Chapter 3
“It wasn’t just a disappearance… He abandoned his sister and ran away…”
Her uncle mumbled with a frown but soon shut his mouth.
It was because Eunsowol’s energy had dropped, her expression completely blank.
“…Dad.”
When her mother was wasting away in her sickness, she couldn’t even remember how many times she had called for her father.
But after he had disappeared without a trace a year ago, he never showed up again.
Her mother had comforted her, saying he was just late because he was busy.
“Did she think I was stupid? Who wouldn’t know he abandoned both Mom and me?”
If she hadn’t remembered her past life, maybe she would have clung to that empty hope. But now, she knew better.
‘What a bastard. How could he run away, leaving behind his bunny-like daughter and wife?’
May he trip on a rock and break his nose.
She chewed on her anger internally for a moment.
Tap—
A rough hand patted her head.
“I misspoke. Don’t keep it in your heart.”
Seeing her uncle heading back into her mother’s room, Eunsowol blinked her large eyes.
‘Did he… just comfort me?’
He didn’t seem like the type who would do such a thing.
Just then, she saw him wrapping her mother’s body tightly with a blanket.
Startled, Eunsowol jumped up.
“What are you doing?”
“We can’t just leave her like this.”
“Huh?”
“We have to send her off properly.”
Only then did Eunsowol understand his actions.
After wrapping her mother securely from head to toe, he came back with a shovel from the storage shed.
As he looked around the yard, Eunsowol hesitantly stood by his side.
“Mom loved this spot the most…”
She pointed to a sunny place where the foothills were visible.
Her uncle began digging there.
“…I’m relieved.”
When her mother passed, she had wanted to bury her in a sunny place.
But with her small, childlike body, she couldn’t move her mother, let alone dig the ground.
Eunsowol wiped her flowing tears as she silently watched her uncle dig.
“That should be enough.”
Before they knew it, a small mound had formed in the yard.
Eunsowol had helped cover the dirt with her tiny hands, so both she and her uncle were now covered in soil.
Eunsowol patted the mound gently with her blackened hands.
Her uncle brought a clean wooden plank from nearby and planted it in front of the grave.
Then he carved into it with his sword:
The Late Dokgo Hwayoung.
A desolate grave in a lonely mountain village, in front of a shabby house.
This was Dokgo Hwayoung’s final resting place.
Swoosh—
The wind brushed against her cheeks.
Eunsowol recalled countless memories she had here.
Sniff.
Before she knew it, her tears blurred her vision.
She stared at the tombstone with her mother’s name engraved on it for a long time.
“Let’s go.”
Her uncle, having packed up their things, appeared behind her.
When she tilted her head in confusion, he explained.
“You’re not planning to live here forever, are you? How’s a kid going to survive alone without parents?”
Just as he said, she was only five years old.
There was no way she could survive alone.
If he hadn’t come, she might’ve already starved to death.
‘Mom, I’ll follow Uncle. So please…’
Please go to a better place.
After clasping her hands together in a prayer and making a firm resolution, she turned around.
“I’ll go pack my stuff!”
“I already packed everything.”
“Huh?”
Eunsowol, who had been about to run into the house, froze.
“There wasn’t much to pack anyway. I just grabbed the important-looking stuff.”
Eunsowol looked back and forth between her cold, empty house and her uncle before trotting toward him.
“By the way, Uncle.”
“What.”
“What’s your name?”
“…Dokgo Ryong.”
Dokgo Ryong?
‘Ryong’ as in ‘dragon’?
‘It sounds strangely familiar somehow…’
While she tilted her head at the oddly familiar name—
Thud!
She bumped into something.
As she grabbed her nose and teared up, she saw Dokgo Ryong standing still.
“I’ll tell you my name, but don’t go blabbing it everywhere.”
Even if it wasn’t as intense as before, she could still feel a dangerous aura seeping from him.
Eunsowol instinctively swallowed nervously.
“…Why?”
“Because… I really hate being part of the Dokgo Clan.”
“Then, what should I call you?”
“Just call me Uncle.”
Dokgo Ryong, having hidden his dangerous aura, continued walking ahead.
‘Does he… have some kind of story?’
Well, she heard he was a child born out of wedlock.
There was no way he didn’t have a complicated past.
“Uncle, wait for me!”
Keeping his words in her heart, Eunsowol quickly followed after him.
“Wowww…”
After several days of wandering under Dokgo Ryong’s lead, they finally arrived at a village.
Eunsowol couldn’t shut her mouth as she widened her eyes and looked around.
‘It really feels like I’ve stepped into a martial arts novel.’
