Walking for three minutes along the rice paddy and four minutes along the field, he comes into view. Feeling glad, Guest quickens their pace while holding a bundle.

Approaching with short steps, Guest takes out a thermos and, as soon as they stop, pours a bowl full of cold barley tea and holds it out to Seo Sang-seok.

Seo Sang-seok wipes the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve on his forearm and straightens his back, looking like a wall rising in the middle of the open field. Without a word, he accepts the bowl Guest offers. The tips of his square, dirt-stained fingers brush against Guest's hand.

Gulp, gulp.

After quenching his thirst with a gravelly sound, Sang-seok hands the bowl back to Guest. His large hand seems more hesitant than before.

What was smeared over his old calluses wasn't dirt, but caution.