EX-rank’s Replay (382)

Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost

 
60. Party (5)

The Fomori Demons in the Celtic Myths had a variety of looks.

Some were so beautiful the person looking lost their soul, while others had animal heads, or were giants, or didn’t have some body parts or no body at all.
 

‘It would be difficult to single them out based on appearance, but Fomori Demons don’t hide themselves, and have a tendency to form groups, so I should be able to differentiate them.’
 

Among the Jin people, the Demons usually didn’t choose a leader or form groups, but there were exceptions.

There were three exceptions.

One, the priests who devoted themselves to the same higher being, a demon god.

Two, followers of a ‘demon king’, who have proven their power.

Third, those who worked on the same topic of demon magic research.

In the case of Fomori Demons, who had extensive existence in the historical records even in the myths, they would fit the second case if categorized.

Among Fomori there existed a king, who boasted an absolute power.
 

‘They grouped around the one-eyed giant Balor, who has an Eye of Death.’
 

It was prophesied that Balor would be defeated by his grandson, and it was realized on the plains of Moytura.

Balor’s grandson was the main god of Celtic mythology, hero of Tuatha dé Danann and god of light, Lugh.

He was Balor’s perfect natural enemy, and the main character, who pushed Fomori Demons into the decline.

But right now, Lugh was a higher being, so his authority to interfere in the present world was limited.

In contrast, Fomori Demons, including Demon King Balor, descended to the present world in their complete forms.

Though Britain’s Power of Earth was weaker if compared to Korea, the opponents were beings recorded in the myths.
 

‘They’re the opponent we have to steal ‘Imoogi’s Rise To Heaven’ from…!?’
 

As if pleased that I guessed that the host of the auction were Fomori, Seong Gukeon laughed heartily and nodded.
 

“Yeah, the place we’re heading to is the Halloween party hosted by Fomori led by the Demon King Balor.”
 

Seong Gukeon spoke with a playful voice.
 

“In the worst case scenario, I’m determined to bid. I brought some good item cards for this case.”
 

Among the materials Jeon Mu-yeong gave me were the rules of the auction.

The auction payment could be made according to the rules by paying in Britain and Britain’s Crown Dependencies official currency, pound sterling or gold issued by British Bank, or with the item card according to the seller and potential buyer agreement.
 

‘What kind of item card would have similar price to ‘Imoogi’s Rise To Heaven’?’
 

I tried to recall the items owned by Seong Gukeon when he was a Playable Character, but there was nothing I thought matched it.

But as Seong Gukeon was a Player, who conquered otherworlds every week, it wasn’t strange that he had a high price item.
 

“If it becomes known that an assemblyman participated in the Demons’ auction in another country and won a bid on a stolen art piece, it will become a scandal! Hahahee!”

“Assemblyman-nim….”
 

As if Jeon Mu-yeong’s head hurt just imaging it, his words trailed off.

As Seong Gukeon’s item card would be passed to the seller if the deal was made, there was a big chance that his tail would be caught.

Just as Seong Gukeon said, I wanted to play this move only in the ‘worst case scenario’.
 

“We can deal with all of it without being found out. I and Muyeong-i are personally stepping forward, so there is no way we will fail.”

“… Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then shall we prepare the theft plan? Open on the page with the auction venue structure and timetable.”
 

After that, I put my head together with Seong Gukeon and Jeon Mu-yeong to prepare a plan.

Seong Gukeon and Jeon Mu-yeong led the meeting, and I added a few things based on my game knowledge and the content written in the documents.

Perhaps because there were two of my Playable Characters, a bold and precise plan was made in an instant.

The not so short flight time was consumed by a meeting, but it was a worthwhile and fruitful time.

When we arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport, got through the national checkpoint and moved towards our lodging.
 

“… Assemblyman-nim, it seems that we’ll have to destroy our plan and make it anew from beginning.”
 

Words fell like a thunderbolt.

Just after getting in the automatic air taxi, Jeon Mu-yeong spoke with a soulless voice.
 

“Why? Speak more precisely.”

“It seems You will understand faster if You see it in person.”
 

Jeon Mu-yeong opened a hologram.

He opened some video with a big caption ‘Breaking News’ from British national broadcasting station relaying news.

On the video was an enormous neon tower.

The instant I saw that tower, I was enthralled by a strong sense of déjà vu.
 

‘This is… what some madman did to the main gate’s clock tower of Eungwang School on the April Fool Day!’
 

Compared to the neon tower I saw in April, it was much bigger and seemed to take aesthetic into a consideration much more, but anyone would see it was made by the same person.

There existed several problems, but the most decisive difference from the time during the April Fool Day was the biggest problem.

It was not Eungwang School’s main gate clock tower, which became a neon tower, but one of London’s landmarks, Big Ben.

How could you do this to Big Ben!?
 

“Hahahee! Didn’t something similar happen at Eungwang School this year? The Newspaper Club covered it.”
 

Seong Gukeon was an outstanding senior, who made sure to read Eungwang School’s school newspaper, huh?

But right now was not a time to laugh.

When artistically made neon signs were each seen from the distance, the letters of elegant writing formed.

