Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
65. Things that have to be hidden (6)
“Baek-ho hyung-nim, please come in.”
“You worked hard. It took longer than expected, eh?”
I guess the tigers knew that Baek Ho-gun went to capture the Mountain Spirit.
The sagging Mountain Spirit was frightened when they detected the number of tigers around them increasing.
They were trying to pretend to be dead or fainted and escape if Baek Ho-gun showed a gap, huh?
There was no way that my main Playable Character would commit such a lax mistake, so I don’t know why they were struggling so uselessly.
Swish.
After Hwang Jiho and Eun-ho, the Mountain Spirit discovered me.
Seeing me, the Mountain Spirit’s face noticeably brightened.
Then they suddenly begged me with their hands[1], did they mean to ask for help?
I felt one thing seeing those actions.
‘I can clearly see the Mountain Spirit’s body even without using the Brilliant Gaze skill now, huh?’
At the beginning, I had to use the Brilliant Gaze skill to see Mountain Spirit, who was closer to a gaseous mass, properly.
Now it was possible to distinguish what they were doing and which direction they were looking if I just focused my mind.
It must have been thanks to Baek Ho-gun diligent training.
My heart ached thinking of the hard work Baek Ho-gun put into it, but because I could feel once again how competent was the Myth category Ho, I was overwhelmed with pride at the same time.
“There is something in His hand.”
Worthy of the Eye Embracing Heaven and Earth, who had an excellent ability of ‘seeing things’, Cheon Dongha saw through the Mountain Spirit right away.
It was thanks to the Mountain Spirit’s sense of presence increasing more than in the past, but it was also thanks to the sensitivity of Cheon Dongha’s eyes that he noticed the Mountain Spirit right away.
When I was pouring praises for Baek Ho-gun and Cheon Dongha in my mind, a small voice came from Baek Ho-gun’s grip.
“… That’s too harsh.”
The Mountain Spirit spoke.
They looked at me and said ‘that’s too harsh’ — I didn’t know what was too harsh, but it was amazing that they spoke.
Of course, I didn’t think I should help even when hearing those words.
‘Last time they wore a modified hanbok and took a picture, and now they even talk, huh?’
As I have drunk an additional cup of decaffeinated mixed coffee handed me by Eun-ho while thinking that, the tigers chatted.
“They especially cling to Jo Uisin, eh? Jo Uisin is secretly merciless.”
“Uisin hyung is a wise Person, who knows how to distinguish between public and private matters.”
Wasn’t it natural that you had to distinguish between public and private matters?
I didn’t know why they were making worth nothing sounds, but because of Eun-ho’s praise, my face felt ticklish.
“If They materialized enough that it’s possible to obtain divine energy, it’s not strange for Them to speak.”
“But it’s somewhat late. Is it because this Mountain Spirit is so infantile[2]?”
As a victim of all kinds of pranks of the Mountain Spirit, Hwang Jiho threw bitter words.
The geezer said that I was secretly merciless, but that bastard Hwang Jiho was openly merciless.
Perhaps accustomed to Hwang Jiho’s condemnation, the Mountain Spirit ignored the geezer, and grumbled, while looking towards me.
“… Are You really a mountain spirit of the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain?”
Eun-ho, who was carefully observing the Mountain Spirit, asked.
As I didn’t know much about the beings like mountain spirits, it was difficult to judge, but was there something different when looking from the Ho tribe’s perspective?
‘No, if there was a problem with the Mountain Spirit, the tigers would notice.’
Didn’t the Myth and Legend category Ho tribe members at this mansion allow Mountain Spirit to play with Eun-ho’s descendant?
The being was without doubt the Mountain Spirit of Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain.
As I thought, Hwang Jiho quickly denied.
“You may not be able to believe that this infantile Mountain Spirit received the energy of the Ho tribe sacred mountain, the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain, but sadly that’s the case.”
Hwang Jiho spoke with an attitude of real regret.
But with the Mountain Spirit taking Eun-ho’s descendant and tricking Hwang Jiho with a corpse play, it would be stranger to think positively.
Eun-ho kept on asking as if he couldn’t let go of this doubt yet.
“I heard that Hwangho-nim and Baek-ho hyung-nim found this Mountain Spirit on the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain, is that correct?”
“Yeah, this Mountain Spirit certainly possesses the divine energy of the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain. This one guarantees it.”
Eun-ho had a soft expression, but the gaze he watched the Mountain Spirit with was unusual.
