Sowol Inn - Chapter 25

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

Chapter 25
The first thing Riri grasped in her small fist was a brush.
“A brush! Will she become a scholar?”
The moment someone exclaimed in delight, Riri hugged the brush to her chest.
Then she immediately seized the Thread Spool beside it.
“Oh! A Thread Spool too! She’ll live a long life.”
Next came a bundle of coins.
Riri seemed delighted by the jingling sound, shaking the coins in her grip.
“My, she’s going to be rich.”
When she spotted the Abacus, she pulled that toward her as well.
“Well now, an Abacus too! She’ll have a knack for business.”
The Book was too large to hold, so she sat down on top of it.
“Will she study letters as well?”
Finally grabbing the Wooden Sword, Riri sprawled across the table and gathered all the objects into her arms.
Laughter erupted from every corner.
“Ha-ha-ha, for such a tiny thing, she’s quite greedy.”
“I told you the child was clever.”
Sowol burst out laughing along with them.
At the sound of his laughter, Riri lifted her head.
She stared up at Sowol, then without hesitation, tossed away everything she had been clutching to her chest.
Then she toddled forward and grabbed his sleeve.
“Aba.”
The noisy courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Then Riri called out again, pronouncing each syllable clearly.
“Aba! Ba!”
Wang Yeom clapped his hands and laughed.
“Goodness, she grabbed her father!”
“Indeed. This is the first time I’ve seen a child grab her father at a Tol-Grabbing Ceremony.”
“She chose the best thing of all.”
The villagers made a great fuss.
When Sowol lifted the baby high, Riri laughed and brought her cheek to his.
“Abba!”
Yet why was it?
That simple babble, unremarkable in any other moment, struck something deep in Sowol’s chest.
Baekya, watching from the side,’s eyes sparkled.
He wanted to be included too.
“Riri, what about Baekya?”
“Mm?”
When Riri tilted her head, Baekya pointed to himself and spoke.
“Baekya.”
“Baya.”
Baekya’s face lit up.
“Brother, Riri knows Baekya.”
When Baekya boasted excitedly, the villagers burst into laughter.
“Baekya’s lucky. Riri even calls him by name.”
At someone’s teasing remark, Baekya, embarrassed, hid behind Sowol.
Laughter spread through the gathering once more.
Riri, nestled in Sowol’s arms, alternated between calling out “Abba” and “Baya” for a long while.
“Abba.”
Sowol gazed quietly at Riri, looking up at him with a bright expression.
I am not your father.
The words of denial rose to the tip of his tongue, but Sowol did not speak them aloud.
Instead, he slowly stroked Riri’s back.
The celebration continued until the sun began to set.
Riri was passed from one person’s arms to another, managed to snatch a few spoonfuls of porridge, and toddled about the Courtyard with Danwoo.
Eventually, she fell asleep in Sowol’s arms.
“My goodness, she played so hard she’s knocked right out.”
“Riri’s father, please take this with you.”
The Village Chief’s wife handed over a Food Container.
Sowol and Baekya’s hands soon grew heavy with the weight.
“I’m ashamed to take this without giving anything in return.”
“Next time, let me treat you all to a proper noodle feast.”
“We’ll hold you to that.”
Sowol replied with a smile, adjusting the sleeping Riri in his arms before leaving the Village Chief’s house.
Baekya, who had been walking ahead, peered into the food container and asked.
“Will we celebrate Riri’s Tol-Grabbing Ceremony again next year?”
“……I’m not sure.”
Sowol didn’t bother mentioning that Riri wouldn’t be here by next year.
Instead, he stroked the child’s cheek.
However long this lasted, for now the girl still belonged in his arms.
* * *
Several months passed after the Tol-Grabbing Ceremony.
As winter gave way to spring, Riri’s words came increasingly fast.
When hungry, she called for “Mama,” and when Sowol tried to set her down, she shook her head and whimpered “No.”
When thirsty, she grabbed an empty teacup and cried “Water.”
As her vocabulary grew and she began using words with meaning, her ability to mimic what she heard improved noticeably.
Delighted by Riri’s mimicry, Baekya would crouch in front of her whenever he had a moment and teach her words.
“Flower.”
“Fow.”
“Ear.”
“Err.”
Each time Baekya spoke a syllable, Riri did her best to repeat it in her own way.
The guests’ words were no exception.
“Innkeeper, one Danchaban, please.”
“Innkeeper! Danchaban!”
“Hmm? Are you mimicking what I just said?”
“Uh-huh?”
Riri tilted her head and sucked her finger, and the guest burst into laughter.
Riri laughed along with him, then began babbling happily, as if the words she’d just heard delighted her.
“Danchaban.”
“The child has a quick tongue.”
“What’s she going to know? She’s just repeating whatever she hears.”
