Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 32
Only Noblemtl
Episode 32
The old man and woman explained for a long time with their twisted tongues.
“So, there was an oracle that someone would have a huge impression on this Mansu Ceremony, and that person was me?”
“That’s what I’m saying, you punk. As I said before, that old lady is pretty brave.”
“What on earth is that enormous imprint? And there’s no guarantee that it’s me?”
“That’s something we’ll have to wait and see. In my opinion, it’s definitely you. Even if you look hard, you’re the only one who will receive such a huge impression at this Mansu ceremony. So hurry up and hand over that pouch. At times like this, you should take off your underwear and throw it at me in one go. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”
It seems like the inside information isn’t very specific.
At this point, I don’t know if you trust me or want to make a bet.
“Well, it wasn’t my money anyway… … .”
As soon as he took out the pouch, he snatched it away with the golden thread technique, then used a magical technique like the wind and disappeared somewhere.
I really need to learn that new method.
“Your Majesty, it’s time. Please get dressed and come to the Great Performance Hall.”
A neat bear skin brought from the East that you can wear to dress up.
Still, it seems to be a Mansu-sik tradition, so we should follow it.
He took off his coat on the spot and put a bear skin over his bare body.
It feels comfortable and fits the body perfectly.
I also feel like some kind of bear-like strength is about to surge up.
The huge smokescreen was already filled with warriors from the Beast Palace who had come to watch the Mansu Ceremony.
Some people are drinking in groups of three or five, and some are already quite drunk.
For them, Mansu Festival is a joyful festival that gives a glimpse into a new era.
How wonderful it is compared to the Central Plains, full of useless formalities!
“Hey, that’s the Sodongju of Namcheon Damdong! The world’s biggest lazy bum! Haha.”
“I’m the only one among us who bet on that. Of course, it was only small change. Haha.”
“I also have Jungwon blood. Let’s have a drink after the Mansu ceremony.”
Not all warriors of the Beast Palace have pure Namman blood.
There are many people like me who have Central Plains blood mixed in.
But they are all great warriors.
Only the old, stereotypical Paldong clan is stuck in the past, talking about legitimacy.
“If you earn money, buy me a drink!”
When I shouted in response, the man from before waved his hand loudly above his head.
The huge flame in the center burned all the way to the sky, illuminating the dark night of the Beast Palace.
Warriors having fun with the lights.
And beyond the flames, a woman is seen.
Ah! That woman is a priestess.
Her white hair is neatly combed up into a bun, and she is wearing white clothes that match her hair color.
Traces of time pass over her pale face, unlike those of other women.
The sight of him standing tall amidst the flickering flames is like a dream.
He seemed to be in another world, alone in this place filled with warriors from the rough Beast Palace.
She noticed me and smiled.
I smiled brightly too.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A loud drum sound announcing the start of the Mansu ceremony.
The altar was nothing more than a pile of logs.
The four main characters of today stood side by side in front of the altar.
Jin Ja-hong doesn’t even make eye contact with me.
“I hope everyone gets the impression they’re looking forward to.”
Since everyone looked nervous, I threw out some words of encouragement.
“Ugh… … . Even though I heard my brother’s explanation about the Mansu ceremony, I’m still so nervous standing here.”
Bang Yak-ran looked around excitedly and spoke.
She is a typical manly woman.
That’s also very beautiful.
Smooth, coppery skin.
Large cat-like eyes and thick eyebrows.
With her slender height and figure, the description of her as the most beautiful woman in the world quite suits her.
There is even a saying that the real spirit of Gwisubangdong is Bangyakran.
Especially today, because of his clothes, he was receiving all the warriors’ attention.
A black sable skin, barely covering her chest, was draped over one shoulder, looking ready to burst at any moment.
Is the raccoon skin too small, or… … .
“I don’t know how to perform the ritual. No one explained it to me.”
“Do you see that long, white thing the priestess is holding in her hand? That is a piece of a dragon horn. A dragon horn.”
Dragon’s horn?
Are these real dragon horns?
“Haha. I made that same expression when I first heard it. But then they said it was true. Actually, I still can’t believe it.”
“So what do you do with that?”
“It’s simple. When the priestess holds the heated dragon’s horn to your shoulder, an imprint is created. Each imprint is of a different shape. The priestess interprets it accordingly.”
