Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 27
Only Noblemtl
Episode 27
Namcheon Damdong.
When we arrived at the east, all the warriors were standing in a line at the great parade ground.
The gazes looking at me are burdensomely soft.
Including my father sitting at the head table.
“The work at Jangseong-hyeon… … went well.”
There was sincerity in my father’s voice.
“I was lucky. I was having a drink for the first time in a long while… … no, I was having a simple meal and discussing the situation in the Central Plains when those guys came into the inn.”
“I wouldn’t simply belittle him like that. I heard that his situational awareness and his fighting were both great. But that’s not what I want to praise the most.”
Knock, knock.
My father came down from the high seat, tapped me on the shoulder, and stepped forward.
And shouted to everyone.
“What is the purpose of our becoming strong?”
A rough voice echoed throughout Namcheon Damdong.
“Why do you open your eyes every morning and silently head to the training ground? Is it to stand above someone and dominate them?”
“no!”
The earth trembles.
Hundreds of warriors answered with the same voice.
“Is it because of the desire to become a great warrior or a full warrior?”
“no!”
My father went up to the head seat and looked down at everyone and said.
“There is only one reason why we endure the repeated, arduous training. It is because we must protect our brothers in Namman who live each day silently. It is because we must protect this land where we must live.”
The usually free-spirited warriors of Namcheon Damdong all have serious looks on their faces today.
“So Dong-ju risked his life to save the women of Nanman. He has once again proven his worth as So Dong-ju of Nancheon Damdong. From now on, all warriors should treat Dam-myeong properly as So Dong-ju.”
“yes!”
The shouts of all warriors resonate through the earth.
It’s a great family.
It would be possible if we were led by a great leader.
By the way, please be courteous to Sodongju.
Is there no more informal speech?
“Master Sodong, you are truly amazing. You are wonderful.”
“Master Sodong, come to the Great Training Hall after you finish your training. I have a bottle of hot liquor hidden away.”
“Your Majesty, there’s a line of warriors waiting to do a duel right now. So give me some time. Haha.”
Ah. It’s just that ‘nim’ is added at the end.
thank god.
I almost felt bad.
If you suddenly start using formal language to show respect, you are not a warrior of our Namcheon Damdong.
* * *
Dongjujeon.
“So, you’re saying that Nosa is coming with you? Then, there will be three people attending the funeral: me, Deoksam, and Nosa.”
“That’s right. As you’ve probably heard, there are four people participating in this Mansu Ceremony, including you. People from other families already had their Mansu Ceremonies two years ago.”
“I guess everyone got a perfect impression.”
My father’s words paused for a moment.
After a while he opened his mouth quietly.
“It’s just a ritual. So if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. That little imprint isn’t important. You’re already a great warrior and a Sodongju of Namcheon Damdong. So there’s no need… … .”
“I’ll go. As my father said, a warrior’s talent isn’t determined by the mark. So I have to prove it. By the way, it’s good that we have a small group. Haha.”
Perhaps it was Father’s will that Nosa and Nosa should go together.
Nosa is a person respected throughout the Beast Palace.
A great warrior who risked his life fighting on the battlefield alongside the Beast King.
Even if he is another person of the same gender, you cannot treat him carelessly.
So, if I have a half-blooded old man by my side, no one can ignore me.
Even if I am the only one who doesn’t receive any impressions at the Mansu Ceremony… … .
“If you are sending Nosa and Nosa together because of me… … .”
“What are you thinking? Of course, the old man said he would go first. There is a drink that can only be tasted in the palace.”
“Ah. If that’s the reason, then what.”
It is said that the four families participating in this Mansu ceremony will gather in one place and depart together.
It was Changcheonjindong’s suggestion that it would be an opportunity for the small business owners to interact with each other.
I feel like there’s some other ulterior motive, but that doesn’t matter.
We’ll be meeting at the club meeting next year anyway, so it’d be good for the guys to get to know each other in advance.
But are they all men?
* * *
There was no preparation whatsoever.
I was done after taking a good bear skin suit to wear on the day of the funeral.
“Then, Dongju. Have a nice trip.”
“Nosa, please take good care of me.”
I think it would be right for you to send me and Nosa together because you are worried about me.
“Don’t worry. By the way, why won’t that old lady tell you the secret to making alcohol? She needs to tell you before she dies. Tsk tsk.”
“I wonder how the priestess is doing. By the way, does the old man look happy too?”
