Chapter 97: Ghost Path (2)
The scenery of the street continuously changed.
Each time it did, the lantern in the professor's hand would sway slightly.
The direction the lantern pointed had changed.
There had been a straight road just moments before, but now it bent with the light and intersections that hadn't been there before appeared.
And with each change of direction, we went deeper into another world.
We walked while following only the light.
Now, there was little left of the real Geumchon Market.
The ground beneath us was no longer a paved road but damp earth, and instead of buildings, there were trees with silver trunks and purple leaves.
Occasionally, streetlights and signs in unexpected places appeared. This was clear evidence that we hadn't completely left reality behind.
The professor mentioned that those with a special talent could enter this path or spy on the residents of the other world without the aid of tools like the lantern.
"Are these the people you say have 'spiritual inspiration'...?"
"That's right. Do you know how these individuals differ from magic users?"
Magic has little to do with it. While a skilled mage can replicate similar effects, it's not quite the same.
Traits like [Spiritual Inspiration] or [Divine Possession] are necessary. The trait that Jang Hyeon-deok possesses, called [Living Altar], belongs to the same lineage as these.
But how do I explain this?
"Explaining this is difficult. Mages too can see ghosts through the use of magical powers. If you study necromancy, you can do even more. However, a different kind of talent is required to access the otherworld or to use traditional Eastern techniques."
"I have seen many people who have come to handle special powers over the years. It has exploded in number over the past 20 years, but even 20 years ago, there were people with such abilities, albeit unseen. Did you know that?"
"There were witches and psychics even 20 years ago. Not just 20 years ago, there were grimoires that were written a hundred or even a thousand years ago."
"Yes, but... there's something strange about magic."
"Strange? How so?"
"Precisely, the Mages... I mean, especially those like you. The power used by Mages seems somewhat different from others."
"What do you mean by different?"
"It might be better to say their worldview is different. Unlike other powers that have a consistent lineage or tradition, Mages seem to exhibit an oddly constructed structure. Magic claims to have its own lineage or tradition, but, well... What do you think? Who taught you magic? Can you tell me what they said about magic?"
"......"
I never really learned magic. No one taught me after all.
"I don't mean to be rude, but when I delve into the components and nature of magic, it often feels not like a traditional ritual or technique but rather like a setting from a modern game or novel."
What could this possibly mean? Well, it does fit the setting of the game.
I could also sympathize with the aspect of having a different worldview.
In the first place, the [Cthulhu Mythos] which this game was based on didn't feature magic in forms like fireballs or magic bullets.
While there were some magics related to the [Cthulhu Mythos], most of the magic I could use fit better with typical epic fantasy games.
I've always just passed it off as a game mechanic, but... why would an NPC professor bring up such questions?
Could it be that he had more knowledge than what I knew through my playthrough?
"I can't discuss who taught me magic, but I've had similar thoughts. Is there any way I can learn more about this?"
When I agreed with his words, the professor responded in a noticeably brighter tone.
"Is that so? I actually wanted to study this further, but mages are notoriously uncooperative, so it was difficult. If you're more interested, maybe you could come to our university after this is over. We could explore it together."
...Is this an invitation to enter graduate school?
The professor continued to speak enthusiastically about magic even afterward, yet much of what he said held little immediate relevance for me. Moreover, his questions were becoming so numerous that they started to feel truly burdensome.
"Ah, hold on a moment. It seems we are almost at the Thousand Gold Temple."
"Oh, we should start being more careful now."
The professor reluctantly fell silent as if regretting the end of the conversation. Was another barrage of questions waiting for me on the way back?
Turning my gaze forward, the sight of the Thousand Gold Temple began to come into view.
From here on, we really had to be careful.
A majestic, grand hanok building spread over a small hill covered with purple leaves and a variety of flowers blooming out of season.
It seemed the phrase "roof like a whale's back" must have been coined for such buildings.
The Thousand Gold Temple was not just one building.
A wall stretched broadly enough to encompass an entire hill.
Dozens of buildings were tied to that wall.
Pavilions soaring toward the sky and every visible spot elaborately carved with demonic faces.
All of this was the Thousand Gold Temple.
In the sky above the Thousand Gold Temple, shield kites tied with thick ropes could be seen flying. They looked like hundreds of will-o'-wisps roaming the sky and like fish swimming in the deep sea.
Upon seeing the scene, the professor whispered in a hushed tone.
"Isn't it a spectacular sight? I don't come here often, but I'm amazed every time. It's a landscape that makes you forget reality."
"Yes, it certainly is."
And it was indeed beautiful.
This place was a corner of the underworld and a den of goblins at the same time.
Humans had to remain silent, but the atmosphere around the Thousand Gold Temple was incredibly bustling.
This was due to the procession of the dead heading towards the main gate of the Thousand Gold Temple.
Along the way here, we had continuously seen beings of strange forms... It was truly a scene that could be called a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
Now they even forgot to mimic humans and they each produced bizarre music and raucous noise.
We followed along with the procession, but at some point, there was a problem.
