Chapter 383: Episode 73 – The hottest place in Hell (2)
This guy just popped out of nowhere and demands us to kneel down.....
Han Su-Yeong next to me carried a dumbfounded expression, while Yu Jung-Hyeok was already reaching towards his sword. Cheok Jun-Gyeong was massaging his forehead; it seemed that he expected a situation like this already.
– My apologies, Descendant. I tried to talk him out of it, but I wasn’t successful.
True, he’d not enjoy situations like this. But, he owed <Hongik> a lot, so he probably couldn’t say no to them asking him to organise this meeting....
– I shall leave it to your decision.
I nodded my head and looked at the Taoist hermit.
[Constellation ruling over the Peninsula’s Winds has revealed his Modifier!]
[Constellation, ‘Heavenly Wind God’, is now looking at you!]
The ‘Heavenly Wind God’ – the Constellation who founded <Hongik> alongside the Heavenly King.
His real name was ‘Pungbaek’, although most of us simply knew him as the God of Wind. (TL: One of the three gods/ministers that served Hwanung the Heavenly King, father of the ancient Korea’s founder, Dangun. Wind God/God of Wind switcheroo isn’t a typo, though – the first one’s from the raw, while the second one is the official name of the god.)
Ku-gugugugu!
The Status of the Constellation who had finally revealed his Modifier, caused strong gusts of wind that resembled the flapping wings of a giant Phoenix, to sweep past the surroundings. And then, all ambient noises disappeared.
The Reincarnators outside the wind wall were shouting something in my direction, but I couldn’t hear them. Pungbaek had cut off all the sounds coming from outside.
He probably didn’t want others to hear our conversation.
[Oh, descendant of the Peninsula, I’ve heard the tales of your bravery. As your fame spreads far and wide, the status of the Peninsula rises higher in accordance. This god sees that situation as very satisfactory.]
I quickly sent a signal with my eyes to Yu Jung-Hyeok busy raising his momentum – telling him to hold it, let’s at least hear this guy out first.
[However, I’ve heard disturbing stories that lately, you’ve been building inappropriate relationships with foreign Constellations.]
....I began wondering whether I should keep listening or not, though.
[Archangels and Demon Kings are not Constellations originally from East Asia, or the Peninsula. Meaning, they are foreign influences.]
Han Su-Yeong shot me a sneaky glare.
– Hey, you. Are you just gonna let this guy be?
– I shall cut him down.
– What the heck, is the wire crossed or something? How come I can hear Yu Jung-Hyeok’s voice?
– I combined the Midday Tryst’s space.
My declaration prompted an explosion of messages from her and Yu Jung-Hyeok.
– Hey! Stop messing around! You want me to listen to that arrogant bastard’s voice in my head, too?
– You’ve taken words out of my mouth.
I sighed softly after seeing the two growl at each other.
– Stop it, both of you. That’s not important right now, is it?
While we were squabbling inside our chatroom, Pungbaek was still continuing on with his dull moral lecture.
[....meaning, descendant’s friendly behaviour towards foreign influences has caused much dishonour to the Peninsula, and this god considers that as a weighty crime. However, if you, the descendant, reflect deeply regarding this matter and repent, then.....]
Hell, a Constellation that agreed with those words even made his appearance, too.
[Constellation, ‘Founder of National Isolation Policy’, agrees in part with the assertion of ‘Heavenly Wind God’.]
Of course, not everyone was like that; our little peninsula boasted a surprisingly wide variety of Constellations, after all.
[Constellation, ‘Bald General of Justice’, is polishing his head.]
[Constellation, ‘First Sorcerer of Joseon’, is clicking his tongue.]
[Constellation, ‘Prisoner of Golden Headband’, is yawning in boredom.]
[Portion of Korean Peninsula’s Constellations thinks the declaration by ‘Heavenly Wind God’ is old-fashioned.]
[Who dares to hide behind anonymous Modifiers and run their mouths off?!]
As Pungbaek’s true voice rang thunderously in the air, the weather above began shifting ominously. Suppressed by that tremendous aura, several Constellations quickly shut their mouths.
Whatever the case might have been, he was an existence very close to the ancestor god of the Peninsula.
Although the individual amount received differed, Constellations of the Peninsula had indeed received benefits and favours from <Hongik>, and none could challenge them face to face as a result.