Well, it’s simple.
It might be a little hot though.
“By the way, I heard that the Mansu ceremony is quite a large ceremony. Why isn’t the Beast King coming out?”
Jin Jung-ak, the Beast King, one of the Four Heavenly Kings and the ruler of the South.
I thought you would see it for sure when you come to the Beast Palace.
“Oh, didn’t you know? It’s been more than three years since the Beast King showed up. That’s why everyone has a lot of speculations. Of course, the priestess over there and the Iron-Woong Group Leader are taking his place.”
So my uncle’s desk was full of papers.
In any case, it means that the Beast King, who is the pinnacle of Namman, is not fulfilling his role.
“Everyone thinks that the era of a new Beast King will soon arrive. They don’t say it out loud.”
Well, I can see why there was so much interest in this year’s Mansu ceremony.
Because perhaps this could be the moment when a new king is born.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of drums resonates again.
Now, finally, the ceremony begins.
The priestess walked slowly in front of the four of us, meeting our gazes one by one.
He stopped for a moment in front of me, who was standing at the end.
He looked at me for a long time with a mysterious expression as if trying to confirm something, then turned back to the altar.
Then he placed his hand gently on the logs that were piled up haphazardly.
Hurrrrr.
A red-hot flame burst out where there had been no spark.
The priestess, standing with her back to the fire, opened her mouth toward the green monk standing in the first place.
“Come forward.”
The priestess put her bare hand into the red-hot flames, took out a burning stick, and handed it to Nok Seung-seo.
He put the dragon spear he was holding into the flames that were burning like a torch in his hand.
A white dragon’s horn contrasting with the red flames.
After a while, the heated dragon’s horn pointed towards Nok Seung-seo’s left shoulder.
Cheeeeek.
Even though the sound of skin melting can be heard from here, Nok Seung-seo’s expression does not change at all.
A time when everyone watched with bated breath.
When the dragon’s horn was removed, only a red burn mark remained on his shoulder.
As the priestess carefully touched the wound, a shape slowly began to reveal itself.
Something as blue as the forests of Namman was spreading its wings toward the sky.
“Falcon! Falcon!”
The moment Nok Seung-seo’s expression darkened at the priestess’ words.
She continued, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Among the falcons, it is the Songgol. The fastest bird in the world. Congratulations. You have obtained a very wonderful engraving.”
Wow! Wow!
At the word Songgol, cheers erupted from the watching warriors.
At the same time, Nok Seung-seo smiled brightly.
A bright smile that had not been shown even once during the few days we had been together.
Amid the noisy cheers, the priestess’s gentle voice was heard.
“The fastest time for a swooping bird is when it dives from the sky to the ground. However, it is up to you whether you will catch your prey or crash down to the ground. What will you do with this fate, Nokseungseo?”
Nok Seung-seo’s eyes shook as if his inner thoughts had been revealed.
A question from a priestess asking how to live with this mark.
But he didn’t answer until the end and returned to his seat.
Next is Bangyakran’s turn.
On her shoulder, where she clenched her teeth and held on, the mark she had so desperately wanted was engraved.
A cloud leopard with a cloud pattern drawn all over its body
“It’s a lucky sign. It’s a very good sign. It’s small, but fast and agile. And of course, it’s fierce. It suits you very well.”
“Is this by any chance a dark cloud sign?”
Bang Yak-ran’s eyes were shining as she waited for the priestess’ answer.
“Honey, unfortunately it’s just a ticket.”
She sighed deeply and returned to her seat.
After a while, a voice was heard muttering to himself, ‘Even the dark clouds are just clouds anyway… …’
At that moment, a huge cheer was heard that shook the Beast Palace.
Wow! Wow!
When I turned my head, it was finally the turn of Jin Ja-hong, the So Dong-ju of Changcheonjindong.
The main character of this year’s Mansu ceremony.
Everyone is looking forward to it.
Will the dragon’s mark be engraved on him, who inherited the blood of the Beast King?
The imprint of the Red Dragon that will continue the new century of Namman.
Jin Ja-hong, looking very expectant, stood before the priestess.
* * *
“Oh. It’s finally Changcheonjindong Sodongju’s turn.”
Dongju Mo Baek-gwan of Yeongpung-mo-dong spoke to Jin Cheol-seung in a loud voice.
