I Regressed and Became Too Good at Brewing - Chapter 39

Song Ha was right.
Song Ha was, by nature, the very ground upon which Songhadan stood.
My own childhood amounted to little more than the occasional visit here, so there was no way Song Ha could have known me then.
Only after Grandfather left the distillery to me as an inheritance did Song Ha have time to come to know me.

“Is that so?”

There was much to tell.
Where the parking lot now stood, there had once been a modest yet beautiful garden.
Whenever I ran through those blooming flowers, Grandfather would come out and gently scold me for being reckless.
The pavilion where I’m sitting now was built around that same time.
“I’ll tell you slowly.”
I traced the cracks in the weathered wood grain as I answered, and Song Ha simply bowed his head.
Though I had so much I wanted to say, there were things I needed to do first.
“Work comes first right now.”
“Just so. Spring is already fading,” Song Ha said.
At the end of his upward gaze, spring bloomed in full splendor.
Not long ago, those modest buds had pushed through snow untouched by the Gangwon Province cold, and now they unfurled in brilliant display.
That was how spring came to Yeongwol.
Not shedding winter in its wake, but embracing it—arriving gently, then slipping away.
“Fortunately, the tasting competition results should turn out well.”
“That is indeed fortunate,” Song Ha said.
If Eddie Brook had tasted it and marveled—there was no chance of a poor score or missing an award.
“That sweetness with its tangy edge was truly exquisite. It’s a sign the alcohol has aged beautifully. Don’t worry yourself,” Song Ha continued.
“I’m not worried. Having you both here makes me feel more secure.”
“Speak freely, friend. At any rate, that’s the truth of it. With him drinking so much, if it tasted poor, that would be strange indeed,” Song Ha said with amusement.
I watched Mok Tong, who was strolling about leisurely today, cup of alcohol in hand, sipping away, as Song Ha murmured to himself.
Mok Tong drained what remained and waved his hand toward us.
It had been some time since learning the true nature of Angel’s Share, yet it still didn’t feel quite real.
“At this rate, I suspect that friend will awaken as well,” Song Ha mused.
“That friend?” I asked.
His words pulled me back to attention.
Who else could he call a friend?
There was no one but another Dokkaebi.
He’d mentioned it before.
Once alcohol matching his taste was crafted, the Dokkaebis would awaken one by one, or so he’d said.
“I wonder which one it will be this time?”
“You’re impatient, friend. When the time comes, you’ll know. Why rush? Simply focus on your own work. The rest will follow naturally,” Song Ha said with a knowing smile, offering not the slightest hint.
He wore a contented smile while divulging nothing whatsoever.
Come to think of it, Song Ha had given such answers even before Mok Tong awakened.
There must be some law among the Dokkaebis that I didn’t know.
“You’re right. I should focus on what I need to do.”
And there was nothing wrong with Song Ha’s words anyway.
I stood up and dusted off my trousers.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the number I’d saved beforehand—and that too was for the same reason.
Ring… ring-ring-ring…
A call to Yoon Seong, who said he had something to tell me directly.
Through the speaker, only an anxious dial tone continued.
After a short while, a familiar voice came through the receiver.
– Boss! Hello!
“It’s been a while, Yoon Seong. How have you been?”
– Very well! Whenever I write articles about Songhadan, the views are guaranteed to be decent. Ha ha! Business is booming these days!
“That’s good to hear. So you have something you wanted to tell me?”
– Oh! Yes! Actually, it’s connected to something I was just discussing. One moment!
There came a loud clang and the sound of a metal door opening as he moved his position—all audible through the speaker.
Then a metallic ring resonated softly.
– Boss, can you be honest with me?
“I’ve never lied before.”
– That’s not quite what I meant… ugh… Never mind. Let me just be honest with you first. Is there a new product coming out?
How had he found out about that?
I hadn’t made any official promotional announcements yet.
I’d prepared all the promotional materials in advance, but I hadn’t released them.
As I hesitated on my response, it was Yoon Seong who spoke first.
– I know quite a few people through this line of work. I heard recently you’ve been in contact with distributors quite a bit.
“Ah, I see.”
– So, would you be interested in doing another interview?
“Another interview?”
– Yes. Last time we kept it brief, but I thought it might be good to do something longer this time!
So that’s what this was about.
Depending on how it’s delivered, there’s a risk that people might misunderstand—that Yoon Seong had conducted a background investigation of Songhadan. That’s why he’d said he’d tell me directly.
But his real objective, in the end, was still to secure an article through the interview.
“That sounds difficult.”
Now wasn’t the right time.
There was already plenty of promotional material prepared.
-Ah, well, there’s no helping it. But if you change your mind later—please, please do get in touch!
“I’m not saying I’m completely refusing, Chief Choi.”
-Yes? What do you mean by that…….
“It’s just not the right moment yet.”
I was planning to upload to YouTube a video filmed when Brook and Murata visited around the time of Hongya’s launch.
But would that be all?
The awards ceremony for the Korean Alcohol Tasting Competition was scheduled to take place soon.
“So wouldn’t you have more to talk about if we did the interview then, rather than now?”
– W… wait. Then what you’re saying is…….
“Yes. I think it would be better to do the interview after that.”
A master distiller with a legendary career and a renowned critic drinking and falling in love with the spirits made by this brewery.
And on top of that, the Dalbord, which both of them had not merely acknowledged but enthusiastically praised—there was no way it wouldn’t win.
So what I was saying was that even if Songhadan rose to that position, I was promising to interview him first.
– Thank you! Really, thank you so much! Then I’ll come see you then!
“There’s no need for that. Weren’t you planning to attend the awards ceremony anyway?”
– Of course! The awards ceremony runs together with the Korean Alcohol Festival.
The Korean Alcohol Festival.
A major event run jointly by the department overseeing the Korean Alcohol Tasting Competition, it’s an expo operated by traditional liquor breweries gathered from all corners of the nation.
At first it focused exclusively on traditional spirits, but as time went on, beer and wine made with domestic ingredients were also allowed to participate, broadening its reach into a festival in the truest sense.
And on the final day of that festival, the award-winning works from the Korean Alcohol Tasting Competition are announced.
“Then we’ll see each other then.”
– Haha! Wonderful! I’ll be counting down the days!
“Yes, understood. I’ll hang up now.”
– Yes! Master! Wishing you prosperity!
Yoon Seong ends the call without losing his smile, his voice brimming with contentment.
With this, the plan was perfectly constructed.
“So now we can go ahead and launch Hongya.”
<A fine spirit indeed. But releasing it this soon—are you sure?>
“No, actually I wanted to release it even sooner.”
I delayed it to align the schedule with the Korean Alcohol Festival for strategic promotion, but truth is, Hongya is the kind of spirit that would receive excellent reviews even if sold immediately.
“Still, wouldn’t it be good to introduce Hongya again at a gathering where everyone is present?”
<If that’s what you wish, then it shall be so.>
<Don’t worry yourself. The way this one’s mind works is exceptional. Tsk tsk!>
Listening to Song Ha and Mok Tong’s words, I checked the schedule saved in my phone’s calendar.
The date written two weeks from today.
[Korean Alcohol Festival Participation / Award Announcement]
On that day, the name Songhadan will be etched firmly into everyone’s memory.

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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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