Not even Cheok Jun-Gyeong himself.
[By the way, why are you still standing up?]
Eventually, Pungbaek’s gaze landed on me. The current atmosphere shifted ever so slightly from what it was like earlier.
[Did I not tell you to kneel?]
Ginormous pressure pushed down on me. Not just me, though; it pushed down on the entire <Kim Dok-Ja’s Company>.
[Fables from Nebula <Hongik> are observing <Kim Dok-Ja’s Company>!]
It felt as if a giant ancient tree had bent down to take a look at us – a giant tree that salivated after the nutrients meant for a new-born sprout.
I quietly held that gaze for a little while, before making my reply. “I don’t want to.”
[Indeed, you don’t.... What did you say?]
“I said, I don’t want to.”
[Constellation, ‘Prisoner of Golden Headband’, is liking your attitude.]
[Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is coaxing you to start with a punch first.]
“I came here to participate in the Great War, not to kneel to you.”
[How boundlessly arrogant. I looked favourably at your bravery and wished to pardon your sins, but....]
“After you pardon me, what then?”
Pungbaek’s brows quivered at my pointed reply.
“You were thinking of absorbing <Kim Dok-Ja’s Company> through the authority of <Hongik>, were you not?”
As if his hidden plot had been accurately pointed out, emotions could be spied on that stoic Constellation’s expression now.
[It is only obvious that your group must come under the wing of <Hongik>.]
“Why do you think that?”
[If <Hongik> did not exercise its might at the beginning, your Nebula wouldn’t have been born.]
As if he was a parent being betrayed by his child, Pungbaek began shouting at me.
[<Hongik> is the founder of the Peninsula! We gave birth to you, we set the morality you must follow, and we created the rules. It was us who determined what you’d see, feel, and think. Because the Fable of <Hongik> exists, you exist here now, and through that Fable, you survi....]
“Four years ago in Earth’s time, ‘scenarios’ began on the Korean Peninsula.” I cut Pungbaek’s words off. “When the Peninsula fell into mortal danger, what did <Hongik> do at that time?”
[.....!!]
“When scenarios began on the Peninsula, when the [Absolute Throne] appeared, when Outer Gods and Calamities descended, and when the Peninsula’s Incarnations and Constellations had to work together because of them....”
Certain memories began rushing back every time I spoke a word. Scenarios, overcome by the gathering of people who had no one to rely on; the [Four Yin Demon Beheading Sword] plunging down on the blind throne and the Peninsula’s Constellations who lent their Probabilities to that weapon.
[Fable, ‘King of a Kingless World’, is glaring at ‘Heavenly Wind God’.]
[Fable, ‘King of a Kingless World’, has begun its storytelling!]
I didn’t do anything, yet the Fable began coming to life, anyway. ‘King of a Kingless World’ was born as the [Absolute Throne] was destroyed.
I recited the story of this Fable, and through me, this Fable spoke of itself. “During those times, where were you and the oh-so-great Constellations of <Hongik>? And what were you all doing?”
Tsu-chuchuchut!
[You bastard!]
Pungbaek glared at me as if he’d start vomiting blood at any second.
“Of course, I know that you and <Hongik> worked hard to aid the Peninsula during its infant stages. I do acknowledge the value of the Fable you people possess. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean everyone from the Peninsula must swear loyalty to you,” I finished my speech while watching Pungbaek’s beard tremble from rage. “Everyone has their own way of clearing ‘scenarios’. Even if you’re the Peninsula’s highest-grade Constellation, you can’t interfere with the actions of <Kim Dok-Ja’s Company>.”
Cheok Jun-Gyeong seemed to be enjoying my daring, fearless tone of voice. It’d probably be his first time seeing Pungbaek get treated in this manner.
[You dare, you dare....!]
In place of the rendered-speechless Pungbaek, a Fable’s forceful aura rose up from behind him.
[Great Fable of the Nebula, <Hongik>, is staring at you!]
[Nebula, <Hongik>, is extending its roots towards <Kim Dok-Ja’s Company>!]
Great Fables belonging to <Hongik> began rising up to the heavens one by one like tree branches, and eventually, formed an image of a gigantic tree. I knew what that was straight away.
