Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 18
Only Noblemtl
Episode 18
“What should we do about the order? Since we’re the guests, it would be right for us to go first.”
His face is full of confidence.
In comparison, the expressions on the faces of our people watching were not so good.
That would be the case, because just then a huge wild elephant was stepping forward.
A red-faced, stupid-looking elephant.
It’s perfect, right down to the long, drooping tip of the nose.
Of course, the strength would probably be like that of an elephant.
“Let’s do that.”
A wild elephant threw off its upper body.
The entire body was covered in lumpy muscles that made it hard to believe it was a human body.
The veins on his forearms, which looked like they would burst at any moment, wriggled like a snake.
“So, you’re saying that I should push this rock over there?”
What has this kid been doing all this time without listening to the rules?
A guy who is so strong and stupid later becomes the main character of Mansanggwakdong?
And you want to climb the armrest?
It seems like there’s one more reason to beat this guy.
‘The dignity of the arm’ is exactly that.
Since he has moved rocks a lot in his daily life, he is used to the holding posture.
He spread both his hands, bent his waist, and lowered his posture as if embracing her.
And he shouted loudly.
“Kuaaaah!”
The rock began to move little by little, accompanied by a sound similar to that of a male elephant courting a female.
That’s right.
As expected of someone who had poured all of his talent into one thing, the huge rock was being pushed away little by little.
Her already red face became even redder.
“Oh! You push that thing away so easily?”
“Oh my. If this continues, you’ll end up moving further than me.”
“I think our Sodongju chose the wrong method of confrontation. Tsk tsk.”
Exclamations and sighs came out simultaneously from the Namcheon Damdong warriors who were watching.
Of course, the look in his eyes as he looked at me was full of pity.
Although he has shown great performances many times, his strong power is a different story.
Even if you can become a different person overnight, it’s impossible to suddenly become strong.
The mother and the old man were also there, amidst the commotion.
An expression of anticipation.
I don’t think you would think that I, your son and disciple, would lose to an elephant like that.
The time given is half an hour.
As many people watched, Kwak Man-hoo’s face turned red like a persimmon.
It was to the point where I thought it might really explode.
Until the last moment, I was using all my strength to push it out even just one more inch.
“Half an hour has passed!”
Kwak Man-hu, who had been pushing the rock with all his might until the last moment, finally collapsed on the spot.
“Twelve feet and three inches! The Sodongju of Mansanggwakdong moved twelve feet and three inches.”
As the results were announced, sighs were heard here and there.
I guess that red elephant’s record is pretty high.
Father still watches without saying anything, but his expression is hard.
On the other hand, the faces of the mother and the old man were filled with worry and anticipation at the same time.
“Is it my turn now?”
There was no need to take off my upper body, I just rolled up my sleeves and approached the rock.
“Cheer up, Sodongju!”
Someone shouted loudly.
Although he dares to speak informally to So Dong-ju, his voice is filled with the power of sincere support.
I looked around and everyone was looking at me with longing eyes.
Regardless of whether or not you attend next year’s Sodonghoe, this is a match that will determine the honor of Namcheon Damdong.
I checked the history while marking the starting point.
The danjeon is heavy, and the energy contained in the four treasures is also full.
This is a good opportunity.
It’s so funny that such a showdown would unfold on the day of the third level of the Gyeonghashin Gong.
An opportunity to demonstrate your accomplishments.
“What matters is not the size of the force. It has to explode instantly… … .”
He stood in front of the rock, muttering.
I put both hands on it and felt the cold rock.
There is no need to bend down.
I quietly closed my eyes and gathered my energy.
The moment when the energy that started from the dantian reaches the first treasure.
The power stored in the dam was combined to collapse the dam.
A power that seems to overflow.
Then the second bow was opened.
Then the third and fourth bows.
When the force that surged like the rapids of the Yellow River passed through my arms and reached my palms.
He pushed all that force towards the giant rock.
Boom!
