GIJS

Chapter 58

"Right, Gunja, you got first place, didn't you?"

"Hm? First place in what?"

"What do you think? It's the personal broadcast mission."

"You were acting like you were going to give up this time."

"How do you end up doing so well in personal broadcasts, huh?"

"I just participated in the Sijo competition, that's all."

"Well, to be fair, Hyung is just killer content on his own."

"Sigh, first place again..."

As Gunja and his friends chatted about various things, they were walking towards the place where the Jeju couple was waiting. At that time, the expressions on the friends' faces were indifferent.

Especially when they passed by the roller coaster, Hyun-su and Taewoong had a look of deep regret.

"Ugh, I wanted to ride it a bit more..."

"Haha, if we get eliminated, let's all come back and ride it again."

"Hey, eliminated? I don't like the sound of that!"

"But seriously, are these people really trustworthy?"

"What, Ji Hyun-su, are you scared?"

"It's not that, it's just... well, we don't know them..."

"It'll be fine. Gunja hyung is good at reading people."

"Yeah, yeah. And besides, if anything happens, we've got Hyuk hyung with us."

Finally, when they met the Jeju couple, the friends' faces were still full of distrust.

"Hmm, are those the people?"

"What's with the mask and hat in the summer..."

"That just makes them more suspicious!"

"Hyung, are they really trustworthy?"

The friends pressed Gunja, but his expression remained calm.

"Don't worry, they are trustworthy."

After reassuring his friends calmly, Gunja stepped forward and politely bowed to the Jeju couple.

"Lord Yeonguijeong, I've brought my friends."

"Hehe, you've come."

"Gosh, I thought you weren't going to come~"

Only after hearing the name 'Yeonguijeong' and the voices of the couple did the friends' expressions begin to change.

"Wa-wait a minute. No way, right?"

"Come on, don't joke around."

"Could it be the Yeongui...?"

"Yes, it's that Yeonguijeong~"

When Yeonguijeong slightly lowered her sunglasses and smiled, the members of 'Team Yu Gunja' let out silent screams.

"——!?!?"

"———!?!?!?"

* * *

Riding in a rattling van towards Yeonguijeong's house.

Taewoong, Hyun-su, and Yuchan still had expressions that said they couldn't believe this was reality.

"No, what is this... What kind of dream is this..."

"···In Yeonguijeong sunbaenim's house..."

"I really loved Nauri sunbaenim's music. I bought all the albums... How can this be real?"

"Of course, it must be a dream. But why does my tailbone hurt every time it bumps? Haha."

While those three were denying reality, Hyun-su and Siwoo, as if they had already adapted, were sitting beside Yeonguijeong, happily singing songs.

"Just give me 10 minutes~ I'll make you mine~"

"Haha, I love this song."

"Wow, even kids these days know this song?"

"Oh, noona, of course! Hyuk hyung even got an evaluation at his agency with this song."

"A guy got an evaluation with this song?"

"Keke, I'm telling you. Right, Hyuk hyung?"

At Hyun-su's words, Inhyuk, whose face had turned red all the way to his ears, nodded his head and spoke up.

"I-I'm a fan."

"I'm honored! I really enjoy hanging out with young and handsome guys too~"

At Yeonguijeong's words, Gunja looked at Nauri with a worried expression. Even as a joke, saying something like that could upset her husband, right?

But Nauri just chuckled heartily as if he found the whole situation amusing, keeping his hands on the steering wheel.

"Hahaha, sure, sure. Soak up all that young energy~"


"!"

Watching this, Gunja was deeply moved.

Indeed, to live with the Prime Minister, one must become a person of such great character.

After driving alternately along coastal and forest roads for quite some time, they finally arrived at the home of the Prime Minister and the lord. As soon as the van door opened, two large white dogs enthusiastically greeted Gunja and the others.

"Pant, pant, woof, woof!"

"Whine, woof—."

Though startled by their size, Gunja quickly relaxed upon seeing the dogs' friendly demeanor.

They were big, but their behavior was just like innocent countryside children.

"Haha, there, there."

As Gunja petted their heads and stroked their cheeks, the large dogs wagged their tails happily, as if they had fallen in love with him. Even the lord seemed surprised by this.

"Huh? They've never done that with me before..."

"Sweetheart, I told you, they like handsome men."

"Haha, that makes sense."

Welcomed by the dogs, Gunja and his friends slowly got out of the van.

"...Wow..."

"This place is amazing."

The Prime Minister's ancestral home was much more beautiful and cozy than Gunja had imagined. In the distance, the blue sea stretched out, while behind them, a low mountain embraced the area.

Just twenty steps away, a stream flowed gently. The water was crystal clear, so clear that small fish and crayfish would jump out when you lifted a stone.

Gunja and his seven friends sat on a bamboo platform set up by the stream. Despite the hot weather, sitting on the bamboo surface felt cool from their backs down to their spines.

"Ah, this is great."

"I still can't believe this is real."

"Coming to Yeonguijeong-sunbaenim's house..."

"Haha, Taewoong, aren't you glad you didn't ride the roller coaster?"

"Of course!"

While Taewoong was patting his mouth in regret, the Yeonguijeong appeared, now dressed comfortably, carrying a large tray. On the tray were thick slices of delicious-looking watermelon.

"Come on, let's have some watermelon~"

"S-S-Senior Yeonguijeong-!"

"You really didn't have to do this, Senior Yeonguijeong!"

"Come on, just relax. I invited you, remember?"

"But still..."

"Shh, don't be stubborn!"

"!"

"Hey, I'm a fan of yours too. I watched your shows with great enjoyment."

At the word "fan," the seven boys were deeply touched.

