all day. Let's go, Dr. Choi. Keep the walkie-talkie close."
Taesu tilted his head at the words spoken as they got down from the platform.
"I'm keeping it close, but why?"
"So you want me to become food for a wild beast?"
"You should beat it to death and return in triumph."
"I've vowed to stay away from killing. Anyway, we'll be back."
With light waves of his hand, Kim Hyeokgwon moved away with Village Chief Jeon Nosik.
Just as Taesu was watching them,
a man heavily armed in thick furs and holding a hunting rifle approached.
He had a rugged appearance and a considerable build; at night, one might mistake him for a wild beast.
He was a man named Kim Gwanghyeon.
Taesu had heard he was the village's finest hunter.
Today, Taesu finally learned why he hadn't been able to see Kim Gwanghyeon all this time.
Kim Gwanghyeon looked at the departing group and asked Elder Wang,
"Shall I follow along as a guide?"
"It's nearby, is there any need?"
"It's the start of winter, so the beasts are getting sensitive."
"If you're really worried, escort them and then set out. By the way, you said you'd be back tomorrow morning?"
"I believe so. Then we'll be off, everyone let's go."
When Kim Gwanghyeon moved, two village youths who had been waiting nearby also began to move as if they'd been waiting for this.
Soon, Kim Gwanghyeon, who had been about to set out fully prepared, paused.
Then he turned around and bowed deeply toward Taesu.
"You've worked hard. I'll catch a heavy one and treat you to a piece of meat."
"That makes my mouth water."
"The mountain game here is quite tasty. It's just hard to catch."
"Hmm. Well, you don't have to catch anything for me, so safety first."
"Haha. I'm a man with thick bones from hunting."
His eyes as he answered were already filled with the sharpness of a hunter.
He seemed determined to catch something for sure.
Though rough, his eyes also held a gratitude for Taesu etched deep in his heart.
Thus, Kim Gwanghyeon briefly said his goodbyes and set off on the road with the youths.
Taesu felt uneasy about that gaze.
Seeing that, Gang Yeonghun spoke in a low voice.
"No one knows this land as well as Gwanghyeon."
"You're worried about the beasts?"
"It's been ten years without an accident. You need not worry."
Gang Yeonghun smiled broadly.
Elder Wang also nodded.
Only after seeing that did Taesu relax.
Now that he had met the villagers, worrying about work they had always done would be excessive meddling.
But there was something else he was curious about.
Taesu didn't hold back and asked right away.
"No, I'm not curious about the gun—I'm more curious where the bullets came from."
"They traded with Rajkumar."
"Really?"
"When he hunts, the meat is shared with everyone, but other spoils go to Gwanghyeon."
"Ah, so he exchanged things like hides and bones."
Since they didn't have cash, it seemed they had bartered.
Once Taesu understood, Gang Yeonghun nodded.
"Yes. Actually, he's always struggling because of a lack of bullets."
"The cost must be burdensome."
"But still, he continues to tend to his gun like a habit."
Taesu, catching what Gang Yeonghun was trying to say, added,
"It seems to be his calling."
"He used to be... Well. It seems that way."
Gang Yeonghun twisted his words for a moment.
He had almost made a slip of the tongue.
Taesu pretended not to notice.
Rather, he was thinking it was fortunate that Kim Gwanghyeon was a hunter.
For protein supplementation, nothing beat meat.
Elder Wang didn't say much.
"......."
As always, he merely watched Taesu with a cautious face.
Taesu felt his gaze but didn't feel anything from it.
When the conversation stopped, a slightly awkward air flowed over the platform.
It was because neither side had anything to say right now.
Honestly, Taesu was quite tired.
He wanted to excuse himself and go back to rest right now.
He was only holding out purely out of loyalty to Kim Hyeokgwon.
The village representatives didn't readily ask anything either.
They were being careful with their words, lest they make a mistake.
While that awkward atmosphere continued.
Rustle, rustle.
Quiet footsteps were heard from behind.
"Slowly, carefully."
A familiar voice accompanied them.
Kim Jeongsun?
Taesu perked up his ears and turned around immediately.
Sure enough, Kim Jeongsun was walking this way.
She wasn't alone.
Children were walking ahead, carefully holding a wooden plank with cups on it.
Soon, having arrived at the platform, Kim Jeongsun looked around for someone.
"Where did... Mr. Hyeokgwon go?"
Hearing her looking for Kim Hyeokgwon, Taesu answered immediately.
"He went to check the cave where the food provisions are stored."
"Ah, I see. Um, Doctor."
"Please, go ahead."
When Taesu prompted her, Kim Jeongsun pointed at the children.
"The kids wanted to serve you some tea."
"Seonggu and Seolji?"
Taesu's surprised gaze turned to the children.
An eight-year-old boy, and his younger sister born in the same year, a girl.
Park Seonggu and Park Seolji.
Meeting their eyes, Taesu smiled warmly and said,
"You cute little things."
They were the ones who had given him cold sweats during surgery.
Now that it was in the past, he could look at them and smile like this.
But it seemed the children didn't feel the same way.
When they saw Taesu, they flinched and quickly averted their eyes.
They must have heard what they had done wrong.
Their nervousness was evident.
"We were wrong."
"We won't do it again."
Wobble, wobble.
As the children grew agitated, the cups on the wooden plank swayed even more.
They looked like they might fall at any moment.
Expecting adult-like balance was asking too much.
Startled, Taesu began to work hard to calm the children's minds first.
"It's okay, it's all okay now, so you don't have to be so nervous."
"Thank you."
When Park Seonggu tried to bow, Taesu hurriedly stopped him.
First, it seemed he needed to take that precarious tea.
"Y-yeah. Did you bring that for us all to drink?"
"Yes. Mom said over there..."
"Seonggu. You don't have to look back like that. It's okay."
Taesu was restless.
He was really breaking into a cold sweat.
He hadn't known receiving a cup of tea could be such a difficult task.
Taesu decided to eliminate the danger first.
"May I take the tea first?"
"Yes. Here."
Swish.
They held out the wooden plank together, and Taesu took it in one hand.
And only after safely setting it down on the platform did he wipe his chest in relief.
"Phew. Alright. Good. Thank you, I'll enjoy it."
Taesu smiled and responded.
At that moment, Park Seonggu nudged Park Seolji and gave her a look.
"Seolji. We have to greet the Doctor. Greet him."
"Okay. Oppa."
"One... Two... Three. Doctor. Thank you."
"Thank you."
Click.
The children neatly placed both hands over their bellies and bowed their heads deeply.
Taesu's eyes had already turned into crescents.
You could tell at a glance.
It wasn't a greeting done because someone told them to.
The preparation of the tea, and the greeting.
He could feel it was done spontaneously by the children.
This wasn't a matter of the children being thoughtful.
'It's their parents' influence.'
Taesu was certain of it.
They say a child is a mirror of their parents.
He could tell how Park Hinam and Kim Jeongsun usually treated their neighbors through the children's behavior.
Taesu's face was filled with a pleased smile upon receiving their greeting.
When children look lovely, adults want to give them something.
Taesu was no different.
He quickly took out emergency candies from his pocket and held them out.
"This is my reply."
"Huh?"
"I'm giving you a gift to thank you for bringing the tea."
"No, we can't, we shouldn't."
Park Seonggu looked around with a flustered face, checking others' reactions.
Even so, his eyes were drawn to the candy.
It seemed he had heard something from Gang Songhui.
His younger sister, Park Seolji, simply fidgeted anxiously, following her brother.