A huge roar echoed throughout the grounds of Namcheon Damdong.
* * *
Rock-moving contests are common in the South.
Any warrior in the Beast Palace has probably tried this, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
Because if you concentrate too much force on one point, the rock will break.
The key is to push away, not hit.
If you concentrate your energy and deliver an explosive blow, the rock will shatter.
Then you are disqualified.
This is why it is called a contest of pure strength.
The rock of Daeyeonmujang has been located in the westernmost corner for a long time.
A large rock that provided a faint shade for warriors who had completed their arduous training.
But now, there is no shade to be found to the west of the Great Battlefield.
Boom!
The rock was pushed forward with a loud noise that shook the earth.
The floor of the Daeyeonmujang, which had been solidified through hundreds of years of warrior training, had long, stretched-out marks engraved on it.
The distance is roughly twenty chapters, or more.
There is no need to look at it again.
The rock, revealed as the thick dust cleared, remains in its original form.
Only the location has changed.
A clear victory for Namcheon Damdong.
There was silence for a moment.
And after a while, cheers erupted.
“Wow! Wow!”
My legs are shaking.
This is the biggest drawback of Gyeongha Shinkong.
You can sequentially open the bow and unleash explosive power, but then you’ll be completely exhausted.
There are two ways.
Keeping a trusted colleague by your side, or opening only part of your body.
In my previous life, I had achieved this divine skill to the level of Sadan-gong, but I had never fully opened it.
I didn’t have any trustworthy colleagues, and my body wouldn’t have been able to handle it anyway.
All the energy that had been filled with congratulatory messages was lost in an instant.
The moment when your vision becomes blurry and your legs feel like they’re about to give out.
“Good job. I’m proud of you.”
Someone supported me from behind and stood me up.
The warmth transmitted through the palm touching the back.
When I looked back, I saw my mother’s smiling face.
“Thank you, Mother… … .”
The word mother is unfamiliar.
In my previous life, I was an orphan, so it’s a name I’ve never called.
So I have never felt the warmth of family.
Even as I struggled to survive, I sometimes imagined it.
If I had a family, they would always believe in me, support me, and cry with me in my pain.
The word family is still unfamiliar to me.
The person who is forcibly pulling down the corners of his mouth that are rising right now is my father.
This woman who sneaks up on me and blows warm air from behind is my mother.
People whose faces I didn’t even know suddenly became my family.
It will take quite some time to get used to it.
But the good news is that they resemble the family I sometimes imagine.
“Isn’t there really a need to measure the distance?”
My father spoke in a calm voice.
“T, this can’t be happening… … .”
“The showdown is over.”
“No. Okay, just a moment… … .”
Kwak Myeong-san was carefully examining the area around the rock to see if there was any kind of device.
Well, it’s just a rock.
My father opened his mouth to everyone watching the match.
“The showdown between the two Sodongju is over. However, regardless of the outcome, Namcheondamdong and Mansanggwakdong will continue to fight together for the Beast Palace forever! They will protect each other’s backs on the battlefield and shed blood together!”
“Wow!”
Even if you only look at his father, Namcheon Damdong is worthy of being named Paldong.
As the head of a household, he must display a certain level of character.
But Mansanggwakdongju was not like that.
I was loitering around the box I had finally gotten off of, unable to let go of my longing.
As I approached it, it stopped me at lightning speed.
And then he opened his mouth with a trembling voice.
“Ahh… … Dammyeong Sodongju. I will accept all of today’s results. I will not bring up the issue of attending the Sodonghoe anymore. So let’s wrap it up with the box I promised to give you earlier. This is an item that we in Mansanggwakdong really need, and it was hard to obtain. So please end it here.”
He looked at his father and asked for advice.
He nodded as if telling me to do as I please.
“Thank you, Dongju Kwak, for your honest recognition. I hope that today’s incident will be an opportunity for Namcheon Damdong and Mansang Kwakdong to maintain good relations.”
