Sowol Inn - Chapter 18

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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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Chapter 18
An object he’d been too distracted to hand over on the day he bought it, and had no chance to take out since.
It was a Rattle Drum he’d purchased at the market a few days prior.
So Wol held the Rattle Drum out to Riri and gave the handle a gentle turn.
Thump. Thump.
At the unfamiliar sound, Riri’s crying stopped abruptly.
Dan U lifted his head, sniffling mid-breath.
Thump-thump. Thump.
Each time the small drum sounded, both children’s eyes traced the movement of So Wol’s fingers.
“Do you like it?”
“Ah! Ooh-ah!”
Riri, delighted beyond measure, thrashed his limbs and let out babbling sounds.
Watching him, Dan U made a small noise.
“Baby…….”
“That’s right. A baby. Want to come see?”
When So Wol spoke gently, worry flickered across Dan U’s face.
After hesitating for some time, the child swallowed hard and began inching toward So Wol, one careful step at a time.
Each time So Wol moved, Dan U flinched.
Glancing sideways at Riri, then creeping closer again.
And whenever his eyes met So Wol’s, he’d flinch once more.
Seeing how wary the boy was, So Wol stifled a bitter smile.
“So it’s that I frighten you, yet the baby interests you?”
Instead of answering, Dan U stretched his neck and looked up at So Wol, his curiosity bright in his eyes.
Two eyes gleamed with wonder.
He clearly wanted to see Riri.
So Wol bent at the waist to bring his eyes level with Dan U’s.
Then he adjusted how he held Riri so the boy could see her clearly.
Dan U’s face reflected in Riri’s dark, gleaming eyes.
“Now, this one here is Riri.”
“Riri?”
The moment Dan U repeated the name, Riri reached out her hand toward him.
“Ah!”
“The baby sees me!”
“She does. It seems Riri has taken a liking to you.”
When So Wol echoed his words, Dan U’s expression brightened.
So Wol smiled softly and held out the Rattle Drum to the boy.
“Go on, try shaking it.”
Dan U reached out his hand eagerly, but only for a moment.
As soon as his eyes met So Wol’s, tears welled up again.
“I won’t bite you, Dan U. Take it.”
When So Wol extended the handle’s end, Dan U carefully accepted the drum.
Turning the drum this way and that in his small hands, Dan U shook it just as So Wol had done a moment before.
Thump. Thump-thump.
At that sound, Riri burst into clear, bright laughter.
“Riri’s laughing!”
Delighted, Dan U shook the drum even more eagerly.
Thump-thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound of the drum continued long after.
So Wol had no choice but to spend the afternoon listening to it.
At least there were no customers to bother them.
Wang Yeom returned about two shichen later.
He carried bundles in both hands, having bought many things at the market.
“My goodness, you’ve gone to such trouble watching the child. Did Dan U cause you any trouble?”
“No trouble at all. He played quietly the whole time.”
When So Wol waved a hand dismissively, Wang Yeom smiled and drew several Bamboo Shoots from his bundle.
“I brought some Bamboo Shoots. Have a taste.”
“Thank you. I’m grateful.”
“No, I’m the grateful one. Dan U, let’s head home!”
Wang Yeom extended his hand, but Dan U didn’t budge from his place.
“Is Riri coming home with us?”
“Riri lives here. Dan U needs to go home.”
The child pressed himself against the cradle and shook his head firmly.
“I want to stay with Riri.”
“Riri? You’ve given the baby a name?”
Wang Yeom stared at So Wol with eyes wide as saucers.
So Wol replied as though it were nothing.
“……That’s how it happened.”
“Goodness, I’ve been wondering when you’d name the child, and here you’ve finally done it!”
Wang Yeom approached the cradle, pleased as if it were his own affair.
“Riri. You have a name now. Do you like it?”
“Ooo!”
As though in answer, Riri let out a babble. Wang Yeom burst into laughter.
“Ha ha, does she know it’s her name?”
“Hardly. I just gave it to her.”
“Babies catch their names quick enough. Is it the character for pear tree? Then it’s Yeon Ri?”
“…….”
So Wol cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away.
Yeon Ri. It wasn’t a bad name at all.
Wang Yeom patted Riri’s cheek in the cradle and reached out his hand to Dan U.
“Dan U. Let’s go home now.”
“…….”
“Dan U. Come on, let’s go home.”
“……!”
Instead of answering, Dan U gripped the cradle rail tightly.
His small fists were clenched with all his strength.
