Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 31
Only Noblemtl
Three days later, in front of the main gate of the Beast Palace.
An iron gate so large that even legendary giants could pass through it.
I stood in front of it.
“This is the Beast Palace.”
I’ve heard a lot about it, but this is my first time here.
In the past life and in the present life.
“You speak as if this is your first time here. Haven’t you been here many times already?”
Deoksam intervened in Bangyakran’s words.
“Ah, that’s what our Sodongju said on the mountain a while ago… … .”
“Shut up.”
Deoksam, should we just send this guy back here?
“By the way, have you become close with that kid?”
“Ah. I’m trying. But why did you come to see me that night? Did you lure me with a piece of meat or something?”
“No way. Anyway, it’s a precious spirit, so take good care of it.”
Actually, it’s annoying because you keep coming every night.
It keeps hanging around me.
I have a strange feeling and when I look back, I see someone hiding in the darkness, watching me.
“The fact that this guy’s cloud shape has become darker means that it is time to choose a master. It is probably the moment when I receive the seal of the fortune.”
All Bangyakran can think about on her way to the Beast Palace is the dark fragrance cloud sign.
The taciturn Nok Seung-seo doesn’t say anything.
“Are you the ones attending the Mansu Ceremony? I will come down and open the door for you shortly.”
A voice came from above the great wall.
“Why bother coming down just to open a door? Is it okay to push it like this?”
I placed both hands on the huge iron door.
“Push!”
I pushed with all my might, shouting.
Perhaps because it is heavy, it is not easily pushed.
“Ah. That’s because this door doesn’t open by pushing it… … .”
Krrrrrr… … .
The huge iron gate that reached all the way to the sky began to open little by little.
With a sound like the growling of a huge beast.
“Ah… … . So this thing can be opened by pushing. My father said it opens by force. He said it can never be opened by force… … .”
“It was a bit stiff. I think I heard a snapping sound in the middle.”
Anyway, as long as the door is open, that’s fine.
At that moment, Nosa’s voice was heard from behind.
“It looks like the engine that’s connected to the iron gate just broke? Can this iron gate be opened by force? Don’t worry about it. It’s been hundreds of years, so it’s probably time for it to break.”
On your first visit to the Beast Palace, you broke down the door and came in.
Anyway, we arrived at the Beast Palace safely.
* * *
Cheonglim Pavilion.
“Oh, Lord Mu Danju, how have you been?”
As soon as Cheonglimgakju discovered Nosa, he ran over and greeted him.
“This guy or that guy, tsk tsk. It’s been a while since I quit the Iron Troops, and now. Just call me Nosa.”
“Haha. I understand. The priestess is waiting for everyone to arrive to hold the Mansu Ceremony. You can probably expect it to be around Haesi (亥時) today.”
“That old lady is still as impatient as ever. Where is she now? I guess I should get her a drink first.”
With those words, Nosa disappeared.
With quick steps, like someone going to meet someone they miss.
I plan to start from the Iron Troops.
He’s my uncle, but I still don’t know his face.
You said you didn’t like me… … .
He is a warrior of the Beast Palace to the bone, so there is no way he would be happy with the blood of the Central Plains.
I heard that he doesn’t even consider me as his own flesh and blood.
After a while, we were guided to where the Iron Troops were staying.
After passing the huge smokescreen, a small moat appeared.
According to the guide, the Iron Troops are the only ones in the Beast Palace who have their own separate space within the palace.
It makes sense, since they are the combat unit representing the Beast Palace.
He must have that much skill.
“The Sodongju of Namcheon Damdong has arrived.”
Squeak.
When you open the door and go inside, the only furniture is a roughly carved table and chairs made of wood.
I guess my dislike of unnecessary decoration runs in my family.
He was sitting at the end of a table that was piled high with various documents.
He is a man who has chosen the path of a warrior who protects Namman and the Beast Palace throughout his life.
A pointed prayer that doesn’t match his huge physique.
He looks like his father, but his aura is much rougher.
It looks like you’re standing on the edge of a battlefield.
Dammu-gun, the leader of the Iron Troops.
He was born as the eldest son of Namcheon Damdong, and was a true warrior who gave up his position as Dongju and remained on the battlefield.
The best master of the Beast Palace who has been given the title of Master of War.
My uncle, Dammu-gun, quietly raised his head and met my eyes.
How will he accept me?
A mountain-like momentum instantly enveloped my entire body.
Just by looking at me with an indifferent gaze, a sharp murderous intent cuts through my entire body.
