(TN: Forgot to ntion this: Man-geum ans Ten Thousand Gold. But King Man-geum sounds like his na so I left it like that.)
[Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon) (SSS-rank Weapon): A sword made according to a magical procedure by setting a special year, month, date, and ti. It contains the spirit of a tiger.
First, a corrupt curse embedded within it has turned this blade, contrary to the maker’s intentions, into a vile weapon that cuts down the righteous rather than the wicked.
Curse of Premature Death: The owner of Nokjon is cursed with early death. Every use of the sword drastically reduces the user’s lifespan. This effect has been sealed.
Prize of Rivalry: The owner of Nokjon is destined to oppose the owner of its twin sword, Mungok, ultimately leading to a duel where they will kill each other. Just possessing it ensures you will eventually et the owner of Mungok.
Prize of Fortune: Based on luck, all success rates of actions increase by 400%.
Prize of Benefactor: Owner’s health 3.
Prize of Fiery Heaven: The effects of all fire-type magic increase by 100%.
Prize of Righteous Harm: Damage against good or virtuous targets increases by 400%. However, each ti this effect activates, a ‘ntal Illness—Murder Obsession’ afflicts your mind.]
Nokjon was the na of this sword. It seed soone nad it such. I was annoyed that there was a nad sword I didn’t know about.
As soone who considers themselves a stagnant water of [Cthulhu World], it was quite frustrating.
This really is a killer blade, isn’t it?
It was a typical cursed sword that, in exchange for cutting the owner’s lifespan, possessed powerful abilities.
Fortunately, it seed that King Man-geum had sealed the part related to the lifespan. As a result, a few abilities weakened or were sealed altogether.
But the other abilities were unnecessary.
Luck? Enhancent of fire-type magic? Extra damage to the good or virtuous?
They were abilities that made no difference whether present or not.
Health 3!
Yes, a health increase of 3!
Just the option of increasing the health stat was enough for to decide to keep this sword for life.
I was in the midst of reclaiming the health that had been taken from . It was during this ti that I realized just how crucial health is in human life.
“Ah, friends and company. You’ve been waiting a long ti.”
Seo Cheon-seul returned with a hearty “Bahahaha” laugh.
“Man, King Man-geum is such a nag, you know.”
“No, it wasn’t that long a ti. Didn’t the king say anything else?”
“Nothing much, except to give this to you.”
With that, Seo Cheon-seul took off the dark gray durumagi he was wearing.
“Ah, if you’re going to give a gift, shouldn’t it be sothing new rather than sothing worn by soone else?”
“Uh, what?”
Seo Cheon-seul spoke with a nonchalant expression, but it was no ordinary matter. Even the usually composed professor’s lips quivered and he started muttering incredulously, “Could it be? Eh? Could it really be?”
“Here you go, masked friend. Take this.”
As Seo Cheon-seul flicked his hand holding the durumagi, it soared up by itself and flew towards .
“Tell the king it was well received.”
“Well, he sees everything that happens in the Thousand Gold Temple.”
The durumagi fluttered through the air and, as it slowly unfolded, it seed to cling to my shoulders and then moved on its own to help put it on.
Seo Cheon-seul scanned from head to toe for a mont and then burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! It suits you perfectly. You look quite like a goblin, especially with the mask.”
It was an appropriate comparison.
I was already dressed simply in a black hoodie and jeans, and the bizarrely shaped mask I was wearing only added to the oddity. Now, draped in what looked like a traditional Korean black durumagi, my clothing was indeed goblin-like in many ways.
I casually felt the durumagi that had “clung” to my body.
It almost had no weight. In fact, before that, there was almost no sensation of touching it. Wasn’t it made with threads spun from the hair of a heavenly maiden, into which shadows, delusions, hopes, and vain dreams were woven as the weft?
Only then did the professor open his mouth as if shocked.
“Wh-What is this? The Winged Robe of the Night Veil? Isn’t this a garnt that symbolizes the Commander Thousand Gold itself?!”
