"You aren't bandits, by any chance?"
"Hahaha. We are indeed bandits. Hand over everything on the truck, and we'll spare your lives."
"Since you're people who'd save us even if we were injured, we don't mind, but are you really all right?"
When Raku showed genuine concern, Jeong Minsu immediately let out a groan.
"We've just about run out of food... We couldn't even wash up... We've been waiting for you, Raku."
"Goodness, I'd heard roughly about the situation, but I didn't know it was this bad."
"But why were you late? Why did you come so late?"
Jeong Minsu even threw a tantrum that didn't suit him.
Still, Raku answered with the same warm expression.
"It was difficult to procure supplies due to the sudden chaos."
"It's just something people say. If you truly felt sorry, what would that make me?"
"Still, late is late. That part..."
As Raku tried to apologize, Taesu quickly cut him off.
"You aren't late. You arrived right on time."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Now, instead of dragging this out here, let's head to the village first."
"That would be the proper order. Please get in."
Raku neatly wrapped up the conversation and headed to the driver's seat.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu also quickly climbed into the passenger seats.
At this convenience of civilization they hadn't seen in a long time, they looked around in every direction, and exclamations naturally flowed from their lips.
"Wow, so this is what's called a car."
"No, it's called a truck."
"They say this thing has that much power?"
"They say it's tremendous."
The two deliberately held a random conversation in English.
They simply wanted to gift Raku, who had come all this way, with even a single smile.
It seemed to be effective.
Raku smiled softly and even played along with their rhythm, picking up on their act with the perceptiveness unique to a merchant.
"If you do it like this, it even moves forward by itself."
Click. Vroom.
He shifted gears and slowly started the truck.
At that sight, Taesu and Jeong Minsu widened their eyes and pretended to be amazed.
"Wow, it really goes by itself."
"Amazing. It's moving on its own."
Though the act was obvious, Raku finally burst into laughter at their overflowing good humor.
"Haha. You haven't changed a bit."
Perhaps the bout of laughter had relieved their fatigue, for they grew a bit more energetic.
Having achieved their goal, Taesu and Jeong Minsu smiled broadly.
From the medical tent to the village was right around the corner.
The trucks soon passed the Seonangdang and stopped at the village square.
The villagers, having already heard the engine noise, had all come out to wait.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu got down from the passenger seats first.
Thud.
"To think we came riding a truck."
"Is this a dream or reality?"
Their expressions still showed that they couldn't believe Raku had arrived.
In the meantime, Raku and the merchants also got down from their respective trucks and gathered in one spot.
Kim Hyeokgwon appeared before them, smiling.
His thickly grown beard was impressive indeed.
"Oh, Raku."
"Mister Kim."
"Seeing you here, you couldn't look cooler."
Kim Hyeokgwon welcomed him enthusiastically.
But Raku put his guard up slightly with an awkward smile.
"I hope I don't look good to you only because you're thinking of asking for a discount since the delivery was delayed."
"No, no, it's not my money, so why would I mind? Anyway, thank you for coming."
Firmly.
Kim Hyeokgwon was the first to reach out and grasp Raku's hand.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu were greatly surprised at the sight.
"He must really be glad to see you."
"It's rare to see Hyeokgwon grabbing someone else's hand like that."
They could understand, for they themselves had been just as glad.
Whether he hadn't heard them or not, Kim Hyeokgwon first exchanged greetings with the other merchants.
Then, facing Raku again, he got to the main point.
"Raku, we need to see what you've brought, don't we?"
"Of course you must. You're the kind who needs to check the goods himself."
"As expected, Raku, you know me well. Let's go take a look around."
Kim Hyeokgwon acted as if he were the owner and accepted Raku's guidance.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu were not offended in the slightest.
They were nodding broadly as if it were only natural.
"As expected, it was a good call to leave it to Hyeokgwon."
"Imagine if we had handled it. What a headache."
"Then let's just hear the results later. Since I'm here, I should go say my greetings."
Taesu spoke first and moved away from the trucks.
Old Man Wang and three other elders were already seated on the flat wooden bench.
Village Chief Jeon Nosik, Jo Jeongmin, and Gang Yeonghun were also with them.
Taesu first offered a loud greeting to everyone.
"Did you have a peaceful night?"
"You can tell just by looking. The ones you were waiting for have finally arrived."
"That's correct."
"To think they came even in the middle of a war. Their trust in you lot must be remarkable."
Old Man Wang praised them calmly.
Taesu nodded and replied.
"Yes. We met by chance, but before we knew it, we seek each other out when in need, and we scratch each other's backs too."
"I suppose so. But your debt keeps growing."
"What do you mean?"
When Taesu asked, Village Chief Jeon Nosik spoke on his behalf.
"I'm saying we have nothing to offer."
"We have to eat and live too, you know."
"If that were your only goal, you would have withdrawn with them this time."
Village Chief Jeon Nosik said with a probing tone.
Taesu didn't budge and instead smiled broadly.
"There are still many people undergoing treatment. If you ran away like that, you wouldn't make it ten ri before disease broke out."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. I also haven't kept all my promises with Song Hui yet."
"Promises. They're important."
As Village Chief Jeon Nosik mulled over the word, Taesu spoke firmly.
