Exclamations were constantly bursting out from here and there in the Vermilion Bird Tavern.
"Th-this is...!"
"This is alcohol...? Then was what I've been drinking until now not alcohol?"
"...I'm glad I got to taste this alcohol at least once before I die."
The popularity of Luhuanju was soaring to the heavens as ti went on.
Even those who had hesitated to buy it at first because of the high price were now all looking for Luhuanju.
How could they resist when they saw the expressions on the faces of those around them who had taken even a sip of Luhuanju?
Everyone was in a state of ecstasy, unable to pull themselves out, so they were now scrambling to buy Luhuanju.
"H-here, give a bottle too!"
"I'm short on money... Is there anyone who wants to pool together and buy one with ?"
"Here! Let's buy it exactly half and half with !"
As interest in Luhuanju grew, people tried to purchase it in various ways.
There were cases where several people pooled their money to buy one bottle, and there were also people who begged to be sold just one glass.
There were even people who tried to secretly approach the alcohol jars, so just by looking at that scene, one could tell at a glance how high the popularity of Luhuanju was.
"It's a-a huge hit...!"
"..."
"Namgung Il! We did it!"
Ak Simin had been smiling brightly as if he owned the world for a while now.
When Namgung Il had said he would sell Luhuanju for fifty Flying Dragon Coins, he had wondered if it would really sell, but that was all his useless worry.
Not only was it selling out at fifty Flying Dragon Coins, but it seed it would sell out even if they raised the price further.
Even at this point, the number of custors looking for Luhuanju was increasing with ti.
"So what did I tell you?"
"..."
"I told you that Luhuanju was well worth that price, didn't I?"
"Ugh... you lucky bastard!"
Ak Simin shouted and spread his arms wide.
As if he had noticed the action early on, Namgung Il familiarly restrained Ak Simin, who was trying to rush at him, with one hand.
"Get your hands off ! I'm going to praise you fiercely!"
"So why is that a complint?"
"I don't hug just anyone. You're the first man I've ever hugged."
"I really don't want to be that first, so don't co any closer while I'm being nice."
Just then, the general manager approached the two who were bickering.
"Owner."
"...?"
At the voice calling him, Namgung Il's gaze moved in that direction.
A smile that felt like it had a hidden motive.
As the general manager looked at him with that gaze, Namgung Il tilted his head as if he felt uneasy.
"What is it?"
"That alcohol called Luhuanju. When should we start selling it?"
"...?"
"Three days? No, that seems too early, so should we do it after ten days? Or if you just tell the supplier, Owner, I will take care of everything."
The general manager said and was planning things out in his head.
If they were to sell Luhuanju at Yongmun Tavern, what price should they set?
Even if they just sold it, it seed they could sell it at a high price, but it also seed like a good idea to maximize profits by selling it only on the top floor.
"What is your opinion, Owner?"
"General Manager, what on earth have you been talking about?"
"Aww, Owner, you're so mischievous. If you knew a supplier that sells such a fine wine, why didn't you tell right away?"
"...Ah."
Only then did Namgung Il seem to understand the general manager's intention.
After lightly pushing away Ak Simin, who was trying to cling to him, Namgung Il said.
"I have no intention of selling it."
"As expected, about ten gold nyang... pardon?"
"I said I have no intention of selling it. In the first place, it's not like I can get Luhuanju in large quantities."
As Namgung Il said that, the general manager couldn't say anything with a blank expression.
He had only been thinking about how to increase Yongmun Tavern's sales using Luhuanju, but hearing such words suddenly, his thoughts couldn't help but stop.
As if to deny what he had just heard, the general manager asked Namgung Il with a bewildered voice.
"A-are you really not planning to sell Luhuanju at Yongmun Tavern?"
"I told you before. It's not sothing that can be sold in the first place."
"Then how on earth did you get what you're selling now?"
"That's... there are circumstances."
He had no intention of saying that he had made the Luhuanju himself.
To make him understand that, wouldn't there be many additional things to explain?
Even in his past as Do Yeok-san, he had not gone around boasting that he could make Luhuanju.
