Daldal: Main story

Chapter 36

"Ai!"

Kneeling, gasping for breath, Eun-oh bore the weight of the weathered water yoke across his shoulders, the burden causing his legs to quiver. Despite the visible struggle to rise, the concerned servant, who had been patiently waiting, couldn't help but express his worry.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I'm... fine."

His voice trembled like his legs. In his heart, he wanted to confidently declare that there was no problem, but the reality was that even answering was a strenuous task.

"If it seems too much, just stop."

The male servant glanced at Eun-oh with an unsympathetic look. Eun-oh was on the verge of shouting "Then I'll stop!" But he restrained himself. After throwing himself into a task that he initiated, backing down now felt like a blow to his pride.

"Let's give it a try, Haah...!"

Eun-oh, who struggled with physical tasks due to his weak constitution, found himself burdened with the water-filled jars for a simple reason.

Despite having a late breakfast, he didn't know what to do afterward. The only people he felt comfortable striking up a conversation with were Kang hee and Seo Hwa, but today he couldn't spot either of them. Consequently, he had no one to ask for guidance.

There was no one in the main courtyard directing tasks like Mr. Cho, and everyone seemed busy with their duties, making it difficult to approach them. So, wandering aimlessly without any tasks, he noticed a male servant fetching water from the well.

Eun-oh knew from his experience at the outer courtyard how challenging it was to carry water jars. Yet, this servant was handling the arduous task alone, despite not looking particularly robust. Feeling uncomfortable just sitting around after having his meal, Eun-oh volunteered to help.

This led to the current situation.

"Follow me. We're heading to the main house."

Eun-oh took the lead, walking with a bit of hesitation. They entered the main courtyard, catching the attention of a servant who was overseeing tasks. Suddenly, the servant pointed at them and shouted.

"Hey, that! There, there!"

Startled by the urgent cry, the male servant quickly turned around.

There was Eun-oh, walking diagonally rather than in a straight line due to an inability to balance the weight properly. He moved right for a stretch, then seemed to attempt a return to the center, but ended up going all the way to the left. His steps were so unstable that it seemed miraculous he didn't fall.

The male servant sighed deeply.

"Just set it down there."

"Uh? No, I'm, I'm okay, really."

Eun-oh was sincere. At the outer courtyard, they didn't provide such carriers; people were expected to lift and carry the jars by hand, often resulting in breakages due to the weight. Compared to that, the current method was manageable. Despite being heavy, the pressure distributed evenly throughout the body, not just on the arms. This made the tool's greatness and convenience even more apparent to him.

What can i do when you're capable? The male servant didn't insist further.

Arriving at the destination with the water-filled jars, they found themselves in none other than the main house's bathing area. The male servant filled the large tub with water first, and Eun-oh followed suit. The water level was far from full, prompting Eun-oh to voice his curiosity.