Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
60. Party (10)
Demons and Ma tribe.
The mentions of the conflict between the two were unceasing, both in PMH game and this world.
In PMH game, it was known that after the Clash of Different Worlds, Ma tribe continued to fight with the Demons.
The reason for the fights between the two groups was revealed in the 12 Zodiac Alliance Meeting.
— 午[Sensitive Black Horse] “I’m busy, finish it quickly. Demon bastards are attacking again.”
— 酉[Mt. Gyeryong’s Rarity Rooster] “They’re at it again? The Ma tribe is homophones with those disgusting things in Korean, so if you go out from Korean Peninsula for a bit;;”
The Korean Peninsula was the first place in this world where the Clash of Different Worlds occurred, and because it had the most powerful Power of Earth, the Jin tribes headed to the Korean Peninsula.
The people who settled in the Korean Peninsula naturally started to use Korean, and the names of the Demons (Ma) and the Ma tribe overlapped in that process.
There weren’t many, but some names overlapped, and each Jin tribe’s reaction varied.
‘The foxes, Ho tribe (狐), had a name overlapping with the tigers[1], but it didn’t seem to be a bother. If it’s confusing, they’re just called foxes.’
Just like there were humans, who weren’t bothered by the existence of same names, there were also Jin people, who weren’t all that bothered by the tribe names overlapping, but they were also people who were violently repulsed by it.
From just a conversation between Heuk-ma and Gye tribe’s head, I could guess how many Demons reacted aggressively to it.
The traces of their fight were mentioned everywhere.
When I went to Hongcheon to find Maeng Hyodon with Ju Su-hyeok, Heuk-ma said this:
— I was busy because, taking advantage of the typhoon yesterday, the Demons invaded.
The day the typhoon came, Maeng Hyodon saved Heuk-ma’s Divine Beast.
Heuk-ma thanked Maeng Hyodon and gave him a gift, and while at it, she also suggested a limited alliance to Hwang Jiho.
— After the Clash of Different Worlds, because our world and human’s mortal world overlapped, the Ma tribe secured a land on the Korean Peninsula, and since then we have been ceaselessly fighting with the Demons. From those who got into cute arguments on the level of jokes to insolent ones who tried to exterminate us. We faced numerous Demons for over 100 years.
— Up till now, although it was annoying to fight back against the Demons only with our power, it wasn’t a difficult matter. But gradually, the situation became worse.
Based on what Heuk-ma said, she wasn’t hostile to all Demons.
From the beginning, the Jin people categorized as the Ma tribe were numerous individuals, comparable to Ho tribe and Yong tribe, and because they didn’t have a habit of forming groups, they were all individualistic.
Moreover, as the ones the Fomori Demons burned with antagonism towards were the Danu gods tribe, and their base was in Britain, there was a high chance they weren’t hostile towards Heuk-ma.
‘I don’t know what happened, but the head, Heuk-ma personally came. Is the situation not as bad as the last time when the Divine Beast faced danger? Does she have more room to act thanks to the alliance with the Ho tribe?’
Celtic mythology and horses.
There existed a great link between the two.
In the epic poem left by the ancient Roman poet Ovid, Metamorphoses, the goddess of horses, donkeys, fertility and eloquence ‘Epona’ was mentioned.
She didn’t particularly appear in poems, but perhaps because in ancient times the status of horses was high, Epona wasn’t worshipped only in the region where the Celtic myths had influence, but she was also widely known and worshiped in the whole of Europe.
‘Considering the abilities Heuk-ma mentioned before, there is a high chance that Heuk-ma has a connection with Epona.’
The day Heuk-ma visited the chairman office, she explained the process of capturing and torturing the Demonic priest.
In that short explanation, Heuk-ma’s ability was mentioned.
‘She said she fixed the priest on the border between life and death, and forcibly read the flashing like in a running horse lamp memories.’
Epona was widely known as the guardian of horse-riders, but besides that she also carried an important mission.
She guided the dead.
Epona was also the goddess who moved between the border of death and life.