Wang Yeom’s brow darkened.
His patience was clearly running thin.
So Wol, sensing the mood, quickly tried to coax Dan U.
“Ha ha, Dan U. Go home today, and come back tomorrow.”
Dan U hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and hugged the cradle to himself.
Wang Yeom’s eyebrows shot up fiercely.
“This little wretch!”
Smack!
“Waaaah!”
Wang Yeom swatted Dan U’s backside, and the boy wailed and released the rail.
Wang Yeom scooped up the crying child and laughed awkwardly.
“Forgive me. The boy’s stubborn as they come.”
“All children are like that. Don’t worry about it.”
“Waaaah!”
Just then, a cry erupted from the cradle as well.
Startled by Dan U’s loud wail, it seemed.
But at that sound, Dan U’s crying stopped abruptly.
“……Riri crying?”
The child turned to look at the cradle, his face streaked with tears and snot.
“Waaah! Waaaah!”
Riri’s cries showed no sign of stopping.
Dan U sniffled and reached out toward the cradle.
“Sniff. Riri, don’t cry…….”
Wang Yeom tucked the sniffling Dan U under his arm regardless.
So Wol let out a soft laugh and took Riri into his arms, and the baby quieted at once as if she had never cried.
Wang Yeom chuckled softly.
“Riri only has eyes for you.”
“The moment I step out of her sight, she howls like the Inn itself is flying away. It’s maddening.”
“At that age, children cling desperately to whoever they know best.”
“Is that so?”
“For Riri, that person is you.”
While So Wol blinked in surprise, Wang Yeom hefted Dan U in one arm and gathered a bundle of belongings in the other.
“In any case, I should be on my way.”
“Travel safely.”
“Waaah! I want to see Riri!”
“This brat. Can’t you sit still? You’ll catch it.”
Wang Yeom’s threatening voice grew fainter as he moved away.
He was the most familiar person, after all.
So Wol watched the two figures recede, then belatedly closed the door.
* * *
After that, Dan U came to the Inn nearly every day.
At first he’d cling to Wang Yeom’s hand and linger at the threshold for ages, but from the second day onward, he’d bolt straight for the cradle the moment he stepped inside.
“Riri! I’m……!”
Crash.
Dan U tripped over the threshold and went sprawling.
Wang Yeom quickly helped the boy to his feet, but blood was seeping through his trousers where his knees had scraped the floor.
“Are you hurt? Tsk, your knees are scraped raw. Baek Ya, fetch the Herbal Ointment, would you?”
So Wol rolled up the child’s trousers and clicked his tongue, sending Baek Ya on the errand.
Just as tears began to well in Dan U’s eyes at the sight of blood dripping below his knees—
“Waaah……!”
The cradle burst into tears first.
At that, Dan U bit back his own sobs and scrubbed at his eyes with his forearms.
“Ugh, k-keep……. Riri, don’t cry……. I’m not hurt…….”
It was a hollow claim, coming from a child whose tears flowed freely.
“My goodness. Looks like he doesn’t want to show weakness just because he’s a boy.”
Wang Yeom stared down at his son in astonishment.
Just then, Baek Ya returned with the Herbal Ointment.
“Elder brother. The ointment.”
“You comfort Riri first. I’ll apply the ointment.”
“Very well.”
So Wol nodded and handed the ointment to Wang Yeom, then lifted Riri into his arms.
Only then did Riri’s cries subside.
So Wol patted Riri’s back a few more times before setting her back in the cradle.
Dan U finally sniffled and offered his knees to Wang Yeom.
“Mother. It hurts.”
“But you said it didn’t hurt a moment ago?”
“…….”
Dan U’s lip puckered, and Wang Yeom bit back a smile as he applied the ointment.
“There. Better now?”
“Mm-hm.”
Dan U nodded, and the moment the ointment was spread, he planted himself in front of the cradle.
Not even half a Shichen passed before his head began to nod drowsily.
Wang Yeom clicked his tongue at the dozing child and hoisted him onto his back.
“I should take him home now. Sorry for the noise, friend.”
“Think nothing of it. Go safely.”
Once mother and child had left, the Inn fell quiet.
That evening.
So Hye came to the Inn.
The moment she stepped through the door, she stopped before even greeting anyone.
In her dark blue eyes appeared the image of Riri nestled in So Wol’s arms.
So Hye’s gaze darted between So Wol and Riri, and slowly she pressed her hand to her forehead.
“……Brother. You said you were sending her away.”

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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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