The ghosts stopped moving forward and halted midway.
Initially, the professor who had been enjoying the scenery with a smile sensed something unusual and said with curiosity.
"It didn't use to be like this... What could be the problem?"
At the professor's words, I extended my magic silently to check ahead of the procession.
"Professor, the gates of the Thousand Gold Temple are closing."
"What?"
"Look over there."
"Oh..."
At the entrance of the Thousand Gold Temple, traditional protective talismans like massive jangseung (Korean totem poles), sotdae, and stone pagodas were arranged.
In the center of a tall wall was an imposing main gate.
That gate was closing.
- Shh! Stay back!
- Shh! Stay back!
Rough shouts came from somewhere.
No one could be seen closing the door, yet for some reason, it was slowly shutting.
The leading before struggled to slip through the narrowing gap before the gate closed completely; they had not yet allowed it to close completely, but there was little time left.
What is this situation?
I could jump in after casting a few spells, but ....
If I were alone, I could somehow make it inside.
However, I was not alone and my companion was not in a position to move freely.
It would not be possible to safely push the professor through as well.
Moreover, considering the cursed objects held in our hands and on our backs, any rash actions were forbidden.
- What about me! Let me in too!
- Move! Move! I'm going in!
The ghosts screamed and they tried to squeeze through the closing gate.
- Shush, back off!!
- Shush, back off!!
- Aaaagh!
Koo—ung.
In the end, the main gate closed.
The scream heard at the last moment came from either a ghost or a monster that got caught between the doors and let out a cry of agony.
The creature was not just crushed but split in two.
A large-mouthed monster attached to the front door can be seen devouring the lower half that has been cut off.
The heavy main gate that was made of sturdy paulownia wood had a powerful demon face relief carved into it.
This wasn't merely a decorative element; the demon face itself constituted a strong magical formation. It served as a barrier that blocked enemies and denied entry to those not permitted.
"Professor, even I would find it difficult to break through that."
"Hmm... Let's just watch the situation for now."
- Open the gate!
- Let me in too! Please remove the curse attached to me!
- Why are you closing the gate all of a sudden?
- What's the problem? Call the leader of the Thousand Gold Temple!
Ghosts and monsters gathered in front of the main gate were shouting in unison.
Didn't I see a similar scene at Cheong-ho's house? It was exactly like that.
Crowds pushed forward and shouted for the doors to be opened.
But the gates of the Thousand Gold Temple remained closed, and the procession of white ghosts stalled and accumulated before turning into a mass of bodies.
"This is troublesome. What could possibly be the cause of this sudden event?"
"Professor, has anything like this happened before?"
"No, nothing like this. Though it might be a difficult place for the living, It's a place that's always been open to beings like ghosts."
"I see."
This was just a question I posed to maintain the pretense that it was indeed my first time visiting the Thousand Gold Temple.
But what exactly was happening here?
It was only when the clamor of the pressing ghosts reached its peak that someone appeared to explain the situation.
- Shush, back off!!
- Shush, back off!!
However, "appeared" wasn't quite the right word.
They had been standing by the main gate from the start.
"There is someone among you who intends to harm the Thousand Gold Temple and the great king of Man-geum!"
The large jangseung (Korean totem pole) standing to the right of the temple's main gate spoke up.
Under the head of the jangseung, the famous characters "Great General of All Under Heaven" were engraved.
"We cannot let anyone in until we find and expel the cursed soul!"
This time, a jangseung with "Female General of the Underworld" engraved on it shouted out.
The scene of the menacing-looking giant jangseung shouting loudly was more powerful than one might expect.
-Move aside!
-Open the gate!
-Gaahh!!
But their words had no effect.
Despite the jangseung's threats, the ghost screamed even louder and grew frenzied.
Perhaps if they had come out a little earlier things would have been different, but by now the trampled and jumbled ghosts were already far from normal.
"Professor, let's step back for now."
"That seems wise. Standing too close to the front might draw us into the fray."
This was going to be quite a spectacle.
Even I had rarely had the chance to witness the jangseung of the Thousand Gold Temple spring into action and fight.
-If you don't back off, you'll be sorry!
-If you really want to challenge us, we won't hold back!
Grrrrrrr!!!
The surrounding earth and sand, rocks and stones, began to rise into the air.
They then clung around the wooden pillars of the jangseung, forming their bodies.
Now the two jangseung were beginning to rise into their huge forms that fit their fierce faces.
-Get lost, you shameless ghosts!
-You fools! We're not taking anyone else in today!
Boom!
Crash!
Watching a pair of monsters that were each about 8 meters tall going on a rampage. It was as if Mountain Tai itself was moving,
Every time the two jangseung swung their arms, ghosts exploded, and each stomp of their feet caused an earthquake.
-Gaahhh!
-Die! Die!
Despite this, the ghosts did not retreat. They continued to charge toward the two towering figures while screaming meaningless cries and hurling themselves at the threats before them.
I tried to pull the professor's wheelchair back to safety, but he said something unexpected.
"Mage friend, is there any chance you can stop this fight?"