The text was ‘Notice Letter’.

In other words, right now an enormous notice letter was being sent with Big Ben.

 
‘Sending the notice letter… no way…’
 

An ominous premonition welled up in me.

After deciphering the content of the notice letter, I could recall exactly only one person in my head.

The instant that person came to mind, my fingers immediately started to curl up.

On the other hand, Seong Gukeon, who perfectly interpreted the text summarized the notice letter.
 

“’I plan to pay a visit to the Demon Palace to give back the public the work of a genius, who couldn’t become a dragon[1].”

“The ‘Demon Palace’ part has a seal of the one-eyed Demon King Balor engraved on it. It’s clear that some powerful Player is targeting the auction. As Demons also noticed, the security will be strengthened.”
 

Jeon Mu-yeong sighed as if his head was growing complicated.

In contrast to that, Seong Guekon was making an excited face.
 

“That ‘Phantom Thief’ may be my junior. I want to meet them!”
 

When Seong Gukeon shouted that word, my fingers curled up again.

I didn’t want to meet him even a little.
 

* * *
 
Nabiryeong was quietly gazing at the pond.

While she was staring at the surface, a butterfly, which was hiding between lotus flowers[2], started to flap its wings.

One couldn’t know for how long it was hiding in this garden.

Nabiryeong liked the butterfly’s blue wings and said to it:
 

“Come here~.”
 

The blue butterfly only fluttered its wings a few times and didn’t come towards her, as if wary of Nabiryeong.

Even though Nabiryeong spoke to it a few more times, the blue butterfly didn’t react at all.

Nabiryeong decided to use another move.
 

Shaa…..
 

A superpower wave flowed from Nabiryeong’s fingertips and changed into a form of butterfly.

Because the butterfly Nabiryeong summoned was small, and its colors were dim, it looked harmless.

Deceived by the flapping of wings of Nabiryeong’s butterfly, the blue butterfly flew out of the lotus flowers.

The two butterflies fluttered together above the pond, scattering scales around.

Nabiryeong enjoyed the dream-like sight for a moment.
 

“Huhuhu…”
 

When Nabiryeong flicked her fingers, the butterfly she summoned lightly descended close to the surface.

The moment the blue butterfly also followed in a low flight.
 

Peuk, rip!
 

Nabiryeong exploded the butterfly she herself summoned.

The pond surface shook in effect of that explosion and a small spray of water swallowed the blue butterfly.

The blue butterfly belatedly tried to fly up higher, but it couldn’t fly properly because its body was weighted down by water.

Not long after, the blue butterfly, which struggled soaked in the pond water, couldn’t move.

Seeing the butterfly leave a ripple on the surface, she smiled satisfied.
 

“You were here, eh?”
 

The appearance of the man ruined the fun and ended the enjoyable moment.

Pretending to be surprised and shy by the man’s sudden visit, Nabiryeong covered her face with the hem of her clothes and adjusted her expression.
 

“If I knew that you would be looking for me, I would come out to meet you.”
 

When Nabiryeong drew back the hem of her clothes and revealed her face, she had a face dripping with affection as usual.

Even when seeing Nabiryeong’s affectionate gaze, the man grumbled:
 

“You speak well, eh? While being busy carrying out ‘that Person’s’ commands.”

“If not for ‘that Person’, I wouldn’t meet you. As such, I wish faithfully carry out all of ‘that Person’s’ orders.”
 

When Nabiryeong soothed him with a sweet voice, the man stretched out his hand as if granting mercy, it seemed that his mood was improved.

Nabiryeong tightly grasped that hand in the two of hers, and folded their arms and leaned against his shoulder.
 

“I’m also saddened that the time I spend with you decreased.”
 

Even while Nabiryeong was whispering kindly, her thoughts unfolded in complicated manner in her head.

It didn’t seem like the man was simply angry about the fact that the time he spent with Nabiryeong decreased.

The reason for the man’s bad mood became clearer.
 

‘Did he figure out something about the mission ‘that Person’ gave me? Later than I thought.’
 

Unlike the man and the Ung tribe, who repeatedly failed, Nabiryeong was carrying out the difficult missions ‘that Person’ gave her for a long time, building up trust.

The missions Nabiryeong received gradually increased, and among them were some things that the man, who was fond of her, would hate.
 

“… Did you finish all ‘missions’ that Person ordered?”

“You know very well that I can’t say anything about that.”
 

Nabiryeong leaned her head deeper against the man’s shoulder with an embarrassed face.

The man changed his posture so Nabiryeong could lean more comfortably, while he spoke gloatingly.

His voice felt bright, even though he spoke of a great secret.
 

“It seems that the butterfly sent to the Dragon King God’s shaman maidens safely settled in place.”
 

At those words, instead of confirmation or negation, Nabiryeong added strength to the crossed arms.

The man’s words continued.
 

“That mission is less dangerous than planting your familiar around the shaman maidens, but I don’t like what you have to do against the Association.”
 

As Nabiryeong expected, he had guessed the mission Nabiryeong was carrying out against the Association.

What was unexpected that he also figured out the mission related to the shaman maidens.