“Of course. Now that I look at it, it was a really great Sodongju. I didn’t know that it was hiding such great power. It must have been through a lot of training. It’s amazing. Aaam.”
Just a moment ago, you were laughing at me for being lazy and making a mockery of my family.
“The conditions I mentioned earlier. The results of the showdown will be widely known as time goes by. As for the second condition, I ask that you give me a ‘sincere apology’ before you leave.”
“Oh, I understand. I will make sure to apologize.”
“I mean it with all my heart.”
“Oh, of course.”
“Then I guess I just need to clean up the last box that was added. A promise is a promise.”
Kwak Dong-ju blocked the box again.
I could understand his reaction, because I was expecting what was in that box.
“Oh. Hey, Sodongju! Since you’ve admitted defeat cleanly, wouldn’t it be better for both sides to end it here? The two families should maintain good relations. Only then will our Mansanggwakdong be able to give strength to Namcheondamdong’s future actions? So let’s stop here… … .”
“… … .”
Is the guy who wants to maintain good relations threatening to give up his seat at the meeting?
And you’re talking about dirty blood too?
And I hate people who change their words.
As the leader of Mansanggwakdong, Dongju must be aware of the weight of his words.
“… … Let me ask you one thing. What do you think is more valuable than the ‘golden box’ in front of you? If you guess correctly, I will make that box never happen.”
Kwak Myeong-san was lost in thought for a long time.
One word can make or break one of the remaining boxes, so you have no choice but to think carefully.
“Hmm. Mutual trust? Or a warrior’s pride?”
I shook my head.
“The honor of the Beast Palace? Well, if not that… … .”
He made numerous wrong answers while watching my expression.
“Then… … Get out, an unbreakable heart?”
“You are all wrong.”
“No, if it’s neither this nor that, then what on earth is it?”
“There is nothing more valuable than a chest of gold… … .”
I approached him and whispered in a firm voice.
“It’s the ‘Two Golden Boxes’.”
* * *
Mansang Gwak-dong and his party have all left.
Dragging an empty cart.
I made eye contact with my father.
“Isn’t it the law of a man to get what he deserves?”
Since you’re not saying anything, I guess that means you did a good job.
“Pressure! Hurry up!”
A loud shout was heard from the training ground.
In the distance, the warriors of the clan were gathered together, lining up to try and push the rock against each other.
“Hahaha. That piece of shit earlier wasn’t even as good as an elephant. Get out of my way.”
“No. Was it this heavy? How on earth did Sodongju push this much?”
It is a separate joy from the joy of Namcheon Damdong’s Sodongju defeating an elephant that was probably twice as big as him.
These are also warriors who worship strength.
It’s natural that a burning sense of pride burns in your chest.
At that time, everyone was making a fuss about testing their strength.
We gathered in front of the second box.
Father and mother. And me and Nosa.
The box was made of solid wood about a span thick, and was sealed with thick iron chains on all sides.
At the end of it was a large lock the size of a man’s palm.
“Why did you wrap it up so tightly when you were going to open it anyway? At least give me the key before you go.”
“key?”
My father grabbed the lock and pulled it gently as if he didn’t know what was going on.
Bam.
The palm-sized lock was ripped off with a snap.
Ah, I forgot for a moment where I was and who these people were.
Squeak.
Finally, the lid of the box opened.
And what was waiting for us inside was… … .
They were just dark, lumpy rocks.
“What, what is this? Why is this little boulder like this… … .”
The voices of disappointment from both sides.
Black boulders filled the box.
It’s just a lump of rock, although there are some shiny things mixed in here and there.
This gentleman has been locked up in Namman and doesn’t know this.
He held a fist-sized rock in his hand and spoke to everyone.
“Do you see that dark, shiny thing between the gaps here?”
“Th-what is that?”
“This is it… … .”
Everyone’s eyes were turned to my mouth.
“This is the Mukgang Hancheol.”