I Regressed and Became Too Good at Brewing - Chapter 19

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Episode 19. Coming Face to Face (1)
The ability granted by Mok-tong was the kind of thing that could never be made understood, no matter how well one explained it.
And for good reason.
To see the future of a spirit—how could such a thing possibly be conveyed?
How could one explain that isoamyl acetate, the compound that produces the common banana aroma found in makgeolli, sake, and Weizen beer, or the scent of perfectly ripe fruit, would emerge; or that phenylethyl alcohol, which adds profound body to spirits, would develop.
Rather than such tedious explanations, it was more intuitive simply to say that this was what I sensed.
“Wow… this is really…….”
Dongjeong-chun was a turbid liquor made using almost no water, so placing it directly in a cask could create numerous problems.
For instance, sealing the cask might cause over-fermentation inside, or alternatively, it could spoil entirely.
That was why the Dongjeong-chun used this time had been transformed into clear rice wine, with all the cloudy solids completely removed.
The result of Dongjeong-chun’s distinctive fruity palate mingling with a cask that had once held Bokbunja Wine was…….
“It’s absolutely certain to succeed.”

What one felt was not heaviness, but extraordinary refinement and brilliance.
Yet there was a sense of grace in the way the boundaries and proportions held firm, like an elegant gathering in full swing.

Dongjeong-chun’s signature aroma of clean melon and crisp green grape struck the nose first.
What followed was dried pomegranate and cherry.
And layered subtly beneath—leather notes.
The vanilla notes seeping from the oak cask drew forward an aroma reminiscent of toffee nut.
“But it doesn’t end there.”
The dense weight had vanished, yet the texture itself had not disappeared.
Like the oiliness of soft velvet spreading across the palate.
The deep, distinctive flavor of glutinous rice, inescapable, stimulating the tip of the tongue held captive by taste and aroma—it was exquisite.
The mouth felt clean as if gargled, yet with each exhale came the interplay of ripe plum and subtle woody notes—a finish that harmonized perfectly.
“Yeon-u?”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you acting like you’ve already been drinking?”
Only after hearing Se-jun’s words could I pull myself away from that radiant reverie.
What I had experienced up to now was nothing more than a preview through Mok-tong’s ability—the finished version of this spirit.
How regrettable.
If these two, who loved spirits, had also experienced this taste and aroma, they could have felt happiness not just for this one day, but perhaps all the way until the moment this spirit’s aging reached its completion.
“It’s just going to be such a good spirit.”
“You know you’ve been really strange lately, right?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. You’re probably the only one who doesn’t notice. Ha-jeong would agree too.”
“Honestly, I absolutely think so!”
Ha-jeong raised her hand with a flourish the moment Se-jun finished speaking, as if she’d been waiting for her cue.
“It was strange from the beginning, but lately it’s even more so!”
“In what way?”
“It’s like you’re possessed.”
“What?”