I saw this gaze a few times in the days when he was Cheon Seongheon, and every time Cheon Seongheon showed surprising insight.
Eun-ho spoke to Baek Ho-gun.
“Baek-ho hyung-nim, would You mind putting the Mountain Spirit on the sofa?”
“He might try to escape.”
Baek Ho-gun replied with a cold voice.
The Mountain Spirit, held by the nape by Baek Ho-gun, noticeably flinched at this voice.
Seemed like this reckless Mountain Spirit much feared the Tiger.
Eun-ho spoke, while preparing quince tea for Baek Ho-gun and Mountain Spirit.
“There is no way They will escape with Hwangho-nim and Baekho hyung-nim here. Last time, in the underground of the Silver Light (Eunhwi) Building, You only didn’t chase after Them because You were worried about me.”
“Well, if they run away this time too, this one will personally capture the Mountain Spirit.”
The geezer, who left all the Mountain Spirit’s education to Baek Ho-gun, spoke playfully.
Wouldn’t it be faster if he helped before?
But Hwang Jiho had so many things to do, it probably couldn’t be helped.
I understood it, but thinking of how hard Baek Ho-gun worked, it felt like a bit much.
Eun-ho placed two cups of quince tea on the table in front of the empty sofa, while speaking.
“If I treat Them with courtesy first, I believe the Mountain Spirit will do the same. If it’s the being, who received the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain’s divine energy, isn’t it only natural?”
Eun-ho spoke softly, but considering the hidden meaning, it wasn’t so.
Wasn’t what Eun-ho was saying no different from that if the Mountain Spirit behaved rudely here, they would not be treated as a being, who received the divine energy of the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain.
Then the Mountain spirit would become someone who was neither the mountain spirit of the sacred mountain or a guest or anything in this tiger den.
Perhaps the Mountain Spirit wasn’t a fool, they strongly nodded.
“… Um.”
While Baek Ho-gun and the Mountain Spirit sat down, Cheon Dongha hummed.
Cheon Dongha, who was holding the coffee cup handed to him by Eun-ho, seemed to think ‘Can I be here?’.
‘Eun-ho is the tigers’ family, and he treats Cheon Dongha like his biological older brother. So wouldn’t Hwang Jiho and Baek Ho-gun also acknowledge Cheon Dongha as such?’
Therefore, the tigers treated Cheon Dongha naturally, without hiding their identities in front of him.
If I had to compare, it seemed like the tigers treated Cheon Dongha like a distant relative.
Compared to Cheon Dongha, wasn’t my position as a simple collaborator, classmate and old senior more subtle?
After the Mountain Spirit, who slumped, regained some energy, Eun-ho opened his mouth:
“In the myth era, the mountains and streams of the Korean Peninsula overflowed with mountain spirits and river spirits. It’s different now. Do You know the reason?”
“The things that possessed powerful powers became mountain spirit gods — the higher beings, and ascended to heavens, and this land gradually became distant from the power of gods[3].”
“Correct. But in the mountains, where Power of Earth is powerful, the mountain spirits continue to reside. However, it would be difficult in the case of the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain.”
Eun-ho opened a picture on the hologram.
It was a picture I remembered seeing.
Because the picture Eun-ho opened was the satellite image marking the locations of Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain’s ley lines, which the Don tribe[4] cut off.
I remembered those locations from PMH’s free quest ‘exterminate wild boars invading the dormitory’.
‘… the rewards were so meager, other people never did it. But I played it for the record, because the quest starting location changes every time you do it.’
Because Eungwang School’s protective barrier couldn’t block the infiltration of wild animals, the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain was harassed by the wild boars’ attacks, while Hwang Jiho remained an onlooker.
The Earthly Wings Council dealt with them, but they suffered a heavy workload, and at the beginning of PMH, Choe Pyeondeuk took the seat of the Earthly Wings Council’s advisor, so the boar extermination wasn’t carried out properly.
PMH and the current situation was very different, but it was only the story after I entered this world.
“The Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain’s ley lines were being cut off for a long time. Because of that, the Power of Earth weakened. Even the Divine Beast, if it was discovered late, would die at human hands.”
Eun-ho played PMH, so I guess he remembered the content related to Cotton Ball.
Even just listening to it, I felt my heart become heavy.
I was really glad that Baek Ho-gun saved Snare, unlike in PMH time.
While I was reassured and grateful because the angel was safely alive, Hwang Jiho asked:
“The ley lines restoration work began in March. Is there no possibility for a mountain spirit to be born in the meantime?”