“That’s quick indeed. She’s bright and perceptive—this girl will grow into something fine. Raise her well.”
Sowol’s shoulders lifted at the guest’s blessing.
He cleared his throat unnecessarily and headed into the kitchen.
From the main hall, Riri’s voice still echoed: “Danchaban, danchaban…”
Sowol chuckled softly as he poured oil into the pot.
The scent of green onions was just beginning to rise.
Clang!
“Today is the day of your death!”
“You insolent dog! I’ll cut you down in a single stroke!”
The sound of something shattering, followed by violent shouts, shook the inn.
“Sigh……”
Sowol swallowed his sigh and dried his wet hands on his apron.
Just when it seemed to have quieted, the commotion erupted again.
Sowol pressed his lips together and pulled back the curtain.
As expected, a table lay split in two.
Broken teacups lay scattered across the floor, and a chair lay toppled on its side.
Beyond the chaos.
Two men stood with blades drawn against each other.
The guest who had ordered the Danchaban had already fled.
Sowol’s neck flushed with anger at the loss of a customer.
He forced the corners of his mouth upward.
“My, my, gentlemen. I’m afraid breaking the furnishings won’t do. The other guests are still dining—would you mind putting away your swords?”
“…….”
Sowol smiled pleasantly.
The two men’s spines chilled at that smile.
Simply smiling and speaking gently, yet their hands holding the blades trembled involuntarily.
The two men, reading the moment, quietly sheathed their swords without discussion.
“We beg your pardon. We’ll be on our way……”
Sowol’s smile deepened.
“What about the table?”
The two men, who had been turning to leave, flinched.
“Ah! Yes, yes. Of course we should ask.”
With trembling hands, the men barely managed to set down silver coins, then jostled each other as they scrambled out of the inn.
Bang.
The moment the door shut, the inn fell silent.
Sowol surveyed the silver coins scattered at his feet and the chaos of the main room, pressing a hand to his forehead.
If they wanted to fight, they should do it outside—not tear up someone else’s inn like this.
Muttering to himself, he righted the overturned chairs and swept up the broken dishes.
He was just about to push the shattered table to one side when—
“Eat your sword!”
Startled by the bright cry, Sowol turned.
Riri stood there gripping a single chopstick, jabbing it repeatedly at the air.
She seemed to be mimicking the way the men had wielded their blades moments before.
“Riri. You shouldn’t say things like that.”
Sowol scolded her, but Riri only waved the chopstick more eagerly, eyes sparkling.
“Eat your sword!”
Sowol crouched down in front of Riri with a serious expression.
“No. That’s a bad word.”
“Eat your sword!”
“……This is a problem.”
Sowol took the chopstick from her, exhaling a long sigh.
These days, Riri echoed whatever words reached her ears.
But he couldn’t very well seal the mouths of his inn’s guests.
The best he could do was start with himself and Baekya, the two who spent the most time with her.
“Baekya. From now on, don’t use rough language in front of Riri.”
“Baekya doesn’t use rough language.”
“Right. And keep it that way.”
After pressing the point home, Sowol fell into troubled thought.
The real problem wasn’t Baekya—it was Sowol himself.
Every time he cursed Beopgong, muttering about worthless priests and mad fools, and whenever raucous guests disturbed the inn, he had no qualms calling them every name under the sun.
Until now, he’d dismissed it carelessly, assuming Riri wouldn’t understand. But that was no longer true.
Sowol looked at Riri with a serious face.
“Riri. Try to repeat what I say. Hello.”
“Hello.”
“Good. Well done. Now try this: Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes. That’s how you do it.”
As Riri mimicked him obediently, Sowol’s expression softened slightly.
If he kept feeding her good words like this, perhaps the harsh language she’d just picked up would fade quickly enough.
At that very moment, Riri beamed and threw both hands up.
“Eat your sword!”
“……”
Sowol quietly looked up at the heavens.
These wretched ruffians. He should have taken their entire purse instead of just the table payment.
He thought to himself as he grumbled inwardly.
Until his eyes met Riri’s as she looked up at him with that innocent, clear face.
“You dog bastard?”
The crisp, articulate pronunciation made Sowol’s body go rigid.
“Oh, Riri. That’s a bad word. You mustn’t say it.”
But Riri didn’t stop.
If anything, pleased with herself for managing such a difficult phrase, she beamed and clapped her hands.
“You dog bastard! Eat your sword!”
Sowol buried his face in his hands.
It looked like he’d need to stitch his own mouth shut before he could manage the guests.

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