I Regressed and Became Too Good at Brewing - Chapter 65

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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 65. Growth for Growth’s Sake (1)
“Much has happened, hasn’t it?”

I spoke while seated in the pavilion adorned before Songhada, taking in the surroundings.
Beside me, Song-ha fingered the brim of his fedora.
Spring’s fragrance had arrived unnoticed, and the flowers now displayed their varied forms.
The frozen ground had not thawed completely, though the chill had loosened its grip considerably—yet still, a fierce vitality broke through, flaunting its spectrum of beauty.
The trees too were preparing for a new year’s beginning, buds emerging at the tips of branches.

“I’m relieved to hear it.”

“If anything, the help she gives us is far greater.”
Hyo-gi, the goblin who had recently joined us, had adapted perfectly to life at Songhada.
At first she had lingered near the Fermentation Room, attending to things here and there.
Since she had originated from fermentation itself, her initial concerns would naturally have centered there alone.
But……
“She’s quite the housekeeper.”

Song-ha nodded at my words with a hearty laugh.
This was not something only Song-ha would understand.
Had Songhada’s staff been able to see and hear her, they would have agreed entirely.
‘Young Master. This one has something to report to you.’
‘What is it? Has something gone wrong with the fermentation process?’
‘The Fermentation Room is proceeding wonderfully thanks to your esteemed friends’ efforts, and there is nothing more to wish for there……. But there is another place that troubles this one.’
‘What place is that?’
‘The living space where you and your friends reside.’
There was no problem whatsoever with fermentation.
It was one of the spaces that all Songhada’s staff tended most carefully.
Having confirmed that the Fermentation Room was running smoothly, what caught Hyo-gi’s eye was none other than our living quarters.
“Honestly, I thought that was sufficient. All the staff said it was fine too.”

“But?”

To put it plainly, the goblins at Songhada each had their own distinct temperaments.
Mok-tong devoted all his attention solely to alcohol.
He even boasted that he must be the most passionate about drink among all the goblins.
Song-ha was somewhat different.
Born from the very ground of Songhada itself, he seemed to concern himself more with the prosperity of Songhada as a brewery.
In that regard, Hyo-gi possessed a character much like that of a mother.
Not my mother, but rather the universal image of a mother, if you will.
“I never expected her to comment on room cleanliness……”

“It is, I suppose.”
Ha-jeong was the one who received the most criticism.
It was true that all the staff struggled with tidiness due to their busy schedules, but Ha-jeong’s neglect was particularly severe.
Once inspiration struck and she began working, she would postpone eating and sleeping alike—so what hope was there for cleaning?
‘Young Master. In all matters of living, cleanliness is paramount to maintaining dignity.’
‘I……’
‘It is said: cultivate yourself, order your household, govern your nation, and bring peace to the world. To tend to one’s own person is the foundation of ruling all under heaven.’
‘But……’
‘This one understands, for you pursue art, and to some degree this can be forgiven—yet even so, this exceeds all bounds.’
And I did clean up, even if she said these things.
Moreover, even if Hyo-gi spoke thus, Ha-jeong herself could not hear her words.
“So I’ve mentioned it several times, but she remains the same.”

“Ha, ha……”

“Han Gyeong-su?”

Han Gyeong-su had become a new member of Songhada’s family.
However, he did not stay in the employee quarters at Songhada.
His home was close by anyway, so he said he would commute instead.
“He certainly has style.”
When Han Gyeong-su first reported for work, every employee at Songhada was left utterly astonished.
An elderly gentleman stepping through the door in an immaculately tailored suit, polished shoes gleaming, a crisp rectangular briefcase in hand, moving with measured, deliberate grace.
It was an atmosphere that hardly seemed to fit Songhada at all.
‘Good day to all of you. I am Han Gyeong-su, joining Songhada as of today. I look forward to working with you.’
‘W-what? Yeon-woo? Is this right?’
‘W-welcome to us!’
But the astonishment did not end there.
Scarcely had they recovered from the shock of his formal manner when the overworked staff of Songhada rushed forward one after another to seek the teacher’s assistance.
‘How should we handle this…?’
‘Electronic invoices apply only when tax-exempt conditions are met. In this case, we need a tax invoice, though I can process it for you.’
‘And this one too…’
‘This one requires verification on several points. I’ll take care of it.’
On that first day of work, he completed all the paperwork that Songhada had been handling and made this announcement.
‘Moving forward, it would be most efficient if I handled all such matters personally.’
‘But surely, even so…’
‘It’s nothing difficult. I’ll have it done in no time.’
As he pulled out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses he rarely wore and slid them up his nose, the sight of him was absolutely striking.
“And to think he finished everything in just one day…”

“Exactly. We’d been struggling with those same tasks for days.”
Moreover, once he completed the work already in progress, he went through all the contracts Songhada had drawn up internally and began the process of minimizing legal vulnerabilities.
But that was not all.
‘Once this is done, I’ll create templates for standard forms. And it would be helpful to prepare a manual in advance.’
‘A manual?’
‘Ah. From what I can see, Songhada has nothing but growth ahead. By then, it will be difficult for this old man to manage everything alone, so it would be prudent to prepare these materials now. Besides, I have the time.’
‘I imagine you could manage it all quite well on your own…’
‘Ah. I shall prepare, a manual, then. Haha.’
Truly, they had found themselves a remarkable talent.