“It would be difficult for the mountain spirit with a chance to become a higher being to be born within a few months. It may be achievable if They achieved a legendary feat at the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountains worthy of it.”
It was like this last time too, with the ‘Imoogi’s Rise To Heaven’, Eun-ho was a level higher than Hwang Jiho regarding the knowledge of the ley lines and Power of Earth.
Hwang Jiho, who heard Eun-ho’s explanation, nodded.
“In that time, there was no incident at the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain that could be someone achieving a feat. I was greatly on guard after that, so I know well. There were a few students, who came to the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain to play pranks, but — that’s it.”
I recalled a few people.
Bang Yunseop, who entered the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain to smoke.
The 3rd year class 0’s Woo Gihwan’s gang, who chased the Energy of Universe.
Certainly, just looking at those bastards, it was far from legendary feats.
“The Heavenly Wing (Cheonik) Mountain’s ley lines survived, but they haven’t all recovered yet. It’s strange that the Mountain Spirit resides at the devastated Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain.”
Eun-ho continued to speak.
“There is a small possibility that You’re a being that occurred naturally at the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain. I think You’re someone that drew Their last breath on the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain a very long time ago.”
“If someone dies, don’t they usually cross to the Cycle of Reincarnation or are annihilated? Is it possible to remain in this land and become a mountain spirit?”
“Yes. I heard it from Toyeon-nim. It’s very rare, but She said that powerful souls can escape the strict rules of the Cycle of Reincarnation.”
The moment ‘Ok Toyeon’s’ name left his mouth, Eun-ho made a wistful face.
In the past, Ok Toyeon hoped very much that Eun-ho would come back, so I guess they were very close.
In contrast to that, Hwang Jiho couldn’t hide his annoyance even while he was satisfied by those words.
He hated Ok Toyeon, but it seemed he trusted her knowledge in the Cycle of Reincarnation.
‘But according to that, wouldn’t the Mountain Spirit possess a powerful soul?’
If they could be sassy among the Ho tribe members, it didn’t seem like their soul was ordinary, but looking at the Mountain Spirit’s appearance, I couldn’t believe it at all.
“Countless beings died in the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain, which was involved in several wars, including the invasion of foreign enemies. Our kinsmen, enemies, unrelated beings… the range is too broad.”
Hwang Jiho, who heard Eun-ho’s words, made a face saying his head hurt.
Eun-ho stared fixedly at the Mountain Spirit, while he spoke:
“You’re not a mountain spirit that occurred naturally. I think you’re a Person, whose life ended on the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain, but Your soul instead of crossing to the Cycle of Reincarnation remained in this land, and You received a divine power.”
Eun-ho asked again.
“Who are You?”
While everyone held their breaths, the Mountain Spirit hesitated and then opened their mouth.
“… I don’t remember.”
As if unaccustomed to speaking, the Mountain Spirit spoke with a thin and trembling voice.
The Mountain Spirit coughed a few times, and then drunk quince tea and adjusted their voice.
“When I came to my senses, I was in the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain…. I don’t know what the moment of reincarnation or the drawing of last breath was like.”
The Mountain Spirit shortly explained the event they were involved in after they opened their eyes on the Heavenly Wings (Cheonik) Mountain.
It seemed it took a bit of time until the Mountain Spirit developed an ego.
The Mountain Spirit, who finished the explanation, suddenly looked at me.
“Then, I became aware of the power I had. It was a power to communicate with something of the sky, and… the sky spoke.”
And threw out the words I couldn’t imagine.
“It said if I helped that kid, he would help me.”
*~*~*
[1] begged me with their hands — literally ‘rub or wash their hands towards me’, it means to curry favor.
[2] infantile — alright, so the word used here 덜떨어지다(deoltteoreojida) means someone who acts stupidly and not their age. Simply translating it as some synonym of ‘stupid’ would be okay in a lot of cases, but this chapter is all about secret relationships. So I’m sitting here, looking at the word that could be interpreted very differently depending on the relationship between the two people and knowing some things about the future and must wonder — does Hwang-ho really wants to simply say ‘stupid’? (Also, this word literally means ‘not shedding all baby hair yet’.)
[3] gods — or mountains? I’m also not sure if it’s singular or plural.
[4] Don tribe — don for ‘pig’.
Translator’s note: Cheon Dongha, you may be the only honest (with yourself and people around you) person in this room.
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