Nabiryeong thought that she underestimated the man and reflected on it inside.
 

‘Because the target I captured first had a strong ego, even after working hard for a year, it was without a result. However, the new target I caught…’
 

The new target was so easy and simple that the year long effort felt meaningless.

It seemed like he was brainwashed to the point where he would die right away if Nabiryeong just flicked her finger.

However, Nabiryeong was covering up this fact.
 

‘If the Player’s Association crumbles right now, it would be too easy for ‘that Person’ to achieve their goal. The Association have to endure a bit more.’
 

As Nabiryeong completes her missions, ‘that Person’s’ trust becomes deeper, but their plans are also moved forward.

If it was revealed she was giving false reports, or her life mission[3] was revealed, Nabiryeong would die.

Nabiryeong was playing a tug-of-war with her life on the line.

Of course, even if her life hung by a thread, Nabiryeong planned on maintaining this delicate balance.
 

“… I’m sorry. I can’t tell you anything specific, but it seems like you will keep feeling bad.”
 

Nabiryeong spoke with nuance that she wasn’t yet able to complete that mission, like when informing ‘that Person’.

Adding to that, Nabiryeong whispered with a voice dyed with sadness and resolution.
 

“I’ll work a bit harder, for you.”
 

Without even a bit of doubt, the man hugged Nabiryeong with a pleased face.
 

*~*~*
 

[1] genius, who couldn’t become a dragon — that’s possibly a play on ‘Imoogi’s Rise To Heaven ’ title. I’ll try to break it down, but keep in mind that my interpretation could be wrong (I could be overthinking it). Let’s lay down basics first.

Imoogi is a snake that after cultivating/living enough ascends to heaven and becomes a dragon. The part of the title ‘rise to heaven/death’ is a word ‘귀천 (kwicheon)’ which means both ‘soul ascending into the sky, death’ and ‘the class of lowly and class of noble’.
And 귀천 (kwicheon) shares a character 천(cheon) with genius (천재 cheonjae). In 귀천 (kwicheon), 천(cheon) stands for lowly, while in 천재 (cheonjae) stands for heaven. But! 천재 (cheonjae) can also mean someone of a superficial talent!

So the full interpretation of that phrase would be ‘the work of a genius (Min Geurin and Hong Gyeongbok) about the lowly creature (imoogi) that couldn’t ascend to heaven and become a noble (couldn’t become dragon) and therefore died.’

Or something like that.

[2] pond and lotus flowers — a fun word play here with 연못 (yeonmot) and 연꽃 (yeonkkot), 연 (yeon) can mean connection/relationship, now lotus flower is 연꽃 (yeonkkot), 꽃 (kkot flower) can also be understood for a pretty woman. So you could use it to mean a relationship with a pretty woman. Then the pond 연못 (yeonmot) is made from 연(yeon relationship) and 못(mot) which means for something being wrong or not going well. In other words, you could understand pond as ‘bad relationship’. *
*Mind please that those words can’t be translated like this. If you just randomly try to use it this way, people will give you weird looks. Unless you’re a poet that is. Or in this specific situation.

[3] life mission — 사명 (sa-myeong), now, while it doesn’t need to be, you may want to think about this word through religious lenses. This word is closely related to the word 숙명 (suk-myeong) which can be translated into English as destiny*. 숙명 (suk-myeong) is destiny one receives when they’re born, while 사명 (sa-myeong) is destiny one receives during their life. In a western comparison, you can think of it like a difference between a prophecy made at one’s birth, and a revelation/calling one receives sometime later in life. Therefore, it’s probably very fitting that word 사명 (sa-myeong) also means ‘an order of the king for an envoy’.

* (that being said, you must consider this destiny through eastern lenses, so how it’s viewed in Buddhism and Taoism for example, instead of a Western view of it)
 

Translator’s note: Nabiryeong, my dear, you have some truly fascinating, though fucked up, hobbies.

A fun fact about those chapters is that author-nim is using a lot of words borrowed directly from English to match this title.

 

Patron thank you note:

Thank you patron, Nobody, please accept this Nymphaea nouchali’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Al, please accept this Nymphaea alba’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Dust, please accept this Nymphaea amazonum’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Maru, please accept this Nymphaea atrans’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, kamisonk, please accept this Nymphaea candida’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Kasimir Ilmonen, please accept this Nymphaea elegans’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Tara Hess, please accept this Nymphaea gigantea’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Ice, please accept this Nymphaea heudelotii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, anonymous Kofi-supporter, please accept this Nymphaea immutabilis’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Hematite, please accept this Nymphaea leibergii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Deflubs, please accept this Nymphaea lotus’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Rose Marie, please accept this Nymphaea lukei’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, inkwell, please accept this Nymphaea mexicana’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, TheFloorGuy, please accept this Nymphaea micrantha’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Thank you patron, Akemidy, please accept this Nymphaea tetragona’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.

Links to support this translation and access to 8 advanced chapter (Patreon & Kofi)

> Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LibraryKeyTranslations

> Kofi-Euro: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslator

> Kofi-USD: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslatorusd

 

Did you see a mistake? 🐞