Mok-tong burst into laughter at Ha-jeong’s words, while Song-ha beside him smiled softly and tried to calm him down.
Now that I thought about it, it was true that I’d been acting strangely these days.
I kept ranting about wanting to brew spirits I’d never even made before or tasted.
Of course, most of the results had been successful, but to others it must have seemed like some incomprehensible force was at work.
Perhaps that’s what they meant by being possessed.
“In any case, I’m just happy! As long as you stay healthy! Because I want to keep drinking the spirits the boss makes!”
“Phew. Same here. It’s good that you make great spirits, but take care of your health. I’m worried, Yeon-u.”
“Thank you. Thank you. I’ll be more careful.”
What genuinely good people they were.
People who worried for each other and supported one another with their hearts.
Se-jun was a precious connection from my past life too, someone who always believed in me.
And Ha-jeong, with whom I’d formed a bond anew in this life, was no less a good connection.
Whatever came to pass, I felt certain I could face it alongside these people.
It was at such a moment as this.
Brrrring~
“Isn’t that the owner calling?”
“Ah, yes. It’s Representative Yun Ju-ho.”
“Representative Yun? Jujudaily?”
“Yeah. Let me take this call and get back to you.”
Yun Ju-ho wasn’t the type to call often.
I’d always seen it as a kindness on his part.
He knew how much it would burden me if he kept calling while I was working.
Of course, whenever a particularly good spirit came through, he’d make exceptions and call repeatedly.
“The fact that he’s calling now, though…”
‘Something must have come up.’
“Let’s hope it’s good news.”
With that thought, I answered.
“Hello, Representative Yun. I’ve got the call…”
– Song, we’ve got a situation!
The moment I picked up, Yun Ju-ho—his manner having grown comfortable after all these years—launched straight into it without ceremony.
“A situation?”
My stomach dropped.
A situation. That never sounded good.
What on earth had happened?
I’d been confident that I knew the major events from my past life well enough.
But even if I’d known the entire future, I couldn’t predict what butterfly effects my changes might set in motion.
“Is there a problem?”
– It’s the new release—Echo: Autumn!
“You mean Echo: Autumn?”
– That’s the one!
Yet strangely, there was no anxiety in Ju-ho’s voice.
There was excitement, certainly, but it came across less like danger and more like anticipation for what was to unfold.
And sure enough—
– You’ve been monitoring the response?
“Of course.”
Echo: Autumn had been receiving universal praise from the start.
Part of it was the rush of early demand, since it was positioned as a Limited Edition, but the spirit itself was genuinely excellent.
– Tried Echo: Autumn?
– Honestly, it slaps.
– LOLLLLL all those people who were gatekeeping about aging are now eating their words.
– From the Note through the Palate to the Finish, I’ve never tasted a spirit this balanced and intense while conveying such serenity since I first raised a glass. It’s remarkable. The only regret is how scarce it is…
Because of that, the consumer response was overwhelmingly positive.
There were complaints, certainly, but they were aimed not at the taste but at the desperately insufficient quantity.
It had even spawned the misconception that we’d deliberately released so little to inflate its perceived value.
But that was unfair.
Making Echo: Autumn was an intricate, complex process that demanded meticulous labor.
Even pooling effort with Se-jun, and borrowing Ha-jeong’s hands even as she was just learning the craft, we’d hit a ceiling on production volume.
“Everyone’s been so supportive, but we simply haven’t been able to make more. I can only apologize. But is there actually a problem…?”
– That’s exactly the problem.
“I’m sorry—what do you mean?”
– Do you know what question we’re getting most at Jujudaily these days?
“What is it?”
– When will Echo: Autumn be back in stock?
Ju-ho’s tone shifted, his words taking on a different cadence.
He was probably reading straight from customer inquiries.
– Don’t you have a longer-aged version of Nokpa-ju?
“Ah… that’s…”
– Are you planning to continue stocking spirits from Songhadang?
Now my pulse quickened for an entirely different reason.
All of these inquiries, full of such keen interest in Songhadang’s spirits.
Every single person was carrying the name Songhadang in their heart, waiting for what we would make next.
It was the dream I’d chased so desperately in my past life, now unfolding before my eyes.
– Now do you understand why I called this a situation?
“It really is a situation.”
– Here’s the thing—we can’t exactly ramp up production overnight. And, well… which is why I’m calling to make a proposal.
“What sort of proposal did you have in mind?”
– If expanding the equipment right now is difficult, why not consider OEM?
“You mean contract manufacturing?”
OEM—Original Equipment Manufacturer.
Though the term carries the formal meaning of “commissioned brand manufacturing,” in practice it refers to products completed by outsourcing the actual production to specialized manufacturing facilities, while retaining control over planning, design, and conception.
So Ju-ho’s proposal was indeed a perfectly tailored solution to our circumstances.
Under ordinary conditions, at least.
“I’m afraid that won’t work.”
– Hmm… I figured you’d say something like that. Craftspeople tend to be rather attached to the old ways.
Ju-ho sighed with the air of someone who’d anticipated my response.
Though his reasoning was different from my own, he was right—I wasn’t disposed favorably toward OEM.
I had no choice in the matter.
The reason I can craft spirits of this caliber is precisely because I brew them myself.
If I couldn’t observe the taste and aroma directly, couldn’t envision what profile would emerge, I’d never be able to produce spirits this fine with any consistency.
“Even with a recipe, spirit-making doesn’t yield identical results just by following the steps exactly.”
– That’s part of its charm, but… if you’re worried about a dip in quality, there’s nothing I can say to that.
“I apologize.”
– No need—I’d already anticipated this. Then let me propose something else instead.
Ju-ho laughed heartily and launched straight into his next suggestion.
And hearing it, I had no choice but to press him further.
“You’re really going to do that?”
– Of course! It’s entirely feasible if you’re willing. I can arrange the connections. Shall we give it a try?
And it was, in fact…
– A popup store.
A method I’d never even considered.
* * *
“What? Is that really true?”
“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
The moment I relayed the details of the call, Se-jun and Ha-jeong practically leaped with joy.
And rightfully so.
It was a major opportunity, coming from a company like Jujudaily.
“I honestly didn’t expect it to work out this way…”
Before the proposal came through, I’d been planning to continue selling Echo: Autumn as before.
Even if I expanded production capacity immediately, inventory wouldn’t flood in overnight.
I could have proceeded as planned, but Ju-ho’s earnest request forced me to alter course.
“Apparently the inquiries have been overwhelming—more than they can handle.”
“More than they can handle?”
“Yes. They analyzed customer data and said three hundred bottles wouldn’t even begin to cover demand.”
What cannot be satisfied should not be attempted.
That’s the cardinal rule of any merchant, isn’t it?
If I’d recklessly taken on distribution and then couldn’t fulfill orders due to insufficient stock, managing customer resentment would’ve been impossible.
Yet Jujudaily couldn’t simply abandon Echo: Autumn either.
“So that’s where the popup store came in.”
Ju-ho proposed leveraging his connections to open a popup store.
Since such a venue operates only temporarily, the shortage of inventory wouldn’t pose a major problem.
In exchange, he requested consistent supply for the future “Echo: Autumn” product line.
The strategy was to position themselves as a solution for those who couldn’t initially purchase—a win-win approach.
For us, too, it was a blessing.

