118. The Last Wish

“Yeah. Let’s see you then. all right.”

After accepting PD Son Jun-ik’s proposal, Kyu-ha scheduled the first meeting.

Certainly, during the dreaming period, it also affected the mind and body of reality.

When it was the 13th dream of Meoginness, I felt stress relieved because I was able to fight and kill as much as I wanted, but Ferguson’s dream this time was a really hard life for Kyu-ha.

It was a harshly restrained life, and I felt great pain from the pain signals sent from all over my body.

Perhaps because of that effect, Kyuha’s body gradually became thinner.

In response to Kyu-ha’s appearance, Han Jeong-hee even made a homemade medicine, but it did not have much effect.

This dream, too, did not seem to last long.

Ferguson’s body was already shattered, like a candle burning for the last flame.

When will the dreams that are not like the dreams given to you end?

Was there ever an end?

When will he be able to become ‘normal’?

Geum-bi approached Kyu-ha, who was lost in thought while looking at the blackened Han River from the terrace.

“Nyaaang.”

Geumbi, noticing that Kyuha wasn’t feeling well, rubbed her head carefully against her leg as if comforting her.

Seeing Geumbi like that, Gyuha smiled, crouched down, and stroked her back.

“Let’s think first. When I think of that time, I feel so much better now.”

Up until now, I have lived a normal (?) life, acting as ‘normal’.

I didn’t want to live a miserable life in reality like in my dream.

I wanted to keep the current peace and daily life.

“Let’s not be in a hurry. No one has been killed here. You’re doing great.”

When I organized my thoughts like that, I felt a little proud.

“The time is already like this.”

Kyu-ha checked the time on her phone and hurriedly got ready to go out.

***

A small cafe in Sangam-dong, Seoul.

A van driven by Bong-gu entered the parking lot.

“Good job, Bong-gu. I’m looking at you. It looks like it will take a while.”

“Yep brother. I will be nearby, so if you contact me, I will come out like a bullet.”

After sending Bong-gu like that, Kyu-ha went into the cafe.

I saw several staff members who had gone to Greece together during the previous time.

“It’s been a while since Holy Day. Writer Park Yoon-hyang is still the same.”

“Oh my brother! long time no see!”

“Oh ho ho. You are the same as Kyuha. Even though he has become a world star now, he feels somewhat comfortable, just like we saw him yesterday!”

Perhaps it was because most of them lived together in Greece, they did not feel uncomfortable and welcomed him.

“To be able to do a program with my older brother again! My heart is already pounding. What will happen this time…”

“Mr. Seongil! Wouldn’t Kyuha feel burdened if I said that? Ho ho ho.”

Writer Park Yoon-hyang pokes Sung-il’s side with his elbow and notices it.

“Hey! oh! I absolutely did not mean to burden my brother! I just did it because I was happy. It was so good in Greece back then..”

At that time, PD Son Jun-ik discovered Kyu-ha.

“uh? Mr. Kyuha, are you here? Yumma! If Kyu-ha is here, I have to guide her. What if she’s chatting? No matter how happy Gyuha is, he is like that, son.”

Yang Seong-il scratched his head at Son Jun-ik’s playful tone.

“oh my! Writer Park and PD Son are all just goofy, but I can’t live up to my name after being scratched. Ha ha ha, brother, follow me.”

Team leader Han Jeong-hee did not attend the meeting because he had other duties.

“Gyuha, is there a place you’ve always wanted to go to?”

In response to PD Son Jun-ik’s question, Kyu-ha remained silent for a while.

It was because I had nothing in mind.

“If there is none, we narrowed it down to three places. Grenoble, France, Frigiliana, Spain, and Bamberg, Germany. These are not generally well-known cities.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a while, Kyuha made a clear choice.

“Let’s do it in France. France looks fine.”

France was a relatively familiar country because he had lived the life of Charles VII, the king of victory.

Also, he was quicker than anyone else on how to satisfy the taste of the picky French.

“Oh! Is it Grenoble, France? good! Then set the location to France…”

Afterwards, Son Jun-ik once again explained the outline of the program.

“As I said before, in the end, the keyword we need to bring is ‘healing’. Showing the scenery of exotic overseas cities that I don’t usually go to, and communicating with the people there by selling food. Then he listened to their concerns and said, ‘Everyone’s life is the same!’ The key is to evoke empathy.”

“What if no one comes?”

“Kuhmm… Well, if such a situation arises, we will devise countermeasures, but there will be absolutely no such thing as inviting locals. Viewers these days are so smart, they say, ‘That’s manipulation!’ I know right away what you’re doing. And if you don’t have it, another fun can be created as if it wasn’t there. Anyway, I will shoot as naturally as possible. By the way, have you ever tried French cuisine? Kyuha-san knows what kind of dish to cook, but if you would like to take a cooking lesson, please let me know. We will support you.”

At PD Son Jun-ik’s words, Kyu-ha shook his head.

“Nope. it’s okay. Still, I have confidence in my own cooking.”

I was confident.

Usually, becoming a French royal chef required a long and demanding process.

First of all, cooks from all over the country gather in the capital like bees to become royal chefs.

Making food in the palace meant poisoning the royal family, so a strict identity check was conducted first.

The most favorable condition was for applicants who had no family in Goa because they had nothing to lose and no risk of being held hostage.

