I Regressed and Became Too Good at Brewing - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17. The Season When Grapes Ripen (4)
The cup extended toward us.
Without hesitation, I caught its scent, then took a sip — and my conviction only deepened.
“Ahh. This really is excellent.”
“See? I told you it was fine liquor.”
There wasn’t a shadow of doubt about it. This was genuinely good.
And the aging trajectory had been managed with real precision.
“Remarkable.”
“Well, naturally. Haha.”
“I understand this place isn’t old, but it’s truly impressive.”
“You’ve done your homework, then? Haha. That’s right — it’s been quite the struggle.”
Young-gil had left a perfectly good job to throw himself into this venture.
Which meant he’d endured genuinely difficult days in the process.
Not only had there been no revenue, but without experience, even growing blackberry plants had proven hard, let alone fermenting the liquor itself.
“Truth is, things still aren’t in great shape… but what can you do? Seeing people recognize the work like this, maybe it’ll turn out well after all.”
“It will work out.”
“You think so? Haha!”
Behind Young-gil’s forced smile, I caught the dokkaebi drifting forward.
She rested her hand on his shoulder as if admiring something, murmuring to herself.
<Hehe. Hubby. So good. You’re the best.>
Why did that look less like admiration and more like some twisted kind of love?
In any case, if the dokkaebi was reacting like this, the distillery must be worthwhile.
“I think we can discuss a contract.”
“Ah. Right. I’ve been forgetting about the contract. Haha.”
Looking a bit sheepish, he scratched his head and led us to a space also packed with oak barrels.
Though the blackberry wine itself wasn’t stored in these particular casks.
They were used oak barrels — blackberry wine casks, to be precise.
This was the whole reason we’d come here.
“When you first contacted me, I wondered if you were interested in blackberry liquor.”
“I’m not without interest, but not at this moment.”
And it wasn’t just blackberry liquor.
Traditional spirits, wine, beer — and eventually whiskey and rum, all manner of distilled spirits.
The goal was to produce all kinds of alcohol under the name Songhada.
The only issue was that doing it all at once wasn’t yet feasible.
“You’re thinking of using these barrels for aging, I’d imagine?”
“Yes. The details are difficult to discuss, though…”
“Of course, of course. Every distillery’s got its own secrets — wouldn’t expect you to share. Haha. But you’ve come to the right place. There aren’t many facilities in Korea using oak barrels for blackberry wine aging.”
Young-gil’s words were accurate.
Most distilleries would be using stainless steel tanks instead.
My research had shown that, much like my past life, only premium wineries and craft distilleries in places like Gochang and Muju dealt with them at all.
And Young-gil’s winery was one of them.
“We source white wine casks and do the aging ourselves.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Haha. It’s something I’m proud of, in my way.”
<Ugh. Those barrels keep eyeing the booze your hubby makes…>
Unlike Young-gil, who was taking it all positively, the other owner of this place — the dokkaebi — clearly wasn’t.
I’d felt it even before now, but there was nothing to be done about it.
If there were two owners, I’d have to convince them both.
I pulled out my phone, connected an earbud, and spoke.
“Do you mind if I take a call for a moment?”
“Ah, of course, of course. And this gentleman’s name is…?”
“I’m not the owner — just an employee. Call me Kim Se-jun.”
“Ah, Se-jun. Would you like to taste some of our bottled spirits as well?”
“I never turn down offered alcohol. Can’t help it, really. Besides, we’re staying the night here anyway.”
“Haha! Good man. Come this way.”
As Se-jun and Young-gil left the room, the dokkaebi remained, her eyes fixed on me.
Or rather, she wasn’t looking — she was glaring.
<Ugh. I don’t like it…>
She was saying so herself, plainly enough.
She likely thought I couldn’t see or hear her, and was reacting accordingly.
Well then, I suppose I should tell you the truth.
“What’s bothering you about it?”

“I’m planning to purchase it at a fair price.”

The Dokkaebi, mid-ramble, stopped dead.
His already pale face drained of color entirely as he turned to stare at me.

“I can hear you too.”

Wait—why are you the one who’s shocked?
* * *
“So what you’re saying is, Bun, you’ve never met anyone with their eyes open before?”

The Dokkaebi, who’d introduced himself as Bun, answered somewhat sheepishly.
At first, he’d thought I was some con artist who’d come to wreck Young-gil’s winery, so he’d been wary.
But when he heard I could see him, something he’d never experienced before, he panicked.
“It seems there aren’t many people like me with their eyes open, are there?”

“I see.”

He raised his fists above his head in a huff, though the gesture lacked any real menace.
For all that Dokkaebi are supposed to be mysterious beings, his behavior was no different from a child’s.
The way he showed unconditional affection toward Young-gil, like a duckling following its mother.
Though calling him “master” felt a bit odd.
“In any case, what you’re trying to say is that you find me untrustworthy, correct?”

“I’m not trying to steal anything.”
Perhaps because he’d only existed five years, Bun spoke in a manner far younger than his appearance.
I wished Song-ha or Mok-tong were here… but they weren’t.
“Then I’ll show you directly.”