There was a high chance that Heuk-ma’s ability was connected to Epona’s authority.
And today was Halloween.
Perhaps it was only natural for Heuk-ma to appear at the party on the day when the dead return.
“It seems like we will have to wait a bit longer. If it goes like this we will be later than Mu-yeong-i.”
Because Heuk-ma arrived earlier than our party, Heuk-ma started to cross the bridge ahead of us.
Before Heuk-ma disappeared from my vision, I decided to inform Seong Gukeon in case something happened.
“The head of Ma tribe is here.”
“You mean one of the heads of the 12 Zodiac, who settled in Hongcheon, eh? Where?”
Instead of expressing surprise or doubt, Seong Gukeon asked for a location.
Perhaps because the Ma tribe settled in the Hongcheon county, which was Seong Gukeon’s hometown, it seemed he was aware of their existence.
“The Woman wearing a mask with a black horse mane. Dark skin is visible under the mask, and she is wearing a frock coat over a three-piece pantsuit.”
After I described her, while pointing out the direction, Seong Gukeon quietly stared for a while, as if he had found Heuk-ma.
It seemed that he was engraving her appearance into his head.
After Heuk-ma completely disappeared from the view, Seong Gukeon opened his mouth.
“I didn’t expect you to be acquainted that Heuk-ma.”
This was a case that wasn’t necessary to hide.
Because our school children and Tak Geosan were also there.
“When I visited Hongcheon, the kid from my class received thanks from Heuk-ma.”
“Thanks? What class 0’s junior did to be thanked by the Jin?”
Rather than interrogative, Seong Gukeon had a curious tone as if he was really asking what class 0’s junior did to get involved with a Jin.
I told him about the events on the day the typhoon came in a friendly manner.
Even while admiring his class 0’s junior’s actions, Seong Gukeon made a subtle face when I told him that the Ma tribe’s Divine Beast was almost killed by the Demons and that Maeng Hyodon saved it.
“Conflicts between Jin people are common. And humans also get involved.”
Seong Gukeon added to contact him anytime something happens.
The conversation topic changed to the master and disciple, Tak Geosan and Maeng Hyodon.
“Hyodon-i is teacher Tak Geosan-nim’s disciple, right? I heard from painter-nim. He said I have no idea how much He boasts about the student he found late in life.”
I guess because Seong Gukeon was close with painter Hong Gyeongbok and Iron Arm Song Manseok, he also got to know Tak Geosan.
As we talked about Maeng Hyodon, I unknowingly relaxed, was that what Seong Gukeon was aiming for?
While we conversed, we naturally crossed the bridge.
When we crossed about half of the bridge that stretched long above the dark sea.
I gradually began to see the other side that wasn’t visible before in the sea fog.
“This sea fog is not a simple natural phenomenon, but a fog barrier, eh? If we tried to forcibly break in without invitation, we would keep walking on this bridge.”
As if he had analyzed the magic known to be used by Fomori Demons, Seong Gukeon figured out the fog’s identity right away.
The sea fog that recognized us through the invitations slowly revealed the castle it was covering and hiding.
The spire shooting up so high it might have been touching the sky and flying buttress facing the sea wind, entered my eyes.
‘Are they planning to sell the treasure of Danu gods tribe at the Gothic castle? What a bad taste.’
If you think about why Celtic beliefs remained as myths and legends but not a religion, and which religion greatly influenced by Gothic architecture, it was the case.
It was clear that the Fomori Demons were going to openly fight the Danu gods tribe.
‘That means they’re probably prepared to go all out.’
Without considering the hidden intentions and malice behind it, it was a built on a cliff, old isolated castle with great grace.
At the time after midnight, with the pumpkin lamps floating in the sky and white gloves guiding the invitees, it looked spectacular.
Kieeek….!
As I turned towards the loud sound behind me, I saw the bridge we’ve crossed moving.
On the cliff side and castle side, the bridge was rising from both sides.
‘It was a drawbridge? Then even if it’s covered with magic, there is a high chance of discovery if the bridge is lowered.’
