CH 11
Why is Cha Seung-pyo hesitating like this?
As I wondered this internally, Cha Seung-pyo spoke with a bitter expression.
“Sook-hee died during the Korean War.”
“Ah…”
Korea’s heartbreaking history – the 6.25 War.
When Jeong Jik-han made a complicated expression, Cha Seung-pyo sighed and continued.
“From what I know, she lost her sibling’s hand during the January 4th Retreat, and her husband was forcibly conscripted, separating them just two years into their marriage.”
The jade ring on Sook-hee’s finger.
So that was her wedding ring.
Even hearing the summary, it seemed resolving Sook-hee’s lingering regrets wouldn’t be easy.
We couldn’t pinpoint the exact source of her sorrow, nor confirm whether her husband and sibling were alive.
Now, 70 years after the war.
Even if her sibling and husband lived, they’d no longer match her memories.
Jeong Jik-han quietly touched his chin and asked:
“What are their names? Just knowing their names might help us search.”
“It’s already been done. Someone here before you looked into it.”
“What happened?”
“Isn’t Sook-hee’s presence here answer enough?”
“Not her – her sibling and husband.”
“Both are gone. Her sibling died five years ago, and her husband… during the war.”
They’re already gone?
Then how do we resolve Sook-hee’s regrets?
Seeing Jeong Jik-han’s blank stare, Cha Seung-pyo wore a pained look.
“That’s why… I hope you’ll care for Sook-hee properly.”
“What can I possibly…?”
“Didn’t I mention some spirits pass on just by having their stories heard or drinking coffee?”
“…”
“There’s no alternative.”
Jeong Jik-han rubbed his forehead and sighed.
Suddenly, a question struck him.
“Team Leader – can we check if Sook-hee’s family exists in the afterlife?”
“I’ve looked. They’re not there. They likely already moved on.”
“Can’t we ask the higher-ups if they’ve passed on?”
“That’s beyond our jurisdiction.”
You call this a partnership when you can’t even ask that? Only acting like competitors now? How are we supposed to work like this?
Jeong Jik-han muttered bitterly:
“If her sibling had come to the Spirit Café, this would’ve been simpler…”
“Unlikely. Spirits only wander if they die with regrets. Not appearing here in all this time means… they either moved on or became demons.”
“What happens to those without regrets?”
“They pass on after three days of receiving memorial meals.”
So that’s why we hold three-day funerals?
Jeong Jik-han spoke grimly:
“If they died five years ago without ever visiting the Spirit Café… they’re definitely not in this world anymore.”
Cha Seung-pyo nodded silently.
Suddenly, another suspicion arose in Jeong Jik-han’s mind.
What if there are more Spirit Cafés?
If KarMa Entertainment runs them and KarMa Transport supplies materials, wouldn’t there be franchises?
“Team Leader Cha – are there other Spirit Cafés?”
“Yes. Four in Seoul, one in each major provincial city.”
Seeing Jeong Jik-han’s hopeful face, Cha Seung-pyo shook his head.
“We already checked.”
“Nothing?”
“Right. They haven’t appeared anywhere in five years.”
Jeong Jik-han pressed his temples.
Something’s missing…
Spirits can’t survive on coffee alone.
Memorial meals exist for a reason.
Except during Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and death anniversaries, they starve… How many spirits endure such hunger?
There’s limits to surviving on coffee.
“Team Leader – is there a place serving memorial meals for spirits?”
“A Spirit Restaurant?”
“Yes.”
Cha Seung-pyo scratched his head awkwardly.
“There is… but another company runs it.”
“Our competitors upstairs?”
“Yes. We handle cafés – they handle restaurants.”
“Where’s the restaurant?”
“I don’t know. It’s not my domain.”
Can’t interfere with upper management, but can’t even get the location?
Yet Jeong Jik-han’s face lit up.
Knowing it exists was enough.
Cha Seung-pyo captured evil spirits and guided the dead – not someone to track down restaurants.
This was Jeong Jik-han’s task, and he felt certain he could do it.
“I’ll find it.”
“You? How?”
“Focus on your duties, Team Leader. I’ll handle mine to help spirits move on.”