The onlookers watching the Mansu Ceremony sit in the front, where they have the best view of the altar.
Among them, the two people are in the front row where they can feel the heat of the altar.
“Shouldn’t His Majesty Jin Dong-ju prepare to go to the altar? He should immediately congratulate you once the Red Dragon’s seal is engraved.”
Yeongpungmo-dong is the last of the Pal-dongs.
It’s only been a few decades since he attained the status of Paldong.
So, Dongjuin Mo Baek-gwan visited in person as an observer of this Mansu ceremony.
Maintaining good relations with Changcheonjindong was his consistent stance.
Only then can the status of Pal-dong be maintained.
Because it is certain that the Changcheonjindong will once again become the family of the Beast King.
It is clear that the mark of the Red Dragon will be engraved on Jin Ja-hong, who shows the most overwhelming talent among the later indexes of Pal-dong.
“Haha. Congratulations, isn’t that enough even after the Mansu ceremony? There’s still some Sodongju from Namcheon Damdong left.”
“Isn’t that a meaningless turn? You’ll just leave behind a red burn mark. It was wrong to stand in that place in the first place. What kind of ceremony is Mansu-sik? Tsk tsk.”
This is a Mansu ceremony that only those with pure Beast Palace blood can stand.
Where would you dare go with half your blood?
‘When the Red Dragon is carved, I should be the first to run out and congratulate him. I’ve prepared plenty of congratulatory gifts.’
At that moment, the dragon horn in the priestess’s hand was pointed at Jin Ja-hong’s shoulder.
“Ah! Finally, the historic moment of ascending to the throne of the Beast King… … .”
Unlike the noisy Mo Baek-gwan, Jin Cheol-seung was quietly watching the altar.
It bothered him that his son, who was called a genius, had lost to Dam-myeong in the last duel.
I thought that among the later indexes of Pal-dong, there would be no one who could compete with him.
‘There must have been some kind of scheme. Anyway, once that kid has the red dragon tattooed on his shoulder, it’ll all be over. That guy named Dam-myeong is destined to kneel and bow his head before my son anyway.’
Cheeeeek.
After the sound of skin being scraped passed, the imprint finally revealed itself.
Gulp.
Everyone swallowed dry saliva and focused their gaze on Jin Ja-hong’s shoulder.
The priestess’ hand that was caressing the wound fell away, and little by little, a shape began to appear.
Something red, drawing graceful curves as if ascending to the sky… … .
“I, I, it’s the Red Dragon!”
The magistrate shouted loudly as if it were a celebration for his family and ran towards the altar.
With both arms stretched out to the sky.
Jin Cheol-seung, the master of Changcheonjindongju, was also standing up from his seat, holding his trembling legs.
The priestess’s voice was heard at that moment.
“Stop, Mo Dongju! What right do you have to climb up onto the altar! Come down immediately!”
Jin Cheol-seung, who had been standing up from his seat, then quietly sat back down.
The magistrate who had been running out returned with a puzzled expression.
“The Mansu ceremony is not a ceremony for a specific family. Even if it is his family… … . Anyone who climbs the altar before the entire ceremony is finished will be immediately kicked out of the palace.”
During the ritual, the priestess’s power is absolute.
Even the Beast King dare not interfere with the ritual.
But, it’s amazing to see a priestess getting so angry.
The priestess who had been caressing Jin Ja-hong’s shoulder again took her hand away.
In that place, a vivid red dragon appeared alive and rising into the sky.
“Oh, oh! As expected… … !”
Jin Ja-hong, who saw the red dragon engraved on his shoulder, clenched his fists and couldn’t hide his joy.
Jin Cheol-seung, who was watching the scene in front of the altar, was also excited.
But the priestess’ expression wasn’t very good.
“It has red scales and rises powerfully into the sky… … . What a pity, what a pity.”
“Huh? What, what are you saying is disappointing…?”
Jin Ja-hong asked, checking the engraving on his shoulder once again.
A dragon with a vivid red color that is still visible when viewed again.
The red dragon that symbolizes the fate of the Beast King.
“It’s a snake. It’s a snake that can’t become a dragon and stays on the ground. It has everything, but it doesn’t have horns… … .”
dump.
A red snake was crouching on Jin Ja-hong’s shoulder, who was sitting still.