'This ti, I had no choice but to make alcohol for sale, but in the first place, that doesn't fit my beliefs.'
The reason Namgung Il first started making alcohol was for his master.
That's why, in a way, this Luhuanju could be said to be a legacy left by his master.
Namgung Il did not want to sell this Luhuanju, which was imbued with mories of his master, for comrcial purposes.
Of course, the reason he was selling it like this now was due to special circumstances; it was by no ans made to earn money in the first place.
"Owner, with just that Luhuanju, it's not a dream for Yongmun Tavern to beco the best tavern in Luoyang!"
"..."
"I don't need a lot! With just that amount, I can sohow..."
"I said I have no intention of selling it."
Namgung Il answered firmly with a slightly heavy voice.
Usually, if he spoke to this extent, people would back off on their own, but for so reason, the general manager didn't seem to have any intention of backing down easily.
"The fact that you have no intention of selling it ans you can bring in a small amount, right?"
"..."
"Please reconsider just once. Luhuanju has enough value to beco the signature of Yongmun Tavern!"
"I said no. General Manager, if you ntion that one more ti, I will take it as you ignoring , the owner."
"Even if you say that, I cannot give up."
He had said it thinking it was his final ultimatum, but as an unexpected answer ca back imdiately, Namgung Il couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"The owner of Yongmun Tavern is definitely you, Owner, but I have worked there for thirty years."
"..."
"At first, I was a waiter just to earn money. As I continued to work in one place like that, I beca the general manager of Yongmun Tavern before I knew it."
Thirty years.
Knowing that that ti was by no ans short, Namgung Il maintained his silence and continued to listen to the general manager's words.
"Now, Yongmun Tavern is no longer just a workplace for ."
"..."
"I consider Yongmun Tavern my life. And from the mont I thought so, I had a dream."
This is by no ans just lip service.
From the mont he didn't give up despite his final ultimatum, Namgung Il knew that.
"My dream is to make Yongmun Tavern the best tavern in Luoyang."
"..."
"It's sothing I want to achieve before I die... The mont I saw Luhuanju, I had hope that I could achieve that dream."
That was why the general manager had not backed down.
Because the dream that had faded with the passage of ti was now being revived like this.
Although his body had aged more than when he first had the dream, his spirit was as clear as if he had returned to that ti.
Thud—.
Just then, the general manager knelt on the floor.
Ak Simin, who was watching the scene from the side, had his eyes slightly widened at the general manager's sudden action, but Namgung Il continued to watch with no change in his expression.
"Yongmun Tavern is a place filled with my mories. So, no matter what, I want to make Yongmun Tavern the best tavern in Luoyang."
"..."
"Of course, the choice is yours, Owner. So even if you dismiss from the general manager position for this, I will humbly accept it."
Even in a situation where he could be kicked out of the job he had dedicated his life to, the general manager's expression was very bright.
Because the relief of having said everything in his heart was greater than the worry of being kicked out.
Now, he was just preparing to accept everything.
"General Manager."
"..."
"You'll humbly accept everything?"
"...Yes."
The general manager answered Namgung Il's question calmly.
And a mont later, Namgung Il opened his mouth again as if he had decided sothing.
"As of this hour, I will dismiss you from the position of general manager."
"..."
There was no change.
The mont he heard those words, a light smile escaped the general manager's lips.
"N-Namgung Il!"
"..."
"The general manager must have said all that for the sake of Yongmun Tavern. But isn't dismissal too harsh a decision?"
Rather, it was Ak Simin, who was next to him, who was more flustered by the decision.
Of course, the general manager had his faults, but wasn't it too much to kick out a person who had worked for thirty years for just that?
However, Namgung Il maintained his silence despite Ak Simin's persuasion.
"...I understand."
"..."
"Although it was a short period, it was an honor to serve you, Owner. From now on... I leave Yongmun Tavern in your care."
The general manager stood up and bowed his head to Namgung Il.
And just as he was about to leave, Namgung Il's voice from behind caught the general manager's feet.
"You should listen to the end."
"...?"
"From now on, I will appoint you not as the general manager, but as the vice-owner."
"...Pardon?"
Vice-owner?
