Chapter 6
Yoo Eun calmly turned around and faced a middle-aged woman with her hair pinned up in a bun.
“Excuse me, but what do you mean by that?”
Worried that the identity of Yoo (the scholar) might be revealed to someone not associated with Geumseongdang, Yoo Eun flatly denied it.
“This person is merely a guest of Geumseongdang.”
“Haha, yes, of course.”
Noticing Yoo Eun’s true feelings, Ha Kyung quickly stepped forward.
“A guest of our director, right? Please come this way. I’ll guide you.”
“So this is where we meet.”
The woman spoke to the scholar as if Ha Kyung didn’t even exist—as if she knew him.
Then she smiled at Yoo Eun, who had raised her eyebrows in surprise, as if she knew her very well too.
“My name is Duran. I only tell that name to people I’m close with.”
“I see.”
“If you ever find yourself lost in a strange place, be sure to say the name Duran and ask for help. The other person won’t be able to refuse.”
Though taken aback by such a forward remark from a stranger, Yoo Eun nodded in acknowledgment.
“And, curator… no matter how hard you try to hide it, what must be revealed will eventually come to light.”
“Pardon?”
“That is what fate is.”
Leaving behind only cryptic words, the woman refused even Ha Kyung’s guidance and headed to the office as if she knew the way.
“What a mysterious person…” Ha Kyung murmured as he watched her retreating back.
“More importantly, Miss Yoo Eun, the scholar is about to pass out from lack of air!”
“Huh? Oh!”
Because Yoo Eun had been covering the scholar’s mouth with her hand, Yoo’s face had turned pale from suffocation.
“I’m so sorry! I’m really sorry!”
“Hmph, hmph. Young lady has quite a strong grip.”
“Right? Miss Yoo Eun is the pillar of our Geumseongdang.”
Ha Kyung smiled contentedly, then—under Yoo Eun’s sharp glare—mumbled something about getting a phone call and headed to the office. Watching her good-natured but oblivious senior curator leave, Yoo Eun gestured for Yoo to follow.
“Let me explain the rules you must follow while staying here.”
Yoo Eun headed toward the annex, then frowned at Yoo, who hesitated in front of the door. Startled, Yoo stepped up onto the wooden floor.
“Things were chaotic yesterday, so I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but there are certain rules you need to abide by if you want to stay here.”
“Come to think of it, I also forgot to introduce myself and ask what country this is. I am—”
“Wait!”
Yoo Eun shouted and covered her ears. Yoo looked at her in bewilderment.
“Please do not reveal your identity or your name. That’s a rule everyone who comes here must follow.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Yoo nodded. Only then did Yoo Eun lower her hands from her ears.
“This country is called the Republic of Korea. I look forward to working with you.”
“The pleasure is mine. By the way, those strange rules…”
Yoo Eun brought her index finger to her lips, and Yoo fell silent again.
“Also, do not tell anyone else who comes here where you are from. If you do, you might never be able to go back.”
“Never… go back…”
“The ‘gate’ that leads to the place where you lived only opens here.”
Not knowing exactly how beings from the past came to this place or how they returned, Yoo Eun gave a rough, vague explanation.
“So you must not stray far from this location. Since we don’t know exactly when the gate will open, you have to stay nearby.”
“If the timing isn’t right, I might not be able to return even after half a year, I suppose.”
“Probably. But no one who has come here has failed to return so far.”
At least, that had been the case for cats, field mice, and even tigers—so Yoo Eun assumed it would be the same for humans, answering firmly.
“I see…”
For the first time, Yoo nodded as if convinced.
“Also, people here can be wary of strangers. If they see you, they might panic or contact the police… the guards. Your clothing alone makes it obvious that you’re from somewhere else.”
Yoo clutched his dopo robe as if someone were about to strip it off him.
“So you should stay with me or that man from earlier, Senior Ha Kyung. As long as you have a guardian, it’ll be fine.”
“Understood.”
Yoo Eun said she would write down some of the guidelines and suggested that he first take a look around Geumseongdang. Yoo nodded and rose to his feet.
Grrrrrrrroan.
A loud rumble echoed through the quiet room, startling Yoo Eun. Her gaze turned to the man whose face had turned bright red.
“I haven’t eaten anything since before I arrived here… I’m sorry. I’ve shown you something shameful.”