That’s right.
Honestly, this garnt was far more precious than any Great Justice Tiger Swordor whatnot.
The Winged Robe of the Night Veil was an L-rank artifact imbued with the power of [The Lord of Ancient Dream], a mber of the ancient deities.
It was also a symbolic attire given to the Commander Thousand Gold who guards the Thousand Gold Temple.
“Yo-You really have stumbled upon unbelievable fortune, haven’t you?”
The professor who had previously looked at as if I had won the lottery now wore the expression of soone who, after winning the lottery three tis, had nonchalantly scratched an instant lottery ticket and won again.
His expression showed not just envy but a hint of fear as well.
Even the usually composed professor started to lose his composure, which was rather embarrassing.
Certainly, the Winged Robe of the Night Veil offered an enormous array of abilities and various buffs that were too nurous to list.
But more importantly, there was another reason why this robe was so important to .
Now, I will never have nightmares again.
The reason I had sought the Shoes of Silent Steps was solely for that purpose. Although they provided remarkable mobility, the Shoes of Silent Steps also possessed the power to ward off their owner’s nightmares.
Who is King Man-geum? Is he not a deity from ancient tis, governing over dreams?
The Winged Robe of the Night Veil was an artifact of the highest caliber, surpassing all others in its capabilities, and it was also the ultimate item for sleeping.
Honestly, with this, I could say I achieved more than what I had co here for.
At this point, Seo Cheon-seul spoke up again.
“However, this isn’t a gift the masked friend is giving simply because it’s pretty. Our king is particularly sensitive to the balance of give and take.”
There was sothing sharply pointed about his words. It seed best not to respond directly to that comnt.
As the professor said, it was like having an item that was a symbol of his own essence taken away.
It was only because he was a goblin that he was smiling like that; if Seo Cheon-seul were human, even a slight misstep in speech could have started a physical confrontation.
“Indeed, that’s true. Whatever it is, the task that the king assigned to you earlier seems to be of great importance. Well, considering the appearances of many legends… no, this isn’t the place to discuss that.”
The professor paused before glancing at Seo Cheon-seul’s reaction.
“I know what you’re trying to say, Professor, but it’s not sothing that should be interpreted optimistically.”
I had a rough idea of what the professor was about to say. Was he about to discuss the appearances of goblins in legends and folklore?
They would grant mountains of gold and treasures as a modest repaynt for a beautifully sung song or a small favor.
It was as if they were giving away gold or treasures as paynt for a curse, just like the mythical King Man-geum.
However, the goblins weren’t foolish or purely kind for these actions to occur.
They were not humans.
Their sense of money and transactions was completely different from ours.
They might gift imnse treasures in return for a small good deed, but they could also take sothing as vital as a life for a minor favor.
Perhaps they might even take your life itself.
If I were to interpret this situation optimistically, I might be considered a lucky fellow… but sohow, I felt that this exchange wouldn’t result in only happy outcos.
“Hmm, is that so?”
“Yes. It’s going to be a difficult task.”
“Well, you who have spoken with the king directly would know better.”
“Should we start preparing to head back?”
“Ah, yes. We can continue our discussion as we go… Commander Thousand Gold, could you lead the way again?”
“Are you leaving? Then, I will lead the way!”
Seo Cheon-seul briskly took the lead and pushed aside a few buildings as he moved.
A goblin who had been sleeping on the roof of one of the displaced buildings rolled off due to the movent.
“Argh, damn goblin!”
“Bahahaha, why were you sleeping on the roof anyway?”
Regardless of my concerns, Seo Cheon-seul maintained his previous cheerful deanor. Was I worrying unnecessarily?
There was sothing I was already curious about, so I decided to strike up a conversation with Seo Cheon-seul.
“Hey, Commander Thousand Gold.”
“Hmm?”
“By the way, why were the Jangseungs acting up earlier? Did you find the person who ant to harm the Thousand Gold Temple?”
“Ah, that… It seems the king was just playing a prank.”