“After all, Young-gil…”

“Right. Master. I’m someone who can help him. And I’ll let you try some of the alcohol we brought along too.”

Bun’s face flushed as he turned his head away.
This was only possible thanks to Song-ha’s advice.
They say all Dokkaebi in the world love alcohol.
So it was only natural that a baby Dokkaebi, barely five years old, would love it too.
“Then let’s go right away.”

“To Young-gil, of course.”

The moment Young-gil’s name came up, Bun’s face lit up in an almost embarrassing way.
Well, if a love that transcends species suits both parties, then why not?
“Yes. I was already planning on it anyway.”

With that, Bun whooshed through the wall and dashed toward where Young-gil was, his form dissolving into the barrier.
As I followed after him, Se-jun was the first to greet me.
“Man, this is incredible. Yeon-u.”
“Were you drinking?”
“Yeah. Try some yourself.”
This was Blackberry Wine drawn straight from the Oak Barrel earlier.
And what we had now was already bottled and ready for sale.
Which meant the aging was completely finished.
“It definitely has a polished quality to it.”
“Right?”
“Ha. I hardly know what to do with myself, knowing you both approve.”
Young-gil responded with pride mixed with embarrassment, but Se-jun and I meant every word.
At least within the category of Blackberry Wine, this man was a master craftsman.
To that degree, it made sense that a Dokkaebi would be born and drawn to him.

Bun, standing beside me, shrugged her shoulders in agreement.
It was a wine worthy of such praise.
The subtle sweetness of the blackberry dancing above was moving with a tender grace, a beautiful waltz on the tongue.
“Young-gil. Have you reviewed the contract?”
“Ah, yes. The contract. I’ve had a look at it. But there’s this part here…….”
Young-gil pulled out the contract and unfolded it before me, as if he had something to ask.
The section he pointed to was one I’d written with considerable care.
“This clause about direct collection…….”
“Ah, that’s something we’re planning to handle on our end.”
Normally, when casks are traded this way, it’s customary for the side producing them to arrange shipping.
But in our contract, there was a clause requiring Songhada to visit and select the casks in person.
“I wanted to inspect the condition of the casks directly before taking them.”
Cask management—especially with oak barrels—is quite demanding.
Particularly so when dealing with barrels that once held Blackberry Liquor.
Fruit wines like Blackberry Wine are high in sugar content, and if not cleaned immediately after emptying, they’re prone to acetic acid bacteria and mold.
If the interior smells of sour vinegar, the barrel must be discarded entirely.
That’s not all.
Dryness also plays a significant role.
When oak barrels sit empty for too long, the wood shrinks and gaps form—a phenomenon called Leaking.
Therefore, it’s best to collect barrels in a Wet Cask state, right after emptying.
“And the number of aging cycles matters too. Casks reused three or four times lose the oak’s original compounds, so their ability to impart flavor and aroma weakens considerably.”
“Of course. That’s obvious. But still…….”
“I’m certain you’re already mindful of such concerns.”
In five years, Young-gil had produced Blackberry Wine of this caliber.
There was no way he wouldn’t understand the details I’d mentioned.
The truth was, I’d drawn up this contract simply to create an excuse to visit his winery frequently.
I needed to maintain our relationship for various reasons.
“I understand. I’m just grateful you’ll visit in person. Ha!”
Fortunately, Young-gil stamped the contract.
With this, Songhada had secured a very high-quality supply of Blackberry Wine casks.

Bun, arms crossed, stood right beside Young-gil, her watchful gaze unmistakably wary.
But that wariness evaporated in an instant with what came next.
“So then, how many units…….”
“For now, I’ll need 100 barrels, based on the 225-liter Barrique standard.”
“Then the unit price would be…….”
“The unit price is 500,000 won per barrel, as stated in the contract.”
It was a compromise on my part.
While imported oak barrels could be sourced for 200,000 won, acquiring oak barrels that once held Blackberry Wine was more complicated and costly.
But I couldn’t ignore Songhada’s financial situation, so this figure was just right.
Since Echo sold well, we could manage this expense.
“So… the total would be…….”
“50 million won.”

I nearly reacted to Bun’s startled cry.
It was understandable to be shocked.
For a newly born Dokkaebi, the idea of earning that much money by selling barrels rather than the wine itself probably hadn’t crossed her mind.
Young-gil’s reaction was no different.
“Huh?!”

In the selection process for obtaining the Blackberry Wine casks, I’d verified two things.
One was the quality of the wine.
And the second was whether it existed in my memories of my past life.
Young-gil’s winery produced wine of remarkable quality, yet it left no trace in my past-life memories.
As a distillery owner and connoisseur, there was no way I wouldn’t have known of a place making wine of this caliber.
Which meant only one thing.
“With this, I should be able to settle some of what’s owed…….”
“Young-gil! Thank goodness! I’m so glad!”
This time, unlike in my past life, his winery would not fade into obscurity and disappear.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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