“Envious, you say?”

Song-ha spoke while gazing at the flowers that had finished preparing to bloom.
When you thought of it that way, it made a certain kind of sense.
The Samhaejiu that he and Kim Ee-eon of the House of Samhae had crafted together this time was indeed fine liquor.
That was likely the extent of the goblins’ appreciation for it.
If one were to press further, he might have wished for the success of the humans he walked alongside.
But that was all there was to it.
It was Kim Ee-eon and Han Gyeong-su who had poured their lives, their happiness, and their aspirations into that single cup.

“Honestly? I don’t think so.”
He believed Kim Ee-eon deserved much of the credit for restoring the rhythm to Samhaejiu after it had faltered.
Though he had given up on it, Kim Ee-eon still cradled it in his heart.
And by cherishing the memories shared with his father, wasn’t this feat made possible?

“I’m not sure why.”

Song-ha rose slowly, adjusting the hem of his trousers as he continued.

“It’s nothing, really.”

Song-ha bowed his head slightly as he watched Han Gyeong-su approaching from afar, then vanished as if he had never been there at all.
His comings and goings were truly uncanny, were they not?
Though he was a goblin, after all.
“Ah, there you are.”
“The scenery here is lovely.”
“It is peaceful indeed. Might I join you in enjoying this view for a moment?”
“Of course. I’d be glad for the company.”
“Then I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”
Perhaps he needed a brief respite.
Han Gyeong-su settled into the seat beside me, then gazed for a long while at the flower buds unfurling in the distance.
As if trying to hold fast, one by one, the memories rising beyond them.
“I realized I never properly thanked you. I’m grateful. Song-ha.”
“Me? No, I haven’t done anything. It was Kim Ee-eon who did the work.”
“But you helped Kim Ee-eon, and you’ve helped me as well. Ha. So please accept this old man’s gratitude. If you keep refusing, I’ll be embarrassed.”
What sort of person thanked another so gently it amounted to soft coercion?
I’d known it from our first meeting—he was truly a good man.
“Ah. It seems Kim Ee-eon is thinking of starting sales for the Samhaejiu.”
“Already? Hasn’t it all finished brewing yet?”
“He’s made his decision. Since he’s a member of the cooperative, I offered some assistance—gave advice on sales channels and legal matters to Young-gil of Bokdeungi Farm and Jin-woo of The Hop as well.”
I hadn’t realized things had progressed this far.
Since Han Gyeong-su joined, it felt as though one entire weight had lifted from my shoulders entirely.
Well, in truth, it had.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask, if I may. Song-ha?”
“Of course. A request from you, I’m happy to hear.”
“It might be a significant one.”
What sort of request warranted setting the mood like this?
Given his nature, if it weren’t a sensitive matter, he wouldn’t deliberately weigh the air this way.
In that tense moment, he spoke.
“Looking at the financial statements, it seems you’re focused on expansion.”
“Yes. There’s always demand for the liquor we produce, but the supply keeps falling short. It troubles me.”
In fact, this was Songhada’s greatest concern these days.
Even as we poured most of what we earned back into reinvestment, it remained so.
Meari and Meari: Autumn had become steady sellers, but Dalbord and Hongya continued to sell consistently as well.
“It’s difficult to expand equipment and hire staff.”
“It would be. Running a business is no simple matter.”
“Ha. So it seems.”
“And there’s a reason why you, in particular, must struggle with this.”
“Yes?”
A reason I must struggle?
What did he mean by that?
“Haven’t you noticed how slowly your equipment expansion and staff recruitment are progressing?”
“Well… I’ve been hiring rather actively, I thought?”
“It’s insufficient. Quite so.”
Insufficient?
And yet I’m constantly reinvesting half of what we earn back into Songhada.
But the expression Han Gyeong-su turned toward me held a gentle warmth and unmistakable resolve.
“At the current rate of growth, it would be better to reinvest everything—or even take out loans to reinvest. Otherwise…….”
He adjusted the glasses he was wearing and continued.
“…you might not be able to meet demand, and the supply itself could unravel.”

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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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