Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
40. Meaning of blessing (8)
‘Deep Sleep’ was the name of one of the endings the Jin people and descendants faced in this world.
The Jin people, who didn’t appear because they left the stage[1], were described as either dead or in the deep sleep.
Among the Ung’s Eight Immortals, who tried to annihilate Heavenly God and Sinin and ruined it, three of them were in the deep sleep, in the game, Cheongryong, who failed to take revenge for Yeom Junyeol and lost his blessing, and the old leader of Ho tribe, Eun-ho, were also in deep sleep.
“Deep sleep, you say…. It wouldn’t be well known among humans, eh? What do you know about it?”
“I thought it means a vegetative state or coma.”
“Those are something that occurs because of a problem with body functions. Because vegetative state means a loss of movement actions because of brain damage, and coma is a state in which breathing and pulse are close to the bottom limit, looking almost like death, and is caused by the weakening of physiological functions. It’s different from the deep sleep Jin people and descendants fell into.”
Hwang Jiho continued to speak as he headed towards the main building beyond the maze garden.
“What do you think is the biggest difference between humans and Jin people or their descendants?”
At this question, the first thing which came to mind was the way they were born.
Jin people needed an origin root like myth, legends or fiction.
‘Aren’t descendants born in a similar way to humans? It wouldn’t be the answer Hwang Jiho wants.’
Then was it power?
However, I thought it also wasn’t that.
Just by looking at Eungwang School, the strong homeroom teacher Im Yeonhwa was showing off a power of Jin people’s class, and Jegal Jaegeol, Ham Geun-hyeong, and also Gong Cheonghwon weren’t outmatched in that.
If we also take into consideration the Players of the top ranking otherworld conquest teams like the recently employed honorary teachers and Yeom Bangyeol, the power couldn’t be used as an absolute standard to categorize Jin people, descendants and humans.
After contemplating for a moment, I reached a certain conclusion.
“It must be the existence of True Name.”
“Excellent, Jo Uisin. That’s the correct answer.”
Hwang Jiho smirked with a satisfied face.
“Humans can change their names whenever they want, right? However, we’re different. Even if we use several names, in the end we only have one True Name.”
Jin people realize their True Name the moment they are granted the status of a Jin, and descendants when they awake their power.
The True Name that stood for the being’s origin and the power of that being was an important standard differentiating between humans and the Jin people and descendants.
“The Jin people and descendants’ souls are very unstable. The descendants are more stable compared to Jin people, but there is always a possibility that the soul will leave the body. The True Name is a wedge that links the soul to the body.”
For the beings that were born from the myths and stories, what tied them to this world and to their bodies was their real name?
‘If so, then what happens if the True Name is lost?’
I recalled Baek Ho-gun, who lost his True Name, and couldn’t find it until the very end of the game.
In the game, Baek Ho-gun erased the ‘Heavenly God’s Wrath’ debuff by undergoing Heavenly God’s ordeal, but nothing of the likes of True Name could be recovered. [2]
‘So you fought until the last moment in such an unstable state, huh?’
Then where the hell did Baek Ho-gun’s True Name go?
Hwang Jiho, who was speaking, got to the conclusion.
“And the state when the soul leaves the body and can’t return is called ‘Deep Sleep’.”
Hwang Jiho’s explanation ended, but I had no idea what comment I should give.
While I shut my mouth, we crossed the maze garden and arrived in front of the main building.
When the mansion entrance became visible, Hwang Jiho opened his mouth again.
“Well, even though there is the wedge called True Name, there are Jin people whose souls left, and they fell into deep sleep, because they suffered serious damage, like Eun-ho, and there are Jin people like Baek-ho, who even after losing their True Name, have no problem staying awake.”
Unlike his light tone, worry filled Hwang Jiho’s eyes.
“What happens to the soul that left?”
“There is no way to know. Because no Jin, who fell into deep sleep, ever awoke. And descendants almost never fall asleep.”
“There was not even one case of awakening?”
“Not as far as I know.”
Hwang Jiho, who stopped speaking for a while, shortly added.