“Oh, if anyone hears this, they’ll think I’m going to see that old lady. I’m just going to have a drink. If you have any leftover, bring a few bottles for Dong-ju.”
Father and Nosa stood next to me and Deoksam and talked about drinking for a long time.
“By the way, seeing that the priestess contacted Namcheon Damdong… … What do you think, Nosa?”
My father, who had been talking excitedly about drinking for a while, asked in a low voice.
“Well, you’ll have to go there to find out. Are you just going to get a drink and come back, or are you going to come back with a nice tattoo on Sodongju’s shoulder?”
He had an indifferent expression, but he seemed worried anyway.
I’m afraid that I’ll go to the palace, be humiliated, and come back empty-handed.
But I’m not really worried.
Even if you don’t get that engraving, you can come back and get something cute engraved.
It’s cute to have a rabbit-like thing on your shoulder.
“I will be back soon.”
I set off, leaving my father behind.
We were scheduled to meet with the other four families at a small inn at the foot of Manjisan Mountain and head to the Beast Palace together, so we headed there for now.
This is the first time I have completely left the territory of Namcheon Damdong.
Deoksam is excited, and Nosa is relaxed.
“By the way, that priestess. Who is she?”
“That old lady? If you ever get a chance, definitely ask her how to make that Shaoxing liquor. Maybe she’ll tell you. This tastes amazing, but I can’t figure out how to make it. No matter how much I ask, she won’t tell me.”
No, other than alcohol, what kind of person is a priestess?
Of course I plan to ask.
Because it’s Shaoxing wine, not any other alcohol.
Only after a long chat about the Shaoxing wine made with the secret recipe of the Beast Palace did I hear about the goddess.
“Hmm. What should I say? Anyway, that old lady is real. Every single prediction she’s made so far has come true. I can’t say she knows everything, but at least she’s never been wrong. I’ve been watching her for decades, so I’m sure of it.”
Of course, all decisions in the Beast Palace are up to the Beast King.
Her role is just to give a little advice.
“There was a time when I stayed at the Beast Palace with the now-deceased Jeon Dae-dongju. We were all close to her back then. We were similar in age and could communicate well.”
A look that recalls something.
“I told you in advance that my left arm would become like this. Well, it doesn’t change anything even if I knew. Hahaha.”
The old man’s eyes, smiling brightly and waving his sleeves, were filled with deep longing.
Looking into those eyes, this thought occurred to me.
The reason why Nosa would go to the palace whenever he got the chance was probably not because of alcohol… … .
“Actually, I didn’t know I would be calling you to this Mansu Ceremony. The Mansu Ceremony is that kind of ceremony… … a ceremony to verify the pure bloodline of the Beast Palace.”
“It doesn’t matter. If the Beast Palace were to be recognized by bloodlines and such, it would have collapsed long ago. I will prove that such things are nothing more than a ritual.”
He stopped walking with me for a moment and made eye contact with me.
“With the heart, not the blood.”
“… … Hahaha. That’s the best answer I’ve heard recently. I really like it. Don’t worry about the Mansu ceremony or anything and just think of it as a trip. If there are people you don’t like along the way, just break their heads a little. Hahaha.”
The old man burst into the biggest laughter I’ve ever seen.
I don’t know why I have to wake up my head during a pleasant trip.
* * *
Gwisubangdong (Precious Beast’s Cave).
A large tiger was lying with its head buried next to Dongju Bang Myeong-haeng.
A spirit subordinate to him.
A large tiger-shaped engraving was carved on his exposed left shoulder.
In front of him stood Bang Yak-ran, who was ready to leave.
The person Dongju Bangmyeonghaeng cherishes most in the world.
Her older brother, Bang Yak-jin, had already celebrated his first birthday two years ago.
This year it’s the orchid’s turn.
It’s already time for this child to have his first birthday.
“Among the many families belonging to the Beast Palace, the one with the highest prestige is definitely Changcheonjindong. After all, it is the family where he was born and raised. There is nothing to evaluate about the current Dongju, but Jin Jahong, the younger brother of the Dongju, is different. He could become the next Beast King. Keep a close eye on him.”
“All right.”
“But the place that best suits the name of Paldong is Namcheon Damdong. It has that much power and dignity. So, check out what kind of person the Sodongju there is.”
“But if you’re the Sodongju of Namcheon Damdong, isn’t that someone with Central Plains blood? Isn’t there a rumor that you’re the world’s laziest?”
