Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 96



Only Noblemtl

I, Dam-myeong, ascended to the throne of the Beast King. Episode 96

It was a place I had to climb.

The old king of this land was dying, and everyone was waiting for a new king.

I was destined to be king.

The day the dragon’s mark was engraved on my left shoulder.

I knew this day would come someday.

But not now… … .

Before I close my eyes for the last time.

Of all the appearances I’ve seen of him, this one is the most beast-like in its name.

More than when he sat on the huge throne and looked at me.

More than the sight of him rushing towards his enemies with flames shooting out of his fists.

“It’s been a long time… … .”

His gaze was directed towards the southern sky outside the window.

The sky that he protected.

Before I knew it, the sun was setting.

The sunset turns the mountain ridge red.

It looked like a red dragon ascending to the sky.

“I’ve been sitting here too long. I should have come down a long time ago… … .”

“Today’s victory was possible because you were there.”

My uncle bowed his head with a somber expression.

“Victory? No. Haa, too many warriors died… … .”

These are the warriors of the Beast Palace who would laugh and throw away their own lives to protect this land.

But where in the world is there a death that is not sad?

And now we have to endure another death.

* * *

The Beast King Jin Jung-ak sat on the large throne and closed his eyes in the same manner as a king.

He was ninety-two years old.

He received the seal of the Red Dragon at seventeen, and ascended to the throne of the Beast King at forty-two.

So, he has been protecting Nanman and the Beast Palace under the name of Beast King for a full fifty years.

No one cried.

He died as an honorable warrior.

“I am just one of the many warriors of the Beast Palace… … .”

The Beast King did not want his death to be special among the countless deaths.

His final wish was to be quietly buried in the forest behind the Beast Palace.

I wanted to sleep with them in the Nameless Forest, the graveyard of nameless warriors.

“Find the youngest tree and bury it around it.”

His last will was to be buried without a grave mound or tombstone.

He said that he would return to the land he had protected as a handful of dirt… … .

The last of the Beast King was attended by his uncle, his five sons, the priestess, and me.

The quiet death he wanted.

On the way back from the forest of unknown people, my uncle opened his mouth.

“It’s my name… … .”

“Go ahead, Uncle.”

“I guess today will be the last time I call you by your name. And the last time you call me uncle.”

I thought I knew what you were trying to say.

“As soon as you return to the palace, the whole world will hear that you have ascended to the throne of the Beast King… … .”

I cut him off and answered.

“Not yet!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to me at my unexpected answer.

“I don’t mean to avoid that heavy position, but now is the time to commemorate the dead and re-establish the power of the Beast Palace and the Paldong.”

“So, isn’t a new Beast King absolutely necessary?”

The reason why the Central Plains forces cannot look down on the Nanman is because of the existence of the Beast King.

So, if the Beast King’s absence is reported, there is no telling when a new enemy may appear.

“What fear could a young Beast King, who has just been given the title of Warrior, give them?”

And then he turned his gaze towards the brothers of Paldong.

“If the people here really think I’m the Beast King… … .”

I explained my thoughts to them.

In this war with the Blood Cult, we lost more than half of our warriors.

Even the Beast King, who had a huge presence just by holding on, was lost.

What if, with his power cut in half, it was discovered that an unknown young warrior had taken over the throne of the Beast King?

It would seem like good prey to various forces that were eyeing the South and were just waiting for an opportunity.

“Perhaps we will be faced with a new enemy unprepared.”

“… … .”

The death of the Beast King is known only to a few people here.

The uncle, the priestess, and the eight comrades including the father.

“His death will not be announced. Those of you here should remain silent. Instead, for the time being, your uncle will step forward and lead the palace as before. We must show that our Beast King is still alive and well, and that the Beast Palace is still powerful.”

The person who should be leading the Beast Palace now is not me, but my uncle.

now…….

“Internally, the priority is to sort out the blood demons hiding here and there in Namman. This is something that the Dongju of Paldong should do. Namcheon Damdong will be the center of this.”

Before I knew it, there were people standing around me, listening to what I had to say.

“Then, your name is… … .”

I have a set job to do.

“I… … will uproot it. So that the Namman and Beast Palace will never be in danger again.”

The fact that the Blood Cult was targeting the Beast Palace and that so much power was able to come all the way to Namman was impossible without someone’s scheme and protection.

The force that planned everything behind this war.

And those who opened the road from Gansu to Nanman under their instructions.

“Are you saying you will seek revenge?”

I nodded quietly to my father’s question.

“It will be revenge and a warning. It will show what kind of end will come to those who covet only the South. We will cut off the heads and skin those who dare to provoke us. It is absolutely necessary for this land to be safe.”

Everyone clenched their fists with a solemn expression.

“I will show you the Beast Palace that everyone is afraid of and then return. And… … .”

The eyes looking at me.

“And… … I will sit on the throne!”

Expectant eyes.

To open a new era.

Now the Beast Palace will change.

With the new Beast King.

* * *

A month or so has passed since the Beast King’s death.

The Blood Demons scattered throughout the South were quickly organized, and the warriors gathered from Paldong and the Beast Palace’s power also somewhat regained their positions.

All this is thanks to the efforts of my uncle and father.

When I heard that Nosa had come to his senses, I hurried to find him.

He had been unconscious for a month after saving the priestess’ life.

The price paid for forcibly raising one’s energy with a wounded body.

“Don’t you feel suffocated just lying there? Old man.”

“Keep on going. My throat is already itching to the point where I could die. If only I could catch a wild boar and drink some Shaoxing wine, but this old lady is watching me every day. Hehe.”