“But it’s not that there is no possibility of them returning if the body remains in the mortal world, and they cross the Reincarnation Cycle.”
To inverse those words, it meant that if one didn’t have a blessing like Ok Toyeon and their body disappeared, it was death.
“To sum it up, the Deep Sleep can be said to be a state where the soul of a Jin or descendant, who have a different way of existing than humans, leaves the body. Anything else you’re curious about?”
When I was about to ask in more detail about the reincarnation, I felt someone’s presence.
In the distance, Jeok-ho and Kim Sinrok, the father and son duo, were walking.
They looked awkward as before, but I guess they had a conversation anyhow.
“Hwang-ho, did you invite Jo Uisin?”
“Hello.”
The gaze of Kim Sinrok, who greeted Hwang-ho, stopped on me.
We didn’t see each other for a while, after I revealed Kim Sinrok’s dark history in front of Ho tribe members and Yong Jegeon.
“Jo Uisin-gun, the hour is a bit late, did you submit a stay-out report?”
He looked half like a good-natured Earthly Wings Council advisor, and half like a descendant, pissed about his dark history being revealed in front of his family and friend not so long ago.
In any case, because the majority of matters I was curious about were solved, I made up my mind not to be sassy and return, so replied:
“No, I didn’t submit a stay-out report. Then I’ll go back…”
“Hahahaha! Kim Sinrok, are you holding a grudge about that previous incident? Don’t bully Jo Uisin. Isn’t submitting a stay-out report a simple suggestion and not a necessity according to the Eungwang School’s dormitory rules?”
When Hwang Jiho cut me off like this, while laughing, Kim Sinrok pouted and then shut his mouth.
But was Kim Sinrok really holding a grudge about the previous matter?
In the future, I should be more careful about not breaking dormitory rules.
“… I was thinking of making alcohol side dishes to treat others to today. I can’t offer Jo Uisin-gun alcohol, but if there is a food You like, I’ll make it for You.”
Didn’t Kim Sinrok want to send me to the dormitory?
Looking at his attitude, I had no idea if he put a mark on me or not.
Seeing Kim Sinrok’s subtle attitude, Hwang Jiho laughed again.
As it wasn’t an atmosphere to say that I would go to the dormitory again, I also ended up entering the main building.
“Uisin oppa, hello!”
“What Hwangho-nim said was true, huh! Hyung, You came.”
“Uisin hyung.”
The descendants, who looked very sleepy as if they lived a proper life, happily welcomed me, even while wobbling.
Was Snare sleeping?
If not, perhaps it went on a walk with Baek Ho-gun as I couldn’t see both of them.
“The divine beast is with Baek-ho. They will return soon.”
As he guessed what I was looking for, Jeok-ho spoke.
Kim Sinrok, who was heading towards the kitchen, asked:
“Jo Uisin-gun, what do You want to eat? If there are ingredients, I’ll make and treat You to something You like.”
“I…”
My worries weren’t long.
My answer was set.
Around 30 minutes later.
“Jo Uisin… When asked what would you like to eat, I didn’t expect You to say ‘Something that Snare can also eat’.”
“Jo Uisin and divine beast have a really good relationship, eh?”
The tigers were saying some things, but my senses concentrated on the entrance doors that opened far away.
Woof, woof-woof!
As if my angel recognized my presence, I felt it running from far away.
Worthy of a genius, Snare ran up to me and suddenly jumped onto my knees.
I was beyond amazed that it could jump so high with such a small body.
As if Snare was asking to be praised, its eyes twinkled, while it rubbed its head against my hand, and I told Snare how cool, amazing and genius it is with all my heart.
“… Jo Uisin and divine beast have a really very very good relationship, eh?”
“There are times when I suspect if divine beast isn’t using a mind control category skill.”
It thought that I heard Jeok-ho and Hwang Jiho make such noisy sounds.
Woof!
As I looked towards the direction Snare barked towards, I saw Baek Ho-gun.
I heard that Snare went out with Baek Ho-gun, but I guess Baek Ho-gun returned a bit later.