After passing such a difficult test and entering the royal kitchen, for about 10 years, she had to do only trimming ingredients or doing chores.

It was only after 11 years or older that the qualification to make even a small cupboard was granted.

What can I say about the skills of the surviving chefs?

Kyu-ha was the head chef’s position, which could be said to be the pinnacle.

Producer Son Jun-ik burst into laughter with a trustworthy expression.

“hahahahaha, I thought Kyuha would say that for some reason. Are you already looking forward to it? What will happen again this time? ah! Also, the food truck was airlifted from the local area in advance, but it is set to the highest specifications so that you can cook almost any dish, so you don’t have to worry.”

“all right. What will be the approximate departure schedule?”

“Let’s say we’re leaving in three weeks.”

“all right.”

So, the departure to France was confirmed.

***

For the show to Canada, Ferguson rode into the wagon.

“Because it’s you, I’m going by carriage. If there are any slaves traveling in wagons, ask them to come out. Let them all walk.”

Wilkins shows all sorts of condescension while driving Ferguson in a cheap wagon full of luggage.

In fact, he rode on a top-of-the-line wagon that absorbs ground shock.

“Let’s go.”

The distance from the United States to Canada is approximately 2,220 km.

Since the average distance a wagon could travel was 50 km per day, it was possible to arrive in Canada in about 50 days.

“Cough, heck, heck.”

The 50 days put Ferguson’s body in the worst condition.

A lot of dust was generated by the wagons, and they headed straight for Ferguson.

It was the main culprit that aggravated Ferguson’s condition, which was otherwise in poor respiratory condition.

“Eh tsk tsk tsk. I know it’s all about faking it, so don’t be silly.”

Sunken cheeks, intermittent cough.

Anyone can see that Ferguson’s appearance was problematic, but in Wilkins’ eyes, money came first.

“Since there has been no profit for 50 days, I really should just pick mulberries here. Hey Ferguson! If you rested for 50 days, you rested enough, right? What slave can get 50 days off? You must be really lucky hahahahaha You will be busy for a while, so take good care of your condition!”

Wilkins, who considered the 50 days on the cheap wagon a break, said with great pride.

Ferguson, who had no energy to speak, nodded weakly and answered in a hoarse voice.

“Cool cool! Yeah…”

“Anyway, the acting is tsk tsk”

Wilkins, who looked disapprovingly at Ferguson, who was sitting helplessly, shook his head once and went back to his carriage.

As the movement began again, Ferguson’s fingers twitched.

A smile hung over Ferguson’s face as he nodded slightly.

“As expected, playing the piano is the most fun.”

Being a blind Ferguson, he had an excellent talent for embodying mental images.

In the pure white world embodied in images, there were only herself and the piano.

There, I was able to make the sound I wanted to make to my heart’s content, and I was able to make music for myself, not for others.

In an imaginary world, Ferguson rehearsed ‘The Last Wish’ endlessly.

“Cool, cool, it’s really not long now. Whoops.”

Ferguson muttered, carelessly wiping the blood from his mouth.

At first glance, even madness was glimpsed.

Like that, Ferguson was confined to the world of images, wagging his fingers for days and days.

1885 Vancouver, Canada.

Today, a large banquet was scheduled to be held to commemorate the opening of Vancouver’s first cross-border train.

High-ranking officials related to the railroad, as well as influential Canadian politicians and wealthy people at the time.

It was an important place where most of the so-called people who could dominate Canada gathered.

“hahahahaha This will lay the foundation for Vancouver to become a large city. what a happy day Let us toast together.”

“hahahahaha, congratulations, mayor. I wish you all the best in the future.”

The time when they enjoyed a celebratory banquet according to their interests.

The moderator in charge of the event drew people’s attention.

“Ahh! We will guide you. There will be a performance by Ferguson, who is called the Black Mozart in America.”

Soon, Ferguson appeared with an uncomfortable gait, supported by a helper.

Seeing Ferguson made people’s faces uncomfortable.

“Kuhmm… No, I’m very upset that a black man is playing the piano.”

“Even blind? Say goodbye to the world.”

Ferguson, who is so used to the cold reactions of these people, bowed his head to the audience and sat down on the piano chair.

As always, I will persuade people with the piano and melt people’s frozen hearts with my own melody.

As if in a kind of ritual, Ferguson’s fingers, which had been absent-mindedly with his hands on the keyboard, began to dance as if he had waited.

“Huh…”

The laughing and talking people turned their heads toward the piano without realizing it, as if attracted by a magnet.

“It really deserves to be called the Black Mozart.”

“I couldn’t even see the front, so how much practice did I have to do? He’s black, but he’s pretty special.”

Even those who were ignorant of music could feel at once that Ferguson’s playing was something different.

Soon, people who fell in love with Ferguson’s melodies asked for continued performance, and before they knew it, the main guest was overturned and it became like a piano concert.

“At some point, there was only one last song left. This song is the first to be released here. I would like to thank everyone who listens to this performance, which will be the first and last. The title of the song is ‘The Last Wish’.”

People were puzzled by Ferguson’s vague words, but they didn’t pay much attention.

The image of Ferguson slowly placing his fingers on the keyboard with his eyes closed somehow exudes reverence.

Breathtaking silence.

There was no awkwardness.

It only heightens the anticipation for the melody that will explode.

Kwak Kwa Kwam.

People’s mouths began to open little by little as Ferguson’s fingers danced.