Chapter 57

Kang Jin had purchased some decorations from the flea market earlier that day. Upon returning to his shop, he hung them on the door and promptly fell asleep. He woke up around half past ten, took a shower, and descended downstairs.

“You’re awake now,” remarked Bae Yongsoo.

Kang Jin nodded at him. “I’m feeling quite tired.”

“It’s understandable; you didn’t sleep much last night.”

Kang Jin stretched his neck before retrieving garlic and chili peppers from the refrigerator.

“What dish are you preparing?”

“I’m summoning the virgin ghost today. Come back later.”

“The virgin ghost? Will there be hair ornaments?”

« Yes »

“I understand.”

“And please check on Madam at her other store once.”

“Got it.”

“If there are any ghosts outside, send them away.”

The ghosts would scatter anyway when the virgin ghost arrives, but it was better to instruct them beforehand rather than waiting for them to be chased off.

Bae Yongsoo nodded and disappeared through the door as Kang Jin heated oil in a frying pan and started sautéing peppers.

Sizzle! Sssstt!

Soon, a spicy aroma filled the air, and Kang Jin strained out the chili-infused oil to begin cooking his dish.

Chili oil pasta.

Typically, pasta is made with olive oil, but chili oil pasta uses chili oil instead, as its name suggests. It’s quite spicy, yet due to the chili oil, it goes down smoothly. The lingering sensation afterward is pleasantly hot and flavorful.

Kang Jin had specifically chosen this recipe for the virgin ghosts who loved chilies and garlic. As he infused the room with the scents of these ingredients favored by the virgin ghosts, he checked the time.

“The aroma is set… After having a cup of tea and starting the pasta, everything should be ready.”

As he pondered this, Kang Jin took out yakgwanmun tea from his refrigerator and started drinking it. Suddenly, he glanced at the time and raised an eyebrow.

Wait, there’s no guarantee that Kim Sohee will show up first.

Other virgin ghosts might arrive before Kim Sohee. Then, he would have to give her the gift while avoiding the others’ attention… That seemed quite challenging. After some thought, Kang Jin opened his mouth:

“Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee.”

He called the name of the boss, Kim Sohee, three times and looked around.

“Huh?”

There was no sign of Kim Sohee nearby. Bae Yongsoo always appeared immediately when summoned, but not Kim Sohee. Kang Jin scanned the area again and repeated:

“Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee.”

Kang Jin called Kim Sohee’s name again and looked around, but she still didn’t appear.

“Does it not work with virgin ghosts? Or is she too busy?”

He recalled what other ghosts had mentioned about being unable to respond if they were occupied. With this thought, Kang Jin once more summoned Kim Sohee.

“Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee.”

“You…why are you being so pesky?” A voice from beside him made Kang Jin turn his head. Kim Sohee had suddenly appeared next to him, looking down at him.

Having witnessed her transformation into a ghost before, he noticed something different this time.

‘Maybe because I heard about her lack of fear… She exudes an intense aura.’

Drip, drip, drip!

Moreover, blood dripped from the sword she held, making it even more…

“Did you call me?”

“You summoned me, didn’t you?” Kang Jin replied cautiously to Kim Sohee’s narrowed gaze.

“I wanted to treat you with some food.”

“Do I look like…no, am I seen as a ghost who enjoys eating?” Despite her words, Kim Sohee couldn’t help but glance towards the kitchen.

“It seems you don’t entirely dislike it,” observed Kang Jin.

Kim Sohee hesitated briefly before nodding. “Since you’ve shown such sincerity, I’ll at least taste your offering.”

With that, Kim Sohee prepared to leave the shop.

Kang Jin called out, “It’s almost time. Shouldn’t you stay here?”

“The honored guest enters through the door.”

Despite his words, like other ghosts, he seemed to enjoy the sensation of manifesting physically.

Fwshhh!

As Kim Sohee exited through the door, Kang Jin checked the time and stood up. With Kim Sohee’s arrival, it was almost time to begin. In the kitchen, Kang Jin filled a pot with water and took out a case containing nori from one side. He placed the case on the table, set out soju and beer, then arranged some side dishes. Afterward, he returned to the kitchen to start making pasta.

