Yokai Come to the Countryside Café

Chapter 40: Like Father, Like Son (2)

It was easy to refuse money.

All I had to do was wave it off and push the envelope away. If I added a polite "I appreciate the thought," it even counted as humility.

But this time, I couldn’t stop it. No, I couldn’t even get to the negotiating table.

Because the person in question didn’t show up and there was no way to contact him.

Besides, this gift came not with money, but with prestige. Along with a short note.

『The Chairman said this is in place of private tutoring fees.』

I could vaguely guess what he meant by "private tutoring fees." Assistant Manager Joo Dohyuk had changed so dramatically lately.

Still, it was too much of a reward for that.

Isn’t there a saying, like father, like son?

After rejecting the son’s gift, the father’s generosity came flooding in.

And the variety was impressive.

A chair worth millions of won, a desk, a brand-new laptop and computer, and even a fountain pen that made me wonder if I’d ever use it.

It was like someone had transplanted a furniture setup straight from a department store display.

Because I had lived in rented rooms for so long, I had always been extremely cautious about accumulating stuff. Somehow, I managed to fit it all in.

The only problem was that there was barely any space left to walk.

Just as I was finishing tidying up and catching my breath—

– Ding-ling.

“We’re here!”

“Huh? What’s all this now?”

“The café is super messy!”

That was the greeting from Elder Gumiho and Sanyi when they saw the chaotic state of the café, covered in torn packaging and boxes.

“I received an excessive amount of gifts.”

“Gifts?”

“There’s a ton on the second floor!”

“Go take a look. I need to finish organizing.”

Guided by Ria, the two Divine Beasts went upstairs but came back down not long after. It must’ve been too cramped even for three people to stand comfortably.

“Click click, looks like your empty house finally got some furniture.”

“But it’s way too cramped. There’s not even a place to sit on the second floor.”

Sanyi’s complaint wasn’t an exaggeration.

Since I had received everything so suddenly, I shoved it all in quickly, and there were quite a few overlapping items like desks and chairs I already had.

It wasn’t like I could move them down into the operating café, so the second floor was basically a storage room now.

I was dying to return it all, but hauling everything back would be rude in its own way.

“I really need to expand the building now.”

“Right, I’ll tell that rascal Mahyeon to hurry up.”

We had previously planned to build a separate two-story building next to the café for Ria to stay in.

But for various reasons, the construction hadn’t even broken ground and had been on hold for months.

The requirements were more complicated than expected.

Since it was to house the Spirit of the Divine Tree, the National Intelligence Service had imposed ridiculously strict design standards, and no company was willing to take the job.

But now I was getting desperate.

After all, I couldn’t just keep piling up household items I couldn’t throw away.

“I need to visit the Heavenly Realm for a bit.”

“What for this time?”

“Since Yongman worked there for a long time, he might know a good company.”

“You’re seriously going all the way to the Heavenly Realm for that?”

“It’d be great if I could just call, but I can’t.”

“Well, even so, that’s a bit…”

There wasn’t really anything more he could say.

Since the construction wasn’t funded with my own money (?), I hadn’t complained so far. But even the contractor introduced by an ascended dragon wouldn’t accept such picky conditions.

“Mago Goddess also told me to come visit often. I’ll just get a contact number and head back.”

I wasn’t sure if she said that just to be polite, but I had her permission, didn’t I?

So I packed a thermos full of coffee and the Divine Tree Leaf and got in the car.

The road to the Heavenly Realm was the same as before.

Flower petals of unknown names fluttered by, and before I knew it, the paved road gave way to open fields.

That was the Heavenly Realm.

– Screech.

I parked the car and stepped out with the thermos in hand.

But Mago Goddess wasn’t in sight.

Below the field were the always-welcoming thatched cottages, endless stretches of farmland, and a familiar face running toward me.

“Heyyyyyy! Caaaafééé! Charger! Give me a charger!”

Huh? Charger?

– Ding ding.

Yongman leaped into the car and plugged into the cigarette lighter socket. He managed to power up his phone, but that was it.

There wasn’t much one could do with a phone in the Heavenly Realm, where there was no internet.

Still, he seemed to be so starved for it that he kept tapping icons and grinning like a fool.

“How’ve you been?”

“Do I look like I’ve been well?”

“No.”

He definitely didn’t. His sunken eyes and gaunt face made him look less like he was in the Heavenly Realm and more like he was stuck in purgatory.

“Haah, I was bored out of my mind. No internet, and the only game is damn go! And I couldn’t even win once against those wretched immortals!”

“I expected as much.”

“You sent me knowing that?!”

“I wasn’t the one who wanted to come.”

“That may be true, but… you should’ve warned me!”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?”

Sensing his rant would continue, I diverted the conversation while pulling out the thermos.

– Nod nod.

He nodded so eagerly just for a cup of coffee.

It hit me again just how terrifying it was to live disconnected from society.

His thousand-year yearning had shattered in less than a month.

“So why are you here?”

“Oh, I was hoping to get the contact info for the company you used to work with. I want to expand the café a little, but I haven’t found a good contractor.”

“You came to the Heavenly Realm for that? I spent over a thousand years to get here!”

“Yes.”

“……”

He said almost the same thing as Elder Gumiho. Must be a Divine Beast thing.

“Seriously, you always manage to pull the most absurd stunts. Here, it’s the foreman’s number. Give him a call. But don’t expect special treatment just because I introduced you. These things…”

"People you know are the scariest."