“Baek-ho, how was it?”
“Nothing but useless sounds like before.”
“You also sit down. Jeok-ho’s son plans to show off his cooking. As he said he will make enough, you also have to drink with us.”
When Kim Sinrok came out of the kitchen, and Eun-ho’s children descendants all fell asleep.
“Preparations are done.”
With the help of the automatic maid, Kim Sinrok brought a buffet server made out of pure gold.
The buffet server’s cover with tiger engravings caught an eye.
“Then let’s open it.”
After the automatic maid withdrew and Kim Sinrok sat down, Hwang Jiho flicked his finger.
The moment Hwang Jiho’s superpower gained a physical form and opened the buffet server’s cover, and the entire content became visible.
“Ha, hahahaha! Ahahahahaha!”
“Son….”
“….”
Hwang Jiho laughed, while everyone else stiffened.
The gazes of Jeok-ho and Baek Ho-gun, who stiffened, headed towards Kim Sinrok.
“It- It wasn’t me! It’s not me this time!… The only menu items containing persimmon was persimmon sujeonggwa[3]. I’ll bring the dishes I made.”
While making excuses, Kim Sinrok looked at Baek Ho-gun’s expression, and then fled.
Hwang Jiho, who laughed for a while, barely calmed down and spoke:
“Hm, it seems that Mountain Spirit ordered the automatic maid to cook, and swapped the dishes before they came out, eh?”
“… I’ll grab Mountain Spirit.”
After Baek-ho spoke like this with a chilly voice, he left.
Because I couldn’t understand the situation, I asked Hwang Jiho.
“Why is he like that?”
“Baek-ho hates persimmon.”
What?
Baek Ho-gun is picky about food?!
“There are probably many punks who hate it, even in the Ho tribe. It’s just one of those polarizing favorite foods as it seems that they don’t like that persimmon is thought to be our weakness[4], eh?”
I guess there was such a relationship between persimmon and tigers.
But It was a bit strange that with Baek Ho-gun’s personality, he hated it so directly.
As if understanding my doubts, Hwang Jiho revealed the behind-the-scenes story.
“In the past, Kim Sinrok played a prank on Baek-ho. He replaced all the food of Baek-ho, who entered a closed training, with persimmon. Baek-ho, who ate only persimmon for over a year, hated persimmon even more after that.”
“I guess it’s holding a grudge after Baek-ho gave it a strict guidance, eh? Even preparing the food that Baek-ho hates.”
Hwang Jiho looked at the buffet server full of persimmon food and laughed again.
The Ho tribe’s troublemaker Kim Sinrok caused such an incident, huh?
When we were at it, the mental fortitude of Kim Sinrok, who made a persimmon sujeonggwa in the mansion Baek Ho-gun was staying at, was also amazing.
“My son likes persimmon, so I think he did it with a mindset of wanting Baek-ho to acknowledge persimmon’s flavor. But it had the opposite effect.”
Jeok-ho looked at the table breaking under the persimmon food, and diligently made excuses for his son.
Looking at their reaction, it seemed that Hwang Jiho and Jeok-ho didn’t dislike persimmon.
When they tried out each walnut persimmon rolls, persimmon saengchae[5], seasoned persimmon and persimmon canapé.
Baek Ho-gun returned together with tattered Mountain Spirit.
Kim Sinrok, who reheated the dishes he originally prepared and made a few new ones, also came back.
“Hey, shall we put all the persimmon dishes in front of Kim Sinrok.”
“… Really, I didn’t prepare anything besides the persimmon sujeonggwa.”
“Please understand. As Baek-ho’s worthy teasing, You can also play a joke on him sometimes.”
I had no idea if Jeok-ho was shielding his son or provoking Baek Ho-gun.
But as he was such clumsy Jin, he wouldn’t be able to have a conversation with his son and stayed away from him for a long time.
“When you were younger, you didn’t play jokes ‘sometimes’.”
Hwang Jiho added that.
Was Jeok-ho during his younger days as much of a troublemaker as Kim Sinrok?