Sizzle! Ssskrrrt!

While preparing the pasta, Kang Jin heard the familiar chime.

Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling!

The clear sound brought a smile to his face.

Definitely more pleasant than that abrupt noise.

With these thoughts swirling through his mind, Kang Jin glanced at the main hall. There, Kim Sohee had materialized in human form and entered gracefully. The difference between her ghostly appearance and present form was night and day. Dressed elegantly in a light blue hanbok, Kim Sohee looked absolutely adorable. She could easily blend in with high school girls touring Gyeongbokgung Palace dressed similarly.

Kim Sohee walked inside, took a seat at the table laden with food, and looked up at Kang Jin.

“Your guest is here, yet you’re nowhere to be seen?”

“I’m just finishing up the dish. Please wait a moment.” As he spoke, Kang Jin plated the spicy oil pasta and brought it out.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting. Today’s meal is spicy oil pasta.”

Kang Jin smiled as he placed the bowl in front of Kim Sohee.

“I’ve added extra chili pepper and garlic to suit the taste of the virgin ghost.”

Kim Sohee glanced at the pasta, then picked up her soju bottle, seemingly preferring alcohol over food first.

“Ah! Have you ever tried bomb shots?”

“Bomb shots?”

“You don’t know what they are?”

“G… Is it when people mix their drinks?” Although she hadn’t tried it herself, Kim Sohee seemed familiar with the concept, nodding slightly.

“Yes,” Kang Jin confirmed. He set out cups before them and grabbed a beer and a bottle of soju. Pouring a glass of beer, he then placed the soju bottle on top, smiling at Kim Sohee.

“It’ll surprise your taste buds.”

“Mixing alcohol… How crude.”

“Haven’t you tried it before?”

“Each food has its unique flavor. Mixing those flavors is…something only lower-class people would do.”

“You’ll change your mind once you taste it.” Kang Jin smiled as he removed the soju bottle and covered the foaming beer with his thumb.

Kim Sohee frowned at this sight. “Are you covering the bottle with your finger right now?”

Kang Jin chuckled at her question. “It seems like my finger touched the drink… But I’ve handled all these dishes with my hands anyway.”

Kim Sohee’s eyes narrowed further.

“Isn’t there a difference between touching food while cooking and having your hands literally in the dish?”

“I assure you, I maintain proper hygiene.”

As she spoke, Kang Jin stood up and flicked her wrist to open a beer bottle with a snap.

Pop!

She then poured a bomb shot into a glass.

Sssshhh! Sssshhh!

Seeing the foam overflow, Kim Sohee squinted again.

“How crude and tasteless.”

Kim Sohee, raised in a traditional lineage that emphasized etiquette even when pouring drinks, found this flashy way of serving bomb shots distasteful.

Kang Jin observed her discomfort and pushed the glass toward her.

“Please give it a try first.”

Kim Sohee eyed Kang Jin before picking up the glass.

“I’ll have one since it’s your hospitality, but…it’s not my preference.”

With those words, Kim Sohee brought the glass to her lips.

Gulp!

Her eyes widened after taking a sip of the bomb shot.

‘It feels like drinking clouds, and yet…there’s a sharp sting hidden beneath its smoothness.’

The soft foam reminded her of biting into cotton candy, while the concealed taste of soju penetrated sharply down her throat. The sensation was…quite enjoyable. In over four hundred years as a ghost, she had never experienced this flavor before.

Seeing Kim Sohee’s smile as she set down the glass, Kang Jin chuckled.

“How is it? Good, right?”

Kang Jin’s question made Kim Sohee choke slightly.

“Ahem! It’s not bad.”

Kim Sohee’s response made Kang Jin laugh and shake his head.

“Admit it. This is the best, isn’t it?”

Kim Sohee shook her head at Kang Jin’s words.

“No, there’s something even better out there.”

“Really? I’d love to try that if it’s tastier than this.”

“You might get a chance someday.”