With an expression that he couldn't understand what that ant, the general manager looked at Namgung Il.
"You can think of the vice-owner as having the sa authority as the owner when I am away."
"..."
"Also, you will have the authority to manage the general managers of not only Yongmun Tavern but also the other taverns I operate."
The general manager also knew that Namgung Il operated other taverns besides Yongmun Tavern.
But to give him the authority to manage the general managers of those places.
That was the sa as saying he would beco not just the vice-owner of Yongmun Tavern, but the general manager of all the taverns Namgung Il owned.
"Why would you give such a position..."
"I have t all the general managers of the other taverns."
"..."
"Among them, there was no one who worked with the sincere thought that the tavern was their own, like you."
In fact, that was normal.
The general manager position was just for overall managent; wasn't it the owner who actually made the money?
Even if sales went up, their salary was fixed. That's why most general managers did not work more than necessary.
"I thought it would be good to entrust the tavern to you. That's all I thought."
He could clearly see how much the general manager cared for Yongmun Tavern through this incident.
If he entrusted the overall operation to such a person, wouldn't the shop be able to develop continuously without him having to pay much attention?
Namgung Il had been looking for soone to play that role until now, but he felt he had finally found the right person.
"And as for selling Luhuanju... I will think about it positively."
"I-is that really true?"
Namgung Il nodded his head with a light smile on his lips.
Yongmun Tavern was a place filled with his mories.
After hearing those words from the general manager, Namgung Il's thought of not selling Luhuanju had changed.
'Yongmun Tavern is also a place filled with my mories.'
Money was money, but he had taken over the operating rights of Yongmun Tavern because he wanted to leave those mories behind.
It was the sa for Luhuanju.
To be able to drink alcohol imbued with mories in a place where his mories were imbued.
It wasn't because he was bound by sales, but thinking about it, it felt like a pretty good thing.
"I look forward to working with you, General Manager. No, I should call you Vice-Owner now."
"...I will devote my entire life to serving you, Owner!"
This is a person I can devote the rest of my life to serving.
This is a person I can entrust my mories to.
The gazes of the two, who had different but sa thoughts, gently crossed.
***
The night of the second day deepened, and the tavern was slowly closing down to prepare for tomorrow's business.
'At this rate, I can beat Namgung Cheon.'
Thanks to Old Man Heo, the popularity of Luhuanju was far exceeding expectations.
The custors who couldn't drink Luhuanju today would probably co back here tomorrow to buy Luhuanju.
Namgung Il was watching the situation and was also thinking of raising the price of Luhuanju a little more.
"Excuse , oppa."
"...?"
As soone suddenly called him, Namgung Il turned his head in that direction.
His gaze was not straight ahead, but slightly downwards.
A little girl was looking up at Namgung Il blankly.
'Who is this?'
It was a girl he had never seen before.
In the first place, how would he know a child who didn't even seem to be ten years old?
Thinking that a child who had co to the Clear Bright Festival with her mother had gotten lost, Namgung Il smiled lightly and t the child's eye level.
"Where is your mom?"
"..."
"Did you perhaps get lost?"
As Namgung Il asked, the child shook her head.
"This, soone told to give it to you."
"...?"
The child suddenly held sothing out.
'A piece of paper?'
What was in the child's hand was a piece of paper.
Seeing that it was folded, it looked like a letter... but Namgung Il, of course, had no idea why she was suddenly handing him sothing like this.
"Did you call to give this?"
"Yes."
"..."
What on earth could this be?
Although he felt many questions, Namgung Il first received the letter the child was holding out.
'Could soone have sent a love letter?'
It might have been sent by soone among the custors who had fallen for him.
Wasn't it that they were expressing their love through a child because they were too shy to deliver it directly?
Namgung Il thought so playfully and unfolded the letter in his hand.
"...What is this."
Namgung Il's expression as he unfolded the letter did not look like that of a person reading a love letter.
Rather, it was an expression as if he had read sothing he shouldn't have.
On Namgung Il's hardened face, only the pupils of his two eyes were trembling.
"..."
Blood Spot Grass.
At the beginning of the letter, that na was written.
(End of Chapter)
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