The Yeonguijeong was an iconic figure not just in the idol industry but in the entire history of the South Korean entertainment industry. To hear that such a figure considered herself their "fan" made Inhyuk 's nose turn red as he sniffled, wiping his nose repeatedly.

"Oh, I hate it when things get too sentimental~"

"Sorry!"

"Haha, I also hate it when it feels like the military! Never mind, just eat the watermelon and tell me some stories. I'm really curious."

"Yes, sir!"

The seven boys sat down with the Yeonguijeong and began talking.

Time flew by as if in the blink of an eye. As they shared memories of fun and difficult times, the Yeonguijeong also shared her own stories.

"Oh, you've really been through a lot. Back in my day, we didn't even have those things~"

"Then what was the hardest part for you, Senior Yeonguijeong?"

"Hmm, at first, I barely got any sleep. I get terrible mouth sores when I don't sleep well."

"Ugh, mouth sores? Those are really painful."

"Yeah, but I could endure the mouth sores. What really got to me was when my manager told me not to eat tteokbokki! He said it would aggravate the sores. So, I argued that spicy food like tteokbokki would help heal them. But he just kept threatening me not to eat it..."

Just talking with her like this was a pleasure.

There were no special words of comfort, yet somehow, Gunja felt at ease.

After finishing off a whole watermelon and devouring a delicious broth made from Neungi Baeksuk (medicinal chicken stew), the sun began to set.

"Ah, this is wonderful."

"...Hehe, I feel so relaxed..."

"There's an amazing ginseng wine, but Yuchan and Hyunjae are minors, right? What a pity."

"Nuna, you really know everything, don't you?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'm a genuine fan."

As the sun dipped behind the mountain, the lord came out carrying a guitar and a cajón (a percussion instrument from South America).

"Who here can play the guitar?"

"Gasp, a Martin vintage guitar..."

Although he was now known as the "Yeonguijeong's husband," the lord was once one of South Korea's top five guitarists.

This was why Ji Hyunsu, the producer of the group, was more moved by meeting him than by meeting the Yeonguijeong herself.

As the lord approached with his instruments, Ji Hyun-su's previously dull eyes suddenly lit up. It was a sparkle he hadn't shown since he looked at Gunja.

"I-I can play a little!"

"Ah, you're the one who does producing, right? Want to give it a try?"

"But isn't this a really rare vintage guitar?"

"Huh? Is it? I'm not sure, haha."

"Then, I'll give it a go..."

With the sky ablaze in red, Hyun-su began to play. The acoustic guitar's gentle melody, combined with the lord's delicate cajón rhythm, turned the moment into a small concert.

"Oh, this is good. These days, idols are truly multitalented."

"Sweetheart, who even says 'multitalented' these days?"

"Ah, I don't care, I'm not a 'these days' person anyway~"

The Yeonguijeong and her husband exchanged jokes, but for Ji Hyun-su, this was a precious moment.

"Oh, that top line just now was good."

"R-Really?"

"Haha, hey. Relax a bit. Just call me... oh, actually, never mind. Calling me hyung reminds me of someone, so just call me uncle."

"C-Can I really do that!?"

"Haha, sure. Come visit again sometime."

"—!!"

Songwriters often go on retreats to overcome creative blocks.

For Ji Hyunsu, this time was no less than an SSS-tier retreat to prepare for the finals.

Receiving subtle yet thoughtful feedback from a senior and role model like the lord, Ji Hyunsu was filling his mind with inspiration.

After tapping the cajón for a while, the lord paused and looked around at the audience.

"Do any of the others play an instrument?"

"Gunja can play the geomungo and the gayageum!"

"Huh, geomungo and gayageum? We don't have those... hmm."

After scratching his head for a moment, the lord clapped his hands as if he had an idea.

"Wait, we do have a bipa (a traditional stringed instrument)."

"!"

"Gunja, do you know how to play the bipa?"

As soon as the lord finished speaking, Gunja nodded eagerly.

The hyang bipa, a five-stringed bipa, was one of Gunja's favorite instruments.

The emotional and delicate sound of the bipa seemed to suit the quiet night perfectly.

Whenever there was no one to teach him how to sing or play an instrument, Gunja would often enter the music room of the pavilion and play the hyang bipa while gazing at the moon.

Though it wasn't quite nighttime yet, the bipa's sound would likely blend well with the crimson sunset, like a dye spreading across the sky.

"Yes, I can play it."

"Oh, really? I'm not familiar with the bipa myself, but we have one that's been passed down as a family heirloom."

"A-A family heirloom? What if I damage something so valuable..."

"Haha, don't worry. It's been well taken care of."

After speaking, the lord brought out the bipa. Although he casually carried the expensive vintage guitar in one hand, he handled the heirloom bipa with both hands, as if it were precious.

"Still, since it's an heirloom, don't go smashing it around, okay? Haha."

The bipa appeared old at first glance.

Though some parts, such as the five strings and the pegs for tuning, had undergone restoration, the instrument retained its original shape.

As soon as Gunja saw the bipa, his heart began to race.

It felt similar to when he first saw the geomungo, but a bit different.

The sensation was even more overwhelming, more poignant.

Why? He didn't know the reason, but his heart didn't seem to have any intention of stopping.

"Isn't it magnificent?"

"Yes."

"Though some restoration was done, the wood of the soundbox remains mostly intact."

Gunja cautiously reached out with both hands and received the instrument from the lord.

The moment Gunja's fingers touched the cool wood of the instrument, a status window appeared before his eyes.

[The divine object 'Nayuseon's Xiang Pipa' remembers the user 'Yu Gunja.']
[The divine object resonates with the user.]