Chapter 103: Great Justice Tiger Sword (2)

(TN: Forgot to mention this: Man-geum means Ten Thousand Gold. But King Man-geum sounds like his name 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 time. 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 meet 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 time this effect activates, a 'Mental Illness—Murder Obsession' afflicts your mind.]

Nokjon was the name of this sword. It seemed someone named it such. I was annoyed that there was a named sword I didn't know about.

As someone 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 seemed 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? Enhancement 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 me to decide to keep this sword for life.

I was in the midst of reclaiming the health that had been taken from me. It was during this time that I realized just how crucial health is in human life.

"Ah, friends and company. You've been waiting a long time."

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 time. 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 something new rather than something worn by someone 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 me.

"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 seemed to cling to my shoulders and then moved on its own to help me put it on.

Seo Cheon-seul scanned me from head to toe for a moment 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 garment that symbolizes the Commander Thousand Gold itself?!"

That's right.

Honestly, this garment 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 member 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 me as if I had won the lottery now wore the expression of someone who, after winning the lottery three times, 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 numerous to list.

But more importantly, there was another reason why this robe was so important to me.

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 times, 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 come 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 something sharply pointed about his words. It seemed best not to respond directly to that comment.

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 something 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 repayment for a beautifully sung song or a small favor.

It was as if they were giving away gold or treasures as payment 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 immense treasures in return for a small good deed, but they could also take something 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 somehow, I felt that this exchange wouldn't result in only happy outcomes.

"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 movement.

"Argh, damn goblin!"

"Bahahaha, why were you sleeping on the roof anyway?"

Regardless of my concerns, Seo Cheon-seul maintained his previous cheerful demeanor. Was I worrying unnecessarily?

There was something 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 meant 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 me, King Man-geum had tested me too.

Still, he had shown some mercy, 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 somewhat 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 time we reached the entrance to the Thousand Gold Temple, Seo Cheon-seul addressed me again.

"Hey, masked friend."

"Hmm?"

"Now that you mention it, there was one more thing His Majesty asked me to convey."

"His Majesty?"

"Yeah, I almost forgot to deliver it. Whew, that really would have been something."

Seo Cheon-seul slyly pretended to have suddenly remembered something.

It was a message from King Man-geum; how could he possibly forget? He must be choosing to mention 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 message?

I hope it's something light, like a sermon.

I'm already burdened with a confusing and difficult task that's hard to resolve immediately.

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 me, 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 message not being conveyed, it will all be because Commander Thousand Gold was trying to play some 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 me."

"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 me.

"It's not over yet. It's something 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 mean?"

"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 Comes from the Darkness] who had been supporting the Hollow Lord.

This being was also known by several names: [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 Comes 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 some 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 came 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 meet again with smiles."

"Ah, of course. But next time, bring someone more interesting than the masked friend."

"Haha, that's not something I can decide."

I would be returning soon. Having obtained the foot-lighting lantern entry ticket, I needed to come back at least once to lift the curse of Park Kwang-lim.

Seo Cheon-seul maintained a cheerful demeanor,

But I wondered,

What was he really thinking inside?