The two goblins, in high spirits themselves, sipped from their cups as they listened to our story.
But there was one variable we hadn’t foreseen.
“Though… I never imagined it would be at Seongyeong Department Store…”
In truth, Ju-ho’s connections ran through a subsidiary of Geosung, one of Korea’s most prestigious conglomerates.
He’d mentioned that when he first broached the idea to them, they’d responded positively.
But for some reason, things had fallen through midway, or so he’d said.
‘I have no idea what happened. Everything was moving forward smoothly, and then suddenly it all fell apart. Tsk.’
Since even Ju-ho couldn’t fathom the reason, there was little I could do.
Then, just as our plans seemed to crumble, Seongyeong Department Store itself reached out to us first.
And here I was, the person directly involved, without any information about the popup store.
“That’s a bit frightening, I must admit.”
Never underestimate a merchant’s network—you’ll pay dearly if you do.
Seongyeong Department Store was a corporate behemoth every bit as formidable as Geosung.
The fact that one of their affiliated department stores had approached us first was rather surprising.
“They sent over a contract, and honestly, it’s loaded with terms favorable to us.”
Just as I’d anticipated, Se-jun and Ha-jeong threw their hands up in celebration.
“Of course we should! Why are you even asking—just decide already!”
“Then I’ll take charge of the store design! From start to finish, I’m going to create something absolutely captivating—something that’ll have people enchanted the moment they walk in!”
Not long after we all signed the contract amid the fanfare and excitement.
“Time really does fly.”
The first day of the popup store had arrived.