"A promise uttered must be kept. Is that not one's duty as a human being?"
"..."
Village Chief Jeon Nosik fell silent for a moment.
Not only that, he lightly glanced around at everyone seated nearby.
Nods.
Light gestures of acknowledgment passed between them.
It seemed they had already discussed something amongst themselves.
Once the silent signals subsided, Village Chief Jeon Nosik spoke to Taesu again.
Those words were completely unexpected.
"But we never said we would accept."
"What?"
"We never answered that we would accept it."
"What do you mean?"
Taesu was so dumbfounded that he blinked his eyes.
Conversely, Village Chief Jeon Nosik continued without changing his expression in the slightest.
"We don't have a thing to our name, so no one can say anything even if we claim it's pride."
"I haven't the slightest such thought."
"But we too have a sense of shame."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying we can't just keep receiving like this."
At Village Chief Jeon Nosik's words, a sense of hurt surged within Taesu.
"This is strictly for medical treatment purposes."
"I know. Everyone knows."
"But still."
"You haven't proven anything yet."
Village Chief Jeon Nosik sharply struck at the blind spot.
At that, Jo Jeongmin, the youngest here but one with the right to speak, chimed in.
"We are deeply grateful for your concern. But..."
"But?"
"Not being able to accept it like this is the position of the entire village."
The moment Jo Jeongmin finished speaking.
Taesu's expression instantly darkened.
"Then have we been talking nonsense amongst ourselves all this time?"
"T-that rascal, always with that temper."
The moment Old Man Wang pointed out curtly.
The three other elders also added their own remarks.
"With that temper, it's a wonder he doesn't hit our kids."
"Those guys flare up at the slightest word."
"At times like that, he has no sense of rank."
They say a sister-in-law who stops a fight is more annoying than a mother-in-law who throws punches.
The elders' actions were exactly like that.
Taesu poured out his choked-up feelings to Old Man Wang.
"Are you saying you won't accept it?"
"Hey now, this kid..."
"You clearly said that the village's position is that you can't just keep receiving like this."
"Yes. I did."
When Old Man Wang admitted it, Taesu's voice rose even higher.
"Of course I'm angry, then."
"You'd be angry because you didn't hear what came next."
Suddenly, Old Man Wang exploded in anger.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu flinched at the stronger retort.
But only for a moment.
Taesu continued to show his hurt feelings.
"What is it that comes next?"
"Move in and live here."
It was a curt remark.
Taesu couldn't understand right away and grumbled.
"What do you mean, move in and live?"
"Hey, I'm telling you to move in."
"Wh-what... Are you telling us to come into this village?"
"Yes."
At that answer, Taesu, who had been choked up, instantly turned deflated.
Jeong Minsu was the same.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I'm saying..."
"Ask him again."
Jeong Minsu whispered and nudged Taesu.
Taesu too found it easier to speak for himself without arguing.
So, with the same bewildered face, he asked again.
"So you're telling us to move in?"
"Are your ears for show? Why do you ask again when you understood?"
"Really?"
Taesu asked once more despite Old Man Wang's scolding.
It was because he had never once considered such a thing.
Then, everyone's gaze subtly shifted to Jo Jeongmin.
Since he was the youngest and often spent time with Taesu, it was a signal for him to speak on their behalf.
Jo Jeongmin nodded and spoke to Taesu.
"The decision was made a few days ago."
"Uh, uh..."
"We too needed some kind of occasion, so we were watching for an opportunity."
"Jeongmin."
Taesu called out in a low voice.
Jo Jeongmin paid no heed and continued.
"It was unanimous. The adults, and the children as well."
"The children too?"
"Yes. Since it's come to this anyway, the conclusion was to bring everything in, tents and all."
"Ah."
As Taesu looked on blankly, Gang Yeonghun spoke.
"There are some empty houses in the village."
"I know."
"We thought it would be much warmer there, and you could reduce your fatigue as well."
"Of course, but..."
Taesu trailed off because he still couldn't believe it.
Jo Jeongmin explained the reason for that decision.
"Since you've been so generous to us, the only thing we can offer in return is our houses."
"We apologize that our repayment is so meager."
Gang Yeonghun finished with a deep bow.
Old Man Wang, who had been watching the whole time, tossed out a curt remark.
"Why make such a long speech over something that can be said simply?"
"So are you moving in or not?"
"..."
Old Man Wang asked point-blank, true to his nature.
Before anyone knew it, the gazes of everyone around were focused here.
They were looks hoping the answer would be positive.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu felt extremely strange.
To think they would live together.
It was something they hadn't even dreamed of.
But now that it was becoming reality, they were bewildered.
Jeong Minsu called out with a trembling voice.
"Taesu."
"Wait."
"Huh?"
"Hehe."
Taesu suddenly smiled, his eyes sparkling.
Seeing that, Jeong Minsu had a hunch.
'Here he goes again.'
Taesu's trademark pettiness had been triggered.
Before anyone knew it, Taesu's expression turned curt.
And he spoke in a sullen voice.
"Well, if you want it that much, I'll think about it."
"What?"
"Since Elder Wang is asking me so earnestly, it would be awkward to pretend I don't know."
Taesu put on an extremely cocky act.