Once the bridge disappeared, it looked isolated at glance, but there were no people among Players who couldn’t cross this span of the sea.
The experts like Im Yeonhwa could cross the sea by running barefoot, and there were people who could use Flight like Yong Jegeon, not to mention those who borrow the power of item cards.
Well, there were also exceptions like Tao Sihu.
‘So they probably left some preparations at the sea. Because a fight at sea would be advantageous for Fomori Demons.’
There were several theories, but there was some talk that the word ‘Fomori’ meant ‘sea’ in Gaelic.
However, the Danu god tribe had many sweeping victories related to the sea, so it probably wouldn’t be a one-sided fight.
“Amazing. It looks better than in museums.”
While walking through the gallery leading to the hall, Seong Gukeon looked at the Demons’ artworks and admired.
Paintings in elaborate frames, sculptures, furniture, etc. were exhibited in the gallery, and I could guess how amazing those art pieces were even in the dim light of the pumpkin lamps.
Once we had arrived in the central hall, I saw masked party guests conversing around.
At a glance, that sight remained me of the people socializing at the party venue of the Fantasy Auction, but I quickly changed my thoughts.
‘There are fewer people than at the Fantasy Auction, but their quality seems superior. Be it the party venue itself, the hosts or the party participants.’
Even at just our side there was an assemblyman, and somewhere in this place there was a member of the 12 Zodiac Alliance, Heuk-ma.
As my eyes were filled with the party invitees, Seong Gukeon handed me a crystal cocktail glass, and said:
“If you want to drink, it’s okay to drink one glass. You have to learn how to drink from an adult.”
He said that, but the drink Seong Gukeon handed to me was a non-alcoholic cocktail.
Looking at Seong Gukeon’s actions and words, he was a guest that was surely enjoying the party.
But if you look at his gaze and tidy superpower wave, that was not the case at all.
Ding… Ding…
When a clear bell sound rang, the noises in the central hall disappeared for a moment.
The place where the bell sound rang was from atop of a platform in the most distant corner of the hall.
Two people stood on the platform, one held a bell and bowed, and the other raised his hands towards the audience and prepared to amplify his voice.
The young man in a blue mask soon announced the beginning of the party with the voice that reached all the corners of the party hall.
“I welcome You at our party. On the day celebrating the return of the dead, I’ll be responsible for the Esteemed Guests’ entertainment by providing the best party and goods.”
The young man in the blue mask, clapped his hands once.
Then the white gloves that first guide us from outside appeared everywhere in the banquet hall.
White gloves were holding golden trays, and on them were pumpkin shaped badges.
“The auction Esteemed Guests are waiting for will be held at the end of the party. Right now, we wish You will enjoy the party itself and the games were prepared.”
The end of the party.
At those words, Seong Gukeon and I exchanged glances, and nodded at each other.
Jeon Mu-yeong, who was somewhere in this party venue, would also probably start moving after hearing those words.
In the meantime, the white gloves moved busily and distributed badges to the party guests.
I didn’t know what those ‘games’ were, but I guess we had to wear those badges.
‘It’s a nuisance if it has something like a location tracking function.’
I thought like this, but right now I couldn’t act conspicuous here.
As if Seong Gukeon had the same thoughts, he also accepted and put the badge on right away.
“Then, the games we prepared…”
Shatter!
At that moment, I heard the sound of the hall’s windows breaking.
*~*~*
[1] The foxes, Ho tribe (狐), had a name overlapping with the tigers — Fox – 狐, and tiger— 虎 , both uses the syllable ‘호 ho’. A fun fact, hanja 狐 (fox) also means owl. Fun fact no. 2, another possible tribe name overlap with tigers are butterflies (蝴), but it seems they prefer to use another hanja for the name of their tribe 蝶 (jeop).
Translator’s note: *mumbles from the dark corner* I don’t understand what the gallery passage is for… is that hanja a thing? 회랑 (hoerang), 회랑 (hoerang)….
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