I didn’t know about Hwang Jiho, that geezer, but I couldn’t imagine Jeok-ho being like this.
“…. The alcohol is sweet, eh?”
Baek Ho-gun, who wordlessly tilted his glass, said a word.
From the sweet scent coming from all alcohol bottles, it seemed that all alcohol Kim Sinrok prepared was sweet.
I guess, like persimmon, Kim Sinrok liked sweets.
Kim Sinrok, who kept glancing at Baek Ho-gun’s expression, spoke as if making excuses.
“That’s because my drinking partner hates sweets. As I wasn’t excited about drinking it alone, there was no opportunity to drink it, even though it was good alcohol.”
“Yong Jegeon? If that bastard without friends comes to play with our descendant, shouldn’t he be thankful and drink it or something? What is he picking at?”
I guess Yong Jegeon had no friends.
But as only Yong Jegeon’s name came out when talking about a drinking partner, Kim Sinrok also seemed to have no friends.
“Cheong-ho liked gamju[6], correct? I remember that she ate a little, but if You brought a sweet drink, nothing would be left.”
“Does Kim Sinrok match his master’s taste buds?”
You’re saying that Cheong-ho was Kim Sinrok’s master?
I heard that Cheong-ho was the founder of Taehokwon, so then did Kim Sinrok also learn Taehokwon?
“Did teacher Kim Sinrok-nim perhaps learn Taehokwon?”
“No. What I learned from Cheongho-nim was Face Changing Art. I tried to learn Taehokwon a few times, but because it doesn’t suit me, I failed. I studied fighting techniques under Baekho-nim. But I didn’t learn great sword martial arts.”
I heard that Teohokwon can’t be learned if physique doesn’t match.
It seemed that even though he was the Ho tribe’s descendant, he couldn’t overcome it if his physique didn’t match.
Kim Sinrok showed off the usage of Face Changing Art.
After Kim Sinrok rubbed his face, the face that looked like a mix between Jeok-ho and Ungnyeo of Grief, changed to the face of the ordinary teacher I knew.
It was so good, no trace of superpower wave was felt.
Jeok-ho, who observed it, poured out praises for his son.
When the party reached its peak.
“I better tell you today, eh? Next week, my main self[7] will leave Korean Peninsula.”
Hwang Jiho dropped a bomb.
*~*~*
[1] left the stage — I used this translation before, but I don’t think I ever explained it. The word ‘퇴장하다 (toe-janghada)’ means to leave, but more precisely, it could refer to leaving the meeting, conference, stage (in theater), or a game (being taken out, mainly because of foul play). Considering that both ‘performance’ and ‘games’ have important meaning in this story, I’m translating it as ‘leave the stage (with stage referring to either a performance or competition venue)’, rather than just ‘leave’.
[2] I recalled Baek Ho-gun, who lost his True Name, and couldn’t find it until the very end of the game. In the game, Baek Ho-gun erased the ‘Heavenly God’s Wrath’ debuff by undergoing Heavenly God’s ordeal, but nothing of the likes of True Name could be recovered. — Paranoia time! The clauses ‘couldn’t find it until the very end of the game’ and ‘nothing of the likes of True Name could be recovered’ are separated from the rest of their sentences by very suspicious commas. =-=
[3] sujeonggwa — punch made on ginger and cinnamon
[4] persimmon, the tiger’s weakness — The story goes that a tiger once overheard a mother tell her child ‘If you don’t stop crying, the tiger will come to eat you’, but the child continued to cry, then the mother said ‘Here is persimmon, so stop crying’ and the child stopped crying. The tiger, who witnessed it, thought ‘Is that persimmon more formidable than me?’
[5] saengchae — chopped, raw vegetables salad.
[6] gamju — a traditional Korean sweet rice wine.
[7] main self — or original/real self. Also, it’s a bit fun, because hanja for the ‘main’ here also means ‘a king’.
Translator’s note: Talking about deep sleep in the chapter titled ‘Meaning of blessing (/protection)’? Suspicious!
*~*~*
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