“What kind of drink is it?”

In response to Kang Jin’s query, Kim Sohee looked thoughtful before taking another bomb shot without answering directly.

“I’ll drink it as a gesture of goodwill.”

Gulp! Gulp!

As she downed the bomb shot in one go, the corners of Kim Sohee’s mouth subtly lifted.

It’s delicious.

With a slight smile, Kim Sohee then took a bite of pasta.

“Do you like it?” Kang Jin asked Kim Sohee, who nodded in response.

“It’s delicious. It has a rich yet refreshing taste.”

“It tastes even better with alcohol as the soju helps wash down the spiciness.” As Kim Sohee took another bomb shot, Kang Jin promptly refilled her empty glass.

Kim Sohee observed him before speaking up. “By the way…why did you summon me?”

“Was I interrupting something important?”

“Yes,” she replied firmly. Kang Jin smiled and continued.

“What were you doing?”

“That’s…none of your business.”

In truth, contrary to her words, Kim Sohee had been relaxing at a sauna spa when Kang Jin summoned her. She was watching a drama on TV while enjoying the steam bath.

Kim Sohee had been watching a drama when Kang Jin summoned her.

After a brief silence, Kim Sohee spoke up, “The one who called upon me…you’re the first in four hundred years.”

“The first?”

“Well… To be precise, there were a few shortly after I became a ghost.”

“Who were they?”

“Some shamans somehow knew about me and attempted to make contact.”

As the most powerful virgin ghost and a deity, Kim Sohee attracted attention from shamans seeking communication with her.

“So what happened then?”

“If someone needed help, I would assist them…or sometimes refuse. Anyway, apart from those instances, you’re the first to call my name.”

Kim Sohee then turned to Kang Jin.

“So why did you summon me here?”

“Well…if I say it’s because I wanted to see you, will that make you mad?”

“You…”

Kang Jin chuckled inwardly as Kim Sohee squinted her eyes, searching for words.

She’s cute.

Whether she was the boss of virgin ghosts or a warrior from the Imjin War era… outwardly, she appeared as a pretty middle school girl. The age gap made it difficult to think of her as his adorable little sister, but…she certainly was charming nonetheless.

As he watched Kim Sohee, Kang Jin pushed a box towards her beside their meal.

“I bought this today while sightseeing, thinking of you. Oh! Should I call you ‘Miss’?”

“Yes, please.” As she spoke, Kim Sohee examined the box curiously, wondering what it contained.

“You can call me that.” As she spoke, Kim Sohee carefully examined the box. She seemed curious about its contents.

“I’m not sure if you’ll like it,” Kang Jin said hesitantly.

Kim Sohee picked up the box and opened the lid, pausing as soon as she saw what was inside.

A hair ornament lay revealed.

“A hair ornament?”

“I remembered how noblewomen wore these in historical dramas. Do you like it?”

Kang Jin’s words prompted Kim Sohee to take the ornament out and examine it closely. After a moment, she smiled warmly.

“It reminds me of one my older brother bought for me.”

“He sounds like a good brother.”

“He saved up just enough yongae-”

“You bought it at a market day, right? It’s not that great of a hairpin. The silk thread is just okay, and the jade isn’t high quality either.”

Kang Jin pursed his lips at Kim Sohee’s words.

“Well…it wasn’t from a place selling expensive items.”

Thinking Kang Jin might feel bad for giving her something cheap, she shook her head to reassure him.

“That’s not what I meant.” She looked directly at Kang Jin.

“Please go into the kitchen for a moment. Don’t come out until I tell you to.”

“All right.”

Following her request, Kang Jin entered the kitchen. After a short while, he heard Kim Sohee’s voice:

“You can join me now.”

When Kang Jin emerged, he saw Kim Sohee standing up, with the hairpin visible amidst her clothing. Apparently, she had fixed her hair as instructed.

“It looks…nice on you?”

Kim Sohee smiled at Kang Jin’s compliment.

“Thank you, it does indeed.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly at his words, and hastily, she sat down to continue eating her pasta.