⸢The tree that connects the Heavens to Earth below, as well as the totality of all the Fables that <Hongik> puts to practice; the one Fable that supports all those Fables.⸥
⸢The Fabled Tree, Shindansu.⸥
Every Fable of <Hongik> began with that very tree in front of my eyes. Shindansu spread its holy aura all around and extended its branches made up of Fables.
Seeing that admonition alone wasn’t doing the trick, it was now trying to show off its might, instead. What a bitter experience that was.
The truly bitter thing about this situation was, though....
“I see that the real highest-ranked Constellations of <Hongik> did disappear.”
[....What do you mean by that?]
This Shindansu was so much smaller and shabbier compared to the one that I knew. Not only that, the ends of the tree’s roots extending towards us were all horrifyingly damaged. What I saw were Great Fables failing to sustain their shapes after not having absorbed nutrients for a long time; most of the branches connected to these roots had withered almost beyond recognition.
That was the total sum of what <Hongik> currently possessed.
“I speak of these words because I pity you.”
The ‘Pungbaek’ from the original storyline that I knew was not an obstinate geezer like this guy. Sure, he wasn’t exactly the warmest guy around, but still, he was a Constellation possessing far greater class and righteousness.
However, something happened to <Hongik> and the Nebula’s influence shrunk back at a rapid pace. The reason why Pungbaek became so destitute probably had something to do with that event.
[You dare to show disdain towards this god?!]
Pungbaek roared out and roused up the powers of the wind; giant storm energy began gathering all around us. As the enormous Status suppressed the entire land, Reincarnators from ‘Kaixenix Archipelago’ began writhing around in pain.
Han Su-Yeong urged me one more time.
– Kim Dok-Ja.
I nodded my head.
Although the current appearance of <Hongik> was lamentable, at the end of the day, it had nothing to do with us.
I took a step forward, prompting Yu Jung-Hyeok next to me to unsheathe his sword, while Han Su-Yeong unfurled the bandages on her left arm. And then....
[Great Fable, ‘Demon World’s Spring’, has begun its storytelling!]
[Great Fable, ‘Torch that Swallowed the Myth’, has begun its storytelling!]
The Great Fables that had been held back until now opened their mouths simultaneously. Not only that....
[Great Fable, ‘Kaixenix Archipelago’, is repeating its storytelling as if it’s displeased.]
....Along with a Great Fable that wasn’t even one of ours, too.
Shu-weh-eh-eh-ehk!!
The roots of the giant tree flying in towards us began crumbling away from the billowing waves generated from our Fables.
[Body of the Great Fable, ‘Shindansu’, is in great pain!]
Those menacing roots extending out to swallow us whole faltered in their tracks and scattered away – as if scared by the stories it could not devour. The still-intact roots belatedly retreated, and the withered, bony branches screamed out loudly.
[Body of the Great Fable, ‘Shindansu’, refuses to heed the orders of ‘Heavenly Wind God’.]
[But, how....?]
Shindansu withdrew its roots and instantly vanished from the view.
Perhaps taken greatly by surprise from the Statuses of the Great Fables we possessed, the freaking-out Pungbaek staggered back several steps.
I sensed the Constellations scattered around the neutral zone looking in this direction after getting startled by this disturbance.
[Ba-aht!]
Biyu suddenly popped up right above my head as if she was waiting for this moment. At the same time, I sensed her channel opening up.
[A large number of Constellations have joined the channel!]
Biyu’s channel was connected to Bihyung’s broadcast channel; I could picture that Dokkaebi’s pleased face already.
It was pretty clear why he had induced this situation; although I wasn’t too happy about it, this was something that had to be done sooner or later, anyway.
[Constellation, ‘Bald General of Justice’, is paying attention to your voice!]
[Constellation, ‘Maritime War God’, is waiting for your story.]
[Demon King, ‘Ruler of East Hell’, is staring at you.]
[Constellation, ‘Scribe of Heaven’, is waiting for you.]
[Constellations of ‘Good’, ‘Evil’, and ‘Neutral’ are carefully observing you.]
Several indirect messages floated up one after the other.
I stared at Pungbaek and opened my lips to issue a warning not just aimed at <Hongik>. “I will not say that everything we do will be righteous. However, the paths we tread will be decided by us alone.”
I declared loudly towards the Constellations of the world.
“And, no one can change our decision.”
<Episode 73: The hottest place in Hell (2)> Fin.