People bustled about, merchants shouted to sell their goods, and the lively energy filled the streets.
“If you keep your mouth open like that, a fly’s gonna fly in. Are you trying to show everyone you’re a country bumpkin?”
If it weren’t for his snarky comment, she might have stayed lost in thought.
“Tch… I am a country bumpkin, so what.”
From the past few days traveling with him, Eunsowol had learned one thing about Dokgo Ryong:
‘He’s insufferable!’
Unless she spoke to him first, he wouldn’t say a word.
Even when she broke the silence out of boredom, he would either sigh or say something irritating.
And she couldn’t act mature like she did mentally, since it would seem weird for a five-year-old.
Sometimes her words even naturally came out with a childish lisp.
“Uncle, you don’t have any friends, do you?”
“What are you babbling about.”
“You definitely don’t. If you do, that friend must be weird or a con artist. You should be careful.”
“…Are you worrying about me or insulting me?”
“Of course I’m worrying about you!”
Hmph, it was definitely an insult.
It was convenient to act childish sometimes — even when she teased him, he just let it slide.
Eunsowol whistled inwardly as she watched him narrow his eyes at her but do nothing.
Dokgo Ryong noticed her puffed-up cheek twitching beside her head.
Eventually, he sighed and walked ahead.
“Ah! Wait for me!”
Eunsowol hurriedly chased after him.
Before long, they arrived at an inn.
Inside, there were many tables and chairs, and people were eating at their seats.
Dokgo Ryong chose an outdoor table and raised his hand toward a server in the distance.
“One bowl of noodles and a bottle of Dukang wine.”
“Yes, please wait a moment!”
“…I didn’t even choose anything yet?”
“Just eat what I order.”
“Tch…”
Eunsowol pouted her lips and sat down.
Soon after, the server approached.
“Here’s your noodles and Dukang wine!”
In front of her, the table—
The shop boy set down the somyeon (thin noodles) and Dugangju (strong liquor) in front of them.
“Thank you!”
Eun Sowol clasped her hands together and thanked him politely. The boy chuckled lightly and walked away.
“Eat.”
At Dokgo Ryong’s blunt command, Sowol picked up her chopsticks. She hesitated for a moment, glancing at the clear broth and the thin noodles floating inside.
‘Looks good…’
Her stomach growled, perhaps encouraged by the aroma. Without further delay, she twirled a few noodles around her chopsticks and slurped them into her mouth.
“Mm, delicious!”
Her eyes lit up. Perhaps because she hadn’t eaten properly for several days, the simple bowl of noodles tasted like a royal feast.
Watching Sowol eat so happily, Dokgo Ryong silently poured himself a cup of strong liquor and downed it in one shot.
Clink.
He placed the empty cup back on the table and leaned against his chair.
After eating a few more mouthfuls, Sowol tilted her head and stared at him.
“Samchon, aren’t you going to eat?”
“Drinking is enough for me.”
“But you should eat properly too… You’ll get sick.”
“You’re nagging me like an old granny.”
“Hmph, you’re the one acting like an old man!”
Sowol pouted and turned her attention back to her food. Dokgo Ryong snorted softly but said nothing more.
By the time she had emptied her bowl, the sun had already set outside. The busy village started to quiet down, and the lights inside the guesthouse flickered warmly.
“Are we staying here today?” she asked, rubbing her full belly.
“For tonight, yes.”
He paid the bill and stood up, leading Sowol to one of the rooms in the guesthouse.
The room was small but clean, with a single wooden bed and a low table.
“You sleep on the bed. I’ll take the floor.”
“No! We can share!”
“It’s fine. Just sleep.”
He ruffled her hair roughly, making her hair stick out in all directions.
Sowol pouted again but obediently climbed onto the bed. The moment her head hit the pillow, her eyelids grew heavy.
Still, she fought off sleep for a moment and looked toward Dokgo Ryong, who was sitting against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed.
‘Samchon is… a good person.’
Even though he was rough and gruff, he had never once treated her badly. Instead, he helped her when she was at her lowest.
Feeling warmth spread inside her heart, Sowol closed her eyes.
‘Goodnight, Samchon…’
Soon, the gentle rhythm of her breathing filled the quiet room.
Meanwhile, Dokgo Ryong, who had only pretended to be asleep, slowly opened one eye.
He gazed at the little girl curled up on the bed, her tiny form wrapped in a thin blanket.
After a moment, he quietly muttered under his breath.
“…You’re more trouble than you look.”
Even so, the corners of his lips lifted slightly — an expression that no one had seen from him in a very long time.
Outside the window, the night deepened, the stars quietly twinkling in the sky.