"You know it."

I had plenty of experiences where I bought things or hired services through someone I knew, only to end up in awkward situations.

Whether knowingly or unknowingly, it was hard to bring such things to light unless I was ready to sever ties with that person.

It was the same for the other party.

If both sides didn’t walk away satisfied, I’d often hear complaints despite my best intentions.

But the place Yongman told me about would be different.

"They’re people who’ve had ties with a Divine Beast who ascended to the Heavenly Realm. I doubt they’ve lived by deceiving others. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"Yeah. They’re all decent folks. Even let someone like me keep working. Heard you’ve got the Divine Eye—can you see stuff like that now?"

To be honest, I didn’t even need to use the Divine Eye. If they had accepted someone with that kind of personality, they were practically saints.

"Ah, when you see them, pass along my regards. I ended up coming here so suddenly that I didn’t even get to say goodbye properly. If you end up hiring them, buying them a snack would be a nice gesture. Not too often, though. Oh, right! How’s the guild doing? Who’s the guild master?"

"No one’s been chosen yet."

"If I had the time, I would’ve handed it to you before I left. Or maybe someone’s hit max level by now?"

"Yes, on weekends they all gather at the café and go on raids together."

"That’s great. It’s always better to communicate during raids. Right, and…"

Most of what he wanted to talk about wasn’t life in the Heavenly Realm but how everyone left behind in the current world was doing. Since much of that also overlapped with game talk, he was giddy like a child, quite unlike his usual quiet self.

Having gotten the contact info and seen that he was doing well, it felt almost wrong to bring up that I should be heading back.

He was like a grandma on a holiday, reluctant to let her grandchild leave, always bringing out one more fruit.

After nonstop chatting, Yongman downed the now-cold coffee in one gulp and smacked his lips.

"Time to head back now?"

"Yes, I’m an outsider, so I can’t stay long."

"Right, right. Want to take anything with you? The cabbages and cucumbers came out really well this time. Want me to pack you some?"

"Would it be okay to take things from the Heavenly Realm just like that?"

"I figured not."

"Why not?"

The reply came in a familiar voice from outside the car.

"Mago Elder, you’re here?"

"Mago Goddess, really? Wait right here—I’ll be back in a flash!"

Once he got confirmation from Mago Goddess, who nodded warmly with a gentle smile, Yongman hurried down the hill just like before.

"Click click, I thought you’d just come to serve some coffee, but it looks like you had other business today."

"Yes, I came for several reasons. You weren’t here, so I was about to leave soon."

What a relief.

Luckily, I had brewed plenty of coffee, and there was still enough left in the thermos for two more cups.

Pouring.

"Thank you, as always."

"Not at all. It’s just cheap powdered coffee."

"It’s the thought that counts. The heart that brought it all the way here is what’s precious."

"Thank you for always seeing things kindly."

"So, you’re expanding the café?"

"Yes, it’s a bit too small for two people to live in."

"This old woman’s fickleness has made a tight situation even tougher."

"That’s not true. It’s not something I have to build—I'm doing it because I want to. And there are many people helping me."

That was true. The National Intelligence Service was covering the costs of the expansion.

Since Ria’s living space was practically like a palace, I could have gone back to how things were if I just got rid of some belongings.

But my stubborn refusal to throw or sell anything had turned it into a full-scale construction project.

"How could that be called greed? It’s simply a nature that refuses to discard what has been taken in with care."

But Mago Goddess saw even that so-called greed in a positive light.

Just as she finished her cup of coffee, a dragon landed roughly on the ground.

Thud.

【Here! This!】

"I really must be going now. With this much loaded, I’m worried if the car will even move."

"Take it all."

"I’ll do my best."

That was what I said, but it was impossible.

The amount of cabbage and cucumbers Yongman brought was simply too much. Even if I packed the backseat and passenger seat to the brim, not even half would fit.

It was a colossal burden for a small compact car.

"I said take it all, so take him, too."

Mago Goddess pointed to Yongman with a smile.

"If you’ve got leftovers, just bring them back later, right?"

Only then did I understand why Mago Goddess was being so playfully insistent.

She was granting permission for Yongman to leave—albeit with a vague return deadline.

At the same time, at the café.

Sanyi was leaning against the window, endlessly staring in the direction Kim Jinseong’s car had disappeared.

"He’s late. It’s already mealtime, and even if he arrives now, it’ll take ages to cook."

"He’ll order delivery."

"Only jokbal gets delivered! Jokbal is tasty, yes, but the food Jinseong makes is even tastier!"

"You used to eat nothing but acorns in the mountains—why are you being so demanding?"

"This isn’t being demanding! I just really wanted kimchi fried rice today!"

"Shameless, considering you haven’t paid a single won…"

"Oh? That’s Jinseong’s car!"

"You rascal!"

In the middle of their squabble, Sanyi spotted Kim Jinseong’s car and instantly leapt out the door, stepping on Elder Gumiho’s head on the way.

"But there’s something weird following behind."

"Huh? What do you mean, weird?"

"It’s Imoogi Ajusshi!"

"Ha!"

Elder Gumiho, who followed Sanyi out a bit late, let out a dry laugh.

Floating behind Kim Jinseong’s red compact car was a legendary Divine Beast—a dragon—holding armfuls of fresh cabbage.