If the person in front of me right now wasn’t my uncle, Dammugun, I would have rolled on the floor and pulled out my sword.
“This is Dammyeong of Namcheon Damdong. I greet the leader of the Cheolwoongdan Dammugun Danju.”
“… … .”
After looking at me silently for a while, he opened his mouth in a low voice.
“… … If I had called him uncle, he would have sent me back.”
He stood up and continued speaking.
“Sit down.”
In the awkward silence, only the scent of the black tea placed in front of him filled the small room.
A cheap black tea that is roughly harvested and roughly dried.
“I heard that the Mansu ceremony is tonight.”
“If we finish well and nothing comes up, we plan to leave early tomorrow morning.”
He opened his mouth as he was examining my face closely.
“… … You take after your mother. Of course, you also have your father’s stubborn personality.”
What does it mean?
What does this man, who has dedicated his life to the Namman and the Beast Palace, want to tell me?
“Fate is… …. Fate is sometimes like a huge rock rolling down a steep hill. You can’t stop it, but if you put in all your effort, you can change its direction. If you do, the rock will eventually head in a completely different direction. Of course, you have to overcome all kinds of humiliation and make a lot of effort. Do you think you can do it now?”
Now this guy is asking me for directions.
What kind of life will I live as a person who does not belong to either the Southern Manchurian or the Central Plains?
What kind of warrior will you be and in what direction will you lead your clan?
“I… will not change the direction of the rock.”
“what?”
Dammu-gun looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Why don’t we just break the rock?”
“… … .”
Dammugun was silent for a long time.
When the cheap black tea had cooled down, he opened his mouth again.
“A man of Namcheon Damdong should be able to choose his own fate. I was like that, and so was your father.”
Knock knock.
He stood up, pushing the old chair away.
An overwhelming appearance, as if a huge tree were standing there.
“I hope you will do the same… … .”
The name is… … .
It was clearly called Myeong.
As I turned around after saying hello, I heard his voice behind me.
“There’s no need to stop by again to say hello before you leave.”
When I looked back, I saw him sitting at the table again in the same position as before, reading a thick stack of documents.
It’s as if the country in this room no longer exists.
I went out quietly.
Was it my imagination that there was a faint smile on his lips?
* * *
Hashi (亥時).
It is not a grand event as it is a Mansu ceremony that is held once every three years.
But this time, the meaning is different.
Everyone was curious to see whether Jin Ja-hong, the master of Changcheonjindong, would receive the red dragon’s seal.
There was also a minor topic of conversation about whether the seal would be given to Sodongju of Namcheon Damdong, who was known as the world’s laziest person.
Already, there was quite a bit of money at stake in the palace over the two men’s imprints.
It was a close race for Jin Ja-hong’s case, but the stakes were tilted toward Dam-myeong’s imprint.
Of course, the overwhelming majority believe that no imprint will be made.
It is rumored that most of the Beast Palace warriors bet money, so the stakes are probably huge.
“Sodongju, how much is in the war chest right now? Give me everything you have.”
The old man came over and whispered in my ear.
“How many bottles have you had? The smell of alcohol is overwhelming. And the aroma is incredible.”
“Hehe. Even if it’s not like that, once the Mansu ceremony is over, that old lady will ask to see you. You can taste it then too. Anyway, just hand over the whole thing. I’ll double it, no, maybe ten times more.”
“What do you mean gambling in the Sacred Beast Palace? Of course there is money.”
In my arms I have fifty nyang, which Sodongju of Changcheonjindong gave me to use for travel expenses.
The money that was at stake along with the red cloud gap.
And if you include the emergency fund that my father secretly gave me, the total would be about sixty nyang?
The old man whispered quietly in my ear so that no one would hear.
“There’s a bet on it. All the stakes are on you not receiving the seal at this Mansu Ceremony. Of course. In the hundreds of years of history of the Beast Palace, not a single non-legitimate person has received the seal.”
“So you want to bet our money on them? You won’t get much out of it.”
“Haha. You punk. Do you know what the most important thing in a bet is?”
“What is it?”
“Inside information! Inside information leaked in advance from key personnel!”
It looks like Nosa gambled a lot when he was young.
So, at that age, without any savings, I’m borrowing money from my grandson, who is the same age as me.
And originally, you shouldn’t trust insider information.
In particular, information that begins with “I’m telling you this only!” is the most dangerous.
“Who is that key person?”
“Haha. Why is it that a normally smart guy can’t understand me? Who did I just come back from drinking with?”
Ah. Priestess.
“I heard it from the old hag himself. You’re going to get a huge impression tonight!”