Cha Seung-pyo wondered about Jeong Jik-han’s plan but checked the wall clock instead.
“I’ll trust you.”
“Leave it to me.”
“It’s nearly 11. I should go.”
“You work tirelessly, Team Leader. No rest.”
At Jeong Jik-han’s sincere words, Cha Seung-pyo snapped his fingers.
“Ah! I actually came to discuss something.”
“What?”
“Vacation protocols. Your mention of no rest reminded me.”
Must we open daily without weekends?
Vacations aren’t essential, but helpful.
Cha Seung-pyo checked the calendar.
“There are three mandatory closure days yearly.”
“Mandatory?”
“Yes.”
As Jeongjikhan's eyes sparkled, Cha Seungpyo walked over to the calendar and circled the days off.
"The Lunar New Year holiday, Chuseok, and October 31st are days off. Substitute holidays aren't included."
October 31st... Halloween?
Even if spirits must visit ancestral rituals during Lunar New Year and Chuseok, do Korean ghosts celebrate Halloween too?
When Jeongjikhan asked this, Cha Seungpyo drained his coffee in one gulp.
"Where do you think spirits gather most?"
"Hmm. Places with strong yin energy? Like abandoned houses or hospitals?"
"Those are mostly haunted by evil spirits, not ordinary ones."
"Then where?"
"Spirits enjoy crowded places too. Just as the living are drawn to lively spots, so are the dead."
This was news to Jeongjikhan.
Did that mean festivals and concerts teemed with spirits?
Maybe... Was that why accidents happened in crowded areas?
Where there were spirits, there must be evil ones too.
As Jeongjikhan nodded understandingly, Cha Seungpyo shoved his hands into his pockets.
"So never explore abandoned buildings or hospitals."
"But I have a goblin token. Isn't that protection enough?"
"A shield doesn't make you invincible."
"Ah... Right."
"If evil spirits target you, they'll torment you in unimaginable ways. They might even possess someone to attack you."
Jeongjikhan hadn't considered this - spirits using the living as proxies.
Cha Seungpyo checked his watch.
"Anyway, request additional leave outside holidays in advance."
"How many days can I take?"
"Two monthly."
"Do they expire if unused?"
"No. They're annual leave - 24 days yearly. Use them whenever."
Could he save them up?
Jeongjikhan imagined future family trips abroad.
"Understood," he smiled.
"Keep up the good work."
As Cha Seungpyo headed for the exit, Jeongjikhan called out:
"Team Leader!"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for everything!"
"The gratitude's mutual. I'm counting on you."
After Cha Seungpyo left, Jeongjikhan prepared to open the café.
The coffee cup clinked as Jeongjikhan set it down, startling Kim Jinseong from his window gaze.
"Oh, Jeongjikhan."
"What's got you so preoccupied?"
"Just... reflecting on how days pass. Alive or dead, time's fleeting."
Kim Jinseong, ever faithful to the spirits' café, sat with Sookhee and other regulars - all souls seeking peace.
After serving everyone, Jeongjikhan approached Kim Jinseong.
"I submitted your song file to the broadcast station today."
"But the contest closed..."
"I pulled some strings," Jeongjikhan grinned.
Kim Jinseong's hands trembled around his mug. "I'm sorry for burdening you yesterday."
Jeongjikhan sat facing him. "You should say 'thank you' instead."
"But you're busy..."
"I wanted to help. Your song moved me - it made me understand how music heals."
Kim Jinseong's shoulders shook with silent sobs.
"Don't cry yet," Jeongjikhan teased gently. "We don't know the results."
"Your help alone is enough."
"I want others to hear it too. Keep visiting us daily - I'll update you immediately."
As Jeongjikhan returned to the counter, he found Sookhee perched on a barstool - her signal for storytelling.
"Maybe I'll share my tale too," she said when he approached.
"Go ahead... Sis."
"Don't call me that," she sighed. "My afterlife exceeds my living years."
Staring at her vanilla latte, Sookhee murmured, "The previous manager brewed well but couldn't communicate."
"Really?"
"When you started, I doubted you'd last. But you're different."
"How so?"
"You don't just listen - you act. That's new here."