“Pfft—hahahahaha!”
Yoo Eun, who had been about to stand up, instead clutched her stomach and burst out laughing.
She knew it was rude, but ever since the strange man had appeared yesterday, her body had been tense, and the laughter poured out uncontrollably, as if a dam had broken.
After laughing in front of the red-faced scholar, Yoo Eun stood up and gave a polite bow.
“I’m the one who should apologize for laughing. I’m sure you were shocked to come here, but I was also very surprised. It’s like… a painting suddenly jumping out of a scroll—so surreal.”
“I take it people like me are quite rare?”
“At least, I’ve only heard stories; I’ve never seen one before.”
The scholar slowly nodded as if in understanding.
“I’m truly sorry for laughing. As an apology, may I treat you to a meal?”
“On the contrary, your laughter actually puts me at ease.”
Even though it would not have been strange for him to be angry, he instead smiled warmly at Yoo Eun.
“I thought I had seen plenty of wondrous things, but this place is filled with things that are truly special and peculiar.”
Strange lodgings, strange people, strange attire, strange customs…
“I felt more lonely and afraid than when I was escorted as a criminal. But seeing you laugh so brightly—it makes me feel like I’m in a place where people live. It’s a relief.”
The man, calmly expressing his feelings, made it clear how much worry he had gone through all night.
Realizing belatedly that someone who seemed to be from the Joseon period could not possibly adapt to a strange land in a single day, Yoo Eun gave him a gentle smile.
“I only emphasize the rules because I have to send you back. I’m on your side. I’m not trying to suppress you in any way.”
After a moment’s thought, she added,
“First, let’s eat. And if you’re okay with it, I’ll show you around outside Geumseongdang.”
Yoo’s expression brightened.
“Who prepared all this food? I didn’t see any smoke, yet it was ready in such a short time. Amazing.”
When Yoo saw the food Yoo Eun had ordered using a delivery app, he couldn’t hide his admiration.
Just then, the director appeared at the perfect timing, insisted on treating everyone, and told them to order plenty. Thanks to that, lunch was abundant.
The menu was pasta and pizza, the director’s favorites. The director also pulled cola out of the small refrigerator.
“Director, what about that guest from earlier?”
“She left, said she had business. Why, Yoo Eun, do you need something from her?”
“No, not that. She just seemed to have a mysterious aura.”
“Ah, that woman is a powerful shaman. Maybe you sensed her spiritual energy.”
Although Yoo Eun studied folk beliefs as part of her job, she personally didn’t believe in fate or gods, so she simply nodded indifferently.
Meanwhile, Ha Kyung had set the table and laid out the food. Yoo watched the scene with wonder.
“Now then, Scholar. Welcome to Geumseongdang. This meal is for you, so please enjoy.”
“I’ve never seen any of these foods before.”
Yoo stared at the unfamiliar utensils.
“That’s called a fork. You use it like this.”
Yoo Eun twirled the pasta with her fork. Yoo only tilted his head and hesitated to pick up the fork.
“Go ahead, give it a try.”
When Yoo Eun urged him again, Yoo tried to eat the pasta, but the noodles slipped through the fork’s tines. Finally, she gave him wooden chopsticks, and only then was he able to eat.
“Hmm, very oily food. But it is delicious.”
As Yoo ate the oil pasta and marveled at the novel taste, his eyes fell on the director, who was just picking up a slice of pizza with his hand.
“You… pick up food with your hands?”
He had thought the director was someone more like himself, but now the man was doing something incomprehensible. Yoo looked shocked.
Ha Kyung explained that pizza was meant to be eaten that way, but still unable to hide his bewilderment, Yoo chugged the cola next to him.
A moment later, Yoo’s face twisted into an indescribable expression.
“Gulp—pfft, hahahahaha! You’re not supposed to drink it like that! Haha!”
Ha Kyung and the director held their stomachs, roaring with laughter. Yoo shuddered repeatedly. Seeing the dignified man hiccup like a child, Yoo Eun couldn’t help but burst out laughing too.
The meal—which had been quite a shock for Yoo—finally ended.
“Now you’ll show me outside?”
“Yes, of course.”
Though she had readily agreed, the overly eager sparkle in Yoo’s eyes sent a chill of unease down Yoo Eun’s spine