I heard it was fortunate that he survived.

Perhaps it also means that past inaction cannot be regained.

“I heard about your exploits. You burned all those Blood Cult bastards to death. And you ripped out the Blood Cult leader’s heart and munched on it? Have you ever seen such a sweetheart? Hehe.”

That’s why rumors are scary.

You chewed my heart out.

I just pulled it out with my bare hands and blew it up with all my might in front of everyone.

By the way, the Beast King who chews on hearts dripping with blood… … .

Not bad, right?

If only we could instill fear in our enemies.

“He… … . Did you know him well?”

He nodded quietly.

The expressions on Nosa’s face were dark.

Perhaps you heard the news of the Beast King’s death from the priestess.

What did their existence mean to Nosa and the Beast King?

They became warriors at a similar age, and one of them became the Beast King.

Another one fought by his side his entire life.

“I also heard that he designated you as the King of Beasts.”

A look of concern rather than joy.

You must have seen from the side how lonely and heavy that place is.

“… … I intend to follow fate. I’ll finish what I have to do first.”

“Be careful. The Central Plains is a dangerous place. But I thought it through well. Find all the guys involved in this war and skin them. We have to show the Central Plains guys what happens if they mess with the South.”

That’s why I like labor and management.

Because we think the same way.

“But come back before it’s too late. Don’t leave the throne empty for too long. And if you want to become the Beast King, grant me one wish.”

“Tell me anything.”

He is the one who raised me to be a true warrior of the Beast Palace.

What wish can’t be granted?

“When you ascend to the throne of the Beast King… … .”

Just say anything and I’ll cut off the head of the demon cult leader.

“You must ask that old lady the secret of making Shaoxing wine. This damn old lady won’t tell you even if she dies. But if you ask the Beast King, won’t he teach you? Hey, you punk! Where are you going without answering? Are you going to ask me or not?”

He turned around with a smile.

I thought I knew why the priestess didn’t tell me the secret recipe for making Shaoxing wine.

That way, the old man will have an excuse to come to the Beast Palace.

* * *

A day before leaving the Beast Palace.

I met my uncle and the priestess.

The people who effectively lead the palace in the absence of the Beast King.

“Would you like to take the Iron Troops with you?”

“Uncle, I do not intend to wage war in the name of the Beast Palace. The wounds of the last war have not yet fully healed, so I do not want another dangerous incident to occur in Nanman, do I?”

“then?”

“There are two reasons why I want to go to the Central Plains. One is to expand our power.”

It’s not greed.

I realized this through this war.

If we confine ourselves to others, we will always be one step behind.

Before setting foot on the land of Nanman, the forces of the Beast Palace that must be dealt with must be holding out in the Central Plains.

“What if we expand our power?”

“First, we will make Yunnan ours.”

It doesn’t mean I’m going to take it away.

It means that only by holding Yunnan in one’s grasp can Nanman become safe.

“Huh, Yunnan… … Then what’s the second reason?”

“It’s revenge. It’s a very personal revenge for the Beast Palace warriors who lost their lives! So I plan to move quietly.”

This is another reason why I postponed the position of Beast King.

As the Beast King, all my actions are subject to the will of the Beast Palace.

It means that even a minor quarrel can turn into a war.

“For now, I plan to move quietly with only one or two people. If you touch the grass carelessly, all the snakes will hide.”

First of all, it is important to identify the forces involved in this war.

And the plan is to take them down one by one.

For now, I plan to take Nok Seung-seo with me, and if necessary, I may add one or two more people.

“Gwisu Bangdongju wants to send one of his clan’s warriors with you. Perhaps he wants to join you in your plan for revenge. He lost many warriors in this war.”

Just like Namcheon Damdong, Gwisu Bangdong also brought all his warriors to the palace, leaving only the minimum force behind.

And the beasts that accompany them.

And more than half of them were lost.

“Who should I send?”

Someone’s face appeared in my head, but I tried hard to erase it.

Would he really send his precious daughter, whom he loves dearly, to such a dangerous plan?

Then a familiar voice was heard.

“I will go.”

When I looked back, Byeong Yak-ran was standing there with a fierce look in her eyes.

There are three fortune tellers behind.

She lost seven of her seals in the final battle.

In fact, I was going to refuse if it was because of favoritism toward me or interest in the central plains.

But her eyes were more serious than ever.

A cold, collected gaze.

“It won’t be a burden.”

I heard that she appeared at the moment when the old man and the priestess were in danger and fought against the blood-stained man.

Being inactive is enough qualification.

And she too has a right to participate in this revenge.

Because he was a warrior who stood at the forefront in the war against the Blood Cult.

“Okay. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

Then the priestess who had been listening quietly opened her mouth.

“Once you’ve settled down in Yunnan, contact me. I’ll send you a child. He’s still a young child, but he’ll be a great help on your way.”

These are the words of none other than a priestess.

Even if I don’t know who she is, if I think it will help me, then it’s right to follow her words.

But he’s still a child… … .

Could this be one of the young warriors of the Beast Palace?

“Who are you?”

“He will soon succeed me. He will be of help to you, and he will also have the opportunity to see a wider world. He will also have the meaning of watching over the person he must follow throughout his life.”

It means a new priestess who will succeed her.

Has this woman before her eyes seen her own fate?

Or is she simply preparing a child to become a new priestess?

“All right.”

In this way, the group heading to Yunnan was decided to consist of me, Nok Seung-seo, and Bang Yak-ran.

If you include the young priestess who will join later, there will be four.

I don’t know when that will be though.

I didn’t know it at the time.