Ah, damn it. Was it really just that?
Look at this.
In the end, King Man-geum was no different from the others.
Just as the [King in Yellow] had tested , King Man-geum had tested too.
Still, he had shown so rcy, since it was just the Jangseungs involved; the situation ended on a lighthearted note which wouldn’t have been the case if Seo Cheon-seul had been involved.
“But masked friend, wasn’t it sowhat fun? It seems King Man-geum was quite pleased.”
“Fun…?”
Really?
“Bahahaha!”
Our conversation continued, though it mostly consisted of trivial stories, Seo Cheon-seul’s jokes, or the professor’s questions?
I walked along while half-listening to them or answering them casually. I was preoccupied with thoughts of the sword and King Man-geum.
By the ti we reached the entrance to the Thousand Gold Temple, Seo Cheon-seul addressed again.
“Hey, masked friend.”
“Hmm?”
“Now that you ntion it, there was one more thing His Majesty asked to convey.”
“His Majesty?”
“Yeah, I almost forgot to deliver it. Whew, that really would have been sothing.”
Seo Cheon-seul slyly pretended to have suddenly rembered sothing.
It was a ssage from King Man-geum; how could he possibly forget? He must be choosing to ntion it now on purpose, or maybe King Man-geum instructed him to do so from the start.
“I feel like I’ve already received more than enough.”
“Oh, don’t worry, friend. This isn’t about an item.”
“If it’s not an item, then…?”
Could it be a ssage?
I hope it’s sothing light, like a sermon.
I’m already burdened with a confusing and difficult task that’s hard to resolve imdiately.
I definitely can’t handle any more bizarre decrees or errands being added to my plate.
“Ah, it’s actually about—”
I could see the gleam in Seo Cheon-seul’s eyes, half hidden under his floppy hat, and a playful grin spread across his face like a goblin who had caught the opportunity for his prank.
“If you don’t hurry up and tell , I’m just going to leave.”
I was already at the exit anyway. I could just walk out and that would be the end of it.
“Uh?”
“If there are any problems due to the ssage not being conveyed, it will all be because Commander Thousand Gold was trying to play so odd prank.”
“Whoa, no. Wait, I’ll tell you, just saying it is enough, right? Ah, there goes masked friend with his impatience.”
“Alright. Now tell .”
“His Majesty said, ‘Inspect the attic of your house. You might find an interesting clock there’.”
“The attic? A clock?”
Seo Cheon-seul raised his hand to stop .
“It’s not over yet. It’s sothing left by a creature with many mouths. Make sure you look at that clock closely and adjust your schedule accordingly.”
“Hmm… Is that what he said?”
“Yes. But what does that an?”
“I don’t know either?”
“Really?”
I really didn’t know. A clock?
A creature with many mouths likely referred to the being of the abyss known as the [He Who Cos from the Darkness] who had been supporting the Hollow Lord.
This being was also known by several nas: [The One with a Thousands Mouths], [The Hungry Mouth], and [The One Who Whispers with Countless Mouths], and it often appeared in the form of darkness with thousands of mouths.
And He Who Cos from the Darkness left a clock for the Hollow Lord? If there was such an item, why wouldn’t I know about it?
“I don’t know. Seems like so kind of riddle.”
“Aha, a riddle. That makes sense.”
With that conversation behind us, the professor and I crossed the main gate of the Thousand Gold Temple.
Seo Cheon-seul ca out to the front of the Thousand Gold Temple. His face was filled with a smile as he saw us off.
“Take care, masked friend! And you too, friend who travels while seated.”
“Thank you for the guidance. I hope we can et again with smiles.”
“Ah, of course. But next ti, bring soone more interesting than the masked friend.”
“Haha, that’s not sothing I can decide.”
I would be returning soon. Having obtained the foot-lighting lantern entry ticket, I needed to co back at least once to lift the curse of Park Kwang-lim.
Seo Cheon-seul maintained a cheerful deanor,
But I wondered,
What was he really thinking inside?
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