“Oh, of course there are many rumors about that boy named Dam-myeong, but they are all just rumors. You shouldn’t believe anything you haven’t seen with your own eyes.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Coincidentally, the two most talked-about families in Namman are both participating in this year’s Mansu Ceremony.
Jin Ja-hong of Changcheonjindong is the most outstanding of the later indices of the Beast Palace.
Living up to the rumor that he was born with the ability to fight the enemy, he was already given the title of warrior at the age of thirteen.
There was even an assessment that he would soon surpass his father, Dong-ju.
There was only one thing people expected from him at this funeral.
How large and vivid the red dragon will be carved.
Namcheon Damdong Sodongjuin Dammyeong is known by another name.
A half-blood with Central Plains blood mixed in.
A world-class lazy bum with nothing to boast about except his extremely good looks.
The number of arms.
‘Even if you think highly of Namcheon Damdong, what can you expect from a lazy Sodongju? He’ll probably suffer great humiliation at this Mansu Ceremony and go back home in a daze. There’s no way he’ll leave a mark on you, right?’
Born into such a great family, he grew up as a lazy person.
Because you’re like a stupid troublemaker.
‘By the way, what kind of shape will be engraved on me? I definitely need to get that imprint… … .’
Her mind was full of thoughts about the mark that would be engraved on her at the Mansu ceremony.
“But don’t forget. We are the Gwisoobangdong. A family that has never lost its status as the Eighth District for hundreds of years! And you are Bang Yak-ran, the successor to the blood of the Gwisoobangdong.”
Bang Yak-ran nodded with her mouth tightly shut.
Gwisubangdong.
The only family among the Paldong clans that has the ability to handle wild beasts.
They have an innate ability to communicate with animals and can tame most wild beasts.
But there is only one beast that can be completely subjugated.
The name of the giant tiger next to Dongju now is Sangun.
He has been fighting alongside Dong-ju on the battlefield for decades.
The type of beast you will spend your life with is determined by the Mansu ceremony.
“But are you planning on taking that child to the Mansu ceremony? Even though he hasn’t been chosen yet?”
In Bang Yak-ran’s arms, a small leopard the size of a fist was yawning and wiggling.
Two large, black eyes sparkle between short, snow-white fur.
And a cloud-shaped pattern covering the entire body.
“I will definitely receive the Amhyangunpyo stamp at this Mansu Ceremony. So I will definitely take you with me. Because the moment the stamp is given, you will choose me.”
The little thing in my arms roared powerfully while wriggling.
“Gyarrrrr.”
Dark fragrant cloud leopard.
A very rare beast among the spirits of Nanman.
A leopard with cloud-like patterns all over its body is called a clouded leopard.
The dark scented cloud symbol is a spirit that lives only on the peak of Manrimsan Mountain in Namman, and is called dark scented cloud because it moves secretly in the darkness.
It has snow-white fur and a long tail, but it is actually so small that it is embarrassing to call it a beast.
Even if it were fully grown, it would only be about the length of an adult’s forearm.
Its appearance is similar to that of a small, young white cat, but its personality is fierce, brave, fast, and stealthy enough to avoid even the most ferocious beasts.
As the greatest spirit in the South, I choose my own master.
“Just because the Dark Cloud Symbol doesn’t leave your side, there’s no guarantee that it will choose you as its master. It’s not something that can be forced. Your older brother wasn’t chosen either.”
Manrimsan is the only sacred mountain in the southern part of the country that is covered in snow.
Dong-ju, who had reached the summit two years ago, discovered the dark cloud sign.
I thought I had a chance to quietly come down, but I still haven’t made contact with anyone in Gwisubangdong.
“I will definitely make it happen. Because the time has come.”
Bang Yak-ran answered in a confident tone.
It is a spirit that lived on the top of the snow-covered Manrimsan Mountain and came down to Gwisubangdong on its own.
Despite years of hard work to get him chosen, this guy still hasn’t decided on an owner.
He just wanders around with an arrogant look on his face, as if everything is a nuisance.
The guy who was like that hasn’t left her arms for a few days now.
As if he was asking to be taken to the Mansu ceremony.
And the cloud-like patterns became darker.
It means that the moment has come for the dark cloud symbol to choose its master.
‘There’s no way I’m not the owner of the Dark Cloud Sign. I’ll definitely make it mine.’